1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,080 You are listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,080 –> 00:00:15,120 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website www.OpenTheBible.org. 3 00:00:15,120 –> 00:00:17,420 Let’s get to the message. 4 00:00:17,420 –> 00:00:19,139 Here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:19,139 –> 00:00:23,879 Well, please open your Bible at Isaiah 53. 6 00:00:54,580 –> 00:01:01,660 Now there are 12 verses in Isaiah chapter 53. 7 00:01:01,660 –> 00:01:07,639 Our plan for this series is to spend one weekend in each verse. 8 00:01:07,639 –> 00:01:16,239 Earlier this year we looked at verses 1-7 that really focus on why we need a Savior. 9 00:01:16,239 –> 00:01:21,440 Isaiah begins by telling us that the first reason that we need a savior is that by nature 10 00:01:21,559 –> 00:01:24,160 none of us believes. 11 00:01:32,160 –> 00:01:38,480 So the birth, life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest good 12 00:01:38,480 –> 00:01:41,239 news that this world has ever heard. 13 00:01:41,239 –> 00:01:45,620 It is good news of great joy for all people. 14 00:01:45,639 –> 00:01:52,500 And you would think that our world would embrace this greatest good news with gladness and 15 00:01:52,500 –> 00:01:58,720 with joy, but across the world in every culture, through every generation, the dominant response 16 00:01:58,720 –> 00:02:01,879 to the Gospel is unbelief. 17 00:02:01,879 –> 00:02:11,580 Isaiah says in verse 3, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 18 00:02:12,419 –> 00:02:18,399 Now, we saw that the word esteemed comes from the world of accounting. 19 00:02:18,399 –> 00:02:24,179 When people looked at Jesus, they were asking the question, is there any value here? 20 00:02:24,179 –> 00:02:30,339 And the conclusion, the calculation that they made was, No, there’s not. 21 00:02:30,339 –> 00:02:35,320 And he was despised, Isaiah says. 22 00:02:35,320 –> 00:02:39,059 And we esteemed him not. 23 00:02:39,059 –> 00:02:50,300 He was rejected, his own did not receive him and unbelief led us to crucify the son of 24 00:02:50,300 –> 00:02:52,300 God. 25 00:02:52,300 –> 00:02:58,220 Now Isaiah then describes what Jesus accomplished on the cross. 26 00:02:58,220 –> 00:03:06,600 And we saw that Jesus purchased our restoration by substitution and by imputation. 27 00:03:06,600 –> 00:03:08,800 These are important words. 28 00:03:08,800 –> 00:03:10,580 Purchased restoration? 29 00:03:10,580 –> 00:03:15,580 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. 30 00:03:15,580 –> 00:03:16,740 That’s verse four. 31 00:03:16,740 –> 00:03:21,940 Now griefs and sorrows of course are the effects of sin in the world. 32 00:03:21,940 –> 00:03:28,619 If Adam had not sinned, no one would ever have grieved a loss and if Eve had not sinned, 33 00:03:28,619 –> 00:03:31,740 no one would ever have shed a tear. 34 00:03:31,740 –> 00:03:38,559 And here we’re told that Jesus bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. 35 00:03:38,559 –> 00:03:46,860 In other words, he took them and he took them from us in order to remove them from us. 36 00:03:46,860 –> 00:03:54,919 And through His death and resurrection, all grief and all sorrow will be taken away. 37 00:03:54,919 –> 00:03:59,360 The Bible points to the great day when God will indeed make all things new. 38 00:03:59,880 –> 00:04:06,080 And in His new creation, He will wipe away all tears from our eyes. 39 00:04:06,080 –> 00:04:13,580 The scripture says there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. 40 00:04:13,580 –> 00:04:22,000 And this great restoration, well, it was purchased through what Jesus accomplished on the cross. 41 00:04:22,000 –> 00:04:27,440 Now, what would it take for us to enjoy this great restoration? 42 00:04:27,799 –> 00:04:30,359 Well, Isaiah answers that in verse five. 43 00:04:30,359 –> 00:04:33,940 He was pierced for our transgressions. 44 00:04:33,940 –> 00:04:37,420 He was crushed for our inequities. 45 00:04:37,420 –> 00:04:46,299 In other words, Jesus will bring about this great restoration in which all grief and sorrow 46 00:04:46,299 –> 00:04:49,119 are one day taken away forever. 47 00:04:49,119 –> 00:04:50,299 And how does he do it? 48 00:04:50,299 –> 00:04:53,660 Well, he does it by way of substitution. 49 00:04:53,980 –> 00:04:57,739 In other words, Jesus stood in our place. 50 00:04:57,739 –> 00:05:00,359 You see that in verse five? 51 00:05:00,359 –> 00:05:03,399 He was pierced for our transgressions. 52 00:05:03,399 –> 00:05:07,700 He was crushed for our inequities. 53 00:05:07,700 –> 00:05:13,980 The punishment that was on him was the punishment that was due to us. 54 00:05:13,980 –> 00:05:17,339 Now you say, well how did that happen? 55 00:05:17,339 –> 00:05:19,260 How did Jesus become our substitute? 