WEBVTT 00:00:00.460 --> 00:00:06.120 Good morning, everybody. It's good to worship with you all. I know that we've gotten a few 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:10.759 newcomers just the past couple of weeks. So if I haven't gotten a chance to meet you, my name is Ed. 00:00:11.300 --> 00:00:17.800 I'm a pastoral resident here at Trinity Cambridge. And if you're like, what the heck does that mean? 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:23.640 I don't know what that means. Trust me, I didn't make these titles. It just essentially means that 00:00:23.640 --> 00:00:29.660 I'm a pastor in training and that Lord willing, one day I'll be able to serve here as an ordained 00:00:29.660 --> 00:00:36.020 elder. And it also means that I have the opportunity to be able to bring to you God's 00:00:36.020 --> 00:00:42.240 word so often. And so today we're going to continue on in our sermon series in Exodus. I was about to 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:48.740 say Exodus. In Revelation, we're going to continue on with our second sermon. And our passage today is 00:00:48.740 --> 00:00:55.719 in Revelation 1, 4 to 8. If you're new here and you don't have a Bible and you would like one, 00:00:55.719 --> 00:01:01.039 please just raise your hand. One of our members will be happy to get you one. It'll be an ESV Bible 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:05.379 in that translation, which is a really great translation for you to study and read for your 00:01:05.379 --> 00:01:16.219 own. Again, it's Revelation 1, 4 to 8. Let's bow our heads in prayer before the reading and preaching 00:01:16.219 --> 00:01:30.680 in God's word. Father, we are so small and you're so big. God, we are one church 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:43.319 in one city, in one state, in one country, in one planet, in one galaxy amongst the vastness of your 00:01:43.319 --> 00:01:51.319 creation. And yet you care for us. What is man that you care for him? Thank you, Lord, that you 00:01:51.319 --> 00:02:02.560 meet us here. We pray that your spirit would move in these next 45 minutes to see just how big of a 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:12.159 God you are and how small we are so that all the glory of the dominion could be attributed rightly to you, 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:22.599 God. Please address us by your word. Please use me. Pray that anything that comes out of my lips 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:33.400 would be most pleasing to you, that you would be lifted up in our hearts. In Jesus' name, amen. 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:39.639 Let's stand for God's word in Revelation 4 to 8. 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:46.500 John, to the seven churches that are in Asia, 00:02:47.799 --> 00:02:53.199 grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come. 00:02:54.519 --> 00:03:00.060 And from the seven spirits who are before his throne and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:04.459 the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of kings on earth, 00:03:04.460 --> 00:03:13.300 to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and has made us a kingdom, 00:03:13.760 --> 00:03:20.819 priest to his God and father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 00:03:23.180 --> 00:03:29.800 Behold, he is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, 00:03:29.800 --> 00:03:35.960 and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:45.200 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. 00:03:46.340 --> 00:03:49.400 This is God's holy and authoritative word. You may be seated. 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:58.740 I want to see if we can do something new this morning and get some participation in the sermon. 00:03:59.700 --> 00:04:05.099 And so, we're going to do something very simple. I'm going to ask you just two very simple questions. 00:04:05.740 --> 00:04:11.560 And I would ask that you actually keep your eyes closed so that we could keep this process as anonymous as possible. 00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:13.560 So you could feel free to answer honestly. 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:18.560 Very two simple questions. I'm going to ask you if you've ever had these thoughts, okay? 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:20.579 And on the count of three, you're just going to raise your hand. 00:04:21.620 --> 00:04:25.579 So the first question is, have you ever had this thought, 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:29.240 my life is very hard. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:33.100 My life is very hard. On the count of three, you could raise your hand. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:34.120 One, two, three. 00:04:36.459 --> 00:04:36.860 Great. 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:40.340 Keep your eyes closed. 00:04:40.340 --> 00:04:42.579 And the second question is this, 00:04:43.699 --> 00:04:47.259 being a Christian makes my life harder. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:50.839 Being a Christian makes my life harder. 00:04:52.839 --> 00:04:55.680 In other words, my life would be easier if I weren't a Christian. 00:04:55.879 --> 00:04:57.160 Have you ever had that thought in your life? 00:04:58.579 --> 00:05:00.139 Great. You guys can put your hands down. 00:05:00.180 --> 00:05:01.139 And you can open up your eyes. 00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:07.560 So we basically had 100% agreement, right, for the first question as a poll result. 00:05:07.560 --> 00:05:11.720 To the people who didn't raise your hand, I want to talk to you. 00:05:11.780 --> 00:05:13.199 I want to know what your life is like. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:16.540 I could use some of your optimism a little bit, I think. 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:22.959 Because we know that it's really an, it's a universal truth that life is hard. 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:26.840 It could be unbearably hard sometimes. 00:05:27.379 --> 00:05:30.740 There are some really difficult things that we have to process, we have to endure. 00:05:30.740 --> 00:05:39.340 But to the second question, we had about, I think, 75, 80% of you guys, from my crude math, 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:40.780 agree to that statement. 00:05:43.019 --> 00:05:46.019 And to be honest, I would have raised my hand. 00:05:47.220 --> 00:05:50.939 Because I've struggled with that thought in my life. 00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:56.060 There have been moments where I just felt like the Christian life was so hard. 00:05:56.060 --> 00:06:01.699 You may not think of yourself as such, but to be a Christian means that you're a fighter. 00:06:02.920 --> 00:06:05.780 And you're fighting this battle against three fronts. 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:11.879 You're fighting against your own flesh, the world and its temptations, and Satan. 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:16.259 And this fight never stops. 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:22.079 In certain seasons, this fight can feel overwhelming and discouraging. 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:28.779 What about for those who are even physically persecuted for their faith? 00:06:29.779 --> 00:06:31.979 How do you think they might answer that question? 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:38.819 By God's grace, we live in a country here where we don't have to worry about physical persecution, right? 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:41.459 We could put up our signs in East Cambridge openly. 00:06:41.779 --> 00:06:45.659 We come here, gather, not worrying about any militant groups breaking in, 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:50.579 the government finding us out, throwing us in jail, maybe even taking our lives. 00:06:50.579 --> 00:06:57.199 But this is not a privilege that many brothers and sisters in this world get to share in. 00:06:58.539 --> 00:07:05.560 So there's some truth that on earth, their lives simply are harder for following after Jesus. 00:07:06.819 --> 00:07:09.759 After all, Jesus never promised that it would be easy. 00:07:11.539 --> 00:07:18.219 How then are we to overcome our sin, this evil world, and Satan? 00:07:18.220 --> 00:07:25.620 John opens his letter to suffering Christians to remind them who our God is. 00:07:26.580 --> 00:07:29.020 How big of a God he is. 00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:30.200 That he is the king. 00:07:30.380 --> 00:07:31.900 He reigns on his throne. 00:07:33.080 --> 00:07:36.180 And that makes us then his kingly priests. 00:07:36.300 --> 00:07:38.040 That transforms our identities. 00:07:38.040 --> 00:07:45.900 So he wanted to communicate that when we receive new identities by grace and peace, 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:53.560 we can ascribe glory and dominion to the returning God in any and all circumstances of our lives. 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:59.140 So specifically, we're going to talk about all that the sovereign God offers us 00:07:59.140 --> 00:08:00.700 so that we can endure. 00:08:00.840 --> 00:08:02.240 We can continue to worship. 00:08:02.379 --> 00:08:04.180 We can act as his priests. 00:08:04.180 --> 00:08:08.959 We're going to talk about, first, the grace and peace that he offers. 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:13.319 Second, the new identities that he offers us as royal priests. 00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:17.420 And three, the hope and help that he offers. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:20.879 So we get into the text today. 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:27.199 John begins with a simple greeting, both to identify himself and the recipients, 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:30.480 which are the seven churches in Asia Minor. 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:34.700 And this is really a good opportunity to kind of set the stage of the letter. 00:08:35.860 --> 00:08:41.879 Sean helpfully outlined last week some very good reasons to identify the author of the letter as John. 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:44.200 John the Apostle, who also wrote the Gospel. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:46.879 And first, second, and third John as well. 00:08:48.580 --> 00:08:52.100 For the recipients, we read that John addresses the seven churches. 00:08:52.100 --> 00:09:02.200 He addresses them later in verse 11 as Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Saratira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. 00:09:03.220 --> 00:09:08.360 It's quite a curious thing, really, though, that John chooses only these seven 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:13.220 because historically we know that there are more than seven well-known churches in that area. 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:22.040 And we don't have any historical data that suggests that John had a particularly special relationship with these seven churches. 00:09:22.779 --> 00:09:27.300 And so, therefore, as we'll counter with many times preaching through Revelation, 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:34.399 that it seems like the best answer is that John chose the number seven both symbolically and intentionally. 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:44.039 John talked about this last week, but representing wholeness and perfect completion in the creation account from Genesis, 00:09:44.620 --> 00:09:49.980 John seems to use this symbolism to address not just the seven churches alone, 00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:53.340 but really the universal church throughout history. 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:59.620 This also makes sense throughout the course of this book because really after chapters one through three, 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:04.120 the church depicted is not just these seven churches alone, 00:10:04.259 --> 00:10:06.779 but it's really, again, the universal church. 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:13.460 So while Sean taught us that Trinity Cambridge Church, living in 2023, 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:17.159 we are not the original audience of this letter. 00:10:17.799 --> 00:10:25.200 Still, though, that there is a spiritual aspect that John and Jesus is addressing us today. 