Participants:
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP210116S
|
00:36 One day You'll make ev'rything new Jesus
00:43 One day You will bind every wound 00:50 The former things shall all pass away 00:55 No more tears 01:00 One day You'll make sense of it all Jesus 01:07 One day ev'ry question resolved 01:13 And ev'ry anxious thought left behind 01:19 No more fear 01:26 When we all get to heaven 01:32 What a day of rejoicing that will be 01:39 When we all see Jesus 01:46 We'll sing and shout the victory 01:53 One day we will see face to face Jesus 02:00 Is there a greater vision of grace 02:06 And in a moment, we shall be changed 02:11 On that day 02:18 When we all get to heaven 02:25 What a day of rejoicing that will be 02:31 When we all see Jesus 02:38 We'll sing and shout the victory 02:43 One more time. 02:44 When we all get to heaven 02:50 What a day of rejoicing that will be 02:57 When we all see Jesus 03:03 We'll sing and shout the victory 03:10 We'll sing and shout 03:13 The victory 03:20 So today's scripture reading comes to us from John 114:18. 03:26 And this is a verse that personally for me 03:28 has always impacted me. 03:29 Whenever I read it, 03:30 it reminds me not just of the text itself, 03:33 but it reminds me of memories 03:34 because I have a lot of memories with this verse 03:36 and I'll read the text. 03:37 It says, "The word of God became flesh 03:41 and made its dwelling among us. 03:43 We have seen His glory, 03:45 the glory of the one and the only 03:47 who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 03:54 No one has ever seen God. 03:56 But God, the one and only 03:59 who is have the father side has made him known." 04:04 And when I think about this verse, 04:06 I think about every time that I get to sing up here, 04:09 and I always get a clean view of that 04:12 that stained glass window in the back of Jesus. 04:15 And it just reminds me... 04:18 God didn't just give up 50 cents, 04:20 God didn't just give up a dollar from His bank account. 04:24 God gave us the one and the only thing 04:27 that He loved most... 04:29 so that we could have a chance in heaven. 04:33 And especially in this time where everything is so corrupt, 04:37 and everything is so messed up 04:38 and we see our nation falling apart, 04:40 we see the health of our nation just falling apart, 04:43 not have been just our nation but our world. 04:47 It is in these moments where I sing that last song 04:49 we just sang. 04:50 When we all get to heaven, 04:52 what a day of rejoicing that will be. 04:53 And I don't know about you guys, 04:55 but I am ready for that day of rejoicing. 04:58 I am ready for that day of rejoicing. 05:01 And as we continue through this service 05:03 and as we continue to sing, 05:05 and then hear Pastor Dwight's message, 05:06 I just encourage you guys, I want you guys to get into, 05:11 into today. 05:12 I want you guys to take something out of today. 05:15 Because oftentimes we just come and we run through the motions. 05:18 We don't realize that there's something deeper. 05:20 And so I encourage you guys to sing with us 05:23 Our next song Way Maker. 05:36 You are here, moving in our midst 05:43 I worship You I worship You 05:50 You are here, working in this place 05:57 I worship You I worship You 06:04 And You are way maker Miracle worker, 06:08 Promise keeper Light in the darkness 06:12 My God, that is who You are 06:17 And You are way maker Miracle worker, 06:21 Promise keeper Light in the darkness 06:25 My God, that is who You are 06:32 A way maker Miracle worker, promise keeper 06:36 Light in the darkness 06:39 My God, that is who You are 06:44 And You are way maker Miracle worker, 06:48 Promise keeper Light in the darkness 06:52 My God, that is who You are 06:58 Even when I don't see it You're working 07:01 Even when I don't feel it You're working 07:05 You never stop You never stop working 07:08 You never stop You never stop working 07:11 Even when I don't see it You're working 07:15 Even when I don't feel it You're working 07:18 You never stop You never stop working 07:21 You never stop You never stop working 07:25 Way maker Miracle worker, promise keeper 07:29 Light in the darkness 07:31 My God, that is who You are 07:36 And You are way maker Miracle worker, 07:40 Promise keeper Light in the darkness 07:44 My God, that is who You are 07:48 That is who You are 07:51 And that is who You are And that is who You are 07:58 That is who You are 08:19 I invite the congregation to stand with us 08:21 for this last song. 08:27 Here I am 08:30 Down on my knees again 08:35 Surrendering all 08:39 Surrendering all 08:45 And find me here 08:49 Lord as You draw me near 08:54 I'm desperate for You 08:58 I'm desperate for You 09:03 I surrender 09:08 I surrender 09:13 I want to know You more 09:18 I want to know You more 09:22 I surrender 09:27 I surrender 09:32 I want to know You more 09:37 I want to know You more 10:00 Like a rushing wind 10:05 Jesus breathe within 10:09 Lord have Your way 10:11 Lord have Your way in me 10:19 Like a mighty storm 10:23 Stir within my soul 10:28 Lord have Your way 10:30 Lord have Your way in me 10:37 Like a rushing wind 10:42 Jesus breathe within 10:46 Lord have Your way 10:48 Lord have Your way in me 10:56 Like a mighty storm 11:00 Stir within my soul 11:04 Lord have Your way 11:07 Lord have Your way in me 11:14 I surrender 11:18 I surrender 11:23 I want to know You more 11:28 I want to know You more 11:50 There's a lot in this life, 11:53 you can surrender yourself to as one person. 