"The large crowd listened with delight". (vs.37)

Something happened to me in my Bible College preaching class I hope never happens again to me or to anyone for that matter. In the middle of expounding what I thought to be a profound point, my professor stopped me in mid-sentence. Sensing he was quenching the Holy Spirit by this rude interruption I nevertheless waited patiently to gain some understanding of what he had in mind. Here was his instruction to me: "Mitch, I want you to take that last sentence you just said and I want you to repeat it over and over... Louder now...Now I want you to put your arms straight out as you say this..." I don't know if I managed to bring the Spirit back into my sermon but I did learn to yell a bit louder and use my arms to bring greater emphasis my points.

There was something about the preaching of Jesus on this particular day in the temple which reflected remarkable ability, and evidence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus needed no preaching tips and no one would have dared stop him in mid-sentence to offer any pointers. So wonderful was his exposition and so passionate was his style that Mark tells us the audience listened with rapt attention. "They listened with delight." (vs.37)

I want to use this space to review what it was that made this particular sermon so delightful to the audience in Jesus' presence. What are the qualities that exist here that could perhaps serve as a model for the eager bible student who desires to communicate the word of God to others? Here are some ways you can delight your audience and in the process of doing this I want to examine the content of the sermon itself.

1. Jesus raised one issue and stuck with it. The subject of his sermon became his opening question. As every good sermon should this one began by raising an issue with particular focus on a life problem. With the problem established, Jesus then addressed it from a scriptural perspective. Up until now the people who filled the pews in the synagogue accepted that the Messiah would come from David's line. "How is it the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the Son of David?" This was agreed and uncontested. However, no-one seemed to consider the fact that the Messiah would have to also have divine as well as human origin. It was one thing for Jesus to claim his lineage to David. Few would be unwilling to accept this. His humanity alone though did not make up who Christ was. He was also divine.

Jesus then needed to raise the question of his divinity. If he had stood before them and claimed to be the Messiah from the line of David he might have been accepted. Unless people accepted both his humanity and his divinity they could not accept him at all. This was the aim of his preaching - to present himself as God's son, fully God and fully man.

Be sure in your preaching (if you do preach that is;if not this should be just as helpful in sharpening your bible study skills) to begin with one issue and stick with it. Address it from the scripture. More importantly, keep in mind your responsibility to preach about the whole nature of Christ, his humanity and his divinity.

2. Jesus intrigued his audience with his use of the scriptures. A good sermon should keep people at the edge of their seat. You should have them saying, "I never saw that before; Wow, this is really for me." A good sermon brings the scriptures to life, scratching people where they are itching.

Notice Jesus intrigues his audience by allowing the scriptures alone to address the central issue of his message. He needed nothing else, for the scriptures have the power to convince and speak for itself. The teachers of the law were correct in presenting the Messiah as being from the line of David. In other words they did well in presenting the human side of the Messiah, but this was only half the gospel. Using the scriptures, Jesus shows from the words of David that one would come from his (David's) own line who would also be his Lord. Referring to Psalm 111:1, Jesus concludes, "David himself called him Lord. How then can he be his Son?" David obviously spoke of one from his human line who he would recognize as Lord. Why? Because that one would also be divine. The scriptures had done the work for Jesus.

It is the scriptures alone that unlock the mysteries of God, unfolding his purposes and revealing the singular theme of Jesus as the basis of all God's plans. From the Old to the New Testament the story is about Christ. No preacher ever needs to leave the pages of scriptures to present the full nature of Christ. If you preach, be sure to dip your pen into the deep inkwell of scriptures. "Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders." (Ps.119:27) It was Amy Carmichael who challenged Bible students with these penetrating words; Drink from the well, not from streams that run from the well. Stick with the scriptures and you will never cease to intrigue your listener.

3. Jesus spoke with conviction leaving his audience both challenged and restless. A good sermon leaves the listener restless as it challenges the duplicity of their lives. A good sermon leaves no one off the hook. Intrigued, the listener will also conclude that their life does not match the counsel of God.

Your would be on safe ground if you thought that every person listening to the word of God could be struggling with honesty and living at the edge of hypocrisy. A good sermon fires convicting arrows at the double standards in our lives and seeks to bring our lives into line with the life God calls us to live. The word of God like good medicine, must often sting before it can heal.

Jesus' example shows that there is nothing wrong with some rough treatment in preaching the word of God. God's word is like a sword that cuts and divides. (Heb.4:12) It is like a spear that when thrust pierces the conscience, convicting sin and provoking repentance. The goal of preaching is that "everything is laid bare before him to whom we must give account." (Heb.4:13) Good preaching exposes sin and shows the way to righteous living. Jesus minces no words in calling all who hear him to live lives that seek to please God, not the crowd. Some in the crowd needed that exposure. What he says would hurt but it would also heal. "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the market places, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widow's houses and for a show make lengthy prayers". (vs.38-39)

4. Finally, Jesus illustrates by using an everyday example. A good sermon without illustrations is like a house without a frame. A convincing sermon needs to include ways in which people can be shown how to live differently. Illustrations offer that how, giving substance to what is said anf fitting it into the realm of reality in people's lives. God's truth must find a place to settle in the lives of people.

Having just exposed duplicity, he illustrates the sort of righteousness God looks for by directing his listener to a poor obscure widow who drops all she has into the offering plate. He sits down (vs.41) "opposite where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury." While his lanced words continued to pierce and echo in the minds of his audience, the crowd silently watched Jesus observe the group making their offerings. Jesus breaks the silence by pointing to the lone figure of the widow. "You see," Jesus concludes, "that is what I am talking about. That is the sort of life God wants. Someone whose life is not lived out in conflict and hypocrisy. She lives simply, honest before God. That is righteousness."

That real life illustration was the final hammer blow, locking into place a picture of the sort of life he wants of us. While his words would ricochet in the walls of people's minds - about his divinity and his purpose, about honest living and righteousness, they would also remember that widow. That illustration had the powerful affect of visualizing holiness. It brought his words to life.

Why not look carefully at the preaching of Jesus? You might learn some valuable tips.

A preacher is one who leads men from what they want to what they need.

Ralph Washington Sockman (1889–1970)

A preacher must be both a soldier and a shepherd. He must nourish, defend, and teach; he must have teeth in his mouth and be able to bite and to fight.

Martin Luther (1483–1546)

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