WEBVTT 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:04.120 Please take your Bibles and open them up to the Gospel of John. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:10.019 Our text this morning is John 11, verses 45 through 54. 00:00:11.040 --> 00:00:15.560 And so when you found it in your Bibles, and I do, again, always encourage you, open up your Bibles. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:19.660 I want you to see it in the pages of Scripture, what we're going to be reading. 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:22.640 And I'm not going to stay here today, so we're going to be flipping around. 00:00:22.740 --> 00:00:26.640 So please open up your Bibles to John 11, 45 through 54. 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:33.079 When you found it in your Bibles, if you are physically able, would you please stand in honor as we read the Word of God. 00:00:33.240 --> 00:00:36.980 Listen along as I read John 11, 45 through 54. 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:39.679 It says, 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:45.000 Many of the Jews, therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him. 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:49.340 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:54.219 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, 00:00:54.219 --> 00:00:55.320 What are we to do? 00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:58.179 For this man performs many signs. 00:00:58.780 --> 00:01:02.280 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him. 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:06.500 And the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. 00:01:07.299 --> 00:01:12.019 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:20.319 You know nothing at all, nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, 00:01:20.740 --> 00:01:22.359 not that the whole nation should perish. 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:25.459 He did not say this of his own accord. 00:01:25.459 --> 00:01:31.120 But being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation. 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:38.340 And not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 00:01:38.340 --> 00:01:42.900 So from that day on, they made plans to put him to death. 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:51.520 Jesus, therefore, no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness to a town called Ephraim. 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:54.820 And there he stayed with the disciples. 00:01:55.140 --> 00:01:56.740 This is the word of God. 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:01.260 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God endures forever. 00:02:01.260 --> 00:02:02.440 You can be seated. 00:02:02.620 --> 00:02:03.680 Let's pray once more. 00:02:03.800 --> 00:02:16.219 Lord, we thank you for this word and we pray once more, Father, for the miracle of your voice to go out through this word into our ears, 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:21.939 into our hearts, and that it would bear the fruit of love and faith for you. 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:24.020 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:25.140 Amen. 00:02:25.139 --> 00:02:25.259 Amen. 00:02:27.339 --> 00:02:33.819 Well, we've come to a pivotal point in the Gospel of John, and I'm afraid I may have misled some of you. 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:43.479 Last week, someone mentioned, someone who will remain nameless, mentioned that we were coming near to the end of our time in John. 00:02:44.199 --> 00:02:47.439 And they must have seen the confused look on my face because they said, 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:53.799 Well, the image behind you says the Gospel of John, the light of the world, chapters 1 through 12. 00:02:53.800 --> 00:02:55.480 Aren't we stopping at chapter 12? 00:02:56.480 --> 00:02:59.160 And I said, Well, honestly, I forgot all about that image. 00:03:00.060 --> 00:03:03.840 We're not going to stop at chapter 12 just so that we're all on the same page. 00:03:03.920 --> 00:03:06.840 We will continue on and finish the Gospel of John. 00:03:07.300 --> 00:03:13.140 Pretty soon, in a couple of weeks, a new image will appear behind me for chapters 13 through 21. 00:03:13.139 --> 00:03:24.139 But the point of these two images was to illustrate for us that although it's one book, the Gospel of John, it's neatly divided into two halves. 00:03:24.819 --> 00:03:38.799 We have sort of what they call the book of signs in the first half, where Jesus is demonstrating his identity through various miracles, various signs, various demonstrations of his divinity, various I am statements saying, 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:44.439 I am the I am, and in the second half, things are going to accelerate very quickly now. 00:03:44.900 --> 00:03:54.400 The second half, John zooms in on just one week of Jesus' life, taking us to the cross and ultimately to the resurrection. 00:03:55.400 --> 00:04:03.360 Our passage this morning, it sort of serves as the hinge between these two halves of the book. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:11.400 The signs, the statements have piled up to the point where pressure is mounting on the Jewish officials to make a decision. 00:04:11.580 --> 00:04:13.860 What are we going to do about this man, Jesus? 00:04:14.380 --> 00:04:17.819 And we see here this morning that a decision is made. 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:28.000 An infinitely, eternally foolish decision is made to put Jesus to death. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:36.759 Our passage this morning, this is written record of the most foolish decision that's ever been made in the history of mankind. 00:04:37.980 --> 00:04:41.420 These are some of the most foolish words that have ever been spoken. 00:04:42.199 --> 00:04:52.699 Yet what I want us to see this morning is that even so, in it and through it, incredibly what we see is the wisdom of God on display. 00:04:52.699 --> 00:05:00.819 What we're going to see is the wisdom of God triumphs over the foolishness of man. 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:03.620 We're going to see this in two parts this morning. 00:05:03.719 --> 00:05:05.360 If you're taking notes, this will be our outline. 00:05:05.800 --> 00:05:10.740 The wisdom of God triumphs over the foolishness of man. 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:11.759 We'll see it in two parts. 00:05:11.919 --> 00:05:15.060 First, we see the foolishness of man. 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:18.120 The foolishness of man. 00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:20.839 Look there with me to verses 45 through 50. 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:26.879 Jesus has just performed his greatest sign up to this point. 00:05:27.060 --> 00:05:28.419 Do you remember what it was last week? 00:05:28.859 --> 00:05:31.119 The resurrection of Lazarus. 00:05:31.179 --> 00:05:34.379 The seventh sign of this first half of the book of John. 00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:36.459 And it's interesting to me, I wonder if you noticed this, 00:05:36.859 --> 00:05:41.299 it's interesting to me what John doesn't tell us. 00:05:42.159 --> 00:05:45.339 He doesn't answer a lot of the questions that you and I might have. 00:05:45.339 --> 00:05:50.339 If somebody raises from the dead, we might wonder, well, what was that like for Lazarus? 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:53.699 Now, what did he say when he came out of the tomb? 00:05:53.799 --> 00:05:56.839 What did he report about his time between death and life? 00:05:57.139 --> 00:05:59.159 How did he wind up dying again? 00:05:59.739 --> 00:06:02.359 None of these questions are answered for us. 00:06:02.719 --> 00:06:05.679 And we're left wondering, what in the world is going on with Lazarus? 00:06:05.979 --> 00:06:12.099 But I think this illustrates for us that John's aim is to tell a much more important story. 00:06:12.100 --> 00:06:16.560 John's aim is to focus in on a much bigger picture. 00:06:16.740 --> 00:06:22.400 The reason is, John is not writing to answer all of our many questions that we might have about Lazarus. 00:06:22.580 --> 00:06:26.000 He's writing with a very clear focus in mind. 00:06:26.080 --> 00:06:26.900 Do you remember what it is? 00:06:27.939 --> 00:06:34.020 I write these things that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, 00:06:34.019 --> 00:06:39.079 and that by believing, you may have life in his name. 00:06:39.919 --> 00:06:42.099 That's the focus of the Gospel of John. 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:44.079 This is Jesus' story. 00:06:44.819 --> 00:06:47.680 And so we're meant to place our attention on the question, 00:06:47.799 --> 00:06:50.079 well, who is this man who does these signs? 