The Christian Life Exemplified by Jesus

Hopewell Baptist Church

August 25, 2019

Opening Illustration – Years ago, for quite some time, there was a ministry in Texas which did great and wonderful things for the kingdom of God, including sending tens of thousands of young people around the world to evangelize the lost over it’s few decades of existence. However, in it’s last ten or so years, it began to move from standing on the authority of Scripture towards the authority of man, as they began to march to the beat of the Prosperity Gospel and the false teachers that come with it to lead them into the future of their ministry. Because of this, a once prosperous and fruitful ministry located in east Texas is now no longer in existence. And it all happened because they sought, ultimately, to glorify themselves, and not the one true God of Scripture.

“Perhaps you have gloried in your priests, and thought they were great. Very possibly some of you glory in your minister, you think he is very eminent; and some of you, it may be, glory in your purses, and your possessions. Some of you glory in your broad acres, and large houses. Some of you glory in the skill you have in your trade, or your quickness in business. It may be many of you glory in the fact that you are not as other men are. All these gloryings are evil. God help you to put them down. Even to glory in your church, and glory in your sect, and glory in your creed is wrong. To glory in the Lord is the work of his Spirit, and to live to make him glorious in the esteem of men is the only thing worthy of an immortal mind. You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.”[1]

In the same way we aren’t to glory ourselves, Jesus never gloried Himself, but always sought to glorify and point all glory to God the Father.

The Christian life involves daily living in such a way that brings honor and glory to God.

I. – Teaching with Authority

a. 14-15 – Jesus teaches with authority

i. 14 – Jesus was concerned with privacy, however, his primary concern was obedience to the will of the Father.

1. This was his timing, while not “his time” to go to the cross, entering the city privately kept things from happening prematurely. Hence God’s timing is perfect, always perfect.

a. Even the timing of Jesus’ birth was perfectly planned out!

2. Jesus teaches with authority – The Jews marveled at his teaching

a.

b. (end of The Sermon on the Mount)

c. How is it that this man has learning when he has never studied?

i. If they knew who Jesus was, fully understanding His deity, they would know!

b. 16-18 – Jesus establishes His authority

i. 16 – My teaching is not mind, but his who sent me

1. Jesus is sent by God and can only do what He sees His Father doing –

a. Jesus always sees the Father speak and teach and do things with authority (from creation through everything else).

ii. 17 – If anyone’s will is to do God’s will…

1. For those who truly seek to follow God’s will, which is at this point in history the Law and the Prophets from the OT, they would know what Jesus is saying and doing is from God and nowhere else.

iii. 18 – Our glory versus God’s glory

1. If I speak on my own authority, I selfishly point to myself. If Jesus were to call Himself the authority, seeking His own glory, he would be selfishly pointing to Himself and not to God. But he always defers to Godd

2. Jesus seeks to glorify God, not Himself

a. We see this in his privacy

i.

ii.

iii.

b. We see this in his list of “witnesses”

i. (God, John the Baptist, Scripture, Miracles, etc.)

3. We see Jesus seek nothing but the glory of God the Father in all that He did.

II. –

a. 19 – Jesus calls out sin amongst sinners – Has not Moses give you the Law?...

i. The Jews, especially the Jewish leaders, pride themselves on being “Disciples of Moses” (), as they believe that Moses is the one still interceding on their behalf until the coming of the Messiah

1.

2. They have no idea that the one whom Moses wrote about was standing right in front of them, conversing with them!

a. If they did, they would have all fallen on their faces and worshipped Him.

ii. If I’m following the law, why are you trying to kill me?

b. 20-23 – Jesus establishes his right position on

i. 20 – You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?

1. Not first time accused of demon possession –

ii. 21-23 – Jesus explains to them why what He did () was okay, allowable under the Old Testament laws regarding the Sabbath

1. READ

2. Works of Necessity/Mercyˀ

a.

b.

c.

c. 24 – Judge with right judgment

i.

ii. The Jews need to look at the Law before making a judgment about a person.

iii. Instead, they look at appearances and, in Jesus’ case, they look at themselves and what they stand to lose (everything), and thus render their judgments and opinions of Him.

1. And we do judge. We are called to judge others (, , etc.). When we do so, we must do so rightly, justly, and not out of selfishness but out of a desire to see God glorified.

III. Application

a. We must actively live our lives in accordance to God’s Word

i. If we claim to be a Christian and don’t act like it, we are no good

1.

2. If there is no change to a person claiming to be a Christian, are they really a Christian.

b. Part of living out lives in accordance to God’s Word is crucifying the flesh () daily as we seek to grow in the process of sanctification

i. We must put away the sinful desires of the flesh as we seek to glorify God.

1. For the old has gone and the new has come!

IV. Invitation

[1] C. H. Spurgeon, “Glorying in the Lord,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 348.