Sermon #     631                                                          Luke Sermons

 

     Title:            He Steadfastly Set his Face

     Text:            Luke 9:51

     Subject:       Christ’s Determination to Suffer for His People

     Date:            Sunday Morning – October 21, 2001

     Tape #         W-64a

     Reading:      Exodus 21:1-6; 1 Peter 2:11-24 & Hebrews 10:1-14

     Introduction:

 

(Luke 9:51)  "And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem."

 

Let’s begin in Isaiah 50:4-9. These verses are prophetic declaration of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one speaking here is our great Savior himself. He speaks here as Jehovah’s Servant. Everything in these five verses is about him.

 

Here our Savior is described in all three of his mediatorial offices.

 

·        Christ our Prophet (v. 4).

 

(Isaiah 50:4)  "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned."

 

·        Christ our Priest (vv. 5-8).

 

(Isaiah 50:5-8)  "The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. {6} I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. {7} For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. {8} He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me."

 

·        Christ our King (v. 9).

 

(Isaiah 50:9)  "Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up."

 

Notice how the character of our Redeemer is set forth in this passage of Holy Scripture. Every word should be mediated upon thoughtfully and carefully.

 

·        vv. 4-5 – The Willing Servant (Ex. 21:1-6).

 

(Isaiah 50:4-5)  "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. {5} The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back."

 

·        v. 6 -- The Humble Sufferer.

 

(Isaiah 50:6)  "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting."

 

·        v. 7 – The Determined Substitute.

 

(Isaiah 50:7)  "For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed."

 

·        vv. 8-9 – The Successful Savior.

 

(Isaiah 50:8-9)  "He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. {9} Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up."

 

Look at verse 7 again.

 

(Isaiah 50:7)  "For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed."

 

Luke seems to have had this very text in mind when he wrote the words of our text. -- “It came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).

 

Proposition: From old eternity the Son of God determined to save his people by the sacrifice of himself; and nothing could keep him from the accomplishment of his determined purpose.

 

1.     Having pledged himself as our Surety in the covenant of grace, he never went back on his word, or even thought about doing so (Pro. 8:23-32).

 

(Proverbs 8:23-32)  "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. {24} When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. {25} Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: {26} While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. {27} When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: {28} When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: {29} When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: {30} Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; {31} Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. {32} Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways."

 

2.     Though we fell in the garden, through the sin and fall of our father Adam, our Lord’s purpose was not changed.

 

3.     Often the Angel of the Covenant visited fallen sinners in the earth in anticipation of what he would do.

 

·        Skins for Adam and Eve!

·        An Ark for Noah!

·        A Mercy-Seat for Israel!

·        A Deliverer for the Three Hebrews!

 

4.     At last the appointed time Came and the Son of God assumed our nature that he might die in our stead upon the cursed tree (Rom. 5:6-8; Gal. 4:4-6).

 

(Romans 5:6-8)  "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. {7} For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. {8} But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

 

(Galatians 4:4-6)  "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, {5} To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. {6} And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

 

·        He had a baptism to be baptized with.

·        He had a cup to drink.

·        With ardent desire, he longed to eat that last passover supper with his disciples.

·        Now, his hour had come. – Now, in due time, when the fullness of time was come, Luke tells us -- “It came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem

 

He had set his face like a flint upon the accomplishment of the great work he had undertaken for us and refused to be hindered. With the Son of God, there was no turning back. Though there were none to help and many who tried to hinder him, he would not be deterred from his great work1.

 

Divisions: I want to do two things in this message.

 

3        I want to show you our Redeemer’s commitment to us.

3        I want to challenge us to imitate our Redeemer in our commitment to him.

 

Christ’s Steadfast Commitment

 

I.                   First, I want to show you our Redeemer’s commitment to us.

 

In our text we see the Lord Jesus’ resolution and commitment, the entire resolution and commitment of his very Being to the redemption and salvation of our souls, knowing full well that the price of our ransom must be his own death.

 

A.   This commitment, this resolution, this determination of Christ to suffer and die as our Substitute at Calvary was greatly tested.

 

Remember now, I am talking about the man Christ Jesus, The God-man, our Savior. His determination to fulfill his covenant engagements as our Surety was put to the test.

 

1.     Our Savior was tempted to turn aside from his purpose by the offers of worldly advantage (John 6:15).

 

(John 6:15)  "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone."

