The Biblical Jesus | Matthew 27:11-26

Scripture

• Matthew 27:11–26

About this sermon

Introduction: The only Jesus who is real — the only Jesus who can save — is the biblical Jesus. Let this speak LOUDLY to all people trying to find Jesus in their dreams, or in their feelings, or in their imaginations. If the Jesus you believe in, the Jesus you prefer, does not MATCH THE SCRIPTURES, if He does not FULFILL THE SCRIPTURES, if you have not FOUND HIM IN THE SCRIPTURES, you have a false Jesus. This is something we meet with again and again as Jesus is presented to us by the witness of the apostles — they knew that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah because HE FULFILLED THE SCRIPTURES. They make their case to us FROM THE SCRIPTURES. BUT WHEN THE APOSTLES DO THIS, WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT THEY ARE ONLY FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS HIMSELF. Jesus kept pointing people — EVEN BELIEVING PEOPLE — to the fact that His mission was fulfilling the Scriptures. ESV Matthew 26:52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?" WELL, THAT TESTIMONY DOESN’T JUST CONSIST OF THE SIGNS OF SUPERNATURAL DELIVERANCES (healings, demon deliverances etc.). THE TESTIMONY ALSO INCLUDES THE SIGNS OF CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS. It isn’t just THE FACT of His suffering. It is also the MANNER of His suffering. The Old Testament Scriptures promised a Messiah who would SUFFER TO SAVE US, and in a way that He willingly submitted Himself to that suffering. ESV Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. It is THAT Savior that sinners meet with in the gospel message. The suffering servant, the Lamb of God, who goes to the cross joyfully. ESV Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. He goes to the cross in a way that serves as our own example for the suffering that we must endure. ESV Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. HE HASN’T JUST SAVED US — HE SAVED US IN A WAY THAT NOW INSTRUCTS US. ESV 1 Peter 2:23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. WE SEE THAT SUFFERING IN HIS TRIAL BEFORE PONTIUS PILATE. We have seen Christ’s mistreatment during the Jewish phase of His trials. Now Matthew tells us about Christ’s treatment before Pilate. Jesus has been on trial before His own people — a trial held in a religious context. Jesus is now on trial before the Romans — a trial held in a political context. Once again, He passes the biblical tests. Once again, He fulfills the Scriptures. We will organize our study of Christ’s trial before Pilate around five questions.

Topics

• Bible Study
• Jesus Christ