[uplifting music]
00:00:00.46\00:00:04.30
>>Eric Flickinger:
Welcome to "Sabbath School,"
00:00:13.98\00:00:15.28
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:00:15.31\00:00:16.98
Glad that you
could be with us today.
00:00:17.01\00:00:18.88
We're continuing our study
of "God's Love and Justice."
00:00:18.91\00:00:23.25
Today we're going to be
looking at lesson number 11,
00:00:23.28\00:00:26.12
"What More Could I Have
Done?"-- a fascinating subject.
00:00:26.15\00:00:30.29
Let's begin with prayer.
00:00:30.33\00:00:32.56
Father, we ask that
You'll bless us today
00:00:32.59\00:00:34.63
as we delve into Your Word
once again to gain a deeper
00:00:34.66\00:00:38.43
and more thorough understanding
of the world in which we live
00:00:38.47\00:00:42.34
and Your interactions with it.
00:00:42.37\00:00:44.37
We ask that You'll
bless our time together
00:00:44.41\00:00:46.01
and we thank You,
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:00:46.04\00:00:49.51
Well, we're
grateful to have, of course,
00:00:49.54\00:00:51.51
you with us today,
but we're also grateful
00:00:51.55\00:00:53.52
to have the
author of this quarter's
00:00:53.55\00:00:55.32
"Sabbath School" lesson with us
as well. That is John Peckham.
00:00:55.35\00:00:59.19
He is an associate
editor of the "Adventist Review"
00:00:59.22\00:01:01.72
and a research professor
at the Theological Seminary
00:01:01.76\00:01:04.76
at Andrews University.
00:01:04.79\00:01:06.59
John, thanks for
joining us again.
00:01:06.63\00:01:08.00
>>John Peckham:
Thank you for having me.
00:01:08.03\00:01:09.43
>>Eric: So this
week we're looking at
00:01:09.46\00:01:10.77
"What More Could I Have Done?"
00:01:10.80\00:01:12.20
You kind of, you intro us
to this lesson with a story.
00:01:12.23\00:01:16.20
Unpack that story for us.
00:01:16.24\00:01:18.07
>>John: Yeah, so, many
years ago, I came across a story
00:01:18.11\00:01:21.94
in, actually, that was actually
in the "Sabbath School" lesson
00:01:21.98\00:01:25.35
when I was a kid,
and it was a serial story
00:01:25.38\00:01:27.55
at one chapter a week.
00:01:27.58\00:01:29.18
And the story was called
"The Sword of Denis Anwyck."
00:01:29.22\00:01:31.45
And it was a
story of this young boy
00:01:31.49\00:01:33.42
who lived in medieval
times, and he was an orphan.
00:01:33.46\00:01:37.63
And we learn very early in the
story that this young boy Denis
00:01:37.66\00:01:41.90
absolutely hates
the king of his land.
00:01:41.93\00:01:44.57
And the reason he
hates the king of his land
00:01:44.60\00:01:46.20
is because when
he was a young boy,
00:01:46.23\00:01:48.14
his parents became very sick,
and he wanted to care for them
00:01:48.17\00:01:52.31
and stay with them. But
the king's soldiers came,
00:01:52.34\00:01:55.01
and they dragged him
away from his parents,
00:01:55.04\00:01:57.21
and he never saw
his parents again.
00:01:57.25\00:01:59.11
And for that he
absolutely hated the king.
00:01:59.15\00:02:02.12
But in the course of the story,
a number of events transpire,
00:02:02.15\00:02:04.95
and Denis is shown some things
00:02:04.99\00:02:07.59
and comes to learn some
things that completely change
00:02:07.62\00:02:10.59
his perception of
the king of his land.
00:02:10.63\00:02:13.23
And one of those
things is he comes across
00:02:13.26\00:02:15.70
the king's own book.
00:02:15.73\00:02:17.67
And the title of
the book roughly was,
00:02:17.70\00:02:19.67
"A Chronicle of the Account
of the Dread Black Death,"
00:02:19.70\00:02:23.41
or black plague.
00:02:23.44\00:02:24.97
And he begins to read that
book, and he sees in that book
00:02:25.01\00:02:28.28
in the king's
own hand these words.
00:02:28.31\00:02:31.18
And the king wrote,
"It pains me to do it,
00:02:31.21\00:02:34.02
"but I separate the
living from the dying
00:02:34.05\00:02:37.42
in order to save the
living from this plague."
00:02:37.45\00:02:40.79
And for the first time, a
tear rolling down his cheek,
00:02:40.82\00:02:44.16
Denis realizes that the
reason the king's soldiers
00:02:44.19\00:02:47.03
had dragged him
away from his parents
00:02:47.03\00:02:48.93
was to save him from
also dying from the plague.
00:02:48.96\00:02:52.10
And he realizes that everything
the king had done had only
00:02:52.13\00:02:54.87
and always been for his good.
00:02:54.90\00:02:57.41
Now, in a similar fashion--that
changes everything,
00:02:57.44\00:02:59.77
right, his perspective.
In a similar fashion,
00:02:59.81\00:03:02.11
I believe there's
so much more going on
00:03:02.14\00:03:03.78
in the story in
the cosmic conflict,
00:03:03.81\00:03:05.11
that God is doing everything
He can for His people.
00:03:05.15\00:03:07.55
He's working around
the free choices of people.
00:03:07.58\00:03:09.65
He's working
with the impediments
00:03:09.68\00:03:11.49
in the cosmic conflict
called the rules of engagement.
00:03:11.52\00:03:14.52
But when you see
the larger picture,
00:03:14.56\00:03:16.86
we can see also that God is
doing everything He can for us,
00:03:16.89\00:03:21.53
given all of
the factors involved
00:03:21.56\00:03:23.00
in this cosmic conflict.
00:03:23.03\00:03:24.73
>>Eric: So it gives us
a little clearer picture
00:03:24.77\00:03:26.63
of what God is up to
that sometimes we don't see,
00:03:26.67\00:03:29.60
some things we don't understand.
00:03:29.64\00:03:31.47
I wanna read a
couple of verses here, John,
00:03:31.51\00:03:33.74
and then ask you some
questions about these verses.
00:03:33.78\00:03:38.11
Let's look at
John 18, 37 and 38.
00:03:38.15\00:03:42.82
In John 18:37-38, it says,
"Pilate therefore said to Him"--
00:03:42.85\00:03:46.49
"Him" being Jesus--
"'Are You a King then?'
