Episode 2

The Road to the Resurrection: Identity Revealed (North OC)

In this sermon, Marcel Hall continues the series 'The Road to the Resurrection,' focusing on the spiritual journey leading up to Resurrection Sunday. The message centers on immersing in the gospel story of Jesus through the book of Luke, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Jesus's authority and identity as the Messiah. Marcel reflects on key events of the Holy Week, including Jesus's responses to questions about His authority and teachings, as well as the parables and wisdom He shared. The sermon challenges the listeners to make Jesus the authority in their lives, offering a deeper understanding of His divine and messianic role.

00:00 Introduction to the Sermon Series

00:50 Spiritual Formation and Upcoming Book Reading

01:45 Handouts and Study Guides

02:17 The Holy Week Overview

04:08 Jesus' Authority Questioned

08:55 The Parable of the Tenants

14:37 The Trap of Taxes

19:29 The Sadducees' Question on Resurrection

24:41 Jesus' Warning Against Hypocrisy

27:43 Recognizing Jesus' Authority in Our Lives

33:09 Conclusion and Call to Action

Click here to donate to the program

Click here for more sermons

OC Church of Christ

Transcript
Marcel:

We're going to continue in a sermon series that we started

2

:

a couple of weeks ago called

The Road to the Resurrection.

3

:

And so what we're wanting to do during

this time for the next several weeks

4

:

is really immerse ourselves into the

gospel story of Jesus through the

5

:

book of Luke and allowing this time

to really be spiritually formative.

6

:

Allowing us not to just have a

resurrection Sunday celebration, but

7

:

for God to lead us to be spiritually

formed as we, as we think, as we

8

:

consider, as we reflect, as we rejoice

about the good news that Jesus came

9

:

and died upon the cross, but he didn't

just stay in the grave, but he rose on

10

:

the third day and that those who would

believe in him Would have eternal life.

11

:

And so we are doing that here

for the next several weeks.

12

:

And we also are going to start

this Friday, uh, reading a book

13

:

together as a ministry called the

30 Days at the Foot of the Cross.

14

:

And so we want to start this Friday

because that will be 30 days until

15

:

we reach Resurrection Sunday.

16

:

I know many of us have the book

already and a number of us.

17

:

have the book and we are selling those, I

will say this, this one is not my fault.

18

:

But it didn't get shipped

here in enough time.

19

:

And so we'll have it on Tuesday

and so we'll figure out a way to

20

:

distribute to the family group

leaders and to the campus ministry.

21

:

So if you do not have that, we'll We

can try to get that to you there by

22

:

Wednesday so you can have it in time

so we can all start reading together

23

:

on Friday, March 21st, 30 days at the

foot of the cross again so that we can

24

:

be spiritually formed during this time.

25

:

Amen.

26

:

And so, uh, last week, uh, also if you're

with us here, we have a little handout

27

:

that will guide us as we're studying.

28

:

The last several days of Jesus's life

before the cross in the book of Luke.

29

:

And so we have a handout that's

in our church app and maybe we

30

:

still have some physical copies.

31

:

If we do, Craig, do we still

have any physical copies left?

32

:

Okay.

33

:

No, we do not.

34

:

So go to our church app and you can see

a little handout that will help guide

35

:

you to understand the gospel of Luke.

36

:

Now, last week, we looked at Luke

chapter 19, where we talked about the

37

:

triumph, the tragedy and the temple.

38

:

And today, what we're going to be looking

at is the relative of resurrection,

39

:

identity revealed, identity revealed.

40

:

Let's go to the father in prayer.

41

:

Father in heaven.

42

:

We are grateful already for the

chance to be encouraged in our faith,

43

:

to be strengthened in our faith.

44

:

God, to sing songs and to be reminded of

the amazing grace that you have given us.

45

:

That though many of us, we were lost,

but now We are found and all that was

46

:

through the resurrection and father

to hear how you worked in Stephanie's

47

:

life to see the convictions grow and

be established and firm in the in the

48

:

Baron's life when it comes to remembering

the cross or giving of our offering.

