WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.200 Good morning. 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:11.259 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:14.200 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:17.199 If you're new or visiting with us, welcome. 00:00:18.059 --> 00:00:22.199 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying 00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:25.500 to fill seats, but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:25.500 --> 00:00:30.339 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good that 00:00:30.339 --> 00:00:35.340 they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, which means that 00:00:35.340 --> 00:00:39.679 God has something to say to everyone in His Word, and so that's why we come to it in this 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:43.679 portion of our service, week after week, to study what God has to say to us. 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:49.240 If you've been with us, you know we're in the book of 1 Peter, and the book of 1 Peter is 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:54.359 a letter, and it's a letter written by a man named Peter to churches in the first century 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:56.759 that are in what is now modern-day Turkey. 00:00:56.839 --> 00:00:58.619 At the time, it would have been called Asia Minor. 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:03.799 And these churches are struggling, and they're struggling because they're living as Christians, 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:10.039 and as they live as Christians, it's causing them to feel out of place in the world, and 00:01:10.039 --> 00:01:12.359 it's also causing them to face opposition from the world. 00:01:13.659 --> 00:01:17.579 Peter writes to these churches to instruct them and to encourage them. 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:22.460 He writes first to encourage them, to let them know that Jesus is worth it. 00:01:22.459 --> 00:01:29.739 Jesus is worth living for, He's worth loving for, and He's also worth suffering for, and 00:01:29.739 --> 00:01:30.579 He's worth dying for. 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:35.559 He doesn't just write to them to encourage them, but He also writes to instruct them. 00:01:35.619 --> 00:01:40.439 He instructs them how they should live as Christians in this world, and He also instructs them how 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:43.560 to respond when they face opposition for following Jesus. 00:01:44.579 --> 00:01:48.039 And if you've been with us, you know that this beginning of the letter where we're at has 00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:52.219 been mostly, if not exclusively, encouragement rather than instruction. 00:01:53.240 --> 00:01:56.660 Knowing that these folks are facing opposition, He wants to start out from the very beginning, 00:01:56.820 --> 00:02:00.520 encouraging them of everything that's true about them and everything that's true about 00:02:00.520 --> 00:02:01.900 God because they belong to Him. 00:02:03.320 --> 00:02:05.800 And so we've looked at this encouragement in verses 1 and 2. 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:08.000 We saw that He helps them understand their identity. 00:02:08.180 --> 00:02:09.099 They're chosen by God. 00:02:09.180 --> 00:02:10.740 They're elect, but they're also exiles. 00:02:11.200 --> 00:02:14.140 It's because they belong to God that they feel out of place in the world. 00:02:14.139 --> 00:02:19.439 And then after that, we saw He talks about the fact that they are sons of God and daughters 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:19.779 of God. 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:21.859 God's their Father, and so they have benefits from that. 00:02:21.939 --> 00:02:27.839 God's coming back to rescue them, no matter how bad things get now, and He has an inheritance 00:02:27.839 --> 00:02:28.379 for them. 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:34.000 And then last week, we began to talk specifically about the topic of suffering, and we asked how 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:35.639 can we find joy in our suffering? 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:42.179 Peter shows them that because they suffer, when they suffer, they can find joy because it confirms 00:02:42.180 --> 00:02:43.879 the fact that they belong to God. 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:45.920 They're not with God. 00:02:45.980 --> 00:02:49.439 They're not following Jesus for the snacks, for what they can get, for the benefits that 00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:53.020 they can receive, but they're following after Him because they have true faith. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:56.640 We're going to continue on that theme a little bit this week. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:58.780 We're ending up this section of encouragement. 00:02:58.980 --> 00:03:00.659 Next week, we're going to head into the instruction. 00:03:01.740 --> 00:03:03.460 We're going to continue talking about suffering. 00:03:03.460 --> 00:03:05.439 Remember, there are three kinds of suffering. 00:03:05.640 --> 00:03:08.620 There's general suffering that happens because of the brokenness in this world. 00:03:08.620 --> 00:03:13.520 There is specific suffering that happens because of our foolishness and our sin. 00:03:13.620 --> 00:03:16.700 Maybe we do something stupid, and so we have to suffer the consequences. 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:20.879 And then there's the third type of suffering, which is suffering specifically for the name 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:21.700 of Jesus Christ. 00:03:23.259 --> 00:03:25.780 Now, all three of those kinds of sufferings matter. 00:03:26.219 --> 00:03:30.740 If you were with us two summers ago, in the summer of 2018, we looked at the book of Ruth, 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:32.879 which is all about type one suffering. 00:03:34.219 --> 00:03:37.700 Type two suffering, suffering because of our sin, shows up from time to time. 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:40.299 In fact, we talked about it with at least one of the Psalms. 00:03:41.979 --> 00:03:44.359 And then type three suffering, suffering for the name of Jesus. 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:45.619 And you were with us last week. 00:03:45.699 --> 00:03:51.280 You know that I talked about the fact that we have to be clear about the kind of suffering 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:55.379 that we face here in the United States, that it's nothing like the suffering that's faced 00:03:55.379 --> 00:03:56.539 by people all around the world. 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:01.259 And in fact, this is one of the easiest times and the easiest places, most comfortable 00:04:01.259 --> 00:04:05.899 times and the most comfortable places to be a Christian, which raises a question. 00:04:05.900 --> 00:04:11.599 Why are we talking about suffering for the name of Jesus Christ if this is one of the easiest 00:04:11.599 --> 00:04:13.400 places to follow Jesus Christ? 00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:16.420 And of course, there's several reasons. 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:18.259 One, this is God's word for the church. 00:04:18.379 --> 00:04:23.480 He's given us the book of 1 Peter for the church in all places at all times. 00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:28.819 Second, there are Christians all around the world, our brothers and sisters, who are facing 00:04:28.819 --> 00:04:30.259 suffering because they follow Jesus. 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:35.000 I mentioned last week that one in nine Christians around the world right now are facing intense 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:35.540 persecution. 