This is where we find Peter, and this is where we find ourselves apart from the grace of Christ. C.H. While futurists await a future literal earthly kingdom (which we all look for), the way in which we speak about and think about Gods exercise of power and authority over the world, and the souls of lost people is important. Jesus has now achieved a great victory over Satan, sin, and deathThe Amil says that Satan no longer deceives the nations (20:3) as he did before the coming of Christ. It is not that Peter is not valiant, or courageous, for perhaps he isthough I suspect he acted out of fear. 103. Christ came to change all of that. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18), We behold that glory today by reading the Word of God. John wrote this entire book for this purpose (John 20:30-31), and Christs entire mission was centered on this fundamental goal. It doesnt say God sent Jesus to die for the entire world. He must watch over the new church of Christ, and must also feed them. He was giving, giving, giving His entire life! [vi] In the Reformation Study Bible R.C. We must understand it, then, or else we have not read it aright. http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/1503.htm, [xv] Peter OBrien says it well, the author is not suggesting that they should leave behind the gospel for some form of deeper or fuller instructions for initiates. According to Stott, he owes his faith in Christ not to his parents or teachers or even his own decision, but to Jesus, "the hound of heaven." In another occasion, He said, But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you (Luke 11:20). Well, if the flock is the church then we must necessarily believe the feeding and tending are also metaphorical devices. [xi], The Amillennial position, which holds some points in common with both of the premillennial positions, believes that the church age is the kingdom age prophesied in the Old Testament. That is what Peter experienced, and that is what Paul says we each experience we are not only saved, but we are saved for a purpose: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And they shall come and shall see my glory, [19] and I will set a sign among them. Before He endured the cross, He wanted to shore up the faith of those disciples who had for so long been following His words and His teaching. Because it is such a popular verse, people often use this verse as a proof text for universalism this is probably mainly because A. Jesus doesnt claim in this verse exclusivity and B. Knowing all of that, I think that the best way to understand the word World here is that is refers to all mankind Jews and Gentiles. We must notice three things about the Father: 15:25 Now his older son[10] was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. The Master-Key, Opening the Gate of Heaven "And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good.". First, the father didnt deny his son what he asked for. [45] If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son? [46] And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. He is finally in his right mind he sees reality for what it is. But when I look at my family and home and those I love and realize he is working to destroy those things and those people, only by Gods power can I love this enemy of mine. Losing the coin wasnt just a write off, or bad business, it could be fatal. This is what happens here. He wields His power and knowledge with wisdom and His plans are never foiled. Brethren, in heaven we shall dive into the deepest depths of fellowship with Jesus . He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 113. Jesus was all to him. Apart from Christ, before you are saved, you love sin in fact you cannot NOT love your sin. His power is immutable, as are all His other qualities. The opening blast from Caiaphas is (according to Carson) the ancient equivalent of saying You dont know what you are talking about! Both Carson and MacArthur note how rude this is and Carson is funny here: Even so, it is certainly not a reflection of the Dale Carnegie school of diplomacy, and it nicely confirms the judgment of Josephus that the Sadducees were barbarous and wild even toward those of their own party. They come to church every week and never apply their minds past the elementary truths. In the first parable we see the lengths to which a good shepherd will go in order to find a lost sheep. So our need for salvation cannot be met by our own efforts to cling to Christ. And thats the key word, is it not? They dont want to hear that their lives are headed for eternal hell. We lash out against the breakers as they come crashing down on our beachhead, as if we can stop them by our own power. 11:43-44When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out. [44]The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Stott writes: Roger Steer, Basic Christian: The Inside Story of John Stott (IVP Books, 2009), pp. Therefore your are called to believe and that faith, that belief, is the instrument by which you obtain your salvation. 