Recognizing Jesus: Beyond Praise to True Worship

"I receive not honor from men I suggest to you that that is one of the most stupendous statements that has ever been made in this world and it is stupendous because it is simply and actually the truth he stood there and he confronted them and he made a statement that is literally actually true it is a statement that no other men has ever darare to make or ever can make truthfully and honestly and yet it is the statement that our Lord himself makes now he goes on to show that no one else does make this statement and can make it in verse 44 how can you believe he says which receive honor one of another and seek not the honor that Cometh From God Only by which of course he means this that the whole of life is really characterized by this desire for honor and for praise." [00:10:17]

"Now I say it's a stupendous and an arresting statement it's perfectly in line with all the statements that he has been making to these people from the very beginning his claim to an equality with God to be one in will With God all these claims that he makes but here it is in one of the most arresting forms in which he has ever stated it and I am holding it before you because this is one of the things again that supplies us with this vital evidence that we need in order to know who he is and to believe upon him whatever else we do we've got to reckon with this statement who is this who thus can face the the world and say I receive not honor from many it is either true or it's not true how do you explain its uniqueness what do you make of a person who makes such a claim and such an asseveration well there it is we look at his actual statement but obviously we don't leave it at that for here it seems to me he not only tells us that he does not seek or covet honor from men he tells us why he doesn't do so and this is the thing of course in which he gives us the Revelation concerning himself." [00:12:38]

"Why is it that he says that he does not desire nor covet nor receive this praise which is given by men and the answer is perfectly simple he doesn't need it he doesn't desire it because he doesn't need it and why doesn't he need it and the answer is that he doesn't need it because he is who he is now there is no other conceivable explanation of this he is someone who is entirely different from all men that is why he hasn't this characteristic that is so common in men he doesn't desire it I say because he is who and what he is well who is he well I read to you that statement at the beginning from the epistle to the Hebrews this is why he doesn't desire the praise of men because he is the brightness of God's glory and the express image of his person it is I say because he is the one about whom John has been writing in his very prologue in these words in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God the same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made in him was life and the life was the light of men." [00:14:24]

"Now this is the only conceivable explanation why does he not require Glory why will he not receive Glory from Men the answer is he doesn't need it because he has a glory a glory which he has had from eternity in the bosom of his Eternal Father but we can't even leave it at that here is I say the Eternal and everlasting Son of God but here he is in the world and what does that mean well that means something which the Apostle Paul has stated for us once and forever in a great passage in the epistle to the Philippians in the second chapter listen to this let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus why does he say that well he says it for this reason look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others the trouble with mankind is that every man is looking on his own things and he forgets other people he wants to be great he wants to be the center of Attraction he wants to be praised of men and and to be glorified by men no no says Paul let this mind be in you which was also in in Christ Jesus well what was that well here it is who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God which means this he was in the form of God he was God God the son and had all the signs and the appearances and the characteristics and the glory of everlasting God but he did not regard that there's something to be held on to at all costs he had the glory as the Son of God yes but he didn't hold on to that and say well now I'm never going to let this go this is so marvelous no no he wasn't like that he wasn't selfish he thought it not robbery to be equal with God he didn't hold on to the prerogatives of his God but made himself of no reput a and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross." [00:16:39]

"Now what does all this mean well you see what it means is this here is one who from eternity as in enjoy the glory and the prerogatives of God there's nothing beyond that he's the express image of God's person he's the effulgence of God's glory he had it he enjoyed it from all eternity here he is in time is it conceivable that he needs any Glory from Men He says that's where you're blind that's the tragic essence of your blindness you think that I'm a man who wants to be glorified and to be praised you don't know me I have a glory which you can't see and you can't see it because I have humbled myself because I've come into the world Incognito because I've taken unto me human nature because I've made myself of no reputation you you think that I want a great reputation you think that I'm annoyed because you don't believe in me because I want a big reputation I want to be a great man can't you see by looking at me and looking at my Miracles that I am one who has made himself of no reputation that's what they couldn't see that is the thing to which sin and the devil had utterly blinded them he is in the world his very presence is proof positive and abundant that he doesn't seek such Glory because of the Everlasting and eternal glory which is still his he's only laid aside the appearances of it for a while he has humbled himself he has made himself of no reputation he has come and lived as a man even as a servant and he has humbled himself down even to the death of the Cross itself." [00:19:23]