56 00:05:19,739 –> 00:05:24,019 And the answer to that is by imputation. 57 00:05:24,019 –> 00:05:25,320 And that’s really verse six, 58 00:05:40,519 –> 00:05:47,320 Now imputation simply means crediting, or charging to a person, something that does 59 00:05:47,339 –> 00:05:50,000 not belong to him or to her. 60 00:05:50,200 –> 00:05:55,920 And our sins were imputed to Jesus when he became our substitute, they were 61 00:05:58,160 –> 00:06:02,320 counted against him, they were charged to him. 62 00:06:02,660 –> 00:06:07,660 They were laid on him as the way Isaiah states it here, and, and Jesus paid for 63 00:06:10,200 –> 00:06:12,480 them in full. 64 00:06:13,399 –> 00:06:18,399 So Jesus purchased our restoration and he did it by means of substitution and 65 00:06:20,899 –> 00:06:25,899 imputation, that is what happened at the cross and that meant the most appalling 66 00:06:29,940 –> 00:06:33,440 suffering for our Lord Jesus Christ. 67 00:06:33,440 –> 00:06:37,440 He was pierced, he was crushed, he was punished, he was wounded. 68 00:06:43,040 –> 00:06:48,040 But Isaiah makes it wonderfully clear that all that he suffered is lifegiving 69 00:06:51,679 –> 00:06:53,559 for us. 70 00:06:53,559 –> 00:06:58,559 Upon him was the chastisement, Isaiah says, that brought us peace. 71 00:07:01,019 –> 00:07:06,179 So through all that he suffered we have peace, peace with God. 72 00:07:06,179 –> 00:07:11,179 The punishment for our sins, the just dessert of our sins was spent betraying 73 00:07:13,359 –> 00:07:15,119 on Jesus. 74 00:07:15,119 –> 00:07:20,119 That means that there is therefore no more left for those who are in him. 75 00:07:22,040 –> 00:07:27,040 That is why the bible says there is therefore now no condemnation for those 76 00:07:27,220 –> 00:07:28,640 who are in Christ Jesus. 77 00:07:28,640 –> 00:07:31,260 None at all because it was all spent on Him. 78 00:07:31,260 –> 00:07:34,720 In my place, condemned, He stood. 79 00:07:34,720 –> 00:07:39,559 So Jesus is our peace, and through what He accomplished on the 80 00:07:39,559 –> 00:07:44,559 cross we are wonderfully, freely, joyfully reconciled to God. 81 00:07:47,000 –> 00:07:57,880 And then Isaiah tells us that through the Lord Jesus Christ and what he 82 00:07:57,959 –> 00:08:00,540 accomplished at the cross, we are healed. 83 00:08:00,540 –> 00:08:05,540 Now very obviously, healing is a process that’s in its nature, but in 84 00:08:05,540 –> 00:08:14,140 Christ, our healing has begun, and one day in Christ, our healing will be 85 00:08:14,140 –> 00:08:14,820 complete. 86 00:08:14,899 –> 00:08:23,459 One day you are going to enjoy complete healing of your mind, your heart, your 87 00:08:23,459 –> 00:08:31,739 will, your memories, your imagination, and even your body itself. 88 00:08:32,700 –> 00:08:41,900 Jesus purchased our restoration, and He did it by means of substitution and 89 00:08:42,460 –> 00:08:43,380 imputation. 90 00:08:45,340 –> 00:08:51,859 And then we saw in verse seven that Jesus submitted to all that he suffered 91 00:08:52,099 –> 00:08:52,919 freely. 92 00:08:53,960 –> 00:09:00,979 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, and yet he opened not his mouth, 93 00:09:02,380 –> 00:09:06,239 like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its 94 00:09:06,320 –> 00:09:07,919 shearers is silent. 95 00:09:08,179 –> 00:09:12,219 So he opened not his mouth. 96 00:09:13,719 –> 00:09:19,979 So this awful suffering that Jesus endured, it was not forced on him. 97 00:09:21,400 –> 00:09:26,059 I mean, he could have called twelve legions of angels if he wanted to, 98 00:09:26,280 –> 00:09:27,460 but he didn’t do that. 99 00:09:27,659 –> 00:09:32,419 And yet, he gave himself for us. 100 00:09:34,239 –> 00:09:41,539 Greater love has no one than this than that someone should lay down his life 101 00:09:42,659 –> 00:09:43,940 for his friends. 102 00:09:46,020 –> 00:09:51,619 Now, today, then we’re going to take it up at verse eight of this wonderful 103 00:09:51,780 –> 00:09:53,780 chapter. 104 00:09:53,780 –> 00:10:00,340 By oppression and judgment, he was taken away. 105 00:10:01,820 –> 00:10:09,979 And as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of 106 00:10:09,979 –> 00:10:14,799 the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. 107 00:10:16,659 –> 00:10:19,179 Now, let’s take this one line at a time. 108 00:10:19,859 –> 00:10:26,020 By oppression and judgment, he was taken away. 109 00:10:27,239 –> 00:10:32,659 And what Isaiah says here was of course fulfilled in the arrest and the 110 00:10:32,659 –> 00:10:37,419 trial and the sentencing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 111 00:10:38,179 –> 00:10:42,059 Isaiah says he was taken away. 112 00:10:43,179 –> 00:10:48,760 And you remember that Jesus was taken in the Garden of Gethsemane, a large 113 00:10:48,760 –> 00:10:54,219 group of soldiers arrived, along with a crowd armed with swords and with 114 00:10:54,219 –> 00:11:01,640 clubs, and Jesus was arrested and he was bound and taken off to the 115 00:11:01,640 –> 00:11:03,840 House of the High Priest. 