Title: Kingdom Bound: The BIG Picture Matthew 27:24-43 Aim: Learn from Jesus example to keep the big picture in view. Intro: Probably heard saying,

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1 Title: Kingdom Bound: The BIG Picture Matthew 27:24-43 Aim: Learn from Jesus example to keep the big picture in view. Intro: Probably heard saying, He can t see the forest for the trees. What in the world does that mean? Not positive, but I think it means (how I use it) is that sometimes can get so immersed in a situation that it s all can see. Or so involved in something or so close to someone that don t see what else is happening or who else is around. Not seeing the bigger picture. In those instances it is good/healthy to somehow take a step back & take a broader look try to see the big picture. Certainly was imp for Jesus to keep in mind the big picture. We can learn from His example. What is God s big picture for your life? Marriage? Family? This church? The Church? Theme: KB for, by the grace of God thru faith in Jesus Christ; by, in that the reign of Christ the King must mark our lives here/now. Those KB must keep the big picture in view. Matthew 27:24-43 [READ]. Jesus had to continually keep the big picture in mind, or else He could be misdirected or bogged down. Jesus talked about the kingdom of heaven/god a lot during His 3-1/2 yr ministry some 49 times in the Gospel of Matthew alone. We ve spent almost a yr considering what Jesus had to say. He probably said more about the kingdom than about anything else. Why? Because it was the Father s plan from the beginning & the Son s passion. But in carrying out the Father s plan He had to stay focused on the big picture. Think about it. Jesus, Son of God, God the Son, was one w/the Father & the Spirit from the beginning. He enjoyed glory w/the Father & the Spirit from eternity past. He was w/the Father & the Spirit at creation, involved in creation. He was there at the call of Abraham the birth of the Jewish nation, & at the testing of Abraham, willing to sacrifice the son of the promise. He was there in the burning bush where Moses was commissioned w/leading God s people out of bondage in Egypt. He was there in the fiery furnace, when Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego refused to bow to the king s statue. He was there in the prophesies & promise of the Messiah. He enjoyed the oneness & glory of the Godhead. Yet, for the plan to be carried out, the Son had to leave the splendor of heaven, lay aside the glory He shared w/father & Spirit, & empty Himself of all but love in order to become like us. He had to keep the big picture in 1

2 mind. At Christmas we celebrate not His beginning, but His wondrous incarnation, where at His conception & birth He ided w/mankind so that He might redeem us from the curse of sin. Of the Father s love begotten (thanks for indulging me by singing my favorite Christmas hymn)! The Word became flesh & dwelt among us But think of it. As a newborn baby He was announced by angels, worshiped by shepherds & magi alike, common men & wise men/kings, tho most of the world didn t remotely know who He was. I m sure His mother & earthly father related the story to Him as a child, of the angels singing & the gifts of gold, frankincense & myrrh. I wonder what Jesus might have made of that? When a little boy He awed the teachers in the temple, asking them astute questions & answering theirs. All of that could go to a boy s head, but not Jesus. He needed to & was able to keep the big picture in mind. When He began His earthly ministry, He was an obscure, itinerate preacher, proclaiming, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Right on target. Then He began to gain renown for His miracles & teaching. He gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf; made the lame able to walk, & even raised the dead. Turned water into wine, walked on water, fed 1000 s w/a few morsels. He taught as no one ever taught, as One w/authority, who knew of what He spoke. The people would have made Him king several times, on the spot, but He would not have it. He was still greeted as king in His triumphal entry, when He rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey. Again, the people would have made Him king then & there. But the big picture was in His sights. Jesus, if He was a lesser man, a lesser king, a lesser god, could have, might have given in to the pressure & the attraction of being their king before the cross. Wasn t that one of the temptations in the wilderness? Satan said he would give Him all the world if He would bow down to him. King of the world! Jesus had to keep the big picture in view. He had a greater work to do. The Father s plan/will involve much more. So, tho He spoke of a kingdom, this was not it. He would not let them make Him a lesser king than He was/is. He set His face like flint to go to the cross. Still, I wonder if, humanly speaking, He might have 2 nd -guessed Himself when things escalated. Certainly He struggled w/what lay ahead when He prayed in the Garden 2

