High Noon
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High Noon
High Noon
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Introduction: “High Noon” a 1952 movie stars Gary Cooper won the Oscar for the Best Actor in the classic tale of a lawman who stands alone to defend the small town of Hadleyville, New Mexico of cowardly citizens against a gang of revenge-seeking outlaws. Frank Miller who was sent to jail by Will Cane has been released and is coming to town for revenge. Marshall Cane tries to get help to face Miller but finds no one. He goes to the local tavern but is rejected. He goes to the church where the town’s citizens are gathered in fear but none are willing to help. In this clip from the movie “High Noon” see if you can get the feel of Marshall Will Cane’s struggle with having to do a tough job for others...with no help...see if you can pick up on his struggle with rejection and loneliness. (Taking on the foe singlehandedly).
Introduction: “High Noon” Gary Cooper won the Oscar for the Best Actor in the classic tale of a lawman who stands alone to defend a town of cowardly citizens against a gang of revenge-seeking outlaws. In this clip from the movie “High Noon” see if you can get the feel of Marshall Will Cane’s struggle with having to do a tough job for others...with no help...see if you can pick up on his struggle with rejection and loneliness. (Taking on the foe singlehandedly).
(“High Noon” clip: scene 12 “Church Meeting”)
“High Noon” clip: scene 12 “Church Meeting”
Great movie! This morning I want us to consider not a movie but a situation of rejection and loneliness even greater than that depicted in High Noon. Jesus of Nazareth stands alone against the forces of evil to defeat our adversary, the Devil. He came here to planet earth to do for us what we could never do for ourselves...but the doing of it...the providing for our salvation...the defeating of death and the devil was not easy...he faced insurmountable obstacles...he struggled with rejection of not only his people but even his closest friends...he walked a lonely valley but in doing what he did he achieved victory by...
Great movie! This morning I want us to consider not a movie but a situation of rejection and loneliness even greater than that depicted in High Noon. Jesus of Nazareth stands alone against the forces of evil to defeat our adversary, the Devil. He came here to planet earth to do for us what we could never do for ourselves...but the doing of it...the providing for our salvation...the defeating of death and the devil was not easy...he faced insurmountable obstacles...he struggled with rejection of not only his people but even his closest friends...he walked a lonely valley but in doing what he did he achieved victory by...
I. Singlehandedly disarming His Enemies
I. Singlehandedly disarming His Enemies
1. Sure there was that valiant effort at the time of His arrest when Peter drew his sword and cut of the ear of Malchus, a servant of the High Priest. But after that...where were His friends? They were cowering in the shadows...denying Him by the firelight...looking on at the proceedings from a distance...later to be hiding behind closed doors.
1. Sure there was that valiant effort at the time of His arrest when Peter drew his sword and cut of the ear of Malchus, a servant of the High Priest. But after that...where were His friends? They were cowering in the shadows...denying Him by the firelight...looking on at the proceedings from a distance...later to be hiding behind closed doors.
2. Jesus had faced and handled every criticism by the religious leaders of the day. Pharisees...Sadducees...Scribes...Priests...they all threw at Him every weapon in their arsenal and He never backed down...He never winced at their attacks...He defeated them all...hands down! Line ‘em up…hear them all reject Him and deny His claims to be the Son of God and the Promised Messiah. Accept Him as Messiah or Reject Him as a Blasphemer…there was no other option for Jesus claims. So their answer was Death. Crucify Him!
2. Jesus had faced and handled every criticism by the religious leaders of the day. Pharisees...Sadducees...Scribes...Priests...they all threw at them every weapon in their arsenal and He never backed down...He never winced at their attacks...He defeated them all...hands down!
3. If this had been a round of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” you would have heard Regis ask each of the players: “Is that your final answer?”:
3. If this had been a round of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” you would have heard Regis ask each of the players: “Is that your final answer?”:
Pilate who had washed his hands of it all might have asked: “What is final?” And then said, “Yes, that’s my final answer, though I wash my hands of the consequences of the answer.”
