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e e good yeah really good I showed showed my son-in-law and my family and yeah it was good good thank you man wow he's a big cat he's a big cat yeah [Music] tell e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e everyone welcome back to free Grace Baptist Church and a warm welcome to visitors amongst us this morning couple of announcements before we get started our evening service of course is at 5:00 p.m. Pastor cam Porter will be preaching this evening and Wednesday night bible study as usual on at 7:30 we've mentioned this a few times already but our annual general meeting for uh free Grace Baptist Church will be happening Saturday February 15th at 7 p.m. so mark that on your calendars and then the confessing the faith conference continue to keep that in your thoughts and prayers for April 25th and 26th um again we have a couple of applications for baptism and membership Wendy Harrison and Glenda Deon the date for that baptism will be announced in the near future and as well there's also the application for membership from Grant and Abby southernland who have previously been baptized so we look forward to welcomeing them into the membership here at free Grace Baptist church for our call to worship we're going to turn to Psalm 100 Psalm 100 a Psalm of Thanksgiving Psalm 100 a Psalm of Thanksgiving Make a Joyful Noise Shout to the Lord all you lands serve the Lord with gladness come before his presence with singing know that the Lord he is God it is he who made us and not we ourselves we are his people and the Sheep of his pasture enter into his gates with Thanksgiving and into his courts with praise praise and be thankful to him and bless his name for the Lord is good his Mercy is Everlasting and his truth endures to all generations amen let's stand and sing together hymn number 23 in the Trinity Suter himn not 213 glory be to God the Father glory be to God the Father glory be to God the son glory be to God the spirit God Alm Mighty three in one hallelu hallelu glory be to to him Al glory be to him L us us from all sin and S glory be to us us with him to hallelu hallelu praise the lamb that once was slain glory to the king of angels glory to the church is King glory to the king of Nations and your graes hallelu hallelu to the king of glory s glor blessing praise Eternal the of Angel Sor Glory our Dominion th his prise cre praise hallelu hallelu praise the mighty king of King you may be seated let's turn to the Lord in prayer our gracious and merciful Heavenly Father we thank you for the holy scriptures we thank you for the Commandments that you have given us that are good we thank you that they've we've already read this morning that we are to make a joyful Shout to the Lord and serve the Lord with gladness Lord it is a privilege to be able to serve the creator of the universe it is a privilege to be able to call ourselves children of God we thank you for what you've done in our hearts we thank you for adopting us into your family we thank you for the Forgiveness of sins and the restoration of our relationship with God the Father not because of anything that we've done but out of sure mercy and sheer mercy and kind kindness you have brought us into your family Lord we know this is no small thing you've not just brushed away our iniquities and and forgotten them but you've actually cleansed us and taken the punishment for our sins on the cross and we thank you for the good that you have done and our doing thank you for drawing us together this morning to worship you as a local body we pray that you would be in our midst and be pleased with our worship we pray even now that you would cleanse us from the sins that we have committed in the past hours and days and weeks those that we are cognizant of and have repented of and those that we are not even aware that we have done Lord be gracious and merciful to us and we thank you that the blood of Jesus Christ your son does cleanse us from all sin we thank you that we have that Advocate with the father Lord we pray that you would continue the good work that you have been doing in our midst here we thank you for new people being added to the membership of the church regularly we thank you oh God that through your Divine Providence you are causing us to grow in our understanding of the truth and Lord I pray that from oldest to youngest from youngest to oldest you would bless the members of this church and continually build us up we thank you that all across this land you are building your church we thank you that you are sending men out Lord we thank you that even in our midst there are young men aspiring to the ministry and we pray oh God that they would see those desires fulfilled in their lives desires that you have planted in their hearts to grow out and to preach the gospel we thank you for those that have been sent out from our midst and we pray that you'd continue to bless them bless the church plants bless the congregation this morning in Suri encourage them cause them to continue to grow in the faith bless the work up in Armstrong continue to cause that church to be a light and a beacon may they also have a vision for sending men out and Lord I pray for the church plant in ryen Ontario that you'd be gracious to them this day cause them to be unified cause them to march forward in the truth and Lord I pray that they would soon be constituted and have a pastor installed there Lord we pray for the work of the Gospel all across this land of Canada we know that it is the truth of Christ and the preaching the gospel that will preserve this land and we pray oh God that you would send forth more men and plant more churches we thank you for every Church in this country every Church in this city of chilak where the gospel is preached and may they be prospered even this day I pray the Holy Spirit would be at work in hearts and draw a great multitude to himself this day Lord we pray all across the world for your churches especially those that are suffering persecution at the hands of the government or the hands of religious authorities false religions I pray oh God that you'd be merciful to your people and for those who are suffering in prison for the sake of Christ we pray that this would be a day of encouragement and may they look forward to that day of final Liberation whether it be on this Earth or in glory and Lord we pray that you would continue to bless your church in those lands thank you again for this opportunity to gather and to worship when we pray that you would continue with us bless pastor Pastor Butler as he comes up to preach this morning bless Pastor Porter this evening I pray you'd give them words to of wisdom and guidance and I pray that you'd help them to be faithful and true to the scriptures cause us to be fed and we ask this for your honor and glory in Christ's name amen we're going to stand again to sing Psalm 46 c as in Charlie Psalm 46 C from our Trinity alter Himel please stand and sing God is our refuge and our strength is our and our Str near us we will Earth for God is my to us all the M Earth Foundation sh the angry H and bring against the sh our Mighty God will us all city is forever BL with Living Waters since God is there she stands on to [Music] God speaks and all his the the Lord of host is our father's God most high is our Eternal the all my God has not H his brings desol hising to brings to Every Nation still for he is by all the Earth Lord the Lord of host is our father is our you may be seated we're going to turn to the gospel of Mark at chapter 13 for our scripture reading this this morning we began this last week we'll finish the chapter starting in verse 14 Mark 13 