May 22
2 Sam 1:1-2:11 | PS 118:19-29 | Prov 15:27-28 | John 12:20-50
Max Lucado said, "Even after generations of people had spit in His face, God still loved them. After a nation of chosen ones had stripped Him naked and ripped His incarnated flesh, He still died for them. And even today, after billions have chosen to prostitute themselves before the pimps of power, fame, and wealth, He still waits for them. It is inexplicable. It doesn't have a drop of logic nor a thread of rationality. And yet, it is that very irrationality that gives the gospel its greatest defense. For only God could love like that." The gospel message reveals that Jesus actually did it all. Yet, in His love He offers us a choice: Him or the world. We read in John 12:25-26, "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." This seems so simple, and it really is seeing that Jesus did all the work. But only a remnant will make that choice and the majority, even in the religious establishment will often not, as we sadly read in 12:42-43, "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."
When we go to the very beginning of the Bible, have you ever noticed that on day one of creation, God brought light upon the earth, it was this light that separated from the darkness. Yet it was on day four of creation that God actually created the sun, moon and stars. This light is Jesus, though always existing with the Father, was revealed to the earth to bring it light. If this isn't clear enough, in John's description of Jesus, we read in John 1:1-4, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." Jesus clarifies His being the Light of the world, the true One who offers revelation in this world, as we read in John 12:35-36, "Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them." And again, Jesus said in 12:46, "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness."
Again, it does come down to a choice on our part. Jesus made His choice. We either choose Him or we choose the world. We read in Psalm 118:22-24, "The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." Realize only a minority, the remnant will make the choice to follow the Light of the World. It will be unpopular, you will be marginalized, and may have difficulty navigating life in this world. But the world is full of darkness and will end in eternal separation from God in hell which lasts forever. Jesus offers light, His revelation, in this world and offers being with Him eternally forever. The choice is yours, but realize it is either A or B, there is no C, which is both A and B.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: