GOING A LITTLE FARTHER

Matthew 6:36-40

The first three words say a lot about this passage.

Then Jesus went – Hadn’t Jesus already come far enough! Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe! 

All the way from heaven to the barn. A preacher, a prophet, and a homeless stranger in the world that he himself spoke into existence.

But no, Jesus went on a little farther – a “second mile”. He went through the second mile of agony before he came to the last step…the giant leap back to where he came from.

Telling his disciples to sit down, Jesus began one of five steps of going a little farther.

1.   Gethsemane – which is all cross – the olive grove at the foot of the Mt. of Olives where Jesus often retired with his disciples.

Gethsemane….Victory over the flesh… The beginning of the second mile.  This is where he was betrayed and prayed.

2.   Gabbatha – Ridge or knoll – the place in John 19:13 where it is stated that Pilate, alarmed by the insinuation of the Jews (“if you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar”), went back in and brought Jesus out to them where he was given a formal sentence.  (Falsely accused) Victory over the world – v.39 – “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

3.   Golgotha – Place of a Skull – Victory over the devil… We have Victory over the world because Jesus went a “little farther up the hill” where he was put on display.

4.   Grave – Victory over death …. Jesus was arrested, crucified, went to the grace, rose from the grace giving victory over death.  Isaiah 25:7-8, Isaiah starts off in verse 1, “Oh Lord, You are my God,” then in verse 8, “He will swallow up death forever.” (He was put under)  1 Corinthians 15:55 reads, “Where, O death is your victory? Where O death, is your sting?”

5.   Glory – Victory over time – (He overcame) Jesus took the last step of going a little farther and went back into the glory of the Father. (overcome).

Will we, someday, do the same?

These are the steps that Jesus took to go a little farther for us. 

What steps are we going to take to go a little bit farther for Him?

Will we be a church that goes the extra mile for Him or a church that just sits down and does nothing?