The Storyline:
- We’re going to be relatively brief in this first part and then spend a little more time on the later parts.
1. Jesus is born “King of the Jews.”
- Matthew 1:1-17; Matthew 2:1.
- Notice that He is born King of the Jews. There is nothing else He needed to do or accomplish to be King of the Jews. He is born with that title.
- Not to be too obvious, but Jesus was a Jew. Not a Christian, but a Jew.
- Along those lines, movies often portray Jesus with the Jewishness diminished. For instance, the closely cropped beard.
2. Jesus’ earthly ministry was focused on the Jews.
- Matthew 15:24, 27.
- There are passages in the gospels that confuse people because they do not understand that Jesus mission was to the Jews. He focused His time on them.
- He chose to be born in a time where there was no technology to broadcast His message beyond the local places He was traveling. He was in a very specific place with ministry to a limited group of people.
3. Jesus died, rejected, as King of the Jews.
- Matthew 27:11, 29, 37.
- He was rejected by His people.
4. It is only in the Jews’ rejection of their King that the door to salvation opens for us.
- Romans 11:11.
One Solid Cure For Baptist Spiritual Pride: We were Plan B.
- Romans 11:17-21.
- Baptists are especially bad for thinking that we’re the hard-core real deal and all the other denominations are second best, not as serious and devoted as we are.
- Story: Dr. Perry, “second choice.”
- I serve the King of the Jews.
- We need to be sure that we don’t entertain a sense of entitlement the way the Jews did.
- Consider Jesus’ conversations with the Jews who were so proud that they were the sons of Abraham.
What Does That Understanding Mean For My Spiritual Life?
1. Joyful gratitude.
- Romans 11:22; 1 Peter 2:9.
- We need to appreciate how wonderful it is that we’ve received this gift.
- We had no right to this gift.
- When you receive something wonderful that’s beyond anything that you deserve or could hope for, it creates joy within your heart.
2. More humility.
- Luke 14:15-24; Romans 12:3; James 4:10.
- In our churches, we’ve been a member since forever or our family has been in this church since it was founded. That can create spiritual pride.
- Or, we think, “I’m incredibly important to this church in all I do” and we lose sight of the fact that we need the church, the church doesn’t need us.
- My favorite definition of evangelism is, “One beggar telling another beggar where to get food.” That’s it – you’re a beggar. You’re an outsider who has been invited to the table.
- Look up Luke 14:15-24.
- v. 21 – You are the “poor, crippled, blind, lame.”