beginning at verse 14 so when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet standing where it ought not let the reader understand then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains let him who is on the house top not go down into the house nor enter to take anything out of his house and let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes but woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days and pray that your flight may not be in Winter for in those days there will be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of creation which God created until this time nor ever shall be and unless the Lord had shortened those days no flesh would be saved but for the elect's sake whom he chose he shortened the days then if anyone says to you look here is the Christ or look he is there do not believe it for false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive if possible even the elect but take heed see I have told you all things beforehand but in those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened and the moon will not not give its light the stars of heaven will fall and the powers in the heavens will be shaken then they will see the son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory and then he will send his angels and gather together his elect from the Four Winds from the farthest part of Heaven to the farthest farthest part of Earth to the farthest part of Heaven now learn this Parable from the Fig Tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves you know that summer is near so you also when you see these things happening know that it is near at the doors assuredly I say to you this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place Heaven and Earth will pass away but my words will by no means pass away but of that day and hour no one knows not even the angels in Heaven nor the son but only the father take heed watch and pray for you do not know when the time is it is like a man going to a far country who left his house and gave authority to his servants and to each his work and commanded the doorkeeper to watch watch therefore for you do not know when the master of the house is coming in the evening at midnight at the crowing of the rooster or in the morning lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping and what I say to you I say to all watch amen well I think that history is not recorded but a fraction of what happened in Jerusalem in 70 AD Christ tells us very clearly that this generation verse 30 will by no means pass away till all these things take place so these things have taken place I take this chapter to have to uh have taken place in ad70 but we don't know even a fraction of what happened history is only recorded bits and pieces we do know that from verse 19 in those days there will be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of creation which God created until this time nor ever shall be and we look back over the past 2,000 years and we think wow that's incredible there have been some incredible tribulations in local places and even globally we think of Wars we think of times where the church has gone through great Great Tribulation but Christ tells us not as bad as what happened that day so we can be thankful Even in our own generation and we know there are many that are suffering around the world and we don't know what will happen in the future here or abroad but we know that Christ is with his church and in his mercy and in his kindness he gave his disciples not only a glimpse of the future and warning but even gave them practical uh advice where to flee and where not to go back to your house in other words save your life right so in his kindness and his Mercy he foretold them to them what would happen in the coming years after he had ascended into heaven and we thank you we can thank him as well that we can take heed to his last admonition what I say to you I say to all watch which applies to us as well and to each individual we never know what comes around the corner but we need to be ready and we can only be ready by being found in Christ let's pray gracious Father in Heaven thank you once again for the privilege of being your Saints of being called the chosen ones the holy ones because of what Christ has done for us help us as we worship now and bless us Lord in our in our hearts cause us Lord to be satisfied with the good that you have given us we ask these things in Jesus name amen we're going to stand again to sing hymn number 378 378 look ye Saints the sight is glorious the man of sorrow the Victorious every to him shall bow him the the saor the Jesus in the of Heaven him him theor k thei Saints and Angels around him his PR his him spread [Music] those Tri jesuses the highest station of and [Music] you can turn with me in your Bibles to the Gospel of John as we continue to work our way through John's gospel we find ourselves at the close or the conclusion of the upper room discourse so this morning our Focus will be chapter 16: 29-33 but I want to read beginning in verse 25 so John 16 beginning in verse 25 these things I have spoken to you in figurative language but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language but I will tell you plainly about the father in that day you will ask in my name and I do not say to you that I shall pray the father for you for the father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came forth from God I came forth from the father and have come into the world again I leave the world and go to the father his disciples said to him see now you are speaking plainly and using no figure of speech now we are sure that you know all things and have no need that anyone should question you by this we believe that you came forth from God Jesus answered them do you now believe indeed the hour is coming yes has now come that you will be scattered each to his own and will leave me alone and yet I am not alone because the father is with me these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace in the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world Amen well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for this blessed privilege to gather together in your house on your day as your people and we confess that you are indeed the most high we worship you and we come before you and we want to glorify your great and awesome name and even now we pray that you would send forth your spirit guide us as we consider this passage of scripture may we see the glory of Jesus Christ and what is written here and may our hearts be drawn out in in worship and praise and love and adoration and for any and all who've come here this morning dead in their trespasses and sins we pray that you would awaken them that you would show them their sin and their need for this one that is described in this glorious passage we pray that all over the Earth today Sinners would come out of darkness and a Marvelous Light confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior do forgive us now for all sin and transgression and unrighteousness cleanse Us in that precious blood of the lamb and we pray in Jesus name amen well as I said this is what we call the upper room discourse or some have referred to it as the farewell discourse it begins in John 13 at verse one and we find it in the larger section in terms of John's gospel and what has historically been called The Book of the passion so John's gospel is pretty straightforward there's a prologue in chapter 1 veres 1 to 18 and then the book of the signs in chap 1 verse 19 to CH 12: 50 the focus there on the public Ministry of Our Lord his words his works and then 131 to the end of the book deals with the passion