116 00:11:05,239 –> 00:11:11,239 And then Isaiah says by oppression, he was taken away. 117 00:11:11,900 –> 00:11:17,099 And Jesus was oppressed in the House of the High Priest. 118 00:11:17,320 –> 00:11:19,520 There, he was spat on. 119 00:11:20,760 –> 00:11:23,219 He was struck in the face. 120 00:11:23,719 –> 00:11:26,219 And this was supposed to be a court of law. 121 00:11:27,820 –> 00:11:31,659 And then afterwards, Luke tells us that Jesus was blindfolded. 122 00:11:32,960 –> 00:11:37,539 And a group of those who were holding him gathered, presumably in a circle 123 00:11:37,539 –> 00:11:40,979 around him, and then they took turns to hit him while he was blindfolded, and 124 00:11:40,979 –> 00:11:43,539 then they said, prophesy who hit you? 125 00:11:44,919 –> 00:11:46,260 Oh, you’re the son of God. 126 00:11:46,340 –> 00:11:50,000 You have this divine knowledge, while you should be able to tell even when 127 00:11:50,000 –> 00:11:52,719 you’re blindfolded which one of us, it was that hit you. 128 00:11:52,719 –> 00:11:53,700 You see, they’re mocking him. 129 00:11:53,700 –> 00:11:54,919 They’re taunting him. 130 00:11:56,059 –> 00:11:57,239 It was oppression. 131 00:11:59,559 –> 00:12:06,200 And then Isaiah says, by judgment, he was taken away, which reminds us of 132 00:12:06,200 –> 00:12:11,739 course, that the sentencing of Jesus was a judicial process. 133 00:12:11,739 –> 00:12:16,179 It involved the activity of a court and of a judge. 134 00:12:16,179 –> 00:12:21,940 But of course, in that judicial process, Jesus was denied justice. 135 00:12:21,940 –> 00:12:27,739 Remember that Pontius Pilate, who was the presiding judge, he pronounced 136 00:12:27,739 –> 00:12:31,679 more than once that Jesus was innocent. 137 00:12:32,159 –> 00:12:36,619 But the crowd called for Jesus to be crucified 138 00:12:36,619 –> 00:12:40,539 and Pontius Pilate handed him over. 139 00:12:40,539 –> 00:12:48,700 Now, remember, Isaiah is writing hundreds of years before the time of Jesus. 140 00:12:48,700 –> 00:12:57,179 But what he says here was precisely fulfilled in the arrest and the trial 141 00:12:57,179 –> 00:12:59,919 and the sentencing of Jesus. 142 00:13:00,200 –> 00:13:03,520 It’s all prophesied right here. 143 00:13:03,520 –> 00:13:09,979 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. 144 00:13:11,000 –> 00:13:15,039 And then Isaiah speaks about his generation. 145 00:13:15,039 –> 00:13:17,559 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. 146 00:13:17,559 –> 00:13:21,080 And as for his generation, 147 00:13:22,440 –> 00:13:26,179 now his generation that’s Jesus’ generation, 148 00:13:26,219 –> 00:13:32,559 this is the people who were alive at the time of Jesus. 149 00:13:32,559 –> 00:13:35,640 And Isaiah goes on to tell us then 150 00:13:35,640 –> 00:13:39,419 that the people who were living at the time of Jesus 151 00:13:39,419 –> 00:13:42,559 did not consider. 152 00:13:42,559 –> 00:13:43,840 Look at what he says. 153 00:13:43,840 –> 00:13:47,820 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. 154 00:13:47,820 –> 00:13:51,520 And as for his generation, 155 00:13:52,520 –> 00:13:57,520 that he was cut off out of the land of the living. 156 00:13:58,700 –> 00:13:59,820 We might see it this way, 157 00:13:59,820 –> 00:14:02,679 as for the people who were living at the time of Jesus, 158 00:14:02,679 –> 00:14:03,940 who cared? 159 00:14:05,479 –> 00:14:06,400 Who cared? 160 00:14:08,679 –> 00:14:13,679 Now, it seems to me that this word considered 161 00:14:13,960 –> 00:14:16,760 is really the key to this whole verse. 162 00:14:18,239 –> 00:14:20,119 It raises two questions. 163 00:14:21,080 –> 00:14:24,380 What was it that the people in 164 00:14:24,380 –> 00:14:27,000 the time of Jesus did not consider? 165 00:14:28,020 –> 00:14:33,020 And therefore, what is it that we in this generation today 166 00:14:33,599 –> 00:14:35,840 must consider? 167 00:14:37,960 –> 00:14:42,960 Now, remember that the context of this verse is unbelief, 168 00:14:43,659 –> 00:14:46,419 the chapter begins, as we saw a few moments ago 169 00:14:46,419 –> 00:14:47,619 with Isaiah asking, 170 00:14:47,700 –> 00:14:52,460 who has believed what he has heard from us? 171 00:14:53,419 –> 00:14:55,859 And those who did not believe, 172 00:14:57,000 –> 00:14:58,299 well, they didn’t consider. 173 00:14:58,299 –> 00:15:02,200 That’s what he’s telling us here in verse eight 174 00:15:02,200 –> 00:15:05,260 and there are certain things 175 00:15:05,260 –> 00:15:09,760 that those who did not believe did not consider. 176 00:15:11,440 –> 00:15:16,159 Now, all of us have unbelieving friends, 177 00:15:16,200 –> 00:15:19,559 neighbors, colleagues, relatives. 