49

:

God, we are built up and we

know you aren't finished in

50

:

ministering to us this morning.

51

:

And God, we pray that we are not

only broken vessels that have been

52

:

redeemed, but God, we can be open

vessels that you can fill into us.

53

:

This morning, allow every word and

everything that you want to minister

54

:

to us, reach our souls and God

put away and to the side, anything

55

:

that can distract or disrupt.

56

:

We pray in the name of Jesus.

57

:

Amen.

58

:

All right.

59

:

So here we are.

60

:

So we are again in the holy

week or what people call the

61

:

holy week or the passion week.

62

:

This is the week leading

up to Resurrection Sunday.

63

:

And so again, Luke 19, we looked

at Palm Sunday, which is the Sunday

64

:

before the Resurrection Sunday.

65

:

And we saw the triumphal entry where Jesus

publicly declares and makes a statement.

66

:

That he is the king, he's

the long awaited Messiah.

67

:

And we also looked at what

they call Holy Monday.

68

:

And that's where Jesus cleared the temple.

69

:

And today we'll look at Holy Tuesday.

70

:

And so this is the Tuesday

before Resurrection Sunday.

71

:

And some call this the day of questions.

72

:

The day of questions.

73

:

Cause as we'll see, Jesus is going

to be asked a number of questions.

74

:

And we're gonna see his identity revealed.

75

:

His identity revealed.

76

:

Now let me ask you this, uh, this

may be a safe assumption, but have

77

:

you ever played the game of Clue?

78

:

Many of us have played the game of Clue.

79

:

Okay, remember this is a little kid, you

have, you're on one side, a person on

80

:

the other side, and you have that one

card, and they're trying to guess who

81

:

that person is, and you're trying to

guess, and hey, do they have a mustache?

82

:

Uh, is their hair red?

83

:

And they say yes or no.

84

:

You guys remember this game, right?

85

:

And so what are you doing?

86

:

You're asking questions so

that you can get evidence.

87

:

So at the end, you can

identify who the person is.

88

:

And at the end, you make

a guess, are you Andrew?

89

:

And they say yes or no, right?

90

:

You guys know this, right?

91

:

And so really, Luke chapter 20

is kind of like a game of Clue.

92

:

And so it comes from chapter 19

where Jesus makes a declaration.

93

:

And it should be obvious to many.

94

:

But as we see, he's gonna keep

giving us evidence that's going to

95

:

reveal his identity as the Messiah.

96

:

And so as we read this and we're going

to try to read through all of this and

97

:

break it down as we read this, we're

going to see, and I want you to take notes

98

:

of how he keeps revealing his identity.

99

:

Brothers and sisters,

are you with me here?

100

:

All right, well, let's go

ahead and let's get into it.

101

:

All right.

102

:

So first up, we're going to look

at Luke chapter 20 verse one again.

103

:

Now he's had this entry.

104

:

He cleared out the temple.

105

:

Now just imagine this, he comes in,

he makes his public declaration,

106

:

he clears out the temple and his,

his enemies, his ops, the savior

107

:

haters, they're upset about this.

108

:

And so they ask an obvious

question, who in the world do

109

:

you think you are doing this?

110

:

And so that's our context, so

alright, so let's get into it.

111

:

And you know I did this, I tried this

today, I put all of Jesus words in red.

112

:

Cause you know when you read

in the bible it's in red.

113

:

So somebody said, let's just try it.

114

:

So it might look good.

115

:

It might look terrible.

116

:

Amen.

117

:

Okay.

118

:

So if it doesn't look good,

I won't ever do it again.

119

:

But let's go ahead and let's get into it.

120

:

One day as Jesus was teaching the

people in the temple courts and

121

:

proclaiming the good news, the chief

priests and the teachers of the law

122

:

together with the elders came up to him.

123

:

Tell us, by what authority

are you doing these things?

124

:

They're asking, who gave you

the right to do what you've

125

:

been doing the last couple days?

126

:

Jesus replied, who gave

you this authority?

127

:

Where he says, I will

also ask you a question.

128

:

Tell me, John's baptism, was it

from heaven or of human origin?

