Sermon Tone Analysis
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Big Idea:
God’s truth is under attack but will win.
Intro:
In-Person // River Kids - We need help.
Pray for the kids as they start school this week?
Hello Church Online!
Thanks for joining us.
If you call The River Church your home church, you’ve likely heard me reference my struggle to keep my man-card in good standing.
Sure, I like my fair share of sports, action movies, and grilled meat (manly stuff), but...
I also know more about Yankee Candle than yardwork.
I’ve spent more time in Hallmark than Home Depot.
And so, my man-card is always on the verge of being revoked.
At best, it’s on probation.
But maybe that’ll change this year because I’ve spent a lot of time in both the yard and Home Depot.
I’ve been trying to keep the grass in front of our condo alive.
I’m gonna be honest… I know nothing about yard work.
But... by God’s grace, I planted some seed in Spring and it sprouted!
Unfortunately, it started to die in the summer.
The past couple weeks I started watering it more and it looked like it was coming back to life.
I’m claiming that resurrection power over my yard!
It was looking green and I was proud of myself!
But then, the grass started looking a little funny.
And I discovered this week, it’s all crabgrass.
I didn’t even know what that was.
Maybe you don’t either.
Crabgrass starts off look like grass but it’s not.
Unlike grass, it thrives in unhealthy environments, like areas without water.
It grows fast too!
And by the time you notice it, it’s too late - it’s taken over the entire lawn.
And at that point, it’s kept the real grass from growing back.
I pulled a couple of the big clumps of crabgrass out and it ripped out huge chunks of the lawn.
It basically destroyed all the work I had done in the Spring.
But from my research, the only way to get my healthy grass back is to get rid of the crabgrass and replace it with healthy grass seed.
I told Janelle I may need to rip it all out and start over and she said, “Why remove the weeds if it’s just gonna come back?
Just leave it alone.”
And I tell you this story because, as I was deciding the next steps for my lawn, I realized there was a spiritual parallel to today’s passage out of the Book of Mark.
Currently, we’re in chapter 12, Jesus has entered Jerusalem, about to go to the cross, but before He does, He is confronted by the Jewish community leaders...
Exegesis:
Although the leaders appear friendly towards Jesus, Mark makes clear their intentions were to trap Jesus.
They wanted Jesus to say something that would create controversy and discredit Him.
And humanely speaking, they had a pretty good plan.
They started by asking a question involving money.
Money is a sensitive issue.
Most don’t want to give it away… and especially not to taxes.
So, the potential for controversy is high.
It’s even higher considering the two groups who are working together to trap Jesus.
In a sense, the Pharisees were the religious leaders who favored not giving money to Caesar - the pagan Roman emperor.
On the other hand, the Herodians politically benefited from the Roman occupation of Israel and supported the tax.
And the trap was this: By working together, Jesus was likely to get in trouble either religiously or politically…
Because no good Jewish person willingly supported giving money to the pagan emperor.
At the same time, Rome was trying to get paid.
And you didn’t play with mafia’s money.
Again, it’s a good plan.
But say [or type in the comments], “Not today Satan.”
Bro, you can’t trap Jesus.
Look at verse 15, “But, knowing their hypocrisy, He said to the ‘Why put me to the test?”
Hard hearts make us do stupid things.
You gotta think that after all these guys have seen Jesus do - even if they didn’t believe Jesus was the Savior or God in the flesh - common sense would tell you you can’t trap this guy.
He’s just too good.
It makes me think of a drill we did at football practice on Thursday.
Towards the end, the head coach put a bunch of blocking bags on the ground and told the kids (7th graders - with pads and helmets on) they could tee-off on a coach of their choice holding a block bag.
Initially, this was a little intimidating because these boys are starting to go thru “changes” and their getting big.
Well, I lucked out because no one chose me… until after practice.
By appearance, I’m the smallest of the coaches.
So, after practice, all the smaller players asked if they could try and light me up.
What they didn’t consider is - although I’m shorter - I weigh almost 200lbs.
Most of these kids are 110lbs at best.
What’s that mean?
Common sense… you ain’t knocking me over!
These guys took running starts at me - some like 30 yards at full speed.
Thump.
Nothing.
“Sorry, it ain’t happening.”
And that’s like Jesus here… You ain’t knocking Him over.
You can’t trap Him.
Verse 15 goes onto say...
Jesus, who is the “way, TRUTH, and the life” (Jn 14:6) answers the trap-question perfectly.
In one answer, He satisfies both the political and religious crowds.
So much so they marvel at Him!
So, let’s ask about this first passage, “What’s the point for us today?”
Well, verse 14 says, “[Jesus], we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion.
For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God.”
Although not spoken genuinely, this statement is true nonetheless.
Jesus IS the speaker of TRUTH.
Again, Jn 14:6 says that Jesus is the truth!
And in this passage, Jesus is under attack.
What’s the point?
I believe it’s this...
In this world, God’s truth is always under attack.
That’s because Satan (the devil - yes, he’s real and active) is the temporary ruler of this world.
He hates truth and is the father of lies.
And he uses his influence over the world to attack truth.
The Bible says...
Put differently, the devil is a RELENTLESS lion actively seeking to attack and destroy.
And one of his favorite targets is God’s truth, because he knows THAT TRUTH sets people free to live for God.
And he hates that!
He’ll do anything to stop it.
We see that at work in the next passage...
So a new group of leaders join the attack.
First it was the Pharisees and Herodians; but now, the Sadducees.
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