Sermon #42 Luke
Sermons
Title: Our
Great Defender
Text: Luke 7:24-30
Subject: Lessons from John the Baptist
Date: Sunday Evening –
Tape # W-21b
Introduction:
Did you ever notice how often the Scriptures portray the Lord our God as our Shield and Defense? Particularly in the Psalms, we see our great God spoken of in this way. How often we see the man after God’s own heart running to him for defense, hiding in him for refuge, seeking protection behind the mighty God of Jacob as his shield. David’s son, Solomon, learned this valuable, soul cheering truth from his father.
[Proverbs 18:10] "The name
of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is
safe."
[Psalms
119:114] "Thou art my hiding
place and my shield: I hope in thy word."
[Psalms
144:1-2] " Blessed be the
LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to
fight: [2] My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my
deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people
under me."
[Proverbs
30:5] "Every word of God is pure:
he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him."
He who is our shield and hiding place is our Defender.
The psalmist sang with joy, “God is my Defence!”
[Psalms
7:10] "My defence is of God,
which saveth the upright in heart."
[Psalms
31:2] "Bow down thine ear to me;
deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save
me."
[Psalms
89:18] "For the LORD is our
defence; and the Holy One of
[Psalms
94:22] "But the LORD is my defence;
and my God is the rock of my refuge."
The title of my message tonight is Our Great Defender.
Proposition: This is the thing I want
you to see in this message. – Oh, may God the Holy Spirit be our Teacher and
inscribe this lesson upon our hearts. – The Lord Jesus Christ, our great God
and Savior, is the great Defender of our souls.
Let’s read Psalm 62 together. I will let that serve as the
introduction to my message.
[Psalms
62:1-8] "To the chief Musician, to
Jeduthun (That word, “Jeduthun,” means “to praise.” What a reason the
Holy Spirit here gives, by the pen of David, us for praise to our God!)
A Psalm of David. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my
salvation. [2] He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my
defence; I shall not be greatly moved. [3] How long will ye imagine
mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall
ye be, and as a tottering fence. [4] They only consult to cast him
down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their
mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. [5] My soul, wait thou only upon
God; for my expectation is from him. [6] He only is my
rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. [7] In
God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my
refuge, is in God. [8] Trust in him at all times; ye people,
pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."
Now, turn to Luke 7:24-30. Let me show you just
one example of Christ our God defending one of his own.
[Luke
7:24-30] "And when the messengers
of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What
went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
[25] But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?
Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in
kings' courts. [26] But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I
say unto you, and much more than a prophet. [27] This is he, of
whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall
prepare thy way before thee. [28] For I say unto you, Among those that
are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he
that is least in the
Divisions: As we look at these verses
together and seek the message contained in them for our souls, I want to show
you three things.
1. Christ is our Defender (vv.
24-28.
2. We live in an age of
peculiar blessedness (v. 28).
3. All who are privileged to
hear the gospel either justify God or reject the counsel of God against
themselves (vv. 29-30).
I. The first thing set before
us in this passage of Holy Scripture is the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ, our great Defender
(vv. 24-28).
[Luke
7:24-28] "And when the messengers
of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What
went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
[25] But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?
Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in
kings' courts. [26] But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I
say unto you, and much more than a prophet. [27] This is he, of
whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall
prepare thy way before thee. [28] For I say unto you, Among those that
are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he
that is least in the
A. Our Lord seems to have sensed that those who had heard his conversation with John’s disciples might, as sinful men are wont to do, put a bad construction upon what they had heard.
He seems to have read the thoughts of their hearts, and what he read was not good.
·
Perhaps the fact that John was imprisoned by Herod caused the
multitudes to look upon him with suspicion.
·
Perhaps the question he sent his disciples to ask caused those who
heard it to look upon John as a weak, fluctuating, unsteady man, one whose
faith had begun to fail.
·
Whatever their thoughts were, they were obviously thoughts of
unwarranted unkindness, harshness, and evil regarding John the Baptist.
B. Whatever the reason was, our
Lord Jesus immediately took up John’s cause.
Without a moment’s hesitation, like a faithful friend, the Son of God takes upon himself the defense of his faithful servant. There is much to be learned here. Blessed are those who have Christ for their Friend. And blessed are those who follow his example as friends to others.
[Proverbs
17:17] "A friend loveth at all
times, and a brother is born for adversity."
[Proverbs
18:24] "A man that hath friends
must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer
than a brother."
1. The Lord Jesus pleaded
John’s cause earnestly, with the strong, firm, unquestionable language of a
loyal, faithful friend.
