Good morning. I want to assure you this is as excruciating for you as it is for me.
! We're going to look at Matthew 25, but before we do that let's bow our heads in prayer. Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are there and you are not silent.
And we praise you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you are the God who has created us,
you are the God who has sustained us and the God who has blessed us in so many ways.
And we thank you that you've given us your word this morning, that it's living and active,
that it's sharper than a two-edged sword. And we pray that the words of my mouth and the
meditations of all our heart will be pleasing in your sight. Forgive our many sins, we pray.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
So I want us to look at Matthew 25. I heard a story recently of a couple that moved into a new home
and a bunch of flowers was delivered to them. And on the wreath of flowers was a card saying,
RIP. The couple obviously rang the florist to complain and the florist said,
we're very sorry for what has happened. There must have been some sort of mix-up, but look on the bright side.
Somewhere there's a funeral going on with a large, bright bunch of flowers saying,
with a card saying, welcome to your new location.
And my aim this morning in this passage is that we get our location right.
And that at times like this, we understand where we're going and how secure the future is.
In these chapters, and we've seen them all the way through Matthew,
Jesus is preparing himself to die and to rise.
And he's preparing his followers for when he is gone and how they need to be patient and faithful and focused.
And that one day they will see him.
There's absolute certain reality that everyone is going to meet Jesus.
Either he'll come to us quickly or we will go to him eventually.
And if you know Jesus at all from the New Testament,
we will know that Jesus will do everything possible to make that meeting with him safe and wonderful.
And that's why he does the most vital thing of all,
to die on the cross,
to deal with what would disqualify us,
which is our sins.
And that's why he says the absolutely vital things that we need to know so that we will be ready.
And the story we read from Matthew 25 is basically about telling bridesmaids.
The stories of Jesus are very powerful.
They're stories that Jesus told not just to make things simple.
He's not treating his listeners as little children.
Jesus told stories with a purpose,
with a purpose of separating.
So some people listen eagerly to Jesus' story.
They latch on.
And some people are eager to get away from Jesus.
They are confused by Jesus' stories.
And that's the way these stories work.
Jesus is walking to Jerusalem.
And he begins to say a lot about what his return will be like.
And the first thing he tells us,
we've seen it already,
is it will be global.
Jesus' return is not going to be local.
He's not going to just appear in Pitts Angle Park or Drayton Green.
Everyone will see him at the same time.
It will be universal.
And then he tells us his return will be sudden.
Thousands and millions of people are just going to be living normal lives,
filling up with petrol,
going to work,
or at the moment staying in,
looking at their screen,
wishing they were outside.
And suddenly everything changes.
And he also tells us that his day will be a day of reward
and a day of recompense.
For those who've responded to him,
have we received him?
Have we done what he's asked of us?
Have we done what he's told us to do?
So it will be a day of reward.
And he tells us in Matthew 24,
the faithful will be richly rewarded
and those who are unfaithful will be dealt with severely.
So we come to chapter 25.
And the parables are not saying all the same thing.
There are nuances.
It's like a diamond looking at it from different facets.
And so this morning,
this first part from verses 1 to 11,
are asking,
are we ready?
And will we be steady?
Are we okay with a long delay?
Or will we lose interest?
Are you losing interest?
Will we lose interest and drift away?
And we know, don't we,
that thousands and thousands of people began
to live as Christians and then have given up.
And the question that this parable is asking
is can you believe and can you stay believing?
So three headings.
First of all,
the gift of being ready to meet with Jesus.
That's a wonderful gift.
The second is the gift of being steady
to the end.
And then the third is the gift of being able
to go into God's presence.
So first, in verses 1 to 4,
the gift of being ready to meet with Jesus.
That's the main point of the whole story.
Ten bridesmaids,
they're meant to go and escort the bridegroom
into the wedding feast.
And they want to do that.
The bridegroom in the story itself is Jesus.
And that's very interesting
that Jesus calls himself the bridegroom
because in the Old Testament,
the bridegroom was always God.
God, the bridegroom.
His people, the bride.
But now Jesus steps up
and Jesus is saying,
no, I am the bridegroom.
It's a very clear claim to deity.
And the bridesmaids are basically people like us.
Are we going to be ready with joy
or not ready?
Five of them in the story
are able to meet the bridegroom
and enter the feast.
Five of them miss out completely.
And the difference between the five
and the five
is not that five are rich
and five are poor.
It's not that five are good
and five are bad.
It's not that five have been baptized
and five are not.
Five are religious
or five are non-religious.
It's none of that at all.
The difference is in verse 3 and 4.
Can you see it?
It's did they take something.
And the something in the story is oil.
So what is the oil?
And the long and the short of it is this.
The oil is to take Christ,
to receive Christ.
Or maybe the grace of Christ.
Or maybe the forgiveness of Christ.