Pilate who had washed his hands of it all might have asked: “What is final?” And then said, “Yes, that’s my final answer, though I wash my hands of the consequences of the answer.”
Herod, angry because Jesus wouldn’t perform any miracles for him might have said, “Yes, and good riddance, He wasn’t much of an entertainer.”
Herod, angry because Jesus wouldn’t perform any miracles for him might have said, “Yes, and good riddance, he wasn’t much of an entertainer.”
Caiaphas and Annas would have looked at each other with self-satisfied smirks on their faces and said, “Messiah, my foot. Yes, there’s no room for blasphemy in our faith. Yes, that’s our final answer.”
Caiaphas and Annas would have looked at each other with self-satisfied smirks on their faces and said, “Messiah, my foot. Yes, there’s no room for blasphemy in our faith. Yes, that’s our final answer.”
The scribes, Pharisees, the Sadducees would have broken their uneasy alliance formed to get rid of Jesus and looking at each other with distrusting eyes would have simply said, “Yes, that’s our final answer.” Except for a few like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who at the time, refused to answer.
The scribes, Pharisees, the Sadducees would have broken their uneasy alliance formed to get rid of Jesus and looking at each other with untrusting eyes would have simply said, “Yes, that’s our final answer.” Except for a few like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who refused to answer.
The Roman soldiers and guards would have said, “Absolutely, we saw him die. That’s our final answer.”
The Roman soldiers and guards would have said, “Absolutely, we saw him die. That’s our final answer.”
If you had polled the worldwide studio audience that weekend, ninety-nine percent probably would have answered, “Yes, that’s our final answer.”
If you had polled the worldwide studio audience that weekend, ninety-nine percent probably would have answered, “Yes, that’s our final answer.”
Even the disciples and followers of Jesus would have answered that way. Their hearts were broken and their spirits shattered. They would have had to answer, “Yes, That’s our final answer.” They saw Him brutally beaten and ridiculed. They saw the cruel crown of thorns jammed onto His head. They saw Him nailed to the cross. They saw Him die. They not only saw Him laid in the tomb but they watched as the guards sealed the tomb. It was over. The idea of a Dead Messiah was a contradiction of terms. It just could not be!
Even the disciples and followers of Jesus would have answered that way. Their hearts were broken and their spirits shattered. They would have had to answer, “Yes, That’s our final answer.” They saw him brutally beaten and ridiculed. They saw the cruel crown of thorns jammed onto his head. They saw him nailed to the cross. They saw him die. They not only saw him laid in the tomb but they watched as the guards sealed the tomb. It was over.
If Regis were running this show, he would have noted that all the life-lines were gone. The fifty-fifty had been used up by Peter, when he denied knowing Jesus. Peter had a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right, but just like Jesus predicted, Peter got it wrong.
If Regis were running this show, he would have noted that all the life-lines were gone. The fifty-fifty had been used up by Peter, when he denied knowing Jesus. Peter had a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right, but just like Jesus predicted, Peter got it wrong.
The phone-a-friend didn’t pan out at all, either. Judas was absolutely no help. As a matter of fact, he was one of the reasons the contestant was in this predicament. Instead of helping out, he’d sold out. Judas had sold out to one of the other game shows...Greed.
The phone-a-friend didn’t pan out at all, either. Judas was absolutely no help. As a matter of fact, he was one of the reasons the contestant was in this predicament. Instead of helping out, he’d sold out. Judas had sold out to one of the other game shows...Greed.
And we know what the studio audience said. They voted and ninety-nine point nine percent said, “Yes, Death was the final answer.”
And we know what the studio audience said. They voted and ninety-nine point nine percent said, “Yes, Death was the final answer.”
But the contestant just smiled. God smiled and early on Sunday morning, just about the time that the women in the group were headed toward the sealed tomb of Jesus, God said, “Let me think about this a little bit. All my lifelines are gone. I know the studio audience has voted and ninety-nine point nine percent of them said that death is the final answer. But you know I think they’re wrong. Despite all the plotting, despite all the evidence, despite all the rejection...they’re wrong! And I’ve got a surprise for everybody. My final answer is RESURRECTION!”
