1 00:00:00,300 --> 00:00:01,140 Please sit. 2 00:00:04,610 --> 00:00:06,440 Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you from 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:08,210 God our Father and our Lord and Savior 4 00:00:08,210 --> 00:00:08,950 Jesus Christ. 5 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:09,750 Amen. 6 00:00:11,050 --> 00:00:13,080 The text is the text that was read 7 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,190 earlier, and I also see that on the 8 00:00:15,190 --> 00:00:17,590 schedule of Saints today, we observe the 9 00:00:17,590 --> 00:00:18,960 three Cappadocians. 10 00:00:19,790 --> 00:00:21,890 As he said, Gregory and Nanzianzus, Gregory 11 00:00:21,890 --> 00:00:23,560 and Nyssa, and Basil the Great. 12 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:25,860 You know, and I was trying to figure out 13 00:00:25,860 --> 00:00:27,330 why I'm preaching today. 14 00:00:27,570 --> 00:00:28,670 I couldn't get that, so. 15 00:00:29,330 --> 00:00:31,600 But I'm going to give it a go, and I have 16 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:33,700 license then to start off with a quote 17 00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:34,070 from 18 00:00:34,070 --> 00:00:35,270 Gregory of Nanzianzus. 19 00:00:35,470 --> 00:00:37,780 Yeah, his first theological oration, 20 00:00:37,780 --> 00:00:40,340 which I think every seminary should read 21 00:00:40,340 --> 00:00:40,980 at some 22 00:00:40,980 --> 00:00:41,480 point. 23 00:00:41,650 --> 00:00:43,880 And I'm going to paraphrase it only 24 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,450 slightly, but Gregory has this to say. 25 00:00:47,650 --> 00:00:49,750 Not to everyone, my friends, does it 26 00:00:49,750 --> 00:00:51,660 belong to theologize about God. 27 00:00:52,620 --> 00:00:54,390 So I think I'll just stop right there. 28 00:00:55,730 --> 00:00:58,230 Not to everyone, the subject is not so 29 00:00:58,230 --> 00:01:00,930 cheap or tawdry, he says, and I will add, 30 00:01:00,930 --> 00:01:01,700 not every 31 00:01:01,700 --> 00:01:03,970 audience is worthy of it, nor should it 32 00:01:03,970 --> 00:01:06,340 be spoken about at every opportunity, nor 33 00:01:06,340 --> 00:01:06,640 on 34 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,170 all points, but only on certain occasions 35 00:01:09,170 --> 00:01:11,440 and before certain persons and within 36 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:12,040 certain 37 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:12,580 limits. 38 00:01:13,580 --> 00:01:15,910 Not to all men, he says, is it permitted 39 00:01:15,910 --> 00:01:18,320 to theologize, but only to those who have 40 00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:18,750 been 41 00:01:18,750 --> 00:01:21,390 examined and are acknowledged masters in 42 00:01:21,390 --> 00:01:23,190 meditation on God's word. 43 00:01:24,090 --> 00:01:25,790 It is only for those who have been 44 00:01:25,790 --> 00:01:27,760 previously purified in soul and body, or 45 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:28,460 at the very 46 00:01:28,460 --> 00:01:29,960 least are being purified. 47 00:01:30,960 --> 00:01:34,000 For the impure to touch the pure is, we 48 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,000 may safely say, not safe, just as it is 49 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:37,700 unsafe 50 00:01:37,700 --> 00:01:40,270 to fix weak eyes upon the sun's rays. 51 00:01:41,110 --> 00:01:43,340 So what is the permitted occasion? 52 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:46,540 It is when we are free from all external 53 00:01:46,540 --> 00:01:48,610 defilement or disturbance and when that 54 00:01:48,610 --> 00:01:49,710 which rules within 55 00:01:49,710 --> 00:01:52,650 us is not confused with images meant to 56 00:01:52,650 --> 00:01:55,750 frustrate us or bring us into error, like 57 00:01:55,750 --> 00:01:57,050 persons mixing 58 00:01:57,050 --> 00:02:00,060 up good writing with bad or filth with 59 00:02:00,060 --> 00:02:02,960 the sweet odors of perfume, for it is 60 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:03,890 necessary 61 00:02:03,890 --> 00:02:06,660 to take some time in getting to know God. 62 00:02:06,660 --> 00:02:08,900 And when we can find the time to get on 63 00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:11,240 the straight path towards discerning what 64 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:11,600 are 65 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:13,070 truly divine matters. 