A Submissive King
Hopson Boutot
Matthew: The King and His Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Lead Vocalist (Kelly)
Welcome & Announcements (Sam)
Good morning family!
Ask guests to fill out connect card
2 announcements:
1) Special Members Meeting
Nominate:
Stuart Holdren, Deacon of Ordinances
Bibi Laborte, Welcome Team Coordinator
Ted Payne, Deacon of Safety
Chuck Quilhot, 2nd term as Deacon of Finance
Encourage people to approach them/elders with concerns
We will vote on these nominations during the 11/19 Members Meeting
2) Introduce Tasha to announce Trunk or Treat
Now please take a moment of silence to prepare your heart for worship.
Call to Worship (Psalm 2)
Prayer of Praise (Linda Butler)
Rescuer
It Was Finished Upon that Cross
Prayer of Confession (Stephen Keatts), Failure to trust Jesus
Assurance of Pardon (Isaiah 53:4-5)
The Wonderful Cross
Reformation Song
Scripture Reading (Matthew 26:47-68)
Pastoral Prayer (Sam)
SERMON
START TIMER!!!
Greetings from RCF
Grateful for Michael Howard
This Tuesday marks the 506 year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, which began when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany.
When he posted those statements, Luther wasn’t looking for a fight but for a discussion. He wasn’t trying to break from the Roman Catholic Church, he was hoping to reform it.
But a few years later, the Reformation had taken hold and Luther found himself summoned before a church council in the city of Worms, Germany.
Again, Luther was hoping for a debate. But the Roman Catholic church was hellbent on silencing Luther and squelching the growing Protestant movement.
When he appeared before the church leaders in Worms, Luther was given a stack of his books and asked two simple questions:
“Did you write these?” Luther looked for a moment, then responded in the affirmative.
“Will you recant?” Luther wanted to debate and discuss his teachings, but wasn’t given that opportunity. His accusers demanded a simple yes or no answer. Nothing more and nothing less. So Luther asked for a night to think it over.
Luther spent that night in agonizing prayer before God. Listen to some of what he prayed...
O God, Almighty God everlasting! how dreadful is the world! behold how its mouth opens to swallow me up, and how small is my faith in thee!…
Oh the weakness of the flesh and the power of Satan! If I am to depend upon any strength of this world—all is over...
O Lord! help me!...
My God! my God! does thou not hear? My God! art thou no longer living? Nay, thou canst not die....
Forsake me not, for the sake of thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ....
O God send help!. . . Amen! [1]
The Lord only knows how long Luther labored in agonizing prayer that night. But eventually morning came and it was time for Luther to give his answer. I’m sure many were expecting Luther to recant his teaching. Had he done so the entire Protestant Reformation may have crumbled.
But instead, the man who the night before had appeared so fearful and afraid now stood confidently before the assembly. He boldly declared...
“Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason--I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other--my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me. Amen."
— Martin Luther
I share that story because this wasn’t the first time a man went from a night of agonizing prayer to a morning of unshakeable courage.
Turn to Matthew 26:47
On Thursday night Jesus was in agony in the garden. He was under such intense stress that His blood vessels burst, causing blood to ooze out of His sweat glands. He has been begging His Father to let the cup of wrath pass from Him.
But then, after three rounds of unimaginable temptation and intense prayer, something changed.
Jesus stands up, says “Rise, let us be going; see, My betrayer is at hand,” then marches courageously towards His betrayer.
He will drink the cup of the Father’s wrath against sin. He will die in our place.
Jesus is not some unlucky victim, unable to escape His unfortunate circumstances.
The Big idea I hope to demonstrate from our text this morning is that Jesus is perfectly submissive to the will of His Father.
We see that as we look at the Three Scenes in our text:
Jesus Submitting to a Painful Betrayal
Jesus Submitting to a Wrongful Arrest
Jesus Submitting to a Shameful Trial
1) Jesus Submitted to a Painful BETRAYAL
1) Jesus Submitted to a Painful BETRAYAL
Matthew 26:47–50—While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.”
Judas was one of the twelve disciples. He had spent three years with Jesus. But for whatever reason he became disillusioned with Jesus and decided to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
The religious leaders needed an opportunity to arrest Jesus when He wasn’t surrounded by a massive crowd of fans, and that’s what Judas could deliver.
Judas probably knew this garden had been a favorite spot of Jesus during the Passover week, so he brought a great crowd of temple police to arrest Jesus in the middle of the night.
Since it was dark and nobody had a picture of Jesus to clearly identify Him, Judas needed some sort of signal to make it clear who they needed to arrest. He would kiss Jesus on the cheek.
All of these details are meant to convey the supreme agony of this moment. This was a painful betrayal. Judas was a friend. And he’s taking a sign of affection and turning it into a sign of betrayal!