00:06:50.919 --> 00:06:53.620 Who is this man who raises the dead? 00:06:53.699 --> 00:06:57.719 This man just called a dead man out of the grave. 00:06:57.720 --> 00:07:03.600 And you would think that that sign would settle the matter for the Jews, wouldn't you? 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:07.360 But once again, we see the crowds are divided. 00:07:07.520 --> 00:07:08.040 Verse 45. 00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:12.440 If you look there with me, it tells us that many of the Jews, therefore, 00:07:12.700 --> 00:07:17.960 who had come with Mary and seen what he did, believed in him. 00:07:18.760 --> 00:07:25.080 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 00:07:25.079 --> 00:07:29.819 And they were not going to bear witness to the Pharisees about Jesus. 00:07:30.620 --> 00:07:33.240 They were going to tattle on Jesus. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:35.879 They were telling on him. 00:07:36.539 --> 00:07:37.360 Look what he did. 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:38.419 He's doing it again. 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:39.240 Here he goes again. 00:07:39.300 --> 00:07:40.839 Have you heard what he just did? 00:07:40.919 --> 00:07:42.139 They were telling on him. 00:07:42.659 --> 00:07:47.039 And the Pharisees, we've seen throughout John, have not been fond of Jesus. 00:07:47.219 --> 00:07:49.019 He keeps undermining their traditions. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:51.500 He keeps stealing away their influence. 00:07:51.699 --> 00:07:54.219 He didn't study in any of their schools. 00:07:54.220 --> 00:07:56.420 He didn't belong to their tribe. 00:07:56.780 --> 00:07:59.380 They just didn't quite know what to do with Jesus. 00:07:59.520 --> 00:08:02.000 But they knew that something had to be done. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:04.620 So verse 47 says, 00:08:04.760 --> 00:08:07.600 The chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council. 00:08:07.860 --> 00:08:10.620 That's the ruling council, the Sanhedrin. 00:08:11.660 --> 00:08:13.480 And they said, what are we supposed to do here? 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:15.220 What do we do? 00:08:16.340 --> 00:08:19.300 For this man performs many signs. 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:21.680 Think about how foolish this is. 00:08:22.380 --> 00:08:23.880 They didn't deny his power. 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:26.639 They didn't deny that he was doing these signs. 00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:30.819 They just heard report that he had raised a man from the dead. 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:37.059 And the wise choice, we know, would be, well, maybe you ought to listen to the man who raises the dead. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:40.519 And maybe you ought to trust in the man who raises the dead. 00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:44.259 But instead, their response is, what are we going to do with this guy? 00:08:44.259 --> 00:08:51.080 If we let him go on like this, verse 48, everyone will believe in him. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:53.080 And here's the problem. 00:08:54.259 --> 00:09:00.939 The Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. 00:09:00.940 --> 00:09:10.340 See, they didn't even consider a possibility that all of these signs maybe just might indicate that he is the Messiah. 00:09:10.880 --> 00:09:15.880 And if he is the Messiah, then he's worthy of your worship, worthy of your trust. 00:09:15.880 --> 00:09:20.000 If he is who he's claiming to be, they didn't even consider that possibility. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:26.139 They feared the possibility of many believing that he was the Messiah. 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:33.779 And they feared that if Jesus kept on doing these signs, all of these people would believe that he was the Messiah, 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:38.299 which in their mind meant a king to come and to rule now, 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:41.240 and to liberate them from the Romans now, 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:44.580 to establish the kingdom of God now. 00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:46.879 And how will the Romans feel about that? 00:09:48.180 --> 00:09:51.180 Well, they'll come down hard on all of us. 00:09:51.240 --> 00:09:53.800 They'll take away our place, mainly meaning the temple. 00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:55.080 That's gone. 00:09:55.980 --> 00:10:01.460 And they'll take away what measure of freedom and autonomy we have as a nation under their rule. 00:10:01.560 --> 00:10:02.420 That's gone. 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:06.740 But you know what really, what I think is at the root of their concern here? 00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:07.860 Look there again. 00:10:09.140 --> 00:10:13.400 It's that they'll take these things away from us. 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:14.860 You see that? 00:10:15.740 --> 00:10:16.779 From us. 00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:18.939 They'll take away our place. 00:10:19.819 --> 00:10:21.919 They'll take away our nation. 00:10:22.079 --> 00:10:24.379 They'll take away all of our influence. 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:25.059 It'll be gone. 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:27.100 All of our power will be gone. 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:28.799 We have a pretty good deal going on here. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:33.639 The Romans rule over us, but they're over there, and we rule here. 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:34.899 We rule over the temple. 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:36.059 We're the authorities here. 00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:37.840 We rule over the nation. 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:39.379 Everybody looks to us. 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:40.360 We give the teaching. 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:41.220 We're in control. 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:42.059 We're in power. 00:10:42.059 --> 00:10:43.779 We can't lose that. 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:45.500 So what do we do? 00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:51.239 And at this point, Caiaphas, the high priest, speaks up. 00:10:52.539 --> 00:11:00.819 You know nothing at all, he says, nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, 00:11:01.579 --> 00:11:05.039 not that the whole nation should perish. 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:07.919 His solution to the problem? 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:09.559 Kill them. 00:11:11.099 --> 00:11:12.299 Get rid of the problem. 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:15.019 It is better for you. 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:16.399 It's better for us. 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:17.399 Save your influence. 00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:18.759 Save the freedom we have. 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:20.159 Save your pride. 00:11:20.579 --> 00:11:23.139 Let him die for our sake. 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:33.039 I have said some incredibly foolish things in my life, and I'm glad for my sake that most of them have not been recorded. 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:39.179 And it makes me second guess recording the sermons online and publishing them online. 00:11:39.699 --> 00:11:43.080 It makes me be very careful with the words that I speak up here. 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:53.200 This is written record of the most foolish speech, the most foolish decision ever made. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:58.379 It is infinitely, eternally, disastrously foolish. 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:05.000 But the truth is, what I want us to see here from this first section is that from time to time, 00:12:05.160 --> 00:12:10.600 every single one of us, all of us, are just like Caiaphas. 00:12:12.780 --> 00:12:17.960 How often do we fear man rather than we fear God? 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:26.780 How often do we fear what we see and perceive as visible, obvious, external dangers, 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:33.360 and not fear the invisible, greater, greater power of God Himself? 00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:38.820 Caiaphas was high priest, one of the highest spiritual offices in the land, 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:40.600 yet there's no indication here of prayer. 