But the contestant just smiled. God smiled and early on Sunday morning, just about the time that the women in the group were headed toward the sealed tomb of Jesus, God said, “Let me think about this a little bit. All my lifelines are gone. I know the studio audience has voted and ninety-nine point nine percent of them said that death is the final answer. But you know I think they’re wrong. Despite all the plotting, despite all the evidence, I think they’re wrong. And I’ve got a surprise for everybody. My final answer is RESURRECTION!”
You see, singlehandedly he took on all of his enemies...all of his critics...and he defeated them hands down!
You see, singlehandedly he took on all of his enemies...all of his critics...and he defeated them hands down!
II. Singlehandedly He defeated His Evil Adversary
II. Singlehandedly He defeated His Evil Adversary
1. You remember after His baptism by John in the River Jordan that the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness and there after 40 days without food he was tempted by the Devil...His Adversary. Satan launched three temptations that struck at the very core of who He was and why He came to earth. Jesus was able to parry every thrust and then the Scripture says that the devil left him “for a season.”
1. You remember after His baptism by John in the River Jordan that the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness and there after 40 days without food he was tempted by the Devil...His Adversary. Satan launched three temptations that struck at the very core of who He was and why He came to earth. Jesus was able to parry every thrust and then the devil left him “for a season.”
2. He would come again and again and again. He would hurl every weapon at Jesus that he could...but Jesus never sinned...He never yielded to Satan’s tricks...He never caved...He defeated the Devil hands down. In fact on one occasion He declared, “Behold I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven.”
2. He would come again and again and again. He would hurl every weapon at Jesus that he could...but Jesus never sinned...He never yielded to Satan’s tricks...He never caved...He defeated the Devil hands down. In fact on one occasion He declared, “Behold I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven.”
3. The Devil, that Old Serpent, Satan, the Adversary, with all of the demons of Hell could not deter Him from His mission. First John even declares that one of the purposes for Jesus’ coming to earth was to “Destroy the works of the Devil” and that is exactly what He did.
3. The Devil, that Old Serpent, Satan, the Adversary, with all of the demons of Hell could not deter Him from His mission. First John even declares that one of the purposes for Jesus’ coming to earth was to “Destroy the works of the Devil” and that is exactly what He did.
III. Singlehandedly He dealt with the Loneliness of His Death.
III. Singlehandedly He dealt with the Loneliness of His Death.
1. Do you remember that sad scene in the sixth chapter of John at the height of His popularity? The taste of loaves and fish were still in the mouths of the crowd as Jesus spoke of who He was. He declared Himself to be the Bread of Heaven and that they must eat of His body and drink of His blood...meaning to be His disciples they must be totally committed to Him...that He be their Lord and Master. When they heard Him they could stomach no more and they left Him! They left Him! And then Jesus turned to His disciples who were standing there and asked them, “Are you going to leave too?” They didn’t right then but they did a little later.
1. Do you remember that sad scene in the sixth chapter of John at the height of His popularity? The taste of loaves and fish were still in the mouths of the crowd as Jesus spoke of who He was. He declared Himself to be the Bread of Heaven and that they must eat of His body and drink of His blood...meaning to be His disciples they must be totally committed to Him...that He be their Lord and Master. When they heard Him they could stomach no more and they left Him! They left Him! And then Jesus turned to His disciples who were standing there and asked them, “Are you going to leave too?” They didn’t right then but they did a little later.
2. Do you remember that scene in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus asked His disciples to watch and pray and three times came to them only to find them sleeping? Do you remember the strain in His voice when He asked them, “Could you not watch with me one hour?”
2. Do you remember that scene in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus asked His disciples to watch and pray and three times came to them only to find them sleeping? Do you remember the strain in His voice when He asked them, “Could you not watch with me one hour?”
3. William B. Tappan captured the pathos of that night in the words of the hymn, “Tis Midnight, and on Olive’s Brow,”
3. William B. Tappan captured the pathos of that night in the words of the hymn, “Tis Midnight, and on Olive’s Brow,”
“Tis midnight and on Olive’s brow
The star is dimmed that lately shone;
‘Tis midnight; in the garden, now
The suffring Savior prays alone.
