From Trouble to Triumph

FROM TROUBLE TO TRIUMPH

James 1:1-12

Introduction:  Were you ever told that coming to Jesus guaranteed that you would have no more troubles in life?  They lied, didn’t they? If you have been a believer for more than a week you know that faith in Jesus does not translate to no trials in life!  One of the themes we saw repeated in the upper room discourse in John was the certainty that “…in the world you will have tribulation…”  James begins his very practical epistle touching on this truth that in one way or the other every believer can relate to.  In one sense this is a New Testament letter that I am not anxious to preach, since the truth is that God will often give me the opportunity to practice what I preach! [The title for the message, "From Trouble to Triumph," comes from an excellent chapter in John MacArthur's commentary on James].

  Teaching about troubles and tribulations in the Christian life is quite frankly not what most people want to hear.  There is a line of theology that is very popular in the Western world today, even in some emerging nations like Brazil it is exploding in popularity, that talks about prosperity, health, and physical blessings as something we can claim by faith (if we really believe!). Such health and wealth teaching is attractive. It would be a great way to build a larger congregation. The only problem is it is not biblical! 

I recall that when we were doing our remodeling of the sanctuary, one outside worker that was here looked at our baptismal and said “Wow, they have a Jacuzzi in this church!”  One of the great modern theologians J.I. Packer is also in tune with the relevance of theology to the everyday lives of believers. He wrote about “hot tub religion.” He said it’s a religion that is warm and relaxing. It makes you feel good. Like a good massage, it helps you unwind. You forget for a while about any troubles. He said that is what many people want, if you take out all the pews and put in hot tubs instead you’ll have a full house! Hot tub religion!  That all sounds just dandy. But it is not biblical. Consider how Paul described his life and ministry in his second letter to the Corinthians.

“But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,  ⁵ in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings…”  (Cf. 2 Cor 6:4,5).

Then a little further on in the letter he more specifically detailed some of the trials through which he had come after he believed in Jesus...

“…in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.  ²⁴ From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.  ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;  ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  ²⁷ in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness --  ²⁸ besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches” (2 Cor 11:23b-28).

No Jacuzzi in Paul’s church, was there!?  Didn’t he have faith? He understood suffering because he experienced it. He empathized with pain in the lives of people because he lived it. And he stood firm through it all because He knew Jesus was right there, and he understood the promise that “the suffering of this present age is not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18).

The Big Idea: Got trouble? Be encouraged, God is at work, and your genuine faith will endure and even deepen as He brings you through.

I. How should we think about troubles when they come?  James says to “count it all joy…”!  James gives us four things to “do,” four imperatives that guide a Christian response to “trouble” when it comes our way. The first relates to how we think: “Count it all joy…”  Recognizing God has a PLAN can allow us to have joy even in times of trouble (1-4). True faith allows us to have a joyous attitude in the midst of trial. If we’ll receive it, troubles can remind us that God is working everything, even this, for our good and for His glory. The foundation to right thinking is to first remember who we are and why we are here (v.1).

        First of all, notice to whom he is writing, “…twelve tribes dispersed among the nations…”  The expression “twelve tribes” must refer to Jews, and by the context in the letter, to believing Jews. The word “dispersed” or “scattered” here is related to the root word that we have in Acts 8:1,4; 11:19.

First read Acts 8:1-4,   

“Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.  ² And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.  ³ As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.  ⁴ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”

Then a few chapters later we read in 11:19-21,   

¹⁹ Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.  ²⁰ But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.  ²¹ And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

So think about that: the Jewish believers scattered about following the persecution that arose against the church after Stephen’s martyrdom are being addressed about suffering and troubles. They were in the thick of it and James is writing to offer hope and encouragement and to build their faith. 

A side note here. Can you see how this persecution, and the scattering of the church, were used by God? They went out, and brought the message with them. Ultimately some arrive in Antioch and plant a church there, and that church becomes the key missionary sending church in the second half of the book of Acts. Now it gets harder: if God used it, might it be possible that God planned it?  That was certainly true with the cross of Christ. Evil and hatred from corrupt human hearts lead to the crucifixion, but it was “…according to the predetermined counsel and foreknowledge of God…” (Acts 2:22,23)!  With respect to the scattering of believers that resulted from the persecution of the church in Acts 8, it is certainly true that God allowed it, and that He would use it for the expansion of the church. Whatever trouble or hardship we face we have to believe that it didn’t catch God by surprise, “…nothing touches us that hasn’t first passed through the hands of our loving heavenly Father, nothing.” (Swindoll).  In canonical order, after James comes First Peter and in that letter the apostle is even more extensively dealing with the question of suffering. To summarize, Peter says if Christ suffered you will too! He wrote in I Peter 4:12, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you…” “Fiery trial” is not defined, but rest assured there are no hot tubs there!

