WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.460 Amen. Who are you? What are you doing? Where are you headed? 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:19.500 These are the questions all about the meaning of life, and these are the questions of 00:00:19.500 --> 00:00:24.339 any age, the questions which have received a whole host of answers. 00:00:24.339 --> 00:00:33.840 And one related question is, how do you deal with suffering? I wonder how you would go about 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:40.019 answering that question, and that too has received a whole host of responses. 00:00:41.379 --> 00:00:48.060 The often quoted remark from Richard Dawkins where he commented on the sufferings of the world 00:00:48.060 --> 00:00:53.240 that are beyond all decent contemplation, he concluded that the universe that we observe 00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:59.960 has precisely the properties we should expect if there is at bottom no design, no purpose, 00:01:00.480 --> 00:01:08.320 no good, no evil, nothing but pitiless indifference. Cheerful stuff, isn't it? 00:01:10.099 --> 00:01:16.820 Perhaps for Peter, the question about how we deal with suffering is to be answered about knowing 00:01:16.819 --> 00:01:24.479 when we are. We live after the time where Jesus died on the cross and achieved our salvation. 00:01:25.059 --> 00:01:33.060 We live during a time of temporary suffering, and we live in anticipation of the future glories 00:01:33.060 --> 00:01:42.019 that await us. And in this passage, we find that our salvation has been secured by the work of Christ, 00:01:42.019 --> 00:01:51.060 and that even in the midst of temporary sufferings, we may find joy and hope in this. And as we await 00:01:51.060 --> 00:01:59.459 our future glorification when Christ appears in His second coming. And we shall consider this under 00:01:59.459 --> 00:02:06.840 three headings. Firstly, in verses 3 to 5, we see our salvation, or we see a joy in salvation secured. 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:18.159 In verses 6 to 9, we find a joy in temporary sufferings. And in verses 10 to 12, we see a joy in glory 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:26.360 anticipated. So firstly, in verses 3 to 5, we see a joy in salvation secured. 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:34.420 And the first thing that we find in this section is that we can have a joy in the new birth. 00:02:34.419 --> 00:02:43.799 Verse 3, praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy, He has given us 00:02:43.799 --> 00:02:52.959 new birth. What does it mean to have new birth in Christ? Well, many of us who know our Bibles well 00:02:52.959 --> 00:02:59.799 may be able to point to John chapter 3, verse 3, where we see it is necessary to be born again to enjoy 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:10.219 eternal life. We may also think of Ephesians, where previously you were dead in your transgressions, 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:18.400 and now you have been made alive in Christ. And this is the reality for the Christian believer, 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:25.880 that you were dead in the sins and trespasses in which you formerly walked. Ephesians chapter 2, 00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:34.039 verse 1 says, you were dead in your transgressions and sins in which you used to live when you followed 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:42.240 the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the Spirit who is now at work in those 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:49.479 who are disobedient. Without Christ, all of humankind is lost in this misery, 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:59.539 in sin's futility and in hell's damnation. But now you have been made alive in Christ Jesus. 00:04:00.019 --> 00:04:09.099 Read again verse 3, because of His great mercy, He has given us new birth. It is because of God's 00:04:09.099 --> 00:04:17.399 great mercy that you have been made alive again. And throughout Scripture, we read of God's covenantal 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:23.779 love for His love for His people that saved His people from the hands of slavery of the Egyptians 00:04:23.779 --> 00:04:29.239 and constantly saved His people from the hands of their enemies. 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:39.500 And it is the same infinite and eternal love of God which has caused you to be born again, 00:04:40.060 --> 00:04:45.979 from death into salvation. And this is not on our own efforts as if we could add or contribute 00:04:45.980 --> 00:04:54.520 anything to our salvation. It is on the basis of His love alone that we can know the joy of His blessings. 00:04:58.200 --> 00:05:05.140 So, we have been born again and we subsequently see that we have been made alive to a living hope. 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:12.140 Verse 3 again, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ 00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:20.439 Christ from the dead. I wonder what hopes you have this morning. Maybe those are hopes about the weather 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:26.899 or maybe about your future. We like to hope in many things. Maybe we hope that Scotland will one day 00:05:26.899 --> 00:05:31.399 win the Euros. Well, in that case, that's not even false hope. That's just no hope at all. 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:37.139 But this is not like the new hope that the birth gives us, especially not that last one. 00:05:37.139 --> 00:05:45.019 For this hope, the hope in the new birth is certain. Not only is it placed in the God in whom we can have 00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:55.599 full expectation, but we also find that this hope is a living hope. And this is striking in our world as 00:05:55.599 --> 00:06:03.539 it was in Peter's world. We live in a world which often does not know how to respond to the reality of death. 