The Best Seat in the House

 

April 18, 2021              NOTES NOT EDITED
The Best Seat in the House
Luke 14:7-14, 23 

SIS:  The seat of service one chooses in life represents one’s level of devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the blessings that follow.

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the most expensive seat in in the world is literally, “out of this world.”   This $19M toilet was created by the Russians for the Space Station in 2008.  the most expensive seat ever made in the history of bathroom thrones. According to one website, “it features the most extras for that special kind of bathroom activity. This toilet has leg braces to keep astronauts in the proper position while using the toilet. Most notably, this is the only toilet ever created that has an advanced filter capable of extracting water from waste and purifying it for drinking. It’s the ultimate recycling machine.”

That’s probably more information than you need, or even want to know, about “bathroom seating.”  Jesus had something to say about “proper seating.”  Let’s read about this together:  Luke 14:7-14, 23.

In our text, and in the parable of the Great Feast that follows, we have a discussion of “seating at parties” as it refers to our attitudes and responsibilities as followers of Christ in this world.  Seat choices are compared to various aspects of our Christian character and blessings.  We can examine at least six aspects of “seating issues” as it relates to the “Best Seat in the House.”  The Best Seat in the House, that is the best attitude for a believer is described as being, the LOWEST Seat, NOT the LAZY Seat, the LARGE Seat, the LEANING seat, and most importantly the Best Seat in the House of devotion to Jesus is the LIFTING Seat.  Let’s consider each seat in the House of our Devotion to Christ.

1.  The Best Seat in the House is the LAST Seat (7-10)

 

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(CSB) ⁷ He told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves: ⁸ “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t sit in the place of honor, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. ⁹ The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place. ¹⁰ “But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests.

Now in some translations, you notice the words “lowest place,” are translated “last place,” as in the NAS Bible.  Both are absolutely correct. The original word, “eschaton,” has four basic uses.  ^① It can have a sequential, or ordinal meaning as in, “last item in a series.” ^② It can have a spatial meaning as, “to the uttermost point, or a lower place, such as lower room in a house.” ^③ It can also refer to a later period of time as in, “last days.” ^④ It can refer to the rank or grade of an item as in a “humble, or lowly state.”  Except for the idea of number three (③), the full range of the meaning of “eschaton” is present to highlight a spirit of “humility, or lowliness of heart.”

The major point of this passage is to contrast the “pride of the Pharisees” with the humble, servant spirit of a true believer.  The Pharisees desired the prōtoklisia, or “first places,” because of their pride, instead of the eschaton topon, or “last places” which indicates a humble, Christ-like spirit. 

All throughout the Bible, and especially the N.T., and even more especially the Red-letter portions of the Lord’s teaching is the doctrine of the “Upside-downness of the Kingdom of God.” Everything about the Kingdom of God and Its subjects is the opposite of the kingdoms of men.  I will say more about this in a moment.  For now, we must hear the Lord calling us to “become humble servants” by taking the Lowest Seat in the House. 

Pride is the archenemy of faith.  Humility is not an easy garment to wear. It is against human nature to be humiliated, or humbled—especially to do it willingly. 

The Founder of the phenomenally successful burger chain, Wendy’s, wrote a book titled, “Well Done: The Common Guy’s Guide To Everyday Success.”  Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas has an MBA, even though he never graduated from high school. His MBA does not stand for, “Master of Business Administration.  His MBA stands for, Mop Bucket Attitude! Dave Thomas writes, “I even have a photograph of me in my MBA graduation outfit—a snazzy knee-length work apron.  I guarantee you that I’m the only founder among America’s big companies whose picture in the corporate annual report shows [the CEO] wielding a mop and a plastic bucket.”

Dave Thomas was a Christian by the way.  He is the example of someone choosing the Lowest Seat in the House by having a humble Mop Bucket Attitude of humility where we are think we are “above the most lowly service.” A humble attitude of service which is the attitude every follower of Christ should have.

2. The Best Seat in the House is NOT the LAZY Seat (13, 23)

 

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(CSB) ¹² He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. ¹³ On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind.

Recall from verse 1 that the occasion of this “banquet” was an invitation to Jesus by a Pharisee, a leading Pharisee.  Now it says in verse one that the Pharisees,

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“were watching Him [Jesus] closely.”

So, in addressing this to the disciples, and the Pharisees, Jesus is being somewhat sarcastic. The words, “when you do such and such,” do not suggest Jesus believes the Pharisees actually have any intention of ever bowing in humble service to others to provide a “gospel banquet,” if you will.  In fact, it is a roundabout way of condemning the prideful, “serve us,” mentality of the Pharisees.

