Why Incarnation? You can be the 'King's Friend' Text: John 15:17
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and beloved of God,
The announcement of Christ’s first coming is with the sky rent and the glory of God shining around lowly shepherds
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
- Royal King who is both human and promised heir to David’s throne, and is at the same time the anointed prpeht priest king bring in godlen era of the last days, Christ who is the LORD, in many ways no different than the announcement at his death - splitting of the curtain, the sky as black as a the night, and a centurion confessing surely this man is the Son of God!
And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
And friends it will be little differnent from Christ’s second advent - clouds of glory from the far coutnry - visible return not this time to work salvatoin, but to bring the final judgment - and the response is every knee bowing and every tongue confessing - that CJesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Fahter.
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Some in terror, because they had been unrelated to him, maybe even said Lord, Lord, to Him, but he will say what, Matthew 7:23 “Depart from me”I never KNEW YOU!” remarkable things they had done, but they missed the core - the one esential, sinquanon but others not because feel so much more worthy, more righteous in themselves, but welcoming a King who Will Set all things right for all eternity for them!
But as we prepare to celebrate his first coming and prepare our lives for his second coming, I want you to you to hear Jesus explanation of why he didn’t just have to come as the Son of God, but as God in flesh, God incarnate , God perfectly united to our human nature. I want you to feel as you anticipate His Second Coming - not just awe or fear, but this God incarnate is going to draw so near to you and me, we will see Him and finally fully be-remade like him in glory! We will be raised up with body glorified like his united, in spirit but then also in body, I want you to know why He comes as a Saviour to you Incarnate.
Now as we prepare to celebrate his first coming and prepare our lives for his second coming, I want you to you to hear Jesus explanation of why he didn’t just have to come as the Son of God, abut God in flesh, God incarnate , God perfectly united to our human nature. I want you to feel as you anticipate His Second Coming - not just awe or fear, God incarnate is going to draw so near to you and me, and we raised up with body glorified like his united, in spirit but then also in body, I want you to know why He comes as a saviour to you incarnate.
Imagine if that King was coming, Messiah, and actually turned out to be a friend of yours? Not one iota of that splendour or high and exalted how powerful, how wise in administration of new kingdom on earth, but it would be different, you really know that one who is King, That king would really know you cares about you, that say Justin Trudeau - doesn’t can’t! Then to Jesus Christ, you would not just a subject or servant, you’ve talked with him about his program and values, who’ve experienced pain and suffering when things weren’t going so well, when a cost to be paid, you rejoiced… You ended up in a pinch and he shared all he had to get you out of it. That’s our task this morning to understand how Christmas, but also Jesus right now in heaven, and Jesus on the Cross, and Jesus returning in glory - the purpose of His whole incarnation - not just for him to rule, or for him to forgive, or for him to get in touch with you so live for ever. That is all part of a greater salvation for you and me. For sure it has the Cross at the centre, but understand the purpose and the culmination of the Son of God coming, is to bring you into a new relationship with God.
Key Truth: The purpose of the incarnation is to draw you into a new relationship with God of FRIENDSHIP!
Now no doubt most people feel a great distance between God and themselves - but there are some - not acknowledging the vast difference between Creator and creature, and especially not reckoning with the Difference between a holy God and us sin-corrupted rebels - who feel friendship with God is like God is my buddy - overlooks sin, or like jesus is my boyfriend, just sentimental gush mushy. But we must let Jesus define the type of relationships he leads us into. Before he left our earth Jesus did this in two ways in . If you accept the incarnate Lord, and his invitation into real friendship with God, this john 15 tells you how how it changes our lives.
A. The Model is the Son’s relationship to the Father in the Trinity
the Son’s relationship to the Father in the TrinityThe Relationship that we are to enter into with God in Christ, is modelled by the Son’s relationship to the Father in the Trinity!
The Relationship that we are to enter into with God in Christ, is modelled by the Son’s relationship to the Father in the Trinity!
the Son’s relationship to the Father in the TrinityThe Relationship that we are to enter into with God in Christ, is modelled by the Son’s relationship to the Father in the Trinity!