178 00:15:20,919 –> 00:15:25,919 What should we ask them to consider about Jesus? 179 00:15:27,000 –> 00:15:28,599 Well, this verse is going to point us 180 00:15:28,599 –> 00:15:30,239 directly to the answer. 181 00:15:30,239 –> 00:15:32,440 I want us to see from this verse 182 00:15:32,440 –> 00:15:35,979 three things that you might ask 183 00:15:35,979 –> 00:15:39,159 your unbelieving friends to consider, 184 00:15:39,159 –> 00:15:41,219 three vital things 185 00:15:41,219 –> 00:15:45,159 that the people in Jesus’ generation did not consider. 186 00:15:45,159 –> 00:15:47,380 Three things that are therefore vital 187 00:15:47,380 –> 00:15:49,359 for every one of us 188 00:15:49,359 –> 00:15:51,619 to consider today. 189 00:15:52,760 –> 00:15:57,159 And the first of these is to consider the evidence 190 00:15:57,159 –> 00:16:00,239 in relation to Jesus. 191 00:16:00,239 –> 00:16:01,559 Notice what he says, 192 00:16:01,559 –> 00:16:05,859 By oppression and judgment, he was taken away 193 00:16:05,859 –> 00:16:08,679 and as for his generation, 194 00:16:08,679 –> 00:16:11,000 who considered? 195 00:16:11,979 –> 00:16:16,979 Now when Isaiah refers to the judgment of Jesus, 196 00:16:18,099 –> 00:16:22,359 we are immediately pointed to the trial 197 00:16:22,359 –> 00:16:25,380 where the normal process of justice 198 00:16:25,380 –> 00:16:30,380 was clearly denied to our Lord Jesus Christ. 199 00:16:30,539 –> 00:16:33,719 Matthew tells us that the chief priests 200 00:16:33,719 –> 00:16:35,099 and the whole council 201 00:16:35,099 –> 00:16:38,679 were seeking false testimony against Jesus 202 00:16:38,679 –> 00:16:40,979 that they might put him to death, 203 00:16:41,020 –> 00:16:43,359 but they found none, 204 00:16:43,359 –> 00:16:47,320 though many false witnesses came forward. 205 00:16:47,320 –> 00:16:50,020 At last two came forward and said, 206 00:16:50,020 –> 00:16:54,260 this man said I am able to destroy the temple of God 207 00:16:54,260 –> 00:16:57,099 and to rebuild it in three days. 208 00:16:57,979 –> 00:16:59,280 You see what Matthew records, 209 00:16:59,280 –> 00:17:04,280 they were seeking actively seeking false testimony 210 00:17:05,780 –> 00:17:10,780 that there were many false witnesses who came forward 211 00:17:11,500 –> 00:17:14,180 Eventually there were two who came forward 212 00:17:14,180 –> 00:17:15,540 with a similar story, 213 00:17:15,540 –> 00:17:18,719 although Mark tells us that the problem there 214 00:17:18,719 –> 00:17:23,719 was that even there in their testimony, they did not agree. 215 00:17:26,319 –> 00:17:30,699 Now when you read the story of the trial 216 00:17:30,699 –> 00:17:32,380 of the Lord Jesus Christ, 217 00:17:32,380 –> 00:17:37,380 the obvious question is where were the witnesses 218 00:17:38,180 –> 00:17:41,319 who could have spoken in Jesus’ defense? 219 00:17:42,660 –> 00:17:44,180 There were plenty of them. 220 00:17:45,439 –> 00:17:47,160 Why were they never called? 221 00:17:48,900 –> 00:17:52,780 Jesus was accused of forbidding people 222 00:17:52,780 –> 00:17:55,599 to give tribute to Caesar, 223 00:17:55,599 –> 00:17:58,319 that’s Luke chapter 23 and verse two. 224 00:17:58,319 –> 00:18:00,300 But Jesus had said publicly 225 00:18:00,300 –> 00:18:01,959 give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, 226 00:18:01,959 –> 00:18:03,800 give to God what is God’s. 227 00:18:03,800 –> 00:18:06,520 There were many people who could’ve been called 228 00:18:06,520 –> 00:18:07,959 to give testimony to the fact 229 00:18:07,959 –> 00:18:09,479 that he had said that quite clearly. 230 00:18:09,479 –> 00:18:10,739 Why were they not called? 231 00:18:10,739 –> 00:18:12,880 Well, the evidence was not considered. 232 00:18:15,400 –> 00:18:18,420 The high priest condemned Jesus 233 00:18:18,420 –> 00:18:22,800 because he claimed to be the Messiah. 234 00:18:22,800 –> 00:18:25,319 Matthew chapter 26 and verse 63. 235 00:18:25,319 –> 00:18:26,859 He says to Jesus, 236 00:18:26,859 –> 00:18:31,380 I adjure you by the living God, 237 00:18:31,380 –> 00:18:35,040 tell us if you are the Christ. 238 00:18:35,060 –> 00:18:36,800 That’s the charge that was put. 239 00:18:37,680 –> 00:18:41,359 You were claiming to be the Christ, that is, the Messiah. 240 00:18:42,479 –> 00:18:44,839 Now, there were many people 241 00:18:45,660 –> 00:18:47,959 who could have been called into that court 242 00:18:47,959 –> 00:18:50,800 to give evidence in Jesus’ defense 243 00:18:50,800 –> 00:18:54,079 that indeed he was the Christ, 244 00:18:54,079 –> 00:18:55,300 that he did the things 245 00:18:55,300 –> 00:18:58,060 that only the Messiah himself could have done. 246 00:18:59,719 –> 00:19:04,719 Charles Simeon was a 19th-century pastor in Cambridge 247 00:19:04,739 –> 00:19:07,619 in England, and he points out 248 00:19:07,619 –> 00:19:11,520 that there were many who could have spoken 249 00:19:11,520 –> 00:19:14,439 giving testimony as witnesses 250 00:19:14,439 –> 00:19:16,599 in defense of the Lord Jesus Christ. 