Thank you so much, Alice. With those verses open in front of you, I wonder if we could
have a show of hands. Put your hands up if you made any New Year's resolutions. Okay,
there's more than just one. Come on, hands on the air if we made some New Year's resolutions.
One person in this whole church made New Year's resolutions. Right, well, I was going to get
you to turn to your neighbor and speak about your New Year's resolutions, but we'll just
miss that one, shall we? Here are the top five New Year's resolutions that people in the UK made
last year, and let's see, if you're not going to admit it publicly, let's see if these privately
resonate with us, okay? Top five New Year's resolutions that people made. Number one,
get into shape. Okay, anyone join the gym this year? Used to work with a guy called John in this
church before me who joined the gym every January, and by every February, had given up. Nobody's
joining the gym. What about number two? Eat healthier. Did Santa buy anyone a cookbook
this year? Yes, one. I see one nod. Eat healthier. Two nods. Number three, travel more. Anyone got
any exciting plans to go abroad or visit new places this year? It's in the calendar. One
at the back. Excellent. Number four, spend more time with family. I guess that's maybe one for
all of us, isn't it? Number five, learn a new skill. Anybody taking up a new hobby this year?
New hobbies. Anybody wants to take them up? Nobody's taking up a new hobby. Well, we are flat
this morning, I tell you. New Year's resolutions. If we're not going crazy for them, our world is going
crazy for them. Just think about the things that people, I just think of some of the things that
people have told me that they're planning to do this year. But here's what I want to do.
As you think about the plans that you have for this year, maybe not resolutions, but what are
some of the things that you're hoping are going to happen this year? What goals and what ambitions
do you have for 2018? Just with those in your mind, here's the question I want to ask you that I think
this passage is going to ask us this morning and God through his word would ask us this morning.
is, does Jesus feature in your plans?
Does Jesus feature in your plans?
Because this morning's message, it comes with a warning
and it's that Jesus is, this morning, going to make a claim on our plans.
And we're going to see him this morning
demonstrate once again who he is
and demonstrate once again what he's about.
And we're going to see him interact with some different people.
And as he interacts with these different people, we'll see
that these different people, as they consider their lives
and as they consider their plans,
they respond to Jesus in two very different ways.
If you've got your Bibles there, we'll pick it up
at verse 31 of chapter 18 of Luke's Gospel.
And here is the first reaction to Jesus, verses 31 to 34.
Jesus, your plan is not our plan.
So here in Luke 18, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem
and we pick up the narrative with Jesus taking his 12 disciples aside
and he's taking them aside for a little pep talk.
And he's telling them expressly for the third time in this Gospel,
his plan.
And you'll see the plan from verse 32.
He'll be delivered over to the Gentiles.
So that word that just describes non-Jews.
He will be mocked.
He will be shamefully treated.
He will be spat upon.
He will be flogged.
He will be killed and he will rise again.
So that's the plan.
That's how it's going to go down in Jerusalem for Jesus.
Now what kind of a plan is that, you might be asking?
Let me just draw your attention to two words in these verses
that hopefully are going to help us understand what is going on here.
And here is the first words, verse 31, that Jesus uses.
It is written.
You see the plan of what is going to happen in Jerusalem.
It's not something that Jesus just concocted up in his own head.
This plan is no accident.
This plan will not be the result of Jesus just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
This plan will not be the result of God dropping the ball.
You see what Jesus is telling his disciples here and what Luke is conveying to his readers
is that this plan has been the plan all along.
In fact, the plan of the cross is the climax of the grand plan of redemption
hatched by God's grace in eternity past.
God's master plan to save and make a way for sinful men and women to be both forgiven
and to be reunited with the God who made them and loves them.
And it's the plan that's been foretold by the Old Testament prophets down the ages.
Now you can look these up in your own time.
Let me just draw your attention to two places that it talks about Jesus' suffering.
Psalm 22.
David inferring that there would be one who would come after him,
who would be the righteous sufferer par excellence,
who will be mocked, who will be insulted,
and who will be harmed, but who will lead God's people in praise of him.
