Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: Matthew 26:47-54; 18:21-35; 21:28-32

Theme: The gospel of Matthew reveals to us the sacrificial love which Jesus had for us.

Date: 12/10/2017 File Name: JourneyTowardChristmas.wpd ID Number: 1011

Adrian Rogers, the late pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church Memphis, TN once told the story of a little girl who awoke in terror at the crashing thunder of a storm.

In fright she cried out from her bedroom for her daddy.

A loving father went to hold his little girl securely in his arms until her fear subsided.

He told her, "Honey, you don't need to be afraid.

God will take care of you because He loves you!"

Through her sniffles, the little girl looked up at her father and said, "I know God loves me and will take care of me, but right now daddy, I want someone with skin on to love me."

Jesus Christ is God with skin on.

Colossians 1:15 tells us the “The Son is the image of the invisible God, ... “ Because he came, we do not have to be afraid when the storms of life roll into our lives.

The Gospel of Matthew presents us with a story of love etched in the miraculous birth, the extraordinary life, and the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross.

It is the account of a love so deep and so eternal that it willingly gave up everything so that you and I might personally know God.

In the New Testament book of Hebrews, the writer speaking of Jesus tells us that: “ ... But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

(Hebrews 9:26, NIV84)

For centuries, the church has used the four Sundays preceding Christmas as a time of reflection on both the 1st and 2nd Advents of our Lord, Jesus.

On each of four successive Sundays, candles are lit that call attention to the great themes of Advent: Promise, Hope, Joy and Love.

This morning I want to preach on a love that sacrifices.

It is the kind of love God had for us.

It is the kind of love the world needs to see in believers.

I. TRUE LOVE IS WILLING TO SACRIFICE WHAT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO IT FOR THE SAKE OF ANOTHER

“While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived.

With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.”

49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

50 Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.”

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:47–54, NIV84)

1. of all the gospels, Matthew is the most "Jewish" in nature

a. by that I mean that it was written for ethnic Jews familiar with the Old Testament

2. in his gospel, Matthew repeatedly portrays Jesus as the Messiah/King for his readers

a. he refers to the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven nearly 100 times

b. he begins his gospel with Joseph's genealogy to show that Jesus was legally descended from King David just as the Prophets had preached

c.

Matthew is the only gospel writer who records the visit of the Magi who come and worship Jesus as a king

d. at the end of his gospel, he records the inscription on the placard Pilate had attached to the cross which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews"

1) indeed He was

3. that Jesus is King of kings, and Lord of lords makes his sacrifice all the more astounding

A. GOD THE SON SACRIFICED HIS DIVINE GLORY

1. God the Son momentarily sacrificed his divine glory that he might embrace our humanity

a. in Philippians 2:7 the Apostle Paul writes that Jesus emptied himself

1) this does not mean that Jesus Set Aside His Deity

a) the Bible does not say that God changed into a human being but rather that God became a human being without ceasing to be God

2) this does not mean that Jesus Set Aside Some Of His Divine Attributes

a) by definition, God cannot cease being God

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” (Colossians 2:9, NIV84)

3) this does not mean that Jesus Did Not Know That He Was God

a) Jesus was completely aware of who He was and what He could do

b.

when Paul writes that Jesus emptied himself ...

1) he means that Jesus Willingly Humbled Himself

a) Jesus never used any of His divine attributes to relieve Himself of the limitations of being a human being

2) he means that Jesus’ Glory Was Veiled

a) the glory of Jesus was hidden from humanity during His time on the earth - although it was revealed at certain times such as at the Transfiguration

3) he means that Jesus Lived the Life of a Servant

a) Jesus chose to submit to the will of God the Father in every word and in every deed, and became a servant to the Father obeying in everything

b) Jesus also chose to submit himself to men by being a minister-servant to everyone he met

4) he means that Jesus Was Always Guided By The Holy Spirit

a) Jesus was always in the Spirit, guided by the Spirit, and empowered by the Spirit

2. God the Son momentarily emptied himself of his divine glory — I can think of few greater acts of sacrifice

a. imagine for a moment if you can, what God relinquished to become like you and I

1) in Heaven, Jesus was given honor, and glory and praise by the angels, but in His human form, Jesus could neither see nor hear the Cherubim and Seraphim flying above the throne of heaven crying out day and night, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

2) in Heaven Jesus never knew privation or poverty, but on earth He knew both

“Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

(Matthew 8:19–20, NIV84)

3) in Heaven, the saints adored him, but on earth most men despised him

“The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.”

(John 7:7, NIV84)

3. Jesus willingly sacrificed all these things that were rightfully his to walk the dusty roads of this life

B. GOD THE SON SACRIFICED HIS LIFE

1. as the Son of God, Jesus had every right to ask the Heavenly Father to spare his life and to find some other way to bring redemption to man other than dying on a cross

a.

He did not, but submitted to the Father’s will

b.

His life belonged to Him, but He willingly died because my sin demanded his sacrifice

“just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.

I must bring them also.

They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.”

(John 10:15–17, NIV84)

2. there is something else that Jesus relinquished to become like you and I— freedom from temptation's struggle

“For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.

17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

(Hebrews 2:16–18, NIV84)

a. the greatest temptation Jesus faced was not the temptations of Satan in the Judean wilderness

b. the greatest temptation Jesus faced was not the moment of truth in the Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.

Yet not as I will, but as you will."

(Matt.

26:39) NIV

c. the greatest temptation Jesus faced was when a skeptic cried out, "He saved others, let's see if he can same himself."

3. he could have!

a. in Matthew 26:53 Jesus tells Peter, "Hey, put away your sword.

Don't you realize that if I wanted to, all I have to do is give the word and my Heavenly Father will send more than 12 legions of angels to fight on my behalf?"

b.

I would not want to have been part of the arresting crowd when Jesus calls 72,000 angels descend from Heaven to surround and protect him