Core 52 Week 12 - The Messiah Series

You can listen to this sermon and the rest of the series on my podcast at: https://pastorlanny.buzzsprout.com

• Opening illustration:

A slightly overzealous D.E.A. officer was driving through Texas when he stopped at a ranch and began talking with the old rancher. The agent told the rancher, “I need to inspect your property for illegally grown drugs.” The old timer said, “Sure officer, but don’t go in that field over the hill there,” as he pointed out the location. The DEA agent verbally exploded. “I have the authority of the Federal Government with me!” He reached into his pocket, removed a badge, and proudly displayed it to the rancher. “See this badge? This badge means I’m allowed to go wherever I want…on any land. No questions asked. No answers given. Have I made myself clear?” The old rancher nodded politely, apologized, and returned to his chores. A short time later, the old rancher heard loud screams coming from over the hill, and saw the DEA agent running for his life, being chased by the rancher’s big Santa Gertrudis bull. With every step the bull was gaining ground on the agent, and it seemed likely that the officer was going to be gored before he could reach safety. The officer was terrified, so the rancher threw down his tools, ran to the fence and yelled at the top of his lungs, “Show him your badge! Show him your badge!”

• Misplaced authority

• The world around us is acting more and more like a charging bull and sometimes it feels like all we have rely on is A cheap badge. No real authority to lean on.

• This week’s theme in Core 52 is Messiah.

• Background on Jewish belief about Messiah.

o Predicted and expected but not divine; simply another king appointed by God.

o 1st c. wanted out from under their version of the “charging bull” which was Rome but had no one with authority to rely on.

• Jesus’ actions raise expectations of that earthly messiah predicted so long beforehand.

• Passages like the scripture for this week:

Psalm 110:1 The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

• Jesus comes on the scene, in some ways very much like the expected Messiah but also teaching and acting very differently.

• Passages under consideration this week from Matthew 21 and 22. Context - right after entry into Jerusalem - hailed as Son of David. Literally, Messiah.

• Brought him into conflict with the religious leaders who questioned him:

By What Authority?

Matthew 21:23 When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”

• Jesus’ non-answer shuts them down but he then teaches them how to react to God’s authority through stories.

• Matthew packs several into his narrative one after the other.

Reacting to Authority

Two Sons

• Wishy-washy towards authority.

Matthew 21:31 “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.

Tenants

• Deliberately rebelling against authority.

Matthew 21:37–39 “Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ 38 “But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 39 So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.

Wedding Guests

• Ignoring authority.

Matthew 22:1–3 Jesus also told them other parables. He said, 2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. 3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

• Another group decides to take up the authority question:

Taxes

• Choosing what authority to follow.

Matthew 22:17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

• Still another group with a different agenda pops up.

Resurrection

• Trusting the Word of authority.

Matthew 22:29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.

• Down to individuals:

Commandments

• Cherry picking our authority.

Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

By Whose Authority?

• Jesus turns the question around on them.

Matthew 22:41–46 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “He is the son of David.” 43 Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said, 44 ‘The LORD said to my Lord, Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’ 45 Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?” 46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

• You’re wanting Messiah but you don’t even know who you’re looking for.

• Wrong expectations.

• Our Messiah can be trusted to be the authority in our lives.