11:58 You're safe in surrendering completely to Him. 12:05 Let's talk to Him. 12:07 Oh God, we've been in worship. 12:12 Hearts have been lifted up to Your throne room. 12:16 We've listened. 12:18 We've responded. 12:23 And we're so blessed to be here. 12:26 Thank you, Father. Thank you, Lord. 12:29 Right now, may Jesus be front and center. 12:33 Do whatever you want to do 12:34 with a few moments we have left. 12:37 Make it clear. 12:38 That's all we're asking in Jesus' name. 12:41 Amen. 12:43 I'm really jest about 12:45 what we're going to share right now. 12:47 I don't think a lot of deep thoughts. 12:50 As a human being I have friends who are very deep thinkers. 12:54 And I'm always very jealous of them. 12:56 I don't have that gift. 13:02 But I have been pondering 13:04 if you could take all the truth in the universe. 13:08 Reduce it to one simple sentence... 13:12 what would it be? 13:15 I have a lot of friends who are scientists 13:17 and God bless the scientists among us 13:18 and a bunch of you are science majors. 13:22 And you know scientists kind of keep goading each other on, 13:24 come on. 13:26 They're looking for what they call 13:27 the theory of everything. 13:29 You've heard about it. 13:31 From quasars and spiraling galaxies 13:36 to amoeba, 13:38 is there one organizing principle 13:41 that becomes the theory to explain it all. 13:44 I'm not interested in the theory of everything. 13:46 I'm looking for one sentence to summarize, 13:50 all revealed truth in the universe. 13:55 I think I found it. 13:59 You're not gonna believe where it came from. 14:01 A literary critic, and novelist, 14:05 writer named Reynolds Price. 14:09 He says whenever a person is hungry for a story, 14:14 what the human wants most from this story is this line. 14:20 I want to share it with you right now. 14:23 Let me put it on the screen. 14:25 Reynolds Price in the clearest voice we have. 14:29 Okay, this is as clear he says we can do it. 14:32 "In the clearest voice we have the sentence 14:34 that mankind craves from stories." 14:36 When you pick up a storybook, 14:38 you want this sub subliminally, you're seeking it. 14:41 What's that sentence? 14:42 Price, he puts it right here. 14:44 "The Maker of all things loves and wants me. 14:52 He's thinking this is why people go to books. 14:55 And I'm wondering, 14:57 could this be the simple sentence 14:59 that summarizes all universal truth 15:03 in one line. 15:05 Read it again, 15:07 "The Maker of all things loves and wants me." 15:10 Now he goes on. 15:11 "No other book our culture owns." 15:13 He's talking about this book right here. 15:15 "No other book our culture owns can we see 15:18 a clearer graph of that need that enormous radiant arc." 15:24 Overall... 15:27 what's the story in the book? 15:28 He summarizes it, 15:29 "Fragile creatures made by God's hand 15:31 hurled into space, 15:33 then caught it last by a man in some ways like ourselves." 15:37 He's talking about Jesus. 15:40 Could that be the sentence? 15:43 The Maker of all things loves and wants me. 15:51 The truth of the matter is, here's my observation. 15:55 The reason you and I don't communicate 15:57 what we believe to other people, 15:59 basically, is, 16:00 we have overcomplicated what we believe. 16:03 And it's just too hard to share. 16:05 I mean, don't ask me what I believe, please. 16:09 Could it be that the summation of everything we believe, 16:13 everything you're taught in this university? 16:16 The universal truth can, could it be reduced 16:20 to a default, a default sentence? 16:23 And this would be the default sentence, 16:24 the Maker of all things, loves and wants me. 16:28 Somebody yells at you, "Yo! 16:30 What do you believe?" 16:32 Default, 16:33 the Maker of all things loves and wants me. 16:36 Yeah, but come on, man. 16:37 What do you think is the philosophy of life? 16:40 The Maker of all things loves and wants me? 16:43 Yeah, but what about what about my life? 16:46 The Maker of all things loves and wants you. 16:51 Can you believe this old book? 16:54 What do you suppose the bottom line 16:55 is to this dusty, 16:56 archaic bit of literature, 16:59 filmmaker of all things, loves and wants me? 17:04 Too simplistic, too simple. 17:07 There is one book in that old book 17:10 that radiates from beginning to end with that line, 17:14 I happen to believe, 17:15 and I'm going to share with you now six storylines 17:18 from that book. 17:20 Check them out, six of them. 17:22 And the book is the Gospel of John. 17:24 And because we're only going to be in the Gospel of John 17:26 for the few minutes we have left, 17:27 you might as well just open your Bible to John. 17:29 Let's start in the beginning. 17:31 John Chapter 1. 17:32 John 1. 17:34 Layo just read these words a moment ago. 17:37 Drop down to verse 14. 17:40 All right, John 1, 17:42 the story of Christmas in the Gospel of John. 17:46 You say there's no story of Christmas. 