        Secondly, notice how the writer describes himself: James describes himself as a doulos, a  “servant” or “slave” of  God and the Lord Jesus.  Whether this is James, one of the original twelve (a little less likely, since he was killed by Herod at the beginning of Acts 12), or James the half-brother of the Lord (obviously they had different fathers!), it is a remarkably humble way of referring to himself.  A “bond servant” of God the Father and the Lord Jesus. James is implying in that title that His mission in life is to serve the King, to be faithful to Him. We are not born slaves who grudgingly submit to the whims of a cruel task master. We are like the Jewish slave who has been freed, but because He loves his master chooses to stay with Him and submit his life to Him (Exod 21:5,6).

Choose to have a joyful attitude because we know that God is working (v.2-3). An understanding mind allows as to have joy in the midst of crisis: Praise God, He is in control!  Remember the analogy Jesus used in John 15, He is the vine, the Father is the Vinedresser, we are the branches. And the Father stands around and watches to see if we grow, right? No, He prunes us, expertly cutting a little here, trimming a little there, shaping us into the fruitful branch He wants us to be. It hurts, but its for our good, and for His glory. So count it all joy. The verb tells us how we should think about trials, “consider…” or “reckon…” it all joy. That is an accounting term, it tells us how we should think, not how we should feel about them!

Have a submissive will, knowing that Father knows best (v.4). We are willing to be teachable, wanting God to teach us the lessons He knows that we need. “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” That you may be perfect and complete, the idea seems to be “mature.” God grows us through the hard things we pass through in this life (see 2 Cor 4:7-10).  Got trouble? Be encouraged, God is at work, and your genuine faith will endure and even deepen as He brings you through.

II. How should we respond to troubles when they come? Our response to the trials we face should be to turn to God in PRAYER, in faith asking Him for wisdom (5-8). We go to the Father with a believing heart, even when we don’t understand.

Notice first that we are to ask God for wisdom (v.5). The proverb says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, and fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Wisdom is not knowledge, it is submission to the will of God, it recognizes He is sovereign.

   

A second key is that we must ask God in faith, even when we don’t understand (6a). When we ask God for wisdom in the midst of our trials I don’t think the idea is knowledge or insight into “why” something was allowed to happen, but rather discernment and direction as to how God would have us to respond.  What are you trying to teach me Lord? What change do you desire to work in me?

We are also reminded to Keep both feet on solid ground (6b-8). Tim tells about Molly when she was a little pup. (She is a big, very friendly Yellow Lab if you haven’t met!). She was just small and had two feet on the dock and two in the boat.  You know what happened! Baptism by total immersion!  God is good, all the time. Will we trust Him, all the time?  The call to discipleship is a call to commitment, to follow Him, wholeheartedly.  Have you got trouble? Be encouraged, God is at work, and your genuine faith will endure and even deepen as He brings you through.

III. How can we grow through troubles when they come? Trials can give us PERSPECTIVE, getting our eyes off this world and onto eternal things (9-11).  This is the first of three passages in James that deal with the question of the rich and the poor. One clear take away from what he says is that “joyful living” is not necessarily related to your level of financial or material prosperity. Rick Warren made the point in a devotional this week: we’ve all seen the bumper sticker philosophy “He who dies with the most toys, wins.” The truth is, he who dies with the most toys still dies. Then what? And its not only the “then” but also the “now” that James wants us to think about. Money can buy some toys, it can allow you to do some things that are “fun,” but it can’t buy real joy. Some of the richest people you might meet are miserable, and some who are dirt poor are filled with joy. What’s the difference? James gives a clue in the following verse.

             “Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation…” People who have nothing in this life might find it easier to have a heavenly perspective, believing and rejoicing that “…the sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us…”  They might more easily identify with Christ in His suffering. The imperative here is to rejoice in our true standing as children of the King. This week there was excitement over a certain baby that was born across the pond, a future king. If you have been born again, there was much more rejoicing in heaven over you… “Behold what manner of the Father has given unto us that we should be called children of God, and such we are!” (I Jn 3:1). You are a child of the King!