the book of The Passion what happens when Christ comes to die and to rise again and so here specific in chapter 16 this last section is the concluding section so I want to look at two things that we see in this passage first the understanding of the disciples in verses 29-31 and then secondly the Triumph of the savior in verses 32 and 33 now prior to this we saw his manner of instruction according to verse 25 notice these things I have spoken to you in figurative language that refers to the preceding but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language but I will tell you plainly about the father he then speaks concerning access to the father in verses 26 and 27 and then specifically highlights his mission in verse 28 notice I came forth from the father that refers to the Eternal generation of the son and have come into the world that refers to the Incarnation of the son both of which are spoken of in chapter 1 so in verse one you have in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the Word was God shows the relation of the son to the father and then in verse 14 the word became flesh and dwelt Among Us so Jesus reiterates that Eternal generation his relation to the father and that Incarnation his Assumption of our Humanity as he comes into this world to save us from our sins so here then we note the understanding of the disciples they say in verse 29 or they realize in verse 29 some something about his speech he says or they say his disciples said to him see now you are speaking plainly and using no figure of speech and I take that as an immediate reference to verse 28 it's hard to miss the emphasis in verse 28 I came forth from the father and have come into the world again I leave the world and go to the father that's as clear as can be there's nothing figurative there's nothing metaphorical and so the disciples realize that and they say see now you are speaking to us us plainly and that that that you're not using a figure of speech and I think it extends Beyond even verse 28 to show us that the disciples are getting it I don't think they've fully gotten it I'm going to argue that in a few minutes but they're getting it they're coming along and when they make that statement in verse 29 I think again some of the the veil is being lifted I think it's going to fully come the lifting of the veil on the day of Pentecost as Jesus has already taught them or instructed them on in this Upper Room discourse but then notice what they recognize so they not only realize that he's speaking plainly in verse 29 but they recognize three truths about the Lord Jesus and I don't think this is the first time but rather it's starting to come into Focus for them so in verse 30 they say now we are sure that you know all things omniscience Christ knows all things again based on the upper room discourse but based on the entirety of of his ministry and we have been told that along the way uh by the Evangelist who writes this particular book so they confess his omniscience but as well then his authority notice it goes on in verse 30 and have no need that anyone should question you they themselves had questioned on several occasions even in the upper room they asked him questions which provided the foil or the backdrop for him to answer those questions that is helpful for subsequent Generations but I think what they're seeing here is not only his omniscience he knows all things but his authority he ought not to be questioned because he is indeed the one he claims to be and then that comes into sharp relief at the end of verse 30 notice by this we believe that you came forth from God so what he has just said in verse 28 is what he has been saying through the entirety of his public Ministry and it is how John starts the gospel in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and that word became flesh and dwelt Among Us the disciples are seeing this the disciples are recognizing this the disciples are coming to that place where they see in Christ his glory and his majesty and his Excellence again I don't think this is the first time that they've believed if you look back at verse 27 Jesus refers to their faith or refers to their belief for the father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came forth from God so this isn't a brand new discovery on their part according to verse 30 but I think sirel of Alexandria explains it well they say now we know surely not meaning that they first began to believe when they heard these words or saw the sign rather that was when they began to take the faith they had already received and rooted in their souls being firmly convinced that he is God from him who is God by nature and in truth therefore we will take now we believe not as the beginning of Faith but as the firm confirmation of the understanding that is now honored with approval so basically what he says there is what we see specifically in the text Jesus affirms their faith according to verse 27 they then Express that Faith according to verse 30 but we see they've not come all the way yet and we know that they haven't come all the way yet based on our Lord's question in verse 31 and then our Lord's statement in verses 32 and 33 so they're making progress they're feeling their way they're getting closer in terms of understanding his omniscience his authority his divine origin his relation his special relation to the father as the only begotten of the father but they're not there yet they're not all the way there yet as I've argued many times as we worked our way through this upper room it's going to wait until the day of Pentecost on the day of Pentecost they'll receive the spirit in a glorious and wonderful way and it will help them to interpret and help them to understand all things in light of the person and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ so notice the imperfection is noted with reference to their understanding in verse 31 Jesus asks this question so they make this statement in verse 30 which sounds great and I'm not suggesting it isn't great I'm not saying they're bad men I'm simply saying that in the plan and Providence of God most high their specific actually tuned in knowledge is going to be fully on the day of Pentecost and so Jesus asks this question and I think it's a gentle or a tacit reproof with reference to their confession notice in verse 31 he does not say great you finally saw it you know that I'm omniscient you know that I have Divine Authority and you know my origin from the father he doesn't do that he presses them he asks them a very pointed question do you now believe the now there I think tips the scales in favor of seeing it as a tacit reproof you're you're you're now seeing it I I've been with you all this time I I've been instructing you you saw the signs you saw the Miracles the Wonders you saw what I've done in terms of raising Lazarus from the dead so when Jesus asks this particular question I think it highlights that their understanding is not yet complete their understanding is still moving forward by God's grace according to God's plan I don't want to diminish these men and I don't want to speak ill to these men but I want to magnify the day of Pentecost and the promise of the Lord Jesus in the upper room discourse in terms of the sending of the Holy Spirit I Think Jesus is doing that sort of a thing here the question highlights their failure to reckon with the hour notice again verse 30 they confess his omniscience they confess his authority they confess his divine origin well in light of that why would you desert him why would you abandon him Jesus has spoken often of the hour and he's going to rehearse that specifically in verse 32 they hadn't