Come What May: Joy And Peace In All Things

Philippians 4:4-13 ESV

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.  I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 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.

Pastor Luke Woo

The time between Christmas and New Years can be a time of worry and sometimes, depression.

The passage we are covering today should help us to navigate the New Year.

Exhortations of Joy

Paul tells us to pray more. To exercise our spiritual muscles. To follow in his steps in following the leading of God. But this is not a laundry list of to-do's, but rather a lifestyle. To live lives centered around God.

We are to tune into God' desires rather than our own. What does this mean? We end up chasing after things that we desire over God's desire. Our capacity for joy becomes limited to just those things we decide will bring us joy. A tunnel vision sort of effect. Failure to do this will make us idol worshippers, always chasing after things other than God. Find joy in the Lord. Rejoice in things that glorify God. Rejoice in things of eternity.

He repeats this in the negative. Avoid being anxious. Do not worry about those things that will not bring joy. Bring your troubles to God. Trust that God will take care of things. God is good, loving, and powerful. He will resolve things for the good. God is king over all things.

The type of prayer he commands us is one of thanksgiving. The heart of this prayer is one where we acknowledge God as loving and merciful. A father who loves to bless His children.

Paul's Example

Paul sets his life as an example. This letter was sent to the church of philipi. He was under intense persecution. They had been stripped, beaten, and jailed. From their jail cell, they were singing praises to God.

His joy comes from the churches being planted and growing. His focus is not on the chains, the convicts, or those persecuting him. It is upon God's work in this church and the people.

Paul's X Factor

Jesus Christ is the X behind Paul. He is the one who died and was punished for us. He is the one who gave us eternal life and a hope that will not disappoint.

The secret to being content in all circumstances is understanding that we have Jesus... and all other things of this world pale in comparison.

The mothers of Jesus: The wife of Uriah

Matthew 1:1-6, 12-17 ESV

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.   Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.  So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Genealogies were like a resume. It wasn't about what you accomplished or went to school. It was about from where you came. Matthew is trying to prove that Jesus is the Christ that is the Messiah. To the Jewish audience, he is trying to show the credibility of Jesus.

Our need for a savior

If that is so, why is the wife of Uriah here? Bathsheba, the beautiful wife of one of the mighty men of David. The sorry story of betrayal,  conspiracy, murder, and sin of David against one of his most loyal and best fighting men, Uriah. But why would this be on the resume of Jesus? It was a reminder. A reminder of the ways we sin and oppress. David, a man after God's heart, who is a point of pride of the Jews. He also needs a remedy for sin, just like many of us. It is to point to our mutual need for a savior.

Our need for a real king

King David was leading the nation through many victories and in wise judgement. And then suddenly, oppression and betrayal. We need good leadership. But everyday, we see bad leadership. Nations, governments, schools, police, and sports... It can be enough to make anyone reject any authority.

Final thoughts

We have an authority that we can rest and rejoice in. One who has power, but does not abuse it. A king unlike any other. He brings about the reign that we long for. One full of justice, peace, and dignity.

We are called to labor and long for Jesus. We are to actively promoting the cause of Jesus. Justice, truth, peace, and love. We are limited in power, but eventually Jesus' reign will come and all these things will come to fruition.

The mothers of Jesus: Ruth

Ruth 1:6-17, 4:13-17 ESV

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.  And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord , who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Rev. David Skinner

What is it that you do? Here in the States, people want to know what you do. It is a large part of how people see you. For the Hebrews, they looked at genealogy. They didn't look at what you did, but rather your ancestors. It is rare for women to be listed in genealogy. But Jesus' ancestry makes reference to unusual women. Women of ill repute. From foreign women  to prostitutes. These are not your typical matriarchs.

The bitterness of Naomi

Naomi goes out to Moab with his husband and her two sons. Her husband passes away. She is left with two sons. They get married to some local moabite women, but they also die. The women are all left widowed. Naomi is left widowed and without any means of support in a foreign land among a foreign people. She tells people to call her Mara, meaning bitter. God has done this to her. She accuses Him of bringing this calamity upon her.

Ruth, the faithful one

Ruth is often overlooked here. But consider the faith of Ruth, she is refusing Naomi's offer to send them back to their families. Ruth is leaving behind a solid chance of remarriage and her family. She commits to going to Bethlehem with Naomi. Ruth has to become the breadwinner. She goes out to glean. But this is especially dangerous, since the Hebrews have a hatred for Moabites. She has no promise for protection or food or shelter.

Boaz

He is the kinsman redeemer. He has the right to purchase ancestral lands and property. He goes out of his way to protect and provide for Ruth. He must also have been surprised by the actions of Ruth to provide for her mother-in-law, Naomi.

Sacrificial love has great impact

Ruth and Orpah both love their mother in law. But only one of them willingly sacrifices their life for Naomi. Orpah turns back to her father's family and her people. Ruth is willing to sacrifice her safety, her comfort, the support of her family and her people. Naomi rebuffs the initial offer of support from her daughters in law. She's considering their comfort and lives above her own. Boaz gives up part of his reputation and resources to marry this foreign woman and redeem MoabiteNaomi cannot see the faithfulness of God

Ruth is the embodiment of the grace and love of God. Naomi may know God is good, but not existentially. We can picture as Naomi says that God has left her empty... Ruth in the background, clearing her throat. Has God really left Naomi empty?

Love breaks traditional and racial boundaries/divides

Ruth is a Moabite. She marries an Israelite. Interracial marriage... just asking for trouble, right? Blood is thicker than water... why are you moving away from your family and her people, Ruth? Ruth, a widowed foreign daughter in law, is better than seven sons... really?