            “But the rich in his humiliation…”  Suffering and trials are a great equalizer. We know that money does not solve the problems of the human heart. We constantly hear stories of athletes with multi-million dollar contracts or entertainers that performed before the masses destroying their families through infidelity or their own bodies with drugs and alcohol.  Its also true that money doesn’t mean that hardships won’t come. Financial disaster, sickness, accidents, loss, death of loved ones, it all comes to the rich as surely as they do the poor. For the believer in Christ they are a reminder that we should not be so comfortable in this world, its all temporary, fading, passing away.  Rich or poor, in times of trouble we can be encouraged that God is at work, and that your genuine faith will endure and even deepen as He brings you through..

IV. How can God’s promises give us strength to endure? The PROMISE of Trials: This too will pass (12)!  

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation…” This is the same word that Jesus used in the sermon on the Mount. It’s the happiness that comes from knowing you are in a right relationship with God, and that no matter what you are His for eternity.

“…for when he has been approved…” There is no question of “if” here. For a genuine believer in Christ will not abandon the faith, but will come through the fire and through the flood stronger. You remember when God pointed to Job and said, “Have you considered my servant Job?” Job’s life was systematically dismantled and yet he could say, “Though He slay me, yet shall I trust Him!”(Job 13:15).

James promises in 1:12 of the persevering saint that “…he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” This is nothing other than the salvation, eternal life, that is promised to all who believe. It is not earned, rather it is promised to all who believe. As Paul said, “The sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us.” Job seemed to understand that by the way, when he said, ^“For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;  ²⁶ And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God…” (Job 19:25-26).   

What is God saying to me in this passage? Have you got trouble? Be encouraged, God is at work, and your genuine faith will endure and even deepen as He brings you through.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? Some in our church family have gone through trials. Some are in the thick of it right now. Troubles at work, troubles getting work, tensions in the family, sickness, even mourning.  Some are in it now, and for others, be patient, it's coming.  When it does be assured of this: God knows, He has a plan, you can trust Him.  He who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion,  AMEN.

John's Story

[This is not a typical sermon to be sure, but is presented as a first person monologue, from the perspective of John, the beloved disciple, summarizing the message of the Fourth Gospel. The message should stand on its own, but it does presuppose many interpretive points that were developed in the exposition over the last two years. Some references are given here (in parentheses) that were not spoken as part of the message as it was given, though there were Powerpoint images accompanying the narrative.]

JOHN’S STORY

       Two years you’ve spent studying my book? Well, I would have thought that it would have taken only about two hours to read it, your shepherd must be very slow (let’s be kind, very thorough!)! You might wonder why I, John, in my old age set out to write an account of the Lord’s life and teaching when others had already given us three beautiful, inspired Gospels full of truth?  Its really simple: God moved me, an eyewitness, called to be an apostle, the last of the twelve who walked with Jesus on earth, to write. The truth is, it is HIS book, breathed out of the very mouth of God. In one sense it is a simple story, so simple a child can splash in it and enjoy, and yet so deep (because of Him) that an elephant could swim in it and not touch bottom.  The Spirit determined we needed one more account, a fourth Gospel, that would complement the others, a narrative that would lift up the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that would call us to believe Him, and show us the way to eternal life, the abundant life He wants for us. But two years?  Let me see if I can summarize the message of what I wrote in a few minutes.

I started my Gospel, in the beginning…   

 VEn avrch/| h=n o` lo,goj( kai. o` lo,goj h=n pro.j to.n qeo,n( kai. qeo.j h=n o` lo,gojÅ  ²  ou-toj h=n evn avrch/| pro.j to.n qeo,nÅ  ³  pa,nta diV auvtou/ evge,neto( kai. cwri.j auvtou/ evge,neto ouvde. e[nÅ o] ge,gonen…

Oh, you don’t speak the Koine Greek of my day? The truth is as powerful in your language… “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  ² He was in the beginning with God.  ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  ⁵ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it…” (John 1:1-5).

Yes, I knew that you would hear those words and think of the opening of the Hebrew Scriptures…

#r<a'h' taew> ~yIm;V'h; tae ~yhil{a/ ar"B' tyviarEB.       (Gen 1:1)

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” Yes, the Creator, the Eternal Word, became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). He came unto his own, and His own did not receive Him!  But as many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become children of God (John 1:11, 12)!  I want you to understand that truth: God became a human, so that He could redeem a people for himself by laying down His life for us.

      The baptizer, John, seemed to understand before anyone when he said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29; cf. 1:36). We believed that we had found the Messiah, the King of Israel and the Son of God of whom the Scriptures had spoken, but it took time for us to understand fully who he really was: not merely a chosen, human descendant of David, but GOD, the SON!