But, the words “when you give a lunch or host a banquet” do suggest that the life of a disciple is a life of DOING, not just a life of DOCTRINE.  This goes back to the foundational statement of James that says,  (James 2:18, CSB)

 

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¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, [DOCTRINE] and I will show you faith by my works [DOING].

“A” faith (not “the” faith), that does nothing saves nobody! 

Look at verse 23, “Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.

Listen to the Great Commission, (Mat. 28:19, CSB)

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Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

The word, “Go,” stands out in both commands of the Lord.  You can’t spell “gospel” without “g o.” Christianity is an action launched by a belief.  The two are inseparable in the teaching of the Bible.

The ministry plan for many, many churches isn’t working because disciples are “working the plan.”  Jesus planned the work, and we must work the plan. John 9:4 is important in this regard:

 

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(CSB) We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. The NASB gives a better, clearer, more emphatic translation of this text:  “We must work the works of Him who sent Me.”

The Best Seat in the House of Devotion is NOT a LAZY Seat.  Being a fully-functioning follower of Jesus is the hardest work in the world. 

3.  The Best Seat in the House is a LARGE Seat (v23b).

Let’s go back to the parable of the Large Banquet, following the parable about “Seating” in the Pharisees house. verse 21 says,

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²¹ “So the servant came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’  And then verse 23, “Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. (CSB)

This refers to a great gathering around God’s table in Heaven.  God has a large dining hall with plenty of rooms and wants it to be filled with His children.

There is room for all God’s children at the Great Banquet in Heaven—“red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight Jesus loves the little children of the world.”  I learned that little song in Sunday School when I was very little.  There’s a lot of talk of “Which Lives Matter.”  Black Lives Matter.  White Lives Matter.  Red Lives Matter.  Female Lives Matter.  Male Lives Matter.  All Lives Matter to God and His House has a Large Seat big enough for everyone.  Galatians 3:28–29 (CSB)
 

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²⁸ There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.

Listen to Rev. 7:9 from the Contemporary English Version. Listen especially for a “key word” describing Heaven.

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After this, I saw a large crowd with more people than could be counted. They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood before the throne and before the Lamb (CEV)

 A beloved Scottish preacher of the 19^th Century, Alexander Maclaren, explained why the first century Roman society was bewildered by and even threatened by the explosively growing Christian community.  Maclaren said this:  “Barbarian, Scythian, bond and free, male and female, Jew and Greek, learned and ignorant … sat down at one table, and felt themselves all one in Christ Jesus. They were ready to break all other bonds, and to yield to the uniting forces that streamed out from his Cross. There never had been anything like it. No wonder that the world began to babble about sorcery, and conspiracies, and complicity in unnamable vices. It was only that the disciples were obeying the new commandment, and a new thing had come into the world—a community held together by love and not by geographical accidents or linguistic affinities, or the iron fetters of the conqueror .… The new commandment made a new thing, and the world wondered” (Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, Vol. 10 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1974), pp. 227–228.)

 

We live in a seemingly hopelessly divided country where cities are burning and citizens are fighting, all because of the color of our skin.  The only place large enough for ALL PEOPLE TO MATTER, is in the LARGE Seat of God’s Kingdom.  May we continually pray as Our Lord taught, (Mat. 6:10, KJV):
 

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“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” We can’t wait to get to heaven to get started on inviting people to the LARGE seat of God’s Grace.  

4.  The Best Seat in the House is the LEANING Seat (v10).

As is often the case, the NASB gives a more literal translation, and in this case, a more historically descriptive one.  Verse 10 uses a word which appears several times in this passage in regard to “seating practices” around a First Century table:
 

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¹⁰ “But when you are invited, go and recline . . . (NASB)

The word translated, “recline or sit” means literally “to lean.” There is an obvious difference between “sitting at a table to eat” and “reclining at a table to eat.” In fact, in our modern culture “reclining to eat” sounds odd, even ill-advised medically. We’ve all told our children not to lay back and eat, perhaps many times.  Different cultures of the ancient world had different customs, but the Jews and Romans of Jesus’ day “reclined to eat.”  Here is a description from a scholar in this regard: 

“A Roman dining room was called a triclinium because it contained three couches, set around a central table. The table was a low block with couches around it on three sides. There would be a single couch in the middle, where the host would sit, and one couch to his left, and one to his right, opposite each other. The side opposite the host would be left open for people to bring food to the table. The couches would be covered by a cushion, or a cushion would be provided for the guest to lean on. The guests approached the table from behind the couches, then reclined on their left side, supporting their head on their left elbow, leaving their right hand free to take the food. A normal Roman triclinium would seat nine people, with three on each couch.” The crude drawing on the screen gives you an idea of how the disciples “reclined with Jesus” at the Last Supper.  [Show Slide]

John’s gospel makes mention of the Last Supper scene: (Jn. 13:23,NASB) “There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.”