00:12:41.540 --> 00:12:45.180 There's no indication of seeking the Lord, seeking His wisdom. 00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:52.079 He looks out at the obvious physical dangers, social dangers, political dangers around Him, 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:56.000 and He chooses instead, foolishly, to play it safe. 00:12:57.500 --> 00:13:02.139 How often do you and I do the very same thing? 00:13:03.939 --> 00:13:10.199 You know, the truth is, you and I often, we're not in positions where we are physically persecuted for our faith, are we? 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:16.580 You know, that time may come, but right now, where we live and the situation that we're in, 00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:18.540 most of us are pretty comfortable. 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:23.160 And the worst that we tend to face is maybe social exclusion. 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:28.180 And maybe somebody might not like us because of what we say. 00:13:29.020 --> 00:13:31.280 And maybe we might be excluded from the group. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:32.940 And maybe we might be rejected. 00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:35.340 Maybe we might get made fun of. 00:13:35.400 --> 00:13:36.720 Maybe we might not be liked. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:43.840 But you know, so often we weigh these dangers, and instead of trusting and fearing the Lord, 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:47.040 we instead choose to play it safe. 00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:49.060 We weigh the options. 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:54.220 If I say something, if I speak up about the glory of God, if I speak up about the gospel of Christ, 00:13:54.620 --> 00:14:02.379 then the bosses will come down and take away my job and my money and this income and the security that I have here. 00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:07.879 We stay quiet because as we see it, it's better for us this way. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:12.439 And we know this is very small, isn't it? 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:17.519 Compared to the challenges that our brothers and sisters face throughout the rest of the world. 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:23.820 I mean, can you imagine the dangers that our brothers and sisters in Christ face in Sudan? 00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:26.700 And in Pakistan? 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:29.320 And in Somalia? 00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:32.020 And in North Korea? 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:36.420 Do we realize there are Christians in these places? 00:14:37.180 --> 00:14:43.920 Our brothers and sisters in Christ who daily risk their lives, risk their safety, 00:14:44.040 --> 00:14:48.300 their family is at constant danger, their livelihood is in constant danger. 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:53.740 If they proclaim the name of Christ, and yet they weigh the options and they say, 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:56.679 I choose rather to fear God than to fear man. 00:14:58.459 --> 00:15:04.079 And to our physical eyes, this sounds risky, it sounds dangerous, even foolish, 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:12.899 but the truth is it is infinitely more foolish to fear man and play it safe than it is to fear God. 00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:18.240 Living in the fear of God is the safest place that you can be, 00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:20.600 no matter what man may do to you. 00:15:21.939 --> 00:15:24.139 This is why we're told, and Jesus tells us, 00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:28.639 do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:33.419 Rather, fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell. 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:39.840 I'm afraid far too often we fear man more than we fear God. 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:50.519 But not only this, we also, like Caiaphas, we crave the praise of man more than we crave the approval of God. 00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:57.080 We crave and desire the approval and praise of man more than the approval of God. 00:15:57.240 --> 00:16:01.100 Caiaphas believed that it was better for them that Jesus die, 00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:04.660 not just because of the physical dangers that might come against them, 00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:12.000 but because he didn't want to risk losing the praise and the attention and the adoration of man. 00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:21.219 It's not lost on me that this was, again, supposed to be the highest religious office in the nation. 00:16:22.839 --> 00:16:26.959 Caiaphas was one of the premier religious leaders, the high priest. 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:31.419 He was supposed to be the one who sought the favor of God on behalf of the people, 00:16:31.419 --> 00:16:32.779 but instead, what did he do? 00:16:33.959 --> 00:16:39.459 He craved the favor of man and denied and rejected God himself. 00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:45.219 It is so easy to do that as a pastor. 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.000 You should know. 00:16:47.979 --> 00:16:53.120 Because in pastoring people, you are inevitably going to come across situations 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:56.500 where you need to speak the truth into someone's life. 00:16:57.440 --> 00:17:00.200 And sometimes you know what the word of God says. 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.440 You see the situation. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:02.620 You love this person. 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.940 You want to help them through it. 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:06.319 You want to encourage them with the word of God. 00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:07.839 But you know what the temptation is? 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:10.720 Well, they might not like what I have to say. 00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:14.559 And I might risk losing some influence in their life. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:18.160 They might not like me anymore if I speak the truth clearly to them. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:21.460 So maybe I'll play it safe and remain silent. 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:23.860 And those pressures are there. 00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:26.360 But it's not just for pastors, is it? 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:30.360 And those pressures, I believe, are there for all of us. 00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:37.380 Our commitment to one another as a church family is to love one another with the truth. 00:17:38.340 --> 00:17:41.960 It's to help one another live in light of the truth. 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:49.519 We need one another's influence and voice and input and help and encouragement into our life. 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:52.319 But it's not always easy to do, is it? 00:17:53.500 --> 00:18:00.920 And how often do we, like Caiaphas, just choose instead to protect relationships, protect influence? 00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:03.519 We want to cater to the approval of others. 00:18:03.639 --> 00:18:07.639 And so we weigh the dangers and choose to play it safe. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:15.319 Caiaphas and the chief priests and the Pharisees, the council, they failed. 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:22.179 You see, they valued safety and influence and power over the glory of God. 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:28.279 This passage is a front row seat to the most foolish decision that has ever been made. 00:18:28.419 --> 00:18:39.079 And yet, in God's wise providence, it's also a front row seat to the incredible wisdom of God. 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:41.980 And we see this in our second point this morning. 00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:48.480 In verses 51 through 54, second, we see the wisdom of God. 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:56.119 In this foolish statement, through the most foolish statement ever made, 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.980 the decision to put Jesus to death, 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:04.240 God had an infinitely wise and glorious purpose. 