Participants: Pr. Dwight Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP013016A
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00:27 Great is the Lord He is holy and just
00:31 By His power we trust in His love 00:36 Great is the Lord He is faithful and true 00:40 By His mercy He proves He is love 00:45 Great is the Lord and worthy of glory 00:49 Great is the Lord and worthy of praise 00:53 Great is the Lord now lift up your voice 00:57 Now lift up your voice 01:00 Great 01:03 Is the Lord 01:08 Great 01:12 Is the Lord 01:17 Great are You Lord You are holy and just 01:21 By Your power we trust in Your love 01:25 Great are You Lord You are faithful and true 01:29 By Your mercy You prove You are love 01:34 Great is the Lord and worthy of glory 01:38 Great is the Lord and worthy of praise 01:42 Great is the Lord now lift up your voice 01:46 Now lift up your voice 01:48 Great 01:52 Is the Lord 01:56 Great 02:00 Is the Lord 02:03 Great are You Lord and worthy of glory 02:07 Great are You Lord and worthy of praise 02:11 Great are You Lord, I lift up my voice 02:15 I lift up my voice 02:17 Great 02:21 Are You Lord 02:25 Great 02:29 Are You Lord. 02:34 Amen. 02:38 This next song is fairly new. 02:42 It's a song that I don't know how I stumbled upon it 02:46 but the first time I heard it, it got stuck in my head 02:49 and I realize why I love this song so much 02:52 is because it comes from the vision out of Isaiah 6 02:56 and I'm gonna read to you starting verse where it says, 02:59 "In the year that king Uzziah died 03:01 I saw the Lord seated on a throne, 03:04 high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 03:08 And above him were seraphim's, each with six wings, 03:12 with two wings they covered their faces, 03:14 and two they covered their feet, 03:15 and with two they were flying. 03:16 And they were calling to one another, 03:18 'Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord almighty, 03:21 the whole earth is full of His glory.'" 03:25 And I think the reason 03:26 that I love this verse in particular 03:29 is because there is something that I struggle with 03:31 as a Christian and that's wrapping my mind 03:33 around this God that is so great 03:38 that the beings that are constantly surrounding Him 03:41 can't help but constantly be in worship 03:44 and yet He acts as my intercessor. 03:49 It's a beautiful thought. 03:50 And so as we sing this morning, "You Are Holy" 03:53 I want you think on that thought. 04:32 I saw the Lord 04:38 seated on His throne 04:45 He was clothed in Glory 04:52 And Exalted high 04:58 And the train of His robe 05:05 Filled the Temple 05:11 And the Angels circled 'round Him 05:18 And cried 05:25 You are Holy 05:32 Oh so Holy 05:38 You are Holy Lord of all-- 05:49 Let's sing that again. 05:51 You are Holy 05:57 Oh so Holy 06:04 You are Holy Lord of all 06:14 And woe is me 06:20 For I am unclean 06:26 For my eyes have seen 06:32 The Holy King 06:38 And he cleansed my lips 06:43 Right before I died 06:49 And the Pillars shook 06:55 As the Angels cried 07:02 You are Holy 07:08 Oh so Holy 07:14 You are Holy Lord of all 07:25 You are Holy 07:31 Oh so Holy 07:37 You are Holy Lord of all 07:47 And we see worthy is the Lamb 07:54 Seated on the throne 08:00 We crown You now with many crowns 08:05 You reign victorious! 08:11 High and lifted up 08:17 Jesus, Son of God 08:23 The darling of Heaven 08:26 Crucified 08:32 Worthy is the Lamb 08:37 Worthy is the Lamb. 09:13 Great is Thy faithfulness 09:18 O God my Father 09:23 There is no shadow 09:27 Of turning with Thee 09:32 Thou changest not, Thy compassions 09:39 They fail not 09:42 As Thou has been 09:45 Thou forever will be 09:51 Great is Thy faithfulness! 09:56 Great is Thy faithfulness! 10:01 Morning by morning 10:05 New mercies I see 10:10 All I have needed 10:14 Thy hand hath provided 10:20 Great is Thy faithfulness! 10:25 Lord, unto me 10:32 Summer and winter 10:37 And springtime and harvest 10:42 Sun, moon and stars 10:45 In their courses above 10:51 Join with all nature 10:55 In manifold witness 11:00 To Thy great faithfulness, 11:05 Mercy and love 11:10 Great is Thy faithfulness! 11:15 Great is Thy faithfulness! 11:19 Morning by morning 11:23 New mercies I see 11:29 All I have needed 11:33 Thy hand hath provided 11:38 Great is Thy faithfulness! 11:43 Lord unto me 11:50 Pardon for sin 11:54 And a peace that endureth 12:00 Thy own dear presence 12:04 To cheer and to guide 12:10 Strength for today 12:14 And bright hope for tomorrow 12:20 Blessings all mine, 12:23 With ten thousand beside 12:29 Great is Thy faithfulness! 12:34 Great is Thy faithfulness! 12:39 Morning by morning 12:43 new mercies I see 12:48 All I have needed 12:52 Thy hand hath provided 12:58 Great is Thy faithfulness! 13:03 Great is Thy faithfulness! 13:08 Great is Thy faithfulness! 13:17 Lord, unto me. 13:28 Hey, you got a good group. Come on up, guys, we got room. 13:32 Come on in, I want to tell you story 13:33 about a little boy named Nate. 13:35 Is anybody here named Nate? Anybody here? 13:38 Seven-years-old. Anybody here seven? 