Paul Revere (slide)Of the Man who carried the torch for the first Olympic Games
What Makes A Messenger Great?
1. When They Know Their Message Is Something Special.
A. Their Message Is Exciting
Why is front page news on the front page?
Why are the tops stories, the top stories?
Why isn’t, “Five Year old spends afternoon with his Grandfather fishing”, on the 11 o’clock news (or any Fox channel), or the front page of the Erie Times? It’s not exciting.
The War Is Over! Now that’s exciting. I’d love to be the guy that brings that news! New Cancer treatment highly effective! Nuclear weapons found in Iraq. (exciting not just good news)
Exciting news elicits an emotional response! Interested emotionally as well as intellectually.
B. Their Message Is Relevant
It’s hard for me to get excited about anything that doesn’t apply to me.
If scientists created a new breed of flower by crossing a rose and a petunia I would not be excited. I smell flowers. I notice them sometimes. And once a year I buy some for my wife.
And I already have a fine assortment to choose from. The creation of a new flower does not rock my world. It may yours. To you, for you that news might be relevant.
Great news is news that is relevant to everyone!
• World wars are relevant world-wide.
• The outbreak of disease can eventually be world-threatening.
• When fellow humans are subject to inhumane treatment at the hands of an evil dictator it is relevant, whatever the geographic location.
• A new energy source is discovered.
C. Their Message Is True
“Elvis is alive and working for the New Jersey DMV” I think I saw that on the cover of the National Enquirer recently. Why isn’t this a great story? Because although it may be exciting journalism...it’s not true!
How about this story? (Slide) (“Dewey Wins”)
Illus. On the evening of October 30th, 1938, a News Story was told that excited a nation. In fact, the United States experienced mass hysteria, in response to this radio broadcast put on by Orson Wells and the Mercury Theater. (here’s a piece of what they heard: sound clip)
“War of the worlds” began as the greatest news story ever, but stands today as one of the greatest misunderstandings of all time.
Because it wasn’t true. Although many believed it to be a broadcast of true events, it was a piece of fiction. I spoke last week with a member of our congregation, who remembers the night the show was broadcast. He and his family were sitting around the table when the radio show they were listening to was interrupted. They kept thinking, “Could this be true?”
Many were upset with the Messenger; Orson Welles for the broadcast.
Illus. On the night of November 7, 2000 one Network declared Bush the presidential winner. They projected that George W. won Florida gave him the necessary electoral votes. Because of the announcement, Al Gore phoned Bush to concede the race. Then the news came that Florida had not been decided. This led to another phone call from Gore to Bush. “You mean to tell me you’re calling to say you’ve changed your mind? That you’re taking back your concession?”
Both men criticized the network for declaring a winner before the results were actually in. Once again, people were upset with the messenger because the message was untrue.
2. When They Know That The Telling of This Special Message Is Their Destiny!
Martin Luther King believed that blacks and whites were equal. And that they should be treated as equal. His message was that He had a vision, a dream where blacks and whites were equals. We probably don’t remember much of what he said verbatim, but we do remember these powerful words, spoken that burned within the heart of the messenger, “I have a dream…”
Dr. King knew, that this was the message he was born to speak. And He understood the impact of his moment in time. In a speech he made in Montgomery Alabama in 1955, King said, “When the history books are written in future generations, the historians will have to pause and say, “There lived a great people, who injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization.”
Infamy…
“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind…”
3. When The Messenger Is Willing To Sacrifice Anything To Deliver The Message.
CNN journalists in Afghanistan… Men and women who go to war torn countries and place themselves in harm’s way… Many of photos we looked at this morning were taken by someone who put themselves at risk.…I ask myself why? Why would they do that?
Because they know the story, the message must be heard or seen.
The atrocities cannot remain a secret. The emotions of that moment must be shared by others. And those who know must be moved by the impact of the pictures or the words!
Dr. King said in Memphis Tennessee, the day before his death, “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will.”
Dr. King was willing to set his very life aside for the cause of equality.
We have mentioned some amazing messengers this morning.
We have talked about some life-changing messages.
But I cannot think of a messenger more worthy of the title “Great” than Jesus. Nor can I think of a greater message than the one He lived to give.
Let’s use our same criteria for measuring His “greatness”…
1. When They Know Their Message Is Something Special.
Jesus message is found throughout the New Testament. But it is crystallized in a single verse in the book of John, Chapter 3, verse 16:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,
That whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life.”
