1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:01,780 Well, now I hope you’ll keep your Bibles open 2 00:00:01,780 –> 00:00:05,120 at John, chapter 21, as we come today 3 00:00:05,120 –> 00:00:10,120 to the last in our series entitled Ultimate Questions. 4 00:00:10,560 –> 00:00:12,800 We all have our questions for God. 5 00:00:14,000 –> 00:00:16,340 And the good news is that every question 6 00:00:16,340 –> 00:00:20,200 you have ever had for God will one day be answered. 7 00:00:21,200 –> 00:00:25,500 For the believer, faith will be turned to sight. 8 00:00:26,260 –> 00:00:31,040 For the unbeliever, unbelief will be turned to sight. 9 00:00:32,299 –> 00:00:34,500 Every mouth will be silenced 10 00:00:34,500 –> 00:00:37,560 as the full glory of God is revealed. 11 00:00:38,520 –> 00:00:41,040 And that will be to the eternal joy 12 00:00:41,040 –> 00:00:45,700 of God’s children and to the eternal dismay 13 00:00:45,700 –> 00:00:47,180 of God’s enemies. 14 00:00:48,139 –> 00:00:51,840 All your questions for God will be fully answered. 15 00:00:52,720 –> 00:00:56,740 You will know fully, even as you are fully known. 16 00:00:58,419 –> 00:01:00,340 So, the ultimate questions, actually, 17 00:01:00,340 –> 00:01:02,840 are not the questions that you have for God, 18 00:01:02,840 –> 00:01:04,839 which one day will be fully answered. 19 00:01:04,839 –> 00:01:08,139 The ultimate questions are the questions 20 00:01:08,139 –> 00:01:10,160 that God has for you. 21 00:01:12,599 –> 00:01:14,800 And we’ve been looking at some of them 22 00:01:14,800 –> 00:01:15,959 over these last weeks. 23 00:01:15,959 –> 00:01:18,820 Where is your faith, Jesus asks you? 24 00:01:19,580 –> 00:01:22,599 Who do you say I am? 25 00:01:24,580 –> 00:01:26,680 What benefits are going to be to you 26 00:01:26,680 –> 00:01:28,379 if you gain the whole world, 27 00:01:28,379 –> 00:01:30,599 and then you lose your soul? 28 00:01:32,900 –> 00:01:34,620 Which of you, by worrying, 29 00:01:34,620 –> 00:01:37,860 could add a single hour to his own life? 30 00:01:39,300 –> 00:01:41,839 What it is you want me to do for you? 31 00:01:43,620 –> 00:01:44,660 Why are you sleeping? 32 00:01:44,779 –> 00:01:45,599 Consequently, 33 00:01:47,599 –> 00:01:49,059 and if you who are evil know 34 00:01:49,059 –> 00:01:51,239 how to give good gifts to your children, 35 00:01:51,239 –> 00:01:53,639 then how much more does your father in heaven 36 00:01:53,639 –> 00:01:56,699 know how to give the Holy Spirit 37 00:01:56,699 –> 00:01:57,900 to those who ask him? 38 00:01:59,540 –> 00:02:00,360 Now, today we’re coming 39 00:02:00,360 –> 00:02:03,260 to the very last question in our series, 40 00:02:03,260 –> 00:02:04,820 and it is the last question 41 00:02:04,820 –> 00:02:07,239 that Jesus asks in the gospels. 42 00:02:08,139 –> 00:02:11,600 Jesus has been talking to Peter about the future, 43 00:02:11,619 –> 00:02:14,839 and if you look in John chapter 21 and verse 22, 44 00:02:14,839 –> 00:02:16,820 you’ll find this question. 45 00:02:16,820 –> 00:02:19,880 It’s perhaps one of the more neglected questions 46 00:02:19,880 –> 00:02:21,779 that Jesus asks. 47 00:02:21,779 –> 00:02:23,679 He’s talking to Peter about the future, 48 00:02:23,679 –> 00:02:25,039 and then Peter wants to know 49 00:02:25,039 –> 00:02:27,500 what the future would hold for John. 50 00:02:28,360 –> 00:02:30,820 And so Jesus asks this question. 51 00:02:30,820 –> 00:02:35,820 Peter, what is that to you? 52 00:02:39,059 –> 00:02:40,720 So let’s talk about the future. 53 00:02:42,500 –> 00:02:45,580 What will your life look like in ten years’ time? 54 00:02:46,580 –> 00:02:47,839 Where will you be living? 55 00:02:49,259 –> 00:02:50,580 What will you be doing? 56 00:02:50,580 –> 00:02:53,940 Who will be the most significant people in your life 57 00:02:53,940 –> 00:02:55,460 in ten years’ time? 58 00:02:55,460 –> 00:02:57,559 What will occupy your mind? 59 00:02:57,559 –> 00:03:01,679 Front, forward, ten years from now? 60 00:03:01,679 –> 00:03:05,979 Now of course, there isn’t a single person here 61 00:03:05,979 –> 00:03:08,179 who can answer these questions. 62 00:03:09,119 –> 00:03:13,440 Quite honestly, 10 years ago I could not have imagined 63 00:03:13,440 –> 00:03:14,399 my life now. 64 00:03:15,380 –> 00:03:17,559 And if you think back 10 years in your life, 65 00:03:17,559 –> 00:03:20,279 you will probably find the same. 66 00:03:21,639 –> 00:03:24,000 So, what will my life be like in ten years’ time? 67 00:03:24,000 –> 00:03:26,639 Truth, I do not know. 68 00:03:28,000 –> 00:03:29,759 I have some hopes and some dreams, 69 00:03:30,880 –> 00:03:34,580 but I do not know the future and neither do you. 70 00:03:34,580 –> 00:03:35,979 Frankly, that’s a good thing. 