00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:06.199 Look there to verse 51. 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:10.059 John gives us insight here. 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:13.880 He provides some commentary to this statement that Caiaphas has just made. 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:16.480 And he says in verse 51, he says, 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:19.720 Caiaphas, he did not say this of his own accord, 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:26.519 but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation. 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:28.819 And not for the nation only, 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:35.180 but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:40.559 So from that day on, they made plans to put him to death. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:50.720 Amazingly, this incredibly foolish statement of Caiaphas was a prophecy. 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:54.240 Caiaphas was not a prophet. 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.900 A prophet in the Old Testament, 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:59.100 they were those who received the word of the Lord, 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:01.740 functioned as a mouthpiece of God for the people. 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:03.539 Caiaphas was not a prophet. 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:06.059 He had no intentions of being a prophet. 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:11.440 He was not even aware that this was a prophetic statement that flowed out of his lips. 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:15.659 And his plans were to put an end to Jesus and his ministry, 00:20:16.379 --> 00:20:19.420 so that no one would ever follow him or believe in him anymore. 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:22.579 His aim was to stop this man from gaining influence. 00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:25.960 But in the wisdom of God, 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:30.799 this foolishness was prophetic. 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:37.500 Something much bigger, much grander than Caiaphas ever imagined. 00:20:38.639 --> 00:20:40.139 And in the sovereignty of God, 00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:46.899 his infinitely foolish plan played right in line with God's infinitely wise plan 00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:52.600 to send his son to live and to die in the place of the children of God. 00:20:54.600 --> 00:20:56.920 This is stunning, isn't it? 00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:07.640 We are face to face here with the depth of the interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:14.360 Divine sovereignty and human responsibility. 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:16.960 We believe both. 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:20.420 The Bible proclaims both. 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:24.480 We believe that God is sovereign, 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:31.240 meaning he is absolutely, totally, completely, entirely in control. 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:37.700 To be sovereign means that nothing has ever happened or ever will happen 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:40.759 that is outside of his sovereign reign and rule. 00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:43.579 We believe God is totally sovereign. 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:50.900 And we believe that humans, you, me, Caiaphas, everyone, 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:55.740 we are responsible for our words, for our thoughts, for our actions, 00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:58.240 for all of our foolishness. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:03.900 This is a biblical tension, isn't it? 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:09.420 It's difficult for us to fully, completely understand this, 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:16.319 but we believe the Bible clearly proclaims both God's sovereignty and human responsibility. 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:22.940 And we shouldn't try to resolve the tension by ignoring either one or the other. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:26.900 The Bible holds them both together, and so should we, 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:30.019 even though we can't quite understand this completely. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:34.560 So, for example, we would be wrong to say that, 00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:38.019 well, because we're responsible for our actions, 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:42.080 God is not sovereign, even over our actions. 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:48.100 That somehow we live and we think and we act outside of the sovereignty of God, 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:55.099 that God is just waiting and responding and bringing good out of our bad, foolish choices. 00:22:55.459 --> 00:22:57.399 That's not what's happening here, is it? 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:01.480 That's what we do when we make foolish choices. 00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:03.359 We try to make the most of it. 00:23:03.659 --> 00:23:04.619 That's not sovereignty. 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.859 That's making the best of it. 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:09.259 We believe God is sovereign. 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:15.920 He's working in and through these foolish decisions to work out His sovereign plan. 00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:19.799 But we would be wrong on the other side to say that, 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:24.700 well, because God is sovereign, we can't be held responsible for what we do. 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:27.240 He's in control. 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:28.839 He's sovereign. 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:29.940 He reigns. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.599 He rules. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.039 It's His fault. 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:36.379 He's responsible for my foolishness. 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.240 No, no, no, no, no. 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:42.619 Caiaphas and his band of crooks here are responsible for their actions. 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:44.619 They are going to put Jesus to death. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:48.359 They are making an eternally, incredibly foolish decision. 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:51.399 They will be held accountable for it. 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:54.759 Yet even this, think about this with me. 00:23:54.759 --> 00:24:03.900 Even the most foolish, most humanly evil decision in the history of the world 00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:07.799 is not beyond the scope of God's infinite wisdom. 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:10.980 It is part of His sovereign plan. 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:16.680 This is unfathomable for us. 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:18.940 It's beyond our comprehension. 00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:21.279 Paul in Romans 11, he says, 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.779 Who can know the mind of God? 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:28.099 Oh, the depths of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:30.940 is unfathomable for us, isn't it? 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:33.660 But it's not unprecedented. 00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:37.700 We see this throughout the pages of Scripture, 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:42.680 all throughout this interplay of human responsibility and divine sovereignty. 00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:45.000 I want you to think of the story of Joseph. 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:49.200 Joseph was sold into slavery. 00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.500 His brothers betrayed him. 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.839 They hated him. 