13:40 Seven, seven, okay, okay. I need to see that. 13:43 good, seven, seven. 13:45 Thank you Dick and Harvey, bless you. 13:49 Okay, guys, I got some good seats down here. 13:51 There you go. 13:52 Nate, seven-years-old and oh, he loved his mother. 13:55 He just loved his mother. 13:57 I got to tell you, his dad, his dad just wasn't around. 14:00 He saw his dad very little but his mother was his BFF, 14:05 his best friend for ever. 14:07 And mother loved Natey. 14:09 Oh, she loved Natey, you know why? 14:12 Not just because he had a very rare blood diseases 14:15 that he had to go to the doctor almost every week 14:17 or the hospital laboratory he had to go 14:20 not just because of that 14:21 but because he was her main man. 14:24 And mother and Nate were just like that. 14:26 So today we got to go to the doctor again. 14:29 Oh, Nate, we'll run it. 14:31 Oh, Nate, we are way behind, let's go, boy, come on. 14:35 I'm coming, Mom, but I can't get my shoe on. 14:39 Bring it down here I'll help. 14:43 But by that time they got in the car 14:44 with the shoes on fitting right, 14:49 so, you know, Highway 31 out here, 14:50 Highway 31, it goes from 45 to 40 to 35. 14:56 Well, mother just said, I got to get, 14:58 "We got to get to the doctor. 14:59 We got to get to the hospital, the laboratory." 15:01 And so mother is going a little faster 15:03 but when she gets down to the stop line 15:04 in Berrien Springs and it's ferry road 15:07 and she turns on to ferry road, the speed drops down to 25 15:12 but mother is thinking "I got to go, I got to go" 15:15 and she is not thinking about the speed. 15:16 She is not going 25 she is going 30, 15:18 no she is going 35, she is going 40. 15:20 She is going 45 and just then... 15:28 the police. 15:30 They pulled mother over, a very nice Berrien Springs 15:33 our local policeman got out 15:36 and he said, "If you can, ma'am, 15:37 may I see your driver's license and registration." 15:39 And you know the drill, you probably don't 15:41 but then he had to check it all out. 15:46 He came back finally he said, "I've written you a ticket. 15:48 Do you know you're going 48, 48 in a 25? 15:51 This is residential. What were you thinking? 15:53 You're gonna be in the court house 15:55 in three weeks." 15:56 And mother is just feeling awful now 15:58 but they had to get Natey, still had to go 16:00 but she is driving carefully now. 16:01 They were late. 16:02 Three weeks later St. Joseph County Court House 16:06 big building, you've seen it. 16:08 Mother and Nate are going in and mother's heart, 16:10 what do you think mother's heart is doing? 16:14 Her heart is beating very fast 16:15 because today she would stand before the judge. 16:18 And everybody knows, and he is gonna say 16:22 "Are you guilty or innocent? What do you plea?" 16:26 So they come into the room there are others there. 16:28 Well, Lisa's company there and then a clerk comes out, 16:31 "Stand ye, 16:33 stand ye in the honorable Judge Johnson's court room." 16:39 He comes in his black robe everybody standing. 16:42 He sits up on a chair high and lifted up. 16:45 And now mother's heart is, her palms are sweaty 16:48 and one by one he is calling them out. 16:50 Traffic court here they come 16:51 and they she hears "Mrs. Kendrick." 16:57 Come on, Nate, let's go. 16:59 So mother and Nate go walking up, 17:01 walking up till now they are standing 17:03 beneath the judge's high and lifted up desk. 17:08 He didn't even look up. 17:10 He pulls his glasses down and he is looking at, 17:12 he is looking, "I see you speed 48 in a 25 17:18 what were you thinking?" 17:21 And he looks over the edge of his glasses, 17:23 he looks over the top to look at Mrs. Kendrick 17:26 and then he sees a little boy. 17:30 And, you know, what the little boy is doing? 17:32 He has a great big smile on his face. 17:38 And the judge looks back at that little boy 17:41 and then the judge gets a great big smile on his face 17:46 and Nate, when there was a pause Nate said, 17:48 "Mommy, this Natasha, this is Natasha's dad. 17:52 You remember the house I went to Natasha 17:54 for the afternoon and evening. 17:55 This is her daddy, I recognize him." 17:58 Mother looked up at him. He looked down to mother. 18:01 "Are you Nate's mother? 18:05 Well, I must tell you, you've done a very good job 18:07 with that boy of yours. 18:09 Now, mother, what was happening?" 18:10 "Well, my boy, he has to go to the doctor every week 18:12 and he couldn't get the shoe on. 18:13 We were running late and..." 18:15 Judge Johnson looked down at mother and he says, 18:18 "You know what, give me that ticket. 18:23 Pardon. 18:26 I've dropped it. I've dropped the charges. 18:28 Now, Mrs. Kendrick, are you gonna drive carefully?" 18:31 "Oh, yes, sure. I will. I will." 18:35 But when mother and Nate walked out of that court house 18:37 they are walking on air because, you know what, 18:41 when the judge is a friend, 18:45 you have nothing to be afraid of. 18:48 They were walking on air. The judge was a friend. 18:53 The Bible says that God is our judge, 18:55 Jesus is our judge. 