71 00:03:36,119 –> 00:03:38,080 This is broken out too easily 72 00:03:38,080 –> 00:03:39,539 because if I knew the future, 73 00:03:39,539 –> 00:03:42,619 either I’d get so excited about it 74 00:03:42,619 –> 00:03:44,460 that I would be unable to focus 75 00:03:44,460 –> 00:03:46,139 on what God is calling me to do now, 76 00:03:46,139 –> 00:03:48,800 or I would be so burdened by it 77 00:03:48,800 –> 00:03:51,940 that I’d be unable to stay motivated 78 00:03:51,940 –> 00:03:53,539 in what God is calling me to do now. 79 00:03:53,539 –> 00:03:56,100 So it’s a good thing that we don’t know the future. 80 00:03:57,020 –> 00:03:59,440 Jesus said do not worry about tomorrow 81 00:03:59,440 –> 00:04:01,380 because tomorrow will worry about itself. 82 00:04:01,380 –> 00:04:03,940 Each day has trouble enough of its own 83 00:04:03,940 –> 00:04:06,300 and too much worry about tomorrow, 84 00:04:06,300 –> 00:04:08,399 too much thought about tomorrow 85 00:04:08,399 –> 00:04:12,279 makes life intolerable today. 86 00:04:12,279 –> 00:04:13,119 That is why by the way, 87 00:04:13,119 –> 00:04:14,860 the Bible gives no place 88 00:04:14,860 –> 00:04:18,220 to astrology or attempts at future telling. 89 00:04:18,220 –> 00:04:21,799 The secret things belong to the Lord. 90 00:04:21,799 –> 00:04:25,000 We are to live on that which He has revealed to us. 91 00:04:26,059 –> 00:04:29,779 But now the good news is that God knows the future. 92 00:04:29,779 –> 00:04:32,299 The future is in His hands. 93 00:04:32,320 –> 00:04:35,000 The future is under His control. 94 00:04:35,880 –> 00:04:37,320 Now some Christian teachers 95 00:04:37,320 –> 00:04:39,119 have questioned this in recent years. 96 00:04:39,119 –> 00:04:41,440 Their idea is that the future 97 00:04:41,440 –> 00:04:43,920 is actually shaped by our choices 98 00:04:43,920 –> 00:04:46,760 and that even God can’t know the future 99 00:04:46,760 –> 00:04:50,059 until we’ve made the choices that will lead to it. 100 00:04:51,100 –> 00:04:54,760 But frankly, the God of the Bible is bigger than that. 101 00:04:54,760 –> 00:04:57,959 He is the alpha and the omega. 102 00:04:57,959 –> 00:05:02,279 He sees the end from the beginning. 103 00:05:03,239 –> 00:05:05,760 David says, in Psalm 139, 104 00:05:05,760 –> 00:05:09,100 before a word is on my tongue, 105 00:05:10,359 –> 00:05:13,140 you know it completely, O Lord. 106 00:05:14,760 –> 00:05:16,839 God knows your thoughts, He knows your words, 107 00:05:16,839 –> 00:05:17,880 He knows your actions, 108 00:05:17,880 –> 00:05:20,980 you cannot make a move or a twist in your life 109 00:05:20,980 –> 00:05:22,839 or a decision, good or bad, 110 00:05:22,839 –> 00:05:25,160 that will take God by surprise. 111 00:05:26,000 –> 00:05:29,760 Job said, he knows the way that I take. 112 00:05:29,760 –> 00:05:30,959 I don’t know God’s ways 113 00:05:30,959 –> 00:05:34,040 but the good news is that He knows my ways. 114 00:05:35,160 –> 00:05:37,480 So I do not know what my life will look like 115 00:05:37,480 –> 00:05:40,160 in ten years time but God does 116 00:05:40,160 –> 00:05:43,380 and He has said, my grace is sufficient for you 117 00:05:44,279 –> 00:05:47,299 and that is our confidence in facing the future. 118 00:05:49,119 –> 00:05:50,359 Now what do you think it would be like 119 00:05:50,359 –> 00:05:52,559 if you did know the future? 120 00:05:52,559 –> 00:05:53,679 What if you did know 121 00:05:53,679 –> 00:05:55,399 what would happen in ten years time. 122 00:05:55,399 –> 00:05:58,119 Well I hope you have your Bible open at John 21 123 00:05:58,119 –> 00:05:59,540 because we’re going to take a look 124 00:05:59,540 –> 00:06:02,279 at the story of a man who did 125 00:06:02,279 –> 00:06:05,220 because in this unique story after the resurrection 126 00:06:05,220 –> 00:06:08,579 Jesus speaks with Simon Peter about the future. 127 00:06:09,480 –> 00:06:11,940 Peter remember, had walked away from faith 128 00:06:11,940 –> 00:06:13,880 but now he’s come back to Jesus. 129 00:06:13,880 –> 00:06:17,700 Jesus always welcomes back those who once walked away 130 00:06:20,720 –> 00:06:23,079 and then Jesus tells Peter what he wants him to do. 131 00:06:23,079 –> 00:06:25,820 Peter feed my sheep. 132 00:06:26,920 –> 00:06:29,559 Boy that must have been like meat to Peter. 133 00:06:31,239 –> 00:06:33,239 Boy this is what God have made him to do. 134 00:06:33,239 –> 00:06:35,160 It’s a wonderful thing when you discover 135 00:06:35,160 –> 00:06:37,160 what God has wired you to do 136 00:06:37,160 –> 00:06:40,359 and now Peter is gonna be launched into a ministry 137 00:06:40,359 –> 00:06:43,179 that fits him exactly and he’s saying 138 00:06:43,179 –> 00:06:46,140 boy this is what I was made for 139 00:06:47,799 –> 00:06:51,119 and Peter has a whole life of ministry in front of him 140 00:06:51,119 –> 00:06:54,420 but then what Jesus does is he pulls back the curtain 141 00:06:54,420 –> 00:06:58,260 and gives to Peter a glimpse of the future. 142 00:06:58,260 –> 00:07:00,239 Look at verse 18. 143 00:07:00,239 –> 00:07:02,339 I tell you the truth. 