Sermon

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Sermons of Reformed Heritage Church - Parker, CO

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  1. Well, as I read the Word of God from John 13, and as you follow along, remember this is God's very own Word.

  2. It's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, and sufficient, and it's for you, His people.

  3. When we're done reading, I'll say, this is the Word of God, and you say, thanks be to God.

  4. So John chapter 13, I'm going to begin reading at verse 15, John 13, 15.

    John 13 chapter mention

  5. This follows Jesus washing His disciples' feet, and in verse 15, Jesus says,

  6. I have given you an example that you also should do, just as I have done to you.

  7. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

  8. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

  9. Verse 18, I am not speaking of all of you.

  10. I know whom I have chosen, but the Scripture will be fulfilled.

  11. He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.

  12. I am telling you this now before it takes place, that when it does take place, you may believe that I am He.

  13. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

  14. Verse 21, after saying these things, Jesus was troubled in His spirit and testified,

  15. Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.

  16. The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom He spoke.

  17. One of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table, at Jesus' side.

  18. So, Simon Peter motioned to Him to ask Jesus, of whom was He speaking?

  19. So, that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to Him, Lord, who is it?

  20. Jesus answered, It is He to whom I will give this morsel of bread, when I have dipped it.

  21. So, when He had dipped the morsel, He gave it to Judas, the son of Simon, and scared it.

  22. Then, after He had taken the morsel, Satan entered into Him.

  23. Jesus said to him, What you are going to do, do quickly.

  24. Now, no one at the table knew why He said this to him.

  25. Some thought that because Judas had the money bag, Jesus was telling him,

  26. Buy what we need for the feast, or that we should give something to the poor.

  27. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, He immediately went out, and it was night.

