Luke 18-19 Jesus explains the difference Losers and Winners Luke 18-19 Jesus explains the difference

The Gauntlet Too Proud? “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted…” Luke 18:14 Thus, Luke 18:16-17 “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

A Loser (Lk.18:18-27) A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” A Judge Highly Esteemed Wealthy Respectful

A Tragic Life (Lk.18:18-27) A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” Surprising, then, that JC responded this way…

Is this a “Good Teacher” ? A Tragic Life (Lk.18:18-27) Two BIG Problems: He thinks Jesus is just a “Good Teacher” Is this a “Good Teacher” ? Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father…” Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” Jn.14:8-9 laiming He’s the CREATOR of the Universe…

A Tragic Life (Lk.18:18-27) “Good Teacher” ? Two BIG Problems: He thinks Jesus is just a “Good Teacher” “Good Teacher” ? John 20:28-29 Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." “Go ahead, touch, feel…” “You’re getting carried away..” NO! I hope you don’t go around saying that to your neighbor & friends.

A Tragic Life (Lk.18:18-27) Jesus is INSANE Jesus is a CON ARTIST Popular View Two BIG Problems: He thinks Jesus is just a “Good Teacher” Jesus is INSANE Jesus is a CON ARTIST Jesus is GOD “Go ahead, touch, feel…” “You’re getting carried away..” NO! I hope you don’t go around saying that to your neighbor & friends.

“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” A Tragic Life (Lk.18:18-27) Two BIG Problems: He thinks Jesus is just a “Good Teacher” He wants to earn eternal life. Last Time: “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector…’” Luke 18:11 “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” “Go ahead, touch, feel…” “You’re getting carried away..” NO! I hope you don’t go around saying that to your neighbor & friends.

JC: “You already have a plan!” A Tragic Life (Lk.18:18-27) Two BIG Problems: He thinks Jesus is just a “Good Teacher” He wants to earn eternal life. “You know the commandments, ‘do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother…’” Better than MOST! The ruler said, "All these things I have kept from my youth." JC: “You already have a plan!”

Broke the 1st & 2nd Commandments A Tragic Life (Lk.18:18-27) Judged by your own words When Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves… They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them Romans 2:14-15 Two BIG Problems: He thinks Jesus is just a “Good Teacher” He wants to earn eternal life. Broke the 1st & 2nd Commandments When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” When he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. BUSTED

You cannot earn eternal life A Tragic Life (Lk.18:18-27) Two BIG Problems: He thinks Jesus is just a “Good Teacher” He wants to earn eternal life. You cannot earn eternal life Jesus said, “No one is good except God alone.” “Good” is beyond reach Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James 2:10

A Tragic Life (Lk.18:18-27) God rescues us from tragedy: And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! "For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” They who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."

The Victorious Life (Lk.18:28-30) Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed You.” That reminds me of me… So He said to them, “I assure you: There is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come.”

The Victorious Life (Lk.18:31-32) Then He took the Twelve aside and told them, “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. I continued watching in the night visions, and I saw One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven….He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14

The Victorious Life (Lk.18:31-34) Then He took the Twelve aside and told them, “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and He will be mocked, insulted, spit on; and after they flog Him, they will kill Him, and He will rise on the third day.” They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. “Son of man…was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom…” How would this approach produce a GLOBAL KING?

The Rescued Life (Lk.18:35-42) As He drew near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what this meant. “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by,” they told him. So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Persistent bugger! Knew some scripture… JC was ‘the Messiah’

The Rescued Life (Lk.18:35-42) Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him. When he drew near, He asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Luke 11:9 Was JC DENSE? He wants us to ASK He wants FREE WILL GOSPEL

The Rescued Life (Lk.18:35-42) And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God. 2 1 3 Live such good lives among the pagans that…they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 1 Peter 2:12 Gratitude of the RESCUED: Gratitude=SERVE THE KING! Gratitude=SAVED SOULS! Gratitude=COURAGEOUS, ~Scared

A Rescued Camel (Lk.19:1-9) How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 2 1 BIG PROBLEMS (for a Small Guy)

Irreligious, sacrileges Jesus A Rescued Camel (Lk.19:1-9) How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" Irreligious, sacrileges Jesus What kind of people gather at this house? Would there be any cussing?

A Rescued Camel (Lk.19:1-9) JC does not just ‘hang’ with tax-collectors He turns SCUM into PILLARS of God’s Kingdom All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'“ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to rescue what was lost." Luke 19:8-10

Winners vs. Losers It all depends on your view of Jesus Christ Good Man Safe Jesus The King Following Jesus My LORD Fighting for JC Fool: LOST IT ALL Rescued: He could see. Changed: Real freedom

Winners vs. Losers It all depends on your view of YOURSELF Fool: SAD Good Man Safe Jesus I’M GOOD TOO! The King Following Jesus I NEED MERCY! My LORD Fighting for JC OVERHAUL NEEDED Fool: SAD Rescued: JOYFUL Changed: RADICAL Xians: G. Wnts U 2 B CHANGED =DISCIPLESHIP =OVERHAUL Needed!

Winners vs. Losers What God Wants You can’t FORCE THIS HE will do the work Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Luke 18:27