251 00:19:16,599 –> 00:19:18,500 I mean, one man could have come and said, 252 00:19:18,500 –> 00:19:22,560 I was blind and he made me see. 253 00:19:23,959 –> 00:19:26,439 Another could have come and said, 254 00:19:26,439 –> 00:19:29,280 I was gripped by Satan’s power, 255 00:19:29,280 –> 00:19:32,219 but it was Jesus who set me free. 256 00:19:33,060 –> 00:19:34,819 And if Lazarus had been called, 257 00:19:34,819 –> 00:19:38,239 he could have said, I was dead and in the grave, 258 00:19:39,439 –> 00:19:44,000 but Jesus raised me to life. 259 00:19:44,000 –> 00:19:48,859 Even Judas, who had betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ, 260 00:19:48,859 –> 00:19:51,040 regretted what he had done. 261 00:19:51,040 –> 00:19:53,160 He threw the 30 pieces of silver 262 00:19:53,160 –> 00:19:55,920 onto the floor of the temple, 263 00:19:55,920 –> 00:20:00,920 and he said, I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. 264 00:20:03,199 –> 00:20:05,920 But none of these witnesses who could have spoken 265 00:20:05,920 –> 00:20:08,680 in defense of the Lord Jesus Christ were called. 266 00:20:08,680 –> 00:20:13,680 Jesus’ generation did not consider the evidence. 267 00:20:16,160 –> 00:20:18,640 Loud voices were raised against Jesus, 268 00:20:20,040 –> 00:20:22,339 false witnesses came forward, 269 00:20:23,640 –> 00:20:26,500 a distorted picture was presented, 270 00:20:27,800 –> 00:20:30,819 and true witnesses were never called. 271 00:20:33,219 –> 00:20:37,959 So Jesus was crucified by people 272 00:20:37,959 –> 00:20:40,760 who did not know who he was. 273 00:20:40,760 –> 00:20:41,680 Think about that. 274 00:20:42,979 –> 00:20:45,979 The New Testament underlines this many times. 275 00:20:46,839 –> 00:20:51,839 Jesus was crucified by people who did not know who he was. 276 00:20:52,680 –> 00:20:54,319 They didn’t look at the evidence. 277 00:20:57,319 –> 00:20:59,560 So when Jesus was nailed to the cross, 278 00:20:59,599 –> 00:21:00,459 he said, 279 00:21:01,699 –> 00:21:03,260 Father, forgive them. 280 00:21:04,780 –> 00:21:06,359 They know not what they do. 281 00:21:08,239 –> 00:21:09,959 They don’t know what they’re doing. 282 00:21:12,280 –> 00:21:16,000 And then Peter in Acts and chapter three 283 00:21:16,000 –> 00:21:18,959 was speaking to a crowd that included 284 00:21:18,959 –> 00:21:21,959 clearly many people who just a short time earlier 285 00:21:21,959 –> 00:21:25,079 had called for Jesus to be crucified 286 00:21:25,079 –> 00:21:27,280 and he says, and now brothers, 287 00:21:27,319 –> 00:21:32,319 I know that you acted in ignorance, 288 00:21:34,359 –> 00:21:36,400 as did also your rulers. 289 00:21:38,119 –> 00:21:41,040 And then in first Corinthians and chapter two, 290 00:21:41,040 –> 00:21:43,819 the apostle Paul speaks about God’s wisdom 291 00:21:43,819 –> 00:21:48,020 and then he says, none of the rulers of this age 292 00:21:48,020 –> 00:21:52,160 understood this for, if they had they would not 293 00:21:52,160 –> 00:21:56,160 have crucified the Lord of Glory. 294 00:21:57,560 –> 00:22:01,380 The people who crucified Jesus did not know who he was. 295 00:22:04,619 –> 00:22:06,839 And the reason they didn’t know who he was 296 00:22:08,619 –> 00:22:11,020 was that they did not look at the evidence. 297 00:22:12,119 –> 00:22:17,000 They didn’t consider it, they just dismissed it. 298 00:22:19,739 –> 00:22:24,739 Now, our generation is in precisely the same position. 299 00:22:25,479 –> 00:22:29,140 All around us today loud voices are raised 300 00:22:29,140 –> 00:22:32,000 against Jesus in our generation. 301 00:22:32,000 –> 00:22:36,400 Many people have a thoroughly distorted picture 302 00:22:36,400 –> 00:22:38,739 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 303 00:22:39,839 –> 00:22:41,699 How would you know if you had 304 00:22:41,699 –> 00:22:44,839 a distorted picture of the Lord Jesus Christ? 305 00:22:44,839 –> 00:22:46,359 Well there’s only one way to find out. 306 00:22:46,359 –> 00:22:49,900 You have to look at the evidence for yourself. 307 00:22:50,239 –> 00:22:52,800 And the evidence is available for you. 308 00:22:55,199 –> 00:22:56,900 There are four Gospels. 309 00:22:57,800 –> 00:23:01,579 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 310 00:23:01,579 –> 00:23:04,400 They record what Jesus said. 311 00:23:04,400 –> 00:23:07,739 They record what Jesus did. 312 00:23:07,739 –> 00:23:11,140 And John says at the end of the fourth Gospel, 313 00:23:11,140 –> 00:23:15,599 these are written that you may believe 314 00:23:16,300 –> 00:23:20,239 that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, 315 00:23:20,239 –> 00:23:25,239 and that by believing, you may have life in His name. 316 00:23:26,880 –> 00:23:30,819 See, this is how people come to faith 317 00:23:31,839 –> 00:23:34,000 by looking at the evidence, 318 00:23:35,800 –> 00:23:40,079 listening to what Jesus said, looking at what Jesus did. 319 00:23:40,079 –> 00:23:45,079 These are written that you may believe. 