What Jesus tells us to do first is to forget everything you know about being a friend, about loving relationship of parent-child, friend to friend, husband to wife. Jesus wants to show you a different source, a different model to base your relationship upon. We see Jesus defining this relationship before saying, we can be friends with God in v.9
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
I heard a story this week of a kid 9 years old, sent to work the fields by the meanest man, didn’t see cent of the money. Grew up never feeling enough. He overcame that in so many ways of course, tidy, helped church, no one noticed! He became the meanest to those in authority, even if they were kind. Here it so often played out - bad model. Problem with holding up what belongs tot he earth as the heavenly reality - parent child, husband wife - wrong end of the stick. We are to see that reality marriage reflects and only dimly is God’s love in Christ for his church. The model is God’s love first, not the human love of husband wife. Got to unlearn in order to relearn. Christ love and Church's love - our marriages supposed to reflect that. We are to see that all household’s to derive from heavenly Father. God;’s household and relationship to the whole earth, and especially the household of faith - which Jesus says is now more primary than even your family relationships. Paul put it this way
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
And when jesus says, I the Son of God, came down to you, I became incarnate, Why so you could be my friends, Jesus first holds up the pattern of friendship that is in the Trinity from all eternity - and says - that’s the new way that I am going to bring you into in terms of God relating to you, and you to God!
When did the Father love the Son? Look at
Look at And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
You have got to feel this about God, not just like a absolute force, only transcendent, doing nothing impersonal kind of standard up there. out there. But listen to how puts what was going on from before the world existed:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with [TOWARD] God, and the Word was God.
and the Word was with [TOWARD] God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Tha second phrase there is so important - the Son was TOWARDS GOD THE FATHER - perichorosis, distinct persons, but share in the essence of God-ness - but no static three modes of existence live in each other - WORDS< LOVE - fulness . MUTUAL INDWELLING - This is why jesus can say, you’ve seen me, seen the Father, Why he says - in I am in my Father and my Father is in me. And then says as He promises us the Cross, the Resurrection, the gift of the Spirit to apply His work:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
God created the world not because bored, or a need to be loved, but overflowing fulness to share that fellowship with Creatures. And when sin broke it, he sent His Son why? So that out of this fulness, we might receive grace upon grace,
God created the world not because bored, or a need to be loved, but overflowing fulness to share that fellowship with Creatures. And when sin broke it, he sent His Son why? So that out of this fulness, we might receive grace upon grace,
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
And in out text Jesus is saying I have come to love you - like Father has loved me, abide in each other, abide in you somehow holy God but incarnate you are able to abide , commune through the Son with this life from God of above - and that will be a new relationship of Friendship! But the only way you can answer this invitation to participate in that kind of friendship is if Christ takes your human life into himself and unites it to the life of God. Why the Spirit is given that now in the Son united to Him as a brother, we might enjoy this fellowship this friendship with God again!
In reconciling us to the Father, he needs to take on our human flesh, we are used to thinking about how he had to die on our behalf - that’ what the sacrificial word UPER means in
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
But do you understand in the incarnation that it was also necessary that he, not only be united in our very human death to pay the penalty of sin, assume our guilt; but also that the Son of God for his friends, had to live a perfect human life - in our flesh. he had to be born with our not sinful nature, but our fallen nature with all our infirmities - render a life not lived by our selfishness, but truly fulfilling God’s law , - spotless human life - offered in that sacrifice lived by perfect love - a life united to god . That’s what God the Father said 3x from heaven, the baptism, the transfiguration, week before his death. MY SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED., I DELIGHT IN HIM. Understand for us to enter this friendship with God, he needs to delight in us. He had to look at our lives and say - This is my Son or daughter, that now in Christ and in his righteousness, in whom I delight! That’s what we saw at the announcement of him coming incarnate in our nature:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Christ is announcing as he has lived that perfect human life for you and me, as he is about to die the death that our sins deserve again our ouf behalf, that by abiding in Him - we can enter into a new relationship with God - no longer just servant master - just obedience, no longer judge and accused and guilty, but friend and delight, intimacy!
You know how it works with friends - share everything together the good teh bad even stormy weather, … as the perfect mediator - Jesus had to have a complete comunion with God, but also a communion with us his human family. If you are united to Him, Jesus now says whatever is mine is yours - great exchange … Love, joy peace, … And its because in Christ , God can dleight in you, be well pleased with you. IN Christ, abiding in Him God can be with you in and FOR you in deepest friendship!
Love, joy peace, …
But there is a second way that Jesus defines the relationship with God that we must enter into, and its not about its source in God’s fellowship and love. It is a model much more understanable from another earthly reltinoship. If the first model of F toS speaks more of the source of this friendship. The second model that Christ uses in defining the new relationship we are invitedis more about the change. The second model is a particular type of relationship known in the ancient world as well as our modern world as “friend of the king”
But there is a second way that Jesus defines teh relationship with God that we must enter into: And if the first model of F toS speaks more of the source of this friendship. The second model that Christ uses in definign the new relationship we are invitedinto enter with god, is more about the change. The second model is a partituclar type of relationship known inthe ancient world as well as our modren world as “friend of the king”
