Hello, welcome to our program.
00:00:28.95\00:00:30.71
Thanks for joining us today.
00:00:30.74\00:00:32.50
My name is Henry Juarez.
00:00:32.53\00:00:34.23
I've been working
with young people,
00:00:34.26\00:00:35.72
I've been a youth
leader for the past 12 years,
00:00:35.75\00:00:37.92
first in Texas and
now here in Illinois.
00:00:37.95\00:00:41.35
The message today that
I'm going to share with you
00:00:41.38\00:00:43.65
is an easy one to grasp hold of.
00:00:43.68\00:00:46.52
It's something that
we all need to hear.
00:00:46.55\00:00:48.55
It's about the coming of Jesus.
00:00:48.58\00:00:50.30
And before we get started,
00:00:50.33\00:00:51.70
I'd like to have
a word of prayer.
00:00:51.73\00:00:54.49
Father in Heaven, as we
look forward to Your coming,
00:00:54.52\00:00:58.12
I pray that each
one of us is making
00:00:58.15\00:01:00.69
whatever provisions we need to,
00:01:00.72\00:01:02.36
whatever
preparations, to meeting you,
00:01:02.39\00:01:06.02
to being ready
to go home with you.
00:01:06.05\00:01:08.77
It's my prayer that
somebody here today listening
00:01:08.80\00:01:12.05
will get a glimpse of You
00:01:12.08\00:01:14.20
and how You treat
us, how You value us.
00:01:14.23\00:01:17.51
In Jesus name, amen.
00:01:17.54\00:01:21.98
When I was a boy about
eight or nine years old,
00:01:22.01\00:01:25.69
I was living in San Antonio.
00:01:25.72\00:01:27.09
We got a word
that my uncle Simon
00:01:27.12\00:01:29.62
who lived in Washington
D.C. was coming to visit.
00:01:29.65\00:01:33.13
Now he lived so far away
that we rarely got to see him.
00:01:33.16\00:01:37.13
Maybe three or four
times as I was growing up
00:01:37.16\00:01:39.87
I remember seeing him.
00:01:39.90\00:01:41.27
There was years
in between visits.
00:01:41.30\00:01:44.29
And we got all excited
because Uncle Simon was coming.
00:01:44.32\00:01:47.73
But it wasn't just me
and the kids who got excited.
00:01:47.76\00:01:51.13
My aunts and uncles, my cousins,
00:01:51.16\00:01:52.92
my grandmother and grandfather,
they got excited too,
00:01:52.95\00:01:56.16
because Simon was coming
00:01:56.19\00:01:57.77
and you should
have seen the commotion
00:01:57.80\00:02:00.21
as people were
getting ready for that return.
00:02:00.24\00:02:04.70
People were--I know one uncle
who finally got enough time
00:02:04.73\00:02:10.19
to patch up his screen door
00:02:10.22\00:02:12.16
that his wife had
been nagging him about.
00:02:12.19\00:02:14.37
But my aunt got a
big surprise when,
00:02:14.40\00:02:18.00
not only did he patch the door,
he went ahead and replaced it.
00:02:18.03\00:02:21.39
He replaced the door,
another uncle painted his house
00:02:21.42\00:02:24.98
to the pleasure of his wife.
00:02:25.01\00:02:27.84
She said, "Oh, he
should come more often
00:02:27.87\00:02:29.81
if this is gonna happen. "
00:02:29.84\00:02:31.65
One of my
uncles didn't know him,
00:02:31.68\00:02:33.27
he married into the family.
00:02:33.30\00:02:35.68
He didn't know Uncle Simon
but he caught the Simon bug
00:02:35.71\00:02:39.40
and my dad saw
him downtown one time
00:02:39.43\00:02:41.80
and he said "hey, look
Rudy, I got new shoes. "
00:02:41.83\00:02:44.87
"Oh, really?" "Yeah,
because Simon's coming. "
00:02:44.90\00:02:47.37
He didn't even know
Simon, but he got new shoes
00:02:47.40\00:02:49.83
because Simon was coming.
00:02:49.86\00:02:52.08
You know, it was so amazing
to me that when he did come,
00:02:52.11\00:02:56.54
when Uncle Simon arrived,
00:02:56.57\00:02:59.42
he didn't care
about the screen door,
00:02:59.45\00:03:01.56
he didn't care about the
house that had been painted,
00:03:01.59\00:03:04.09
he didn't even care
about my uncle's new shoes.
00:03:04.12\00:03:07.68
He didn't come for all of that.
00:03:07.71\00:03:10.11
He came to see his family
and to spend time with them.
00:03:10.14\00:03:15.58
You know, we're told
that Jesus is coming,
00:03:15.61\00:03:18.33
Jesus is coming back soon.
00:03:18.36\00:03:20.86
Are we getting
ready for His return,
00:03:20.89\00:03:23.47
as my family was getting
ready for Simon's return?