He took it upon himself to silence the suspicious thoughts and
doubts in the minds of those around him about John. He said… --
a. John was no mere reed,
shaken in the wind. He was not a man of unstable, wavering character, but a
prophet, a great prophet.
b. John was not a man living in
luxury, courting the favor of men, particularly of powerful men. He did not
hang around the king’s palace, groveling for the king’s smile. John was God’s
prophet; and he acted like God’s prophet.
c. Indeed, John was much more
than a prophet. He was a prophet of whom the prophet Malachi wrote (Mal. 3:1),
“Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before
thee.” John was that Elijah, who came to prepare the way for the Christ,
who came to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children by turning their
hearts to Christ.
d. Then, our Master said, “Among
those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.”
What a blessed picture we have before us! I find it
sweet beyond expression, touching, and instructive. Just a few years earlier,
John was the best known, most popular, most highly esteemed preacher in the
land. There was a time when all
But he was not deserted by
that One whose name is the Mighty God. John could say of him what all who ever
knew him could, “This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend.”
“Jesus! What a
Friend for sinners! Jesus! Lover of my soul!
Friends may fail me, foes
assail me, He my Savior, makes me whole.
Jesus! What a Strength in
weakness! Let me hide myself in Him;
Tempted, tried, and
sometimes failing, He, my Strength, my victory wins.
Jesus! What a Help in
sorrow! While the billows o’er me roll;
Even when my heart is
breaking, He, my Comfort, helps my soul!
Jesus! What a Guide and
Keeper! While the tempest still is high;
Storms about me, night
o’ertakes me, He, my Pilot, hears my cry!
Jesus! I now flee unto Him!
More than all in Him I find;
He hath granted me
forgiveness, I am His and He is mine!
Hallelujah! What a
Savior! Hallelujah! What a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping,
loving, He is with me to the end!”
John the Baptist had in the
Son of God a Friend who never failed him and never forsook him. He is that
Friend who says to all his Jacob’s, “I am the Lord, I change not. – I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee”
C. Let me see if I can give you
something that will help you in this.
Do you know what it is to be held in suspicion? Do you know what it is to be slandered, falsely accused, to have your name evil spoken of, to have your character assaulted? The fact is, there are few of God’s children in this world who do not experience these things.
·
Noah’s son Ham sought to mar his father’s name among his own brothers.
·
Moses was the object of much slander in Pharaoh’s house, but the
slander in the house of
·
Joseph’s brethren spoke evil of him.
·
David was maligned by Saul, betrayed by Ahithophel, and cursed by Simeon.
·
Jeremiah was falsely accused by those for whom he labored, to whom he
carried the burden of the Word of the Lord.
·
John the Baptist was praised as a great prophet one day and accused of
being possessed of the devil the next.
·
Our Lord himself was slandered, maligned, falsely accused, betrayed,
and looked upon by the multitudes, those who would not hear him, as a vile,
reprehensible man, a glutton, a drunk, and the constant companion of sinners.
·
The women who anointed the Savior had her motives suspected, and was
slandered, even by her fellow disciples.
·
Paul was accused of being a self-serving false prophet, a promoter of
licentiousness, and a wicked man.
These things are not easy to bear. In fact, there are few trials
more difficult to endure. The fiend of hell is called “the accuser of the
brethren” (at least in part) because false accusation is that which he most
often uses as a weapon against our souls. Satan knows that a man’s character is
the point at which he is most easily, most painfully, and most permanently
wounded. He knows that men and women who seek to honor God are most sensitive
about maintaining an honorable name, seeking to live blamelessly before others.
Therefore, he most often assaults us there.
The fact is, as J. C. Ryle wrote, “slanders are
easily called into existence, greedily received and propagated, and seldom
entirely silenced.” Lies and false accusations are the devil’s chosen weapons,
by which he tries to injure the Lord’s people, seeks to destroy a person’s
usefulness, and disturbs our peace.
Knowing these things, by bitter and painful experience, there is
nothing more comforting and assuring than this: -- We have an Advocate in
heaven who knows our sorrow and is touched by that which touches us. That
same Advocate who took up the cause of John the Baptist before this Jewish
crowd is our Advocate today.
Hear me now, by brother, take comfort in this, my sister. – The
Son of God will never desert his own. Our names may be cast in the mud
and evil spoken of by wicked men. The world may frown upon us. But our Savior
never changes. He has undertaken our cause. He will protect and defend us in
the best way. And, one day soon, he will plead our cause before the entire
world.
[1
Corinthians 4:3-5] "But with me it
is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment:
yea, I judge not mine own self. [4] For I know nothing by myself; yet am
I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. [5] Therefore
judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to
light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the
hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."
II. Secondly, we see in verse 28 that we live
in an age of peculiar blessedness.
[Luke 7:28]
"For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is
not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the
The last part of this verse has been interpreted by faithful men
in a variety of ways. – “but he that is least in the
A. Without question, these
words apply to our Lord himself.
The
Son of God became the least among men, the very least in the
[2
Corinthians 8:9] "For ye know the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
[Philippians
2:5-11] "Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no
reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [9] Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every
name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things
in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
[11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."
1. He who is God over all and blessed forever, became a man.
2. He who created all things
became the Servant of men.