reckoned with that more on that hour in just a moment as well the question highlights their failure to understand the necessity of the mission of the Holy Spirit if you go back in the upper room to chapter 14 notice in verse 16 and I will pray the father and he will give you another helper that he may abide with you forever the spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him but you know him for he dwells with you and will be in you as I've said on many occasions this does not mean there's no Holy Spirit in the Old Testament in fact on our Wednesday night bible studies we've gone through the balum narratives and in that third Oracle the spirit of God comes upon balum I made the application there on Wednesday night that balum was a wretch balum is a reprobate balum according to 2 Peter 2:15 and6 Jude 11 and Revelation 2114 is in hell and yet in the balum narratives balum preaches the truth we've got actually converted men in pulpits all over the Earth today that aren't preaching truth it's pretty sad when Bam's a better example of handling the truth than men who are actually Believers in Christ and then with reference to that spirit of God Believers had him David says take not thine Holy Spirit from me the spirit is present he's Eternal he's consubstantial with the father and the son but Old Testament prophecy proclaimed to day when the spirit would come in power and we see that on the day of Pentecost and Christ is preparing them for that eventuality he wants them to see their absolute necessity or the absolute necessity for for the spirit notice in verse 26 but the helper the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name he will teach you all things and will bring to remembrance all things that I said to you again once the spirit comes they get that interpretative mindset the Old Testament makes absolute sense to them they see how it all ushers in the yeah and amen that the promises of God are in him the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus that man knew his Old Testament that man knew Torah he knew the writings he knew the law uh the prophets he knew all that stuff but he didn't know Jesus so once on the way to Damascus when Jesus saves him now Paul understands that Old Testament in a way that he had not understood it the spirit's presence is absolutely crucial to empower the church in the book of Acts for the worldwide missionary Enterprise that Jesus gives them you will be my Witnesses first in Jerusalem then Judea Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth they would need the spirit to engage that particular Ministry the apostles would need the spirit to pen the scriptures of the New Testament notice in 15:26 but when the helper comes whom I shall send to you from the Father the spirit of Truth who Pro proceeds from the father he will testify of me so when we get to John 16 and verse 30 Jesus asks them do you now believe again sirel makes the observation here next the Savior very elegantly shows them that the time for their confirmation in all good things has not yet arrived that time would bring them The Descent of the Holy Spirit from heaven and power from on high as it is written Christ tells them tar in Jerusalem till you are endued with power from on high Christ in John 20 breathes upon them that they receive the Holy Spirit and then in Acts chapter 2 the spirit comes as a great Mighty rushing wind it's the Fulfillment of Prophecy it's the empowerment of the church it is to send forth the Glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus to the uttermost parts of the earth so these men have made some great strides these men are confessing great things but Jesus question indicates they're not quite there yet and that brings us then to verses 32 and 33 the Triumph of the Savior notice first by way of warning in verse 32 he says indeed the hour is coming this is connected closely to their confession of his omnics uh rather of his of his omniscience of his authority and of his divine origin and then his question do you now believe he says indeed the hour is coming yes has now come that you will be scattered each to his own and will leave me alone and yet I am not alone because the father is with me there a lot to unpack there but it's essentially warning to them or rather uh an alert to them that even though they made this great confession they're not all the way there yet you have to appreciate a fundamental contrast between the the the cross of our Lord Jesus and I'm speaking historically at the at the foot of the cross where's the disciples it's a big contrast from the book of Acts when they're being threatened by the Jewish unbelievers or the the the unbelieving Jews to stop preaching in the name of Jesus what do the apostles do then they say okay we're going to stop and they run off no they say we must obey God rather than men well how do we explain that contrast how do we explain that difference we explain it by the sending of the Holy Spirit from our Lord Jesus Christ to equip and Empower his church for the task of advancing his cause on the earth in Jerusalem Judea Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth so Jesus then tells them concerning their abandonment of him notice in verse 32 do you now believe verse 31 indeed the hour is coming the reference to the hour we've seen it in 24 730 820 1223 1227 131 1632 here and 171 and we've dis Define that hour very simply it's the hour of the Lord's death and on the heels of the death we've got the resurrection and we have his exaltation on high the hour is the reason for which he came sometimes people try to denigrate the ministry in the mission of our Lord Jesus by making it only an example let's just love like Jesus loved I'm not SE suggesting we shouldn't Love Like Jesus loved but the primary emphasis in the coming of the son of man into this world wasn't to set forth an example because he can and he did set forth the greatest of examples and yet we're sinners we're wretched we're foul we're polluted we have a downward tendency in our hearts to always default to wickedness and vess and if it rises up in your heart to say well that's not true of me may I encourage you to read your Bible with you know some degree of self reflection and honesty and I'm not saying you I'm saying all of us we're in this together as Bonnie Henry taught us we're in this together but for real there's that downward tendency in the heart of man so jesus' example isn't first and foremost what we need we need blood atonement God is holy and righteous and just God must punish Sinners and we are sinners and without some sort of forgiveness without some sort of blood atonement then we are going to be punished by God forever World Without End but Christ comes and as John the Baptist announc him in John announces him in John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world that's our hope that's our confidence not in his example but in his atoning work his life his death his resurrection the third day so the hour focuses upon that event when the Lord Jesus who assumed our Humanity with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof and yet without sin he lived for us he dies for us and he's raised again for us so Christ speaks of the hour and in terms of the hour I think he is tipping his hand to indicate they've not come to grips with that yet they have not settled on that yet and it's not for a lack of him instructing them Matthew 16 I must go to Jerusalem I must be tried I I must be crucified Matthew 17 Matthew 20 John's gospel El all of these references to his departure in fact look at verse 28 I came forth from the father and have come into the world again I leave the world and go to the