The mothers of Jesus: Tamar's breakthrough

Genesis 38:1-30 ESV

It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him.  And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord , and the Lord put him to death. Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother’s wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord , and he put him to death also. Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father’s house.  In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua’s daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. And when Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,” she took off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. He turned to her at the roadside and said, “Come, let me come in to you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood.  When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. And he asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim at the roadside?” And they said, “No cult prostitute has been here.” So he returned to Judah and said, “I have not found her. Also, the men of the place said, ‘No cult prostitute has been here.’” And Judah replied, “Let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her.”  About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.” And Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.” As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.” Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again.  When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” Therefore his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.

Rev. Dan Whang

Sibling rivalry, in-law troubles, hypocrisy, and sexual immorality. What a way to start advent!

Advent is about more than gifts and celebrations. It is about Jesus coming and our expectant waiting. For this series, we are covering the mothers in Jesus' genealogy. Most Jewish genealogies left out gentiles, women, and immoral ancestry. But Jesus' is different, it brings in, those outside the promise. This is not a good moral story. It is an R-rated story that is to make us uncomfortable. God us telling us that He is familiar with the mess of real life. He can handle our most messy and intractable problems in our lives.

Joseph had been sold off into slavery. Jacob was in mourning. It could be that this intense mourning drove Judah away. We do know that Judah left his family and made friends outside of his family.

Tamar's shame

Tamar was probably a teenager. After getting married, she was shortly widowed. In those days, the plight of widows was dark. They could not get a job and move on with her life. She was vulnerable. Judah gave his second son to her, but Onan only took advantage of her. He would have sex with her, but avoid impregnating her. The first born inherited. Onan doesn't want that to happen. But more than that, he uses this widow for his own pleasures. God puts him to death. Judah should have given his youngest son to her. Instead, Judah sends her back to her father's house. She has been effectively abandoned. Judah uses the excuse that his youngest wasn't old enough, but after some time, the youngest has grown up. Tamar realizes Judah does not plan to give his youngest son to her.

Tamar's plan

Tamar hears that Judah is going on a business trip. Men are easily tempted on business trips. Tamar makes a plan. She wants to get pregnant and also get back at her father-in-law. She takes off her widows robes and dresses like a prostitute while covering her face. In many ways, evil begets evil. Tamar has gotten pregnant by her father in law. Judah hears that Tamar was immoral and calls for her to be burned.

But God reveals Judah's sin. Tamar is about to be executed by burning. And why burning? This is an unusual method. Judah probably saw it as getting himself from the curse of Tamar. The black widow that kills his sons. It allows him to ignore his failures as a father. But Tamar brings out the evidence. And Judah is revealed. He is awakened to the fact that he has sinned much against Tamar. He saw her as the problem rather than his own sin. He is spiritually slapped awake. He admits that Tamar is more righteous than him. Not that she was without sin, but that he had sinned much more.

Tamar's redemption

In this mess, God illuminates the sin in Judah's life through this situation. But not only that, Tamar gives birth to twins. And the youngest slips past the older. This mirrors the birth of Jacob and Esau. She is reinstated into the family of promise. She exits the hopelessness of childless widowhood. Judah calls her righteous because he was found caught in sin. Jesus would call her righteous because he had taken away her sin.

Application

Repent of the sin in our lives. Don't get distracted by the sin of people around us.

Extend grace to those around us who have made a mess of their lives.

Thanksgiving as a lifestyle

Colossians 3:1-4, 15-17 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

In Christ, we are satisfied and fulfilled. In Him we have life. When we complain instead of being thankful, we might be dealing with an idol. We may be looking to comfort, to work, to grades, to something/someone for satisfaction. But they can only satisfy temporarily.

In Christ, there are things true for us. We are, even in the worse of times, having good worked out for us. Bad things/times are worked out for our good by God.

Why?

Because of the mercy and grace we have in Christ. We deserve wrath, but receive blessing. That is even more reason to be thankful. Christ was crucified and despised so that in the sight of God, we are pleasing.

When we grasp this...

our lives become one of thankfulness. We let go of things of this world and chase after heavenly things. We thankfully turn over our lives to God.

The cross and the Great Commission

John 20:19-21 ESV

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Dr. Tim Keesee

The great commission does not exist in the Bible. It was a phrase popularized by Hudson Taylor. There are several commissions strewn throughout the gospels, even Paul has several. We are simply called to go into the world and make disciples.

Three things we need to know about being a disciple of Christ...

Cross bearing

Those who follow Jesus must take up their cross. Taking up your cross is more than just having a bad day. To the first disciples, taking up your cross meant total commitment. The cross was something to be inflicted on your worse enemies. It was a symbol of death. It means fully identifying with Jesus, regardless of the cost. Whether it means losing your job, going to jail, etc.

Risk taking

Not everyone is called to go to  Afghanistan. But we should take relational risks, tell a friend that Jesus died for them. Risk your reputation, looking like a religious nut.

Matthew 16:25 ESV

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

We cannot preserve our lives without loss. To throw away our lives for the sake of Christ, will give us life.

Fellowship

Christ promises to be with us as we do all these things. Jesus does not promise success to his disciples. He just promises His presence. And that would be enough.

How will they hear?