Or the salvation of Christ.
Or the eternal life.
But it is responding to Jesus.
That is what the oil is.
Taking Christ
is the key to the future.
If you want to be ready
to meet with Jesus,
don't try and do something impressive.
It's not about what you do
or what you don't do.
It's about whether you've received
Jesus himself.
Christianity 101.
Step one
is to take Christ.
The one who has died
and the one who has risen.
And those wise bridesmaids,
they took oil.
They all had lamps.
They all looked pretty much the same.
But some had taken oil.
And some were ready
to meet Christ.
And so the truth is,
anyone who receives Christ here
is ready to meet Christ there.
Or to put it in one sentence
from another part of the New Testament,
Christ in you,
the hope of glory.
That's the first thing
of being ready
to meet with Christ.
The second thing
is in verses 5 to 7,
and it's the gift
of being steady
to the end.
And I suspect
you're sitting there thinking
how much longer
is this going to go on.
But it's pretty simple stuff
this morning, isn't it?
Jesus is coming.
Get salvation.
I receive Christ.
You may be thinking,
tell me something I don't know.
And so what is verse 5 all about?
What does it say there?
It says, isn't it,
there is a long delay
in the bridegroom coming.
And the bridesmaids,
all of them,
the wise and the foolish,
they get drowsy
and they all fall asleep.
And what is all that about?
Is it okay for them
to fall asleep?
Is it irresponsible
that they fell asleep?
Is there criticism
in this story
of them
for falling asleep?
And I don't think there is.
Does it endanger anybody
that they fall asleep?
So why does Jesus
include this idea
in the story
that they fell asleep?
And I wonder
whether the parable
is actually saying
something more to us
than just be ready
for the second coming.
Because all of the parables,
I've got extra little bits,
remember that diamond?
And I wonder whether
in this passage
what we're seeing
is loaded words.
Stay with me
as I try to explain that.
And what I'm talking about
in verses 5 and 6,
I wonder whether
the word sleep
is loaded.
I wonder whether
the word sleep
is a loaded word
for death.
All of them died.
And we know that Jesus
used the word sleep
for death
again and again
in his teaching.
As he talks about
a little girl,
do you remember?
And Jesus says,
she has fallen asleep.
And they laugh at him
and they say,
no,
she's died.
But Jesus says,
no, she's asleep.
And he tells her,
tell her,
the coom little girl,
get up.
And she gets up.
In the New Testament,
Paul uses the word
sleep for death.
And I wonder actually
whether the word midnight
is a loaded word.
Jesus speaks of the owner
returning at midnight,
a critical moment,
the moment of return,
the moment of the end.
And I wonder if the word
in verse 6,
that word of cry
or shout aloud,
that is a loaded word.
Because Paul says,
doesn't he,
in one of his letters,
that when Jesus returns,
he will give a loud cry
or shout.
And it may be that
this parable is not just
asking you and I
the question,
are you ready
to meet Jesus?
Because so many of you
lot who are listening
will say to me,
yes.
But I wonder whether
the parable is asking,
will you go to the end?
Are you ready
to meet Jesus
and will you be steady
to meet Jesus?
Because that's a very
different question,
isn't it?
Can you stay
right to the end,
right up until
you fall asleep?
Right up until
you breathe your last?
Can you stay
a follower
so that when
midnight comes,
when history is over
and the great shout
goes out
and he returns,
you've kept the faith,
you've run the race.
And you're ready
and you're steady.
And I think that's
a great question.
It's a really
wonderful thing,
isn't it,
that Jesus can make
a person ready
to meet him.
Just think of this,
you and I
will meet the person
who governs
the universe.
Whatever your projects,
whatever your successes,
whatever your failures,
whatever your buildings,
whatever your grades,
whatever your medals,
they're going to look
very small,
aren't they?
When you come face
to face with the
God-man who made
the universe.
And he is holy
and in his presence
sin cannot stand.
And you will be
in front of him.
And yet he has
made it possible
for you and I
to stand before him
forgiven,
spotless,
joyful,
loved,
accepted.
And that is amazing
that he has
made it possible
for you and I
to stand before him.
And he is able
to make us steady
right at the end.
Even though
we are very weak
and we're very worldly.
But the life
that he gives
to people
is life eternal.
and the world
that he begins
in us,
the work that he
begins in us,
he is going to finish.
And the rough
material that he
is going to work
with ends up
perfect and sinless.
Now I know you
reasonably well.
And some of you
are very rough
material indeed.
And the fact that
Christ is going
to turn you
into his character
is unbelievable.
But the fact that
he's going to turn me
into his character
is even more
unbelievable.
But that is what
he promises.
So do you remember
Philippians chapter 3?
We eagerly await
a saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform
our lowly bodies
and so that they
will be like his
glorious body.