Isaiah 53, Isaiah speaking, foretelling of the suffering servant
who will bear the sins and the griefs of his people.
And so here is Jesus declaring to his disciples
that the Old Testament prophets all along have been looking forward to him
and have been looking forward specifically to this moment.
Now just take a step back.
Do you see what this is telling us?
That so powerful is our God
that history dances to his tune.
That so sovereign is our God
that human events go down to the T
exactly as he planned them to go down.
And so wise is our God
that his plan, his wise plan,
it makes a mockery of all human wisdom.
As somebody pointed out to me recently,
and I think this is pretty cool,
that this year, 2018,
Easter Sunday falls on the 1st of April.
So Easter Sunday is April Fool's Day.
Now if you think about that,
that is a beautiful irony.
That so wise is our God
that even as the world looked at Jesus,
even as the world looked on the plan of the cross,
and as the world laughed,
and as the world mocked,
it's almost as if God on Easter Sunday,
he declares to the world,
with his son risen from the dead,
having paid for our sins,
having conquered the grave,
that who's the fool now?
Do you see, so wise is our God
that even man's worst
is nothing other than his best?
That's the plan.
It is written.
And here's the second word,
the one that Luke uses to describe
how this plan,
how it goes down with the 12.
Verse 34,
and it's the word hidden.
Now if you quickly scan your eye over verse 34,
you'll notice
that Luke essentially says
the same thing three times.
Right?
It's essentially the same thing three times.
Now why has he done that?
Well he's done it to underscore his point.
Now what's his point?
Well as we say in the West,
the disciples didn't have a scooby.
Right?
Didn't have a clue
about what was going on here.
Didn't understand
what Jesus was talking about.
And it's not as if Jesus
has sat them down
and he's told them a riddle.
Okay?
It's not like you might have played
at your Christmas.
It's not like charades.
It's not like Jesus is playing charades
acting this one out
and they just cannot guess
what the answer is.
He's talking in plain language.
It's not so much
that they can't understand
what Jesus is saying.
It's more so that they won't
buy into
what Jesus is saying.
You can imagine their hearts,
their minds at this point.
Why does this need to be
your plan, Jesus?
Why does it need to be this way?
I mean we've seen you in action.
We've seen you in action.
Your life could be one of popularity.
Your status could be one of celebrity.
You could go down
in history
as the one who has toppled the Romans
and set his people free.
Why does it need to be
like this?
Your plans do not match up
with our understanding
of who this Messiah King
is going to be.
Why does it need to be
like this Jesus?
You're God's promised
mighty king.
So why would you subject yourself
to everything
that you've just told us?
Here's what we need
to see here.
It's just the third time
in this gospel
that Jesus has told them
this plainly.
What's going on?
They're not thinking spiritually.
They're thinking worldly.
Jesus, your plan
is not our plan.
Let me ask you,
is that the confession
of your heart this morning?
As you think about
your own plans.
Jesus, your plan
is not my plan.
Maybe you're here this morning
and you wouldn't call yourself
a Christian.
As you look at Jesus
in action here,
let me ask you,
do you understand the plan?
Do you see the great love
that God has for you
as one of his image bearers,
one of his precious
created beings
that drove Jesus
to this plan?
Do you know
the depths of the sin
in your own heart
that meant
that there was no other way
for you to be made right
with God
except the plan
for Jesus
to die in your place
for your sin?
Here is Jesus.
See in Jesus,
a man with a wonderfully
unexpected
yet unparalleled plan.
But I've been reflecting
on this plan this week
and here's what's
challenged me the most.
I haven't
massively got issues
with the plan.
But I,
in my heart,
what I do have issues
with so often
is the pattern
that Jesus sets here.
Because this cross-shaped man
calls all who would
follow after him
to a cross-shaped life,
to a life of denying
ourselves,
to taking up our cross,
and to following him.
You see,
Jesus,
the one worthy
of creation's
eternal place,
he made his life
not about the pursuit
of his own glory.
He made his life
about the pursuit
of God's glory.
