St Louis UBF UBF Bible Study : Luke 18:31-43 (2011)

Bible Study Materials

Luke 18:31-43 (2011)

by Paul Choi 10/30/2011

Question

SON OF MAN, SON OF DAVID

Luke 18:31-43

Key Verse:18:31

1. Read verses 31-34. What lay ahead of Jesus in Jerusalem? What is the meaning of his suffering and death? (Isa 53:4,5;1Pe 2:24)

2. What does it mean that he must rise again on the third day? (33; Jn 11:23-25; Ro 10:9,10) Why did Jesus keep teaching this to his disciples? (31,34)

3. Read verses 35-38. What was the situation of the blind beggar sitting by the roadside? How do you think he viewed himself, people and the world? What did he know about Jesus?

4. Read verse 39. How did the people regard this beggar? How did he respond to the rebukes of the people? What can we learn from him?

5. Read verses 40-43. How was Jesus different? What did Jesus say to him? What was his one prayer request? How did Jesus respond? What can we learn here about Jesus? About prayer? What does this passage teach about faith?

6. What did this man do after receiving Jesus' grace? What can we learn from him? How did the people respond? What does this show about Jesus’ ministry?

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SON OF MAN, SON OF DAVID-questions.doc

Message

SON OF MAN, SON OF DAVID

Luke 18:31-43

Key Verse:18:31 “Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.”

Last week we learned that what is impossible with men is possible with God. I am not talking about how last Friday night the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in the midst of the impossible situation of the 2011 season. I means that what man couldn’t do for his salvation, God made possible through his Son Jesus Christ. The possibility of men entering the kingdom of God by observing the law is zero, a lower percentage than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. But God made his son Jesus Christ to be a ransom sacrifice to pay the penalty of our sins and open the way for sinners to inherit eternal life through faith in Jesus. Praise God!

In today’s passage Jesus again predicts his suffering, death and resurrection to his disciples. This has been called the third time for the prediction, but actually in Luke’s gospel this is the seventh time! Just as we repeat important messages, Jesus foretold his future to his disciples for a special purpose; to believe that Jesus is the Promised Messiah. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, Jesus healed a man born blind. By healing this blind man, Jesus demonstrated his messianic mercy and power. Through this passage, I pray that we may learn the meaning of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. I also pray that Jesus may show his messianic mercy to all of us when we call on his name. Amen.

First, the Son of Man (31-34) Look at verse 31. “Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.” Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem. This might have been his last trip to Jerusalem, because his horrible trial, betrayal, and crucifixion were awaiting his coming. Even though Jesus knew that his life on this earth would end this time at Jerusalem, he was not swayed by sorrow or terror. His attitude was resolute and his words were decisive. This was because he had already made up his mind to obey the will of God. Jesus did not see himself with a human point of view, but with God’s point of view; he especially saw himself as God’s servant (Son of Man) who would fulfill God’s will for world salvation.

Jesus said that everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man would be fulfilled. Here everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man is all the prophecies and promises of God for the Messiah in the Old Testaments. Here, the word Son of Man is a messianic title along with ‘Son of David’. Jesus called himself ‘the Son of Man.’ We know that Jesus is the Son of God. So why did he call himself ‘the Son of Man”? It is because Jesus demonstrated his complete submission to God the Father to fulfill God’s will for world salvation as the son of a woman. From the beginning God promised to give the Messiah, the Savior of the world, through a woman. (Ge 3:15) After Adam’s Fall, men were helpless under the power of sin. Men lost paradise and the way to heaven was closed. By their own strength, it was impossible for them to be saved from the power of sin. But God had mercy on them and God promised to send a Savior from the offspring of a woman. (Ge 3:15) A long time later, God called an old man Abraham and helped him to live by faith. God taught men through Abraham that whoever believes in the promise of God will be blessed. God promised to send the Messiah, the Savior of the world to Abraham from his descendant.(Ge 12:3,22:18) David was a great king, but committed adultery before God. Still God remembered his promise and established the covenant with him that God would establish his kingdom through the descendant of David.(1 Sa 7:12) In David’s case, God taught men that salvation comes only by God’s grace, not by human morality. God sent Jesus Christ as the offspring of a woman, the descendant of Abraham and David.

The Son of Man is described by the Prophet Isaiah as a man of sorrows and familiar with sufferings. The Prophet Isaiah saw the humanness of the Messiah who would carry our sorrows and take our infirmities (Isa 53:3,4) The Apostle Paul described the incarnation of the Messiah in this, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man…” (Php 2:6-8a) One of the Twelve, John, testified about Jesus, the Son of Man, in this, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:14) God himself appeared as a man and called himself the Son of Man. What marvelous grace to men and what a humble Messiah Jesus is! Jesus called himself the Son of Man with full submission to God the Father as the servant of God. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:45)

How will the Son of Man Jesus fulfill all these prophecies? What is he going to do in Jerusalem? Look at verse 32,33 “He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” Jesus is God in very nature. All things came from Him and belong to Him. However, he will be rejected by the world which he has made. John said, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (Jn 1:10,11) So why was Jesus rejected by people, and why did he suffer in that way? Why should the Son of Man go through the way of suffering and death? This was because of our sins. The Son of Man had to suffer and die to save us from our sins and lead us into the kingdom of God. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Is 53:3-6)