This verse refers to John, the Apostle. What I want us to observe is the close relationship John had with Jesus, even among the Apostles.  He is in a special place, “reclining on the Lord’s right side.”  I want you to note the two ideas:  “leaning on Jesus” and “the one Jesus loved.” Leaning on Jesus is a special place, and exalted place of honor. John received great comfort leaning on Jesus, which is always the case for any of us.  Leaning on Jesus gives us a special kind of peace and freedom for the journey of our lives.  Leaning on Jesus is exactly the Best Seat in the House for any of us.  There’s just no better place in all the world than “the LEANING Seat.” 

A humble Bible teacher wanted her students to know how important it is to remain in the Presence of God. On one occasion, she taught, "A bird is free in the air. Place a bird in the water and he has lost his liberty. A fish is free in the water, but leave him on the sand and he perishes. He is out of his realm. So, we as Christians are free when we are in the perfect will of God and are obedient to God’s commands. This is as natural a place for God’s child as the water is for the fish, or the air for the bird."

If you want to know perfect peace in life, press in close to Jesus on the LEANING Seat. Without Jesus, we are like fish out of water!

The Best Seat in the House is the LOWEST Seat, Not the LAZY Seat, it is a LARGE Seat, and we just learned it is the LEANING Seat.  When all this is taken into consideration we joyfully conclude that the Best Seat in the House of Devotion to Christ is 

5.  the LIFTING Seat  (10b-11)

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¹⁰ “But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you.  ¹¹ “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  (NASB) 

Remember earlier I mentioned the fundamental doctrine woven throughout the Bible, especially the Red-letter teaching of Jesus, which I call, “the Upside-downness of the Kingdom of God.” The ultimate example of the “Upside-downness of the Kingdom of God” is the Cross.  Jesus secured life by dying.  What appeared to be the Lord’s ultimate defeat was His quintessential victory. Jesus demonstrated His kingship by devoted service to the Father.  Jesus demonstrated the greatest power in history by a moment of absolute weakness in human flesh.  Everything about the life of the Lord Jesus challenges man’s view of power and success.  Man seeks power by striving—Jesus teaches us that power comes from surrendering.  All throughout the Bible and especially the Red-letter portions of the gospel, Jesus teaches about the “Upside-downness of the Kingdom of God.” 

This parable on choosing the Best Seat in the House, is just one of many examples of the “Upside-downness of the Kingdom of God.”  You should circle or underline those words in verse 10, “Friend, move up higher.”  The way up is down. The key to getting is by giving. The way to gain honor is to demonstrate humility.  This is really the whole essence of the Lord’s discourse on The Best Seat in the House.  Jesus is teaching once again the principle of the “Upside-downness of the Kingdom of God.” 

This is really what the Best Seat in the House of Devotion is all about:  “God lifting us up out of the miry clay of our sin-marred lives.”  I’ve always loved that old hymn:

I was sinking deep in sin, // far from the peaceful shore, //Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, // But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry, // From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

 Love lifted me // love lifted me // when nothing else could help // love lifted me // Love lifted me // love lifted me // When nothing else could help // love . . . lifted . . . me.

We may never get to sit on a $19M toilet in space, but my question for us all, today is this:  are we sitting in the right seat?  Have we chosen the Best Seat in the House of Devotion to Christ.  Have we chosen the Lowest Seat?  Have we rejected the Lazy Seat? Have we embrace a Large Seat where everybody of every station and kindred is welcome.  Do we have the peace that can only from pressing close to Jesus in the Leaning Seat?  Are we being lifted up and lifting up others as we sit in the Lord’s Lifting Seat? 

We all should absolutely seek the Best Seat in the House which comes when we allow Jesus to sit on the throne of our hearts?  Are we doing that?

Soul Building

April 11, 2021              NOTES NOT EDITED
Soul Building:  No Pain, No Gain
Romans 8:12-30 

SIS—God never wastes the pain in our lives but uses it to empower for Kingdom service now and purify us for Kingdom living eternally. 

Arnold Swartznegger is best known for his iconic line in the movie, “terminator” where he says, “I’ll be back.” He’s less known for serving as Governor of California from 2003-2011.  Have you ever wondered:  what does it take to be governor of California?  Well, for Swartznegger, it took a lot of iron in his diet – pumping iron, that is.  The road to the governor’s mansion for Arnold Swartznegger passed through the gym.  [Picture of Arnold]

Swartznegger became famous as a body-builder holding the Mr. Olympus and Mr. Universe titles seven consecutive times.  At one point in his body-building career he slept in a gym in Munich because he had nowhere else to stay.  He is a massive man with exquisitely defined muscles – big ones.