  28. Verse 31, when He had gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of Man glorified,

  29. And God is glorified in Him.

  30. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself,

  31. And glorify Him at once.

  32. Little children, yet a little while I am with you.

  33. You will seek Me, and just as I said to the Jews,

  34. So now also say to you, I say to you,

  35. Where I am going, you cannot come.

  36. A new commandment I give you,

  37. That you love one another,

  38. Just as I have loved you,

  39. You also are to love one another.

  40. By this all people will know,

  41. That you are My disciples,

  42. If you have love for one another.

  43. Simon Peter said to Him,

  44. Lord, where are you going?

  45. Jesus answered him,

  46. Where I am going,

  47. You cannot follow Me now,

  48. But you will follow afterward.

  49. Peter said to Him,

  50. Lord, why can I not follow you now?

  51. I will lay down my life for you.

  52. Jesus answered,

  53. Will you lay down your life for Me?

  54. Truly, truly, I say to you,

  55. The rooster will not crow

  56. Till you have denied me three times.

  57. Chapter 14, verse 1,

  58. Let not your hearts be troubled.

  59. Believe in God.

  60. Believe also in Me.

  61. In My Father's house are many rooms.

  62. And if it were not so,

  63. Would I have told you

  64. That I go to prepare a place for you?

  65. And if I go and prepare a place for you,

  66. I will come again.

  67. And I will take you to Myself.

  68. That where I am,

  69. You may be also.

  70. This is the word of God.

  71. Thanks be to God.

  72. You may be seated.

  73. Would you pray with me?

  74. Oh God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

  75. We pray that you will communicate

  76. To your people

  77. Who are here in this world

  78. The gospel message.

  79. The truth of the kingdom of heaven.

  80. We pray that you will convert sinners,

  81. Sanctify your children,

  82. Prepare our souls for heaven,

  83. So that you will be glorified by the answer.

  84. Amen.

  85. Amen.

  86. Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

  87. The Father sent His Son,

  88. So that your heart need not be troubled.

  89. That's why the Father sent His Son into this world.

  90. It's so that He could say to you,

  91. Let not your heart be troubled.

  92. This world,

  93. We will have trouble.

  94. This world is dangerous and scary for our soul.

  95. And when your heart is troubled,

  96. When you are downcast,

  97. Be careful.

  98. That's when you need to be the most careful.

  99. A troubled heart is vulnerable.

  100. Picture the prairies here in Colorado.

  101. There's a flock,

  102. Or I guess it's called a herd,

  103. Like a herd of elk.

  104. You can picture a flock of bingorn sheep.

  105. Well, a pack of wolves,

  106. They're going to look for the one that's limping.

  107. And it's the one that's limping

  108. That they're going to try to cut off

  109. To devour.

  110. We are most vulnerable

  111. When we're troubled in the heart.

  112. Like that pack of wolves,

  113. Satan,

  114. And the demons,

  115. They want to come after you.

  116. They want to get you while you're weak and limping,

  117. Cut you off,

  118. And destroy your soul.

  119. The Puritan Thomas Watson,

  120. He said,

  121. Satan loves to fish

  122. In the troubled waters

  123. Of a discontented heart.

  124. Now,

  125. Jesus is going to continue with this theme

  126. All the way into John 16.

  127. And He says,

  128. In this world you will have troubled disciples,

  129. But take heart.

  130. Hear that same thing?

  131. He says,

  132. I have overcome the world.

  133. And I give you these words.

  134. You know why Jesus says,

  135. In the same upper room,

  136. He says,

  137. I give you these words

  138. So you may have peace

  139. In this troubled world.

  140. You will have trouble,

  141. But Jesus speaks to you.

  142. He gives you His words

  143. So you have peace

  144. In the world.

  145. See,

  146. Jesus,

  147. He is in the world

  148. In the flesh,

  149. And He's been troubled.

  150. In John 11,

  151. 33,

  152. He was troubled.

  153. Remember?

  154. He was deeply moved

  155. And troubled in spirit

  156. When He saw Mary

  157. And the Jews weeping.

  158. And He had compassion

  159. For Mary and Martha

  160. When Lazarus had died.

  161. In the previous chapter,

  162. John chapter 12,

    John 12:27

  163. Verse 27,

  164. Jesus was troubled.

  165. And He was troubled

  166. In that chapter

  167. When He knew

  168. The hour of His death

  169. Had arrived.

  170. Remember the beginning

  171. Of the next book,

  172. The book of His hour

  173. Leading up to His death

  174. On the cross.

  175. Now He continues

  176. To build upon these themes.

  177. He tells His disciples,

  178. Let not your heart

  179. Be troubled.

  180. Last week we saw,

  181. He said,

  182. Instead of being troubled

  183. And vying for power

  184. And coveting

  185. And bickering

  186. With one another,

  187. Serve one another.

  188. This is what I am showing you.

  189. I served you.

  190. I took your dirt

  191. On my person.

  192. So you be clean.

  193. Show that kind of love

  194. And sacrifice

  195. To one another.

  196. He said in verse 17,

  197. If you know these things,

  198. Happy are you

  199. If you do them.

  200. But now we read

  201. In chapter 13,

  202. Verse 21,

  203. That He is troubled.

  204. And what comes next

  205. Is the prophecy

  206. In Psalm 41

  207. That He will be betrayed

  208. By one of His own disciples.

  209. But yet,

  210. Jesus is troubled Himself

  211. In His words

  212. To His disciples.

  213. He says,

  214. Little children.

  215. See,

  216. He speaks to them

  217. As His own family.

  218. The one who is troubled

  219. Speaks love to them

  220. Be comfort

  221. To His disciples.

  222. And He says in 14,

  223. Verse 1,

  224. Let not your heart

  225. Be troubled.

  226. So I'm going to walk us

  227. Through this passage

  228. That we just read

  229. And I'm going to point out

  230. Eight reasons

  231. Why Jesus Christ

  232. Can say to you

  233. And to me,

  234. Let not your heart

  235. Be troubled.

  236. So when you get home later

  237. And we try to remember

  238. Together,

  239. What was the sermon

  240. About again?

  241. What was the point?

  242. The point was this.

  243. You don't have to have

  244. A troubled heart.

  245. And Jesus gives you

  246. Eight reasons why.

  247. Do you understand

  248. Where we're going?

  249. Do you understand

  250. The point I'm trying

  251. To show you?

  252. Alright, here we go.

  253. Number one.

  254. Jesus,

  255. The good shepherd

  256. Who's now

  257. The troubled shepherd

  258. He comforts His sheep.

  259. He says,

  260. Let not your heart

  261. Be troubled.

  262. Reason number one.

  263. Believe that I am He.

  264. Jesus says,

  265. Your heart is troubled.

  266. Believe I am God

  267. Sent to earth for you.

  268. Look at verse 18.

  269. This is John 13,

    John 13:18

  270. Verse 18.

  271. I speak not of all of you

  272. Saying

  273. That you will be blessed

  274. If you serve one another.

  275. He says,

  276. I know whom I have chosen.

  277. I called every one

  278. Of these twelve disciples.

  279. And Jesus said,

  280. The world will know

  281. You're my disciples

  282. By how you serve one another.

  283. If you have my love

  284. In your heart.

  285. But He says,

  286. Not all of you

  287. Will do this.

  288. Not all of you

  289. Will serve one another

  290. With love.

  291. There is one among you

  292. Who serves only himself.

  293. Jesus said,

  294. Yes.

  295. This is troubling.

  296. I chose a disciple

  297. To be following me around.

  298. To walk the way I'm walking.

  299. To enjoy this last supper

