Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:09.429 --> 00:00:22.539
Hebrews Chapter Twelve. Just a word
about standing to hear the word read.
2
00:00:25.179 --> 00:00:29.219
I often attend during the week,
in the middle of the week, services
3
00:00:29.539 --> 00:00:33.780
at a Lutheran Church and Bisarre sin
of Lutheran Church Church where the Gospel is
4
00:00:33.859 --> 00:00:38.049
is clearly taught. Don't agree with
everything they do, but one of the
5
00:00:38.170 --> 00:00:43.250
things they do is they have people
stand for the reading of the Gospel.
6
00:00:45.409 --> 00:00:48.770
They don't require that for other portions
of scripture. I don't agree with them
7
00:00:48.810 --> 00:00:55.320
on that, but there is something
about standing for God's word and and helping
8
00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:59.520
you to see very clearly that that. I am going to be delivering a
9
00:00:59.640 --> 00:01:06.469
message this evening, but I don't
claim infallibility for my interpretation or for my
10
00:01:06.590 --> 00:01:11.670
message. But this word of God
is what you're going to be held accountable
11
00:01:11.709 --> 00:01:25.060
for, the truth that is here
in God's word. So we begin our
12
00:01:25.140 --> 00:01:32.500
reading with Hebrews Chapter Twelve and verse
one one. Therefore, since we are
13
00:01:32.540 --> 00:01:38.689
surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us also lay aside every
14
00:01:38.769 --> 00:01:42.810
weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the
15
00:01:42.849 --> 00:01:49.359
race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector
16
00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:53.599
of our faith, who for the
joy that was set before him, endured
17
00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:59.719
the cross, despising the shame,
and is seated at the right hand of
18
00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:07.069
the throne of God. Consider Him
who endured from sinners such hostility against himself,
19
00:02:08.469 --> 00:02:14.669
so that you may not grow weary
or fainthearted in your struggle against sin.
20
00:02:14.830 --> 00:02:19.979
You have not yet resisted to the
point of shedding your blood, and
21
00:02:20.139 --> 00:02:25.500
have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses
you as sons? My son, do
22
00:02:25.699 --> 00:02:30.770
not regard lightly the discipline of the
Lord, nor be weary when reproved by
23
00:02:30.810 --> 00:02:38.610
him, for the Lord disciplines the
one he loves and chastises every son whom
24
00:02:38.650 --> 00:02:45.120
he receives. It is for discipline
that you have to endure. God is
25
00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:49.039
treating you as sons, for what
son is there whom his father does not
26
00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:54.159
discipline? If you are left without
discipline and which all have participated, then
27
00:02:54.240 --> 00:03:00.509
you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly
28
00:03:00.629 --> 00:03:05.629
fathers who disciplined us, and we
respected them. Shall we not much more
29
00:03:05.949 --> 00:03:09.509
be subject to the father of spirits
and live? For they disciplined us for
30
00:03:09.550 --> 00:03:15.379
a short time, as it seemed
best to them, but he disciplines us
31
00:03:15.460 --> 00:03:20.979
for our good, that we may
share his holiness. For the moment,
32
00:03:21.300 --> 00:03:29.210
all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit
33
00:03:29.289 --> 00:03:35.810
of righteousness to those who have been
trained by it. Therefore, lift up
34
00:03:35.930 --> 00:03:40.210
your drooping hands and strengthen your weak
knees and make straight paths for your feet,
35
00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:44.800
so that what is lame may not
be put out of joint but rather
36
00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:51.639
be healed. Strive for peace with
everyone and for the holiness without which no
37
00:03:51.919 --> 00:04:23.060
one will see the Lord. Please
be seated. I titled My sermon the
38
00:04:23.259 --> 00:04:36.410
Joy of salvation, and what prompted
me to consider the subject was something that
39
00:04:36.490 --> 00:04:45.240
I caught myself doing, misquoting the
Bible. Ever caught yourself doing that?