It took years of sacrifice and more than a few painful injuries to get a body like Swartznegger’s.  It takes hours of sacrifice and painful exercise to maintain a body like that.  A phrase you will often hear around a gym is:  “No Pain—No Gain.”

That concept aptly applies in nearly ever area of life: from body building to building a career.  It also applies to “Soul Building.”

Just like there is no “painless” way to become a world-class athlete, there is no painless way to become a Christ-like believer.  Body building at the level of a professional like Swartznegger takes a massive amount of dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to pain.

That same principle applies to becoming a Christ-like believer.  Being human will bring you pain.  Following Christ will bring you even more pain.  What you do with and about your suffering will be determined by whether you choose to “surrender to Spirit” or “struggle in the flesh.”  Let’s read how Paul addresses the issue of suffering versus blessing.

READ PASSAGE:  Romans 8:12-30.

This passage explains three significant issues in regard to suffering:

1.  Pain is INEVITABLE (20-23) 

To live is to suffer.  Suffering touches the whole of creation, both living and non-living.  Suffering is universal because “sin is universal.”

Holocaust Survivor, J.C. Beker said, “The tension between Suffering and hope are basic to the Christian life.”

 Paul describes the universal suffering of this life in vss 20-23:

²⁰For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²²For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. ²³And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 

In these three verses the Scriptures describe the horrible condition of the universe because of sin.  Three different word pictures are used. 

① The word translated, “futility,” (v20) has a wide range of meaning but the key issues are “nothingness and absolute frustration.” In the brilliant translation of the Bible by St. Jerome into Latin, this idea is called, “vanitas vanitatum.”  Empty Emptiness, or as Solomon describes in the Book of Ecclesiates, “vanity of vanity.”  This would be like “pitch black darkness.”  We would call it in our day, a “black hole.” A black hole in outer space is a region that sucks up everything within its gravitational field and is so dense that not even a “speck of light” can escape.  Morally, spiritually, and actually our universe is like a giant black hole.

② Second, the Word describes the state of the world as “slavery to corruption” (v21). This word, corruption, describes a “complete loss of purpose, hence, absolutely worthless.” It can refer to a “rotting corpse.”  The ancient 5^th century BC philosopher, Euripedes, used this word in classical Greek as a word to describe a “shipwreck.”  Nothing is more useless and represents a loss of purpose like a ship decaying in the depths of the deep. This text paints an ugly, malodorous, malignant picture of humanity in the strongest terms.

③ A third description of the awful state of the world because of sin uses the word, “groaning” (twice in fact; vv 22, 23).  It describes the kind of groaning related to the pain of childbirth.  It was a word that describes the deep wailing when one hears of the death of a close loved one.  It is used in the Scripture to describe a human crying out to God in absolute anguish. 

Because of sin, our efforts to find any sense of true happiness apart from God is an absolutely futile effort leading to an emptiness that can only be described as “complete, oppressive darkness.”  Because of sin the entire creation has suffered shipwreck and is decaying in the abyss of uselessness.  Because of sin, the whole creation “groans from unimaginable pain.”

Reading this passage one must come to grips with the harsh reality confirmed by human experience: This is a sin-rotten world and   “pain is inevitable.” 

Now, this would be an ugly, discouraging perspective on life if it weren’t for a significant principle laid out in verse 20:

²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 

Note those words, “because of Him.” Though our human reason cannot reconcile fully how a loving, benevolent God could be responsible for the suffering of the world, but that is a fact that cannot be disputed in the Scriptures.  God is sovereign over everything – including evil and suffering.  This does not mean that God is the direct cause, or what the legal system calls the “proximate cause” of evil and suffering, but He is ultimately responsible for suffering—including the suffering of His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ.  For example, when a drunk driver crashes into another in a Ford Mustang, ultimately Ford might be accused of being responsible for building the car, but the law holds the driver responsible as the “proximate” cause of the accident.  God is ultimately sovereign even over the evil of our world, but not “proximately” guilty for causing that evil.

This brings us to another key issue in the discussion of pain:

2.  Misery is OPTIONAL (18, et. al.)

Paul certainly was no “stranger to pain.”  In fact, we know he had a horrible eye condition that made it hard to write a letter.  In Galatians Paul says: (Galatians. 6:11)

¹¹ See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.

This probably refers to a condition caused by a form of malaria that caused the eyes to be swollen, to use a pus-like liquid, and cause the eyes to have a “bulging look.”  Paul also describes in the Book of Corinthians, a “thorn in the flesh.”  Poor eyesight meant Paul often had a secretary write but in this case he wrote “in large letters.”

In addition to the suffering Paul experienced simply by the fact of being in this sin-infected, dying globe, Paul experienced the suffering from living a fully devoted, sold-out life for Jesus Christ.  As a result Paul declares:  Romans 8:24–28 (NASB95)

²⁴ For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. ²⁶ In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; ²⁷ and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

Paul experienced as much pain as any of us, but yet, his conclusion is not one of despair, but of great hope.  Look in verse 18:

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 

Now, scoot down to verse 24:

²⁴ For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. 

This same phrase, “eagerly wait” is used in verse 19 also, but the
brilliant translation of J.B. Philips fills out the meaning of the phrase: 

The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own. (Rom. 8:19, Philips) 

Paul experienced immense pain, but he did not give in to misery.  As Barbara Johnson’s book title states: “Pain Is Inevitable But Misery Is Optional So Stick A Geranium In Your Hat And Be Happy!”

We cannot avoid pain, but we can avoid despair.

Now, how was it that Paul could face unparalled hardship and pain but avoid becoming miserable?  Three truths seem to surface in that regard here in this passage:

① Paul got hold of God’s Promise for His life (vv 18-19).

Paul had “heaven in his eyes.”  When one has the eye-blinding glory of God’s eternal promise of heaven shining in one’s eyes, it blinds one to the pain in one’s life.  The hope of heaven is so heavy, that the burdens of this light seem like a feather in comparison.

② Paul got a hold of God’s Purpose in His life.  Look at verse 28.  This is an oft-quoted, but I think much underappreciated, verse in the Holy Record:

²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

Not even the greatest disability one can imagine can keep God’s plan for your life from unraveling just as He has ordained that it should.  Not a communist nor a coma will keep the God-ordained plan of your life from unfolding.

Recall, the verse we read earlier in regard to the evil and suffering of this world.  Verses 20-21:

²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 

This theme of absolute trust in the Sovereign Grace of God runs throughout Paul’s writing.  Philippians 1:6, for example, states:

 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (CSB) 

Pain is inevitable.  You can’t avoid it.  But, misery is optional.  You can keep your eye on God’s Promise and put your hope in God’s purpose in order to avoid becoming miserable because of the pain in life.  But, another aspect in this regard surfaces in our text—not just looking to God’s promise or trusting in God’s purpose, but Paul experienced:

③ God’s Presence.  Look at verse 26:

In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. (CSB) 

People who understand suffering much better than I do, and have experience it much more than I have, have pointed out that “one is never so close to God as when one is suffering.”  Pain does something to bring us to an understanding of God’s presence in our lives like nothing else can.  The great scholar, C.S. Lewis referred to pain as “God’s megaphone.”

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world”. 

Martin Luther, the Father of the Reformation, explained how suffering in surrender to God brings us into His presence:

“Oh!  [God’s] grace and goodness toward us is so immeasurably great, that without great assaults and trials it cannot be understood.” 

I have been in the room of dear saints who have slipped from consciousness, but have not yet slipped from the surly bounds of this earth.  I am convinced that one’s disconnection from those love them does not mean they have disconnected from the Savior Who died for them.  

Paul did not give in to misery because he kept sight of God’s promise, placed his trust in God’s purpose, and rested in God’s Presence. 

Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional.  Here’s where the rubber really meets the road in this discussion of suffering. The issue is not so much that you will suffer, or even how you suffer.  The real key issue is, WHO suffers with you. 

3.  The Holy Spirit is ESSENTIAL (12-17)

Upon what does this whole discussion of experiencing “gain amidst pain” rest?  What we really have in this passage is the very essence of the foundation of the Christian life.  The key issue that resolves our doubts, calms our fears, and allows us to snatch victory from the mouth of defeat is expressed in verses 12-17.

¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, ¹³ because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. ¹⁵ For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, ¹⁷ and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. (CSB) 

There’s the proverbial answer to the “$64,000 Question (1956, $622,027 today).”  What gives ultimate meaning to life?  What is so powerful that even suffering leads to unimagined bliss?  What has such transforming power that death becomes life, the temporal becomes eternal, and the material becomes spiritual?

The Holy Spirit – “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27)

Without the Holy Spirit your life will be a futile, darkened ship lying beneath the sea of misery.  You simply cannot find joy in this life—and certainly no hope for the next life—unless the Holy Spirit of God has filled your life and fused Himself to your soul. 

Notice the word, “obligated,” in verse 12.  Paul is referring to a “creditor/debtor” relationship.  In ancient days (and continuing through even to our day) when someone holds a debt, they control the life of the debtor—even to the point of being able to have them thrown into debtor’s prison until the obligation is lifted by someone.