66 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,210 So, who is permitted to do this? 67 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,610 Only for those for whom the subject is a 68 00:02:20,610 --> 00:02:22,080 matter of real concern. 69 00:02:23,180 --> 00:02:25,720 It is not for those who want to engage in 70 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:27,990 pleasant gossip, like any other thing 71 00:02:27,990 --> 00:02:28,490 after 72 00:02:28,490 --> 00:02:30,350 the football games, that's a little 73 00:02:30,350 --> 00:02:32,220 addition there, or the theater or a 74 00:02:32,220 --> 00:02:33,360 concert or dinner, 75 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,460 still lower employments. 76 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,730 To such men as these idle jests and petty 77 00:02:38,730 --> 00:02:41,400 contradictions about these subjects are a 78 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:42,830 part of their amusement. 79 00:02:43,530 --> 00:02:44,640 So thus far, Gregory. 80 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:47,970 You know, I can imagine Gregory saying, 81 00:02:47,970 --> 00:02:49,640 it shall not be so with you. 82 00:02:50,810 --> 00:02:52,380 Theologizing about God, whether in 83 00:02:52,380 --> 00:02:54,150 preaching, teaching, or in writing, is 84 00:02:54,150 --> 00:02:55,450 not for the disinterested 85 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,080 or for those only looking to get a 86 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,080 paycheck to support their families. 87 00:03:01,650 --> 00:03:03,120 It's serious business. 88 00:03:04,260 --> 00:03:06,420 The text assigned for today is from the 89 00:03:06,420 --> 00:03:08,290 fifth chapter of John, a very deep 90 00:03:08,290 --> 00:03:09,560 theological chapter, 91 00:03:09,730 --> 00:03:10,830 a very challenging one. 92 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:13,360 And the Cappadocians knew that. 93 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,200 Jesus is trying to teach the Jewish 94 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,440 leaders about his relationship with the 95 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:19,000 Father. 96 00:03:20,500 --> 00:03:22,670 Jesus knows what it means to be a son, 97 00:03:22,670 --> 00:03:24,280 it's all he would ever be. 98 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,580 He would never be a father and his father 99 00:03:27,580 --> 00:03:29,750 would never be anything other than a 100 00:03:29,750 --> 00:03:30,350 father. 101 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:32,550 He would never be a son. 102 00:03:33,450 --> 00:03:35,320 And so we have this quintessential 103 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:37,520 example here in the text of what it means 104 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:38,090 to be a 105 00:03:38,090 --> 00:03:41,060 father and what it means to be a son. 106 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,460 Jesus tells the Jewish leaders that the 107 00:03:44,460 --> 00:03:46,460 Son never does anything apart from his 108 00:03:46,460 --> 00:03:47,000 Father. 109 00:03:47,100 --> 00:03:49,470 Actually, it says He's not even able to 110 00:03:49,470 --> 00:03:51,700 do anything on His own apart from His 111 00:03:51,700 --> 00:03:52,240 Father 112 00:03:52,870 --> 00:03:54,110 and vice versa. 