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:35.280 And right here in this opening reveals a fact about Revelation that I think a lot of us tend to forget or neglect when we're reading this text. 00:10:35.900 --> 00:10:40.220 It's that it's a prophetic, apocalyptic letter. 00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:41.820 It's a letter. 00:10:43.280 --> 00:10:45.240 And if it's a letter, what is it about? 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:46.740 What is he trying to address? 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:48.720 What is he trying to say to these people? 00:10:49.920 --> 00:10:52.860 If you read through Revelation, you'll know how much it suffers, 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:57.080 or focuses on suffering and enduring as Christians. 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:03.060 In the church of Pergamum, a fellow believer, Antipas, he was murdered. 00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:06.259 He was martyred for his Christian faith. 00:11:07.539 --> 00:11:11.340 Imagine just the wave of terror that would sweep over our own church. 00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:16.460 If Sean, if one of our leaders, that he was martyred, 00:11:16.680 --> 00:11:18.700 he or she were martyred for her faith. 00:11:18.700 --> 00:11:29.420 On top of that, there's an overall tone in this letter that even more suffering is headed their way. 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:32.700 For example, Jesus addresses the church in Smyrna. 00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:33.759 He says this, 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:36.379 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. 00:11:37.180 --> 00:11:40.580 Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, 00:11:40.780 --> 00:11:44.860 that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:49.700 Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:53.500 Later in chapter 6, verse 11, 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:57.360 John writes that the number of martyrs is not yet completed, 00:11:57.820 --> 00:12:01.659 but it will be, signifying that there are many more deaths to come. 00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:06.680 This persecution matches what we know historically as well. 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:14.539 By the year 113 AD, about 20 years of our best guess of when Revelation was written, 00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:20.519 about 20 years later, we have evidence of a letter of a Roman governor whose name is Pliny the Younger, 00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:24.179 and he writes this letter to Trajan, who is Domitian's successor. 00:12:24.319 --> 00:12:25.000 He's the emperor. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:30.179 And in this letter, he calls Christianity a cult contagion. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:35.159 Then the emperor replies that convicted Christians, 00:12:35.699 --> 00:12:37.659 they should be put to death. 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:44.939 Only by worshiping the emperor's image and by cursing the name of Christ can they be acquitted. 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:53.860 So one of John's main objectives in this letter was to encourage Christians by showing them, 00:12:54.539 --> 00:12:56.159 although they are so frightened, 00:12:56.740 --> 00:13:00.899 by showing them the truth of the world as seen from God's vantage point, 00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:01.899 from the throne. 00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:06.659 That's been a very convicting thought for me as of late, 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:09.240 something that Sean himself has prayed for me, 00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:11.759 that I would see the problems, 00:13:12.959 --> 00:13:14.620 the difficulties of my life, 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:16.120 from not my perspective, 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:18.840 but really from God's perspective. 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:25.059 Because the simple truth is that God is bigger than my problems. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:27.860 We understand things very relative, right? 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:32.560 I think, honestly, I think I'm pretty average height for an Asian, right? 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:33.180 Five-eight-ish. 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:35.899 But when I talk to someone like Joseph Johnson, 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:37.019 I feel short. 00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:38.659 I feel short. 00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:42.539 And when I look, because I'm so small, 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:44.120 when I look at my problems, 00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:45.519 they look so big. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.860 They look like mountains. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:52.240 But when I look at my problems from God's perspective, 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:53.240 from the throne, 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:55.159 they look small. 00:13:55.159 --> 00:14:00.500 When my problems seem bigger and bigger in my life, 00:14:00.579 --> 00:14:04.699 it's because, really, that God is smaller to me. 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:07.319 Maybe I'm forgetting him altogether. 00:14:09.419 --> 00:14:12.639 So I encourage you to remember this throughout reading Revelation, 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:17.039 that Revelation is often treated like this cryptic 10,000-piece puzzle 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:18.860 that only the smartest can put together. 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:22.539 It's not both John and Jesus' intention. 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:27.879 They wrote this to churches 2,000 years ago 00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:30.559 and to us as an encouragement. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:31.639 That's the focus. 00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:32.599 It's an encouragement. 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:35.639 To bolster the faith of suffering Christians, 00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:39.059 to persevere to the end for God's glory. 00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:43.699 So knowing their difficult condition, 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:46.479 John opens this letter in a most appropriate way. 00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:51.199 He communicates and extends grace and peace 00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:53.239 that comes from the sovereign, triune God. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:57.679 Really, first of all, what an insight into God's heart 00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:58.919 that the first thing, 00:14:58.959 --> 00:15:00.739 the first thing he wants to get off his chest 00:15:00.739 --> 00:15:03.459 is this blessing of grace and peace. 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:07.120 We know that reading in chapters 2 and 3 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:09.120 that these churches, they're not perfect. 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.740 They're not perfect churches. 00:15:12.060 --> 00:15:15.560 They are led astray by false teaching and sin. 00:15:15.800 --> 00:15:17.320 Some have lost their first loves. 00:15:18.660 --> 00:15:20.720 And I've wondered what God, 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:22.600 what Jesus might say to our own church 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:25.180 because we're not a perfect church. 00:15:25.400 --> 00:15:26.820 We're not full of perfect people. 00:15:26.820 --> 00:15:31.440 But still, the very first thing 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:33.540 that God wants to communicate to you 00:15:33.540 --> 00:15:35.240 is grace and peace. 00:15:37.580 --> 00:15:40.340 Most of us are well familiar with the word grace 00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:42.379 and its definition of undeserved favor. 00:15:43.300 --> 00:15:45.780 We're saved by grace alone as taught in Ephesians 2, 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:47.780 meaning that we don't deserve salvation. 00:15:47.780 --> 00:15:50.840 We don't deserve a relationship with our creator. 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:56.100 But in scripture, grace is also more than that. 00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:58.620 It's also a power 00:15:58.620 --> 00:16:02.240 that enables us to endure any hardship. 00:16:03.560 --> 00:16:06.259 Paul speaks to this powerful enabling grace 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:07.379 in 2 Corinthians 12 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:10.060 that enables him to endure all weaknesses, 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:12.759 insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. 00:16:13.560 --> 00:16:16.399 It's because of this undeserved gift of grace 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:18.960 that we now have this empowering gift of grace 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:20.700 so that we can continue to worship 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:22.759 in any and all circumstances. 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:26.799 And have you ever noticed that this order 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:29.139 of this greeting in NT Epistles, right? 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:32.519 It's always grace first, then peace. 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:34.120 Grace first, then peace. 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:36.679 For it's only when things are right 00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:38.899 between us and God, our creator, 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:40.439 it's only when the weight of sin 00:16:40.439 --> 00:16:42.279 on our consciences are removed 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:45.480 can we really have meaningful peace in our lives. 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:48.920 For peace in the American culture 00:16:48.920 --> 00:16:52.220 tends to mean to us lack of conflict, 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:55.300 especially in military contexts. 00:16:55.700 --> 00:16:57.860 And in scripture, it totally can mean that. 00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:01.720 But the word peace ultimately comes 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:03.899 from the Hebrew word shalom, 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:08.880 which refers more to the state of completeness, 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:12.240 fullness, fullness, wholeness. 00:17:12.860 --> 00:17:14.800 Like a building can be shalom, 00:17:15.580 --> 00:17:17.920 meaning that it has no holes or cracks. 00:17:18.620 --> 00:17:21.260 Or Job, he says that his state, 00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:23.480 his tents are in a state of shalom 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:25.520 because when he counted his flock, 00:17:25.820 --> 00:17:26.820 there were none missing. 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:30.120 But it's not just our stuff 00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:31.760 that can be in a state of shalom. 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:36.980 Our own hearts, our souls can be cold or complete. 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:39.000 That feeling where you feel like 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.220 just nothing is missing 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:44.279 and everything is as it's supposed to be. 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:48.620 Where are you this morning? 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:53.019 Are you at shalom in your soul? 00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:57.180 As you endure very real trials 00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:58.700 and wade through life's difficulties, 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:00.500 what do you feel like you're missing? 