WEBVTT STYLE ::cue { color: #ffffff; } 00:00:00.970 --> 00:00:02.510 In the name of Jesus. 00:00:02.930 --> 00:00:03.950 Amen. 00:00:05.250 --> 00:00:07.294 One of the wonderful things that 00:00:07.332 --> 00:00:09.230 happened during my presidency 00:00:10.130 --> 00:00:12.702 was receiving the gift to 00:00:12.756 --> 00:00:13.866 install these stained 00:00:13.898 --> 00:00:15.310 glass windows. 00:00:16.610 --> 00:00:18.542 And I had the opportunity then 00:00:18.596 --> 00:00:20.474 to appoint a committee. 00:00:20.602 --> 00:00:22.046 And I thank the committee and 00:00:22.068 --> 00:00:24.510 also the stained glass company 00:00:24.580 --> 00:00:26.562 of Lynchburg of Virginia. 00:00:26.706 --> 00:00:28.274 For the countless countless 00:00:28.322 --> 00:00:31.654 hours they put in for these 00:00:31.852 --> 00:00:34.326 magnificent windows which are an 00:00:34.348 --> 00:00:37.640 enhancement of our worship life. 00:00:39.470 --> 00:00:41.210 Throughout all the windows 00:00:42.270 --> 00:00:45.050 there are figures of faith. 00:00:45.790 --> 00:00:48.060 Some of them we know by name, 00:00:48.670 --> 00:00:51.310 others are unknown. 00:00:52.450 --> 00:00:53.934 What I want to ask you this 00:00:53.972 --> 00:00:56.670 morning is where in these 00:00:56.740 --> 00:01:00.160 windows do you find yourself? 00:01:01.410 --> 00:01:03.114 As I was preparing the sermon, 00:01:03.162 --> 00:01:04.622 I asked myself, dale, 00:01:04.686 --> 00:01:05.714 where do you think you 00:01:05.752 --> 00:01:07.038 fit into the windows? 00:01:07.134 --> 00:01:08.866 And I want to ask you that 00:01:08.968 --> 00:01:10.994 personally put in your name, 00:01:11.192 --> 00:01:13.714 where do you find yourself in 00:01:13.752 --> 00:01:15.990 these figures of faith? 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:22.350 Let me tell you where I am not. 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:25.660 I am not in the south windows. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:28.476 That's history. 00:01:28.658 --> 00:01:30.480 It's super important history. 00:01:30.550 --> 00:01:32.210 We study it all the time. 00:01:32.660 --> 00:01:36.130 But it's museum. I'm not there, 00:01:36.900 --> 00:01:38.720 and I'm not on the north side 00:01:38.790 --> 00:01:39.980 in the back window, 00:01:40.060 --> 00:01:41.244 the very back window 00:01:41.292 --> 00:01:42.724 on the north side. 00:01:42.922 --> 00:01:44.628 That's super important history 00:01:44.714 --> 00:01:47.750 but I'm not there either. 00:01:49.720 --> 00:01:53.460 I am in the north window 00:01:54.220 --> 00:01:55.530 on my left. 00:01:56.860 --> 00:01:59.450 I am gathered around 00:02:01.340 --> 00:02:02.216 with others, 00:02:02.318 --> 00:02:05.290 the Eucharistic tree of life. 00:02:06.880 --> 00:02:07.950 I'm there. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:12.028 I'll get more specific where 00:02:12.114 --> 00:02:14.140 exactly, In a minute. 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:16.700 And I want you to notice that 00:02:16.770 --> 00:02:17.816 all those who are gathered 00:02:17.848 --> 00:02:19.356 around the Eucharistic tree of 00:02:19.378 --> 00:02:20.736 life are not looking at the 00:02:20.758 --> 00:02:23.296 table. There's two I think are, 00:02:23.398 --> 00:02:24.432 but the rest of them 00:02:24.486 --> 00:02:25.504 are looking up. 00:02:25.542 --> 00:02:27.520 They're looking past the table. 