00:03:23.50\00:03:29.17
You know, Isaiah
25:9, there's a text
00:03:29.20\00:03:34.94
that I really like
because it gives an idea
00:03:34.97\00:03:38.32
of what the people
who are here waiting
00:03:38.35\00:03:41.66
for Jesus are gonna be like.
00:03:41.69\00:03:44.85
Isaiah Chapter 25:9 it says,
00:03:44.88\00:03:48.01
"And it shall be
said in that day,
00:03:48.04\00:03:50.19
Lo, this is our God,
we have waited for Him,
00:03:50.22\00:03:55.43
and He will save
us, this is the Lord,
00:03:55.46\00:03:59.68
we have waited for Him,
00:03:59.71\00:04:01.99
and we will be glad and
rejoice in his salvation. "
00:04:02.02\00:04:04.85
Well, waiting for
Him the crowd of people,
00:04:07.76\00:04:11.46
a group of people
is gonna be waiting
00:04:11.49\00:04:13.77
for the return of Jesus.
00:04:13.80\00:04:15.17
And my question is,
are you one of those
00:04:15.20\00:04:17.79
who are waiting for Jesus?
00:04:17.82\00:04:19.19
Are you making
preparations to meet Him again,
00:04:19.22\00:04:21.87
face to face this time?
00:04:21.90\00:04:25.00
Are you waiting for Jesus?
00:04:25.03\00:04:29.47
You know, my question here is
00:04:29.50\00:04:33.30
of concern
because we're told that
00:04:33.33\00:04:36.47
Jesus is coming as
a thief in the night.
00:04:36.50\00:04:38.89
If you'd like to look at that,
00:04:40.09\00:04:41.46
it's in Second Peter Chapter 3,
00:04:41.49\00:04:44.20
and a lot of people are
confused about what this means.
00:04:44.23\00:04:48.48
Second Peter Chapter 3:10.
00:04:48.51\00:04:53.34
They're confused because
00:04:53.37\00:04:54.92
it says, He's coming
as a thief in the night,
00:04:54.95\00:04:56.81
that means that He's gonna come
00:04:56.84\00:04:59.58
and snatch people up
without us being aware of it.
00:04:59.61\00:05:04.09
But I don't think
that's what it means.
00:05:04.12\00:05:06.22
Second Peter 3:10 says,
"But the day of the Lord
00:05:06.25\00:05:08.70
will come as a
thief in the night. "
00:05:08.73\00:05:11.56
First of all he is
declaring that it will come,
00:05:11.59\00:05:14.31
it's going to happen.
00:05:14.34\00:05:16.08
He's coming as a
thief in the night,
00:05:16.11\00:05:17.85
"In the which the heavens shall
pass away with a great noise,
00:05:17.88\00:05:21.12
and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat,
00:05:21.15\00:05:24.02
and the earth also and
the works that are therein
00:05:24.05\00:05:26.95
shall be burned up."
00:05:26.98\00:05:28.38
This is going to happen.
00:05:28.41\00:05:31.36
But if a thief were
gonna come to your house,
00:05:31.39\00:05:34.63
if a thief decided
"I've been staking it out,
00:05:34.66\00:05:37.90
I've been observing
and I know his habits,
00:05:37.93\00:05:41.67
I know this person's routine,
00:05:41.70\00:05:46.38
and I know
exactly when to strike. "
00:05:46.41\00:05:48.99
Do you think a
thief before he came
00:05:49.02\00:05:51.53
would send you a note
saying I'm coming on this date
00:05:51.56\00:05:54.66
with--I'm coming on
this date at this time?
00:05:54.69\00:06:00.09
No, if he sent you a note
telling you when he was coming,
00:06:00.12\00:06:02.94
not only would you
be there waiting for him
00:06:02.97\00:06:04.70
but you'd have the police
there with you waiting for him.
00:06:04.73\00:06:08.12
He's coming unannounced.
00:06:08.15\00:06:10.15
Oh, and when the
thief comes he's only gonna
00:06:10.18\00:06:12.26
dig through your
garbage to see what you left out
00:06:12.29\00:06:14.39
that he could use, right?
00:06:14.42\00:06:16.49
No, he's coming to
things that are valuable to him,
00:06:16.52\00:06:19.27
he's gonna leave
your trash behind.
00:06:19.30\00:06:22.26
In the same way
Jesus is coming unexpected.
00:06:22.29\00:06:27.89
He's coming not
to take your trash,
00:06:27.92\00:06:32.21
He's coming to take something
00:06:32.24\00:06:33.61
that's valuable to
Him and that is you.
00:06:33.64\00:06:37.98
He is coming unannounced
00:06:38.01\00:06:40.50
and He's coming for value,
00:06:40.53\00:06:42.19
so He does come as
a thief in the night.
00:06:42.22\00:06:45.59
Now we not
knowing when He's coming
00:06:45.62\00:06:48.07
need to be ready
because it could be anytime,
00:06:48.10\00:06:51.50
and that's what I
think the urgency is.
