Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

In 2019, Avengers: Endgame was released and became the number one highest grossing movie release of all time.

In its first weekend, the film grossed over $1.2 billion, doubling the previous record from the year before which had been set by its prequel, Avengers: Infinity War.

The anticipation which led up to the release of Avengers: Endgame was like nothing the movie world has ever seen.

There were several factors that made the anticipation particularly intense.

For one thing, the Avengers series is based off a very popular series of comic books made by Marvel.

Many adults grew up reading these comic books as kids, so Marvel already had a sort of cult following amongst many adults.

Secondly, the previous Avengers movies had been big hits, wildly successful in the box office.

In fact, 15 of the top 50 grossing movies of all time have been movies on Marvel comic books—this doesn’t include movies made on other comic book series like Batman or Superman.*

Thirdly, the previous movie—Infinity War—which had topped the charts just the year before, had ended on a horrible cliffhanger where half of the world’s population had been wiped out by a villain names Thanos (who is named for the Greek word thanatos, meaning “death”).

Endgame was thus poised to be the grand finale.

It was going to wrap up the story, resolve the cliff hanger, and satisfy the cravings of millions for another blockbuster comic book movie.

Fans from all over—full grown adults with kids of their own—dressed up as super heroes and flooded the theaters.

Why?

Because of the anticipation of what that movie was going to deliver.

God has so designed us that we’re not happy with unfinished stories.

We need that resolution.

In John’s gospel, what we see is an infinitely greater story reaching its climax.

While Infinity War ended with the tragedy of half of the world’s population being killed, the most optimistic estimates would probably show that over 90% of everyone who has ever lived up to this point will end up in Hell, dragged down by an enemy far greater than Thanos.

There have been many stories which have come before it, but this story is the greatest.

While many heroes throughout the Old Testament have tried to fix God’s broken creation, none have succeeded.

But now, the greatest hero of all takes the stage.

But he didn’t come with flashing lights and million dollar advertising campaigns.

He came quietly, and humbly, and people didn’t even recognize who he was at first.

Turn with me in your Bibles to John 1.

FCF: In our society, many people think of Jesus as just another great teacher.

Even in church where we recognize that Jesus was God, we oftentimes fail to live in light of that fact.

We often live as if he’s not coming back, as if the kingdoms of this world are what truly matter.

Main Idea: But as John reveals Jesus’ identity in this passage, we are reminded of the extent of Jesus’ authority and reign and we are reminded that we ought to eagerly anticipate his return and live in light of it.

Background

We don’t know for sure what happened under that fig tree, but whatever it was, Jesus’ demonstration of supernatural knowledge was obvious to Nathanael.

Nathanael realized quickly that Jesus was more than just an ordinary man, but he doesn’t seem to realize the full extent of Jesus’ glory yet.

Jesus is the long awaited hero—the Messiah, the Son of Man, and the Son of God.

These titles reveal a lot about the hero of our story.

Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Israel (Jn.

1:49)

When Nathanael recognizes that Jesus is the “Son of God,” we often jump quickly to the conclusion of Jesus’ divinity.

That’s absolutely true, but it’s not what Nathanael meant.

It’s clear from other passages in the gospels that the full realization of Jesus’ nature didn’t become clear to the disciples until later on, perhaps even after Jesus’ resurrection.

Later, of course, the disciples put two and two together and finally realize that Jesus isn’t just a mere man, he is also God:

So, if Phillip didn’t mean to refer to Jesus’ divinity, what did he mean when he called him the “Son of God?”

When Nathanael calls Jesus the “Son of God” and the “King of Israel” he’s picking up on some OT prophecies.

Particularly, Ps. 2:7

The “Son” of God was God’s anointed Messiah, his chosen one.

Most Jews didn’t realize that the coming Messiah would be none other than God himself.

They expected a mere man.

But, in a way, Nathanael speaks more truly than he realizes.

While Nathanael probably did not yet realize that Jesus was divine, by calling him the “King of Israel,” he’s also echoing a prophecy from Zephaniah 3.

It’s a little ironic, but the term “King of Israel”—which we assume just has human connotations—actually has some divine implications if you read some of the OT prophecies closely.

And that’s especially true if we pay close attention to Jesus’ title of himself

But again, Nathanael probably doesn’t realize yet that Jesus is more than just the long awaited Messiah.

But Jesus’ response begins to reveal his true nature.

Jesus’ title as the “Son of Man”

This is Jesus’ favorite title for himself, so we had better understand what he meant by it.

When we hear the term, “Son of Man,” we immediately think “human,” someone born from another human being.

And that’s not wrong.

In fact, this title is used of Ezekiel the prophet repeatedly in his book and Jesus is, indeed, human.

But Jesus is drawing primarily from Daniel when he uses this term, foretelling of a coming day when God’s Kingdom would overtake the kingdoms of the earth

This vision comes to Daniel around 550 B.C. during the time that Daniel and many of the Israelites are in captivity in Babylon.

These four successive beasts are images of four earthly kingdoms which would arise.

We’re not going to debate or discuss all the finer points of this vision, but suffice it to say that most Evangelical scholars believe these to represent the empires of Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, and possibly Rome.

The point is that each of these empires is great and threatening.

Each successive empire is fiercer than the last.

Each one threatens the destruction of many people.

For the Jews, sitting in exile in Babylon, this was a vivid reminder of their situation as conquered people.

But the story wasn’t finished yet.

Look at what Daniel sees next...

When Jesus calls himself the “Son of Man,” this is what he is referring to.

Even though the kingdoms of this world will have their day, they will all come to an end.

Even though Satan seems to reign in this world with unchecked power, his reign is finite.

The Jews were eagerly anticipating a day when “one like a son of man” would come and establish his Kingdom here on earth.

This being would be like a human—"like a son of man”

But he would be like no other human.

He receives complete dominion

ALL peoples, nations, and languages will serve him

His kingdom will never end.

Does that sound like a mere human to you?

When Jesus came the first time, he set up this Kingdom.

His Kingdom is already here, present amongst those of us who do his will.

Conclusion

But the story isn’t finished yet.

The Bible ends on a cliff hanger.

Right now, we live in a world torn by sin.

We live in a world where Satan seems to have free reign over all.

Where death steals away the ones we love.

Where our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer persecution under evil rulers.

Where we are ridiculed and thought fools for serving Christ.

But one day, all will be set right.

Jesus is going to return one day.

Right now, we find ourselves in a similar position to the first century Israelites—waiting for the culmination and fulfillment of what has been promised.

But are you eagerly anticipating that day?

Are you living in light of the judgment to come?

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_openings_for_films