40
00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:49.839
I'm one of these people who sits
in the Pew and listens very carefully to
41
00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:56.629
every word that the preacher says,
and my pastor back home will tell you
42
00:04:56.750 --> 00:05:00.589
that on several occasions I've gone up
to him afterwards and pointed out that he
43
00:05:00.709 --> 00:05:12.660
misspoke. I've heard preachers on the
radio misspeak this particular verse. It's found
44
00:05:12.699 --> 00:05:21.329
in the sum that we sang earlier, Psalm fifty one, and it's in
45
00:05:21.449 --> 00:05:30.930
the King James It's restore to me
the joy of THY salvation, and I'm
46
00:05:30.930 --> 00:05:36.439
going to blame the King James version
for the misquotes, because what people do
47
00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:49.149
is they say restore to me the
joy of my salvation. I've said that,
48
00:05:51.110 --> 00:05:57.069
I've heard other preachers say it.
That's not what the verse says,
49
00:05:59.629 --> 00:06:08.220
and it's significant because if we see
salvation as something that is our property,
50
00:06:09.819 --> 00:06:18.810
that we have earned, that we
have gained, I'm not sure where ever
51
00:06:19.050 --> 00:06:30.370
truly know the joy of it.
The joy of salvation is to be found
52
00:06:30.730 --> 00:06:43.360
in the Lord. We call upon
God, when we have come, confessing
53
00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:59.389
our sins and recognizing our guilt before
him, to restore us to his joy,
54
00:07:01.019 --> 00:07:12.259
to the joy of salvation. And
in our passage this evening here in
55
00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:17.689
Hebrews, Chapter Twelve, verse two, tells us that we're to be looking
56
00:07:17.810 --> 00:07:26.009
to Jesus, the founder and perfector
of our faith, who, for the
57
00:07:26.370 --> 00:07:35.360
joy that was set before him,
endured the cross, despising the shame and
58
00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:46.189
is seated at the right hand of
the throne of God. If you were
59
00:07:46.230 --> 00:07:50.029
to think to yourself right now,
what what do you really find joy in
60
00:07:57.509 --> 00:08:01.300
now, I hope that all of
you would say that you find joy in
61
00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:09.180
God, that thinking about God brings
joy to your mind. But I want
62
00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:13.170
to talk about more on an earthly
level, thinking about the sources of our
63
00:08:13.209 --> 00:08:30.920
joy. Do you find joy in
your parents, joy in your children?
64
00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:46.029
If you're married, do you find
joy in your partner? Do you find
65
00:08:46.149 --> 00:09:03.740
joy in your children? Do you
find joy in your grandchildren? And maybe
66
00:09:03.899 --> 00:09:07.299
there's someone here this evening who has
great grandchildren. I don't know that,
67
00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:13.929
but great grandchildren. I know.
One of the things about grandchildren. I
68
00:09:13.970 --> 00:09:18.370
have none, three children. If
you don't have children, you're not likely
69
00:09:18.450 --> 00:09:24.399
to have grandchildren, and even if
you have children, you don't necessarily end
70
00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:28.080
up with grandchildren. And if you
don't have grandchildren, you're very, very
71
00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:41.190
unlikely to ever grab great grandchildren.
But grandchildren can bring great joy into a
72
00:09:41.309 --> 00:09:46.710
person's life. I've observed it in
others and I guess one of the things
73
00:09:46.789 --> 00:09:54.059
about grandchildren as opposed to children is
that you can send grandchildren home, can't
74
00:09:54.059 --> 00:10:01.460
you a little different? But we
look at those things and we say that's
75
00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:18.009
that's joy. I find joy in
that. Jesus found joy when he was
76
00:10:18.090 --> 00:10:24.480
facing the cross. Now that it
should seem very strange to all of us,
77
00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:35.149
the joy that he saw was not
in the cross itself, for we
78
00:10:35.269 --> 00:10:41.269
know that they're in the garden.
He pleaded with the father, not my
79
00:10:41.590 --> 00:10:50.899
will, but THY will be done. Jesus, when he was here on
80
00:10:52.019 --> 00:10:56.379
this earth and as he exists he
will exist now throughout eternity, is both
81
00:10:56.500 --> 00:11:01.179
God and man. Fully man,
he had a will. Did you realize
82
00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:05.289
that he had a human will?
