Jon Fry - Class 4 - Exhortation - The Glory

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:00

   Well, brethren and sisters, we've been certainly enriched by the words of Brother John in the discourse around the last days of Jesus Christ. The theme has been from the upper room to the empty tomb. And this is the fourth and concluding study to the subject, the glory. Thanks, Brother John.

2. 0:30

   What a privilege it is to be here. To share this bread and this cup. That Jesus would invite you and me alongside him. And so we're thankful, aren't we, that we're here. Together with our Lord. Fellowship with him in this way that he's asked us to remember him. And we give thanks to our God, don't we, this weekend.

3. 1:11

   It's been such a blessing that we can be together. Like this, when most of the world cannot. And so we're thankful for the great fellowship that we've shared. And we're thankful to those who have worked hard to organise this weekend for us. I hope that together we've been able to draw closer to our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father.

4. 1:39

   That through following Jesus from the upper room to the empty tomb, we've been able to, in some way, develop a deeper understanding of what Christ endured for us. A deeper understanding of the suffering and the glory. And how we, each one of us, might better follow him.

5. 2:05

   It's in Hebrews chapter 12 that we are told that Jesus, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

6. 2:22

   We continually learn from the teacher. We too, each one of us, can have the same joy in our vision. The same hope that drives us. The same focus to the future that gives us energy to endure our sufferings in here and today. Christ says, The one who conquers, I will grant to sit with me on my throne.

7. 2:58

   As I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. And so we meet together to be strengthened in this. To build our courage. To build our strength through this bread and this cup. To remember that participation that we have. That responsibility we have as the body of Christ. To ourselves be given.

8. 3:27

   To be poured out for others. The incredible joy set before Jesus. The glory. Wasn't the resurrection. It was to be with God. A fellowship with God. That words cannot describe. And this driving force for Jesus is so evident in the gospel records. Here in Luke's gospel and chapter 9 verse 51.

9. 4:11

   When the days drew near for him to be taken up. He set his face to go to Jerusalem. For so many years I've read that. And sort of really thought it's talking about the crucifixion. For Jesus to be taken up on the cross. When we compare it to.

10. 4:38

    The language used in Mark about the ascension. And when we look at things like John's gospel. We realize that. What he was focused on. Was this time with his father. Reading from John 13 and verse 1. Now before the feast of the Passover. When Jesus knew that his hour had come. To depart out of the world.

11. 5:01

    To the father. Having loved his own who were in the world. He loved them to the end. So when Jesus set his face to Jerusalem. Yes he was headed to the cross. But he was going somewhere far, far, far beyond that.

12. 5:28

    Jesus was looking beyond the cross. Can you look beyond your cross? It's hard isn't it? Can you look beyond your suffering? When we take Christ's lead. And when we look up. And look past. The toil of today. What do we see? Isn't it glorious? Paul wrote to the Romans. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time.

13. 6:04

    Are not worthy. Not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Further to the Corinthians. He wrote. For this light momentary affliction. Is preparing for us. An eternal weight of glory. Beyond all comparison.

14. 6:31

    And you know at times brothers and sisters. We might struggle to see that. We might struggle to call what we're going through. Lights. And you know. A sort of momentary thing. It feels that we're. Sort of stuck in it. And it's sort of. There's no way out.

15. 6:52

    Jesus. Our Lord Jesus. Was able. To look beyond the pain. The insults. The shame of the cross. To Christ. His sufferings. Was not worth comparing. Isn't that incredible. What he endured. Was not worth. Comparing with the glory. To Christ. His suffering. Was light. Momentary. Affliction.

16. 7:30

    Preparing an eternal weight. Of glory. Beyond compare. The joy. The joy. The joy. Was set. Before him. And I wonder. If this was the departure. That Moses and Elijah. Spoke to him about. The exodus. That they. Talked to him about. When they appeared to him. At the transfiguration. We know. That he experienced.