00:04:37.280 --> 00:04:41.020 But the other reason is similar to the reason I mentioned to you all over and over again 00:04:41.020 --> 00:04:46.360 when we looked at the book of Ruth, which is that even if we're not suffering now, we 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:47.860 probably will one day. 00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:51.939 And so God gives us his word to prepare us. 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:53.900 We have to have a theology of suffering. 00:04:54.020 --> 00:04:58.860 We don't wait until suffering comes and then go back and try to figure out what's going on. 00:05:00.259 --> 00:05:05.480 But God's given us his word, as I mentioned in the very first sermon in Ruth, now over 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:06.040 a year ago. 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:10.860 He's given us his word to prepare us for situations that perhaps we don't face, but 00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:11.720 we will one day. 00:05:12.340 --> 00:05:16.780 Just like you read stories to your child to help them understand situations they haven't 00:05:16.779 --> 00:05:20.779 encountered yet and talk through it with them, God also does the same thing in Scripture. 00:05:22.659 --> 00:05:26.659 And so it's with that word about suffering, we're going to ask a slightly different question 00:05:26.659 --> 00:05:27.519 than we asked last week. 00:05:27.579 --> 00:05:29.819 Last week the question was, how do we find joy in suffering? 00:05:30.899 --> 00:05:35.439 And this week we're asking the question about, how does the story of the Bible encourage us 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:35.959 in suffering? 00:05:36.719 --> 00:05:41.439 How does the grand story of the Bible help us when we're facing opposition for the name 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:42.779 of Jesus Christ? 00:05:42.779 --> 00:05:42.859 Christ. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:47.500 We're going to be starting in chapter 1, reading verses 10 through verse 12. 00:05:47.619 --> 00:05:52.459 And as we come to verse 10, this is in your worship guide printed near the end, as Jim 00:05:52.459 --> 00:05:53.179 mentioned earlier. 00:05:53.500 --> 00:05:58.259 You can probably load this up on your phone, or you can find it in your Bible. 00:05:59.959 --> 00:06:02.259 As we read this, remember that this is God's word. 00:06:03.659 --> 00:06:08.139 And God tells us that his word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. 00:06:08.139 --> 00:06:12.879 In other words, God has not left us to stumble alone in the dark. 00:06:14.259 --> 00:06:17.279 But instead, he's given us his word to show us the way to go. 00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:19.419 And so that's why we read now, starting with verse 10. 00:06:19.420 --> 00:06:26.699 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched 00:06:26.699 --> 00:06:33.220 and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating 00:06:33.220 --> 00:06:37.160 when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 00:06:37.980 --> 00:06:42.680 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves, but you, in the things that 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:46.840 have now been announced to you through those who preach the good news to you by the Holy 00:06:46.840 --> 00:06:48.080 Spirit sent from heaven. 00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:52.639 Things into which angels long to look. 00:06:54.659 --> 00:06:58.240 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:10.879 Father in heaven, we thank you that you are a loving Father who wants us to not be ignorant, 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:14.299 but to know how to live in this world. 00:07:14.300 --> 00:07:19.340 And we thank you that you want to prepare us for what may await us in the future, that 00:07:19.340 --> 00:07:20.660 we wouldn't be caught by surprise. 00:07:21.840 --> 00:07:24.520 And so we ask that you do that with your word this morning. 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:32.040 That is where people who want to follow you and people who love you, that you teach us 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:35.960 how to think through what happens when that leads to hardship and suffering. 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:41.539 And most of all, we ask that you'd help us to understand your grace, the grace that's mentioned 00:07:41.539 --> 00:07:47.299 in this passage that you've been telling the story of for generations. 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:53.759 We ask these things not because we have earned them or deserve them, but because Jesus has earned 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:54.439 them for us. 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:56.240 And so we ask them in his name. 00:07:57.100 --> 00:07:57.339 Amen. 00:08:00.779 --> 00:08:08.660 A few years back, a theologian proposed a thought experiment, which has now become quite popular 00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:10.220 and I'm going to pose to you as well. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:18.159 Imagine that there was a work of Shakespeare, a play that we did not know existed, and suddenly 00:08:18.159 --> 00:08:18.740 we found it. 00:08:18.779 --> 00:08:20.220 We discovered this great work. 00:08:20.220 --> 00:08:25.580 People have been studying Shakespeare for generations, but this was something that no one was aware 00:08:25.580 --> 00:08:28.720 of and it came out of the dark, except there was only one problem. 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:33.180 This Shakespeare play, let's say it had five acts. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:40.259 The problem was that the fifth act, you could do four acts if you want, the final act has 00:08:40.259 --> 00:08:41.920 a large section that's missing. 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:49.860 We have the beginning of the act and we sort of have the ending of the act as well, but we 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:51.279 don't know what falls in the middle. 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:54.159 And so what are we going to do? 00:08:56.200 --> 00:09:01.000 One option would be to write what goes in between those missing parts. 00:09:01.060 --> 00:09:03.340 And of course, how would we write that section if we had to? 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:08.419 We would have to be faithful to what's come before. 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:11.519 We'd have to look at what happened in Acts 1, 2, and 3. 00:09:11.620 --> 00:09:12.759 What are the characters like? 00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:16.240 Whatever the characters are like, that's going to bind us, right? 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:19.779 We're not going to suddenly make the characters radically different than what they've been 00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:20.720 in the previous chapters. 00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:24.740 And we can't write it in such a way that the ending doesn't make sense. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:29.340 And so what's happened before is going to bind us, it's going to direct us. 00:09:29.680 --> 00:09:33.279 If there's themes that have showed up at the beginning in the first two acts, those themes 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:35.080 are going to have to carry through all the way to the end. 00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:39.720 We're going to have to remain committed to what's actually been given to us in this play. 00:09:40.940 --> 00:09:42.139 There could be another scenario. 