Jesus – the Rock of Offense

The Lord is Good

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Living Stone

(Isaiah 28:14-22; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Authorities

(Romans 13:1-7)

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God

Christ’s Example of Suffering

(Isaiah 53:1-8; Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; John 18:19-24)

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

The Unbelief of the Jews

22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Many people in our day and age have different views about who Jesus was or is…

Some think he was just a historical Jewish figure…

Some think he was just a good man who was misunderstood, was wronged and suffered a wrongful death sentence…

Some think and still think he was a criminal and deserved to die…

Some just think the word “Jesus” is a swear word, and have never even heard his story or the gospel message

Sadly though, many don’t think of him at all or if they have heard of him, think he is a cruel task master sending everyone to hell.

This week I ran into two people who had that last opinion, it broke my heart.

Jesus to me, the true Biblical Jesus Christ is one of the most powerful people in my life, his love and understanding has changed me completely from who I used to be to who I am striving to become, a Christian.

Christian is also another thing people have many definitions for…most are not flattering; which… is why I refer to myself as a Bible believing Christian>

I’m not a denominational |Christian, I don’t follow the creeds set forth by the catholic organization or all the denominations that followed through various Christian revivals, no, I’m not religious and actually hate religion and what it has done to people, no, I have a relationship with a very real person, who is very much alive and who I can communicate with and hear back from.

My whole existence is wrapped up in that relationship that I have with Christ, and then in sharing the truth about him to others, trying to get through all the media hype, the misconceptions and the outright lies that people and demons namely, Satan, tell about him.

For me, it is why I read, and study the bible, because this is where we find out what the Lord is really like – the words of Jesus are recorded, we can see what was happening when he dealt with people, with dealing with worldly philosophies, with religion, and those who were religious, how he dealt with the inequality of women, how he dealt with those who were sick and in pain and even those demon possessed.

We can see what his character was like, what he held dear, what he loved and yes, what he hated.

He speaks of himself, he told people who he was, he spoke in parables to weed out the fame seekers, he called people to himself, like Matthew, who were socially ostracized because of their job, he went against what was societies norm and ate and drank with those who the religious called sinners.

He cut through all the religious babble and falsehoods not just to speak the truth, but declare he was truth!

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

1“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

Oneness with the Father

7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

8 Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father;

The truth, it is a powerful statement – not a truth, or a way, but … the truth and… the way.

It was this fact, that got the early Christians martyred, because they said Jesus was the only way, in fact at first the weren’t call Christians the were call people of the Way-

Acts 19:6 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, having discussions and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took the disciples away with him, and had discussions daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

But… for those who believed in the Lord and that he was who he said he was, Almighty God comes in the flesh, that he was perfect man and perfect God, for those of us who have believed that truth for almost 2000 years, for us the Lord is… as our scripture said…

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:

BUT for as many of us who accepted that Jesus was the truth, there were many that didn’t believe and to them he became something totally different.

As our scripture said…

but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

For some Jesus is nothing more than a stone of offense… they are offended by his being the Truth, they are offended at the fact he is their creator and therefore they are accountable to him for their acts and actions.

Actions like where they go, or who they associate with or who or what they worship.

In this day and age, they want to be able to do whatever they want, when ever they want, with whomever they want, without being questioned or judged, without consequences, and without accountability, regardless of whom they destroy or hurt in the process.

Their actions are not “light” or “peaceful” and through their actions and false religions, millions upon millions have been killed, destroyed, and neglected to the point of death.

They have forgotten there is a real enemy, they have forgotten that, that enemy hates them and just wants them to spend eternity in hell with him, they have forgotten that since the Lord created them he knows what will bring them joy and peace and contentment.

To them the Lord is just a big rock of offence, one offence after another, and if a someone cares them enough to share the truth even with great love and compassion, they will be offended and slander not just the church, and the Pastor, but Jesus himself.

As Paul said to the Church at Galatia

Gal. 4 -16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.…

As human beings, as created by the Lord, the Lord offers us so much…eternal rest, eternal life, eternal fellowship, great knowledge and understanding, wisdom, gifts of healing and miracles, great joy and peace; but we have an enemy, someone who never wants you to know who the Lord is and who you are to him.

That enemy, Satan, will slander the Lord, pock fun at the Lord, his Biblical church and the Way, he will actively kill people and destroy them so they join with him in a place for all eternity, a place that God didn’t create for people but for the devil and his angels.

Hell, yes hell is real, just ask the many people who have been there and come back from there.

Jesus spoke of hell more that any teacher, because he has seen it, he did everything within his power to deliver us from that devils hell, but people have to make a choice and it seems that choice now has become the new “bad word”.

Satan has the world thinking they can do whatever they like and still enter into a holy life with the Lord, the 10 commandments have now become the 10 suggestions, that Almighty God is not the only one we worship, but if you listen to the world, you can be a full fledged Satanist and Wiccan Witch or Warlock, worshipping ascended masters, demons and Satan himself, putting your faith for healing and enlightenment in a rock or a crystal or a statue of Buddha, worshipping demons or a rock, rather than the God who created the rock.

Rom 1;25 NIV They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

This is an outright lie, a deception straight from Satan, and if we as the church don’t get our thinking and truth straight from the only one who is the truth, we will miss the escape he has planned for us.

Heb 2:2 Berean Bible For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.

Noah preached for over 100 years and the culture laughed at him, mocked him and just kept living their lives…until as the Bible says the rain came and took them all away.

Jesus has given us such a beautiful way to escape what is coming on this world, he invites each of us to come into his kingdom where there is peace and joy.. he says…

Take up Your Cross

(Matthew 10:37-39; Matthew 16:24-28; Luke 9:23-27)

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matt.11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.