Beyond Sunday: God Who Is, Who Was, and Is to Come
Catch up: this week’s Sunday morning message.
We’ve read God through the Psalms. Now we look to better understand His Son Jesus who is, who was, and who is to come. Jesus is the cornerstone the builders rejected and sits at the right hand of the Father. Will we trust the Story so we might have life in Jesus?
Catch up: this week’s Sunday morning message.
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00:00:00 [Music] Hey guys, welcome to another episode of Beyond Sunday where we desire to take the conversation deeper beyond Sunday. And so I am here with Shay. Shay, how you doing? I'm good. Did you not? No, that was Did you hear Tony? No, I just like that you had to emphasize it that way. How are you this morning? Good. Good. Is this how it's going to be? All right, perfect. We're just calling out more tone. Don't hear tone. You are told me don't hear tone. You're great at visual tone. What's my tone saying right now? Move
00:00:40 on. Okay, good. We're communicating well. Hey guys, before we dive into the conversation, check out this video. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] All right, welcome back guys. Devin, talk to us about the big idea. Okay, our big idea this week is that trusting the guide and that the guide is the it's Jesus. Well, God and Jesus and this is really the where it shifts. So, we've come through resurrection Sunday. We're on the other side of that headed towards Pentecost. So 50 days away from resurrection Sunday, away from
00:01:55 Passover, 50 days for the Jewish faith and person is feast of weeks and like harvest time but for the follower of Jesus. it is Pentecost is the time the Holy Spirit comes down upon the disciples. They go out from the upper room into Jerusalem and proclaim proclaiming who Jesus is, what he's come to do and believing in Jesus. Thousands come to believe that Jesus is the savior and messiah and put their hope and trust in him and are saved and baptized and come to join a part of this new this new
00:02:34 way this way of Jesus and they're called the way but leading prior to Pentecost we are on this journey to Pentecost and so this one really shifts from we have been trusting learning who the guide is for this journey and trusting the leader we've been reading a psalm s about God as our as our leader and we can trust him and the nature and character of God. There is a shift though here coming out of resurrection Sunday that Jesus is also God as our leader. that that sometimes we can pull Jesus away from
00:03:10 the divinity of God and God with us as someone who is you know he died on the cross and he sacrificed himself and this miracle he rose from the grave three days later. but when we remove him from God as just a teacher or a prophet or someone who was willing to go to the cross and we remove the divinity, remove the like no this is also the guide. Yeah. God the father, God the son and God the holy spirit. And so even this week is that this transition this shifting of nature and character of God to also Jesus. Yeah.
00:03:47 Well and not even just necessarily removing him from God. That's part of it too. But we could even recognize like well he's here on earth. He is both man and God and he's the son of God and all of that. But I wonder at least in myself I was realizing like I wonder how often maybe we just kind of think like his work is done. So like he came so the way we ended up talking about it yesterday was like is he just a Christmas and Easter figure? So he came at Christmas and that's important and
00:04:19 relevant because that's Emanuel and God with us. And then at Easter, of course, we're celebrating the sacrifice and the resurrection, but then it's like his work here is done. Like check the box. And so the rest of the time, my faith walk, my relationship is like with God. and maybe the Holy Spirit, but sometimes that's weird. So it's mostly like God. and so we've like, okay, Jesus is done. And so for me it was like recognizing like Jesus who this is this is who was and is and is to come
00:04:47 and he was there at creation. he's seated at the right hand of the father. it's because of him that I that that we get to be kingdom a kingdom of priests. so that for me was like okay if that's true what does it look like to live? Like how does that change the way I live? If I'm if I'm believing Jesus to have always been, he will always be. His work is not done. Yeah. I mean, that's the important thing that John even puts in his gospel that we touched on a little bit on Sunday. It's also how he
