Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

I want to read a summary from the docu-drama titled A Cipher in the Snow.

The documentary was originally written by Jean Mizer, then made into a movie, and summarized here by Gary Smalley and John Trent.

These two men in their own book The Blessing summarize it with a graphic portrait of the painful consequences of living with with the belief that one is unloved.

Roger was a elementary childhood retreated into his own little world of silence and withdraw.

Oblivious to the frolic and happiness of the children he was surrounded by at the bus stop, Roger stairs so lonely at the ground.

It is there the other children are not noticed by him so he is not noticed by the others--it is almost as if Rogers is invisible to the other children--he never looks up at them and they never speak to him or even seem to acknowledge his existence.

The school bus arrives, the children cowed on each one finding a seat with a friend--all except Roger.

The last one on the bus, Roger steps on, looks briefly and expectantly into the faces of the other children, but no one beckons for him to join, so he slumps into a seat behind the driver.

They travel only a few miles when suddenly Roger drops his books and staggers to his feet.

•

•

Standing now next to the driver, he has a wild and distant look on his face.

Shocked by his sudden appearance and unable to get answers from Roger, the bus driver pulled over to the side of the road opens the door and Roger begins to walk down the steps of the bus and pitches forward into the snow.

Standing now next to the driver, he has a wild and distant look on his face.

Shocked by his sudden appearance and unable to get answers from Roger, the bus driver pulled over to the side of the road opens the door and Roger begins to walk down the steps of the bus and pitches forward into the snow.

•

•

So in only a few months everything and everybody of value to Roger--his parents, his teachers and his friends had either been lost or taken from him with no place of shelter and no words of encouragement or comfort.

Roger felt like a cypher, an empty zero.

This sensitive little child wasn’t able to bear the pain any longer.

So what conclusion they could come up with not being able to prove anything is Roger was not killed by infirmity or a wound, because no medical reason could be found for Rogers death, so they concluded he was killed by a lack of acceptance and a lack of love.

The realization of that lack ate like a deadly cancer and after months of pursuing its deadly course it finally ate away his will to live.

He died a cipher in the snow believing that he was totally alone and utterly unwanted and completely unloved.

That is the record of a true story that actually happened to a young boy who actually died on the way to school one day.

There are a lot of sad things to this boy’s story but one of the greatest tragedies is that Somebody, Somebody (our Creator Redeemer God, YHWH) that Somebody the most significant Person of all time really did love him.

But for one reason or another no one bothered to tell Roger, because with God there are no ciphers in the snow.

To the bewilderment and shock and horror of this bus driver, this little elementary child named Roger is dead-- A cipher in the snow.

No medical reason could be found for Roger's death but a teacher’s diligence uncovered the probable cause.

This teacher discovered that Roger’s life had been systematically erased like a blackboard.

The marriage of Rogers parents had disintegrated, and a new preoccupied stepfather never had time to fill the vacuum in Roger's life.

More than that, resentful of any attention his new wife gave Roger, the stepfather limited their time together.

Like being pushed away from a seat next to a fireplace, Roger was now left with only the cold ache of indifference, rejection, and loneliness.

Roger’s hurtful home life led to apathy to his school work.

Tired of his apathy, his teachers gave up on little Roger.

Left him to work alone, Roger suffered silently and privately.

To the bewilderment and shock and horror of this bus driver, this little elementary child named Roger is dead-- A cipher in the snow.

No medical reason could be found for Roger's death but a teacher’s diligence uncovered the probable cause.

This teacher discovered that Roger’s life had been systematically erased like a blackboard.

The marriage of Rogers parents had disintegrated, and a new preoccupied stepfather never had time to fill the vacuum in Roger's life.

More than that, resentful of any attention his new wife gave Roger, the stepfather limited their time together.

Like being pushed away from a seat next to a fireplace, Roger was now left with only the cold ache of indifference, rejection, and loneliness.

Roger’s hurtful home life led to apathy to his school work.

Tired of his apathy, his teachers gave up on little Roger.

Left him to work alone, Roger suffered silently and privately.

•

•

So in only a few months everything and everybody of value to Roger--his parents, his teachers, and his friends had either been lost or taken from him with no place of shelter and no words of encouragement or comfort.

Roger felt like a cypher, an empty zero.

This sensitive little child wasn’t able to bear the pain any longer.

So what conclusion the teacher and doctors could come up with, not really being able to prove anything, is Roger was not killed by infirmity or a wound, because no medical reason could be found for Rogers death, so they concluded he was killed by a lack of acceptance and a lack of love.