17:48 Only Matthew and Luke have the Christmas story, 17:50 Mark left it out, John left it out. 17:51 John did not leave it out. Here it is. 17:53 John 1:14, and the Word became flesh. 17:58 He made his dwelling among us. 18:01 We've seen His glory, 18:02 the glory of the One and only Son 18:04 who came from the Father full of grace and truth. 18:07 The great English writer JB Phillips, 20th century, 18:12 told a story once upon a time 18:15 that began with once upon a time, 18:17 there was a senior angel, 18:19 who was taking a rookie angel on a tour of the universe. 18:26 As they roam through the vast chasms of the cosmos, 18:31 they made their way to a galaxy of about 500 billion stars. 18:37 It's called the Milky Way. 18:39 And as they began to penetrate the Milky Way 18:41 the senior angel speaks. 18:44 Yo, I want you to watch, 18:47 I want you to keep your eye on that little smudge. 18:51 He points, let me quote JB Phillips here. 18:53 He points to a small and rather insignificant sphere, 18:57 turning very slowly on its axis. 19:00 It looked as dull as a dirty tennis ball 19:03 to the little angel 19:05 whose mind has been filled with the size and the glory 19:06 of what he's seen elsewhere in this universe. 19:09 And finally, the rookie angel speaks, 19:15 "Why do you want me to watch this dirty tennis ball?" 19:20 The senior angel replies because keep your eye on it. 19:24 "It is the visited planet." 19:30 You can't be serious. 19:32 Do you mean, JB Phillips writing, 19:34 "Do you mean our great and glorious Prince went down 19:36 in person to that fifth rate little ball? 19:38 Why should He do a thing like that? 19:42 The little angel's face wrinkled in disgust. 19:45 Do you mean to tell me, he goes on, 19:47 that He stooped so low as to become 19:48 one of those creeping, 19:50 crawling creatures of that floating ball. 19:54 Sternly now the senior angel speaks, 19:57 "I do and I don't think 19:59 He would like you to call them creeping, 20:01 crawling creatures in that tone of voice. 20:03 For as strange as it may seem to us, He loves them. 20:10 He went down to visit them, to lift them up, 20:12 to become like Him." 20:14 Last line of the story, the little angel looked blank, 20:17 such a thought was almost beyond his comprehension. 20:22 Me too. 20:25 Read it again, John 1:14, 20:28 "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 20:33 We have seen His glory, 20:35 the glory of the One and only Son 20:37 who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." 20:40 But why would he do it? 20:42 Ah, because the maker of all things 20:47 loves and wants me, loves and wants you. 20:51 Yeah. 20:53 Do you know what kind of a risk He took? 20:57 I've only found one line in literature that I've read 21:02 that describes that risk. 21:04 And it can't even define it. 21:06 But I'll put it on the screen for you. 21:07 So it's a classic on the life of Jesus 21:09 called the Desire of Ages. 21:10 Look at this, the lines coming up here. 21:12 "Yet into the world where Satan, 21:14 the rebel angel, claimed dominion, 21:17 God permitted His son to come a helpless babe, 21:20 subject to the weakness of humanity. 21:24 He permitted Him to meet life's peril and comment 21:27 with every human soul to fight the battles 21:29 every child in this building right now, 21:32 every child of humanity must fight it 21:34 every single day of our lives." 21:37 He permitted him to come at... 21:39 Now here's the line, 21:40 at the risk of failure and eternal loss. 21:43 We are not we are not told... 21:47 what that fallout would have been. 21:49 It's an absolute mystery. 21:51 But it is clear at the risk of failure and eternal loss 21:55 is trying to capture the supposition 21:59 that had he failed in his mission, 22:03 this universe would forever have been marked and changed. 22:09 And then the writer, Ellen White, 22:12 exclaims, sentence following this. 22:15 Herein, speaking of the incarnation, 22:18 herein is love, 22:19 'Wonder, O heavens, and be astonished O earth! 22:25 That He was willing to risk it all. 22:27 Eternal failure, come on, why would He do it? 22:32 Because the maker of all things loves and wants me, 22:37 that's why. 22:39 That storyline number one, 22:41 here comes storyline number two, 22:42 the secret interview... 22:46 The midnight visitor 22:48 happens to be a secret admirer of the young teacher. 22:51 But so radical is this young man... 22:55 that this upstanding member of society 22:58 cannot risk being seen in public with him. 23:02 And so he comes under the cover of midnight shadows... 23:08 to interview the upstart. 23:12 And he begins, oh, teacher, we know you are sent from God. 23:19 For how could anyone do what you do 23:22 if he were not sent from God? 23:25 Oh, Nicodemus, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 23:29 You just said nothing but a hot air in the ether. 23:35 You're trying to flatter the man. 23:38 And he is not flattered. 23:41 Jesus smiles at him. 23:45 Teacher of Israel, let me tell you something. 23:50 Unless you are born again, you are lost. 23:54 And don't you give me any of that blather about 23:55 I have to crawl back into my mother's womb, 23:57 you know exactly what I'm talking about. 24:01 Do you remember the time Moses, 24:03 those killer adders penetrated the camp of Israel? 