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:52.880 They sold him off. 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:54.079 They lied to their father. 00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.460 Evil. 00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:57.579 Horrible actions. 00:24:58.740 --> 00:25:00.539 Joseph winds up working for Pharaoh. 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.319 You know the story. 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:03.380 God raises him up. 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:08.000 He uses this position of power and influence for the good of his people. 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:11.059 God didn't just bring good out of a bad situation. 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:13.420 God ordered it for good. 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:16.660 His brothers responsible, God sovereign. 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:20.160 His brothers foolish, God wise. 00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:23.800 And do you remember what Joseph said to his brothers? 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:27.140 In Genesis 50 verse 20. 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:29.160 I want you to write that verse down for later. 00:25:30.380 --> 00:25:31.500 His brothers were terrified. 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:33.000 They knew that they had messed up. 00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:35.259 They came to Joseph seeking forgiveness. 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.640 Do you remember what Joseph said? 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.560 God said, 00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:41.620 As for you brothers, 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:44.720 you meant evil against me, 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:48.220 but God meant it for good. 00:25:49.060 --> 00:25:53.840 To bring about that many people should be kept alive as they are today. 00:25:54.320 --> 00:25:55.100 Did you hear that? 00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:59.139 You meant evil in this action, 00:25:59.919 --> 00:26:04.259 but God in his sovereign wisdom in this action meant good. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:07.959 In the very one and same action selling me into slavery, 00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:08.939 you meant evil. 00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:12.119 You planned evil foolishly, wrongly, 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.379 but through it, 00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:14.159 in it, 00:26:14.459 --> 00:26:14.979 through it, 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:16.459 God had much bigger, 00:26:16.679 --> 00:26:17.259 much greater, 00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.819 much wiser plans 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:21.099 through your foolish actions. 00:26:21.219 --> 00:26:22.799 God meant good. 00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:24.039 It's incredible. 00:26:25.919 --> 00:26:26.619 And of course, 00:26:26.699 --> 00:26:29.979 we see this intersection of man's foolishness 00:26:29.979 --> 00:26:30.779 and God's wisdom. 00:26:30.919 --> 00:26:31.959 Where do we see it most clearly? 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:35.079 It's at the cross of Christ. 00:26:37.059 --> 00:26:39.140 Acts 2 verse 23. 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.220 Write that down as well. 00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:44.519 Peter stands up and says to the Jews, 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:48.960 This Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:50.600 and foreknowledge of God. 00:26:51.100 --> 00:26:56.059 You crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:56.759 You did it. 00:26:57.860 --> 00:26:59.539 You crucified them. 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:01.960 You acted foolishly. 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:02.899 You killed them. 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:04.139 You are responsible. 00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:08.599 And God planned it for good. 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:12.599 Who planned the death of Jesus? 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:18.740 Caiaphas, the Pharisees, the chief priests, 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:20.220 the council here in John 11, 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:22.579 all of them planned it foolishly. 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:23.399 They are guilty, 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:26.059 but who ultimately planned the death of Jesus? 00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:28.420 God. 00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:32.299 The sovereign ruler of all of heaven and earth 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:35.259 planned it wisely for good. 00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:39.879 We're swimming in deep waters here this morning, church. 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:43.299 But do you see the confidence 00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:45.440 that this should give us who believe? 00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:49.740 No matter what happens in this world, 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:51.819 no matter what danger we face, 00:27:51.899 --> 00:27:53.940 no matter what foolishness we're going to see 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:55.200 and encounter in the world, 00:27:55.200 --> 00:28:02.220 God is at all times 10,000 steps ahead of every foolish thought, 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:04.519 every foolish deed, 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:06.220 every foolish motive, 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:08.580 every rebellious scheme of Satan, 00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:12.080 every rebellious scheme of every kingdom of man, 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:15.000 and He purposes good through them 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:18.340 in wisdom that we cannot begin to comprehend. 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:23.220 He purposes our good and His glory 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:26.500 in perfect, sovereign wisdom. 00:28:27.779 --> 00:28:29.839 Do you trust Him? 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:35.399 And for those who continue to rebel against Him 00:28:35.399 --> 00:28:37.059 and wage war against Him 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:39.099 and refuse to come to Him 00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:40.659 and refuse to trust in Him, 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:43.720 do you see how foolish that is? 00:28:45.179 --> 00:28:49.919 Do you see how futile that rebellion is? 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:55.100 C.S. Lewis, he once said, 00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:58.600 you will certainly carry out God's purpose 00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:59.820 however you act, 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:02.900 but it makes a great difference to you 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:05.900 whether you serve like Judas or like John. 00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:12.340 The death of Jesus was planned out here by Caiaphas, 00:29:12.560 --> 00:29:17.259 but it was planned out long before Caiaphas was ever born 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:19.019 for the glory of God 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:22.059 and the infinite wisdom of God. 00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:23.680 What they meant for evil, 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:26.500 God meant for glorious good. 00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:30.819 So the question we have to ask then is, 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:31.480 why? 00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.379 Why? 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:38.480 What is the good, wise plan of God 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:40.379 in the death of His Son? 00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:42.660 What is the good that God purposes 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:45.059 through this foolish action? 