There was a young man who struggled with the assurance of salvation. He thought that he was okay morally compared to others and was spiritually diligent in joining all the religious activities. He should have been right. Right? No. Despite his moral confidence, he suffered constantly from guilt and fear, the fear of death. He despaired many times before the power of sin and complained of his weaknesses. He cried out. One day, he had a chance to read the book of Isaiah. Through the prophecy about Jesus, he came to know that the Son of Man carried his sorrows and took up his infirmities. He deeply accepted that the Son of Man was nailed to the cross for his sins and crushed for his wrongdoings. When he came to realize that Jesus was punished and condemned on the cross in his place, all his pride and self-righteousness was broken. He was overwhelmed by the absolute love of God and complete sinfulness of himself. He cried out for help. God forgave him of all his sins and gave him the peace of salvation. He received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and began to witness to God’s love to the people around him. Jesus died for our pride. Jesus shed his blood for our sexual sins. Jesus suffered in our place and bore our curse in his own body. By his wounds we are healed and by his sacrificial death we receive new life.

The death of Jesus is not the end of the story about the Son of Man. Jesus said, “On the third day he will rise again.” If the story of Jesus ended with his death on the cross, he would not be our Messiah. His story would be beautiful, but just another sad story. However, Jesus rose again from the dead and conquered the power of death. His resurrection assured his final victory over Satan and previewed our final victory over the power of death. Death has power. Death makes us despairing and fatalistic. Death deprives us of all hope. People these days are sick with sin, which leads to death. However, Jesus died for our sins and rose again from the dead. He won over death. He conquered the grave. His resurrection gives us new birth into the living hope for our resurrection. (1 Pe 1:3,4) Those who believe in Jesus Christ will inherit eternal life and the kingdom of God. Those who have resurrection faith never despair or give up because they believe the final victory which comes from the resurrection of Christ.(1 Co 15:56,57) To Christians, sufferings produces endurance and perseverance. To Christians, resurrection produces living hope in the kingdom of God. (Ro 5:4,5) To those who believe in the resurrection of Christ, suffering is the prerequisite of future glory (Ro 8:18). To them, pain is gain. That’s why Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Php 1:21)

Jesus, the Son of Man, completed the work of salvation through his resurrection. When he said on the cross, “It is finished.”, he meant that he completed the work of the Messiah. Jesus finished his mission through obedient death on the cross. Now, God the Father, with the power of the Holy Spirit, raised Jesus from the dead and completed the work of salvation for us. Hallelujah!

Did Jesus’ disciples understand what Jesus was talking about? No. Not at all. Look at verse 34. “The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.” When Jesus spoke about his entry to Jerusalem, his disciples thought that Jesus would defeat the Roman Empire and restore Israel. They had no idea of Jesus’ death and resurrection. They were filled with earthly dreams which made them spiritually blind. Despite their spiritual ignorance, Jesus foretold his upcoming death and resurrection repeatedly so that they might remember someday Jesus’ words and overcome their failures. They would know that the death of Jesus is not defeat, but victory.

Second, the Son of David.(35-43) Look at verses 35-39. “As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” In Mark’s gospel this man was known as “Bartimaeus”.(Mk 10:46) Bartimaeus is not a name, but that which means “the Son of Timaeus.” This man born blind didn’t even have his own name. From birth, he saw only darkness. He couldn’t see cardinals flying in the blue sky. He couldn’t see beautiful flowers in the field. Above all, he was sorrowful because he couldn’t see his mother. He was sent to beg even from childhood. He might have had to support his sick father. His life was nothing but a continuation of grief and sorrow.

However, even though he was blind, he had faith in Jesus. He heard how Jesus healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, and raised the dead. He had not read the book of Isaiah, but he heard that the Messiah would come from the descendant of David. He heard that God would send the Messiah to proclaim freedom for prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Is 61:1,2; Lk 4:18,19) Bartimaeus came to believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of David and the Promised Messiah. He believed that Jesus would accept him and help him because the Messiah would not break a bruised reed and snuff out a smoldering wick. (Is 42:3, Mt 12:20) Even though he lost his sight, his spiritual eyes were opened to see Jesus. That’s why he shouted for Jesus’ mercy all the more even though he was rebuked to be quiet. He could not lose this once-in-a-lifetime chance. He did not mind how other people looked at him because he was blind. Above all, the desire to see enabled him to overcome all obstacles. Many people in this world hesitate to come to Jesus because of self-consciousness. They always measure how other people think of them. They should come to Jesus like Bartimaeus with boldness and faith. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Let us shout.

Look at verses 40-43. “Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight, your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.” Jesus never ignores outcries for his mercy. He heard the song of Bartimaeus. “Pass me not!” Jesus didn’t pass him by, but stopped and answered his prayer. He opened his eyes and gave him sight. Jesus will not pass us by. He will stop and listen to our outcry. And he will ask us, “What do you want me to do for you? “ How will you answer?

Today we learned about two names of Jesus, “The Son of Man,” and “The Son of David”. The first name was used by Jesus himself, the second one by a beggar born blind. Jesus, even though he is God himself, humbled himself and lowered himself down even lower than the blind beggar. We are not much different from Baritmaeus, who was blind, isolated, and hopeless. But, Jesus opens our eyes to see the Messiah, the Son of Man and the Son of David. May God give us deep understanding and open our spiritual eyes to see Jesus all the more. Amen.

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