Perhaps Jesus took comfort from King David, who wrote about his own painful betrayal in Psalm 55...
Psalm 55:12–14—For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.”
Psalm 55:20–21—My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
Some of you can relate to this agony of betrayal that David described. You've suffered the pain of broken marriage vows. Or you’ve felt the sting of children whom you loved and raised turn against you with vile bitterness. Or you’ve been stabbed in the back by someone that you thought was a dear and trusted friend.
If you’ve ever felt the sting of betrayal, you can relate at least somewhat with what Jesus has endured. But unlike King David and unlike you, Jesus is perfectly innocent.
In his book, Resolving Everyday Conflict, Ken Sande says
"If I'm only 2 percent responsible for a conflict, I'm 100 percent responsible for that 2 percent."
—Ken Sande [2]
That’s an extremely important principle in conflict. Even if it’s mostly his fault or her fault, if we’ve done something wrong we need to own our part of the conflict.
But with Jesus, there is no fault! He is the only person to ever face conflict with perfect and complete innocence!
Yet, He submits Himself to this painful betrayal.
Why? Because He’s on His way to the cross, and this is the will of His Father.
Jesus demonstrates His perfect submission to the will of His Father as He submits to a painful betrayal.
But also...
2) Jesus Submitted to a Wrongful ARREST
2) Jesus Submitted to a Wrongful ARREST
In the first scene, we’re meant to feel the pain of Jesus’ betrayal. But as Matthew continues his account of what happened that night, we’re meant to notice how Jesus could have avoided arrest. And yet He submits to the will of His Father.
Matthew 26:51—And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
One of the disciples is hoping to help Jesus avoid arrest.
We know from John’s gospel that it was Peter who cut off this guy’s ear.
And I think it’s safe to say that Peter wasn’t trying to cut this guy’s ear off. He was probably trying to chop off his head and the guy ducked!
Before we’re too hard on Peter, there’s something admirable here isn’t there? Peter is truly willing to fight for Jesus. He’s not going to take this passively.
But Jesus is not seeking to avoid arrest. Jesus is submitting to the will of His Father.
Perhaps you’re wondering what happened to this poor guy’s ear.
Luke 22:51 tells us Jesus stopped everything and healed him.
Isn’t that just like Jesus? He’s just been betrayed and He’s about to be arrested, but He makes time to heal one of His enemies.
Jesus is not too busy for your problems, friend.
I can’t help but feel ashamed about how often I am too busy doing good and important things to stop and show kindness and love to the people in front of me.
Why is Jesus able to love like this? Because He’s submitted to the will of His Father, even when it means submission to a wrongful arrest.
But Jesus is not content even with healing this guy’s ear and submitting to arrest. He also takes time to teach those who are in the garden...
Matthew 26:52—Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
I do not think Jesus is necessarily teaching against self-defense.
But I do think Jesus is teaching His disciples a general principle: we will reap what we sow.
When we use weapons to solve problems we often invite more weapons in response. That doesn’t mean it’s always wrong to do that. In fact, it’s often right for those in authority to use force to put a stop to evil.
But Jesus wants His followers to know that we’re really not going to put an end to evil with weapons. Evil needs to be destroyed another way, and that’s exactly what Jesus is preparing to do!
Matthew 26:53—Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
A legion of soldiers in the Roman army was about 6000 soldiers.
Jesus says, “I can say that word and have more than 72,000 angels here in an instant.”
Jesus doesn’t need Peter’s protection. Peter needs Jesus’ protection!
The difference between Christianity and an honor religion
Jesus could have easily escaped arrest, but He’s submitting to the will of the Father. Why?
Matthew 26:54-56—But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Everything that’s happening in the garden is in obedience to the Scriptures.
Way back in another garden, God the Father made a promise to a slithering snake.
He had tempted Adam and Eve to doubt their good Father. They disobeyed God and chose to do what they wanted instead of what He wanted.
That, by the way, is what the Bible calls sin. It’s not the really bad things, it’s anything that disobeys God.
It’s the bitter feelings you have towards the people who have hurt you. It’s the unkind words you spoke when you got cut off on the highway. It’s the lustful thoughts you had last night. It’s the pride you feel when someone likes your post or compliments you. It’s any thought, word, feeling or action that ignores or rejects God.
And because God is supremely holy and supremely valuable, any and every sin is a BIG deal!
When Adam and Eve sinned, it was like a deadly virus entering a clean ecosystem. The curse of sin had contaminated everything.
But God looked at the slithering snake who tempted Adam and Eve and said: I’m going to send Someone from the Offspring of this woman who will wage war against you snake. Yes, you’ll bruise his heel in the process. But He’s going to crush your head.