father they haven't reckoned with this leaving the world and going to the father how does Jesus leave the world and go to the father he doesn't jump on a plane he doesn't jump on a rocket ship he's crucified he's buried he's raised again the third day so I think Jesus question pushing on them just a bit to show them they've not come to grips with this reality that they've not come to grips with this hour that is upon the son of man but then as well notice that this hour will bring scattering if their confession in verse 30 was Rock Solid why would they scatter why would they depart why would they leave and again Brethren I cannot stress enough that I'm not picking on these men I'm not picking on these men at all in fact I would suggest that all of us would be just like them in the same SI situation or circumstance we're close to somebody we love somebody we've been with that somebody for 3 years and then that somebody is stripped from us stripped of his clothes nailed to the cross treated like a criminal treated like Public Enemy Number One it's probably in us to scatter it's probably in us to depart the HW writer writes prone to wander prone to leave the God that I love that's for us no knowing all that we know and we're still prone to wander and still prone to leave the god that we love so I'm not blaming or faulting the disciples here like I mean other than yeah you shouldn't have abandoned him or scattered from him but I'm suggesting that this is the probably normal response for for any of us so notice he confirms that their knowledge wasn't complete or else they wouldn't scatter from him when push comes to shove that's the emphasis in the first part of verse 32 indeed the hour death Resurrection Ascension yes has now come uh uh yes has now come that you will be scattered and of course the Bible tells us that that's what happens in Matthew's passion narrative in Matthew 26:31 we read all of you will be made to stumble because of me this night for it is written he grounds it in Old Testament prophecy Zechariah 13:7 I will strike the Shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered and then of course in Matthew 26 at: 56b we read then all the disciples forsook him and fled see what Jesus is doing your confession is good your confession is great your confession at this point it's not firmly gripped by you because when these Roman soldiers come at the behest of the unbelieving Jews and they they capture Jesus in the garden they're not going to stand with Jesus they're not going to be there with Jesus I think that what this also illustrates at least the next section we'll see this in a moment the solitariness of the mission of the Son of God he's not a part of a team he's not on committee salvation Inc he is alone solitary for us men and for our Salvation I think I think what he says here remaining continuing on in the verse just underscores how glorious his gospel really is so as I said this is a contrast they scatter from Jesus each to his own you're you're going to go home you're going to go to your shop you're going to go chill in your garage you're going to do a whole host of things except Stand By Me at the foot of the cross the contrast with post Pentecost Apostolic Ministry now they've got their foibles our brother Pastor Porter is going to be bringing us you know that section in Galatians to I don't think tonight but eventually where Paul has to withstand Peter to his face I'm not suggesting that post Pentecost everything that the apostles ever did was perfectly spoton but in terms of post Pentecost they're not scattering from the Savior they're not afraid of the Jewish authorities they're not afraid of going to jail they're not afraid to be arrested they're not afraid of what may be threatened upon them in in terms of their commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ then notice he moves from this scattering to full-on abandonment in verse 32 again indeed the hour is coming yes has now come that you will be scattered each to his own and will leave me alone you will leave me alone there it is solitary figure think about that scapegoat on the day of atonement got those two animals one for sacrifice and one for the confession of sin lay the hands on that and then drive it out into the Wilderness remember that grand day of atonement that was the day when the high priest took off all of his regalia and only with ly and he goes into the into the holy of holies that's the one time a year that the priest the high priest went into the holy of holies you didn't just wander in there you didn't just you know hang out in there it was the one day out of the year the priest went in there and he didn't go in there except with blood when he goes in there he pours out that blood upon The Mercy Seat when the high priest finishes that offering when he finishes that blood atonement comes out gets the other goat we refer to it as the scapegoat and he puts his hand on the head of that scapegoat and he confesses the transgressions of Israel we're going to see parallels to that in Christ's High Priestly prayer I don't pray for the world I Pray For Those whom the father had given me atonement is definite Redemption is particular when that high priest puts his hands on that scapegoat he doesn't pray for the jebusites and the hivites and the Hittites he prays for those in Israel so so does Jesus according to the high priest ly prayer when the priest does that he lays his hands upon that confesses the transgressions of Israel I've always thought about this not sort of fake or made up sins real sins see that's the nature of atonement that's the nature of the work of our Lord Jesus Christ that's why all the Sinners Drew near to him to hear him it wasn't for fake sin it wasn't for supposed sin it wasn't for hypothetical sin it was for sin probably that high when he lays his hands upon the scapegoat working in the context of the Ten Commandments God forgive us of our idolatry God forgive us of our blasphemy God forgive us of our of our Sabbath breaking God forgive us of our insubordination our murder our adultery our theft our lies our our covetousness so once he confesses those sins he then sends that scapegoat out into the Wilderness that lone solitary figure functions to show us what God does with sin a blood atonement and we got that EXP cretion the the the goat being drawn off or sent off what about the solitary figure in Isaiah the prophet Isaiah 53 focuses on the servant of Yahweh we know that because we're Christians we also know that because of Phillip remember when Philip happens upon in God's Providence that Ethiopian unic and the Ethiopian unic happens to be reading Isaiah 53 it's just not been my experience in evangelism or witnessing but hey it's a great one so the the Ethiopian unit puts the the ball right over the plate for Phillip who who's the prophet talking about here what's Philip do it's from this text he preaches Jesus well in Isaiah 53 he's a man of Sorrows he's acquainted with grief we hid as it were our our faces from him there's no combless there's there's nothing about him that draws our eye it's the solitary figure of the suffering servant of Yahweh that accomplishes the task Yahweh gives him according to Isaiah 53 that's what's being played out here that's what's being displayed here that's what's being expressed here you're going to you're going to leave me you're going to depart from me I I'm going to be alone not me Jim but the Lord Jesus Christ is what he says he says each to his own you'll be scattered each to his own and will leave me alone but then note his affirmation his affirmation and yet I'm not alone this is beautiful theology this is such glorious stuff and yet I am