00:02:30.930 --> 00:02:34.686 Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes unto 00:02:34.718 --> 00:02:35.966 the hills from whence 00:02:35.998 --> 00:02:37.170 cometh my help. 00:02:37.320 --> 00:02:39.650 My help cometh from the Lord. 00:02:40.710 --> 00:02:42.530 The means of grace 00:02:43.990 --> 00:02:46.370 are not the goal. 00:02:47.670 --> 00:02:49.070 The means of grace 00:02:49.150 --> 00:02:51.540 are not the end. 00:02:52.790 --> 00:02:54.180 They are the means 00:02:55.750 --> 00:02:59.142 for you and me to receive 00:02:59.206 --> 00:02:59.560 from God the 00:03:00.250 --> 00:03:03.530 Grace that leads to the goal, 00:03:03.690 --> 00:03:06.990 the eschatological salvation 00:03:07.490 --> 00:03:09.310 of our souls. 00:03:18.290 --> 00:03:19.390 Retirement. 00:03:20.610 --> 00:03:21.550 Strange. 00:03:22.850 --> 00:03:24.606 I'm not sure if I'd advocate it, 00:03:24.628 --> 00:03:26.040 but hey, it comes. 00:03:28.410 --> 00:03:30.146 Retirement has given me plenty 00:03:30.178 --> 00:03:31.906 of opportunity to reflect upon 00:03:31.938 --> 00:03:33.986 my own ministry and also upon 00:03:34.018 --> 00:03:35.138 the ministry of the Lutheran 00:03:35.154 --> 00:03:36.790 Church Missouri Synod. 00:03:37.550 --> 00:03:40.060 And I am very convinced that 00:03:40.670 --> 00:03:44.329 at least I probably we, 00:03:44.480 --> 00:03:46.298 but at least I have not 00:03:46.384 --> 00:03:48.602 presented Jesus in the 00:03:48.656 --> 00:03:50.700 best way possible. 00:03:51.790 --> 00:03:52.154 Now, 00:03:52.192 --> 00:03:53.246 I'm not saying that we have 00:03:53.268 --> 00:03:54.522 presented Him falsely, 00:03:54.586 --> 00:03:55.886 not at all. 00:03:56.067 --> 00:03:57.566 There will be millions and 00:03:57.588 --> 00:03:59.006 millions of people who will be 00:03:59.028 --> 00:04:00.554 in heaven because of the gospel 00:04:00.602 --> 00:04:01.866 that they heard from Missouri 00:04:01.898 --> 00:04:04.302 Synod pastors, teachers, 00:04:04.366 --> 00:04:06.142 deaconesses, church workers, 00:04:06.206 --> 00:04:07.438 laypeople. 00:04:07.614 --> 00:04:09.314 So I'm not saying that we have 00:04:09.352 --> 00:04:10.894 presented Jesus falsely, 00:04:10.942 --> 00:04:11.938 not at all. 00:04:12.103 --> 00:04:14.786 But I'm convinced we have 00:04:14.808 --> 00:04:16.950 not presented Him fully. 00:04:18.649 --> 00:04:21.029 Have not presented him falsely. 00:04:21.769 --> 00:04:23.398 But I'll go to the wall 00:04:23.484 --> 00:04:25.510 on this statement. 00:04:25.930 --> 00:04:28.134 I at least have not presented 00:04:28.182 --> 00:04:30.409 Him fully. 00:04:36.860 --> 00:04:38.168 Where are you? 00:04:38.254 --> 00:04:40.308 Where am I in the figures 00:04:40.404 --> 00:04:41.580 of faith? Okay, 00:04:41.650 --> 00:04:43.230 that's a timeline question. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:46.364 But let's ask ourselves now, 00:04:46.562 --> 00:04:49.884 where is our Lord Jesus on the 00:04:49.922 --> 00:04:52.924 timeline of God's plan of 00:04:52.962 --> 00:04:56.370 salvation for you and for me? 00:04:56.900 --> 00:04:58.210 He's not there. 00:04:58.980 --> 00:05:00.204 He's not on the cross. 