Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

The Pictures of Jesus

Effeminate Jesus

Hippie Jesus

White American Jesus (Photo)

“Surfer” Jesus

KING Jesus

Sometimes the picture we’re given of Jesus shades our understanding of Jesus.

Sometimes we get a little too chummy with Jesus.

What I want us to see today is that,

Jesus as King commands our allegiance even as he comes in humility.

Jesus is the rightful King.

(1:1)

“Christ” “son of David” “son of Abraham”

Jesus was rightfully Jewish through Abraham (people of God -through whom everyone will be blessed)

Jesus was rightfully king through David (man of God -through whom the final everlasting Kingdom and salvation would come)

Jesus was rightfully anointed by God (He was God)

“Christ” = Χριστός = Messiah

People didn’t choose this King - He always was.

Jesus is not running for president - he is reigning as King.

ILLUST - Difference between the president and a king:

The Kingdom of God is not a democracy - it’s a theocracy

Jesus doesn’t depend on your vote in order to have authority in your life.

Jesus doesn’t work for us.

We sometimes think things would go better if Jesus would just remember who put him in office.

This King has a claim on your life.

He doesn’t ask for your acceptance, he demands your allegiance.

(Yes, he does this in a humble way that draws us to him, but don’t let the humble way in which Jesus draws your affections confuse you into thinking it lessens his demand for complete allegiance.)

Jesus is a relatable King.

(1:2-17)

1:2-6

Notice the four mothers listed in the family tree:

Zerah by Tamar

Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab

Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth

Solomon by the wife of Uriah

ILLUST - We all have that crazy uncle or aunt at the family reunion.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about then you’re that crazy uncle or aunt.

(show family tree of Jesus from office)

Jesus comes from a line of kings but also a line of sinners.

Jesus had some seriously rotten fruit on his family tree:

Tamar - a Canaanite - Married to Judah’s son, Er, who was wicked so God put him to death.

She was then given to Er’s brother, Onan, who was wicked and God put him to death.

Judah didn’t want her bad mojo to kill any of his other sons, so he told her to wait for his other son whom he never had marry Tamar.

Tamar then dressed as a prostitute and tricked Judah (her father-in-law) into sleeping with her and the result was Perez.

How messed up is that!

In my Bible study resource she is listed under the topic “Adultery” because that was the stigma that followed her around.

Rahab - A prostitute from a Canaanite city.

Joshua sends two spies into Jericho to check out the city and “they came into the house of a prostitute and lodged there.”

(really? - the Motel 6 was booked?)

The king of Jericho found out there were spies and went looking for them.

Rahab lied to the king hid the men.

As a result of her help and belief that God would give Jericho to the Israelites, she and her family were spared the destruction.

Ruth - A Moabite.

We know her story to be one of loyalty and love, but her family heritage is from one of the most despised enemies of the Israelites.

Wife of Uriah (Bathsheba) - That whole story is rated R. Jesus is the descendant of a king who lusts after a married woman, commits adultery with her, and then murders her husband so he can marry her and cover the whole thing up.

It’s a soap opera!

Jesus had every right to come with fanfare and power and with angels broadcast to more than just shepherds.

Instead, Jesus comes in humility.

ILLUST - Prince Philip’s full title:

His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich, Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Member of the Order of Merit, Grand Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Knight of the Order of Australia, Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand, Extra Companion of the Queen’s Service Order, Royal Chief of the Order of Logohu, Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada, Extraordinary Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Lord of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, Privy Councillor of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty, Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom.

While Jesus has a special name to us today, but the name he chose for himself was meaningful yet common.

This all points to two things:

1) Jesus gets you.

He knows what it is like to come form a messed up family.

Jesus gets you

The name of Jesus was normal and common - “Joshua”

2) Jesus chose to enter into a line of screwed up people in order to ultimately break the cycle of sin and redeem them.

He knew he was walking into a mess.

He knew he would have a birth with baggage.

He knew people would call him “illegitimate.”

He knew people would point out the harlots in his past - the murderers in his past - the Gentiles in his past., and still he CHOSE to identify with them.

How far are you willing to go to help others break the cycle of sin in their lives?

He knows what it is like to come form a messed up family.

Jesus is the prophesied King.

(1:18-25)

18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. .

.” - We all know the story.

Jesus was a king that was prophesied about generally for thousands of years:

Some of the prophecies of Jesus:

Jesus was a king that was prophesied about specifically to Joseph:

If the things that were said about Jesus thousands of years before his birth were true, then the things said about Jesus thousands of years are still true.

If the things that were said about Jesus thousands of years before his birth were true, then the things said about Jesus thousands of years are still true.

The One who knows everything will give you what you need to know when you need to know it so you can do what you need to do with what you now know.

Jesus is an uncontrollable King.(2:1-23)

Herod feared the news of a king because it threatened his desire for control.

The people feared because it threatened the comfortable status quo.

Jesus cannot be controlled.

Does that statement bring fear or joy?

Your reaction to that statement may reveal more about your spiritual condition than you realize.

Fear - Jesus threatens to take the control we desire.

Joy - realization we are never in control and we are going to place our trust where it belongs.

Jesus cannot be controlled - and that’s a GOOD thing!

What area of your life are you worried that Jesus might step in and take control?

Is that an area that he should probably already have control?

Jesus is the Gospel King.

(3:1-2)

Jesus is the One who brings the Good News because He is the One who IS the Good News.

The good news, the gospel, is not a theory, or a philosophy, or a set of rules, or a way of life, or a concept, or a religion, or a value system.

It is a PERSON.

John the Baptist points to a person and calls people to respond because a person, the King, has come.

You must respond because the King has come.

When the King arrives, you can’t remain indifferent.

ILLUST - Mr. Bean episode where he is about to meet the Queen and feels he is not ready - he is preparing himself - he doesn’t remain indifferent.

Conclusion