Genesis 12:1-3 ESV

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Romans 10:12-15 ESV

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The story of Joseph reminds readers of the promise that God made to Abraham. The people would be many and would bless the world. Sarah bears a son in her old age. From that lineage, we get Jacob who becomes the father of the tribes of Israel. Under Joseph, Laban and all of Egypt are blessed. Egypt, as a nation, was saved from famine. And at the same time, through the same means, the family of Jacob is saved.
But God's plan is bigger than just saving from famine. From Israel, we get salvation from sin; we get Jesus. He saves people and blesses every tribe and nation. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to bless all the people of the earth. Joseph is only a sign pointing to Jesus. Through faith in Christ, we are heirs to the promise given to Abraham.

Galatians 3:26-29 ESV

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

In addition to this inheritance, we are also given a purpose to gather to God and bless the nations. We have a role to play in God's plan. Jesus says:

Matthew 28:19-20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Romans 10:10-15 ESV

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

This is the sole reason why we are not simply whisked away when we've professed faith in Christ. We are all called to play a part in this work. This leaves us with three possibilities. We can be going, we can be sending, or we are being disobedient. God does not give us the option of opting out. We are called to  sacrificially die for salvation of others.

John 12:24 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

God does not bless us for our benefit alone. He blesses us so that we can be a blessing. We are charged to live a life to seek other's needs rather than our ease. God does not give a promise of security on top of a life of ease, but rather He gives a massive promise of security for those in merciful service through suffering. (Piper)

The gospel according to Joseph: Tested and transformed

Genesis 42:1-17 ESV

When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him. Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.  Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.”  He said to them, “No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see.” And they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.” But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you. You are spies. By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” And he put them all together in custody for three days.

Genesis 45:1-15 ESV

Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.  So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

God is always at work for our good. Even when he appears to be against us. Even when He does not appear to be working at all.

God's Goal

In any given moment or situation, God can be working thousands of things out for His goals. He's the ultimate multitasker. Consider the recent news about Ebola. God could working in Christian health worker's lives. He could be using this deadly disease to give Christian health workers an opportunity to witness to other health workers. He could be teaching people here in the United States about the brevity of life. God is using this evidence of brokenness, this disease, for good.

Consider the lives of Joseph and his family. His brothers sold him into slavery and deceived their father about his death. For over twenty years, this deception has stood. No repentance, no restoration, no rebuilding. This family has been spiritually dry. We avoid facing the sin in our lives, but God will not let it stand. God will bring it to the surface. He will confront us about the sin in our lives. God sends a famine. The brothers don't want to deal with it. The father sends them to Egypt, to where they had sold their brother.

God's Methods

God uses his instruments carefully. Joseph appears to be taking revenge on his brothers. But that's not true. He does not crow over them and bully them as was fully within his power to do.

They said they were honest men. But they had lied to their father and given him so much pain in their lies about Joseph. They are thrown in jail in false accusation. This is a reminder of how they had treated their brother in selling him unjustly into slavery.

Simeon is left in jail and they go home with grain and money. Leaving a brother behind... Doesn't this sound familiar? They are told that they must bring their youngest brother in order to prove their innocence.

They go back to their father and ask for Benjamin. Their father, who still plays favorites, refuses. Benjamin is his new favorite. So what then of Simeon? He waits in jail... Till they run out of grain. Their father relents and lets them take Benjamin.

They come back and meet Joseph again unaware. So Joseph treats Benjamin as a favorite. He wants to see how the brothers react. Joseph was the favorite and they treated him harshly. Would they do the same to Benjamin? When Benjamin is found with the "stolen" cup, they have another opportunity to their brother Benjamin under the bus. But they do not, they remember the heart of their father. One of the brothers even offers himself in Benjamin's place.

God's Heart

There is intermittent kindness and harshness. But behind all this is the heart of love. Joseph is testing his brothers to confront then in their sin. And not for revenge, but rather to heal them and have them repent of their sin.

Joseph had every right to avenge himself, but he does not. Instead he seeks out their good. There is a greater Joseph to be found in Jesus. He takes in all our sins and loves us. God may appear to be harsh at times with us, but He was doing these in love. May we take heart in this during times where God appears to be testing us and treating us harshly.

The gospel according to Joseph: The temptation of Joseph

Genesis 39:1-23 ESV

Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.  But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”  As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The obvious temptation

Joseph was a good-looking guy. The wife of Potiphar noticed him. She wants to sleep with him. But there some other things to note. He was sorely tempted. Joseph is a young man, teenaged or early twenties. He was not asked to sleep with his master's wife. He was commanded. Remember that Joseph was a slave with no rights. Getting sexual favors from your slaves was a norm in this context. It would have been entirely excusable to the people of this time.

Joseph understood the all encompassing and entangling nature of sin. It seeks to kill and destroy. How can we see this? He ran away. He avoided her at all costs. He knew that to disobey her would have serious consequences, but he still did so.

He calls sin, sin. He avoids rationalizing. He does not stay near his master's wife. When she grabbed his clothing, he ran away without it.

But more than this is another idea. Joseph considers sin to be a personal offense against God. God wants good for us, sin goes against that. It is not just a set of rules, it is a personal offense. God has worked to bless the household through Joseph and he knows this. Sin hurts God.

The subtle temptation

Joseph ran from temptation. He did the right thing... And is now sitting in a jail cell. God says he was with Joseph. But consider this... Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. He works up in slave ranking in an important household. Then he runs from temptation and gets falsely accused and thrown in jail. Joseph must've been tempted to doubt that God is working for his good. What is this? To be rewarded for doing good with trouble? The presence of God does not mean the absence of trouble.

Not only that, but God is preparing Joseph for the future. He was learning to administer and manage responsibilities and the people. He was managing the household of Potiphar. Then a jail. To finally the nation of Egypt. But there was no way Joseph could have done this in the house of his father. He didn't have the skills. He had to be in Egypt and had to meet the Prince of Egypt. God was working through this mess, impossible for Joseph to know or understand at the time.

