Sermon Tone Analysis

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Emotion
Anger
Disgust
Fear
Joy
Sadness
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Analytical
Confident
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Openness
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Anger
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*Intro* – Read Luke 9:43-45.
A man wanted to lose some weight so he joined a diet group.
In addition to the training, each week the instructor sent a postcard with an inspirational message based on his continued weight loss.
However, one week he gained a couple of pounds and wondered what he message would be.
It was direct and to the point: “I’d like to see less of you next week.”
That’s Jesus’ message to His disciples here.
I’d like to see less of you.
He sees in their reaction to the healing of the demon-possessed boy a continued commitment to their interpretation of how things ought to be as opposed to what actually awaits.
Drastic changes are coming; He’s trying to prepare them, and they are not having it.
Unbelief continues.
Back in v. 18 Peter has expressed the belief of the apostles that Jesus is the Messiah.
They have come a long way to get to that point.
But they still have a long way to go.
Jesus knows that.
There’s a fundamental disconnect between their concept of Messiah and reality.
They expect Messiah to charge into Jerusalem at some point, throw the Romans out and set up His kingdom.
They have no concept of the price that must be paid to make all of that possible.
They still don’t get that redemption costs.
So when Jesus informs them that He must suffer and die it doesn’t compute.
So, Jesus takes 3 of them – Peter, Jas and John, to a mountain where He is transfigured before them and talks with Moses and Elijah about His coming death, resurrection and ascension.
His exodus.
He is showing them that the kingdom is not incompatible with suffering; in fact, suffering is necessary to pay the price of redemption for kingdom dwellers.
But, they still don’t get it.
They’d prefer to stay on the mountain than come down and get on with the mission of redemption.
When they do come down and Jesus heals an awful case of demon-possession, they’re back on board.
Amazed at what Jesus can do.
Ready to encourage Him to get on with the kingdom by their definition.
And therein lies the problem.
Too much them – not enough Him!
So Jesus acts.
V. 43, “And all were astonished at the majesty of God.
But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”
Jesus is trying to bring them back to reality, here.
Yes, the kingdom is real; the healings are real; redemption is real; but there is a price to pay.
He must die.
And so must they.
He told them in Lu 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
These followers are still unbelieving believers.
Still focused on their view of Messiah rather than that of Jesus.
Too much them; too little Him.
Rather than taking up their cross daily, they are climbing down off their cross daily.
Jesus is telling them, “Guys – I need to see a little less of you and a lot more of me.”
Unfortunately, it will take a lot of failure before they get the point for good.
Unbelief made their lives a mess for a time.
It always does.
Unbelief is always destructive.
All of us have areas where it is too much us and too little Him – and we will pay a price.
When the crisis comes we’ll fail.
But we don’t have to.
Let’s note their failed pattern to see if we can break the mold in our own lives.
*I.
Distracted by Success*
V. 43, “And all were astonished at the majesty of God.
But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing.”
After 2 years, they’re still amazed at Jesus.
And that’s part of their problem.
They are distracted by success.
If Jesus has all this power, surely He could defeat all His enemies.
And, of course, He could.
He could have overpowered them anytime!
But then there would have been no redemption.
It never occurred to the disciples that Jesus would go willingly to death – for their sake!
Jesus’ death was in God’s plan from before time for one reason -- it was the only way to save mankind.
There was no other way.
But outward success distracted the disciples.
They wanted it to go on forever.
They saw no reason for it to stop.
They rejected suffering.
Left to their own devices would have deep-sixed their own redemption.
See God does not define success in the world does.
Far from it.
It is not the numbers or the miracles or the financial gain that defines success.
Success is aligning with the will of God.
Let me say that again.
Success is aligning with the will of God.
Sometimes that leads to spectacular events.
Sometimes it leads to suffering.
And if we don’t get that straight in our minds we will fail as miserably as the disciples did when the miracles ceased and suffering entered the picture.
We must not be taken hostage to the success syndrome.
It is great when God grants it.
We would all prefer to be healthy, wealthy and comfortable.
But it will not always be so.
Mt 10:17-18: “Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.”
Persecution is part of the deal when you choose Christ.
So we must not be distracted by success and think suffering is an anomaly.
It is not.
It is God at work in some way we may not understand.
I love the story about the elderly woman who never ceased to complain about her aches and pains.
Every conversation.
But a friend one-upped her one day.
She said, “You know, I woke up this morning and thought I was dead -- because nothing hurt.”
Beloved, pain is a fact of life for the believer.
If we’re feeling no pain, we might well ask if we are spiritually alive.
Jesus’ disciples could not reconcile suffering with the success they were seeing, so they ignored it; and when it came they turned tail like so many cowards.
Unprepared, unwilling, unable to suffer with Him.
Distracted by a success that they thought was the norm.
So when it comes to pain, first, expect it.
Second, ask what God is saying to you or to others.
But don’t be surprised!
*II.
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