00:09:42.139 --> 00:09:46.860 Another scenario would be not that we have to write what's in between, but that we suddenly 00:09:46.860 --> 00:09:51.559 find another copy, and perhaps this copy doesn't have the first several acts, but it has the 00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:52.199 last act. 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:57.240 Well, how are we going to determine that this last act is actually authentic to everything 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:59.100 else in this lost play? 00:09:59.139 --> 00:10:00.879 We're going to have to compare it to what's come before. 00:10:03.199 --> 00:10:07.299 Do the characters that show up in this section, are they faithful with what's come before? 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:08.720 Are the themes the same themes? 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:12.000 Is there something that disrupts what's happened? 00:10:13.680 --> 00:10:16.440 Now, you may be tracking with where I'm going here. 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:20.540 Of course, this is proposed by a theologian to help us understand what it's like to be 00:10:20.540 --> 00:10:21.620 the church right now. 00:10:23.560 --> 00:10:31.019 We live with a story that's come before us, and we have some idea of how the story ends. 00:10:32.660 --> 00:10:34.580 And yet there's a gap in between. 00:10:34.580 --> 00:10:43.259 We live after the time that the book of 1 Peter was written, and we also live before 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:45.540 the time that the book of Revelation talks about. 00:10:46.860 --> 00:10:52.040 And so there's a sense in which we are part of this play, except we're the parts that have 00:10:52.040 --> 00:10:52.800 not been written yet. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:54.180 We're in the part that's being written. 00:10:56.020 --> 00:10:58.580 That's part of what Peter's getting at here in this passage. 00:10:58.580 --> 00:11:01.320 He tells us that there is a story, verse 10. 00:11:02.940 --> 00:11:06.920 First, concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to 00:11:06.920 --> 00:11:09.180 be yours searched and inquired carefully. 00:11:09.820 --> 00:11:12.160 So there's prophets who are telling part of the story. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:16.360 He's talking about Old Testament prophets who would have written books like Isaiah and 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:17.540 Jeremiah and Ezekiel. 00:11:18.800 --> 00:11:21.580 And these prophets are the storytellers in part. 00:11:21.660 --> 00:11:25.120 Now, God's the great storyteller, but he's using them as his instrument to write sections 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:28.919 of the Bible, and so they tell us things, and they tell us certain themes. 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:35.779 They know, verse 11, that there's going to be a time when there's a Christ who's going 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:37.659 to have sufferings and glories. 00:11:40.940 --> 00:11:44.340 And we'll get to later what they're doing when it says they're inquiring, but here the 00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:45.560 first point is this. 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:47.700 There's a story, and there's storytellers. 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:53.100 And these storytellers have been telling something, and this play that they're telling us about 00:11:53.100 --> 00:11:54.139 has themes to it. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:56.240 It has a consistency. 00:11:57.399 --> 00:11:59.639 It has ideas that run throughout it. 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:00.980 What are those ideas? 00:12:03.560 --> 00:12:09.419 Verse 11, they're predicting something, the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:15.940 In other words, they're telling us, they're predicting what is going to happen later in the story. 00:12:15.940 --> 00:12:21.960 There's foreshadowing going on among the prophets as they talk about what's going to happen later 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:22.960 with Jesus. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:28.259 And there's these themes here. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:32.720 It's the three themes, the grace, the salvation of the grace, and the sufferings and the glories. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:39.779 And so you might be wondering, what does it have to do with suffering for the name of Jesus Christ? 00:12:41.180 --> 00:12:46.060 And the question that we're asking is, how do, how does the story of the Bible encourage 00:12:46.060 --> 00:12:46.879 us in our sufferings? 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:48.660 It encourages us in this way. 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:55.939 When we suffer for the name of Jesus Christ, we can have confidence that we are living in the right story. 00:12:55.940 --> 00:13:00.000 This is not a mistake. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:09.700 Recently, I went to go see that great cinematic triumph, Toy Story 4. 00:13:09.700 --> 00:13:14.900 I joke, but some people say it's the best Toy Story. 00:13:16.580 --> 00:13:18.000 I'm not going to ruin it for you. 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:28.140 But I will tell you, at some point in Toy Story 4, Woody comes up against evil toys. 00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:35.519 At no point while I was watching the movie did I say, this doesn't make sense at all. 00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:36.539 This is Toy Story. 00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:39.679 This is the perfect world where evil toys don't exist. 00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:41.759 And why didn't I say that? 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:48.200 Because I've seen Toy Story 1 and Toy Story 2 and I've seen Toy Story 3. 00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:54.939 I know that part of the story is that there are going to be toys in this world that have evil intentions. 00:13:56.819 --> 00:14:00.879 And so there wasn't a point at which I thought, man, they really switched up the writers for this one. 00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:02.139 Something's wrong. 00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:03.799 Maybe I walked into the wrong movie. 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:08.080 No, this is how the story goes. 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:14.340 And so I shouldn't be surprised, as the story progresses, that that's going to be one of the themes that keeps on showing up. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:22.620 Peter is telling these people who are suffering for the name of Jesus Christ, you are in the right story. 00:14:24.800 --> 00:14:31.340 You should not be surprised when you suffer because that is part of the theme that has come before. 00:14:34.560 --> 00:14:36.759 The theme is suffering to glory. 00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:39.779 That is how the story works. 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:43.360 That's how this narrative arc has been going. 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:45.899 That's what the prophets prophesied. 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:47.120 This is nothing new. 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:49.179 And this is not a mistake. 00:14:49.319 --> 00:14:50.879 You shouldn't be wondering at this point, 00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:54.000 is Jesus actually the Messiah? 00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:58.039 I was thinking this Messiah was going to come and he was just going to bring victory, right? 