  300. With me and with you.

  301. Knowing that one of you

  302. Will betray me.

  303. And I chose him to be here.

  304. To fulfill scripture

  305. He says in verse 18.

  306. That scripture may be fulfilled.

  307. The scripture says,

  308. He that eats bread with me

  309. Have lifted up his heel

  310. Against me.

  311. He's quoting Psalm 41.

  312. Verse 19.

  313. Jesus says,

  314. Now I tell you

  315. Before it happens

  316. That when it does come to pass

  317. You may believe.

  318. The reason I'm telling you this now

  319. That I will be betrayed

  320. Is so that when I am betrayed

  321. You will believe even more.

  322. You will see that I'm in control.

  323. You will see that I fulfilled Psalm 41

  324. Even with choosing a disciple

  325. Who would betray me.

  326. And the reason I did that

  327. Is so that you would believe even more.

  328. In my words.

  329. You would know me.

  330. You would trust that I am God.

  331. Reminds me of Psalm 46.

  332. Ralph read Psalm 46 for us last week.

  333. Be still.

  334. Don't be troubled.

  335. Be still.

  336. And know.

  337. I am God.

  338. That's what Jesus is telling his disciples.

  339. He's saying,

  340. My kingdom will be opposed.

  341. Satan will use one of you.

  342. One of these men right here

  343. To strike me with his heel.

  344. When I send you out into the world

  345. You will be opposed

  346. The same way I will be opposed

  347. And you will be betrayed.

  348. You will wonder,

  349. Is there really a king

  350. In this wicked world?

  351. You need to look back

  352. At my words.

  353. Remember,

  354. This is all part of my plan

  355. To reveal myself

  356. And to strengthen your faith even more.

  357. Believe.

  358. Believe.

  359. Believe that Jesus

  360. Is the Lamb of Heaven

  361. And his first coming

  362. Is for your salvation.

  363. Believe I am he

  364. Who came to save you.

  365. But also believe

  366. That this Lamb of God

  367. Will come back as the Lion.

  368. He will come

  369. And his kingdom in Heaven

  370. Will be on earth one day.

  371. Thomas Watson again.

  372. He who believes not

  373. In the blood of the Lamb

  374. Must feel

  375. The wrath

  376. Of the Lamb.

  377. Believe in Christ

  378. And his kingdom

  379. Now.

  380. He's quoting Psalm 41

  381. As I mentioned

  382. But you know what

  383. Psalm 41 is about?

  384. It's a psalm of David.

  385. And it's David

  386. Describing

  387. The troubled soul

  388. He has

  389. The anguish he had.

  390. You know why?

  391. Because he was betrayed

  392. By his son Absalom.

  393. Here Jesus calls

  394. His disciples

  395. Little children.

  396. And one of his children

  397. Will betray him.

  398. Psalm 41 verse 9

    Psalms 41:9

  399. Says

  400. Even my close friend

  401. David

  402. Describing Absalom

  403. In whom I trusted

  404. One of my princes

  405. Who ate my bread

  406. Has lifted his heel

  407. Against me

  408. But you oh Lord

  409. Be gracious to me

  410. And raise me up

  411. That I may repay them

  412. See the Lamb

  413. Will come back

  414. With wrath

  415. By this I know

  416. That you delight in me

  417. This is

  418. Now picture these words

  419. On Christ's lips

  420. To the Father

  421. You delight in me

  422. My enemy will not

  423. Shout in triumph

  424. Over me

  425. He's looking past

  426. Judas to sing

  427. Who comes to kill him

  428. Psalm 41 verse 12

    Psalms 41:12

  429. You have upheld me

  430. Because of my integrity

  431. And set me in your presence

  432. Forever

  433. Blessed be the Lord

  434. The God of Israel

  435. From everlasting

  436. To everlasting

  437. Amen

  438. And amen

  439. That's the end of

  440. That passage

  441. From Psalm 41

  442. So when it feels like

  443. The enemy will win

  444. Jesus says

  445. Believe

  446. I am king

  447. Do you feel that way sometimes?

  448. You feel like the enemy

  449. Is so powerful

  450. You feel like

  451. The cause of Christ

  452. And the cause of your

  453. Sanctification

  454. Is almost hopeless

  455. Believe that Jesus Christ

  456. Is the king

  457. Even the betrayal of Judas

  458. Even Satan

  459. Lifting up Judas' heel

  460. Against Christ

  461. Even that

  462. Is to give you

  463. More faith

  464. More confidence

  465. In Jesus

  466. On the throne

  467. The father sent the son

  468. So that your heart

  469. Does not need to be troubled

  470. Be still

  471. And know

  472. That I am God

  473. Second reason

  474. Why Jesus

  475. Can say to you

  476. And to me

  477. Let not your heart

  478. Be troubled

  479. Is because

  480. He says

  481. When you go

  482. Into the world

  483. You go

  484. As my

  485. Sent ones

  486. So Jesus

  487. The good shepherd

  488. He comforts his sheep

  489. He says

  490. You will go

  491. Into the

  492. The world

  493. You will be like

  494. Sheep among the wolves

  495. For you belong to me

  496. You go with

  497. My name

  498. My kingdom

  499. Holding me

  500. So let not

  501. Your heart be troubled

  502. When you go

  503. Look at verse 20

  504. He says

  505. Truly

  506. Truly

  507. Verily

  508. Verily

  509. Amen

  510. Amen

  511. Is what he says

  512. I say unto you

  513. He that receives

  514. Whom so

  515. Whoever I send

  516. Receives me

  517. And he that receives me

  518. Receives him

  519. That sent me

  520. Jesus Christ

  521. Was sent by the father

  522. To bring a message

  523. Of grace

  524. To those who would

  525. Believe in him

  526. And when you go out

  527. And you declare that message

  528. You have his authority

  529. And that authority

  530. Is from the same father

  531. Who sent the son

  532. Let that comfort you

  533. Have confidence

  534. In declaring the gospel

  535. With your words

  536. And with your life

  537. Jesus is saying

  538. Go into the world

  539. And advance my kingdom

  540. You take my gospel

  541. The kingdom of my church

  542. Into the darkest regions

  543. Of this world

  544. You do it with confidence

  545. You advance the church

  546. Into foreign domain

  547. You're knocking down

  548. The gates of hell

  549. Satan has been bound

  550. The nations can no longer

  551. Be deceived

  552. Way up there

  553. In Siberia

  554. Up in northern Russia

  555. The gates of hell

  556. The gates of hell

  557. The gates of hell

  558. Cannot prevail

  559. Against the kingdom

  560. Of God

  561. That marches forward

  562. With the truth

  563. And through the church

  564. You can go with confidence

  565. Like we sing in the hymn

  566. Jesus says

  567. You're my little children

  568. And I'm telling you

  569. This is my father's world

  570. So you can sing it out

  571. You belong to the same father

  572. This is my father's world

  573. Oh let me ne'er forget

  574. That though the wrong

  575. Seems oft so strong

  576. God is the ruler yet

  577. This is my father's world

  578. Why should my heart be sad

  579. The Lord is king

  580. Let the heavens ring

  581. God reigns

  582. Let the earth be glad

  583. Truly, truly

  584. Jesus says

  585. The father sent me

  586. Into his world

  587. And he did this

  588. So that I would bring

  589. The kingdom of heaven

  590. The spiritual kingdom

  591. On earth

  592. You go out

  593. And do the same

  594. You declare

  595. My coming kingdom

  596. This is what Paul declares

  597. In Romans chapter 3

    Romans 3 chapter mention

  598. Starting at verse 23

  599. Listen to how Paul goes out

  600. Declaring the kingdom of God

  601. For all have sinned

  602. And fall short

  603. Of the glory

  604. Of God

  605. There's confidence

  606. The word will not prevail

  607. You go out and declare

  608. There is a God

  609. This God is holy

  610. And you under Adam

  611. In your own sin

