Sermon #41[1] Luke
Sermons
Title: The
Concern of a Condemned Man
Text: Luke 7:18-23
Subject: John the Baptist's Concern for His
Disciples
Date: Sunday Evening --
Tape # W-20a
Introduction:
The title of my message tonight is The Concern of a Condemned Man. Our text will be Luke
7:18-23.
It is a terribly sad thing to see families divided. It is even
sadder to see men and women who are brethren in Christ divided. With families,
I suppose, divisions may be, in some circumstances, unavoidable, perhaps even
justifiable. But there is absolutely no justification for strife, jealousy and
division among saved sinners. Yet, it is often the sad, shameful fact that men
and women who are one in Christ are divided in this world.
·
There were some of whom Paul spoke when he was in prison at Rome, who,
though they were his brethren, they thought he was a fake, sought to add
affliction to his bonds and were obviously motivated by envy and strife (Phil.
1:12-18).
Philippians 1:12-18 "But I would ye should
understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen
out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in
Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And
many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more
bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even
of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely,
supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love,
knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in
truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will
rejoice."
·
The church at
·
The same thing was true, even during the days of our Lord's earthly
ministry. Our Lord's disciples were once divided about the matter of who would
be greatest among them in heaven. And there was a sad, but obvious, jealousy
between the disciples of John the Baptist and the disciples of our Lord.
We see this in the opening words of our text. -- Our Lord had
performed remarkable miracles (The Centurion's Servant -- The Widow's Son), and
his fame was immediate. In verse 16, we read, "There came a fear on
all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great
prophet is risen up among us; and that God hath visited his people."
Then, in verse 18, we read, "And the disciples of John showed him all
these things."
Reading that statement in the context, it is
obvious that John's disciples were concerned, probably concerned that their
beloved leader was losing fame and influence. After all, now that he was
in prison and very likely to be executed soon -- What could he do? They were a
little put out by the increased fame of Jesus of Nazareth.
Luke 7:18-23 "And the disciples of John
showed him of all these things. 19 And John calling unto him two
of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should
come? or look we for another? 20 When the men
were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art
thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and
plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave
sight. 22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell
John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk,
the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the
gospel is preached. 23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be
offended in me."
Proposition: John the Baptist was a
truly magnanimous man, faithful in all things to the glory of Christ and the
souls of men. -- He is held before us here, in his very last recorded act on
this earth as an example for us to follow.
Divisions: Three things stand out in
these verses which, I believe, the Holy Spirit would have us observe and
remember.
1. A Faithful Watchman (vv.
18-20)
2. A Forceful Witness (vv.
21-22)
3. A Frank Warning (v. 23)
I. A
Faithful Watchman (vv. 18-20)
Luke
7:18-20 "And the disciples of John
showed him of all these things. 19 And John calling unto him two
of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should
come? or look we for another? 20 When the men
were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art
thou he that should come? or look we for
another?"
The message John sent to the Lord Jesus was not an indication of
doubt or unbelief on his part. This is the man who had all of his adult life
pointed sinners to Christ and proclaimed him as the Lamb of God, that One whose
shoes he was not worthy to untie, the man who was and is the eternal God. Oh,
no; John was not now in doubt about those things. He had been taught of God.
The message John sent to the Master was intended to confirm his
disciples in the faith and persuade them to follow Christ whom he followed. It
was to set the hearts of his disciples, those very disciples who seemed fearful
that the Lord Jesus might be getting too much attention, on the Savior.
John knew that he was a condemned man. Herod had thrown him into
prison. His life was coming to an end. His opportunities of service in the
cause of Christ were now ended. His day of labor was over. The prospects before
him were obvious. Yet, even in the prospect of his violent death, John was a
faithful man, faithful to his God, faithful to his Savior, faithful to his
charge as God's prophet, and faithful to the souls committed to his trust. His
last act is this: -- He sent his disciples to Christ, that they might see
for themselves who he was. This was the concern of his heart, even when
he was himself a condemned man.
A. It is ever the concern of
faithful men to exalt Christ, point sinners to Christ, and urge those under
their influence believe and to follow Christ.
This was not just John's concern in the prospect of death. He was
not trying, in his last days, to make up for past inconsistencies. Not at all. This was John's constant concern.
John
1:19-29 "And this is the record of
John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from
John
1:35-37 "Again the next day after
John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he
walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard
him speak, and they followed Jesus."
John
3:22-36 "After these things came
Jesus and his disciples into the
Oh, how I pray that God will give me grace to follow his example,
as a husband, father, pastor, and preacher.
