86 Luke 23:26 31 (Simon of Cyrene)

Suffering in the hands of a holy God
(God uses suffering to make us more like Jesus)
I. Review/background
II. Suffering to salvation (the story of Simon of Cyrene)
1. Narrative
a. General crucifixion practices (23:26)
John 19:1
b. The road to Golgotha (John 19:17)
John 19:17
c. Simon of Cyrene (23:26)
Mark 15:21 / Romans 16:13
2. Application
• Some suffering is random (and not from God)
• God uses random suffering to mature us
• Maturing from random suffering is a choice over time
• Suffering may lead to the cross
III. Suffering to sacking (the story of judgement on Jerusalem)
1. Narrative
a. Jesus addresses the daughter of Jerusalem (23:27-28)
Psalm 127:3-5 / Zecharia 12:10-11
b. Eschatological prediction (23:29-30)
Hosea 10:7-8
c. A proverbial saying (23:31)
2. Application
• We must live within rising and falling nations
• We must expect trouble from falling nations
• We can look forward to God’s justice
• We can heed Jesus’ warnings for the future
• We can make wise future investments