And so he calls
all who would follow
after him
to the same pursuit.
And so I hear
that call of Jesus.
We've seen it time
and time again
as we're journeying
through Luke's gospel.
I hear that call.
And the inclination
of my heart
is,
Jesus,
I don't want your plan.
I want my plan.
And so I found myself
again and again
and again this week
coming back
to the words of that
old hymn that we sing
so often here.
Let me look at it.
Prone to wander.
Lord,
I feel it.
Prone to wander,
Lord,
I feel it.
Prone to leave
the God that I love.
And so what's my prayer?
It's been,
Lord,
here's my heart.
Take and seal it
and seal it
for your courts above.
The inclination
of my heart
is not that way,
it's that way.
Lord,
would you help me?
Lord,
would you help me?
There's the first confession.
Jesus,
your plan
is not my plan.
Well,
from considering
some men
who can physically see
but who can't
spiritually see,
we move to consider
a man
who can't physically see
but who can spiritually see.
All of a sudden now,
maybe we're beginning
to understand
that Luke's put this
together with a purpose.
Jesus and the twelve,
you see,
they continue on their journey
and we learn at verse 35
that they reach
Jericho.
So this little town
that's located
about 18 miles
east of Jerusalem
and Jericho
is a well-to-do
kind of place.
I mean,
if we were here,
we'd all want to live
in Jericho.
It's a well-to-do
kind of place
and it sits
on the travel route
that the pilgrims
would take
on their way
to Jerusalem.
So it's on the highway
and given that it was
part of Jewish law
to give alms
to the less fortunate
of society,
it's little wonder
that on this
travel way,
sitting by the roadside
begging,
is this blind man.
And what do we learn
about this man?
He's blind.
And it's this man
that as we read
of him encountering
Jesus
at verses 35
to 43
who shows us
a different reaction
to Jesus,
one that starkly contrasted
to that of the disciples
previous.
And here it is
on the screen.
Jesus,
my plan
is your plan.
So in the previous section
we considered two words.
In this little section
we're going to consider
two questions.
Now here's the first question
in verse 36.
It's the one
that the blind man
asks to the crowd.
What does he ask?
What is happening?
Now Jesus is making
his way into Jericho.
That's what's happening.
And a crowd
are rushing
to meet him.
And clearly
somebody from this crowd
reports to the blind man
that Jesus of Nazareth
is passing by.
Now this is what
happened to me this week.
I read of this blind man
and because I'm quite
into soul music,
two people
that I instantly
thought of
my favourite artists.
Ray Charles,
anyone who loves
Ray Charles?
A few people.
Blind from the age of seven.
And Stevie Wonder,
blind from birth.
Now back in 2014
there was a study
done by scientists
in the US
and it found
that when it came
to their music,
actually their disability,
it enhanced
their music
because it enhanced
their sense of hearing.
Now I've got no idea
how they found that out.
I've got no idea
whether that or not
is the case
for Ray Charles
and Stevie Wonder
but it certainly
seems to be true
for this man
that we meet in Luke 18
because he's not
seen Jesus,
he's not clapped eyes
on Jesus
but he's clearly
heard a lot about him.
Let's try and get
into the narrative here,
into the picture,
picture him by the
side of the road.
If he has sat
by that spot every day
given that it's
a busy route,
he's clearly listened
and he's heard
a lot of people
talking about Jesus.
He's perhaps overheard
people waxing lyrical
about this man
from the north,
about how this man
from the north
is challenging
the religious elite,
about how he's
healing the unclean,
about how he's
associating with the lowly
and as he does
those things
how he's turning
the whole region
upside down.
And you may have
even heard specifically
about the incident
at the synagogue
in Nazareth
that Luke describes
for us back
in chapter 4.
If you remember
you can check it out
later that Jesus
takes the scroll
of Isaiah
and he reads it
in front of all
the people
that the spirit
of the Lord
is on me
because he has
anointed me
to preach good news
to the poor.
He has sent me
to proclaim
freedom
for the prisoners
and recovery
of sight
for the blind.