144 00:07:02,339 –> 00:07:04,720 When you were younger, you dressed yourself 145 00:07:04,720 –> 00:07:05,980 and went where you wanted 146 00:07:05,980 –> 00:07:09,739 but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands 147 00:07:09,739 –> 00:07:11,859 and someone else will dress you 148 00:07:11,859 –> 00:07:14,980 and lead you where you do not want to go. 149 00:07:16,140 –> 00:07:17,799 Now there is some good news here. 150 00:07:18,619 –> 00:07:23,619 Jesus says to Peter when you are old, 151 00:07:24,140 –> 00:07:28,220 so obviously, Peter is going to enjoy a long life. 152 00:07:29,540 –> 00:07:32,140 The problem is that the last chapter of his life 153 00:07:32,140 –> 00:07:33,600 isn’t going to be easy. 154 00:07:34,779 –> 00:07:36,779 When you were younger, Jesus says, 155 00:07:36,779 –> 00:07:38,339 you dressed yourself. 156 00:07:38,339 –> 00:07:39,779 That’s independence. 157 00:07:41,119 –> 00:07:42,459 You went where you wanted. 158 00:07:42,459 –> 00:07:44,000 That’s control. 159 00:07:45,380 –> 00:07:46,660 But when you become old, 160 00:07:46,720 –> 00:07:48,079 you will stretch out your hands. 161 00:07:48,079 –> 00:07:49,459 Someone else will dress you. 162 00:07:49,459 –> 00:07:51,500 That’s you will lose your independence, 163 00:07:51,500 –> 00:07:53,899 and someone will lead you where you did not want to go. 164 00:07:53,899 –> 00:07:55,959 That is, you will lose your control. 165 00:07:57,559 –> 00:07:59,200 But then if you look at verse 19, 166 00:07:59,200 –> 00:08:03,100 we’re told specifically what Jesus was referring to. 167 00:08:03,100 –> 00:08:08,100 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death 168 00:08:08,100 –> 00:08:11,160 by which Peter would glorify God. 169 00:08:12,260 –> 00:08:15,260 So these words, then, are not a general description 170 00:08:15,320 –> 00:08:19,779 of Peter’s old age, but they are a specific prophecy 171 00:08:19,779 –> 00:08:24,380 by Jesus of the way in which he would die. 172 00:08:24,380 –> 00:08:27,980 Peter, here’s how you’re gonna die. 173 00:08:31,260 –> 00:08:34,679 Someone is gonna stretch out your hands. 174 00:08:36,419 –> 00:08:38,619 Now, you see, that is what happened 175 00:08:38,619 –> 00:08:40,400 when a person was crucified. 176 00:08:41,320 –> 00:08:46,320 The outstretched hands were bound to the cross beam, 177 00:08:48,539 –> 00:08:52,200 the horizontal beam placed upon the person’s back 178 00:08:54,039 –> 00:08:56,400 as they carried it to the place of execution. 179 00:08:59,640 –> 00:09:01,679 So try and take in what Jesus is saying. 180 00:09:03,539 –> 00:09:06,659 Peter, here’s your personal future. 181 00:09:06,659 –> 00:09:07,659 Your personal future. 182 00:09:09,320 –> 00:09:11,419 You are going to live to old-age 183 00:09:11,419 –> 00:09:14,500 and to have many years of fruitful Christian ministry. 184 00:09:15,840 –> 00:09:18,520 You’re going to be a pastor, a teacher, a shepherd, 185 00:09:18,520 –> 00:09:21,479 one who feeds the flock of God. 186 00:09:23,719 –> 00:09:26,099 But your ministry is going to end 187 00:09:26,099 –> 00:09:29,000 with you being stretched out on a cross. 188 00:09:30,559 –> 00:09:32,460 That’s what’s in store for you, Peter. 189 00:09:33,440 –> 00:09:37,599 And then, notice the word then, 190 00:09:37,599 –> 00:09:39,780 Jesus said to him, 191 00:09:40,679 –> 00:09:41,679 follow me. 192 00:09:44,020 –> 00:09:47,200 Follow a Savior who just told you 193 00:09:47,200 –> 00:09:48,440 that your life is gonna end 194 00:09:48,440 –> 00:09:51,859 by being arrested and executed. 195 00:09:53,960 –> 00:09:55,940 Pour out your life into ministry 196 00:09:55,940 –> 00:10:00,619 for a Savior whose plan includes suffering in your old age. 197 00:10:03,239 –> 00:10:04,539 What would you have said? 198 00:10:08,599 –> 00:10:11,099 I want us to grasp two things this morning 199 00:10:11,099 –> 00:10:13,200 that are of critical importance. 200 00:10:14,140 –> 00:10:15,479 First is simply this, 201 00:10:17,020 –> 00:10:22,020 that Jesus calls us to follow him without conditions. 202 00:10:24,659 –> 00:10:29,659 Jesus calls you to follow him without conditions. 203 00:10:29,820 –> 00:10:31,059 Without conditions. 204 00:10:32,380 –> 00:10:33,700 Now we know from history 205 00:10:33,700 –> 00:10:36,419 that Peter was indeed crucified 206 00:10:36,419 –> 00:10:40,460 in Rome somewhere around the year 64 AD. 207 00:10:40,460 –> 00:10:42,979 That is about 30 years 208 00:10:42,979 –> 00:10:45,599 after the death and resurrection of Jesus, 209 00:10:45,599 –> 00:10:49,239 Peter was crucified in Rome. 210 00:10:49,239 –> 00:10:52,780 And knowing this actually shed some fresh light 211 00:10:52,780 –> 00:10:54,919 on what Peter says in the two letters 212 00:10:54,919 –> 00:10:56,940 that he writes in the New Testament. 213 00:10:56,940 –> 00:11:00,940 These letters were written as a great wave of persecution 214 00:11:00,940 –> 00:11:04,919 was about to break out under emperor Nero. 215 00:11:04,919 –> 00:11:06,780 And listen to what Peter says 216 00:11:06,780 –> 00:11:09,940 and listen to it in the light of this prophecy of Jesus. 