Jesus the Insurrectionist?
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 146 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Christian’s belong to the Kingdom of God. So, how do we reconcile living under the rule of man. Logically, if we don’t belong to this world and Jesus is our only King, why do we even obey traffic laws? What authority does the civil government have over the Christian? Why are we not all insurrectionists?
Intro
Intro
Intro
Intro
June is Gay Pride month.
A people who are lost and in need of something bigger than their sexual orientation.
Christianity is wrestling with this at various degrees within the church
The office of deacon in the UMC now includes a transgender individual who was ordained not by their name, but by the letter “M.”
“Pour out your Holy Spirit upon M,” the bishop said. “Send them now to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to announce the reign of God and to equip the church for ministry.” - Washington Post
Our government has set out to make the LGBT agenda a high priority
There is no doubt that by stealing a Christian symbol in which God has established as a sign, the rainbow, there is a lack of knowledge of God’s truth and the meaning of such a symbol and a desire to hijack what is rightfully God’s - His authority.
But, how do we as Christians reconcile what we see in the world and its governments. What do we do? How do we respond?
Drama
Drama
Jesus goes before pilate
King Herod was appointed by the Romans as “The King of the Jews” 37-4 BC
After King Herod and Herod Archeleous who was deposed by the Romans and there was no “King of the Jews”
The Jews fell under Roman rule - and for the early part of this they allowed the Jews to keep much of their culture and customs
Pilate -
Pilate was the Roman Authority figure of the Geographical area
Pilate was a prefect
We know from an inscription found in 1961 says “Pontious Pilate, Prefect of Judea”
New Testament uses the term Governor which is closest to Prefect rather than a later roman structure of procurator
Military man who ruled a geographical area of less importance
Judea was an annex of Syria
A procurator which it would be called later was a civil authority
Pilate was a military in charge with keeping civil law and order
It would be done by might and control
Ruled from 26-36 AD
The Interrogation
King Herod was appointed by the Romans as “The King of the Jews” from
The Jews handed Jesus over to be seen as an insurrectionist
Insurrectionists is one who is opposed vocally and who demonstrates it by breaking that law
They usually had a following and revolted against the current rule and authority
Rebellion
Jews wanted Jesus to be seen as one who was leading a movement against the Roman Government.
They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”
John 18
Today we might call this person anti-establishment
Not sure if they were using Jesus as a scape Goat to hope that they would kill Him and leave the Jews to keep their customs and practices
or that He would actually lead the revolt that the Pharisees and Sadducees would actual start another 30 years later.
King Herod was appointed by the Romans as “The King of the Jews”
Ultimately they were seeking his death at the hands of the Roman Empire
Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”
John 18
And, it was ultimately to fulfill Scripture:
and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles.
Pilate then asks Jesus:
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus Response
Jesus acknowledges Roman Rule as the established and God ordained authority
Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”
As usual he responds to a question with a question - to reverse the interrogation tactics
But, in this statement he recognizes that Pilate has the ability under his own authority to declare Jesus as the King of the Jews
Jesus also acknowledges God’s rule over all things
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
He speaks of His rule over a greater Kingdom - Not of this World
He places it above the civil and Roman Government
He shows that it is different than the government God has allowed at this moment
His servants don’t revolt or push back physically
Jesus also acknowledges His role in the Kingdom of God
Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18:
By not denying he affirms the statement
It is the purpose for his coming into the world
To Bear witness to the truth
To call a people set apart who listen to this truth
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Jesus is a King who has teh authority to come into this world and call his people to himself and into a saving relationship
The Works of Christ show His authority and the purpose of God’s kingdom
Doctrine
Doctrine
Now Pilate is left asking a question that leads us to believe he is not one who hears the truth and Christ and understands it - i.e. He did not have ears to hear
The Question:
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.
John
Problem: The rebellious world full of sinful men who deny the authority of God will always be confused in their understanding of reality.
Post modern world where truth and reality are being challenged.
What doctrines does this passage teach?
The Kingdom of God
Belongs to Jesus - “My Kingdom”
Shows Jesus’ authority over the Kingdom
Same as ‘my servants’
More than association, Jesus was claiming ownership
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Is for the Elect
The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition Chapter XXV. Of the Church
Chapter XXV. Of the Church Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter XXV, 2
The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel, (not confined to one nation, as before under the law,) consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, together with their children; and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ; the house and family of God,e out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.
The WCF Larger Catechism uses the term kingdom for the countries f England, Scotland and Ireland
The Kingdom of God is now and not yet
The now is what we see before us and the governments of this world as established and ordained by God
The Kingdom of God - is partially before us
Jesus was caliming to be King, but not of teh Kingdom they thought. He is the King of God’s Kingdom which is the ultimate authority
Jesus’ Kingdom is from above
Therefore: We are saved by the blood of Jesus and have been redeemed into the Kingdom which is greater than any civil authority and governement that this earth has
It is actually a kingdom providentially established by the God and it falls under His Kingdom
In other words this is His World - This world was established and created by HIM and not the other way around.
Truth
Postmodern society that does not believe in a truth
All truth is relative
Pilate - “What is truth?”
Jesus tells us there is truth
We know it can be found in God’s Word for us
High Priestly Prayer -
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
God speaks and it is truth
It isn’t up for debate
Those who are a part of the Kingdom of God and hear the truth hear it and the sound is glorious.
There is truth - God’s Word is truth
Jesus purpose for coming to earth was to be a witness to what God had promised and to fulfill it
We as Kingdom people are people who hear the truth and listen
App: Do you hear the word of God and listen to it? Do you respond to it? Do you take what you hear and apply it to your life?
We all need to not just listen to God’s Word but to know it is truth and do what it says.
What is God telling you and are you listening to it, it is truth.
Doxology
Doxology
Our Kingdom is not of this world
This should cause us to rejoice
The promises of the future Kingdom and a Holy God who will bring in The second coming of Christ a New Heavens and a New Earth should be encouraging
Physical in the end
We shouldn’t be discouraged when the governments of men fail or drift away from God and reality
We should be encouraged that even as bad as those things are, the Kingdom of God will endure until the end and will be made new
And, you are a part of that Kingdom
Now, do we then put our head in the clouds and withdraw from this world? NO
Do we engage it and defy it and revolt against it? NO
If we believe God is sovereign and he established it then we must also believe He has ordained the government to rule as it does.
Jesus believed this about Pilate and the Romans
Yet, he also knew this was merely a kingdom within the Kingdom of God.
Also, we know that in this Kingdom there is truth. Governments of this world seek truth and often seek there own autonomy by creating their own truth. But, in the end they will fail . . .
There is ultimate truth and that belongs to God
This is His Kingdom and this is His World
We as Christians don’t need to create insurrections within these earthly Kingdoms because we serve the King whose Kingdom encompasses these kingdoms and whose leaders and Kings will one day all fall on their knees at the Kingdom of God, and it’s King Jesus at bow to His authority.
for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”
As Christians this should cause us to stand now and praise Jesus - This is His Kingdom and the truth can be known - Through Jesus Christ
This is the message we have - that the search is over -
While it is Gay pride month and we know that this is not the churches nor God’s agenda, we do have a response. We do need to speak out.
We need to speak out with the message of Jesus Christ - the Gospel and the truth that it brings
Salvation belongs to God’s Kingdom and this is why Jesus came to earth - to save the lost
How do I know? He saved me.
We could revolt. We could fight back with our voices, by boycotting, by chastising, by speaking out against, by creating such a divide, and sometimes we may need to do so - but we could also respond with love and a message of love - the same message of Jesus Christ - the Good News
Let us do so and may those who are “ of the truth listen to His voice” and be saved!