Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

After many years of school, people are so relieved to not have to deal with exams.

You perhaps remember clearly the long nights of poring over your books.

It was especially difficult when you started to read the same passage over and over again, because nothing was registering.

It was like your memory bank was full.

Only one thing was worse, not knowing what to study.

Perhaps all this is quite distant for you.

Of course when you leave school you don’t stop learning.

In fact in reality, the real learning is usually just beginning.

However, the exam type of preparation is usually over.

Well, until recently, I thought that that type of preparation was over for me.

But lately, iI have had to go back to the memorization, and exam-type preparation.

When you have this type of exam-preparation, it is always good to know what is important and what is likely to be on the exam.

Didn’t you love it when the professor said, “Now this is very important - know it well?”

Well, even if you thought you were done with school, I must remind you that there is one major exam that you must still face.

Everyone has to answer it.

There is only one question on the exam, but it is of utmost importance.

In fact, your eternal destiny depends on it...

Therefore, I would like to preach to you this morning on the topic, “Life’s Most Important Question”

What is the question?

Recorded explicitly for us in all three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke)

“Synoptic” comes from a Greek word that simply means “seeing together” - Matthew, Mark, and Luke present the good news of Jesus Christ from a similar perspective, essentially recording at length His Words (parables and teachings) and His works (miracles).

Question is found in:

(we will give our attention to Matthew’s account)

Context:

Jesus came into the district of Caeserea Philippi

Disciples are with Him

Only Luke records that Jesus was praying alone, and then He asks His disciples this question

Jesus did not speak on His own initiative - spoke only what the Father showed Him.

All three synoptic gospels record what Jesus said to the disciples after this.

Let’s turn our attention to the question itself, as Matthew records it:

Matthew 16:

So the question that you must answer is:

“Who do you say Jesus is?”

Before you dismiss this question quickly, saying, “Ah, I’ve got this one!,”

please proceed with caution.

It is not as easy as it looks

In fact, it is actually a very difficult question...

Why is it difficult?

Before we look at some reasons why this question is so difficult, let’s just see if this question was raised only by Jesus, and only for His disciples, or whether it has a broader application.

Only one right answer, many choices, some very attractive.

When we read gospels, we actually find that this same question was on the minds of many.

Now they did not necessarily express it in these exact words, but from the context you know that this is what they were thinking.

We see this wonder and amazement about the identity of Jesus right from His birth account.

You remember that an angel appeared to the shepherds while they were out in the fields and announced to them that that day, in the city of David, a Savior had been born, who is Christ the Lord.

The shepherds ran

Luke 2:16-1

Surely they were wondering… Who is this Child, the Savior, the Christ, the Lord?

When Jesus was twelve, He went with His parents to Jerusalem for the Feast, and He remained behind.

You remember that they came looking for Him and found Him three days later in the temple in the midst of the teachers, both listening, and asking them questions.

The question on their minds surely was, “Who is this boy who has such amazing understanding and answers?”

When Jesus concluded His Sermon on the Mount… the crowds were amazed at His teaching

Matthew 7:

Who is this that teaches with such authority?

Then there was the time when Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him.

When Jesus was reclining at the table, a woman in the city who was a sinner, came and began weeping, wet His feet with her tears, kept wiping them with her hair, kissing His feet, and anointing them with perfume...

Simon thought to himself… if He were a prophet, He would know what kind of woman is touching Him.

Jesus, knowing his thoughts, gave him the parable of the moneylender and taught him a valuable lesson

He who is forgiven little, loves little, and he who is forgiven much, loves much!

Luke 7:4

Who is this who even forgives sin?

Who is this

Another time Jesus was with His disciples in the boat and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger

Only one right answer, many choices, some very attractive.

The disciples came to Jesus who was asleep, and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

Jesus rebuked the wind and the surging waves and they stopped, and then Jesus rebuked the disciples ...

Who is this that even the winds and the water obey Him?

And you remember that after Jesus healed the two blind men who cried out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!,” they went out and spread the news about Him throughout all the land...

“Who is this, that even the demons are subject to Him?”

You remember Herod was perplexed about His identity.

As Jesus continued His ministry with His disciples, He gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases ()

Who is this man about whom I hear such things?

My personal testimony is captured in this next example… the Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus in His words.

They asked Him if it was lawful to pay tax to Caesar.

But Jesus perceived their malice and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?”

He asked for a coin, and then said, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”

They said, “Caesar’s.”

He said to them,

Of course the clincher is when Jesus demonstrates His power and authority over death (Jairus’ daughter)

I remember the first time I read Jesus’ answers to the calculating and scheming Pharisees… I was utterly amazed!

Who is this, who answers like this?

Of course the clincher is when Jesus demonstrates His power and authority over death (Jairus’ daughter)

You remember Jairus, an official of the synagogue, implores Jesus to come to his house because his 12-year old daughter is dying.

And the account proceeds to tell us that before Jesus could get there, someone from Jairus’ house comes and tells him that his daughter is dead.

When Jesus said, “Child, arise!” her spirit returned and she got up immediately, and Jairus and his wife were amazed!

If you could verbalize their amazement, you might say...

“Who is this, that can even raise the dead?”

As you can see, there were a lot of people who had the same question...

But here is why the question is so difficult to answer...

This one is the Savior, Christ, Lord

Leave question unanswered, default is wrong answer - need to explicitly change the answer

Flesh and blood does not reveal this

Only one right answer, many choices, some very attractive.

Jesus is ‘a’ way to God - all paths are the same

Jesus is a prophet of God

Jesus came to show us the way of love

Jesus was a good moral man

All fall short of the answer

Simply verbal or written response is insufficient

Most people got it wrong (popular opinions).