00:05:18 starts his revelation, right? and the vision that God has given him. It is he's John is tying Jesus to God in such a way. It's like from the beginning, he has been there and with God and is God. And then he finishes in John chapter 1 finishes that portion a little later that that the word became flesh and dwelt among us. that this like here is God in our presence in our midst. And one of the things too in that of like is moving Jesus from just a person, a figure that we think about at
00:05:56 Christmas and then at Easter to this like do we may know about Jesus, but do we know Jesus, right? is Jesus so intertwined with in our hearts and souls that and what I and what I read about in in his words in the red letters of the gospel is it so intertwined with in me his nature and character and his heart and his eyes for the world his mission that you know is he talks about this is what I've come for this is what I've come to do and am I about that kind of work am I about that kind of
00:06:30 mission or is it it's great at Christmas and it's great at Easter. , and I'll come back around to those again next year. Right. Well, and that's part of exactly what we talked about this idea of like you can be close to Jesus and still miss him entirely. And I think in this part of the narrative, we actually see that I mean this is through throughout scripture, we see people missing God and missing who God is. But in the gospels and especially in what we the part of
00:07:01 the Christian calendar that we're walking through, right, with Holy Week and all of that, we're in and even leading up to Pentecost, we're in this space where we actually have a number of examples of people who walked with Jesus and missed him. , and so we talked about Judas and like Judas was witness to all of the teaching, all of the miracles, all of the life. , and still missed part of it. And I would argue the other disciples and Thomas as well, right? because the women are like,
00:07:28 "The tomb is empty." And they're like, "That sounds like nonsense." Which I think is so funny. It's funny. I don't I don't want to act like I wouldn't be in the same boat, but it is funny because it's like, "Hello, he said like, but they're like, "That sounds like nonsense." You think you're in the room like remember what Jesus said. Remember his words. I'm not trying. The angels had to remind the ladies. That's what I'm saying. I'm not saying I would be that. I I'm very Let me be very clear. No, Thomas. Now, come
00:07:56 on. You don't have to see the wounds. See, you we he told us he foreshadowed this multiple times for us. Yeah. And then we all saw him. Don't you believe us? Geez. I think I'd probably be more offended that he didn't believe me. I like what the heck, Thomas. But that's the point is like they all of these people spending time with Jesus like intimate time with Jesus and they still missed some parts of it or even I know I think we both talked a little bit about the story of the road to Emmaus.
00:08:22 and that idea of like these men are walking literally with Jesus and missed him and so yeah that idea that you can be close to Jesus and still miss him. That's it's also interesting to me that in all of scripture in the in the Old Testament, we do see people groups, individuals missing God. Yeah. And missing like what God had intended or set up for them and going their own way, doing their own thing. and here in this story of the resurrection and even into Acts, this like
00:08:58 you've missed God with us. You've missed Emanuel. You have missed God in our presence. not only have you missed him, you've denied that this is this is God. That this is the savior. This is the savior Messiah. the one that God has promised through the prophets would come, right, and rescue us. You have not only have you missed it, you've denied it. You've seen it and you said no. Right. But you know what's so cool about that? I'm thinking even as you said that in this series where we're
00:09:28 trying to learn about this guide all throughout the biblical narrative people have missed God and yet God keeps giving chances to be seen right so further character of like I'm still coming for you I'm still I'm still desiring reconciliation I'm still desiring for to be back in relation right relationship with my creation right so even Paul's words in in 2 Corinthians 5 like yeah this is still who God is and what his design his plan from the very beginning. Well, and I think we see that really
00:10:03 especially beautifully with Peter's story because Peter did I mean he missed many times, right? He's outspoken whatever. But then in Acts 5 and other places, but we were in Acts 5 a little bit on Sunday, Peter's like boldly. It's like all of a sudden he's like, "Oh, now I've seen and I cannot stop." , and so do what you will, but I'm gonna I'm gonna be preaching. And I love even that like, "Go get them." And then they're like, "They're not there. Where are they? They're preaching. They're still there. They're not in