00:03:46.52\00:03:49.22
"Jesus answered, 'You
say rightly that I am a king.
00:03:49.26\00:03:52.26
"'For this cause I was born,
and for this cause I have come
00:03:52.29\00:03:55.46
"'into the world, that I should
bear witness to the truth.
00:03:55.50\00:03:59.07
"Everyone who is of
the truth hears my voice.'
00:03:59.10\00:04:02.64
"Pilate said to
Him, 'What is truth?'
00:04:02.67\00:04:05.11
"And when he had said this,
he went out again to the Jews,
00:04:05.14\00:04:08.14
and said to them, 'I
find no fault in Him at all.'"
00:04:08.18\00:04:12.11
So here we've got this
picture of Jesus as a king,
00:04:12.15\00:04:15.22
but also as a
witness to the truth.
00:04:15.25\00:04:17.62
What are some of
these implications
00:04:17.65\00:04:18.95
of Him being both here?
00:04:18.99\00:04:21.56
>>John: Yeah, yeah, this
is an amazing scene, right?
00:04:21.59\00:04:24.06
Because you have Pilate,
who is putting Jesus on trial,
00:04:24.09\00:04:27.36
not realizing there's actually
a trial going on in heaven
00:04:27.40\00:04:29.83
in the heavenly court,
in the heavenly council,
00:04:29.86\00:04:31.77
and he's asking about the truth,
and the One who is the way,
00:04:31.80\00:04:34.70
the life, and the
truth is standing before him,
00:04:34.74\00:04:37.61
the King of the
universe, but lowered Himself
00:04:37.64\00:04:39.94
so that He could even
be put in this situation
00:04:39.97\00:04:42.11
and ultimately go to the cross
00:04:42.14\00:04:43.95
and die and suffer
to save all humanity.
00:04:43.98\00:04:47.88
Now, in this story,
you have Jesus who says,
00:04:47.92\00:04:51.15
"I was born for
this very purpose
00:04:51.19\00:04:53.86
to bear witness," or to
testify, "to the truth."
00:04:53.89\00:04:57.53
And those words
are very significant
00:04:57.56\00:04:59.43
because we've seen
already that in this conflict,
00:04:59.46\00:05:02.03
the devil is
working as the deceiver
00:05:02.06\00:05:04.37
of the entire world.
00:05:04.40\00:05:06.27
He is the slanderer who slanders
God's name and "the accuser
00:05:06.30\00:05:09.50
of the brethren"
who's making accusations
00:05:09.54\00:05:11.67
before the heavenly court.
00:05:11.71\00:05:13.11
And you see now Jesus identifies
Himself as the ultimate witness
00:05:13.14\00:05:16.44
in this cosmic trial, right?
00:05:16.48\00:05:18.58
He's not just
testifying to Pilate.
00:05:18.61\00:05:20.45
There's this larger
cosmic trial going on,
00:05:20.48\00:05:23.05
and He came to bear
witness to the truth.
00:05:23.08\00:05:25.39
The truth in response to what?
00:05:25.42\00:05:27.19
In response to
the lies of the devil.
00:05:27.22\00:05:28.96
In John 8, He calls him "a
liar and the father of lies."
00:05:28.99\00:05:34.20
But Jesus is just the opposite.
00:05:34.20\00:05:35.66
He Himself is the truth.
00:05:35.70\00:05:37.10
He testifies to the truth.
00:05:37.13\00:05:38.63
And at the center of this
cosmic conflict is the question
00:05:38.67\00:05:41.74
of who is telling
the truth, who is good,
00:05:41.77\00:05:44.41
who is righteous, who is just.
00:05:44.44\00:05:46.54
And Jesus Himself manifests
this in the cosmic conflict,
00:05:46.57\00:05:50.35
which is primarily a
conflict over character,
00:05:50.38\00:05:52.68
primarily a conflict
over who we will trust
00:05:52.71\00:05:55.12
and who we will believe.
00:05:55.15\00:05:56.62
And it is no coincidence
that in the New Testament
00:05:56.65\00:05:59.79
you have not only Jesus
identify Himself as a witness
00:05:59.82\00:06:02.46
who bears witness to the truth,
00:06:02.49\00:06:04.13
but His apostles
are also appointed
00:06:04.16\00:06:05.93
as witnesses to bear witness.
00:06:05.96\00:06:08.26
And this bearing of witness
is also a very crucial role
00:06:08.30\00:06:12.10
in the cosmic
conflict, to stand as a witness,
00:06:12.13\00:06:15.07
to bear
testimony to the true King
00:06:15.10\00:06:17.41
and the character of
the King, which is part
00:06:17.44\00:06:19.24
of what the New
Testament witness is doing.
00:06:19.27\00:06:21.14
>>Eric: So we
have this understanding
00:06:21.18\00:06:22.48
of the cosmic
conflict that's going on,
00:06:22.51\00:06:24.21
some things that are
going on behind the scenes
00:06:24.25\00:06:26.05
that we may not
see, but in what way
00:06:26.08\00:06:28.38
does this cosmic conflict,
how does it help us to--
00:06:28.42\00:06:32.32
how does it help to
explain the presence of evil
00:06:32.35\00:06:35.19
and suffering in this world,
00:06:35.22\00:06:37.13
and how exactly does
Jesus fit into this drama?
00:06:37.16\00:06:43.00
>>John: Yeah, so Jesus
is at the center of this.
00:06:43.03\00:06:45.07
So first of all, Jesus
comes, and through the cross,
00:06:45.10\00:06:47.74
through the
atonement, and through His work
00:06:47.77\00:06:49.40
in the heavenly sanctuary,
00:06:49.44\00:06:50.74
He demonstrates
God's righteousness.
00:06:50.77\00:06:52.91
This is mentioned
twice in Romans 3,
00:06:52.94\00:06:54.74
and He also
demonstrates God's love.
00:06:54.78\00:06:56.78
So He demonstrates God's love
and justice in this controversy
00:06:56.81\00:06:59.68
in a way that ultimately
defeats the allegations
00:06:59.71\00:07:03.12
of the enemy once and for all.
00:07:03.15\00:07:05.92
And this is very crucial
for us to understand, again,
00:07:05.95\00:07:10.59
going back to the
nature of this controversy.