24:06 They're dying. 24:07 They're dropping all over the camp. 24:08 Do you remember when Moses 24:10 sticks a pole in the middle and upon it 24:13 a bronze serpent and the order from God 24:15 was look at that pole, that serpent? 24:18 Look, believe and you'll live? 24:21 Do you remember that? 24:23 Of course, I the Son of man, 24:27 I'm gonna to be lifted up so that when people look to Me, 24:31 they will look and live and be saved, 24:35 oh... 24:38 and then come the words. 24:40 Look at, we're right here in John 1. 24:41 So you just turn to page to John 3:16. 24:44 Oh, you know this. Everybody knows this. 24:46 In fact, let's just read this one out loud 24:48 inside our masks. 24:49 Let's read it out loud together, 24:51 "For God so loved the world 24:53 that He gave His One and only Son 24:57 that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, 25:01 but have eternal life." 25:06 The problem is we stopped too soon. 25:10 There's a 17, oh, don't you ever forget the 17. 25:13 You've got, you've got 16 memorized. 25:15 Oh, you're not gonna have a hard time memorizing this, 25:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world 25:20 to condemn the world, 25:21 but to save the world through Him." 25:24 I have come... 25:28 to make this a visited planet 25:30 not because I wish to condemn the world. 25:33 I have made this a visited planet 25:35 because I longed to save the entire world... 25:40 which to that because the Maker of all things 25:47 loves and wants me. 25:52 There it is, ladies and gentlemen, 25:54 bright young scholars to be. 25:56 There it is, the summation of all universal truth 26:00 in that one line. 26:02 FF Bruce in his wonderful commentary 26:04 on the fourth gospel, 26:05 in the Gospel of John, he puts it this way, 26:07 "The love of God is limitless. 26:10 It embraces all mankind. 26:12 No sacrifice was too great 26:15 to bring its unmeasured intensity," 26:18 Oh, I love that, "no sacrifice was too great 26:20 to bring its unmeasured intensity home 26:23 to man and women, 26:25 the best that God had to give He gave His only Son, 26:29 His well-beloved." 26:31 The profound but abiding truth, 26:34 the Maker of all things loves and wants me. 26:40 Storyline number three, 26:44 the thirsty woman, 26:47 and the first four words 26:49 of this storyline are unbelievable. 26:52 Come on, you're in Chapter 3. 26:53 So I didn't have to turn the page 26:55 because now there's Chapter 4 right there. 26:57 Chapter 4, drop down to verse 4, short little verse, 27:00 this is all there is to the verse. 27:01 Now, He Jesus had to go through Samaria. 27:08 Now, come on, that is not true. 27:11 He did not have to go through Samaria. 27:15 Every Jew knows 27:16 that if you're going north to Galilee 27:18 you take a long cut, not a shortcut, 27:20 a long cut around Samaria, then you get the Galilee. 27:27 Isn't it amazing? 27:29 Four words. No, no, no, no, no, no. 27:31 He had to go. 27:35 Why did He have to go? 27:37 Jews and Samaritans with their hatred party 27:41 run it at max speed. 27:43 Why did He have to go? 27:45 Because in that disenfranchised land, 27:48 somewhere there, there was a woman 27:52 who cried herself to sleep every night. 27:56 Beside the snoring man, who was her husband, de-jour, 28:01 husband of the day. 28:04 Unable to find a love 28:06 that would love her for who she was. 28:09 She has nearly given hope, 28:12 given up hope her heart will ever, ever be healed. 28:18 You may have given up hope yourself. 28:22 But then one day, at noon of all times 28:27 to be alone she goes to the well 28:29 and there is a stranger. 28:32 A Jew, wouldn't you know it? 28:34 A man... 28:37 at my well... 28:40 and a stranger with a smile on his face 28:44 watches her approach. 28:47 And He says, "Lady would you mind 28:50 sharing a drink of water with Me?" 28:53 She says, "With you, Jew man. 28:58 Your eyes blind. 28:59 I'm woman. 29:01 I'm Samaritan." 29:04 I still warm and friendly peer into her face. 29:10 As a stranger goes on, whoa, whoa, whoa, 29:13 if you knew who you were talking to, 29:16 you would ask Him for the water that will satisfy 29:20 the thirst that has driven you night and day. 29:23 And He would give it to you. 29:26 I love this. 29:28 He had to go... 29:32 for one woman. 29:35 And the rest we know... 29:37 He became the savior of that Samaritan woman. 29:40 He became the savior of every man who ever knew her. 29:43 He eventually became the savior of the entire town. 29:46 Why? Why did He have to go? 29:48 Because the Maker of all things loves and wants me, that's why. 29:53 Are you getting a familiar storyline 29:56 theme developing out of these please, 30:00 the Maker of all things loves and wants me. 30:06 Four words, He had to go. 30:10 You know what? 30:11 Those four words to me are the explanation 30:15 of the mystery we call the incarnation. 30:17 It's a Latin word that means the infleshment of God, 30:20 when He becomes the baby, then He's the Christ child, 30:23 then he's the teen Christ with a squeaky voice, 30:25 then He becomes a young adult Christ, 30:27 then He becomes Christ the Savior. 30:32 Why did He do it? 30:34 Because He had to go. 30:36 Jesus had to come. 30:38 No long cut around the earth, straight through this planet. 