10: The Star of the Show (Luke 3:15-22)

Jackie Watts

The Gospel of Luke: The Greatest Story Ever Told • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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Sometimes people have the tendency to confuse God’s messengers with God’s Messiah. For example, people sometimes think that a pastor or priest is an intermediary between God and them. As if God hears the pastor’s prayer, but not those of ‘normal people’.

But you should Never be confused. The person who points you TO God’s forgiveness is nothing more than one beggar telling another beggar where to find the bread. He or she is in need of God’s forgiveness too.

Sometimes it’s those who have the privilege of being God’s messengers who begin to think more of THEMSELVES than they should. But a Messenger is not the Messiah.

The Messenger must remember that he/she is NOT the Star of the Show. Sometimes the messenger needs to be reminded of that.

Rick Warren - the well known pastor of Saddleback Church, asked his wife, Kay "How many outstanding preachers do you think are alive today? She said, "One less than you probably think!"

That will humble a brother, but that’s a good thing. So Today we will discover why humble messengers are quick to point others to the Star of the Show.

You’ll remember that we talked about John baptizing others, calling them to repent - to turn from their sin and prepare for the coming Messiah. John’s powerful preaching & pure living led some people to mistake John’s role of messenger and wonder if he was the Messiah.

left6350Luke 3:15–16 (NIV)15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.Luke 3:15–16 (NIV)15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.Luke 3:15–16 (NIV)15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.Luke 3:15–16 (NIV)15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.Many people were making much about John the Baptist, but he is quick to clarify that he is only a messenger, not the Messiah. He is only a supporting actor and the the Star of the show was yet to appear. John clarifies who he is in comparison to the ONE who is coming.

Luke 3:15–16 (NIV)

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Luke 3:15–16 (NIV)

the Messiah is much more powerful. John never performed a miracle, but Jesus would perform countless miracles. John would be killed and buried. Jesus would be killed, buried, & resurrect. “One who is more powerful than I will come.”

John is not worthy to untie His sandals. This was a task of the lowest slaves, but John feels unworthy to do THAT for Jesus. If this godly prophet John the Baptist is not worthy to untie His sandals how great must this Messiah be?

This is a good time to remind you of the BIG TRUTH for this entire series, the reason why Luke was writing this to Theolophilus, the reason why John carried out his difficult mission, the reason why we are here today...

BIG TRUTH The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our LivesBIG TRUTH The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our LivesBIG TRUTH The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our LivesBIG TRUTH The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our Lives

BIG TRUTH

The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our Lives

BIG TRUTH

The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our Lives

Finally, John only baptizes on the outside with water, but this One who is coming will baptize with with the Holy Spirit and fire.

What does THAT mean? Is the baptism of the Holy Spirit & the baptism of fire meant to be compared or contrasted - similar or opposite? Is this fire something that purifies and empowers believers or something that represents fiery judgment to fall on the unbeliever? That’s a great question. But, as always, the context is the key to determining the intention of the author. So let’s continue.

left6350Luke 3:17 (NIV)17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”Luke 3:17 (NIV)17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”Luke 3:17 (NIV)17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”Luke 3:17 (NIV)17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”After the grain was harvested, it was dumped onto a hard, flat floor known as the threshing floor. The grain was then tossed into the air with a winnowing fork, and the breeze would blow the lighter chaff (husk & straw) to the side while the heavier wheat would fall straight to the floor. The wheat would be gathered to a barn, but chaff would be gathered to be burned.

Luke 3:17 (NIV)

17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Luke 3:17 (NIV)

17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

This is John’s message. The STAR of the Show was coming to divide the wheat from the chaff.

So the wheat represents those who will experience the baptism of the Spirit - those who repent of sin and receive cleansing within - are gathered in His kingdom.

while the chaff represents those who experience the baptism of unquenchable fire - those who refuse to repent judged guilty removed to hell forever.

The STAR of the Show would bring both forgiveness & judgment - life & death.

left6350Luke 3:18-20 (NIV)18 And with many other words John exhorted [warned & plead with] the people and proclaimed the good news to them. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.Luke 3:18-20 (NIV)18 And with many other words John exhorted [warned & plead with] the people and proclaimed the good news to them. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.Luke 3:18-20 (NIV)18 And with many other words John exhorted [warned & plead with] the people and proclaimed the good news to them. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.Luke 3:18-20 (NIV)18 And with many other words John exhorted [warned & plead with] the people and proclaimed the good news to them. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.Both Herod Antipas and Herodias had left their spouses and married each other. This was clear-cut adultery. Mark’s Gospel tells us what John had been saying to Herod: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” (Mark 6:18).

Luke 3:18-20 (NIV)

18 And with many other words John exhorted [warned & plead with] the people and proclaimed the good news to them. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

Luke 3:18-20 (NIV)

Leviticus 18:16 commands that a man should not have intercourse with his brother’s wife and Leviticus 20:21 states that marriage to a brother’s wife is a sin.

Further, John was calling him to account for all the other evil things he had done. Herod had enough of John badgering him and put John in prison. We know from the other Gospels that John would be there until he was beheaded. But this is not the last time we will see John the Baptist in Luke’s writing.

The imprisonment of John is a reminder to Luke’s audience & to us, that those who want to live godly; those who call others to turn from sin - those who warn of God’s wrath & offer God’s peace - will be persecuted. Paul gives the same warning in 2 Tim. 3:12. And this reality is becoming more and more prevalent in our culture as well.

I have asked friends who say we shouldn’t judge the actions of others this simple question: “If your friend who is living in sexual sin (heterosexual or homosexual sin) asks what he or she must do to have eternal life...what do you tell them?” We must tell them to repent of their sin. But if they ask, “Which ones?” What do you say? What is your basis for giving them a sound answer? We point them to, like John did, what God says through Scripture. Some will walk away and call us judgmental.

So why risk it? 2 Reasons: 1) Others will respond and repent. and 2)...

BIG TRUTH

The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our Lives

BIG TRUTH

The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our Lives

left6350Luke 3:21 (NIV)21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too...Luke 3:21 (NIV)21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too...Luke 3:21 (NIV)21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too...Luke 3:21 (NIV)21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too...This was the quick version of the story but Matthew’s Gospel fills in the gaps. Just as John felt unworthy to untie His sandals, he felt unworthy to baptize Jesus. So John asked Jesus to baptize him instead, but Jesus told John that his baptism was to fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:14-15).

Luke 3:21 (NIV)

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too...

Luke 3:21 (NIV)

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too...

This baptism was NOT for repentance of sin...Jesus had no sin. So why WAS Jesus baptized?

Submitting to baptism showed that Jesus endorsed John’s ministry and message.

He identified with those who were being baptized, the people He would later die for. He was not ‘above’ them. He was not a King who removed Himself from the peasants. He lived, worked, and was baptized right beside them.

Finally, this was a foreshadowing of His death, burial, & resurrection. Much later Jesus told the apostles of a coming ‘baptism’ that caused Him great distress (cf. Luke 12:50; Mark 10:38–39).

Luke 12:50 (NET)

50 I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished!

Can you imagine that scene as Jesus steps into the water and approaches John? One man baptizing another...the prophesied messenger baptizing the long awaited Messiah - but in reality - the prophet baptizes His Maker. Jesus, the Star of the Show steps to center-stage. The reason for Luke’s writing will remain in the spotlight throughout the story.

left6350Luke 3:21-22 (NIV)21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22 (NIV)21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22 (NIV)21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22 (NIV)21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus comes out of the water in prayer and, according to John 1:32, John saw the Spirit’s Presence descend on Jesus like a dove would. According to all the Gospel accounts, it evident that both Jesus & John heard the voice from heaven. And here we have one of the most compelling demonstrations of the Trinity - While Trinity is NOT a biblical term, this Latin word meaning 'tri-unity' or 3-in-1 is certainly a biblical truth though not a biblical word.

Luke 3:21-22 (NIV)

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Luke 3:21-22 (NIV)

God the Son being baptized - the Holy Spirit descending on Him - and the voice of God the Father speaking of His love & pride in the Son.

This passage proves MODALISM false. God does not change modes.

The voice of God the Father only confirms what those who read Luke’s Gospel have already seen in Luke 1:32–35 and 2:49 - that Jesus IS and always has been the Son of God. Jesus was fully man, yet He was fully God. He is God in a Bod - God in skin.

Fully Man. Fully God. Coming to baptize with the Spirit and with Fire.

Quit thinking of Jesus as just a great prophet, someone who simply came to teach us how to live. He is SO MUCH MORE than that! He is the ONE that we are unworthy to honor through the most menial tasks. He is God who became a man to live in purity and to face a future baptism of death, burial, & resurrection in order to bring us LIFE baptize us with the Spirit.

Is the Story of Jesus is Worthy of our lives? Or is that just something we like to say?

Is His message worth our time, our reputation, our wealth?

This year, will Jesus be the Star of the Show, or will we just play the church game?

It’s our time church....it’s our time.

VIDEO It’s our time - Let’s go live like The Story of Jesus is Worthy of our Lives

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