Every person has a spiritual master.  Either we are fulfilling our obligation to the Lord Jesus Christ or we are debtors to the Devil through the flesh.  It is one or the other – never both.  One is either saved and God’s Spirit resides in him, or one is lost and the spirit of the Devil resides in him.  Everyone is “possessed.”  The issue is:  possessed by what Spirit.  Paul had already talked about the relationship between God’s Spirit and the spirit of saved men and women.  Look back up at Romans 8:8-9:

⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. (CSB) 

Overcoming the pain, disappointment, darkness, and emptiness of this sinful world will not happen unless and until the Holy Spirit floods into your soul and you are saved.  The Holy Spirit’s filling is absolutely essential to salvation – no if’s, ands, or buts about it as my Dad used to say.

Pain and suffering in this world is inevitable.  Misery is optional through complete and total surrender to God.  The filling of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to this process.

Once again I refer to J.C. Beker, A Holocaust Survivor:  “Because suffering is such a pervasive part of our world, the question is not “that” we suffer, but “how” we suffer.”  I would add, it is even more important to realize, “Who,” suffered FOR us and “Who” is suffering WITH us.”

Now, this brings us to the question we must ask and answer for ourselves:  has there ever been a time in my life when I humbly received the filling of the Holy Spirit and was saved?  Everyone can answer that question either “yes” or “no.”  Maybe doesn’t count.  I thought I did does not count.  I joined the church doesn’t count.

The only thing that is absolutely essential in getting past death and into God’s Heaven is:  does God’s Holy Spirit reside in my soul and control my life?

There is no such thing as “painless” living in this life.  But, we also know that as with any endeavor:  “no pain means, no gain.” 

Today, if you have not already done so, you can turn from your sins and invite the Holy Spirit to enter your life and bring about your salvation. 

 

Pain is inevitable.  Misery is optional.  The Holy Spirit is essential. 

Easter 2021: Used Tombstones

 

Easter, April 4, 2021                 NOTES NOT EDITED
Used Tombstones
John 20:1-18    (Service Video: “Joseph Got His Tomb Back”)

SIS—Nothing is more important to understanding the Christian message than understanding the significance of the empty tomb.

SCRIPTURE READING:  John 20:1-11

An eye-catching ad appeared in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, newspaper's classified section a few years ago. Big, bold letters advertised "Used Tombstone." The ad's text read as follows: "Used tombstone for sale. Real bargain to someone named 'Dingo.' For more information call . . . and then the number was listed.”  When Joseph of Arimathea was finally buried, he was buried in a used Tomb.  Jesus borrowed it for three days and gave it back.

There is no more important word in the Easter Story than the word, “empty.”  The word, “empty” is what fills the Easter Story with meaning—and with power.

A little boy named, Philip, was born with Down syndrome. As an eight-years old, he had a hard time finding acceptance, even in the Sunday school class he attended. Through some creative intervention, though, Philip began to be accepted by his classmates. One Sunday morning at Easter, the Sunday school teacher gave her students a plastic, hollow egg and instructed them to go outside and find symbols of new life and place them in the egg. Afterwards, they would share what they found with the class. The children ran about the church property in a fury to find an appropriate item. They then returned to the classroom to share their finds. One by one, the teacher opened their eggs and displayed the symbol they found: a flower, a leaf, even a butterfly. The class responded to each with “Ooos” and “Awws” until the teacher opened the last egg. Instead of a beautiful flower or leaf, the egg was empty. “That’s not fair,” one boy spoke up, “somebody didn’t do it!” Philip spoke up in the egg’s defense, “That’s mine, I did that”. Annoyed the other boy shouted, “Philip, you don’t do anything right! There’s nothing there!” Philip responded “I did do it! It’s empty! Just like the tomb! The tomb was empty!”

There are THREE ASPECTS of the Resurrection Story that outline how fundamental the Empty Tomb is to Christianity:

❶ The Tomb Was Empty: It is the Essential Part of |
      the Christian Message (vv 1-2)

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¹ Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. ² So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

In all four gospels we have the central issue of the “empty tomb.”  John is the last gospel to be written and records what the church had been teaching for at least 20 to 30 years. In John’s gospel we read

The fact that the tomb was empty that first Easter Morning has never been seriously challenged in over 2000 years. 

Even Jewish scholar, Geza Vermez concludes: "But in the end, when every argument has been considered and weighed, the only conclusion acceptable to the historian must be that . . . the women who set out to pay their last respects to Jesus found to their consternation, not a body, but an empty tomb."

The fact that the tomb was empty and the only reasonable, historic explanation for it was the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation—indeed the very essence—of Christianity.  The Apostle Paul would summarize it like this in 1Corinthians 15:14: 

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“If Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain”.

