Last Words Group Study - Part 2 - Rock Point Church

So I'd like to begin tonight's session with asking you a question. How do you handle goodbyes? Honestly, I hate them. It's hard enough to make close friends with people in this social media age. And the last thing that I want to hear is that someone special

who owns a piece of my heart is moving away. And you know, when it does happen, I make it a point to spend as much time as possible with them before they leave. But over the years, I find that it's a little easier on the ones who are going rather than those who are staying.

And that's because most of the time the ones who are leaving are going on this brand new adventure while those who are left behind are just stuck with a giant hole to fill in their same old reality. Certainly Jesus knew what it was like to say goodbye to good friends.

When he first chose the disciples, he knew that one day he'd be saying goodbye about at this point in his life. And of course, it was harder on the disciples for they were feeling abandoned and alone and Jesus was just leaving them and returning to the Father.

So in an attempt to lessen the blow, Jesus told them to not let their hearts be troubled,

that they had trusted in God so they should also trust in Him, that there would be plenty of room in his dad's house, and when it was ready, he would come back and get them so they could always be with him. He talked about a place that was big enough for all of them to continue their relationships forever

and this reminded me of a time when I was in college and a buddy of mine invited me to his family house on a beach in Florida. It was spring break and I was very honored to get the invitation, but a couple days later I heard some of my other friends talking and how they had also received the invitation.

In fact, quite a few of us had gotten the invitation, 12 in all, And I was imagining it's just ordinary house on some deserted beach. I just figured that most of us would be sleeping on the floor, on the beach,

but either option would be way better than staying in town on spring break. But just in case, called my friend to make sure there would be enough room and he assured me that there would be plenty. Now, it took three cars, fifteen hours to arrive at our destination. And I remember it was my turn to navigate that last leg of the journey. And we had to turn left on Barton Avenue by the golf course. Maybe you've heard of it, it's called the Breakers,

and a right on South Ocean Beach Boulevard. And from there, we stopped at the second house on the corner. It was just a small 42 room mansion complete with a helicopter pad in the backyard. You know, suffice it to say we had enough room that week, we just couldn't believe

that, who knew that my friend's dad was one of the richest men in America. We stumbled out of the cars and we went in and it was like we had a hotel all to ourselves. You know, it's amazing.

That's the imagery that Jesus used when he tried to explain to his disciples where he was going. He tells them that he's going to his father's house and that the only time he used this expression is when he spoke about the temple.

And that's where the Hebrews believe that it was the only place on planet earth where actually heaven and earth met. Now Jesus hints at a new city or a new house where heaven and earth will meet again when God will renew the whole world. Now at this time there will be room for everyone.

In fact, Jesus assured the disciples that he was going away for their benefit and he wouldn't forget or abandon them, but he was going ahead of them to prepare it. Yet they really couldn't see past the finality of Jesus' impending death.

And it's at this point, it's Thomas who speaks up and says, We don't know where you're going and we can't see the way.

And to this, the Savior replied, probably his most exclusive claim about his divinity in all the Bible. You know this, I am the way, the truth, and the life. And if you want to get to my father's house, you'll have to come with me. You know, over the last two centuries, especially in the Western world,

this saying that Jesus may have become the most controversial of everything he said, and the objections always go something along these lines. How dear Jesus or John or the church or anyone else say there's only one way to go to heaven? I thought Jesus was supposed to be humble. Isn't that the height of arrogance?

Didn't he say that he came in peace? And don't we know this attitude has done untold damage around the world? And especially since Jesus' followers have always insisted that everyone else give up their own ways of life and follow his instead.

And the truth is the only answer that we can give to their objections is a resounding yes. But the trouble with their argument is it just doesn't work. If you claim that all other pathways to God are equal, even though they are radically different and hold to contradictory truths, then the divine is remote and unknowable,

and neither Jesus nor Buddha nor Moses or Krishna can provide any direct access to him. Now, they all might be able to provide a ways toward the foothills of the mountain, but not the way to the summit where God is. Christianity is unique because the representative of the religion claims to be God.

And then it would follow if that were true that he would be the only way. But that's not all. Jesus also promised that he'd be around with all his people from that day that he uttered those words to this one. And he also said it would be easier, not harder, for the disciples after he went to be with his father.

It was their benefit that he was leaving. In fact, his people would be able to do things that they could never do when Jesus was physically present with them. All this was made possible because he sent us the Holy Spirit. Now, to get a little better understanding of the Spirit,

it's truly helpful to look back at the original language. The Spirit sometimes is translated as helper, But I don't think we should think of this helper as a personal assistant that we give tasks to. No, this helper gives us strength and supernatural energy to live for God and to witness about his love to the world.

But the Spirit also means two other things. Another word is sometimes used as comforter. The comforter has this amazing unique ability in times of great stress and pain to give us courage and hope in circumstances that seem incredibly insurmountable.

The comforter often provides us with unique insights into God's plan and helps us understand how he's working everything out for our good according to his purposes. And lastly, and probably equally good translation for spirit is the word advocate.

An advocate is someone who stands up in court and defends his clients before the judge and jury and he pleads their case for his defendants.

Our advocate constantly goes before the heavenly judge and reminds him of the plight of his kids and defends them against prosecuting attorney. You know who that is. That's the devil. And because the spirit is at work in our lives, Jesus said, we have the potential to do even greater things than he did. Now, I don't really think that means better things than he did, but probably more greater in numbers and extent because there's a lot of us and only one of him, especially when he's present on the earth. The

last thing that Jesus promised his kids was peace. And this may be the most important of all. This kind of peace that unbelievers will never receive. This peace resonates deep inside us and it isn't subject to outward circumstances. This peace is available in the midst of trials, especially suffering or persecution,

because it comes from our relationship with Jesus and it's totally independent of what's happening to us or around us. This peace that Jesus offers is not the peace of an easy life. No. It's the peace of an obedient servant who has the full confidence and support of his master and waits upon his rescue

while he faithfully fulfills the work that he's been called to do. Now, please indulge me as I give a probably a very personal illustration from my life. You know, it's been a couple of years now since my only child got engaged and her closest friends who lived in the West, the Phoenix area,

plotted with her closest friends from the East, the Nashville area, to all show up the same time to witness the event. Now my daughter thought she was just, her and her boyfriend were going on on this romantic stroll across, the bridge at Tempe Towne Lake.

And as they made their way about halfway across the bridge, and though it was really dark that night and the walkway was pretty crowded, she was pretty certain that she had seen some of her Tennessee friends.

But all of a sudden, a serenading guitarist rolls up, spotlights illuminated the night, and all of her future bridesmaids from both sides of the country witnessed her future husband on one knee asking for her hand in marriage. It was incredibly special.

You know, she wanted to tell the whole world and my wife and I quickly found out what she meant. First, she posted all the pictures on several social media sites, and then she personally called people that she knew that maybe weren't very tech savvy. And this followed by what seemed to be a thousand wedding invitations

because this was her world and it was good and she wanted everyone in it to hear the good news. Then this was followed by what seemed like a thousand wedding invitations. I'm glad not everybody took us up on the offer. I'd be broke now. But this was her world and it was good and she wanted everyone

to hear about the good news. And all of this reminded me a time when she was totally afraid of something that happened to her.

She was ashamed. It was out of her control. It wasn't her fault, but it also completely altered the trajectory of her life. You know, part of the aftermath of such a traumatic event, like the one my daughter experienced,

it's very common for the victim to believe the whole world was somehow going to hear about it. She even began to suspect strangers in the street were talking about her behind her back. You know, when this occurs, the world means something very threatening, a large shapeless but dangerous mass of people out there.

Families usually respond by circling protect the ones they love. And it's easy to begin looking at the world as a very dark place and we're tempted to totally separate from it. In John's gospel, when Jesus speaks of the world, he's speaking of people who become so dehumanized by their sin and their wickedness.

It's totally distorted his beautiful creation. God's response to a world full of darkness is that he rejects the wickedness and remains totally opposed to and yet he loves the world. And in response, he sent Jesus to bring the light of life, but many probably most prefer the darkness.

In John fourteen twenty four, Jesus makes it crystal clear that those who love him will actually walk in the light and obey him. And this will create a sharp distinction between the followers of Jesus and the world. Those who hold fast to Jesus and refuse to settle for what I call a compromised discipleship

will experience his peace that he promised. Now, this peace comes to them as a gift, a kind of peace in that in the midst of struggle or even persecution that has the power to even torment their tormentors, like Jesus when he stood before Pilate. However,

the way this peace is always through this sharp conflict with the world. You know, very soon in the story, Pilate with the high priest and Satan, the dark lord behind them, will take Jesus along the pathways to his death. Now in that moment, the world had won. The darkness had ever come to light. Well, that's what was thought in the moment. Three days later, Jesus' resurrection inflicted a huge wound on the dark Lord's realm from which it will never recover.

The worst day in history, sun come to the greatest day in history. Now, if you had a chance to unpack my daughter's story, she'd be the first to tell you that what made her engagement one of the sweetest days of her life was the fact that Jesus came and kept his promise of peace on her darkest day.

Slowly but surely during her recovery process, Jesus' light grew brighter and brighter. And when the ruler of the world attempted his worst, that's when Jesus responded with his best. And this has resulted in a young woman because of the tender care of her Lord

who now understands and has compassion for people who are trapped in the darkness and don't comprehend the light. You know, for a brief moment of time, she felt ugly and dirty and permanently soiled by the world. But now that Jesus has given her the ability and the desire to forgive,

she can walk in the peace of He who has overcome the world by His love. And now she's on mission with Jesus to save what had ultimately tried to destroy her, the world. So it's my prayer that whatever has happened to you in your life,

that God will make it a stepping stone for ministry rather than a stumbling block in your life. I pray that He redeems your pain with His peace that passes all understanding

and eventually that God will use His peace to actually torment your tormentors to the point they will eventually surrender to Jesus' love and forgiveness. Let's pray. Father, this is the essence of Christianity, to take torment and pain for those who are lost and dying like we once were and turn the other cheek

and actually torment those who want to hurt us. That they understand they cannot defeat us. There is nothing they can do to us. If they kill us, then we're happy. If they torture us, we can go to prison and we can talk about our Lord. There's nothing they can do to us that you haven't ordained and you haven't

really will get us through. But Father, I know that that really talks about a walk that's a sharp distinction from the world. And so God, I just ask that our people here at Rock Point will grow to the point that they would be faithful in all things, they'd be faithful to take the gospel to people that they know and love

regarding of the circumstances. They'd be willing to take on pain because our Savior took on pain for us. As a leader, God help me to be that man and lead our people in that way. We win. It is for it's it's already been foretold. We win. And we can't wait to experience

the house that you've prepared for us. We praise you and thank you in Jesus name. Amen.