Sermon Tone Analysis

Behold the Man

A. Behold (def.)

To see; gaze upon; to observe Webster

It is to study and come to a conclusion.

It calls for action to decide what to do with the information.

B. In his book, The case for Christ, Lee Stroble writes about his quest as an atheist to discredit the Bible and the Life of Christ.

As he examined the evidence he was convinced that what he believed and was taught was lacking in substance.

The more he read the Bible and studied history he came to believe that Jesus was more than just a myth or a popular figure in history.

He search the evidence and he found the truth that Jesus was the Son of God.

Today we will look at the evidence and then we will ask ourselves what we believe.

Are we open to the truth or is our minds already made up?

We need to be honest as we Behold the Man named Jesus.

I believe as we look at the evidence we are called to make a decision.

Is our theology of Jesus true or it it only a myth?

Behold the man that rode into Jerusalem (NIV)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

21:1–9pp—;

21:4–9pp—

21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her.

Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5 “Say to Daughter Zion,

‘See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’

”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.

7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.

8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

A. The perception of the crowd

1.

A king is coming (They knew he was Jesus the miracle worker)

2.

He will deliver us from Rome and oppression

3. We will be free from all need and want

a. miracles are available

b. Deliverance has come (prophecy is fulfilled)

B. The truth

1.

He came as a king, but with a different kingdom

2. The vision or perception was on the natural

3.

They missed the real meaning of a king coming

a.

It was eternal

a.

It was eternal (they misinterpreted the scriptures)

4.

This may be how you view Jesus.

You see him as a way to bail you out of a mess.

This is shaky because he might not deliver you as you thought.

Though grace is shown to the wicked they do not learn righteousness.

Even in a land of uprightness they go on sinning.

God’s goal is not to deliver us from pain.

He wants to give us a new life in him.

If you pray that God would deliver you from a mess and he doesn’t answer that request than you will perceive God as an uncaring, hateful deity that doesn’t care about humanity.

That is why many people see suffering as unjust and hate the God of the universe.

Let’s look at the second scene.

Behold the Man on Trial (NIV)

Jesus Before Pilate

27:11–26pp—; ,,;

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.

13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.

16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas.

17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have a

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

23 “Why?

What crime has he committed?”

asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd.

“I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said.

“It is your responsibility!”

25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

26 Then he released Barabbas to them.

But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

A. The same man that rode into Jerusalem is now on trial

B. The same crowd that praised him is now at the trial

C. The same crowd that praised him is now condemning him

D. They wanted blood

E. When he didn’t fill their selfish need they turned on him

F. They condemned him to the most horrible death

This was the same crowd that was praising Jesus when he rode into jerusalem as a king less than a week earlier.

When he didn’t meet their demands as a king they turned on him and condemned him to crucifixion, the most horrible of deaths.

If we see Jesus as our “fix it man”, or the God who let us down, then we will most likely reject him as a king.

If they couldn’t have freedom than they wanted blood.

Jesus is on trial almost daily in our lives.

What sentence are you giving him?

I made a mess of my marriage, but you didn’t change my spouse… crucify.

My child was sick and died and you didn’t heal… crucify.

I lost a loved one ....crucify.

I went bankrupt and you didn’t supply the money ....crucify.