00:06:51.53\00:06:54.28
He's coming as a
thief in the night,
00:06:54.31\00:06:56.24
but not to be sneaky about it
00:06:56.27\00:06:57.85
just because we don't
know when He is coming.
00:06:57.88\00:07:00.46
He's coming unexpected,
but we need to be ready.
00:07:00.49\00:07:04.36
We need to be waiting
for Him like Isaiah said,
00:07:04.39\00:07:08.22
"Jesus is not
coming for a trash,
00:07:08.25\00:07:10.56
He's coming for His
precious valuable children. "
00:07:10.59\00:07:14.82
I'd like you to turn
to John Chapter 8 now.
00:07:17.58\00:07:20.70
There's a story in the
Bible that concerns a woman
00:07:20.73\00:07:25.30
and the way that
she was made to feel.
00:07:25.33\00:07:27.54
John Chapter 8. And
we'll begin with verse 3.
00:07:27.57\00:07:31.76
"And the scribes and Pharisees
00:07:33.76\00:07:35.44
brought unto him a
woman taken in adultery,
00:07:35.47\00:07:38.92
and when they had
set her in the midst,
00:07:38.95\00:07:42.36
They say unto him, Master,
00:07:42.39\00:07:44.19
this woman was taken in
adultery, in the very act.
00:07:44.22\00:07:47.55
Now Moses and
the law commands us,
00:07:47.58\00:07:50.96
that such should be
stoned, but what sayest thou?"
00:07:50.99\00:07:55.00
They said Jesus,
00:07:57.68\00:07:59.63
they drag this woman
threw her at Jesus' feet
00:07:59.66\00:08:02.02
and said "Jesus, we caught
this woman doing something bad,
00:08:02.05\00:08:06.43
something she
shouldn't have doing,
00:08:06.46\00:08:08.01
we caught her doing a no, no. "
00:08:08.04\00:08:09.81
Now the Law of Moses
says that we have every right
00:08:09.84\00:08:13.42
to stone this woman
but we're asking you,
00:08:13.45\00:08:16.23
what do you say
what should do with her.
00:08:16.26\00:08:19.58
And Jesus stooped
down on the ground
00:08:19.61\00:08:21.52
and started writing
with His finger in the dirt,
00:08:21.55\00:08:25.04
in the sand there.
00:08:25.07\00:08:26.64
They were looking
at Him and saying,
00:08:28.45\00:08:29.82
why is He avoiding the question?
00:08:29.85\00:08:32.83
"Jesus, tell me
what should we do?
00:08:32.86\00:08:36.54
Moses law says we should
stone her, what do you say?"
00:08:36.57\00:08:39.96
So Jesus stands
up. Look at verse 7.
00:08:39.99\00:08:42.73
"So when they
continued asking him,
00:08:42.76\00:08:45.27
he lifted up
himself, and said unto them,
00:08:45.30\00:08:49.00
He that is
without sin among you,
00:08:49.03\00:08:52.55
let him first
cast a stone at her.
00:08:52.58\00:08:56.49
And again he stooped
down, and wrote on the ground. "
00:08:56.52\00:09:01.03
I don't know what He wrote.
00:09:01.06\00:09:03.59
Maybe He was writing their sins,
00:09:03.62\00:09:06.15
maybe He was writing things that
00:09:06.18\00:09:08.25
they identified with an uh-oh,
00:09:08.28\00:09:10.64
she's not the only
guilty party here, I am too.
00:09:10.67\00:09:14.23
But whatever He wrote
on there was very effective
00:09:14.26\00:09:17.62
because the Bible says
that starting from the oldest,
00:09:17.65\00:09:20.98
down to the least
they started walking away.
00:09:21.01\00:09:25.23
Let's look at verse 10 again.
00:09:25.26\00:09:28.44
Let's look at verse 9.
00:09:30.75\00:09:32.59
"And they which heard it,
00:09:32.62\00:09:33.99
being convicted by
their own conscience,
00:09:34.02\00:09:36.83
went out one by one,
beginning at the eldest,
00:09:36.86\00:09:40.48
even unto the last,
and Jesus was left alone,
00:09:40.51\00:09:43.71
and the woman
standing in the midst.
00:09:43.74\00:09:46.05
When Jesus had
lifted up himself,
00:09:46.08\00:09:47.90
and saw none but the
woman, he said unto her,
00:09:47.93\00:09:51.76
Woman, where are
those thine accusers?
00:09:51.79\00:09:55.85
hath no man condemned thee?
00:09:55.88\00:09:59.46
She looked around and
She said, No man, Lord.
00:09:59.49\00:10:02.76
"And Jesus said something very
assuring to her--reassuring.
00:10:02.79\00:10:07.38
He said, "neither
do I condemn thee,
00:10:07.41\00:10:10.75
go and sin no more."
00:10:10.78\00:10:13.40
Now Jesus was the
only one in that group
00:10:13.43\00:10:15.22
who was without sin.
00:10:15.25\00:10:17.07
He was the only one
00:10:17.10\00:10:18.81
who was able to
follow that Law of Moses
00:10:18.84\00:10:21.06
and be the one without
sin and cast that first stone.
00:10:21.09\00:10:24.86
Did He do that? No.
00:10:24.89\00:10:27.91
He said, I don't
condemn you either.
00:10:27.94\00:10:29.72
But don't
continue what you're doing,
00:10:31.09\00:10:33.64
go and sin no more.
00:10:33.67\00:10:35.84
Now, I have a piece of paper.
00:10:35.87\00:10:40.47
It's just a
little piece of paper
00:10:40.50\00:10:44.27
but it's been given a
value the value is $20.
00:10:44.30\00:10:49.76
Now a lot of people
would take this in an instant.
00:10:51.57\00:10:55.74
Yeah, I'll take that,
00:10:55.77\00:10:57.14
that's a
valuable piece of paper.
00:10:57.17\00:10:59.16
But they might not
if I crumbled it up.
00:10:59.19\00:11:02.60
You know, I was--
I work with editing
00:11:02.63\00:11:06.60
and I was editing some
tapes, so logging them.
00:11:06.63\00:11:10.30
One of the tapes that I saw
was of a prison in California.
00:11:10.33\00:11:15.30
They had a graduation ceremony
00:11:15.33\00:11:16.94
from the prisoners there
who were getting their G.E.D.
00:11:16.97\00:11:22.80
and somebody there said
"before you all graduate,
00:11:22.83\00:11:27.80
I'd like to
tell you something. "
00:11:27.83\00:11:30.75
And He told us this story
that I'm--this illustration
00:11:30.78\00:11:35.64
that I'm sharing with you
00:11:35.67\00:11:37.04
and I thought it was
really appropriate for here.
00:11:37.07\00:11:39.65
He showed them the
$20 bills and said,
00:11:39.68\00:11:41.72
"Now if I were
to crumble this up,
00:11:41.75\00:11:44.38
how many of you
would still take it?"
00:11:44.41\00:11:46.49
And all of those hands went up,
"I'd still take that $20 bill. "
00:11:46.52\00:11:50.56
He said, "really?
It's all wadded up.
00:11:50.59\00:11:53.41
Surely it's not the same value.
00:11:53.44\00:11:55.13
Maybe it's only worth $18 now. "
00:11:55.16\00:11:57.67
No it's still worth $20.
00:11:57.70\00:12:00.06
And so he said,
00:12:00.09\00:12:02.09
"well, what if I were
to throw it on the ground
00:12:02.12\00:12:04.63
and step on it,
00:12:04.66\00:12:06.86
what if I were to step on it?
00:12:06.89\00:12:11.59
Now would you
like that $20 bill,
00:12:11.62\00:12:14.29
how many of you will take it?"
00:12:14.32\00:12:16.40
And all their hands went up.
00:12:16.43\00:12:18.66
He said, "I don't understand it,
00:12:18.69\00:12:20.48
when it was brand new
and crisp, it was worth $20.
00:12:20.51\00:12:23.81
Now its all
crumbled up and stepped on.
00:12:23.84\00:12:25.98
Maybe even stained
from the bottom of my shoe.
00:12:26.01\00:12:29.79
It's still worth
$20, you'd still take it.
00:12:29.82\00:12:33.53
If you were to see it as
you were walking down the street
00:12:33.56\00:12:37.63
crumbled up and you say oh,
00:12:37.66\00:12:39.23
there is a piece of
paper with the 20 on it,
00:12:39.26\00:12:42.40
you would still pick it up.
00:12:42.43\00:12:43.80
They said, yes we would.
00:12:45.24\00:12:46.61
How about you,
would you pick it up?
00:12:46.64\00:12:48.61
You sure would.
00:12:48.64\00:12:51.71
And the reason you
would pick it up is
00:12:51.74\00:12:53.88
because even though the
condition of it has changed,
00:12:53.91\00:12:58.25
the value of it hasn't changed,
00:12:58.28\00:13:01.18
the value remains the
same, It's still worth $20.
00:13:01.21\00:13:05.26
Now think about your life
and he was telling these people,
00:13:06.47\00:13:10.43
"You all have
done some bad things,
00:13:10.46\00:13:12.00
that's why
you're here in prison.
00:13:12.03\00:13:14.25
You all have
done some bad things
00:13:14.28\00:13:16.04
where your lives
have now been crumpled up
00:13:16.07\00:13:19.35
and disfigured, maybe defaced.
00:13:19.38\00:13:23.88
But I want you to realize
00:13:23.91\00:13:26.64
that no matter
how bad you've been,
00:13:26.67\00:13:28.83
no matter what you have done,
00:13:28.86\00:13:31.21
God still looks at your value
00:13:31.24\00:13:33.80
and He is waiting to come
and just straighten you out,
00:13:33.83\00:13:37.65
straighten up your life
00:13:41.05\00:13:43.25
because you're still
worth something to Him.