129

:

They discussed it among themselves

and said, if we say from heaven, he

130

:

will ask, why didn't you believe him?

131

:

But if we say of human origin, all

the people will stone us because they

132

:

are persuaded that John was a prophet.

133

:

So they answered, we don't

know where it was from.

134

:

Jesus said, neither will I tell you by

what authority I'm doing these things.

135

:

And so we stop right there.

136

:

So Jesus goes, Okay, we're

going to play this game.

137

:

I want to ask you a question.

138

:

And that was somewhat common in

the Hellenist culture and Jewish

139

:

culture to sometimes answer

a question with the question.

140

:

And so basically you're seeing kind

of who's wiser and it's going to

141

:

produce really the real result and

what the true question should be.

142

:

But he goes and he asked this

question and they say, Hey, we

143

:

don't we know if we say this.

144

:

Then he's gonna ask us this, or he's

gonna make this point, if we say

145

:

this, man, it might cost us our lives.

146

:

So let's just play dumb and

say, well, we don't know.

147

:

Now, it's interesting here, because

I think also Jesus had the intention

148

:

here of going, you already know

the answer that I will give you.

149

:

Because if you believe that John,

if his baptism, meaning if it was

150

:

inspired by God, if he was led by

God, and you know what John said

151

:

about me, Then what does that mean?

152

:

What authority do I have?

153

:

Who do you think I'm going to

say gave me this authority?

154

:

But if you don't believe that John

was divinely inspired, then you're not

155

:

going to believe anything I say anyway.

156

:

And so he doesn't really answer.

157

:

However, he does reveal his

answer even with his statements.

158

:

That my authority comes from the Father.

159

:

But Jesus is going to

make this even more clear.

160

:

Through this parable that he's

going to deliver, which is really

161

:

an allegory, which is a story that

uses symbolism to make points.

162

:

And so let's continue

reading in John chapter 20.

163

:

Brothers and sisters,

are you with me here?

164

:

All right.

165

:

So we have the authority question.

166

:

Now we have the authority revealed.

167

:

He went on to tell the

people this parable.

168

:

A man planted a vineyard.

169

:

Now this vineyard is going to symbolize.

170

:

Israel rented it to some farmers,

the farmers, we'll see here in a

171

:

second, and went away for a long time.

172

:

At harvest time he sent a servant to

the tenants so they would give him

173

:

some of the fruit of his vineyard.

174

:

Now the servant and servants is going

to, is a symbol for the prophets

175

:

of God throughout Israel's history.

176

:

And these farmers or these tenants

represent God's people and maybe even more

177

:

particular, God's leaders or the religious

leaders throughout Israel's history.

178

:

Continue, he says, but the tenants beat

him and sent him away empty handed.

179

:

He sent another servant, but that one

also they beat and treated shamefully

180

:

and sent him away empty handed.

181

:

He still sent a third and they

wounded him and threw him out.

182

:

Then the owner of the vineyard

said, what shall I do?

183

:

The owner of the vineyard is God.

184

:

What shall I do?

185

:

I will send my son whom I love.

186

:

Perhaps they will respect him.

187

:

All right.

188

:

Who is the son?

189

:

Obviously.

190

:

Jesus.

191

:

Let's continue.

192

:

But when the tenants saw him,

they talked the matter over.

193

:

This is the heir, they said.

194

:

Let's kill him and the

inheritance will be ours.

195

:

So they threw him out of

the vineyard and killed him.

196

:

What then will the owner

of the vineyard do to them?

197

:

He will come and kill those tenants

and give the vineyard to others.

198

:

The others is referring

to Gentiles, non Jews.

199

:

When the people heard this

they said, God forbid!

200

:

Jesus looked directly at them

and asked, then what is the

201

:

meaning of that which is written?

202

:

The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

203

:

Everyone who falls on that

stone will be broken to pieces.

204

:

Anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.

205

:

The teachers of the law and the chief

priests looked for a way to arrest

206

:

him immediately because they knew he

had spoken this parable against them.

207

:

But they were afraid.

208

:

of the people.

209

:

Let's stop right there.

