B e h o l d, T h e M a n !
SERMON STARTER
You probably do not remember the name Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin nor should you.
But during his day he was as powerful a man as there was on earth. As Russian Communist leader he took part in the Bolshevik Revolution 1917, was editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravda (which by the way means truth), and was a full member of the Politburo. His works on economics and political science are still read today.
There is a story told about a journey he took from Moscow to Kiev in 1930 to address a huge assembly on the subject of atheism. Addressing the crowd he aimed his heavy artillery at Christianity hurling insults, argument, and proof against it. An hour later he was finished. He looked out at what seemed to be the smoldering ashes of men's faith. "Are there any questions?" Bukharin demanded. Deafening silence filled the auditorium but then one man approached the platform and mounted the lectern standing near the communist leader. He surveyed the crowd first to the left then to the right. Finally he shouted the ancient greeting known well in the Russian Orthodox Church: "CHRIST IS RISEN!"
En masse the crowd arose as one man and the response came crashing like the sound of thunder:
"HE IS RISEN INDEED!"
This sermon explores mankind’s shame and guilt and their need to look to Jesus for remedy and relief.
March 22, 2008 / Easter Sunday
Pastor Phil Roland - Sheepfold Ministries
B e h o l d, T h e M a n !
Genesis 3:8-10
"Jesus went to the Cross and rose victorious over sin, death and the grave, to set us free from sin’s guilt and shame. Hallelujah! He is risen!” Pastor Phil
"But we all, with open face BEHOLDING AS IN A GLASS, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor. 3:18
I. BEHOLD THE COMMONNESS OF THE MAN! Isaiah 53:2b
“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.”
A. An Ordinary Looking Man
B. Wouldn't Stand Out in a Crowd
II. BEHOLD THE REJECTION OF THE MAN! Isaiah 53:3a
“He is despised and rejected by men. . .”
A. His Own Countrymen Rejected Him - John 1:45, 46
“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in
the law, and also the prophets, wrote; Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip
said to him, "Come and see."
1. Rejection is the most emotional pain we can endure
2. Loneliness and Fear result from rejection
B. The Law of Lepers - Lev. 13/14
1. Law forbade any contact/Even a look
2. Jesus became sin for us - 2 Cor. 5:21
C. Three Kinds of Guilt
1. Genuine Guilt that leads to repentance, confession, and
forgiveness
2. Proud Guilt where Pride keeps the sinner from confession
3. Satanic Guilt where the sinner is accused but never finds relief
III. BEHOLD THE SORROW AND GRIEF OF THE MAN! Isa. 53:3
“. . .a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”
A. See Him at Lazarus' Tomb - John 11:35
“Jesus wept.”
B. See Him at the Garden of Gethsemane – Luke 22:44
“And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like
great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
C. See His Humiliation and Pain - John 19
1. He was scourged – John 19:1
“Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.”
2. He was Crowned with Thorns John 19:2a
“And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head,”
3. They Mocked and Ridiculed Him – John 19: 2b, 3a
“and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
4. He was Struck With Open-Handed Blows – John 19:3b
“And they struck Him with their hands”
5. Pilate mocked the people for their lust for blood
“Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.
And Pilate said to them, "Behold the Man!"”
IV. BEHOLD THE CONTINUING ATONEMENT OF THE MAN! V4,5
A. Your sin may be PERSISTENT, but His Blood still covers it!
B. Confess your sin and be forgiven - 1 John 1:9
1. The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from ALL SIN
2. Past, Present and Future
B e h o l d, T h e M a n ! Text:
GENESIS 3:8-10
And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"
10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
B e h o l d, T h e M a n !
Look upon Him hanging there!
Disfigured, torn and bleeding----
My God! I never dreamed blood could be so red,
Flowing over pale, exposed flesh!
It's awful! I cannot look!
The swelling purple and black bruises!
Is it a man? I cannot tell!
No man was ever disfigured as this!
I cannot look!
I cannot bear the nude shame of it!
But yet, the shame is mine!
The guilt is mine!
His head is high!
Mine is low!
Behold Him!
Truly look upon Him!
Behold the man!
Behold Him and be made whole!
Phil Roland, 1997