320 00:23:45,880 –> 00:23:47,479 So you may believe. 321 00:23:48,839 –> 00:23:53,839 So consider the evidence in relation to Jesus. 322 00:23:57,260 –> 00:23:59,079 Now, that’s the first thing. 323 00:23:59,079 –> 00:24:00,239 Here’s the second thing, 324 00:24:00,239 –> 00:24:03,880 that you can give as an invitation, 325 00:24:03,880 –> 00:24:07,979 an ask of your unbelieving friends. 326 00:24:07,979 –> 00:24:12,599 Ask them to consider the evidence in relation to Jesus, 327 00:24:12,599 –> 00:24:15,380 and then ask them the second thing, 328 00:24:15,920 –> 00:24:19,579 consider the loss in rejecting Jesus. 329 00:24:21,079 –> 00:24:23,459 Now look again at our verse. 330 00:24:23,459 –> 00:24:28,459 Who considered that he was cut off 331 00:24:29,420 –> 00:24:32,680 out of the land of the living? 332 00:24:33,939 –> 00:24:37,699 Now this verse then clearly is inviting us 333 00:24:37,699 –> 00:24:42,699 to consider the fact that our world has rejected Jesus. 334 00:24:42,760 –> 00:24:47,760 He was cut off from the land of the living. 335 00:24:49,719 –> 00:24:51,819 Now the Gospels record one occasion 336 00:24:51,819 –> 00:24:54,900 where Jesus went across the lake of Galilee 337 00:24:54,900 –> 00:24:59,900 and arrived in a region known as the land of the Gerasenes. 338 00:25:01,140 –> 00:25:03,900 And when Jesus arrived in this area 339 00:25:03,900 –> 00:25:06,780 that seemed to be particularly dark, 340 00:25:06,780 –> 00:25:09,560 He was immediately confronted 341 00:25:10,500 –> 00:25:15,500 by a man who was possessed by evil powers. 342 00:25:16,140 –> 00:25:19,420 This man was clearly a terror 343 00:25:19,420 –> 00:25:23,199 to the community in which he lived. 344 00:25:23,199 –> 00:25:26,319 And the people had tried to bind him. 345 00:25:26,319 –> 00:25:28,920 You can read the story in Mark in Chapter 5. 346 00:25:28,920 –> 00:25:31,540 They bound him with chains, but every time they did that, 347 00:25:31,540 –> 00:25:34,300 he seemed to be able to break free. 348 00:25:34,300 –> 00:25:37,319 He had remarkable, remarkable power 349 00:25:37,380 –> 00:25:40,000 because of these evil powers 350 00:25:40,000 –> 00:25:43,719 that had taken possession of his life. 351 00:25:43,719 –> 00:25:46,619 And so here you have a community 352 00:25:47,859 –> 00:25:49,359 and people are afraid. 353 00:25:49,359 –> 00:25:52,839 This man’s out among, in the hills among the graves 354 00:25:52,839 –> 00:25:57,380 and he’s wailing and shouting in the night 355 00:25:57,380 –> 00:26:00,359 and people are wondering where he’s gonna go 356 00:26:00,359 –> 00:26:01,880 and what he’s gonna do next. 357 00:26:01,880 –> 00:26:04,119 No one was able to do anything about it. 358 00:26:08,199 –> 00:26:13,199 And Jesus cast out the evil powers 359 00:26:14,640 –> 00:26:15,839 that bound this man. 360 00:26:17,479 –> 00:26:22,199 The man was wonderfully, instantly restored, 361 00:26:24,839 –> 00:26:26,839 a calm came upon him. 362 00:26:27,979 –> 00:26:31,619 He got dressed, he was in his right mind. 363 00:26:32,739 –> 00:26:34,199 And when the people saw him 364 00:26:34,199 –> 00:26:37,099 they must have been absolutely astonished. 365 00:26:38,239 –> 00:26:41,900 Now, you would think that the people of that community, 366 00:26:41,900 –> 00:26:46,900 since Jesus had just solved their number one social problem, 367 00:26:49,000 –> 00:26:51,800 you would think that they would say to Jesus, 368 00:26:51,800 –> 00:26:53,180 please stay. 369 00:26:54,339 –> 00:26:55,719 I mean, when we see what you’ve done 370 00:26:55,719 –> 00:26:57,000 in the life of this man, 371 00:26:57,000 –> 00:26:59,819 we have other problems in this community. 372 00:26:59,819 –> 00:27:01,079 Would you stay? 373 00:27:02,400 –> 00:27:04,079 We want to see what you can do 374 00:27:04,079 –> 00:27:05,560 in the lives of other people 375 00:27:05,560 –> 00:27:07,800 with other needs in our community. 376 00:27:07,800 –> 00:27:08,619 Please stay. 377 00:27:08,619 –> 00:27:09,520 We need you here. 378 00:27:09,520 –> 00:27:11,040 We want you here. 379 00:27:11,040 –> 00:27:13,979 And that’s absolutely not what they said. 380 00:27:15,239 –> 00:27:17,219 Mark records that the people of the town 381 00:27:17,219 –> 00:27:22,219 began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 382 00:27:25,760 –> 00:27:26,640 And he did. 383 00:27:27,880 –> 00:27:30,560 Jesus did what they asked. 384 00:27:30,560 –> 00:27:31,959 He got into the boat 385 00:27:33,640 –> 00:27:34,979 and he left. 386 00:27:36,239 –> 00:27:41,239 Now, what will happen to a place 387 00:27:41,439 –> 00:27:43,280 where people ask Jesus to leave? 