Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Illustration:

Have you ever pealed back something in order to reveal something else?

(a) a banana peel

(b) wall paper

(c) carpet with wood floors underneath

Years ago, when I was still the youth pastor, we were renovating an office, and when the carpet was peeled back, there was another color carpet underneath.

It was red.

Whenever something is revealed, there is typically a response.

(a) a bruised banana - eat it or throw it out

(b) wallpaper - remove it or paint over it

(c) carpet - cover it or remove it

As we consider the passage before us, the heavens are going to be opened and there will be 4 distinct revelations.

I am going to urge to you accept what is revealed and respond according.

Jesus Revealed [The Character & Nature of]

This Jesus came to submit himself to the baptism of John.

He is humble - This shows us something of the character and nature of Jesus.

He is faithful to the Father - This is a clear identification that his heart is towards God.

He is pleasing - The Father speaks in clear terms TO Jesus.

The Trinity is in view here.

He is Spirit-controlled - The Spirit of God drives Jesus into the wilderness to be tested.

Does this not reveal to you what is the epitome of mankind?

These are all qualities that we should have and must have.

Illustration:

When I was in college, I made a list on a 3 x 5 card of all of the things that I wanted in a wife, and I would pray for those things before bedtime each night.

The list was posted right above my head, within the springs of the bed above me.

In like manner, here Mark lists some attributes about Jesus, and who can help but think that this is a perfect man and that he is divine, and something inside of us should draw us to say, “I want to be like Him!”

Application:

How many husbands could not benefit from have a spirit of humility?

How many wives could not benefit from Christlike submission?

How many teens could not benefit from seek to please the Father?

How many young couples could not benefit from seeking to be led by the Spirit of God?

Transition:

The character and nature of Jesus is revealed.

Why is the story telling us this about Jesus?

Man Revealed [The Character and Nature of]

What really is striking here is how these two particular activities of Jesus reveal the character and nature of man.

In order to understand this, you must understand what Jesus is fulfilling and why these two activities are chosen.

Illustration:

Let’s imagine: if you were God and you wanted to prove something to mankind, how would you do it?

Wouldn’t we be likely to choose things that are more eye-opening or cataclysmic?

For example:

Why not some kind of worldwide devastation?

Why not send in an army of 10 foot angels?

Why not a worldwide earthquake?

Why choose (1) baptism (2) wilderness trial?

The reason this is what is chosen is because there is a greater fulfillment and Jesus is showing forth how He is accomplishing what man failed at in the past.

#1) Israel failed in spite of being God’s firstborn -

#2) Israel failed in spite of the Red Sea baptism - ,

#3) Israel failed in the midst of the wilderness temptation -

The coming of Jesus is a biblical fulfillment that reveals the failure of Israel, truly the failure of all man kind.

Illustration:

Over the course of our couple’s retreat, we enjoyed thoroughly the fellowship that we had.

As Catrina and I were on our way home, we talked over how wonderful the unity was, and how we wished we could transplant that kind of happiness and unity back home — just take it back with us.

What makes us consider this to be such a sweet time?

Why do we think that what we experienced there was so much better than a typical day at home?

It is not that we don’t have unity, but that what we experienced was taken up a notch.

There were no people complaining.

There were no disappointments.

Things were just better.

In the same fashion, when Jesus Christ came, He is showing forth how much better he is than what had come before.

In so doing, he is revealing the failure of mankind.

What exactly had Israel (and all mankind) failed in?

Perfect humility

Perfect faithfulness

Perfect pleasure of the Father

Perfect endurance in temptation

Application:

While it is good to be humble, faithful, pleasing, and persevering…none of us could do this sufficient for the Father.

We are selfish, unfaithful, self-seeking, temptation-loving sinners.

You may think that you have some resemblance of good in you, but when we see Jesus, we are made to admit that we are not good.

Transition:

The baptism reveals the character and nature of Jesus

The baptism reveals the character and nature of mankind (his need)

God Revealed - v. 10 opened [The Character & Nature of]

In the Old Testament, the opening of the Heavens meant something specific -

In the New Testament, Mark connects the coming of Jesus with the “rending” of the heavens

In the New Testament, the same writer makes a point with the same word -

Illustration:

The Wild Boars team members, most of whom were not identified during Wednesday's interview, left soccer practice with their coach and entered the Tham Luang cave June 23 -- just before heavy rains flooded the caverns and cut off their way out.

Estimates that the group are around 1.2 miles into the cave and around 0.6 miles below the surface.

But other estimates put the boys as far as 2.5 miles into the caves.

The boys said they took turns digging a cave wall, alternating shifts to find clear drinking water after they felt water coming from the walls inside the cavern.

After a 10 day search, divers found the group huddling on a spot of dry ground deep inside the cave.

An international team of rescuers using diving equipment and pulleys were then able to extract the 12 boys and coach through a lengthy process that included traversing tight, flooded passageways.

It took three days to get everyone to safety.

[Fox News Reports]

After a 10 day search, divers found the group huddling on a spot of dry ground deep inside the cave.

An international team of rescuers using diving equipment and pulleys were then able to extract the 12 boys and coach through a lengthy process that included traversing tight, flooded passageways.

It took three days to get everyone to safety.

In like manner, the condition of mankind was such that he was trapped beneath the wrath of God — and rightfully so.

Jesus Christ entered into our place, and it took Him 3 days to complete the destruction of death.

What’s the point?

God has brought his presence to us and made a way for us to go to Him.

God is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ!

Holy Spirit Revealed [the character and nature]

Now, the Spirit of Christ resides in those who have Jesus.

We are led by the Spirit of God as Christ was led -

We cry to our Father in Heaven, as Jesus cried to His Father

This is all possible because of the torn veil - , ,