The Way of the Wilderness: The Way of the Cross

Sermon Title: “The Way of the Wilderness”

Text: Matthew 4:1-11; 11:28-30

Preacher: Alex Hogendoorn

Date: March 2, 2025

Summary Tagline:

“The way of the wilderness is the way of the cross—and the way to life.”

Message Summary:

Alex began by inviting the congregation on a journey—not just into the wilderness as a place of trial, but as a place of rest and renewal. Drawing from Matthew 4:1-11, he emphasized that Jesus, led by the Spirit, entered the wilderness not as a detour, but as the way itself. The wilderness was the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, just as Gethsemane was its climax—both bookending his path to the cross. As he was tested, we were reminded of Israel’s testing in the wilderness for 40 years, and where they failed in the test is where we will fail, too, if we try to proceed through the wilderness in our own efforts.

Alex then connected Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus invites the weary to take on his yoke and find rest. This yoke, he argued, is the cross itself, so that the way of the wilderness is the way of the cross and is the way to life. When Jesus said that this yoke is easy, there were three reasons for it. First, Jesus is the one who finished the work, and we are trusting in his faithfulness. Second, when we walk the way of the wilderness, we get to lay our burdens down and find relief from sin, grief, sorrow, and shame. Third, we are trusting in Jesus’ promise. It is not up to us to take or claim the rest he promised—our duty is to repent, and his is to forgive. Ours is to empty our hands, and his is to fill us. Ours is to lay down our lives, and his is to raise us up. So as we go through Lent, let us trust what he has done for us and follow him.

Group Discussion Guide

Icebreaker Questions: (Choose one)

1. Have you ever gone on a difficult journey that turned out to be refreshing? What made the experience worthwhile?
2. When life feels overwhelming, what are things you do to try to find rest? Do they work?
3. If you had to spend a week in the wilderness with only one survival item, what would you bring and why?

Read Matthew 4:1-11 and 11:28-30 together and discuss any questions that arise from the passage. Then use a few of these questions for further reflection.

Discussion Questions:

1. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tested. What does this tell us about God’s use of struggle and testing in our lives?
2. One reason Jesus’ yoke is easy is that we are trusting in his completed work—he has already done it, and our salvation rests in him. How does this truth change the way we approach obedience and discipleship?
3. The second reason the yoke is easy is that we get to lay our burdens down—our sin, our grief, our sorrows, our shame. What does it mean for you to release these burdens to Jesus? How does surrendering them bring relief?
4. The third reason Jesus’ yoke is easy is that we are trusting in his faithfulness. What does it mean to trust that Jesus will respond in love when we come with empty hands, in repentance, or laying down our lives?
5. Spiritual disciplines like fasting and prayer are good, but they cannot give rest—only Jesus can. How can we practice these disciplines in a way that draws us closer to Jesus rather than becoming a "work" we do to impress God or earn our salvation?

For Further Study:

1. Matthew 4:1-11 – Jesus’ time in the wilderness and his victory over temptation.

2. Matthew 11:28-30 – Jesus’ invitation to find rest in him.

3. Luke 9:23-24 – “Take up your cross daily and follow me.”

4. Hebrews 4:9-11 – “There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.”

5. Isaiah 40:29-31 – “Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.”

6. Psalm 23:1-4 – The Lord leading us even through valleys of shadow.

7. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

8. Deuteronomy 8:2-3 – Israel’s time in the wilderness as a test of dependence on God.

9. John 6:35 – Jesus as the bread of life that truly satisfies.

10. Philippians 2:5-8 – Jesus humbling himself to obedience, even to the cross.

Gospel Connections

Let’s discuss how we can apply this message to our lives as we seek to make the following connections as we follow Jesus:

1. How does embracing the way of the wilderness deepen your trust in God?

2. How can our church model a faith that is not just about avoiding hardship, but about following Jesus through it?

3. How can our group encourage one another in surrendering burdens to Jesus rather than trying to carry them alone?

4. How can we help those in our city who feel lost in their own “wilderness” to see that Jesus offers true rest?