388 00:27:44,959 –> 00:27:48,439 Here’s Jesus and he’s the one, 389 00:27:48,439 –> 00:27:49,520 the only one, 390 00:27:49,520 –> 00:27:52,859 who has the power to subdue evil. 391 00:27:54,479 –> 00:27:56,119 And here are people who have just seen 392 00:27:56,119 –> 00:27:58,280 that power miraculously at work, 393 00:27:58,280 –> 00:28:01,979 and they say, please go. 394 00:28:02,119 –> 00:28:05,439 Well, clearly, what will happen 395 00:28:05,439 –> 00:28:08,900 in the place where Jesus is asked to leave 396 00:28:08,900 –> 00:28:13,500 is that the evil that only he is able to subdue 397 00:28:13,500 –> 00:28:15,339 is going to abound. 398 00:28:17,479 –> 00:28:21,219 So, you see, here is a real question for everyone. 399 00:28:21,219 –> 00:28:22,619 We all ask this question, 400 00:28:22,619 –> 00:28:24,219 whether we believe or not. 401 00:28:24,219 –> 00:28:25,819 We ask this question. 402 00:28:25,819 –> 00:28:29,300 Why is the world as it is today? 403 00:28:30,119 –> 00:28:32,800 Unbelievers ask this question. 404 00:28:32,800 –> 00:28:37,260 Why is it that evil abounds? 405 00:28:39,479 –> 00:28:43,959 We can ask our unbelieving friends in this generation 406 00:28:43,959 –> 00:28:46,839 to consider the fact that Jesus, 407 00:28:46,839 –> 00:28:50,579 who has the power to subdue evil, 408 00:28:50,579 –> 00:28:54,859 was cut off from the land of the living. 409 00:28:54,859 –> 00:28:58,300 In other words, think about the loss 410 00:28:59,119 –> 00:29:04,119 of this world’s rejection of Jesus. 411 00:29:05,560 –> 00:29:07,439 This world has said to Jesus, 412 00:29:07,439 –> 00:29:10,900 we don’t want you here. 413 00:29:12,319 –> 00:29:13,699 We crucified him. 414 00:29:15,819 –> 00:29:17,780 And when the light is put out, 415 00:29:19,780 –> 00:29:21,979 well, then what you have is a great darkness. 416 00:29:22,920 –> 00:29:30,099 So consider the evidence in relation to Jesus, 417 00:29:31,540 –> 00:29:38,540 and then consider the loss in rejecting Jesus. 418 00:29:39,020 –> 00:29:41,400 And for us personally, 419 00:29:43,060 –> 00:29:50,540 to reject Jesus would lead to your everlasting loss. 420 00:29:52,859 –> 00:29:54,000 Don’t do that. 421 00:29:57,979 –> 00:30:02,780 And then there’s this third question 422 00:30:02,780 –> 00:30:06,339 that we can ask our unbelieving friends to consider, 423 00:30:06,339 –> 00:30:10,780 and that is to consider the gain in receiving Jesus. 424 00:30:11,699 –> 00:30:14,680 Look at what Isaiah says here one more time, 425 00:30:15,739 –> 00:30:20,640 who considered that he was stricken 426 00:30:20,640 –> 00:30:24,800 for the transgression of my people. 427 00:30:26,219 –> 00:30:28,479 My people. 428 00:30:30,099 –> 00:30:32,619 Now remember, this is God himself, 429 00:30:32,619 –> 00:30:35,380 the almighty speaking these words 430 00:30:35,380 –> 00:30:39,380 through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah. 431 00:30:40,900 –> 00:30:45,900 Jesus bore the punishment for the sins of God’s people. 432 00:30:46,859 –> 00:30:47,699 People. 433 00:30:49,260 –> 00:30:52,660 Now, there are other Scriptures that clearly 434 00:30:52,660 –> 00:30:57,439 and very wonderfully state the sufficiency 435 00:30:57,439 –> 00:31:00,400 of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ 436 00:31:00,400 –> 00:31:03,739 in regards to the sins of the whole world. 437 00:31:04,680 –> 00:31:06,979 So we can say to any person, 438 00:31:06,979 –> 00:31:09,579 and I say with great joy and freedom today, 439 00:31:09,579 –> 00:31:12,780 however far you are from God, 440 00:31:13,459 –> 00:31:17,500 however great your sins may be, 441 00:31:17,500 –> 00:31:19,819 however long you have been pushing 442 00:31:19,819 –> 00:31:22,880 the grace of God away from you, 443 00:31:22,880 –> 00:31:26,260 Jesus Christ is ready to receive you. 444 00:31:26,260 –> 00:31:30,520 Jesus is ready to forgive you, 445 00:31:30,520 –> 00:31:35,380 and his death for sinners is sufficient for you. 446 00:31:36,540 –> 00:31:40,020 But I want us to notice the death of Jesus 447 00:31:40,020 –> 00:31:42,260 is sufficient for the sins of the whole world. 448 00:31:42,260 –> 00:31:44,979 That’s not the focus here. 449 00:31:44,979 –> 00:31:49,219 The focus here is on the death of Jesus 450 00:31:49,219 –> 00:31:52,699 in relation to God’s own people. 451 00:31:54,739 –> 00:31:58,439 And you see, the danger that we face as believers 452 00:32:00,500 –> 00:32:02,420 is that we become so familiar 453 00:32:03,699 –> 00:32:08,140 with the truth that Jesus died on the cross for sins 454 00:32:09,099 –> 00:32:11,599 that we feel that this is something simply 455 00:32:11,599 –> 00:32:14,339 that our unbelieving friends need to hear. 456 00:32:16,500 –> 00:32:18,420 And I want to say from the heart to day, 457 00:32:18,420 –> 00:32:23,420 brothers, sister, this is what we need to hear. 458 00:32:25,959 –> 00:32:30,439 Jesus was stricken for the transgressions 459 00:32:30,439 –> 00:32:35,180 of God’s people and that’s us. 460 00:32:35,280 –> 00:32:40,280 It was my sin that nailed him there 461 00:32:43,300 –> 00:32:46,800 until it was accomplished. 