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:47.819 And we see Christ died on purpose 00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:49.700 according to the wise plan of God 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:52.559 and now we see Christ died with purpose 00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:55.980 to save His people from their sins. 00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:58.779 Look there again to verse 51 and 52. 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.279 It says, 00:30:00.379 --> 00:30:03.940 He prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation 00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:05.440 and not for the nation only, 00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:08.639 but to gather into one the children of God 00:30:08.639 --> 00:30:10.419 who are scattered abroad. 00:30:11.679 --> 00:30:13.240 Here's what we need to understand from this 00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:18.140 and I want to be as simple and as clear as I possibly can 00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:20.440 because this is so important for us. 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:25.140 That Jesus died as a substitute. 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:28.660 I want you to get that in your minds, 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:30.559 write it down on your paper if you need to. 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:34.299 This concept needs to be crystal clear for us. 00:30:35.140 --> 00:30:38.640 Jesus died as a substitute for sinners. 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:41.600 This is central to the work of Jesus. 00:30:41.800 --> 00:30:44.640 It's so central that if we miss this, 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:46.980 if we miss this plan of God 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:50.040 for Christ to be a substitute for sinners, 00:30:50.360 --> 00:30:52.259 we miss the heart of the gospel. 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:56.340 We cannot understand the heart of the gospel 00:30:56.340 --> 00:30:57.500 apart from this. 00:30:57.580 --> 00:30:59.040 We know what a substitute is, don't we? 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:02.780 If you've watched 10 seconds of sports, 00:31:03.300 --> 00:31:04.880 you know what a substitute is. 00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:06.860 You have the people in the game. 00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:08.879 The coach says, alright, it's time for you to come out 00:31:08.879 --> 00:31:11.019 and I'm going to put in a substitute. 00:31:11.979 --> 00:31:13.719 So the people who are in the game, 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.879 on the field, on the court, 00:31:14.959 --> 00:31:18.799 they come out and somebody now takes their place 00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:21.399 and the person who takes their place 00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:23.000 is a substitute. 00:31:23.199 --> 00:31:24.039 Are we on the same page? 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.299 Okay. 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:31.700 Jesus died in the place of His people. 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:33.680 For us. 00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:35.859 In our place. 00:31:36.919 --> 00:31:38.799 It says He prophesied that Jesus would die 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:43.079 for the nation and for His children scattered abroad, 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:45.680 for His own from the Jewish people 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:48.099 and from the rest of the world, the Gentiles. 00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:50.039 You've heard me say this before. 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:53.359 I'm going to keep saying it over and over and over and over again. 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:56.000 When you think about the work of Jesus, 00:31:56.139 --> 00:31:58.119 I want you to think of three words. 00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:59.639 Please tell me you remember them. 00:32:00.219 --> 00:32:01.479 In my place. 00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:05.359 In my place. 00:32:05.479 --> 00:32:07.059 This is substitution. 00:32:08.639 --> 00:32:10.419 Him instead of me. 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:14.299 And we should know that there are efforts 00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:17.180 to get rid of this doctrine 00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:20.599 and to just reduce the cross 00:32:20.599 --> 00:32:23.720 to mere moral example, 00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:27.079 to get rid of our sin 00:32:27.079 --> 00:32:29.419 and our need for atonement, 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:31.599 to get rid of God's wrath against sin, 00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:32.700 get rid of substitution, 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:35.119 make the point of the cross 00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:39.019 just a great example of love and sacrifice. 00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:43.759 Now the cross is the greatest example of love and sacrifice 00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:45.160 that there's ever been. 00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:46.160 Make no mistake. 00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:49.119 But if that is all that it is, 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:50.940 we're doomed. 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:55.119 We need more than just a moral example. 00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:57.639 We need a substitute. 00:32:58.940 --> 00:33:00.139 We need atonement. 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:02.200 We need somebody to take our place 00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:04.759 and to take the wrath of God off of us 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:08.200 so that we might be able to be in right relationship with Him. 00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:14.839 God didn't send Jesus just to be a teacher primarily. 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:18.960 He sent Christ to be a substitute. 00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:24.579 John the Baptist already told us this, didn't he? 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:26.980 Remember what he said at the beginning of John? 00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:29.359 Behold the, help me. 00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:33.859 Behold the Lamb of God who does what? 00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:40.639 Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:42.399 Why does He call Him that? 00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:45.619 Why does He call Him the Lamb of God? 00:33:45.719 --> 00:33:47.919 This is substitute language. 00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:51.699 This is sacrifice language. 00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:53.059 Under the old covenant, 00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:55.179 God made it possible for His people 00:33:55.179 --> 00:33:56.939 to have their sins forgiven 00:33:56.939 --> 00:33:59.199 through this system of sacrifice. 00:33:59.459 --> 00:34:02.359 The priest offered up the sacrifice on the altar. 00:34:02.359 --> 00:34:03.459 Why? 00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:07.439 Because God is just and sin must be judged. 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:10.480 So He provided out of His heart of mercy and grace 00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:13.659 a system where God can judge their sin 00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:16.359 through a sacrifice, 00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:18.519 through a substitute. 00:34:19.339 --> 00:34:21.920 Rather than pouring out His wrath on them, 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:24.420 He pours out His wrath on the substitute 00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:26.259 in their place. 00:34:27.259 --> 00:34:29.279 That was a temporary solution, wasn't it? 00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:33.440 God's wise plan from the beginning of time 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:36.780 was to create and perfect a people for Himself, 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:38.560 to bring them to Himself, 00:34:38.780 --> 00:34:40.960 to purify a people for His own possession. 00:34:41.120 --> 00:34:42.340 And how would He do it? 