And Jesus went before them

Seeking for the help of the Lord, I direct your prayerful attention to the Gospel according to Mark chapter 10 and reading for our text verse 32. Mark chapter 10 and verse 32. And they were in the way, going up to Jerusalem. And Jesus went before them, and they were amazed. And as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him. Mark chapter 10 and verse 32.

The events in this chapter were happening in the week leading up to the crucifixion of our Lord. He'd already previously, he'd come down from Galilee through Samaria. The Samaritans had not received him because his face was as it were to go unto Jerusalem. He went to Jerusalem, then he went out across Jordan to the area of Perea, and from there he now comes back to Jerusalem, leading up to his crucifixion. And so it is in this way that we have the events here recorded. Now, of course, when we read these events and we have these texts that are before us, We know that these things cannot be replicated in our lives literally.

The Lord Jesus Christ in heaven, we on earth, it never was intended that the people of God should have to walk exactly the same path as those who've gone before in a literal way. But there will be that which applies to us, because that which was written aforetime was written for our learning that we through patience of the Scriptures might have hope. And so, when we look at a passage like this, then we are expecting there be teaching for us, messages, for us as well. The words chosen by the Holy Spirit to describe what has happened are significant to us. We would remember that there are many things that were done that are never recorded. John, in his Gospel, he emphasizes this, that if all the things that our Lord had done should be written, that the world could not contain the books that should be written. But then he says, but these are written, that ye might know that Jesus is the Christ, and that in believing ye might have life through His Name.

And so we have that solid confidence that the Holy Spirit has chosen what events to record, how to record it, what words to use, and to put it into our language that we might understand the Scriptures and the teaching that is therein. And so it is with that thought that we come to this verse describing what was happening with the disciples in the way, Jesus in the way with them, and to draw teaching and help for us here now.

So I want to divide this word up into these several clauses there's four main clauses of the text and to look at each clause and as it applies not just to those that were walking that road to Jerusalem but to us in our lives a walk literal walk for us, and a spiritual walk, and a walk by faith, a walk with and following the Lord Jesus Christ.

So I'll name the four clauses first, and then we'll go back over them. The first is this, and they were in the way. They were in the way. And then secondly, we read, and Jesus went before them. Thirdly, we have these words, and as they followed. And as added to that, they were afraid. And then we have lastly, and began. to tell them what things should happen unto him. And the next two verses they tell of those things. So firstly we have they were in the way.

We're told here it is in the way and going up to Jerusalem. But we are drawn to this truth of there being a way and to be in the way. Our Lord clearly sets forth in John 14, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me. There is a way, we are warned, that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. the way of sinners, the way of transgressors, is hard. We are also told that there is that narrow way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it, because broad wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth unto death and many there are that go in there at and so we need to be very mindful when we come to a word like this of a people that are in the way that we might be also in the way, the one way, not many ways as so many teach today and sometimes it has been described to us when we have disagree with someone, and they've said, well, there is this mountain, and you're going up this side, and I'm going up this side, and we'll meet at the top. Well, there is only one way. There is only that way of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the way of the cross, the way that is through faith in Christ alone. in his work, in what he has done.

And so we would be mindful of the importance of the distinctives of the way, the only way that leads to eternal life. In the picture that we have before us, the disciples, they were going with our Lord in the way to Jerusalem. That was the End in view. That was where the road led to. What a simple illustration that that is.

If you were to take another road that had another destination and someone said, well, we are on the right road, and you say, but that is not leading to Jerusalem or whichever way, whichever place that we are going to. and sometimes we may be driving along and be unsure whether we are in the way to where we want to go or not and then we might see a signpost and it tells us that the direction we're going is correct, the destination which we want is before us we don't sit down at this signpost and say well all is right because i'm in the way we keep going in that way because we want to reach that destination but it is a great comfort to know that we are in the right way And so it is for the Church of God, for the people of God here below, it is a great comfort to know that we also are in the way that will lead to eternal life, that will lead to be with Christ hereafter, that we shall not miss that end and have that byway, as Bunyan puts it, to hell.

It's very important then that we have those scriptural marks, way marks and tokens of the way and to be understand how we are in the way and how we came to be in the way. And so how are we to know? Well, our Lord Jesus Christ, in John 10, He clearly says that He is the door, that He is that straight gate, and Bunyan reinforces that at the wicked gate as well. To come in, in any other way, into the way than through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is not the way at all.

