Sermon Tone Analysis

There is a story that is a few years old that I wanted to share with you that shows how confused people can become without knowing the big picture.

Billy Graham was returning to Charlotte after a speaking engagement and when his plane arrived there was a limousine there to transport him to his home.

As he prepared to get into the limo, he stopped and spoke to the driver.

"You know" he said, "I am 87 years old and I have never driven a limousine.

Would you mind if I drove it for a while?"

The driver said, "No problem.

Have at it."

Billy gets into the driver's seat and they head off down the highway.

A short distance away sat a rookie State Trooper operating his first speed trap.

The long black limo went by him doing 70 in a 55 mph zone.

The trooper pulled out and easily caught the limo and he got out of his patrol car to begin the procedure.

The young trooper walked up to the driver's door and when the glass was rolled down, he was surprised to see who was driving.

He immediately excused himself and went back to his car and called his supervisor.

He told the supervisor, "I know we are supposed to enforce the law...But I also know that important people are given certain courtesies.

I need to know what I should do because I have stopped a very important person."

The supervisor asked, "Is it the Governor?"

The young trooper said, "No, he's more important than that."

The supervisor said, "Oh, so it's the President."

The young trooper said, "No, he's even more important than that."

The supervisor finally asked, "Well then, who is it?"

The young trooper said, "I think it's Jesus, because he's got Billy Graham for a chauffeur!"

Today, we’ll be looking at a portion of Scripture where there were egos out of control, forgetfulness about promises, well-intentioned and impossible commitments, and an assignment that was a bit confusing.

Sounds a little like some of our lives at times, maybe just this past week.

Sometimes, we find ourselves trying to prove how valuable we are; sometimes, we don’t remember that God has made promises to us that He will keep and we don’t have to earn them; sometimes, we make promises to God or others that we can’t keep unless He enables us to be able to do so; and sometimes, we know what needs to be done, but we get confused about the process.

Well, this passage describes these sorts of things.

However, it won’t solve all your challenges.

But there is a principle that I want you to hold onto in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.

Our lives must reflect God’s Kingdom and not this world’s kingdom, while proclaiming Jesus to the world.

The Greatest - 22:24-27

Just following the previous discussion as to who among the disciples might be the one who would betray Jesus, we run into this strange situation.

The discussion centers on who is the greatest of the group.

When you think about what has gone on so far in the evening, this makes no sense.

Earlier, according to , Jesus had shown the perfect example of humble service as He had washed the disciples’ feet.

He had spoken about what was ahead in the next 24 hours, in particular His own suffering and ultimately His death.

Maybe it was a desperate attempt to show Jesus how much they each loved Him and were loyal to Him.

Maybe each one was trying to convince Jesus that it could not possibly be them who would betray Him.

Sadly, their behavior at this point looks like what people would do with their focus only on this world and appearances, rather than behavior that reflects that they don’t belong to this world, but of God’s kingdom.

As we look at this, we can see the hypocrisy of many who would consider themselves the greatest.

In verse 25, Jesus makes it clear that those who lord it over others because they think they’re better or more equipped to do what’s best for others, paint a picture of themselves as being altruistic.

In other words, they present themselves as having only the best interests of their subordinates at heart.

Think about how many politicians and world leaders present themselves to their people as watching out for their good, while lining their own pockets and homes with the result of the hard labor and work of the citizenry.

Jesus goes on in verse 26 to remind them that this worldly manner of leading is not the way it should be among them.

Christians should not behave like the world would.

Instead of competing for top position, become a servant.

Defer to others in life.

Be like the youngest person, where, in that culture, honor was given to the oldest.

It is as this point in John’s gospel where we see Jesus presenting the real life object lesson of washing the disciples’ feet.

My friends, we are not to act like the world, exerting power and authority.

We belong to another kingdom which exercises servanthood and genuine leadership.

In fact, verse 27 shows the ultimate example and how we often get things confused.

It would seem obvious that the one who is reclining at the table being served by someone else is greater than the one doing the serving.

And yet, Jesus points to Himself when He says, I am among you as the one who serves.

This story has been told by several over the years:

John A. Broadus was one of the founders, professors, and later president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In those days it was customary for guests to place their shoes outside their bedroom door at night to be picked up and polished by a servant.

For several nights a guest in Broadus’ home who followed this custom never failed to find his shoes freshly polished each morning.

Finally one night, when he heard someone come for the shoes outside the door, the guest decided to thank the servant for his p 238 services.

When he opened the door a man was stooping over to pick up the shoes.

The guest discovered that the servant was none other than Doctor Broadus himself!

The great man had caught the spirit of Christ and had become as one who serves.

Our lives must reflect God’s Kingdom and not this world’s kingdom, while proclaiming Jesus to the world.

We ought not be promoting ourselves, in an effort to prove our value.

Again, we ought to live with the attitude that we are servants or slaves, looking for opportunities to serve and bless others.

As he prepared to get into the limo, he stopped and spoke to the driver.

"You know" he said, "I am 87 years old and I have never driven a limousine.

Would you mind if I drove it for a while?"

The driver said, "No problem.

Have at it."

Billy gets into the driver's seat and they head off down the highway.

A short distance away sat a rookie State Trooper operating his first speed trap.

The long black limo went by him doing 70 in a 55 mph zone.

The trooper pulled out and easily caught the limo and he got out of his patrol car to begin the procedure.

The young trooper walked up to the driver's door and when the glass was rolled down, he was surprised to see who was driving.

He immediately excused himself and went back to his car and called his supervisor.

He told the supervisor, "I know we are supposed to enforce the law...But I also know that important people are given certain courtesies.

I need to know what I should do because I have stopped a very important person."

The supervisor asked, "Is it the Governor?"

The young trooper said, "No, he's more important than that."

The supervisor said, "Oh, so it's the President."

The young trooper said, "No, he's even more important than that."

The supervisor finally asked, "Well then, who is it?"

The young trooper said, "I think it's Jesus, because he's got Billy Graham for a chauffeur!"

The Guarantee - 22:28-30

After they were trying to best each other and show their worthiness, Jesus speaks.

It almost seems as if Jesus is offering them some encouragement and comfort, even though it could come across as a bit of a rebuke.

After all, how many times has Jesus informed them of their future reward?

He reminds them that for those who have indeed stood by Him, they are going to be blessed and receive a reward.

It really shouldn’t matter who is the greatest according to this world’s standards.

We know from that the apostles, including the upcoming appointment of Matthias, will be the honored guests who will be seated at the table of Jesus Christ when the millennial rule takes place on earth.

These twelve will also rule the twelve tribes of Israel.

In other words, even though the disciples are all going to fail, they were going to be brought back to being faithful servants.

They would be the pioneers of the Gospel.

They would be the very ones who would begin the fulfillment of the Great Commission found in .

They would no longer be worried about who’s the greatest.

They would no longer be concerned abut their position in Christ.

They were focused on others seeing God’s kingdom being lived out in their lives.

They could focus on proclaiming Jesus to others.

Our lives must reflect God’s Kingdom and not this world’s kingdom, while proclaiming Jesus to the world.

The Guardian - 22:31-34

We all know that it’s a dark and hostile world out there.