       Jesus did many signs in our presence. We His disciples, along with other witnesses, saw the miracles that proved beyond question his identity. It started at a wedding in Cana when water was transformed into fine wine. He saved embarrassment for the host that day, but most importantly he began to reveal his glory to those who had eyes to see.  That He was from God was clear, but there were other things that we were slow to grasp. Immediately after that miracle we went to Jerusalem and He entered the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers. We remembered that day the psalmist had written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me…” (John 2:17; Ps 69:9). We had to wonder how this story would unfold for our Teacher! And even then he spoke of his death when he said, “Tear down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up…”  (2:19). We had no idea what was coming! Still, we followed Him.

        He was the discerner of hearts, He knew what people were thinking before they even spoke and He always knew how they would respond to Him. Even so, he spoke with conviction and compassion to all who would come. Some like the old Rabbi Nicodemus, came at night, not wanting to be seen by the other religious leaders. And Jesus told him of the need to be born again, born from above, born of the Spirit, through faith (John 3:1-10).  Nicodemus was being drawn, but he was still in the dark, his eyes were not yet open, he still could not understand how these things could be! 

        The Lord Jesus always pointed to the Scriptures and said that even “…as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14,15). Imagine the truth of His grace: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16,17).

       And so He healed, and He preached to the people. And not only our people! On one occasion, while we were away getting provisions, the Master sat by a well and had a conversation with a woman of Samaria. A SAMARITAN! A WOMAN! (And one with a poor reputation at that!). He offered her living water that would satisfy the deepest longing of her soul. We did not yet understand that God was no respecter of persons, and that He welcomed people from every race and nation.  It was to her that He first used that beautiful phrase that revealed his deity: She spoke of the coming Messiah, and he replied to her, “I AM” (4:26).  [The same term God used when He revealed himself to Moses!]  She believed Him, and went into her village and told the people, and they believed! Without seeing any signs, they took Him at His word.

       We Jews were not so easily convinced. So He showed Himself through signs, miracles, acts of power which proved who He is.  On one occasion, He healed the child of a nobleman, without even going to him, just by speaking a word! “Go your way,” He said, “Your son lives” (4:50). We later learned that at the exact moment, the boy was healed! On another occasion at the pool of Bethesda, there was a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years. Jesus told him “rise up and walk.” And he did! We should have known then that trouble would come: rather than rejoicing that a man was healed the religious leaders were angry that the healed man got up and was carrying his mat on the Sabbath! Pharisees! Despite their hardened hearts, the Master continued to teach, and to reveal himself.

        He used many opportunities to leave no doubt about who He is. Thousands gathered to hear Him, to see what He would do next. I remember once, when they were hungry, from a boy’s lunch, five little breads, a couple of fish, he fed five thousand men, plus women and children (John 6:1-14)!  When they wanted to make Him king by force, Jesus knew their hearts, He knew they didn’t understand their greatest need, bread from Heaven, the Bread of life. So He withdrew from them and went alone up to a mountain as He often did, to pray.

        He sent us ahead, and we started crossing the lake by boat and were suddenly caught in the mother of all storms. We began to despair and suddenly saw a figure, an apparition it seemed, walking to us on the water (John 6:19)!  We were terrified, and then He spoke, “Ego eimi, I AM, do not fear” (John 6:20). We did not yet understand the full import of His words, but His very presence calmed our hearts as surely as He calmed the sea, and we arrived at our destination.

         His teaching was sometimes difficult, and at first few had ears to hear. When He spoke about the bread of life, bread from heaven, it was confusing, but for others, when He spoke of eating his flesh and drinking his blood, well it was offensive, and they left. But we, though we didn’t really understand, stayed, knowing that only He had the words of eternal life. Where else could we go (6:68)? He told us then He has chosen us, as He has chosen you my friend, if you know Him!

        He traveled to Jerusalem for the pilgrim feasts as any good Jew would do. On one occasion he called for any who were thirsty to come to Him and drink (John 7:37). He said that those who believed would have a fountain of living water flowing from within them (of course He was talking of the Holy Spirit who was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified [John 7:39]).

          He showed grace when others would judge: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone!” (John 8:7). He taught the truth, the truth that could set us free. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you will be free indeed!”  (8:36). He confounded the leaders and they sought His life when He said, “Before Abraham was, I AM!” (John 8:58). They sought Him, but His time had not yet come, and He passed through their midst.

       He taught us about spiritual sight and spiritual blindness when He, the Light of the World (8:12, 9:5), healed a man who had been born blind (John 9).  It was a sign that could not be denied, yet the blind leaders still could not see the Truth.

