Sermon Tone Analysis

The parable of Bob

Pulling vines on a property.

5 workers $100 for a 12 hour day of clearing

It wasn’t going to be enough

He doubled them by lunch

He came back in the evening and added 10 more.

The end of the day he paid them all $100 starting with the ones who had only worked an hour.

Those who had been there 12 didn’t think it was fair.

“Then we’re all square.

Is there a rule that says I can’t pay people what I want to with my own money?”

Not Fair

This should sound familiar, it is a parable told by Jesus in .

Every parent knows fairness is a tricky thing.

If I were a worker

If I were Bob

Fairness is great when it works in my favor!

Fortunately for us, the kingdom of God does not operate according to the principles of fairness.

The kingdom of God is fair the way Bob measured fairness.

God opted for fair in the sense of him extending mercy and grace.

A parable is one thing, seeing in practice is quite another.

Stephen

All was great for the Christian movement at first.

Everyone considered each other family, regardless of background.

But all good things must come to an end.

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

~

The 12 instructed the congregation to find 7 people to oversee this, one of the men mentioned is Stephen (Gentile).

He was very good at public defense of the faith.

Soon the religious and political powers got frustrated with Stephen.

This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

~

The New International Version.

(2011).

().

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

So he ends up in front of the Sanhedrin (Jewish supreme court).

He demonstrates from scripture that clinging to the Law (of Moses) instead of Christ is idolatry.

“You stiff-necked people!

Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised.

You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?

They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One.

And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

~

Paul

Stark contrast to Stephen

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

~

All this law goodness eventually led him to murder:

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.

I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

~

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man

~

Once, while persecuting the church, he has encounter with God.

He joins the ranks of Christianity

Paul became a hero of the faith.

He was confident he would be with Christ.

Before Paul and Stephen

There was another man whose faith in Christ made him somewhat famous.

He is certainly no hero of the faith, yet his story is told and retold wherever the gospel is preached.

We don’t know his name.

But we know his character, and apparently, he was quite a character.

When we are introduced, his story is in the final pages of its final chapter: He was hanging on a cross within earshot of Jesus

Criminal = he was guilty of crimes so heinous he couldn’t even be trusted to row a roman warship.

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

~

Religious leader stopped to sneer “Save yourself if you’re the messiah.”

The soldiers mocked “if you’re the king save yourself.”

Eventually one of the men crucified beside Jesus joined in as well, “Aren’t you the Christ?

Save yourself and us!”

Unexpectedly, Someone comes to Jesus’ defense.

He interrupts the streams of cursing and mocking with a question and confession.

But the other criminal rebuked him.

“Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.

But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

~

Grace was his only hope...

If the kingdom of God was reserved for good people, this guy didn’t have a chance.

Repentance from a cross is meaningless.

Re-dedication when you only have hours to live doesn’t count for anything.

We are all sorry once we are facing the penalty of our actions.

There was nothing to promise.

He had nothing to offer.

Restitution for his crimes was impossible.

He had no bargaining power.

He had earned the cross, and he had earned an eternity separated from all that was good.

He was on his way to receiving exactly what he deserved.

Then Jesus trumped justice as justice was understood.

He decided to be extravagantly unfair.

Jesus answered him...

It took effort to breathe, let alone talk.

Every inhale and exhale caused incredible pain!

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

~

Lets not rush past this.

Jesus, God in a bod, perfection in skin, holiness with hands and feet, promised a man who was as opposite him as opposite could be, “Where I’m going, you’re going.”

Jesus granted the eleventh hour convert the same eternal reward as Stephen!

That’s not fair.

It’s better than fair, it’s grace.

I don’t understand

I don’t understand why people are so resistant to the gospel.

I realize it has been mischaracterized through the years.

Some of us Christians certainly haven’t helped the cause with our less than consistent behavior.

But once someone gets past US and looks at the offer of grace, it just seems too good to pass up.

When we stop to consider the implications of the exchange between the criminal and Jesus, it is quite astonishing.

Why would anyone opt for a religious system based on personal performance?