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:04.579 Imagine what the original audience 00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.900 might have said that they were missing. 00:18:05.900 --> 00:18:08.420 Physical safety, right? 00:18:09.800 --> 00:18:12.019 With their own government hunting them down, 00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:13.940 with loved ones dying around them, 00:18:14.120 --> 00:18:17.140 with the tremendous fear and anxiety over their heads. 00:18:17.800 --> 00:18:21.220 I wonder if the offer of grace and peace, 00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:25.440 it could easily sound like a rote Christian platitude. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.420 We feel that when we're suffering so much 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:31.220 that somebody flippantly says something to us. 00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:35.559 But it only sounds like a platitude 00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:37.620 if the offer is empty. 00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:41.039 If the person offering can't back it up. 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:42.920 But notice in our text, 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:44.519 where did this offer come from? 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:46.380 It comes from the triune God 00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:48.220 who can back up this offer. 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:50.500 In verse four, 00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:53.420 we have first a description of God the Father 00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:56.700 who is the one who is and who was 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:58.220 and who is to come. 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:01.880 This is such an awesome, profound title. 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:06.319 This is a strong allusion to Exodus 3.14, 00:19:07.600 --> 00:19:09.920 where God revealed his covenant name to Moses. 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:13.500 When Moses asked God what he should tell the people 00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.980 if he was asked about God's name, 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.259 God says, 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.859 I am who I am. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.700 Or in the Greek translation, 00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:21.359 I am the one who is. 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:25.440 But John clearly expands upon this name 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:27.660 with a threefold temporal description 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:28.579 of God's character. 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:32.879 In this, he highlights God's eternality 00:19:32.879 --> 00:19:34.279 and atemporality, 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:37.299 meaning that God is independent of time. 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:41.420 So God is the one who eternally was, 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.579 who eternally is, 00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:44.539 and who eternally will be. 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:48.220 He was in the beginning that had no beginning. 00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:50.339 That's just so profound. 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:51.240 If you just think about it, 00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.940 you can't even wrap your mind around that. 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:56.779 But the revealing of this name 00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:58.680 is not just meant to be a cool, 00:19:58.859 --> 00:20:00.279 interesting theological fact. 00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:02.180 God revealed this name 00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:04.440 to a suffering enslaved people. 00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:07.940 The context of Exodus 3.14 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:09.000 that we went through recently 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:12.039 is that God saw the suffering of Israel 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:14.139 and he cared for them. 00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:17.539 He saw his children Israel. 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:20.139 He sees his children today 00:20:20.139 --> 00:20:21.940 and he will see his children 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:23.519 in decades to come. 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:27.359 He is the sovereign, faithful God 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:28.659 who knew their affliction. 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:32.700 Rocky Balboa once quipped 00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:34.599 that time is undefeated. 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:36.480 Time takes everyone out. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:39.819 All but our eternal God, 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:42.039 whom time does not change, 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:42.559 age, 00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.559 or weaken him. 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:46.160 It has absolutely no effect 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.140 on his person, 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.160 perfections, 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:48.640 purposes, 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.680 or promises. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:53.799 Grace and peace unchangingly 00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:56.319 comes from the eternally faithful one. 00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.259 Second, 00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:00.380 we have grace and peace 00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:01.660 from the seven spirits 00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:02.980 who are before his throne. 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:06.120 Some say that the seven spirits 00:21:06.120 --> 00:21:07.059 are seven angels, 00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:09.700 but I think a stronger interpretation 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:11.640 is that the description 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:14.319 refers to the singular third person 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:14.980 of the Trinity, 00:21:15.120 --> 00:21:15.860 God the Spirit. 00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:17.500 First, 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:20.400 as they're listed one after the other, 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.779 the seven spirits are presented 00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.599 to be on par 00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:25.420 with the Father and the Son. 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:25.900 Moreover, 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:28.500 it's unusual 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.980 and ultimately inconceivable 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:31.320 according to the rest of Scripture 00:21:31.320 --> 00:21:33.220 for angels to be the one 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.500 extending grace and peace. 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:37.420 That prerogative belongs to God alone. 00:21:39.080 --> 00:21:40.180 But then why, again, 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:41.380 use the number seven 00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:43.600 to describe a singular person 00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:44.580 of the Trinity? 00:21:45.560 --> 00:21:46.120 Again, 00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:48.320 this number signifies fullness, 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:49.140 right? 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.080 Here, 00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:51.720 it signifies what though? 00:21:51.800 --> 00:21:53.279 It signifies the fullness 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:55.139 of the Spirit's activity 00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:56.420 and power. 00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:59.099 Moreover, 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.579 it's likely John referenced 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.680 the number seven 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:04.119 to highlight the active work 00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:06.639 in helping the seven individual churches 00:22:06.639 --> 00:22:07.359 to endure 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:09.059 and to shine their light. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.920 Because where do we find the Spirit? 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:14.420 The text makes it very clear to us 00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:16.379 that he's not on the throne, 00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:18.940 but he is before the Father's throne, 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:20.559 which alludes to his role 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.519 as an emissary, 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:23.279 as a helper 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:25.700 to carry out the bidding of God 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:27.299 on behalf of his churches. 00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:29.720 And this means that 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.700 this same Spirit 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.720 is at work 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.519 in Trinity Cambridge 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.180 this morning, 00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:33.660 today, 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:34.680 in our hearts. 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:37.339 He's not a distant God, 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:39.660 but he is in this room 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:41.639 ministering to us 00:22:41.639 --> 00:22:43.259 by the bidding of the Father. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.359 We have a great helper 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:46.039 and advocate, 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.879 someone who will come alongside us 00:22:47.879 --> 00:22:50.039 in any hardship and trial, 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:51.899 grace and peace 00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:53.240 unchangingly comes 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:55.059 from the eternally faithful one 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:56.799 who is actively at work 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.599 among us. 00:22:59.899 --> 00:23:00.420 Thirdly, 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.079 grace and peace 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:02.759 come from God the Son. 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:06.279 John shines the spotlight 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.980 on Jesus 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:08.799 with this threefold description 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:10.279 of how Jesus is prophet, 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:11.460 priest, 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.259 and king. 00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:15.139 Likely referring to Psalm 89, 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.500 John describes Jesus 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.519 as these three things, 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.799 as the faithful witness, 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:20.480 the firstborn of the dead, 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:22.599 and the ruler of kings on earth. 