Intro
Faced with frighteningly frigid weather, Tan activated his personal locator beacon… a story of modern day search and rescue lends a framework for our role as witnesses to His Light. (See ILLUS #1)
Cape Henry; divers spearfishing, swells capsized boat; beacon; CG; training mission; helicopter rescue.
PLB - In June this year, looking forward to a summer of boating and spearfishing with friends, ‘Tan’ Boriboune decided to spend a couple of hundred dollars on a tiny Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) to enhance onboard safety. Just a few weeks later, the ACR Electronics ResQLink 400 beacon averted a tragic end to a day on the water, proving its worth beyond doubt when a simple press of a button on the device saved his life and five fellow fishermen when their vessel capsized during heavy weather 13 miles offshore from Virginia Beach.
Lost & Location - Boat owner Kyle McKenzie and five friends, including Tan, had set off in the 24-ft Wellcraft on a late-summer Sunday on August 16th heading for the Chesapeake light tower, off the coast of Cape Henry, to spear some fish. While limiting out, a good day fishing soon turned into a nightmare when the winds started to send in larger swells while the group were spearfishing, causing water intrusion via the transom. The bilge pump struggled to keep the water out and, with the boat becoming increasingly low in the water, the engine failed to start after multiple attempts. Securing their life jackets as the boat capsized, the six mariners quickly found themselves stranded in the water, with four of the group left clinging to the hull and two managing to swim to the Chesapeake Light Tower. Among his friends with the boat, Tan thankfully was able to activate his PLB, initiating the vital link to the Coast Guard that would ensure rescue personnel could locate their position quickly and accurately.
John fulfilled role as beacon – story of Epiphany, seeing/light; Star & story of Magi.
Like John, We Point to Him
1. Locate: Look what He has done. (vs 29-34)
1.1 Look who carries the “load.”
(See ILLUS #2) Boys sank into sand, older brother lifted him
Water or Sand or Sin… loaded down, sinking, suffocating, need for saving
John Newton – Amazing Grace
1.2 Look who becomes the sacrificial target. (Is. 53:6)
OT Gospel = transference to Jesus
Forceful declaration “bright” Any Jew would connect with Passover
1.3 Look how many were saved by His unselfish act. (1 Jn 2:2)
Atoning payment = world
App: In terms of language emphasis, the burden which is born for the many all highlight the ONE who carries it away and takes the “heat.” From Beacon to Burden Bearer.
ILLUS #2 - Bryan Chapell tells this story that happened in his hometown: Two brothers were playing on the sandbanks by the river. One ran after another up a large mound of sand. Unfortunately, the mound was not solid, and their weight caused them to sink in quickly. When the boys did not return home for dinner, the family and neighbors organized a search. They found the younger brother unconscious, with his head and shoulders sticking out above the sand. When they cleared the sand to his waist, he awakened. The searchers asked, "Where is your brother?" The child replied, "I’m standing on his shoulders" With the sacrifice of his own life, the older brother lifted the younger to safety. The tangible and sacrificial love of the older brother literally served as a foundation for the younger brother’s life.
2. Listen: Hear what He has said. (vs. 35-39)
2.1 Listen in the right direction.
Disciples transition from John to Jesus
The Jewish “battery” power = Abraham in Gen 22. Locating them; bringing him.
2.2 Listen for signs of life.
God will provide. Interesting Tie to Cape Henry – training mission (See See ILLUS #1)
App: Jesus didn’t turn these new disciples away once John pointed them in His direction. He said, “Come and see.” From the moment they believed He was the Messiah, they became part of his locating team.
ILLUS #1 (continued) Training Mission - Back at the Fifth District Command Center, the alert had been received and a call was then made to secondary contact Brouk (Tan’s wife) who was able to confirm that the beacon owner went fishing with a group and also help with information about their possible location and the type of vessel. A MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew was diverted from Air Station Elizabeth City, who were conducting a training mission nearby, while Sector Virginia launched a boat crew from Station Little Creek. The helicopter rescue crew quickly arrived on-scene shortly and, about two hours after the boat had capsized, all six men were hoisted individually into the helicopter and taken to safety, with no injuries reported.
TR: Covered by his righteousness, we are called to be the Lamb’s Lamp
3. Link: Lead the Team to Him. (vs. 29,32,36,40-41)
3.1 Send the message, “We’ve found HIM!”
1 Peter 2:9 Out of darkness to light
There is only one way to be accepted by our Father in heaven (See ILLUS #3)
3.2 Show them the way to His house.
Eph 5:1-2 & 2 Cor 4:6 displayed in face of Christ EHV: person
House = church only because of Him, His Word
Conclusion:
Spiritually, we can’t plant a “personal locator beacon” on a loved one, but we can call in a rescue team: to pray and to point the way to safety.
It’s all about sharing a lifestyle of love and willingness to make the effort to look!
ILLUS #3 – A Seminary professor told of his experience on a ranch that illustrated “covered by Christ.” He said that he was visiting in South Texas and had the opportunity to visit a sheep ranch. While he was there, he spotted what he thought to be a two-headed lamb. He asked the foreman of the ranch, "Why in the world does that lamb have two heads?" The foreman smiled and said, "You are a city slicker. Let me explain what we did. The other day we had two ewes who gave birth to lambs. One of the ewes died in childbirth and one of the lambs died, also. We took the living lamb and put it in the pen with the living ewe to see if she would nurse. She smelled of the lamb and walked away. It wasn’t her own." "What did you do?" Ironside asked. "Well, we took the coat off of the dead lamb and wrapped it around the living one and put it back in the pen. When the mother smelled the blood of her very own lamb......she accepted the little lamb and began to nurse." Dr. Ironside said, "Thank you for sharing with me the greatest picture of the Cross I have ever seen. For without Christ, I am hopeless for eternity. God will not accept me into Heaven on my own works. But, when I stand before Him covered in the blood of His own Son, Jesus........He accepts me and allows me to be part of His family!"
Take the Meaning Home
The deepest meaning of this text comes in the word Lamb. Examine some passages about the sacrifice: Lev. 23:12, Isaiah 53:7, 1 Cor. 5:7, 1 Peter 1:17-21, Mark 14:12ff, 1 John 1:7-2:2
Evangelism Office – text twice a week with Scripture to remind us, who’s missing? Who needs Jesus?