Can good things come from death? | Sunday Sermon | March 1, 2020

We welcome you to the house of God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, our savior and redeemer!

We proclaim that this new month of March 2020 may bring you immense joy, peace of Christ and more importantly, thirst for the word of God.

Today the topic for learning is, “Can good things comes from death?“

Let us begin with few verses from the Gospel of John…

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.”  Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.

See the nature of true Christianity, it is following Jesus; devoting ourselves to him, and treading in his steps. Observe the objection Nathanael made. All who desire to profit by the word of God, must beware of prejudices against places, or denominations of men. They should examine for themselves, and they will sometimes find good where they looked for none. Many people are kept from the ways of religion by the unreasonable prejudices they conceive. The best way to remove false notions of religion, is to make trial of it. In Nathanael there was no guile. His profession was not hypocritical. He was not a dissembler, nor dishonest; he was a sound character, a really upright, godly man. Christ knows what men are indeed. Does He know us? Let us desire to know him. Let us seek and pray to be Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile; truly Christians, approved of Christ himself. Some things weak, imperfect, and sinful, are found in all, but hypocrisy belongs not to a believer’s character. Jesus witnessed what passed when Nathanael was under the fig-tree. Probably he was then in fervent prayer, seeking direction as to the Hope and Consolation of Israel, where no human eye observed him. This showed him that our Lord knew the secrets of his heart. Through Christ we commune with, and benefit by the holy angels; and things in heaven and things on earth are reconciled and united together.

If we focus on verse 46, it reads… “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.

There are many things for the word of God and Clabout Christ Himself, we may not be able to answer, and there here is a perfect example of how Philip says, “Come and see for yourself!”

Nathaniel was from another town in Galeli, to which he affirmed that he knew nothing better can come out of there. Localites knew there was nothing great to be remembered from the books of history pertaining to Nazareth. Had there been a history of kingdom or overrated events, it would have been a different story altogether, but nothing of sorts had happened there to be amazed about or to be really excited about. For majority of localites, it was just a laidback town with nothing special and nothing much to expect from there.

One if the great examples is Job, where a calamity came upon him. The word of God confirms that if you want to follow Him, carry your cross.

Philip didn’t said that “Come see me!”, rather “Come and see!” Nathanial went and his heart was changed.

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”  His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

It is quite possible that somethimg is bothering you and maybe you are at the lowest point im your life. However, God says, “Come and follow me!”

You already know the story of Jesus’ arrest and trial. Jews were unhappy about the way Christ in real was. There was insecurities among the Jew high priests. Thats because Christ was the son of God and God Himself. They proclaimed that He isbproclaiming to be a king of Jews and apostasy agaisnt Roman Government when it was subject to questioning of high chair, was death. Jesus was cricufied!

Nonetheless, crucifixion wasn’t the doing of Jews or any ruling empire from thay era or similar people, it was indeed the word of God. Sinless life of Jesus was brought on earth so that we may beleive in Him and have an eternal life. However, there was a huge price for that, which Jesus took upon Himself and the lamb of God was slain.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

Illustration: A married couple gift each other on occasions such as wedding anniversaries, birthdays etc. Next year the expectations are increased and when not met, there is a disappointment. 

However, God did not promised things of this world but eternal life itself. How big His heart must be and how much must he be loving us. Can anything be compared to this? Anotherthing good which we have in rhis world, that too is given by God Himself, is the death on cross.

Because Jesus was crucified, Barabbas was set free and Jesus was condemned. We can see our picture in this and can proclaim that, “I have been set free and I need no longer luve under the sin!”

And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Heaven doors are open for us and us sinners cam come running for refuge.

And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

To us and we are no longer away from God, now we have connection.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

The word of God affirms that God doesn’t changes. Peiple change, circumstances change, however He will be there at the time of need as He is immovable and never changes.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

From everlasting to everlasting: the same in his person, in his love and power, in his truth and grace; the same object of faith; and the same in all respects, to all believers, in all ages; and therefore be steadfast in the faith and hope of the gospel: and be not carried about with divers, various, and strange doctrines. Doctrines inconsistent with each other, and differing from that one faith in our one unchangeable Lord, and strange to the ears and hearts of all that abide in him. For it is a good thing, of great importance to our own peace of mind, to the glory of God, and the edification of others; it is honourable, pleasant, and profitable, for the heart to be established in the faith and hope of the gospel; with grace.

Are you living under fear, are you lacking something in your faith? Are you planning to question or see for yourself? It is Christ, who is speaking with you and seeking your submission and more importantly your heart.

So if you think you are ready for that next level, ask your heart that… “Can something good can come out of death?” If your response to this is a “Yes!” then we are glad you are ready. And if your response is “No!” then God has opened a way for you, a refuge that you seek and trust, there is no other way but HIM.