00:07:10.63\00:07:13.03
Whenever there's evil in
the world, one could ask,
00:07:13.06\00:07:16.60
"Why didn't God
prevent that evil?"
00:07:16.63\00:07:19.17
And I would
suggest that one or more
00:07:19.20\00:07:21.84
of the following three
possibilities are in place.
00:07:21.87\00:07:25.37
It could be that
for God to intervene
00:07:25.41\00:07:27.21
in the way that
we think He should
00:07:27.24\00:07:28.94
would actually undermine
free will or negate free will
00:07:28.98\00:07:32.28
in a way that
would undermine love.
00:07:32.31\00:07:33.78
And God would never do
this because God is love.
00:07:33.82\00:07:36.45
It could be that
for God to intervene
00:07:36.48\00:07:38.29
the way that we might
think He should would actually
00:07:38.32\00:07:40.89
require Him to break
the rules of engagement,
00:07:40.92\00:07:43.12
which also He cannot do
00:07:43.16\00:07:44.76
because God
never denies Himself.
00:07:44.79\00:07:46.56
He never breaks His
promises. He never lies.
00:07:46.59\00:07:49.20
So to the extent that He
has agreed to these rules
00:07:49.23\00:07:51.37
of engagement in the heavenly
court, in court proceedings,
00:07:51.40\00:07:53.64
He's morally bound to operate
within those constraints.
00:07:53.67\00:07:56.44
And so maybe it's not
an available avenue to God
00:07:56.47\00:07:59.17
in ways we don't
fully understand.
00:07:59.21\00:08:01.08
Or third, it might be the
case that for God to intervene
00:08:01.11\00:08:03.41
the way that we think He should
00:08:03.45\00:08:04.91
would actually be
worse on the whole,
00:08:04.95\00:08:07.12
all things considered, in
ways that we really can't see
00:08:07.15\00:08:09.88
from our vantage point.
00:08:09.92\00:08:11.39
Whatever the case, I believe
that this rules-of-engagement
00:08:11.42\00:08:13.89
framework provides
parameters for us to understand
00:08:13.92\00:08:17.16
why God Himself is
operating around impediments.
00:08:17.19\00:08:21.06
Now, somebody might ask at
this juncture a question like,
00:08:21.10\00:08:23.67
"Well, why would God even
agree to rules of engagement
00:08:23.70\00:08:26.63
in the first place?"
00:08:26.67\00:08:27.97
And I would answer that I think
we see from the case of Job
00:08:28.00\00:08:30.81
that we've seen previously
00:08:30.84\00:08:32.31
and other cases
that there might not be
00:08:32.34\00:08:34.81
any other avenue
that's available to God,
00:08:34.84\00:08:37.75
or that is preferable, to settle
00:08:37.78\00:08:39.75
these slanderous
allegations once and for all.
00:08:39.78\00:08:42.52
If you have the
devil raising allegations
00:08:42.55\00:08:44.42
against God's
character in a heavenly court
00:08:44.45\00:08:46.99
that has convinced
at least some angels
00:08:47.02\00:08:48.92
to rebel with him, those
allegations must be defeated,
00:08:48.96\00:08:52.43
not for God's
sake but for the sake
00:08:52.46\00:08:54.30
of the flourishing
of love in the universe.
00:08:54.30\00:08:56.30
And if God doesn't
answer those questions,
00:08:56.33\00:08:58.30
these will fester
and only grow worse.
00:08:58.33\00:09:01.24
And so for God to answer
these requires demonstration.
00:09:01.27\00:09:04.67
You cannot answer
these by a show of power.
00:09:04.71\00:09:07.08
Like if a governor
was accused of corruption,
00:09:07.11\00:09:09.88
how much power would
that governor need to show
00:09:09.91\00:09:12.31
to prove that he's not corrupt?
00:09:12.35\00:09:14.62
There's no amount of power.
00:09:14.65\00:09:15.95
The more power he
uses, the more it's going to
00:09:15.98\00:09:18.45
actually make the
allegations seem to be true.
00:09:18.49\00:09:20.92
So a demonstration is required.
00:09:20.96\00:09:22.69
And this is the demonstration
that Jesus Christ the righteous
00:09:22.72\00:09:25.19
provides through His
life, through His death,
00:09:25.23\00:09:28.10
through His resurrection,
and through His ministry
00:09:28.13\00:09:30.17
in the heavenly sanctuary.
00:09:30.20\00:09:31.77
That once and for all
defeats all of the allegations
00:09:31.80\00:09:35.07
of the devil in a way that can
lead to the ultimate restoration
00:09:35.10\00:09:39.41
of the entire universe
in the cosmic conflict.
00:09:39.44\00:09:41.64
>>Eric: And that's
where we're heading.
00:09:41.68\00:09:42.98
That's what we're looking
for is the ultimate restoration
00:09:43.01\00:09:45.18
of all that.
00:09:45.21\00:09:46.55
Over in the book of Revelation,
I'm gonna read another passage
00:09:46.58\00:09:49.98
here, Revelation,
chapter 12, verses 10 and 11.
00:09:50.02\00:09:54.32
And then we're gonna have you
comment on that a little bit.
00:09:54.36\00:09:57.46
Revelation, chapter
12, verses 10 and 11:
00:09:57.49\00:10:00.06
"Then I heard a loud
voice saying in heaven,
00:10:00.10\00:10:02.00
"'Now salvation, and strength,
and the kingdom of our God,
00:10:02.03\00:10:04.60
"'and the power of
His Christ have come,
00:10:04.63\00:10:06.74
"'for the
accuser of our brethren,
00:10:06.77\00:10:08.70
"'who accused them
before our God day and night,
00:10:08.74\00:10:10.94
"'has been cast down.
00:10:10.97\00:10:12.51
"'And they overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
00:10:12.54\00:10:14.88
"'and by the word
of their testimony,
00:10:14.91\00:10:16.88
and they did not love
their lives to the death.'"
00:10:16.91\00:10:19.85
So we're looking here ultimately
at Christ's victory over Satan.
00:10:19.88\00:10:23.99
How does that give us--
00:10:24.02\00:10:25.95
how should that
give us encouragement?
00:10:25.99\00:10:27.89
How should that give
us some sense of strength
00:10:27.92\00:10:31.06
as we face the daily challenges
and difficulties that we do.