The wife of his master represented an abuse of power. He was responsible for the household, by the blessing of God. His could he abuse what God has placed into his hands? By running from this remain, he was learning to not abuse power. This becomes ever more important as God gives him ever greater responsibilities... To end in the salvation of his family. His troubles became a blessing to those he loved.

The ultimate power to fight temptation

Jesus, our friend and savior, was slain by sin. He is the greater Joseph, whose troubles bought us blessings. How can we consort so closely with the one who killed or dearest friend? He will stop loving our sin when we understand that it stabbed and pierced the incarnate heart of God, Jesus.

The gospel according to Joseph: The hidden hand of God

Genesis 37:1-36 ESV

Jacob lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan.  These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.  Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.  Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.  Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.  They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.  Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.  When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?” Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.

Rev. Charles Han

If God is in control of my life, does he know what He is doing? We all have our doubts, from looking at our unexpected/uncomfortable circumstances, crushed hopes,  disappointment, and disillusionment. This story should reassure us. God works through sin, through trials...

Dangers of sin

Joseph grew up in a household filled with strife. Filled with sin and dysfunction. The focus moves from Jacob to the next generation. Joseph was the eleventh of twelve sons. He appears as this upright and responsible son. He's a teenager of Jacob's favorite wife, Rachel. Jacob favored Joseph... And made him a many colored robe. His brothers were jealous of him and filled with murderous envy. Joseph was keeping watch over his older brothers... He strikes as a self-absorbed, prideful, conceited, young man. This is not a picture of traditional family values. We see a picture of favoritism, pride, and envy.

We don't see the harm from our sin. Jacob doesn't see the problem of favoring Joseph. His other sons don't see the problem in envying Joseph. Joseph doesn't his pride. Are there songs that we are complacent about? Will we wait till they explode?

Hidden hand of God

God is not mentioned in this passage. But there are a number of coincidences, first they are not shepherding in the usual place. They are shepherding near a major trade route to Egypt. And the sons wish to kill Joseph, but Reuben convinces them to throw him in a pit. He was planning to rescue him later, but instead the other sons sell him as a slave. Once there, he is accused of a crime and imprisoned... Eventually, he rises in the ranks to become the Pharaoh's prime minister.

But what is Joseph thinking? When he is sold as a slave, he must think his life is over. God did this. God broke up the lives with heartbreak. Jacob was left in mourning. We can't see how this was necessary. But God works through this. God takes Jacob's idol from him. God breaks down the pride of Joseph. God wanted to use Joseph for great things, but first He had to prepare Joseph.

Pattern for redemption

God has to break your pride, your misguided affections, and your will for sinful things. God breaks us of these things in order to use you for His purposes.

Why or how can a good God allow us to go through all this suffering, sin, and pain? This is a major reason why people will not put their faith in God.

But Joseph's story echoes a greater story. Jesus was sold for thirty protects of silver. He was stripped naked. He was slain to save us. Like Joseph would later save the family from famine.

The gospel according to Jacob: laboring in love

Genesis 29:1-35 ESV

Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.  Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”  While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.  As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.  Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.  Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.  When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord .” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

Rev Dwight Yoo

This story has many similarities to God meeting Jacob at Bethel. There are echoes of how Isaac's wife is found at a water place. But there are also significant differences. Think about how we deal with counterfeit money. We compare the two to look for differences. So it is here as well, we can see how the faith of those in the story compare...

God's love Sanctifies

Jacob finds Rachel at the well. Much like Isaac's wife is found at a watering place. But something is missing. There is no mention of prayer, God is almost ignored. Jacob strives to marry Rachel... For seven years. But Laban was a schemer, he saw how Jacob was enamored with Rachel. So Laban schemed and planned a way to trap Jacob. And it was so, Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah. Jacob was a self-reliant, driven schemer. And Jacob found himself on the receiving end of a schemer... He tasted the bitter fruit of being tricked... Like he tricked his half-blind father and his older brother.

We tend to minimize our sin and enlarge the sins of others. That is human nature. So then what does God do? He disciplines his children. He brings us to difficult situations and people. He does this to bring our own sins to light. So that we would mature in faith. So we would let go of those poisons that are killing us.

God's love Satisfies

Leah was unattractive. Constantly in the shadow of her sister, Rachel. She has children and she names them as a way of narrating her life. She wishes that her husband would love her. She thinks that having sons would make her husband love her. That having her husband's love would satisfy the longings of her heart. But halfway through the passage, she decides that God is the one who satisfies. She may have realized this, but the Bible is realistic. Immediately afterwards, she has a baby bearing war with her sister. So it is with our own hearts, we are so prone to wander. From a moment of faith and resting in God, to fighting in sin and envy.

God's love Surprises

But this is not the end. This baby bearing battle between two sisters ends in the formation of the tribes of Israel. Out of this sinful malicious striving, comes salvation. From the unattractive Leah, comes Judah... From where we receive Jesus. Another unattractive person, seen as insignificant by the world, God works out salvation for us all. God works out good for those who love Him. Those who live ugly, sinful, and painful lives... God will work through your life.

The gospel according to Jacob: Sovereign Grace

Genesis 25:19-34 ESV

These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord . And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”  When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.  When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.  Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Sincere faith

Abraham was living in Canaan. Among a foreign people in this foreign land. He was promised this land by God, but this land already had inhabitants. There is a gap between what God promised and what Abraham experienced. Abraham was living as a foreigner decades later after the promise. But faith is not what is seen, but rather believing in the unseen.

