PONDERING... What If Your Life Stinks Right Now? (Psalm 31:1-13)

VIDEO

What If Your Life Stinks Right Now? (AM Sermon Notes)

GIST: Remind yourself of the truth of who Jesus is in your life and commit yourself wholeheartedly to Him who committed Himself to saving you!

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 31:1-13

Today, we’re starting our third “Summer in Psalms”. I love this time of year, and I love diving into these psalms with you. As I’ve said each year, this will not be a fast process. In fact, when I did some rough estimating at one point, I figured it might take us about...15 summers ☺️. However, I don’t want this introduction to feel like it took that long as well, so let’s just dive into our passage for this morning ☺️. 

We’re going to look at the first portion of Psalm 31.  My driving question for our discussion today is: What if your life stinks right now? However, I think we’ll be able to see that though these verses speak especially to that condition (one that is very common for mankind by the way ☺️), the truths they’re presenting are ones we need to be reminded of no matter the circumstances. And the truths laid out here aren’t new to most of us. In fact, I feel like we addressed several of them last week even ☺️. Being honest with you, sometimes when I notice that, the teacher in me wants to try and make sure it sounds different than the week before. Then, I’m reminded of two very important truths. 1) You probably don’t remember what I preached last week anyway ☺️. 2. If God has led me to a passage that expresses something we’ve recently addressed, clearly we still need to hear it! So, here’s our gist for today. In times that make you very aware of your lack of control: Remind yourself of the truth of who Jesus is in your life and commit yourself wholeheartedly to Him who committed Himself to saving you! Let’s break that down. First→ 

I. Remind Yourself Of The Truth (1-4)

Look at how he starts here. “1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!” He starts by saying he’s done this. He’s taken refuge, found safety and belonging, in God. But then he basically asks God to be who He is and come to his rescue. I really think this speaks to David’s condition while writing this. He knows the truth, but he needs to be assured of it. Why? Because he lived in this broken world too. 

I love where he goes next. “2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!” Please listen and come rescue me quickly. Be my place of safety and protection and belonging because… you already are ☺️!  “3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; 4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.” See how he is reminding Himself of this core truth here? ‘Please be who I know You are. I know You can’t be anyone else, and the world needs to see You, and You have poured out your redeeming love.’ We need to remember this and tell ourselves this. Our world is constantly changing. God is constant. Remember Him, and→ 

II. Commit Yourself To Jesus (5-8)

This first part might sound familiar. “5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.” These were among the last words spoken by Jesus (Luke 24:46). That actually throws a whole different light on this psalm for me. Jesus spoke these words and then took His last breath on the cross, so we could speak these words with complete confidence. See, there’s a call to commitment and an expectation of God’s faithfulness. Because Jesus conquered sin through His resurrection, we can commit our lives wholeheartedly to the one who redeemed us, the one who rescued us from ultimate destruction! That “redeem me” part has been fulfilled, and that “faithful God” part never changes. How about our side? Have you committed yourself to God? 

Verses 6-8 gives us a little picture of what that will look like. “6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD. 7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, 8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.” Let me break this down just a bit. If we’re committed to God, we’ll:

1. Trust in the Lord instead of devoting our lives to empty pursuits. In fact, the language here is strong. It says he hates empty worship, the worship of anything except the One true God. And we know this could be the worship of false gods, which though not as common in our immediate area is still a reality in our world today; or it could be the worship of material possessions, professional pursuits, personal relationships...etc which we set up as our gods. David hates these. Some ancient manuscripts actually seem to have the pronoun here referring to God hating this which is also true, because all such pursuits are not just alternatives of preference, they are paths to Hell. We spoke of this just a few weeks ago. If you worship emptiness, you will come up empty. Instead, like David, we are called to throw off our selfish idols and trust wholeheartedly in the Lord as we→ 

2. Rejoice in His love and provision. His love that doesn’t leave us in times of affliction and distress. His provision that doesn’t leave us to our enemies, but instead gives us a firm and safe foundation to stand on. Guys, that’s a picture of salvation! We have this new hope in the face of whatever comes because death has lost its sting! Our ultimate enemy is the sin within us that condemns us, and He took that condemnation in our place, so we can rejoice and be glad! How do we face devastation? Remember Him. Commit to Him. And→ 

III. Experience Hope Because Of His Sacrifice (9-13)

I want to wrap up this morning by looking at these next few verses in a couple of different ways. First, we see that David lays out what his condition was at the time of writing this psalm.