17. 7:54

    That glory. Upon the mountain. And so. In all our suffering. Let us never forget. The joy. That is set. Before. Us. As we share. The bread. And the cup. This morning. We remember. This shared. Joy. We remember. Christ's words. Of. Of longing. His anticipation. Of a future. When you. And I. Would be able.

18. 8:19

    To share this bread. And cup. Again. With him. Amen. So as now. We consider. The glory. We realize. That we don't have. A detailed. Description. Of the actual. Resurrection. Of the Lord. Jesus Christ.

19. 8:40

    It's. In a sense. It's an intimate. Family. Moment. Something. So very. Very precious. Between father. And son. We can. We can. Barely. Imagine. That. Most indescribable. Wonderful. Moment. When God. Breathed. Into. Christ's. Nostrils. The breath. Of life. The breath. Of eternal. Life.

20. 9:15

    As Paul. Later. Wrote. Jesus. Was. Declared. To be. The son. Of God. In power. According. To the spirit. Of holiness. By his. Resurrection. From the dead. Jesus Christ. Our Lord.

21. 9:31

    But what we do. Get to experience. Is the resurrection. And the glory. Through the eyes. Of the few. Disciples. Who. Spent their lives. With Jesus. And we can imagine. Can't we. Their grief. And their pain. And their confusion. Over what had happened. In the hours. And days. Before.

22. 9:58

    Let's first consider. Mary Magdalene. She'd never cried. So much. As she had. In the last. Three days. They had been. The bitterest days. Of her life. She had watched. Her teacher. Her friend. Jesus. Brutally murdered. Brutally. And now Mary. Wanted to do the best. That she could. For him. She knew. That Jesus.

23. 10:38

    Had already been. Prepared for burial. You see. It wasn't. A practical thing. It wasn't. Something that. When we think of. Our loved ones. And when they pass away. The practicalities. Of that. This was. Something tender. This was. An act of love. This was an act. Of. Of devotion.

24. 11:00

    Yesterday. She had. ventured out. To the market. To buy spices. To anoint. His dead body. She'd been up late. The night before. Preparing the ointment.

25. 11:17

    She hadn't slept well. Mary. Got up. Before dawn. Her heart. Was still heavy. Mary. We know. That feels. Don't we. When we get up early.

26. 11:36

    It's dark. It's cold. It's the darkest. And the coldest. It's ever been. And as she made her way. To the tomb. The sun. Was beginning. To rise. What did Mary find.

27. 11:59

    The empty tomb. So she runs. To tell. His. His best friends. Peter and John. Yet not realizing. That the son of God. Has risen. So Peter. Peter went out. With the other disciple. And they were going. Toward. The tomb. Both of them. Were running. Together. But the other disciple. Outran Peter. And reached.

28. 12:37

    The tomb. First. I feel. A close. Kinship. With Peter. Here. As much. Of my. School. Experience. How fast. Do you think. Peter and John. Ran. To the tomb.

29. 12:58

    I think. They would have. Broken. Their personal. Best. Don't you. You probably. Don't see it. Too often. You order. People. But. I'm. Very fortunate. To. To work. In a school. And see children. Every day. And sometimes. You see children. Running so fast. That they look like. They're about to take off.

30. 13:22

    When we came out. Of lockdown. Last year. I was. Very privileged. To be. Actually outside. When the bell rang. The first recess. After lockdown. Wow. Never seen. Kids run so fast. Through the schoolyard. In my life. With joy. But here we have. Peter. And John. Really. Running. You know. Just with. All the energy.

31. 13:45

    They have. God. Had breathed. Into Jesus. The breath. Death. Of eternal life. He was a new creation. The firstborn. From the dead. He was no longer. In the tomb. Where he had been laid. And John arrives. And he peers. In the entrance. Of the tomb. Whilst Peter. Clambers inside.

32. 14:11

    It's a beautiful. Little. Picture. Isn't it? Of the diversity. Of discipleship. With their journey. To the tomb. They've both got the same destination. But there's a different pace.