00:13:43.28\00:13:46.03
Jesus saw that woman,
00:13:46.06\00:13:47.79
that dirty
prostitute laying at His feet
00:13:50.32\00:13:54.01
and He saw her
value and He reached down,
00:13:54.04\00:13:58.87
He didn't think it
was too much trouble
00:13:58.90\00:14:00.42
to bend down and pick her up.
00:14:00.45\00:14:03.14
He admired her so
much, He loved her so much,
00:14:05.34\00:14:08.28
this was His child,
she still had value to Him.
00:14:08.31\00:14:13.10
And so He picked her up
and He made a difference
00:14:13.13\00:14:17.33
in her life saying, I
don't condemn you either.
00:14:17.36\00:14:21.48
And He says the
same thing to you.
00:14:21.51\00:14:23.71
It doesn't matter
what you have done,
00:14:23.74\00:14:26.38
it doesn't matter
how far you've gone,
00:14:26.41\00:14:28.96
how bad you've been,
where you've ended up
00:14:28.99\00:14:31.64
or where you are now.
00:14:31.67\00:14:34.02
God is waiting for you
00:14:34.05\00:14:36.14
to come so that
He can smooth out
00:14:36.17\00:14:39.46
the rough edges in your life
and to make you whole again.
00:14:39.49\00:14:43.14
He wants to restore
the value in your eyes,
00:14:43.17\00:14:47.53
the value is still there
but He wants you to realize
00:14:47.56\00:14:51.36
that you're still a
valuable child of God.
00:14:51.39\00:14:53.40
Second Corinthians 5:17
gives a beautiful illustration
00:14:57.10\00:15:02.25
or a beautiful text
telling what this all means
00:15:02.28\00:15:08.14
because when you come to Jesus
00:15:08.17\00:15:09.66
just like this
woman came to Jesus,
00:15:09.69\00:15:12.24
you don't stay the same.
00:15:12.27\00:15:13.93
Second
Corinthians Chapter 5:17 says,
00:15:13.96\00:15:17.84
"Therefore if
any man be in Christ,
00:15:17.87\00:15:21.71
he is a new creature,
old things are passed away,
00:15:21.74\00:15:25.89
behold, all
things are become new. "
00:15:25.92\00:15:29.35
If you are in Christ.
00:15:29.38\00:15:32.02
Come to the foot of the cross,
come to the feet of Jesus,
00:15:32.05\00:15:36.51
so that He can do for you
what He did to that prostitute,
00:15:36.54\00:15:40.19
so that He can take you
and make you a new creature,
00:15:40.22\00:15:44.37
a new creation, give
you a brand new start.
00:15:44.40\00:15:48.09
He is not going to reject you,
because of how dirty you are,
00:15:48.12\00:15:51.94
sinful you are,
He's going to restore
00:15:51.97\00:15:54.56
the value in your eyes.
00:15:54.59\00:15:57.09
It's always been there for Him
00:15:57.12\00:15:59.22
and He's going to reassure
you that you're still valuable.
00:15:59.25\00:16:03.02
Jesus was on a donkey,
00:16:07.22\00:16:09.75
He was riding up the
road that leads to Jerusalem
00:16:11.24\00:16:17.07
and as He was on that donkey,
00:16:17.10\00:16:19.43
there are multitudes of people
surrounding Him, praising Him,
00:16:19.46\00:16:24.31
waving palm
branches at Him saying
00:16:24.34\00:16:27.19
"Hosanna, King of the Jews."
00:16:27.22\00:16:30.29
Some taking off their coats
and putting in on the path,
00:16:30.32\00:16:32.90
so that the donkey
can walk across it.
00:16:32.93\00:16:36.72
All of these
people were excited,
00:16:36.75\00:16:38.27
but Jesus was not happy.
00:16:38.30\00:16:41.08
Something was troubling Jesus,
00:16:41.11\00:16:43.68
and Jesus
finally gets to the point
00:16:43.71\00:16:45.66
where He could overlook
the whole city of Jerusalem
00:16:45.69\00:16:49.62
and He puts His
hands, His face in His hands
00:16:49.65\00:16:52.30
and He starts to weep.
00:16:52.33\00:16:55.35
And you can find it
in Matthew Chapter 23:37
00:16:55.38\00:16:59.31
but He says,
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
00:16:59.34\00:17:01.93
how often I would
like to have gathered you
00:17:01.96\00:17:04.04
as a hen gathers her
chicks but you would not,
00:17:04.07\00:17:07.36
you wouldn't let
me get close to you. "
00:17:07.39\00:17:10.93
There was the
businessman down there.
00:17:10.96\00:17:13.29
He had talked to
Jesus many occasions
00:17:13.32\00:17:15.90
and he had come to
believe what Jesus was saying
00:17:15.93\00:17:18.72
and what He had to offer.
00:17:18.75\00:17:20.12
But he came to Jesus
one day and said you know,
00:17:21.36\00:17:23.48
Jesus, I really
believe what you're saying
00:17:23.51\00:17:25.53
and I understand it
and I agree with it.
00:17:25.56\00:17:28.82
But right now, my
business is on a--
00:17:28.85\00:17:31.56
you know, unsteady right now,
00:17:31.59\00:17:32.96
it's on shaky
ground and I feel that
00:17:32.99\00:17:35.66
if I took a stand towards
you, I could lose it all.
00:17:35.69\00:17:39.57
I wouldn't be able to
support my wife and my children.
00:17:39.60\00:17:42.95
But give me a couple of years,
00:17:42.98\00:17:44.55
let me get my business order
in, business things in order.
00:17:44.58\00:17:48.52
And then I'll be ready
to make a decision for you
00:17:48.55\00:17:53.84
and to follow you all the way.
00:17:53.87\00:17:56.61
And oh, how that
crushed Jesus' heart.
00:17:56.64\00:18:00.54
Because Second
Corinthians 6:2 says,
00:18:00.57\00:18:04.49
"Behold, now is
the accepted time,
00:18:04.52\00:18:07.45
behold, now is the
day of salvation. "
00:18:07.48\00:18:09.72
You may not get
another chance. Do it today.
00:18:09.75\00:18:15.04
That hurt Jesus.
00:18:15.07\00:18:17.96
How many of us are
putting our business
00:18:17.99\00:18:22.08
in front of following Jesus.
00:18:22.11\00:18:24.99
When Jesus tells us
follow me all the way,
00:18:25.02\00:18:28.08
keep all of My
commandments, keep a day holy.
00:18:28.11\00:18:32.57
The fourth commandment
says, keep the seventh day.
00:18:32.60\00:18:35.89
But we say, you know,
we have to work on that day
00:18:35.92\00:18:37.60
to provide for the family.
00:18:37.63\00:18:39.00
These days you know we
have to work that sixth day
00:18:39.03\00:18:42.66
which is the-- we
have to work Saturdays
00:18:42.69\00:18:44.94
which is the sixth work day,
the seventh day of the week.
00:18:44.97\00:18:48.48
And Jesus is saying,
00:18:50.66\00:18:52.03
don't
concentrate on your business,
00:18:52.06\00:18:53.70
concentrate on following me.
00:18:53.73\00:18:56.10
Now is the accepted time,
you may not get another chance.
00:18:56.13\00:18:59.93
Follow me and all these other
things will fall into place.
00:18:59.96\00:19:04.84
Overlooking that city there
was a society woman down there.
00:19:04.87\00:19:08.76
She'd come to Jesus and
said, "Jesus, I believe you too.
00:19:08.79\00:19:13.61
But you know, I am just afraid
00:19:13.64\00:19:15.11
because none of my
friends believe you
00:19:15.14\00:19:17.59
and they make fun of me
00:19:17.62\00:19:19.67
when I bring this up
and they ridicule me.
00:19:19.70\00:19:22.21
And I don't think I
could handle all this
00:19:22.24\00:19:24.72
made fun of and this
ridicule, but I have a plan.
00:19:24.75\00:19:29.95
I'm going to slowly
and gradually work on them
00:19:29.98\00:19:34.00
and one of these days I know it,
00:19:34.03\00:19:36.31
one of these days,
I'll get through to them
00:19:36.34\00:19:38.83
and they will
come to you as a group.
00:19:38.86\00:19:41.38
Wouldn't that be better?
00:19:41.41\00:19:42.78
Coming as a group to you
rather than just me by myself?"
00:19:42.81\00:19:45.82
And that hurt Jesus too,
00:19:47.19\00:19:48.61
because Jesus
doesn't save groups,
00:19:48.64\00:19:51.62
He saves individuals.
00:19:51.65\00:19:53.20
Now a group can be saved
but one individual at a time.
00:19:53.23\00:19:56.38
Are you in a group that
isn't ready to follow Jesus?
00:19:58.52\00:20:02.02
Leave them behind
because Jesus is calling you.
00:20:04.11\00:20:07.82
And if you put Jesus off
to go try to win them over,
00:20:07.85\00:20:11.90
chances are they're
gonna change your thinking
00:20:11.93\00:20:13.84
and win you back to their side.
00:20:13.87\00:20:16.87
Follow Jesus now while you can.
00:20:16.90\00:20:19.88
And in following
Jesus, be the example for them
00:20:19.91\00:20:24.27
that will lead them to Him.
00:20:24.30\00:20:27.32
But Jesus was
looking at all those people
00:20:27.35\00:20:29.53
who for one reason or another
00:20:29.56\00:20:32.63
didn't accept Him
and it was crushing Him.
00:20:32.66\00:20:35.76
And how He longed to
have somebody in that city
00:20:37.83\00:20:43.97
that would stand up for Him.
00:20:44.00\00:20:45.61
Does He long for
somebody in your household,
00:20:47.03\00:20:50.40
in your community
to stand up for Him?
00:20:50.43\00:20:52.38
Could that somebody be you?
00:20:52.41\00:20:55.35
Stand up for
Jesus while you can.
00:20:55.38\00:20:57.95
Stand up to
Him, stand up for Him
00:20:57.98\00:21:00.59
while there's
still time for you.
00:21:00.62\00:21:02.43
Now is the accepted time,
now is the day of salvation.
00:21:02.46\00:21:07.04
You may not get
another opportunity.
00:21:07.07\00:21:10.87
Remember that prostitute
00:21:10.90\00:21:15.46
who was--who had
given their life to Jesus,
00:21:15.49\00:21:20.53
who had come at Jesus'
feet and Jesus transformed her.
00:21:20.56\00:21:24.66
He was thinking
about her in the garden
00:21:24.69\00:21:30.04
and He was thinking
this is why I was doing it,
00:21:30.07\00:21:33.46
because in the
garden, he was wondering
00:21:33.49\00:21:36.62
"God is this even worth it?"
00:21:36.65\00:21:39.26
He was wondering
"God, is there any other way
00:21:39.29\00:21:42.35
that I can accomplish
what I came to accomplish
00:21:42.38\00:21:44.29
without having to
go through with it?"
00:21:44.32\00:21:46.75
And Satan was right there
ready to whisper in his ears
00:21:46.78\00:21:49.40
"Jesus don't do this because
its not worth it for you.
00:21:49.43\00:21:53.21
You know, all these
people who you came to
00:21:53.24\00:21:55.42
and mingled with and all
that, they're not accepting you,
00:21:55.45\00:21:59.31
just give them up start over. "
00:21:59.34\00:22:02.70
Satan was there saying "look,
not even your closest friends,
00:22:02.73\00:22:06.83
your disciples not
all of them are here
00:22:06.86\00:22:09.03
and even the 11 that are here,
00:22:09.06\00:22:12.44
they're not with you,
they're not understanding,
00:22:12.47\00:22:14.16
they're not in turn with you,
they're back there sleeping.
00:22:14.19\00:22:17.65
Jesus, it's not worth it.
Don't go through with it. "
00:22:17.68\00:22:20.81
But there were some
people that He kept thinking of,
00:22:23.03\00:22:26.32
and that's what made
Him worthwhile for Him.
00:22:26.35\00:22:28.29
Do you think that
you made it worthwhile
00:22:30.49\00:22:34.05
as Jesus was thinking about you
00:22:34.08\00:22:39.27
as He looked through
time into today's date
00:22:39.30\00:22:43.61
and as He saw you?
00:22:43.64\00:22:45.83
Were you one of those who
made it worth it for Jesus?
00:22:45.86\00:22:50.29
I pray that it was,
00:22:50.32\00:22:51.69
I pray that you were the one
00:22:53.37\00:22:57.19
who made it worth it for Jesus.
00:22:57.22\00:22:58.73
Going back to that
prostitute, Simon gave a party
00:23:02.07\00:23:07.68
and Jesus was the honored guest
00:23:07.71\00:23:10.40
and as they were there
mingling and having a good time,
00:23:10.43\00:23:14.80
in walked this prostitute,
in walked Mary Magdalene.
00:23:14.83\00:23:19.17
This former prostitute,
00:23:19.20\00:23:20.96
and she was so thrilled
00:23:24.01\00:23:27.33
with the way that He had
00:23:27.36\00:23:29.17
touched her life
and transformed it,
00:23:29.20\00:23:31.29
she left her past behind her.
00:23:31.32\00:23:33.16
Now somebody once said
that her past, her prostitution,
00:23:33.19\00:23:38.14
the money that she made
from that, she was saving up
00:23:38.17\00:23:41.42
and she had like a
year's supply there
00:23:41.45\00:23:44.33
and it was money from her past
00:23:44.36\00:23:47.13
that she had to
do something with,
00:23:47.16\00:23:48.62
to get rid of somehow and
she came up with the thought
00:23:48.65\00:23:52.41
"I will honor the one who
had freed me from this past",
00:23:52.44\00:23:57.23
and so she took that money
and went and spent all of it
00:23:57.26\00:24:01.76
and gave it, and
bought some perfume.
00:24:01.79\00:24:04.65
Came to that party
and when she found Jesus,
00:24:04.68\00:24:08.50
she came to where He was seated,
broke that jar of perfume
00:24:08.53\00:24:13.45
and spilled it at His feet,
00:24:13.48\00:24:16.49
took her hair and
started wiping His feet with it,
00:24:16.52\00:24:20.03
showing that
Jesus this is my past.
00:24:22.57\00:24:26.56
I took my past--
the money from my past
00:24:26.59\00:24:29.37
and bought this and I'm
pouring it at your feet.
00:24:29.40\00:24:32.88
Have you done that?
00:24:32.91\00:24:34.81
Have you packaged up your
past and given it to Jesus?