Now, it's not just coming in saying, well, we're just going to call His name. We're just going to make it that we're going to be a Christian. We want it that the Lord himself has begun a good work with us. The disciples here, it was the Lord in a very literal sense that called every one of them. And we know that God's people are called. The Lord says with himself as a good shepherd, that he is the one that knows his sheep and leadeth them out.

And so it's very important, if we're ever to know the way, that it is central on the Lord Jesus Christ and that we are persuaded that He has made that first move, that He has sought us, that here it is that our hopes for heaven rest upon. He is the way, the truth and the life. How many that would immediately rule out the exclusivity of Jesus Christ, and we must say that, that those that allow that there can be another way, never have known the true and the only way. Unless we view our Lord exclusively as the way, then we are not in the way at all. It is an offence to this world to say such things, but it is vital, it is the truth.

Another mark of being in the Way is that we receive the Word of God and the Plan of God. Those things that we say and do and look for, we pattern all of them off the Word of God. Not off our feelings, not after men's appearances or their approbation, but we look to the Word of God. Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path. And so if we are in that way, that will be the case. The light that we walk with is the Word of God.

How many have made serious errors when they have professed to be following the Lord or to have a faith and you can easily point them to part of the Word of God that what they are doing, how they are walking, where their trust is, is not according to the Scriptures of truth. Now that is so vital to the law, to the testimony. But then we also have a mark of that way, is that the destination that is in view. In this text, the destination was Jerusalem, and how very important that Jerusalem, our Lord and Saviour, was to suffer, bleed and die to redeem His people. But for us to be in the way, yes, here below, our faith and that way should always lead to Christ and Him crucified, but then go from the crucifixion, from Christ's death, to the empty tomb, to a risen Saviour. And so our desire is the same as what our Lord's was, Father, I will that they whom Thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory.

We should have an aim in view, that is above this poor dying world. In Hebrews 11 and verse 13 we read those confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims in the earth. They were also embracing the promises. And in what they were confessing and what they were embracing, they were testifying that they were seeking a country that was a heavenly country that is above. And so we need that same testimony not to fall under the condemnation that Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, if in this life only we have hope in Christ with all men most miserable. The many here, they just follow our Lord for loaves and fishes. They just follow for what the Lord will give. They are looking for blessings on this life, one mark of being in the way. is to be looking for that life to come. Our conversation or our citizenship is in heaven and what a difference that that makes.

I've spent, as you know, 31 years over in Australia but we were only ever permanent residents as we had on our British passports. And my wife and I never took out citizenship. So we cannot just expect to go and to live back in Australia. Whereas our children, because they were born there, they have dual citizenship and they have Australian passports, they can and one has gone back and are living there.

And so the actual place of citizenship and where we have a title to go is very, very important. Many of us might think, oh, we might like to go to this country or that country and to live there, but we are not freedom to do so. And if we were testifying that we were going to a place and someone asked, well, do you have a citizenship or do you have a warrant to live there? And you said, no, you say, well, how can you be really in the way if you have not that destination in view?

And so we need to think what is necessary to enter heaven? What is our passport there? How shall we be known? How shall we be granted an entry there? And again, it is only through our Lord Jesus Christ, through the rent veil of his flesh, for entering into the holiest of all by the blood of Jesus. That is the only way that we can enter there. And so, it is to have that end in view. The things that we do here, are they pointing to that end? Are they with that thought of what shall be beyond the grave? What shall be our eternal home?

And to have that very close to our thoughts in all that we go through, often being a real balance to the tribulations and afflictions of the way. But another marker of the way is the company that we have with us. Are we walking with the people of God? Many of us, we have been brought up under the sand of the truth, but in nature, before we knew the Lord, our company is very different than after we have known the Lord. If we were to look around us, when we were in unregeneracy, we had those of like mind, who hated the things of God, who didn't follow after them, never observed the Lord's Day, never read their Bibles, never prayed, never had a concern for their soul.

And to look around, you might think, well, who is walking in this way with me? Well, a broad way, many go in there at, but then to be in the narrow way. and to be in the way that leadeth unto life, and you find that there are those that understand your language, they understand your desire for that eternal home, they also have the Word of God as a lamp for their feet, is not just your feelings, but you see not only in the testimony of others round about you, but in their lives, their witness, and we can look back to those that are now in glory and we see that their lives were a real testimony to their faith. How they walked, how they behaved in affliction. You think of Ruth beholding Naomi and how she went through affliction. how Job went through affliction and it is in that that can be a reassurance and a comfort to us that we are actually in the way.