00:06:03.540 --> 00:06:12.100 As some of you know, I proposed to Emily, my wife, in a graveyard. And something which we like to do 00:06:12.100 --> 00:06:16.700 from time to time is walk through graveyards. And I find it very interesting to look at what all the 00:06:16.700 --> 00:06:22.120 different gravestones have written on them. And some of them are very profound. They have a Bible verse 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:28.259 on them or something. But others bring home the reality that all rationality goes out of the window 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:33.740 in the face of death. I remember one that read something along the lines of, God only sends 00:06:33.740 --> 00:06:40.779 the best of us to heaven. And it's just not true, is it? Well, perhaps it is, but I don't think quite in 00:06:40.779 --> 00:06:50.099 the way that they meant it. And I say this to stress that our culture does not know how to respond to the 00:06:50.100 --> 00:06:59.780 dark and uncertain reality of death. Peter calls this a living hope in contrast to all of this. 00:06:59.779 --> 00:07:10.759 And in a world which is so uncertain, what comfort we can derive and take from the fact that our hope 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:18.919 is based upon the historical resurrection of our Lord and Savior. Read again these verses. Verse 4, 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:28.100 we have been born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 00:07:30.520 --> 00:07:37.400 It is not based upon some… our hope is not based upon some scientific advancement. It is not based 00:07:37.400 --> 00:07:44.120 upon some political policy. It is based solely and alone on the fact that Christ is risen, 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:51.680 and it is because of this fact that we can be sure on the last day we will be raised with Him. 00:07:54.720 --> 00:08:00.600 So, we have been made alive to a living hope. We have also been made alive to an indestructible 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:10.980 inheritance. Verse 4, into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept 00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:20.280 in heaven for you. And it is important to understand that when the Bible mentions inheritance, it means 00:08:20.280 --> 00:08:28.200 something very significant and specific. In the Old Testament, we have to understand that the Israelites, 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:34.779 they had their inheritance, which was the promised land. And in their inheritance… and in their inherited 00:08:34.779 --> 00:08:43.659 promised land, that is where they enjoyed the blessings of the presence of God. This inheritance 00:08:43.659 --> 00:08:51.419 was a source of joy to the people living in the times of the Old Testament. However, this inheritance was 00:08:51.419 --> 00:09:02.379 lost, as Peter's audience would have been well aware of. It was destroyed by the Babylonians, defiled by 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:14.220 Israel's sin and unfaithfulness, and it was left in decay. But the inheritance we have been born again into is not like this one, 00:09:14.220 --> 00:09:26.779 but it is much greater. Read again these verses. This one can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance 00:09:26.779 --> 00:09:38.179 is far greater than any earthly treasure for this inheritance is kept in heaven for you. It is a heavenly reward which can never be taken away. 00:09:39.259 --> 00:09:52.939 It is imperishable. It can never be destroyed. It is not like our earthly treasures where moths and vermin destroy and thieves break in and steal. 00:09:52.940 --> 00:09:59.820 No, no, it is kept in heaven and no disaster can befall it. 00:10:03.020 --> 00:10:07.100 It cannot spoil. It is incorruptible. 00:10:09.260 --> 00:10:15.660 It is because of the sin of the Israelites that the people of God lost their inheritance the first time. 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:24.860 But now, for those of us who have been made alive, our inheritance cannot be spoiled and ruined by our sin. 00:10:26.779 --> 00:10:34.139 For those of you in Christ know this, that no matter how badly you have sinned, no matter how badly you may sin, 00:10:34.779 --> 00:10:43.659 nothing can spoil the inheritance that awaits you in glory. Nothing can take away your heavenly reward. 00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:50.059 There is nothing you can do to make you unworthy of the grace that you have in Christ. 00:10:52.459 --> 00:10:55.179 And if you do sin, you have an advocate with the Father, 00:10:55.980 --> 00:11:00.539 who has died for you and has given you this new life. 00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:06.939 It cannot perish. It cannot spoil. 00:11:06.940 --> 00:11:08.140 It cannot fail. 00:11:08.140 --> 00:11:09.580 And finally, it will never fade. 00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:13.260 Our inheritance will never age. 00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:19.260 The passage of time will never cause it to decay or rust away. 00:11:19.260 --> 00:11:25.420 Instead, it is held, it remains firmly held until you take possession of it in full. 00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:33.339 And because your inheritance ultimately lies in the infinite, eternal, and unchanging God, 00:11:33.740 --> 00:11:37.099 you can be assured that it is secure. 00:11:40.699 --> 00:11:43.179 And it is not just your inheritance which is guaranteed. 00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:48.779 In verse 5, you too will be kept secure until that day. 00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:57.019 In verse 5, who through faith are being shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation 00:11:57.579 --> 00:12:01.339 that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:12.059 Formerly, you were kept in the custody of law and sin, but now you are being held and kept 00:12:12.619 --> 00:12:14.539 by your Father, by your Savior. 00:12:16.699 --> 00:12:22.619 And know that our Savior is preparing a place for us in the new creation, and he will, 00:12:23.819 --> 00:12:28.139 and this will be ready at the time when he comes back. 00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:34.859 Our salvation is secured, and in this we can find much joy. 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:42.539 We can join with Peter in praising our God for the salvation that is secure for us in heaven. 00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:51.100 So that is our salvation, our joy in salvation secured. 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:57.100 Secondly, in verses 6 to 9, we see a joy in temporary sufferings. 00:12:57.100 --> 00:13:08.540 In verses 6 to 7, we find a necessary but temporary time of trials for Christians. 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:10.379 Verse 6, 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:15.659 In all this you rejoice, though now for a little while, though now for a little, 00:13:15.659 --> 00:13:19.980 you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:26.860 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith of greater worth than gold, 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:34.060 which perishes even though it is refined by fire, may result in praise, glory, and honor 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:36.940 when Jesus Christ is revealed. 00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:45.420 Now many speculate as to the sufferings that Peter is talking about here. They 00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:49.899 try to look to the historical background to try and find the exact circumstance 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:51.019 which Peter was addressing. 00:13:52.620 --> 00:14:00.459 Those conclusions are not so certain, but what is interesting is that the language Peter uses here 00:14:00.459 --> 00:14:06.860 is very similar to what we read elsewhere, to what we read earlier in Zechariah chapter 13. 00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:09.819 Turn with me to Zechariah chapter 13 for a second again. 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:13.419 Important verses for this passage. 00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:15.179 Zechariah chapter 13. 00:14:17.099 --> 00:14:17.579 It says, 00:14:17.579 --> 00:14:23.740 Awake sword against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me, declares the Lord Almighty. 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:29.500 Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones. 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:34.939 In the whole lands, declares the Lord, two-thirds will be struck down and perish, 00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:38.139 yet one-third will be left in it. And then verse 9. 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:48.539 This third I will put into fire. I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. 00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:55.980 Notice the similarities in the language. And throughout 1 Peter, we read of the references 00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:58.220 of the great shepherd who was slain. 00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:07.340 Zechariah envisages the striking of God's king, the shepherd king, which we know as Jesus, and the 00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:14.220 subsequent scattering and refining of his people in order to prepare them for the final glory of God's 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:24.379 kingdom. In other words, the work of Christ begins a series of necessary trials for the people of God, 00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:27.980 and which will prepare the way for the completion of his kingdom. 00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:34.379 And this is important to understand, important background for this passage for two reasons. 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:42.139 Firstly, in this passage, it is confirmed that suffering is a necessary experience of the Christian life. 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:52.300 There are many today who believe that the Christian faith is a way to avoid suffering. They see it as this 00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:58.219 crutch, which allows us to avoid the hard and difficult reality of pain and death. 00:16:00.459 --> 00:16:07.099 But this could not be further from the truth. In verse 6, the audience have had to endure suffering 00:16:07.099 --> 00:16:13.819 and grief. In fact, if you're reading from the ESV, the ESV puts this as necessary grief. 00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:22.700 It is important to be clear that conversion does not mean that all of our problems will magic away. 00:16:24.700 --> 00:16:32.940 John Calvin puts it like this, the faithful are not logs of wood, nor have they so divested themselves 00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:40.860 of human feelings as to be unaffected by sorrow, unafraid of danger, unhurt by poverty, and untouched 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:44.620 by hard and unbearable persecution. 00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:54.779 You are not logs of wood. You cannot avoid sufferings and pain because you know Jesus. 00:16:56.139 --> 00:17:02.220 And we face much, many trials in this world. There are many sufferings which plague us. 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:16.620 In a world which is so connected by social media, there seems to be so much loneliness in this world. 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:24.779 In 1 Peter, we find the audience then were facing pressure from the outside world. 