00:10:35 prison. What? Like why are like first of all, we told you to stop, but also how are you even?" And it's just this like compulsory like I cannot stop. Yeah. Like you put me in prison. I didn't open the doors, right? the doors were opened and I walked out and went back to what I couldn't help but do and I don't know if I'm doing that. Like the doors are open. I think I might be like, "Okay, perfect." Like I got another Where's the jailer? So nobody's escorting me out of this place, right? Like Yeah. Or I'm like running and
00:11:06 hiding, not going back to the place I got arrested from the first time. I don't know. Hopefully I am because shout out to Peter. But I do think that we see Jesus give him over and over again. like he calls him out. he doesn't excuse it. He calls him out, but it's this like he still shows up. He still shows up. Peter, you get more chances. You get more chances. And then finally it's like now I see. Now I get it. Yeah. And in that moment it's like I mean I think I think it's Acts four where he's like we cannot help but we
00:11:40 cannot help but preach. Yes. Or tell of the things we've seen, which is that's how John that's how we were in John 20 as well. And that's how that ends. Like these things are written down. There were more but these things are written down so that you will believe. right which so stands in contrast to them hiding in the upper room fearing and then when Jesus appears to them peace be with you. Right. this I mean I can't help but know that's repeated often in there in in John's gospel. Peace be with you as he appears
00:12:17 to them on the other side of a locked door. And yeah, I think the like he's not repeating that because there is already peace. He's repeating it because they're terrified. How is this going to how is this going to happen? I mean, they've seen others who have who have risen up and have led a group of people and have gone against the oppression and in that time against the Roman Empire that then faded away, right? Their leaders die died of which they saw Jesus die and like we're just
00:12:59 another one of those groups. Mhm. It's like, did we follow the wrong guy? Right. We've seen, you know, we saw these other guys, they and people, they followed this guy and he died and was and was killed and they scattered. Like, is that us? Are we the next group that we followed this leader who, you know, a week prior we were putting cloaks down, waving palm branches, and like we we're saved. we're rescued. And a week later he's hung on a cross and then put in a tomb and dead. And now what? Like he's not
00:13:34 appearing in that room saying peace be with you because they're already peaceful, right? They're terrified and terrified that they're next. Probably why Thomas isn't even the room with him. Like I'm probably better I'm probably better somewhere else away from you if somebody recognizes you, right? I do wonder I wonder what that conversation is like though because I and I Okay, I'm processing in real time. So, this is scary. But I So, it says they were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Okay,
00:14:08 so that all tracks with what we're just saying. But I do wonder if there's some amount of like probably there is this questioning. Did we follow the wrong guy? We've seen other others be killed and fall away and whatever. , but I wonder if some of that is some processing of like, okay, the last three years, all the things he said trying to recount them in light of now what's happened and there is a fear of the Jewish leaders, but also like I mean not wrongfully
00:14:41 so because once they do come out of hiding, they're being imprisoned and all of that. So exactly what they did to Jesus, right? So, I wonder if part of their time in this space, I guess this is a like, oh, to be a fly on the wall, but I'm curious if some of that is some like, , yeah, just trying to understand and figure out like, okay, so wait a minute. Was he telling this us this all along? Was this something he was saying? , you know, they're likely. So, right before that, , Jesus
00:15:14 appears to Mary Magdalene. So they're probably listening to some of these accounts of like, okay, so you've seen him actually, like the women didn't see him, but you've seen him. , and just trying to figure out like I don't know. I imagine their minds are spinning. , but at some level, I just wonder if there's like yes, they're fearful, yes, they're worried, but I wonder if they're also not sitting in there going like, "Okay, , what did we miss? Where are the places we missed? What did he already tell us?
