You Are Too Good For This World

If the people of this world could see the glory of our lives hidden in Christ, they would be tempted to worship us.

I wish I had thought that thought on my own, but I didn’t.

N.T. Wright said it and we’ll talk more about that as we go along.

But first let’s talk about how we got to be what we are.

It was probably Friday, April 3, 33 AD.

As you probably know, the exact date of the crucifixion is just a little murky.

Based on clues in the Bible, it had to be either AD 27, 30, 33 or 34.

And it had to be on a Friday.

And April 3rd was a Friday in the year 33.

Jesus and his disciples had celebrated passover.

Jesus started a tradition that night that we do today when he passed around the bread and the wine.

They all went to the Garden of Gethsemane except for Judas.

He would show up later in the worst kind of way.

The Garden was one of Jesus’ favorite places and he wanted to pray there.

He knew what was coming.

The soldiers came.

Judas betrayed him with a kiss.

It was very late in the evening Thursday, April 2.

All night long Jesus was shuttled from place to place.

Trials, taunts, beatings.

Until finally, at 9 am, the first nail was driven into his body.

Mark 15:22-24 “And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.”

Luke adds some detail Luke 23:33 “And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.”

He hung there naked in front of everybody, including his mother, all day long.

Crucifixion was meant to destroy any humanity that a person might have.

Humiliate them.

Break them.

Bake them in the sun until they suffocate and die.

At 3 pm, Jesus said, “John 19:30 “... “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Things had to move quickly at that point.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus got permission to take Jesus down and bury him.

Joseph’s tomb was nearby already made ready for his eventual burial.

He gave it to Jesus and before the sun set at 6:18 pm, Jesus was buried.

The stone was rolled in its place.

A Roman seal was placed on the tomb and a cohort of guards were stationed to keep everyone away.

Then it was sunset and by the Jewish clock, it became Saturday.

It became the Sabbath day -when everyone rested from their work.

And the Father started that.

Genesis 2:2–3 (ESV)

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

I had never thought about this until right now.

It was the Sabbath - everyone rested - even God.

You see, the Father’s work of salvation was done.

His perfect justice had been upheld.

All of the wrath for sin that could ever have been poured out on one of His children, that bowl was now empty.

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Jesus’ blood had been shed.

Sins can now be forgiven once and for all - completely - never to be remembered again.

And just like the Father said in the Exodus, “Exodus 12:13

Exodus 12:13 ESV

The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

Now try to follow me here - you know how my mind works so it might take some work.

But listen, Romans 6:3 “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”

Now, let the figurative language work here - if we were baptized, if we were immersed into Jesus’ death.

If we were, as Galatians 2:20 says, if we were “Crucified with Christ,” then we were present with Christ on the cross because we were baptized into his death.

We were covered in his blood.

Blood that is a sign from God.

That we are one of his - and the plague of death will passover us - because we belong.

We have a home.

We are one of His.

But, Jesus’ work didn’t end in the tomb.

The Father didn’t rest forever - He didn’t retire from His work for humanity.

Matthew 28:2-4 “And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.”

Early Sunday morning, before people were out starting their days work, the Father was working again.

This time, He was creating a new heaven and a new earth.

He started when He called Jesus’ name, and Jesus was raised to new life.

Raised to be the “Romans 8:29 “... firstborn among many brothers.”

For 40 days Jesus taught.

He talked.

He ate.

He made sure people like Peter knew they had been forgiven of every sin they had ever or would ever commit.

And finally, 40 days later Mark 16:19-20 “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”

Jesus was taken up into heaven from the spot you see on the screen.

That’s the modern day Mount of Olives - it wasn’t as developed then of course.

And there is an old Testament prophecy that many say refers to Jesus’ second coming.

It’s from the book of Zechariah - it’s Zechariah 14:4 “On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.”

If this is truly a second coming text, when Jesus returns, he’ll come back as he went and his feet will first touch ground on this very same patch of earth.

So that’s what got us here today.

That’s the story - but there is a gap in time, right.

Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father, in the position of power and prestige and honor

But he hasn’t come back yet.

And that’s where we are - in the right now, and in the not yet.

What is there about our not yet, that makes us special?

Our text is Colossians 3:1-4.

Please open your Bibles there to follow along.

This is part of a letter to the church at Colossae.

And in it, Paul talks about how our right now can catch a glimpse of our not yet.