18:57 But guess what? 18:58 That Jesus and the Father are our friend. 19:03 We have nothing to be afraid of. 19:05 Just stand before that judge. 19:07 Are you kidding? He is my friend. 19:10 How many are happy that Jesus is the judge? 19:13 One hand Jesus is the judge and how many are happy 19:16 that if you put your case in His hands you got it. 19:19 You got it. Everything is gonna be okay. 19:23 Who would like to thank Jesus 19:25 for not only being our Savior but our judge? 19:28 I had a girl in first service 19:29 so I need a boy in second service. 19:31 Yes, I do. Sir, come right here, Mr. Davis. 19:35 Yes, you. 19:37 All right, let's fold our hands, 19:40 let's close our eyes. 19:41 What's your first name? Brian. 19:44 Brian is gonna pray. Brian has the microphone. 19:46 Let's pray with Brian. All right, Brian. 19:48 Dear Jesus, please help us to have a good day today. 19:51 Thank You that is Your, that is Your holy day. 19:54 Thank You that we get to spend time with our family today, 19:57 in Your name we pray, amen. 19:58 Amen. Thank you, Brian. 20:00 Thank you, boys and girls, as you go quietly 20:02 and reverently back to your seats. 20:04 Thank You, Jesus. 20:05 You're my judge and You're my friend. 20:09 Happy Sabbath to you. 25:09 Amen. 26:12 I suppose we would have to agree 26:13 looking at the evidence 26:15 that God has a huge PR problem 26:20 on this planet. 26:22 I mean, His approval ratings are in the tank. 26:26 If He were running for president, 26:28 Donald Trump would win. 26:32 Now I get it, God wrote a book once upon a time 26:34 and it's the best seller 26:35 over any other piece of human literature. 26:37 I understand that 26:38 but do you know what they are saying about the book. 26:41 One author I put his words, a skeptic on the screen. 26:44 "The God of the Old Testament is arguably 26:47 the most unpleasant character in all fiction: 26:50 jealous and proud of it, a petty, unjust, 26:53 unforgiving control-freak, a vindictive, 26:56 bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser, a misogynistic, 26:59 homophobic, racist, infanticidal, 27:01 genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, 27:04 megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, 27:08 capriciously malevolent bully." 27:10 Can't even read it. 27:14 But I want to say to that author, 27:15 "Why don't you tell us how you really feel?" 27:18 Here's another one, here's another author, 27:20 a skeptic you would guess. 27:21 On the screen "And it is astride 27:23 this contemptible history of religious atrocity 27:25 and scientific ignorance that Christianity now stands 27:28 as an absurdly unselfconscious apotheosis 27:32 which is a culmination 27:33 or a climax of all of the mess behind it. 27:35 The notion that Jesus Christ died for our sins 27:38 and that his death constitutes a successful propitiation 27:41 of a 'loving' God is a direct and undisguised inheritance 27:45 of the superstitious bloodletting 27:47 that has plagued bewildered people throughout history." 27:52 I repeat God has a huge PR problem on this planet. 27:58 And guess what? 28:01 He has an enemy who with blinding rage 28:04 and desperate cunning is out to shred God's reputation 28:09 at least in the court of public opinion. 28:12 And so far he is winning. 28:17 Little classic called "Steps to Christ." 28:19 Let me just put a line on the screen for you. 28:22 Your study guide has just began by the way, 28:24 no fanfare, we are now in it. 28:26 Pull that study guide out of your worship bulletin. 28:27 Those of you who watching on television 28:29 or on live streaming right now www.newperceptions.tv. 28:35 That's our new website newperceptions.tv. 28:37 You go there, you're looking for Charmed into Righteousness 28:40 and today's teaching "The Fairest Judge." 28:42 All right, "Steps to Christ" it's on the screen. 28:44 "Satan has led humanity to conceive of God 28:47 as a being whose chief attribute 28:50 is stern justice- one who is a severe..." 28:53 Write it in, "Judge, a severe judge, 28:57 a harsh, exacting creditor. 28:59 He pictured the Creator 29:00 as a being who is watching with jealous eye 29:02 to discern the errors and mistakes of men, 29:05 that He may visit judgments upon them." 29:09 How did that writer put it just a moment ago 29:10 speaking of God "a petty, unjust, 29:12 unforgiving control-freak, 29:13 a capriciously malevolent bully." 29:16 Turns our there's has been a whisper campaign, 29:18 a smear campaign to shred... 29:23 the divine reputation. 29:26 So what's the God to do? 29:28 The next line same book 29:29 "Steps to Christ" on the screen. 29:30 "It was to remove..." 29:33 Keyword, jot it down. 29:35 "It was to remove this dark shadow, 29:38 by revealing to the world the infinite love of God, 29:40 that Jesus came to live among men and women. 29:42 The Son of God came from heaven to make manifest the Father." 29:48 Let's check it out. 29:49 Open your Bible to the fourth gospel 29:50 that would be the Gospel of John. 29:52 Let's go. 29:53 Every reference we look at now will have John in front of it. 29:57 John 1, the majestic prolog to the fourth gospel. 