00:05:00.252 --> 00:05:01.920 He's been off the cross for 2000 00:05:01.990 --> 00:05:03.712 years. Been there, done that. 00:05:03.846 --> 00:05:05.824 My salvation depends upon it. 00:05:05.861 --> 00:05:07.156 But that's not where 00:05:07.178 --> 00:05:08.470 he's at right now. 00:05:11.039 --> 00:05:12.236 And if you look at the 00:05:12.258 --> 00:05:15.515 Chancel window and think that 00:05:15.538 --> 00:05:18.156 that's simply about the 00:05:18.178 --> 00:05:20.690 resurrection 2000 years ago, 00:05:25.220 --> 00:05:28.128 he's been out of the tomb 2000 00:05:28.214 --> 00:05:30.832 years, been there, done that. 00:05:30.966 --> 00:05:32.676 And if that's all you see is a 00:05:32.698 --> 00:05:34.276 historical museum event 00:05:34.378 --> 00:05:35.620 in that window, 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:39.700 you might very well be 00:05:39.770 --> 00:05:41.700 a Lutheran Deist. 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:46.100 And I'm quite convinced that 00:05:46.169 --> 00:05:48.096 there are a lot of Missouri 00:05:48.128 --> 00:05:49.600 Synod Lutheran Deists 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:51.350 in the church today. 00:05:55.159 --> 00:05:57.010 Let me put it this way. 00:06:00.090 --> 00:06:00.926 I think we all know what 00:06:00.948 --> 00:06:02.320 a green room is. 00:06:03.170 --> 00:06:05.230 A green room is a waiting room. 00:06:05.380 --> 00:06:07.162 If you're going to go on a TV 00:06:07.226 --> 00:06:08.446 set or if you're going 00:06:08.468 --> 00:06:09.514 to go on stage, 00:06:09.562 --> 00:06:12.990 you wait in the green room until 00:06:13.140 --> 00:06:14.586 you're called on the stage 00:06:14.618 --> 00:06:15.438 or on the set. 00:06:15.524 --> 00:06:16.686 And then after you've done 00:06:16.707 --> 00:06:17.870 your performance, 00:06:18.530 --> 00:06:20.894 you go back to the green room 00:06:20.932 --> 00:06:23.290 and you can relax and eventually 00:06:23.370 --> 00:06:24.190 you leave. 00:06:24.340 --> 00:06:26.342 I think a lot of our people 00:06:26.396 --> 00:06:26.946 in the church, 00:06:26.978 --> 00:06:28.646 and maybe you and I sometimes 00:06:28.828 --> 00:06:30.214 think that Jesus is 00:06:30.252 --> 00:06:31.400 in the green room. 00:06:32.090 --> 00:06:33.878 The director sent him down to 00:06:33.884 --> 00:06:35.746 be incarnate, suffer, die, 00:06:35.778 --> 00:06:36.566 rise again. 00:06:36.668 --> 00:06:38.306 And then he ascended and he went 00:06:38.348 --> 00:06:39.482 back into the green room. 00:06:39.536 --> 00:06:41.498 And he's just relaxing right now 00:06:41.584 --> 00:06:43.962 until the director says, son, 00:06:44.096 --> 00:06:45.834 time to go out on stage and 00:06:45.872 --> 00:06:47.530 judge the living and the dead. 00:06:48.990 --> 00:06:51.760 I'm convinced a lot of our 00:06:53.730 --> 00:06:55.374 people think that way, 00:06:55.412 --> 00:06:57.214 and that's why I say they might 00:06:57.252 --> 00:06:58.206 earn the title of 00:06:58.228 --> 00:06:59.710 Lutheran Deists. 00:07:00.850 --> 00:07:05.620 Jesus is not in the green room. 00:07:07.110 --> 00:07:09.460 He's in the control room. 00:07:11.030 --> 00:07:13.170 Right now He is ascended, 00:07:13.510 --> 00:07:14.622 exalted, 00:07:14.766 --> 00:07:16.726 reigning over all the world 00:07:16.828 --> 00:07:18.870 on behalf of the church. 00:07:20.010 --> 00:07:21.174 And He's going to 00:07:21.212 --> 00:07:22.920 come back soon, 00:07:24.170 --> 00:07:24.774 soon, 00:07:24.892 --> 00:07:26.440 and very soon. 00:07:27.470 --> 00:07:31.050 We are going to see the King. 00:07:32.270 --> 00:07:33.082 So I said, 00:07:33.135 --> 00:07:35.946 I see myself in that window on 00:07:35.968 --> 00:07:37.018 the north side around the 00:07:37.024 --> 00:07:38.700 Eucharistic Tree of life. 00:07:39.550 --> 00:07:40.746 And I mentioned that 00:07:40.768 --> 00:07:41.802 the means of grace, 00:07:41.866 --> 00:07:43.502 as precious as they are, 00:07:43.635 --> 00:07:44.894 that's how the grace comes 00:07:44.932 --> 00:07:45.918 to us, through the means. 