Who Is This Preacher?

April 8, 2001

Matt 7:28-29

Presented by Tim Fletcher

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” Matthew 7:28-29

Let’s look at Jesus...

THE TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST WAS ASTONISHING.

"The people were astonished at His teaching."

Why?

1) He lived and taught above and beyond the people’s expectations. 

SURPASSED EXPECTATIONS IN HIS TEACHING ABILITY  

His teaching was not the teaching of a young man.. He was now only 30 years old, barely an adult in His culture. But even at the tender age of twelve years, He was once "found ... in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers" (Luke 2:46f).

SURPASSED EXPECTATIONS IN TERMS OF WHERE HE HAD COME FROM. 

He had come from an insignificant family in an obscure place:

 John 1:46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.

People said of his background...                       

Matt 13:54-56

"Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?

And He had not attended a rabbinical school, nor sat at the feet of a scholar, nor been approved by the Sanhedrin.                                

John 7:15

15 The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?"

SURPASSED EXPECTATIONS IN TERMS OF HIS MESSAGE 

So simple, yet so profound.. In this short sermon He dealt with profound aspects and truths of God's kingdom, yet in words which even children can comprehend. It is no wonder that on another occasion, soldiers sent to arrest Him returned empty-handed saying,    

John 7:46 "No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards declared.

But most importantly, His hearers were astonished because ...

2. He lived and taught with an authority that was grounded in reality.

“he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”

THE REALITY OF WHERE HIS AUTHORITY CAME FROM. 

 His authority was His own, not obtained from other sources.  Other than the authority given to him from God.

"You have heard that it was said .... But I say to you ...."  passages in chapter 5

THE REALITY OF WHO IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY

Matt 7:21-23

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

It’s all about the authority of Jesus...to say what he says, and to do what he did.  And now that authority has been directed to who?  Listen to this...the last passage in Matthew...

Matt 28:17-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

THE TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST WAS ASTONISHING.

He lived and taught above and beyond the people’s expectations.     He taught people at a time and place in his life where many would have said he should have been listening...He rose above the place where he had come from and his past....and his message was powerful, simple and direct.  Jesus knew where he had come from, and where he was going...and he knew that in his hands all authority had been placed. The point is...all these characteristics are disciples of Jesus Christ...even today. Characteristics found in disciples of Jesus even today

a.  There are those who teach, that are not teachers.  We all have something to say.  We all have a testimony.

1 Peter 2:9-10

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

NIV

b.  Your background makes no difference in the kingdom of God, just like Jesus. 

Gal 3:27-29

 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

NIV

c.  Authority...authority we have, is the Spirit.

2 Tim 1:7

7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

NIV

d. This same authority in Matthew 28...is all in Jesus hands.  Jesus has the final authority.  Sheep and the goats.   Have confidence!

2 Tim 4:1-3

4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.