 No fact has had a greater impact upon history than the fact of that empty tomb.  Easter has no meaning and Christianity collapses into just another religious fable if there was no resurrection.  

I would never suggest that someone embrace Christianity because it is somehow helpful emotionally, socially, or even spiritually.  Other religious people would argue their particular brand of religion is “helpful.”   No, there is no good reason to embrace Christianity unless it is true.  And, if it is true, all other approaches to spirituality and eternal issues are false.

So, we can take the historical record at face value—as nearly all reputable scholars do and have for two thousand years—When Mary and the other women arrived at the tomb that first Easter – it was empty.  Surprisingly, remarkably empty.

This brings me to another important matter in regard to Easter.

❷ The Empty Tomb Begs for an Explanation?  (Verse 2b)

Mary herself, offers the most logical explanation from a human standpoint.  She says;

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“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!”

Someone stole the body.  That seemed almost unquestionable because if there is one thing that human kind has learned over the millennia of being on earth is this:  “dead people stay dead!”

The reason there is any debate about the resurrection at all is not that there is no “evidence” for it, as we will see, but because the default position in human, common sense thinking is: “dead people stay dead.”  Resurrections don’t happen!

It is impossible to convince someone of the truth of Christianity if they dismiss, out of hand, the possibility of the “supernatural.” If there is no supernatural, there is no God, and no such thing as meaning, purpose, or even truth—end of discussion.  On the other hand, if there is the possibility of the supernatural—and as I said life is foolish and meaningless without it—then resurrection is not only possible, but it is provable!

Remember Paul said:  “No resurrection.  No truth to Christianity.” 

A persistent “anti-supernatural” bias has permeated every area of modern thought from science to religion to politics.  Any evidence for the resurrection (and there is a lot) is not even considered a “possibility.”

Whether or not you believe the resurrection took place rests on whether or not you have an “open mind” or a “closed mind.”  If you have a closed mind, no amount of evidence will convince you that Jesus Christ raised from the dead and Christianity is nothing but a myth.

You are like the person at a political rally.  This person was a die-hard follower of her chosen candidate and his party.  There was no amount of evidence anybody could ever offer that would get her to change her mind, or her political party.  She was a “Yellow-dog Democrat.”  She would vote for a “yellow-dog” as long as it was running against a Republican.

So, she proudly wore a button that said, “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my minds made up!”

What you believe is possible determines how you view the evidence for the resurrection and the empty tomb. So, let me survey some of the answers for the Empty Tomb, without a resurrection.

① The first and most obvious human answer was that given by the woman:  Someone took the body.  The question then becomes, “who” took the body and where did they put it.  Keep in mind that in 2020 years of skeptics trying to produce the dead body of Jesus, it has never happened—not then; not now; not ever!  This was the original counter-explanation offered by Jewish authorities to squelch any message of a Resurrected Messiah. Matthew records this original plot to cover-up the empty tomb:  Matthew 28:12–13
 

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¹² And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, ¹³ and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’

Notice, however, no campaign was launched to locate the “stolen body” because the Jewish authorities knew the idea was preposterous on the face of it.  For one, the tomb had the seal of the Roman Emperor and allowing it to be open by such neglect as falling asleep would have been a death sentence for the Roman soldiers.

And, if the disciples had indeed stolen the body they would have had to break into the tomb, violating the seal of the Roman Emperor,  push a two-ton stone up an incline, away from the entrance of the tomb, take the body, and do it so stealthily that the best soldiers in the world would not notice.

② Another theory offered to explain the Empty Tomb without a resurrection is called the “Swoon Theory.”  This states that Jesus survived the brutal beating and the crucifixion, was wrapped head to toe in fabric, placed in a cold, dank tomb and without food, water or care awoke in the blackness, fully refreshed, pushed away a two-ton stone and walked out—again, without the Roman guard noticing.  If the Romans were good at anything, they were good at “crucifying people to death.”  Nobody survived crucifixion.  Plus, the Bible specifically notes the “mixture of blood ushering forth from the spear shoved into His side indicating the Lord’s heart had ruptured.”  Jesus was most certainly dead!

③ Some have suggested that the women and the disciples went to the wrong tomb.  Do you think Mary, the mother of Jesus, forgot where they buried Him? Joseph of Arimathea, who donated the tomb was a prominent man whose tomb would have been well known.  Plus, if they “wrong tomb” was empty, why not just go to the right one?

④ One of the most profoundly unbelievable explanations to attempt to ignore the fact of the resurrection is the Mass Hallucination Theory.  The premise is that everyone who claimed to see the Risen Lord (including 500 at one time, 1Cor. 15:6) were having a “mass hallucination.”  This attempt to explain the Empty Tomb without a resurrection does not meet the criteria for a “single hallucination,” much less 500 people hallucinating at the same time.  Even secular psychiatrists reject such a theory.