"Now there is his statement but we can't leave it at that what's the Practical inut of this what is the practical application of all this to us what does all that say someone to do with me he said that to those Jews of old we are here in 1958 what does that got to do with us well my dear friend it's just this what is your view of him what do you think of him here's the vital question and he is here showing us that we can have a view of him that is so terribly and tragically wrong that it dams our souls stands between us and salvation stands between us in the gift of life from his blessed ends it's the failure to realize who he is that finally dams the soul now then I ask what is your view of him patently rejection of him is fatal isn't it put a in to say I'm not interested in him I don't want to hear about him everybody will agree about that well that puts a men outside but is that the only view of him that puts us outside is rejection deliberate actual rejection the only wrong and fatal view to take of the Lord Jesus Christ now unfortunately it isn't here he says there's another way of doing it and the other way of doing it that we are looking at tonight is this is to praise him in the wrong way is to give him a kind of praise and Applause that are quite as bad as a total rejection of him now then let me explain what I mean our Lord here says that he doesn't desire Our Praise or our approbation or our admiration in what respects well he doesn't merely ask for our praise as a man you know there are many people in the world who greatly admire Jesus of Nazareth they say he is the greatest and most marvelous and wonderful men that this world has ever known they say look at his life look at the way in which he lived looked at the mighty Deeds he did they're always praising Jesus praising him as a man they put him into the highest categories they pick him out as amongst the greatest and indeed would even say that he is the greatest he's preeminent and he stands alone and is supreme now here are men who are apparently are not rejecting him they're indeed praising him they put him on a pedestal they do their obeisance to him they say here he is look at him this man am Jesus and they're always talking about it but I am suggesting to you seriously and solemnly this evening that he doesn't want that that that's the kind of thing that he rejects completely and so you see many of your great philosophers and many of your men who belong to other religions I take but one example at random like a man like the late Mr Gandy always praised Jesus and yet he died a Hindu he never became a Christian but he was constantly praising him and lording him and saying how wonderful he was you know my friend the Lord Jesus Christ won't have that he won't take it he doesn't want that sort of Praise praising him as a man praising him in his life and there are others who offer him great praise as a teacher oh yes as a religious teacher haven't you read their books and articles they say he's the greatest religious Genius of all times they say now of course when you read The Sermon on the Mount there you've got it what wonderful teaching what Sublime thoughts what wonderful blending of Simplicity and profound oh what a noble ethic they say they say he is indeed the greatest religious genius and the greatest religious teacher that the world has ever known and they praise him again and they put him on the pedestal and they levish their praise upon him but I make bold to assert that he won't have it and he's not interested in it and says I don't receive such prayers and others think of him only as an ethical teacher and others and this is very common and popular at the present time it seems to me praise him as a social and political teacher you really do gather the impression from some of them that he was nothing but this and that all the world needs tonight is to follow Jesus as the social teacher and the political teacher but I have very definite evidence to put before you which seems to me to prove conclusively that he will not accept such a position you will find in the very next chapter of this gospel sixth chapter of John's gospel in verse 15 something like this when Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force to make him a king he departed again into a mountain himself alone you see what was happening these people had been listening to his teaching and then he had just worked a very amazing Miracle he had fed 5,000 people with five loves and two fishes and when they saw this they were filled with amazement and astonishment when those men when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did said this is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world at last they said he's come the man was going to lead us politically the man was going to gather a great Army and Deliver Us from the Yoke of this Roman tyranny and was going to set himself up as king let's go and take him he doesn't seem to be quite ready they went to take him by force to make him a king but when he saw it he departed