  612. You have fallen

  613. Short of his glory

  614. Paul goes on

  615. By God's grace

  616. We are justified

  617. Justified freely

  618. Through the redemption

  619. That is in Christ Jesus

  620. Whom God has sent

  621. That's just what Jesus said

  622. Just as the father sent me

  623. I'm sending you

  624. God has set forth Jesus

  625. He has sent his son

  626. To be a propitiation

  627. To be the penal

  628. Substitutionary sacrifice

  629. And by believing

  630. And receiving his work

  631. On your behalf

  632. By faith alone

  633. He puts his righteousness

  634. On you

  635. Declare that to the world

  636. Paul writes

  637. The forgiveness

  638. Of sins

  639. Through God's forbearance

  640. By God's grace

  641. To show his righteousness

  642. At this time

  643. That he might be just

  644. And a justifier

  645. Of the one who believes

  646. Go into the world

  647. Declaring that

  648. You go as my sent ones

  649. God is just

  650. Repent

  651. And when you repent

  652. Look to Christ

  653. He is the justifier

  654. Of all that have sinned

  655. You declare that

  656. Jesus

  657. Came so that you could have

  658. Peace

  659. With God

  660. Your heart is troubled

  661. In sin

  662. Your heart is troubled

  663. In the world

  664. Jesus says

  665. Fulfilling

  666. Psalm 46

  667. Be still

  668. Know that I am God

  669. I am

  670. The eternal God

  671. I am

  672. Your very present

  673. Health

  674. In time of trouble

  675. That's why you can be still

  676. I am

  677. With you

  678. Go into the world

  679. Declaring that message

  680. And let my kingdom

  681. Bring peace

  682. To your heart

  683. The third reason

  684. Why Christ

  685. Can declare that

  686. Our hearts

  687. Need not be troubled

  688. Is because

  689. Christ became troubled

  690. In his spirit

  691. For you

  692. The troubled shepherd

  693. Can comfort his sheep

  694. He can

  695. He can give peace

  696. For the sheep

  697. Because he took

  698. Trouble

  699. On their behalf

  700. He can now say

  701. Let not your heart

  702. Be troubled

  703. Look at verse 21

  704. When Jesus had thus said

  705. He

  706. Was troubled

  707. In spirit

  708. This is one of the most

  709. Clear verses for us

  710. Of how

  711. God

  712. Becoming man

  713. He was fully man

  714. Not only was he fully divine

  715. He was fully man

  716. Both in body

  717. His outer man

  718. And his inner man

  719. So

  720. Our confession

  721. That one of the creeds

  722. The Chalcedonian

  723. Creed says this way

  724. One

  725. And the same Christ

  726. The Son

  727. The Lord

  728. The only begotten

  729. By taking on flesh

  730. Has two natures

  731. Fully divine

  732. Fully human

  733. But these two natures

  734. Are inconfusably

  735. Unchangeably

  736. Indivisibly

  737. Inseparably

  738. The distinct

  739. Natures

  740. Yet

  741. They are united

  742. They are in union

  743. In one person

  744. The property

  745. Of each nature

  746. Must be preserved

  747. And concurring

  748. In one person

  749. One substance

  750. Not parted

  751. Or divided

  752. Into two persons

  753. But one

  754. In the same

  755. Only begotten

  756. Son

  757. That's what the

  758. Chalcedonian

  759. Creed

  760. Worked out

  761. From the Bible

  762. This is

  763. How

  764. Jesus Christ

  765. Can be the one

  766. And only

  767. Mediator

  768. He says

  769. Know and trust

  770. That I am

  771. Fully God

  772. And being fully God

  773. I became a man

  774. So I would take

  775. Your trouble

  776. I would be troubled

  777. In my soul

  778. In my spirit

  779. My spirit

  780. I became fully human

  781. So that I could be

  782. Your perfect substitute

  783. What troubled Christ?

  784. His soul was troubled

  785. By the pain of betrayal

  786. Most likely

  787. Each of us

  788. Have suffered

  789. Some form of betrayal

  790. But surely

  791. Nothing close

  792. To what he experienced

  793. And his inner man

  794. Was troubled

  795. By this hour

  796. That he's in

  797. As we already saw

  798. In the previous chapter

  799. He's troubled

  800. To put it in one word

  801. Jesus is troubled

  802. By sin

  803. And the pain of sin

  804. And his experience

  805. We can understand

  806. This is the impact

  807. Of sin upon

  808. Any human soul

  809. Using the language

  810. Of the Bible itself

  811. In Psalm 55

    Psalms 55:4

  812. Verse 4

  813. Listen to how

  814. The psalmist

  815. Describes

  816. A troubled spirit

  817. Again this is

  818. The prayer book

  819. And the song book

  820. Of our Lord Jesus

  821. My heart is in anguish

  822. Within me

  823. The terrors of death

  824. Have fallen upon me

  825. Fear and trembling

  826. Come upon me

  827. And horror

  828. Overwhelms me

  829. When I'm troubled

  830. In spirit

  831. I don't know

  832. If this is true for you

  833. It's a fear of man

  834. It's a fear of Satan

  835. It's a fear of the damage

  836. Of sin

  837. And Christ

  838. Never sinned

  839. He's already declared

  840. Satan will be cast down

  841. And he has complete

  842. Control over men

  843. Even calling Judas

  844. Knowing he would betray him

  845. But yet

  846. Christ is such

  847. A perfect mediator

  848. That he identified

  849. With us

  850. In our trials

  851. His spirit

  852. Was troubled

  853. And he took on

  854. Your trouble

  855. And his spirit

  856. So that you

  857. No longer

  858. Need to be troubled

  859. That's why

  860. The father sent him

  861. So that your heart

  862. Need not be troubled

  863. Be still

  864. Know that I am God

  865. I am your very

  866. Present

  867. Help

  868. In trouble

  869. For the fourth reason

  870. Jesus can say

  871. Let not your heart

  872. Be troubled

  873. To his disciples

  874. Is because

  875. Christ has authority

  876. Over man

  877. And Satan

  878. Those things

  879. That trouble my spirit

  880. And that cause fear in me

  881. Look at how Christ

  882. Commands

  883. Both man

  884. And Satan

  885. Verse 21

  886. Jesus testified

  887. And said

  888. Truly truly

  889. I say to you

  890. That one of you

  891. Shall betray me

  892. Then the disciples

  893. Looked at one another

  894. Uncertain of whom

  895. He spoke

  896. Now there was

  897. One of his disciples

  898. Who leaned

  899. On Jesus' bosom

  900. Whom Jesus loved

  901. And therefore

  902. Simon Peter

  903. Motioned to him

  904. To ask

  905. Who it was

  906. Of whom he spoke

  907. Then

  908. As he leaned

  909. On Jesus' bosom

  910. He said to him

  911. Lord

  912. Who is it

  913. Jesus answered him

  914. It is him

  915. To whom I shall give

  916. A morsel

  917. When I have dipped it

  918. And the mighty morsel

  919. Of bread

  920. And gave it

  921. To Judas

  922. Iscariot

  923. Do you get the scene

  924. Look at this

  925. Lord's Supper

  926. At this table

  927. Right here

  928. And last week

  929. We saw

  930. How they would be

  931. Positioned for Jesus

  932. To go around

  933. Washing the feet

  934. Of his disciples

  935. So they would be

  936. Using their right hand

  937. To eat from the table

  938. Leaning on their left hand

  939. Reclining at the table

  940. With their feet

  941. Out away from the table

  942. And Jesus took the towel

  943. And washed their feet

  944. Now in this passage

  945. We're describing

  946. How John

  947. The disciple

  948. Of Jesus loved

  949. Was given a spot

  950. Of honor

  951. Right here

  952. So he can

  953. He can lean back

  954. And talk to Jesus

  955. And just say

  956. Who is it

  957. We're all very troubled

  958. Here that you said

  959. One of us is going

  960. To be trained

  961. Jesus had already

