Becoming the GOAT

Introduction

Opening Story: Old Man and the Sea. Centers around, well, the old man- Santiago. 84 days at sea and nothing to show for it. Coming up empty. Finally catches the biggest fish of his life. A Marlin. Wait til they see this. His life will matter now. Problem- he doesn’t have the strength or the resources to bring this Marlin into the boat. So he kills it, but the problem is the Marlin is bleeding and attracts sharks. Eat all the flesh off of it, and comes back to shore with nothing to show but a skeleton. Point: Some Hemingway scholars think he’s being autobiographical here. He’d caught the big fish of significance in his life. Seemed to check all the boxes- Famous writer. Women. Money. But at the end of his life he is an alcoholic, depressed, married and divorced numerous times, and on the brink of financial ruin. True significance had eluded him in his mind. THE MARLINS OF THIS WORLD CANNOT SATISFY.

Creating the Need:

All of us in this room want our lives to count. We are on a quest for significance/greatness. This is not a bad thing, in fact it’s a good thing. The problem is where we are fishing… give examples. It will only bring a devastating emptiness.

Connect to our passage: All about this idea of significance, or what Jesus calls greatness. Look at verse 11. Greatness is the idea of extent. it’s the tallest tree. The biggest lake. The fastest car. Extent. We might therefore use the word significance. Some of you are uncomfortable with this, because you’re used to seeing greatness as this competitive thing with others. Ali, I am the greatest. But that is not how Jesus uses it here. Greatness here is not compared so much to other people, as it is to systems. Notice again verse 11…the kingdom of heaven…see it. If you’re in the kingdom of heaven, and you are all about fulfilling that agenda, you are experiencing GOAT status. If significance for you is measured by the Marlin’s of this world- cars, houses, etc, that’s not what Jesus is talking about.

Transition: Want to talk to you about where significance cannot be found, and where significance can only be found.

Where Significance Cannot be Found

Historical Context: How did John the Baptist get here? King Herod had seduced his brother’s wife, causing the dissolution of that marriage, and then in a tabloid scandal, married her. John speaks truth to power and rebukes Herod. This gets him thrown into the dungeons in the mountains near the Dead Sea. He’s in prison.

Cannot be found in Circumstances. Get the picture- John’s in jail, but Jesus calls him the GOAT. Significance cannot ultimately be found in circumstances.

Illustration. Checked in on some friends who have just gone through bad circumstances. Attacks of the enemy. Loss of job. Scrambling for money. Drama with kids. In the middle of all this she said, “We are learning that circumstances are a horrible foundation to build your life on.”

Applications. An encouraging word. Our situation does not equal significance. Missionaries right now being persecuted and locked up. Can’t have kids and the shame and insignificance you may feel. The health crisis. Wayward kids. If you’re looking for significance, Jesus tells us to never open the door to circumstances to try to find it.

Excursion. One more thing should be said here. John sends disciples, wondering if he is the one. Interesting he would ask. Reveals his doubts. Crazy right? In utero. Baptized Jesus. Heard the voice of God. Doubts. Ever been there? Ever been so rocked by your circumstances it’s caused you to doubt? Jesus responds with an allusion to Isaiah 61:1. See what part he leaves out? His point is clear: Yes I am the one and no you are not getting out of this!

John Bunyan here? Probably not, but could be.

Applications. These six verses are the eulogy to Prosperity Theology. Equation Theology. Who needs to hear this hard Word.

Significance cannot be found in Status. Matthew 11:7-8; Matthew 3:4. Soft clothing was worn by the kings couriers whose job it was to flatter the king. You knew who they were when you saw them. High status. That’s not John! Matthew 3:4.

Image. Okay dads. Imagine you get a knock on the door one day. And its a disheveled looking guy wearing a garment of camels hair. He says he’s here to ask your blessing over him marrying your daughter. You’re like what do you do? I’m a preacher. Where’s your church? In the woods. No building. where do you live? In the woods. How are you doing financially? Not too great. I eat locust and honey on the regular. You google him and find out he’s been in prison. You’ll probably turn him down. Now I know I’m being completely apocraphyl here, but go with me on this and see the broader point. Imagine he comes back with another man who he introduces as his cousin who will vouch for him. And you find out this cousin of his is in his 30s, homeless, almost universally rejected and in a few days will be executed. That’s Jesus. Point: both have no status, and both are considered the GOAT’s.

Significance cannot be found in status. This is a point the Bible communicates over and over and over again. Paul sums it up when he says in I Corinthians 1:26-30.

Coming to America Illustration. Every story communicates the gospel. Comes across as no real status. He wants to know if there is significance a part from status. That’s the movie. And that’s the human heart.

Applications. So why are we still fishing for Marlin’s. Cars, private schools, etc.

Significance cannot be found in Religion. Matthew 7:12; 16-19. We are all looking for significance. We all try religion. Why Matthew is written. Gospel vs. Religion…brief explanation. Explain verse 12 in light of 16-19.

Illustration. When I lived in NYC I figured out I could get close made for cheaper. So I went to the tailor one day. When he measured my waist I told him he was off. I had always been a certain size. He laughed and said, that’s what the stores tell you so you will feel better about yourself. This is the truth. This is reality. We want churches that will make us feel better about ourselves, so we make them in our own size, and ignore the tailor of God’s word.

Applications. The violent today. Preachers talk too much about sin, start my own church. Marriage should be between whoever, I’ll find a church that caters to this. Etc.

Significance cannot be found in Acceptance. Matthew 11:17. Both Jesus and John were rejected. They didn’t dance when they should have. They didn’t mourn when they should have. They rejected them. Both die.

Braveheart Illustration. Failure is never final. The flower of success often needs the fertilizer of failure to bloom.

Where Significance Can Be Found- Matthew 11:11

Explanation. We see that significance cannot be found in our circumstances, status, religion or acceptance. So where can it be found? Look at verse 11…JESUS!

If you didn’t know who said these words, you would think they were an over statement. What about Moses? Abraham? Ruth? Elijah? These people seemed to exercise more faith and do more miracles than John, and yet John’s the greatest? What’s the difference? John’s life and ministry is inextricably tied to Jesus! His point is clear- Greatness is not a matter of my efforts, circumstances, status, religion or acceptance. It’s all about Jesus! That’s why he can jump from John to the least in the kingdom. If you’re in the kingdom you’re the GOAT, because you’ve accepted the Lamb!

Optional: Have you noticed that in the Bible God has an uncanny habit of going out of his way to show the failures and flaws of his people? Peter is a liar and denier. Paul is a murderer and persecutor. Zacchaeus is a scheming and thieving tax collector. Mary Magdelene is immoral. But they’re all great, because of who they are with- Jesus.

James Earl Ray Illustration. I lived in Memphis. A lot of murders, so much so that The First 48, a show about murders, often focuses on Memphis. For all of the murders in Memphis, I can only mention one murderers name. James Earl Ray. You know why? Not because he stands out. In fact, the author Hampton Sides says, James Earl Ray is the definition of average. But I know James Earl Ray, and his life became significant for all the wrong reasons not because of who he was, but because of who he killed- MLK. He’s linked with that life. Our legacies are linked to the life we are linked to. You want greatness, be connected to Jesus!