        One of my favorite lessons the Master taught us in those days, was that HE, the Great I AM, is our Good Shepherd. He watches us and protects us, feeds us and leads us, and yes, amazing grace, amazing love, He would lay down his life for his sheep. Not all would receive His words. He said “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. And I give them eternal life and they shall never perish…” (John 10:27,28). Well, His teaching was too much for the leaders, and they tried again to stone Him, but He is God, and His time had not yet come.

         I have to admit that we were confused when we heard that Lazarus was sick, and then Jesus delayed two more days before leaving for Judea and the home of Mary and Martha. When we arrived, we thought it was too late. He was dead and buried for four days. But the One who is the resurrection and the life did the unimaginable, He cried out, “LAZARUS! COME FORTH!” And he did! How could there be any question after that? Only God could give life!

         Still, the leaders, or at least most of them, would not believe. They were so annoyed at the fame of Jesus that was beginning to spread because of that sign they plotted not only to kill Him, but to kill Lazarus as well!

       Despite the risk, or perhaps because of it, Jesus entered Jerusalem that last Passover. The crowds cheered Him, singing out the Scriptures as He came, putting palm branches before him as he entered the city riding a donkey’s colt: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna! The King of Israel!”

        Of all the lessons he tried to teach us, the most profound was yet to come. We gathered in an upper room. It had been a long and dusty day. Suddenly the unthinkable: the master wrapped himself in a towel, and began washing our dirty feet. He washed my feet, and Peter’s! He even washed Judas’ feet before he went out. He was teaching us about serving, yet the greatest part of that lesson was yet to come: the Servant would bear our sins on the tree.  He told us then that our love for one another would testify to the world that we are His disciples (John 13:34,35).

            He taught us about Heaven that night and said that He was going to prepare a place for us.  He reminded us that He is “…the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man comes to the Father but…” by Him (John 14:6).  He spoke of the Parakletos, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit himself, who would come after his departure.  He told us the importance of abiding in Him, like a branch receives life from the vine, so we needed to depend on Him for everything. He warned that we would be hated by the world, as He was (John 15:18), that “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

        The Master prayed that night. He prayed for the Father to be glorified in the Son. He prayed for us knowing the trials that we would face. And, my brothers and sisters, He prayed for you. He prayed that our unity, your unity, the unity of His Church, would be such that it would be a witness to the world and that He would be glorified.

        We went out to the Garden that night unsure of how this story would unfold. Judas returned along with soldiers and officers from the leaders who came to arrest Him. Betrayed by a friend.  But they could not touch Him unless He allowed it. When they said they were seeking Jesus, He replied, “I AM,” and they fell back, powerless on the ground. They needed to know, and we his disciples needed to see, that He was in control.

       Peter drew a sword and sliced off an ear, Jesus would have none of it, you see, His hour had come. His very purpose for coming into the world was about to be fulfilled… He was ready to carry out the greatest act of sacrifice and substitution, the most profound demonstration of love that humanity had ever and would ever see. He was ready to lay down His life for his friends. The Lamb would be sacrificed, taking away the sin of the world. We all ran, we were scattered, just as the scripture had anticipated. Later I edged my way back, watching, wishing that I could do something, hoping that He would do something. 

        Pilate didn’t want to be bothered and sought to release Him, but the leaders were adamant: “We’ll not have this man to be our king!”  Finally Pilate yielded to their wishes, one final stab at them, he wrote the crime for which Jesus was to executed on a placard which would be nailed to the cross: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” In Hebrew, Greek and Latin the words were there for all to see. The leaders wanted it changed, Pilate took one last stand, “What I have written, I have written.” And what God had planned, was coming to pass.  Only after did we understand the Cross as exaltation. The scriptures were fulfilled, the Messiah was vindicated. Salvation was secured!

        Two unlikely friends surfaced to take care of His body and lay Him in a tomb, Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus (the teacher who had come to Him by night!). Then Sunday morning came, and our sorrow was turned into joy!  The tomb was empty! He was risen! He appeared to the women and to us, finally to Thomas who confessed the truth that we all now embraced, “My Lord and My God!” (20:29).

      Many other signs were done by Jesus in our presence which were not written in this book, but “…these were written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life in His name!” (John 20:30,31).

         So He has called us, all of us, to be fishers of men, to be His witnesses in the world no matter what the cost, to feed His sheep (John 21:1-14).  So, my friend, do you love Him more than these?  Then feed His sheep! Do you love Him? Then use the gift He has given you, for the building up of the body of Christ (21:15-25).  Do you really love Him? Then make it your life mission to know God and to make Him known. That is my story my friends. No, that is His story.  In truth, the story continues as You follow Him and carry out His mission.  Amen.