Hear now the Word of God from Colossians 3:1-4

Colossians 3:1–4 ESV

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 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. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

This is the word of the Lord and we thank Him for it.

Father,

Open our eyes to the mystery.

Give us this morning just a tiny glimpse of the glory you have for us.

Lord we know if we see, you’ll take our breath away, we’ll get goose-bumps

And our hearts will swell with satisfaction and contentment and adoration for the one who came and set us free.

Lord, thank you for forgiving my sins.

I confess that they are many and I pray you let nothing stand between your people and your word.

In Jesus’ name - Amen.

If you have been raised together with Christ...

See, if you were crucified in Christ, then you must have been raised together with him.

And since our ancestors saw him being taken into heaven

And they reported that to us.

We have to wonder - what does it look like there.

What does it feel like there ?

What happens there - where Jesus is, seated at the right hand of God?

See, one of the reasons reaching a life goal is such a let down is found right here.

We set goals for this life.

We set a goal to finish school.

To get a job.

To make enough money to buy a house.

To marry a spouse.

To have have a house full of children.

We set sports goals.

And monetary goals - did you know I was going to be a millionaire by the time I reached 30?

A lot of times we reach those goals.

Back in the early 2000’s I had a salary goal.

If I can just hit this number, we’ll be doing good.

I hit the number and remember the day I looked at my W-2 and there it was.

45 years of learning and growing and working culminated in that piece of paper mandated by a governmental agency.

And I looked at it and said, “now what?”

I felt like Inigo Montoya in the Princess Bride after he killed the six fingered man.

“You know, it is very strange. I’ve been in the revenge business for so long, now that it is over, I do not know what to do with the rest of my life.”

So many things that we plan and sacrifice for - they end just like that.

Even the most spectacularly glory filled moments.

Stetson Bennett can say now that he led the Georgia Bulldogs to two national championships.

But that’s past tense.

But that - it’s over - done.

“Now what?”

Why doesn’t the thrill last - why are so many people driven to keep going and going and going?

In Ecclesiastes, the most successful man in all of history asked himself this same question.

He answered it by saying, “[God] has made everything beautiful in its time...”

In its time… in its time - but just in its time.

And then he adds, “Also, He has put eternity in their hearts...”

You see, no goal you set can keep you happy for the rest of your life - because your heart will always yearn for more.

Your heart yearns for something that will last.

And those are the things that are hidden with Christ above.

So Paul tells you to seek those things.

Desire to have those things.

Work to experience those things.

Another way to say, “Set your minds on things above,” is to say, “Ponder the things above....”

That’s not an unheard of for us - we ponder.

Have you ever said, “If I won the lottery, I would...” and then you named those things.

You’re pondering.

You’re thinking about them.

Young men and women do it all of the time.

You daydream about that guy or that gal.

What it would be like to be married - to wake up with them.

To see them everyday.

You are pondering.

But that’s easier right - I mean you can see the guy.

You can touch the gal.

They are here - right here, right beside you right now.

And heaven is, up there, where Christ is, and we can’t see that.

But oh, brothers and sisters, we can catch a glimpse.

We can catch a glimpse - Jesus himself said, “…the kingdom of God is at hand.”

It’s here - we can catch a glimpse.

Every time I see Price Ussery, I catch a glimpse.

When she sees me, she always smiles the prettiest little smile.

Of course she does that for just about everybody - but she does it especially for me.

When she sees Faye Darsey, she goes banana’s - she smiles so big her face almost breaks and she waves so fast she almost takes flight.

When she’s with her mom and day, she likes to be passed back and forth.

She wants to feel loved by both of them.

From the tenderness of a mama’s touch to the thump on the back from a dad the size of Sasquatch.

Price knows - she can’t verbalize it and I’m sure she can’t conceptually grasp it

But she knows that she is loved and everything she needs - she doesn’t even know what worry is.

Total, complete confidence.

Total, complete satisfaction.

That’s what we have in Christ.

It’s what the world would worship us for if they could only see it.

Isaiah 41:9-10 says,

Isaiah 41:9–10 ESV

you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Tell me that you haven’t felt at some point in your life like you had fallen off the face of the earth.

You were lost and lonely - and I’m not saying necessarily lost like we say it in the church lost.

I mean lost.

Who am I anymore?

What am I doing?

Why do I feel like my life in the toilet?