“9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. 10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. 11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. 12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. 13 For I hear the whispering of many-- terror on every side!-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.” We don’t know the details of what he was facing, but we know from our study of God’s Word that David had many times when his life was in jeopardy. This psalm which screams, “I will trust you with everything!” was written in one such time. To me, that’s incredibly encouraging because that’s not always my reaction when times our going down the drain. But it should be ours. In fact, even more than David, we should be able to say this because Jesus fulfilled this perspective ultimately for us.

Remember, Jesus quoted this psalm right before He died. Though He only quoted one verse, it was common practice to do that as a way of referencing the whole text. So look at these verses again in that light.

“9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.” Do you hear echoes of Jesus in the garden here praying before facing Hell for you? 

“10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.” He had no iniquity of His own, but He took on the sins of the world. Before that, He faced persecutions and hardships we’ve never had to because He loves us that much. 

“11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. 12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. 13 For I hear the whispering of many-- terror on every side!-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.” He was despised and rejected to bring you hope. This was David’s condition, but it was Jesus’s position in a far more meaningful way, and because it was, this cry of confidence can be ours! 

I’m not going to cover these verses this morning, but I want to leave you with what the psalm says next to wrap this up with a final encouragement and as a bit of a sneak peek for next week ☺️. This should be our heart no matter the circumstances. “14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." 15 My times are in your hand... ”.

Let’s recap in our→ 

TAKEAWAYS

1. In all life’s moments, you need to speak God’s truth to your heart. This is a lot like what we said last week as we wrapped up James. Regardless of your external circumstances, be they awesome or terrible, you need your perspective redirected to His truth. That being said, do this! Actually remind yourself of who He is and what He’s done and what His promises mean to your life. That’s what we see David doing here, and that’s modeled all throughout Scripture. Don’t let empty voices speak into your heart. Be deliberate about filling it with the saving truth of Jesus.
2. This truth will call you to actual commitment. When Jesus committed Himself to God the Father on the cross, it wasn’t a halfhearted affair. Those weren’t just words He uttered. He gave everything and took on Hell in our place. That’s amazing grace poured out in amazing love. We’re called to follow after Him and love Him and others with the same kind of wholehearted love.
3. This commitment will result in true HOPE which Jesus secured for you! There is hope in no other. We can live with Him because He died for us. We can cry out like this knowing He hears because He already conquered Hell in our place!

PONDERING... Do You Care About The Crucifixion? (Mark 15:16-39)

VIDEO
Do You Care About The Crucifixion? (AM Sermon Notes)

GIST: We should because the love of Jesus, shown on the cross, transformed despair and destruction into hope.

SCRIPTURE: Mark 15:16-39

“16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”- John 3:16

16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.

21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” -Mark 15:16-39

I told you last week that every passage we would cover from this point forward would be of the familiar variety. This is likely the most familiar of any: the crucifixion of Jesus! Walk down the streets of Bonne Terre today and you would be hard pressed to find someone who did not know Jesus was crucified. In fact, you would also be hard pressed to find someone who did not know, at least intellectually, that this was done for the sins of the world. Now, they might not believe this, but they’ve likely heard it. In fact, in the times I’ve gone out sharing the Gospel in this community, I have only encountered one person who said they had never heard it before. Nonetheless, hearing something and being transformed by it are not one and the same.

Over the past several months as I’ve been reading over these passages again and again, I’ve continued to get emotional as I’ve read this section. He didn’t deserve any of this, yet did it for us. I think it’s fitting that we’re coming to this passage on Memorial Day weekend. This holiday is set aside to remember those who have sacrificed for this country's freedom. For that, we are truly thankful. Today, then, we’re going to look at the most significant sacrifice of all time. That is not hyperbole. Jesus’ crucifixion changed the world. Had He not given His life and taken it up again three days later, no one would ever be saved. We would live in this sin-filled world without hope of salvation and destined, in our own sinfulness, for an eternity in Hell.