‘Tis midnight, and from all removed,
The Savior wrestles lone with fears;
E’en that disciple whom He loved
Heeds not his Master’s grief and tears.
4. Then while He was being hustled through one illegal trial after another...mocked...ridiculed...beaten half to death...outside by the firelight Peter...bold, impetuous Peter denies His Lord not once but three times as he hears the crow of a scrawny rooster. Others who used to be tripping over themselves to get close to Jesus now only follow at a safe distance...the Shepherd has been stricken and the sheep have all scattered. Is there no one to be in His corner? Is there no one to step up to the plate and take His side? Is there no one to come to His aid and defense? Perhaps God, the Father...yes, perhaps God!
4. Then while He was being hustled through one illegal trial after another...mocked...ridiculed...beaten half to death...outside by the firelight Peter...bold, impetuous Peter denies His Lord not once but three times as he hears the crow of a scrawny rooster. Others who used to be tripping over themselves to get close to Jesus now only follow at a safe distance...the Shepherd has been stricken and the sheep have all scattered. Is there no one to be in His corner? Is there no one to step up to the plate and take His side? Is there no one to come to His aid and defense? Perhaps God, the Father...yes, perhaps God!
5. But then suspended between earth and heaven a cry comes from His lips, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken Me?” Martin Luther once sat for hours (some have reported days) without food, or even disturbing his posture, gazing at those words. Then at last he rose, with amazement written all over his face, and he cried from the depths of his soul: “God forsaken of God, who can explain that?” And Luther never wrote anything on that text.
5. But then suspended between earth and heaven a cry comes from His lips, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken Me?” Martin Luther once sat for hours (some have reported days) without food, or even disturbing his posture, gazing at those words. Then at last he rose, with amazement written all over his face, and he cried from the depths of his soul: “God forsaken of God, who can explain that?” And Luther never wrote anything on that text.
6. Mrs. Frank Breck put it down in the words of an old hymn:
6. Mrs. Frank Breck put it down in the words of an old hymn:
“O how much He was willing to bear...With what anguish and loss Jesus went to the cross...but He carried my sin with Him there!”
“O how much He was willing to bear...With what anguish and loss Jesus went to the cross...but He carried my sin with Him there!”
Jesus died alone! Singlehandedly face His death all by Himself! Dejected...Rejected...Spurned...and Hated by People He came to save! But in His dying...
Jesus died alone! Singlehandedly face His death all by Himself! Dejected...Rejected...Spurned...and Hated by People He came to save! But in His dying...
IV. He Singlehandedly Denounced Death Itself
IV. He Singlehandedly Denounced Death Itself
1. Have we truly considered what He went through for our salvation...for our joy...for our peace...our hope? After Jesus had hung some six hours on the cross He said, “I thirst!” (). By this time the blood vessels of His sacred body are almost dried up. A dreadful fever rages through His frame. His tongue is parched and cleaves to His jaw. His lips are swollen and burn like fire. The spiritual desolation through which He has just passed has practically exhausted any remaining strength.
1. Have we truly considered what He went through for our salvation...for our joy...for our peace...our hope? After Jesus had hung some six hours on the cross He said, “I thirst!” (). By this time the blood vessels of his sacred body are almost dried up. A dreadful fever rages through his frame. His tongue is parched and cleaves to his jaw. His lips are swollen and burn like fire. The spiritual desolation through which he has just passed has practically exhausted any remaining strength.
2. We have the report of a medical doctor that provides some of the physical descriptions of what it is like to be crucified. He writes, “As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push oneself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.
2. We have the report of a medical doctor that provides some of the physical descriptions of what it is like to be crucified. He writes, “As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push oneself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.
Hours of this limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.
Hours of this limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.
It is now almost over—the loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level—the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish, blood into the tissues—the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain. Jesus gasps, “I thirst.”