And that's what he's speaking of there when
83
00:11:05.330 --> 00:11:15.169
he says not my will, but
THY will be done. Jesus did not
84
00:11:16.769 --> 00:11:33.830
get pleasure from death, but what
that death would accomplish. That Jesus went
85
00:11:33.950 --> 00:11:48.899
to the Cross for the joy that
would be his in us. Now,
86
00:11:48.019 --> 00:12:00.820
I noticed in my study Bible here
that there are two possibilities of interpreting this
87
00:12:01.850 --> 00:12:07.769
phrase. For the joy that was
set before him. They have a second
88
00:12:07.809 --> 00:12:13.370
one here that they say is less
possible, less probable but possible, and
89
00:12:13.570 --> 00:12:16.159
they said it's in place of the
joy set before him. And what that
90
00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:22.840
reading suggest is that that Jesus was
willing to give up heaven to come and
91
00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:31.870
suffer. But I like that they
said it was less probable. I personally
92
00:12:31.870 --> 00:12:43.779
believe it's impossible, because what it
suggests is that he suffered. He chose
93
00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:48.620
to suffer instead of the joy that
would have been his if he had refused
94
00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:54.899
to die. Well, I'm here
to tell you this afternoon that if Jesus
95
00:12:56.100 --> 00:13:01.250
had refused to die, he would
have been disobedient to the father, and
96
00:13:01.289 --> 00:13:07.450
that's an impossibility. There's no way
that I can interpret this passage that way.
97
00:13:11.809 --> 00:13:20.519
It has to be that his joy
in us was so great that he
98
00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:24.799
was willing to face that cross.
And I cannot explain the cross to you
99
00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:33.909
here, when Jesus, quoting the
Psalm from the cross, says my God,
100
00:13:33.509 --> 00:13:39.750
my God, why have you forsaken
me? I cannot explain that.
101
00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:48.179
I kind of have a basic,
kind of grasp of the perimeters of the
102
00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:54.419
Trinity, that we must always believe
that there is one God, but that
103
00:13:54.500 --> 00:14:00.250
we must also believe that the father
is God, that the son is God,
104
00:14:01.649 --> 00:14:11.320
that the Holy Spirit is God.
But what Jesus went through on that
105
00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:26.870
cross was so that we might know
the forgiveness of sins. And so the
106
00:14:26.990 --> 00:14:33.350
writer to the Hebrews goes on to
say, consider him who endeared, endured
107
00:14:33.509 --> 00:14:39.259
from sinners such hostility against himself,
so that you may not grow weary or
108
00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:46.779
fainthearted. He points out to his
readers here that they have not resisted to
109
00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:56.889
the point of blood shedding. Block
that God brings disciplines into our lives,
110
00:14:58.049 --> 00:15:09.039
difficult things, but the things that
God calls us to endure, could they
111
00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:18.679
ever compare to what Jesus had to
endure when bad things happened to us,
112
00:15:20.509 --> 00:15:24.269
and someone wrote a book about that, when bad things happened to good people?
113
00:15:24.950 --> 00:15:28.789
Well, speaking as a calvinist,
I think there's a problem with the
114
00:15:28.870 --> 00:15:37.059
categories there. There are no good
people in themselves and the bad things that
115
00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:46.899
happened to us here are nothing compared
to what we deserve. But we are
116
00:15:46.059 --> 00:15:52.090
called upon to endure very difficult trials
in this life. Look at job,
117
00:15:54.690 --> 00:16:07.120
look what he went through, the
loss of his property, those things could
118
00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:18.549
be replaced. The loss of his
children. I've not had to experience that.