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:24.940 First, 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:26.599 Jesus is the faithful witness. 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.400 A witness, 00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:28.000 what does he do? 00:23:28.099 --> 00:23:29.519 He testifies in court 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.900 to what he or she knows 00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:31.940 is the truth. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.839 Jesus testified 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:36.319 that he is the light of the world, 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:38.279 that he is the bread from heaven, 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.779 that he is the foretold 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:40.680 suffering servant, 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:42.599 that he is the promised Messiah 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.259 and king 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.759 who's come to lay down 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.980 his life for his friends. 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:48.420 Even when the world 00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.339 hated his light 00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:50.599 and loved the darkness, 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.259 he didn't stop. 00:23:52.360 --> 00:23:53.559 He continued to preach 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:54.620 and teach the truth. 00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:56.519 And what did he get for that? 00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:58.920 Spit. 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.299 Floggings. 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:03.140 A crown of thorns. 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:05.160 A cross. 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:09.279 But praise be to God 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:11.680 that Jesus came back to life, 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.500 conquering sin and death. 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:16.940 So John bestows this honorific 00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:18.759 of the firstborn of the dead. 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:21.359 In Jewish culture, 00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:22.660 firstborns were given 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:24.500 particularly a special 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:27.359 inheritance and significance. 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:29.599 And this title still carries 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:31.140 that same emphasis 00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:33.099 of high exaltation, 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.779 high privileged position 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:36.579 of the firstborn of the dead, 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:38.019 of the resurrected God, man. 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:38.980 Why? 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:41.039 Because Jesus is the one 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.940 who leads us 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:43.059 as a champion 00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:43.799 in resurrection. 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:46.039 Meaning that if we are faithful 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:47.120 unto death, 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:48.700 we will be resurrected 00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.779 in power. 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:52.480 Isn't this such a glorious reality? 00:24:52.860 --> 00:24:54.360 I almost can't even believe it 00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:54.700 sometimes. 00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.579 Just writing this sermon, 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.299 thinking about it. 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.220 Me, 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:59.099 this guy, 00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:00.500 I'm gonna defeat death. 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.779 I'm gonna resurrect. 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:04.059 I'm gonna be like Jesus. 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:07.259 It's such a glorious reality 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:08.619 that I don't think enough about, 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.279 that I don't think 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.579 enough of us think about. 00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:14.400 And finally, 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.539 it's not just a ruling 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.660 over the new creation, 00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:18.900 but the current world 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.500 that Jesus, 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.539 through his death 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.339 and resurrection, 00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:22.879 stands as a ruler 00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:24.339 of kings on earth. 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:27.279 Despite earthly tyrants 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.940 and dictators, 00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:29.240 both past and present, 00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:30.180 who have attempted 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:31.480 to eliminate the worship 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.819 of our one true God, 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:34.420 they have not, 00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:35.400 they are not, 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:37.200 and they will not succeed. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.640 They will never win. 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:39.660 The gates of Hades 00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:41.259 will never prevail 00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:42.720 against Jesus' church. 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:45.180 No matter what our state, 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:46.500 the world is in, 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.340 come 10, 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:47.800 50, 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.620 100 years, 00:25:49.060 --> 00:25:50.640 no matter who is elected 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:51.300 next year 00:25:51.300 --> 00:25:52.580 or elections to come, 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.620 no matter how much 00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:55.500 Christians are hated 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.360 or persecuted, 00:25:56.580 --> 00:25:57.240 he is still 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.779 the king of kings 00:25:58.779 --> 00:26:00.400 who reigns on his throne. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.600 Friends, 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:04.359 that means that no matter 00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:05.279 what happens to us, 00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:06.899 we are on the winning side. 00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.619 And just like John's gospel 00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:12.299 in Revelation, 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:14.059 John continues 00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:15.119 this sense of irony 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:17.019 that really it's 00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:18.279 Jesus' death 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.159 and defeat 00:26:19.159 --> 00:26:20.500 that were actually 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.859 his path to glory 00:26:21.859 --> 00:26:23.919 and victory 00:26:23.919 --> 00:26:25.199 over Satan and death. 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:27.099 So back when 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:27.980 the Roman government 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:30.299 martyred Christians 00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:32.459 to now when Boko Haram 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.460 or Burkina Faso, 00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:35.400 they martyr Christians today, 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:37.319 they play the same 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:38.759 losing strategy 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:40.000 that Satan tried 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:40.819 with Jesus. 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.980 For Jesus teaches 00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.940 that those who will 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.720 lose their life 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.460 will find them. 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:49.120 Those who try to save them 00:26:49.120 --> 00:26:49.880 will lose them. 00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:51.500 The first shall be last, 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.620 the last shall be first. 00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:54.460 The economy of the kingdom 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:55.799 is radically opposite 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:57.039 of the economy 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.700 of this world. 00:26:57.700 --> 00:27:00.259 the path of carrying 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:00.819 your cross 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.819 and dying to self, 00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:03.220 that's the path 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:04.319 to victory and glory. 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:07.059 And when we feel like 00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:08.240 that path is just 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:09.400 so hard, 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.019 when suffering 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.120 is just too much, 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.059 I pray that 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.900 we would see that 00:27:14.900 --> 00:27:15.960 there's no other place 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.539 to go. 00:27:18.620 --> 00:27:19.700 Like the disciples, 00:27:19.860 --> 00:27:20.440 may we see that 00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.600 only Jesus 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:22.580 has the words 00:27:22.580 --> 00:27:23.460 of eternal life. 00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:25.080 As Jesus said 00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:26.500 in John 14, 27, 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:28.379 peace I leave with you, 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:30.079 my peace I give to you, 00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:32.619 not as the world gives 00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:34.480 do I give to you. 00:27:35.679 --> 00:27:36.699 Those other places 00:27:36.699 --> 00:27:38.220 all pale in comparison 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.419 to the peace 00:27:39.419 --> 00:27:40.159 that God, 00:27:40.439 --> 00:27:42.319 that Jesus alone brings. 