217 00:11:09,940 –> 00:11:12,119 1 Peter 4.12, dear friends, 218 00:11:12,119 –> 00:11:16,700 do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering 219 00:11:16,700 –> 00:11:19,380 as though something strange were happening to you. 220 00:11:19,380 –> 00:11:21,419 See the persecution is breaking out. 221 00:11:21,419 –> 00:11:24,919 Peter says, I’m not surprised Jesus told me all about it. 222 00:11:24,919 –> 00:11:26,820 And one of those is going to die in it. 223 00:11:27,919 –> 00:11:31,979 2 Peter 1.13, 14, he’s talking about the gospel. 224 00:11:31,979 –> 00:11:35,900 He says, I think it is right to refresh your memory 225 00:11:35,900 –> 00:11:39,500 as long as I live in this body, 226 00:11:39,500 –> 00:11:43,080 because I know that I will soon put it aside. 227 00:11:43,080 –> 00:11:46,719 I know that I will soon put this body aside 228 00:11:46,719 –> 00:11:50,919 as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 229 00:11:53,799 –> 00:11:55,140 Now think of what this means. 230 00:11:55,659 –> 00:11:58,900 Peter served the Lord Jesus Christ 231 00:11:58,900 –> 00:12:03,520 for 30 years with this prophecy hanging over him. 232 00:12:05,299 –> 00:12:08,280 He poured his life into ministry, 233 00:12:08,280 –> 00:12:10,479 knowing that that ministry would lead to 234 00:12:10,479 –> 00:12:12,900 and end in a public execution. 235 00:12:14,780 –> 00:12:17,380 He knew that these things would happen already, 236 00:12:17,380 –> 00:12:20,059 but he followed Jesus anyway. 237 00:12:20,539 –> 00:12:21,359 Anyway. 238 00:12:23,440 –> 00:12:24,859 And boy do I find myself 239 00:12:24,859 –> 00:12:26,919 challenged by Peter’s example, don’t you? 240 00:12:28,460 –> 00:12:31,080 I ask myself the question, now would I do that? 241 00:12:33,099 –> 00:12:36,299 If I knew that my life would end in great suffering, 242 00:12:36,299 –> 00:12:39,440 would I follow Christ wholeheartedly now, would you? 243 00:12:41,700 –> 00:12:44,500 If I knew that my ministry would lead me 244 00:12:44,500 –> 00:12:46,619 to experience great pain, 245 00:12:46,619 –> 00:12:48,539 would result in imprisonment 246 00:12:48,539 –> 00:12:50,580 and public humiliation, 247 00:12:50,580 –> 00:12:53,799 would I pour myself into serving Jesus Christ anyway? 248 00:12:53,799 –> 00:12:54,640 Would you? 249 00:12:58,799 –> 00:13:00,340 See there’s something within us 250 00:13:00,340 –> 00:13:04,960 that wants to place conditions on our faith and obedience. 251 00:13:07,679 –> 00:13:10,820 Lord, we say in our version of Christianity, 252 00:13:10,820 –> 00:13:13,559 I will follow you if you lead me 253 00:13:13,559 –> 00:13:16,020 into a full and satisfying life. 254 00:13:17,020 –> 00:13:18,739 But that’s the real agenda, 255 00:13:19,580 –> 00:13:21,520 my full and satisfying life. 256 00:13:24,520 –> 00:13:27,479 Lord, I will obey you if you pour out 257 00:13:27,479 –> 00:13:29,179 your blessing upon my ministry. 258 00:13:29,179 –> 00:13:30,659 You see, that becomes the agenda, 259 00:13:30,659 –> 00:13:32,580 God’s blessing upon my ministry. 260 00:13:36,559 –> 00:13:38,000 And the problem with the if 261 00:13:38,000 –> 00:13:41,559 is that the condition becomes more important than Jesus. 262 00:13:44,020 –> 00:13:45,039 So what’s your if? 263 00:13:46,840 –> 00:13:48,119 Well, what’s the thing, 264 00:13:51,460 –> 00:13:55,280 the condition that you want Jesus Christ to fulfil 265 00:13:55,280 –> 00:13:57,880 before you are willing to follow him? 266 00:14:02,419 –> 00:14:05,099 See, Peter had long had a problem with conditions. 267 00:14:08,179 –> 00:14:11,140 You remember the great occasion when Jesus said to Peter, 268 00:14:11,140 –> 00:14:12,799 Who do you say I am? 269 00:14:12,799 –> 00:14:14,219 And Peter said, marvelously, 270 00:14:14,219 –> 00:14:16,799 you’re the Christ, you’re the son of the Living God. 271 00:14:16,799 –> 00:14:20,020 The great statement and confession of faith. 272 00:14:20,020 –> 00:14:21,780 And then Jesus said, 273 00:14:21,780 –> 00:14:24,460 It’s the father who’s revealed this to you, 274 00:14:24,460 –> 00:14:25,979 but now you need to understand this. 275 00:14:25,979 –> 00:14:27,859 I have to go to Jerusalem 276 00:14:27,859 –> 00:14:32,640 and there I will suffer and die on a cross. 277 00:14:34,099 –> 00:14:35,500 And you remember what happened? 278 00:14:35,500 –> 00:14:39,299 Peter immediately jumped in and started to rebuke Jesus. 279 00:14:39,299 –> 00:14:41,780 The gospel says, in fact, Matthew records, 280 00:14:41,780 –> 00:14:44,020 he said, never Lord. 281 00:14:44,020 –> 00:14:45,460 That’s a great contradiction, by the way. 282 00:14:45,460 –> 00:14:48,020 If you want an oxymoron to add to your list, 283 00:14:48,020 –> 00:14:51,580 never Lord is a great oxymoron, isn’t it? 284 00:14:52,460 –> 00:14:55,320 That’s what he said, never Lord. 285 00:14:56,719 –> 00:14:58,539 That’s what he said about the cross, 286 00:14:59,780 –> 00:15:02,359 that will never happen to you. 287 00:15:04,059 –> 00:15:06,280 So you see Peter wants to set a condition. 