15:14-15 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Since he is the author and finisher or our faith, to what perfection will he conduct us, and to what glory will he bring us! And in doing so, His words cut to Peters heart and remind him that though he claims to be the most loyal and dutiful disciples, he has a recent failure of such magnitude that with each passing word from the lips of Jesus, Peter must have been smarting all the more. He will then deceive the nations again, presumably achieving some measure of his old power. Your prayer life will be strengthened. He is a God who has created all of these lost men and women fashioned them with His own hands. Remember who Peter is nowthis is the man who became the boldest proclaimer of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the early church. It was included in the Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse (1917). This section doesnt currently include any content. Remember what side of the cross Peter is on. I love the fact that He has identified with us in our suffering. Nevertheless, the Bible makes clear that we are still held responsible for our actions and our choices. Now, there are other (MANY other) interpretations that range from the bizarre to the more plausible. [13] None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. You can now see the rub, can you not? The hallmark of this text is a warning to believers not to live their lives as introverted and covetous people. He knows the name of that sheep. The amillennialist would remind us of verses like we find at the end of Marks gospel, So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19 also see Ephesians 1:20-23)[i]. What this verse does teach us is that God has prepared a way of salvation (eternal salvation) for the whole world people from every tribe and tongue and nation will have a way to be saved. Memorization (Spiritual Formation in Christ for the Whole Life and Whole Person inVocatio, Vol. In fact, they love the light! [iii] Sproul, Everyones a Theologian, Pg. There are a few parallels between this prayer and the High Priestly prayer in chapter 17, but the one that stood out to me the most was how the Father and Son had already been (obviously) in previous communion. Regarding the first truth, it is worth quoting R.C. One of the most difficult things to do is confront a brother who has sinned and is in need to rebuke and restoration. http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/why-memorize-scripture, [xiv] He says a ton of great things here. Cant they just let us mourn Him? However, not all theologians and pastors had to wait until the bloody events of the 20th century to object to Postmillennialisms optimistic theology. From the law, wisdom literature, the prophets, our Lord Himself, as well as the Apostle Paul, there has been a call to deepen our knowledge of the Almighty, His ways and His Son, and to lean on His Spirits power in order to shine that light[ii] of knowledge to all nations[iii] as well as with our own families and friends. Therefore the last time that Peter and conversed with the Lord in any substantive manner was during the Farewell Discourses when, as we recall, Peter had proudly declared that hed follow Jesus even unto death. Here we see that once again Christ is moved again, and its no wonder given the nature of the response from those in the mourning party (he is filled with a righteous indignation as the Greek clearly impliesagain, the English translations are all incorrect). He enters into our sorrows with us. Remember, He is the Lord of all the earth, He is God and He sees and controls the hearts of all men (Prov. However, the post-millennial viewpoint was really made popular and caught on prior to the 20th century. Its emblematic of the kind of thinking we find in the Jewish leadership of the day that fear governed their thoughts. It isnt as though His staying away had any affect on the situation materially. I raise this only as a caution that we approach Scripture with humility especially those with learning and education. Sproul, Everyones a Theologian, Pg. Is it not significant that Martha had a better understanding of the resurrection than the Sadducees? But when one reads the poem this strangeness disappears. Im not saying that the Postmillennial view is perfect, but their mindset on the nature of the kingdom certainly seems to make more sense and align more Biblically to me. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. [32]Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died., Marys faith responded in an identical way to Marthas from the earlier verse. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. They will do nothing of the kind. We love the world more than we love God. D.A. Well, we certainly make that decision, but not until we are born again otherwise we would never desire to choose to believe. Behold, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Clearly there was the implication that they would like Jesus to come to their aid, and there was certainly the suggestion that he might help them by healing Lazarus. And they shall declare my glory among the nations. [ix] Tom Schreiner, New Testament Biblical Theology, Pg. Ryken comments, Can you see what Jesus was doing? Jesus came to usher in a kingdom whose power would forever be emblazoned on the lives of His followers to the point which death would be no match. Paul explains: For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Without the eyes of Christ you are driving 80 mph through dense fog all the while hoping for the best and yet still surprised when you hit a pole. No one comes to the Father except through me. Christ could either stay beyond the Jordan and enjoy a vibrant ministry (10:40-42), or He could fulfill the will of the Father and accomplish His ultimate destiny and mission here on Earth. I fled Him down the arches of the years. There are no choices here. But this is not that spiritual Kingdom of which we read here, but rather that earthly literal Kingdom which comes at the culmination of human history.