Sermon Tone Analysis

Earlier this week in reading through the gospels I came across several statements of Jesus that jumped off the page:

Matthew 16:1–3 (HCSB)

The Pharisees and Sadducees approached, and as a test, asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.

He answered them: “When evening comes you say, ‘It will be good weather because the sky is red.’

And in the morning, ‘Today will be stormy because the sky is red and threatening.’

You know how to read the appearance of the sky, but you can’t read the signs of the times.

And then:

Mark 8:16–18 (HCSB)

They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread.

Aware of this, He said to them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread?

Don’t you understand or comprehend?

Is your heart hardened?

Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear?

And do you not remember?

These words were directed at those men and women following Jesus IN PERSON.

If they struggled to hear and understand, what hope do we have - thousands of years later - in accurately hearing from God.

First, can we hear from God? Almost all evangelical Christians agree: there are 66 books in the Bible.

These books are authoritative and are definitive in determining God’s will.

However, one resource I consulted listed at least 75 different denominational groups in the United States alone.

(https://logosseminaryguide.com/alphabetical-list-of-denominations/)

If we share a common source of authority, why in the world are there so many different groups claiming to be correct where everyone else is wrong?

That is a much broader question than we can answer this morning.

However, we can begin to answer the question:

HOW DOES GOD SPEAK?

A. The Word of God: the Bible

Of course we begin with the Word of God.

66 books, written over thousands of years by many different authors in at least three languages - Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek (perhaps some Aramaic as well).

These 66 books have been translated and re-translated into most major language groups in the world.

Again, this is a subject well beyond the scope of our message, but an important issue nonetheless.

When we say God speaks by His Word, what exactly do we mean?

After all, those following Jesus in person, 2,000 years ago, struggled to understand.

How can we be expected to understand?

As Jesus met with His closest followers on the night prior to His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection He shared with them on a number of topics.

For our purposes today let’s focus on His promise:

John 16:7 (HCSB)

Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth.

It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you.

If I go, I will send Him to you.

Leaving aside the question that must have been foremost in the disciples minds - how can His absence be for our benefit?-

let’s focus on the promise He made.

He promised to send ‘the Counselor,’ or, in the original language of the NT:

παράκλητος

paracletos.

In the original language this.

word was used in two different ways.

First, a paraclete was ‘an advocate.’

An advocate in Jewish culture was one who exercised an advocacy either before men in a court or before God at the throne in heaven.

For example, Abraham is presented as an advocate in Genesis 18 as he pleads with God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah, and finally pleads for the safety of his nephew and his nephew’s family.

Moses is also an advocate.

When God’s people rebelled against God in the wilderness, Moses appeared before God on their behalf.

And don’t leave out ...

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (2.

The Advocate.)

...prophets like Amos (7:2, 5f.) or Jeremiah (e.g., 14:7–9, 13, 19–22) intercede with Yahweh for others in guilt or distress, whether it be individuals or the people ... It is also the task of these men to declare to men the will of Yahweh and to show how it is to be done

Jesus promises that with His departure He will send an advocate.

In an earlier vs in this passage Jesus described this paraclete as ‘another Counselor,’ describing the Holy Spirit as one just like Himself.

The second use of the word ‘paraclete’ is where we will focus the rest of our time this morning.

Not only is the paraclete an advocate, He is also nothing less than the real presence of Jesus taking up residence in the life of a believer.

Jesus walking with those early followers continually taught them about the kingdom of God -

Matthew 4:23 (HCSB)

Jesus was going all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Acts 1:1–3 (HCSB)

I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.

After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Jesus Himself describes the task of the Holy Spirit in these terms:

John 14:25–26 (HCSB)

“I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit —the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

B. The Holy Spirit’s Role

As long as Jesus is present with them He teaches.

When He is gone, the Holy Spirit will be their teacher.

‘Teach’ and ‘remind’ are the words Jesus used to define the task of the Holy Spirit.

The content of the Holy Spirit’s teaching and reminding is ‘everything I [Jesus] have told you.’

Teach and remind are likely to be understood as synonyms instead of two specific tasks.

The word in the original language translated ‘teach’ is defined as

The whole teaching of Jesus is with a view to the ordering of life with reference to God and one’s neighbour ....

Thus His teaching constantly appeals to the will, calling for a practical decision either for the will of God or against it

Karl Heinrich Rengstorf, “Διδάσκω, Διδάσκαλος, Νομοδιδάσκαλος, Καλοδιδάσκαλος, Ψευδοδιδάσκαλος, Διδασκαλία, Ἑτεροδιδασκαλέω, Διδαχή, Διδακτός, Διδακτικός,” in Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed.

Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–), 140.

Jesus told us what the subject matter will be:

‘all things…everything I have told you.’

We can characterize the Holy Spirit’s role as a teacher in several categories.

a. Conveyor of Truth

Earlier in this time of Jesus’ sharing with His followers He told them that this ‘paraclete’ is “the Spirit of truth” (Jn 14:17).

Jesus has identified Himself as ‘truth’ (Jn 14:6).

As ‘truth’ Jesus claims a one-ness with the Father who is the absolute standard of truth.

Earlier in a confrontation with some who considered their physical connection to Abraham as sufficient for life in God’s kingdom, Jesus reminded them that

John 8:31–32 (HCSB)

... “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples.

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

As the Psalmist teaches us to sing and pray:

To communicate truth - that which is grounded in God as He has revealed Himself - the Holy Spirit is the only accurate guide.

After His resurrection and prior to His ascension Jesus was teaching ‘through the Holy Spirit’ (see Acts 1:2).

b.

Clarifying Who Jesus Is

Later in this section of Jesus’ teaching to those closest followers He will amplify the role and task of the Teacher (the Holy Spirit):

John 16:12–14 (HCSB)

“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.

When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth.

For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears.

He will also declare to you what is to come.