288 00:15:07,580 –> 00:15:08,419 I believe in you, 289 00:15:08,419 –> 00:15:10,719 you’re the Christ, the son of the Living God, 290 00:15:10,719 –> 00:15:12,580 I’ll follow you just so long 291 00:15:12,580 –> 00:15:15,039 as it doesn’t involve a cross. 292 00:15:16,580 –> 00:15:18,780 And so when it became clear 293 00:15:18,780 –> 00:15:22,059 that it would involve a cross for Jesus, 294 00:15:22,059 –> 00:15:23,539 what does Peter do? 295 00:15:25,260 –> 00:15:27,539 He denies any association with his Lord. 296 00:15:31,059 –> 00:15:33,299 So what we have here at the end of the gospel 297 00:15:33,299 –> 00:15:36,159 is the most extraordinary transformation. 298 00:15:36,599 –> 00:15:38,599 The man who once said, 299 00:15:38,599 –> 00:15:42,580 no Lord, not if it involves a cross for you 300 00:15:42,580 –> 00:15:43,719 is now saying, 301 00:15:43,719 –> 00:15:48,719 yes, Lord, even if it involves a cross for me. 302 00:15:50,580 –> 00:15:52,599 And that’s how he lived for 30 years. 303 00:15:56,280 –> 00:15:57,419 What’s your condition? 304 00:15:59,359 –> 00:16:00,640 What’s your if? 305 00:16:02,559 –> 00:16:04,080 What’s your never? 306 00:16:06,700 –> 00:16:08,280 What’s your never? 307 00:16:10,520 –> 00:16:12,119 You know what I found helpful? 308 00:16:14,039 –> 00:16:16,520 To ask God honestly to search my soul 309 00:16:16,520 –> 00:16:18,960 for the if and the never. 310 00:16:21,059 –> 00:16:24,000 To write it on a piece of paper when I identify it. 311 00:16:26,200 –> 00:16:27,559 And then to tear it up. 312 00:16:28,479 –> 00:16:30,799 What’s your if and your never? 313 00:16:36,940 –> 00:16:40,239 If you can tear up your if and your never, 314 00:16:42,099 –> 00:16:44,460 it may be the greatest act of worship 315 00:16:44,460 –> 00:16:47,219 that you ever offer to the Lord Jesus Christ. 316 00:16:50,320 –> 00:16:54,119 And it will be the beginning of what it really means 317 00:16:54,159 –> 00:16:59,159 That Jesus Jesus calls us to follow him without conditions. 318 00:17:03,780 –> 00:17:07,420 No if, no never. 319 00:17:10,459 –> 00:17:15,459 Second, Jesus calls us to follow him without comparisons. 320 00:17:18,079 –> 00:17:23,079 You see, it’s fascinating, and it’s so true of us 321 00:17:25,079 –> 00:17:28,920 When Jesus tells Peter about what lies in store 322 00:17:28,920 –> 00:17:31,640 in the future for him, his immediate reaction 323 00:17:31,640 –> 00:17:33,239 is that he wants to know what the future 324 00:17:33,239 –> 00:17:35,560 is going to be for John. 325 00:17:35,560 –> 00:17:37,359 Look at verse 20, Peter turned round, 326 00:17:37,359 –> 00:17:39,239 he’s walking with Jesus, he looks round, 327 00:17:39,239 –> 00:17:41,199 and there behind him he sees the disciple 328 00:17:41,199 –> 00:17:43,219 whom Jesus loved was following, 329 00:17:43,219 –> 00:17:45,160 just a few feet presumably behind. 330 00:17:45,160 –> 00:17:47,359 And if you look down at verse 24 you’ll find 331 00:17:47,359 –> 00:17:51,400 that this disciple who Jesus loved is identified 332 00:17:51,400 –> 00:17:54,959 as John, the author of the four gospels, 333 00:17:54,959 –> 00:17:57,160 the fourth gospel, I’m sorry, himself. 334 00:17:58,160 –> 00:18:00,640 So Peter has just found out what the future holds for him. 335 00:18:00,640 –> 00:18:03,540 Now his first question is he’s curious, 336 00:18:03,540 –> 00:18:06,199 he wants to know what the future holds for John. 337 00:18:06,199 –> 00:18:07,920 And when Peter saw him, he asked, 338 00:18:07,920 –> 00:18:10,060 Lord, what about him? 339 00:18:11,640 –> 00:18:14,260 Now I don’t know what Peter was thinking, 340 00:18:14,260 –> 00:18:15,800 maybe it was compassion. 341 00:18:17,060 –> 00:18:19,819 Maybe it was, Lord, 342 00:18:19,839 –> 00:18:22,380 I don’t mind being the one who suffers 343 00:18:22,380 –> 00:18:24,140 just so long as it’s not John. 344 00:18:25,300 –> 00:18:26,599 Maybe it was that. 345 00:18:28,520 –> 00:18:30,119 Or maybe it was, 346 00:18:31,619 –> 00:18:33,339 well, Lord, I don’t mind suffering, 347 00:18:33,339 –> 00:18:37,180 even going to a cross just so long as I’m not the only one. 348 00:18:37,180 –> 00:18:38,619 I mean, what about John here? 349 00:18:39,540 –> 00:18:42,119 He gets to sit beside you at the last supper. 350 00:18:43,140 –> 00:18:46,020 He gets called the beloved disciple. 351 00:18:46,020 –> 00:18:47,300 What makes him so special? 352 00:18:47,300 –> 00:18:49,780 Why does he get such a charmed life 353 00:18:49,780 –> 00:18:51,239 and I get all the suffering?” 354 00:18:52,619 –> 00:18:56,540 Well, I reckon that Peter was capable 355 00:18:56,540 –> 00:18:58,900 of either of these, don’t you? 356 00:19:00,060 –> 00:19:00,900 And so are you. 357 00:19:01,739 –> 00:19:02,640 And so am I. 358 00:19:06,660 –> 00:19:10,800 If Jesus calls you to walk through a painful trial, 359 00:19:11,780 –> 00:19:13,500 one of your first instincts 360 00:19:13,500 –> 00:19:16,119 will be to look at the experience of others 361 00:19:16,119 –> 00:19:17,500 and you will find yourself saying, 362 00:19:17,500 –> 00:19:19,099 as I have often found myself saying, 363 00:19:19,099 –> 00:19:19,939 why me? 364 00:19:20,780 –> 00:19:21,920 Why my family? 