Sermon Tone Analysis

Death

INTRO NARRATION - Reading of A.W. Pink’s first sentences in “Seven Sayings”

SLIDE then VIDEO - Nicodemus

We had gotten our evil wish.

This Jesus who we had seen do miracles, this Jesus who we had heard teach, this Jesus who was so kind and compassionate to so many who we looked down on, was nailed to one of the most vile instruments of execution ever conceived of by man - the cross.

There he was nailed to wood beams, hanging like so grotesque decoration for the amusement of the Roman executioners.

Beaten and bloody he hung struggling to get breath, but not so broken as others before him.

As much agony as he was in, as much as we the Sanhedrin thought we did this to Jesus, I couldn’t help but feel as I looked upon his body as though he intended this to happen.

As though in spite of or even more unsettling, through our evil actions he was accomplishing exactly what he intended to accomplish.

I liked Jesus, I really did, I didn’t understand him, but I did like him.

It was apparent to me that he was not like anyone I had ever met.

As a member of the Sanhedrin I’ve known many excellent teachers and spent time with some of the foremost experts in the law.

But Jesus… he was altogether different.

Of course I thought that was rather obvious given the fact so many had seen him do miracles.

Not the so called miracles of charlatans or sorcerers, but real miracles.

Blind people were given sight.

Sick people were made well.

People who were mute were given the ability to speak.

Even… even the dead were given life.

He had to be from God, he had to be.

There’s no one else who can speak to a corpse four days dead and then - life.

It just doesn’t happen.

But it did happen.

But it wasn’t just the miracles, it was the way Jesus talked, the way he taught.

When he spoke, when he preached it was like he was speaking with the authority of the very one put the words in the prophets’ mouths.

It was uncanny… and unsettling.

While he spoke with authority he certainly didn’t fit the mold - that’s for sure.

He didn’t say what the Pharisees or the Sadduccees or the Zealots or any of the others were saying.

And that’s what got him… that’s why we had him crucified really.

Because he didn’t fit our mold.

Because he wasn’t like us and he wasn’t with us.

He didn’t speak on our behalf and he didn’t promote our agenda.

He wouldn’t toe the line and do what we wanted.

He wasn’t the Messiah we wanted.

But when I saw him hanging there I realized, he’s the Messiah we desperately needed.

Service of Darkness Sermon

Jesus was not the Messiah we wanted, He is the Messiah we desperately need.

Nicodemus like so many others thought they knew exactly who the Messiah would be.

They thought they knew what he would care about, what he would say, what he would do, where he would be from, how he would function.

But they didn’t know anything about him really and most certainly didn’t know Him to be sure.

I’m not certain about Nicodemus, I like to think that he believed in the end because of the actions he takes in scripture, but I don’t know that to be sure.

I am sure that so many around him, men who had every advantage from a worldly standpoint did not recognize Jesus for who He was and is.

I wonder how many in the world today actually know Jesus?

I wonder how many actually follow and obey?

I see so many from the most conservative of evangelicals to the most liberal of atheists attempt to square Jesus away so neatly, to set him on their own little stools declaring who He was or who He is and what He cares about and what He wants.

This one says Jesus just wanted the world to love one another.

That one says Jesus just wanted you to be happy.

Another one says Jesus wants you to be healthy and wealthy, to name it and claim it.

Others say Jesus wants to empower you to right every wrong and work for social justice in the world.

But how many actually care what Jesus said about why He came?

How many actually know who the Messiah is?

Jesus made abundantly clear who He is and why He came, in what He said and in what He did.

And tonight as we remember what Jesus Christ, our Incarnate God, did on the cross, I want us to reflect on what He said while He was there and for us to see what it means for our lives.

The Seven Sayings or the Seven Last Words are the last things Jesus said before dying a most excruciating death and for generations the church has remembered and reflected upon these words as we worship Christ Jesus the Lord.

The words and the passages they are associated with are as follows.

Forgiveness -

Salvation -

Affection -

Anguish -

Suffering -

Victory -

Contentment -

Each of the words, each of the sayings they are related to are important and reveal to us just who Jesus is and what He cares about.

Forgiveness: We are told in -

34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

And they cast lots to divide his garments.

As those who crucified Jesus watched and even gambled over his clothes Jesus says something that amazingly selfless - he says forgive them Father.

They have no idea what they’re doing.

God the Son speaks to God the Father and says forgive them.

Wow.

Jesus forgives his executioners and murderers even as they stand before him.

This shows the profound power of God’s love for His people, the type of love that is self-sacrificial and triumphant over all.

A love so powerful that though forgiveness is by no measure merited it is proclaimed and made manifest.

As those who crucified Jesus watched and even gambled over his clothes Jesus says something that amazingly selfless - he says forgive them Father.

They have no idea what they’re doing.

God the Son speaks to God the Father and says forgive them.

Wow.

Jesus forgives his executioners and murderers even as they stand before him.

This shows the profound power of God’s love for His people, the type of love that is self-sacrificial and triumphant over all.

A love so powerful that though forgiveness is by no measure merited it is proclaimed and made manifest.

2. Salvation: We are told in -

Beside Jesus were also crucified at least two other criminals that we know of.

Luke tells us that one railed at Jesus, he cries out to Jesus bitterly, sarcastically even saying you’re the Christ aren’t you, the Messiah who supposed to save.

Then save us why don’t you.

But the other criminal rebukes the first one.

He says you’re about to die, we all are, don’t you fear God at all? We’re here because we deserve to be here.

We did what we were convicted of - but this one, He’s innocent - He’s done nothing wrong.

And one of the shortest yet most passionate pleas comes forth from this criminal’s mouth.

He says, Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.

Remember this one moment in my life where I have done something other than wrong.

Remember me for one millisecond of something other than vileness.

And Jesus says something totally remarkable and something so much more than the criminal could have ever anticipated or hoped for.

Jesus says, truly or this I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.

Jesus says where I’m going, paradise, you’re coming to.

Salvation is assured, though the criminal has done nothing meriting it, it is promised to him, giving us great hope in Christ Jesus salvation is assured.

3. Affection: We read in -

At the cross when most had abandoned Jesus, a few who loved Him dearly stood by watching helpless, frightened, and tearful.

As Jesus looked upon the few there He saw John, one of His best friends in the world and He saw Mary, His mother as well.

Jesus was filled with compassion and affection for them, but most especially I believe for Mary.

Joseph, Jesus adoptive father was not there and based upon what Jesus asks of John it is safe to assume that he is most likely dead.