Second Sunday of Advent Jesus is the Way
“The way to Heaven is ascending; we must be content to travel uphill, though it be hard and tiresome, and contrary to the natural bias of our flesh.”
Jonathan Edwards
Passage
25And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.
26When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.
27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
28Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Matthew 14:25–28 (NASB95)
"Jesus show me the way!Following the path to Cristo Redentor - located at the top of the 700-metre high mountain Corcovado in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. The statue was revealed to the public in 1931 and attracts" by webnfoto is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Background
Quote-First Jonathan Edwards (October 5, 1703 – March 22, 1758) was an American revivalist preacher, philosopher, and Congregationalist theologian. Edwards is widely regarded as one of America's most important and original philosophical theologians. Edwards' theological work is broad in scope, but rooted in the pedobaptist (baptism of infants) Puritan heritage as exemplified in the Westminster and Savoy Confessions of Faith. Edwards played a critical role in shaping the First Great Awakening, and oversaw some of the first revivals in 1733–35 at his church in Northampton, Massachusetts. His theological work gave rise to a distinct school of theology known as New England theology.
Edwards delivered the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", a classic of early American literature, during another revival in 1741, following George Whitefield's tour of the Thirteen Colonies. Edwards is well known for his many books, The End for Which God Created the World, The Life of David Brainerd, which inspired thousands of missionaries throughout the 19th century, and Religious Affections, which many Calvinist Evangelicals still read today.
He was the grandfather of Aaron Burr, the third United States vice president.
Passage-The book of Matthew is a Gospel that contains Narrative History, Genealogy, Parables, Sermons, and some Prophetic Oracles. It was written by Matthew (Levi), the Disciple of Christ around 48-50 A.D. The key word in Matthew is "Kingdom" and is used 28 times.
The personalities of this book include the Messiah Jesus Christ, His parents Mary and Joseph, the Twelve Disciples, the prophet John the Baptist, and other kinds of leaders. These leaders include those in government like Pilate and religious leaders such as the Pharisees (who attempt to hinder the work of Jesus).
The book of Matthew is the first of the synoptic gospels and it was written to reveal the Lord Jesus as the Messiah, the King of the Jews, from the line of David. It also was written to convince the Jews that Jesus Christ was indeed their long-awaited Messiah.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
In Sunday school class, we read scripture, nod our heads, and agree the words are true. However, when we leave class, we forget or, even worse, allow doubt to creep in when we aren’t paying attention. That doubt is our weakness that needs to be fought off, but how do we do that?
Ask: What is the “…natural bias of our flesh?”
Point: The easy way. Sin. Avoidance of conflict.
1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Ephesians 2:1–3 (NASB95)
Ask: Is all human flesh weak and sinful by nature?
Point: Yes.
9What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;
10as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;
Romans 3:9–10 (NASB95)
Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3
Ask: Is there a way out of this guaranteed sinful nature?
Point: Yes.
17For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
18So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.
19For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:17–19 (NASB95)
Ask: Who was the one man through whom sin and death entered all people?
Point: Adam and Eve.
Ask: What was their sin?
Point: Disobedience.
21For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.
22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:21–22 (NASB95)
Ask: How are we “…all will be made alive.” In Christ?
Point: Disobedience was the cause of sin and death to enter into mankind. Obedience is the way it is defeated.
22Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
23for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
24For, “All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off,
25But the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:22–25 (NASB95)
Isaiah 40:6-8
Ask: What does all this have to do with Jesus being the way and today’s passage?
Point: The first step of the path is so very clear. That first step is Jesus.
27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Matthew 14:27 (NASB95)
Ask: “Take courage. It is I; do not be afraid.” It is I. It is Jesus. Do not be afraid. But we are, aren’t we? Why is that? Why are we afraid?
Point: Because we don’t have the person of Jesus there before us talking to us like the Disciples did.
Ask: How can we be sure the path we see before us is the one God wants us on and walk it confidently?
Point: The same way Peter did.
28Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Matthew 14:28 (NASB95)
Ask: Why did Peter, who could see Jesus walking on water, ask Jesus to command him to come to Him?
Point: Because he knew if Jesus commanded it, nothing could stop him from doing what God wanted him to do.
Ask: How does this help us with our path and have that same confidence?
Point: By praying and asking God to guide us to His path, to accomplish His goals, following His way.
Closing Statement
5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
John 14:5–7 (NASB95)
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Contemplate the path God has for your life. Can you see the path? Are you on it, beside it, walking it, or have you lost your way in the weeds?
Question 2 Write in your journal with firm conviction where you believe you are concerning your path and walk with God.
Question 3 Pray this week for God to clearly and with authority reveal God's immediate next step for your life.
Question 4 Write in your journal what you believe the next, immediate step God has for your life is and how it relates to His path for you.
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