again into a mountain himself alone he hasn't come into this world to be praised politically he he hasn't come to be a king he hasn't come to have the agulation of men along this social and political line let me give you another instance do you remember on one occasion he was speaking you'll find the record in the 12th chapter of Luke's gospel and he was preaching a most mystical sermon and telling the disciples about God's care for them and warning them about their souls and their Eternal Destiny and the moment he finished the men blurted out and said Master speak to my brother brother that he divid The Inheritance with me what did our Lord say to that men he said man who made me a judge or a divor over you now let's be clear about this men why did that man put that request to our lord well he did it for this reason he'd been listening to him he'd been listening to him perhaps on many occasions and had seen his miracles and he thought to himself well now here's the very man that I want I want to get this dispute settled between my brother and myself here's a man who's got a social ethic here's a man who's got a political view and idea here's a man who's going to tell us how to divide things up but he won't have it he rejects it man he says who have made me a judge or a divider over you do you think I'm in this world just to do things like that now now he rejects it in total I receive not honor from Men the man was paying him a great compliment he says will you settle it will be satisfied if you do he's praising him he's lording him but he rejects his praise he won't have such prayer need I trouble to point out to you that men and women are still doing this is the one and only theme of The Gospel armaments or industrial and social disputes and the way to divide up wealth and these things is Jesus Christ just a socialist and no more he's being praised as such he's being lorded as such but can't you see that he rejects all such approaches he dismisses them why the Devil Himself tried to do something like this with him you remember one of The Temptations was that he offered him all the kingdoms of this world he could become supreme ruler if only he bowed down and worshiped him he wouldn't have it he doesn't want that kind of thing and then do you remember here's another instance of the same thing it's extraordinary how many there are in the gospels in the 11th chapter of Luke's gospel I read this it came to pass as he spake these things a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice and said unto him blessed is the womb that bear thee and the PS which thou Hast sucked now you would have thought that that pleased him wouldn't you but this is what he said yay rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it he doesn't want the sentimental praise he doesn't want people simply to praise him no no he says blessed are they rather that hear the word of God and guard it and keep it and put it in their heart and live by it and then you remember there's another illustration of it towards the end of his life just as he was going to the cross a number of women from Jerusalem were there looking on and weeping and feeling very sorry and offering their sympathy and their compassion and he turns upon them and says Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me but weep for yourselves and for your children he realized that this view of him was blinding them to to his real Mission and to their own condition he doesn't want this personal attention in this wrong way oh let me sum it up by putting it like this he doesn't desire merely our praise our Applause our admiration our sympathy he's not interested in this purely objective view of him that you or I may take ah we can even Praise Him and Magnify Him in the sense but the question is why do we do so and if we do it in any one of the ways that I've been indicating he rejects it he does not receive such praise from men he won't have it very well then says someone what is it that he does desire from us if he rejects that what does he want well he's already been telling these people you will not come unto me that you might have life what is this well what he's saying is this he doesn't want us to stand back and say well now I think that this is the greatest man who's ever lived I've never heard such teaching I think that's the thing the world needs put into practice Christ's ethical teaching follow him politically and socially no no he says what he wants is first and foremost a recognition of who he is and what he is a man who's interested in the teaching of Christ before he's interested in Christ himself is a man whom he rejects it is he himself that matters and if we have not seen and realize that he is the only begotten Son of God if we don't realize that he goes into a category alone and apart if we don't believe in the Incarnation if we don't believe that the word was made flesh and dwelt among us if we don't believe that this blessed person is at the same time God and man whatever else we may say about him he rejects he wants a recognition of his person not that he may have our praise but that we may know that the Lord Of Glory once left that glory and came down into this world to dwell why does he want us to recognize this well it is because he wants us to realize why he's come he doesn't want this false praise well what does he want well he says I am come in my father's name and you receive me not that's what he wants is a recognition and a realization that he has come in his father's name but what does that mean you say well I can tell you do you see what he wants is this not that you admire his teaching in any