There are many ways we could walk through this passage today. However, this week the transformations we see in the passage struck me the most, so I want to walk through looking at these transformations. The gist? We should care about the crucifixion because the love of Jesus, shown on the cross, transformed despair and destruction into hope.

I. MOCKERY→ TRUTH

At the beginning of this passage Jesus has been delivered by Pilate to be crucified. Rather than go straight to that, however, the Roman battalion (probably around 600 men) decides to “have fun with Him” first. It’s disgraceful.

King of the Jews! (18, 26) Knowing that the charge against Him was that He claimed to be the King of the Jews, they capitalized on that and paraded Him around in mock-royal apparel deriding Him, spitting on Him, and beating Him.

They then take Him to be crucified. Prisoners were expected to carry the cross beam to the crucifixion, but after His scourging and additional beatings (both here and by the high priests), He was unable. So they call out a man from the crowd, Simon of Cyrene, to do it for Him. We’re not given anything else about this man here, but are told that he was the father of Alexander and Rufus. We don’t know these names, but the reason they are included is because the original audience would have. That is how eyewitness accounts were used in ancient writings. It’s speculation, but if the early church knew this family, it seems they were part of the church! That’s a side note, but man what a transformation that points to as well, from stranger in the crowd to part of the family! That’s the Gospel!

He then arrives at Golgotha and is offered wine mixed with myrrh, likely by some of His followers because this was meant to numb the pain, but He refused. We’re then given the sadly familiar scene of Jesus on the cross while those below Him cast lots for His clothing. And what is the charge written above His head? “26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.”

So here’s the first major transformation, right? They threw out this designation as a taunt. Little did they know, it was 100% true. Jesus really is the King of the Jews...and everyone else too! He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Rebuild the Temple! (29) Likewise, we’re told “29...those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,” Again, this is meant as a taunt. They are mocking Him. But He’s literally about to do just that! Remember last week when we talked about this accusation against Jesus? When He made this remarks, He actually said. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”(John 2:19) and was referring to His body. They are using this as a taunt, but that is just what He’s about to do! They are destroying His body, but in 3 days, He will rise again!

Save Yourself! (30-32) Then in verses 30-32 the mockery continues, “30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.” Just like Satan’s temptation in the garden, this crowd calls for Jesus to save Himself. Of course, the implication is that if He were really able to do all the reports had said, surely He could rescue Himself, but as He is not, those must reports be false. He had the power to call down a legion of angels and really show them what was up, but He doesn’t. Why? Remember what He said in John 10? “11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” He doesn’t save Himself because He came to save us!

II. DARKNESS→ LIGHT

In this next section, we see, again, how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament as He transforms darkness into light.

Sky(33) The most obvious example of this is literal darkness, right? In verse 33, we’re told that in the middle of the day, the sky went completely black. It is worth noting that often in the Old Testament, darkness like this represents judgment. Only here, God is taking the judgment upon Himself! Does this remind you of any particular Old Testament passage? I guarantee it would have rung a bell for all the Jews in Jerusalem who were there to celebrate what? Passover! Why is it called passover? When God was rescuing Israel from Egypt, He sent ten plagues to punish the Egyptians. The ninth plague was darkness so dark it could be felt. Then, the final plague came and the firstborn of every house died--except for those who had marked their doorposts with the blood of a sacrificed lamb! (Exodus 10-11)

We’ve been talking about this. This all is happening during Passover, and Jesus is the ultimate Passover Lamb! In Exodus, there was hope in the midst of the darkness because of God’s provision of a lamb. On the cross, Jesus brought true and lasting hope to all who believe, even in the midst of this great darkness!