Tell me that when you were there that you didn’t yearn, yearn, hurt, ache, hunger

You craved to be loved like Price?

Everyone that approaches her loves her.

Everyone that comes close, smiles and grins and wants to gently touch her.

She doesn’t worry about being betrayed.

She doesn’t worry that she’ll never find love.

She doesn’t worry that someone will fall out of love with her.

It’s not in her reality - she doesn’t even know it could happen.

But listen to me - if you will ponder - you are Price.

“You are my servant - I have chosen you and not cast you off...”

Will she ever be cast off by her mom and dad? Never happen - neither will you.

“Fear not,” her parents say, “for I am with you”

“Be not dismayed,” discouraged, disheartened, demoralized, downcast, intimidated, fed up, disappointed, troubled, sad, wounded

“Be not dismayed,” for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you.

“I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Price feels that.

You own that on steroids.

That is what is hidden for you in Christ - and it is yours right now.

That is what the rest of the world would drool over if they could only see.

“Pastor, if I do,

“If I ponder like you said, will it make a difference?”

A young woman was so dismayed, was so disappointed, so troubled, so sad, that she thought, “If I could just be a boy.”

So she said she was a boy and she lived like a boy.

But no earthly goal ever gives us what we expect it will.

She lived like a boy, but her disappointment, her troubled and sad heart was just as sad after as it was before.

So she took guns and killed six people in a Christian school.

What would have happened if she could have realized that she was loved like Price on steroids?

To know the “Just as I am” of Jesus love?

Another young woman lived on the streets in Atlanta.

She was dismayed, troubled, sad.

Why was she there?

How did that happen?

Why did she feel like her life was in the toilet?

But she heard Jesus - and he changed her.

And now she helps other dismayed and troubled souls see and hear and ponder.

I sat under a teacher that had a favorite sentence he liked to say about where we live.

Jesus has come - and Jesus will return.

And until Jesus does, “in the mean time - it is a mean - time.”

And brothers and sisters, we live in a mean time.

It seems that every time we turn around, some one, some where, some how is messing with us - and we can’t do a thing about it.

All around us we see unspeakable immorality,

Unspeakable darkness and insanity

Unspeakable demon possession.

All of those souls, frustrated that what they want doesn’t deliver the satisfaction they crave

Nothing ever seems to be enough - because it isn’t enough.

Life is one gigantic disappointment for them.

What if - what if there was a group of people.

On whose faces you can sometimes see the reflection of a baby

Hands reaching skyward for its daddy

With a smile so big on their faces, that their faces might crack

Because they know that one day they’re going home

And there is nothing anyone, anywhere, anyhow, can ever do to stop it or diminish it or take it away.

So there you go.

That’s why we are here this morning.

Those of us who trust Jesus as our Savior

Who have committed ourselves to follow Him where ever, when ever and how ever

We who have been baptized into Jesus’ crucifixion, as the old song says, “We’ve been washed by the blood of the lamb.”

Every now and again you’ll see one of us grinning.

We’ve stopped long enough to catch a glimpse of Jesus and we know that we know that we know

That He is our strength and He will hold us up, no matter what.

Some of you will never follow Jesus - for whatever reason.

And I am truly, truly sorry.

I truly wish I could do something to convince you or help you or something - we all do.

But you are determined to do things your own way and your own way you shall do them.

Until the end - and then you’ll shoulder your own burden before the Father.

You’ll enter eternity on your terms - exactly as you wanted.

And you’ll bear the consequence - which you say you are willing to do.

I’m sorry for you and I wish you luck.

And there are some of you here today who have never made that commitment of faith but you will.

Where might you be in 5, 10, 20 years?

I’m supposed to say heaven since we are in church but that’s not right.

When you are saved, you are immediately a citizen of heaven.

Jesus was saying your name when he was on the cross.

When Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing,” he wasn’t speaking simply of those hurling insults at him.

He was thinking of your and my names.

He was thinking about every name of every person who would ever be saved.

When he said, “Father forgive them,” the blood was being applied to us.

Where will you be in 5, 10, 20 years?

Hopefully, you’ll be living like Price is right now.

A smile so big on your face that your face almost breaks.

With your arms outstretched to the one who will never, ever, ever let you down.

So satisfied, so content, so very, very content.

You can have that.

It’s the Father’s free gift.

All you need to do, is follow Him.

Let us pray: