Sermon for 11/19/2006
Strike Me Blind in One Eye!
John 11:45-54
Introduction:
Two shopkeepers were bitter rivals. Their stores were directly across the street from each other, and they would spend each day keeping track of each other’s business. If one got a customer, he would smile in triumph at his rival. One night an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers in a dream and said, "I will give you anything you ask, but whatever you receive, your competitor will receive twice as much. Would you be rich? You can be very rich, but he will be twice as wealthy. Do you wish to live a long and healthy life? You can, but his life will be longer and healthier. What is your desire?" The man frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "Here is my request: Strike me blind in one eye!"
WBTU:
A. Finally we are getting some honesty from the religious leaders. Vs. 47
1. In chapter 9 we see that Jesus opened the eyes of a man born blind. Never been done before in the history of the world!
2. In chapter 11 we see that Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave. Not just dead for a little while but in the tomb for 4 days. (John 11:39 NIV) "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."
3. These are the most spectacular miracles of Jesus but they are not the only miracles. Jesus did hundreds, thousands, of miracles.
4. The religious leaders could not deny that there was something about this man Jesus that was miraculous.
B. Vs. 48
1. They were the religious leaders, the people were supposed to follow them.
2. (Mat 27:18 NIV) For he (Pilate) knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
3. Two reasons they gave for hating Jesus:
a) (John 5:16 NIV) So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him.
b) (John 5:18 NIV) For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
4. Now we get some honesty, it really had little to do with these two things. It was that the crowds followed Jesus. They were filled with envy.
5. They were so patriotic, so in love with the nation, looking out for the good of the nation. Rubbish! In the Sound of Music, Maria tells Max: Max, I can’t ask him to be less than he is. Max: Then I’ll talk to him. If the children don’t sing, well. . . . . .It will be a reflection on Austria. Oh, I know. It wouldn’t do me any good either.
6. Really, it has little to do with patriotism and a lot to do with self interest.
7. These people were operating on situation ethics. They wanted to preserve their own comfort.
C. Vs. 49
1. To get an understanding of this situation we have to give some history.
a. The Sanhedrin was established when the Israelites were a free nation. After winning their independence from the Greeks, the high priest ran both the government and the temple. He was basically the priest and the king.
b. To help him in this duty, they set up the Sanhedrin. It was made up of the chief priests at the temple, they were descendants of Aaron. It was made up of prominent teachers of the Law, the leaders of the synagogues. This group helped the high priest run the nation.
c. When the Romans came and took over, the Sanhedrin still existed but they were stripped of much of their power. Mainly they were over the temple and the synagogues.
d. The Romans choose high priests from the chief priests who were loyal to them.
2. Caiaphas, with the help of his father in law, Annas, stayed as high priest for several years.
3. Annas was the one who capitalized on buying and selling in the temple when he was high priest. The money started to roll in. High priest Right before Caiaphas.
4. Caiaphas did the same thing. He made a lot of money.
5. Caiaphas was an egotistical, rude opportunist. He criticized the council for their ignorance.
D. Vs. 50
1. Jesus presented a threat to Caiaphas popularity, to his money, so he intended to get rid of Him. He used patriotism as an excuse to get rid of Jesus. Self interest and envy motivated him.
2. The end justifies the means. Fellows, we will keep our positions and popularity if we get rid of Jesus.
3. This whole meeting was unlawful and ungodly. It was selfishness at its worst. We see the same thing in government and the church today.
a. In government, it really isn’t about what is good for the nation but it is really about what will get them elected. We need more statesmen than politicians.
b. In the church, many evaluate things not based on what is good for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, but they evaluate things on what will be good for them and what they want. If it takes away from their power, from their popularity, makes them uncomfortable, watch out, they are going to protect their interests at all costs.
E. So what? What does this have to do with me?
1. This whole thing really boils down to sin. We can make reasonable excuses that sound great as to why we do this sin and that sin. Caiaphas managed to make it sound good to sin by throwing in a patriotic theme.
2. How about us? What is our excuse? How do we justify our sins? These things are only excuses for us to continue in our sin.
3. We like the sin we are doing. It benefits us in some way. Country song lyrics: I like it, I love it, I want some more of it. I try so hard but I can’t rise above it.
4. The reason that many cannot rise above it is because they love it.
5. Romans 6:23- The wages of sin is death. When we keep doing these sins, we experience death is some fashion. But I love my sin! What are we going to do?
Thesis: Let’s talk about four things we can do if we are struggling with some sin.
For instances:
1. Change our attitude about sin.
A. What does God’s Word say about this thing? God’s Word says it is bad, but I love it! Lord, change my mind! Repentance begins with confessing what the Lord says about this sin.
B. Moses- (Heb 11:25 NIV) He chose to be mistreated rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.
C. Philippians 3:19- Their destiny is destruction. It is pleasurable for a season but it is going to destroy me. See the end.
2. Turn to Jesus first.
A. New Years Resolutions. I need to stop doing this or I need to start doing that. We end up flat on our face. Why? Because sin is powerful. (2 Pet 2:19) for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
B. We do not have the ability to overcome sin. I know of people who have reformed. Many times they simply trade one sin for another. If they really had their way, they would go back to that sin. Lust after it!
C. Fear is a wonderful motivator but it is short term. Might start out that way, but it must go from fear to love. (1 John 4:18 NIV) There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:19 NIV) We love because he first loved us. Love is a long term motivator.
D. Must go to Jesus first. (2 Cor 5:17 NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
E. Jesus Christ gives a new heart and a new mind!
3. Begin to walk in newness of life in spite of sin.
A. A Christian will act like whom? Jesus Christ.
B. A cowardly soldier was sent to Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great asked the soldier, “What is your name?” The soldier said, “My name is Alexander.” Alexander the Great became furious and said, “Soldier, either change your actions or change your name.”
C. When we take on Jesus Christ’s name, we take on his nature.
D. (Rom 6:4 NIV) We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.(Rom 6:5 NIV) If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.(Rom 6:6 NIV) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
E. WE might struggle with some sin, but we have died to sin, we are no longer slaves to sin. Resurrection power to walk in newness.
4. Be honest before God about our sin.
A. Let’s get real. We can hide things from God? God doesn’t know?
B. IF we like our sin, tell it to God! Cannot deal with it if not honest!
C. (2 Sam 12:13 NIV) Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Did David enjoy his sins with Bathsheba?
D. (Psa 51:10 NIV) Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.(Psa 51:11 NIV) Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.(Psa 51:12 NIV) Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
E. David is saying that he is unable to do these things.
Conclusion and Invitation:
A. Vs. 51- Jesus turns Caiaphas sentence and prophecy on its ear. This high priest condemns Jesus to death. Interestingly, the high priest offered sacrifices for sin. He went into the Holy of Holies once a year to offer blood for the sins of the people. Here this high priest unknowingly offers up Jesus Christ as the last and final sacrifice for the sin of the people through his own blood. When Jesus Christ was nailed on the cross, the Aaronic priesthood was over. Jesus Christ is now our high priest and our only sacrifice for sins.
B. Vs. 52- Jesus not only died for Israel, but for the Gentiles also. We are now brought together into one body, the church.
C. On Thanksgiving, we give thanks for this. How do we give thanks? (Rom 12:1) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
