THE IRRESISTIBLE CHRIST

Text: John 12:32

Intro: He had a humble birth, cradled in a manager, grow up in despised Nazareth, introduced by a man considered a fanatic, guest only of humble peasants, ignored by the influential, opposed by established religion, accused of blasphemy and treason, put to death with thieves, still “he is the mightiest among the holy and the holiest among the mighty.” Christ indeed is irresistible. But why?

I. His Irresistible Personality.

My Life

My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done;

Leave countless marks for good or ill, ere sets the evening sun.

This is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray:

Lord, may my life help other lives it touches by the way.

Source unknown

Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.

A. In the temple at twelve. Luke 2:41-52

B. Cleansing the temple. John 2:13-17

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

C. In calling the apostles, Peter, Andrew, James and John and Matthew.

D. Children were attracted to Him. Mark 10:13-16.

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Charge It

Charge It

A mother took her young son shopping. After a day in the stores, a clerk handed the little boy a lollipop. “What do you say?” the mother said to the boy, to which he replied, “Charge it!”

Courier-Journal Sunday Magazine

II. His Irresistible Power.

A. It was demonstrated in His miracles. John 20:30-31.

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 20:30–31). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Over the laws of the universe - Water to wine (John 2); the tempest stilled (Matt. 8:23-27).

Used in forgiving sins. Mark 2, palsied man.

Over sickness and disease. Matt. 8:1-4, the leper.

King James Version (Chapter 8)

8 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him,

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Resosurce

Resosurce

When God Was Taken Captive, W. Aldrich, Multnomah, 1989, p.68

Quotes

• The unsaved “come most freely, being made willing by His grace - Westminster Confession, XII 1

• When God works in us, the will, being changed and sweetly breathed on by the Spirit of God, desires and acts not from compulsion but responsively” - Bondage of the Will, XXV

Source unknown

III. His Irresistible Love.

A. His love drew to Him the needy sinners of His day. The woman at the well, John 4. The sinful woman who anointed His feet, Luke 7:36-50; Zaccheus, Luke 19:10.

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Hudson Taylor

Hudson Taylor

Years ago the communist government in China commissioned an author to write a biography of Hudson Taylor with the purpose of distorting the facts and presenting him in a bad light. They wanted to discredit the name of this consecrated missionary of the gospel. As the author was doing his research, he was increasingly impressed by Taylor’s saintly character and godly life, and he found it extremely difficult to carry out his assigned task with a clear conscience. Eventually, at the risk of losing his life, he laid aside his pen, renounced his atheism, and received Jesus as his personal Savior.

Whether we realize it or not, our example leaves an impression on others.

Source unknown

B. His love has lifted thousands from the depths of sin in all ages.

C. His love binds together in common purpose and hope, millions from all races. Eph. 2:14-16.

D. His love caused Him to leave the glory of heaven and being with His Father to humble himself to undergo Gethsemane, and Calvary. “Amazing Grace oh how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.”

10,000 Sermon Illustrations We Paid Nothing

We Paid Nothing

As we paid nothing for God’s eternal love and nothing for the Son of His love, and nothing for His Spirit and our grace and faith, and nothing for our eternal rest...What an astonishing thought it will be to think of the unmeasurable difference between our deservings and our receivings. O, how free was all this love, and how free is this enjoyed glory...So then let “Deserved” be written on the floor of hell but on the door of heaven and life, “The Free Gift”. - Richard Baxter

IV. His Irresistible Message.

A. As spoken by His own Divine lips. Such gracious words, such torrents of righteous indignation, and yet at the same time they were sublime and simple. John 6:63; 12:48.

B. As proclaimed by inspired men. Acts 4:33; Acts 6:8-10; 1 Cor. 14:37.

C. His message of salvation was weaved in the gospel in all its power, wisdom and love. Rom. 1:16; Eph. 4:15.

10,000 Sermon Illustrations More to Follow

More to Follow

A large sum of money was given to Rowland Hill to dispense to a poor pastor. Thinking that the amount was too much to send all at once, Hill forwarded just a portion along with a note that said simply, “More to follow.” In a few days the man received another envelope containing the same amount and with the same message, “More to follow.” At regular intervals, there came a third, and a fourth. In fact, they continued, along with those cheering words, until the entire sum had been received.

C. H. Spurgeon used this story to illustrate that the good things we receive from God always come with the same prospect of more to follow. He said:

“When God forgives our sins, there’s more forgiveness to follow. He justifies us in the righteousness of Christ, but there’s more to follow. He adopts us into His family, but there’s more to follow. He prepares us for heaven, but there’s more to follow. He gives us grace, but there’s more to follow. He helps us to old age, but there’s still more to follow.”

Spurgeon concluded, “Even when we arrive in the world to come, there will still be more to follow.”

The very triumphs of His foes, it means, He used for their defeat. He compelled their dark achievements to subserve His end, not theirs. They nailed Him to the tree, not knowing that by that very act they were bringing the world to His feet. They gave Him a cross, not guessing that He would make it a throne. They flung Him outside the gates to die, not knowing that in that very moment they were lifting up all the gates of the universe, to let the King come in. They thought to root out His doctrines, not understanding that they were implanting imperishably in the hearts of men the very name they intended to destroy. They thought they had defeated God with His back to the wall, pinned and helpless and defeated: they did not know that it was God Himself who had tracked them down. He did not conquer in spite of the dark mystery of evil. He conquered through it. — James Stuart Stewart (1896–1990), Scotland

Psalm 68:18 KJV

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

“The very triumphs of His foes, it means, He used for their defeat. He compelled their dark achievements to subserve His end, not theirs. They nailed Him to the tree, not knowing that by that very act they were bringing the world to His feet. They gave Him a cross, not guessing that He would make it a throne. They flung Him outside the gates to die, not knowing that in that very moment they were lifting up all the gates of the universe, to let the King come in. They thought to root out His doctrines, not understanding that they were implanting imperishably in the hearts of men the very name they intended to destroy. They thought they had defeated God with His back to the wall, pinned and helpless and defeated: they did not know that it was God Himself who had tracked them down. He did not conquer in spite of the dark mystery of evil. He conquered through it.”

— James Stuart Stewart (1896–1990), Scotland