We can tell that Abraham is sincere because of how he conducts himself. He remains in Canaan in spite of the circumstances. Not only that, but he refuses to allow his son to return to his homeland. Even in the search for a bride, he makes his servant go on a search for a wife for a son. But neither he nor his son will go in this search. What a ridiculous search, from a worldly point of view.

The servant brings home a wife against all odds. But Isaac's wife was barren. So they prayed for twenty years, before God allowed his wife to conceive. Twenty years of prayer.

Serious flaws

Even with all this faith, there was plenty of flaws in them. Fear of men makes them lie and endanger the purity of their wives. They had faith, but they have made plenty of mistakes. They were fearful during times of uncertainty.

Sovereign grace

God is creating a symphony of salvation with crooked pencils and out of tune instruments. Esau sells his birthright for a bowl of stew. But Jacob is no better. He is a manipulative, conniving man. He may have decided that the birthright was of worth, but he went along the worse path to acquire it.

Sovereign mercy from God is good. It is good because of two reasons. Firstly, nothing you do can place you beyond the reach of God. We are all in equal standing before God. And even after becoming a believer, nothing we do can make God love us less. No matter what highs and lows, God still loves us the same.

The grace of giving

2 Corinthians 8:1-15 ESV

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.   I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Rev. Won Ho Kim

Fundraising for missions is today's topic. I want to encourage and challenge you to give generously to missions in China. Not only of your money, but also your time and energy.

How did they give? Eagerly.

The church in Macedonia gave eagerly. In the midst of affliction, they gave. They gave not just as much as they had. They have beyond their means. This giving cost them something. They were poor and begging to give more. They give  sacrificially. This level of giving is a reflection of their knowledge and understanding of the grace of God.

Why did they give? Equity.

They give out of a sense of fairness. It isn't that everyone should have the same amount of money. It is so that no one is lacking. Everyone should have enough. China has spiritual lack. So we who have a solid church, should share so that other brothers and sisters can have the same opportunity.

What can empower us to give? The example in Jesus

The grace we have received through Christ shows us how we should give. Christ become poor so that we would be rich. He was rejected so that we would be welcomed. He was tempted so we could be comforted. He was killed and raised so that we could have life.

Wisdom with wealth

Proverbs 30:8-9 ESV

Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,  lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord ?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Money can affect us profoundly. When we win money or are having financial difficulties, it can change our outlook and emotions. Jesus spoke more about money than heaven or hell. It is a very important topic.

Today we will focus on our attitude towards money. Next week will address how we spend money.

Goodness of wealth

Money is not inherently evil. God created a material world and blessed people with great wealth, material wealth. God blessed Abraham with material wealth. He blessed Israel with a land flowing with milk and honey...  a material blessing. Prosperity is not evil, but rather it is supposed to point us towards the joy giver, God.

Dangers of wealth

All good gifts of God can be twisted and misused by our own hearts. Sex, for instance, is a good gift, but we often misuse it. It brings harm instead of good. So it is with wealth. It becomes an addiction rather than a blessing that points us to God.

But unlike other sins, it is easy to be deceived. What is normal for American Christians... may not be normal at all. We are living in a sexualized culture, but we also live in a very materialistic culture. Like a leper born in a leper colony, it is hard to know what normal looks like. Unless we have left our comfy life here, can we see the difference between actual needs and wants. Not only that, but it can become Lord of our life rather than Jesus.

Matthew 19:2, 21-22 ESV

And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.  Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

One of the dangers of wealth is it's distractive power. It can divert our attention from God, family, and friends. In pursuit of a rich lifestyle, people lose relationships, friends, family, and marriages. People work so hard that they don't have time for their relationships.

Proverbs 15:17 ESV

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

Not only that, but it can distract us from our eternal standing with God. We are so consumed with money and material wealth, we do not consider God, Hell, and Heaven. We invest our time and resources in ephemeral worldly wealth rather than eternal spiritual riches. We may end up "as one escaping through the flames."

Proverbs 23:4-5 ESV

Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.  When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

Wrap up

1 Timothy 6:6 ESV

But godliness with contentment is great gain,

God is not calling us all to be middle class. It is not wrong to be rich. Paul even addresses the rich Christians of his day.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 ESV

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

We are called to live and hope in God. If we woke up tomorrow with no money, we should still be content with God and with our basic needs being met. Our hope should remain in God and heaven, rather than feeling proud of our riches. Not only the rich, but also the poor.

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

We are discontent when we are mastered with money and material wealth. But when we are in Christ, we remember that we deserved wrath. But instead we received a great inheritance through Jesus. Not only that, but Jesus became poor for our sake. That realization should humble us and bring contentment. Christ's sacrifice has brought us eternal wealth.

Proverbs 18:11 ESV

A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.

Making decisions with wisdom

Proverbs 16:1-4, 9, 25, 33 ESV

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord .  
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.  
Commit your work to the Lord , and your plans will be established.  
The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.  

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. 

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.  

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord .

Proverbs 19:21 ESV

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Proverbs 21:5 ESV

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

Proverbs 27:1 ESV

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Rev. Dan Whang

We often goes through times of darkness and light, but see no meaning to it. God knows but we may not know in the midst of trouble. How then can we act decide wisely?

Two extremes in decision making

Under-spiritualized frantic planner

They tend to plan and worry, but there isn't much prayer. They want to take control of their lives, but the word says this is not within our control. God is in control. We cannot predict tomorrow.