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.699 He alone brings 00:27:43.699 --> 00:27:44.539 amazing grace 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.179 and fullness. 00:27:45.879 --> 00:27:46.539 Just a feeling 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.220 that everything 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:48.939 is as it's supposed 00:27:48.939 --> 00:27:49.480 to be. 00:27:50.699 --> 00:27:51.559 Even when our 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.179 circumstances 00:27:52.179 --> 00:27:53.240 don't prove it, 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:55.640 John Patton 00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.500 is a great example 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:56.839 of this. 00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.259 A missionary 00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.180 to the New Hebrides 00:27:58.180 --> 00:28:00.059 who ministered 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:01.160 to literal cannibals. 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.400 He once explained 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.059 one night 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.859 when his life 00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:04.940 was in eminent danger 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:06.519 from the people 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:06.960 that he tried 00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.700 to minister to. 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:08.859 And he wrote this, 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:11.660 I climbed into the tree 00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:12.640 and was left there 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:13.519 alone in the bush. 00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:15.240 The hours I spent 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:16.000 there all lived 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:16.559 before me 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:18.059 as if they were 00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:18.740 but of yesterday. 00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.359 I heard the frequent 00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:21.599 discharging of muskets 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:22.619 and the yells 00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:23.500 of savages. 00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.779 Yet I sat there 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.679 among the branches 00:28:26.679 --> 00:28:28.240 as safe 00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:29.519 as in the arms 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:29.980 of Jesus. 00:28:31.219 --> 00:28:32.559 Never in all my sorrows 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.319 did my Lord 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.359 draw nearer to me 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:36.119 and speak more soothingly 00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:36.839 in my soul 00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:38.379 than when the moonlight 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.119 flickered among 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:40.139 those chestnut leaves 00:28:40.139 --> 00:28:40.819 and the night air 00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:42.139 played on my throbbing brow 00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:44.119 as I told all my heart 00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:44.679 to Jesus. 00:28:45.899 --> 00:28:46.379 Alone, 00:28:47.219 --> 00:28:48.259 yet not alone. 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:50.440 grace and peace 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:51.839 unchangingly comes 00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:53.000 from the eternally 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.619 faithful one 00:28:53.619 --> 00:28:54.619 who is actively 00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:55.500 at work in us 00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:56.900 and who leads us 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.720 in victory. 00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:01.279 And because of this 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.900 grace and peace 00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:02.660 that leads us 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.140 to worship 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:04.960 with new identities, 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:07.319 for John 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.339 knows himself 00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:09.119 as one 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:10.079 who is loved. 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.480 For John, 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.140 right, 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:14.960 the love of God 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:17.620 is so closely linked 00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:18.940 to the cross of Christ 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:20.180 that whenever he talks 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:20.840 about love, 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.579 he always presents it 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.680 right immediately after 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:25.579 that the cross 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.120 is right there. 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:26.900 That's what he's thinking 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:27.700 about when he thinks 00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.759 about being loved. 00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:31.200 So when you doubt 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.000 God's love for you 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.240 because of your sin, 00:29:33.360 --> 00:29:34.440 because of your problems, 00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:37.000 because of your hurts, 00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:39.480 look first to the cross 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:40.660 for evidence of his love. 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:43.180 After all, 00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:44.220 as Jesus said, 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.019 greater love 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:46.140 has no one than this, 00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.660 that someone lay down 00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:48.980 his life for his friends. 00:29:50.140 --> 00:29:51.640 This is so real to John 00:29:51.640 --> 00:29:52.460 because he knows 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:54.140 what Jesus freed him from. 00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:57.100 Jesus teaches in John 8, 00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:58.720 everyone who practices sin 00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:00.180 is a slave to sin. 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:02.440 I wonder as Christians 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:03.100 if we understand 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.740 the magnitude 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.600 of this freedom 00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:05.319 and transformation. 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:07.120 Because before Christ, 00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:09.319 sin ruled over us. 00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:12.319 Satan was our God, 00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.480 as Paul teaches 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:14.720 in 2 Corinthians 3. 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:16.039 We were snared 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:17.240 by the devil 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.360 and he held us 00:30:18.360 --> 00:30:19.140 as prisoners 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:21.680 so that we invariably 00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:22.599 did his well. 00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:23.799 Even when we wanted 00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:24.559 to do the right thing, 00:30:24.620 --> 00:30:25.440 we did what Satan 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.559 wanted us to do. 00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:29.039 More than that, 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:30.720 God intended for us 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:32.079 to be his beloved children, 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:33.180 but we instead 00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:34.700 became sons of Satan. 00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:36.860 So instead of being 00:30:36.860 --> 00:30:37.660 covenant keepers, 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:38.860 we were covenant breakers 00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:40.779 so that when God saw us, 00:30:41.219 --> 00:30:43.099 he saw our sin. 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:46.719 Sexual immorality, 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:47.559 impurity, 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:49.059 sensuality, 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:50.219 idolatry, 00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:51.259 sorcery, 00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:51.779 enmity, 00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:52.559 strife, 00:30:52.899 --> 00:30:53.199 jealousy, 00:30:53.479 --> 00:30:54.119 fits of anger, 00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:54.899 rivalries, 00:30:55.379 --> 00:30:55.859 dissensions, 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:56.679 divisions, 00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:57.099 envy, 00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:57.759 drunkenness, 00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:58.859 and things like these. 00:30:59.139 --> 00:31:00.859 Your most heinous sins, 00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:01.899 the stuff that you 00:31:01.899 --> 00:31:02.839 don't tell anybody else, 00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:03.299 that you won't even 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:04.179 tell your spouse, 00:31:04.459 --> 00:31:05.159 your best friends, 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:05.919 that stuff that you 00:31:05.919 --> 00:31:06.659 want to keep hidden 00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:07.600 as much as possible. 00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:08.860 God sees, 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:10.660 and God saw all of that. 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.460 That's what you 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.720 were defined by. 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:16.120 But praise be to Jesus 00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:17.100 that what he said 00:31:17.100 --> 00:31:18.580 shortly after in John 8, 00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:20.600 if the Son sets you free, 00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:22.540 you will be free indeed. 00:31:24.120 --> 00:31:25.160 Because of Jesus, 00:31:25.320 --> 00:31:26.220 because of the work 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:27.300 on his cross, 00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.440 those who put their 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.560 total faith in him, 00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:30.580 we are set free 00:31:30.580 --> 00:31:31.480 from the shackles 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:33.019 of sin and death. 00:31:34.320 --> 00:31:35.000 By his cross, 00:31:35.080 --> 00:31:36.440 he is restored to you. 