30:43 Look at this, from Desire of Ages, Jesus did not count... 30:46 Oh, this is so beautiful. 30:47 "Jesus did not count heaven a place to be desire 30:50 while you and me while we were lost. 30:53 He left the heavenly courts for a life of reproach 30:56 and insult and a death of shame. 30:58 He who was rich and heavens priceless treasure became poor, 31:02 that through His poverty we might be rich." 31:05 Can I hear an amen to that? 31:08 Come on, why would He do it? 31:10 Because the Maker of all things loves and wants me, 31:13 that's why He did it... 31:16 That is the bottom line. 31:19 That is the summation of universal truth. 31:22 In one simple sentence, 31:25 the Maker of all things loves and wants me. 31:29 What do you believe? 31:30 The Maker of all things loves and wants me? 31:33 How do you know? 31:34 The Maker of all things is loved and wanted me? 31:38 Where do you get it from? 31:39 This book. 31:40 What's its bottom line? 31:42 The Maker of all things loves and wants me. 31:45 You gotta be kidding me. 31:48 No. 31:51 Storyline number four, the sinner by the pool. 31:57 It was a glorious Sabbath day when Jesus stepped through that 32:01 crowded poolside weaving amongst the sufferers lying 32:05 on that marble floor, 32:08 all of them with this desperate hope 32:11 that some angel will descend from heaven 32:13 and put his pinky in the water and just stir it up 32:16 and the first boy is healed. 32:20 He's looking for the worst case. 32:25 It's the Sabbath. 32:27 Looking for the worst case he finally sees him. 32:31 We are told the man's disease was in a great degree, 32:35 the result of his own sin and was looked upon 32:39 as a judgment from God. 32:41 It is left to our imaginations as to what would have caused 32:44 that disease. 32:46 But you don't have to be a rocket scientist 32:47 to figure it out. 32:50 He's been ravished, 32:51 ravaged because of that sin. 32:57 Jesus steps over this shriveled invalid 33:01 so that his shadow blocks the sun. 33:04 Do you want to get well? 33:10 The invalid winces... 33:13 "I have no one to help me." 33:17 Come on. 33:18 That's John 5, we're just a page away. 33:20 John 5 drop down to verse 8. 33:22 Then Jesus said to him, I love this. 33:26 "Jesus said to him, 'Get up... 33:30 pick up your mat, and walk." 33:33 And then once the man was cured, 33:35 he picked up his mat and he walked. 33:38 And he is so overjoyed, this huge sinner 33:41 that he totally forgets to thank Jesus. 33:43 He didn't even get his name. 33:48 And Jesus as quietly as He came slipped away unseen. 33:54 Later Sabbath afternoon, they're both at church. 33:57 And Jesus bumps into the man. 34:02 The man recognizes Jesus now. 34:04 And Jesus speaks, drop down to verse 14. 34:08 Later Jesus found him at the temple. 34:10 And he said to him, see, you are well again. 34:15 Stop sinning... 34:18 stop sinning or something worse... 34:21 may happen to you. 34:25 You see, the Maker of all things 34:27 loves and wants me 34:29 hardly teaches the notion 34:31 that because He loves and wants me, 34:34 my sins are of no account to Him or to me. 34:40 Some people feel that, well, if you embrace this truth, 34:43 it's just kind of a willy-nilly spineless gospel. 34:46 No, the Maker of all things looks into your heart. 34:50 He looks into mine and says no, not at all. 34:54 You have got to quit playing games, 34:56 with what you know is sin. 34:59 Stop it. 35:01 Stop sinning. 35:05 Of course, the Maker of all things 35:07 loves and wants me. 35:08 Stop sinning. 35:10 That's precisely why I'm asking you to stop 35:14 because I love you 35:15 and you will kill yourself in the end. 35:18 Stop it. 35:23 The Maker of all things loves and wants me, 35:28 which happens to be the bottom line 35:30 of the very next storyline. 35:31 This is storyline number five, the sins on the floor, 35:36 it was a terribly embarrassing ordeal. 35:41 The church board, 35:43 the entire church board shows up 35:45 to make sure this young adult 35:47 gets the punishment she deserves. 35:50 And so they drag the woman, 35:51 they push her toward the young teacher. 35:54 And they say guess where we just found her? 35:57 Sleeping with a man who is not her husband. 36:00 The law says stone her. 36:02 So what say you? 36:09 Jesus doesn't speak. 36:11 The girl has hardly had time to dress, 36:13 the straps are still off her shoulders. 36:18 She's sobbing... 36:21 because not only is she appearing before 36:22 the church board, this is early service, 36:25 the preacher was about to begin 36:27 and the whole congregation is gaping at her now. 36:32 What would the young teacher say? 36:37 The Maker of all things loves and wants me. 36:41 It means that Jesus must not only show love 36:44 to the young adult woman, 36:46 He must show love to the accusing church board. 36:52 How you gonna do that? 36:55 And so Mount Sinai's law giver 36:59 who with His own finger etched into granite 37:02 the very sins and commandments 37:05 this young woman has already broken. 37:08 Stoops down and with His finger 37:12 in the dust of the temple floor, 37:15 He begins to carve the secret sins of every member 37:20 of the church board. 37:26 And then he stands up. 37:28 All right. 