Over-spiritualized passive waiting

We pray but don't act. We wait for some sign from God. Fleeces, clouds in the sky, etc.

God's will should be seen this way:

Sovereign Will - creation
Moral Will - God's will for hour we should live our lives
Will of Direction - God's will for our lives

Views on God's will

Traditional: pray, read scripture, and observe our circumstances. God will give us peace about the right choice.

Traditional Charismatic: in addition to scripture, God can directly speak to us and guide us.

Wisdom: God's purpose is secret. Read scripture, observe our circumstances, and surrender our lives to him. Focus on acting as God desires rather than expecting to know His will.

Christ is our wisdom

We are natural fools. But Christ is our wisdom. He brings us to repentance and to new life.

Application

Commit completely to following Christ
Fully place our lives into his hands. Seek his kingdom rather than our own desires.

Store up God's commands. (Consistently and diligently.)

Turn your ear to wisdom (find good counsel and be teachable)

Call out for insight. (Pray for God's help)

Wisdom is there to grow our faith and help us become closer to God.

Working wisely

Proverbs 6:6-11 ESV

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.   Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,  she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.   How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?   A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,   and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Rev.  Dwight Yoo

Work Diligently

The sluggard lacks initiative. Proverbs describes not only their actions,  but also their life.  They don't move very far.  They take the easy way all the time.  From year to year, they make no progress. They choose comfort and ease every time. It does not apply to things we do not finish.  It is that they consistently do not finish. Additionally, they spend energy on worthless pursuits. Instead of work on things that ultimately matter, we spend it on ill-timed tasks and leisure. They make excuses to avoid work. We rationalize our own laziness. Sluggards are not just lazy. They are proud and self-centered people. They care about their own comfort and self-interest above all else.

Sluggards cause suffering to others.  They bring trouble to those around them. They suffer lack. They can cause harm to coworkers, family, and friends. The one seeking self satisfaction and comfort ends up causing themselves suffering.

The path of the sluggard isn't determined in one choice, but rather one choice after another. Choosing self comfort over the wise choice hour after hour, day after day. We will be surprised by a shock to find that we are the sluggard.

Work as one who has been called

Our lives should be lived as one bought by Christ. Work is not a curse. It existed before sin entered the picture. It is a good thing. It is not a curse. God calls us to work well.  All work is sacred, not just the work of pastors, missionaries, and church positions. All well done work is pleasing to God.

Work in light of Christ's work

Christ's work brings: HOPE, PROTECTION, & ASSURANCE

Our work comes with a measure of futility. But in Christ, our labor for the kingdom is not in vain.  We are not to be a sluggard. But we are not called to become workaholics, work is not our God. Christ died and provided for us. We don't need to prove ourselves through our work. We are to neither make too little or too much of work. Die to yourself to bear fruit for God.

Wisdom's view of Beauty

Proverbs 5:18-19 ESV

Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth,  a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.

Proverbs 11:22 ESV

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

Proverbs 31:30 ESV

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Wisdom recognizes true beauty

Good created things to be beautiful. He not only creates for form and function, but also aesthetically. Appreciation for beauty is found in the word of God. Proverbs and song of Solomon has some examples.

Wisdom recognizes the dangers of beauty

Charm is deceitful. This means that physical beauty can deceive us into making foolish decisions and judgment. Physical beauty can captivate us into adultery or other sins. Don't overlook serious character flaws because of how attractive someone looks.

Physical beauty is vanity. It means that beauty is fleeting. We are getting older and getting less physically attractive over time.

Not only that, but the worldly trends of beauty change. From culture to culture, decade to decade, even year to year... The definition of beauty changes.

We believe that being beautiful and attractive will bring us success and fulfillment. That if we looked better, we would be happier. But we cannot achieve our goal of being beautiful enough. The goalposts are always moving and changing.

Wisdom seeks she finds true beauty

Outside beauty is deceiving and fleeting. But inner beauty, character, is true beauty. This is what should be sought out and pursued.

1 Peter 3:3-4 ESV

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.

We are not saying that beauty is bad. We should appreciate it. But that which matters more is inner beauty, character and godliness. Grow your inner beauty. This is where our emphasis should be. It will not fade, but grow over time.

Jesus is the personification of this beauty. He did not come as a handsome man, but an average looking Joe. His worth was in His character.

Isaiah 53:2 ESV

For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

The wisdom of self control

Proverbs 25:28 ESV

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Titus 2:11-12 ESV

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Rev. Dwight Yoo

A life without self control is like a city without walls.

Centrality of self-control

A city with no walls is defenseless. It was open to attack by wild animals, bandits, and other problems. Lack of self control leads to all sorts of problems. The inability to hold back impulses can destroy your life. Holding a job requires self control. We don't always feel like doing work. But if we only worked when we felt like it, work would never get done well or in a timely manner. But this is not only for our jobs, but our relationships, our prayer life, our families, and other parts of our lives.

Challenge of self-control

Self control is not only vital, but incredibly difficult. We should look up to those whose lives are marked by self control.

Today's culture says that restraints and boundaries are bad. Self control is seen as repression. Society says that we should do as we feel.

Our desires are wrong. We want the wrong things. Or we want good things too much. Overeating, laziness, and others like it are excesses of those good things we want. We look to fill our spiritual desires with other things. We try to fill our spiritual thirst with other things, but we are unsatisfied. We keep clamoring for more. We end up in prisons of our own making. Unrestrained desires will ruin our lives.