00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:32.379 In chapter 4, verses 1-5, the believers face persecution for not joining in the evil ways 00:17:32.379 --> 00:17:38.139 of the Gentiles, and Peter exhorts them to suffer not as the unbelievers do. 00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:47.740 And this could not be more timely to today, could it? Where believers are pressurized to conform 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:56.859 to the ways of this world. Biblical views regarding marriage, family, wealth, and the general way of 00:17:56.859 --> 00:18:05.180 life are not only regarded as irrelevant and outdated, but so much of our culture actively despises these 00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:14.059 things. Standing by these things may mean that we are the odd one out amongst our colleagues, 00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:23.740 friends, or possibly even our families. We not only learn of the necessity of these trials, but we also 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:34.059 learn that they are temporary. We suffer only for, verse 6, a little while. And this is what we find in 00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:40.379 the prophecy of Zechariah. After the striking of the shepherd in verse 13, in the scattering of the flock, 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:48.300 we read Zechariah 40, where God brings in His kingdom in glory. He ushers in a new age. 00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:57.980 And this is what the refining of us through suffering is geared towards. It is all geared towards 00:18:57.980 --> 00:19:04.380 this final day. And this can give us hope that in the midst of all the trials that you go through, 00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:12.540 the tested genuineness of your faith will result in the praise and glory of God at the second coming 00:19:12.540 --> 00:19:14.860 of Jesus Christ. 00:19:17.820 --> 00:19:21.500 Not only can we rejoice in the fact that our salvation has been secured, 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:28.780 but we must also emphasize at this point that we can find joy in the glorification that will be 00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:34.460 secured in the last day when Christ comes in His glory. 00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:48.059 Very often we know in life it is necessary to and important to endure temporary suffering to gain 00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:55.819 reward. The Bible very often uses the image of an athlete. The athlete has to go on strict diets. He 00:19:55.819 --> 00:20:02.700 needs to go through intense training and that might involve pain. But ultimately it is all geared towards 00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:10.460 great reward. I don't know if you've seen those videos. There are many examples of this sort of 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:13.899 thing. I don't know if you've seen those videos where they sit a kid in a room with a marshmallow 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:17.980 and they're told if you don't eat this marshmallow, we're going to give you two marshmallows. 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:25.980 Now usually the kid ends up eating the marshmallow and he has to learn the lesson of degrade gratification the hard way. 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:34.860 But we know the importance of often enduring a temporary trial in order to gain something more. 00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:45.180 But how much greater here? Not only because of the certainty of the outcome, but also because of how much 00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:53.740 grander our heavenly inheritance is. Verse 8, though you have not seen Him, you love Him. 00:20:54.779 --> 00:21:02.779 And even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and a 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:11.900 glorious joy. For you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:25.019 Friends, we gain great joy in the salvation that we have. We gain great joy in knowing Christ whom we do not see. 00:21:26.540 --> 00:21:37.660 Imagine how much greater it will be when we see Him face to face. All of the trials will be in the past 00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:44.380 and you will receive the purpose of your salvation, which is eternal fellowship with Him. 00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:52.380 As the hymn we sang earlier puts it, that purer and higher and greater will be 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:57.580 our joy and our wonder when Jesus we see. 00:21:57.579 --> 00:22:11.179 And this is the answer to our temporary trials and suffering. It is to gaze upon the reward which awaits you in heaven. 00:22:13.179 --> 00:22:23.980 If you are in Christ, suffering is not the end, but you are heading towards a heavenly inheritance where you will be transformed in an instant 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:28.700 when He comes. 00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:35.180 And it is important at this point to also note that we will not always know the answer to every trial we go through. 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:40.940 The Bible does not explain the reason for why we go through every single hardship. 00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:48.620 Sometimes we will never know why we go through certain situations, as the life of Job helpfully highlights. 00:22:48.619 --> 00:23:03.419 But what we do know is this, that Christ is shaping us and is preparing us for a future day when He comes in glory and fills us with this joy that is inexpressible. 