Life after death…that’s something special. A God who loves everyone! That’s unique!
A. Their message is exciting.
The excitement of Jesus’ message began with His birth. LUKE 1:8-11
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
This message that Jesus came to bring was that God loves us so much that He was willing to spare the life of His only son to give us a better life, here and now on earth, and in eternity.
The news that Jesus came to give was called “The Gospel” which literally means “good news”. Gospel is good news! (healed lame, sight to blind, raised dead, forgave sins, God’s son)In other words: It’s a “front page”, “Top story”, “This-just-in” message! It’s exciting!
Many of the messages we’ve talked about this morning are great because they speak to the chance for a better life, or they reveal the worst of life, so we can learn and change.
B. Their Message Is Relevant
Who among us does not desire a better life, a better world? For ourselves and all people?
The message of Jesus is international news! John 3:16 “For God so loved the world...” “Whoever believes in Him...”
Now the Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus’ day weren’t too happy with Jesus’ message. That people could be saved because of God’s love for them. That God loved everyone and desired a relationship with them, regardless of their race, or social status, or even in spite of the wrong things they had done.
The idea that Jesus would release a woman caught in the very act of adultery and simply say to her, “Go and sin no more.” Was unheard of! But that’s what Jesus did.
And it infuriated the Pharisees, and the religious leaders, and all of those who believed they were good enough to get into heaven with out the help of someone like Jesus.
His message was not good news to them. And neither was Jesus! They rejected His message, but it was still relevant to them.
Illus. Yesterday my wife wanted to go shopping in Grove City. She told me about 9 am that she was headed out. Now my wife hates to drive in snow! She said, right before she left, “The weather is supposed to be good. So I’m taking off.” At around 11 am when it began snowing like crazy I wondered where she got her weather information? Which station told her the weather was going to be fine at 9 and discovered a blizzard was headed this way at 11:30?
No station! My wife wanted to go to Grove city. Since she didn’t want a bad weather report to change her plans…she didn’t listen to a report. She just looked out the window at 9:00. And it looked great! So off she went! On her way home she saw 3 accidents and a six car pile up!
Jesus’ message is relevant to all of us.
C. Their Message is True.
There are lots of false reports out there.
Because the motives of the messengers are all different.
Jesus message is true. He loves us and wants us to know of the Father’s love for us. He has no ulterior motive. Often men instructed followers in how to get to heaven. The instructions usually consisted of paying money or giving possessions to the one in charge.
But Jesus told His followers that money and possessions were unimportant. He told them to give it away to the poor. Not Himself! Jesus’ message is true. And Jesus was not only willing to stake their lives on it, but His own as well.
During days of Nero: “Light his garden up with the burning bodies of Christians.” One day brought a woman who had become a teacher of the young women in the area. One of the women managed to get a note to her while she was in prison. If you are burned at the stake, if God’s grace is sufficient to grant you peace while you are dying please hold up just one finger. We will be watching through the gate.
When time came, held up not one finger but two. More than enough! It is true!
2. When They Know That The Telling of This Special Message Is Their Destiny!
Jesus said of Himself: “I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.”
He knew that it was His destiny to share that message of life!
He would not be deterred. He could have become a celebrity. Healing, raising from dead!
He could have been famous. Living in the Castles and temples of His day. He was Son of God!
But instead he walked from town to town. Living more like a vagrant than a King.
He knew that He had been sent to do a job.
Part of that job meant telling a message.
Another part of the job meant dying.
3. When The Messenger Is Willing To Sacrifice Anything To Deliver The Message.
ILLUS: Many of you have probably never heard of Daniel Rohrbough--but he is a modern day hero. Daniel Rohrbough attended Columbine High School and was there on that horrible day when two students went on a rampage of violence and terror. Daniel Rohrbough stopped his escape from the building to hold a door open so that other students could escape. He was killed holding the door. Daniel died while helping others have a new chance at life.
Jesus died to get the message of God’s love to us.
And He knew long before it happened that is was going to happen.
In fact, He said, I must die.
He knew that without His death the message was incomplete!
For it was through His death that we would live!
Without the giving of the Son, we could not become Children of God!
Today we are going to celebrate His sacrifice through communion.
When we remember the greatest of all messengers.
When we thank Him for for the message of life given to all people!
Bow heads in prayer.
