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In Luke 22:54-71 we see more responses to Jesus. Peter denied, others mocked, and some accused. Through all of this we are also able to observe Jesus's response. When given the chance, he doesn't defend himself. In a way, he provides the testimony that brings about his conviction. In a theological sense Jesus is on trial for us. He stands on trial where we ought to be standing. The judge becomes judged so sinners can be rescued from judgment.

The betrayal of Jesus in Luke 22:47-53 reveals both the pain of betrayal and the sovereignty of God. Judas’s act of betrayal underscores the deep emotional wound caused when trust is broken, especially by someone close. Yet, in the face of this treachery, Jesus responds with compassion, healing the ear of the servant and demonstrating that his kingdom is not advanced through violence but through sacrificial love. Even as the forces of darkness appear to prevail, Jesus acknowledges their limits, declaring, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness.” This evil moment unfolds under God’s sovereign plan, turning betrayal and suffering into the means of redemption. Jesus’s response challenges us to face wrongdoing in the same way, while his acknowledgment of God’s control assures us that no trial or evil act lies outside God’s redemptive purpose.

Life’s trials are unavoidable, but they are not without purpose. Romans 5:1-5 reveals a transformative pathway through suffering: endurance builds character, and character nurtures hope—a hope that is secure because of God’s love poured out through the Holy Spirit. This message unpacks how God uses suffering to sanctify His people, conforming them to the image of Christ while equipping them to serve others. It challenges us to embrace endurance as the bridge between pain and joy, grounded in the unshakable truth of the Gospel, and empowered by the example and strength of Jesus, who endured the cross for our sake.

In Luke 22:35-46, Jesus begins by telling his disciples to rely on God’s provision, while reminding them that all of their needs will be supplied. He goes on to say that he will be falsely tried as a transgressor or criminal, even though he is sinless. This is a reminder that these false accusations and his ultimate crucifixion were all part of God’s plan. This led the disciples to want to use swords against these accusers, to which Jesus urged them not to. We then see Jesus going to his customary place of prayer, the Garden of Gethsemane, to ask the Father if there was a way to spare him from the suffering and death. Even though Jesus was in great anguish and literally sweated drops of blood, he ultimately submitted to the will of God the Father. Finally, he used his time of praying as a teaching moment for the disciples to remain vigilant in prayer so as not to enter into temptation.

In 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 we learn how the message of the cross, though seemingly foolish to the world, reveals God's ultimate wisdom and power. Human wisdom falls short of knowing God, because salvation doesn't come through impressive signs or intellectual pursuit. God brings salvation through the simple yet profound proclamation of Christ crucified. Even though many perceive the message of a crucified Christ as foolishness, it is actually powerful and wise because through it God saves sinners. God's cruciform wisdom overturns and subverts worldly wisdom and by doing so God receives eternal glory.

The teachings of Jesus in Luke are often countercultural. In Luke 22:24-34, Jesus reveals how the worldly view of greatness contrasts with his own; those who are great should be as the youngest and servants at heart. Jesus not only taught what it means to be great, but modeled it by laying down his life for his people. These passages exalt Christ’s example of greatness (to be followed), diminish the worldly view of greatness (to be avoided), and reveal the failure and limitations of human leaders (to be acknowledged). 
While pride often prevents us from serving others, looking to Christ’s example of humble service can help overcome this obstacle. In what ways can we be servant-minded followers of Jesus this week?

In Romans 8:28-30 we learn two promises that provide Christians with a joy that cannot be taken away (John 16:22). Because of the resurrection of Jesus, 1.) your bad things will turn out for good, and 2.) the best is yet to come. Bad things turning out for good doesn't mean bad things are somehow reclassified as good. It does mean that if the worst thing to ever happen in the world – the execution and death of the Son of God – worked out for good, then Christians can be assured all of their bad things will turn out for good too. And knowing the best is yet to come means all the good things in this life are gifts, not gods. All of the joys, delights, pleasures, and loves of this life are precious gifts from God given as a taste, an appetizer, of an eternal and glorious life to come. A life so glorious that "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18).

Palm Sunday is all about the fact that Jesus is King. But what does the kingliness of Jesus consist of? Luke 19 and John 13 give us three vignettes about the kind of King we have in Jesus. In Luke 19:34-41 we learn we have a king who weeps. In Luke 19:45-46 we learn we have a king who has anger, because he wants us. And in John 13:1-5 we learn we have a king who loves us to the end. In all of your efforts for true love and for the deepest kind of friendship, in all of your efforts to find a genuine and true leader you can follow, Jesus is the one you ultimately seek. Jesus is everything you need and all you want. He is a lion and a lamb.

When pain and anguish and feelings of betrayal and disillusionment flood our souls what are we to do? Thankfully, God has given us the resource of biblical lament. Lament is not a denial of faith; it’s actually an expression of it. It is what happens when people who believe in God turn to him with their pain—not to hide it, not to fix it quickly, but to bring it honestly before Him. In a world that often rushes past grief or avoids it altogether, lament invites us to slow down, speak the truth, and be held by a God who listens. This sermon offers practical guidance in learning what biblical lament is and how to do it.   

In Luke 20:41-21:4 Jesus asks a question of his own to invite his adversaries to give deeper reflection to who the Messiah really is. When Jesus quotes from Psalm 110 he reveals the Messiah is much more than simply a descendant of David. He is the Lord over all who will overcome the worst of our enemies - sin and death. When he warns his disciples not to become like the Scribes he demonstrates he is the better ruler. The Scribes were looking for too little in a Messiah. They couldn't see that in Jesus God had given them a beautiful King. A king who gives instead of takes. A king who sacrifices himself instead of exploiting others for gain. A king who gives his life so others might live. Is this the Jesus you know? 

In Luke 20:27-40 the Sadducees confront Jesus about a core doctrine of the Christian faith — life after death. In this third confrontation in the Temple, Jesus responds to an influential group who twists the Scriptures to make a particular belief look ridiculous. A few lessons we can learn as we confront scoffers in our day are: (1) be biblical, (2) be gentle and respectful, and (3) be direct. Christians should respond to those who misinterpret the Bible by being well-grounded in Scripture, confident in both Jesus’ and Scripture’s authority, convinced of the truth of the resurrection, and characterized by gentleness and respect in all discussions.

Without the resurrection, concepts of judgment, accountability, and eternal life lose their meaning. The call is to trust in the authority of God and to present the truth boldly and lovingly, ensuring that our defense of the gospel remains rooted in Scripture.

In 2 Kings 5:1-19, Naaman, commander of the Syrian army, travels into enemy territory to be healed of leprosy. Naaman nearly didn’t experience healing when he stormed away in proud anger when the prophet Elisha told him to wash himself in the dirty Jordan river seven times. But the path for salvation always requires humility. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Have you experienced God’s saving work in your life through humble repentance and faith? When Naaman discovers he has been completely healed, he is stunned and realizes the God of Israel is the one true God. He alone is to be feared, obeyed, and worshipped. Do you know this? Does your life show that?