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:07.179 As another famous hymn says, 00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:22.060 I cannot tell how He will win the nations, how He will claim His earthly heritage, how satisfied needs and aspirations of East and West, of sinner and of sage. 00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:31.019 But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory, and He shall reap the harvest He has sown. 00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:41.180 And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendor when He, the Savior, Savior of the world, is known. 00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:47.039 Our salvation is secure. 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:51.500 So let us stand firm in the midst of these trials. 00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:54.720 Let us not suffer as the unbelievers do. 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:59.200 Let us not grieve as those who have no hope. 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:05.620 A theme in 1 Peter, a common theme in 1 Peter, is that Christians ought to act distinctly. 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:08.840 And this is often a struggle for many believers. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:17.160 But the clear message here is not only to look to the cross, which we of course should look to, 00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:21.420 but also to look to the second coming of Christ. 00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:26.240 Look to the glory of the glorification that awaits us, 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:31.980 and let us endure the temporary, necessary sufferings with which we endure, 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:35.380 as we gaze upon the glory of His return. 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:41.519 So that is our joy in temporary sufferings. 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:44.480 Thirdly and finally, verses 10 to 12, 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:48.080 we see joy in glory anticipated. 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:57.639 Verses 10 and 11. 00:24:57.639 --> 00:24:59.599 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:02.519 who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, 00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:05.419 searched intently and with greatest care, 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:08.559 trying to find out the time and circumstances 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:12.299 to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:15.659 when He predicted the suffering of the Messiah 00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:18.139 and the glories that would follow. 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:21.240 Concerning this salvation, that is, 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:25.220 the salvation that we found in verses 3 to 5 that is secure, 00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:29.419 and the glories yet to come that we see in verses 6 to 9, 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:33.539 this is the salvation that the prophets sought to understand. 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:39.259 And this passage highlights for us that the Old and New Testaments 00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:42.879 proclaim the one same plan of God. 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.839 They're not different stories. 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:48.099 They're not different ways of salvation, 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:52.180 but one eternal plan from the beginning. 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:57.480 Therefore, how important is it that we read our Old Testaments 00:25:57.480 --> 00:26:00.140 and see to understand this history, 00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:04.259 because by it and its prophecies do we understand the salvation 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:07.000 that is proclaimed by the New Testament. 00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:13.779 However, they did not see things as clearly as we do. 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:17.160 And it is important to note that this does not mean 00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:18.920 that they were not saved in the same way. 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:23.840 They still enjoyed the same salvation that we enjoy today, 00:26:24.620 --> 00:26:28.420 though maybe they had less clarity as to how this would all work out. 00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:34.759 It does suggest they did not enjoy the same New Testament perspective 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:37.240 that we enjoyed today. 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:44.140 Verse 10, they searched intently and with greatest care, 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:47.680 trying to understand the sufferings of the Messiah 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:50.360 and the glories that would follow. 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:53.840 That is, the salvation and temporary sufferings 00:26:53.840 --> 00:26:57.240 and glories that Christ will bring in the Second Coming. 00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:04.140 I wonder if you have ever lost your keys 00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:07.120 or if you've lost your phone. 00:27:07.320 --> 00:27:10.779 I wonder how intently you search for these things. 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:13.799 There was one time I was working on an essay for seminary, 00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:16.379 and I was working on my Word document the day. 00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:18.299 The due date was here. 00:27:18.379 --> 00:27:20.480 I was making my last-minute edits. 