B. There must be a change in our relationship to Jesus from servant to King’s-Friend.
- ie When Barack Obama’s longtime friend Reggie Love went full-time as his assistant, responsible for anticipating his personal needs, acting as a confidant, playing basketball with him, organizing his music, and guaranteeing at least some time for relaxation, he may not have known it, but he was fulfilling a very traditional role that has existed in many ages and cultures. In ancient Israel he would have been known as “the king’s friend.” It was quite common, in the ancient Near East, for kings… aslll sortso advisors, presits, but some the kings friends. In Britain privy council… unafriad to remind them, to challenge them, of course not boss aroudn - but whole other level of intimacy. Edgar, Brian. God Is Friendship: A Theology of Spirituality, Community, and Society
Pilate, be friend of Caesar; David , Hushai… forgeiners. . Mepthiboseth -
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
What is the before and what is the after here? Why no longer, no longer after what? Well we could say up to this point the disciples who had faith, received Christ were saved, and being redeemed, more like the OT saints in their relationship to God - not reached a level of intimacy that God desired. More servant-master, more like the refrain of the gospel to this point = FOLLOW me. Like Jesus said in So far my Holy Spirit has been with you, but pretty soon, something is going to change and He will be in you! Kind of like in the church of the last 20 or 30 years, discipleship is all about service, servanthood. Over course, important and wonderful, but not the whole picture And if its all tat you got - church following the Lord is just tiring, fall into earning and guilt , as if no real intimacy with God! But it is interesting that iti at this point that Jesus doesn’t use the word follow any more, but rather in it is all ABIDE in me, and I will ABIDE in you!! - vine and branch abiding!
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
What was changing? Well Palm Sunday had just happened, Christ was so clearly recognized KING, Messianic King. King of Israel, so now Jesus declares that the disciples and any of you united to him by faith - You are the special friends of the King on earth! Jesus was declared to be the Prince of Life in His resurrection, one ascending throne not only of David, or the whole earth, but all the heavens, in human body. Gospel of John especially saying the hour is now here for the Son of man to be glorified, that happens starting at the Cross, This is what declares jesus as King of a kingdom that is in this world, but not of it, Christ that very night had just said I am Master and your Lord, but now that I have washed your feet … King and Knigdom like not otehr, - whre the king serves, but not just serves, touches your feet.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
IE Broke my ankle badly, family went on a holiday… my brothers .. one that is hardest to talk too,. absolutely remarkable he bathed me. That is what the king of the Universe did for you - washing on the Cross in even more intimate way , so willing to sink tot he lowest.. and that work declares him king oin power.
But now here is the relationship piece. God had in smaller way done this with both Abraham and Moses.
Edgar, Brian. God Is Friendship: A Theology of Spirituality, Community, and Society (Kindle Locations 583-587). Asbury Seedbed Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Pilate, be friend of Caesar; David , Hushai… forgeiners. . Mepthiboseth - how about Moses at the tent of meeting a
Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
Or think of Abraham as James describes what happened after reconciled by faith, reckoned a righteous after God sovereignly provided the ram, . James connects Abraham's privileged position with what all of Israel later would become in the prophesy of
and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; 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.
and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; 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.
Q. Do you know God like this - Degrees of Association - Job - but now I know you face to face, pros pon ton theon - throw yourself on this king and trust…
Think of how Moses could plead as God’s friend, think of how Abraham brought in on what God was about to do at Sodom and Gomorrah, and his brought into God’s work - wrought mercy of saving Lot.
Q. Do you know God like this, do you talk with Him, commune with Him, speak to you? or just robotic servant? There are Degrees of Association in relatinoships aren’t there. Old school coaches - never really know them, Mike Babcok story came out made Mitch marner right out list of hardest to laziest players on team - Fear! Other people you know about - but no emotioanl connection, have some facts. But listen to how things chagned wwith God and Job- Job 42:5
After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;
If all you know is the transcendence of God without intimacy, without personal friendship, simply bare naked power, dangerous. And if all you know is intimacy, trivial and sentimental. But You put the immanence and the transcendence together in Christ - see that majesty and friendship are not opposites, but correlates, essential to each other. but now I know you face to face, pros pon ton theon - throw yourself on this king and trust…
ie. Charles Colson -speak at Ivy league College. Just defend and then gone to jail for friend disgraced president Nixon. heckled how could you … because he was my friend… grew silent, struck a cord, in this world of broken relationships. Not change in authority, still king, president, but with all that fulness of life, power, wisdom, resources, … new intimacy - IN WHOM HE DELIGHTS IN
Other models , but all must indcludes this now.
IE Just parenting young adults, out on their own. The odd time - heart to heart conversation - felt like not like before telling them stuff as Dad, but they really get it and relationships is at a differnt level. start to feel maybe a time, as much brother, sister in Christ, as earthly mother and father… Has that change happened with God and you because of jesus?