00:14:58.059 --> 00:14:59.319 There wasn't going to be any suffering. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:04.720 No, this character is exactly the character he was supposed to be. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:12.420 Peter hits this home when he tells us something somewhat strange. 00:15:12.540 --> 00:15:13.139 Verse 12, 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:26.220 Now we think of these Old Testament prophets as coming to their audience in the Old Testament, right? 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:30.699 God's people Israel, and giving them God's prophecy at that time for their good. 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:33.100 In other words, for the good of people in the Old Testament. 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:35.399 And that's true. 00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:40.120 But Peter tells us there's even a greater good here, 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:43.139 that they don't have all the details of the things that they prophesied, 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:45.440 but even in not having the details they are serving, 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:48.440 these people living now after the time of Jesus, 00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:49.700 how are they serving them? 00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:54.020 By confirming for them that this is how the story works. 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:59.820 They can look back and go and see what has come before in the Old Testament and say, 00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:00.180 Aha! 00:16:02.020 --> 00:16:03.960 There's nothing surprising about suffering. 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:06.980 This is what it means to belong to God. 00:16:08.020 --> 00:16:09.840 If we're following after Jesus, 00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:12.960 we are going to follow the same pattern that he follows. 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:16.900 Jesus was predicted to experience suffering and glory. 00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:20.300 Jesus experienced suffering and then glory. 00:16:21.400 --> 00:16:22.180 There's a pattern. 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:26.280 We who follow him will also experience suffering and glory. 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:30.460 We are in the right story. 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:33.720 And we're in it because we follow after Jesus. 00:16:34.560 --> 00:16:35.800 This is not a mistake. 00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:40.040 I put it in a different way. 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:43.099 If there were not suffering, 00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:49.759 then we would know that we were living in what is called fan fiction. 00:16:54.079 --> 00:16:57.259 And there are fan fictions that exist in the Christian world. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:59.099 One of them is called the prosperity gospel. 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:02.079 That is fan fiction. 00:17:02.339 --> 00:17:03.799 It's not written by the real author. 00:17:05.899 --> 00:17:07.299 There's another fan fiction. 00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:09.000 It's called the Book of Mormon. 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:12.899 That was not written by the real author. 00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:17.399 And that's the next point that Peter makes here. 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:20.480 Not only is this the same story, 00:17:20.899 --> 00:17:22.319 but it's the same author. 00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:23.000 Verse 11. 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:26.839 The spirit of Christ in them was indicating 00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:29.639 when he predicted the sufferings of Christ 00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:30.859 and the subsequent glories. 00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:34.539 Jesus, who suffered, 00:17:35.419 --> 00:17:37.839 his spirit was the one in the past 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:40.619 who inspired these prophets to write down this story 00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:42.619 so that you would know what is to come 00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:44.859 and that you would know that what has come is true. 00:17:46.959 --> 00:17:48.439 The story is the same 00:17:48.439 --> 00:17:50.919 and the author is the same. 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.359 You all know sometimes if you 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:54.279 follow a book series, 00:17:54.399 --> 00:17:55.919 perhaps sometimes someone makes the choice 00:17:55.919 --> 00:17:57.699 to keep the series but change the author. 00:17:57.700 --> 00:18:00.900 Things can get a little weird. 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:04.440 Maybe you followed a television show 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:07.319 and they had a certain writer for two seasons 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:09.620 and then they switched the writer 00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:12.720 and suddenly the characters changed as well. 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:13.920 Some of the themes changed. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.680 The overall feel of the show was different. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:20.140 That is not what's going on with the Bible. 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:23.240 We have the same story 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:25.000 and the same author. 00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:29.420 And so as these people are suffering, 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:31.100 they know this is not a mistake. 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:35.700 This story is being written by the right person 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:38.640 and that person is Jesus. 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:43.380 And so even as we are facing opposition from the world, 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:45.299 we know that we're living in the right story. 00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:46.740 We know that it's not a mistake. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.319 It's more than that though. 00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:57.539 It's not just the same story 00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:59.220 and the same author. 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:04.799 It's also a new chapter. 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:10.579 We hear that these prophets, 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:13.019 they know that they're predicting something. 00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:15.059 They don't know exactly what it is 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:16.599 and how it's going to work. 00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.440 They're inquiring 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:20.559 into what person or time 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.660 is being indicated. 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:22.119 In other words, 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:22.920 they're trying to figure out. 