30:02 Oh, this prolog I could, I just, 30:04 it's has to be the pinnacle of human literature. 30:08 John 1 now, the last line of the prolog. 30:10 John 1:18 I'll be in the NIV. Grab the pew Bible. 30:13 If you don't have a Bible, grab the pew Bible. 30:15 Track this along for page 714 30:18 otherwise on your devise find it please. 30:21 John 1:18, "No one has ever seen God, 30:25 but the one and only Son, who is himself God 30:28 and is in close relationship with the Father, 30:30 has made him known." 30:34 Drop back, how did he do it? Drop back to verse 14. 30:37 "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 30:40 We have seen his glory, 30:42 the glory of the one and only Son, 30:43 who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." 30:46 What did we read just a moment ago? 30:47 It was to remove this dark shadow that he came. 30:53 Come on, the most beloved text in the whole book 30:56 for someone who believes in the book. 30:59 Chapter 3 verse 16, John 3:16, 31:03 "For God so loved the world 31:05 that he gave his one and only Son, 31:07 that whoever believes in him shall not perish 31:10 but have" what? 31:11 "Eternal life." 31:15 Let's fast forward now 31:16 all the way to the less than 12 hours 31:19 and he will be dead. 31:20 John Chapter 14 take a look at this. 31:22 John Chapter 14, let's pick it up in verse 5. 31:27 Jesus upper room, 11 of the disciples are there. 31:34 "Thomas said to him, 'Lord, 31:35 we don't know where you are going, 31:37 so how can we know the way?' 31:38 And Jesus answered, 'I am the way 31:41 and the truth and the life. 31:42 No one comes to the Father except through me. 31:44 If you really know me, 31:45 you will know my Father as well. 31:47 From now on, you do know him and have seen him.' 31:51 Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father 31:54 and that will be enough for us.' 31:55 Jesus answered" red letters, "Don't you know me, Philip, 32:00 even after I have been among you such a long time? 32:04 Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. 32:06 How can you say, 'Show us the Father?'" 32:10 So I'm visiting this week in a business 32:12 in the village of Berrien Springs, Michigan. 32:15 I'm talking to the owner of the business who is the dad. 32:18 I bumped into the son as I go outside the business 32:22 and fall in the conversation with him. 32:23 He is young adult in his 30s I would imagine. 32:25 So we get, we fall in the conversation 32:27 and I'm just beginning to marvel. 32:30 This is insane. 32:32 This guy is a spitting image of his dad 32:35 except for that big lumberjack beard that the boy has. 32:39 The eyes, the nose, the lips, 32:40 the cheeks, the way he talks, wow. 32:44 Is that Jesus who say, "Hey, when you see me, 32:48 you've seen the Father. 32:49 He looks just like Me." 32:50 Is that the point Jesus is making 32:52 some sort of physical resemblance? 32:54 Can't be. Look at verse 10. 32:57 He goes on verse 10. 32:59 "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, 33:01 and that the Father is in me? 33:03 The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. 33:06 Rather, it is the Father, 33:07 living in me, who is doing his work." 33:12 Hey, guys, I'm not talking about five fingers 33:14 and brown eyes, 33:16 I'm talking about God the Father living out His love, 33:17 His very character toward Me. 33:19 You want to know what kind of God your Father in heaven is. 33:22 Take a look in me, that's it. 33:28 Wow, the theologian Kevin Vanhoozer 33:33 summarizes Jesus point right here. 33:35 I love the way he puts it up. 33:37 I'll put it on the screen for you. 33:38 "The son's humanity is the ultimate form 33:40 of God's self-presentation," 33:42 I like that, God's self-presentation. 33:45 "Jesus is God's definitive word 33:47 and in his person and history corresponds 33:50 to what it is that makes God God." 33:54 Write in that second God, God, God. 33:58 You want to know what makes God God? 33:59 Look at Me, if you've seen me, you've seen the Father also. 34:03 And by the way, not just in the Old Testament 34:05 but also in the New Testament. 34:08 That skeptic a moment ago said, "Yeah, this God is..." 34:12 Listen to what John Peckham in his steering book for me 34:17 " The Love of God: A Canonical Model" 34:19 he's just right here in the seminary. 34:21 Okay, I put Peckham's words on the screen for you. 34:23 "Depictions of divine compassion 34:25 in the Old Testament and New Testament 34:28 are strikingly similar 34:29 to that manifested by Christ in the Gospels. 34:32 Thus Leon Morris 34:33 contends that 'Christ's action is God's action. 34:36 Christ's love is God's love.'" 34:40 If you've seen Me, you've seen the Father also. 34:45 And what do we see when we see Jesus? 34:48 Okay, let's go to a case study. 34:52 There is a case study embedded in a very familiar story 34:54 just a few pages back in the Gospel of John. 34:57 So I have to set the story up, don't go there yet. 34:59 Let set the story up. 35:00 There are two players in this narrative, 35:02 the protagonist and the antagonist 35:05 and both will interact with Jesus. 