respect or admire his person or admire his example or any one of these things he wants you to know that God the Eternal Father has sent him into this world on a particular Mission I am come he says in my father's name I am come on his authority I have come to declare him and to reveal him he has not merely come to be a judge or a divider amongst men he hasn't come just to settle our little Affairs in that sense no no he has come to reveal God to us he has come to say he who has seen me hath seen the father I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the father but by me my dear friend have you looked at him like that I'm not interested in your view of Christ's political or ethical or any other teaching I'm asking what have you made of him have you realized that he's in this world in order to make God known to you or let me put it like this he says repeatedly that he has come into this world to do the work that God has given him to do what is this word well this is the whole message of Salvation that's what these Jews couldn't see that's what he means by saying to them you will not come unto me that you might have life you're dead you're damned you're lost you haven't any spiritual life and I've come to give it you and how is he come to give it us well he has come to do a work that was given him by his father to do there is a certain work that is necessary before any of us can receive life what is that well your sinfulness has to be dealt with we have all sinned against God we have all broken God's holy law there is n righteous know not one we are at enmity against God and our sins are there something's got to be done he came into the world his father sent him he come in his father's name what for he has come to reconcile us to God and in order to reconcile us to God he did all that which the Apostle Paul tells us there in the second chapter of that epistle to the Philippians he humbled himself yes even unto death even the death of the Cross he wasn't seeking for Honor didn't he say to his disciples who try to defend him with a sword put away that sword wished he not that I could command 12 Legions of angels and be carried into heaven if he wanted such Glory he could have had it he didn't he'd come to Humble himself to taste death for every man what he wants is a recognition of that that he has made himself of no reputation in order to take upon himself the burden and the guilt of our sins to receive the punishment of our sins in his own blessed body and rise again and present his offering to God and be received and send down the Holy Spirit and give us new life and a new nature I am come in my father's name that's the honor and the glory that I want he he has come to glorify God he has come to tell us about God's grace and love and mercy and kindness and compassion he has come to reveal that and if you haven't seen that it doesn't matter what you see he doesn't want anything else he won't take anything else he has come specifically to Manifest this everlas lasting love of God and the grace and mercy and compassion of God to a last well and if you and I don't realize that he has no interest in what you may think about him as a man as a religious teacher an ethical teacher a political and social teacher though you may put him in a category on his own and say he's the greatest that ever lived if you haven't seen this he's not interested he doesn't want it the son of men is come to seek and to save that which is lost I am come he says that he might have life and that he might have it more abundantly the son of man is come not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many my dear friend have you looked at him and what have you seen have you seen just a man to be praised or have you seen one who's divested himself of the signs of eternal glory and made himself of no reputation and humbled himself in order that he might bear your sins in his own body on the tree and die your death and rise again for you justification that is what he wants from you he wants not praise he wants worship he wants not eulogy but adoration he wants from you not your acclamation like the acclamation of the fle CL crowd that surrounded him as he entered into Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday and then in a few days was ch away with him crucify him he doesn't want our acclamation in any respect he doesn't want our admiration what does he want he wants us to say to him what Thomas said to him when he realized the truth of the resurrection and therefore the truth about him he wants us having looked at him the fall PR it before him and say my Lord and my God my dear friend I ask you again what's your attitude to him he wants nothing but surrender worship adoration and the praise of a heart that having realized its lust and its damned condition has realized that his love was so great but he put on one side the honor of heaven and of Glory came down and was born of the virgin's womb and put helplessly in a manger and worked with his hands as a carpenter and endured all the contradiction of Sinners against himself and even went deliberately and of set purpose to the death on the cross and even to be buried in a grave though he is the Lord Of Glory and the creator of the universe that you might be saved that your sins might be forgiven that you might be Recon exiled of God and become a child of God oh be careful don't imagine that because you praise him you're all right no no to praise Him wrongly is as bad as to reject him outright doesn't want our prayers he wants our persons he wants a total surrender of Our Lives to him because he is our Lord and our God." [00:25:01]