October 21, 2012
I would like to make some comments on a portion we read earlier: John 13:27 & 30. Satan had entered into Judas and Jesus could not reveal what was on His heart to the disciples until Judas had left. Read vv. 31 & 32. In these two verses, we have three glorious statements.
Before Jesus came to earth, everyone was a sinner. When He came, He was the first sinless person; and this statement is speaking of His life.
Here, He is speaking of the cross: His purpose in coming here. Going to the cross brought glory to God and God accepted it.
This statement shows that God is so satisfied with Jesus’ work on the cross that He had accepted Him into Heaven and put Him and His right-hand.
Read v. 33 - 34. In going to the cross to complete the work, the disciples could not follow Him. In the Old Testament, they had received the commandment to love their neighbours as themselves. Here it is “love one another; as I have loved you”; that could only be possible by the cross. Only as children of God can we love one another as God loves us. May these things impress our hearts and change our lives.
Hymn 367 - When he cometh, When he cometh
Prayer
We have been working on Matthew 8. The first story was about the leper, who didn’t know if Jesus had the heart to heal him. Then we read of the centurion, who had great faith. From there we went to Peter’s house, where Jesus healed Peter’s wife’s mother. Finally, we read about the storm on the sea of Galilee. This week we have the last story from this great chapter and it happened right as the ship landed on the other side of the sea.
Matthew 8:28 - 34
Jesus and his disciples landed on the shores of Gergesa. The people who lived there were descendants of Ham, one of Noah’s son. The port at Gergesa was right on the edge of a graveyard. If you have ever been to a funeral you’ve probably been to a graveyard: it’s the place where dead people are buried. Here, Jesus met two men possessed with demons. These two men were quite fierce because of the demons in them; they were not acting normally.
Interestingly, the demons in these two men were able to recognize Jesus as the Son of God. They also knew that there was coming a day in which all demons would be judged. Now, beside the graveyard was a pig farm. Knowing that Jesus would cast them out of the men, they ask Him to cast them into the pigs. Jesus cast the demons into the pigs and the pigs went crazy. They ran around and into the water. But pigs can’t swim, and so they all drowned.
When the pig farmers saw what had happened to their pigs, they ran into the town and told everyone what had happened. Unfortunately this caused the people of the village to ask Jesus to leave. There is a very important message for us here. We often have two choices: Jesus or the world. This town wanted their pigs more than they wanted Jesus. I trust each of us will choose Jesus over the world.
Luke 16:19-31
We said last week that this parable is one place where our Lord gives us a glimpse of eternity and shows us what happens to the believer and unbeliever in the afterlife. He didn’t condemn riches and He didn’t promote poverty; that wasn’t His point. His point (or one of His points) was that the Pharisees thought that wealth meant God’s blessing; but the rich man ended up in Hell, while Lazarus was in the place of blessing.
This story shows that Jesus knew that Hell was a real place. Some people say, “I don’t believe in Hell. A loving God wouldn’t send people to Hell.” That doesn’t change reality, though; and this is a serious reality.
We don’t know if people can really see from Hell to Heaven (that might have just been for the story), but this we do know: the rich man was in flames and torment. This was only Hades and he was already experiencing judgement! Think of the terrorists and suicide bombers who think that they are about to go on to some glory - to end up in this.
The flames were tormenting, but so was this man’s memory. Abraham said, “Child, remember.” How haunting it must be to be in such a place, and not be able to do anything about it! You would remember all the opportunities that you had to receive the gospel and think “If only I had…if only I had.” You wouldn’t be able to forget, either.
Abraham also told the rich man that he couldn’t send Lazarus to cool his tongue because there was a great gulf fixed between them. Then the rich man became evangelistic and asked, “Will you please send Lazarus to my five brothers with a message?” He didn’t want his family to end up in Hell.
The rich man was in physical and psychological discomfort yet he said, “If you can’t help me, help my brothers.” He insisted that, “If one rose from the dead, they would repent”; but the Lord disagreed. He raised people from the dead during His ministry, and even rose from the dead Himself; yet some still would not believe in Him. Abraham told the rich man, “If they won’t hear Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rose from the dead.” This shows us the importance of the Word of God.
It’s so blessed to be able to open the Scriptures and find a Saviour. We have the New Testament, but the people of Jesus’ day only had the Old Testament. And yet that was ample. On the road to Emmaus Jesus was able to turn to Moses and the prophets and show his two followers the “things concerning Himself”.
This is a great parable, and it’s a great issue. After death, what will happen to you? We’ll all pass on, there’s no denying that. Some believe that we’ll die like a dog, and that there’s nothing after death. Some people believe in “soul sleep”; that you’re not conscience after you die. Still others - and there’s a fair amount of this today - believe in reincarnation: coming back as another life form. Jesus shows us here that once you die, that’s it, it’s final. And eternity is so long; it’s permanent! Our lives are so short beside it. One of the main points of our lives is to decide where we will spend eternity. So many people, though, don’t want to believe. They don’t want God because they don’t want to be accountable to anyone.
It’s not a high note to end on, but these things are so important; and especially so when we’re hearing from the Lord Himself. Here’s a cheerful thought, though: eternity is long, and it’s all blessing and fullness of joy for the believer in the presence of our Lord.
Hymn 369 - I claim for my own, a King on the throne
Prayer