The entire Old Testament is pointing forward to the day that Snake-Crusher would come. And here He is!
We can trust the Scriptures!!!
Jesus demonstrates His perfect submission to the will of His Father as He submits to a wrongful arrest.
But finally...
3) Jesus Submitted to a Shameful TRIAL
3) Jesus Submitted to a Shameful TRIAL
After Jesus is arrested, He’s put on trial by the religious leaders...
Matthew 26:57–63a—Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent.
The religious leaders want to put Jesus to death, but they didn’t have the authority to do that. The Romans were in charge, and only they could issue the death sentence.
So they’re trying to find some charge against Jesus that they can bring before the Roman authorities.
They try to get someone to say something bad about Jesus, but really nothing is sticking.
Until someone accuses Jesus of threatening to destroy the temple. That would’ve been a serious offense, and could have been the sort of thing that would get Rome involved.
But did Jesus really say He would destroy the temple?
John 2:19–22—Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking about the temple of His body. When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
It’s significant that these words are recorded in John 2, which is near the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
Which means that Jesus’ plan was always to die on a cross and rise from the dead. That’s the whole reason why He’s here!
So it should be no surprise to us that Jesus is silent before His accusers in this moment. He’s ready to die in our place.
Isaiah 53:7—He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.
The religious leaders have tried to pin Jesus, but He’s not replying to any of their charges. They’re hoping He’ll say something and trap Himself, but He’s not. So finally the high priest questions Jesus directly...
Matthew 26:63b-64— And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Some have said Jesus is being evasive here. But He’s not at all.
He’s quoting an important prophesy about the Messiah...
Daniel 7:13-14—“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came One like a son of man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
Jesus is claiming to be God, to be an everlasting King!!!
The religious leaders knew exactly what Jesus meant...
Matthew 26:65-68— Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Notice what the high priest said: Jesus has spoken blasphemy.
What’s blasphemy? It’s a serious offense. It’s speaking slanderously about the holiness of God.
What has Jesus done that’s blasphemous? He’s claimed to be God.
Rather than responding to Jesus’ claim by freeing Him and worshipping Him as God, the religious leaders begin to mock Him and beat Him.
Ironically they’re the ones committing blasphemy here, since they’re literally spitting in the face of God.
That’s what sin is! It’s cosmic treason, it’s spitting in the face of God, it’s refusing to submit to Him, it’s rejecting Him and living for yourself!
What a contrast between Jesus and the religious leaders. They’re beating Him and mocking Him, but He’s calmly submitting to the will of His Father.
Jesus demonstrates His perfect submission to the will of His Father as He submits to a shameful trial.
As everything happened that evening, Peter was watching from a distance.
About thirty years later he wrote a letter to Christians in modern-day Turkey.
And in that letter he encouraged Christians to follow Jesus’ example from that night...
1 Peter 2:21–23—For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.
Before we conclude, I want us to consider THREE PITFALLS we must avoid as we seek to follow Jesus’ example of perfect submission...
1) Overemphasizing the example of Jesus
Peter tells us that Jesus’ suffering is an example to us.
Jesus suffered without resistance.
Does that mean it’s never right to resist mistreatment?
Was it right for MLK and others to resist unjust Jim Crow laws that treated whites and blacks differently?
Is it right for Israel to fight back and resist the evil of Hamas?
Is it right for a battered wife to stand up and resist her abusive husband?
To each of these questions I believe the answer is emphatically YES!
And not because that feels right, but because the Scriptures call us to seek justice against the wrongdoer.
When the Bible tells us to follow Jesus’ example in our suffering it does not mean that we give anyone and everyone a free pass to mistreat everyone else.
We are not called to imitate Jesus’ example in every way. Jesus’ suffering is unique.
2) Underemphasizing the example of Jesus
On the flip side, some of us are tempted to ignore the fact that Jesus is an example at all.
Sure, Jesus suffered without opening His mouth but He’s God! I can’t do that!
There are husbands and wives in this room who cannot endure the suffering of a minor marital disagreement without feeling as if you have to get the last word in!
Peter would say to you, “even when you’re reviled, don’t revile in return!”
Not every snarky comment requires a comeback. Not every text message deserves a reply. Not every social media post needs a comment.
Christian, how do you behave when things don’t go your way?
If you believe Jesus is Lord, you need to live like it, and that means you’ll follow in His example when you’re mistreated!
3) Ignoring the substitution of Jesus
Explain Jesus’ substitutionary atonement
Martin Luther put it like this:
“The chief article and foundation of the gospel is that before you take Christ as an example, you accept and recognize him as a gift.”
—Martin Luther [3]
Unbeliever: this is what Jesus did for you. Won’t you trust Him today?
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Hallelujah for the Cross
Benediction (1 Corinthians 15:58)