not alone the savior is confident the Savior understands that the Trinity is not going to be dissolved there's not going to be a breach no dissolution of the Triune God I am not alone he is comforting himself with these particular words he knows the presence of the father and the spirit they're not going to abandon him they're not going to leave him all on his own it's it's us that does that even though he's promised according to 1418 to never leave us as orphans it's in us still to scatter and to leave him alone but he's confident that the father and the spirit will not leave him alone and he is confident as well because he knows his position I would suggest also just by way of a practical illustration or application right here think of how this would comfort and encourage the disciples Jesus is saying in essence that in this world I have Great Tribulation in this world I am going to suffer in this world I am going to the hour which means a shameful and horrifying death on the cross and yet I know that the father is with me if the disciples were listening closely you know what they would have gleaned well he says it positively I've overcome the world but the disciples need to know and we by extension that in the midst of the tribulation that we face in the midst of the hardship that we undergo in the midst of the pressures and the animosity and the enmity directed toward the people of God we will never walk alone we always have the father the Son and the Holy Spirit so as Jesus rests in his confidence with reference to the to the presence of the father you're going to scatter you're going to go to your own and I'm going to be alone and yet I'm not alone and then notice how he ends at verse 32 he says because the father is with me the confidence of the Lord Jesus in his father's presence I would suggest that this text helps us understand Psalm 2 21 Matthew 27 I preached Psalm 22 last Lord's supper tried to show there that the Cry of dereliction what we call that my God my God why hast Thou forsaken me is not as it's portrayed in modern himn that the father you know turned his face from the son the father just completely abandoned the son what's Jesus saying he says the father is with me even on the cross my God my God why hast Thou forsaken me he could only praise us if he had that direct communion with God so he says as much at the end of verse 32 this is a passage that helps us understand that this idea that the son was forsaken by God utterly or abandoned by God utterly is unbiblical Jesus didn't have that view because the father is with me listen to Gil he says not only as the Son of God by virtue of Union to him and as one with him but as mediator he says in consequence of his promise to uphold him and assist him in his human nature and though he withdrew his gracious and comforting presence from him he bearing the sins and standing in the room instead of his people yet not his powerful and supporting presence the father doesn't abandon the son there's not an utter forsaking of the son by the father there's no dissolu ution of the Trinity there's no dissolution of the hypostatic Union there's no sort of change in the warp and woof of all that is God no the Lord Jesus Christ knows where his confidence lie it's not in the disciples it is in his father it is in the spirit and then notice on the heels of this warning or or alert notice this encouragement in verse 33 these things I have spoken to you that in me you in me you may have peace in the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world so the occasion of his purpose I think is interesting these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace think think about this with me for just a moment if you were privy to the fact and had even alerted them to the fact that they were going to scatter each to his own and then leave you alone what might be your tendency what might be your inclination I know mine how dare you guys do something like that how dare you scatter from me and leave me alone when this is my hour of greatest need according to my Humanity that's not what he does e even in spite of the scattering even in spite of the to each's own or each to his own even in spite of the fact that they're going to leave him alone I I speak these things because I want you to be at peace I speak these things because I want your peace Brethren I think there's a world of peace and comfort from that particular statement for the regular ongoing sanctification that you and I engage in we're not perfect you didn't need to come this morning to church to hear that but let's just Thunder that one home we're not perfect our sanctification is not always at a fever pitch we're not the apex predator in terms of godliness and Holiness and we can conclude that he's ready to cut us off at the very at the very smallest infraction that's not what you get from the Savior I know you guys are going to depart from me I know you guys are going to scatter for me I know you guys are going to leave me alone my grand purpose in the discourse immediately is to give you peace Christ Christ is for our peace he's prophetically announced as Prince of Peace according to Isaiah the prophet we learn in Micah five that that in him is is peace we know that Jesus pronounced peace upon his disciples in this very Upper Room in 14:27 we know that he affects Peace by the blood of his cross according to Colossians chapter 1 and verse 20 and we know that peace concretely realized is by God's grace and justification through faith in Jesus Romans chap 5 therefore having been justified by faith we have what we have peace with God we have peace with God so for Christ what is important for these disciples is there peace I like that Christ knows that when we have peace when we understand our place with reference to God when we understand our Purpose with reference to God's kingdom when we take seriously that which is stipulated in Holy Scripture as the Blood Bought children of God who have the Holy Spirit it's from that vantage point that we advance the cause of Jesus Christ in this earth we don't as if it's somehow up to us but we are instrumentally means of God in terms of preaching and teaching and raising men up and sending men out and planting local churches and helping the missionaries and all that sort of a thing it's peace why do you think the apostles we've seen it in Philippians 2: 1:4 you see it in uh Ephesians 4: 1 to6 endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of what peace in the absence of Peace when we're all fighting together are we moving the ball down the field no so Jesus says to his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion now Brethren he's going to pray John 17 and then go to Gethsemane and be arrested so the hour is imminent it's going to take us a little longer than an hour to work through the great the high Priestly prayer I'm just spoiler alert it's going to be more than an hour but don't forget the time frame he speaks to them in the upper room or farewell discourse he prays the high Priestly prayer in chapter 17 and in chapter 18 the Godless come upon Him led by Judas to be arrested to be delivered up to the to the Sanhedrin first and then the pontious pilate so he could give the kill or execution order to rid the world as far as the unbelieving Jews were concerned of this Menace to Society so the hour's come he's already said that the hour is upon him it's it's right now and yet not yet but in light of that these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace they're going to scatter they're going to Desert they're going to leave him alone and and yet he wants their peace he really is a good savior a very good savior notice he