Jesus The Conqueror

JESUS THE CONQUEROR

Luke 23:1-24:12

#Easter2022

SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 8:34-38 [person from the congregation]

INTRODUCTION… Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby en.wikipedia.org/wiki /Talladega_Nights:_The_Ballad_of_Ricky_Bobby and youtube.com/watch?v=qYiWydDyMIE

In 2006, a jewel of American cinema was produced. It was a sports comedy film directed by Adam McKay and starred comedic actor Will Ferrell. The cast of the movie had many recognizable names and faces. If you like NASCAR or are a Will Ferrell fan, you have most likely seen the movie although you probably should not admit that. The movie earned every bit of the PG13 rating. The jewel of American cinema that I am referring to is ‘Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.’ This movie was an award winner. In 2007 it won ‘Worst Movie Title’ and ‘Most Annoying Fake Accent’ at the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. It also won ‘Best Kiss’ at the MTV Movie awards in 2007 and also “Best Comedy Actor’ at the Teen Choice Awards. Not sure what that means exactly.

At one point in the movie, which I am not recommending even though I am using it as a sermon illustration, a woman yells: “Come on, dinner is ready, I’ve been slaving over this for hours!” The camera pans to a table full of fast food. The family gathers and Will Farrell’s character prays for the meal.

He prays: “Dear Lord Baby Jesus, we thank you so much for this bountiful harvest of Dominos, KFC, and the always delicious Taco Bell. I want to take time to say thank you for my family, my two beautiful strikingly handsome sons, Walker and Texas Ranger, and my wife Carly…” He prays and references Dear Lord Baby Jesus several times. In the middle of the prayer interrupting him, his wife informs him, “You know Jesus did grow up. It is a bit off-puttin’ to pray to a baby.”

The very reverent Ricky Bobby dressed in his NASCAR uniform responds: “I like the Christmas Jesus best. I’m saying grace. When you say grace, you can pray to Grown-Up Jesus or Teenage Jesus or Bearded Jesus or Whoever you want.”

Then a discussion ensues where various members of the family talk about how they like to picture Jesus:

“He was a man and had a beard!”

“I like to think of Him in a tuxedo t-shirt because that is formal, but also likes to party. I like to party so I want my Jesus to party.”

“I like to think of Jesus as a ninja fighting off evil spirits.”

Eventually, the prayer ends after praying for success racing and praying for more money.

Sometimes movies are trash. Sometimes movies share with us truth. Sometimes movies are trash and at the same time share with us truth. The truth that this particular scene in this particular movie shares is that every single one of us has a picture of Jesus in our mind that is our default. I say the Name ‘Jesus Christ’ and a certain image comes to your mind.

It could be you think Jesus looks a lot like you.

It could be that He is a blond-haired white man with blue eyes and a beard.

It could be that He looks like an actor that you have seen that portrayed Jesus.

My point is… every single one of us has a default picture of Jesus in our minds.

It might also be that when I say ‘Jesus Christ’ a particular word or phrase or characteristic comes to mind. If you happen to picture Baby Jesus in a manger at His birth, His goodness and innocence may come to mind. You might picture Jesus healing someone or feeding 5000 people showing He is divine and you marvel at His miracles. You may picture Jesus on the cross or perhaps stepping out of a tomb and so you are thankful for His death, burial, and resurrection that provides forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Yes!

Jesus is good and innocent.

Jesus is divine and worked many miracles showing He was the Son of God.

Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead providing a way for sins to be forgiven.

Yes! All of that is true and so much more.

I think for most of us the default picture of Jesus is meek and mild and love and compassion. Jesus is like a fluffy bunny Who loves us no matter what. I even saw a church sign this week: “No bunny loves you like Jesus.” We think of Jesus and we think of Him gathering people around Him and quietly teaching them Godly things. He expresses grace and mercy and is a shepherd to people who are lost and helpless. We see Him walking around doing miracles and making the world a better place. We think of Jesus weeping because His friend Lazarus had died. That is true, but that is not the full picture of Jesus.