00:07:46.004 --> 00:07:47.630 But that's not the goal. 00:07:48.290 --> 00:07:49.950 That's not the goal. 00:07:50.850 --> 00:07:54.930 The goal is seeing Jesus 00:07:55.430 --> 00:07:57.940 face to face. 00:07:59.030 --> 00:08:02.340 Colossians, chapter three. 00:08:02.790 --> 00:08:03.986 If then you have been 00:08:04.008 --> 00:08:05.560 raised with Christ, 00:08:06.409 --> 00:08:09.010 seek the things that are above, 00:08:09.169 --> 00:08:11.974 where Christ is seated at 00:08:12.012 --> 00:08:13.560 the right hand of God. 00:08:14.970 --> 00:08:16.502 Set your minds on things 00:08:16.556 --> 00:08:17.758 that are above, 00:08:17.954 --> 00:08:20.169 not on things that are on earth, 00:08:20.590 --> 00:08:22.890 for you have died and your life 00:08:22.960 --> 00:08:25.980 is hidden with Christ in God. 00:08:27.150 --> 00:08:29.050 When Christ, who is your life, 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:30.178 appears, 00:08:30.374 --> 00:08:32.442 then you also will appear 00:08:32.506 --> 00:08:34.750 with Him in glory. 00:08:35.330 --> 00:08:37.549 If you look above the table, 00:08:38.289 --> 00:08:40.270 you see some faceless 00:08:42.130 --> 00:08:43.309 figures, 00:08:44.049 --> 00:08:45.760 and that's where I am. 00:08:47.810 --> 00:08:50.062 Those faceless figures are 00:08:50.116 --> 00:08:53.550 looking toward the north window, 00:08:54.290 --> 00:08:56.630 the north transept window. 00:08:57.930 --> 00:08:59.780 Looking toward the one who is 00:09:00.090 --> 00:09:01.918 seated at the right hand of God, 00:09:02.004 --> 00:09:04.494 in control of all things in the 00:09:04.532 --> 00:09:06.074 control room for the benefit 00:09:06.122 --> 00:09:07.870 of us and for the Church. 00:09:09.490 --> 00:09:10.894 That's where we're looking, 00:09:11.012 --> 00:09:13.950 or at least that's where 00:09:14.020 --> 00:09:16.720 I am looking. 00:09:19.330 --> 00:09:21.680 I have a quotation here from 00:09:23.970 --> 00:09:25.282 N. T. Wright. 00:09:29.850 --> 00:09:31.874 Belief that Jesus of Nazareth 00:09:31.922 --> 00:09:33.234 has been raised from the dead 00:09:33.282 --> 00:09:34.934 is closely linked in the New 00:09:34.972 --> 00:09:37.366 Testament with a belief that he 00:09:37.388 --> 00:09:38.978 has been taken into heaven, 00:09:39.074 --> 00:09:39.442 where, 00:09:39.516 --> 00:09:41.430 in the words of the Psalm, 00:09:41.590 --> 00:09:43.146 He has been seated at the 00:09:43.168 --> 00:09:44.506 right hand of God. 00:09:44.688 --> 00:09:47.322 We are safe in saying it is 00:09:47.376 --> 00:09:48.986 impossible to collapse the 00:09:49.008 --> 00:09:50.998 ascension into the resurrection 00:09:51.174 --> 00:09:52.794 or vice versa. 00:09:52.922 --> 00:09:54.574 You can't get away with the 00:09:54.612 --> 00:09:56.474 suggesting that Jesus is raised 00:09:56.522 --> 00:09:58.302 from the dead and Jesus is 00:09:58.356 --> 00:10:00.174 ascended into heaven are two 00:10:00.212 --> 00:10:02.000 ways of saying the same thing. 00:10:02.450 --> 00:10:03.262 In fact, 00:10:03.396 --> 00:10:05.054 some kind of belief in Jesus 00:10:05.102 --> 00:10:07.074 ascension has recently been 00:10:07.112 --> 00:10:09.054 shown to be not just a strange 00:10:09.102 --> 00:10:11.550 added extra to Christian belief, 00:10:11.710 --> 00:10:13.650 as has sometimes been thought, 00:10:13.800 --> 00:10:15.810 but it is a central and vital 00:10:15.890 --> 00:10:19.266 feature without which all sorts 00:10:19.298 --> 00:10:21.062 of other things start to go 00:10:21.116 --> 00:10:22.760 demonstrably wrong. 