Cultivating self-control

Actively managing our lives and desires leads to bountiful results. But we cannot reach self control by sheer effort. How so? Consider this, if an overweight man decides to lose weight. They pursue losing weight and finally become fit. At the end they may end up fearful of regaining weight. They are enslaved to working out, eating right, and healthy habits. They may gain workout partners, but they may lose old friends. They can't enjoy food anymore.

So how then do we cultivate it?

Cry out to God for self-control.

Set boundaries in our life with community support and accountability.

Find contentment at the feet of Christ

Pride goes before destruction

Proverbs 11:2 ESV

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 15:25, 33 ESV

The Lord tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow’s boundaries.   The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 18:12 ESV

Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 23:17-18 ESV

Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.  Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 27:1-2 ESV

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.  Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

Rev. Dan Whang

We live in a world that gets us to showcase and glorify ourselves. This world encourages pride. A working definition of pride is elevating ourselves above others, even above God.

Expressions of pride

Competitive Spirit (unhealthy kind)

People don't generally see themselves as proud. But often people want to be richer, smarter, etc. We measure ourselves against others. So what is so wrong about this competitive spirit? We treat people different based on whether they are smarter, richer, etc.

Boasting

We feel slighted when we don't get proper credit. We want to talk about our accomplishments.

Insecure self-absorption

When people try to give you advice or feedback, we take it personally. It is about our self worth. We can't stand it when other people are having fun and making so much noise. We hate all these posts on Facebook because they are doing so well.

Spiritual pride

Some of us do spiritual things for the approval of others. We act humble for public eyes.

Envy

We resent others because we want what they have. We sulk when they succeed and rejoice when others fall. If we admit envy, it means we are small and petty.

If you think you don't suffer from this, consider those you are critical towards. Why are you always looking for fault in them? This is likely envy... A symptom of pride in your heart.

Dangers of pride

Pride leads to destruction

Destruction doesn't sometimes follow pride. It always follows pride. From the titanic to the tower of Babel, God always destroys the proud. It is almost like a promise.

The proud can never learn

The proud become hardened in their ways. They stop learning because they are always in the right. Even their opinions are right! Eventually, they will not seek the wisdom from God.

God stands opposed to the proud

He will tear down the house of the proud. He calls them to repent and draw close to God. The proud set themselves in enmity towards God.

How to cultivate humility

Remember Jesus is the humble king and keep your gaze on Him

Jesus was never competitive or proud. Instead He came to serve and die for his enemies. This is how we grow humility. We focus on Jesus and become stunned by the grace of God. The vision of Jesus on the cross dying for our sins will humble us.

Remember that Jesus draws near to the humble and honors them

Humility is not hating yourself. It is not low self esteem. It is to stop focusing on ourselves. We are to lose sight of ourselves in the glory of God.

Application

Make your greatest boast in the Lord Jesus Christ and his crucifixion.

Growing in wisdom

Proverbs 4:10-27 ESV

Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.  I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.  When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.   Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.   Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.  Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.  For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.  For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.  But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.   The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.   My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.   Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.  For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.  Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.  Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.   Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.   Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.   Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Wisdom is about handling things well on a day to day basis. This doesn't seem like a big deal for the small day to day decisions. But life has a cumulative effect, a slow gradual change. So how do we go about this? We ask God. Pray. But wisdom isn't something you see growing in your life. So what then? Is the bible wrong? No, wisdom is not a door, it's a path, a journey, a way. It is a rigorous pursuit that requires active pursuit.

Proverbs 1:32 ESV

For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;

Five requirements to gain wisdom

1 Actively embed God's word in your mind

Proverbs 4:10, 13 ESV

Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many...  Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.

The word of God does not cover the everyday intricacies of life. But it does give broad strokes, it gives us a framework to start. This general set of guides help us to build a more wise way of living.

2 Listen to the word

Proverbs 4:20 ESV

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

We need to recognize that we are not all knowing. We should listen to the word for guidance. One of the ways that we can see our need for wisdom is a Johari window. It shows us that we don't know everything about ourselves... We all have blindspots.

But we must be careful. We must follow those who are chasing wisdom.

3 Look at your life with three types of sight: insight, foresight, and hindsight

We need to focus and concentrate on our lives. Look for deeper understanding in the situations around us.

Consider what is off in the future. Consider the consequences before doing something. What we do today will impact the future.

Look at our past and learn from our mistakes. We all make mistakes, but the wise learn from them.

Proverbs 26:11 ESV

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

4 Feet that follow even when following looks foolish

The path of wisdom can sometimes take us to places that look foolish. Painful and hard times will still come our way. This pain is not punishment; it is for us to learn and grow. It can reveal our hidden sin and issues. God does these things for our good.

5 A heart that is centered

What we desire most will determine what we will chase. It will determine what we use our insight, foresight, and feet for. If this is missing, none of the other four will matter. The wisdom that we learn is not solely for our benefit. It is for the glory of God. That is the driving desire for the Christian to seek out wisdom in our lives.

Get wisdom

Proverbs 3:13-18 ESV

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,   for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.  She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.   Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Proverbs 4:1-9 ESV

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,  for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.  When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,  he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.   Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.  Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.   The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.  Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.  She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Rev. Charles Han

The book of Proverbs is a contrast between wisdom and foolishness. Wisdom leads to life, honor, and riches. Foolishness leads to death, shame, and pain.

Wisdom's more precious than any gems, investment, real estate, or worldly wealth. We are to appraise it as of great worth. The Proverbs speak of how to get wisdom... We are to get wisdom.