The God of Second Chances!

Be patient, God isn’t finished with me yet!

 John 21:15-25

Introduction: Which of us has never needed a “second chance”? You dropped the ball, burnt the dinner, missed the mark, hurt a friend, or disappointed a loved one… we’ve all been there. Thank God for second chances!  Thank God that He doesn’t give up on us when we fail. He is still present, picking up the pieces, working the broken pot into the work of art He intends us to be. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works, which God before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10).

Context: Jesus appeared for a third time to the disciples, this time after Peter and six others had gone fishing on the Sea of Galilee. After their fruitless night of fishing Jesus guided them to a miraculous catch, and had breakfast waiting for them on the shore.  The “food” Jesus gave them was also an invitation to partake of the “spiritual food” that they so desperately needed (see John 4:32-34; 6:27, 55). We were reminded that discipleship is not an on again, off again proposition, it pertains to every aspect of our life. If we know Jesus we should follow Him through every moment of life recognizing His presence and seeking His glory.  Here we are reminded that despite our failures…

The Big Idea: God in His grace has chosen us, and He will accomplish His good purpose in each of us, for His glory.

I. First we see a call here to Embrace the Mission! God will use us to build His church (15-17). Peter had denied Jesus three times, yet He is personally re-commissioned by Jesus to carry out the mission entrusted to the church.

             The first thing that is obvious here is that just as Peter had three times denied that he knew Jesus, there are three questions by Jesus concerning his love, and three affirmations by Peter. Jesus starts by asking “Do you love me more than these…” This seemingly simple question has given commentators some headaches! 

      First of all, do you love me more than “these” what? Grammatically “these” could be masculine or neuter, so it could refer to the “things” associated with his former life of fishing, or to “these people,” his colleagues. Essentially there are three ways we could read this.

It could be that Jesus is asking, “Didn’t you leave these things Behind? Do you love me more than your old life of fishing?” That certainly would fit with the idea that Peter had returned to an activity that was a key to the life he had left when he followed Jesus. Back in Luke 5 he left his boat and his nets to follow Jesus and was told that from now on he would be a “fisher of men.”

“Do you love me more than you love these people [your friends]?” I think we can rule that one out, since there is nothing in the gospel that hints Peter loved his friends more than he loved Jesus. Jesus did teach elsewhere that compared to our love for Him we should “hate” even our own family!  Peter’s brother Andrew was among the seven present.  Jesus had said in Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”  That is a deliberate exaggeration to make a point: God should be number one in our life.

Most modern commentators think he is asking, “Do you love me more than these men love me?” That seems more likely than the previous option. Then Jesus is giving Peter the chance to reexamine his statements made previously that implied his love for Jesus was deeper, stronger, and more enduring than the love his fellow disciples had for the master. He had said that even if everyone else left, he would stand firm. And then he denied Him, not once, but three times! Peter, do you still think that you love me more than these others? Is that what you were trying to show when you jumped in the water the second you realized I was on shore?

There is a fourth possibility that I haven’t seen mentioned in the commentaries. John does have a penchant for double entendre, double meanings [e.g.,“lifting up” could mean both the cross, and exaltation at the same time]. Could it be that here, John wants us to hear Jesus inviting Peter first to reexamine his earlier statements concerning his love for Jesus, and at the same time asking Him about his commitment to discipleship and mission?  “Do you still think that you love me more than these others do Peter, after all that happened, after you denied me three times?  Is your commitment to me so sure that now you will continue ahead in the ministry I will give you no matter what the cost?”  The three-fold repetition of essentially the same question was to give Peter time to reflect on the pride/presumption of his earlier statements in the light of his denials of Jesus.  

 There is another question here that has been a favorite point of preachers for a long time. That is, what do Peter and Jesus mean by the word “love”? In this context, it seems to me, we have two words but one idea. Many commentators have observed that Jesus first uses the Greek verb agapao when he asks Peter about his “love” for Him, and after Peter responds twice with a different word, the verb “phileo.” Jesus then asks the question the third time using Peter’s word. The argument is often made that Jesus is at first talking about a higher, more spiritual, sacrificial love, and Peter can only confess “brotherly affection.” There is no question that there are two words used, the question is what difference, if any, is intended in the use of these terms?  At the risk of disappointing some who might have taught that exact point, I have to say there are a couple of reasons I don’t think we should press that point too far.

