About this time last May, I was on a plane headed to East Asia to serve the Lord doing mission work.  One of the towns that we were in was a large city that had little knowledge of the gospel.  One day, we went to a model display of the city to pray that God would open doors in that city so that people could be drawn to Christ.  This week, I was looking through my journal from the trip and came across one of the reflections that I had while praying over the city:

“Satan blinds [city name] with darkness that blocks out the Light while Satan blinds the United States with religion that is used as a weaker substitute for the Light because the Light is too strong and radical to fit within the American dream.”

May the Light of the gospel shine in both the darkness of East Asia and in the darkness of America’s cultural religion.

This is a modern day adaptation of Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15.  I wrote this to incorporate in a message for my middle school students and thought I would pass it along.

There once were two brothers who lived on the rich side of town.  Whatever there was to be had, they had it.  They were the first to get the newest video games, the most expensive Mac computers, and the most coveted car in the high school parking lot.  They had it all.

One day, the younger son got to thinking about how much money his dad really had.  He began to imagine what he could do with not just the little trinkets that his dad had given him but with his whole half.  He knew that one-day down the road when his dad finally died he would end up with half of the family money.  So he got to thinking, “Maybe, I could work my way into the money now.  It is mine anyway so I should have it when I want it.  It is my right.”

So the younger son went to see his dad.  He angrily told his father: “I know that when you finally die and are out of my life that I will get half of your fortune.  I know that you only give me small trinkets of what is truly mine because you hate me and do not want me to have all the stuff and fun that I am entitled to.  So, I want you to fork it over now since you are not looking like you are going to pass away anytime soon.”

The father was shocked and amazed at his son’s greed and hatred, but he decided to give in.  After going to the bank and getting some things together, the father reluctantly gave his son his half.  This caused the father not just financial hardship but also personal pain and loss over the son who had abandoned him and taken his acts of love on him and saw them as acts of hatred.  He mourned the loss of his son so much more than the loss of his money.

The son immediately took off and began living the high life.  He built himself a huge house, many cars, and gained many “friends.”  He became a celebrity just because of his wealth and the crazy ways that he spent it.  When MTV’s “Cribs” showed up at his door, the son knew that he had made it big.  The life that his father had robbed him of had finally become his.  He was who he was entitled to be.

Like many overnight celebrities, however, the son’s empire came crashing down.  He had spent money so quickly that he had lost count of it.  His credit cards became completely filled up along with his closets, garages, and house.  When the bank came to collect, the son realized that he was out.   What the son quickly found out is that his dream was over.

He now found himself out on the streets in the city that he once was the king of.  He was now a poor beggar with nothing but the clothes on his back.  His friends had quickly found someone else with money and connections to hang out with.  He tried to get a job but because the economy was so bad there were no jobs to be found except that of a garbage man.

The son now found himself doing the smelliest job that he could have ever imagined.  He was so snowed under in the money that he owed the bank that he could not afford to pay for food or a place to live.  He began to scrummage through the bags, which he was paid so little to pick up.  He would find random half eaten fruits and every once in a while some week-old leftovers.

The son quickly began to think.  His dream of riches, fame, and popularity had quickly turned into a situation that was so bad that he could not have even imagined it.  His life had become this way because of his hatred and rebellion against his father.  He began to see the brokenness in his life and he began to mourn.  He knew that he was a horrible son and that he had treated his father in a very hurtful and mean way.

As the son began to think about his father, he wondered what life was like at home.  He could imagine his older brother sitting around the table with his mom and dad having a warm home-cooked dinner.  He began to be able to taste the flavor of his favorite cookies that his mom used to make him.  He began to long for home.

He wondered if he could ever come back to the table as a part of the family again.  He knew that if he had been in his dad’s place that he could never have him back.  He began to wonder.  Was there any hope to be found?  Maybe, he could just ask for the week-old leftovers before they hit the trash.

The son decided to drag himself home to see if there was any hope of some leftovers.  He quit his job and walked to the interstate and stuck out his finger towards home.

Through the kindness of several truckers, he made his way back to his hometown.  He walked from the interstate exit near his house to the neighborhood.  After convincing the gatekeeper to the neighborhood that he was not a criminal, he began to make his way down the familiar neighborhood streets.

