Reformed & Expository Preaching

Kangaroo Court (2) (Luke 23:1-25)

When Jesus returns to Pilate, both rulers affirm His innocence, yet the crowd—stirred by corrupt leaders—demands Barabbas, the rebel, be freed instead. In choosing a violent insurrectionist over the Prince of Peace, the people reveal humanity’s tragic preference for earthly power over spiritual deliverance. Key theme: Humanity exchanges the true Son of God for a counterfeit “son of the father” (Barabbas).

Satan’s Sustenance (I Peter 5:8; LD 52)

Trusting God in Temptation In the Lord’s Prayer, we ask, “Lead us not into temptation.” Yet Scripture promises that God never tempts anyone (James 1:13). Why, then, do we pray this way? Peter helps us see the answer. He once boldly declared he would never deny Jesus. Jesus warned him that Satan asked to sift Peter. Christ predicts that Peter will deny Christ 3 times before dawn, and Peter denies Christ 3 times before dawn. Peter knows that Satan, like a roaring lion, prowls unseen, seeking to devour us. Even Adam and Eve, created good, fell to his crafty lies despite setting an additional boundary around the tree. God only told them not to eat it, but they added, “We are not to touch it” (Genesis 3:3). Our own hearts are weak; we cannot stand in our own strength. But this prayer is our humble cry: Lord, hold us fast. Our Weakness and the Call to Sobriety The Catechism honestly admits human frailty: we cannot withstand our enemies in our own strength. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden, or Jacob wrestling with God, we learn that true strength arises only when we cling to the Lord in our weakness. To be “sober-minded” is to maintain spiritual clarity. It is to have the humility that we are not strong enough. It is to have the humility and wisdom to see through the devil’s lies. It is to have the humility and confidence to depend upon the grace of Christ. This sober watchfulness keeps us humble, prayerful, and aware that our enemy’s attacks often come in subtle, enticing forms. Staying Awake in Prayer Peter urges us to be sober-minded and watchful. A clear mind fixes on Christ’s grace, not our plans or power. Jacob spent a lifetime scheming to seaize God’s promises by his wit. Then God touched his hip and left him limping. Only then did he cling to God in weakness. So we watch and pray, not trusting our resolve, but leaning on the One who prays for us. Jesus warned His sleepy disciples in Gethsemane: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Daily, we bring the same plea: Keep us awake, Lord. Keep us close. God calls us to humble ourselves under His mighty hand, trusting that He is our shield and defender. To cast our anxieties upon Him is not weakness but faith—resting in the One who cares for us. Firm in Faith, Secure in Christ Though Satan seeks to destroy, he cannot snatch God’s people from His hand. Christ has already overcome. Each day we pray for grace not to fall, and we look to the One who restores and renews His children. Our trials refine our faith like gold in the fire, teaching us dependence on God’s strength. As we resist the devil by standing firm in faith, we remember that Christ Himself prays for His people, upholding them with unfailing love. In Him, we are safe. He shielded Elijah, restored Peter, and refines us through every trial. One day, Christ will visibly crush the lion under our feet. Until then, we pray, we trust, we move forward believing that we are held safe in the Shepherd’s grip. We remember that Christ Himself prays for His people, upholding them with unfailing love. In Him, we are safe. So, we are not crippled, but empowered as we ask God to defend us, protect us, and keep us from temptation. We are free to rest in him and do his will. Let us live as living sacrifices as we walk in our shield and defender.

The Kangaroo Court (Luke 22:54-71)

The Upside-Down Kingdom When we return to the opening chapters of Luke, we’re reminded that Christ’s coming wasn’t just a gentle story, but it was a world turned upside down. He comes to a world infected by sin and a world that is cursed. The world will not self-heal. He came to lift up the humble and bring down the proud, to establish not another earthly power struggle but a kingdom of shalom that is a kingdom of true peace. This peace isn’t mere tolerance; it’s the deep rest and joy of knowing and enjoying God. It is the peace where we can enjoy the goodness of our God with sin removed. Every kingdom of man tries to force peace by control or fear, but Christ brings peace by redeeming and removing sin. His rule doesn’t crush; it restores. His victory doesn’t humiliate; it heals. When the Light Reveals the Distance Peter’s story shows us how easy it is to follow Christ “from a distance.” The same man who once swore he would die for Jesus now keeps space between himself and the Savior. Around the fire that night, Peter’s face was lit by its glow, but he was not really in the light. Three times he was asked if he knew Jesus, and three times he said no. He had chances to repent, but he continued to deny. Then, on the last denial, he heard the rooster crow and then made eye contact with our Lord. Christ has shown that he is a prophet. He has shown that we are weak in the flesh. And Peter wept bitterly, realizing that the Savior he had denied. Peter’s bravado and confidence will not save him. Only Christ laying down his life could save sinners and empower sinners to live for our redeemer. The Silent Strength of the Savior While Peter wept, Christ was struck, mocked, and blindfolded. The soldiers demanded, “Prophesy! Tell us who hit you!” The tragedy is that they fail to realize the irony that Christ had already prophesied Peter’s denial moments before. They wanted a prophet to perform on demand, but they didn’t understand that a true prophet speaks when the word of the Lord comes, not when men command it. The One they beat could have summoned an army of angels, but instead, He remained silent. The silence of Christ that night was not weakness, but it was power restrained. In choosing the cross, He chose the only path that could bring sinners home and make peace real. He will submit to His father’s will. The King Who Will Not Play Our Games When the religious leaders questioned Jesus, demanding, “Are you the Christ?” He didn’t argue or plead. He knew their hearts were closed. Instead, He spoke of the Son of Man who would sit at the right hand of God—a quiet claim of divinity, kingship, and victory. They could not see that the bruised and bloodied man before them was the Warrior-King of Psalm 110 and the eternal Son of Man from Daniel 7. They mocked Him as powerless, but He was already winning the greatest battle of all: defeating sin, enduring wrath, and securing a kingdom that will never end. His restraint was His triumph, His humility His glory.

