Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: I would like to begin today’s message with a poem I found online this week.

This poem reminds us of the mountains we sometime face in our lives.

It speaks of despair and sorrow, as well as courage.

It talks of trouble and of blessings.

It speaks of weakness and strength.

So it is with life.

We all face afflictions, but we all need to be reminded that God is there, working behind the scenes, weaving a beautiful tapestry out of our lives.

I hope this poem is a blessing to you, as it was to me . . .

Lord, I've never moved a mountain and I guess I never will.

All the faith that I could muster wouldn't move a small ant hill.

Yet I'll tell you, Lord, I'm grateful for the joy of knowing Thee,

and for all the mountain moving down through life You've done for me.

When I needed some help you lifted me from the depths of great despair.

And when burdens, pain and sorrow have been more than I can bear,

You have always been my courage to restore life's troubled sea,

and to move these little mountains that have looked so big to me.

Many times when I've had problems and when bills I've had to pay,

and the worries and the heartaches just kept mounting every day,

Lord, I don't know how you did it.

Can't explain the wheres or whys.

All I know, I've seen these mountains turn to blessings in disguise.

No, I've never moved a mountain, for my faith is far too small.

Yet, I thank you, Lord of Heaven, you have always heard my call.

And as long as there are mountains in my life, I'll have no fear,

for the mountain-moving Jesus is my strength and always near.

Scripture Introduction: In the passage of Scripture before us today we find some of the same characteristics as the poem I just read.

We find affliction, but we also have hope.

That is the message today, Hope in the Midst of Affliction.

Notice first of all . . .

Jesus Was Not Immune to Affliction—Neither are We

Explanation—vv.

63-68

After Jesus was arrested in the Garden He was mocked (made fun of), He was beaten, He was blindfolded and He was blasphemed.

He was then taken to the High Priest—Caiaphas, and the religious council.

The scribes and the elders were gathered there and Matthew tells us in the 26th chapter of his Gospel that they began to question Jesus and brought people in to produce false testimony against Him.

We will find out next week that Jesus underwent unbelievable agony and affliction from those who abused Him, spit on Him, beat Him, whipped Him, placed a crown of thorns upon Him and the list goes on and on.

Here are a few more examples of some of the things He suffered that night, into the next morning:

Illustration

Mark 14:

Illustration

We were reminded a couple of weeks ago that our lives are full of troubles.

Application

It is important to remember and realize, that if Jesus the perfect Son of God, who was only guilty of loving His creation and making a way for them to be reconciled to the Father, would be misunderstood, hated, despised, rejected, persecuted, afflicted, made fun of . . .

then it should come as no surprise to us, as His imperfect followers, that we can expect to suffer the same as He did.

As a matter of fact Jesus warned us of this very thing:

Illustration

It is interesting to notice the word “when” not “if.”

In other words it is coming, it’s only a matter of time if you haven’t experienced already.

He goes on to say:

Join me please in the book of 1st Peter and notice chapter 4 . . .

I Peter 3:14-

1 Peter 4:

The second thing Jesus teaches us is this . . .

In the Midst of Affliction, Jesus Did Not Forget About His Present Mission—Neither Should We

Explanation—

The Gospel of John gives us some insight into some things that happened.

Notice what John says in . . .

In this passage Jesus is answering some of Pilate’s questions and says . . .

Even after being arrested, falsely accused, beaten Jesus has not taken His focus off of His mission.

Part of Jesus’ mission was to “bear witness to the truth.”

He knew it was the TRUTH that would set people free from the religious and spiritual bondage they were in.

Jesus stayed focused on the clear mission despite the distractions.

And there are many, many distractions in the Christian life!

Illustration:

Sometimes we are distracted by paralyzing fear and discouragement!

However reminds us not to allow fear and discouragement to distract us from our mission:

Other times we are distracted by afflictions that drive us to despair, however the Apostle Paul reminds us in that God is doing something in the midst of these afflictions and we must stay focused on our present mission!

To be honest sometimes we are simply distracted by what the writer of Hebrews calls: “weights and sins” in .

We are told to lay those things aside and stay focused on the race set before us!

John 18:

Application: I personally think one of the enemy’s greatest tools are discouragement and distraction.

He often uses one to cause the other and when God’s people get distracted we become ineffective, apathetic and defeated.

We must stay focused upon Christ and the mission that He has given to us!

In the Midst of Affliction, Jesus Focused on the Future—So Should We

Explanation—vv.

69-71

It is VITALLY important you do not miss what Jesus says in Luke 22:69.

Remember, He is on the cusp of being tortured, crucified and facing the wrath of God that is going to be poured upon Him for the sins of humanity, but He is focused on what this will provide for the future.

Notice again what He says in

But from now on . . .

He is not focused on His present affliction, as He was when He was praying in the Garden . . .

He is focused on the future glory and privilege that He has as God’s Son to be seated at the right hand of God.

What will appear to be a great defeat, when He is mocked, tortured and crucified, will actually be a great victory . . .

a great victory that will give all of humanity the opportunity to have their sins forgiven and live forever with God in Heaven.

A great victory that will be demonstrated by His victorious resurrection over death, hell and the grave!

A great victory that will give YOU and I the awesome privilege to one day gather around His throne and forever worship and praise the Lamb that was slain that we might have life and have it more abundantly!

I love what “gotanswers.org”

says about Jesus being seated at God’s right hand:

"God's right hand" refers to the Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ and He is of equal position, honor, power and authority with God ().

The fact that Christ is "sitting" refers to the fact that His work of redemption is done . .

.”

Jesus did not let the pain and agony of the “hear and now” distract Him from His purpose, nor distract Him from the future!

Jesus, as in all things, set the example for us!

We will face discouraging times.

We will find ourselves up against insurmountable odds.

We will be misunderstood.

We will suffer persecution as we live godly lives.

We will suffer, but we can be reminded of the TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE that our focus must be on the PROMISES of God for our FUTURE, not on the difficulties and the discouragement we find right here and right now!

Illustration

We have the promise of FUTURE DELIVERANCE!

We have the promise that JESUS has already OVERCOME the WORLD and WE Can have PEACE in the midst of tribulation!

We have the promise that the SUFFERINGS of RIGHT HERE and RIGHT NOW cannot even compare to the GLORY THAT IS TO COME!

If you think about the absolute worst days of your life and wrap them all up into one horrific lifetime, it couldn’t even begin to compare to how awesome and glorious eternity is going to be with our Heavenly Father!