Those Who Offer What They Cannot Give

Daniel 5:16-31

In this sermon we will look at three examples of someone being offered something by someone who in reality was not in the position to make it happen. Then we will compare this to the one person, Jesus Christ, who offers the greatest gift in the world and has the power to give it.

Those who offer what they cannot give:

1)  Belshazzar (Daniel 5:16-31)

• He offered Daniel fortune, fame, and power. He made good on the delivery but was killed the same night rendering his gift useless.

2)  Pilate (John 18:33-38 ; John 19:4-11)

• Pilate seems to offer Jesus possible freedom.
• Note the response of Jesus (John 19:11), the only real power comes from above.

3)  Satan (Luke 4:5-8)

• Satan does have the power to give what he offers as the passage tells us. But these things in reality belong to Jesus Christ.
• The price for having them from Satan was too high for Jesus because it would involve worshipping Satan.
• So instead of taking the easy way out Jesus decided to defeat him through the death, burial, and resurrection.

What does Jesus have to offer? (John 14:27)

Note that Jesus offers the one thing that being a king, having money, power, or fortune cannot buy, peace. The reason that he cannot offer it is because it is his to begin with and he does not offer it as the world would.

Some things about the peace that Jesus offers:

1)  The Price of his Peace (Colossians 1:20)

• The peace that Jesus offers us is by the blood of his cross.

2)  The Prerequisite of his Peace (Romans 5:1)

• To have this peace you must be justified by faith.

3)  The Power of his Peace (Philippians 4:7)

• The peace of God passes all understanding.