"Behold, I Send You Forth As Lambs Among Wolves”

It was laid out with five floors with the men increasing in positive attributes as you ascended up the floors.

THERE WAS TWO RULES:

1) Once you opened the door to any floor, you must choose a man from that floor.

2) Also, if you went up a floor, you couldn’t go back down except to leave and never to return.

A couple of young ladies went shopping there to find a husband.

(1) On the first-floor door was a sign saying, "These men have jobs and love kids."

The women said, "Well, that’s better than not having jobs, or not loving kids, but I wonder what’s further up?" So up they went.”

(2) The second floor said, "These men have high-paying jobs, love kids, and are extremely good-looking."

"Hmmm," they said. "But I wonder what’s further up?"

(3) The third-floor sign read: "These men have high-paying jobs, are extremely good-looking, love kids and help with the housework."

"Wow!" they said. "Very tempting, BUT there’s further up!" And up they went.

(4) On the fourth floor: "These men have high-paying jobs, love kids, are extremely good-looking, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak."

Their response, "Oh, mercy! But just think what must be awaiting us further up!"

(5) So up to fifth floor they went. The sign on that floor said, "This floor is empty and exists only to prove that women are impossible to please."

That makes me think about some Christians.

That is, when it comes to looking for a Savior WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR?

People approach Jesus today for all sorts of reasons:

1) Healing – They are interested in physical healing not spiritual

2) Problem Solver – Such as:

Such as:

? Marital problems to get their husband or wife straightened OUT.

? Also, it might be to get their children back on track.

3) Pre-marital – they want to get their boyfriend or girlfriend “saved” so they can get married.

4) Forgiveness - but not for a relationship; just to ease their conscience.

5) Inspiration – but without perspiration – nothing expected of them.

6) Baptism – they just want to get their eternal life ticket punched!

Jesus can do all of these things and more, but this is not why He came.

WHY DID HE COME?

The Bible tells us He came as THE LAMB OF GOD CAME TO SHED HIS BLOOD THAT WE MIGHT BE SAVED FROM OUR SINS.

HE CAME AS THE LAMB OF GOD FOR TWO REASONS…

1. To save us from our sins

2. To call us into His service.

Let me illustrate…

We need to consider the Feast of Passover in John chapter twelve…

Illus: The Passover was their 4th of July celebration, their Independence Day Celebration when they were freed from Bondage in Egypt.

When they were celebrating the PASSOVER, in the New Testament they heard JESUS was coming they went out to greet Him.

Look how they greeted him…

John 12:13, we read, “Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

They were excited!!!

WHY?

Unfortunately – they were also misguided! Remember in their shouting they said, “…Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

(1) Palm branches were commonly used as a SYMBOL of Ruling Power and Jewish Nationalism.

Illus: Waving these palm branches would be like us waving our flag.

Here they were waving them hoping that Jesus would restore their political dominance – as the KING OF ISRAEL riding into town.

WHY DID THEY THINK THIS?

After seeing Jesus feed the 5,000 in John CHAPTER 6,

John 6:14 we read, then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, this is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

They definitely thought that Jesus was coming as the KING OF ISRAEL AND DELIVER THEM FROM THE ROMAN DOMINANCE.

Look at John 6:15 “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.”

They wanted deliverance from the Romans and were expecting JESUS to accomplish this for them.

This was a big Misunderstanding WHY HE CAME!!!

Let me explain…

• "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi in Matthew 16, he asked his disciples, ’Whom do people say I Son of Man am?’

• They replied, ’Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’

• But what about you?’ he asked. ’Who say ye that am?’

• In Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.