Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Although we think of the New Testament beginning in Matthew, it really doesn’t begin until after the resurrection.

During the ministry of Jesus, that is the Gospel accounts, the Old Testament laws were in effect.

such as:

Deut.

19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

Simply stated a fact was not considered true if it could not be validated by at least two, preferably three witnesses.

I can just picture the scene: Jesus has just finished claiming to be the Messiah, the hypocritical Jews were prancing around in utter disbelief, until one of them says, “that’s just what you claim, how do we know it’s the truth?

were are your witnesses.

Jesus says something like I have 5 witnesses They are:

John the Baptist

Prior to Jesus, John the Baptist was attracting crowds along the banks of the Jordan river, in fact, e had caused such a stir the religious leaders had sent a delegation to investigate.

As long as John was preaching “The Messiah is coming” everything was okay.

But that changed when he declared Jesus as “The Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.”

The religious leaders were even willing “for a season” to rejoice in John’s teaching.

A true saint, believer, would have not stopped rejoicing.

Not only is Jesus proclaiming His Messiah-ship but He is condemning the false religious leaders.

My Works

Think back with me to John 3 and Nicodemus; what brought Nicodemus to Jesus?

Conviction for sure, but why Jesus?

Nicodemus had heard about the “works” of Jesus.

One famous quotation is :”if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck;” Jesus walked, talked, and performed miracles only God could do.

On the surface we see the works, miracles, or signs of Jesus as compassion, but they go deeper than that, they are for increasing our faith in Him.

Luke, quoting Peter’s sermon, wrote in Acts 2:22

The works of Jesus truly point to Him being God.

God the Father

There are two instances in the Gospel accounts in the Gospel accounts in which God the Father gives a verbal testimony concerning Jesus, His baptism and at the Mount of Transfiguration.

Matt.

3:17

The Jews of Jesus’ day had both the Old Testament Scriptures and the full revelation of God in Jesus Christ.

They refused to listen, they rejected Him, and reveled in their total ignorance.

The Words of Scripture

Diligently (found in some translations), is not what I imagined it might be.

They would count the letters in a word, the number of words in a passage, look for hidden meanings, or codes.

Although they were involved in “deep” Bible study, they failed to understand the spiritual principles involved.

They failed to understand the Messianic prophecies as they related to Jesus.

John MacArthur writes: The Bible cannot be properly understood apart from the Holy Spirit’s illumination or transformed mind.

The Jews zeal for the Scriptures was commendable, but because they were unwilling to come to Jesus, the sole source of eternal life, it did not result in salvation.

Let’s define what is the main purpose of Scripture.

is it to record the history of God’s dealing with men?

It does record much history, or his-story, but that is not its primary function.

Is it to reveal certain truths about our human nature> Although it does reveal such truth, this is not the primary purpose of Scripture either.

The primary function of Scripture is to point men and women to Jesus Christ.

Jesus wants all to see that ALL Scripture points to Him.

Everything that happened to Him-His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection-was foretold in the Old Testament.

He had to suffer- Genesis 3 15

He had to be rejected-Psalm 118:22 The stone which the builders refused, Is become the head stone of the corner.

He had to be killed-Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.6

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The Words of Moses