3. He who is our Lord and
Master washed his disciples’ feet.
4. He who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, and separate from sinners was made to be sin for us, that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him.
5. He who is life was made to
die the painful, shameful, ignominious death of the cross, that we might have
eternal life in him!
B. However, our Lord is here
talking about his disciples in this gospel age.
These words speak of the peculiar, distinctive
privilege that is ours, as the children of God in this gospel age. – “He that is least in the
He is not suggesting that believers in this age are superior to those of the Old Testament in gifts, in faith, or in faithfulness. If we had no other passage than Hebrews 11 to convince us, Hebrews 11 is enough to convince us that our Lord is not suggesting that believers in this age are superior to those of the Old Testament in gifts, in faith, or in faithfulness.
What he is saying is this: -- In this gospel age belivers have superior light and revelation. We have the full, final, complete revelation of God in Christ inscripturated.
[Hebrews
1:1-3] "God, who at sundry times
and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
[2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who
being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,
and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
[2
Timothy 3:16-17] "All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the
man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
[2
Peter 1:19-21] "We have also a more
sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light
that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in
your hearts: [20] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture
is of any private interpretation. [21] For the prophecy came not in old
time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by
the Holy Ghost."
Living
on this side of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ we live in a
position of indescribably greater light than John the Baptist and those who
live in that age of types, pictures, and prophecy.
I do not suggest that those believers of old did not know and believe the same gospel we do. They most certainly did. But they saw things as through a glass darkly. They did not see in those times they were not given such a precise, exact, and complete revelation of gospel truth.
· They saw the Fountain. -- We see the Fountain opened.
· They saw the veil. -- We see the veil rent in twain and the way to the holiest of all open.
· Pricilla and Aquilla took Appollos home and instructed him (the great orator) in the way of the Lord more perfectly.
This is exactly what God promised in the covenant. -- "They all shall know me! -- A child shall lead them!" To put it in plain, simple terms, in so far as spiritual knowledge is concerned, the knew born babe in this gospel age, knowing the wondrous doctrine of the cross, being taught of God, has greater spiritual knowledge than John the Baptist and those men and women of the Old Testament possessed. The Old Testament age was the church's age of infancy and childhood. This is the age of the church's maturity. The law was our schoolmaster unto Christ. But now that Christ has come we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
[Ephesians
3:1-11] "For this cause I Paul, the
prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, [2] If ye have heard of the
dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: [3] How
that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few
words, [4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the
mystery of Christ) [5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the
sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the
Spirit; [6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same
body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: [7] Whereof
I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me
by the effectual working of his power. [8] Unto me, who am less than the
least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; [9] And to make all men see
what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world
hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: [10] To
the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might
be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, [11] According to the
eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:"
[Colossians
1:25-27] "Whereof I am made a
minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to
fulfil the word of God; [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from
ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: [27] To
whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"
[1
Peter 1:10-17] "Of which salvation
the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace
that should come unto you: [11] Searching what, or what manner of
time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified
beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. [12] Unto
whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister
the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the
gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the
angels desire to look into. [13] Wherefore gird up the loins of your
mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto
you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; [14] As obedient children, not
fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: [15] But
as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation; [16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
[17] And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth
according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in
fear:"
III. In verses 29-30, we see this third lesson, a sobering lesson it is. -- All who are privileged to hear the gospel either justify God or reject the counsel of God against themselves.
[Luke
7:29-30] "And all the people that
heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the
baptism of John. [30] But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel
of God against themselves, being not baptized of him."
A. To
some the gospel is made of God to be the sweet savor of life and salvation.
1. Being born of the Spirit, convinced of our guilt and sin, looking to Christ, all true believers justify God.
[Psalms
51:1-5] "To the chief Musician, A
Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to
Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
[2] Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
[3] For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before
me. [4] Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil
in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be
clear when thou judgest. [5] Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in
sin did my mother conceive me."
2.
We justify God symbolically in believer's
baptism.
B. Self-righteous rebels reject, despise and cast off), the counsel of God against themselves.
[Proverbs
1:23-33] "Turn you at my reproof:
behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto
you. [24] Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my
hand, and no man regarded; [25] But ye have set at nought all my
counsel, and would none of my reproof: [26] I also will laugh at your
calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; [27] When your fear cometh
as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and
anguish cometh upon you. [28] Then shall they call upon me, but I will
not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: [29] For
that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: [30] They
would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. [31] Therefore
shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own
devices. [32] For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and
the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. [33] But whoso hearkeneth
unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."
[Isaiah
65:1-5] "I am sought of them
that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not:
I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my
name. [2] I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious
people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own
thoughts; [3] A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my
face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
[4] Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat
swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
[5] Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than
thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the
day."
[Isaiah
66:1-2] "Thus saith the LORD, The
heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the
house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? [2] For
all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have
been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to
him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my
word."