Obession

Obsession Sermon

Outline

Aldergrove SDA Church, Oct 16, 2004

PMC Chapel, Thurs March 16, 2006

source: http://ministry.wikia.com/wiki/Obession_Sermon

Isaiah 53:4-5

“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. Gut he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

1. Intro

a. What drives you?

i. Obsession Defined

1. an idea or feeling that completely occupies the mind

2. the state of being obsessed by somebody or something

3. the uncontrollable persistence of an idea or emotion in the mind

b. Athletes strive for gold/ oversized goblet / pay even death

2. John Stephen Akhawri

a. Tanzania, Mexico City Olympics, 1968

i. Badly cut and dislocated knee, asked why he did not retire from the race…

b. “My Country did not send me to Mexico to City to start the race, They sent me to finish”

3. Christopher Reeve

a. Superman brought fame

b. Man of Steel – Hero #1 (A hero is someone who commits a courageous actions with ou considering the consequences, someone who is larger than life)

c. Horse Accident, Memorial Day 1995, on 3rd of 15 jumps, horse stopped and he fell, breaking his neck. He was unable to move or breath

d. Paraplegic– Hero#2 (an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles)

e. Created new life focused on future,

i. Autobiography “Still Me”

ii. Directed HBO film “In the Gloaning” (got 5 Emmy nominations)

iii. Established own charitable foundation to raise awareness and money for spinal chord research

iv. Speeches at Democratic Nat. Conven. And Acadamy Awards inspired people around the world

v. Testified before congress for better healthy insurance, lobbied Wash, working relationship with President Clinton….

vi. died Oct 10 @ 52 yrs old

vii. “Chris and Dana Reeve have gathered the will and the spirit to created a new life, one responsive and engaged and focused on the future”

? Heb 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the Joy set before Him endured the cross…”

4. Physical Suffering of Christ [Journal of Am Med Assoc, 1986]

a. Thursday, April 6, AD 30, age 35, approx 9pm

i. Done last supper

ii. Bloody sweat ? skin tender and fragile, chills (~sunburn)

iii. Closest friends sleeping, betrayed kiss, abandoned to mob? Alone

b. Midnight to Daybreak

i. Taken up stairs to trial by Annas (illegal at night)

ii. To Caiaphas – HP for that year

1. Peter’s denial

iii. found guilty of Blasphemy 1x

iv. Beaten, - blindfolded / spat / punched in face (tender ~sunburn)

c. Soon After Daybreak

i. Sanhedrin

1. guilty of Blasphemy 2x (Roman permission needed)

d. Early Morning

i. Taken to Fortress Antonia (Pilate) (Herod) (Pilate)

1. found no basis for charge, people demand Crucifixion

e. Summary (9pm-9am)

i. Emotional stress (bloody sweat- tender skin)

ii. Abandoned / betrayed / denied by closest friends

iii. Physical beating / taunting

iv. No food / water / sleep, walk > 4km (2.5 miles)

[could have more than 12 legions of angles at His disposal – Mt 26:53]

1. legion = largest single unit in Roman empire, ~6000 foot soldiers, 600 cavalry (here = great multitude)

v. ? subject to profuse bleeding

f. Scourging Severely to Appease Mob (approx 9am)

i. Stripped / Hands tied to post

ii. Short whip – iron balls / sheep bone fragments (bruise/cut) [also might use small rods]

1. tender skin (bloody sweat), physical/mental abuse, no food/water/sleep WEAK

2. skin > muscles > quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh

3. 39/40 (near collapse/death)

g. Mocked

1. robe / crown of thorns / staff scepter in right hand

a. spat, struck repeatedly on head with staff (thorns)

b. tore robe off (reopen wounds)

2. “pre-shock state – bloody sweat (tender skin), physical/mental abuse, no food/water/sleep

? serious to critical condition (mob not satisfied, trade for Barabas)

h. Crucifixion (late morning - noon)

i. Invented by Persians, spread by Alexander the Great, perfected by Romans

1. slow death / max pain

2. reserved for worst criminals or deserters (Romans/women exempt)

ii. Walk to Golgotha

1. Jesus clothes put on

2. tied to cross bar (75-125 lbs)

3. too week from scourging to carry 1/3 mile (600-650m) from Fortress Antonia to Golgotha/Calvary

iii. At Golgotha

1. clothes ripped off except loin (reopen wounds)

2. Painkiller refused (wine mixed with myrrh)

3. Thrown on back (contaminated wounds)

a. Wrists nailed btw Radius and Carpals

i. Tapered, square iron spikes (5-7 inches, 3/8 inch thick)

ii. Median nerve

1. paralysis/numbness

2. cut ligaments ? claw grasp

3. (bolts of fiery pain)

a. [Aron Ralston – hiker forced to cut off own arm cut with a pocket knife, cut his nerve last]