He finally arrived at the street where he had lived for so many years in a time that seemed so long ago.  He could begin to see the big tree in the front yard that he and his brother used to play in as children towering in its place at the end of the cul-de-sac.  He was getting closer.

The house slowly came into view.  The son’s legs felt like they were about to snap in two as he got closer to the house.  Part of him wanted to stop and rest but he knew that he had to know what would happen.

As the son got closer to the house, he saw his dad in his usual chair in front of the plasma TV in the living room.  Just as he glanced into the window, his dad looked up from the TV and caught a glimpse of his son.   The father immediately got up from his chair.

Many things began to run through the son’s mind.  He is going to get his gun to shoot me for taking advantage of him.  He is going to go get the paddle that he used to use on me as a child.  He is going to grab the phone and call the cops to get this trespasser off of the property.  But before these thoughts could finish running through the son’s head, the front door swung open.

He saw his father with arms wide open running out to hug his son.  The prodigal son had returned and found that his father was there to love him and welcome him back into the family even before he could get out the words “I am sorry.”

Between the Times had a great post on preaching Christological texts:

Evangelicals believe the biblical teaching concerning the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as the sole and sufficient Savior for all persons who have lived or ever shall be.  We note that such an affirmation is needed because the Christian church is now confronted with various theological heresies such as universalism, radical pluralism, theological inclusivism, and religious relativism, all of which call into question the clear teachings of Holy Scripture and belief in the particularity and finality of the revelation and salvific work of Jesus Christ.

What is it that drives Baptists like us, and evangelical Christians as a whole, to make such strong statements of theology and faith?  I believe the answer can be found not only in “the clear teaching of the Holy Scripture” in general, but in the great Christological texts in the New Testament in particular.  I refer to the quintessential quartet of John 1:1-18; Phil 2:1-11; Col 1:13-23; and Heb 1:1-3.

The clear exegesis and exposition of these four passages are the bedrock foundation of biblical and orthodox Christology.  Both his person (full deity and perfect humanity) and work (sacrifice and atonement) are gloriously expounded in these texts, though it is his person that is more strongly emphasized.

What we think and believe about Jesus influences all aspects of our theology: what we think about God, the Bible, and salvation, for example.  If we are to think correctly, that is biblically, about Jesus, these four great texts should be taught clearly, consistently, and courageously without compromise or apology.

What might four expository sermons on these great texts look like? What would be an accurate assessment of their theme and emphases? I would like to propose the following for consideration of how to get at these passages in preparing to proclaim them to the people of God.

1). A message on John 1:1-18 might be titled “Jesus Christ: The God of Incarnation.”
Such a sermon would declare that as the Word of God Jesus powerfully preexisted (1:1-5), was prophetically witnessed (1:6-9), was personally rejected (1:10-13), was permanently incarnated (1:14), is properly exalted (1:15-17), and that he perfectly communicated (1:18).

In this text emphasis is placed upon the Logos, the Word, Jesus as coeternal, coequal, and consubstantial with the Father (1:1-3).  He is the perfect embodiment of God revealing himself to humanity (1:14, 18).  By believing in Christ alone we can become children of God (1:12).  Various structural analyses of the passage generally agree that the focus is on vv. 10-14, while vv. 1 and 18 also receive emphasis.  The central verse is considered to be either v. 12 or v. 14.  It can be argued, in fact, that v. 12 contains the soteriological heart of the passage and v. 14 the Christological heart.  This text is so full theologically, one could consider a six part series of these 18 verses.

2). A message on Philippians 2:1-11 could bear the title “Jesus Christ: The God of
Humiliation.”  This passage declares first that we must cultivate the disposition or mind of our Lord (2:5) by seeking unity (2:1-2), humility (2:3), and sensitivity (2:4).  Second, we must consider the humiliation of our Lord (2:6-8), who humbled himself in his renunciation (2:6), in his incarnation (2:7), and in his crucifixion (2:8).  Third, we should celebrate the exaltation of our Lord (2:9-11), who has an exalted position (2:9), designation (2:9-10), adoration (2:10), and confession (2:11).