Cry (34) For Jesus, this darkness was so much more than physical. Remember, on the cross, He is taking our punishment. He is enduring Hell for us. In this darkness, this separation from God the Father which goes beyond our human understanding, Jesus cries out, “34b Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” What is He doing? Some of the bystanders thought He was crying out for Elijah to come and rescue Him because there was a tradition that Elijah would do this for innocent sufferers.Yes, He is crying out in agony, but His cry is not random, nor is He calling out for Elijah. He’s quoting Scripture! Specifically, He is quoting the opening lines from Psalm 22. This would have been familiar to not only Jesus who loved Scripture, but to all the Jews standing around who would have grown up singing the psalms. This is a psalm about an innocent sufferer, and the parallels are uncanny. Just consider a few verses here:

“1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?...6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”... 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—17 I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

Does that sound familiar? It’s astonishing. And in Jesus’ cry, He is saying, “This is Me!” But the psalm doesn’t end with suffering. Neither does the cross! Look at how it wraps up:

“23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.”

The sky was dark. He cried out and died. As I’ve studied this, it has been pointed out again and again that this ending was not typical. Usually by the time people died from crucifixion, they were so worn that they didn’t have the strength to speak. Yet, Jesus cried out and gave up His life! As He had foretold, it wasn’t taken from Him! The centurion standing by, took note of this, and declared that He was the Son of God. Jesus died on the cross, yet, in three days, the darkness would be defeated when He rises from the dead defeating sin. The Light of the World took on our darkness. In His suffering, hope was purchased for us.

III. TORN→ SECURED

I will be brief on this final point, but it is so worth noting. We have seen mockery replaced with truth, and darkness replaced with light, and finally we see what is torn replaced with what is secured.

His Body & Separation. First, this is observed in Jesus’ physical torment. His body is torn for us. Yet, on a far more significant level, He was torn from the Father. God cannot look upon sin, because as a holy and just God, He hates it; He hates that which destroys us and separates us from His love, so when Jesus takes on our sin, the Father turns His face from His Son and pours out His wrath against Him. This is mind blowing. God is punishing Himself in our place. What love!

Curtain (38). What does this accomplish? Well less we miss it, God also provides a picture for us. In verse 38 we’re told, “38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” This curtain which separated man from the presence of God in the temple was torn...from the top to the bottom. God did this. The separation was remove. Now, all who believe in Jesus and give Him control of their lives will have direct access! The veil was torn, and eternal security bought for all who believe! Amen! Amen! Amen!

TAKEAWAYS

1. The cross demonstrated love. “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

2. The cross transformed despair & destruction. In the midst of their lies and mockery, He was truth. In the midst of this great darkness, He was bringing light. Through His pain, and suffering, and separation from God the Father, He brought security for all who would believe.

3. The cross brought hope. Without Him, there is none! Come to Him today!

PONDERING... The Love that Waited and the Illness that Leads to Life. (The Resurrection of Lazarus Part 1:vs 1-6)

Disclaimer: This is a very famous passage of scripture, and will be addressed in several parts. However, I do not want to take for granted that everyone is familiar with how this passage ends. This is the account of Jesus raising Lazarus, His friend, from the dead. In the account, we learn that Jesus allowed this all to happen for a purpose. Lazarus died, and Jesus brought Him back...teaching us, and those who witnessed the event, much about Himself.

John 11:1-6  Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.  2  It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.  3  So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."  4  But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."  5  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  6  So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Opening Thought:

 How do you know if someone loves you? Do they tell you? Are they just always there when you need them? Do they seem to know you better then anybody else? Or, is there just something about them that gives you a sense of security....a warm fuzzy :D? 

We could probably all make a bunch of lists with variants of..."I know someone loves me because they make me feel loved." Processes are different, but this will always be the end result.

What would likely not be on any of our lists would be: "I knew he/she loved me when they deliberately chose not to show up when I needed them most." 

On that note...