210

:

Again, Jesus gives us this allegory,

this parable that kind of highlights

211

:

the history of God's people.

212

:

And if you know the Old Testament, you

know, God sent many prophets to his

213

:

people to call them back to faithfulness.

214

:

And several of them were rejected by

God's people, and even several were

215

:

killed for what they were prophesying.

216

:

And he also helps us see that

God sends his son, Jesus,

217

:

who will be killed in days.

218

:

For what?

219

:

For our salvation.

220

:

And so Jesus is making it clear

that he's the son in the parable.

221

:

So that he has the

authority of the father.

222

:

Because in this parable, the son

comes in the authority of the father.

223

:

And if Jesus is the son, then he comes

in the authority of God the father.

224

:

And so he's answering the question.

225

:

And he does this through this parable

so that people can understand what

226

:

is taking place and that his identity

will be more and more revealed.

227

:

And so he shows, hey look, I am the son.

228

:

I'm going to die.

229

:

And I come in my father's authority.

230

:

But here's the other thing,

he uses imagery of a stone and

231

:

he refers back to an old song.

232

:

And he says, hey the stone

that the, that was rejected.

233

:

Actually became the cornerstone.

234

:

And so he's saying that, hey,

again, the Messiah, he himself,

235

:

Jesus, is the cornerstone of

God's plan and God's church.

236

:

And a cornerstone is a

vital piece in building.

237

:

It's it's it's foundational because

you have that and you build around it.

238

:

And it also serves where

two pieces come together.

239

:

And so the pieces landed,

they depend on this.

240

:

And so Jesus is where all of God's plan

comes together and is built upon him.

241

:

And so God's church and God's people

and God's plan is built upon Jesus.

242

:

Showing that even when people and his

own chosen people, the Israelites,

243

:

the nation of Israel, even if and when

you reject, you won't stop God's plan.

244

:

But there's also consequences for

rejecting Jesus, and that's judgment.

245

:

And so he makes that clear, that if

you, if you reject me, then yes, you

246

:

will fall on me, it will be just, or if

you rebel, you will be crushed because

247

:

you rejected God's plan of salvation.

248

:

And so the leaders, they got this.

249

:

They understood, whoa,

he's talking about us.

250

:

And so what'd they do?

251

:

Man, we gotta find a way to kill this man.

252

:

He's embarrassing us.

253

:

He's trying to uproot and, and upturn

everything that we have going on.

254

:

We're sick of this.

255

:

We got a plot to kill him.

256

:

Now Jesus was killed

for the words he said.

257

:

Think about that for a second.

258

:

Jesus wasn't killed

because he was like Mr.

259

:

Rogers.

260

:

Oh, he's just so nice and so cuddly.

261

:

But Jesus was speaking truth.

262

:

A man of conviction.

263

:

A man of love.

264

:

But a man of conviction and of truth.

265

:

That would share the truth.

266

:

To, to redeem.

267

:

But also to warn so that we

won't suffer consequences.

268

:

Let's continue.

269

:

Brothers and sisters, are

you still with me here?

270

:

We continue Luke chapter 20.

271

:

We see the attempted trap.

272

:

Keeping a close watch on him.

273

:

They sent spies.

274

:

Interesting.

275

:

Man, look, look.

276

:

We got it.

277

:

We can't just come through the front door.

278

:

Let's, let's, let's

throw some spies at him.

279

:

Who pretended to be sincere.

280

:

They hoped to catch Jesus

in something he said.

281

:

So that they might hand him over to the

power and authority of the governor.

282

:

So the spies questioned him.

283

:

Teacher, we know that you

speak and teach what is right.

284

:

And then you do not show partiality,

but you teach the way of God

285

:

in accordance with the truth.

286

:

They laying it on thick, aren't they?

287

:

You're just awesome.

288

:

We love you.

289

:

The crazy thing is, it

actually, everything they're

290

:

saying is actually true.

291

:

But they're not saying it sincerely.

292

:

But we continue.

293

:

Is it right for us to pay

taxes to Caesar or not?

294

:

Now this was an interesting question.

295

:

This was a political question.

296

:

Uh oh, we talking politics in the church!