 

a.      For awhile his miracles made him famous.

b.     The Jews would have taken him by force and made him a king.

c.     His triumphal entry into Jerusalem made it obvious that the masses were ready to follow him on their terms. – A Political King and Kingdom!

d.     In the wilderness Satan offered him the kingdoms of this world (Matt. 4).

 

NOTE: Many a man has been turned aside from good purposes by the bauble of worldly advantage – But not our Savior!

 

2.     Our lord’s determination to redeem us was also tested by the persuasion of his closest friends.

 

a.      The disciples tried to dissuade him (John 11:8, 16).

b.     Peter rebuked him (Matt. 16:22-23).

c.     His family would have chosen other things for him.

 

NOTE: If we would do the will of God, we must not consult with flesh and blood (Gal. 1:15).

 

(Galatians 1:15)  "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,"

 

3.     Certainly the unworthiness of those for whom he was determined to die might be considered a great hindrance to him.

 

a.      Peter denied him.

b.     All forsook him.

c.     Some for whom he died were among his murderers. (1 John 3:16 – “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us!”). The Son of God died for us, a people

·        Who wished that he should be made to die!

·        From whom he would get no love in return, except he create it!

·        Who would never be worthy of his love!

·        But this is the greatest wonder of his death: -- Christ died for me! – “The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me!

 

4.     Our Savior’s determination would be tested again by the bitterness he tasted in Gethsemane.

 

“If anything could have broken our Savior’s resolution it would have been the agony and bloody sweat of Gethsemane.” (Spurgeon).

 

5.     Certainly the ease with which he could have avoided his ignominious death was a temptation to do so.

 

·        His Arrest in the Garden – “Whom seek ye?” – “Twelve legions of angels!

·        Before Pilate. – “Thou couldst have no power over me, except it were given thee of my Father.

 

Our Lord was not compelled to go to Calvary by any lack of ability, but only by his love, which is strong as death. When he said, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me,” the only thing that made that impossible was his determination to redeem and save us.

 

6.     The taunts and jeers of the people who scoffed at him must have tested his determination too.

 

·        If thou be the King!

·        Let us see if Elias will come to save him!

·        If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us.”

·        He saved others, himself he cannot save!” (Mt. 27:42).

 

NOTE: Many a strong man is turned aside from his good purposes by the jeers of others.

 

7.     Our dear Redeemer must have been tempted to turn back from his determination to save us when he felt in his soul the full agony of his sufferings (Lam. 1:12).

 

·        My God, my God, Why hast thou forsaken me!

 

(Lamentations 1:12)  "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger."

 

B.    Yet, in spite of all these temptations, our dear Savior was sustained in his determination to redeem and save us.

 

1        By His Divine Learning (v. 4; Heb. 2:10-18).

 

(Isaiah 50:4)  "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned."

 

(Hebrews 2:10-18)  "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. {11} For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, {12} Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. {13} And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. {14} Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; {15} And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. {16} For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. {17} Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. {18} For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."

 

2.     By His Conscious Innocence (v. 5).

 

(Isaiah 50:5)  "The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back."

 

·        He was personally innocent.

·        He would be made innocent as our Representative (v. 8).

 

(Isaiah 50:8)  "He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me."

 

3         By the Joy set Before Him (v. 8) – (Heb. 12:2).

 

4        By the Confidence of Success (v. 9).

 

(Isaiah 50:9)  "Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up."

 

A Challenge

 

II.                Second, I want to challenge myself and you to imitate our blessed Redeemed in our commitment to him (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:19-20).

 

(Romans 12:1-2)  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. {2} And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

 

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)  "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? {20} For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

 

A.   Consecrate yourself to do the will of God for the glory of God.

 

B.    Seek in all things to be taught of God – (4).

 

(Isaiah 50:4)  "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned."

 

C.   Ever Be Obedient To Your Father – (5-6).

 

§        Passive Obedience.

§        Active Obedience.

 

(Isaiah 50:5-6)  "The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. {6} I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting."

 

D      Ever live by faith. – Trust God (9-10).

 

(Isaiah 50:9-10)  "Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. {10} Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God."

 

Application:

 

·        Whatsoever he saith unto you, Do it” (John 2:5).

 

·        Illustration:     The Preacher and the Businessman



1 NOTE: We are saved by the faith or faithfulness of Jesus Christ- (Rom. 3:22; Gal. 2:16). -- (Romans 3:22)  "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:" -- (Galatians 2:16)  "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

 



1 Isaiah Series #157      The Determination of Christ to Suffer for His People

                                        Isaiah 50:7 – Danville (PM 07/25/93)