113 00:03:54,970 --> 00:03:56,670 For whatever the Father does, the Son 114 00:03:56,670 --> 00:03:57,210 does too. 115 00:03:58,510 --> 00:03:59,910 And how do we know this is true? 116 00:04:00,110 --> 00:04:02,650 Yes, because Jesus says the Father loves 117 00:04:02,650 --> 00:04:05,180 the Son and shows him everything that he 118 00:04:05,180 --> 00:04:05,620 does 119 00:04:05,620 --> 00:04:07,750 and there are even greater things on the 120 00:04:07,750 --> 00:04:09,520 horizon that He is going to do. 121 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:12,960 The Father raises a dead, He gives Him 122 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:13,360 life. 123 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,330 Well, so does the Son, at least to 124 00:04:16,330 --> 00:04:18,160 whomever He wants to, it says. 125 00:04:19,100 --> 00:04:21,370 It's the Father's prerogative to judge, 126 00:04:21,370 --> 00:04:23,630 but Jesus says the Father has given Him 127 00:04:23,630 --> 00:04:24,570 that as well. 128 00:04:25,100 --> 00:04:27,770 And not just that He judges some people, 129 00:04:27,770 --> 00:04:30,010 but the Son is responsible for all 130 00:04:30,010 --> 00:04:30,810 judgment. 131 00:04:32,580 --> 00:04:32,810 Why? 132 00:04:35,350 --> 00:04:37,380 Again, Jesus provides a reason. 133 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:39,720 So that all may honor the Son even as 134 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:40,890 they honor the Father. 135 00:04:41,290 --> 00:04:42,990 And if you don't honor the Son, you're 136 00:04:42,990 --> 00:04:44,820 obviously not honoring the Father because 137 00:04:44,820 --> 00:04:45,520 they are both 138 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:46,390 in this together. 139 00:04:47,060 --> 00:04:49,160 You can't have one without the other. 140 00:04:50,130 --> 00:04:51,930 You can't be a father without a son and 141 00:04:51,930 --> 00:04:53,830 you can't be a son without a father, fair 142 00:04:53,830 --> 00:04:54,300 enough. 143 00:04:55,670 --> 00:04:59,000 But notice the key motivation that Jesus 144 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,100 highlights. 145 00:05:01,940 --> 00:05:04,070 He says it's because the Father loves his 146 00:05:04,070 --> 00:05:05,810 Son and wants Him to be honored. 147 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:08,510 And the key activities that He has given 148 00:05:08,510 --> 00:05:10,380 his Son to do are to give life to those 149 00:05:10,380 --> 00:05:11,080 who are dead 150 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:13,550 and to execute judgment on everyone when 151 00:05:13,550 --> 00:05:15,020 that final hour comes. 152 00:05:15,020 --> 00:05:17,490 This is the unique Father-Son 153 00:05:17,490 --> 00:05:19,590 relationship they have. 154 00:05:20,420 --> 00:05:22,430 They're bound together in this, as 155 00:05:22,430 --> 00:05:24,460 Augustine would say by the vincula 156 00:05:24,460 --> 00:05:25,230 caritatis, 157 00:05:25,660 --> 00:05:27,530 the bond of love which they share with 158 00:05:27,530 --> 00:05:29,170 one another through the Spirit. 159 00:05:31,270 --> 00:05:33,370 Now if we pause long enough, like Gregor 160 00:05:33,370 --> 00:05:34,940 of Nanzianzus says we should, 161 00:05:36,010 --> 00:05:38,180 we should be amazed at what this little 162 00:05:38,180 --> 00:05:40,240 text tells us about God the Father and 163 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:41,080 God the Son. 164 00:05:42,980 --> 00:05:47,120 Their primary motivation for everything 165 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,090 they do is love and honor. 166 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:53,860 In everything He does, the Son wants to 167 00:05:53,860 --> 00:05:55,460 bring honor to his Father because he 168 00:05:55,460 --> 00:05:56,030 loves Him. 169 00:05:56,590 --> 00:05:57,930 And it's the same for the Father. 170 00:05:58,060 --> 00:06:00,160 He says more than once in the gospels 171 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,500 that He is pleased with His Son and wants 172 00:06:02,500 --> 00:06:03,700 Him to be honored. 173 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:05,540 They're inseparable. 174 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:08,340 But they don't just keep that love to 175 00:06:08,340 --> 00:06:08,940 themselves. 