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.059 We know that this is a 00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:26.420 going to be a Messiah. 00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:27.639 It sounds like he's going to suffer. 00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:29.019 That doesn't sound quite right. 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:30.180 So we're going to try to figure out 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:32.720 what time is this going to happen? 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:34.559 What kind of world events 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.220 would be occurring 00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:36.460 that this could take place? 00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:39.059 What kind of Messiah would this be? 00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:40.400 The kind that's not just going to come in 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:41.200 and conquer for us 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.460 but the one who would suffer. 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.519 And they're trying to figure this out. 00:19:43.600 --> 00:19:44.759 They have clues in the Old Testament. 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:45.860 They can't find the solution. 00:19:47.660 --> 00:19:48.900 Same thing happens today. 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:51.620 Just a few weeks ago, 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:55.240 Apple did their annual unveiling 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.180 of all their new products. 00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:58.299 And if you followed tech news beforehand, 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:00.000 you know that there were many prophets 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:02.619 who were searching and inquiring, 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.759 carefully inquiring 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:07.299 what type the new iPhone might be. 00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:11.299 Of course, they didn't know, right? 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:12.880 They had many different hints to work with, 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.359 hypotheses, guesses. 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.380 I saw one article that said 00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:18.099 everything that we know 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:20.700 about the new Apple Watch. 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:22.599 And you open the article, 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.539 there's nothing that they know. 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:25.160 It's all guesses, conjectures. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.680 Oh, that's clickbait. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:27.980 Okay. 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.920 These people are revealing, 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:33.380 these prophets are seeing a story 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:34.380 that's now been revealed. 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:37.720 And so they don't just know 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.880 that they're in the right place 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.519 and the right time 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.240 and the right story, 00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:41.740 but they're also at a specific time 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.220 in the story. 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.240 So I'm going to ask you a question. 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:48.019 If you had a major illness, 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:52.339 at what time would you want to be alive? 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:55.380 Would you want to have that major illness 00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:59.539 in 1989 or 2019? 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:03.700 Easy, right? 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:05.119 You're going to want to have it in 2019. 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:10.940 If you are a college student 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:15.140 and it's the night before a big paper is due, 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:17.680 would you like to be living 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.980 in the age of the typewriter 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:22.119 or would you like to be living 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:23.299 in the age of the computer? 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:27.099 Some of you are going to say typewriter 00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:27.799 just to be ornery. 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.899 The answer is computer. 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:34.259 We live in a time 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:36.500 that is privileged medically 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:39.680 and a privileged time technologically. 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:42.799 We experience and know things 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:44.299 that people in previous generations 00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:45.759 longed to look into. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:50.299 And we have things and privileges 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.059 and benefits 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:52.759 that people in previous generations 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:54.339 could only dream of. 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:57.819 Peter is telling these people 00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:59.960 that they live in a time 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:02.859 spiritually of incredible privilege. 00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:07.220 Because they know and experience 00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:09.200 the full benefits of God's grace 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.579 which previous generations 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:12.200 could only dream about 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:15.180 and wanted desperately to know. 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.220 In other words, 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.539 if you were going to choose 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:22.259 any time to be a Christian 00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:24.460 or someone who belongs to God, 00:22:24.580 --> 00:22:25.440 when would you choose? 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.660 Do you want to be in the time of Moses? 00:22:28.580 --> 00:22:29.640 Would you like to live 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:30.620 under the time of Abraham? 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.519 Do you have some nostalgia 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.680 about being in the desert 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:35.519 for 40 years? 00:22:38.080 --> 00:22:39.860 What time would you choose 00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:42.799 to be in the people of God? 00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:45.879 Peter is telling them, 00:22:46.439 --> 00:22:47.539 despite what you're facing, 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:50.419 you are in a privileged time spiritually. 