Sermon Tone Analysis

This morning we are going to look into a period of time in the life of Jesus the Christ.

This time period is the final few weeks that lead up to the crucifixion of Jesus.

I would like stop and say right here, that I am so thankful and joyous, that this is not how we end that time reference, “THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS”!

What I mean is this.

To every BELIEVER in the Son of God, we know that the crucifixion was the precursor that led to the single greatest moment in history; THE RESURRECTION!

AMEN?!

Hie death was not final; it was not the end, but rather, it was only the beginning!

So, back to this time frame that we are looking at today.

We will looking at the final few weeks that lead into what is called the Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday)

Palm Sunday - The Triumphant Entry in Jerusalem

Maundy Thursday - The Last Supper and the institution of the Jesus’ command to love others as He has loved us.

Good Friday - The day of our Lord’s crucifixion.

Holy Saturday -

Next week of course is Palm Sunday and the time that we know and recognize as The Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem!

(We will talk more of this next Sunday)

Then, of course, in two weeks, is the greatest single moment in all of the world’s history.

Resurrection Sunday!

This is the day that we celebrate “THE RESURRECTION”!

I say it that way, because there were others raised from the dead, as recorded within the Bible, before that of Jesus.

This, however, is the only one that matters for all of humanity!

This is the resurrection of : The firstborn among many brothers,the firstborn of all creation, and most definitely, the firstborn of the dead!

Before Jesus’ resurrection, all others who had died were like dormant seeds in the ground; waiting for germination.

Jesus, was the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Once He resurrected, all others who belong to the Father, were to be rise also!

Paul said in , “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.”

All others that were raised before Jesus from the dead, were destined to die again.

(And without the completed works of the cross and the resurrection, they were also destined to die the “second death”; that is, the spiritual death!

The moment that Jesus took His first breath and opened His eyes within the tomb, death would never again be a concern for the believer!

THAT IS WHY THE BELIEVER CELEBRATES RESURRECTION SUNDAY!

THOSE WHOM BELIEVE IN JESUS’ LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION, WILL NEVER AGAIN FEEL THE STING OF DEATH!

HALLELUJAH!

OK, so back on track with today’s topic.

We are getting ready to read (or, if you're from the south, you would say, “we’re fixing to”) read from Luke’s gospel, starting in chapter 17.

.

The word used in this passage for temptations, is the Greek word, skandalon, and it refers to a trap, a stumbling block, or obstacle which causes someone to sin, or causes an offense.

For those who were here and a part of our John Bevere study on The Bait of Satan, you will remember what a powerful teaching this was.

It dealt with the issue of offenses and how that you must get rid of them, or they will destroy you, spiritually!

So, sin and offenses are going to happen, but you do not want to be the one through whom they do come!

AMEN?! (“But WOE to the one through whom they come.”)

Note the word used there in the warning, is the word, WOE.

This is not like when we say, “Woe, slow down there fella”.

No, rather, woe from the Greek rendering is pain, discomfort and unhappiness; it is dreadful!

So, if you are the person that is instrumental in leading someone else astray, then Jesus says WOE (pain, discomfort and unhappiness; dread) to you!

Jesus also makes it very clear to His disciples that forgiveness is MANDATORY within the Kingdom of God.

This passage and its dealings with conflict and offenses, is similar to Jesus’ teaching in where he instituted how we deal with conflict and resolution as believers.

Something that is also repeated here from ’s teaching is the theme of extended forgiveness.

As we just read in this passage, Jesus said that we are to forgive someone for their wrong doings to us, even if they offend/sin against us seven times/day and repent each of those seven times.

You must forgive them!

In with Jesus’ teaching on conflict resolution, we see Peter, A JEW, ask a question that is based upon JEWISH rabbinical teachings for forgiveness.

The Jewish rabbis taught that if someone wronged you, you should forgive them UP TO 3x and that was more than enough.

No more after that!

So, we see Peter ask this in .

You see, Peter was doing like so many of us do, we rationalize and come up with an appropriate amount of forgiveness for what has been done to us.

What if God forgave you in this same logic?

Where would you and I be?

So, when the Peter and the other disciples heard the answer about forgiveness that Jesus gave to them, they freaked out!

That was unheard of and against everything that they had been taught growing up! “NOBODY CAN DO THAT”, they were thinking.

.

Note, they didn't say increase our understanding, our love, our patience, or anything else.

They instantly sought after MORE FAITH; otherwise this would be impossible!

Jesus answers them in .

Jesus was saying to them, “It is not a matter of quantity of faith, but rather, it is a matter of to whom that faith is directed with expectancy”!

In other words, if you are looking into your own abilities to be able to do this, then, yes, it wold take a world full of faith to do simple miracles.

However, if your faith is directed towards the Father and you entrust it to Him and believe that He is able to do such a thing, then it only takes a smidgen of faith; faith the size of a grain of mustard seed to work the impossible!

If you could harness its power—that is, turn every one of its atoms into pure energy—the paper clip would yield about 18 kilotons of TNT.

That's roughly the size of the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945.

As one commentary states it, “It is not so much great faith that is required as it is faith in a great God, that is required!”

And then Jesus finishes this lesson with a reminder to the disciples and us in .

Morris, L. (1988).

Luke: an introduction and commentary (Vol.

3, p. 273).

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Jesus is saying this to them and to us as well.

Forgiveness and the understanding of faith and who the faith is to be in, are requirements of the Kingdom for the servants.

In other words, they are commandments that we are to follow.

And as we do them, as commanded, we are never to expect accolades or recognition or honor for doing them!

(You and I do not get the proverbial, “pat on the back”.)

Because then, our faith becomes more of a belief in ourselves and not on Him!

Jesus makes this clear when He mentions the part of the master saying, “Come on in and sit down and eat with me!”

In other words, “sit here at the place of honor for what you have just done!”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Uhhmmmm, NO Boo Boo!

That is not what you and I should ever expect.

In fact, Jesus goes on in this passage to say that we are not to even expect a simple THANK YOU for doing what is commanded as His servants!

How many times have you ever done something for someone and then become mad or even OFFENDED, because they didn't say THANK YOU?

That one is notorious within the church body and I have witnessed it first hand in this church myself and have also seen the hornet’s nest that it stirs up!

You do not do what is commanded for accolades and recognition; you do it because you are a humble servant to the Lord!

And in order for us to able to do so, it requires us to have and keep our FAITH in Him at all times and for all things!

God’s word also says this, .

Do not think more of yourself; it is God who gives each of us a measure of faith!

And so, FAITH is the main point of this morning’s message.

There are a few things about faith that I want to mention this morning.

Of all of the virtues that we mention within our Christian walk, FAITH is paramount!

According to

I know that the great commandment and the one like (list them out), as well as the command that Jesus gave on the night of last supper were all centered and focused upon the virtue LOVE.

I know that Paul, in , says,

By these, people will say, “You see, love is the most important virtue to posses.”

Well, let me say this with regard to love and faith, just to help make this whole thing clear.

The are not the same and yet they go together.

When I say that the virtue of FAITH is paramount, I say this because of what it brings to the life of the Christian and not to discredit or downplay the significance of love.

The issue of FAITH is one that every Christian should be aware of in their life and striving for its development.