3 of Gethsemane, Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. But even there He kept the big picture in view Yet, not My will, but Yours. One of His 12 disciples betrayed Him to the Jewish religious leaders. All the disciples fled when He was arrested in the garden. One of the inner 3 Peter denied even knowing Him. Before the high priest & religious council, He was falsely accused, tho none could place guilt upon Him except the guilt of being who He was the Christ, the Son of God. Before Pilate, He didn t speak a word in His defense. Pilate found no fault in Him, but the religious leaders incited the crowd, who not long before had wanted to make Him king, to demand His crucifixion. They even chose Barabbas, a known thief/murderer, over Him. He was scourged beaten w/a multi-layered whip containing imbedded pieces of bone & metal (ESV Study). And after they had so beaten Him, the Roman soldiers stripped Him of His clothes & placed a scarlet robe on Him (regal color), twisted thorns together into a makebelieve crown, & placed a reed in His hands kneeling before Him in mockery Him & saying, Hail, king of the Jews! They spit on Him & took the reed out of His hand & struck Him w/it. Then they stripped Him of the robe of mockery & put His old, bloody clothes back on Him, leading Him away to crucify Him. For some distance Jesus had to carry His own cross, until He collapsed under the load. Then they ordered another to carry the cross the rest of the way to Golgotha (Place of a Skull). There they crucified Him, nailing His hands & feet to the cross & raising it up for all to see. Betrayal, trial, beating, mockery, crucifixion. Wasn t He supposed to be a king? Sure didn t look like a king now, tho the soldiers wrote out the accusation against Him This is Jesus, the King of the Jews - & placed it on the cross. Did anyone understand that it was true, & even more was true He was not just king of the Jews, but King of kings & Lord or lords? Did even the disciples not understand? Those around the cross mocked Him again, deriding Him. You who would destroy the temple & rebuild it in 3 days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross. The chief priests, w/the scribes & elders mocked Him also. He saved others, He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him come down now from the cross, & we will believe Him. He trusts in 3

4 God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him. For He said, I am the Son of God. Jesus Himself felt desolation from His Father as He bore the sins of the world & the curse of sin upon His shoulders. He cried out, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? What happened to the plan? What happened to the kingdom? Was all lost? Was it possible that on the cross Jesus lost sight of the big picture? Perhaps, but not for long. I wonder if Isaiah 53:10-11 came to mind as He bowed His head, took His last breath & died. Yet it was the will of the Lord [Father God] to crush Him; He has put Him to grief; when His soul makes an offering for sin, He shall see His offspring; He shall prolong His days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. Out of the anguish of His soul He shall see & be satisfied; by His knowledge shall the righteous One, My servant, make many to be accounted righteous, & He shall bear their iniquities. Jesus did keep the big picture in mind & so died for our sins, broke the curse by His death & resurrection. By His atoning work all who believe are justified & made God s children & subjects/heirs of the kingdom. He was raised, ascended into heaven to be at the Father s right hand, taking His place as King, preparing a place for us. When He comes again, He will established His eternal kingdom on the earth made new & reign forever w/us, His followers. He is King! He is Lord! His Kingdom has come! His Kingdom is coming! Even now King Jesus keeps the big picture in view, & tho the world is in chaos, He has not relinquished His kingdom, but will bring all things to His desired end & make all things new/right. So, how does all that apply to us, not just for eternity, but now, in the muck & mire of this world? What does it mean for us who suffer the losses brought to us by the curse of sin? What does it mean for us who struggle w/the matters of life that are difficult, in a world of beheadings & shootings & temptations & failure & hunger & disease & death? What does it mean for our pursuits in this life? What does it mean for our relationships? What does it mean for our church/the Church? Well, as w/jesus our King, our big picture is the kingdom also. Think about that for a moment. Jesus our king spent His life not just for you/me, but for the kingdom. As His life was about the kingdom, so our lives should be. Our lives should fall in line w/the character of the King; our 4

5 lifestyles should align w/kingdom principles. Is that true of you? Certainly we all falter/sin, but are the pursuits of our lives & the life choices we make consistent w/the King/Kingdom? We get easily distracted & lose sight of the big picture. As Americans we tend to think the pursuit of happiness is the big picture. I m not sure what is the bigger distraction, the struggles of this life or the ease of this life? We think we have to build our lives & even our kingdoms in this life. That s true in some ways but always, only, as it aligns w/the kingdom of God, God s big picture. Not wrong to pursue a career, become involved in a life work, enter into relationships, and build our families. Not wrong to save for the future/plan for retirement wise. Certainly we re given much to enjoy in this life children/grandchildren/family, the beauty of creation, laughter w/friends, and joys of this life - & we ought to enjoy them & give thanks to God. But, all of this must fall in line w/the big picture the kingdom. Our kingdom work is to know Him & make Him known. As Oswald Chambers wrote, God has left us on the earth to be at it for Him. Am I willing to be broken bread & poured-wine for Him? To be spoilt for this age, for this life, to be spoilt from every standpoint but one saving as I can disciple men & women to the Lord Jesus Christ. God the Holy Spirit is w/in us as we pursue our kingdom work. He will enable us & use us, but we must be about our Father s business, as Jesus our King was. Bro/sis, we ve lost sight of the big picture! Too many of us are going thru the motions of church, even the Christian life, w/out thought of the Kingdom of God except that we want to be part of it in eternity. The King & Kingdom have come (& will come)! He reigns now over His Church/His kingdom. We are to obey Him now, follow Him now, and be about His business now! Our kingdom hope is to reign w/him, & we shall. But now we are to keep the big picture in mind & live as subjects of the King. The reign of Christ the king must mark our lives here/now. Is that really true? Are we concerned for the spread of the gospel & furtherance of the kingdom? How many people, who don t know Christ, are you praying for everyday? How much time/prayer is spent w/concern for God s work in the world? How do you spend your money? Time? Advent season (begins today) is a great time to think about, pray about, & 5

6 commit to the big picture of the Kingdom of God. Because, bro/sis, we are Kingdom Bound! Let us then be kingdom minded, King Jesus focused, keeping the BIG picture always in view. 6