And that is amazing.
And right now
there are serious
pressures, aren't there,
to give up Christianity.
And the air
that we breathe
is full of unbelief.
you've seen
and I've seen
people chuck
their faith away.
And people live
successfully without
Christ.
But you know
what they do
when they do that?
They live successfully
without Christ
and then they just
rewrite the end.
So in our culture
they say
Jesus is irrelevant
but I'm on my way
to heaven.
They're in a better
place, aren't they,
Vicar?
And it's a big mistake
to think that you
don't need him.
And we who are
holding on to the
Bible and the
Bible's teaching
we look so stupid,
we look so backward
because it all
looks like,
doesn't it,
for them it's
working perfectly.
The number of
details that we
have to deal with,
the number of
difficulties that
come to us every
day,
there's a swamp
of them at the
moment, aren't there?
And we wonder
whether joyful
and peaceful
Christianity is
possible.
many of you
dealing with so
many details,
so many
difficulties that
you actually
wonder whether
the Christianity
you've signed up
for is the
right Christianity.
Is it the
Christianity that
people sing about
so triumphantly
on those YouTube
videos?
Is it the
Christianity that
people sometimes
testify of?
And you say to
yourself, like I
say to myself,
my life is such
a mess.
And the global
information that
comes to us,
which we're
expected somehow
to absorb and
explain what is
happening in the
world.
So why are
people suffering
like they are?
I don't know.
What is God
doing in this
coronavirus?
Why is
Christianity so
non-existent in
that part of the
world?
Why are so many
people far from
Christ?
It's a swamping,
global,
overwhelming
information.
And Jesus
said there will
be lots of
dangers for
those that
follow.
He said some
people, they're
going to build
on sand.
And the
foundations will
be removed.
Some people's
faith, they'll
be eaten up by
thorns, worldly
warriors, treasures,
idols, false
gods, and they'll
quickly give up.
Jesus says there
be lots of
false prophets,
false Christ,
who will deceive
many people in
this battle for
souls.
And yet the
truth is this,
that when a
man or a
woman or a
boy or a
girl takes
Christ and
receives him
as saviour and
lord and king
and shepherd
who is forever,
the new life
that Christ
gives you is
forever.
The grip that
he has on you
this morning is
forever.
The promises
which he gives
to you are
forever.
The man or
woman or boy
or girl who
takes Christ
is going to be
sustained to the
end.
And he is able
to make his
people steady.
Right up to the
time where they
sleep and
midnight comes
and the cry
goes out.
And in 25
verse 6,
either they
come or go
to meet him.
You've got lots
of time on your
hands and so
read good books.
Maybe read
Pilgrim's Progress.
If you go to
Ligonier,
here's a little
advert.
Ligonier,
I've got a
course by
Derek Thomas
on Pilgrim's
Progress,
little 20
minute videos.
They're okay,
the book is
far better,
but why not
read it?
There's a great
picture in
Pilgrim's Progress.
A pilgrim is
taken into a
room,
into the house
of interpreter.
An interpreter
shows him a
big massive
fire in the
middle of the
room,
in a fireplace.
And he marvels
at this fire,
but there's a
man in front of
the fire with
buckets of
water,
pouring buckets
of water onto
the fire,
trying to put it
out.
And Pilgrim
asks the question
to interpreter,
why is the fire
not going out
with this guy
throwing water
on it?
And the
interpreter takes
him around the
back.
And interestingly,
in Pilgrim's
Progress,
there's a man
who is piping
oil into the
back of the
fire.
And that is
what sustains
the fire.
There's a guy
in the front
pouring water
over it,
but there's a
guy in the
back putting
oil into the
fire.
And that is
what sustains
us.
And God is
able to sustain
us so that
we're steady
to the end.
The gift of
being ready to
meet with
Christ.
The gift of
being steady.
And of
course,
God calls
on us at
this time to
be steady,
but he gives
us the gift
of being
steady.
Third thing,
still with me?
The last thing
is the gift of
being able to
go into God's
presence.
In verses
18 to
13.
And we see
there,
don't we,
that there's a
serious separation
that takes
place.
We see that
the foolish
bridesmaid
have said,
no,
I don't need
this.
And suddenly
they find that
they cannot
enter the
wedding feast.
And they
discover that
the oil
that the
wise bridesmaids
have is
non-transferable.
And that
makes sense,
doesn't it?
I can't
give salvation
to you.
I can't
give it to
another person.
I can't
give my
eternal life
to another
person.
I can't
save another
person.
The saviour
is Christ.
And the
desperate
suggestion is
made in
verse 9.
Can you
see it?
it says,
since there
will not be
enough for
us and
for you,
go rather
to the
dealers and
buy for
yourselves.
Of course,
that will
never work.