       First of all, there are two different words that are used for “sheep/lambs” – and also two different words for “feed/tend” but we don’t press those nuances at all.  They are simple parallel statements with essentially synonymous ideas. So why shouldn’t we consider merely stylistic variation in language with two different words for “love”?

       Secondly, Peter answers the first two questions, “Yes Lord…” So he is affirming that he indeed has that committed, sacrificial love that Jesus is asking about. He agrees with what Jesus has asked, and chooses a different word to express in a positive way his love for Jesus. He is saying “You know how I feel about you Lord!”

       Though agapao is used much more frequently in John, phileo is also used to speak of the Father’s love for the disciples (16:27), and of Jesus’ love for his followers (20:2).  In John 16:27 we read, “…for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” The love of the Father for the disciples, and of the disciples for Jesus are both the word phileo. Also the “beloved disciple” can be so designated with either verb (19:26 agapao; 20:2 phileo). If the love of the Father and the Son can be expressed with phileo it can’t be considered an inferior or superficial word for love!

Having said all that, there does seem to be a different emphasis in the words. The first is love as a choice, a commitment, the latter is the emotion, the tender affection, that follows.  But they are not two different “levels” of love, but rather look at the same committed love from slightly different perspectives. Peter is saying yes, you know how I feel about you Jesus!

             Notice the response that is called for if we say that we love Jesus: Taking care of the “flock.”  That applies to Peter in his part in Christ’s mission, and to each of us as we use our gifts for the building up of the body… Peter, as an apostle, had a unique calling. He would be used to bring the Word of Christ to the early church. He would be present in Acts 2 at Pentecost as the Spirit is poured out in fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. He would travel with John down to Samaria in Acts 8 and lay hands on the Samaritans, and the coming of the Spirit upon them would confirm the unity of the church under the authority of the Apostles. He would go to the house of Cornelius in Acts 10 and see that God poured out His Spirit even on gentiles when they believed in Jesus.  He would have a crucial role in the Council at Jerusalem in Acts 15 testifying to how God himself opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, as he had to the Jews and Samaritans.  That’s a unique calling! But God has a plan for each of us in Christ. He has chosen us and sovereignly gifted us to contribute to the building up of the body of Christ as we carry out His mission in the world.  God in His grace has chosen us, and He will accomplish His good purpose in each of us, for His glory.

II. Notice that there are no illusions that the mission would be easy. We must Count the Cost! Are we willing to follow Him and give Him our all (18-19)? Peter would literally have to take up his cross and follow Jesus. Will we give our lives to Him? Remember that John is writing this down near the end of the first century. He is getting old, and Peter has probably been dead for fifteen or twenty years. By recalling this conversation between Jesus and Peter he is making the point that Jesus not only restored Peter, but that Peter followed Him knowing what the cost would be.

             Put yourself in Peter’s shoes! He earlier claimed his willingness to die for Jesus and now, after the cross and resurrection, Jesus is affirming that that would indeed be the path that Peter would trod.  In case the reader misses what Jesus is saying in v.18, John makes it crystal clear in v.19: Jesus was speaking about Peter’s death. Peter would live his life as a follower of Jesus, knowing that one day it would cost him his life, the horrible death by crucifixion. Most of us will not be martyrs, but all of us are called to be witnesses (we get the word “martyr” from the Greek word for “witness”).  We will not all be asked to give our life for Jesus, but we are called to give our life to Jesus!  And  there will be suffering that comes with identifying ourselves with Jesus. We will have tribulation in the world (John 16:33). As surely as the world hated Him it will hate us (John 15:18-20).

            Notice that he says that even Peter’s death would “glorify God.” Think about what that implies: if the death of a Christian can somehow bring God glory, certainly every hardship through which we might pass can be used by him as well. How we die, and how we live in this sin cursed world, can bring Him glory.

            The call is stated in v.19, “Follow me!” It is interesting that John doesn’t record the call that was given when Jesus called his first disciples to make a commitment.  Mark reports it this way:  “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). Peter is being reminded here of that commitment, which, in his case, would be fulfilled literally.  But only after God had carried out his plan for Peter’s life.  God in His grace has chosen us, and He will accomplish His good purpose in each of us, for His glory.

III. His plan for each of us is unique. As we follow His plan will unfold for each of us (20-22). God doesn’t demand our success, He demands our obedience!

 It might be right and good to ask God about His plan for us, but we see here what is not our concern: His specific plan for others! “What is that to you?” Their success, their achievements, their suffering, or the reason God blesses them (or not), all of that is between them and God. As the Corinthians struggled with divisions and prideful allegiance with one leader or another Paul said “But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.  ⁴ For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord” (I Cor 4:3,4).