  962. Quoted Psalm 41

  963. I'll share bread

  964. With the one

  965. Who is at my table

  966. Who will lift

  967. His heel against

  968. And then Jesus

  969. Serves the bread

  970. To a disciple

  971. Within our reach

  972. Sinclair Ferguson

  973. Suspects Judas

  974. Might have even been

  975. Given one of those

  976. Spots very close

  977. To Jesus

  978. A spot of honor

  979. So Peter

  980. On the other side

  981. John right next

  982. To Jesus

  983. And then Judas

  984. Very close by

  985. A place of

  986. Close intimacy

  987. And trust

  988. Just as John

  989. Leaned and

  990. Inclined himself

  991. Close to Jesus

  992. Jesus is

  993. Inclining himself

  994. And trusting himself

  995. To Judas

  996. So we get

  997. The stage is set

  998. For what's happening

  999. In that room

  1000. Now look at

  1001. Verse 27

  1002. After

  1003. Judas

  1004. Ate the morsel

  1005. Satan

  1006. Entered

  1007. Into him

  1008. Now Judas

  1009. Who is

  1010. Blending in

  1011. With the disciples

  1012. Who is very

  1013. Close to Jesus

  1014. Who Jesus

  1015. Entrusted himself

  1016. To

  1017. Has Satan

  1018. Enter into him

  1019. Now the pattern

  1020. Has been the opposite

  1021. As Jesus

  1022. Walks throughout

  1023. Israel

  1024. He's the one

  1025. Casting out

  1026. The

  1027. He's the one

  1028. Who came to

  1029. Bind up the

  1030. Strong man

  1031. That's Satan

  1032. Over this world

  1033. And to

  1034. Plunder his

  1035. Good

  1036. Those are

  1037. The souls

  1038. Of his

  1039. People

  1040. Now by

  1041. The power

  1042. Of Jesus

  1043. In his

  1044. Timing

  1045. He hands

  1046. The morsel

  1047. To Judas

  1048. Not until

  1049. That very

  1050. Moment

  1051. Satan

  1052. Enteres

  1053. See how

  1054. Both the

  1055. Man

  1056. Chosen

  1057. By God

  1058. Left there

  1059. All alone

  1060. And then

  1061. Satan

  1062. Who enters

  1063. His soul

  1064. They're both

  1065. Under Christ's

  1066. Authority

  1067. It's when

  1068. And how

  1069. Christ

  1070. Commands it

  1071. For all

  1072. The disciples

  1073. This should

  1074. Be comforting

  1075. As scary

  1076. As man

  1077. Is

  1078. Even a man

  1079. Who would

  1080. Betray

  1081. And have

  1082. Jesus

  1083. Arrested

  1084. And as

  1085. Scary

  1086. As

  1087. Satan

  1088. Is

  1089. As ruler

  1090. Of the

  1091. Powers of

  1092. Darkness

  1093. Jesus

  1094. Has

  1095. Power

  1096. Complete

  1097. Power

  1098. And authority

  1099. Over both

  1100. Man

  1101. And Satan

  1102. Now Jesus

  1103. Says to

  1104. Judas

  1105. In verse

  1106. 27

  1107. That you

  1108. Do

  1109. Do

  1110. Quickly

  1111. It wasn't

  1112. Until

  1113. After Jesus

  1114. Spoke that

  1115. Command

  1116. That Judas

  1117. And Satan

  1118. Left

  1119. Verse 28

  1120. But none

  1121. Of them

  1122. Who were at

  1123. The table

  1124. Knew why

  1125. Jesus

  1126. Said this

  1127. To them

  1128. For some

  1129. Of them

  1130. Thought Jesus

  1131. Had said that

  1132. To him

  1133. Just because

  1134. Judas

  1135. Had the

  1136. Bag to

  1137. Buy those

  1138. Things

  1139. That we

  1140. Needed

  1141. For the

  1142. Feast

  1143. And that

  1144. He should

  1145. Give something

  1146. To the

  1147. Poor

  1148. The greatest

  1149. Affliction

  1150. We can

  1151. Experience

  1152. Is

  1153. Perhaps

  1154. When

  1155. A fellow

  1156. Christian

  1157. Or someone

  1158. Within the

  1159. Church

  1160. Someone

  1161. Blending

  1162. In

  1163. As well

  1164. As Judas

  1165. Blended

  1166. In

  1167. Causes

  1168. Harm

  1169. To the

  1170. People

  1171. Of God

  1172. Those who

  1173. Try to

  1174. Blend

  1175. In

  1176. They are

  1177. Able

  1178. To do

  1179. It

  1180. Pretty

  1181. Successfully

  1182. In

  1183. Many

  1184. Ways

  1185. But remember

  1186. Jesus said

  1187. Blessed are

  1188. You if

  1189. You do

  1190. This

  1191. But I

  1192. Don't

  1193. Say all

  1194. Of you

  1195. Because you

  1196. Can't

  1197. Fake

  1198. Love

  1199. From God

  1200. For the

  1201. Church

  1202. Satan

  1203. Flatters

  1204. The proud

  1205. And puffs

  1206. Up the

  1207. Self-righteous

  1208. But there

  1209. Was one

  1210. Among them

  1211. Who would

  1212. Not serve

  1213. Them

  1214. Would not

  1215. Show

  1216. These other

  1217. Disciples

  1218. The love

  1219. Of Christ

  1220. Himself

  1221. Verse 30

  1222. Then as

  1223. Soon as

  1224. Judas

  1225. Received the

  1226. Morsel

  1227. He immediately

  1228. Went out

  1229. And it

  1230. Was night

  1231. John has

  1232. Been very

  1233. Aware of

  1234. The contrast

  1235. Between truth

  1236. And lies

  1237. Light

  1238. And dark

  1239. Life

  1240. And death

  1241. And it's

  1242. No mistake

  1243. That he

  1244. Says

  1245. As Judas

  1246. Went out

  1247. This hour

  1248. Of Christ's

  1249. Suffering

  1250. It was

  1251. Dark

  1252. The darkness

  1253. Sets

  1254. The tone

  1255. And yet

  1256. In dark

  1257. Jerusalem

  1258. Christ

  1259. Brings some

  1260. Of the most

  1261. Life-giving

  1262. Light

  1263. Bright

  1264. Words

  1265. To his

  1266. Disciples

  1267. And to

  1268. Human

  1269. Because

  1270. His

  1271. Kingdom

  1272. It's

  1273. Already

  1274. Though it's

  1275. Not yet

  1276. Fully

  1277. It's

  1278. Already

  1279. Inaugurated

  1280. One point

  1281. Of application

  1282. On this

  1283. That Christ

  1284. Has authority

  1285. Over man

  1286. And Satan

  1287. It's that

  1288. When

  1289. Those in

  1290. Authority

  1291. Sin

  1292. It's

  1293. Hurts

  1294. We've

  1295. All been

  1296. Hurt

  1297. By the

  1298. Sin

  1299. Of others

  1300. And especially

  1301. Someone like

  1302. Judas

  1303. Who was

  1304. Entrusted

  1305. With the

  1306. Money

  1307. And everybody

  1308. Would allow

  1309. Him to

  1310. Make the

  1311. Provisions

  1312. And he

  1313. Would hurt

  1314. Christ

  1315. And betray

  1316. The kingdom

  1317. Of Christ

  1318. Worse than

  1319. Anyone else

  1320. When those

  1321. In authority

  1322. Sin

  1323. It is

  1324. Troubling

  1325. So don't

  1326. Look to

  1327. Man

  1328. Don't look

  1329. To

  1330. Fallen

  1331. Sinners

  1332. Even

  1333. Those

  1334. Redeemed

  1335. By God

  1336. Man

  1337. Will

  1338. Hurt

  1339. Us

  1340. You can

  1341. Count on

  1342. Being hurt

  1343. By man

  1344. But Christ

  1345. Will never

  1346. Hurt you

  1347. And it's

  1348. Hard

  1349. You've been

  1350. Hurt by

  1351. Your father

  1352. You've been

  1353. Hurt by

  1354. A boss

  1355. So when you

  1356. Hear language

  1357. Of you're my

  1358. Children

  1359. Or you belong

  1360. To my kingdom

  1361. It's easy

  1362. For us to

  1363. Think of all

  1364. The brokenness

  1365. And all

  1366. That we've

  1367. Experienced

  1368. Abuse of

  1369. Men

  1370. But Christ

  1371. Will never

  1372. Hurt you

  1373. As we sing

  1374. In our song

  1375. With the kids

  1376. You can

  1377. Always run

  1378. To Jesus

  1379. Jesus

  1380. Strong

  1381. And kind

  1382. And he

  1383. Reveals to

  1384. You

  1385. The reason

  1386. The reason

  1387. Why the

  1388. Father sent

  1389. Him

  1390. He came

  1391. For that

  1392. Very reason

  1393. It's to

  1394. Heal

  1395. And to

  1396. Restore

  1397. And to

  1398. Allow you

  1399. To trust

  1400. The father

  1401. Through Jesus

  1402. Christ

  1403. So that your

  1404. Hearts be

  1405. Not troubled

  1406. He is with

  1407. You

  1408. Your present

  1409. Health

  1410. In trouble