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:38.540 That beloved identity 00:31:38.540 --> 00:31:39.500 of a child, 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:41.380 his child, 00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:43.420 that those who are 00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.060 in Christ, 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.680 nothing can separate you 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:47.000 from the love of God. 00:31:48.560 --> 00:31:49.360 John, in fact, 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.060 keeps going 00:31:50.060 --> 00:31:51.120 with these new identities 00:31:51.120 --> 00:31:51.720 in Christ. 00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:53.080 He writes that Jesus 00:31:53.080 --> 00:31:54.060 made us kings 00:31:54.060 --> 00:31:55.220 and priests to him, 00:31:55.620 --> 00:31:56.400 to his God. 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:58.019 This is a strong allusion 00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:59.800 to Exodus 19, 00:32:00.080 --> 00:32:00.620 which reads, 00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:02.160 if you will indeed 00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:03.259 obey my voice 00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:04.360 and keep my covenant, 00:32:04.800 --> 00:32:05.740 you shall be to me 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.700 a kingdom of priests 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.779 and a holy nation. 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:11.620 Notice how Moses stipulates 00:32:11.620 --> 00:32:13.519 how Israel was supposed 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.420 to be a kingdom of priests. 00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:16.900 It's by obedience. 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:18.559 It's by obeying God. 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:20.220 But in our passage today, 00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:21.240 John does not say 00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:22.019 that we obeyed 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.779 because we didn't. 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:25.720 It's by his blood. 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.099 That's what our text says. 00:32:28.099 --> 00:32:29.500 He was our older brother. 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:31.660 Jesus was our older brother 00:32:31.660 --> 00:32:33.460 who perfectly obeyed 00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:34.519 our righteous father 00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:36.700 while we arrogantly thought 00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:37.440 we knew better 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:38.940 and we disobeyed. 00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.599 But Jesus, 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.960 he lovingly gave us 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:43.500 the credit of his good work 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.920 so that we get 00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:45.500 all the benefits 00:32:45.500 --> 00:32:46.559 while he took ownership 00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:47.859 of our disobedience. 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:51.059 There is no possibility 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:52.579 to boast in what we've done 00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:54.059 because of the new titles 00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:55.099 that we've received 00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:56.259 in Jesus. 00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:57.359 It's all by grace. 00:32:57.359 --> 00:32:58.459 It's all by his work. 00:32:59.939 --> 00:33:01.219 And I want you to notice 00:33:01.219 --> 00:33:02.179 that John does not 00:33:02.179 --> 00:33:03.019 single out a group 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:03.979 in these seven churches 00:33:03.979 --> 00:33:05.779 or calls them 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.699 the royal priests. 00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.439 He does not say, 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:08.139 pastors, 00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:09.859 you are the royal priests 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:11.240 or deacons, 00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:12.399 you are the priests. 00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:13.819 For John, 00:33:13.979 --> 00:33:14.740 the church 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:16.399 is the royal priesthood. 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:19.019 So I encourage you, 00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:20.039 every one of you 00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:21.279 as part of this church, 00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:23.959 don't fire yourselves. 00:33:25.479 --> 00:33:26.579 Don't fire yourselves 00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:27.319 from this position 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:28.259 that you now hold 00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:29.000 in Christ. 00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:31.099 In the past, 00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:32.379 only the high priests 00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:33.059 could go into 00:33:33.059 --> 00:33:34.019 the Holy of Holies 00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:35.419 to bask in God's glory 00:33:35.419 --> 00:33:37.359 only one day of the year. 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:39.539 But now, 00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.379 we can claim 00:33:40.379 --> 00:33:42.059 this Christ-bought opportunity 00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:43.480 for an intimate relationship 00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:44.500 with our Father 00:33:44.500 --> 00:33:46.159 all year long. 00:33:48.399 --> 00:33:49.659 Claim and own this title 00:33:49.659 --> 00:33:50.500 that you have 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.299 now in Jesus. 00:33:51.299 --> 00:33:54.159 what is this job description 00:33:54.159 --> 00:33:55.379 as a royal priest? 00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:58.099 Peter helps us here 00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:59.240 in 1 Peter 2.9 00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.960 in which he says, 00:34:00.359 --> 00:34:01.779 you are a royal priesthood 00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:03.680 that you may proclaim 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:05.440 the excellencies of him 00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:06.799 who called you out of darkness 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:08.519 into his marvelous light. 00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:12.139 So as his royal priests 00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:13.900 proclaim his excellencies 00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:15.719 in the loudest praise, 00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:16.820 with the loudest praise, 00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:18.820 with joy on Sunday worship, 00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:19.340 worship. 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.620 As we stand 00:34:21.620 --> 00:34:22.960 and bask in his presence. 00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:24.240 As his priests, 00:34:24.600 --> 00:34:25.440 you need not go 00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:26.780 to any other priest 00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.780 for the confession 00:34:27.780 --> 00:34:28.440 of your sins. 00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:30.180 You can go straight to God 00:34:30.180 --> 00:34:31.360 and receive the assurance 00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:32.160 of pardon 00:34:32.160 --> 00:34:33.100 straight from him. 00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:34.800 As his royal priests, 00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:35.500 you can pass 00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:36.860 the same shalom 00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:38.580 to others 00:34:38.580 --> 00:34:39.860 that you've received 00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:40.760 and you can administer 00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:41.360 to others 00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:43.460 to help others' lives 00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:44.260 feel whole, 00:34:44.760 --> 00:34:45.700 feel like they're not 00:34:45.699 --> 00:34:46.339 missing anything. 00:34:46.419 --> 00:34:47.179 You could do that. 00:34:48.759 --> 00:34:49.739 As his royal priests, 00:34:49.799 --> 00:34:51.000 you can with confidence 00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:51.719 draw near 00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:52.859 to the throne of grace 00:34:52.859 --> 00:34:54.219 through intercessory prayer 00:34:54.219 --> 00:34:56.079 that we may receive mercy 00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:56.879 and find grace 00:34:56.879 --> 00:34:57.519 to help us 00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:58.480 in times of need. 00:34:58.779 --> 00:34:59.759 As his royal priests, 00:34:59.839 --> 00:35:00.619 you have full access 00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:01.419 to the table. 00:35:02.199 --> 00:35:03.000 No intermediate 00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:03.719 is necessary. 00:35:04.439 --> 00:35:05.899 Nobody stands before you 00:35:05.899 --> 00:35:06.839 on the table. 00:35:07.859 --> 00:35:09.319 You have full access 00:35:09.319 --> 00:35:09.980 before it. 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:12.179 As his priests 00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:12.980 and ambassadors 00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:14.519 continue to proclaim 00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:15.199 his excellencies 00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:16.000 to your friends, 00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:16.500 your neighbors, 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:17.259 your coworkers 00:35:17.259 --> 00:35:19.099 in evangelism 00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:20.439 and in testimony sharing. 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.539 Proclaim not just 00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:22.219 with your lips 00:35:22.219 --> 00:35:23.599 but with your lives 00:35:23.599 --> 00:35:25.419 as priests, 00:35:25.819 --> 00:35:26.859 as kings would 00:35:26.859 --> 00:35:29.099 in holiness 00:35:29.099 --> 00:35:30.359 and self-sacrifice. 00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:33.039 Proclaim his excellencies 00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:34.199 unceasingly 00:35:34.199 --> 00:35:35.679 no matter what season 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:36.439 you're going through. 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:38.259 In fact, 00:35:38.319 --> 00:35:39.179 that's when your worship 00:35:39.179 --> 00:35:40.500 is loudest. 00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:41.859 It's when nothing 00:35:41.859 --> 00:35:42.779 is going your way, 00:35:42.780 --> 00:35:44.440 when everything 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.640 seems to be against you, 00:35:46.100 --> 00:35:47.260 when you say to him 00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:48.320 be glory 00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:49.340 and dominion 00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:50.360 forever and ever, 00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:52.480 people must see 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:54.100 that Jesus is excellent. 