then gives the reason for this statement so the occasion or the purpose of the statement is in verse 33 peace these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace here's the reason for the statement in the world you will have tribulation I in the world you will have tribulation now this is going to S surpass even the hour right when the hour comes the Lord is you know taken from them he's thrown up on that cross that would tribulation difficulty hardship Affliction for these disciples who love their Master perhaps had some conviction that yeah we shouldn't have departed from him but Jesus is speaking according to what he's already said in John 15 at verse 28 to John 16 and verse4 he has told them do not Marvel if the world hate you they they hated me of course they're going to hate you he says in chapter 16 they're going to drive you out of the synagogues they're they're going to kill you and all the while think that they're doing service for God so I speak these things in the upper room I speak these things in John 13-16 so that in me you may have peace well why do we need that peace Lord because in this world you will have tribulation in this world you will have suffering in this world there will be torment there will be hardship and affliction it's not just confined to the Book of Job it's not just confined to the Patriarchs it's not just Isaiah the prophet's lot but you disciples you Apostles and by extension all of us as disciples there's going to be heartache it's going to be Affliction when the world hates your master they're going to hate you as well and when the world can't get to your master guess who they're coming after his Representatives here in the world so Christ speaks these things because in the world you will have tribulation this is the experience of the Apostles acts 5 they had laid many stripes upon them the apostles and they left there rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that that bit in in Acts 14 verse 22 the Apostle Paul had been stoned to the point where personed him to be dead stone to the point where persons thought he was dead again I probably would have needed a week off some golf now that wouldn't be probably appropriate after having been Stoned by stones and stones of course is that throwing big rocks at somebody with the intention to hurt them or kill them what does Paul do after he's stoned he's dragged out of the city supposed to be dead the next day he gets up and the next day day he walks and the next day he preaches all that same day and he and he says this or he takes this as his text he says through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven nobody had to say what do you mean Paul they knew what he meant like he says in Galatians 6 from from now on let let no one trouble me for I bear in my body the brand marks of Jesus second Timothy 3 he elucidates or gives us a principle that all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution 1 Peter chap 4 don't be surprised when you see fiery trials why would you be surprised has that ever been your reflex response I can't believe they don't like me I'm such a nice guy but you serve the master and they hate the master so therefore they're going to hate you as well Peter says don't be surprised by that that's kind of the way it goes devil and his minions hate Christ and they hate the Servants of Christ so Jesus speaks this to them so that they might have peace he says in the world you will have tribulation that's a Perpetual consequence for each and every one of us all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution but then note the specific content of his statement there or or his his encouragement or exhortation he says but be of good cheer I have overcome the world it's beautiful this is isn't it be of good cheer it means that be of good cheer not pey happy fake smile is but be of good cheer but it goes beyond that in the world you will have tribulation just having a smile on your face ain't going to steady you in the midst of that tribulation the word also has in its range to be firm or Resolute in the face of danger or adverse circumstances be enhe heartened be courageous is what Jesus is bidding them yeah be happy your sins are forgiven yeah be happy I've overcome the world but yeah be courageous don't back down or cow toow to the Godless magistrates of your generation who are going to tell you that it's forbidden for you to preach Jesus in this city don't submit to Godless irreligious men don't submit now submit in so far as they don't tell you to sin Romans 13 but in so far as they tell you to sin like you can't worship this Jesus you can't preach this Jesus I don't care what religion they are I don't care what government they are they don't have that prerogative Jesus says be courageous be enhe heartened be faithful firm and Resolute in the face of danger or adverse circumstances why because these men are going to be tasked with taking the gospel to Jerusalem Judea Samaria and the uttermost parts of the Earth how do they do that well they do it with a backbone you know hands in the pocket latte in the hand little story times about Jesus that ain't going to get it that's not going to turn the Roman Empire upside down that's not going to shut the mouths of unbelieving Jews that's not going to advance the cause of Jesus Christ we need what we see in the new in the book of Acts we need men resolved we need Peter and John willing to go to jail we need the Apostle Paul willing to to suffer all that he suffered for the cause of God and Truth we need the history of the church up until I know about about our generation to Stand Fast they're going to feed you to Lions what are you going to do I know what I'm not going to do I'm not going to recant I'm not going to be a coward I'm not going to say well it's really not that important anyway so I don't want to go be lion food the people of God throughout our blessed history as the Church of God have stood fast they've listened to the master in the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer and then it's the the the impetus or the rationale of the the very foundation for this it's not be of good cheer because you're strong be of good cheer because you're wise be of good cheer because you went to Sunday school be of good cheer for I have overcome the world it's on that Foundation that the church is to stand it is on that Foundation that these Apostles stood by being clothed with the spirit by understanding the Gospel of Jesus by heeding the admonition to be of good cheer to be Resolute to be courageous to be those who had backbone that's how the church Advanced Brethren it was was a wonderful and a glorious time and all through the history of the church we have seen likewise let us not abandon that let us be of good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world so when he says this I think it hearkens back to many of his statements but 28 comes to mind I leave the world and go to the father he leaves the world through death through resurrection and then Ascension on high this going to the father is what he ends on to show them their rationale for why they are to be of good cheer I've overcome the world I'm enthroned or I will be enthroned at the right hand of my father and when we look at the book of Acts where does Peter go on the day of Pentecost he goes to that throne and Christ there when we look at the Epistles of the New Testament how do the apostles deal with the current state of affairs they understand that he must Reign till all of his enemies are made his foot stol they understand that Christ is head he has been given a name that is above every name that every King every Power every Authority