35:07 Yes, they do. 35:08 Both considered themselves in fact, followers of Christ. 35:11 And we would categorize both of them 35:13 since we've read the cliff notes 35:14 of the story we know. 35:16 We would categorize both of them 35:17 as red blooded sinners just like you and me 35:20 and one of them would say absolutely 35:22 and the other would vehemently deny that, 35:25 all right. 35:26 Both in this morality tale will be exposed 35:30 which means that we will come to the Day of Judgment 35:34 for them both as we live the story. 35:38 So it's gonna be a case study. 35:40 First let's consider the protagonist 35:43 who happens to be a woman and her name is Mary. 35:48 Jesus has battled for the heart of Mary 35:50 from the very first time they met. 35:52 You see, Mary has been demonized by sexual impurity. 35:57 Lock stock and barrel, bow and chain 36:01 but whenever she stands 36:02 in the pure unsullied presence of Christ 36:06 everything within her is just longing for that purity 36:10 to become my purity and Jesus knows it. 36:14 I'll put these words on the screen for you. 36:17 In Mark 16:9 she is described, 36:21 not in the story we are about to read 36:22 but she is described Mark 16:9, one line on the screen. 36:25 "When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, 36:27 he appeared first to Mary Magdalene," 36:30 there she is "out of whom he had driven seven demons." 36:36 The only reason the number is indicated there 36:40 is because there is some sort of 36:42 unfolding process in this. 36:44 Something is going on here. 36:45 Desire of Ages on the screen for you. 36:48 "Mary had been looked upon as a great sinner, 36:50 but Christ knew the circumstances 36:52 that had shaped her life. 36:53 He might have extinguished 36:55 every spark of hope in her soul, 36:57 but He did not. 36:58 It was He who had lifted her from despair and ruin." 37:00 Now jot it down. 37:01 "Seven times..." 37:04 Seven separate times, "She had heard His rebuke 37:07 of the demons that controlled her heart and mind. 37:09 She had heard His strong cries to the Father in her behalf. 37:13 She knew how offensive is sin to His unsullied purity, 37:16 and in His strength she had overcome." 37:21 Seven major prayer seasons 37:25 she is close enough to Jesus physically 37:27 that she hears Him sobbing to the Father, 37:30 "You've got to set this girl free." 37:38 Don't ever be fooled into thinking 37:41 that sometimes it just goes. 37:44 Sometimes even with Jesus and you 37:49 it takes time and He is loving you, 37:52 He is holding on to you through it. 37:55 And in His presence on the seventh time 37:58 that pleading it just, it got through 38:02 and He set her free. 38:04 I want to put it back on the screen 38:06 Mary again Desire of Ages. 38:07 "When to human eyes..." 38:09 See Jesus never gave up on her. 38:11 "When to human eyes her case appeared hopeless..." 38:13 And some of you today, 38:15 your case to yourself is hopeless. 38:16 Dwight, you don't know what I've been through. 38:18 You do not know my story. My case is hopeless today. 38:21 It is not. Human eyes would say hopeless. 38:27 "When to human eyes her case appeared hopeless, 38:29 Christ saw in Mary capabilities for good. 38:31 He saw the better traits of her character. 38:33 The plan of redemption has invested humanity..." 38:36 That would be you and me. 38:37 "With great possibilities, 38:38 and in Mary these possibilities were to be realized. 38:41 Through His grace 38:43 she became a partaker of the divine nature. 38:46 The one who had fallen, 38:47 and whose mind had been a habitation of demons, 38:50 was brought very near to the Savior 38:53 in fellowship and ministry." 38:56 Jesus never gave up on her. 39:02 And in just a moment you will see here 39:03 in the case study. 39:04 But there is not only a protagonist, 39:06 there is an antagonist he is a man 39:09 and his name is Judas. 39:11 One day when Jesus send His disciples were gathered, 39:14 Judas approached the group with just a very bold petition. 39:18 I want to be tall, young, handsome, 39:22 executive type straight out of Wall Street. 39:25 I want to be yo, 39:26 I want to be in your inner circle. 39:32 Jesus comes and stands in front of Judas 39:35 and He looks into those dark eyes of that young man 39:39 and He reads the story. 39:41 He knows how it will end. 39:44 And we are told with mournful tones 39:47 "Jesus said, 'Foxes have dens and birds have nests, 39:52 but the Son of Man has no where to lay his head.' 39:55 " In other words 39:57 if you think you're going to get rich with me 40:00 forget it. 40:02 But Judas insisted, come on in. 40:08 And as He did with Mary, 40:10 Jesus sees in Judas divine possibilities. 40:13 if, if, if Judas will surrender 40:16 his life to the Savior. 40:20 Look at this "Desire of Ages" on the screen. 40:22 "When Judas joined the disciples, 40:24 he was not insensible 40:25 to the beauty of the character of Christ. 