1. We know Jesus loved these people.

First, let's just get this out: Jesus loves everyone. That love, so powerful and undeserved, is in no way diminished by its universal quality. However, the love with which He loved this family was a special experience of His incarnation. They were His intimate friends while here on the earth. He cared for them; He enjoyed being with them. Now, it is easy to say Jesus loved these people, but unless there is a basis for the claim, it's just an empty claim. It's not. Here's a few things that point to the love He had (has) for them.

a- This is not the only mention of them in the Bible. Only John records this miracle. Likely, this is because (as we'll see later) the Jews were seeking to kill Lazarus and he was likely still living when the other gospels were penned (This has also been mentioned as the why Mary and Martha are not explicitly mentioned in all the gospels. They lived near Jerusalem--a dangerous place for followers of Christ). Nonetheless, the family is mentioned, in some way, by each writer--especially in regards to Mary's anointing of Jesus. Now, the name Mary is problematic in the Bible because there are several ladies that bear that name. Nonetheless, we see the following accounts of this family, at least: Mary Anoints Jesus: Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1-8, Jesus at Mary and Martha's House: Luke 10:38-42, The Resurrection of Lazarus: John 11

b- Mary's anointing of Jesus was known. As Jesus prophesied (see Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9), people told the story of Mary's care for Jesus. This account was so well known, that John refers to Mary as the one "who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair" (vs 2) before he even recorded the account (John 12). This is remembered as a sign of deep love for Christ.

c-They don't give Lazarus' name. When they send for Christ, they call Lazarus the one whom you love.

d-Jesus is moved to tears. Though He knew that Lazarus' life was about to be restored (more on this later) He wept.

e-The Bible tells us. See vs 5 as one example.

2. Because of this love, He did not come.

That being established, we see something very strange in verse 6...the word SO. Now, as an English guy (and it's in the Greek too), I can't jump over a word like that. The word "so" can mean different things, but in this context it implies consequence. It is like saying: I am allergic to oxygen SO breathing is tough...or... A 6X6 post fell on my head, SO I have a concussion. 

So... (:D)  look at the passage.   5  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  6  So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

It is because of the love He has for them that He does not go immediately to help. This does not fit into our human perspective.

3. Why?

There are a few things we can see.

1. Waiting ensured that Lazarus would be veritably dead. If he'd only been dead a short time, it could have been have been argued that he'd never really died. Even if He had not delayed 2 days, Lazarus would have been dead 2 days when He arrived. However, from what I understand, there was a superstition that said a soul stayed around the body for up to the first 3 days. Jesus did not want this lie to make people miss His truth.

2. He used this to teach much about Himself (See next week's lesson).

3. It wasn't about them... it was for God's Glory. This is the key. Look at verse 4. 4  But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." The same is true for us today.

Two points of application:

1. God's Time is Best! We want things now! Patience, though a virtue, is not something many of us possess....especially in our "on demand" culture. Yet, God doesn't work that way. He knows everything. He sees everything. Because He loves us, sometimes He will seemed to delay or deny what we think we need. This is always done in His plan and for His Glory.

2. This Illness does not Lead to Death! Though we won't necessarily experience an earthly resurrection like Lazarus, we will be resurrected to eternal life! 

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  18  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.-2 Corinthians 4:17-18

The Westminster confession says (paraphrase to follow) that the highest goal for man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. There is much truth in that statement. We are to love and serve God. Our life circumstances are to do no less. He has a purpose fueled by love (for He is love). Even when we encounter hardships that just don't make sense to us, we must never forget this!

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions!

PONDERING... John 10:30-42

John 10:30-42  I and the Father are one."  31  The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.  32  Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?"  33  The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God."  34  Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?  35  If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—  36  do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?  37  If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;  38  but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."  39  Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.  40  He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.  41  And many came to him. And they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true."  42  And many believed in him there.

The setting here is crucial. Jesus has just explained His sheep vs non-sheep metaphor making it abundantly clear that He is claiming to be God. The Jews, taking this as blasphemy (calling yourself God, if you are not, is the highest offense), are preparing to stone Him. This isn't metaphorical, or mental. They have rocks in their hands! Because of Jesus' disposition, and due to the distanced way we tend to read the Bible, it is easy to miss this vital point. This entire discourse is happening while stones are raised to be thrown. This scene is intense and deadly. Let's not miss that!