33. 14:28

    When they reach the tomb. I'm sure they're both. In their hearts. Just longing to. To find out. What's. What's happening. John. Is sort of. At the door. Whilst Peter. Is probably. Just clambering. Almost on his hands. And knees. Getting inside.

34. 14:51

    Out of breath. Peter sees. The linen cloths. That Joseph. And Nicodemus. Had used. And intrigued. He sees. The face cloth. Neatly folded. And separate. From the linen cloths. And John. Joins him. In the empty tomb. And it says. That he saw. And. Believed.

35. 15:19

    The empty tomb. The tomb wasn't quite empty. Was it? There was linen. There was disciples. There were even angels. Inside. We learn. All in the tomb. The one person. Who was meant to be in there. Was not. Not. The empty tomb. Is such a fitting. Symbol. Of the risen Lord. God has always worked.

36. 15:48

    With the small. And the lowly things. And here we see. This emptiness. This nothingness. Inside this tomb. This absence. Has. The most significance. In human history. He has risen. He has risen. He has risen. I think these are three of the most important words ever spoken. And it's no surprise. That they're the words of God.

37. 16:19

    Reading from Mark. In chapter 16. Looking up. They saw that the stone had been rolled back. It was very large. And entering the tomb. They saw a young man. Sitting on the right side. Dressed in a white robe. And they were alarmed. And he said to them. Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth.

38. 16:38

    Who was crucified. He has risen. This is the angel speaking to Peter and John. Oh this is sorry. After Peter and John have left the tomb.

39. 16:54

    The implication of those three words. Spoken by the angel. They shatter the bonds of death. That have held humanity captive. Since Adam and Eve. He has risen.

40. 17:12

    And these words. The resurrection of Christ. Hold power don't they? We're taught by Paul. The power of the resurrection. Not only in the future. As we long for. And wait for the day. When those who have fallen asleep. Will be raised. But it has a power for us today.

41. 17:33

    He has risen. We can say these words to ourselves. When things get tough. That we might be raised up. That we might remember. That we are together. On this journey with Christ. He has risen.

42. 18:05

    To remember the power. And the purpose of God. In these three words. Can lift the heaviest of hearts. He has risen. And it wasn't only Jesus. That was raised at this time. Was it? Going back. In the records. To in time. And reading from Matthew's gospel. In chapter 27. This is during. The crucifixion.

43. 18:36

    And the earthquake. That occurred. It says. Many bodies. Of the saints. Who had fallen asleep. Were raised. And coming out of the tombs. After his resurrection. They went into the holy city. And appeared. To many. I don't think I've ever really read this carefully.

44. 18:58

    There's something. That intrigues me. About this passage. I think I've read over it so many times. Without really thinking about it. This occurs. This resurrection of the saints. Occurred during the crucifixion. But we're told. That they didn't come out. And into. The holy city. Until after. His resurrection.

45. 19:36

    What were they doing. For three days. Maybe it was a combined fraternal. But we're given a clue. Aren't we. With Matthew's use of this word. The holy city.

46. 19:54

    There's something deeper. Isn't there? There's something rich. There's sort of a lesson. And a message going on here. In what's being told to us. The holy city. It's not used very often. We think of revelation. Don't we? In the new Jerusalem. So what is the significance. Of these events for us? What's the message?

47. 20:14

    Why this delay? Well. We know that Christ. Is the first fruits. Yes. That earthquake. The spirit of God. We thought about this. In the last session. The spirit of God. Coursing through the ground. In grief and anguish. Brought to life. Those who had recently been. Buried in the graves. The saints. But it's important.

48. 20:37

    For us to realize. That in terms of the resurrection. In terms of the glory. That Christ. Is the first fruits. Reading from 1 Corinthians. Chapter 15. Christ has been raised. From the dead. The first fruits. Of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man. Came death. By a man. Has come also.

49. 20:56

    The resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam. All die. So also in Christ. Shall all be made alive. Alive. But each. In his own order. Christ the first fruits. Then at his coming. Those. Who belong. To Christ. We long. For the day. When the dead. Shall be raised. When Christ. The first born.