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
The writer of Hebrews
For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
It’s not that God is insn’t holy and king, but He become even more to us in Christ His for us! That’s the wonder of the Son of God becoming completely incarnate for you and me. Shared everything about your life and mine, even your suffering, even associating with our sin, not ashamed to say these are my friends and I share my standing, my inheritance, my fellowship with them!
C. The Results of Becoming the ‘King’s-Friend’
Jesus describes to main results of entering into this new position with jesus as Friends of the King. He reminds us that though we indeed by faith must receive Him, that it was He who chose us. God in His Sovereign love chose you, and drew you, and awakened you to His Son!
Do you feel the sovereign grace in this! We are not friends of Jesus because we are so nice and attractive and good,so he chose us. As we are out of pure love, a love that can cahnge all of us. He called us, by faith reckoned as righteouss… And this is His plan to draw us into most intimate friendship ever: This is the new distinctive form of relationship with God, when people know God and His law directly by the Spirit:
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
But look at the result: - and the result of His sovereign choice and your enlivened will now choosing him, it is that As the sovereign King, he also is appointing you to go. Jesus is going to heaven, but sending His Spirit in new fulness, he now says, in the same way the Fathe sent me, now I am sending you,
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide,
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Jesus just said, that he calls us frieds because he has made knwn to us everything the Father had spoen to HIm, LIke a Presddient with friends of the king, trusted advisors, Jesus say this is what we’re about, and we are let in on a new prgorm for welness and salvation of life; and Jesus says, now with my Spirit, abiding in me -
day by day - bear fruit for the kingdom. Not only communion, and friendship each day, but as a friend of the king, I get to do kingdom business. This is the same language that Jesus used with his disciples before the Cross when he said: - the smallest deed a cup of water in my name, to visit sick, imprisoned, to encourage one bowed down, to share hope in you… extend mercy - go bear fruit Jesus uses the same word he had just used to describe how He after the Cross and accomplishing salvation on earth, he was now going for part 2 of his mission to reign from heven - John 14:28 now I am going to my Father to receive the Spirit for you, to give gifts, to reign until all things ready! But not by His Spirit, you’ve been made friends with Christ, for you to go not to heaven, but out into your world to do his business!
- the smallest deed a cup of water in my anme, to visit sick, imprisoned, to encourage one bowed down, to share hope in you… extend mercy - go bear fruit Jesus uses the same word he had just used to describe how He after the Cross and accomplishing salvation on earth, he was now going for part 2 of his mission to reign from heven -
You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
by His Spirit to apoy his salvation to all peples around the world. And then he says in the same way, I have appoint you to go where?
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Jesus just said, that he calls us frieds because he has made knwn to us everything the Father had spoen to HIm, LIke a Presddient with friends of the king, trusted advisors, Jesus say this is what we’re about, and we are let in on a new prgorm for welness and salvation of life; and Jesus says, now with my Spirit, abiding in me -
day by day - bear fruit for the kingdom. Not only commuion, and friendship each day, but as a frined of the king, I get to do kingdom business. This is the same language that Jesus used with his disicples before the Cross when he said:
- the smallest deed a cup of water in my anme, to visit sick, imprisoned, to encourage one bowed down, to share hope in you… extend mercy - go bear fruit
But the second result is what really empoqers us to bear this fruit: Look at
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
That’s not Jesus giving you a magic rabbit's foot, That’s what some people think of prayer - no intimacy, no real conversation with the God we’re reconciled too, completely accepted by. But no for some prayer is just like a kid writing a Santa’s Wish list, and posting it to the North Pole. Is that prayer to you? But Jesus says when you come into real friendship with me, you are going to ask and plead and converse differently. You really know the one you are praying too, and He has in His word explained what knowledge of what god plan is for all things. You knowledge of the plan and you share concern of your Heavenly Father and his Kingdom concerns. This is not Just give me what I want God, - I don’t fit into your program and kingdom, you fit into mine like a magic ginnie.
But here is prayer that results from the knowing Jesus intimately - and when you know the Jesus who loves you, shares his life, his resources, his forgiveness,s his acceptance, his inheritance in the kingdom with you; you pray under His Lordship as dear friend. That’s what it means to pray something in Jesus’ name. And the promises is when you are striving for that in prayer - lifting up the concern the neighbour family member, the broken situation in this word - plead the Father in Christ’s name, he will most certainly grant what His wisdom and love deem for that situation.
So today I would like to ask you first do you know Jesus as friend, friend of the King for sure, bu true friend none the ess. Your life isn’t about earning his love, you are not performing to get more grace, but know Your King as Your Dearest Friend - don’t hesitate to come into his presence daily - to ask, to hear , to go and bear fruit in your day, to come back to HIm in prayer and pray
Related in God’s Family like that Friend of God, Jesus - member of the Family -