176 00:06:08,940 --> 00:06:11,040 Elsewhere in John's gospel he tells us 177 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,210 that God loved the world so much that He 178 00:06:13,210 --> 00:06:14,810 gave His only begotten Son 179 00:06:14,810 --> 00:06:16,980 that whoever believes in Him should not 180 00:06:16,980 --> 00:06:18,950 perish but have everlasting life. 181 00:06:19,380 --> 00:06:21,520 For, it says, God did not send his Son 182 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,790 into the world to condemn it but to save 183 00:06:23,790 --> 00:06:24,120 it. 184 00:06:25,660 --> 00:06:28,190 This is the kind of God we are dealing 185 00:06:28,190 --> 00:06:30,030 with, theologizing about. 186 00:06:30,590 --> 00:06:32,760 This is not child's play. 187 00:06:33,300 --> 00:06:35,670 This is a profound love that most of the 188 00:06:35,670 --> 00:06:36,970 world cannot fathom. 189 00:06:37,670 --> 00:06:40,100 Which is why Gregory says theologizing 190 00:06:40,100 --> 00:06:42,610 isn't for everyone, nor is it for every 191 00:06:42,610 --> 00:06:43,410 occasion. 192 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:46,980 Many of us today I think are struggling 193 00:06:46,980 --> 00:06:48,580 with what's going on in the world. 194 00:06:49,980 --> 00:06:52,080 Catastrophic natural disasters are almost 195 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,080 a weekly occurrence in some part of the 196 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:55,120 world or another. 197 00:06:55,450 --> 00:06:57,760 Just, I mean, this week we've seen what's 198 00:06:57,760 --> 00:06:59,690 happening in Los Angeles, which is 199 00:06:59,690 --> 00:07:01,260 literally on fire, right? 200 00:07:01,260 --> 00:07:03,060 We also have committed individuals 201 00:07:03,060 --> 00:07:05,030 driving trucks into crowds to see how 202 00:07:05,030 --> 00:07:06,560 many people they can kill, 203 00:07:06,660 --> 00:07:09,370 almost as if Satan's little season spoken 204 00:07:09,370 --> 00:07:11,440 of in Revelation has started. 205 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,940 Then there's the wars in Ukraine and 206 00:07:14,940 --> 00:07:17,110 Gaza, the civil unrest in northern 207 00:07:17,110 --> 00:07:19,680 Ethiopia, the ascendancy of China, North 208 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:20,710 Korea, Iran. 209 00:07:21,050 --> 00:07:23,650 I mean, all of this makes us think 210 00:07:23,650 --> 00:07:26,620 something big, something very dangerous 211 00:07:26,620 --> 00:07:28,220 is on the horizon. 212 00:07:29,420 --> 00:07:31,390 Kind of reminds me of how it felt back in 213 00:07:31,390 --> 00:07:33,190 the 70s when I was in a Lutheran grade 214 00:07:33,190 --> 00:07:33,690 school, 215 00:07:33,690 --> 00:07:35,730 where we had to do those duck and cover 216 00:07:35,730 --> 00:07:37,860 drills in case of nuclear war, if any of 217 00:07:37,860 --> 00:07:39,960 you are old enough to remember those. 218 00:07:40,630 --> 00:07:43,030 We live in confusing and anxious times. 219 00:07:43,030 --> 00:07:45,240 We did back then, too. Every age is 220 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:46,470 filled with this. 221 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,440 Our sons and daughters are asking us 222 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,780 what's going on, and it's not always easy 223 00:07:51,780 --> 00:07:52,940 to give an answer. 224 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:55,850 And more than once I've heard, if this is 225 00:07:55,850 --> 00:07:57,950 the kind of God you have who allows all 226 00:07:57,950 --> 00:08:00,120 of this to happen, I don't want anything 227 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:01,120 to do with Him. 228 00:08:02,420 --> 00:08:04,020 And that's tough to hear, especially if 229 00:08:04,020 --> 00:08:05,790 it comes from someone in your own family. 230 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:09,860 But there is an answer in today's text. 231 00:08:09,860 --> 00:08:12,330 That an hour is coming when everything 232 00:08:12,330 --> 00:08:14,900 will become clear, when the dead will be 233 00:08:14,900 --> 00:08:15,600 raised, 234 00:08:15,700 --> 00:08:17,670 when judgment will occur, and when moving 235 00:08:17,670 --> 00:08:19,540 to other parts of Scripture, all things 236 00:08:19,540 --> 00:08:20,500 will be made new. 237 00:08:21,410 --> 00:08:24,880 Lift up your hearts, for your redemption 238 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:28,350 is drawing nigh. Judgment is coming, but 239 00:08:28,350 --> 00:08:29,580 so is life. 240 00:08:30,810 --> 00:08:32,750 The life and love the Father and the Son 241 00:08:32,750 --> 00:08:34,280 have shared from all eternity. 