Winston Salem church of Christ

INTRO:

A. Women are evil, inferior, not worthy of being spoken to, and I literally thank God that I was not born a woman. [Do you think the sermon can get much worse?] Jesus was mentally ill (Mark 3:21); an agent for the Devil (Mt.12:24), and possessed by demons (Jn.8:48). [I guess it can!]

1. Let me add quickly, very quickly, that obviously these views are not my own. However, they were the views of some first century Jews. That’s how some Jewish men saw women, and how some Jewish leaders saw Jesus.

2. Let us make some observations, heed some warnings and then look at reactions to observations as others see us.

B. Observations About Observations:

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Observation #1 – “As Others See Us” is not always a true picture of who we are.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>o <!–[endif]–>Matthew 16:13-14 NASB Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (14) And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Observation #2 – As we see others can be a true picture of who we – the observer – are.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>o <!–[endif]–>Matthew 7:2 NASB “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Observation #3 – “As Others See Us” can be an accurate picture.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>o <!–[endif]–>Positively – John 1:47 NASB Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and *said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

<!–[if !supportLists]–>o <!–[endif]–>Negatively – Mark 7:6 NASB And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Observation #4 –The way that others view us can impact the way we view them.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>o <!–[endif]–>Positively – John 1:49-50 NASB Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” (50) Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

<!–[if !supportLists]–>o <!–[endif]–>Negatively – “Seeing ourselves as others see us would probably confirm our worst suspicions about them.” Franklin P. Adams; US journalist (1881 – 1960)

C. Warnings

1. Seeing others as they are, is not always easy.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>John 7:24 – “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Sometimes we see them as we want them to be, whether that be good or bad.

2. Seeing ourselves as we are, is not always easy.

a. Have you ever heard a recording of yourself and thought, “I don’t sound like that.” Have you ever seen a picture of yourself and thought, “I don’t look like that.” Have you ever thought you were funny only to discover you were annoying? Have you ever thought you were being sweet and kind only to discover people thought you were flirting or conniving?

1) Self-deception is easy and comfortable. That’s why people procrastinate going to the doctor, weighing themselves, and a host of other pre-emptive reactions.

b. It is easy to construct a false picture of ourselves. It gives us security. Most of us probably have a fairly fragile ego. Do you know of anyone who enjoys being told they are wrong? Think – do any of us really want to know everything people think about us? We might put on a strong front, but inside we are often brittle. May we remember there is a difference between a tender heart and a fragile ego. May we also remember that how we express to others our true thoughts of them is not only an expression of who we think they are, but who we are too.

c. Proverbs 16:2 NASB All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives.

3. Accepting how others see is, is not always easy. It is difficult, disquieting and disheartening to truly see ourselves as others do (unless your married and have children, and then sometimes its way too easy!).

a. Proverbs 27:6 – (6) Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

4. Telling people how we see them should be done gracefully and with grace.

a. Proverbs 15:1 – A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

D. For our own personal evaluation, my question today is, when people see us, and their observation is correct, clear, but unflattering; when we don’t like what they see; what is our reaction? While there might be more than just four reactions, let’s focus on four:

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>REACTION – REDIRECTION

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>REACTION – RETALIATION

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>REACTION – REFUTATION

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>REACTION – REPENTANCE

BODY:

I. REACTION – REDIRECTION

A. Description – This is the person who has no idea you are talking about them. The reaction comes from the observer trying to be tactful and indirect, or the pride of the one being spoken about. They just can’t imagine that you are talking about them. They are deaf to your comments, and blind about themselves. I am sure we all have been this person sometime, if not oftentimes.

B. Matthew 21:28-44 NASB “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ (29) “And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. (30) “The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. (31) “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They *said, “The first.” Jesus *said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. (32) “For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him. (33) “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT AND DUG A WINE PRESS IN IT, AND BUILT A TOWER, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey. (34) “When the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce. (35) “The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third. (36) “Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them. (37) “But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ (38) “But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ (39) “They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. (40) “Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” (41) They *said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.” (42) Jesus *said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’? (43) “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. (44) “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.”

1. Before this dialogues ends, the Pharisees will have concluded that Jesus was talking about them. But before that proverbial light bulb starts to shine, I think they are oblivious that the parables are directed towards them. Why do I think that?

a. Because they answered His questions - (31) “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They *said, “The first.”

b. Because how they answer His questions – (40) “Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” (41) They *said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.”