00:15:46 And maybe even for the future. So like, okay, he rose. We missed that. Didn't see that coming. What else did he tell us about what's going to happen next and what's coming? And I wonder if that's some of even Jesus's right. Peace be with you. not just I don't know. typically, and I'd have to look at the Greek here, but typically Yeah, here it is. Yeah. Typically biblical peace. I can't believe you don't have it already written down. I didn't preach on this. I told you I'm just this is coming to me right now. But
00:16:16 I but typically that biblical peace is not just a lack of fear. It's a wholeness or a completeness. So when he says peace certainly maybe it's like hey stop being so fearful and afraid but maybe it's also like hey this is still whole. Everything is still whole. My like do not do not miss that this is exactly what was supposed to happen. Again I was never not in control. , so, so recognize this wholeness. Recognize this completeness. It comes through me, not your circumstances. , I wonder if that's some of what's Well,
00:16:51 and I recently heard a quote, "Fear is waiting for the enemy to move or Satan to move and faith is waiting for God to move." the yeah maybe not the absent but peace being the absence of fear but that it's like yeah now what right so Jesus comes in says peace be with you and maybe even in that statement there's like and here more fulfillment for you more the fullness of what you had had missed when I actually told you this more times right and you've forgotten this is what this to take place.
00:17:34 Well, cuz I'm putting myself in this, right, when I read it. And I know that if I'm in that room, certainly I'm fearful, but I'm also like, , what am I supposed to do? What do we need to do? Let's make a plan, right? That's the controlling piece in me of like so, so I just I can picture this like huddled in the room and it's like, okay, what did he say about this? What did he say about that? What do we need to be doing? And he's like, just peace. Like, take a breath and stop that. that that's the
00:18:02 image I guess that I'm kind of getting is this like franticness of like does anybody else remember what he said here? Do you did you write that down, Matthew? Like John's like I didn't get that part. Like I don't know. and Jesus is like just peace. Like calm down. some of that too draws me to Psalm 150 and let everything that has breath praise the Lord. , yeah. Maybe they're spinning Mhm. in that room. They're spiraling. Yeah. They're like Yeah. trying to figure out
00:18:39 what's the next plan. They're locked in a in a room cuz they want to get arrested and see the same thing happen to them that happened to to Jesus. but maybe even that coming into that room, peace, peace be with you. or even like peace I bring you. Yes. Right. this this this even what I reread in Psalm 150 just this repeated praise let everything that has breath praise the Lord boy that would really shift my mindset in a moment of where I'm spiraling to praising God he's still on the throne
00:19:23 he's not surprised by anything in fact with the with Jesus all of this has been a part of the plans, why he came, right? And so peace. Yeah. Well, even as you just said that, so first of all, the first time he says, "Peace be with you." Then he says, "Peace be with you. As the father has sent me, so I'm sending you." So again, I wonder if that's a like, "Stop trying to figure out what to do. I'm sending you. I'll tell you." But then you just said, "Let everything that has breath, praise the
00:19:49 Lord." And right after that, he breathes on them like, "Take my spirit. Here's my spirit." Which we know, right? First Timothy like God has not given us a spirit of fear. He's given us a spirit of power and of sound mind. Jesus is like you are spiraling. Yeah. Yeah. Take my breath. Yeah. And here's what we're going to do. I will send you. You don't have to figure this out. Yeah. and there that reminds me of a story that happened recently where just someone was facing some really trying
00:20:18 times and spiraling in the room in the moment and Elmer happened to Elmer happened to walk in the room at that time and it was chaotic and and a spirit of fear and uncertainty and Elmer's response in that room after taking stock of what's taking place was like, "Let's pray." Yeah. We need to pray. Yeah. Whatever else is happening, you know, doctors, nurses, keep doing what you do, but we're going to pray, right? And they stopped and they prayed. And it instantly shifted from a spiraling and uncertainty and fear. Not
00:21:02 that anything was solved or heal healed in that moment, but what was healed was the peace of God now rested. Yeah. In that room and on that person. Yeah. Well, and doesn't scripture tell us like at the name of Jesus, there's power in his name. And so who know I mean what kind of things what kind of unseen things are existing in that room in the upper room that are causing this stirring of spiraling and chaos and whatever and that at the name of Jesus it's like and forgetting I mean even that space forgetting that God's on the