462 00:32:49,699 –> 00:32:52,300 Now, it would be very easy to get the idea 463 00:32:52,300 –> 00:32:56,219 that somehow God owed it to us 464 00:32:56,219 –> 00:32:58,199 to send his son into the world. 465 00:32:59,280 –> 00:33:02,680 That somehow there was some kind of moral obligation 466 00:33:02,680 –> 00:33:06,760 on Jesus to be stricken for our transgressions. 467 00:33:06,760 –> 00:33:10,619 But nothing could be further from the truth. 468 00:33:12,079 –> 00:33:13,780 I want you to think about this. 469 00:33:15,479 –> 00:33:19,979 That there are legions of fallen angels. 470 00:33:21,380 –> 00:33:24,599 That is angels who fell into sin 471 00:33:24,599 –> 00:33:26,880 before the creation of the world 472 00:33:26,880 –> 00:33:30,140 and there is no Savior for them. 473 00:33:30,859 –> 00:33:35,219 Peter tells us in his second letter, chapter two, 474 00:33:35,219 –> 00:33:36,180 in verse four, 475 00:33:36,180 –> 00:33:41,180 God did not spare angels when they sinned. 476 00:33:42,000 –> 00:33:43,239 What did he do? 477 00:33:43,239 –> 00:33:45,280 He cast them into hell 478 00:33:45,280 –> 00:33:50,199 and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness 479 00:33:50,199 –> 00:33:54,520 to be kept until the judgment. 480 00:33:55,300 –> 00:34:00,300 Now, if God did not send a savior for fallen angels, 481 00:34:07,140 –> 00:34:09,120 why did he send a savior for us? 482 00:34:12,120 –> 00:34:15,080 I hope you’re not expecting me to answer that question 483 00:34:16,360 –> 00:34:18,219 because no one possibly can. 484 00:34:19,540 –> 00:34:22,639 To all eternity we’re going to be lost in love 485 00:34:22,639 –> 00:34:26,159 and wonder and praise as we stare into the mystery 486 00:34:27,520 –> 00:34:30,580 of God’s marvelous mercy and grace towards us. 487 00:34:35,080 –> 00:34:36,620 My song is love unknown. 488 00:34:38,520 –> 00:34:40,020 My saviors love to me. 489 00:34:40,739 –> 00:34:44,100 Love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be. 490 00:34:44,919 –> 00:34:48,300 Oh, who am I that for my sake my Lord should take 491 00:34:52,719 –> 00:34:55,959 frail flesh and die? 492 00:34:58,479 –> 00:34:59,699 Consider 493 00:35:01,540 –> 00:35:03,800 what is yours in Christ. 494 00:35:03,820 –> 00:35:05,239 He was stricken 495 00:35:06,699 –> 00:35:08,959 for your transgressions. 496 00:35:12,320 –> 00:35:14,300 And then if you have not yet believed 497 00:35:16,000 –> 00:35:20,340 consider for it could be yours in the Lord Jesus Christ. 498 00:35:20,479 –> 00:35:23,820 If you will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 499 00:35:23,939 –> 00:35:27,060 If you will turn to him in repentance, 500 00:35:27,060 –> 00:35:30,459 if you will trust yourself to him as 501 00:35:30,459 –> 00:35:32,939 your Savior and as your Lord, 502 00:35:32,939 –> 00:35:34,479 he will be yours 503 00:35:35,939 –> 00:35:39,060 and all that he accomplished on the Cross 504 00:35:39,060 –> 00:35:40,780 will be yours with him. 505 00:35:42,239 –> 00:35:44,879 Consider the gain 506 00:35:45,939 –> 00:35:47,780 in receiving Jesus. 507 00:35:48,699 –> 00:35:50,679 Your sins will be forgiven. 508 00:35:51,800 –> 00:35:53,780 You will have peace with God 509 00:35:55,760 –> 00:35:59,399 and your healing will have begun. 510 00:36:00,899 –> 00:36:01,979 Let’s pray together. 511 00:36:05,340 –> 00:36:09,379 Our Father we thank you that in your marvelous grace 512 00:36:11,000 –> 00:36:14,639 you have sent your Son 513 00:36:14,719 –> 00:36:17,800 and Son into the world. 514 00:36:21,540 –> 00:36:23,439 Save us from the passivity 515 00:36:24,459 –> 00:36:28,419 that ignores the evidence in relation to Jesus. 516 00:36:30,379 –> 00:36:35,379 Deliver us from the disaster of rejecting Jesus 517 00:36:38,159 –> 00:36:40,500 and press into our minds and hearts 518 00:36:40,500 –> 00:36:43,419 the gain in receiving Jesus 519 00:36:44,439 –> 00:36:47,719 such that with glad hearts 520 00:36:49,159 –> 00:36:54,159 we may embrace Him in faith and in repentance 521 00:36:54,399 –> 00:36:56,580 as Savior and as Lord 522 00:36:57,860 –> 00:37:01,300 and receive all that at such great cost 523 00:37:02,239 –> 00:37:06,520 He died and rose to accomplish for us. 524 00:37:07,439 –> 00:37:10,840 Hear our prayers and receive our thanks 525 00:37:11,840 –> 00:37:14,879 in Jesus name. Amen. 526 00:37:16,520 –> 00:37:19,780 You’ve been listening to a sermon with Pastor Colin Smith At Open the Bible 527 00:37:20,159 –> 00:37:21,479 To contact us 528 00:37:21,479 –> 00:37:25,120 call us at 1-877- open-365 529 00:37:25,419 –> 00:37:27,000 or visit our website 530 00:37:27,000 –> 00:37:28,800 openthebible.org