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:45.580 He would send His Son 00:34:45.580 --> 00:34:48.860 to be a substitutionary sacrifice, 00:34:49.560 --> 00:34:52.240 to take away our sin, 00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:57.139 to bear the wrath of God in our place. 00:34:58.699 --> 00:35:00.699 Jesus is the Lamb of God 00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:03.639 who takes away the sin of the world. 00:35:04.199 --> 00:35:04.639 Substitution. 00:35:04.859 --> 00:35:06.219 We have to see this, church. 00:35:06.479 --> 00:35:09.399 It's at the very heart of the gospel. 00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:11.339 If you lose this, we lose it all. 00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:15.159 Just so you see, I'm not crazy. 00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:20.000 Let's flip to a few other places. 00:35:20.679 --> 00:35:22.440 We see it in the Bible. 00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:23.399 You can write these down. 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:25.179 If you're fast, you can flip along with me. 00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:28.920 1 Peter 3.18. 00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:30.139 I just want you to listen. 00:35:30.279 --> 00:35:31.599 Have your ears tuned in 00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:32.960 to this language of substitution. 00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:33.719 Okay? 00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:36.420 1 Peter 3.18 says, 00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:40.340 For Christ also suffered once for sins, 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:43.380 the righteous for the unrighteous, 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:45.240 that He might bring us to God. 00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:45.880 Do you hear it? 00:35:46.720 --> 00:35:50.320 Christ also suffered once for sins. 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:51.159 Whose sins? 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:53.039 Not His. 00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:56.659 The righteous for the unrighteous, 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:58.880 in the place of the unrighteous, 00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:01.659 as a substitute for the unrighteous. 00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:02.099 Why? 00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:05.500 That He might bring the unrighteous to God. 00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:08.039 2 Corinthians 5.21. 00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:10.659 There may not be a more beautiful verse 00:36:10.659 --> 00:36:11.940 in the entire Bible. 00:36:12.980 --> 00:36:14.039 Memorize this verse. 00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:17.659 For our sake, He, God, 00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:19.639 made Him, Jesus, 00:36:20.420 --> 00:36:21.980 to be sin, 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:23.619 who knew no sin, 00:36:23.720 --> 00:36:25.320 so that in Him, 00:36:25.539 --> 00:36:29.000 we might become the righteousness of God. 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:31.860 For our sake, 00:36:32.720 --> 00:36:35.079 God made the perfect, 00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:36.299 innocent, 00:36:36.779 --> 00:36:38.480 spotless Lamb of God, 00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:39.500 Son of God, 00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:41.480 to be sin, 00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:42.900 so that in Him, 00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:44.259 by His sacrifice, 00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:48.159 we might become the very righteousness of God. 00:36:48.279 --> 00:36:49.480 He takes our place. 00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:51.059 We take His place. 00:36:51.159 --> 00:36:53.739 The most gloriously unfair deal 00:36:53.739 --> 00:36:54.840 in the history of mankind. 00:36:56.199 --> 00:36:56.900 Praise God. 00:36:58.739 --> 00:37:00.119 Hebrews 9.28. 00:37:00.119 --> 00:37:02.539 Christ, 00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:05.299 having been offered once 00:37:05.299 --> 00:37:08.440 to bear the sins of many. 00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:09.119 You hear that? 00:37:10.019 --> 00:37:10.500 Why? 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:13.859 To bear the sins of many. 00:37:15.900 --> 00:37:17.960 He will appear a second time, 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:19.079 not to deal with sin. 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:20.019 He's already done that. 00:37:20.739 --> 00:37:22.119 But to save those 00:37:22.119 --> 00:37:24.799 who are eagerly waiting for Him. 00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:26.859 One more. 00:37:26.860 --> 00:37:29.120 This one from the Old Testament. 00:37:29.260 --> 00:37:30.079 We read it this morning. 00:37:30.200 --> 00:37:32.200 I hope you heard from Isaiah 53, 00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:34.460 that language of substitution. 00:37:35.660 --> 00:37:37.800 700 years before the birth of Jesus. 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:39.440 Listen to this from Isaiah 53. 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:43.099 Surely He has borne our griefs 00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:45.079 and carried our sorrows. 00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:47.660 Yet we esteemed Him stricken, 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:49.480 smitten by God, 00:37:49.539 --> 00:37:50.300 and afflicted. 00:37:50.920 --> 00:37:52.559 But He was pierced 00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:55.000 for our transgressions. 00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:56.960 He was crushed 00:37:56.960 --> 00:38:00.019 for our iniquities. 00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:03.679 Upon Him was the chastisement 00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:05.699 that brought us peace. 00:38:05.860 --> 00:38:07.380 And with His wounds, 00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:08.579 we are healed. 00:38:09.639 --> 00:38:10.880 All we like sheep 00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:11.880 have gone astray. 00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:13.980 We have turned everyone 00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:15.199 to His own way. 00:38:15.639 --> 00:38:18.679 And the Lord has laid on Him 00:38:18.679 --> 00:38:20.440 in our place 00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:22.000 as a substitute 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:23.920 instead of us. 00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:26.039 the Lord has laid on Him 00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:28.920 the iniquity of us all. 00:38:31.720 --> 00:38:32.940 The death of Jesus 00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:35.659 was no tragic accident, church. 00:38:37.659 --> 00:38:39.700 He died on purpose 00:38:39.700 --> 00:38:42.840 according to the wisdom 00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:44.099 and the plan 00:38:44.099 --> 00:38:45.559 of the sovereign God. 00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:48.340 and He died with purpose 00:38:48.340 --> 00:38:51.239 in the place of His own 00:38:51.239 --> 00:38:53.759 to gather into one 00:38:53.759 --> 00:38:55.779 the children of God. 00:38:55.860 --> 00:38:58.579 What unfathomable grace 00:38:58.579 --> 00:38:59.820 and wisdom. 00:39:02.299 --> 00:39:03.960 Why does this matter for us, church, 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:04.679 as we close? 00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:05.960 For one, 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:07.460 if you have not trusted in Christ, 00:39:07.579 --> 00:39:08.039 you should know 00:39:08.039 --> 00:39:09.279 you still bear your sin. 00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:11.820 It's you or the substitute. 00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:14.079 Sin will be judged. 00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:16.119 Sin will be addressed. 00:39:16.920 --> 00:39:18.480 It's either you or Him. 00:39:18.559 --> 00:39:19.319 But praise God, 00:39:19.400 --> 00:39:20.299 there is a substitute 00:39:20.299 --> 00:39:21.860 willing and available 00:39:21.860 --> 00:39:23.360 to take the weight 00:39:23.360 --> 00:39:24.340 of your sin 00:39:24.340 --> 00:39:25.639 off of your shoulders 00:39:25.639 --> 00:39:27.179 and bear the punishment 00:39:27.179 --> 00:39:28.400 that you have earned 00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:30.019 so that you can go free. 00:39:31.679 --> 00:39:32.799 Would you trust in Him? 00:39:35.239 --> 00:39:37.079 And for us who have trusted 00:39:37.079 --> 00:39:38.920 in this perfect provision, 00:39:38.920 --> 00:39:41.139 this is unbelievably good news 00:39:41.139 --> 00:39:41.900 for us, church. 