How do we get it? Firstly, we must understand what wisdom is. It is not just deep thoughts. It is not just smarts. It is knowledge, expertise, and competence applied to everyday life. The law of the prophets is clear on the broad strokes of life, but not the everyday decisions of life. We are clear on loving our neighbor, but not how or when. A well intentioned action that is ill timed can backfire. That is why we need wisdom. A well lived Christian life should look like the woman in Proverbs 31. Her life should show resiliency, mercy, consistency, etc. That is what our lives should reflect. We should be able to handle the A-Z's of life well.

What do we aspire to? Pleasure? Comfort? Wealth? Power? Beauty? Do we seek out wisdom? Do we teach our children to chase after wisdom as the Proverbs exhort us?

Where does seeking wisdom begin? First, acknowledge our foolishness. We are called not to lean on our own understanding, but the Lord. Often this is applied to the far off future. But we need to see this in the day to day. Take a step back from our own wisdom. Seek after God's wisdom. We are to fear God. It is not a servantile fear; it is a child-like reverential respectful fear. In following Jesus, we trade our wisdom for God's foolishness. But God's foolishness is greater than man's wisdom. Consider this. Jesus is a workman who comes into our home. He first does small repairs. But then he starts tearing out parts of the house... It makes no sense. But we expected to have a nice small cottage... Jesus wants to make a palace
Such is our lives in His hands.

Do not disbelieve but believe

John 20:19-31 ESV

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”  Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”  Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”   Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Rev. Dan Whang

If doubt is something that you deal with, this passage is for you. This situation is the most blatant display of doubt. Thomas' doubt is the climax of the gospel of John. It is the reason for his book.

The Christians were living in fear. Jesus appeared to be dead. They were afraid of the Jews. And they had locked themselves away. And somehow, Jesus teleports among them. He appears to many of the disciples. They go to Thomas and he says he would not believe unless he saw Jesus with his own eyes and felt His wounds.

Doubt demands conditions and treats the truth with contempt.

Thomas demands to see and touch. The other disciples had seen Jesus, but Thomas wants to touch the wounds. He places demands above that of the other disciples. They saw; he demands to touch. Faith calls us to believe even without being able to see or touch.

There is a difference between a stubborn unbeliever and a honest doubter. An honest doubter seeks truth and looks for it, but once they find it. They rejoice. The stubborn heart of unbelief does not believe and takes joy in being skeptical.

Jesus erases Thomas' doubts by showing him His wounds.

Jesus shows up again and presents how wounds to Thomas. Not only that, but Jesus repeats Thomas' doubts word for word. Jesus knew Thomas' doubts and did not hold a grudge against him. Jesus is gracious, merciful, and patient even in the face of Thomas' audacious demands for proof. Jesus did not only give evidence, he still called Thomas to believe. The evidence demands a decision, a verdict. To have faith or not.

Thomas' renewed belief was expressed by a propositional and personal confession.

It is not clear whether Thomas actually placed his hand in Jesus' side. But he sees Jesus and confesses: Jesus is Lord and God. He is my Lord. Jesus is not only the almighty God of the universe. He is my personal God. It is not just personal experience, it is also backed by the bible.

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Jesus says this to Thomas. His disciples see him. That is required for them to be apostles. They were personal eyewitnesses to Jesus' life and resurrection. John writes this book towards the end of his life. They were written for us to read and believe, without seeing Jesus with our own eyes.

Application: Prayers to battle doubt

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 ESV

“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.

Jesus, hide these written words in my heart

Jesus, direct my heart into your love and steadfastness

Jesus, help my unbelief

The Resurrection

John 20:1-18 ESV

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.  But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Rev Dwight Yoo

Reliability

John writes as an eyewitness to the resurrection. This is no metaphor. He writes this as historical fact. Most people will choose not to believe because science says that people do not resurrect. But how about people during Jesus' times? Jews believed that people would be resurrected at the end of time. The Greeks believed that the body was bad. They thought that upon death, the spirit left the body. Bodily resurrection made no sense. No one expected Jesus to come back. The disciples were confused as to what happened. Mary thought that his body had been stolen by grave robbers. And then his disciples saw the resurrected Jesus.

No one here has seen the resurrected Jesus. All we have is eyewitness accounts. The women were the first to say they saw a resurrected Jesus. Women of those times were not seen as credible. Their testimony was not admissible in court. If one were to make up a story, no one would choose them as the first witnesses. If the body was stolen, why were the burial clothes still there? And if it was stolen, why did the body not reappear with all the attempts to discredit Jesus' and his followers? Grave robbers would have made lots of money to produce the body... And not just that, but hundreds saw Jesus. A single person may be hallucinating, but group hallucinations? Not only that, but many went to grisly deaths, still testifying to a resurrected Christ.

Result

The resurrection of Jesus announced the death of death. Death is no more. All of us face death. It is the great equalizer. It does not matter whether you are rich, poor, educated, smart, or foolish. We all must face death. But the resurrection promises more than death. For those who believe in him, we are promised resurrection. In his resurrection, creation is being renewed. It is being made new. Everything will be similar to how it is now... But gloriously better. Not only that, but all the suffering in this life will bring us joy in heaven. We are not saved from suffering. But though suffering, we will find joy.

Response

Many people believe in the historical Jesus. But the resurrection requires more. The resurrection says that Jesus is God. He is more than a simple moral teacher or good person. If he is God, he can rightly call us to submit our entire lives to him. How do we know that God is trustworthy? Before God asked you to lay down his life for Him, Jesus laid down his life for you.

Jesus meets Mary.. And then sent her to announce his resurrection to the others. He sent her to proclaim the risen Christ. That is the same call we have today. May this Easter be more than a celebration, but also a proclamation: Jesus lives!