Now you might say well what if we went to a Mormon, what if we went to a Jehovah's Witness and they looked around about them and there were those that felt the same and did the same as they did and they said well we've got a a witness the same, but their witness does not accord to the Word of God, their witness does not accord to a life begun by the Lord Jesus Christ and the crown put on his head, and also there's not that echo of the real experience within.

It is vital. Something must be known and felt. We're not just taking up with a new idea, a new thought. This is the real transforming work of God, to change the heart, renew the will, and when that has been known within, we recognize when others have felt the same, when they have been through those same things. And so, in one sense, it's not by feelings, it's not by our own thoughts, but in the other, it is a real partaking of spiritual blessings, spiritual food, and of the teaching of the Lord. feeling a oneness. We know that we have paths from death unto life because we love the brethren, that we walk with them. So it is very important to have some idea of what it is to be in the way.

We mentioned that before our Lord came back from Perea, He'd come down from Galilee. The Samaritans had not received Him. And that will be a mark as well with the world, that the world will not receive and will not think well of those who truly fear the Lord. Woe is me when all men shall speak well of us, because our Lord warns that so they did of the false prophets. When we think of the prophets Jeremiah, Isaiah, those who have gone before us their word was not received they had many adversaries many enemies but they faithfully professed the word of God and may we have these marks of being in the way and that we can say with the scriptures here they were in the way. And may we be able to say, I trust, I believe, I am in the way. And bless the Lord, if the Lord has put us in that way, the one and only way that leadeth unto life that few find.

Well, the second point is, and Jesus went before them. Jesus went before them. You can almost get a picture here of our Lord so wanting to go to Jerusalem that he was leaving them behind. He was so eager to fulfil His mission, to obey His Father, so willing to lay down His life, that He was in front of them, they were behind. And sometimes we've had things like that. in our lives where we've been so eager to get to a place or get to a person that those in our company we've left them behind and it is evidenced what our real desire is. But the beauty here is it goes back to our Lord's teachings when he puts forth his sheep When he putteth forth his sheep, he goeth before them. And there are several ways that we could look at how the Lord actually does go before His people.

The first one is in His choosing His people in eternity. He has gone before, chosen us in Christ, before the foundation of the world. He's gone before ever that we knew Him, before ever that we were born. He has gone before. And in a lot of ways, it's a very beautiful thing to think of how far before. It's a similar way to where we might say, where the Scriptures say that while they are yet speaking, I'll answer, or before they call, I will answer them, and they will say, How far before they call does he answer? We cannot answer that.

We must say, in eternity, the Lord has determined that this shall happen, this shall be prayed for, and this shall be the answer that is given. And so when we think here, Jesus went before them, for every one of the people of God, he's gone before them to put their names in the Lamb's Book of Life, to choose them, to love them with an everlasting love.

May we remember that aspect. of the Lord going before His people, going before us. But then there's a going before the cross for all of His people. You might say, but what about those that were in the Old Testament, those that were before Christ died? How is it the Lord is gone before them? Well, we are told that our Lord is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

And when the Lord promises something, He will always fulfil it, it must come to pass. And so all of the sacrifices, they pointed to Christ, the Old Testament saints, they looked forward to Christ's sufferings and death as if it was done, as if it was accomplished.

And of course in these Gospel days, the Lord has gone before. He has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. He has endured the wrath of God for our sins. He has accomplished the fulfilment of Scriptures and salvation for His people. This is a vital aspect of the Lord going before here on this road.

He was going before the disciples, yes, but he was going before us too, and he was going to Calvary, and he was going to make atonement to redeem us, to save us at Calvary. all the time God's children my soul looks back to see the burdens that is bare when suffering on the accursed tree and hopes her guilt was there we are looking before the Lord going before us we're looking to Calvary and what He has done in going before us. There's not only then going before us to Calvary and to suffer, bleed and die there, but it is also then to go before us into heaven and to ascend and to be there and so again we're our end in view we're looking to the Lord going before us there and remember we have a great high priest we have one mediator between God and man Christ Jesus and that he makes intercession for us he is the first fruits He is the first begotten from the dead. He is the first one to be risen and clothed in that body, exalted in heaven. But we also have the Lord going before in calling. As he puts forth his sheep, he goeth before them, he leadeth them out.