B. Like Paul after him, John
the Baptist sought to unify God's people, by directing the hearts of those who
heard him to Christ himself.
With great wisdom and forethought, he sent his disciples directly
to the Lord Jesus, asking, "Art thou he that should come? Or, look we for another?"
John was keenly aware of the fact that his disciples might easily
be led away by the petty strife that often divides men. He did what he could to
head it off before he left his friends. Like his Master, he loved his disciples
to the end.
C.What an instructive
example John's action here gives us.
Every pastor, every father, everyone who has influence over
another ought to make it their business in life to direct those they influence
to Christ. Let it be our hearts' concern to set the hearts of those we
influence upon the Son of God.
Romans
9:1-3 "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not,
my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have
great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that
myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my
kinsmen according to the flesh."
Romans
10:1 "Brethren, my heart's desire
and prayer to God for
Spare no pains to instruct those trusted to your influence in the
things of God. Press them into the Savior's arms. Remind them often of their
sins and his sacrifice, -- of their souls and his salvation, -- of their guilt
and his grace, -- of their ruin and his redemption!
Blessed are those men and women, mothers and fathers, pastors and
elders, who can on their dying beds look back upon the faces of those they
leave behind, and say, "I've warned you of the wrath to come. I've told
you, as best I could, who Christ is. I have not failed to show you the way of
life and press you into it. God gave me influence over you; and I have been a
faithful watchman to your souls."
Illustration: The Oak Tree
II. A
Forceful Witness (vv.
21-22)
Luke
7:21-22 "And in that same hour he
cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and
unto many that were blind he gave sight. 22 Then Jesus answering
said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard;
how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear,
the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached."
What a remarkable answer our Lord gave to these disciples of
John. How would he convince them who he is?
·
He offered no historic proof.
·
He gave them no account of what other men had said about him.
·
He simply pointed them to the facts. -- The works they had seen and the
doctrine they had heard.
We would be wise to hear the instruction of our Lord's
example. By what standard are we to judge the ministry of any man, or
any church? How are we to witness to men? How are we to convince others of the
gospel we believe?
·
Argument, debate, and apologetics are useless.
·
Creeds, confessions, and historic positions are meaningless.
·
Just tell others what you have seen and heard,
what you have experienced, observed, and learned for yourself.
1
John 1:1-3 "That which was from
the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we
have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For
the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show
unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto
us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye
also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
Wherever Christ is, these things are easily observed.
·
The blind see.
·
The lame walk.
·
The lepers are cleansed.
·
The deaf hear.
·
The dead are raised.
·
The poor (spiritually and literally) have the gospel preached to them.
III.
A Frank Warning (v. 23)
Luke
These disciples of John saw standing before
them a man, to all outward appearance, as poor, unimpressive, and needy as they
were. His followers were a rag-tag band of fishermen. The only men of means
among them were publicans, men of notorious ill-repute. It seemed incredible
that this man could be the Christ, the Son of the living God. Multitudes have
gone to hell because they found him an offense. Will you?
1
Corinthians 1:18-24 "For the preaching of the
cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the
power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the
wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where
is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For
after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased
God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For
the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we
preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."
Galatians
So long as the world stands, Christ and his gospel will be
offensive to proud, self-righteous men.
A. It is offensive to our sense
of self-worth to be told that we are poor, lost, guilty, condemned sinners.
B. It is offensive to our pride
to be told that we are utterly helpless, incapable of saving ourselves or even
contributing something to our salvation.
C. It is offensive to our
self-righteousness to be told that we must be justified by the righteousness of
another, washed in the blood of a Substitute, and saved by free grace alone.
D. It is offensive to our sense
of dignity and superiority to be told that we must enter the kingdom of heaven
side by side with publicans, harlots, and sinners.
E. It is offensive to our sense
of personal intelligence to be told that salvation, the knowledge of Christ and
of God, comes to men entirely by divine revelation.
F. It is offensive to our sense
of self-determination to be told that salvation is by God's will and not by our
own.
G.It is offensive to our rebel
hearts to be told that we must bow to the rule and dominion of Christ as our
rightful Sovereign, Lord, and King.
Untold thousands have heard the gospel and, being offended by it,
have despised it. They would not stoop to "enter in at the strait gate."
They would not bow to walk in "the narrow way." They despised
God's terms of grace. Therefore, they are this hour in hell, tormented by the
just wrath of the holy Lord God. They now know the meaning of these words --
"Blessed
is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." It is my prayer that the Lord God
will graciously take away your enmity against him and make Christ and his
gospel effectual to the saving of your soul, for the praise of the glory of his
grace in Christ.
AMEN.