365 00:19:24,099 –> 00:19:25,099 Why my child? 366 00:19:25,099 –> 00:19:26,099 Why my ministry? 367 00:19:26,099 –> 00:19:27,260 Why my wife? 368 00:19:30,920 –> 00:19:33,119 But do you notice Jesus’ answer? 369 00:19:35,500 –> 00:19:39,000 If I want John to remain until I am alive, 370 00:19:40,380 –> 00:19:43,219 what is that to you? 371 00:19:44,979 –> 00:19:47,020 Now, I love this question. 372 00:19:48,500 –> 00:19:53,500 Jesus is telling Peter to mind his own business. 373 00:19:54,119 –> 00:19:56,160 Keep your nose to yourself, Peter. 374 00:19:57,339 –> 00:20:00,420 What I’ve planned for John, doesn’t concern you. 375 00:20:00,420 –> 00:20:02,400 What is that to you? 376 00:20:04,839 –> 00:20:08,439 Now, I need to hear Jesus asking me this question. 377 00:20:10,020 –> 00:20:13,199 Too often, I find myself making comparisons. 378 00:20:14,160 –> 00:20:17,439 What is that to you, what I’m doing 379 00:20:17,439 –> 00:20:19,319 in another person’s life? 380 00:20:20,239 –> 00:20:23,079 You must follow me, he says. 381 00:20:25,520 –> 00:20:28,060 Yeah, it’s the kind of thing you need to hear 382 00:20:28,060 –> 00:20:30,319 when you’ve just been to, or are about to 383 00:20:30,319 –> 00:20:33,020 go to your 30-year college reunion. 384 00:20:35,359 –> 00:20:38,000 And you meet with all these folks 385 00:20:38,000 –> 00:20:40,979 who you started out life with and you see 386 00:20:40,979 –> 00:20:43,060 what’s happened on the path for them. 387 00:20:43,459 –> 00:20:47,439 You find yourself with these thoughts, 388 00:20:47,439 –> 00:20:50,180 boy look at the opportunity that has opened 389 00:20:50,180 –> 00:20:54,000 up for him, how come that never happened for me? 390 00:20:55,900 –> 00:21:00,739 Boy, look at his wife, look at her husband, 391 00:21:03,099 –> 00:21:08,099 look at their lifestyle, boy his company really took off. 392 00:21:10,160 –> 00:21:12,420 Look at what happened to their ministry 393 00:21:12,479 –> 00:21:17,479 in just 30 years, what do other people have 394 00:21:17,739 –> 00:21:19,219 that you wish was yours? 395 00:21:22,339 –> 00:21:27,099 Their looks, their brains, their marriage, 396 00:21:29,339 –> 00:21:34,339 their gifts, position, income, children, health. 397 00:21:35,180 –> 00:21:37,660 Children, health? 398 00:21:41,180 –> 00:21:42,020 Do you know what? 399 00:21:42,020 –> 00:21:47,020 Comparisons will lead you either to pride or to envy, 400 00:21:47,660 –> 00:21:49,900 but they will never help you to follow Jesus. 401 00:21:52,319 –> 00:21:54,920 And when you find yourself comparing your life, 402 00:21:54,920 –> 00:21:57,400 your children, your ministry with others, 403 00:21:57,400 –> 00:22:01,339 you need to hear Jesus question, what is that to you? 404 00:22:02,020 –> 00:22:04,219 You must follow me. 405 00:22:07,420 –> 00:22:11,140 David Kossoff tells a wonderful story 406 00:22:11,140 –> 00:22:13,339 about a rabbi in a small town. 407 00:22:14,420 –> 00:22:18,099 He was becoming tired of so many people talking 408 00:22:18,099 –> 00:22:20,020 about the weight of their troubles 409 00:22:20,020 –> 00:22:22,260 and how their lives were more difficult 410 00:22:22,260 –> 00:22:24,219 than everybody else’s and so forth, 411 00:22:24,219 –> 00:22:26,979 and so one day the rabbi made an announcement 412 00:22:26,979 –> 00:22:29,680 in the synagogue, a lot of people he said 413 00:22:29,680 –> 00:22:31,959 have told me about their troubles, 414 00:22:31,959 –> 00:22:34,079 nobody has burdens like mine 415 00:22:34,079 –> 00:22:36,119 and all the people roared their approval. 416 00:22:37,180 –> 00:22:39,239 So next week he says I’m going to try 417 00:22:39,239 –> 00:22:41,199 something very special, I want everyone 418 00:22:41,199 –> 00:22:43,959 to write their troubles on rocks 419 00:22:43,959 –> 00:22:46,619 and place the rocks in a bag, 420 00:22:46,619 –> 00:22:49,140 and then I want you to bring all the bags here 421 00:22:49,140 –> 00:22:50,920 to the synagogue and we’re gonna leave 422 00:22:50,920 –> 00:22:53,140 them all here for a whole weekend 423 00:22:53,140 –> 00:22:55,020 and have a rest from all our troubles. 424 00:22:55,020 –> 00:22:57,939 The people thought this was a marvelous idea. 425 00:22:57,939 –> 00:22:59,680 And then said the rabbi on Monday 426 00:22:59,680 –> 00:23:01,760 we’ll come and we’ll have a look at all this sacks 427 00:23:01,760 –> 00:23:04,439 and you can all take home whichever one you want to. 428 00:23:06,280 –> 00:23:08,839 Well then everyone agreed, and the next Friday evening 429 00:23:08,839 –> 00:23:10,979 there was a pile of sacks filled with rocks 430 00:23:10,979 –> 00:23:13,219 in the synagogue and everybody enjoyed 431 00:23:13,219 –> 00:23:15,819 the most marvelous weekend off from their troubles, 432 00:23:15,819 –> 00:23:19,040 and on Monday morning, the rabbi 433 00:23:19,040 –> 00:23:21,400 got up early to watch from the window. 