119
00:16:18.669 --> 00:16:25.830
I know people who have, who've
lost a child. I cannot imagine
120
00:16:25.909 --> 00:16:30.470
what that would be like. My
youngest daughter wants me to live as old
121
00:16:30.549 --> 00:16:33.539
as my uncle did, but an
uncle lived to be a hundred and four
122
00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:37.460
and she said she wants me to
live that long and I told her,
123
00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:41.700
I said, Alicia, I'm not
sure I want to live on that Earth,
124
00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:45.019
this earth, that long. And
she said why, Daddy, and
125
00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:48.850
I said well, for one thing, I'm not sure all three of my
126
00:16:48.929 --> 00:16:56.610
children will still be living and you
don't want to outlive your children, but
127
00:16:56.730 --> 00:17:06.240
it happens. You don't want to
go through some of the very painful experiences
128
00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:21.430
of life, but they do occur
and some of those things come into our
129
00:17:21.549 --> 00:17:36.579
lives to discipline us. I never
seek to place myself in a position of
130
00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:42.059
judging the trials that come into the
lives of others. There people. It's
131
00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:47.250
interesting. I paint houses for a
living and when people think of me,
132
00:17:47.450 --> 00:17:49.730
how this painter, they talk to
me one way. When they find out
133
00:17:49.769 --> 00:17:56.130
I'm a preacher, they'll talk to
me entirely different and people will ask me
134
00:17:56.170 --> 00:18:00.240
questions about but why did why this? Why that? And some of the
135
00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:10.440
questions sometimes even have about their personal
lives. Why did this happen? And
136
00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:15.630
I don't have those answers. But
I do know that for a believer,
137
00:18:17.509 --> 00:18:26.750
nothing comes into your life except that
which God has planned and the things that
138
00:18:26.869 --> 00:18:30.539
we suffer in this life are temporal. Take Job for an example, something
139
00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:34.900
I realized that the teenager was fascinating. Someone pointing this out to me that
140
00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:38.859
when job is restored at the end
of the book, and I'm giving away
141
00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:41.529
the end of the book. If
you haven't read it, do read it
142
00:18:41.609 --> 00:18:45.930
if you get a chance. Job, at the end of the book is
143
00:18:47.569 --> 00:19:00.400
all of his property is restored,
the camels, the donkeys, everything twofold.
144
00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:07.400
He ended up with trice as much
stuff as he's very rich man to
145
00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.880
start with. He end up with
twice as much stuff in the end.
146
00:19:10.549 --> 00:19:18.589
The Lord blessed him except for one
thing, well, two things. He
147
00:19:18.750 --> 00:19:26.180
still only had one wife, but
children. He got the same number of
148
00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:36.460
children until someone pointed out to me
that was telling job that your children are
149
00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:45.250
alive, they're in heaven there with
the Lord and the number of your children
150
00:19:45.369 --> 00:19:51.529
is doubled. What a beautiful assurance. If you do go through such a
151
00:19:51.650 --> 00:19:56.880
tragic event as to lose some one, well you don't really lose them.
152
00:19:57.599 --> 00:20:04.039
There's a man back in sterling someone
after his wife died. They approached him
153
00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:07.910
in the restaurant. He was there
in the local restaurant and came over to
154
00:20:07.990 --> 00:20:11.630
him and said I was really sorry
to hear that you lost your wife,
155
00:20:11.710 --> 00:20:15.710
and he looked Guy Straight and then
I says I didn't lose my wife.
156
00:20:15.710 --> 00:20:26.900
I know exactly where she is.
But when we look for a source of
157
00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:38.049
joy, where are we going to
find it? Turn with me to first
158
00:20:38.089 --> 00:21:00.880
Peter Chapter Four. First Peter Chapter
Four and and verses twelve through fourteen.
159
00:21:03.829 --> 00:21:11.309
Beloved, do not be surprised at
the fiery trial when it comes upon you,
160
00:21:11.509 --> 00:21:17.509
to test you as though something strange
were happening to you, but rejoice,
161
00:21:18.430 --> 00:21:22.339
in so far as you share Christ's
sufferings, that you may also rejoice
162
00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:30.099
and be glad when his glory is
revealed. If you are insulted for the
163
00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:34.410
name of Christ, you are blessed
because the spirit of glory and of God
164
00:21:36.890 --> 00:21:48.759
rests upon you, suffering for Christ's
sake. Again, I don't know how
165
00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:55.920
much that's happened to you. Peter
goes on to talk about people who suffer
166
00:21:56.000 --> 00:22:02.349
because of their own crimes, as
an evildoer, and that's that's not got
167
00:22:02.390 --> 00:22:07.549
a reward attached to it, but
suffering for Christ. And I can't help
168
00:22:07.670 --> 00:22:12.670
but believe, because of the patterns
that I have seen in our culture here
169
00:22:12.710 --> 00:22:19.740
in America and worldwide, that the
time is very near when more and more
170
00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:25.380
believers are going to be called upon
to suffer for the sake of Christ.