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.500 You are in the time 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.379 that people want to be. 00:22:55.659 --> 00:22:56.779 Now you might think or say, 00:22:56.879 --> 00:22:57.199 well, you know, 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.219 if I was going to choose a time, 00:22:58.379 --> 00:22:59.479 I would choose 00:22:59.479 --> 00:23:00.740 when Jesus is walking on the earth. 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:02.019 That's the time spiritually 00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.679 I would want to be. 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.639 That's the real highlight. 00:23:04.919 --> 00:23:06.339 Okay, let's work with that. 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:08.240 You want to live in the time 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.279 when Jesus walked on the earth. 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:09.859 That's great. 00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:12.899 You are in Western Europe. 00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:15.279 You never meet Jesus. 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:19.740 You're in Northwest Africa. 00:23:20.639 --> 00:23:21.839 You never meet Jesus. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.079 You're like me, 00:23:24.139 --> 00:23:25.579 some kind of Western European mutt. 00:23:26.899 --> 00:23:28.240 Wow, you never meet Jesus. 00:23:29.639 --> 00:23:30.740 You live in Israel, 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:33.240 but you live kind of 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.259 in the southern part of Israel, 00:23:34.379 --> 00:23:35.379 far away from Galilee. 00:23:35.379 --> 00:23:36.619 Odds of you meeting Jesus, 00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:37.559 very low. 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:42.019 These people receiving this letter 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:43.299 lived after Jesus 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:44.359 and never met him. 00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:48.259 It's the time 00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:49.619 after Jesus returned 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.680 that is the time 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:52.319 of spiritual privilege. 00:23:52.899 --> 00:23:53.200 Remember, 00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:54.379 Peter told them earlier 00:23:54.379 --> 00:23:55.680 that they love Jesus 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:57.139 even though they haven't seen him. 00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:59.299 That wasn't because 00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:00.299 none of them were alive 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.319 when Jesus walked the earth. 00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:04.099 It's because Jesus 00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:05.159 didn't visit Asia Minor. 00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:09.059 And so it was after his death 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.599 that the gospel was carried out 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:12.519 from the place 00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.159 where it started 00:24:13.159 --> 00:24:13.919 from Jerusalem 00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:15.379 and it's taken to these believers. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.259 And so you're not just 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.200 in the right story, 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.599 you're in the right place. 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.379 Everyone else 00:24:22.379 --> 00:24:23.220 in redemptive history, 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:24.179 those who came before you, 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.019 only got to read 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:26.339 the beginning of the mystery novel. 00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:28.879 And they got to see 00:24:28.879 --> 00:24:29.480 all the clues 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.519 but they didn't see the answer. 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.659 You now 00:24:33.659 --> 00:24:35.099 live in the part 00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:35.639 of the story 00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:36.639 where you get to see 00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:37.079 the answer. 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:40.379 You get to see 00:24:40.379 --> 00:24:41.659 how that suffering 00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:43.079 Messiah was revealed. 00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:43.919 You get to see 00:24:43.919 --> 00:24:45.399 the goodness 00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:46.439 and beauty 00:24:46.439 --> 00:24:47.199 of the gospel 00:24:47.199 --> 00:24:48.079 that it was more 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:48.559 than anyone 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.319 in the Old Testament 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:50.259 could imagine. 00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.619 And so 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:57.519 Peter's telling them 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.119 in one sense, 00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:58.799 yeah, it's stressful. 00:25:02.179 --> 00:25:03.399 But what a great time 00:25:03.399 --> 00:25:03.839 to live. 00:25:07.179 --> 00:25:07.859 No one 00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:08.460 in the history 00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:08.960 of the church 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.659 would trade places 00:25:09.659 --> 00:25:10.139 with you. 00:25:12.939 --> 00:25:13.879 And there's a sense 00:25:13.879 --> 00:25:14.579 in which no one 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:14.980 in the history 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.419 of the church 00:25:15.419 --> 00:25:16.179 would trade places 00:25:16.179 --> 00:25:16.759 with us. 00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:19.299 Because even more 00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:19.879 than the recipients 00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:20.579 of this letter 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.119 we've been able 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:21.700 to see 00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.639 how the gospel 00:25:22.639 --> 00:25:23.180 has expanded 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:23.919 throughout the world. 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.619 And we can find 00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:27.339 on the internet 00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:28.639 in five seconds 00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:29.539 more information 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.299 about the revelation 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.419 of Jesus Christ 00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:32.579 than anyone 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:34.919 before 33 A.D. 00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:35.419 could have. 