00:10:31.09\00:10:35.96
>>John: Yeah, this
passage actually refers
00:10:36.00\00:10:38.73
to Christ's victory
over Satan at the cross,
00:10:38.77\00:10:41.40
which provides the
legal defeat of Satan
00:10:41.44\00:10:44.11
that allows Him to
ultimately eradicate
00:10:44.14\00:10:46.68
and uproot the devil's kingdom.
00:10:46.71\00:10:48.41
So first of all, we
can take full assurance
00:10:48.44\00:10:51.28
that Christ has
defeated the devil at the cross,
00:10:51.31\00:10:54.25
that His victory is assured,
that as Revelation says,
00:10:54.28\00:10:57.35
the devil knows
that his time is short.
00:10:57.39\00:10:59.29
So even though
we're still in the midst
00:10:59.32\00:11:00.76
of this conflict temporarily,
00:11:00.79\00:11:02.46
when there's
rules of engagement,
00:11:02.49\00:11:04.39
God has won the victory
through Christ at the cross.
00:11:04.43\00:11:08.13
And in this
passage in Revelation 12,
00:11:08.16\00:11:10.13
we see that the devil is
effectively excommunicated
00:11:10.17\00:11:13.77
from the heavenly court,
from the heavenly council.
00:11:13.80\00:11:16.30
He's defeated by
Christ's demonstration
00:11:16.34\00:11:18.61
of God's
righteousness at the cross
00:11:18.64\00:11:20.58
and demonstration of His love.
00:11:20.61\00:11:22.24
At this point,
the devil is uprooted.
00:11:22.28\00:11:23.98
Now, his allegations are still
operating in the background,
00:11:24.01\00:11:26.11
they're still being
dealt with in the court,
00:11:26.15\00:11:27.65
but he's not
allowed to attend anymore
00:11:27.68\00:11:29.58
because he has shown his
true colors beyond any doubt.
00:11:29.62\00:11:33.46
And this is why
even though the devil
00:11:33.49\00:11:34.96
appears throughout
the book of Revelation,
00:11:34.99\00:11:36.99
you see many heavenly court
scenes in the book of Revelation
00:11:37.03\00:11:40.10
that correspond to
those heavenly council scenes
00:11:40.13\00:11:41.90
in the Old
Testament, like the book of Job,
00:11:41.93\00:11:43.77
but the devil is
never there. Why?
00:11:43.80\00:11:46.27
Because the cross
has already taken place.
00:11:46.30\00:11:47.94
So he has been legally defeated,
00:11:47.97\00:11:50.41
but his kingdom has not
yet been fully uprooted.
00:11:50.44\00:11:52.94
So the first phase is complete.
00:11:52.97\00:11:55.18
Christ's ministry in the
heavenly sanctuary is going on
00:11:55.21\00:11:57.21
now as we look forward to the
final uprooting of the kingdom.
00:11:57.25\00:12:01.45
But the victory is assured by
Christ's victory at the cross.
00:12:01.48\00:12:05.09
And He even now lives always
"to make intercession" for us
00:12:05.12\00:12:08.39
in the heavenly sanctuary.
00:12:08.42\00:12:09.72
>>Eric: So we know
where things are going.
00:12:09.76\00:12:11.29
We haven't yet reached there.
00:12:11.33\00:12:12.63
It'll be nice when we
do, but we've still got
00:12:12.66\00:12:14.46
a little bit of time
between now and then.
00:12:14.46\00:12:15.76
>>John: That's right.
00:12:15.80\00:12:17.10
>>Eric: But understanding this
and helping others to understand
00:12:17.13\00:12:19.70
this concept is really
important for us right now.
00:12:19.73\00:12:22.60
You've written a companion book
00:12:22.64\00:12:23.94
to this quarter's
"Sabbath School" lesson
00:12:23.97\00:12:25.81
that goes into deeper detail
in each of these chapters,
00:12:25.84\00:12:28.51
each of these lessons
that we've been going through.
00:12:28.54\00:12:32.01
"What More Could I Have Done?"
00:12:32.05\00:12:33.65
What can somebody
learn in that chapter?
00:12:33.68\00:12:35.62
>>John: It is crucial that
we also function as witnesses,
00:12:35.65\00:12:39.39
not just the apostles,
00:12:39.42\00:12:40.72
but God gives us the commission
to function as witnesses.
00:12:40.76\00:12:42.76
And one of the reasons
that I've written so much
00:12:42.79\00:12:44.59
on the cosmic conflict
and the problem of evil
00:12:44.63\00:12:46.96
is because I came to
understand that many people
00:12:47.00\00:12:49.40
have difficulty explaining
00:12:49.43\00:12:50.77
the cosmic
conflict from the Bible.
00:12:50.80\00:12:52.27
And one of the things
that this companion volume does
00:12:52.30\00:12:54.57
is it walks you
through all of the stages,
00:12:54.60\00:12:57.11
culminating with this chapter
that talks about God's character
00:12:57.14\00:13:00.91
and what more
could He have done.
00:13:00.94\00:13:02.28
And it goes deeper into all
of these pieces of the puzzle
00:13:02.31\00:13:05.81
that help us to see
God's character more clearly
00:13:05.85\00:13:08.68
and more fully in a way
that not only should provide us
00:13:08.72\00:13:11.75
a framework to have confidence
even in the midst of suffering,
00:13:11.79\00:13:14.69
even in the midst of trials,
00:13:14.72\00:13:16.16
but can also help someone
else if they're at a stage
00:13:16.19\00:13:19.03
where they're ready to ask
these questions or seek why--
00:13:19.06\00:13:22.63
how can we reconcile
that there's a God of love
00:13:22.66\00:13:25.43
and yet there's so much
suffering and evil in the world?
00:13:25.47\00:13:27.47
Where can I find hope?
00:13:27.50\00:13:28.84
How can I understand this larger
story that the Bible tells?
00:13:28.87\00:13:32.31
>>Eric: And that
book will help us do that.
00:13:32.34\00:13:34.74
We wanna encourage
you to pick that book up.
00:13:34.78\00:13:36.51
It's very easy to do.
00:13:36.54\00:13:37.85
Just go to itiswritten.shop.
00:13:37.88\00:13:40.12
Again, that's itiswritten.shop
and look for the companion book
00:13:40.15\00:13:43.69
to this quarter's
"Sabbath School" lesson
00:13:43.72\00:13:45.89
about God's love and
His justice by John Peckham.
00:13:45.92\00:13:50.23
We're going to come back in just
a moment as we continue studying
00:13:50.26\00:13:53.53
lesson number 11
here on "Sabbath School,"
00:13:53.56\00:13:56.43
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:13:56.46\00:13:58.27
[uplifting music]
00:13:58.30\00:14:00.80
>>John Bradshaw:
Hidden throughout the Bible
00:14:02.97\00:14:04.57
is the story of a war
between God and Satan,
00:14:04.61\00:14:08.64
a war of ideas, a conflict
over who has the better system
00:14:08.68\00:14:15.08
for running the universe--
00:14:15.12\00:14:17.49
God's system of loving-kindness
00:14:17.52\00:14:20.19
or Satan's
system of selfishness.
00:14:20.22\00:14:24.53
Join me for
"The Rule of Threes,"
00:14:24.56\00:14:27.66
part three of It Is Written's
series "Prequel of the Bible."
00:14:27.66\00:14:33.03
We'll look at
the incredible story
00:14:33.07\00:14:35.20
when Jesus did battle with
Satan face to face on the earth.
00:14:35.24\00:14:40.71
We'll learn why this
battle was such a crucial point
00:14:40.74\00:14:44.05
in the war between God and Satan
00:14:44.08\00:14:46.15
and why it's so
vitally important for us today.
00:14:46.18\00:14:49.45
Don't miss "The Rule of Threes,"
00:14:49.48\00:14:52.55
part three of our five-part
series "Prequel of the Bible,"
00:14:52.59\00:14:56.89
brought to you
by It Is Written TV.
00:14:56.93\00:14:59.83
>>Melissa Bradshaw:
If you enjoy coloring,
00:15:03.13\00:15:04.53
then you're going to love the
Buried Treasure Coloring Book
00:15:04.57\00:15:07.27
from My Place With Jesus.
00:15:07.30\00:15:09.17
The Buried
Treasure Coloring Book
00:15:09.20\00:15:10.67
has more than
just pictures to color.
00:15:10.71\00:15:12.91
You'll also
enjoy activity pages,
00:15:12.94\00:15:15.31
each accompanied by
their very own audio story.
00:15:15.34\00:15:18.35
>>John Bradshaw: "Mr.
Dixon came across a small
00:15:18.38\00:15:20.95
well-weeded rice patch
out in the middle of a field."
00:15:20.98\00:15:24.82
>>Melissa: Get ahead of a
rainy day or a relaxing evening
00:15:24.85\00:15:27.56
as a family and order the
Buried Treasure Coloring Book
00:15:27.59\00:15:30.66
from It Is Written.
00:15:30.69\00:15:32.33
[uplifting music]
00:15:33.36\00:15:36.67
>>Eric: Welcome
back to "Sabbath School,"
00:15:38.00\00:15:39.40
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:15:39.43\00:15:41.60
We are taking a look at an
interesting subject this week:
00:15:41.64\00:15:43.67
"What More Could I Have Done?"
00:15:43.71\00:15:46.37
John, there's a very interesting
parable about a vineyard owner
00:15:46.41\00:15:50.28
over in the book of Isaiah,
00:15:50.31\00:15:51.98
Isaiah, chapter 5,
verses 1 through 4.
00:15:52.01\00:15:55.42
I wanna go ahead and
read that short story
00:15:55.45\00:15:58.22
short parable, and then ask
you some questions about it.
00:15:58.25\00:16:02.09
So this is Isaiah,
chapter 5, beginning in verse 1.
00:16:02.12\00:16:04.96
"Now let me sing
to my Well-beloved
00:16:04.99\00:16:07.30
"a song of my Beloved
regarding His vineyard:
00:16:07.30\00:16:09.83
"my Well-beloved has a vineyard
00:16:09.86\00:16:11.63
"on a very fruitful hill.
00:16:11.67\00:16:13.57
"He dug it up and
cleared out its stones,
00:16:13.60\00:16:15.60
"and planted it
with...choicest vine.
00:16:15.64\00:16:18.41
"He built a tower in its midst,
00:16:18.44\00:16:20.34
"and also made
a winepress in it;
00:16:20.38\00:16:22.51
"so He expected it to
bring forth good grapes,
00:16:22.54\00:16:25.08
"but it brought
forth wild grapes.
00:16:25.11\00:16:27.38
"And now, O inhabitants of
Jerusalem and men of Judah,
00:16:27.42\00:16:31.72
"judge, please,
between me and my vineyard.
00:16:31.75\00:16:34.72
"What more could have
been done to my vineyard
00:16:34.76\00:16:37.09
"that I have not done in it?
00:16:37.13\00:16:38.86
"Why then, when I expected
it to bring forth good grapes,
00:16:38.89\00:16:42.00
did it bring forth wild grapes?"
00:16:42.03\00:16:45.17
So what does this
parable, this story reveal to us
00:16:45.20\00:16:48.77
about God's relationship with
His people in this metaphor?
00:16:48.80\00:16:53.48
How does it
help us to understand
00:16:54.48\00:16:55.54
the greater cosmic
conflict that's going on?
00:16:55.58\00:16:58.15
>>John: Yeah, this passage is
where the title of the lesson,
00:16:58.18\00:17:01.85
the question, "What
More Could I Have Done?"--
00:17:01.88\00:17:03.72
this is where it comes from.
00:17:03.75\00:17:05.22
It's in this passage,
where initially you have
00:17:05.25\00:17:08.89
Isaiah himself speaking,
because in Isaiah 5, verse 1,
00:17:08.92\00:17:13.46
the Well-beloved is God,
and the one singing the song
00:17:13.50\00:17:17.57
is Isaiah, and the
vineyard is God's people.
00:17:17.60\00:17:20.17
So it's about this relationship
and particularly some problems
00:17:20.20\00:17:23.91
in this relationship.
Who's responsible for them?
00:17:23.94\00:17:26.74
And in the story we learn that
God has done everything He could
00:17:26.78\00:17:30.35
for His people,
for His vineyard.
00:17:30.38\00:17:32.81
He has a vineyard on
a very fruitful hill,
00:17:32.85\00:17:35.68
so it's a good place
for a vineyard, right?
00:17:35.72\00:17:37.02
The problem is not that.
00:17:37.05\00:17:38.45
He dug it up and
cleared out its stones,
00:17:38.49\00:17:40.29
planted it with the
choices vine, built a tower.
00:17:40.32\00:17:42.39
He's done everything that could
be expected for this vineyard.
00:17:42.42\00:17:47.20
Nothing more could have
been done than what He has done.
00:17:47.23\00:17:50.87
He's done everything.
00:17:50.90\00:17:52.20
So then He waited for it
"to bring forth good grapes,
00:17:52.23\00:17:55.24
but it brought
forth wild grapes."
00:17:55.27\00:17:57.91
Actually, the Hebrew term
translated "wild grapes" there
00:17:57.94\00:18:01.41
literally means "stink fruit."
This is a serious problem.
00:18:01.44\00:18:06.05
So you can have this
kind of image in your mind--
00:18:06.08\00:18:08.38
I don't know if you've ever
had, like, a cluster of grapes,
00:18:08.42\00:18:10.22
and you're getting
ready to bite into them,
00:18:10.25\00:18:12.05
and you expect this
juicy wonderful taste
00:18:12.09\00:18:14.36
to burst into your mouth,
but then no, they're rotten,
00:18:14.39\00:18:17.13
and you know that
taste in your mouth.
00:18:17.16\00:18:18.66
This is the imagery of
what God is experiencing
00:18:18.69\00:18:22.20
with His vineyard. He's
done everything He could
00:18:22.23\00:18:24.30
for the
vineyard, done everything
00:18:24.33\00:18:25.63
that should be
done for this vineyard.
00:18:25.67\00:18:27.70
And then as He waits for it to
produce what it should produce,
00:18:27.74\00:18:30.47
good grapes, instead
it produces rotten fruit.
00:18:30.51\00:18:35.48
At that point in
the parable in Isaiah 5,
00:18:35.51\00:18:38.41
the speaker shifts
from Isaiah to God Himself,
00:18:38.45\00:18:43.18
and God says, "Judge, please,
between me and my vineyard."
00:18:43.22\00:18:49.02
Now, that is very significant,
because if someone wonders,
00:18:49.06\00:18:52.29
maybe God's a
tyrant, maybe God is unjust--
00:18:52.33\00:18:55.60
what kind of a tyrant or unjust
king would say, "You know what,
00:18:55.63\00:18:58.77
"why don't you judge
for yourself? Judge me.
00:18:58.80\00:19:01.60
"Judge between
me and my vineyard.
00:19:01.64\00:19:02.94
Who is right in this case?"
00:19:02.97\00:19:04.71
But in the story, God
actually invites that.
00:19:04.74\00:19:06.64
And we see this also
in the cosmic conflict.
00:19:06.68\00:19:08.71
Not that anyone has the right
or the standing to bring God
00:19:08.74\00:19:11.38
into judgment, but God
says, see for yourself.
00:19:11.41\00:19:14.32
Look at the record.
00:19:14.35\00:19:15.65
This is happening in heaven in
the heavenly court proceedings.
00:19:15.68\00:19:18.09
After Christ's
return, all the redeemed
00:19:18.12\00:19:20.46
will also have an opportunity
to review the records.
00:19:20.49\00:19:23.43
We're told that we
shall judge even angels,
00:19:23.46\00:19:25.96
according to the
book of 1 Corinthians.
00:19:25.99\00:19:27.60
So we'll have an opportunity
to look over all of this
00:19:27.60\00:19:29.90
and actually see why God
has done what He has done,
00:19:29.93\00:19:32.73
why things have
happened as they have happened.
00:19:32.77\00:19:35.00
But here God says, "Judge...
between me and my vineyard."
00:19:35.04\00:19:37.51
And then He asked this question:
"What more could have been done
00:19:37.54\00:19:41.64
"to my vineyard that
I have not done in it?
00:19:41.68\00:19:44.78
"Why..., when I waited for
it to bring forth good grapes,
00:19:44.81\00:19:47.95
did it bring
forth [stink fruit]?"
00:19:47.98\00:19:50.55
And so you have this question
00:19:50.59\00:19:52.12
that should be
ringing in our ears:
00:19:52.15\00:19:54.82
"What more could I
have done for my vineyard
00:19:54.86\00:19:57.23
that I have not done?"
00:19:57.26\00:19:59.16
But this is not
the end of the story
00:19:59.19\00:20:01.00
because Jesus
actually tells another parable
00:20:01.03\00:20:04.20
in Matthew 21 that picks up
00:20:04.23\00:20:06.90
right where this
parable left off.
00:20:06.94\00:20:09.60
So if I could ask you
also to read Matthew 21,
00:20:09.64\00:20:12.87
it begins in verse 33.
00:20:12.91\00:20:16.64
And if you could read
verses 33 to verses 40.
00:20:16.68\00:20:20.32
>>Eric: "Hear another parable:
There was a certain landowner
00:20:20.35\00:20:23.12
"who planted a vineyard
and set a hedge around it,
00:20:23.15\00:20:25.29
"dug a winepress in
it and built a tower.
00:20:25.32\00:20:27.56
"And he leased
it to vinedressers
00:20:27.59\00:20:29.09
"and went into a far country.
00:20:29.12\00:20:30.69
"Now when vintage-time
drew near, he sent his servants
00:20:30.73\00:20:33.36
"to the vinedressers, that
they might receive its fruit.
00:20:33.40\00:20:35.93
"And the vinedressers
took his servants, beat one,
00:20:35.96\00:20:38.60
"killed one, and stoned another.
00:20:38.63\00:20:40.64
"Again he sent other
servants, more than the first,
00:20:40.67\00:20:43.30
"and they did likewise to them.
00:20:43.34\00:20:45.17
"Then last of all he
sent his son to them, saying,
00:20:45.21\00:20:47.88
"'They will respect my son.'
00:20:47.91\00:20:49.94
"But when the
vinedressers saw the son,
00:20:49.98\00:20:51.95
"they said among
themselves, 'This is the heir.
00:20:51.98\00:20:54.45
"Come, let us kill him
and seize his inheritance.'
00:20:54.48\00:20:57.29
"So they took him and
cast him out of the vineyard
00:20:57.32\00:20:59.42
"and killed him.
00:20:59.45\00:21:00.86
"Therefore, when the
owner of the vineyard comes,
00:21:00.89\00:21:02.92
what will he do to
those vinedressers?"
00:21:02.96\00:21:05.53
>>John: So you can see how
this parable actually builds
00:21:05.56\00:21:08.56
on the parable of Isaiah 5.