37:30 Okay. 37:31 The one without sin, you throw the first stone. 37:38 Nobody moves. 37:41 We'll pick up the story right here in John 8. 37:43 Let's turn a couple pages over to John 8. 37:46 Here's what happens next. 37:48 And at this, throw the first stone. 37:51 "At this, those who had heard began to go away one at a time, 37:57 the older ones first, 37:59 until only Jesus was left with a woman 38:03 still standing there." 38:07 Jesus straightens up. 38:09 And He asked her, "Woman, where are they? 38:13 Does no one condemn you?" 38:16 Through tear blurred eye, she looks around, 38:19 her mascara smeared, trickles down her rouge. 38:26 No one, my Lord. 38:28 Well... 38:31 then neither do I condemn you. 38:34 Jesus declared, 38:36 "Go now and leave your life of sin. 38:43 Leave it behind." 38:47 It's again, the Maker of all things 38:51 loves and wants me. 38:53 I tell you what? 38:55 You can choose any story you wish 38:56 from the Gospel of John, 38:57 you pick any story, bring it to me afterwards 38:59 if you find an exception. 39:00 Every single story reaffirms 39:04 and ratifies this universal truth. 39:08 The Maker of all things loves and wants me. 39:13 In fact, Jesus has just proven it true. 39:16 Those words from that midnight interview, 39:19 for God did not send His Son into the world 39:21 to condemn the world, 39:23 but to save the world through Him. 39:26 Neither do I condemn you. 39:29 Now go leave, leave, leave, leave, leave, leave that, 39:31 leave that behind. 39:33 It's because He loves you and me. 39:36 He says leave it behind. 39:38 I love you. I want you. 39:40 And by the way, the accusers, oh, as hard as aching for them, 39:45 He loves and wants them. 39:47 So He has written their sins in the dust of the floor 39:51 so that the first morning breeze 39:53 will simply erase the record and nobody will know. 39:57 Save the ones who saw it Him right there sin. 40:04 The maker of all things loves and wants me. 40:08 Storylines from the Gospel of John proving that in fact, 40:12 it is indeed true. 40:13 Our last storyline, at the cross. 40:18 Very interesting about the cross in John. 40:22 It's a marvelous chapter to read, 40:24 just sit down this afternoon and read just John 19, 40:26 it is just profound. 40:28 But John inserts into his story of Calvary 40:32 three details the synoptic totally omitted. 40:36 Either they didn't know, 40:37 either they were blocked from knowing, 40:39 either they forgot. 40:41 It doesn't matter. 40:42 Oh, yes, John's Gospel is very clear. 40:45 The brutal bloody scourging has already taken place. 40:48 Jesus is bleeding 40:50 as He's pinned to that middle cross. 40:53 Yes, just like the synoptic, John agrees. 40:56 He's in the middle 40:58 of two condemned criminals. 41:03 They're being executed on the same day together. 41:09 But then John adds a detail that matters. 41:14 You see, all the gospels agree that there's a sign 41:16 that's placed over Jesus head, 41:18 and the sign reads Jesus of Nazareth, 41:20 King of the Jews. 41:22 But in the Gospel of John, John boy goes further. 41:26 And he says, Pilate inked that sign in three languages, 41:32 the three languages of the Roman Empire, 41:35 Aramaic, Greek... 41:39 and Latin. 41:43 John's quiet, unsettled way of making sure 41:47 we know that this truth, 41:48 the Maker of all things loves and wants me 41:51 is a universal truth. 41:53 It does not belong to a private people. 41:56 It does not belong to a faith community. 41:58 It is a truth of the universe, for the human race, 42:02 the Maker of all things loves and wants me. 42:04 Three details in the Gospel of John, 42:05 that the others didn't get. 42:07 Detail number two, amazing. 42:09 John wants to make sure that we know 42:13 the man on the center cross 42:15 happens to be the maker of all things. 42:19 And that's why... 42:22 this Jesus, and, of course, 42:23 from the synoptic we know He's Son of God. 42:25 Yes, yes. And He's Son of man. 42:27 But only john Pulls the veil aside, 42:30 so that in Jesus' death cry, 42:32 there is a link to the maker of all things. 42:35 I got to show this to you. So come on, John 19. 42:37 You got a few pages to turn to get to John 19. 42:39 That's all right. 42:40 Find John 19. 42:42 This is the crucifixion chapter, verse. 42:44 John 19:30, 42:46 "And when Jesus had received the drink, " 42:48 his mouth is as dry as if 1000 Roman legionnaires 42:51 had marched across His tongue barefoot. 42:54 He cannot move. 42:56 It is just stuck. 42:57 He has bade, 42:59 "Is there anybody that has a drink." 43:02 The stranger by the well of Samaria 43:07 once again has to ask, 43:10 does somebody have something for Me to drink? 43:17 When He received the drink, some Roman had pity on Him. 43:22 Jesus said, "It is finished." 43:26 And with that, He bowed His head 43:29 and gave up His spirit. 43:31 Now look, it was the day of preparation. 43:33 We know it is Good Friday, 43:34 it's the day before the seventh day, 43:36 it was a day of preparation, 43:38 and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. 43:41 Wow. 43:43 The one who finished His work 43:44 on the sixth day of the creation week 43:46 and then rested is the same one 43:49 who finishes work 43:50 on the sixth day of the Passion Week, 43:52 and then rested. 