Jesus rolls up
the scroll
and what does
he effectively say?
the Messiah figure
that Isaiah
is talking about
is me.
I'm that guy.
Whatever this blind
man has heard
is evidently
enough to convince
him that Jesus
is God's
promised
saviour
and God's
promised king.
And that explains
I think his shout
at verse 38
Jesus
what does he call him?
Son of David.
In other words
God's promised king
have mercy
on me.
Now he's clearly
I love this
he's clearly
making a scene
isn't he?
Because the crowd
tell him to be
quiet.
I love this
what does he do?
Does he be quiet?
Not a chance.
He keeps at it
what does Luke tell us?
He shouted
all the more
which I think
is just a polite
way of saying
that he turned up
the volume
he kept on shouting.
I love this
you can imagine
the crowd
looking at one another
would somebody
just wrestle him
to the floor?
Or at least
would somebody
just get some
duct tape
and just put it
over his mouth
because quite frankly
he's embarrassing
the lot of us
but is this man
going to shut up?
Not a chance
because the man
who he's been
hoping to meet
and the moment
that he's been
hoping would happen
is here.
And Jesus
has clearly
heard him.
Jesus is on
his way through.
Remember Jesus
has got the cross
eminently in his
mind.
Is Jesus going
to ignore him?
No.
Now notice
the compassion
of Jesus Christ
at this point.
He calls this man
over and here's
the second question
of these verses
this time
from Jesus
to the blind man
verse 41.
What do you
want me to do
for you?
Now is it just me
or is that a strange
question?
A strange question.
Is it not
kind of obvious?
You mean this man
who's sitting
by the roadside
with his eyes
closed?
Jesus,
you're asking
him what he
wants?
Now what is
Jesus up to
here?
He's drawn
this man out.
He's testing
if he really
believes that
Jesus is
who he says
he is
or is he
simpler using
words to
flatter Jesus
into getting
him to help
him?
What do you
want me to do
for you?
It's kind of
like that moment
in Aladdin.
Aladdin.
You can tell
what we were
watching over
Christmas time.
Aladdin finds
the lamp.
He rubs the
lamp.
Now it comes
the genie who
sings that song
that I'd love
to tell you.
I don't know
the words to
but I do.
Mr. Aladdin,
sir, what will
your pleasure be?
This is this
man's Aladdin
moment, is it
not?
What Jesus
says, what
do you want
me to do
for you?
What will
he say?
Money?
Friends?
A home?
A career?
A wife?
What would
you say?
Because you
see, unlike
the disciples
who were
thinking worldly,
this man is
thinking spiritually.
And he offers
Jesus the
briefest of
answers, which
I think is an
indication of
the fact that
he's probably
rehearsed this
scene in his
mind before.
Lord, in
other words,
Master, I
want to see.
And the
truth is,
behind the
curtain of
his confession
is a heart
that says,
Jesus, I
don't want
things.
Jesus, I
don't need
stuff.
What I need
most and
what I want
most is
you.
And Jesus,
seeing his
faith, he
heals this
man.
And the
word is
suggestive there
of more than
just healing.
This man,
because of
his faith,
has been
saved.
And what
did he do?
He followed.
So he
made his
life all
about Jesus.
He made
the pattern
of his
life cross
shape.
Jesus, where
you go, I'm
going.
And you
see in the
context of
Luke's gospel
how this
man stands
in stark
contrast to
the rich
young ruler
who Luke
has told us
about only a
few verses
previously.
The rich
young ruler
who has
everything,
who comes
to Jesus,
Jesus tells
him, go and
sell everything
and follow
me.
He rejects
Jesus.
And this
man who
worldly has
everything,
leaves spiritually
with nothing.
But this
blind man,
who knows
he has
nothing,
who knows
he is
nothing,
he comes
to Jesus,
Jesus have
mercy on
me, throws
himself in
the mercy
and the
grace of
Jesus.
Puts
his faith
in Jesus,
he accepts
Jesus,
he's got
everything.
See, here
is Jesus,
the one
who has
come to
reconnect
human beings
to the
very reason
why they
were created
in the
first place.