40:27 He felt the influence of that divine power 40:29 which was drawing souls to the Savior. 40:31 In connecting this man with Himself," 40:33 Jesus places Judas where he might, 40:35 day by day, be brought in contact 40:38 with the outflowing of Jesus own unselfish love. 40:41 If Judas would open his heart." 40:43 Jot it down that's the keyword 40:45 in this case study we are about to read. 40:47 It's all, it's the battle it's everything in the heart. 40:50 Everything is in the heart. 40:54 "If you would open his heart to Christ, 40:56 divine grace would banish the demon of selfishness," 40:59 isn't that something? 41:01 Mary had demons, Judas has a demon. 41:04 It looks like we all have a demon 41:07 that might be our favorite demon. 41:13 Nobody is exempted from this battle. 41:24 "If he would open his heart to Christ, 41:26 divine grace would banish the demon of selfishness, 41:28 and even Judas might become 41:29 a subject of the kingdom of God." 41:31 Seven times Jesus pleads for Mary. 41:33 Makes you wonder how many times did Jesus plead 41:35 to the same father for Judas. 41:37 How many times did He say, "God, just give me this boy. 41:40 He is so young. He has so much promise. 41:43 I just look at him and I'm thinking 41:45 if we could have him, Father, You and Me. 41:46 If we could have him for the kingdom." 41:49 If He never gave up on Mary, 41:51 do you think He would give up on Judas? 41:52 Are you kidding? 41:56 But sadly lesson after lesson falls on a deaf ear. 41:59 "Desire of Ages" back on the screen. 42:01 "When Judas came into association with Jesus, 42:03 he had some precious..." 42:04 Look at that. Jot that word down, precious traits. 42:08 Precious traits, great possibility. 42:11 "He had some precious traits of character 42:13 that might have been made a blessing to the church. 42:15 If Judas had been willing to wear the yoke of Christ, 42:17 he might have been among the chief of the apostles, 42:20 but he hardened his heart..." 42:21 Keyword again "When his defects were pointed out, 42:24 and in pride and rebellion 42:25 chose his own selfish ambitions, 42:28 and thus unfitted himself 42:31 for the work that God would have given him to do." 42:35 Mary the fallen, 42:38 Judas the fallen will meet one last time 42:41 in the case study we are about to read. 42:42 Let's go to it, just a few pages back chapter 12, 42:46 John 12. 42:48 Here's the case study, watch this carefully. 42:50 As you read watch in your mind. 42:53 Verse 1, "Six days before the Passover, 42:56 Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, 42:59 whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 43:01 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. 43:03 Martha served, 43:05 while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table 43:07 with Jesus. 43:08 Then Mary," there she is now. 43:10 "Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, 43:13 an expensive perfume, she poured it on Jesus' feet 43:16 and wiped his feet with her hair. 43:17 And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 43:20 But one of the disciples..." 43:24 You guessed it "Judas Iscariot, 43:27 who was later to betray Jesus, objected," 43:30 loud stage whisper. 43:31 Everybody in the room hears it including Mary. 43:34 Why was this perfume sold? 43:37 "'Why wasn't this perfume sold 43:38 and the money given to the poor? 43:39 It was worth a year's wages.'" 43:42 Now little parentheses from John. 43:44 "He did not say this because he cared about the poor 43:46 but because he was a thief, as keeper of the money bag, 43:50 he used to help himself to what was put into it." 43:52 End of parentheses. 43:54 Now Jesus speaks 43:56 'Leave her alone,' Jesus replied. 44:02 'It was intended that she should save this perfume 44:04 for the day of my burial. 44:07 You will always have the poor among you, 44:09 but you will not always have me.'" 44:13 Leave Mary alone, Judas. 44:21 Jesus knows the hearts of both the protagonist 44:25 and the antagonist 44:26 and in that single pronouncement of judgment 44:29 upon them both Jesus reveals the truth. 44:32 He is the judge of the human race. 44:37 You say, oh, come on. Come on. 44:39 I mean, you are saying the judge of the whole earth? 44:45 The guys in the room didn't remember that day of the dinner 44:47 but Jesus actually earlier in John had spoken these words. 44:50 They are in your study guide, jot it down. Will you please? 44:51 Jesus had announced, "The Father judges no one, 44:55 but has entrusted all judgment to the Son." 44:59 Jot that word down. 45:01 You mean, the same Jesus of Nazareth 45:02 is the end time judge of the human race? 45:04 That's what He said. 45:05 And by the way, that's what the Bible says. 45:07 2 Corinthians 5:10 jot this one down. 45:09 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of..." 45:12 What's the next word, ladies and gentlemen? 45:14 What's the next word? Christ. 45:16 "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 45:18 so that each of us may receive what is due us 45:21 for the things we did while in the body," 45:26 Plain and simple. 