00:21:08.60\00:21:10.23
In verse 33, you have
the exact same language
00:21:10.27\00:21:13.00
that is quoted: "There
was a certain landowner
00:21:13.03\00:21:15.00
"who planted a vineyard
and set a hedge around it,
00:21:15.04\00:21:17.24
dug a winepress in
it, and built a tower."
00:21:17.27\00:21:19.21
Okay, that's all from Isaiah 5.
00:21:19.24\00:21:21.18
And if you're reading
this as a first-century Jew
00:21:21.21\00:21:24.05
who knows the Old Testament,
00:21:24.08\00:21:25.78
you should have what
question ringing in your ears?
00:21:25.81\00:21:28.75
What more could he have
done that he has not done?
00:21:28.78\00:21:32.32
And Jesus continues from that
standpoint with this parable
00:21:32.35\00:21:35.09
about how this
vineyard is leased out,
00:21:35.12\00:21:37.86
and he sends his servants,
which are representative
00:21:37.89\00:21:42.10
of God's prophets, who
He sends over and over again
00:21:42.13\00:21:45.77
to His people to
call them back to Himself.
00:21:45.80\00:21:48.00
But they beat His
prophets, and they kill them;
00:21:48.04\00:21:50.97
over and over again
they are persecuted.
00:21:51.01\00:21:52.64
And this happens
over and over again.
00:21:52.67\00:21:54.81
And finally, in the
parable, the landowner says,
00:21:54.84\00:21:56.81
"I will send my son. Surely
they will respect my son."
00:21:56.85\00:22:01.45
And of course, this is
referring to God sending Jesus,
00:22:01.48\00:22:05.82
the Son of God, who
comes to the vineyard.
00:22:05.85\00:22:08.72
And what do they do to Him?
00:22:08.76\00:22:10.93
They kill Him. They crucify Him.
00:22:10.96\00:22:14.03
So if we ask ourselves in
the context of this story,
00:22:14.10\00:22:18.40
what more could He do
00:22:18.43\00:22:21.74
that He has not done?
00:22:21.77\00:22:25.37
And we have this picture of
the suffering God of the cross.
00:22:25.41\00:22:28.98
The Son of God comes, is sent to
us after all of these prophets.
00:22:29.01\00:22:33.35
What more could He do that
He has not done for this world?
00:22:33.38\00:22:37.35
So if we're
tempted to think, well,
00:22:37.39\00:22:38.69
maybe God isn't
really good after all;
00:22:38.72\00:22:40.56
maybe God isn't really loving;
00:22:40.59\00:22:41.99
has He really done
everything He could do?--
00:22:42.02\00:22:44.13
we look to the cross, and we see
certainly He has done everything
00:22:44.16\00:22:48.36
that He could do and more
00:22:48.40\00:22:49.86
than could
rightfully be expected of Him.
00:22:49.90\00:22:53.80
>>Eric: I wanna
build on that thought.
00:22:53.84\00:22:55.34
When we look at the cross
and we see what Jesus gave,
00:22:55.37\00:22:59.67
what the Godhead
gave on that cross,
00:22:59.71\00:23:02.74
how does the
significance of the cross help
00:23:02.78\00:23:06.28
to demonstrate God's
righteousness and love,
00:23:06.31\00:23:09.18
especially in light of the
accusations that Satan's giving?
00:23:09.22\00:23:12.69
>>John: Yeah, so I've alluded
to this a couple of times,
00:23:12.72\00:23:15.19
but I want us to see
it from the text itself,
00:23:15.22\00:23:17.66
particularly the way
Paul talks about this
00:23:17.69\00:23:19.29
in Romans 3, verses 25-26.
00:23:19.33\00:23:23.60
>>Eric: "Whom God set forth
as a propitiation by His blood,
00:23:23.63\00:23:26.63
"through faith, to
demonstrate His righteousness,
00:23:26.67\00:23:29.67
"because in His forbearance
00:23:29.70\00:23:31.27
"God had passed over the sins
that were previously committed
00:23:31.31\00:23:34.61
"to demonstrate at the
present time His righteousness,
00:23:34.64\00:23:37.78
"that He might be
just and the justifier
00:23:37.81\00:23:40.62
of the one who
has faith in Jesus."
00:23:40.65\00:23:43.15
>>John: So you notice two
times in that passage you have
00:23:43.18\00:23:45.69
that He does this
for the demonstration
00:23:45.72\00:23:48.16
of His righteousness.
The demonstration where?
00:23:48.19\00:23:50.99
In this larger
cosmic courtroom drama.
00:23:51.03\00:23:53.29
There's the
allegations in the background.
00:23:53.33\00:23:55.06
And one of the
things that Christ does
00:23:55.10\00:23:56.77
in His work of atonement
00:23:56.80\00:23:58.10
is shows the justice
and the righteousness of God
00:23:58.13\00:24:00.77
once and for all.
00:24:00.80\00:24:02.37
And at the same time, He
makes a way to justify sinners.
00:24:02.40\00:24:05.81
And that's that
beautiful phrase at the end.
00:24:05.84\00:24:07.58
So He can be both the
just and the justifier, right?
00:24:07.61\00:24:10.98
He finds a way to save
sinners through the cross
00:24:11.01\00:24:14.32
and through the work of Christ
00:24:14.35\00:24:15.72
in the heavenly sanctuary
to make atonement for sinners,
00:24:15.75\00:24:19.32
to provide forgiveness in a way
00:24:19.35\00:24:21.09
that does not compromise
the principles of justice,
00:24:21.12\00:24:24.06
the principles
of His law of love,
00:24:24.09\00:24:25.76
so that He is shown to be just,
and yet He can still make a way
00:24:25.79\00:24:28.83
to save us and to save anyone
who is in Christ by faith.
00:24:28.86\00:24:33.10
So via the cross,
via the atonement,
00:24:33.13\00:24:35.34
Christ
demonstrates once and for all
00:24:35.37\00:24:36.97
Christ's righteousness.
00:24:37.01\00:24:38.31
And then
according to Romans 5:8,
00:24:38.34\00:24:40.28
He demonstrates the love of God
00:24:40.31\00:24:42.84
that while we
were still sinners,
00:24:42.88\00:24:44.68
Christ died for us.