171
00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:36.170
Might not be thrown in jail or
physically abused, but you might lose a
172
00:22:36.250 --> 00:22:48.279
job, you might lose friends over
it, you might find yourself isolated.
173
00:22:52.160 --> 00:23:03.750
But if it's for the name of
Christ, you're blessed, because God's spirit
174
00:23:04.190 --> 00:23:12.259
of glory rests upon you. Turn
with me to Peter Chapter One. Now
175
00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:30.410
for s Peter Chapter One and verses
three through nine. Blessed be the God
176
00:23:30.650 --> 00:23:34.450
and father of our Lord, Jesus
Christ. According to his great mercy,
177
00:23:34.569 --> 00:23:40.730
he has caused us to be born
againto a living hope, through the resurrection
178
00:23:40.849 --> 00:23:45.680
of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled
179
00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:51.599
and unfading, kept in heaven for
you, who, by God's power,
180
00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:57.910
are being guarded through faith for a
salvation ready to be revealed in the last
181
00:23:57.910 --> 00:24:04.190
time. In this you rejoice,
though now, for a little while if
182
00:24:04.349 --> 00:24:11.859
necessary. You have been greed by
various trials so that the tested genuineness of
183
00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:18.700
your faith, more precious than gold
that perishes though it is tested by fire,
184
00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:25.890
may be found to result in praise
and glory and honor at the revelation
185
00:24:26.250 --> 00:24:33.009
of Jesus Christ. Though you have
not seen him, you love him,
186
00:24:33.170 --> 00:24:38.920
though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with
187
00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:48.559
joy that is inexpressible and build with
glory obtaining the outcome of your faith,
188
00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:56.829
the salvation of your souls. Concerning
this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about
189
00:24:56.829 --> 00:25:03.029
the grace that was to to be
yours searched and inquired, carefully, inquiring
190
00:25:03.150 --> 00:25:07.700
what persons are. TIMES, the
spirit of Christ in them was indicating when
191
00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:14.299
he predicted the sufferings of Christ and
the subsequent glory. It was revealed to
192
00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:18.619
them that they were serving not themselves
but you, in the things that have
193
00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:25.210
now been announced to you through those
who preached the good news to you by
194
00:25:25.250 --> 00:25:32.490
the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,
things into which the angels long to look.
195
00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:45.119
I've never seen Jesus. I don't
know if any of you would claim
196
00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:52.549
that you had ever physically seen Jesus
with your own eyes, but you believe
197
00:25:52.670 --> 00:26:02.109
in him, you believe in the
one whom you have not seen, and
198
00:26:02.390 --> 00:26:22.089
you rejoice. There is joy,
a joy that is inexpressible, a joy
199
00:26:22.289 --> 00:27:08.019
that is wonderful. Now, finally, John Chapter Sixteen, beginning with birth.