00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:56.440 When you see 00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:58.180 your mountain-tall problems 00:35:58.180 --> 00:36:00.140 of a crumbling marriage, 00:36:00.220 --> 00:36:01.180 a rebellious child, 00:36:01.260 --> 00:36:01.980 a lost job, 00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:03.120 or failing health, 00:36:03.220 --> 00:36:04.320 and you still see 00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:05.340 that Jesus is bigger 00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:05.820 and better, 00:36:06.540 --> 00:36:08.480 that's an incredible 00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:09.000 testimony 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:10.080 of a royal priest 00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:11.619 who knows their identity 00:36:11.619 --> 00:36:12.340 of freedom 00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:13.679 and of love. 00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:16.599 Finally, 00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:17.360 we can only 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:18.420 proclaim his worship 00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:19.619 and overcome hardship 00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:21.199 when we hope, 00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:22.880 when we have hope 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:23.440 in the time 00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:24.799 that God will have 00:36:24.799 --> 00:36:26.079 final victory 00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:27.039 over his enemies. 00:36:28.619 --> 00:36:29.340 Verse 7 quotes 00:36:29.340 --> 00:36:30.460 two OT verses 00:36:30.460 --> 00:36:31.460 in Daniel 7, 00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:32.900 Zechariah 12, 00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:33.900 and reads, 00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:34.480 Behold, 00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:35.159 he is coming 00:36:35.159 --> 00:36:35.840 with the clouds, 00:36:36.259 --> 00:36:37.179 and every eye 00:36:37.179 --> 00:36:37.819 will see him, 00:36:38.340 --> 00:36:38.840 even those 00:36:38.840 --> 00:36:39.539 who pierced him, 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:41.039 and all tribes 00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:41.780 on the earth 00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:42.480 will wail 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:43.380 on account of him, 00:36:43.780 --> 00:36:44.420 even so. 00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:45.220 Amen. 00:36:46.240 --> 00:36:47.260 The first half 00:36:47.260 --> 00:36:47.740 of this verse 00:36:47.740 --> 00:36:48.900 comes from Daniel 7, 00:36:49.300 --> 00:36:50.900 where Daniel prophesies 00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:52.320 that despite the rule 00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:53.880 of four daunting, 00:36:54.120 --> 00:36:55.160 terrifying beasts, 00:36:55.680 --> 00:36:56.400 which are cruel, 00:36:56.519 --> 00:36:57.620 rapacious kingdoms, 00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:59.559 one will come 00:36:59.559 --> 00:37:00.940 like the Son of Man, 00:37:01.019 --> 00:37:02.160 and all dominion 00:37:02.160 --> 00:37:02.640 and glory 00:37:02.640 --> 00:37:03.360 will be attributed 00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:04.019 to him. 00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:05.039 The beasts 00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:06.180 will be destroyed 00:37:06.180 --> 00:37:07.059 and burned 00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:07.680 with fire. 00:37:07.679 --> 00:37:10.139 So while we now, 00:37:10.299 --> 00:37:11.319 we still live 00:37:11.319 --> 00:37:12.599 in a beastly world 00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:16.519 that may be dominated 00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:18.079 by violent oppressors 00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:19.819 and ungodly opponents 00:37:19.819 --> 00:37:20.319 now, 00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:22.699 John is encouraging 00:37:22.699 --> 00:37:23.359 his audience 00:37:23.359 --> 00:37:24.000 and us 00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:25.039 that these evils, 00:37:25.159 --> 00:37:27.039 they will not reign forever. 00:37:27.619 --> 00:37:29.000 Jesus will return. 00:37:29.739 --> 00:37:30.819 It's not just a myth 00:37:30.819 --> 00:37:31.960 or some wishful thinking. 00:37:32.299 --> 00:37:33.239 It's a fact 00:37:33.239 --> 00:37:35.599 that when he comes 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:36.379 with clouds 00:37:36.379 --> 00:37:37.799 on his divine glory 00:37:37.799 --> 00:37:38.279 and authority 00:37:38.279 --> 00:37:39.259 at the second coming, 00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:40.779 he will come 00:37:40.779 --> 00:37:41.419 to deliver 00:37:41.419 --> 00:37:42.459 the final 00:37:42.459 --> 00:37:43.519 and decisive judgment 00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:44.399 against all evil. 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:46.779 Our three-front battle 00:37:46.779 --> 00:37:47.779 against our flesh, 00:37:48.119 --> 00:37:48.579 the world, 00:37:48.659 --> 00:37:49.199 and Satan, 00:37:49.419 --> 00:37:51.339 it'll finally be over. 00:37:52.779 --> 00:37:53.699 And he will not 00:37:53.699 --> 00:37:54.579 come spiritually, 00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:56.239 he will not come secretly, 00:37:56.239 --> 00:37:57.399 but he will literally 00:37:57.399 --> 00:37:59.159 and physically come 00:37:59.159 --> 00:38:00.699 so that every eye 00:38:00.699 --> 00:38:01.739 will see him. 00:38:01.739 --> 00:38:03.099 You see, 00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:04.339 the Bible is unambiguous 00:38:04.339 --> 00:38:05.000 about this, 00:38:05.939 --> 00:38:06.859 unambiguous about 00:38:06.859 --> 00:38:07.979 Jesus' second coming, 00:38:08.099 --> 00:38:08.959 just as it is 00:38:08.959 --> 00:38:09.559 unambiguous 00:38:09.559 --> 00:38:11.059 about his first coming 00:38:11.059 --> 00:38:12.739 2,000 years ago. 00:38:14.139 --> 00:38:15.239 Many scholars 00:38:15.239 --> 00:38:16.719 have come up 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:17.959 with far-fetched theories 00:38:17.959 --> 00:38:18.519 and ideas 00:38:18.519 --> 00:38:19.319 that Jesus didn't 00:38:19.319 --> 00:38:20.039 actually die 00:38:20.039 --> 00:38:21.519 or didn't resurrect 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:22.459 that faithful weekend. 00:38:23.539 --> 00:38:24.459 They say it was 00:38:24.459 --> 00:38:25.639 a mass hallucination, 00:38:26.459 --> 00:38:27.619 when in actuality, 00:38:27.679 --> 00:38:28.579 how often do you hear 00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:29.019 of a group 00:38:29.019 --> 00:38:29.699 all sharing 00:38:29.699 --> 00:38:31.199 one same hallucination? 00:38:31.739 --> 00:38:34.199 They say that 00:38:34.199 --> 00:38:35.239 Jesus almost died, 00:38:35.319 --> 00:38:36.059 but not really. 00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:37.939 But how does one 00:38:37.939 --> 00:38:40.239 survive Roman floggings, 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:42.419 asphyxiation on the cross, 00:38:43.099 --> 00:38:44.199 a spear to the side, 00:38:44.699 --> 00:38:46.339 or that they just 00:38:46.339 --> 00:38:47.319 simply misplaced 00:38:47.319 --> 00:38:47.879 the body? 00:38:49.199 --> 00:38:50.239 But then the Jews 00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:51.359 could easily identify 00:38:51.359 --> 00:38:51.879 the body. 00:38:52.859 --> 00:38:54.059 The best answer 00:38:54.059 --> 00:38:55.819 is that Jesus did die 00:38:55.819 --> 00:38:56.879 and did resurrect. 00:38:57.479 --> 00:38:58.439 And just as sure 00:38:58.439 --> 00:38:59.959 as we have that assurance, 00:38:59.960 --> 00:39:01.000 we can confidently know 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:02.920 that Jesus will return. 00:39:04.079 --> 00:39:04.900 And when he does, 00:39:05.059 --> 00:39:06.119 temporary hardship 00:39:06.119 --> 00:39:07.659 will give way 00:39:07.659 --> 00:39:08.920 to eternal joy 00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:09.860 and glory. 00:39:11.720 --> 00:39:12.880 And when he returns, 00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:13.240 Jesus, 00:39:13.420 --> 00:39:13.940 John teaches 00:39:13.940 --> 00:39:15.420 that all tribes, 00:39:15.539 --> 00:39:16.199 all believers 00:39:16.199 --> 00:39:17.280 from all over the world 00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:18.059 will wail 00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:19.280 on account of him. 00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:20.780 This fulfills 00:39:20.780 --> 00:39:21.960 Zechariah 12.10, 00:39:22.119 --> 00:39:23.340 in which the context 00:39:23.340 --> 00:39:24.599 is that God promises 00:39:24.599 --> 00:39:26.139 to defeat Israel's enemies 00:39:26.139 --> 00:39:27.619 and redeem Israel 00:39:27.619 --> 00:39:29.119 after they repent 00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:30.940 by the power 00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:31.779 of his spirit. 00:39:32.879 --> 00:39:33.359 And so we 00:39:33.359 --> 00:39:34.199 who put our faith 00:39:34.199 --> 00:39:34.559 in Jesus, 00:39:34.679 --> 00:39:36.199 we're now the true Israel. 00:39:37.139 --> 00:39:37.799 And we fulfill 00:39:37.799 --> 00:39:38.500 this prophecy 00:39:38.500 --> 00:39:39.420 when we mourn 00:39:39.420 --> 00:39:40.159 and we wail 00:39:40.159 --> 00:39:40.759 over Jesus, 00:39:40.859 --> 00:39:41.759 whom we pierce 00:39:41.759 --> 00:39:42.920 with our sins. 00:39:44.819 --> 00:39:45.659 2,000 years ago, 00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:46.519 we haven't physically 00:39:46.519 --> 00:39:47.859 pierced Jesus. 00:39:48.420 --> 00:39:49.299 We didn't physically 00:39:49.299 --> 00:39:50.179 crucify Jesus, 00:39:50.659 --> 00:39:51.639 but we hear 00:39:51.639 --> 00:39:52.659 our mocking voice 00:39:52.659 --> 00:39:53.179 call out 00:39:53.179 --> 00:39:54.159 among the scoffers. 00:39:54.159 --> 00:39:56.179 It was our sin 00:39:56.179 --> 00:39:56.960 that held him there. 00:39:58.319 --> 00:39:59.000 But blessed 00:39:59.000 --> 00:40:00.219 are those who mourn 00:40:00.219 --> 00:40:01.659 for they shall be comforted. 00:40:02.719 --> 00:40:03.480 This is such 00:40:03.480 --> 00:40:04.559 an important marker, 00:40:04.779 --> 00:40:05.500 distinguisher 00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:07.460 of those who will be saved. 00:40:07.920 --> 00:40:09.359 They are repentant. 00:40:10.879 --> 00:40:11.480 We mourn 00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:12.960 not over ourselves, 00:40:13.119 --> 00:40:13.679 but we mourn 00:40:13.679 --> 00:40:14.299 over Jesus. 00:40:15.159 --> 00:40:16.259 This is a great 00:40:16.259 --> 00:40:17.339 diagnostic test 00:40:17.339 --> 00:40:18.319 for us even today 00:40:18.319 --> 00:40:21.000 of true repentance 00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:22.599 because true repentance 00:40:22.599 --> 00:40:24.139 is Jesus-focused. 00:40:24.159 --> 00:40:25.619 It's others-focused. 00:40:25.779 --> 00:40:27.039 It's not self-focused. 00:40:29.519 --> 00:40:30.759 But that's not to say 00:40:30.759 --> 00:40:32.059 that there will be people 00:40:32.059 --> 00:40:32.839 on that day 00:40:32.839 --> 00:40:34.239 who will mourn 00:40:34.239 --> 00:40:34.899 over themselves. 00:40:34.899 --> 00:40:36.299 This is a hard word, 00:40:36.500 --> 00:40:37.339 but it is true. 00:40:37.899 --> 00:40:38.839 Over the way 00:40:38.839 --> 00:40:39.899 that they lived their life, 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:41.139 over what they believed, 00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:42.339 over how wrong 00:40:42.339 --> 00:40:43.519 they have been. 00:40:44.420 --> 00:40:45.440 You will never 00:40:45.440 --> 00:40:47.059 have seen regret 00:40:47.059 --> 00:40:49.259 like you will that day. 00:40:49.260 --> 00:40:52.100 And on that day, 00:40:52.180 --> 00:40:52.880 it would have been 00:40:52.880 --> 00:40:53.400 too late. 00:40:54.660 --> 00:40:55.900 The window of forgiveness 00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:57.040 would have been shut. 00:40:58.400 --> 00:40:59.440 Nothing more is, 00:40:59.960 --> 00:41:00.860 nothing more important 00:41:00.860 --> 00:41:04.200 is this truth here. 00:41:04.440 --> 00:41:05.140 What you believe 00:41:05.140 --> 00:41:06.400 in this temporary life 00:41:06.400 --> 00:41:07.860 has eternal consequences. 