The Empty Tomb that first Eastern Sunday begged for an answer as to why it was empty.  Theory after theory has been offered alternatives for the resurrection for over 2000 years. Not one such theory has had any credibility. As we learned earlier, the fact of the Empty Tomb is one of the most historically validated events in human history.  There must be an answer.  There is an answer.  It is the same answer the angel gave the women that first Easter Sunday,  Mat 28:6 

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⁶ “He is not here, for He has risen!

Write this down. It came to me in the shower this very morning:  “People do not reject the gospel because it has been disproven—people reject the gospel because it disapproves of their lifestyle!

Here is what one of the greatest authorities on the resurrection in modern history says about the resurrection as the theory for the empty tomb:  “After more than 700 hours of studying this subject and thoroughly investigating its foundation, I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon the minds of men, OR it is the most fantastic fact of history” (J. McDowell).

The Empty Tomb is a fact.  The Empty Tomb begs for an answer and the Resurrection is the only reasonable explanation.  Third we must consider:

❸ The Empty Tomb is a Call to Believe (v8)

⁸ So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.  Circle those words, “and believed.” 

It is not enough to simply “see the evidence for the resurrection.”  Facts will never get you into heaven.  The Bible says that “even the devils know the facts of Who Jesus is and What He did, and yet they fear and tremble in the face of eternal punishment” (Jam 2:19, paraphrased).

Let me repeat something I said earlier.  I would never suggest that someone embrace Christianity because it is somehow helpful emotionally, socially, or even spiritually.  Other religious people would argue their particular brand of religion is “helpful.”  Honestly, many times my faith has not been helpful emotionally or socially.  Sometimes, the burden of following Jesus has torn the very fabric of my life.  It hasn’t brought me material prosperity or social status.  But, I don’t believe in Christ because “the gospel is helpful but because it is true.”  Yes, ultimately faith ALWAYS—AND I STRESS ALWAYS—keeps me safe beneath the shelter of the wings of the Almighty.  But, I don’t believe the gospel because it is helpful, but because it is true.  And, because it is true, it IS INDEED, helpful.

The word, “believe,” in verse 8 of John, chapter 20 (and throughout the Bible) is not about “knowing the facts of Jesus life.”  Believing in the Greek New Testament is most often a verb—an action verb.  Believing means “responding to the call of Jesus Christ to follow Him even to the point of death!”  Do-nothing faith is not Biblical faith.   James, prompted by the Holy Spirit, writes,  James 2:18:

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¹⁸show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Belief isn’t faith until we act upon it by surrendering to Jesus Christ as the Lord of Life and serving Him sacrificially every day of our lives.  Faith happens when knowledge makes that 8 to 10 inch journey from your head to your heart. [SLIDE] 

[CLOSE] The Empty Tomb most certainly was empty; but, it was empty for a reason.  Jesus emptied the tomb of death so He could fill us with His life.  Easter is about “emptiness” in many ways.  We live in an incredibly Empty universe. Most of the universe is empty space occupied by nothing but dark matter and quantum fields.

Astronomers have found a big empty place in the universe. A massive void. This hole is gigantic, nearly a billion light-years across. Inside it there are no planets, no stars, no galaxies, no gases. It’s just a huge cold, empty spot.  A whole lotta nothing.

It can stretch and even boggle your mind to think of the incredible distances between stars in the sky. You might be aware that a light-year is a unit of distance — it’s the distance that light can travel in one year. One light-year equals about six trillion miles. Quite a distance.

And how about that massive void, that huge cold spot in the sky? It’s 10 billion light-years away and nearly a billion light-years across (six billion-trillion miles across!) Our tiny heads cannot even begin to comprehend a hole that gigantic. It’s been described as a big bubble in the cosmic pancake batter.

But, as empty as the vast cosmos beyond the stars may be, it is not the emptiest place in the universe.  The emptiest space in all creation is the human heart that is not filled with Jesus.  Jesus emptied the tomb so He could fill the emptiness in every human heart longing for meaning and purpose.

Augustine said it so many centuries ago but it is so very true: “My heart is restless [empty] until it finds its rest in Thee.”

If you want to be “filled” with God’s eternal blessings, you must embrace the fact of the empty tomb.  ^①The tomb was indeed, empty.  ^②The only explanation that fits the facts is the Resurrection of Jesus; and ^③the Empty Tomb and Resurrection calls you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.  Then you will celebrate fully Jesus Christ as “Your King.”

CLOSING VIDEO:   “That’s My King!”