Matthew 26:55,56
Don’t look now, but contemporary history
is a little short on heroes. Modern man is pulling his heroes primarily from
the sports world where men are playing meaningless games that are often
exciting and entertaining but accomplish nothing. Today, America is spinning in the excitement of Super Bowl No.
40. When it is over, however, this game will have accomplished no more than the
first thirty-nine. It serves as an effective distraction to the reality of a
painful and fallen world.
Standing before us in our text are two
categories of humanity. On the one side, we have the calm Son of God Who finds
His calmness in the relationship that He has with His Father in heaven and the
Scriptures, which have revealed His plan. The result of the Savior’s calm
stance at this point in history is that the eternal destiny of the redeemed
portion of the human race is settled once and for all.
On the other side, we see two forms of
cowards. One confronts with swords and torches. This
individual relies on insufficient tools that will prove inadequate in the end. The
second form of coward is a track star running for cover and from reality. He,
too, in the end, will find in his exhaustion ultimate inadequacy. Life is
bigger than man can measure. Our only hope is to be found in Jesus Christ. God
has called us to stand in faith when faced by adversity.
When the camera of history’s view lowers
its lens to the knees of Jesus, it is clear that they are not shaking. With His
heart bound by the three-stranded chord of God’s Word, God’s power and infinite
trust, He remains calm and secure. The peace that passes understanding does not
escape our observing eye. We have here both a lesson and a call to follow. Our hope is to be in His Word. Our
confidence is to be in His power. Our duty is to remain in obedience.
It makes little difference to our Lord
whether He is teaching openly in the temple or standing in a darkened corner of
the Kidron Valley with swords glistening in the torchlight. His calmness
ignores the circumstance and finds its source internally. As the psalmist
walked peacefully through the valley of the shadow of death centuries earlier,
Jesus calmly rests in the shadows near the cross. The rod and the staff that kept
David kept Jesus and will keep us.
Jesus had been warned
by the prophet Zechariah [13:7-“Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be
scattered”] of His coming loneliness in this hour. But
with the warning had come the promised assurance of ultimate victory. Jesus has
told us as well that “In the world you have tribulation, but take
courage; I have overcome the world" [Jn.16:33]. If we are to
remain calm in the face of adversity, we must become familiar with His promises
and trust in His power.
Matthew 26:55,56
INTRODUCTION
1.
2.
3.
INSTRUCTION
1. I cannot trust in clubs and swords because
of sin’s deception
A. The deceptive
B. The deceptive
C. The ignorant
2. I cannot trust in clubs and swords because
man’s work is temporary
A. The world
B. The barns
C. The profits
3. I cannot trust in clubs and swords because
it is forbidden by Scripture
A. The first step toward faith is
B. The second step of faith is
C. The third step of faith is
Scripture & history
1. Scripture
2. Scripture
3. History
You and God
1. There are limits
2. We are commissioned
3. Life is issued