00:41:07.860 --> 00:41:10.280 Are you ready 00:41:10.280 --> 00:41:10.800 for that day 00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:11.519 that will come 00:41:11.519 --> 00:41:12.760 for a thief, 00:41:12.860 --> 00:41:13.760 like a thief in the night? 00:41:14.039 --> 00:41:14.500 Are you ready 00:41:14.500 --> 00:41:15.539 for that eternal future? 00:41:16.920 --> 00:41:17.700 Randy Alcorn, 00:41:17.860 --> 00:41:18.700 pastor, theologian, 00:41:18.740 --> 00:41:19.559 has this great quote 00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:20.280 about the reality 00:41:20.280 --> 00:41:20.940 of heaven and hell. 00:41:22.140 --> 00:41:23.120 The best of life 00:41:23.120 --> 00:41:23.519 on earth 00:41:23.519 --> 00:41:24.460 is a glimpse of heaven, 00:41:24.860 --> 00:41:26.160 and the worst of life 00:41:26.160 --> 00:41:27.059 is a glimpse of hell. 00:41:27.800 --> 00:41:28.700 For Christians, 00:41:29.180 --> 00:41:30.099 this present life 00:41:30.099 --> 00:41:30.900 is the closest 00:41:30.900 --> 00:41:31.880 they will come to hell. 00:41:32.519 --> 00:41:32.860 For unbelievers, 00:41:34.099 --> 00:41:35.440 it is the closest 00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:36.360 they will come to heaven. 00:41:38.300 --> 00:41:39.599 Our sincere hope 00:41:39.599 --> 00:41:41.019 is that the best 00:41:41.019 --> 00:41:41.920 of your life now, 00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:43.059 the best of the shalom 00:41:43.059 --> 00:41:44.599 that you may have experienced, 00:41:44.880 --> 00:41:45.980 cannot hold a candle 00:41:45.980 --> 00:41:46.900 to the awesome 00:41:46.900 --> 00:41:49.220 shalom, peace, glory, 00:41:49.559 --> 00:41:50.519 everything that you 00:41:50.519 --> 00:41:51.420 will experience 00:41:51.420 --> 00:41:52.900 with your future, 00:41:53.019 --> 00:41:53.660 with your creator. 00:41:54.760 --> 00:41:56.260 If you do not know yet Jesus, 00:41:57.380 --> 00:41:58.079 and you have not put 00:41:58.079 --> 00:41:58.620 your faith in him, 00:41:58.640 --> 00:41:59.740 please come talk to us. 00:41:59.880 --> 00:42:00.579 Don't delay. 00:42:01.800 --> 00:42:02.700 Talk to us about 00:42:02.700 --> 00:42:03.980 the shalom that can be found 00:42:03.980 --> 00:42:04.880 in Jesus alone. 00:42:04.880 --> 00:42:07.539 John ties up 00:42:07.539 --> 00:42:08.539 this section in verse 8 00:42:08.539 --> 00:42:09.079 by repeating 00:42:09.079 --> 00:42:09.880 the Father's 00:42:09.880 --> 00:42:11.599 sovereign title. 00:42:12.180 --> 00:42:12.599 He declares 00:42:12.599 --> 00:42:13.700 that he is the Alpha 00:42:13.700 --> 00:42:15.240 and the Omega, 00:42:15.559 --> 00:42:16.680 the first letter 00:42:16.680 --> 00:42:17.400 of the Greek alphabet 00:42:17.400 --> 00:42:18.140 and the last. 00:42:19.440 --> 00:42:20.119 In other places 00:42:20.119 --> 00:42:20.579 in Scripture, 00:42:20.720 --> 00:42:21.539 God declares himself 00:42:21.539 --> 00:42:22.300 as the first 00:42:22.300 --> 00:42:22.900 and the last, 00:42:23.140 --> 00:42:23.559 the beginning 00:42:23.559 --> 00:42:24.140 and the end. 00:42:24.559 --> 00:42:25.840 In this metaphorical language, 00:42:26.019 --> 00:42:26.660 it highlights 00:42:26.660 --> 00:42:27.900 that God is sovereign 00:42:27.900 --> 00:42:28.640 over one end 00:42:28.640 --> 00:42:29.140 of the spectrum 00:42:29.140 --> 00:42:29.619 to the other, 00:42:29.680 --> 00:42:31.000 and everything in between. 00:42:31.539 --> 00:42:32.140 God is sovereign 00:42:32.140 --> 00:42:32.760 over all, 00:42:32.760 --> 00:42:35.920 so that since history, 00:42:36.120 --> 00:42:36.660 it commences 00:42:36.660 --> 00:42:38.540 and concludes with him, 00:42:38.640 --> 00:42:40.680 no part will ever spin 00:42:40.680 --> 00:42:41.480 out of his control. 00:42:42.940 --> 00:42:44.680 So to him who is, 00:42:44.920 --> 00:42:45.640 who was, 00:42:45.700 --> 00:42:46.740 and who is to come, 00:42:47.000 --> 00:42:47.560 the Almighty, 00:42:48.060 --> 00:42:49.380 he is the one 00:42:49.380 --> 00:42:50.720 who has been your help, 00:42:51.060 --> 00:42:52.360 who is your help, 00:42:52.400 --> 00:42:53.680 and who will eternally 00:42:53.680 --> 00:42:54.560 be your help. 00:42:55.920 --> 00:42:56.900 Living as Christians 00:42:56.900 --> 00:42:57.500 in this life, 00:42:57.560 --> 00:42:57.840 again, 00:42:57.920 --> 00:42:59.300 can be extremely hard. 00:42:59.300 --> 00:43:02.180 If you raised your hand 00:43:02.180 --> 00:43:02.840 earlier that 00:43:02.840 --> 00:43:04.120 you once had this thought 00:43:04.120 --> 00:43:04.920 that Christianity 00:43:04.920 --> 00:43:06.560 made your life harder, 00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:09.080 if you feel even now 00:43:09.080 --> 00:43:09.980 that the Christian life 00:43:09.980 --> 00:43:11.200 is so difficult, 00:43:11.580 --> 00:43:12.560 I want to affirm 00:43:12.560 --> 00:43:14.600 that an aspect 00:43:14.600 --> 00:43:15.340 of what you're feeling 00:43:15.340 --> 00:43:16.019 is right. 00:43:17.160 --> 00:43:18.920 I think genuine discipleship, 00:43:19.640 --> 00:43:20.940 growing pains, 00:43:21.220 --> 00:43:22.000 shared suffering 00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:22.980 with Jesus, 00:43:23.080 --> 00:43:23.920 that can be painful 00:43:23.920 --> 00:43:24.720 and uncomfortable 00:43:24.720 --> 00:43:25.560 at times. 00:43:26.200 --> 00:43:26.640 After all, 00:43:26.680 --> 00:43:27.500 a disciple to be 00:43:27.500 --> 00:43:28.880 unchallenged by Jesus 00:43:28.880 --> 00:43:29.519 may not be 00:43:29.519 --> 00:43:30.559 a disciple at all. 00:43:32.900 --> 00:43:33.840 But friend, 00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:35.180 there's so much 00:43:35.180 --> 00:43:36.019 that you're missing 00:43:36.019 --> 00:43:37.420 if you're in that place now. 00:43:38.420 --> 00:43:39.559 You're missing the gospel. 00:43:41.440 --> 00:43:42.680 You're missing this grace 00:43:42.680 --> 00:43:43.180 and peace 00:43:43.180 --> 00:43:44.240 from this triune God 00:43:44.240 --> 00:43:45.660 who is eternally faithful 00:43:45.660 --> 00:43:46.140 to you, 00:43:46.260 --> 00:43:47.660 who's actively working 00:43:47.660 --> 00:43:48.180 for you, 00:43:48.619 --> 00:43:49.960 who has died for you. 00:43:53.880 --> 00:43:54.619 You're missing 00:43:54.619 --> 00:43:55.700 his tender love 00:43:55.700 --> 00:43:56.440 and what you've been 00:43:56.440 --> 00:43:57.079 freed from 00:43:57.079 --> 00:43:58.440 and these new identities 00:43:58.440 --> 00:43:59.240 in Christ. 00:43:59.880 --> 00:44:00.539 You're missing 00:44:00.539 --> 00:44:01.099 that Christ 00:44:01.099 --> 00:44:02.679 will return in power 00:44:02.679 --> 00:44:03.440 to make all 00:44:03.440 --> 00:44:04.500 that is wrong right. 00:44:05.940 --> 00:44:06.820 Even when this 00:44:06.820 --> 00:44:07.539 refund battle 00:44:07.539 --> 00:44:08.380 against our flesh, 00:44:08.460 --> 00:44:09.179 the world's Satan 00:44:09.179 --> 00:44:10.220 seems overwhelming, 00:44:10.900 --> 00:44:11.760 the gospel alone 00:44:11.760 --> 00:44:13.000 will help you 00:44:13.000 --> 00:44:14.599 through your trials now 00:44:14.599 --> 00:44:15.820 and when things 00:44:15.820 --> 00:44:16.559 come your way 00:44:16.559 --> 00:44:17.940 that are far harder 00:44:17.940 --> 00:44:18.539 in the future, 00:44:18.639 --> 00:44:19.519 the gospel alone 00:44:19.519 --> 00:44:20.000 is the thing 00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:20.960 that will help you then. 00:44:22.780 --> 00:44:23.780 Even if you think 00:44:23.780 --> 00:44:25.599 that things are going well 00:44:25.599 --> 00:44:26.000 right now, 00:44:26.059 --> 00:44:26.639 I encourage you 00:44:26.639 --> 00:44:27.519 to store up, 00:44:27.639 --> 00:44:28.079 well up, 00:44:28.539 --> 00:44:29.980 deep reservoirs 00:44:29.980 --> 00:44:31.000 of faith 00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:32.159 for years and years 00:44:32.159 --> 00:44:33.819 because you'll never know. 00:44:33.900 --> 00:44:34.519 You'll never know 00:44:34.519 --> 00:44:35.599 when you have to tap into. 00:44:38.739 --> 00:44:39.599 To close, 00:44:40.039 --> 00:44:40.619 Charles Spurgeon 00:44:40.619 --> 00:44:41.759 speaks of God's help 00:44:41.759 --> 00:44:42.759 really better 00:44:42.759 --> 00:44:43.480 than I could have. 00:44:44.279 --> 00:44:45.980 It is but a small thing 00:44:45.980 --> 00:44:46.480 for me, 00:44:46.579 --> 00:44:47.099 your God, 00:44:47.179 --> 00:44:47.699 to help you. 00:44:48.379 --> 00:44:49.739 Consider what I have done already. 00:44:50.239 --> 00:44:50.619 What? 00:44:50.920 --> 00:44:51.799 Not help you. 00:44:52.500 --> 00:44:52.920 Why? 00:44:52.920 --> 00:44:53.599 I bought you 00:44:53.599 --> 00:44:54.340 with my blood. 00:44:55.119 --> 00:44:55.639 Help you. 00:44:55.760 --> 00:44:56.820 It is the least thing 00:44:56.820 --> 00:44:58.039 I will ever do for you. 00:44:58.460 --> 00:44:59.500 I have done more 00:44:59.500 --> 00:45:01.039 and will do more. 00:45:01.500 --> 00:45:02.280 In helping you, 00:45:02.360 --> 00:45:03.200 I am giving you 00:45:03.200 --> 00:45:03.800 what I have bought 00:45:03.800 --> 00:45:04.579 for you already. 00:45:05.280 --> 00:45:06.280 If you had need 00:45:06.280 --> 00:45:07.519 of a thousand times 00:45:07.519 --> 00:45:08.380 as much help, 00:45:08.420 --> 00:45:09.559 I would give it to you. 00:45:09.780 --> 00:45:10.900 You require little 00:45:10.900 --> 00:45:12.059 compared to with 00:45:12.059 --> 00:45:13.440 what I am ready to give. 00:45:14.680 --> 00:45:16.300 It's much for you to need, 00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:17.180 but it is nothing 00:45:17.180 --> 00:45:18.280 for me to bestow. 00:45:18.599 --> 00:45:19.220 Help you. 00:45:20.240 --> 00:45:21.119 Fear not. 00:45:21.119 --> 00:45:22.159 If there were an ant 00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:23.400 at the door of your granary 00:45:23.400 --> 00:45:24.380 asking for help, 00:45:24.559 --> 00:45:25.659 it would not ruin you 00:45:25.659 --> 00:45:26.759 to give him a handful 00:45:26.759 --> 00:45:27.420 of your wheat. 00:45:28.199 --> 00:45:29.019 And you are nothing 00:45:29.019 --> 00:45:30.119 but a tiny insect 00:45:30.119 --> 00:45:30.859 at the door 00:45:30.859 --> 00:45:32.199 of my all-sufficiency. 00:45:32.420 --> 00:45:34.000 I will help you. 00:45:34.859 --> 00:45:36.019 Do you want more wisdom 00:45:36.019 --> 00:45:37.339 than exists in the Father, 00:45:37.579 --> 00:45:38.319 more love 00:45:38.319 --> 00:45:39.739 than displays in the Son, 00:45:39.980 --> 00:45:40.799 or more power 00:45:40.799 --> 00:45:41.719 that is manifest 00:45:41.719 --> 00:45:42.960 in the influences 00:45:42.960 --> 00:45:43.659 of the Spirit? 00:45:44.659 --> 00:45:46.000 The eternal God 00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:47.299 is your helper. 00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:49.619 Let's pray. 00:45:51.119 --> 00:45:53.380 Again, Lord, 00:45:53.460 --> 00:45:54.839 we pray that our visions 00:45:54.839 --> 00:45:56.099 of you would be big. 00:45:56.699 --> 00:45:58.000 God, you are far too small 00:45:58.000 --> 00:45:58.819 in our eyes 00:45:58.819 --> 00:46:00.699 so that when we see 00:46:00.699 --> 00:46:02.059 the problems in our lives 00:46:02.059 --> 00:46:03.420 from your vantage point, 00:46:03.559 --> 00:46:04.599 from your perspective, 00:46:04.699 --> 00:46:05.880 they would seem small, 00:46:06.139 --> 00:46:07.779 that we would trust you 00:46:07.779 --> 00:46:08.799 in all things, 00:46:09.380 --> 00:46:10.059 and that you would be 00:46:10.059 --> 00:46:11.920 magnified and glorified. 00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:13.179 Help us to operate. 00:46:14.539 --> 00:46:16.079 Help us not to fire ourselves. 00:46:16.179 --> 00:46:17.059 Help us to operate 00:46:17.059 --> 00:46:18.579 as these royal priests 00:46:18.579 --> 00:46:22.420 so that we can proclaim 00:46:22.420 --> 00:46:23.360 your excellencies 00:46:23.360 --> 00:46:24.599 with our lips, 00:46:24.739 --> 00:46:25.460 with our lives, 00:46:25.539 --> 00:46:26.659 with our hands and feet, 00:46:26.860 --> 00:46:27.579 through it all, 00:46:27.880 --> 00:46:29.299 throughout whatever circumstances 00:46:29.299 --> 00:46:30.779 that you would be attributed, 00:46:30.900 --> 00:46:31.679 all the honor, 00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:32.659 all the glory, 00:46:32.779 --> 00:46:33.539 all the dominion. 00:46:35.380 --> 00:46:36.039 God, help us 00:46:36.039 --> 00:46:36.679 as we continue 00:46:36.679 --> 00:46:37.639 to read and preach 00:46:37.639 --> 00:46:39.059 and study your word 00:46:39.059 --> 00:46:39.719 through revelation. 00:46:40.059 --> 00:46:40.840 Speak to us. 00:46:41.019 --> 00:46:41.779 Transform us. 00:46:42.340 --> 00:46:43.719 We want to be more like you. 00:46:43.719 --> 00:46:46.259 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:46:46.859 --> 00:46:47.179 Amen.