00:24:44.71\00:24:46.92
So you have the love
and the justice of God
00:24:46.95\00:24:49.25
supremely
demonstrated at the cross
00:24:49.28\00:24:51.52
in a way that will forever
defeat the devil's allegations
00:24:51.55\00:24:56.19
and ultimately
inoculate the universe
00:24:56.22\00:24:58.46
from sin ever arising again.
00:24:58.49\00:25:01.63
And this is how Christ
defeats Satan's allegations--
00:25:01.66\00:25:05.33
not for His
sake--again, no one can actually
00:25:05.37\00:25:07.44
bring Him into judgment or
dethrone Him--but for our sake.
00:25:07.47\00:25:10.91
Because if there's any
doubt about God's character
00:25:10.94\00:25:13.41
that lingers, it will
fracture the relationship,
00:25:13.44\00:25:16.01
similar to if
someone was in a relationship
00:25:16.04\00:25:18.95
with someone
they wanted to marry
00:25:18.98\00:25:20.28
or someone
they're already married,
00:25:20.32\00:25:21.68
and the best friend
of that other tells them
00:25:21.72\00:25:24.19
that "you're a tyrant" or that
"you're a horrible human being;
00:25:24.22\00:25:26.69
you did all
these horrible things."
00:25:26.72\00:25:28.42
If your beloved even
entertains those thoughts,
00:25:28.46\00:25:32.09
it will
undermine the relationship,
00:25:32.13\00:25:33.90
unless that's shown to be false.
00:25:33.93\00:25:35.43
And this is why God
goes to such great lengths,
00:25:35.46\00:25:37.80
to show His
character and His love
00:25:37.83\00:25:40.47
so that there can be no doubt,
00:25:40.50\00:25:42.07
so that love can
flourish for eternity.
00:25:42.10\00:25:45.47
>>Eric: So let's kind
of tie things together
00:25:45.51\00:25:47.14
with the title for
this week's lesson,
00:25:47.18\00:25:48.88
"What More Could I Have Done?"
00:25:48.91\00:25:51.41
In what ways does that question
resonate with the overall theme
00:25:51.45\00:25:54.75
of divine justice, of free will
00:25:54.78\00:25:57.32
in the context of
this great controversy?
00:25:57.35\00:26:00.52
>>John: Yeah, this question--
what more could I have done?--
00:26:00.56\00:26:03.26
is the question that should
be ringing in our ears as well.
00:26:03.29\00:26:05.83
We're also
called to be witnesses.
00:26:05.86\00:26:07.76
We're also called to testify
00:26:07.83\00:26:09.26
that God has done
everything that He has done.
00:26:09.30\00:26:11.43
And again, I believe
we see that supremely
00:26:11.47\00:26:14.00
in the God who lowers Himself
00:26:14.04\00:26:16.17
to become human in
Christ, God the Son,
00:26:16.20\00:26:18.51
and He suffers on the cross.
00:26:18.54\00:26:20.38
And we can look at the
cross, and we can recognize
00:26:20.41\00:26:22.71
that none of this
took Him by surprise.
00:26:22.74\00:26:25.75
He knew what this
world would cost Him,
00:26:25.78\00:26:29.22
and He decided to
create this world anyways
00:26:29.25\00:26:31.05
because He counted this world
00:26:31.09\00:26:33.49
and all of us who
are in it to be worth it.
00:26:33.52\00:26:36.46
And in fact, we see
Christ suffering on the cross,
00:26:36.49\00:26:39.46
and we should realize
that in this controversy,
00:26:39.49\00:26:42.06
God Himself suffers most of all.
00:26:42.10\00:26:46.37
We suffer a great deal,
but not only at the cross
00:26:46.40\00:26:49.54
but throughout
the entire conflict,
00:26:49.57\00:26:51.37
God suffers whenever we suffer
because He loves us so much.
00:26:51.41\00:26:55.21
When my son broke his
arm a number of years ago,
00:26:55.24\00:26:57.21
I would have rather
broken my arm, right,
00:26:57.25\00:26:59.35
because of my love for my son.
00:26:59.38\00:27:01.28
But God loves us even more.
00:27:01.32\00:27:02.62
So He suffers
whenever we suffer.
00:27:02.65\00:27:05.22
And we can just ask ourselves,
if there had been any other way
00:27:05.25\00:27:08.46
than the avenue that God has
taken to resolve this conflict
00:27:08.49\00:27:11.03
for everyone,
wouldn't He have chosen it?
00:27:11.06\00:27:13.70
Even if just to spare Himself?
00:27:13.73\00:27:16.16
There was no other way.
What more could He have done?
00:27:16.20\00:27:18.83
There's nothing more
that He could have done.
00:27:18.87\00:27:20.60
And this is why we can
be sure that Paul's words
00:27:20.64\00:27:22.57
in Romans 8:18
ring true when he says,
00:27:22.60\00:27:24.87
"The sufferings
of this present time
00:27:24.91\00:27:26.84
"are not worthy to be
compared with the glory
00:27:26.88\00:27:29.18
[that is to] be revealed."
00:27:29.21\00:27:30.95
And we can believe the
promise in Revelation 21,
00:27:30.98\00:27:33.58
that one day soon
there will be no more pain,
00:27:33.62\00:27:37.32
there will be no more suffering,
00:27:37.35\00:27:38.72
there will be no more tears,
there will be no more death,
00:27:38.75\00:27:40.96
"for the former things
[will] have passed away."
00:27:40.99\00:27:43.93
And that day is coming soon,
and that victory is assured
00:27:43.96\00:27:47.20
through the work of Christ who
is our Savior and our advocate.
00:27:47.23\00:27:50.80
>>Eric: That day
is not far off at all,
00:27:50.83\00:27:53.87
a day that you and
I can look forward to.
00:27:53.90\00:27:55.70
But between now and then,
00:27:55.74\00:27:57.21
we still have a
couple of lessons to study
00:27:57.24\00:27:59.51
in this quarter's lesson.
00:27:59.54\00:28:01.14
We look forward to
seeing you back again next week
00:28:01.18\00:28:03.31
as we continue looking
at God's love and justice
00:28:03.35\00:28:06.51
here on "Sabbath School,"
00:28:06.55\00:28:07.85
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:28:07.88\00:28:09.82
[uplifting music]
00:28:09.85\00:28:13.86
¤¤¤
00:28:24.97\00:28:26.94
[Captions provided by Aberdeen
Captioning www.abercap.com]
00:28:26.97\00:28:41.98