What is Forgiveness? (LD 51; Col. 3:12-17)

The Complexity of Forgiveness in the Christian Community The concept of forgiveness is complex, balancing the call to forgive wholeheartedly with the need for wisdom and protection against enabling sin or specifically abuse. The catechism emphasizes bearing the cost of forgiveness, enduring whatever consequences arise while consciously choosing to let go of grudges. This call to bear extends beyond forgiveness to tolerating differences within the Christian community, as exemplified by the early church’s struggles with cultural and religious diversity. The Jewish people had to get along with the Gentiles in particular. Unfortunately, this did not go so well. Remember, Christian Liberty is the freedom to work out my salvation rather than my permission to test the boundaries of grace. Christ Sets the Tone for Forgiveness Colossians 3 emphasizes the importance of forgiveness within the Christian community, highlighting that it is not optional but a necessary consequence of being God’s people. Forgiveness, rooted in love and understanding of our shared identity in Christ, is a reflection of God’s grace and a means to honor Christ. The ultimate standard for forgiveness is Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, where He bore the full cost of our sins, enabling us to be reconciled to God. The Cost of Forgiveness The call to forgive, as outlined in Colossians 3, is rooted in understanding our identity in Christ and the cost of His forgiveness. Forgiveness means lifting or taking away.  This means that we will bear the cost when we forgive.  So, forgiveness does not necessarily mean that we trust an individual or group again, but rather that we entrust justice to God. While we forgive, we may need to set boundaries and protect ourselves from harm, as exemplified by Paul’s warnings about individuals like Alexander the Coppersmith. However, we still move beyond the offense; we understand that the offense will never be compensated, and we press forward without holding a grudge. The event is in the past, and now we move forward in the future. The Standard of Forgiveness The text emphasizes the importance of forgiveness within the Christian community, highlighting that it is not optional but a necessary consequence of being God’s people. Forgiveness, rooted in love and understanding of our shared identity in Christ, is a reflection of God’s grace and a means to honor Christ. The ultimate standard for forgiveness is Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, where He bore the full cost of our sins, so that we could be reconciled to God. We need to reflect on the reality that we are brought near to God as those who have offended and incurred a debt that we can never pay. Christ bore the cost to bring us near to the living God so we can enter the most holy place by being seated with Christ in our union with him. Conclusion Forgiveness is a complex Christian concept, balancing the call to forgive wholeheartedly with the need for wisdom and protection. It is rooted in understanding our shared identity in Christ and the cost of His forgiveness, reflecting God’s grace and honoring Christ.  Yes, forgiveness will cost, but we need to remember the cost that Christ bore for us to draw near to him.

The Sword's Snare (Luke 22:39-53)

Recognizing the Reality of Spiritual Warfare In reflecting on spiritual warfare, it’s tempting to either overemphasize or downplay Satan’s influence. While some traditions see every life event as a battle against demonic forces, there’s a risk of overlooking the profound impact of personal sin, which can align us with the devil’s schemes. Satan seeks to destroy not just individuals but God’s very credibility. If he could snatch even one soul from Christ’s hand, then he would expose God as a liar. This sobering reality stirs a call to vigilance—not through human strength, but by recognizing the unseen battle. Our fleshly instinct to “buck up” and rely on personal fortitude misses the deeper truth: true victory lies in dependence on Christ, who faced and overcame the ultimate spiritual battle for us. The Ease of Faith and the Devil’s Deception Living in a land of relative ease, where faith requires little sacrifice, can dull our appreciation for Christianity’s beauty. Unlike those in persecuted regions, where believers face life-threatening risks, our daily struggles often revolve around mundane tasks like getting to church on time. This comfort can blind us to Satan’s work, as Baudelaire warned: the devil’s greatest wile is convincing the world he doesn’t exist. Without a perceived threat, we neglect spiritual defenses. Yet, Christ calls us to a different weapon, which is prayer over the sword. In the face of Satan’s relentless efforts to undermine God’s integrity, we’re urged to turn to prayer, trusting not in our own strength but in the One who has already overcome. Christ’s Anguish and Our Call to Prayer In the Garden of Gethsemane, we witness Christ’s intense anguish, sweating drops like gushing blood as He faced the weight of enduring hell’s wrath for us. Innocent, yet burdened, He was ministered to by an angel, echoing God’s care for Elijah. Meanwhile, the disciples succumbed to grief, sleeping instead of praying, and resorted to swords, misunderstanding the spiritual battle’s nature. Christ’s rebuke and healing of the servant’s ear reveal that spiritual warfare isn’t fought with fleshly weapons. Judas’s betrayal with a kiss and the crowd’s shortsighted rejection of Christ, despite His miracles, which betray his prophetic credibility, highlight human failure to align with God’s truth. Yet, Christ’s faithfulness calls us to pray, seeking strength to resist temptation and stand firm in His victory. Victory Through Humility and Trust in Christ Our response to Satan’s schemes must be rooted in humility and prayer, not self-reliance. Like Hezekiah or the psalmist in Psalm 139, we’re called to seek God’s conviction and guidance, trusting His Spirit to conform us to His will. Satan prowls, seeking to disrupt our contentment in Christ, but the cross and resurrection assure us of victory. Christ’s resurrection guarantees an indestructible kingdom, and through prayer, we participate in His triumph. Let us live as grateful conquerors, not fearing Satan’s wiles but resting in the Redeemer’s power, praying for wisdom to honor Him and confidence that His promises will never fail.