200
00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:14.539
Sixteen. John Sixteen, beginning with
birth, sixteen, Jesus speaking to
201
00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:25.690
his disciples there the night before before
he dies, a little while and you
202
00:27:25.730 --> 00:27:29.890
will see me no longer, and
again a little while and you will see
203
00:27:29.930 --> 00:27:34.880
me. So some of his disciples
said to one another, what is this
204
00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:37.920
that he says to us? A
little while and you will not see me,
205
00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:41.680
and again a little while and you
will see me, and because I
206
00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:47.029
am going to the father. So
they were saying, what does he mean
207
00:27:47.269 --> 00:27:52.470
by a little while? We do
not know what he's talking about. Jesus
208
00:27:52.589 --> 00:27:57.349
knew that they wanted to ask him. So he said to them. Is
209
00:27:57.579 --> 00:28:03.220
this what you are asking yourselves what
I mean by saying a little while and
210
00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:07.019
you will not see me, and
again a little while and you will see
211
00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:12.329
me truly, truly, I say
to you, you will weep and lament,
212
00:28:14.529 --> 00:28:18.970
but the world will rejoice. You
will be sorrowful, but your sorrow
213
00:28:19.009 --> 00:28:26.369
will turn into joy. When a
woman is giving birth, she has sorrow
214
00:28:26.569 --> 00:28:30.359
because her hour has come, but
when she has delivered the baby, she
215
00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:37.039
no longer remembers the anguish for the
joy that a human being has borne born
216
00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:42.069
into the world. So also,
you have sorrow for now, but I
217
00:28:42.230 --> 00:28:48.670
will see you again and your hearts
will rejoice and no one will take your
218
00:28:48.710 --> 00:28:53.349
joy from you. In that day, you will ask nothing of me,
219
00:28:55.190 --> 00:28:57.619
truly, truly, I say to
you, whatever you ask of the father
220
00:28:57.819 --> 00:29:02.339
in my name, he will give
it to you. Till now you have
221
00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:10.009
asked nothing in my name. Ask
and you will receive that your joy maybe
222
00:29:10.170 --> 00:29:22.289
full. When Jesus there speaks about
the birth of a child, I take
223
00:29:22.369 --> 00:29:26.519
that quite personally. Now I'm not
claiming I have ever given birth to a
224
00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:30.039
child. Don't get me wrong,
I'm not confused about that, but I
225
00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:37.799
was actually present. I have five
sisters and my father was not in the
226
00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:41.430
delivery room for one of his birth
I was in the delivery room for all
227
00:29:41.589 --> 00:29:52.019
three of my children's births and the
difficulty that is involved in giving birth,
228
00:29:52.059 --> 00:30:04.579
the sorrow that he talks about,
is real. But once that baby is
229
00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:12.049
delivered, I got to stand there
and see the look on my wife's face
230
00:30:12.170 --> 00:30:25.240
when she was handed that little baby
and the delight. and Jesus is telling
231
00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:33.559
his disciples you're going to go through
some very difficult things and for them there
232
00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:38.029
was going to come a time when
the world would be rejoicing those who had
233
00:30:38.589 --> 00:30:49.660
persecuted Jesus and wanted to see him
dead. And the disciples who ran.
234
00:30:52.859 --> 00:31:00.660
Only one of them, John was
present to actually witness the crucifixion of Jesus,
235
00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:12.410
standing there with Jesus Mother Mary.
The joy that was theirs, though,
236
00:31:14.450 --> 00:31:19.519
when they saw the risen Lord,
and the joy that is going to
237
00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:26.720
be yours and mind when we stand
in the presence of our risen Lord,
238
00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:36.470
when he raises US bodily from the
dead, or if we're doubly blest and
239
00:31:36.589 --> 00:31:40.230
we happened to be living at the
time of his return, were changed in
240
00:31:40.309 --> 00:31:49.779
a moment. Do not have to
experience death. That joy, that joy
241
00:31:51.019 --> 00:32:12.329
makes it all worthwhile, just as
the joy that Christ has in every sinner
242
00:32:12.490 --> 00:32:22.839
that repents and comes in faith to
him. Jesus said there's more joy in
243
00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:34.990
heaven among the angels over one sinner
that repents. And yet we're told here,
244
00:32:36.750 --> 00:32:40.190
the told in our passage, that
the angels seek to look into those
245
00:32:40.230 --> 00:32:52.059
things and they can't comprehend them.
And the reason they can't comprehend them is
246
00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:57.740
that they have never been sinners.
Holy Angels Have Never Been Sinners, they've
247
00:32:57.819 --> 00:33:08.170
never been guilty, they've never been
lost, and they look at a mate
248
00:33:08.250 --> 00:33:22.839
in amazement as God takes sinners such
as us and makes us saints and ultimately
249
00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:37.549
will perfect us. If you can't
find joy in your current circumstances, can
250
00:33:37.630 --> 00:34:00.170
you not find joy in your ultimate
destination? Let's look to God in prayer.
251
-->