I. Why do they want to kill Him? 

30 I and the Father are one."  31  The Jews picked up stones again to stone him

1. He is God.

I think, as Christians, we have become so comfortable with the truth of Jesus as God, or at least I hope it is truth to you and not merely a notion, that we sometimes forget how controversial this is. To claim to be God is huge. If you're not God and you claim this, you're crazy. If you are God and you claim this, I better be listening. These Jews had been waiting for a Messiah, one that would ride in and save their people physically...a warrior. They were not expecting Jesus. They did have a healthy respect for God. Unfortunately, they had transplanted truths about God with teaching made by men. So, they missed Him. When Jesus shows up claiming to be God, they are deeply offended. This is blasphemy...a capital crime.

II. How did Jesus respond?

1. Points to what He's doing.

32  Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?"  33  The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God."

Now remember, rocks are being held here. I've heard it taught that this whole discourse is a sort of distraction to buy Jesus some time. That could be, but it is nonetheless purposeful. He calls into question their motivations first while pointing them back to Himself. He asks them which one of the miraculous signs they are stoning Him for. They, of course, say it is not the signs, but His blasphemous words. Interestingly, they do not deny the signs.

2. Points out why He, above all others, can be called God.

34  Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?  35  If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—  36  do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 

In the next staments, we see Jesus' view of the Bible...that is cannot be broken; it is completely true (we have discussed this at length before). Then, Jesus makes this statement that could be really confusing. He says that in the Bible, God, big G, calls people gods, little g. Now, first there is a semantic difference between a "god" and the God. Fake vs Real. But, what is a Jesus talking about here?

He's quoting Psalm 82. This Psalm addresses the rulers of Israel who had not been ruling justly. They were thus called "because of their authority and power; and because they do, in some sort, represent the divine majesty, in the government of nations and kingdoms"- Gill. 

He's pointing out that the word god had been used to speak of people who were definitely not God. In fact, people who had not even done their jobs well. Why, then, is it wrong to call the only one "whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world(vs 36)" God?

3. Appeals again that they believe.

37  If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;  38  but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."  

Then, we see more Amazing Grace. These people are trying to kill Him, and He asks them to believe. He appeals to them. 'If you won't hear my words, consider the signs. So, by them you may then realize the truth.' In the face of death, He hasn't stopped loving them.

4. Leaves.

39  Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.  40  He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.  

Let's not miss the miraculous here. How did Jesus manage to escape the mob? It was not yet His hour!

III. What happened when He left?

41  And many came to him. And they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true."  42  And many believed in him there.

1. He still preached

First, let's note what He didn't do. He didn't, as I may have been tempted, just give up. He went to back to this place not to just "chill", but He continued to teach. How do we know this? Because many believed. Believed what? If He wasn't teaching, what were they believing?

2. And there was a difference

a. Signs vs Preaching

All we know this second group was exposed to was John's and Jesus' teaching. They may have witnessed a miraculous sign, but we don't know that for sure. All we know is that they heard from John (though they saw no sign from him), recognized in Jesus the fulfillment of what they heard, and believed in Him!

The Jewish leaders had seen and heard, but would not believe.

b. Person vs Society

In my English classes, we talk about different types of conflicts in literature. One of the popular conflicts that has gotten a lot of lime-light of late is Person vs Society. Here, your character or characters fight against the, usually repressive, status quo. It's man against the world! Odds are overcome, and the world becomes a better place...etc. These stories, especially in our incredibly safe society, are really enjoyable to read. We root for the underdog without really having any sense of his struggle. We can't. For us, it is just a fun read.

The people who accepted Christ here were opposing their society head on. The Jewish rulers had rejected Him as a blasphemous heretic. To align yourself with Jesus was to have your life ruined. Remember the blind man's parents in chapter 9? They were afraid of falling out of favor with the Jewish leaders. This decision was drastic.

IV. Final Thoughts

1. Do you believe Jesus is God? Does that register?

2. Are you willing to be rejected for His sake?

3. Are you willing to tell others about Him, even when they reject you?