45:28 Christ is the end time judge of the human race. 45:31 And so the question that begs to be asked is 45:33 "How will He treat the sinner in the judgment 45:38 since he is the judge?" 45:41 Well, we know two sinners by name in this case study. 45:44 How did He treat them? It is absolutely clear. 45:47 He did not embarrass either sinner. 45:54 Isn't that right? 45:56 Could He have work Judas up one side 45:58 and down the other 46:00 trashing him in front of the circle 46:02 that had no idea as Jesus did who was pilfering. 46:05 Why their money never lasted? 46:08 Of course He could have. Not a word. 46:10 His only judgment to Judas, "Leave her alone." 46:13 And in that eye, and in that eye lock 46:18 Judas now knows Jesus knows about me. 46:29 Five evenings later when the gathering 46:32 in the upper room for the last supper 46:34 Judas elbows his way to the front of the group. 46:36 He is gonna be right beside Jesus. 46:38 John boy is on the other side, Judas on this side. 46:41 What a stark contrast between the two disciples. 46:47 Jesus gets up from His table strips, strips to His waist. 46:51 Begins to wash the feet of His proud bicker, 46:54 they are bickering on the eve of His execution, disciples. 46:58 And He begins with a feet of His betrayer. 47:05 "Desire of Ages" on the screen. 47:06 "Jesus' heart was crying, How can I give thee up? 47:10 The constraining power of that love was felt by Judas. 47:13 And when the Savior's hands were bathing those soiled feet, 47:16 and wiping them with the towel, 47:18 the heart of Judas thrilled through 47:20 and through with the impulse then and there 47:22 to confess his sin. 47:24 But he would not humble himself. 47:27 He hardened his heart against repentance, 47:29 and the old impulses, for the moment put aside, 47:33 again controlled him." 47:36 And when later that night in the Garden of Gethsemane 47:40 Judas is leading this profane mob 47:42 to arrest his master. 47:46 Judas feigns affection. 47:47 Walks across the clearing in the full moon. 47:50 Throws his arms around Jesus. 47:52 Kisses Him on both cheeks, Master. 47:57 Jesus steps back. 48:00 He looks into those young dark eyes 48:02 and Jesus says, "Friend. 48:07 Hey, friend, what are you doing here?" 48:14 Well, later that night early the next morning 48:18 after Judas's nefarious betrayal of Jesus, 48:22 guilt ridden Judas comes back to the court room. 48:27 He is in anguish. He knows what he has done. 48:31 And as it describe 48:33 his hoarse voice rang through the hall 48:35 sending a thrill of terror to all hearts "He is innocent. 48:39 Spare him, O Caiaphas!" 48:42 Judas hurdles 30 pieces of silver at the priest 48:45 and then falls at Jesus feet. 48:53 Desire of Ages "The Savior did not reproach His betrayer. 48:59 He knew that Judas did not repent, 49:01 his confession was forced from his guilty soul 49:03 by an awful sense of condemnation 49:05 and a looking for judgment, 49:07 but he felt no deep, heartbreaking grief 49:09 that he had betrayed the spotless Son of God, 49:11 and denied the Holy One of Israel. 49:13 Yet 49:15 the Judge 49:18 spoke no word of condemnation. 49:22 He looked pityingly upon Judas, and said, 49:28 "For this hour came I into the world." 49:33 Oh, Judas. 49:36 Oh, Judas, 49:39 how I have longed to draw Me, 49:46 draw you to Me 49:51 as a mother hen draws her chicks 49:57 but you would not. 50:00 And the record reads Judas went out and hanged himself. 50:04 The Judge of the earth 50:05 and here's the point you need to get, 50:06 the Judge of earth has washed his feet. 50:09 Jesus has done everything divinely 50:12 and humanly possible to win that life back. 50:16 I remind you also this very same night... 50:27 another disciple will with profanity 50:32 deny his connection with this Jesus 50:36 and Jesus will forgive him. 50:39 Which means if Judas had just lived through the weekend. 50:43 If he would found the master 50:45 and then sob at His nail scared feet, 50:47 the same Jesus would have just assuredly forgiven Judas. 50:51 It's okay, I take you back. God used it, let's go. 50:58 Standing in front of the Judge 51:02 Judas has granted his free choice and he says no. 51:07 So hey, here's the question. 51:08 How about you and me, 51:09 when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, 51:12 how will it be for us? 51:15 I said every text has a genre in front but this one is true. 51:17 Our last text is 1 John. Go to 1 John. 51:20 This is, if it's not marked in your Bible, 51:22 make sure you mark it. 51:24 1 John 2, this is a stunning, 51:27 stunning piece of word here, get it. 51:30 1 John 2:1, you will never forget this verse again. 51:35 1 John 2:1 "My dear children..." 51:38 This is John boy elderly now a pastor, elderly pastor. 51:42 "My dear children, I write this to you 51:44 so that you will not sin. 51:45 But if anybody does sin, 51:48 we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ, 51:52 the Righteous One. 51:54 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, 51:57 and not only for ours 51:58 but also for the sins of the whole world." 