This sermon explores how Jesus exemplified surrender, submission, and sanctity in His life and death, and how we can emulate His example in our lives.
Good morning, beloved congregation. It is with joy in my heart that I greet you today, not because the world is without trials, but because we serve a Savior who triumphed over them all. And it is this Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, whose words we will ponder and whose spirit we will seek to emulate today.
Charles Spurgeon, that great light of the 19th century, once said, "It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness." How true this rings, especially when we consider the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who was rich beyond measure, gave it all up to dwell among us, to suffer for us, and ultimately, to die for us. He surrendered all, submitted to the Father's will, and sanctified us through His submission.
So, let us turn now to the Scripture that will guide us today. From the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 23, verse 46: "Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last."
What a powerful testament to surrender, submission, and sanctity. In the throes of suffering, Jesus surrendered to the will of the Father. In the act of the ultimate sacrifice, He submitted to the Father's plan. And in His submission, He sanctified us all, making us righteous before God.
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before You today, humbled and in awe of Your great love for us. As we reflect on the surrender, submission, and sanctity of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, may our hearts be stirred and our spirits be moved. May we not only hear Your Word today but may we live it out in our daily lives. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus, amen.
Transition. Now, let us turn our hearts and minds to these three main points: Surrender in Suffering, Submission in Sacrifice, and Sanctity in Submission. How did Jesus exemplify these in His life and death, and how can we follow His lead in our own lives? Let us find out together.
As we look at the life of Jesus, we see a man who knew suffering. He was no stranger to pain, both physical and emotional. He was rejected by His own people, betrayed by one of His closest friends, and ultimately crucified. Yet, in the midst of this suffering, Jesus did not resist or rebel. Instead, He surrendered. He willingly accepted the path that was laid before Him, even though it led to the cross.
This surrender was not a sign of weakness, but of strength. It was not a surrender to circumstances, but to the will of the Father. Jesus understood that His suffering was part of God's plan for the redemption of humanity. He accepted it, not begrudgingly, but willingly. He surrendered to the Father's will, knowing that it would lead to His own suffering and death.
In our own lives, we often face suffering. We may experience pain, loss, or hardship. We may feel like we are being crushed under the weight of our circumstances. But in these moments, we can look to Jesus as our model.
The first aspect of this surrender that we need to understand is that it is a choice. Jesus chose to surrender to the Father's will. He chose to accept the path of suffering that was laid before Him. He could have resisted. He could have called down legions of angels to rescue Him. But He didn't. He chose surrender.
When we face suffering, our natural instinct is to resist. We want to fight back, to try to change our circumstances. But Jesus shows us a different way. He shows us that we can choose to surrender. We can choose to trust in God's plan, even when it leads us through suffering.
The second aspect of this surrender is that it is a trust. Jesus trusted in the Father's plan. He trusted that His suffering was not in vain, but was part of a greater purpose. He trusted that through His suffering, God's will would be accomplished.
The third aspect of this surrender is that it is a submission. Jesus submitted to the Father's will. He didn't just accept it, He embraced it. He willingly laid down His own desires and plans in order to fulfill the Father's plan.
The fourth aspect of this surrender is that it is a sacrifice. Jesus sacrificed His own comfort, His own desires, and ultimately His own life in order to fulfill the Father's plan. He gave up everything for the sake of others.
When we face suffering, we often want to protect ourselves. We want to hold on to our comfort and security. But Jesus shows us that we can sacrifice for the sake of others. We can give up our own comfort and security in order to serve and love others.
Transition. In all of these aspects, we see a picture of surrender in suffering that is both challenging and inspiring. It challenges us to choose surrender, to trust in God's plan, to submit to His will, and to sacrifice for the sake of others. But it also inspires us. It shows us that surrender in suffering is not a path of defeat, but of victory. It is the path that Jesus walked, and it is the path that leads to life.
As we continue to reflect on Jesus' final moments, we find ourselves standing at the foot of the cross, witnessing the ultimate act of submission: His sacrifice ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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