00:10:24.970 --> 00:10:26.310 Things are going to go 00:10:26.380 --> 00:10:29.180 wrong in our life 00:10:30.270 --> 00:10:31.770 and ministry 00:10:33.870 --> 00:10:35.802 if we don't keep in the 00:10:35.856 --> 00:10:37.834 forefront of our thoughts and 00:10:37.872 --> 00:10:40.650 devotion that Christ 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:41.526 has ascended. 00:10:41.558 --> 00:10:42.390 He is sitting at the 00:10:42.400 --> 00:10:43.278 right hand of God, 00:10:43.364 --> 00:10:45.069 He is in the control room, 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:46.750 and soon, and very soon, 00:10:46.819 --> 00:10:47.774 we are going to see 00:10:47.812 --> 00:10:49.120 Him face to face. 00:10:50.610 --> 00:10:52.254 I'll just mention three things 00:10:52.292 --> 00:10:54.286 that can go wrong and I don't 00:10:54.318 --> 00:10:55.426 want to get along 00:10:55.608 --> 00:10:57.569 it's a whole nother sermon. 00:10:58.069 --> 00:11:00.226 But if we don't keep in the 00:11:00.248 --> 00:11:02.130 forefront of our devotion 00:11:03.670 --> 00:11:05.382 Christ in the control room 00:11:05.436 --> 00:11:06.040 now. 00:11:07.690 --> 00:11:10.069 We make it easy for our people 00:11:10.140 --> 00:11:12.280 to doubt the justice of God. 00:11:15.050 --> 00:11:17.110 We create an opening 00:11:18.330 --> 00:11:20.870 for them to be practical 00:11:20.950 --> 00:11:21.718 atheists, 00:11:21.814 --> 00:11:22.634 even though they might 00:11:22.672 --> 00:11:23.510 go to church. 00:11:23.590 --> 00:11:24.458 Because if he's in 00:11:24.464 --> 00:11:25.114 the control room, 00:11:25.152 --> 00:11:26.106 then I guess we've got to take 00:11:26.127 --> 00:11:27.900 care of things ourselves, right? 00:11:28.270 --> 00:11:29.610 And thirdly, 00:11:30.290 --> 00:11:33.310 if we as people of personal 00:11:33.380 --> 00:11:35.694 devotion and preachers and 00:11:35.732 --> 00:11:38.298 teachers do not emphasize 00:11:38.394 --> 00:11:39.658 the dominance, 00:11:39.754 --> 00:11:42.473 the dominance of our Lord Jesus 00:11:42.521 --> 00:11:44.640 Christ in our lives, 00:11:46.370 --> 00:11:48.846 the Church will fill 00:11:49.028 --> 00:11:51.310 that vacuum. 00:11:53.090 --> 00:11:54.030 Ouch. 00:11:54.610 --> 00:11:56.740 If I'm getting close to home. 00:12:03.370 --> 00:12:05.550 Nick read from first Peter. 00:12:06.930 --> 00:12:09.280 And Peter wants you and me, 00:12:11.170 --> 00:12:12.606 at least those of us who are 00:12:12.628 --> 00:12:13.486 gathered around the 00:12:13.508 --> 00:12:14.618 Eucharistic table, 00:12:14.714 --> 00:12:17.966 he wants us to look to Christ in 00:12:17.988 --> 00:12:21.130 the control room to appreciate 00:12:21.210 --> 00:12:22.974 the means for what they do. 00:12:23.012 --> 00:12:23.886 They bring us the 00:12:23.908 --> 00:12:26.040 grace of of God. 00:12:27.290 --> 00:12:29.094 Peter says in chapter one, 00:12:29.132 --> 00:12:29.654 verse three, 00:12:29.692 --> 00:12:30.966 that we have been born to a 00:12:30.988 --> 00:12:33.574 living hope through the 00:12:33.612 --> 00:12:35.000 resurrection of Christ. 00:12:37.530 --> 00:12:39.274 And it is interesting that that 00:12:39.312 --> 00:12:40.854 hope is not the resurrection 00:12:40.902 --> 00:12:41.740 of Christ. 