297

:

But it was also a religious question.

298

:

Because, see, at the time here, there was

a, a tribute, this is called a tribute

299

:

or a poll tax by the Roman Empire.

300

:

And so, some felt, especially the zealots,

those that, uh, uh, were definitely

301

:

common, they, they, they were wanting to

rebel against the Roman, uh, uh, Empire.

302

:

And so they felt it was wrong

religiously, like, it is, we are

303

:

sinning against God if we pay this

Roman tax to this pagan emperor.

304

:

And so they're trying to set him up

because if Jesus says, yes, pay the tax,

305

:

then all those zealots are going to be

mad and he's going to lose their support.

306

:

But if he says no, we got him, cause

now he's going against the Roman Empire.

307

:

Hey, we got a lawbreaker over

here, let's send him over there.

308

:

He's trying to cause a riot so that people

will rebel against the Roman Empire.

309

:

You better get rid of him.

310

:

Some sneaky people right there, huh?

311

:

What does Jesus do?

312

:

Says he saw through their duplicity and

said to them, Show me a denarius, this

313

:

is the coin, this is the Roman coin.

314

:

Whose image and inscription are on it?

315

:

Caesars, they replied.

316

:

You know, let's continue.

317

:

He says, He said to them, Then

give back to Caesar what is

318

:

Caesar's, and to God what is God's.

319

:

They were unable to trap him in what he

had said there in public, and astonished.

320

:

By his answer, they became silent.

321

:

The trap doesn't work.

322

:

You know, it's interesting because

there was actually several types

323

:

of coins that they would have.

324

:

They had a Roman coin, there

was a Greek coin, there was some

325

:

Jewish coins, a Tyrrhenian coin.

326

:

So there's several coins that people

could have had during that time.

327

:

And they asked them about the Roman coin.

328

:

Said the only way you could pay the

Roman tax is if you had a Roman coin.

329

:

So they actually kind of expose

themselves when he says, Hey,

330

:

show me the coin right now.

331

:

And they pull out the Roman coin.

332

:

So they themselves believe in what?

333

:

Paying the Roman tax?

334

:

So they expose themselves, but they think

they're slick in trying to trap Jesus.

335

:

And Jesus says, Well,

whose picture is on there?

336

:

And there was a picture

of the Caesar on there.

337

:

And they say, Well, it's Caesar's.

338

:

He says, Well, give the

Caesar's what's Caesar's.

339

:

His image is on there, so give it to him.

340

:

But give to God what's God's.

341

:

But what belongs to God?

342

:

All of us.

343

:

Everything belongs to God, but

especially God, and you know

344

:

what, whose image do we bear?

345

:

God's.

346

:

So what should we give to God?

347

:

Ourselves.

348

:

Everything we should give to God.

349

:

And so here we go.

350

:

So yes, we're going to abide by the law.

351

:

And yes, we're going to give to God.

352

:

Because the law of the land is

never going to supersede God.

353

:

But we're not going to

be these crazy radicals.

354

:

So Jesus, not being political, but

helping us understand how we should

355

:

be a citizen in God's kingdom.

356

:

And no matter what country we live in.

357

:

And so I love this, and I wish we

could do a whole sermon on this, but

358

:

we give first and foremost to God.

359

:

But here's what's interesting,

just a little tidbit.

360

:

Jesus didn't align himself with a

political party in this situation, did he?

361

:

He wasn't the crazy liberals!

362

:

And he wasn't the ultra

conservative, let's go nationalists!

363

:

But he was righteous.

364

:

We'll save that for another sermon.

365

:

Let's keep moving here.

366

:

Some of y'all mad at me.

367

:

That's okay.

368

:

They were mad at Jesus.

369

:

Oh, you compare yourself to Jesus?

370

:

That's not what I'm doing, okay.

371

:

Some of the Sadducees.

372

:

The Sadducees were a group.

373

:

There was, uh, kind of three

basic religious leaders, or groups

374

:

within the religious leaders.

375

:

And the Sadducees, they were the more

wealthy and more politically minded.