00:39:41.980 --> 00:39:42.180 Amen? 00:39:44.139 --> 00:39:45.200 It means we are 00:39:45.200 --> 00:39:47.059 totally forgiven 00:39:47.059 --> 00:39:47.980 from our sin. 00:39:49.360 --> 00:39:51.180 When Jesus says the words, 00:39:51.360 --> 00:39:52.659 it is finished. 00:39:53.559 --> 00:39:54.440 It's done. 00:39:55.440 --> 00:39:57.159 That means it is done 00:39:57.159 --> 00:39:58.720 for any who trust in Him 00:39:58.720 --> 00:39:59.320 by faith. 00:39:59.400 --> 00:40:00.940 The verdict is in. 00:40:01.420 --> 00:40:02.920 Judgment has been declared 00:40:03.500 --> 00:40:05.220 and poured out on Christ 00:40:05.220 --> 00:40:06.539 in our place. 00:40:06.539 --> 00:40:08.480 We can't work our way 00:40:08.480 --> 00:40:09.880 into the good graces of God. 00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:12.039 We no longer have to try 00:40:12.039 --> 00:40:13.099 to labor, 00:40:13.259 --> 00:40:14.860 to earn any privilege 00:40:14.860 --> 00:40:16.039 or favor with God. 00:40:16.900 --> 00:40:18.199 This is where the Catholics 00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:19.039 just miss it. 00:40:22.199 --> 00:40:24.400 The atoning work of Christ 00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:25.699 is finished. 00:40:26.759 --> 00:40:27.440 And it's ours 00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:30.179 completely by faith alone. 00:40:30.179 --> 00:40:32.899 We are made one 00:40:32.899 --> 00:40:34.079 with God 00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:35.779 through the atoning blood 00:40:35.779 --> 00:40:37.179 of Jesus Christ. 00:40:38.679 --> 00:40:40.500 But not just one with God. 00:40:44.859 --> 00:40:46.279 We're also made one 00:40:46.279 --> 00:40:46.980 with one another. 00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:50.119 Look back to verse 52 00:40:50.719 --> 00:40:51.579 one more time. 00:40:51.759 --> 00:40:52.719 I love verse 52, 00:40:52.819 --> 00:40:53.099 don't you? 00:40:54.699 --> 00:40:54.960 It says, 00:40:55.059 --> 00:40:57.219 Jesus died for the nation, 00:40:57.319 --> 00:40:57.659 that is, 00:40:57.899 --> 00:40:58.940 for the Jews. 00:40:58.940 --> 00:40:59.500 First, 00:41:00.079 --> 00:41:01.700 He died for those Jews 00:41:01.700 --> 00:41:03.179 who would trust Him 00:41:03.179 --> 00:41:04.179 and come out of that 00:41:04.179 --> 00:41:06.099 Jewish sheep pen, 00:41:06.440 --> 00:41:07.559 hear the voice of their shepherd 00:41:07.559 --> 00:41:09.579 and come into this one new flock 00:41:09.579 --> 00:41:10.440 called the church. 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:12.599 But not just for the Jews, 00:41:12.820 --> 00:41:14.099 He would die to gather 00:41:14.099 --> 00:41:16.280 into one people, 00:41:16.740 --> 00:41:18.039 the children of God, 00:41:18.220 --> 00:41:19.380 scattered abroad 00:41:19.380 --> 00:41:21.039 throughout the world. 00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:22.679 Children of God 00:41:22.679 --> 00:41:23.679 who would hear the voice 00:41:23.679 --> 00:41:24.320 of their shepherd 00:41:24.320 --> 00:41:25.300 and believe 00:41:25.300 --> 00:41:26.680 from Jerusalem 00:41:26.680 --> 00:41:28.039 to Judea 00:41:28.039 --> 00:41:29.160 to Samaria 00:41:29.160 --> 00:41:30.700 to the uttermost ends 00:41:30.700 --> 00:41:31.480 of the world 00:41:31.480 --> 00:41:33.120 even all the way here 00:41:33.120 --> 00:41:34.480 to all and all. 00:41:36.400 --> 00:41:37.600 And by the grace of God 00:41:37.600 --> 00:41:39.260 we are brought into union 00:41:39.260 --> 00:41:40.240 with Christ 00:41:40.240 --> 00:41:42.380 and one another. 00:41:42.559 --> 00:41:43.180 So there will be 00:41:43.180 --> 00:41:43.980 one flock, 00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:45.820 one shepherd, 00:41:46.680 --> 00:41:47.400 one Lord, 00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:48.100 one faith, 00:41:48.240 --> 00:41:48.980 one baptism, 00:41:49.220 --> 00:41:50.019 one God 00:41:50.019 --> 00:41:51.300 and Father of all. 00:41:51.300 --> 00:41:53.560 What glorious wisdom. 00:41:55.940 --> 00:41:58.100 Do you love 00:41:58.100 --> 00:41:59.200 the family of God? 00:42:01.500 --> 00:42:03.420 Do you cherish 00:42:03.420 --> 00:42:05.100 the bride of Christ? 00:42:07.539 --> 00:42:09.539 Jesus did not just die 00:42:09.539 --> 00:42:12.360 for individual scattered people. 00:42:12.480 --> 00:42:14.560 He died to make one 00:42:14.560 --> 00:42:17.740 a glorious body of Christ. 00:42:19.560 --> 00:42:20.780 Verse 53, 00:42:21.300 --> 00:42:22.700 it tells us 00:42:22.700 --> 00:42:23.780 from that day on 00:42:23.780 --> 00:42:24.900 they made plans 00:42:24.900 --> 00:42:26.300 to put him to death. 00:42:26.460 --> 00:42:26.600 So, 00:42:27.160 --> 00:42:27.780 Jesus therefore 00:42:27.780 --> 00:42:29.019 no longer walked openly 00:42:29.019 --> 00:42:29.820 among the Jews 00:42:29.820 --> 00:42:30.920 but went from there 00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:31.539 to the region 00:42:31.539 --> 00:42:32.240 near the wilderness 00:42:32.240 --> 00:42:34.519 to a town called Ephraim 00:42:34.519 --> 00:42:35.860 and there he stayed 00:42:35.860 --> 00:42:37.420 with the disciples. 00:42:38.039 --> 00:42:39.240 Things will escalate 00:42:39.240 --> 00:42:40.240 quickly from here. 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:43.780 He will not avoid 00:42:43.780 --> 00:42:45.500 their plans for long. 00:42:47.519 --> 00:42:49.160 The foolish plan of man 00:42:49.160 --> 00:42:51.100 and the wise plan of God 00:42:51.099 --> 00:42:52.440 ultimately will meet 00:42:52.440 --> 00:42:54.440 again at the cross 00:42:54.440 --> 00:42:55.420 of Christ 00:42:55.420 --> 00:42:57.319 and who do you think 00:42:57.319 --> 00:42:58.319 will come out 00:42:58.319 --> 00:42:59.259 on top? 00:43:01.259 --> 00:43:02.099 Christ Jesus 00:43:02.099 --> 00:43:02.860 will give himself 00:43:02.860 --> 00:43:04.460 into the hands of man. 00:43:05.460 --> 00:43:06.559 He will lay down 00:43:06.559 --> 00:43:07.179 his life. 00:43:07.319 --> 00:43:07.860 He will commit 00:43:07.860 --> 00:43:08.659 his spirit 00:43:08.659 --> 00:43:09.380 into the hands 00:43:09.380 --> 00:43:10.019 of the Father 00:43:10.019 --> 00:43:11.900 and he will rise again 00:43:11.900 --> 00:43:12.799 from the grave. 00:43:13.579 --> 00:43:14.699 He will conquer 00:43:14.699 --> 00:43:16.480 sin and death. 00:43:17.079 --> 00:43:17.880 He will ascend 00:43:17.880 --> 00:43:18.779 into the right hand 00:43:18.780 --> 00:43:19.320 of the Father 00:43:19.320 --> 00:43:20.420 and he will come 00:43:20.420 --> 00:43:22.180 again and he will reign 00:43:22.180 --> 00:43:24.660 and the foolishness 00:43:24.660 --> 00:43:25.160 of man 00:43:25.160 --> 00:43:26.500 will be defeated 00:43:26.500 --> 00:43:27.000 and triumphed 00:43:28.340 --> 00:43:29.560 over by the wisdom 00:43:29.560 --> 00:43:30.100 of God. 00:43:31.180 --> 00:43:31.860 Let's pray. 00:43:31.860 --> 00:43:36.440 Lord, we thank you 00:43:36.440 --> 00:43:38.320 for your glorious wisdom 00:43:38.320 --> 00:43:39.720 that is so far 00:43:39.720 --> 00:43:40.760 beyond our comprehension. 00:43:43.079 --> 00:43:44.360 There are depths 00:43:44.360 --> 00:43:44.960 and riches 00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:45.740 to your wisdom 00:43:45.740 --> 00:43:46.800 that will take 00:43:46.800 --> 00:43:47.720 all of eternity 00:43:47.720 --> 00:43:48.559 to explore 00:43:48.559 --> 00:43:49.440 and we thank you 00:43:49.440 --> 00:43:50.640 Lord that we get 00:43:50.640 --> 00:43:51.340 to do so. 00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:51.940 For all those 00:43:51.940 --> 00:43:52.740 who are in Christ 00:43:52.740 --> 00:43:53.640 we have eternity 00:43:53.640 --> 00:43:54.599 to look forward to 00:43:54.599 --> 00:43:56.440 where we can search 00:43:56.440 --> 00:43:57.280 out the riches 00:43:57.280 --> 00:43:58.000 of your grace 00:43:58.000 --> 00:43:58.660 and kindness 00:43:58.660 --> 00:43:59.720 to us who believe. 00:43:59.719 --> 00:44:02.039 Father, we do pray 00:44:02.039 --> 00:44:04.199 Lord, for those 00:44:04.199 --> 00:44:05.899 that don't yet know you 00:44:05.899 --> 00:44:07.219 God, would you 00:44:07.219 --> 00:44:08.619 call them in 00:44:08.619 --> 00:44:09.759 to the one family 00:44:09.759 --> 00:44:10.919 the one flock of God 00:44:10.919 --> 00:44:12.899 from every tribe 00:44:12.899 --> 00:44:13.699 tongue and nation 00:44:13.699 --> 00:44:15.719 that you might be glorified 00:44:15.719 --> 00:44:16.399 in the salvation 00:44:16.399 --> 00:44:17.059 of sinners. 00:44:18.359 --> 00:44:19.779 We pray this in Christ's name. 00:44:20.599 --> 00:44:20.859 Amen.