             What we should do: follow Him!  Twice in this close context Jesus makes that call to Peter (21:19,22).  The second time it is a little more emphatic: “You follow me!” He said that at the outset of his ministry as He called the disciples, we have the report in the synoptic Gospels: “Take up your cross, and follow me…” Now He is affirming His call and repeating His call to Peter to do that very thing.

P.S. Again John wants the reader to be assured that this has been the testimony of an eyewitness (23-25)!   “This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.  ²⁵ And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written…”

Eyewitness testimony, reliable true words from someone who was there, someone who walked with Jesus.  Is verse 25 hyperbole? The whole world couldn’t contain the books that would be written? When you consider that Jesus existed from eternity past, that He is God the Son who was the agent of creation, who spoke into existence the macrocosm of the universe and the minute detail of matter and life, the world is small space for a library… too small to describe the indescribable. How great is our God!

What is God saying to me in this passage? Paul told the Philippians, “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Phil 1:6). Well, despite our failures, God in His grace has chosen us, and He will accomplish His good purpose in each of us, for His glory.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? Have you decided to follow Jesus? Maybe you feel like you have failed Him, that somehow you have dropped the ball and now you can’t be forgiven much less restored to having a part in His mission? Maybe you feel like you tried the Christian life and it didn’t work. You went back fishing, or even denied Him. Notice that He didn’t give up on Peter. He won’t give up on us. He has promised His presence, and the assurance that He is working for our good, and for his glory.                       AMEN.

Pastors Quarterly Report, July 2013

Pastor’s Report, July 2013

The arrival of summer signals the return of some of our seasonal friends to the Boothbay region and to our church.  This summer is also a time of transition as we continue to work through the prescriptions that resulted from the Ministry Mapping visit of CBMissionNE.  As a part of that process we will be considering at today’s meeting the adoption of a Mission statement and a Vision statement that were developed in response to the feedback we received. A committee presented a recommendation to the elders which was approved for presentation to the church. The value of such statements is that they help us as a church family to understand more clearly our purpose and then to evaluate how our ministries can work together to move us in the direction that God would have us to go.  For any church it is essential that together we can affirm and embrace a common vision and a clear understanding of our mission. It is our hope that these statements can be a step in that direction.

As we have begun our fourth year with Boothbay Baptist Church my ministry has continued to focus on the basics of preaching the Word and encouraging the saints. I’ve enjoyed the process of preaching through the Gospel of John and that series will conclude this Sunday. The next “series” will be shorter, as we turn to the practical and challenging letter of James.  James will challenge us to consider what authentic faith looks like.  On every Wednesday morning at 6:30 AM we have a coffee and prayer time for men at the parsonage. This group has consistently been small, but is a great time to be together for a brief time in the Word, and especially to pray together. At 6:30 PM at our regular church Prayer Meeting we’ve continued our devotional series in Psalms and then spend time together praying for the needs of our church, our missionaries, and our country.

I have also been available for counseling for individuals and couples. One scriptural admonition that we should all take to heart is “to bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). I have been encouraged to see how many in our fellowship take that admonition to heart, reaching out to brothers and sisters in times of need. We all have those moments. We are created for community, as a family, as the body of Christ, and need the support, encouragement, and admonition of our brothers and sisters to become all that the Lord intends us to be. The enemy would prefer to isolate us and “pick us off” in our times of weakness.  One avenue toward genuine fellowship is the informal opportunities we have to visit, spend time together as families, share meals together, in general, to be involved in each other’s lives. Those spontaneous and relaxed times of sharing together are essential to deepening our relationships. Is it true of our church that by our “love for one another” people know that we are Christ’s disciples (see John 13:35)? It should be!  By the way, I’ve enjoyed tutoring one of our men in biblical Greek on a weekly basis. I am open to such “one on one” sessions if others have interest. In relation to that I’ve been asked to teach intermediate Greek this year at New England Bible College. In consultation with the elders I plan to begin that in September, on Thursday mornings.

We are also looking forward to the restarting of our small group ministry in the fall. We have some groups (including ours, on Thursday evenings at the parsonage) that have continued through the summer and others that are looking toward a Fall restart. These groups are a great context in which “church” can happen, as we spend time together in the Word, learning from each other, discovering and developing our spiritual gifts, and praying together. Please talk to me or an elder about leading, hosting, or attending a small group.

Be encouraged as we seek God’s will and share in His mission together.

Your co-workers in Christ,

Pastor Steve and Mary Ann