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.599 Feeling out of place 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.099 in the world 00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:40.899 and facing opposition 00:25:40.899 --> 00:25:41.639 from the world, 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.980 Peter reminds these people 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:43.980 that while the world 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.740 may feel like 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.579 a place that's not 00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.059 their home, 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:48.679 spiritually, 00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.359 they live 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:50.799 in the best time 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.740 possible. 00:25:56.159 --> 00:25:56.940 And they live 00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:57.500 in the best time 00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.179 possible because 00:25:58.179 --> 00:25:58.960 of this grace, 00:25:59.059 --> 00:25:59.659 the salvation, 00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.379 verse 10, 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:00.960 that the prophets 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.759 who prophesied 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:03.179 searched and inquired 00:26:03.179 --> 00:26:04.000 carefully about. 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:06.079 Things into which 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:07.440 angels long to look. 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.259 People are longing 00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:08.819 to know, 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.619 angels are longing 00:26:09.619 --> 00:26:10.039 to know, 00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:10.639 the reality 00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:11.500 of this grace. 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:14.380 And what is the grace 00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:14.799 that they're longing 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.420 to know that we 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:16.440 understand the recipients 00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:17.279 of this letter 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.339 embrace and know 00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:19.039 and have as their 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.980 confidence and their hope? 00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:22.559 It's the reality 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:24.200 of this suffering servant. 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.059 And so I'm going to 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:27.380 turn back to Isaiah 53, 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:28.180 which you'll have 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:28.940 in your worship guide. 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.579 We read it as our 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:30.440 Old Testament reading 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:30.920 this morning. 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:32.180 This is what the prophets 00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:33.460 prophesied that they 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.160 did not understand 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:34.640 that the readers 00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:35.539 of this letter did. 00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:37.019 Isaiah 53. 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.680 Who has believed 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.619 what he has heard from us 00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:40.500 and to whom has the arm 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.460 of the Lord been revealed? 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.200 For he grew up 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:44.299 before him like a young 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.299 plant and like a root 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.180 out of dry ground. 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.240 He had no form 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.140 or majesty that we 00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:48.779 should look at him 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.740 and no beauty 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.779 that we should desire him. 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.599 The prophets didn't know 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:53.380 exactly what that was 00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:53.880 talking about. 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:54.359 We do. 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.480 It's talking about Jesus 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.400 who is a real man 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.039 in real time 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.660 in real space 00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:58.380 and actually came 00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:59.720 and lived on this earth. 00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:01.660 Lived a perfect life 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:03.200 that we couldn't 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:03.920 and died the death 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.559 that we deserve. 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:07.059 And by doing that 00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:09.480 he was a young plant 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.779 and a root out of dry ground. 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:11.380 He didn't have 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:12.160 the former majesty 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:12.940 that he would have had 00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.740 had he stayed in heaven. 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.400 Verse 3. 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.160 He experienced 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:17.400 the themes of this story. 00:27:17.560 --> 00:27:18.340 He was despised 00:27:18.340 --> 00:27:19.400 and rejected by men. 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.320 A man of sorrows 00:27:21.320 --> 00:27:22.220 and acquainted with grief 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:23.060 and as one from whom 00:27:23.060 --> 00:27:23.920 men hide their faces 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:25.060 he was despised 00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:26.540 and we esteemed him not. 00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:29.600 Even those who follow 00:27:29.600 --> 00:27:30.160 after God 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:31.060 did not see Jesus 00:27:31.060 --> 00:27:31.920 for who he was 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:32.580 sometimes. 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.260 And Romans 5 00:27:35.260 --> 00:27:35.960 tells us that it was 00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.900 while we were still sinners 00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:38.080 that Christ died for us. 