43:55 Same one, the one who cries out it is finished. 43:58 When creation is over, is the same one 44:00 who cries out it is finished. 44:02 When redemption is complete, it is finished. 44:06 And by the way, don't miss this moment 44:09 that you've just been exposed to the word is finished. 44:14 It is not partially finished. 44:17 It is not dominantly finished. 44:20 It is totally finished. 44:22 The Greek is clear, finished. 44:27 So when anybody that rebel angel comes your way 44:30 and whispers you know what, boy, 44:32 you can be forgiven after what you did. 44:35 Please, girl, you're asking Him to forgive you. 44:41 You got to be crazy. 44:44 It's too late. 44:46 No, no, no, no, no, no, no, it is not too late. 44:48 Two thousand years ago, the Maker of all things 44:50 who died on that center cross said it's finished. 44:54 This will be truth forever and ever now, 44:57 the Maker of all things loves and wants me. 45:00 It is truth forever. 45:01 Don't you ever let that rebel angel fool you. 45:05 You can have salvation just like that, 45:08 for the asking... 45:12 is ready for you. 45:14 He's ready to go. 45:17 Oh, but you see there are three exceptions 45:20 that the Gospel of John details that the others missed? 45:25 Here's the third one. 45:27 And I think it may be the most precious of all. 45:30 Watch this. 45:32 A few verses before Jesus dies. 45:34 If you go a little higher, you get to verse 26. 45:37 And only John records this detail. 45:39 "When Jesus saw His mother there, 45:42 and the disciple whom He loved." 45:44 Oh, the Maker of all things loves and wants me. 45:47 You can't get away from it, John boy knew that truth 45:49 from the moment he met Jesus. 45:51 And for the rest of his life, 45:53 he will champion that truth till he dies of old age. 45:58 When Jesus saw the disciple whom he loves standing nearby, 46:02 He said to her, 46:03 He could not point his hands or nail. 46:07 He can only move His chin... 46:10 and He speaks to His beloved mother, "Woman, 46:15 here is your son and to the disciple, 46:21 here is your mother. 46:24 And from that time on, this disciple took her 46:27 into his home. 46:29 Jesus can barely... 46:34 eke the words out, John, 46:37 my mother is your mother. 46:42 Do you understand? 46:45 But what's so beautiful to me is that Mary Magdalene 46:48 is standing there watching all this. 46:50 And on Sunday morning, 46:51 Jesus was saying to Mary Magdalene, girl, 46:54 go back to the disciples and tell them, 46:57 My father is your father. 47:00 Is that amazing? 47:02 Before He dies, my mother is your mother. 47:05 After He's resurrected, my father is your father, 47:09 I am all of that to you and I am more. 47:14 Desire of Ages... 47:16 captures this profound assurance in this one line, 47:19 and I hope you never forget and jot that page number down 47:21 three to seven. 47:23 "Closer than father, mother, brother, 47:28 friend or lover is the Lord our Savior." 47:33 Can I get an amen to that? 47:35 Closer than your father, closer than your mother, 47:40 closer than your brother or sister, 47:42 closer than your friend, 47:44 closer than your lover... 47:47 is the Lord your Savior. 47:52 For the Maker of all things loves and wants me. 47:57 And there's nobody closer in this universe 47:59 to you right now than the Lord Jesus Himself. 48:02 You got to believe me, you just have to believe, 48:06 He's the closest friend you have. 48:09 And He'll never quit on you. 48:11 He will never quit on you. 48:16 Why? 48:18 Because the Maker of all things loves and wants me, that's why. 48:22 I'm closer to you, Dwight, than all of them, all of them. 48:27 That's me and you, 48:30 we're like this forever, 48:33 stay with me. 48:36 Which is why Jesus said to us last week in our theme text 48:39 for the short little winter series, John 21. 48:42 John 20-21 matches the year that we're in now 2021. 48:46 "As the Father has sent Me... 48:49 so I'm sending you." 48:51 Yeah, but Lord what am I supposed to take? 48:52 What? 48:54 When you send me what's the message 48:55 I'm supposed to give? 48:57 Come on, for Maker of all things loves and wants. 49:01 Me, you and all the world. 49:05 Take it, take it to them. 49:07 Don't overcomplicate it, tell them the truth. 49:12 No wonder that one line in Christ Object Lessons 49:16 is to remind us 49:18 to the closing day of this battle. 49:22 The last rays of merciful light. 49:25 The last message of mercy to be given to the world 49:27 is a revelation of God's character of love. 49:30 The last message, 49:32 you're a part of that last message mission. 49:35 Should you choose to accept it, 49:37 you have one sentence to take to the world. 49:41 You go to social media right now. 49:42 I can't believe this. 49:44 You know what I learned today? 49:45 That all truth, universal truth is summarized in this sentence, 49:51 the Maker of all things loves and wants me, 49:55 post, send it out. 49:58 Be a missionary. 50:00 He sent you. 50:02 That's the truth. 50:05 Wow. 50:06 The Maker of all things loves and wants me. 50:12 I want to commit, I want to commit to this truth. 50:17 I want to take you to the world. 50:21 And I know you did to your world. 50:25 Connect card, it's online. 