00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:24.259 And all of a sudden, Microsoft Word decided to revert my save 00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:26.720 to what it was at the beginning of my work. 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:28.259 I had almost lost all of it. 00:27:28.399 --> 00:27:31.960 And I cannot tell you how intently I searched my iPad files 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:33.519 to try and recover that work. 00:27:33.879 --> 00:27:36.039 Now, in the end, thankfully, I did recover it, 00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:40.940 but I searched very, with greatest care for that document. 00:27:43.639 --> 00:27:44.940 Now, maybe this is slightly different, 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:50.399 but they searched intently to understand the salvation 00:27:50.399 --> 00:27:52.779 that Christ brings. 00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:56.960 They searched intently to understand how all the prophecy 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:59.019 that was given to them would play out. 00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:04.079 Daniel chapter 8 verse 15 gives us but one example 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:07.160 where Daniel seeks to understand the contents 00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:09.240 of his prophecy, of his vision. 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:14.779 And we can only imagine just the longing 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:16.900 that some of these prophets would have 00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:18.500 to understand these things. 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:21.059 Many of them lived in exile. 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:24.779 Many of them awaited the future glory, 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:28.599 the restoration of the glory of the heights 00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:30.039 of the kingdom of David, 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:32.299 which was lost after the exile. 00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:38.440 The prophets anticipated the joys and the glories 00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:41.359 which they foresaw in a limited capacity, 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:43.460 but in 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 12, 00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:47.700 Peter draws a contrast between the Old Testament prophets 00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:50.039 and New Testament Christians. 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:53.960 Verse 12, it was revealed to them 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:56.200 that they were not serving themselves, 00:28:56.860 --> 00:28:59.759 but to you when they spoke of the things 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:01.620 that have now been told to you 00:29:01.620 --> 00:29:05.319 by those who have preached the gospel to you 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:08.640 by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. 00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:11.860 Even angels long to look into these things. 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:17.079 What the prophets so eagerly anticipated, 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:20.500 we have experienced more fully 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:24.160 as Christians living in light of the cross. 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:29.680 What they experienced in shadows and in types, 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:33.779 we experience in full reality. 00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:36.299 And when we consider this, 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:40.319 we come to discover how blessed we truly are. 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:44.480 We do not experience the fullness of the glory 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.480 that is yet to come. 00:29:46.619 --> 00:29:47.799 That's still in the future. 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:51.059 And that, we join in the prophets 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:54.099 in our longing and anticipation 00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:57.839 to know how that will all be brought to pass. 00:29:58.379 --> 00:30:01.639 Even the angels long to look into 00:30:01.639 --> 00:30:03.919 and understand how God's plan 00:30:03.919 --> 00:30:06.799 of eternal redemption will be finished. 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:10.279 And I wonder, 00:30:10.419 --> 00:30:13.460 do you wait with eager anticipation 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:16.220 for the return of our Lord? 00:30:19.919 --> 00:30:22.859 Do you long for that final and glorious day? 00:30:26.139 --> 00:30:28.099 As we await the return of our Lord, 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:32.220 we live during a time of suffering and trials. 00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.980 And very often, 00:30:34.120 --> 00:30:36.360 we rightly focus on the cross of Christ. 00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.700 We rightly focus on what, 00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:40.360 we are focused on what Jesus has bought for us. 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:43.319 But doesn't this passage not remind us 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.940 of the importance and the comfort 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:45.980 that we can find 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:49.279 looking towards the second coming of Christ? 