376

:

And so it says, some of the

Sadducees, who say there is no

377

:

resurrection, came to Jesus with

the question, Teacher, they said.

378

:

Moses wrote for us that a man's brother

dies and leaves a wife, but no children.

379

:

The man must marry the widow and

raise up his offering for his brother.

380

:

Now there were seven brothers.

381

:

The first one married a

woman and died childless.

382

:

The second and then the third married her.

383

:

And in the same way, the seven died.

384

:

Man, don't, I don't know

about marrying this woman.

385

:

Everybody who marries her

dies, you know what I'm saying?

386

:

But we know this isn't a real story.

387

:

They're just trying to trap him.

388

:

Okay, alright, so.

389

:

Leaving no children.

390

:

Finally the woman died too.

391

:

Now then, at the resurrection,

whose life will she be?

392

:

Since the seven were married to her.

393

:

Again, they're trying to say, Hey, that

afterlife stuff, that's some nonsense.

394

:

That's foolish.

395

:

Let's expose how foolish this is.

396

:

Let's use our logic and we'll

expose him to everybody that he's

397

:

not really this great teacher.

398

:

Jesus replied, The people of this

age marry and are given in marriage.

399

:

But those who are considered worthy

of taking part in the age to come and

400

:

in the resurrection from the dead will

neither marry nor be given in marriage.

401

:

And they can no longer die for.

402

:

They're like the angels.

403

:

They're God's children since they're

children of the resurrection.

404

:

But in the account of the Bernie

Bush, even Moses showed that the

405

:

dead rise for the, for he calls the

Lord, the God of Abraham and the

406

:

God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

407

:

He is not the God of the dead, but

the living for to him are all alive.

408

:

Some of the teachers of the law

responded, well said teacher.

409

:

And no one dared to ask

him any more questions.

410

:

They're like, oh man, we tried,

but man, this ain't working.

411

:

And so he said, man, just

kind of like that sound.

412

:

Whatever we're trying to do to

stop that sound, it ain't working.

413

:

And so he goes, and

Jesus, what does he do?

414

:

He, he corrects their incorrect theology.

415

:

They have some incorrect theology.

416

:

They don't believe in, in really

kind of the spiritual realm.

417

:

And they don't believe in the afterlife.

418

:

And so Jesus corrects this.

419

:

But what does he do?

420

:

He reveals eternal truth.

421

:

Now, who can reveal eternal truth

except for one who is in position or has

422

:

the authority to speak on the matter?

423

:

The one who has knowledge, not

a theory, but one who knows.

424

:

Who could that possibly be?

425

:

The Messiah.

426

:

And so he goes and he corrects and he

says basically, hey, life in the age

427

:

to come is different than life here.

428

:

Your view that it's going to be

the exact same, that's wrong.

429

:

The afterlife is going to be different

and it's going to be magnificent.

430

:

It's going to be better than

even what we can imagine.

431

:

But he reveals his wisdom, his

authority, and his divinity to

432

:

be able to speak on the matter.

433

:

Brothers and sisters,

are you with me here?

434

:

Let's continue.

435

:

The Messiah.

436

:

Then he goes on, verse 40, Then

Jesus said to them, And he turns

437

:

around, now he's asking questions.

438

:

You guys have been asking me questions.

439

:

Now you don't want to say anything.

440

:

So now let, let me start

asking you some questions.

441

:

Why is it said that the

Messiah is the son of David?

442

:

Because everybody believed that

the Messiah would come through

443

:

the line of David, which is true.

444

:

So he's not negating this, but

he's asking them a question.

445

:

David himself declares in the book of

Psalms, The Lord said to my Lord, sit

446

:

on my right hand until I make your

enemies a footstool for your feet.

447

:

So he quotes the scripture.

448

:

He says, David calls him Lord,

how then can he be his son?

449

:

And now again, he's revealing truth.

450

:

Hey, hey, you guys, you're excited

about the Messiah, you should.

451

:

The Messiah's gonna come

through the line of David.

452

:

But here's the thing that you're missing.

453

:

You think it's a political Messiah.

454

:

You think he's gonna

establish an earthly kingdom.