50. 21:21

    From the dead. Will be joined. By a multitude. Of those. Who have also. Endured much. For the joy. And the glory. Set before them. Jesus appeared. To hundreds. Of people. After his resurrection. But we. Read in. In Mark's gospel. Of two. That had a very special. Encounter. With him. On the roads. Cleopas.

51. 21:47

    And another disciple. Had this special. Meeting with Jesus. On. The journey. To Emmaus. And here's what Jesus said to them. When he spoke to those. Two disciples.

52. 22:01

    About all that he had. Endured. Oh foolish ones. And slow of heart. To believe. All. That the prophets. Have spoken. Jesus was saying. That what. What you have just witnessed. What I have just endured. This crucifixion. And now. This. The resurrection. And. The soon to be. Ascension. And unity. With my father. Is what this.

53. 22:33

    Is all about. Was it not necessary. That the Christ. Should suffer these things. And enter into his glory. And beginning with Moses. And all the prophets. He interpreted to them. In all the scriptures. Jesus. The things. Concerning himself. That's why Paul. When he came to Corinth. Said that he determined. That they would know nothing.

54. 23:01

    Except Jesus Christ. And him. Crucified. Because that is the heart. Of. The gospel. We have a book. Don't we. We're privileged. To be able to read it. Freely and without hindrance. That is entirely focused. On the message. Of Christ's. Purpose. And. God's plan through him. The suffering. And the glory. These two. Are intrinsically.

55. 23:30

    Intrinsically. Intertwined. They are fundamental. To what God. Is doing. With his creation. They are what God wants. To communicate. To us. Through. His Christ. The suffering. And the glory. Are what Peter. Would go on. To describe. In his first letter. As. The spirit. Of Christ. The essence. Of Christ.

56. 24:00

    And he talks about. This spirit. Of Christ. What Christ. Means. Of the suffering. And the glory. Being seen. In the lives. Of the faithful. Of old. Of the saints. And we can think. Can't we. Of monumental. Old testament. Passages. And prophecies. That speak. Of the suffering. And the glory. That speak. In particular.

57. 24:22

    Ones that we've. We've touched on. This weekend. Like Isaiah 53. Or Psalm 22. And then we can do more. Can't we. We can. Have a think about. All those individuals. That we talk about. As being shadows. Of Christ. Joseph. And Daniel. And. Just about everyone. We look at. We can see. Glimmers of Jesus.

58. 24:43

    In their lives. And then. There's. Even more. Subtle. Threads. Threads. And traces. Of Jesus. And all that he has done. For us. In the words. Of this book.

59. 25:01

    I wanted to share. This one with you. Possibly. One of the earliest. Pointing to Christ. Suffering. And glory. Right back. At the very. Beginning. And God said. Let the earth. Sprite. Vegetation. Plants. Yielding. Seed.

60. 25:26

    And fruit trees. Bearing fruit. In which. Is. Their seed. Each. According. To its kind. On the earth. It's kind of interesting. Isn't it. That right back. In Genesis. In chapter one. When we're getting. Detail of the creation. When we have. In such really. A few short verses. The creation of everything. That we're given.

61. 25:50

    This little bit of detail. About. The plants. We're not necessarily. Giving details. About how the sun works. Or how the. The planets. And the stars. Or the ecosystems. And the weather systems. And all those other things. But we know the detail. That it's given us. In Genesis. Is so important. And here we have.

62. 26:11

    This account. This record. Of the creation. Of the. Of the plants. And we're told. That they were to be. Yielding. Seeds. So before. Man and woman. Were even created. God had already. Inbuilt. Into creation itself. A real life. Model. Of his plan. And purpose. The suffering. And the glory. You see. A seed.

63. 26:39

    A seed. Is buried. In. The ground. And that little seed. Is used up. It's like a little store. Of life. And it's poured out. It's devoured. It's like.