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:51.660 Not just the first advent, 00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:54.079 but the second as well. 00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:58.660 And another thing which this passage 00:30:58.660 --> 00:30:59.839 reminds us of 00:30:59.839 --> 00:31:03.079 is the importance of preaching these things. 00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:09.399 Given that we enjoy such a privileged place, 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.480 living after the cross, 00:31:11.579 --> 00:31:12.220 and in a time, 00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:16.339 and that time where we live in sufferings, 00:31:17.399 --> 00:31:19.500 in a time where we need God's grace 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:21.899 so much to sustain us 00:31:21.899 --> 00:31:23.199 in all that we endure, 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:24.119 we need His grace, 00:31:24.459 --> 00:31:26.539 it is so important to allow 00:31:26.539 --> 00:31:29.559 the salvation and glories of God's kingdom 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:31.700 to be preached to us. 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:36.159 In this age, 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:36.940 in our age, 00:31:37.379 --> 00:31:38.720 our prayer should be that 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:39.819 of the great hymn, 00:31:39.899 --> 00:31:40.680 Thine be the glory. 00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:42.500 No more we doubt thee, 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:44.599 glorious Prince of life. 00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:47.220 Life is not without thee. 00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:50.079 Aid us in our strife. 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:52.659 Make us more than conquerors. 00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:55.160 Through thy deathless love, 00:31:56.040 --> 00:31:58.340 bring us safe through Jordan 00:31:58.340 --> 00:32:01.660 to thy home above. 00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:09.200 It is through God's means of grace, 00:32:09.360 --> 00:32:09.660 that is, 00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:11.340 through the word and sacrament, 00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:12.080 through the preaching 00:32:12.080 --> 00:32:13.120 and reading of His word, 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:13.880 and through baptism 00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:15.220 and the Lord's Supper, 00:32:15.320 --> 00:32:16.759 that we are being shaped 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:17.840 and prepared 00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:19.300 for the glory 00:32:19.300 --> 00:32:21.440 of Christ's second coming. 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:23.440 It is through these means 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:25.440 that we are being carried safe 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.700 through Jordan 00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:29.039 to His home above. 00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:33.440 And how we should not neglect 00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:34.980 to gather together 00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:36.860 to receive these means of grace 00:32:36.860 --> 00:32:39.580 as we live in this time of suffering. 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:40.940 And word and sacrament 00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:42.220 to sustain us 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:43.240 as we anticipate 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:46.860 the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:32:46.859 --> 00:32:50.719 in receiving the reading 00:32:50.719 --> 00:32:51.839 and preaching of God's word, 00:32:51.939 --> 00:32:53.119 we are sustained 00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:55.039 and are reminded 00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:57.099 of the glory that awaits us 00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:59.379 in the midst of many trials. 00:33:00.979 --> 00:33:02.419 And doesn't this not bring us 00:33:02.419 --> 00:33:04.479 a joy and a peace 00:33:04.479 --> 00:33:07.439 which surpasses all understanding? 00:33:08.939 --> 00:33:11.839 Doesn't this not encourage us 00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:12.759 that we are sustained? 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:16.440 And doesn't this not inspire us 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.920 to live in godliness 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:19.339 and fear? 00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:24.240 How wonderful a truth it is 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:27.379 that despite your sufferings now, 00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:29.759 you are headed to glory 00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:31.759 when Christ returns. 00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.920 And when you see Him 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:34.980 in an instant, 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.900 you will be changed. 00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:38.780 and all the trials 00:33:38.780 --> 00:33:40.120 of this life 00:33:40.120 --> 00:33:41.200 will cease. 00:33:42.080 --> 00:33:43.140 You will dwell 00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:43.940 with Him 00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:44.920 forever 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:46.420 and you will 00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:48.019 be glorified. 00:33:49.540 --> 00:33:50.220 Amen. 00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:50.980 Let us 00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.900 let us pray.