Sermon Tone Analysis

Recap of the End of Passion Week

Over the last several weeks we have been reminded of some of the events in the last week of Jesus life

The four gospels record significant details of the last 24 hours...

Jesus and his disciples shared the Passover meal together

Jesus gives the Upper Room discourse -

his is where Jesus instituted communion… the bread points to/symbolizes the broken body of Christ, the cup symbolizes the blood of Christ

At some point, Judas leaves the group to work out details of the betrayal

At some point, Judas leaves the group to work out details of the betrayal

At some point, Judas leaves the group to work out details of the betrayal

Perhaps while the disciples are arguing about who is the greatest is the point Jesus gets up and starts to wash their feet

Jesus and disciples leave the city - crossing the Kidron Valley - going up toward the Mount of Olives… stopping at the Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus agonizes in prayer… sweating blood… surrendering his own will to God’s

The disciples fall asleep several time

Judas leads the Roman soldiers to Jesus and betrays Him with a kiss

Jesus is taken to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, for a preliminary hearing

Jesus taken to the Sandhedrin

Jesus taken to Pilate

Pilate sends Jesus to Herod

Herod sends him back to Pilate… who washes his hands of Jesus guilt

throughout this process, Jesus suffers excruciatingly… as He is beaten, scorned, spit upon, thorns put on his head, etc.

The pain he endured was the worst endured by any human who ever lived

Barabbas, a known “terrorist” is released…

Jesus can barely walk to Golgotha where he is crucified… nailed to a wooden cross under a sign stating he is king of the Jews

It becomes dark in the middle of the afternoon

When Jesus declares “It is finished” and takes His last breath the earth quakes and the curtain in the temple is ripped from top to bottom

A Roman soldier admits “Truly this was the Son of God”

It is finished!

Jesus washes feet

Gethsemane

Caiaphas, the high priest

Peter denies Jesus

Pilate, the govenor

Herod

Pilate

gal 2:

Eph 2

Heb 10:

It is finished!

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.

4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.

7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’

”

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.”

He does away with the first in order to establish the second.

10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.

14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

The significance and the magnitude of what Jesus accomplished is difficult for us to even comprehend

We have never needed to make one animal sacrifice for our sins

When Jesus came and died, this was a never-ending ritual for the Jews… sacrificing an animal for the sins they committed.

the sacrifice didn’t bring forgiveness of the sins… it didn’t bring peace… it didn’t perfect or change a person

It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin… yet, under the law, animals were sacrificed again and again out of obedience

It was a constant reminder of the inadequacy of the animal sacrifices

Jesus changed all that - not a little, but monumentally!

When Christ came into the world… he pointed to the inadequacy of the animal sacrifices…

Jesus did the will of His Father - and because of that, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE AND FOR ALL

That is why we partake in the bread tonight… to commemorate Christ’s broken physical body for our spiritual sanctification

When Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cruel cross, he FOR ALL TIME made a SINGLE and ADEQUATE sacrifice for sin…

When He ascended, He sat down with the Father - indicating the work of redemption was fully accomplished

no longer are any temporary animal sacrifices required… Jesus sacrifice was complete and fully sufficient!

With that ONE sacrifice, Jesus perfected for all time those who are being sanctified

The Holy Spirit has been given to us and He engraves His laws in the hearts and minds of believers…

Because of Christ’s PERFECT, SUFFICIENT, and COMPLETE sacrifice on the cross… what is our response?

What should it be?

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Do we respond in a way that gives appropriate honor and appreciation to Jesus Christ?

Heb 10:19-

OR do we act in such a way that brings dishonor?

Do we respond in a way that honors Jesus Christ?

Do our lives and lifestyles communicate indebted love to Jesus for what He has done on our behalf?

Because of the blood of Jesus Christ, we can confidently enter the most holy place - the holy of holies

Jesus sacrifice and death LITERALLY opened up a new and living access to God… opening the curtain

We drink of the cup as a reminder of this incredible privilege… to boldly and with confidence (and no fear) come right into the presence of God

Jesus sacrifice and death LITERALLY opened up a new and living access to God… opening the curtain

Prior to Jesus death, there was no direct access to God by anyone (except the high priest once per year)

In Juan’s devotions this morning, the widow CRIED OUT to Elisha… which is a picture of us crying out to God… directly, in person, not through an intermediary

THREE COMMANDS as a response… since we have direct access to God

Let us DRAW NEAR with a true heart in full assurance of faith...

Let us draw near with a true heart...

Come closer to Jesus… move toward… approach

Jesus opened the curtain and we have direct access to God Almighty

In order to draw near, it means we are moving toward God… moment by moment, day after day

We don’t arrive… we can always draw nearer to the heart of God

If we aren’t closer to God today than we were yesterday it reveals something about our heart… it is not truly centered on Christ

My desire for you and me is that we can continually move closer… be drawn nearer (song: Draw Me Nearer) to Gol

Let us HOLD FAST the confession of our hope without wavering …

Hang on tightly… continue to believe and act accordingly… continue to believe and practice...

Refuse to compromise the truths of the message of Jesus Christ and the Word of God

We live in a culture and environment that is frequently at odds with orthodox Christianity… true, authentic, historical, biblical Christianity

Our willingness (or unwillingness) to acclimate to current social pressures on what portions of scripture are applicable today reveals whether we are holding fast

We need each other - we need the church - we need strong brothers and sisters - to identify and warn us of potential areas of compromise

Let’s hang on tightly… let’s continue to BELIEVE and PRACTICE… it takes both (neither one is adequate by itself)

What we believe matters!

Relativity where each of us can believe what we want is not an option for true believers… we must HOLD FAST to the message of scripture!

Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed (#722 in Mennonite Hymnal) have been around almost 2,000 and they summarize well very core beliefs about Jesus Christ