00:24:34.84\00:24:40.01
Have you said "I
want to leave this behind,
00:24:40.04\00:24:42.08
I'm giving it to you so that
you can dispose of it properly?"
00:24:42.11\00:24:46.81
That's what
Jesus wants you to do.
00:24:46.84\00:24:48.30
We're told that Jesus was weak,
He hadn't had a lot of food
00:24:51.08\00:24:55.03
since the last supper,
He hadn't had lot of sleep
00:24:55.06\00:24:57.96
but there He was
walking up the hill to Calvary.
00:24:57.99\00:25:00.85
And He was weak and
He was falling down.
00:25:02.14\00:25:05.67
And somebody gave a
beautiful illustration
00:25:05.70\00:25:07.55
saying that, when He
was down on the ground
00:25:07.58\00:25:10.67
wondering if it was worth it,
00:25:10.70\00:25:13.04
that whiff of perfume
from couple of nights before
00:25:13.07\00:25:16.95
that Mary had put on
Him, He caught a glimpse--
00:25:16.98\00:25:20.39
a whiff of and said
yes, it is worth it.
00:25:20.42\00:25:24.93
And as He got up
there on to the hill
00:25:24.96\00:25:29.04
and they nailed
Him to the cross,
00:25:29.07\00:25:31.51
it was the thief on
the cross who believed
00:25:31.54\00:25:34.09
that made it worth it for Him.
00:25:34.12\00:25:36.40
It was this Mary who gave--
00:25:36.43\00:25:41.02
who changed her
life because of Him,
00:25:41.05\00:25:43.40
who accepted Him, who
made it worth it for Him.
00:25:43.43\00:25:47.07
It was acknowledged
that some people living today
00:25:47.10\00:25:50.83
would stand up for Him and
say "I am going to accept You
00:25:50.86\00:25:54.20
and I'm going to be one
of those waiting for You"
00:25:54.23\00:25:56.56
that made it worthwhile for Him.
00:25:57.92\00:26:01.99
And some people say if
I had been there that day,
00:26:02.02\00:26:04.43
that crucifixion day, I
would have looked up to Jesus
00:26:04.46\00:26:06.75
and said "Jesus I accept you. "
00:26:06.78\00:26:09.34
But what about today?
00:26:09.37\00:26:11.42
Can you look up to
Jesus and say "I accept you.
00:26:11.45\00:26:15.07
Now I am going
to live for you. "
00:26:15.10\00:26:17.66
That's what Jesus wants,
00:26:17.69\00:26:19.35
that's what
would make Him happy.
00:26:19.38\00:26:21.02
Are you waiting for Him?
00:26:23.58\00:26:25.91
Now some of you feel impressed
00:26:25.94\00:26:29.12
that you know, my life
hasn't been what it should be.
00:26:29.15\00:26:32.16
I've never really
packaged up my past
00:26:32.19\00:26:33.93
and given it to
Jesus, I've never come to Him
00:26:33.96\00:26:36.29
and you'd like to
do that right now?
00:26:36.32\00:26:37.69
I encourage you to do that.
00:26:37.72\00:26:39.23
And others have
given your life to Him
00:26:39.26\00:26:41.79
but your life hasn't been
following exactly in line with
00:26:41.82\00:26:47.83
making Jesus proud and pleased.
00:26:47.86\00:26:50.36
And so you'd like to say, Jesus
I'd like to recommit myself.
00:26:50.39\00:26:54.20
I invite you to do
that right now as well.
00:26:54.23\00:26:56.59
Let's have a short prayer.
00:26:56.62\00:26:58.63
Father in heaven, as
we look into our lives
00:26:58.66\00:27:02.11
and see that we're
not where we should be,
00:27:02.14\00:27:05.19
and we see that we're
still clinging to our past
00:27:05.22\00:27:07.19
I just pray that You
help us package it up
00:27:07.22\00:27:10.62
and lay it at your
feet and leave at there.
00:27:10.65\00:27:14.52
And I pray, Lord, that
00:27:14.55\00:27:16.47
we have a working
relationship with you,
00:27:16.50\00:27:19.43
that we give our life to
serving and living for You.
00:27:19.46\00:27:24.95
I pray that You
come into our hearts,
00:27:24.98\00:27:26.64
into our lives and transform
us, make us into new creatures,
00:27:26.67\00:27:30.58
in Jesus name, amen.
00:27:30.61\00:27:33.45
You know, my Uncle
Simon isn't coming anymore,
00:27:33.48\00:27:38.13
but Jesus is
coming and He doesn't care
00:27:38.16\00:27:41.61
about your screen
door, or your painted house,
00:27:41.64\00:27:44.77
or even your shoes.
00:27:44.80\00:27:47.24
He is coming to see His family
00:27:47.27\00:27:50.83
and to take them home with Him.
00:27:50.86\00:27:53.44
It is my prayer that you are
one of those waiting for Him,
00:27:53.47\00:27:57.24
that He is coming to take home.
00:27:57.27\00:27:59.53