A Snapshot or a Masterpiece (03-31-96)
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I. Introduction
A. John 12:12-19 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!" (NIV)
B. Picture this scene in your mind. If it helps, close your eyes for just a moment. See the great crowd hailing the triumphal entry. See the garments being laid on the ground as Jesus approaches. Hear them shout Hosanna, which means “Save Now.” Imagine the throng, including the disciples, who thought this was finally going to the opportunity for their deliverance from oppression. Visualize the Pharisees standing the background, wringing their hands, grinding their teeth, feeling their authority and influence had vanished. We may also imagine the Romans may have sent observers, because it seemed as though every year at the time of the Passover there would be new rumors and rumblings of a uprising against Roman authority. They may have been amused as they compared this humble parade with the magnificent “Roman Processionals” that they had witnessed in Rome whenever a great Roman general returned from a victorious battle.
C. The picture further develops as we supplement the story contained in these few verses with information from other sources. We may wonder why the Bible does not provide complete details of this and many other events in the life of Christ. The Bible gives to the most nonchalant observer snapshots of the life and ministry of Jesus, but there are certainly gaps in our understanding. It was the Apostle John who said:
1. John 21:25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. (NKJV)
D. As we think about these things, we ask this compelling question, how in just a few short days was the adoring crowd replaced by an angry mob shouting to the Roman curator Pilate, “Crucify Him.” I would not want to imply that the same people who were now hailing Jesus as the King of Israel were the same ones who just days later demanded the release of a criminal rather than Jesus. The Bible singles out the Scribes, Pharisees and leaders of the people for that distinction. But I would like to know where those people went? Why were they not there standing up for Jesus during His trial? Our text tells us that many went out to see Him because of the miracles that He performed including raising Lazarus from the dead. What caused them to abandon Him so quickly. Was there any depth to their commitment and relationship with Jesus.
II. Pictures of the Lord
A. Anyone who wishes to look, even the occasional bystander, the semi-religious can see snapshots of Jesus at different times. At Christmas, we see the nativity scene, Joseph, Mary, the Christ Child, the shepherds and the wisemen and we sing sweet songs like:
Away in the manager, no crib for His bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
B. On Resurrection Sunday, we are uplifted and encouraged by hearing the traditional proclamation, "HE IS RISEN, and the response, "HE IS RISEN INDEED". For others it is the opportunity to be seen in their new Easter apparel, they enjoy the music and their hearts are stirred by the message of the Resurrection. Resurrection Morning, what a time of celebration, the victory, the triumph over sin and death. What a fine picture.
III. A Snapshot or a Masterpiece
A. We have seen two pictures of Jesus life, the first as the infant Christ Child and the second as the risen Lord. Both are very beautiful pictures, however to the superficial follower, they are more like snapshots than masterpieces.
!! B. There are two conditions that can turn a snapshot into a Masterpiece.
1. We recognize and treasure the deeper inherent beauty of the picture. This happens when we understand the greater meaning, the sacrifice that made the picture possible.
2. We have a personal relationship and identify with one in the picture.
C. Let us again look at the two stories and see how we can find a Masterpiece. Though these scenes represent great beauty, can we find an even deeper appreciation.
D. Jesus Christ, the newborn King
1. Most people experience a warm feeling when they see a warm glowing nativity scene. We see Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and wisemen, the cattle and sheep all gazing adoringly at the baby Jesus lying on a bed of straw in the manger. Aside from the fact that this is probably romanticized: stables in that day were not warm and cozy, this is a wonderful scene. But discernment of the story behind the story turns this scene from a snapshot to a masterpiece. Do we understand what was necessary?
2. Philippians 2:5-8 ... Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross! (NIV)
3. For us it is now no longer a picture a baby lying in a manger, it is the picture of God himself voluntarily laying aside His divine power and taking upon himself the form of humanity. He did something for us that no one else could ever do. We see the beauty of the divine plan and purpose of God. The snapshot is now to us "Emmanual - God With Us" a Masterpiece.
E. Christ Jesus, The Risen Lord
Even the Resurrection can be like a snapshot. It is more agreeable to be enamored with the celebration of Resurrection than to consider the battle that preceded victory. The Resurrection was the climax of a week and indeed a life of sacrifice and preparation. Sorrow came before joy. Listen to the familiar words of the Prophet Isaiah:
1. Isaiah 53:2-6 ....He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (NIV)
2. These words from the prophet should at times weigh heavy upon us as we realize the great pain and suffering with which He was afflicted because of our sin. These words should convict us whenever we are tempted to give a half hearted effort in our service. But we have learned that that He had to suffer and die to bring us into life in Himself. This causes us to rejoice even though the world rejects Him.
a) 1 Peter 2:6-7 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 7 Therefore, to you who believe, [He is] precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," (NKJV)
F. We see the deeper meaning, we know why Jesus was born in Bethlehem and we are moved by what Jesus endured before rising from the dead. We see beauty that many fail to perceive. But we must go farther.
IV. A picture may contain great beauty and yet we can fail to relate to it or to identify with it.
A. Let me give you this illustration: At a company I used to work for, I had many coworkers who had babies or young children. As you might expect everyone had lots of photos to show off. New photos were shown frequently. Everyone was polite and expressed the appropriate number of oohs, aahs and compliments, but I am certain that each of us felt that our own children were the cutest and most adorable. A difference between a snapshot and a masterpiece is the affection of relationship and identification.
B. Following His entry into Jerusalem there were gentiles who sought to have a meeting with Jesus:
C. John 12:20-22 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. (NIV)
1. Right after He was born, the non-Jewish wisemen sought to see Jesus, and now just days before He was to die these non-Jewish Greeks who were in Jerusalem to worship at the Passover feast desired to see Jesus. What do you think they wanted to ask Him? Do you guess that they had heard of all the amazing miracles and perhaps they had even been among the crowds and listened as Jesus spoke?
2. One thing that separates these Non-Jewish worshipers from many of their Jewish counterparts: They did not ask to see a sign or a miracle, their request was to see Jesus. There were occasions when they could have seen Jesus, if they would have been content with seeing Him perform miracles or to hear him teach, but they wanted more. They wanted to meet with Jesus.
3. Continuing on in our passage, let us learn more of what it take to have a relationship with Jesus.
D. John 12:24-26 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me (NIV)
1. These verses establish the relationship and identity that must occur for if we will be His servants.
V. Conclusion
A. There are two conditions that can turn a snapshot into a Masterpiece.
1. We recognize and treasure the deeper inherent beauty of the picture. This happens when we understand the greater meaning, the sacrifice that makes the picture possible.
2. We have a personal relationship and identify with the one in the picture.
B. For most people, their perception of Jesus did not go very deep on that day of triumphal entry. They had seen the miracles, they had heard Him speak, but their expectations did not include his suffering and death. Their snapshot of Jesus portrayed Him as the one who would deliver them out of the hands of the Romans. As that possibility withered the beauty of the picture faded for them. They did not have a relationship that would sustain them during the dark days that were ahead.
!! C. The Greek worshippers who came to see Jesus were looking for more than a snapshot, they wanted to commune with the MASTER. They were not content with reading the book or seeing the movie they wanted to know the author. We may possess pictures that mean a lot to us, but we would not accept the pictures in the place of the ones that we love. Love requires intimate relationship and identification. We have many beautiful mental images of Jesus from the Bible, but there is no substitute for coming directly to Him. We have the assurance of God’s Word that He can be found