  1411. Well the

  1412. Fifth reason

  1413. Why Jesus

  1414. Can say

  1415. Let not

  1416. Your heart

  1417. Be troubled

  1418. Is glorious

  1419. It's dark

  1420. Outside

  1421. But he

  1422. Now unveils

  1423. Without Judas

  1424. In the room

  1425. Without Satan

  1426. Clouding what

  1427. He's about

  1428. To speak

  1429. He has

  1430. Cleansed the

  1431. Church

  1432. He has

  1433. Practiced

  1434. Church

  1435. Discipline

  1436. You could

  1437. Say

  1438. Now look

  1439. At what

  1440. He opens

  1441. Up to

  1442. Those

  1443. True

  1444. Disciples

  1445. Who

  1446. Remain

  1447. With

  1448. Him

  1449. He

  1450. Says

  1451. Verse

  1452. 31

  1453. When he

  1454. Had

  1455. Got

  1456. Out

  1457. After

  1458. Judas

  1459. Left

  1460. Jesus

  1461. Said

  1462. Now

  1463. Is

  1464. The son

  1465. Of man

  1466. Glorified

  1467. And god

  1468. Is glorified

  1469. In him

  1470. So yes

  1471. He's talking

  1472. About his

  1473. Death

  1474. He's talking

  1475. About a

  1476. Heel

  1477. Striking

  1478. Him

  1479. But he's

  1480. Saying

  1481. Immediately

  1482. Now

  1483. In this

  1484. Very same

  1485. Hour

  1486. In the

  1487. Midst

  1488. Of my

  1489. Death

  1490. I will

  1491. Be

  1492. Glorified

  1493. The son

  1494. Of man

  1495. Will be

  1496. Glorified

  1497. Before men

  1498. And before

  1499. God

  1500. Even in

  1501. His death

  1502. John

  1503. Gill

  1504. Broke it

  1505. Down this

  1506. Way

  1507. So

  1508. Helpfully

  1509. To me

  1510. How

  1511. Was

  1512. Jesus

  1513. Glorified

  1514. On the

  1515. Cross

  1516. In the

  1517. Eyes

  1518. Of man

  1519. On earth

  1520. The cross

  1521. Brought to

  1522. Earth

  1523. Darkness

  1524. Earthquake

  1525. Rending

  1526. Of the

  1527. Rocks

  1528. The veil

  1529. Of the

  1530. Temple

  1531. See

  1532. From the

  1533. Eyes

  1534. Of man

  1535. It was

  1536. A glorious

  1537. Event

  1538. At the

  1539. Death

  1540. Of Christ

  1541. But also

  1542. John

  1543. Gill

  1544. Wrote

  1545. In the

  1546. Eyes

  1547. Of the

  1548. Father

  1549. There was

  1550. An even

  1551. Greater

  1552. Glory

  1553. That was

  1554. Invisible

  1555. To the

  1556. Eye

  1557. But in

  1558. The

  1559. Spiritual

  1560. Realm

  1561. The

  1562. Most

  1563. Glorious

  1564. Truth

  1565. It

  1566. Was

  1567. This

  1568. Christ

  1569. Was glorified

  1570. In His

  1571. Death

  1572. In the

  1573. Eyes

  1574. Of His

  1575. Father

  1576. Because

  1577. Hereby

  1578. The

  1579. Purposes

  1580. Of God

  1581. Were

  1582. Accomplished

  1583. His

  1584. Covenant

  1585. Transactions

  1586. Were

  1587. Brought

  1588. About

  1589. His

  1590. Law

  1591. And

  1592. Justice

  1593. Were

  1594. Satisfied

  1595. And

  1596. The

  1597. Salvation

  1598. Of

  1599. His

  1600. People

  1601. Was

  1602. Finished

  1603. That's

  1604. How

  1605. The

  1606. Death

  1607. Of

  1608. Christ

  1609. Was

  1610. Glorified

  1611. In

  1612. The

  1613. Eyes

  1614. Of

  1615. Man

  1616. And

  1617. Of

  1618. God

  1619. In

  1620. Verse

  1621. 32

  1622. Jesus

  1623. Says

  1624. If

  1625. God

  1626. Is

  1627. Glorified

  1628. In

  1629. Him

  1630. God

  1631. Shall

  1632. Also

  1633. Glorify

  1634. Him

  1635. In

  1636. Himself

  1637. And

  1638. Shall

  1639. Immediately

  1640. Glorify

  1641. Him

  1642. The

  1643. Best

  1644. Meaning

  1645. Is

  1646. That

  1647. As

  1648. Jesus

  1649. Will

  1650. Be

  1651. Crucified

  1652. And

  1653. Died

  1654. And

  1655. Buried

  1656. This

  1657. Will

  1658. Be

  1659. Relatively

  1660. Quick

  1661. God

  1662. Will

  1663. Not

  1664. Leave

  1665. His

  1666. Son

  1667. In

  1668. The

  1669. Grave

  1670. Nor

  1671. Will

  1672. His

  1673. Body

  1674. Suffer

  1675. Corruption

  1676. God

  1677. Will

  1678. Be

  1679. Raised

  1680. To

  1681. Life

  1682. And

  1683. On

  1684. The

  1685. Third

  1686. Day

  1687. He

  1688. Will

  1689. Be

  1690. Ascent

  1691. He

  1692. Will

  1693. Be

  1694. Lifted

  1695. Up

  1696. In

  1697. His

  1698. Glorified

  1699. Body

  1700. Proclaiming

  1701. His

  1702. Kingdom

  1703. And

  1704. Then

  1705. He

  1706. Will

  1707. Ascend

  1708. And

  1709. Be

  1710. Seated

  1711. At

  1712. The

  1713. Right

  1714. Hand

  1715. Of

  1716. The

  1717. Father

  1718. So

  1719. When

  1720. You

  1721. Think

  1722. Of

  1723. Christ

  1724. Yes

  1725. Look

  1726. To

  1727. His

  1728. Cross

  1729. But

  1730. Remember

  1731. From

  1732. His

  1733. Cross

  1734. He

  1735. Ascended

  1736. Even

  1737. Further

  1738. He

  1739. Was

  1740. Glorified

  1741. To

  1742. The

  1743. Highest

  1744. Heaven

  1745. And

  1746. He

  1747. Sits

  1748. At

  1749. The

  1750. Right

  1751. Hand

  1752. Of

  1753. God

  1754. The

  1755. Father

  1756. Almighty

  1757. And

  1758. When

  1759. You're

  1760. In

  1761. Trouble

  1762. You

  1763. Think

  1764. Of

  1765. Him

  1766. Glorified

  1767. Through

  1768. It

  1769. All

  1770. Through

  1771. The

  1772. Cross

  1773. And

  1774. The

  1775. Grave

  1776. To

  1777. The

  1778. Highest

  1779. Throne

  1780. Of

  1781. Heaven

  1782. Philippians

  1783. 4

  1784. 5

  1785. And

  1786. 6

  1787. Says

  1788. The

  1789. Lord

  1790. Is

  1791. At

  1792. Hand

  1793. See

  1794. I'm

  1795. Very

  1796. Present

  1797. Help

  1798. Because

  1799. The

  1800. Lord

  1801. Is

  1802. At

  1803. Hand

  1804. Ruling

  1805. From

  1806. Heaven

  1807. He

  1808. Is

  1809. With

  1810. You

  1811. Do

  1812. Not

  1813. Be

  1814. Anxious

  1815. The

  1816. Father

  1817. Sent

  1818. His

  1819. Son

  1820. So

  1821. That

  1822. Your

  1823. Heart

  1824. Does

  1825. Not

  1826. Need

  1827. To

  1828. Be

  1829. Anxious

  1830. Be

  1831. Still

  1832. Know

  1833. That

  1834. He

  1835. Is

  1836. God

  1837. He

  1838. Is

  1839. With

  1840. You

  1841. In

  1842. Trouble

  1843. The

  1844. Sixth

  1845. Reason

  1846. Jesus

  1847. Can

  1848. Say

  1849. Let

  1850. Not

  1851. Your

  1852. Heart

  1853. Be

  1854. Trouble

  1855. It

  1856. Just

  1857. Keeps

  1858. Getting

  1859. More

  1860. And

  1861. More

  1862. Glorious

  1863. You

  1864. See

  1865. His

  1866. Glory

  1867. The

  1868. Sixth

  1869. Reason

  1870. Is

  1871. That

  1872. You

  1873. Belong

  1874. Through

  1875. Christ

  1876. To

  1877. God's

  1878. Family

  1879. You

  1880. Belong

  1881. To

  1882. God's

  1883. Family

  1884. There's

  1885. Several

  1886. Reasons

  1887. Why

  1888. First

  1889. He

  1890. Calls

  1891. You

  1892. His

  1893. Children

  1894. Look

  1895. At

  1896. Verse

  1897. 33

  1898. Little

  1899. Children

  1900. Yet

  1901. A

  1902. Little

  1903. While

  1904. I

  1905. Am

  1906. With

  1907. You

  1908. You

  1909. Shall

  1910. Seek

  1911. Me

  1912. And

  1913. As

  1914. I

  1915. Said

  1916. To

  1917. The

  1918. Jews

  1919. Where

  1920. I

  1921. Go

  1922. You

  1923. Cannot

  1924. Come

  1925. He's

  1926. Calling

  1927. Them

  1928. His

  1929. Family

  1930. His

  1931. Children

  1932. He's

  1933. About

  1934. To

  1935. Go

  1936. Away

  1937. To

  1938. The

  1939. Obey

  1940. Me

  1941. What

  1942. Is

  1943. His

  1944. Commandment

  1945. Verse

  1946. 34

  1947. He

  1948. Says

  1949. A

  1950. New

  1951. Commandment

  1952. I

  1953. Give

  1954. To

  1955. You

  1956. That

  1957. You

  1958. Love

  1959. One

  1960. Another

  1961. Now

  1962. This

  1963. Is

  1964. It's