The second and third divisions of this passage (2:6-11) is believed by many to be based on an early Christian hymn of two stanzas.  It may find its Old Testament roots in Isaiah 53.  The passage is ethical (especially vv. 1-5) and soteriological, with emphasis falling on the humbling and emptying of our Lord.  The incarnation was not a subtraction of deity.  It was an addition of humanity.  Emphasis on Christ’s full deity and utter uniqueness as the God-man is clearly communicated in the text.

3). The third message on Colossians 1:13-23, could be titled “Jesus Christ: The God of Creation.”  Here the message is that Jesus is Lord of the Cross or Savior (1:13-14), Lord of Communication or Revelator (1:15), Lord of Creation or Creator (1:15-17), Lord of the Church or Leader (1:18-20), and Lord of the Christian or Master (1:21-23).
 
Also viewed by many as an early Christian hymn, this text emphasizes that (1) Christ makes visible the invisible God, (2) Christ is the agent of creation, and (3) God’s fullness dwells in him (cf. 2:9-10).  Perhaps used as a polemic against first-century heresy, this text is quite relevant in confronting “New Age” ideas concerning the relation between God, Jesus Christ, and the world.  Further, the preeminence of Christ “in” and “over” his church sounds a much-needed call in our day when personal agendas and self-serving attitudes unfortunately prevail in too many of our churches.

4). Finally, a sermon on Hebrew 1:1-3 could be presented under the title “Jesus Christ: The God of Revelation.”  The message of this passage is that Jesus is God’s best because of his 1) proclamation (1:1-2a), 2) his possessions (1:2b), 3) his power (1:2c), 4) his person (1:3a),5) his provisions (1:3b), 6) his purification (1:3c), and his 7) position (1:3d).  Seven marvelous characteristics of our Lord weave this text together.  Thirteen times the author will use the word “better” in this book to convey the superiority of Jesus to prophets, angels, Moses, and Aaron, i.e., to the entire Old Covenant economy.  The emphasis of the prologue (which closely parallels Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-3) is upon Christ’s superior revelation to anything previous, as well as its climactic and definitive nature.  Jesus is God’s very best in every way.  When we have Jesus, we have all from God that we need.
 
Though there is some degree of overlap in these texts, each is unique in its own right, and all four are essential in laying the foundation for a biblical orthodox Christology.  We need to preach about Jesus.  We need to expound his person and his work so that his people will know their Savior for who he is and what he has done.  I commend these four great texts to preachers of the gospel across our land with the prayer that their exposition will exalt the wonderful Savior who loved each one of us so much that had anyone of us been the only person to ever live, he still would have left heaven and died on the cross of Calvary just for us.  His death does not teach that we are great.  His death teaches that He is great.  He is great in love and holiness.  He is great in power and purpose.  He is simply a great God.

This Easter as I reflect on the great love and grace that Jesus Christ displayed for me on the cross, I am amazed.  I want to share something that was very moving and a great reminder of the message of Easter that I experienced this morning at my church (the Church at Brook Hills).  The pastor, Dr. David Platt, was preaching out of Galatians 3: 13.  He showed us through the Word a picture of the curse of the law.  This is the curse under which we are all born.  We are sinners under the wrath of a Holy God.  He then went on to paint a picture of how Jesus Christ through the cross has taken upon Himself the wrath of God on our behalf.  God used David to present a clear picture of the gospel.  He gave everyone there three options of how to respond to the curse of sin:

• Option 1: Ignore the curse. – This means that we continue on with our lives and pretend like sin is not an issue and God does not exist.
• Option 2: Work to overcome the curse. – We can try to be a good person and reform our lives so that we no longer have a problem with sin.  We can have a little Jesus to go along with our own church attendance, prayer, and Bible reading so that maybe we have a chance to work our way to righteousness before God.  This is a false system and does not work because salvation is by grace ALONE through faith ALONE in Christ ALONE.  If grace becomes Christ plus anything, it is no longer grace.
• Option 3: Embrace the curse and run to the cross. – We can embrace the fact that we are utterly hopeless and in desperate need of Jesus Christ.  We can run to Jesus because He alone can save us.

This was a very clear picture of how we need to respond to the gospel.  The service ended with a song about how the devil likes to condemn us for our sin.  Satan tells us that we are hopeless, helpless, and dirty.  But as the song said, the devil may have gotten the verse right, but he has missed the refrain – JESUS SAVES!  As these powerful words were being sung over the church, the banners that had been the backdrop of the stage which said things like guilt, shame, and despair began to fall down.  One by one as the words of victory – Jesus Saves – were proclaimed the words which represented the stains of sin were falling down.  These all fell down to reveal a cross.  The cross which was a symbol of defeat has become a picture of victory. 

“‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’  The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15: 54b-57 NKJV

As I continue to reflect on the cross and passion of Jesus Christ, I am trying to imagine what all of the people who were involved were thinking. 

I can imagine the religious leaders thinking that they had crushed this Jesus for good and that their problems were over, but yet in the back of their minds lurks the thought of “What if the things that Jesus had said regarding His resurrection were really true?”  Then they quickly tried to justify in their minds that Jesus was crazy and said a lot of crazy things so they shouldn’t let this get to them.  But just in case, they made sure that there were guards at the tomb.  These guards they told everyone were being put there to make sure that Jesus’s followers did not steal His body to make it look like He had risen in three days like He had said because how bad does it look for them to believe that this Jesus was more than the heretic that they had crucified. 

The disciples are really confused.  They have followed this Jesus around for about three years hearing Him talk about the kingdom of God which was to come.  “What kind of King and kingdom is this?’ they were all asking.  This Jesus who had been their mentor and dearest friend for these few years has been murdered by the religious leaders that He spoke out against.  The whole plan of the kingdom is not happening in a way that any of the disciples would have expected and desired.  Jesus is dead, and all they can do is wait and hold on to the promise that He said He would rise again in three days.

The stage is set, and everyone is waiting.  The religious leaders are claiming victory while praying that the victory will last.  The disciples are waiting and holding onto the promise of Jesus.  Today, we wait, but Sunday is on the way!

“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” – Isaiah 53: 5 KJV

This verse always leaves me in awe and worship.  As I look at my own depravity and sin and how deserving I am of the righteous wrath of a Holy God, I am overwhelmed by a Savior who was willing to bear that wrath and judgment on my behalf.  His wounds should have been my wounds.  His bruises should have been my bruises.  His chastisement should have been my chastisement.  His stripes should have been my stripes.  But instead of letting me bear the punishment that was my just due, Jesus Christ took my place.  This is the great exchange.  The One who new know sin became sin so that the one who was full of sin could become righteous.  The grace that we see in the glorious exchange of the cross is incomprehensible.  All that we can do is bow down at the feet of Jesus and worship!

“All unannounced and mostly undetected there has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles.  It is like the old cross, but different: the likeness are superficial; the differences are fundamental…This new evangelism employs the same as the old, but its content is not the same and its emphasis is not as before.”  “The cross in the new evangelism “does not slay the sinner; it redirects him.  It gears him into a cleaner and jollier way of living and saves his self-respect.  To the self-assertive it says, ‘Come and assert yourself for Christ.’ To the egotist it says, ‘Come and do your boasting in the Lord.’ To the thrill seeker it says, ‘Come and enjoy the thrill of an abundant Christian life.’ The idea behind this kind of thing may be sincere, but its sincerity does not save it from being false.  It misses completely the whole meaning of the cross.  The cross is a symbol of death.  It stands for the abrupt, violent end of a person.  God salvages the individual by liquidating him and then raising him in newness of life.  The corn of wheat must fall to the ground and die.  God then bestows life, but not an improved old life.  Whoever would possess it must pass under the rod.  He must repudiate himself and concur in God’s just sentence against him.  How can this theology be translated into life?  Simply, the non-Christian must repent and believe.  He must forsake his sins and then go on to forsake himself.  Let him cover nothing, defend nothing, excuse nothing.  Let him not seek to make terms with God, but let him bow his head before the stroke of God’s stern displeasure and acknowledge himself worthy to die.” – A. W. Tozer

“Leave out the cross, and you have killed the religion of Jesus.  Atonement by the blood of Jesus is not an arm of Christian truth; it is the heart of it.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“Through a tree we were made debtors to God; so through a tree we have our debt canceled.” – Irenaeus

“Come, and see the victories of the cross.  Christ’s wounds are thy healings, His agonies thy repose, His conflicts thy conquests, His groans thy songs, His pains thine ease, His shame thy glory, His death thy life, His sufferings, thy salvation.” – Matthew Henry