50:27 It's a electronic piece 50:30 you can do it in your phone right now, 50:32 pmchurch.org/connect. 50:34 I want you to see the three options today. 50:36 There are three options. 50:38 Go to that pmchurch.org. 50:39 It's on the screen, slash connect. 50:42 You're looking for this. 50:43 My next step today is, well, I want to share the truth, 50:46 the Maker of all things loves and wants me. 50:48 There you got the sentence in writing now. 50:51 But I want to share it. 50:52 I want to pass it on. 50:54 Come on, you can pass it on. 50:55 You'd have it done before the day. 50:57 You keep passing it on for the rest of your life. 50:59 That's what I plan to do. 51:01 Number two, I would like to read 51:03 that classic on the life of Jesus Desire of Ages. 51:05 I'm reading the chapter every Friday. 51:08 Oh man, I had a great chapter just yesterday. 51:11 Peace be still, it's the title of that chapter. 51:16 It's greatest book, in my humble opinion, 51:18 outside of Scripture. 51:20 Do you want a copy of that book? 51:21 We'll send an e-copy to you, send the link to you. 51:24 Just put a checkmark there, make sure 51:25 we have your email address. 51:27 And finally, I would like to surrender my life 51:29 to my Maker and be baptized into Christ. 51:32 Because if the Maker of all things 51:33 loves and wants me, I'm giving my life to Him. 51:37 If He's the closest person in the universe to me, 51:39 I'm giving my life to Him. 51:41 You're a girl, you're a boy, it doesn't matter. 51:44 Give your life, 51:45 you're an aged man and aged woman, 51:47 it doesn't matter. 51:48 Give your life to the one who loves you more than 51:51 any other person in this universe. 51:56 The Maker of all things loves and wants me. 52:02 Is that good news to you? 52:05 No, I'm serious. Is that good news to you? 52:08 Come on, come on. 52:10 We got to talk to Him together. Stand to your feet. 52:12 Please stand right now. 52:13 And let's talk to Him together. 52:15 Let's talk to Him right now. 52:17 Maker of all things... 52:20 Lord Jesus unbelievable, 52:25 could the news be this good and so simple, 52:30 the Maker of all things loves and wants me. 52:33 We've seen it again and again in the storylines. 52:36 It's throughout Scripture. 52:39 Oh, forgive us for over complicating... 52:42 universal truth. 52:46 Set our hearts free... 52:49 with a realization that closer than father, 52:52 mother, brother, sister, friend, lover, 52:54 there's someone... 52:57 longs to share the journey with us. 53:02 There's a young man here or not so young 53:04 that needs to make that decision with you Jesus 53:07 right now speak to him. 53:09 So I'm talking to you, boy... 53:12 I want you to give your life to me. 53:16 You'll find that with me, 53:18 what looked impossible becomes possible. 53:21 Stay with me, the best is yet to come. 53:23 There's a young woman here. 53:26 She knows what it feels like to be abandoned. 53:31 Human love let her down. 53:34 Oh, Jesus, step into that space and put Your arms around 53:38 that heart and whisper, 53:41 the Maker of all things loves and wants you. 53:45 Come with me. 53:48 We'll write the next chapter together. 53:51 Father, please don't let us forget 53:55 the truth as it is in Jesus, 53:59 that all the people say amen and amen. 54:41 Who am I that the highest King 54:44 Would welcome me? 54:49 I was lost but He brought me in 54:52 Oh His love for me 54:57 His love for me 55:01 Who the Son sets free 55:05 Oh, is free indeed 55:09 I'm a child of God 55:13 Yes, I am 55:17 In my Father's house 55:21 There's a place for me 55:26 I'm a child of God 55:29 Yes, I am 55:36 Not forsaken 55:38 I am who You say I am 55:42 You are for me, not against me 55:47 I am who You say I am 55:50 I am chosen not for taken 55:55 I am who you say Iam 55:59 You are for me, not against me 56:03 I am who you say Iam 56:07 I am who you say Iam 56:13 Who the Son sets free 56:17 Oh is free indeed I'm a child of God 56:25 Yes, I am 56:30 In my Father's house 56:34 There's a place for me 56:38 I'm a child of God 56:42 Yes, I am 56:47 In my Father's house 56:51 There's a place for me 56:55 I'm a child of God 56:59 Yes, I am 57:07 Thank you for taking the time to join us in worship today. 57:09 I'd like to spend another moment with you here 57:11 at the end of our program to share a word of hope. 57:13 In fact, that's what this sort of book is all about 57:15 in these uncertain times, and let's face it, 57:17 they're uncertain all over this planet. 57:19 This book entitled, 57:21 The Great Hope will help you understand 57:22 not just what God has planned for your future, 57:25 but for the future of the entire human race. 57:27 Light keep shining on this dark old world 57:29 and new truths long forgotten 57:31 are being constantly rediscovered? 57:33 If you need a fresh dose of hope 57:35 for your life these days, 57:36 or you know somebody else 57:37 who could sure use that gift of hope. 57:39 Then I'd like to invite you to grab your phone, 57:41 dial our toll free number 877-the two words HIS-WILL, 57:45 877-HIS-WILL. 57:47 And at no charge to you, 57:48 we'll get a copy in the mail to you right away. 57:51 Till the next time we meet, 57:53 may the peace and hope 57:55 of the Lord Jesus be with you 24/7. |
Revised 2021-02-11