It is now almost over—the loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level—the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish, blood into the tissues—the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain. Jesus gasps, “I thirst.”
Moments later from the moistened lips of Jesus, who has been treated to a sip of vinegar administered on a branch of hyssop, comes the final word...the greatest single word ever uttered....”tetelestai” which is translated, “It is finished!” ().
Moments later from the moistened lips of Jesus, who has been treated to a sip of vinegar administered on a branch of hyssop, comes the final word...the greatest single word ever uttered....”tetelestai” which is translated, “It is finished!” ().
All of this He did singlehandedly....alone...even the sun refused to shine! But the upshot of it all...the climax...the result...the achievement...was Mission Accomplished! Our Lord claimed the victory! And now we can hear Him say as He defeats our Adversary...Wages of sin...go on!...don’t you come back again!
All of this He did singlehandedly....alone...even the sun refused to shine! But the upshot of it all...the climax...the result...the achievement...was Mission Accomplished! Our Lord claimed the victory! And now we can hear Him say as He defeats our Adversary...Wages of sin...go on!...don’t you come back again!
V. In His Resurrection Jesus declares Victory. Mission Accomplished!
V. He declares Victory.
He did what He came to do. It was truly a High Noon event with much greater loneliness and pathos than Will Cane ever experienced. The Devil thought he had won...but Jesus, though alone, accomplished what He came to do. Listen.
He did what He came to do. It was truly a High Noon event with much greater loneliness and pathos than Will Cane ever experienced. The Devil thought he had won...but Jesus, though alone, accomplished what He came to do. Listen.
(Andrew’s Song: High Noon).
(Andrew’s Song: High Noon).
Conclusion: And, because of what He did...you need never face a problem singlehandedly! Because of what He did...the Fear Factor has been eliminated! Because of what He did...the lonesome valley isn’t lonely anymore...there’s another set of footprints and He is there even when you don’t think He is...Someone is available to walk with you and even promised to be with you “till the end of the age!” Just like the two lonely disciples on the Emmaus Road...sad and despairing...then Jesus joined them and walked with them and ate with them and then they knew that He would always “be there.” Because of what He did any and all of life’s crises are met with more than your power alone...but your power is coupled with His might! Think of the worst possible scenario and realize that because of what He did...”even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death...you need fear no evil; because He is with you...His rod and His staff, they will comfort you! He shares the victory with whosoever responds to His invitation and His offer of life everlasting.
Conclusion: And, because of what He did...you need never face a problem singlehandedly! Because of what He did...the Fear Factor has been eliminated! Because of what He did...the lonesome valley isn’t lonely anymore...there’s another set of footprints and He is there even when you don’t think He is...Someone is available to walk with you and even promised to be with you “till the end of the age!” Just like the two lonely disciples on the Emmaus Road...sad and despairing...then Jesus joined them and walked with them and ate with them and then they knew that He would always “be there.” Because of what He did any and all of life’s crises are met with more than your power alone...but your power is coupled with His might! Think of the worst possible scenario and realize that because of what He did...”even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death...you need fear no evil; because He is with you...His rod and His staff, they will comfort you! He shares the victory with whosoever responds to His invitation and His offer of life everlasting.
Why not respond in the spirit of the words of T. L. Hargrave:
Why not respond in the spirit of the words of T. L. Hargrave:
Oh, matchless grace, that Jesus there alone
Oh, matchless grace, that Jesus there alone
On Calv’ry’s cross for sinners should atone;
To such a Friend, a Savior and a King,
Our lives for service we will gladly bring.
Why not respond in humble obedience to His loving call for you to turn from your sinful ways...
Why not respond in humble obedience to His loving call for you to turn from your sinful ways...
from your selfish priorities...
from a life of despair and frustration...
dead end and lonely streets...
Why not answer His offer of Life and that Abundantly?! This is a Whosoever Will moment! Accept Him as Savior and Crown Him as Lord and King of your life!
Why not answer His offer of Life and that Abundantly?! This is a Whosoever Will moment! Accept Him as Savior and Crown Him as Lord and King of your life!