434 00:23:22,479 –> 00:23:24,780 The people gathered in front of the sacks 435 00:23:24,819 –> 00:23:29,099 and looked and weighed up and pondered 436 00:23:29,099 –> 00:23:34,099 and considered, the rabbi smiled as one by one 437 00:23:34,660 –> 00:23:37,859 every one of them took home the sack 438 00:23:37,859 –> 00:23:39,000 that they had brought. 439 00:23:40,680 –> 00:23:43,579 Now be very careful when you find yourself wishing 440 00:23:43,579 –> 00:23:48,579 to live another person’s life, appearances are deceptive 441 00:23:50,319 –> 00:23:52,739 and the rocks in the other man’s sacks 442 00:23:52,739 –> 00:23:54,739 some of them you wouldn’t want to carry. 443 00:23:57,579 –> 00:23:59,660 So you don’t know all that’s in the sack. 444 00:24:02,260 –> 00:24:05,479 And if you find yourself wishing from time to time 445 00:24:05,479 –> 00:24:07,859 that you could have another person’s life 446 00:24:07,859 –> 00:24:08,959 then make sure that you include 447 00:24:08,959 –> 00:24:12,739 within that that other person’s eternal reward 448 00:24:12,739 –> 00:24:14,180 or lack of it. 449 00:24:16,359 –> 00:24:20,260 You see, Jesus said the first will be last 450 00:24:21,060 –> 00:24:26,060 and the last will be first and if that is true 451 00:24:26,560 –> 00:24:28,060 you want to be very careful about 452 00:24:28,060 –> 00:24:31,739 who you wish you could change places with, right? 453 00:24:35,680 –> 00:24:40,500 Jesus calls us to follow him without conditions, 454 00:24:42,540 –> 00:24:44,459 without comparisons. 455 00:24:44,459 –> 00:24:47,619 What is that to you? 456 00:24:50,420 –> 00:24:51,520 Follow me. 457 00:24:53,959 –> 00:24:55,380 Follow me. 458 00:24:59,300 –> 00:25:03,560 To follow, of course, is to take an active participation 459 00:25:04,000 –> 00:25:05,579 in the purpose of Jesus, 460 00:25:07,199 –> 00:25:12,719 to embrace it, to pursue it, to live it. 461 00:25:15,920 –> 00:25:19,400 When I was growing up, we used to sing songs in church, 462 00:25:19,540 –> 00:25:21,839 a number of them that are imprinted on my memory, 463 00:25:21,839 –> 00:25:23,000 some of them good songs, 464 00:25:23,000 –> 00:25:26,260 were about surrendering to Jesus. 465 00:25:26,260 –> 00:25:27,680 Some of you who are older, 466 00:25:27,680 –> 00:25:31,140 remember this one, I surrender all, I surrender all? 467 00:25:33,800 –> 00:25:36,060 Heard a lot of preaching about surrender. 468 00:25:37,880 –> 00:25:39,099 Nothing wrong with that. 469 00:25:40,760 –> 00:25:42,119 But here’s an interesting thing, 470 00:25:42,119 –> 00:25:43,479 the New Testament never once 471 00:25:43,479 –> 00:25:46,160 talks about surrendering to Jesus, did you know that? 472 00:25:46,160 –> 00:25:49,380 The word surrender or surrendered 473 00:25:49,380 –> 00:25:50,439 is only used twice, 474 00:25:50,439 –> 00:25:52,459 once is in Luke 23-25 475 00:25:52,459 –> 00:25:53,800 when we’re told that Pilate 476 00:25:53,800 –> 00:25:56,640 surrendered Jesus to the will of the crowd, 477 00:25:56,640 –> 00:25:58,439 and the other is in 1 Corinthians 13 478 00:25:58,439 –> 00:26:00,239 where Paul says if I surrender my body 479 00:26:00,239 –> 00:26:03,000 to the flames and have not love I have nothing. 480 00:26:03,000 –> 00:26:04,160 That’s the only place that the word 481 00:26:04,160 –> 00:26:07,040 occurs at all in the New Testament. 482 00:26:09,199 –> 00:26:10,540 Now there is nothing wrong of course 483 00:26:10,540 –> 00:26:12,439 with talking about surrendering to Jesus, 484 00:26:12,439 –> 00:26:15,819 the problem is simply that it does not go far enough 485 00:26:16,920 –> 00:26:18,920 Surrender is passive. 486 00:26:20,619 –> 00:26:23,699 Surrender is what people do when they’re defeated. 487 00:26:23,699 –> 00:26:25,199 Surrender is what a man or a woman 488 00:26:25,199 –> 00:26:26,760 does when they have no other option. 489 00:26:26,760 –> 00:26:29,839 Surrender is only done with extreme reluctance 490 00:26:29,839 –> 00:26:34,540 and most of all, surrender is never motivated by love. 491 00:26:37,660 –> 00:26:41,260 So Christ does not call you to passive surrender. 492 00:26:42,619 –> 00:26:44,280 What does he call you to? 493 00:26:44,280 –> 00:26:46,239 He says, follow me. 494 00:26:47,060 –> 00:26:48,479 Follow me. 495 00:26:48,479 –> 00:26:50,280 Follow me. 496 00:26:53,199 –> 00:26:55,680 He doesn’t say have a stiff upper lip 497 00:26:55,680 –> 00:26:59,319 and stoically accept whatever suffering comes your way. 498 00:26:59,319 –> 00:27:01,900 No, he says embrace my will. 499 00:27:03,020 –> 00:27:06,420 He says, pursue the path that I’ve marked out for you. 500 00:27:06,420 –> 00:27:09,680 Run your race, walk with me intentionally 501 00:27:09,680 –> 00:27:12,560 through your best times and through your worst times. 502 00:27:12,579 –> 00:27:14,459 Follow me. 503 00:27:17,239 –> 00:27:22,239 Peter, when you’re old, you’re gonna stretch out your hands 504 00:27:22,239 –> 00:27:25,719 and someone will lead you where you do not want to go 505 00:27:25,719 –> 00:27:26,739 but I’m telling you this, 506 00:27:26,739 –> 00:27:31,739 this is the kind of death by which you will glorify God. 507 00:27:36,479 –> 00:27:39,319 What’s the hardest thing in your life right now? 508 00:27:40,040 –> 00:27:41,319 Namaste, good morning. 