every Dominion will be subject to that blessed savior that reality of Christ's current session provides the impetus for the church to do what she's supposed to do in terms of evangelism in terms of missions in terms of suffering in terms of resistance if necessary if the government oversteps their boundaries and tells us not to submit to God it's the fact that Christ has overcome the world it's the fact that he has done what no one could have done save him the Son of God taking to himself our Humanity in order to live to die and to be raised again for us and I think it beautifully Jes with what he says in the Great Commission Great Commission he begins with his omnipotence all authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to me and he on his omnicient or on his omnipresence and lo I Am With You Always even to the end of the age and then consider the Book of Revelation think I've told you before in Revelation 2 and three we're we're we're going to be done here soon but in Revelation the hour has come but the uh reality is in Revelation 2 and 3 what are the churches in Asia Minor exhorted each one all seven to him who overcomes to him who overcomes to him who overcomes to to him who overcomes to him who overcomes what do you think the theme is you you should overcome when you get to the Lake of Fire in Revelation 218 guess who's in that Lake of Fire along with the adulterers along with the sorcerers along with the idolators the Cowardly who's the Cowardly in the Lake of Fire it's those who didn't overcome it's those who didn't listen to what the spirit says to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3 and specifically in Revelation 3 and verse 21 we have Jesus assert that glorious reality of his having overcome the world so the church in Leo deia which arguably is one of the worst he says to him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my Throne as I also overcame and sat down with my father on his throne well in conclusion in terms of the immediate context I think there's a great deal of encouragement here for the people of God they have been saved by Jesus they didn't make this announcement verse 30 on their own they made this announcement even though they weren't fully in the light yet by God's grace it's akin to when Peter says Thou Art the Christ the son of the Living God Jesus doesn't congratulate Peter for having successfully answered he says blessed are you Simon bar Jonah for Flesh and Blood did not reveal this to you but my father who is in heaven they've been saved it's theirs blessing to be to suffer for him you you don't get you know sad downcast apostles in the book of Acts you get Mighty Warriors you get David's Mighty Men going from City to City going everywhere they can go with the gospel if they meet the the the Jewish whipped or the Roman Rod they they Rejoice because they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name you don't get a bunch of meink mey mouth you know whiners Nancy boys that wouldn't want to stand up and Proclaim Christ in him crucified as well they will know God's presence in in the midst of their sufferings Jesus lays that down as a maxim you may depart from me but I'm not alone because the father is with me they should internalize that because God Almighty is with us as well they will be of good cheer in the midst of their sufferings they will be sustained by the Triune God I think we see the glory of the Savior his kindness is on display this gentle reproof or tacit reproof in verse 31 do you now believe brother I don't think that's how we'd answer we'd want to you know slap them come on guys come on you're just now getting to this point yeah they're just now getting to this point and Jesus knows that and Jesus is kind to them in the midst of that the kindness is seen in his desire for their peace even though he even though he knows he's they're going to abandon him well you know once you get your act together you finish scattering to your own and forget you know forget you know or stop you know leaving me alone then I'll make sure I convey peace to you no I want you to have peace I want you to have peace that's our savior as well the kindness is seen in his warning to them in verse 33 you will have tribulation if you're not a believer in Jesus Christ this morning I want to encourage you to believe I want to encourage and exhort you to come to the savior because everything I mentioned earlier is true God's a holy God we're sinful men we deserve his punishment we deserve his wrath and his curse both in this life and that which is to come that's a settled reality the way of access to the father is through this son the Lord Jesus You Look to Him in faith and you will have everlasting life it is Most Blessed it is most wonderful it is most glorious with reference to our Jesus he tells you what discipleship is going to look like Jesus isn't Ben H Jesus isn't Joel oin Jesus isn't Kenneth copelan Jesus tells them in the world you will have tribulation have you ever gotten into a situation where you realize that the reason you got into that situation is perhaps you weren't told all the particulars involved in that situation say for instance you bought a used car you drive it off the lot and a wheel falls off wait a minute I don't remember the guy cautioning me about that Jesus isn't that way with his disciples you come to the Lord Jesus your your sins are forgiven you receive his righteousness so that you'll enter into the very presence of God Almighty it's most glorious and most excellent most wonderful but in this world you will have tribulation all the things that I mentioned earlier are true if they hate God they're going to hate the the the servant of God and there's times when they express that enmity and that that animosity and violence and imprisonment we just read this morning in Pakistan a woman and her and her daughter the woman's shot and killed the daughter's shot and she's in the hospital like that this man is without a wife and with a daughter that's severely injured why what was their CME were they running out of a bank with a bag of loot no they were Christians we read of erria we read of Iran we read all the time we go from place to place and what do we hear that same animosity that same enmity expressed to the people of God but all that notwithstanding Jesus is altogether lovely and chief among 10,000 and the people of God who suffer for him suffer like you see in Acts 5 they rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name so don't T don't resist don't wait don't hold off but rather by God's grace look to Jesus in faith and have everlasting life and for the people of God the Believers in Christ let us Stand Fast let us be of good ch Che let us be Resolute let us be determined let us be enhe heartened let us be encouraged and with courage do what God has called us to do in terms of shining as lights in a crooked and perverse generation and holding forth the wonderful truth of God Almighty well let us pray Our Father in Heaven thank you for your word and thank you for the clarity of our savior's instruction here thank you for what we have in the gospel of our salvation even the Forgiveness of sins and a righteousness that does avail with you and God help us to be of good cheer help us to Stand Fast help us to persevere by your grace and For Your Glory and we pray this in jesus' name amen well you can turn with me in your hym books to number 572 572 we'll stand as we sing God's praise GL to and to the son and to the holy GH as it in the beginning is now and ever shall be world with [Music] am love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen will please be seated for a brief time of meditation e