Introduction:
I. The Sears tower is the largest building in America
A. It is 110 stories tall and 1,454 feet high.
1. It contains 4.5 million square feet of floor space
2. It took three years to build at a cost of $150 million dollars
3. It contains 43,000 miles of telephone cable, 2,000 miles of electric cable
4. 76,000 tons of steel, 16,000 bronze tinted windows
5. It contains 2,232 steps from the ground floor to the roof
6. It is so tall it can be seen for over 40 miles away.
B. It has to be extraordinary to stand at the bottom and look up the tower and feel overwhelmed by the immense structure before you.
1. I don’t know about you, but for me architecture is amazing.
2. Probably because I understand what it takes to build a small house, I can only imagine the intricate details and coordination that must have happened for such a building to exist.
3. They say that if you dropped a pebble or penny from the roof it would kill someone if it hit them.
II. As extraordinary as a building can be it does not hold a candle to our Savior Jesus Christ
A. Colossians 1:15-20 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
B. This man is extraordinary
C. Do you want to see something so amazing it will leave you wondering what just happened? Look to Jesus.
D. Do you want to be a part of something that generations will be baffled at? Follow Jesus
Body:
I. He teaches with authority
A. The inclusio of Matthew
1. Inclusio is a Latin term used described the bookends of the story.
2. There are many in the Bible
3. The tree of life for example
4. The gospel of Matthew is centered around the idea that Jesus has all authority
B. The Sermon on the Mount
1. Jesus preaches the sermons of sermons
2. Beginning with the Beatitudes
a. Matthew 5:1-10 “Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
b. After opening with the introduction of promises.
c. Look if you do this, this will happen.
3. He continues to preach a sermon about the heart of the matter: the heart
a. The sin is not just the murderous act, but the uncontrolled anger is a sin.
b. The sin is not just the adulterous act, but the lust for the woman.
c. Oaths – yes be yes
d. An eye for an eye
e. Love for enemies
4. And Matthew makes a comment at the end of the sermon, but first let us see Jesus conclusion to his message.
a. Matthew 7:24-27
b. Matthew 7:28-29 “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”
5. This Jesus was no ordinary teacher, he taught as one having authority
C. All authority has been given
1. Now we fast forward through three intense years of ministry to finish the book of Matthew and he ends with Jesus speaking to his disciples about what? Authority!
2. Matthew 28:16-20 “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
3. This is the extraordinary Jesus, one who has complete authority over the Earth and heaven.
II. He performs miracles (John 9)
A. The Healing of a man born blind
1. It has happened in times past that men have been healed of blindness, but never had a man born blind been healed.
2. John 9:1-7 “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.”
3. Then the Pharisees could not believe this miracle so they disprove the very one who was healed.
4. It was such an amazing miracle that in the end of this story the blind man believed that Jesus is the son of God.
B. The healing of a leprous man
1. Luke 5:12-15 “While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, "Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.”
2. Only two times in Jewish history had someone been healed of leprosy.
a. Never had one been healed by a prophet
b. Never had one been healed by a priest
c. The only time they were healed was by God.
3. What did this leprous man have to hope for? Unless he believed that Jesus was the son of God.
4. Jesus does the extraordinary and touches this unclean man, which results in his healing.
C. Forgives sins
1. Matthew 9:1-7 “Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ’Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ’Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home.”
2. Jesus amazes us again with this wonderful addition to the history annuls of Jesus life.
3. A crippled man friend’s bring him to Jesus and Jesus forgives his sins.
a. Which is easier…
b. The man gets up and walks out
4. This is no ordinary man.
III. He dies for the ones who killed him
A. John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
1. How many would give their life for your friends?
2. Is that a true friend?
B. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
1. Jesus shows how great His love is for us.
2. While we were against Him, he died for us.
C. Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
D. 1 Corinthians 15:3 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,”
1. Why did he die to close the chasm of holiness created by sin.
2. So he went to the cross and was victorious in the face of scorn and shame.
3. He gave his life in one last victorious cry.
4. Eloi eloi lama sabachtani
E. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Conclusion:
I. Here is the inclusio Jesus is so extraordinary…
A. The most immaculate building or creation of man does not hold a candle to the brilliant brightness that Jesus life shed.
B. What is the best gift that can be given to you this Christmas?
1. Peace of mind
2. Freedom from the grasp of sin
3. Hope of eternal life
II. We offer you a gift that you can have freely, all you need to do is come and get it.
A. Jesus said that all should believe and baptized being taught the Way
B. Fallen Christian?? Why wait another day dreading the second coming? Put your hope and joy into that great day
1. Come and recommit your life to the extraordinary Jesus
2. He is no ordinary