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.280 And so part of the privilege 00:27:41.280 --> 00:27:42.040 that these people have 00:27:42.040 --> 00:27:42.640 is they know 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:43.660 how it's going to work. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.480 The grace comes 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.400 when Jesus dies 00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:46.560 for people who hate him. 00:27:48.300 --> 00:27:48.880 Verse 4. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.140 Surely he has borne our griefs 00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:51.100 and carried our sorrows 00:27:51.100 --> 00:27:52.240 yet we esteemed him stricken 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.180 smitten by God 00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:53.860 and afflicted. 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.700 But he was pierced 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.820 for our transgressions. 00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.519 He was crushed 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.460 for our iniquities. 00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.200 Upon him 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:00.100 was the chastisement 00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:00.960 that brought us peace 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:02.580 and with his wounds 00:28:02.580 --> 00:28:03.200 we are healed. 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:05.580 All we like sheep 00:28:05.580 --> 00:28:06.380 have gone astray. 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.100 We have turned 00:28:07.100 --> 00:28:08.640 everyone to his own way 00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.920 and the Lord 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:10.720 has laid on him 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:12.019 the iniquity of us all. 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.640 This is what the readers 00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:18.940 of 1 Peter understand 00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:20.279 and we understand as well 00:28:20.279 --> 00:28:21.120 that those who came 00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:22.059 before them did not. 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.240 The full reality 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.019 of God's grace 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.740 that he comes 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.340 for sheep 00:28:26.340 --> 00:28:27.279 who have gone astray 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:29.680 and he lays 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:30.740 all of our sins 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.819 on Jesus 00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.680 as that sheep 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.600 to take them away. 00:28:36.580 --> 00:28:37.380 And so as they're 00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:38.200 facing suffering 00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:38.779 in this world 00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.360 for the name 00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:40.080 of Jesus Christ 00:28:40.080 --> 00:28:41.220 the readers of 1 Peter 00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:41.660 know 00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:42.940 that they are 00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.980 in the right story. 00:28:46.060 --> 00:28:46.799 That story 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.200 is written 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:48.140 by the same author 00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:50.840 and they are in 00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:51.980 the most glorious chapter 00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.920 that has come 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:53.840 so far. 00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:57.160 And they're in 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:58.120 the most glorious chapter 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:58.900 because they finally 00:28:58.900 --> 00:29:00.060 understand Jesus 00:29:00.060 --> 00:29:02.320 that he's the one 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:02.939 who comes 00:29:02.939 --> 00:29:04.000 and dies 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.000 for his enemies. 00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:07.339 And those who are 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:08.079 his enemies 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:08.759 can turn 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.659 in faith 00:29:09.659 --> 00:29:10.579 to Jesus Christ 00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:11.279 and experience 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.539 this same salvation. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.639 And so that 00:29:14.639 --> 00:29:16.559 is how the story 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.299 of the Bible 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:18.480 encourages 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.919 those who are 00:29:19.919 --> 00:29:20.720 facing suffering 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.539 for the name 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:22.639 of Jesus Christ. 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:22.680 Christ. 00:29:24.020 --> 00:29:24.600 Please pray 00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:24.980 with me. 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:28.680 Father in heaven 00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:30.360 we thank you 00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:31.320 for the privilege 00:29:31.320 --> 00:29:33.720 of living in a time 00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.560 when we understand 00:29:34.560 --> 00:29:35.500 and know the gospel 00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:37.480 that we're not 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:38.460 wondering or searching 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:39.940 but we know 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.560 about Jesus 00:29:40.560 --> 00:29:42.800 and we have the privilege 00:29:42.800 --> 00:29:43.540 of having access 00:29:43.540 --> 00:29:44.200 to your word. 00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:44.940 We ask that you'd 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:45.820 encourage us with it 00:29:45.820 --> 00:29:46.660 that when we face 00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:48.380 the themes of suffering 00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:48.900 and glory 00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:50.280 we would know 00:29:50.280 --> 00:29:50.960 that we're doing it 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.579 because it's part 00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:52.100 of the story 00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:52.680 and it's part 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.180 of what Jesus 00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:54.039 has done for us 00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:55.000 the pattern he sets 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.920 and the way 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.660 we follow him. 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:59.140 We ask all these things 00:29:59.140 --> 00:29:59.880 in Jesus name. 00:30:00.340 --> 00:30:00.640 Amen.