64. 27:05

    But the result. Is life. And life. Abundance. Jesus himself. Understood. This. I can imagine him. Every time. He picked up a seed. It giving him comfort. That in the very fabric. Of God's creation. Was a reminder. That he too. Would be buried. In the ground. But. That it had. Deep purpose. And that it was.

65. 27:41

    Something that would be. So fruitful. Truly. Truly. I say to you. Unless a grain of wheat. Falls into the earth. And dies. It remains alone. But if it dies. It bears. Much. Fruit. And this. Spoke to Christ. Resonated. With his. Life's journey. So next time. You. Pick up a seed. Remember. You hold a living parable.

66. 28:09

    Of the suffering. And the glory. May our lives. Also. Speak. Of the suffering. And the glory. May others. May others. Be able to. Read us. See us. And see in. Some way. The spirit of Christ. In our lives.

67. 28:41

    As we share this bread. And this cup. May we. Also join with Christ. In his sufferings. And in the glory. We pray. This weekend. We've followed. Our Lord Jesus. From the upper room. To the empty tomb. We've. Considered. Haven't we. The mindsets. Of. Both Judas. And Jesus. And we now. Receive. With thanks.

68. 29:11

    Freely. This bread. And this cup. Into our hands. And remember that. Mindset of Jesus. To. Not one of. What will I get. But what can I give. To you.

69. 29:25

    Whilst Jesus Christ. Was on trial. We've been reminded. That. In the face. Of every. Element. Of human wickedness. Christ. Remained faithful. And in fact. Rather than Jesus. Being on trial. We've been reminded. That. We need to look. Deep into our hearts. We need to be able. To. Identify. The attitudes. And the. The wickedness.

70. 29:56

    That we see. In the others. When we read through. These events. And we know. That it's Jesus. Who. Is in. The judgment seats. We've listened. Carefully. Very carefully. To each word. That he spoke. On the cross.

71. 30:17

    And this morning. We've peered. Into the tomb. With Jesus's. Closest friends. And disciples. And so. We conclude. Our thoughts. This weekend. In the same place. That we began them. In Bethany. And we think about. The ascension of Jesus.

72. 30:41

    Then Jesus. Led them. Out as far as Bethany. And lifting up his hands. He blessed them. While he blessed them. He parted from them. And was carried up. Into heaven. And they worshipped him. And returned to Jerusalem. With great joy. And were continually. In the temple. Blessing God.

73. 31:16

    And so. As we meet together. This morning. And as we are. Once again. Blessed by Jesus. Through. This cup. And this wine. As he lifts up his hands. To us. May we too. Worship with them.

74. 31:33

    We can imagine. The awestruck. Group. Can't we. Of people. That saw. Jesus. Ascend. To heaven. Including. I'm sure. Lazarus. And Mary. And Martha. And we respond. To what they witnessed. In exactly the same way. With worship. With great joy. With praise. And blessing. To God most high. As we remember Christ. This morning.

75. 31:58

    As we offer our thanks. We can share. In this jubilation. And so. When we consider. The suffering. And the glory. When we think of the death. And the resurrection. Of Jesus. Throughout our days. And particularly. As we meet together. To share this feast. Let's also remember. The ascension. Of our Lord. That joy.

76. 32:23

    That was set. Before him. It's an incredible moment. This unity. With his father. Is the moment. That Jesus. Had focused on. Throughout his ministry. Throughout. His suffering. And it's a symbol. To us. Of the hope. That we can have. In the midst. Of our trials. As we consider. Our place. And our life.

77. 32:48

    In Christ. This morning. We'll finish. With the words. Of Paul. Realizing. That we've not only. Been raised up. With Jesus. But we can ascend. With our Lord. Too. If then. You have been raised. With Christ. Seek. The things. That are. Above. Where Christ is. Seated. At the right hand. Of God. Set. Your minds.

78. 33:20

    On things. That are above. Not on things. That are on earth. For you have died. And your life. Is hidden. With Christ. In God. And when Christ. Who is your life. Appears. Then you also. Will appear with him. In glory. You