00:12:43.950 --> 00:12:45.466 Peter only mentions the 00:12:45.488 --> 00:12:46.954 resurrection of Jesus three 00:12:46.992 --> 00:12:48.230 times in his epistle, 00:12:48.310 --> 00:12:49.626 and he never mentions the 00:12:49.648 --> 00:12:51.050 general resurrection. 00:12:52.110 --> 00:12:53.534 Now, he believed him. 00:12:53.652 --> 00:12:55.182 He believed what happened 00:12:55.316 --> 00:12:56.378 in that garden, 00:12:56.474 --> 00:12:57.886 and he certainly believed that 00:12:57.908 --> 00:12:58.878 there's going to be a general 00:12:58.964 --> 00:13:00.862 resurrection in which you and I 00:13:00.915 --> 00:13:03.934 will all see Jesus face to face. 00:13:04.052 --> 00:13:05.394 So I'm not putting that down 00:13:05.432 --> 00:13:06.834 and Peter wasn't. I mean, 00:13:06.872 --> 00:13:07.742 without the cross, 00:13:07.806 --> 00:13:08.782 without the resurrection, 00:13:08.846 --> 00:13:11.678 we have nothing. But in Peter, 00:13:11.854 --> 00:13:13.214 and not only in Peter, 00:13:13.262 --> 00:13:14.702 but other New Testament 00:13:14.766 --> 00:13:15.650 epistles, 00:13:16.490 --> 00:13:19.670 the hope is the Parusía. 00:13:20.890 --> 00:13:23.382 When you and I will see 00:13:23.516 --> 00:13:26.440 Him face to face. 00:13:27.950 --> 00:13:30.506 And that's why the way we are to 00:13:30.528 --> 00:13:32.074 conduct ourselves on this 00:13:32.112 --> 00:13:34.010 side of eternity 00:13:35.950 --> 00:13:38.970 is to be in the context of 00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:41.018 waiting to see the King. 00:13:41.194 --> 00:13:42.602 Humble yourself, therefore, 00:13:42.665 --> 00:13:44.078 under the mighty hand of God, 00:13:44.164 --> 00:13:45.710 so that at the proper time 00:13:45.780 --> 00:13:47.294 he may exalt you, 00:13:47.412 --> 00:13:49.614 casting all your anxieties on 00:13:49.652 --> 00:13:52.750 him, not on museum Jesus, 00:13:53.090 --> 00:13:54.386 and thank God for what 00:13:54.408 --> 00:13:55.810 he did in the museum. 00:13:56.230 --> 00:13:58.962 But Jesus wants to receive all 00:13:59.016 --> 00:14:02.194 our anxieties and cares now, 00:14:02.392 --> 00:14:04.258 as He is at the right hand of 00:14:04.264 --> 00:14:05.617 God in the control room. 00:14:05.704 --> 00:14:06.674 Be sober minded. 00:14:06.722 --> 00:14:08.354 Be watchful your adversary, 00:14:08.402 --> 00:14:08.914 the Devil, 00:14:08.962 --> 00:14:10.354 prowls around like a roaring 00:14:10.402 --> 00:14:12.706 lion, seeking someone to devour. 00:14:12.818 --> 00:14:15.826 Resist him, firm in the faith, 00:14:16.018 --> 00:14:17.526 knowing that the same kinds of 00:14:17.548 --> 00:14:19.206 suffering are being experienced 00:14:19.238 --> 00:14:21.318 by your brotherhood throughout 00:14:21.414 --> 00:14:22.300 the world. 00:14:24.510 --> 00:14:26.300 Soon, and very soon, 00:14:26.830 --> 00:14:29.050 we are going to see the King. 00:14:30.290 --> 00:14:33.165 And we need a church and we need 00:14:33.188 --> 00:14:36.286 a ministerium that not only 00:14:36.388 --> 00:14:38.560 looks to the events of the past, 00:14:39.810 --> 00:14:43.150 but also sees in that past, 00:14:43.300 --> 00:14:44.960 that sacred past, 00:14:45.569 --> 00:14:47.726 a reason for all of us to look 00:14:47.748 --> 00:14:49.434 to the future with confidence 00:14:49.482 --> 00:14:50.750 and optimism. 00:14:52.930 --> 00:14:54.640 We're going to see him. 00:14:56.330 --> 00:14:58.440 Let me wrap this up 00:14:59.530 --> 00:14:59.780 and. 00:15:00.650 --> 00:15:01.200 Hey, 00:15:02.450 --> 00:15:03.386 you get older, 00:15:03.418 --> 00:15:05.360 your filters all go you know. 00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:14.080 Every spring 00:15:15.780 --> 00:15:20.050 we are conditioned to hear 00:15:21.140 --> 00:15:22.780 Christ is risen. 