The realization of that lack ate like a deadly cancer and after months of pursuing its deadly course it finally ate away Roger's will to live.

He died a cipher in the snow, believing that he was totally alone, utterly unwanted, and completely unloved.

So in only a few months everything and everybody of value to Roger--his parents, his teachers, and his friends had either been lost or taken from him with no place of shelter and no words of encouragement or comfort.

Roger felt like a cypher, an empty zero.

This sensitive little child wasn’t able to bear the pain any longer.

So what conclusion the teacher and doctors could come up with, not really being able to prove anything, is Roger was not killed by infirmity or a wound, because no medical reason could be found for Rogers death, so they concluded he was killed by a lack of acceptance and a lack of love.

The realization of that lack ate like a deadly cancer and after months of pursuing its deadly course it finally ate away Roger's will to live.

He died a cipher in the snow, believing that he was totally alone, utterly unwanted, and completely unloved.

That is the record of a true story that actually happened to a young boy who actually died on the way to school one day.

There are a lot of sad things to this boy’s story but one of the greatest tragedies is that Somebody, Somebody (our Creator Redeemer God, YHWH) that Somebody the most significant Person of all time really did love him.

But for one reason or another no one bothered to tell Roger, because with God there are no ciphers in the snow.

I believe this true story of Roger confirms that without love, life becomes unbearable, intolerable, unlivable, and in some cases even suicidal.

I’ve heard somewhere that we can live about 40 days without food and go about 3 days without water (give or take a few days) We cannot survive over about 8 minutes without oxygen, perhaps a few moments longer depending on a certain set of circumstances for that to happen.

But not even a second we could survive apart from our Savior’s love.

We could not live long without the hope and the meaning or significance of being loved brings to our lives.

In other words, we can do almost anything if we know somehow that we are loved.

Conversely, we can hardly bear to live without any recognition of love.

Transition:

So this morning, let’s look at a familiar passage to EVERYBODY.

This passage is one of the very first verses we usually memorize.

Turn to

Dr. Douglas McLachlan calls this verse “probably the most profound statement of the redemptive love of God in all of scripture” I am convinced that this verse is a rescue verse for any Christian struggling deeply with the cares and worries of this life.

YHWH’s love through Christ is the solution to all of those critical predicaments that we face in life and in this one postcard verse is the answer.

We can see several awe inspiring qualities of God’s love for our fallen and sinful race.

For so (οὑτως γαρ [houtōs gar]) οὑτως is in the emphatic position—it’s the very first Greek word in this sentence—grammatically speaking, this οὑτως is the most important word.

This use of οὑτως means “in this way or in this manner”.

this is quite possibly the whole reason for verse 16 this is all about in what way does God love us.

Everything else about this verse, then, is subordinate to the way that God loves us.

So how does YHWH love us cursed sinful, sin-filled worldlings?

God loves us personally - John uses His title “God” which is synonymous with His Name in the Greek.

so John really uses His Name — there is no ‘YHWH’ or ‘Jehovah’ equivalent in the Greek language.

In fact, God is so personal that he is the subject of these two main verbs here in this compound sentence: “God loved” and “God gave.”

This is wonderful news that demands our praise!

The Creator of the Universe has a personal investment in you and me!

We are the recipients of the Almighty God’s loving and the Almighty God’s giving!

Amen?!?

This idea of knowing and loving Our God on a personal intimate level is unique to the Christian faith!

To prove this look at other religions: No Muslim gets to know the dead Mohammed and their Allah certainly isn’t loving.

No Hindu gods are personal, plus how could they be when there are literally millions--330 million to be more precise.

No communist gets to talk to Marxx or Lennon.

No Buddhist got to know Siddhārtha Gautama intimately, personally, or with any relational aspect.

The Buddha is famously quoted from his death bed to have said, “I am still seeking truth” Many idolize this statement, but it is a tragic statement!

In stark contrast, God in flesh said, “I am the Truth” and that is something to love!

God Loves us!

We can see several stunning qualities of God’s love for our fallen and sinful race.

God Loves us!

“God loved” ἠγάπησεν [ēgapēsen] ὁ θεὸς This is an AORIST ACTIVE INDICATIVE ἀγαπαω [agapaō] (as is the parsing of the verb “gave”), which speaks of a completed act in the past time (God sent Jesus).

Verses 16–17 deal primarily with the Father’s love.

“Loved” is the term agapaō.