455

:

That's the kind of Messiah you're

looking for and you think that David

456

:

is great and he's just gonna come and

he's just gonna Come in that line.

457

:

He said no.

458

:

No, no the Messiah God's Messiah.

459

:

He's greater than David In fact,

David calls him my lord And so he

460

:

shows us that the Messiah is much

more and a greater mission Than even

461

:

what they believed or even King David

462

:

and so he he's declaring remember

When I walked a couple days ago

463

:

and I declared publicly that I'm

the king coming in, that messiah

464

:

you're looking for, he's right here.

465

:

I'm revealing truth.

466

:

I'm telling you what God is like, what the

kingdom is like, what the messiah is like.

467

:

And you're looking for him.

468

:

Again, the peace that he said

when he was crying over them,

469

:

the peace that he wants to offer.

470

:

He says it is available.

471

:

We continue the warning.

472

:

While all the people were listening,

Jesus said to his disciples, Hey, guys,

473

:

let me tell you something real quickly.

474

:

Beware of the teachers of the law.

475

:

They like to walk around in flowing

robes and love to be greeted with

476

:

respect in the marketplaces and have the

most important seat in the synagogues

477

:

and the place of honor at banquets.

478

:

They devour widows houses and

for a show make lengthy prayers.

479

:

These men will be punished most severely.

480

:

And now he warns.

481

:

Why?

482

:

Because he knows of the hypocrisy

that's taking place and he knows

483

:

of the evil that is taking place.

484

:

And he knows it and he exposes it.

485

:

And he declares that there's going to

be judgment if there's no repentance.

486

:

And so what do we see through

the book of Luke in chapter 20?

487

:

Again, we see identity revealed.

488

:

We see his identity revealed.

489

:

We see it validated through his wisdom,

his teaching, and his authority.

490

:

His declaration and claim to be king in

the Christ is demonstrated through his

491

:

authority, his teaching, and his supreme

knowledge and truth that he delivers.

492

:

These guys think they're wise,

let me show them true wisdom.

493

:

You're trying to trap me, let me go ahead

and correct your incorrect theology.

494

:

And you know what, I'm gonna

expose what most people don't know.

495

:

And so he does answer that question

through all these interactions.

496

:

Whose authority do I have?

497

:

I have the Father's authority.

498

:

Because I am God's Son.

499

:

I am the Messiah.

500

:

I bring truth, I bring revelation.

501

:

And I'm going to die for your salvation.

502

:

And we know later, he fully is validated

when he raises on the third day.

503

:

But he reveals himself

here in Luke chapter 20.

504

:

And so again, like in the game of Clue,

when there's only one option left.

505

:

And you're looking at the cards

and you say, You are Andrew.

506

:

When we look at all of chapter 20,

we can say, Jesus is the Christ.

507

:

Like that show, The Masked

Singer, you ever seen that?

508

:

I don't watch it, I tried and

I just couldn't get into it.

509

:

I was like, I just don't understand.

510

:

But at the end I know they take off the

mask and it's like, Oh, it's Lady Gaga!

511

:

It's never been Lady Gaga,

but you know what I'm saying.

512

:

And so here it is, spiritually, Jesus

has been telling and he takes off the

513

:

headpiece, revealing that he It's not

a mass Messiah, but he is the Messiah.

514

:

His identity is revealed.

515

:

And so what is our response?

516

:

What should we take from

this brothers and sisters?

517

:

I believe one thing we should do is this.

518

:

Recognize the authority of Jesus.

519

:

Recognize the authority of Jesus.

520

:

He's the authority of all

and overall, but that means.

521

:

That we also need to recognize the

authority Jesus should have in our lives.

522

:

Here's what Jesus said one time

as he's preaching, they call this

523

:

the Sermon on the Plain there.

524

:

And so it says, Why do you call me

Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?

525

:

You call me Lord, but yet I don't

have a role of authority in your life.

526

:

So why do you call me this?

527

:

I'm obviously not your

Lord, I'm something else.

528

:

Because if I was your Lord, then

you would recognize my authority

529

:

and you would submit and surrender

to my authority in your life.