C. Observation – I wonder if this is where most of us are? There was a comic strip, Beetle Bailey, that perfectly illustrates this point. The soldiers are filing out of the chapel. Each one says, “You really let them have it today!” The chaplain laments, “Why is it that the ones I trying to give it to always say I let them have it?”

II. REACTION – RETALIATION

A. Description – This is the person who hears the truth, and react angrily and violently. They don’t necessarily disagree, although they might. However their reaction shows the truth of the accusation.

B. If I were to ask you, what did Jesus do during his last week, one very accurate answer would be, “He made the Jewish leaders mad!” “He got on their nerves!” “He made enemies!” We just saw how they were actually oblivious to Jesus’ parabolic attacks and redirected the verbal accusation to others. But after they finally realized who Jesus was speaking about, that’s when they retaliated, and violently so.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Matthew 21:45-46 NASB When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. (46) When they sought to seize Him, they feared the people, because they considered Him to be a prophet.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Matthew 22:15 NASB Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Matthew 26:3-4 NASB Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; (4) and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him.

1. There are two frightening reactions that we need to focus on:

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Obvious – What They Wanted To Do – Kill Jesus

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Subtle – How They Had To Do It – By Stealth (i.e., behind the scenes, behind the backs of the people)

C. Observation – It is said that in Jesus’ day they stoned the prophets, but today we just fire the preachers. I guess that’s progress! But seriously, what is scary about this is that our reactions can become unpredictable. While we cannot fathom ourselves ever falling into the trap of physical violence, let alone murder, how many people have said the same thing only to discover the “animal” within? With us the reaction can still be violent, but instead of with fists and weapons, it is with the tongue. And even if we are tempered enough to hold our temper, many friendships have ended over people getting mad at what others see them to be.

III. REACTION – REFUTATION

A. Description – This is the person who hears the truth, but denies it. Usually arrogance is the cause of the denial. Arrogance might be too stringent of a description for some. It’s just that they can’t see the truth as even remotely possible.

B. Matthew 26:31-35 NASB Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.’ (32) “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” (33) But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” (34) Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” (35) Peter *said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

C. Observation – The truth hurts. Our defense mechanism can automatically kick in, denying and refuting that we are as we are seen to be. May we remember that, Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy (Pro 27:6).

IV. REACTION – REPENTANCE

A. Description – This is the person that hears the truth and reacts positively by changing. This is the person we all want to be. This is also the hardest and most challenging person to be.

B. John 8:3-11

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>John 8:3-11 NASB The scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, (4) they *said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. (5) “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” (6) They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. (7) But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (8) Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. (9) When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. (10) Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” (11) She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]

1. Jesus saw the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees – Where was the man who was caught in adultery? But their hypocrisy turned into humbleness.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>“He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (Jn.8:7)

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>This might be the only time the scribes and Pharisees acted humbly.

2. Jesus saw the sinful condition of the adulteress

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>“From now on sin no more.” (Jn.8:11)

C. Luke 7:36-50

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Luke 7:36-50 NASB Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. (37) And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, (38) and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. (39) Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” (40) And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” (41) “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. (42) “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” (43) Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” (44) Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. (45) “You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. (46) “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. (47) “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (48) Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” (49) Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” (50) And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

1. This story is filled with misjudging and proper perspective:

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>The Woman Saw Jesus Rightly

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>The Pharisee Saw Jesus Wrongly

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>The Pharisee Saw the Woman Wrongly

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Jesus Saw the Pharisee Rightly

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Jesus Saw the Woman Rightly

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>The Pharisee Saw Himself Wrongly

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>The Woman Saw Herself Rightly

2. The main emphasis is that the woman had seen herself rightly and reacted humbly.

E. Observation – This is why we are here; at least it is supposed to be. We are here to change and be changed. But notice what is necessary in order to change: 1) Informed we need to change; 2) Willing to change.

CONCLUSION:

A. On Judgment Day, Jesus will see us as we are.

Proverbs 16:2 NASB All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives.

“Oh wad some power the giftie gie us to see oursels as others see us!” (Robert Burns, To A Louse, Stanza

(Perry D. Hall)