509 00:27:43,280 –> 00:27:45,839 Let it be the thing in which you glorify God. 510 00:27:47,859 –> 00:27:48,939 And you see, Jesus is saying, 511 00:27:48,939 –> 00:27:51,780 if you’ll follow me through this, 512 00:27:51,780 –> 00:27:53,619 you’ll glorify Me in this. 513 00:27:54,920 –> 00:27:57,800 I want you in the middle of this most difficult thing 514 00:27:57,800 –> 00:28:02,800 to actively love Me, to trust Me, to walk with Me 515 00:28:03,400 –> 00:28:07,140 and then people will say, Boy, God must be with her. 516 00:28:07,660 –> 00:28:10,760 Boy, Christ must be in him. 517 00:28:13,359 –> 00:28:15,459 Because that’s not how folks normally react 518 00:28:15,459 –> 00:28:16,660 to this kind of thing. 519 00:28:20,260 –> 00:28:21,099 Follow me. 520 00:28:23,160 –> 00:28:25,699 No conditions, no comparisons, follow me. 521 00:28:27,839 –> 00:28:30,959 And why in all the world would a person do that? 522 00:28:30,959 –> 00:28:32,739 Peter, why would you do that? 523 00:28:33,599 –> 00:28:37,660 Peter’s just made the statement because he loves Jesus. 524 00:28:38,699 –> 00:28:41,400 And why does Peter love Jesus? 525 00:28:43,160 –> 00:28:45,359 Because his heart has been conquered 526 00:28:45,359 –> 00:28:47,359 by the love of Jesus for him. 527 00:28:51,660 –> 00:28:53,939 Christ loves you. 528 00:28:55,959 –> 00:28:59,540 Christ gave himself for you. 529 00:28:59,839 –> 00:29:02,000 Christ has triumphed over death 530 00:29:02,000 –> 00:29:06,880 he has ascended into heaven where He prays for you. 531 00:29:08,280 –> 00:29:11,099 And the very purpose of this invitation of Jesus Christ 532 00:29:11,099 –> 00:29:12,239 when he says, follow me, 533 00:29:12,239 –> 00:29:14,880 is he wants you to follow Him right into that glory 534 00:29:14,880 –> 00:29:17,540 to share eternity with Him forever. 535 00:29:21,680 –> 00:29:25,280 The clearest explanation I have ever seen 536 00:29:25,280 –> 00:29:28,520 the clearest explanation I’ve ever seen 537 00:29:29,880 –> 00:29:32,819 of why a man or a woman would follow Christ 538 00:29:32,819 –> 00:29:36,079 without conditions and without comparisons 539 00:29:37,719 –> 00:29:40,560 was given by a man called C T Studd 540 00:29:40,560 –> 00:29:42,859 and he boiled it down to a simple phrase 541 00:29:42,859 –> 00:29:45,180 that I’ve found so helpful over many years. 542 00:29:47,359 –> 00:29:50,979 He said this if Jesus Christ is God 543 00:29:52,180 –> 00:29:53,680 and died for me 544 00:29:55,760 –> 00:29:59,180 no sacrifice is too great for me to make for him. 545 00:30:01,459 –> 00:30:04,800 If Jesus Christ is God 546 00:30:07,140 –> 00:30:09,939 and if he died for me 547 00:30:12,500 –> 00:30:13,939 no sacrifice 548 00:30:15,459 –> 00:30:16,459 is too great 549 00:30:17,739 –> 00:30:18,880 for me to make for him. 550 00:30:20,660 –> 00:30:22,660 You believe Jesus Christ is God? 551 00:30:23,479 –> 00:30:24,520 Do you? 552 00:30:26,739 –> 00:30:28,739 Do you believe that he died for you? 553 00:30:28,739 –> 00:30:31,520 You believe that he 554 00:30:31,520 –> 00:30:33,119 died 555 00:30:33,119 –> 00:30:34,180 for you? 556 00:30:37,219 –> 00:30:38,819 Well then, tear up the conditions. 557 00:30:40,719 –> 00:30:43,040 Turn away from the comparisons. 558 00:30:45,119 –> 00:30:49,180 No sacrifice is too great for you to make for him. 559 00:3:49,280 –> 00:30:50,020 Father. 560 00:30:51,959 –> 00:30:53,300 No conditions. 561 00:30:54,680 –> 00:30:56,199 No comparisons. 562 00:30:58,280 –> 00:30:59,119 Follow me. 563 00:31:01,040 –> 00:31:02,119 Let’s pray together. 564 00:31:12,160 –> 00:31:14,640 Father, each of us has a race 565 00:31:14,640 –> 00:31:15,959 that has been marked out for us 566 00:31:16,219 –> 00:31:19,599 and none of us are on precisely the same track. 567 00:31:22,000 –> 00:31:24,099 All of us feel that we have conditions 568 00:31:24,099 –> 00:31:27,380 that could easily be written down 569 00:31:27,380 –> 00:31:30,040 and desperately need to be torn up. 570 00:31:34,060 –> 00:31:38,040 We know that the only way in which that’s gonna happen 571 00:31:38,040 –> 00:31:43,040 is if fresh realization of your ever-lasting love 572 00:31:43,880 –> 00:31:47,180 for us in Christ conquers our hearts, 573 00:31:50,400 –> 00:31:53,760 so seal within us that Jesus Christ is God, 574 00:31:56,579 –> 00:32:00,160 that he died for me, 575 00:32:03,319 –> 00:32:06,180 and that no sacrifice therefore is too great 576 00:32:08,839 –> 00:32:10,079 for me to make for him. 577 00:32:13,800 –> 00:32:16,760 Give us grace to tear up the conditions, 578 00:32:18,800 –> 00:32:20,979 to turn away from the comparisons, 579 00:32:23,000 –> 00:32:24,900 and with the help of your Holy Spirit 580 00:32:27,719 –> 00:32:28,660 to follow you. 581 00:32:30,319 –> 00:32:33,000 For these things we ask in Jesus name, 582 00:32:35,000 –> 00:32:35,839 amen.