Then in
verse 10,
Christ comes
and the
day of
opportunity
is over.
The door
shuts and
the tragic
cry goes
out.
now we
realise our
mistake.
Please open
the door,
but it's
all over.
And I
hope that as
you listen
to this
parable,
you don't
think that
God is
terribly
unjust.
Because this
is a word
remembered to
people who
have had a
lifetime of
opportunity.
Think of the
millions of
people in
this city
who are
going to
get to
the end
of their
life and
wish that
they just
lifted the
Bible off
the shelf.
Or read
what was
given to
them.
Or listened
to what was
said to
them.
I hope
you won't
think that
this is a
problem or
some far
off person
somewhere and
how the
whole plan is
corrupt.
Because we
know that on
the last day
when Christ
comes again,
everyone will
say to God,
you've done
everything right.
There will be
on that day
no complaints
and no
objections.
There will
be lots of
regrets and
lots of
joys, but
no objections.
Bishop J.C.
Ryle, who
again is a
great man to
be reading at
this time,
said this is a
humbling picture,
especially for
preachers and
pastors.
Because after
all our
preaching and
after all our
praying and
after all our
missionary
exertions are
broadened at
home, many
will be found
at last to be
lifeless.
So many who
seem to be
wise will be
shown to be
fools.
And so many
who seemed as
believers to be
fools will be
seen to be
wise.
when that
door is
shut.
And I
don't think
that I can
put into
words the
absolute
delight of
that day
being found
inside by
the goodness
of God and
the kindness
of Christ.
To be
inside that
wedding feast.
I don't think
that we can
put into
those words
what it is
going to be
to be found
inside Christ.
to be
open to
the door
has been
shut on
sadness and
on evil and
on sin.
And that on
that day there
will be no
more burdens
to carry,
no more
heartaches to
experience,
no more
scars,
no more
worry,
no more
anxiety,
no more
tension,
no more
sinfulness,
sadness,
no more
driving each
other mad
cooped up
in the
house,
no more
waiting rooms
to sit in,
no people
to avoid,
no more
funerals,
the door is
going to be
shut and
all that.
And that
door is
going to
make the
people of
Jesus Christ
secure and
thankful,
being part
of a wedding
feast.
that Jesus
who is the
genius behind
the universe
has planned
for unworthy
people like
us,
but he's
made it
possible through
his death on
the cross and
his resurrection.
And he's
planned a
perfect feast.
And this
Jesus is
able to make
you who are
listening and
watching to me
today ready,
wonderfully
ready.
to make you
steady right
to the end.
And he is
able to make
you go in.
Let's bow
our heads in
prayer.
Let's pray
again.
Our loving
Holy Father,
we praise you
for your
word.
We praise
you that it
speaks to us
of reality.
it reminds
us of what
is true.
You are a
loving
Father.
We thank you
for what you've
taught us this
morning.
We pray that you
would help us
to live in the
light of that
day,
to rejoice in
our Saviour,
the Lord Jesus
Christ,
who is able
to make us
ready to meet
with him and
who will keep
us to the
end and who
will bring us
into his
presence.
God,
we pray that
you would help
us to reflect
much on this
today,
to use the
time that
you've given
to us wisely.
We thank you
Father that you
will keep us.
Lord, we want
to pray for
our community.
Your providence
is often a
mystery to us
and you
ordain things
that are hard
to bear.
And there is
sickness and
there is sorrow.
There is great
anxiety in our
world.
And we pray
that,
Heavenly Father,
you will help
us to remain
steady.
We pray that
you would be
with those in
our community
that are anxious
and fearful,
for those
particularly who
are unwell.
Thank you for
health services,
for doctors,
for nurses,
for the hospital.
We thank you
for our government
and those in
authority.
We pray,
Heavenly Father,
that this virus
would not be
as bad as it
potentially could
be.
We pray that
you might use
this time to
turn our nation
back to you.
And,
Heavenly Father,
we thank you
that we look
for a day
and we long
for a day
when there will
be no more
sin and there
will be no more
suffering.
and Christ
will come
again.
And we pray
that there
would be many
that are brought
to be ready
for that day
through this.
Help us,
Heavenly Father,
to love our
neighbours well,
to show the
love of Christ.
Meet with us
at this time.
Bless us on
this through your
day.
Bless all your
people,
wherever they
meet.
We pray,
Heavenly Father,
not only for
our own
community
and our
country.
We pray for
those other
parts of the
world,
particularly for
Italy and
Spain and
other areas
which have
been so hugely
affected.
And we think
of parts of
the world
struggling with
other issues
for this
terrible swarm
of locusts
in East Africa.
and we pray,
Heavenly Father,
that you would
draw near to
your people
and comfort
those who
mourn.
Bless us
and our
families,
we ask.
We pray all
these things
in Jesus'
name.
Amen.