  1965. New

  1966. For

  1967. One

  1968. Reason

  1969. But

  1970. It's

  1971. It's

  1972. Also

  1973. Not

  1974. New

  1975. Jesus

  1976. Has

  1977. Said

  1978. All

  1979. Of

  1980. The

  1981. Law

  1982. And

  1983. All

  1984. Of

  1985. God's

  1986. Word

  1987. All

  1988. Of

  1989. The

  1990. Law

  1991. The

  1992. Prophets

  1993. Up

  1994. To

  1995. This

  1996. Point

  1997. Can

  1998. Be

  1999. Summarized

  2000. This

  2001. Way

  2002. What

  2003. Makes

  2004. It

  2005. New

  2006. Now

  2007. I

  2008. Think

  2009. We

  2010. Need

  2011. To

  2012. Keep

  2013. Reading

  2014. The

  2015. Other

  2016. Verses

  2017. To

  2018. Understand

  2019. What

  2020. Makes

  2021. This

  2022. One

  2023. New

  2024. But

  2025. He

  2026. Tells

  2027. You

  2028. To

  2029. Obey

  2030. Now

  2031. He

  2032. Says

  2033. You

  2034. Belong

  2035. To

  2036. My

  2037. Family

  2038. Because

  2039. I

  2040. Will

  2041. Put

  2042. My

  2043. Love

  2044. For

  2045. My

  2046. Family

  2047. Inside

  2048. Of

  2049. You

  2050. See

  2051. That's

  2052. What

  2053. Makes

  2054. This

  2055. A

  2056. New

  2057. Commandment

  2058. The

  2059. Law

  2060. To

  2061. Love

  2062. One

  2063. Another

  2064. To

  2065. Keep

  2066. The

  2067. What's

  2068. Called

  2069. The

  2070. Second

  2071. Table

  2072. Of

  2073. The

  2074. Law

  2075. All

  2076. The

  2077. Things

  2078. We

  2079. Shall

  2080. Do

  2081. To

  2082. One

  2083. Another

  2084. That's

  2085. Always

  2086. Been

  2087. There

  2088. What's

  2089. Different

  2090. Now

  2091. Is

  2092. He

  2093. Will

  2094. Put

  2095. His

  2096. Love

  2097. Inside

  2098. Of

  2099. You

  2100. His

  2101. Holy

  2102. Spirit

  2103. Will

  2104. Be

  2105. The

  2106. Power

  2107. That

  2108. Will

  2109. Allow

  2110. You

  2111. To

  2112. Fulfill

  2113. This

  2114. He

  2115. Says

  2116. In

  2117. Verse

  2118. 34

  2119. Love

  2120. One

  2121. Another

  2122. As

  2123. I

  2124. Have

  2125. Loved

  2126. You

  2127. That

  2128. You

  2129. Also

  2130. Love

  2131. One

  2132. Another

  2133. He

  2134. Has

  2135. Loved

  2136. You

  2137. So

  2138. That

  2139. You

  2140. Can

  2141. Love

  2142. One

  2143. Another

  2144. Do

  2145. You

  2146. Understand

  2147. Without

  2148. Christ

  2149. Giving

  2150. You

  2151. His

  2152. Love

  2153. To

  2154. One

  2155. Another

  2156. You

  2157. Must

  2158. First

  2159. Receive

  2160. That

  2161. Heavenly

  2162. Divine

  2163. Love

  2164. From

  2165. God

  2166. Himself

  2167. Before

  2168. You

  2169. Will

  2170. Have

  2171. Any

  2172. Power

  2173. Of

  2174. Your

  2175. Own

  2176. To

  2177. Show

  2178. The

  2179. Love

  2180. To

  2181. One

  2182. Another

  2183. And

  2184. If

  2185. You

  2186. Want

  2187. To

  2188. Know

  2189. Whether

  2190. Or

  2191. Not

  2192. You're

  2193. In

  2194. His

  2195. Family

  2196. That's

  2197. The

  2198. Question

  2199. You

  2200. Need

  2201. To

  2202. Search

  2203. Your

  2204. Heart

  2205. Do

  2206. I

  2207. Have

  2208. A

  2209. Love

  2210. For

  2211. The

  2212. Family

  2213. Of

  2214. God

  2215. That

  2216. I

  2217. Could

  2218. Not

  2219. Have

  2220. Fabricated

  2221. On

  2222. My

  2223. Own

  2224. Where

  2225. If

  2226. I

  2227. Tried

  2228. I

  2229. Ran

  2230. Out

  2231. Well

  2232. Then

  2233. That

  2234. Should

  2235. Be

  2236. Assurance

  2237. That

  2238. You

  2239. Do

  2240. Belong

  2241. To

  2242. His

  2243. Family

  2244. Their

  2245. Spiritual

  2246. Father

  2247. He

  2248. Commands

  2249. Them

  2250. To

  2251. Obey

  2252. But

  2253. He

  2254. Also

  2255. Supplies

  2256. Them

  2257. With

  2258. The

  2259. Love

  2260. To

  2261. Fulfill

  2262. That

  2263. Commandment

  2264. Isn't

  2265. That

  2266. Comforting

  2267. So

  2268. His

  2269. Law

  2270. His

  2271. New

  2272. Commandment

  2273. To

  2274. Obey

  2275. And

  2276. To

  2277. Love

  2278. One

  2279. Another

  2280. It's

  2281. Because

  2282. He

  2283. Himself

  2284. Has

  2285. Made

  2286. That

  2287. Possible

  2288. For

  2289. You

  2290. To

  2291. Obey

  2292. What

  2293. He

  2294. Commands

  2295. He

  2296. Gets

  2297. All

  2298. The

  2299. Glory

  2300. From

  2301. Start

  2302. To

  2303. Finish

  2304. In

  2305. The

  2306. Early

  2307. Centuries

  2308. Of

  2309. The

  2310. Church

  2311. A

  2312. Man

  2313. Named

  2314. Tertullian

  2315. Historian

  2316. He

  2317. Wrote

  2318. Observing

  2319. This

  2320. That

  2321. Roman

  2322. Empire

  2323. So

  2324. Dark

  2325. And

  2326. Pagan

  2327. And

  2328. Worldly

  2329. And

  2330. Self

  2331. Destroying

  2332. As

  2333. The

  2334. Roman

  2335. Empire

  2336. Crumbled

  2337. And

  2338. The

  2339. Church

  2340. Was

  2341. Growing

  2342. He

  2343. Said

  2344. That

  2345. When

  2346. The

  2347. Christians

  2348. Would

  2349. Greet

  2350. Each

  2351. Other

  2352. On

  2353. The

  2354. Road

  2355. It

  2356. Was

  2357. Different

  2358. Than

  2359. Anyone

  2360. Else

  2361. Love

  2362. And

  2363. It

  2364. Seems

  2365. Like

  2366. It

  2367. Wasn't

  2368. Just

  2369. Man

  2370. Man

  2371. Made

  2372. Affection

  2373. It

  2374. Had

  2375. To

  2376. Be

  2377. From

  2378. A

  2379. Different

  2380. World

  2381. Isn't

  2382. That

  2383. Cool

  2384. I

  2385. Mean

  2386. You

  2387. Can

  2388. See

  2389. People

  2390. That

  2391. Are

  2392. Friends

  2393. And

  2394. Maybe

  2395. Like

  2396. A

  2397. Sports

  2398. Team

  2399. In

  2400. Common

  2401. But

  2402. That's

  2403. Not

  2404. This

  2405. Kind

  2406. Of

  2407. Love

  2408. This

  2409. Kind

  2410. Of

  2411. Love

  2412. Is

  2413. Sacrificial

  2414. It's

  2415. Like

  2416. Christ

  2417. Taking

  2418. Up

  2419. The

  2420. Claw

  2421. Wiping

  2422. The

  2423. Feet

  2424. Of

  2425. His

  2426. Stinky

  2427. Disciples

  2428. That's

  2429. Other

  2430. worldly love. And he says, look what he says next in verse 35. By this shall all men know that you

  2431. are my disciples if you have love for one another. Are you a true disciple of Jesus? Well, has he put

  2432. this otherworldly love inside of you? Because if he has, you will do it. Did you pick up what we

  2433. read earlier on our profession of faith? Hearing this, that you stand totally justified by grace

  2434. alone, doesn't that mean you're going to be wicked and abuse this love of God? You know,

  2435. shouldn't you want to keep Christians on a leash a little bit more? The answer is no. It is impossible

  2436. for those grafted into Christ by true faith not to produce fruits of gratitude. If you are saved,

  2437. you are in his family, he will flow through the vine, he will flow his love into you, and you

  2438. will bear fruit of gratitude. And that should be comforting, it should give you assurance,

  2439. and it should also lead us to ongoing repentance. So stay close to Christ, we need his love.

  2440. You see the contrast between Satan and Christ and how the church is treated. We saw how Judas,

  2441. filled with Satan, would treat Christ and his disciples. Satan hates Christ. Satan hates the family of Christ,

  2442. the church. Satan discourages Christians. Christ builds up. Satan destroys. Christ restores.

  2443. Satan tears down. Christ defends. Satan accuses. Christ forgives.

  2444. If you're in Christ, you will treat his family the way he treats his family. And that's comforting,

  2445. that we belong to the family of God. We can be still. He is with us. He has not left us or with us.