52:01 Can you believe it? 52:03 This one who is the Savior of the whole world, 52:06 this one who is the judge of the whole world 52:09 is also the advocate of the whole world. 52:12 And fill that blank in, what's an advocate? 52:14 He is the Defense Attorney for the human race. 52:18 Now I want you to just think about the logic 52:20 of a court room for a moment. 52:22 If you're the defense attorney 52:25 and you are going with your client to the bar 52:31 if is it turns out you're also the judge of the case 52:37 would you logically ever lose a case? 52:41 Yes or no? Impossible. 52:44 If you're the judge 52:45 and the defense attorney you win every single time. 52:49 If somebody places his case or her case in your hands, 52:53 you win for her, you win for him every single time. 53:00 He is even better than that. 53:02 He is not just the defense attorney, 53:03 He is not just the judge, He is the Savior of the world. 53:09 Hallelujah. Wow. 53:13 Oh, Judas, Judas, how can I give you up. 53:17 Give me your life, 53:19 give me your case, I will defend you. 53:21 I will deliver you. 53:22 Mary kept coming back Judas says, 53:24 okay, you just keep coming back 53:26 I will save you, come to me. 53:31 I love this "Steps to Christ" 53:33 put it on the screen last quotation. 53:34 "We shall often have to bow down 53:37 and weep at the feet of Jesus 53:39 because of our shortcomings and mistakes..." 53:41 Often, often, "But we are not to be discouraged. 53:46 Even if we are overcome by the enemy, 53:49 we are not cast off, 53:50 we're not forsaken and rejected of God." 53:53 No, no, no. 53:54 "No, Christ is at the right hand of God, 53:56 who also makes intercession for us." 54:01 And if He is at the right hand of the Father 54:04 who is just like Him. 54:05 Didn't Jesus say, 54:06 "If you've seen Me, you seen the Father." 54:08 If He is at the right hand of the Father everybody there, 54:10 everybody there is on your side. 54:13 The defense attorney, the Savior and the judge. 54:18 I mean, how can you lose 54:21 just like Mary keep coming back. 54:23 Mary, it's no wonder that the very first person 54:28 the Savior greets upon His resurrection 54:31 there in the garden is sobbing Mary Magdalene. 54:37 And when she recognizes Him, she is so overcome with joy 54:44 that through her tears she has fallen to the ground 54:47 and she is holding Him by his ankles 54:50 until Jesus finally has to say, 54:52 "Yo, yo, Mary, you gonna let go. 54:56 I haven't even been to the Father yet. 54:59 I wanted to make sure that you heard the good news. 55:03 You were the first one, let me go. 55:06 And go tell the world that I go to My Father 55:09 and your Father but I will come again 55:12 and I will receive you to myself 55:14 that where I am there you may be also. 55:18 You go, you tell. 55:22 And, ladies and gentlemen, 55:25 in my humble opinion and conviction, 55:28 there is no better news than that, 55:35 for they call it the good news. 55:38 Oh, what I wish for you, what I wish for you 55:44 is a life 55:47 surrendered into the nails scared hands of Christ. 55:51 Just give your case to Him, He wins every time. 55:58 We've just finished incredible week of prayer 56:01 here on this campus 56:04 and I want to give you an opportunity to respond. 56:10 I want to pray with you first 56:13 and then we will go to that connect card. 56:15 Oh, God... 56:19 what do we say, this is who You are 56:25 charmed by Masters attractions of Christ. 56:30 This is who You are, 56:32 the Judge, the Savior, 56:37 the Defense Attorney all in one and I pray, oh, Father, 56:43 that everyone of us will chose 56:45 to place Jesus nail scared hands 56:49 our case and our life. 56:52 In His name I pray, amen. 56:57 May I take an extra moment with you 56:59 and let you know how grateful I am 57:00 that you joined us and worshiped today. 57:02 I have some viewers like you across the nation 57:04 and literally around the world and I'm thankful. 57:07 If you would like to explore further 57:09 what we've just shared, 57:10 I hope you will visit us at our website. 57:11 It's an easy one to remember www.pmchurch.tv. 57:17 We are the Pioneer Memorial Church 57:19 here on the campus of Andrews University. 57:20 So that's www.pmchurch.tv. 57:24 Click on to that website 57:26 and you will be able to listen to a podcast of this material, 57:28 you can download the presentation, 57:29 you can print off the study guide, 57:31 you may have a special prayer need 57:32 that you wish to share with our prayer partners 57:35 or you may wish to partner with us 57:36 through a personal donation to help reach this generation 57:39 with the everlasting good news of Christ. 57:42 If you rather talk with someone, 57:43 call one of our friendly operators. 57:45 Here's the toll free number 877 57:47 and then the two words HIS-WILL, 57:49 877-HIS-WILL. 57:52 In the meantime, 57:53 may the grace and peace of Jesus be yours 57:55 every step of this adventurous way. |
Revised 2016-04-14