And that's
to worship
God and
enjoy him
forever.
This man
has been
turned from
a beggar
into a
worshipper.
It's a common
slogan in our
day, isn't
it, that
seeing is
believing.
To see,
Luke is
telling us
here that
when it
comes to
faith,
that
believing
is
seeing.
Jesus,
my plan
is your
plan.
So let
me ask
you, just
as we work
towards a
close, what
are your
plans for
this year?
What are
your goals?
What are
your ambitions
for 2018?
You know,
last week we
had some great
fun in the
snow.
I say we,
I had some
great fun in
the snow.
We were
staying at my
parents'
through in
Glasgow and
we woke up
on Saturday
morning.
If you
remember last
Saturday
morning, it
just snowed.
So we
got up, went
out to the
garden, pristinely
covered in
untouched snow.
I mean, honestly,
I felt about
five again.
This was
incredible.
So the four
of us go out
and we start
building and
I'm one of
these people
that when I
commit to
something, I
really commit
to something.
So I'm
showing our
little girl
Chloe how
to roll up
snow.
And I'm
rolling up the
snow and
she's away
getting acorns
for the
snowman's
buttons and
his eyes.
And so I'm
rolling up the
snow and I'm
compacting it
really tightly
so that it's
going to last.
I am shaping
it in a way
that's meaning
that the wind
is not going
to batter it
down.
I really need
to get out
more, don't
I?
But this is
what I'm
doing to
this snowman.
And then it
suddenly occurs
to me that
why would we
stop at one
snowman?
Why can't we
build a snow
family?
So, do you
want to see
our snow
family?
Okay, not
that one.
That one.
There we go.
Now look at it,
isn't it lovely?
You even get
hats.
It's not very
that impressive
is it?
Really.
But what
happens that
night?
Tips it
down.
Tons and
tons of
rain.
We wake up
the next
morning, do
you know what
my first
thought is?
What's
happened to
my snow
family?
What's
happened to
my snow
family?
And actually
those three
snow people
have turned
to three
snow lumps.
Now give it
another 24
hours, give it
another bit
of rain and
those three
snow lumps
totally
disappeared.
Now here's
where I want us
to finish this
morning.
When it comes
to our plans
for the year
ahead, here's
what God is
asking us from
his word this
morning.
As a
community, as
individuals,
friends, are we
investing ourselves
in things that
will be here
today and
gone tomorrow?
Will we this
year invest
ourselves in
things that
will last for
eternity?
Will we be
those like
this blind
man who
don't think
worldly, who
think spiritually?
Will we be
people who
put it all
on Jesus
Christ?
Will our
plans for the
year ahead be
cross-shaped?
Will our
ambitions for
the year ahead
be kingdom
driven?
And will our
plans for the
year ahead,
will they be
God's glorifying?
So just as we
close, let me
just read to
you the words
of this
lovely poem
by C.T.
Studs, who
was a famous
English cricketer
turned missionary.
He wrote this
about his
life.
Two little
lines I heard
one day,
traveling along
life's busy
way,
bringing
conviction to
my heart
and from
my mind
would not
depart.
Only one
life will
soon be
passed.
Only what's
done for
Christ will
last.
Amen.
Just before we
move on,
why don't we
just have a
moment of
silence?
Well, let's
just maybe
reflect on
what God
has been
challenging
us on
this morning.
Amen.
Jesus,
all for
Jesus,
all I
am and
have and
ever hope
to be.
All my
ambitions,
hopes and
plans,
I surrender
these into
your hands.
Dear Father,
thank you so
much for this
new year,
fresh with
opportunities. Father, we're so aware as we step into this year that we do not know what's coming.
But Father, thank you that you who hold the world in your hands do. And so we ask that you would
help us all today to focus our hearts and our minds on the one who gave his life for us.
And would you help us this year to be people who are marked by the fact that we seek first your
kingdom. So Father, thank you for this time together. We pray that you'd be with us now as
we move into this time of communion, as we remember your son. And we pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen.