Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Is. 50. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Our celebration today is both joyous and somber. It reflects upon the realities of life in this fallen world of sin, and the blessed way in which God has addressed our sin and guilt and called us back to Himself through His gracious mercy, forgiveness, and love. In our text from Isaiah and also the Epistle Lesson in Philippians, we are invited to see “THE MIND OF CHRIST.” In the Gospel Lesson we see “THE MIND OF CHRIST” in action.
- Further, we are encouraged by the Apostle Paul to “have this mind among yourselves,” and in our text, we see how God accomplishes this in us. This is quite daunting at first, and challenging as we go through life in this world, to have “THE MIND OF CHRIST.”
- I suppose at first contemplation of this we are appropriately shocked that God would expect this of us, or that God would create this in us. I can recall thinking about this a long time ago as a young man and deciding that I just wanted to be a “believer” in Christ, and not really be so religious as to have “THE MIND OF CHRIST.” Understanding my own sinful nature even at that time, I was actually rather repulsed to think this even remotely possible. That was way too much to aspire to!
- At the time I did not fully grasp God’s grace, mercy, and compassionate love – and had many misguided notions about God, His glory and honor. While it is good to honor God and to be humble, this is really what “THE MIND OF CHRIST” is all about – and we should make no mistake about this, that God wants us to have this mind within us, and He is able to produce it. We see in our text that:
I. The Mind Of Christ Is Created By And Dwells Upon A Word Given To Us By God – A Word Of Grace, Love, Mercy, And Forgiveness – A Word Which Sustains The Weary
Text: “The LORD God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a Word him who is weary.”
Moses wrote of this dynamic, that we live and are sustained by the Word of the Lord:
Deut. 8:3 “And God humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”
And the apostle John wrote this Word of God that sustains us most clearly and succinctly:
John 3:16,17 “God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through Him the world might be saved.”
Statement: This is the Word of the cross, the Word of mankind’s redemption, that “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” [2 Cor. 5:19] We are wearied under God’s law – which is also written in our hearts. His law reveals our sin, our selfishness, our pettiness, our greed, our pride, and our sinful lusts and behaviors. His law condemns us to death – which we all experience tangibly in aging, illness, and injury. His law condemns us to eternal death, to hell. Anyone with honesty knows these things and is burdened by them – and our hypocritical and delusional efforts to rationalize our sin, to justify our thinking and behaving, and to make up for our sins with a supposed “goodness” is especially wearying. In spite of our determination, all of this is destined for failure – and somewhere deep within us we know this.
Application: God does not “sustain” us with lies, with hope and optimism in us. Rather, He humbles Himself “taking the form of a servant . . . and becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” This He did as “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.” Now “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” His Word which sustains us is one of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and His free gift of salvation. He invites us to faith and creates this faith within us by His grace – so that we are sustained and strengthened. He reveals to each of us “THE MIND OF CHRIST.”
Transition: And if we would contemplate growing more like God, then we must understand that:
II. The Mind Of Christ Is Growing In Wisdom And Eager To Be Taught – Not Just Present Or Attending, But Allowing The Word Of God Into Our Hearts And Allowing It’s Creative Influence In Our Minds
Text: “Morning by morning He awakens; He awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The LORD God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.”
The apostle Paul encourages this dynamic and renewing experience of God’s Word, the Word of Christ:
Col. 3:15-17 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Statement: God will teach us and create and nurture “THE MIND OF CHRIST” within us if we will let Him. He awakens us morning by morning – with opportunity to dwell on the Word of life He has given us, His gracious mercy and forgiveness. He has provided us with all that is needed for His grace to renew and strengthen and sustain us.
Application: So let us take care not to be rebellious and not to turn backward – as our wretched and weak sinful nature compels us to do. And in so far as we have been rebellious – we do not attend worship each week, and we do not attend Bible Study, and we do not eagerly devour our daily devotions, and there are times when we judge and reject what we hear from God’s Word – let us repent and confess these sins to God, that we may also receive assurance of His gracious mercy and forgiveness even for these sins. Only let us not blame God if “THE MIND OF CHRIST” is not in us – it is not His fault but our own stubborn fault.
Transition: And we see in our text why it is difficult to acquiesce to God’s will that we have “THE MIND OF CHRIST,” for:
III. The Mind Of Christ Is Willing To Suffer The Indignities Of The Wicked
Text: “I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.”
Statement: I must confess that this is also why I didn’t really want to have “THE MIND OF CHRIST” as a young man. Who would want to invite such misery upon himself when we can live peaceably and with pride in this world by not offending others? But to do so is to acquiesce to the darkness – yes, even to commend it! If we refuse to correct evil and to avoid evil how can it be said that we oppose it?
Application: So contemplation of the cross of Christ – receiving the Word which sustains the weary, also compels consideration of joining Christ, being one with Him, and entering into His sufferings with Him. This is the natural logical progression of repentance, faith in Christ, and being renewed in His love. And ultimately – as we dwell on His Word and God does His work in our hearts and minds – we do come to a willingness to suffer with Christ, whatever the indignities and suffering might involve. And we may as well be prepared, for more of this is coming to Christians in these latter days.
Transition: But next week we will celebrate Easter – and the mind of Christ, though willing to suffer humbly for the good of mankind, includes also the knowledge of the certainty of God’s victory and vindication. You remember what is written in the book of Hebrews in regard to THE MIND OF CHRIST: “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” [Heb. 12:2] And so:
IV. The Mind Of Christ Is Firm Like Flint – Certain Of God’s Grace, God’s Salvation, And Of Ultimate Victory And Vindication From God
Text: “But the LORD God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He Who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the LORD God helps me; who will declare me guilty?”
Statement: What looks like defeat and ignominy for Jesus ends up in His victory – resurrection and rule at the right hand of God. What looks like defeat and ignominy for children of God who live and have their being in “THE MIND OF CHRIST” is the reality that they are helped, strengthened, vindicated, and victorious. They will not be disgraced, shamed, defeated, or declared guilty – even though this is what the wicked and unbelieving heap upon us, just as they did to Jesus – for God’s Word has called us forgiven, cleansed, saved, redeemed, children of God, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ of His glory. Joined to Christ we may suffer with Christ, but we will also be glorified with Him in the end!
Application: On the other hand, those who are ashamed of Christ and His Word, those who love and seek the honor of men more than honor from God, who love the pleasures of this world more than the pleasure of being with God, will fall and fail miserably. All who participated in Christ’s crucifixion – Scribes, Pharisees, the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod – all of these people are dead, and their memory is abhorred forever. Christ, however, is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, and He will come again in great glory to judge all people – by His Word, the very Word that sustains us and renews us.
Conclusion: So let us reconsider having “THE MIND OF CHRIST” as God wills for us. Let us remember that it is given to us, created in us by God Himself – through His Word of gracious love. Let us take care not to rebel against this or turn backward from it. Let us rather embrace His Word, and allow it to dwell in us richly. We needn’t fear the opposition and indignities of the ungodly – God will protect us and reveal their wickedness. And in the end we will be vindicated with Christ – as those who know God and His love, and as those who are renewed in love.
If we are going to be stubborn about something, let us set our faces like flint in having “THE MIND OF CHRIST.” God grant such blessedness to each of us. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.