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:24.944 And then we are conditioned to 00:15:24.982 --> 00:15:27.840 respond, He is risen indeed. 00:15:28.260 --> 00:15:29.440 Hallelujah. 00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:32.730 It's fine. 00:15:33.420 --> 00:15:34.490 That's true. 00:15:35.820 --> 00:15:37.240 He is risen. 00:15:37.900 --> 00:15:39.160 And by the way, 00:15:39.310 --> 00:15:40.792 if you think that that's just 00:15:40.846 --> 00:15:42.184 the resurrection of 00:15:42.222 --> 00:15:43.820 2000 years ago, 00:15:43.970 --> 00:15:44.856 look at that window 00:15:44.888 --> 00:15:45.864 more closely. 00:15:45.992 --> 00:15:48.284 That is already Christ in 00:15:48.322 --> 00:15:50.140 the state of exaltation. 00:15:52.800 --> 00:15:55.164 But I'll tell you this Christ 00:15:55.202 --> 00:15:57.256 has risen. He has risen indeed. 00:15:57.448 --> 00:15:59.470 It doesn't resonate with me. 00:16:00.160 --> 00:16:01.676 It's kind of hollow. 00:16:01.868 --> 00:16:03.308 And I'm not saying it's 00:16:03.324 --> 00:16:04.400 not true. It is true. 00:16:04.470 --> 00:16:05.968 I'm not saying don't do it. 00:16:06.054 --> 00:16:06.896 Go ahead and do it. 00:16:06.918 --> 00:16:08.044 If I were a parish pastor, 00:16:08.092 --> 00:16:10.020 I'd plan it for Easter. 00:16:11.640 --> 00:16:13.460 But that's not exactly 00:16:13.610 --> 00:16:16.230 where I'm at. 00:16:19.790 --> 00:16:21.420 I'm looking at that. 00:16:22.210 --> 00:16:25.086 And so Peter says at the 00:16:25.108 --> 00:16:26.670 end of the reading, 00:16:29.090 --> 00:16:30.942 after you have suffered a little 00:16:30.996 --> 00:16:33.600 while, that's where we are now, 00:16:35.590 --> 00:16:37.890 the God of all grace. 00:16:39.110 --> 00:16:39.617 Remember, 00:16:39.704 --> 00:16:42.562 the means of grace are not 00:16:42.616 --> 00:16:44.190 the end or the goal. 00:16:44.350 --> 00:16:47.414 They are the means of the God of 00:16:47.452 --> 00:16:50.165 all grace who has called you to 00:16:50.188 --> 00:16:52.150 his eternal glory in Christ 00:16:52.300 --> 00:16:55.062 will still to come, 00:16:55.196 --> 00:16:57.938 will himself restore, confirm, 00:16:58.034 --> 00:17:00.280 strengthen and establish you. 00:17:01.390 --> 00:17:02.938 Soon, and very soon, 00:17:03.024 --> 00:17:04.965 we are going to see the King. 00:17:05.078 --> 00:17:06.362 And at least that's where 00:17:06.415 --> 00:17:08.502 this figure of faith, 00:17:08.646 --> 00:17:10.614 this struggling figure of faith, 00:17:10.662 --> 00:17:12.521 this guy was trying to figure 00:17:12.576 --> 00:17:14.046 out how do I make it on 00:17:14.068 --> 00:17:15.680 my own pilgrim way. 00:17:16.290 --> 00:17:17.934 That's where I'm looking. 00:17:18.132 --> 00:17:19.454 And I think that's where 00:17:19.492 --> 00:17:20.526 you're looking too. 00:17:20.627 --> 00:17:21.581 You know what really 00:17:21.636 --> 00:17:22.925 resonates with me? 00:17:23.028 --> 00:17:24.602 It's when my Lord Jesus, 00:17:24.665 --> 00:17:26.478 sitting at the right hand of God 00:17:26.644 --> 00:17:29.920 tells me, I am coming soon. 00:17:30.450 --> 00:17:34.030 And I say and we all say amen. 00:17:34.450 --> 00:17:36.750 Come quickly, Lord Jesus. 00:17:37.050 --> 00:17:38.038 To Him 00:17:38.204 --> 00:17:39.682 be the dominion forever 00:17:39.746 --> 00:17:41.990 and ever. Amen.