[ii]. Theres no coloring outside the lines here. Lets take one at a time. Stop clinging to me, but go and tell my disciples that I am in the process of ascending to my Father and your Father.*. What we learn from this passage of Scripture is that salvation is from first to last of God, by God, from God, for God it is all of God. When John saw all these things his mind must have been quickly sifting through all the potential scenarios: grave robbers, Jewish leadership, Romans, revolutionariesor He rose up from death. If they had stolen the body, why would the disciples dishonor it by tearing off the grave clothes and spices that covered it?, And commenting on the angels Mary sees in the tomb, Carson observes that, Johns point is that this empty tomb cannot be explained by appealing to grave robbers; this is nothing other than the invasion of Gods power.. The second thing I want to note here is that Martha is the one who comes running to Jesus when word reaches their home that the Lord is on His way, and is nearing the village. THE HOUND OF HEAVEN 569 and friend of Francis Thompson, always assures me that The Hound of Hearven must be looked upon as an autobiography of the poet's life. Behold, the church is Christs Eden, watered by the river of life, and so fertilized that all manner of fruits are brought forth unto God; and he, our second Adam, walks in this spiritual Eden to dress it and to keep it; and so by a type we see that we are right in supposing him to be the gardener.. Once our inquiries and speculation have been done, if we dont have a preponderance of evidence before us that leaves us certain of our views, we must humbly step away from proclaiming our views to be doctrine.. We love our hobbies more than our conversations with the Lord. The specific link can be found here: http://www.reformationtheology.com/2009/04/world_johns_ten_uses_of_the_wo.php. This must have added anger to sorrow. There is no doubt that the world was in darkness before He came so much so that every other nation worshiped idols except Israel. After that he must be released for a little while. The words, whoever believes in him should not perish assume that there will be some who do perish, and that had Christ not come into the world all would, indeed, perish. you add two and two together and see that we have a serious issue here. [xv] However, we build upon this foundation in order to plumb the deeper mysteries and glories of Christ.[xvi]. It is overwhelming to me. Hes using John 11 to do that, so I want you to take in as much of it as possible, knowing not only that He is using it to gradually melt away the dross of this life, but that one day (as we wait in faithful hope see Rom. However, He will never betray those on whom He sets His love, but will love them faithfully for all time.. God be praised for His mercy. We need to be diverse in our reading, but first and foremost we need to read good Christian authors (Im not talking TD Jakes or Joel Olsteen), slowly working our way up to deeper more mature reading. Those who have not been born again by the Spirit of God run as fast as they can from the gospel. We were saved for good works not simply from death, but for good works. Saint Augus-tine, once himself a refugee from God, tersely stated the case long ago : " Thou wast driving me on with Thy Good, and I could not The Rev. In 1883, Charles Spurgeon was sitting on a bench in Menton, France, when a pale, emaciated woman sat down beside him. [15] We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. In fact that is what Jesus meant when He said He would draw all men to Himself. The cross is for Jew and Gentile alike. And we behold by reading, by praying, and by asking for Him to change us into the image of Christ, which He is gradually doing. Of course they do for it is obvious who is controlling this situationthe man without a club, sword or staff. This is not to say that we dont cherish the foundation, of course. He has been given all power by the Father to execute His life-saving mission here on earth (see chapter 5). 103. Thats His mission. [34] Who is to condemn? A few years ago I read The Soul in Paraphrase, a collection of devotional poems containing their analysis and the spiritual truth it brings out. 87, [vi] Hoekema, The Bible and the Future, Pg. It was these verses that God used to spur me on to learn more, to read more, to draw closer to the Lord and to teach what I learn to others. Such is the mercy that He has showered upon each one of us, even if we dont think very frankly about our state prior to His saving work. It is this revealing of Gods character through created things, through His plan, and through His Son that we are to focus on here. (Hebrews 12:7-11). Jesus Christ is there. The Hound of Heaven. That exposure testifies to one thing, according to John: man loves the darkness. John notes with interest how the cloth which had been on the Lords head wasnt with the other linen but was by itself and folded neatly by itself. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. The covenant of grace is not a charter of exemption from consumption, or rheumatism, or asthma. Supposing him to be the gardener, thenlet us bring forth fruit to him. There is great hope and comfort in this passage my friends and it ought to spur us on to great effect. Believing in the Son glorifies God because it gives proper due to who the Son is, and it magnifies Him. It is but human nature, fallen human nature, that man should love this present life better than the life to come. 11:25-26Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. I only say that they appear to me to deserve consideration and reflection. [xiii], Amils believe that the first resurrection is simply that spiritual resurrection that has taken place and realized during the intermediate state. It does not attract, rather the reverse. The second principle is tied to the first, and it is this: The kingdom of God is dynamic. That is to say it is more than just this idea of God separately reigning in heaven, He is working out His will in and amongst us in time and space. Its applicable to what were looking at here, because I believe it will show us something of the character of God, and if we can catch a glimpse of that, perhaps we can more rightly appropriate what He is working in our lives through suffering and storms. [xii] I dont know where to put this, or if it really even fits in, but there is such a stark contrast between our own affections and those of the angels in Zechariah 3. For help and support, please email help@spurgeon.org. His character is certainly made known in many ways through suffering just think of all the times that men and women who have endured sickness have testified to the great and glorious character of Jesus Christ. And in so doing He was not simply dying for a Jewish people, but for a people He had chosen from the foundation of the world. Later Peter would understand the meaning of these words, and in his sermon on Pentecost explains them to thousands of Jews: this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. And so in all of this we again see the three things I mentioned above: My message today has been mostly aimed at those who profess the lordship of Jesus Christ and are followers and believers in His name. His very name brings men to their knees, and His triumph is through tragedy and so also can yours be if you trust in His power and not your own. Adults, however, desire couscous, cappuccino, and Crme Brulee not peanut butter, apple juice, and popsicles. 18:6-11 When Jesus said to them, I am he, they drew back and fell to the ground. When finally go to be with Christ after this world has been remade and renewed, there will be no sickness and no darkness. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. The church feeds off of the Word of God. Most people we talk to on a day-to-day basis would probably tell us (if they are non-believers) that they are basically good people. I bet you hear that all the time, dont you. That is what is going on here Jesus has come to usher in the exodus and as He does this, He establishes His kingdom. Well I think its because it probably never occurred to her that Christ could or would raise someone from the deadperhaps her mind never got that far. As Jesus stood on the Mount of Olives, read to depart, His disciples asked him, Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6). This series of verses has had an outsized impact on my own life and walk with the Lord. [8] If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Tax collectors were traitors to their own people, collecting money from fellow Israelites on behalf of the Romans. This revelation of His glory is the key and as I mentioned before, Martha is not going to see the glory of Christ in the way that the disciples did on the Mount of Transfiguration, but rather she will see His revealed character, power, and person pouring out through His majestic work of resurrection. 18:1-5 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. In Eden, God sought Adam; in Gethsemane, the last Adam sought God! I want us to focus on 3 Key Points we must take away from this passage, which we will see rise up again and again in our reading today: What the author of Hebrews says here, is not an isolated teaching, but reflects what we see throughout the Scriptures from the immutable plans of God for his image bearers, namely that God desires for us to know Him more intimately and to repent of the sin that hinders us from doing so: And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, [46] he said to them, Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. [16]And the free gift is not like the result of that one mans sin. [5] And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When I read this passage several years ago I thought (rightly) that I cant teach anyone now, but realized that my inability wasnt God telling me not to teach, but rather it was Him calling me to learn and grow closer to Him in obedience in order to teach when the time presented itself. [12] As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. Jesus himself quoted this verse to rebuke Satan during His temptation in the wilderness before the beginning of His ministry. Hes using this Word to do that. (Romans 5:12-21 ESV). It runs between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives some 200 feet below the base of the outer court of the Temple it was on the west side of the city that Jesus was crucified (Pink/Josephus/Carson). [4] Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. Im sure you can look back at times in your life when you wanted so badly to fly here or go there or do this or that but you couldnt and perhaps as you look back on it now, it was for the better. so much so that when these Pharisees saw Jesus eating with sinners it was enough to throw them into convulsions. He knew the Fathers will; He sought the Fathers mind on all things through prayer. Make no mistake, Satan desire nothing more than to kill you (Gen. 3:15 speaks of enmity between us and Satan), though his spiritual power is significantly limited now that the gospel has been unleashed upon the nations, he still rules this world. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. This is the same man who we call Doubting Thomas, but we see here that there is more to this man than simply cynicism (though that certainly seems to be a dominant characteristic of his nature). The apostle knows that the Jews are familiar with the love God had for them as His special people, and Jesus relating to them the story of Moses and the bronze serpent would have certainly reminded them of Gods loyal love for them (hesed), all of this is contrasted with John now saying that God so loved the world this would have set alarm bells ringing for his audience. (Philippians 1:9-11). Now lets examine once again some of the bigger picture here. What happened here is hard to explain, but I believe its a preview of what Paul says will happen when Jesus returns: Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. And, they do! The weakness of man contrasted so clearly againstthe backdrop of Christs majestic power is hard to miss. After denying the Lord three times, the Lord Jesus has restored his friend to ministry in a public and profound way. ***Chapter 18 ought to remind us how much Christ prized us and how little we prized Him. [2] Ryken, Commentary on Luke, Volume II, Pg. [25] For David says concerning him, I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; [26] therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. [22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. [12] For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. As we read in verses 11 and 12 its almost as if the author stops mid course as he extolls the virtues of these great truths pertaining to Christ, and has to stop and say, you know, Id go on here, but its obvious that you arent ready for it even though I have much to say still! Hes stymied by the stagnation of these church members. But in this account I believe that Jesus is almost certainly referring to the revealing of His person/deity and not specifically seeking praise. 386-87. 12:1-3), but Thomas went (in his mind) to his death because it seemed like the only dutiful thing to do. I think that is significant because if nothing else, it shows us once again how Christ in His sovereignty and His obedience to the Fathers plan stayed and waited for a specific reason (which we discussed above) and not to put Lazarus through some struggle unnecessarily or sadistically. Because when we face the most extreme circumstances that this life can throw at us, we can do so with a full understanding that the one who walked on the earth and felt our pain and our suffering and our daily irritations is the same One who calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, is the same one who rose from the grave, and is the same one who will one day defeat ALL death and sickness and famine to His own praise and glory. Where did it go? By continual hearing of the Word and submitting your lives joyfully to its teaching. (Ezekiel 34:11-16). I have said nothing in secret. Surely if this passage shows us anything it is the contrast between our Lords power and our power, our Lords disposition and our natural disposition, our natural desires and His heavenly desires. A God who could have sat back and ruled the world from on high, but instead who chose to come down to us. Likewise you might think that if you were in the courtyard that night you wouldnt have betrayed Jesus. We need to all ask ourselves at some critical point, Do I believe this? If the answer is yes then you know that Christ is your resurrection and your life. It is believing that Jesus is who He says He is, and has done what He says He has done. The second point is mind blowing and its also where people get tripped up in Universalism. There is here a veiled reference to Matt. There is no one here that has not had to face up to this question. So the construction crew has to come and rebuild the foundation again. So you can see how these perspectives function to shape our viewpoint of the book itself and the millennium. [15]But the free gift is not like the trespass. Christ has been lifted up for all the world to see, His salvation has been made manifest and millions upon millions of men have known of what He did, yet millions continue to scoff at the olive branch of reconciliation that God handed down from on high. But we who have Christ must view these events in their proper perspective not simply as allowed by God but ordainedby Him for our good and His glory. Both Annas and Caiaphas were well in with one another. In his love for us Jesus acts like a hound-dog, intense and focused as he pursues the hunt. C.H. For those of us who are children of God, saved from the wrath of the Father because of the work of Christ on the cross, we must not miss the importance of this text. In his love for us Jesus acts like a hound-dog, intense and focused as he pursues the hunt. I have sung How Great Thou Art at full tilt with other men and women in the small chapel that sits firmly ensconced upon that shore. Make no mistake, every man, whether spiritually alive or spiritually dead, will face the judgment of Christ when He comes back in glory. 15:11-13 And he said, There was a man who had two sons.
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