Wish You Were Here
Notes
Transcript
Wish You Were Here
Wish You Were Here
31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Intro:
We never thought we would be in a world with so much chaos...
Uncertainty… change… new...
freedom / rights / liberty - impinged / infringed & in question -
COVID = MASK / PPE
SOCIAL DISTANCING
BUSINESSES / CHURCHES CLOSED
CHAOS – GEORGE FLOYD DEATH
PROTESTS
RIOTS
SHOOTINGS / LOOTINGS
From NY to Florida
From Seattle to Sacramento
Minneapolis to Indianapolis
In our text, we have a family in a time of tragedy… the enemy of death has entered into their door and now they are experiencing a loss of great emotional and personal injury.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
What was she saying?
Lord - I wish you were here, because my problems, this hurt would not be here - you could have fixed it all...
Wish You Were Here
Wish You Were Here
Our world is in a time of turmoil...
We look at the problems of life and often times, we imagine that if the Lord were here, that everything would be fine.
Problems would flee
Struggles would cease
Eutopia and Paradise would exist…
But is that the reality?
When Jesus was here –
John the Baptist was beheaded…
Leprosy was rampant
Poverty and homelessness was a reality
Class and racial discrimination was common
Riots / mobs existed – we saw that at the crucifixion
You see – the Lord’s presence down here was not focused on this Kingdom, but a heavenly kingdom…
As believers – we have to be mindful that the focus is not the here and now – but the by and by…
Wish You Were Here
Wish You Were Here
Earthly Effort & Eternal Effect
Family
Faith
Earthly Existence & Eternal Experience
Following
Follow me...
Fit for the Kingdom
59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Future
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Heaven
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Hell
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.