And we can see aspects of where the Lord has gone before. Very often it is looking back, we can see where the Lord has appointed where we've been born, our parents, the timing of things and sometimes in our lives there's been mistakes or things that people have done that have changed the course of our life. And we've seen how that has fitted in with where we have first been brought into conviction of sin, first being brought to know the Lord and to follow Him. and we see aspects of calling that marks it out as the Lord's work. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. The thing proceedeth from the Lord. Really, it is that which makes up a testimony of a sinner, how they came to be in the way, with those two on the way to Emmaus, it was when they came back to the other disciples, they told what was done in the way, and how Jesus had made himself known to them in the breaking of bread. And if we are in the way, there must have been a beginning in that way, who put us in that way, the calling that the Lord has called us with. he goes before in that he is the instigator in those things and we'll be able to see in tracing back when the spirit brings it to our remembrance that these things were done even before we had any mindfulness of Him at all, before we were ever praying or any concern at all for our soul, the Lord had gone before us and He'd made the way.

Now later on, when we are called, when we are quickened, then we will notice it as well in God's providence, God's plan. So when we are called and we are in the way, this is one thing to really watch the Lord going before.

The children of Israel in the wilderness, they had the Lord go before them. Immediately they left Egypt. Of course, the Lord went before them in Moses' miraculous birth, his teaching, in the wilderness, He's coming to them. You can see the Lord going before, before ever they were brought out of Egypt, and that's a type of the world, and the Child of God being brought out of the world.

But as soon as they were brought out of Egypt, immediately the fiery, cloudy pillar went before them, and they followed that. when it moved they moved and that was with them it was with them by day and by night fire by night and cloud by day and so we would look at providence as well we only got to look at the book of esther and we don't see the mention of god but we see his providence and we see his work right the way through that book and so with our lives as well providence unfolds the books as the hymn writer and makes his counsels shine he that will observe providence will never lack a providence to observe or in Psalm 107 language who so is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

So do watch those things that the Lord goes before in. in providing, in helping, in undertaking for us the minutest circumstance, those real helps that are given, and often it is in times of adversity, times of affliction, times that go wrong, that then you can mark out the Lord going before and the Lord's good hand in it. I remember when my dear wife had her accident in December, a terrible thing that that was, a terrible experience and she was injured, but the going before, we saw the man following strong, the one that hit her, able to turn the car upright. One immediately on the scene was a trained nurse and the hospital that we were told we had to go to was not the one we wanted to go to and yet it proved the best choice and we only found out after what a backlog there was with other brethren who had gone to the other hospital. And so in many aspects we saw token after token of the Lord's ordering of providence for good, even in adversity, a balancing of the clouds.

And do notice that. Don't just think, well, the Lord can't be with me because I have tribulation, I have trouble. We must have trouble, we must have afflictions like that. In the world you shall have tribulation, in me you shall have peace. But look for the balancing, look for those things the Lord has gone before. to minimize, to soften.

The hymn writer says, Notice how those things have softened, and to feel, Another way of going before, of course, is through death. Each one of us, unless the Lord comes again, we must go through death. We have a beautiful type in the wilderness, with the children of Israel passing from the wilderness to the Promised Land through Jordan, and Jordan was stopped up, and the Ark itself stood in the midst of Jordan until all the children passed over. the ark sets forth our Lord Jesus Christ our Lord says in John 14 that if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am he may be also so we have a picture of death and the Lord put in this terms the Lord receiving us unto himself so we are not passing through that on our own dying grace in a dying hour the lord has literally died he's passed through death and he will bring his people through like he did with steven steven being stoned but could look up and see the lord standing to receive him in heaven now we read in this And under this clause, Jesus went before them and they were amazed.

They were amazed. I wonder how many times in our life we've looked at things that have happened and we have been amazed. We've been amazed at how the Lord has ordered it. We've been amazed at what has done. We've seen the wisdom. We've seen the wonder. at what the Lord has done. Surely we can't have things that God has done and never stand in amazement at what the Lord has performed and done.

This is another real mark drawing us into this text and to be like and with the disciples here. This is the Lord's doing and wondrous in our eyes. The third clause is this, and they followed. So that's a thing to not only see the Lord going before, but to follow. Willingly follow the Lord. My sheep, they hear my voice and they follow me. to follow after the Lord's voice. Our Lord here was to go and to take up his cross and to suffer, bleed and die. we would follow Him in taking up our cross. The Lord was very emphatic on that.

There is a cross that the people of God carry and that is to be rejected by this world, to be counted as like our Lord was, an imposter and as really not what we would say that we are. and also to bear that rejection of men they all forsook him and fled. There is that cross that is associated in Australia and here in England not so much as what is in other countries which that cross could mean loss of life or losing your loved ones or losing your friendship cast out from among those that you with or rejected by those you work with, the cross, the cost as it were, of making a stand and following the Lord.

When Israel had sinned they put the tabernacle of witness outside of the camp and they had to go outside of the camp those that were for the Lord clearly separated and Paul takes this up in Hebrews let us therefore go out unto him without the camp bearing his reproach and there is a reproach in the name of Jesus he shall be hated of all men for my name's sake and so also there's a following him in his word in a solemn thing that there are many that will name the name of Christ but they're not followers Our Lord said to those that believed, and you can read this in John 8 and verse 31, He said, If ye shall continue in my word, then ye shall be my disciples indeed. you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. And so there is a difference with just saying I believe in Jesus and in following in his word to know the truth and to be free, free from the condemnation of the law, free from the snares of this world and of Satan, If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. To follow Him also in providence.

Providence cannot be argued with. We might think, well, we're going to do this or that. But if the Lord then afflicts us with illness, takes away our health and strength, we cannot do that. You've had to walk in the ministers that have supplied you or have been engaged to come even in this next week. And yet through God's providence, through Him laying aside His servant with illness, He cannot come. It cannot be argued with. And to look at it in this way, we are following the law. The Lord has laid one aside. He's enabled another. Those things. He is shepherding his people and we don't want to fight. Don't, dear friends, fight against Providence. You may be this afternoon, things in your lives, and you're struggling with, why is the Lord allowed that? Especially when men and women are involved, why did he permit this person to do that?

You know, with Solomon, when he had followed after strange gods, strange wives, the Lord raised up three men, Jeroboam among them, to be adversaries to him. And instead of bowing before God's providence, bowing before this adversary in these trials, he fought against the men.

They are the sword, the hand is thine. And providence, whatever has brought these things into our lives, look beyond that to the Lord's hand and to be a follower of the Lord. It is the Lord, said Eli, let him do what seemeth him good. And the Lord had told through his servant, young Samuel, that his two sons should die. And yet he falls beneath this and falls before God's overruling hand.

And so may we be a follower of the Lord in that. Also it is through The way that he walked, he walked through baptism, he walked through the ordinances of the house of God. May we be followers of the Lord in that way, be baptised as a believer as he was, and to walk in the ways that he walked, in obedience to his Father, in subject to his will, nevertheless not my will, but thy will be done. and then also to follow Him through death. Not being fearful, yes we may, and there are those that through fear of death, all their lifetime subject to bondage. But we read of those that know not the Lord, that fight death to their last breath, that may we be of those who look on it as the only way into heaven itself.

You know, sometimes we lose sight of these things. I've heard people say, well, I haven't had children, but I'm glad I didn't because I wouldn't want to bring them into this evil, wicked world. And I said to them, well, if they don't come into this wicked, evil world, they can never be born again if they've never been born the first time. All of God's children are called to be born into this world, however wicked it is. And so if we're to get into heaven, the only way through that is through death. This body must be taken down and it must be through that way that we enter into our inheritance.

So maybe follow the Lord in that, instead of fighting against it, looking forward to it, desiring to be Christ, which is far better. On to look then briefly at the last point, which he began to tell them. This was the third time he began to tell them what things should happen unto him. Of course, he is preparing God, he's preparing them for seeing Him taken from them, to make it so even though they did not understand, even though He told them so clearly, they didn't understand until afterwards.

And this is a pattern right through the Scripture. Notice this in our lives as well. So looking back, you're able to see the Lord foretold it. The Lord warned this should be the way. But this is what our Lord was doing. He was telling them, this is all planned. This is all purposed. I must suffer. I must bleed and die.

You see how clearly he says, behold, we go up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and unto the scribes. and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles, and they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him, and the third day he shall rise again.

How certain, every part, the shalls and wills of the Lord. And this is the crucifixion, his death, his sufferings. The Lord has the shalls and wills for our life as well. But may we see and may this be so strengthening of our faith, our Lord and Saviour's sufferings and death and what was accomplished at Calvary.

And when we can look back then and say it's because of this. that we are in the way. Because of this, our Lord has gone before us. Because of this, we are being brought to follow after Him. And because of this, we shall see Him at last, not crucified, but glorified in heaven. May our faith then be strengthened and we be held this afternoon and to go on our way through this week and be a follower of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

And Jesus went before them

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And Jesus went before them

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