530

:

You would do what I say.

531

:

And so the question for you and

me today is, does Jesus have

532

:

this authority in your life?

533

:

Does Jesus have this

authority in your life?

534

:

And if not, why not?

535

:

Or maybe he once did,

but not so much today.

536

:

Maybe he did when we first was baptized.

537

:

30 plus years ago, 20, 5, 2 years ago.

538

:

But he hasn't been recently.

539

:

Maybe that's the case.

540

:

Or maybe he's never been lord

of your life in authority.

541

:

Well the good news, and it says

Jesus came and brought good news.

542

:

I love that it's good.

543

:

The good news is that God gives you today

a chance to make him lord of your life.

544

:

God gives you a chance today to

surrender to his authority in your life.

545

:

And maybe you're having

reasons as to why you can't.

546

:

I would say there are many

reasons but no excuse.

547

:

I'm too young, it's too

hard, or it's too late.

548

:

Those are all reasons but not an excuse.

549

:

You see, life with Jesus is far better

in this life and in the life to come.

550

:

Then the life you have when

he's not the authority.

551

:

I know many of us can testify

of the blessings when Jesus

552

:

went from being a good teacher

and a good coach to being Lord.

553

:

You see, for many years growing up, Jesus

was a good moral teacher for my life.

554

:

He was a good idea, but he wasn't the

Lord and the authority of my life.

555

:

And so when that transition took place

by the grace of God to recognize who

556

:

he is and the authority he should

have in my life, my life has been

557

:

radically transformed for 24 plus years.

558

:

And I have zero regrets, regrets of

submitting to his authority in my life.

559

:

And I know many of you can

testify to that as well.

560

:

And so we make an appeal to everyone here,

no matter your status or your situation,

561

:

to make Jesus the authority in your life.

562

:

So if you're visiting here with us

today, I want to encourage you to

563

:

set up a time to study the Bible.

564

:

You know, Stephanie talked about it.

565

:

When she studied God's Word, she

realized who God was, ministering to her

566

:

personally, so she was able to respond.

567

:

I know we have some people,

you've been studying the Bible.

568

:

I want to encourage you today.

569

:

Jesus wants to be Lord and have

the authority in your life.

570

:

Not next week or next month, but today.

571

:

And to make a decision to surrender today.

572

:

And I know we have some here,

maybe you're struggling.

573

:

Or maybe you left the faith.

574

:

I believe Jesus is calling you to resume

Jesus being the authority of your life.

575

:

To resume where He is.

576

:

Lord and the authority in your life and

for others is to continue recognizing

577

:

the authority of Jesus in your life.

578

:

And you say, man, he's been the

authority with the call is to continue

579

:

to recognize, submit, surrender

to that authority in your life.

580

:

Because what are the opportunities

that await if Jesus has

581

:

the authority in your life?

582

:

What are the possibilities if Jesus?

583

:

What's to become or to resume his rightful

place and have the authority in your life.

584

:

We would have peace with God, a hope

of eternal life, a faith that we

585

:

know with absolute certainty will

be rewarded, a love that meets your

586

:

soul's deepest need and desire.

587

:

We'll have wisdom and direction

from the creator of life to navigate

588

:

through life's twists and turns.

589

:

So again, what opportunities await you

today, this week, this month, and your

590

:

future if Jesus were to become or to

resume being the authority in your life?

591

:

The road to the resurrection, the

day of questions, the authority was

592

:

questioned and the identity was revealed.

593

:

Jesus wisdom and authority validates

that he is the Christ, the chosen one,

594

:

the Messiah, the son of the living God.

595

:

May we recognize the authority Jesus

has and should have in our lives.

596

:

We'll close out with

Luke chapter 9 verse 20.

597

:

He asked his followers.

598

:

He says, hey guys, who do you think I am?

599

:

And Peter replies, you are God's Messiah.

600

:

Let us praise God for Jesus'

identity being revealed.

601

:

Amen, brothers and sisters.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for OC Church of Christ Sermons
OC Church of Christ Sermons
Hear the latest sermon from the OC Church of Christ

Listen for free