  2446. And number seven, Jesus can say, let not your heart be troubled, because if you follow him,

  2447. it's because he is faithful, not you. You don't need to be troubled when you stumble, when you reject

  2448. him even, like Peter. Because if you follow him, it is his faithfulness put inside of you. It's not

  2449. your own doing. Look at this exchange between Simon Peter and Jesus. Verse 36, Simon Peter said to him,

  2450. Lord, where do you go? Where will you go? Jesus answered him, where I go, you cannot follow me now,

  2451. but you will follow me afterwards. See, if you belong to Christ, if he has purchased you by his blood,

  2452. you will follow him. He tells Peter that promise. I'm sure that came ringing back in Peter's ear. You

  2453. will follow me, Peter, after he had fallen in sin. Verse 37, Peter said to him, Lord, why can I not

  2454. follow you now? I will lay down my life for you, for your sin? Now, Peter has a good desire. His

  2455. desire is to follow Jesus. His desire is to sacrifice and to want nothing else except the

  2456. kingdom of God and to be part of that. True believers will want that. The desire is good.

  2457. But look how Jesus answered him in verse 38. Will you, Peter, lay down your life for me,

  2458. for my sin? Truly, truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied me

  2459. three times. Peter, it's not your faithfulness that gets you a place in my kingdom. In fact,

  2460. I'm going to make sure you learn that lesson. You cannot be faithful to me enough to earn your

  2461. salvation to earn a spot in my kingdom, Peter. You can. You will not follow after Christ by your

  2462. strength or by anything you do alone, but only by being humbled like Peter to come to the end of

  2463. yourself. When God brings you to the end of yourself, you can have assurance that it was Christ alone

  2464. who brought you out of death and who gave you a place in his heavenly kingdom. You don't get to

  2465. heaven by laying down your life for Christ. That would be your own merit trying to save you.

  2466. Salvation is for those whom God has humbled and brought low. That's what God is going to do to

  2467. Peter. And then when you tell your testimony, your testimony sounds like Peter. He can stand up to all

  2468. the Jews in Jerusalem and say, repent and believe the kingdom of God is at hand. And he's not being

  2469. preachy or churchy or holier than thou. He is the one who denied Jesus Christ, the son of God,

  2470. not once, not twice, but three times. He knows repentance and he can say, repent, believe. Why?

  2471. Because Jesus is gracious. He was sent by the father so you can have peace with God. Repent and believe

  2472. and follow him because he forgives sinners like you just like he forgave a sinner like me.

  2473. That's why we can sing along also how deep the father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure

  2474. that he should give his only son to make a wretch his treasure.

  2475. The father sent the son so that you don't need to feel like a wretch. So your heart doesn't need to be troubled any longer.

  2476. He wants you to be still and know I am God. I am with you through Christ. You're very present. Help in trouble.

  2477. I said there were eight. I made it to number eight with God's help. So here's the eighth one.

  2478. Christ can say, let not your heart be troubled because he came for you so that you can be with him.

  2479. Let not your heart be troubled. He came so you can be with him.

  2480. Look at chapter 14, verse 1.

  2481. In light of everything that he just said, this exchange with Peter, I picture maybe a pause.

  2482. That silent stillness where people are wondering, what's he going to say next?

  2483. Jesus opens his mouth.

  2484. Let not your heart be troubled.

  2485. You believe in God.

  2486. Believe also in me.

  2487. Isn't that great medicine for your soul?

  2488. He says, are you troubled right now, disciple?

  2489. Think about God.

  2490. You believe in God.

  2491. Think of how glorious God is.

  2492. What could possibly trouble you so much in this world that you stop trusting God, the creator?

  2493. What is it that troubles you?

  2494. Is it this life?

  2495. Is it your sense of fulfillment and contentment based on earthly things?

  2496. Is it other people that are troubling you?

  2497. You know what the medicine you need, your soul needs for all of those troubles?

  2498. It's this.

  2499. Believe in God.

  2500. Think in God.

  2501. Put your thoughts and your meditations on God.

  2502. How?

  2503. Well, meditate on his law day and night.

  2504. God's ways are not your ways.

  2505. Let his word transform you.

  2506. Renew your thinking.

  2507. He is the creator and sustainer of everyone and everything.

  2508. Everything.

  2509. He will sustain me now.

  2510. Jesus says, believe that I am he.

  2511. Everything you know about God is expressed to you in the person of Jesus Christ.

  2512. In chapter 14, verse 2, Jesus next, he says, in my father's house are many mansions.

  2513. If it were not so, I would have told you.

  2514. I go to prepare a place for you.

  2515. You believe in God.

  2516. You think of God.

  2517. Think of heaven.

  2518. Believe in me.

  2519. That's where I'm going is to prepare a place for you.

  2520. That's why I was sent in the world.

  2521. It's to bring you with me so that you can be with God forever.

  2522. Is your heart lonely?

  2523. Do you feel homesick?

  2524. I'm preparing mansions for you, for countless millions of my people, a great multitude to be with God, prepared for you individually by Jesus Christ himself.

  2525. Verse 3, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may also be.

  2526. Verse 4, and where I go, you know, in the way you know.

  2527. Jesus says, you know me.

  2528. I'm preparing the way.

  2529. I'm preparing your mansion.

  2530. I'm preparing your place so that you can be with me.

  2531. Forever.

  2532. Yes, in this world you will have trouble.

  2533. Take up your cross daily and follow me.

  2534. You know the way.

  2535. Thomas Watson said, it's better to go with difficulty, with trouble to heaven, than with ease to hell.

  2536. Is your heart troubled, Christian?

  2537. Jesus says, I will come again.

  2538. I will receive you unto myself.

  2539. If I leave you now to the cross, to the grave.

  2540. And if I'm slow in your eyes to come again and bring the whole church back with me to my kingdom.

  2541. The reason, the reason I'm doing this is for you.

  2542. So if I go, it's because I love you.

  2543. So that you can be with me forevermore.

  2544. That's why the Father sent me.

  2545. We just sang, what truth can calm the troubled soul?

  2546. God is good.

  2547. God is good.

  2548. You need more?

  2549. I need more.

  2550. Where is his grace and goodness known?

  2551. It's in Christ.

  2552. It's in our great Redeemer's blood.

  2553. Who holds our faith when fears arise?

  2554. Who stands above the stormy trial?

  2555. Well, we sang, it's Christ alone.

  2556. It's Christ alone.

  2557. He says, let not your heart be troubled.

  2558. Trust in Christ.

  2559. Trust.

  2560. He is with you.

  2561. You're very present out in trouble.

  2562. And trust that God is good.

  2563. Who is it that sends the waves that bring us nigh?

  2564. It's God.

  2565. Because he's good.

  2566. He sends those waves, those troubles of life, to bring you unto Christ, the rock.

  2567. During the Reformation, one of the young reformers named Philip Malantham, he was troubled.

  2568. They were being persecuted by an entire empire.

  2569. They were being chased out of one country to the other.

  2570. And the younger Philip Malantham would often write back and forth with Martin Luther.

  2571. They were friends and contemporaries and worked together.

  2572. And Martin Luther's encouragement back to Philip Malantham was very simple.

  2573. Let us sing again Psalm 46.

  2574. Let us remember that God is our present help in trouble.

  2575. That's why the Father sent the Son.

  2576. So that your heart, Christian, need not be troubled.

  2577. Well, we won't sing Psalm 46 yet.

  2578. Maybe we can find a version.

  2579. We could all sing that.

  2580. That would be wonderful.

  2581. But let me pray Psalm 46 as we close for today.

  2582. And I encourage you to pray Psalm 46 again and again and again.

  2583. And hear this as the prayer of Jesus Christ, little children of Jesus, our dear church family,

  2584. and this beloved congregation.

  2585. Let's keep praying this together until we are home with Jesus Christ forevermore.

  2586. Amen.

  2587. O God, you are our refuge and strength.

  2588. You are our very present help in trouble.

  2589. Teach us by your Spirit to be still and know that you are God.

  2590. We trust that you will be exalted among the nations,

  2591. and you will be exalted in all the earth.

  2592. You, O Lord of hosts, are with us.

  2593. You are covenant-keeping God.

  2594. You are our fortress.

  2595. Amen.

  2596. Amen.