1. Review: The last few weeks have been a series on "Behold the Man" -- words that Pilate spoke as he presented Jesus to the people.
* We have seen our need to see him for who he is.
* Last week we looked at him from the Father's perspective as He declared of Jesus, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased."
* Today we will look at how Jesus sees himself -- the One with authority.
2. Famous Last Words
A person's last words are important. We hang on to the dying words of those closest to us. We pass on the final words of great leaders for the next generation. It's as if we are waiting for them to sum everything up in a few final statements.
Some are celebrated:
* Nathan Hale (1755-1776) -- "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
* Stonewall Jackson -- "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees."
Some are ironic:
* Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. (1883-1939) actor -- "Never felt better."
* Union General John Sedgwick (1813-1864) -- "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist-."
Some are quirky:
* Marie Antoinette, Queen of France (1755-1793) -- "Pardon me, sir." (on stepping on the foot her executioner) J
Some are humorous:
* James Rogers -- "Why yes, a bullet proof vest." (When asked before his firing squad, "Any last requests?")
* Writer Oscar Wilde, died November 30, 1900 saying, "Either that wallpaper goes, or I do."
Some are Powerful:
It is Jerome who tells the story of the last words of John. When he was dying, his disciples asked him if he had any last message to leave them. "Little children," he said, "love one another." Again and again he repeated it; and they asked him if that was all he had to say. "It is enough," he said, "for it is the Lord's command."
3. Among the last words of Jesus before his ascension to heaven: Matthew 28.16-20
I. Jesus Has Been Below Us
A. God Always Comes from Above to Below
1. Sinai (God came down; Moses went up)
2. New Heaven and Earth
B. Jesus Came Down to Be:
1. Servant of All --Mark 10.42-45
42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
a. Contrast with the world
b. He is not an imitation or adaptation of the world
c. He is illustrated with the Towel -- John 13
d. There is power in the servant-leader who says come, not just go
2. Shepherd of His Sheep -- Luke 19.10; cf. Ezekiel 34; Luke 15
3. Sacrifice for Sin (into the earth/tomb; Matthew 28.1)
a. Animal sacrifices and feasts (First Fruits) pointed to Jesus
b. He went into the tomb in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12.40)
II. Jesus Is Above Us (28.17-18)
Who Is In Charge?
In August 1994, a Korean Air jet skidded across a rain soaked runway and rammed a safety barricade while landing in Cheju, Korea. All 160 passengers escaped safely just moments before the plane exploded into flames.
What was the cause of the accident?
According to news reports, the pilot and the co-pilot had gotten into a fist fight... over who was in charge of the landing controls. Shouldn't that have been covered in the flight manual!!!
The main point is, no one knew who was in charge. That led to confusion and disaster.
A. He is Exalted by God -- Philippians 2.8-10
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
B. His Place at the Right Hand of God -- Acts 2.22; Hebrews 7.25
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
C. He Has Paid the Price and Can Direct Our Steps
1. Go (or, as you go)
2. Make Disciples
3. Baptize
4. Teach
III. Jesus Has Chosen to Remain With Us (28.20)
A. He is in Our Midst -- John 1.14
1. The Tabernacle
2. Jesus living among us
3. The gift of the HS to live within us -- God's desire all along
Your Unchanging God
If you read advice columnists such as "Dear Abby" in the newspapers, you know many of the letters involve people who have changed--and not for the better. One young lady lamented the change that had come over her boyfriend. When they first met, he was Prince Charming--fun, compassionate, treating her like a princess, and sweeping her off her feet. Now, nearly three years into the relationship, she's worried that he seems preoccupied, sometimes doesn't show up for dates; keeps things to himself; and the glow of the relationship is tarnishing.
People change, but God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He loved you before you were born; He loves you today; He will love you a billion years from now. His faithfulness doesn't waver. His affection doesn't fluctuate. His wisdom doesn't waver with the passing of time. The old Puritan Thomas Watson said, "God's love stands faster than the mountains. God's love to Christ is unchangeable, and He will no more cease loving believers than He will cease loving Christ."
When others fail you, remember: "He never fails" (Zephaniah 3:5). "His compassions fail not" (Lamentations 3:22).
B. His Actions in Our Midst -- Zephaniah 3.14-20
1. To Remove Fear (Fear not -- 365 times in the Bible)
a. Exalt God and remove fear
b. Whole-hearted (as in Deuteronomy 6)
* Not Empty Ritual
* Not shortchanging God -- Malachi 3.8-9
8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.
* Giving the best -- Malachi 3.10
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
2. To Repeal Failure -- He gives a warrior's victory
a. Seen at the cross in victory over sin
b. Seen at the tomb with victory over death
c. Seen in his resurrection which renews/quiets (calms) us
* As the storms on the Sea of Galilee
* As when he cast out demons
* As He rejoices over us -- Luke 15.10
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
1. Jesus Has Authority Over:
Scripture; Sabbath; Sin; Nature; Disease; Death; Demons; The Church (Church of Christ)
2. URGENCY FOR THE KING -- POSTHASTE
The term posthaste goes back to the time of Henry VIII. Postmasters were given relays of horses to carry messages for the king to important cities in England. Because some couriers were irresponsible and wasted time in taverns and inns on the way, a drastic law was put into effect demanding that every dispatch carrier should "ride for his life." The king's edict meant that anyone caught delaying his messages would be publicly hanged. Often there was drawn upon important letters the figure of a man suspended from a gallows.
Beneath was this ominous warning: "Haste, post, haste! Haste for thy life!" A number of men did suffer death because of their inefficiency, but in the 19th century the practice was discontinued. However, the old expression still remains as a reminder that the utmost speed and urgency are required when the king's business is involved!
a. Because of his authority; because of his payment for us
b. We act swiftly at his word
