Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro:

Saying you know somebody but you don't really know them (facebook friends, etc) could use facebook friend KJ52 as illustration 

Could also add eating and drinking in the presence of a celebrity at restaurant.

saying I know that person.

but you dont!

Why do we do that?

We want status.

The question by the person in the text is basically asking the same thing.

Read v. 23

At the heart of that question is: Am I good?

Am I saved?

-- What is my Status... status as saved.

Go into problem v 24-27 (read text)

We were in your presence, you taught in our streets: We know you!

It’s like saying, “Hey, we are friends on facebook, we have eaten in your presence at the restaurant.”

Master responds: “I do not know you or where you come from”

Transition: It’s not just about who you know (like in business) but it is about who knows you!

The Problem: I Don’t Know You

The Door will one day shut.

The Master (Jesus) will return and shut the door

Grace will cease to exist and there will be separation

Heaven and Hell

Jesus is saying it is much more than just a historical knowledge of Him.

More than just being in His presence on Sunday morning or at His Holy Supper

It is more than hearing His teachings… His miracles

It is a relationship where He knows you on a deep level and you know Him in a personal way.

Salvation is through a narrow door

Jesus is the narrow door to the house (eternity)

Jesus is the only way to Salvation

He Says:

No one enters the narrow door except through me!

The narrow door is the difficult path that leads to salvation -

Living a life that is in Christ, in a deep relational way is not always easy.

It is difficult for us as we are sinners by nature, enticed and tempted away from the door/Jesus living in this corrupted world.

Transition: That is why Jesus says: STRIVE to enter the narrow door… STRIVE

We Strive to have Relationship with Jesus

This Striving comes from the arena of Sports

Giving best to win the contest

It means: to struggle, wrestle, agonize, fight

We strive, struggle, wrestle, fight towards the door — through the temptations, eticements, our own sinful pitfalls

We strive for that personal relationship with the Master —

So that when the door closes — we know Christ in a deep relational way — and He knows us and where we come from!

Sports illustration: being on sidlines never getting into game (overlooked by the coach/lost in background) — fighting to be in the game (to be known)

sidelines = no interaction / in the game striving = interaction/relationship

This striving isn’t a works based striving — it isn’t to gain enough good points that you earn your way through or win your way through

Not a striving for first place status on Jesus’ friend list

It is striving with the acknowledgement of you cannot do anything for your salvation… - the door of salvation is too narrow for that.

It is knowing you are in last place and Christ is the only one who can make you first

When we acknowlege that — when we know our status apart from Christ — that is when we strive for that relationship with Him

That deep personal relationship where you are united to Him and want to spend an enormous amount of time with Him!

Transition: And here is the Good News, the reassuring news: The Master DOES KNOWS YOU and LOVES YOU DEEPLY!

The Answer: The Master KNOWS You!

The Door isn’t closed yet, God’s grace is still being poured out to you through Christ!

$ Jesus Christ, The Master, Knows You!

The Master of the heavenly house knows you in a deep way

He loves you!

He forgives you of your Sin!

He picks you up from despair

The Master created you… He sees You… Despite your unrighteousness apart from Christ, He STILL Loves you.

He forgives you and makes you righteous in Him.

He welcomes to you His table — both here and now through His Word and His Sacrament, and also in the future, on the last day, when He returns.

And because of all this in Christ, we strive.

Strive on the narrow path to the door, we strive in our relationship with Jesus, focused on His status as Master and not ours.

We battle, endure, and wrestle, all the way to the end — When He returns and says, “I know you, come in, come in.”

Land the Plane

Jesus (the Master) knows you

It is a wonderful precious thing to be known and loved by the Master, Jesus

$ I’m reminded of the song: Jesus loves me this I know

which is absolutely true and amazing

$ But what if we also sang it this way: Jesus knows me this I love!

When we sing these both from the inner depths of our being we strive towards that deep personal relationship with Him — rejoicing in the union with the Master who’s status is above all names and opens the door to salvation for you.

Before Christ we are last — sinners in need of salvation — it is only Jesus and will ever be only Jesus (the Master) who can save us

By His grace you are saved, it is His gracious knowing that the door is opened for you — bringing you from last to first!

Strive in your relationship with the Master and Rejoice in the fact that the Master — Jesus Christ — who knows you — offers you not only a relationship, but the narrow door to eternity.

$ Our status is Jesus Christ, this I love!

Amen