242 00:08:35,220 --> 00:08:37,720 So think of it this way. God brought 243 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,520 order and life out of chaos in Genesis. 244 00:08:41,630 --> 00:08:43,590 He did it again at Calvary, and He will 245 00:08:43,590 --> 00:08:45,600 do it again at the end of all things. 246 00:08:46,660 --> 00:08:48,830 But what about now? Well, you may be 247 00:08:48,830 --> 00:08:51,040 asking, that's a good question. And I 248 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:52,900 simple reply to you is this. 249 00:08:53,570 --> 00:08:55,710 He can do it now as well because of our 250 00:08:55,710 --> 00:08:57,980 text today. Listen to Jesus when He tells 251 00:08:57,980 --> 00:08:59,410 you that He's got this. 252 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,610 The one who listens to His word and 253 00:09:02,610 --> 00:09:05,580 believes Him has passed out of death into 254 00:09:05,580 --> 00:09:06,180 life. 255 00:09:06,750 --> 00:09:10,090 Not will, notice, but has passed out of 256 00:09:10,090 --> 00:09:11,620 death into life. 257 00:09:11,620 --> 00:09:13,960 You know, he says in Hebrews, never will 258 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,160 I leave you, never will I forsake you. 259 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:17,760 That's what he promises. 260 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:20,630 The Father, his Son and their Spirit are 261 00:09:20,630 --> 00:09:22,830 with us until the very end of the age. 262 00:09:24,300 --> 00:09:27,170 And so in the midst of all of this 263 00:09:27,170 --> 00:09:30,040 craziness that we're experiencing, 264 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:32,740 they've got this. Trust them. 265 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:35,980 They've got you and this whole world in 266 00:09:35,980 --> 00:09:38,150 the palm of their hands, as he tells us 267 00:09:38,150 --> 00:09:40,350 in Psalm 91, a wonderful psalm for these 268 00:09:40,350 --> 00:09:41,290 trying times. 269 00:09:41,290 --> 00:09:43,490 It's one worth memorizing, as I've been 270 00:09:43,490 --> 00:09:45,590 telling my class this past week about 271 00:09:45,590 --> 00:09:47,020 memorizing the Psalms. 272 00:09:47,420 --> 00:09:49,560 And I'm sure Jesus had it in mind in 273 00:09:49,560 --> 00:09:52,030 another passage in John that I would like 274 00:09:52,030 --> 00:09:54,430 to close with, which is all about hands, 275 00:09:54,430 --> 00:09:56,330 where Jesus says in John 10, 276 00:09:57,800 --> 00:09:59,900 I give eternal life to them and they 277 00:09:59,900 --> 00:10:02,040 shall never perish, and no one shall 278 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:03,810 snatch them out of my hand. 279 00:10:03,810 --> 00:10:06,340 My Father, who has given them to me, is 280 00:10:06,340 --> 00:10:08,850 greater than all, and no one is able to 281 00:10:08,850 --> 00:10:11,520 snatch them out of the Father's hands. 282 00:10:12,180 --> 00:10:14,320 I and the Father are one. 283 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:17,390 That passage was at the heart and core of 284 00:10:17,390 --> 00:10:19,260 what the Cappadocians dealt with in their 285 00:10:19,260 --> 00:10:20,490 battles with the Arians, 286 00:10:20,490 --> 00:10:22,990 because they wanted the people to know 287 00:10:22,990 --> 00:10:24,560 that God has got this. 288 00:10:24,860 --> 00:10:27,330 The Father, the Son, the Spirit, they are 289 00:10:27,330 --> 00:10:29,500 all God. They have got it and we can 290 00:10:29,500 --> 00:10:30,800 trust them in this. 291 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,070 May we do so for Jesus' sake. Amen. 292 00:10:35,610 --> 00:10:37,570 And the peace of God which passes all 293 00:10:37,570 --> 00:10:39,740 human understanding shall keep our hearts 294 00:10:39,740 --> 00:10:41,810 and minds through faith in Christ Jesus 295 00:10:41,810 --> 00:10:43,550 unto life everlasting. Amen.