00:21:34 throne. Yeah. Yeah. Well and that's like son of God may have been crucified and buried and I think in John's account they don't know that he's risen yet. That's how he shows up into the room. That's the first time. Mhm. in John's account that's like your the son of God, the savior, Messiah, maybe crucified and buried in the tomb. God's still on that throne. Yeah. Yeah. Well, and like don't for a second think I haven't always been. I like that's the other piece, right? and John's word
00:22:07 he so I don't know eloquently opens his book with this like the word that has always been it already existed like he already existed everything that was made was made through him and by him and so this idea of like you've put me in this box of like I am your rabbi your teacher I think we do the same Jesus is my savior Jesus rose from the dead he was a good healer he's a good example for me to follow he also has always been there and will always be there and that's the I told
00:22:40 you yesterday morning that I was also woken up early. I know you said this in your message. , and the idea of even the picture actually it's hanging on your wall over here, this painting, , pops into mind of like , Jesus is all of these all of if I if I have decided he's one of these things. I don't know how to play chess. Disclaimer here. I know that shocks you, but I don't know how to play chess. This is my shocked face. Yeah, your face is always just the same face. , but what I visual that I know, you
00:23:16 can correct me if I'm wrong, but the different pieces can do different things. Yes. Yeah. Okay. So, nice job. Good. Because that's what I said yesterday without knowing. You're like, I'm just kidding. I just said it confidently. Actually, if you just say throwing darts in the dark. If you say things confidently, then it just it's fine. You're like eyes closed. , I'm actually really bad at throwing darts, too. , so if I have decided that Jesus is only one of these type of pieces, he's this one thing, then I look
00:23:46 at that painting and I'm like, I'm out. I'm hosed. , and then what we know, the story behind that painting is the chess master is looking and he's like, "This has been mislabeled." Like the devil is not winning here. There's one more move. The king has one more move. And it's that realization of like that that is Jesus. And he always has been. He always will be. always has one more move. , and I'm the one that's put him in a box. And so, if that's true, then what does it look like? What
00:24:14 what does it look like for me to live and to show up as if Jesus is not just a good teacher or a good example or my savior? , in this in that one moment like I've been saved, now I'm good. What's it look like for me to live like Jesus is the king and the lord? And that's where I think Psalm 150, that idea of praise. , Acts 5, we see the disciples once they're once they have received the spirit and their eyes have been open, then they're like, "We have to preach. We got to tell people."
00:24:44 , and I think you even mentioned it just a little bit ago, but Paul's words in second Corinthians, like this idea of a partnership of reconciliation, like get to step into this reconciling the world. And I Yeah. I just think it changes how I live if I see Jesus as all of that and not this one thing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The time the moment we put Jesus in a box which who even are we? We're so limited what we even can perceive to be true. And isn't that what we see in the gospel story? this can,
00:25:25 you know, freedom, freedom from oppression, from Roman rule, , can only happen this one way. When the Messiah comes, this is how it'll be. , and this is what we'll receive and this is how we'll see it. And, , it was already in a box, already prepackaged to then when Jesus comes and offers himself for the life of the world. So many didn't believe, couldn't believe because it didn't fit in that space. It didn't fit in that way. , and yeah, that's where that's where I go back to Gamma Leil's statement of
00:25:57 like, look, if this is from if this is from man, right, this isn't going to last. Yeah. Little it'll fade away. It'll dissolve like every other movement or person that rose up. , but if this is from God, if this is from God, you're not going to be able to stop it. And if you try, Yeah. You'll be you'll be standing in the way of God. Yeah. You may even find yourselves fighting against God. Yeah. Like, who wants to go toe-to-toe with God? Yeah. I don't think I want to be on the other side of that chess board. I
00:26:31 want to be on that on that. So, his side and the enemy does what the enemy does. And but I'm on the one where there's still one more move. The king has one more move. And in fact, if you play that chess game out as the chess master did in in his head, as a chess master does, there's actually victory is in store in five moves. Yeah. Yeah. It's got it's good. That's good. It is good. All right. So, as we wrap this up, what would you say is a kairos from Sunday? What's God saying to you
00:27:07 and how is he inviting you to respond? Yeah. okay. So the thing that that God is speaking out beyond just this overall concept of like am I am I living like Jesus as Lord. I think the other thing that sticks out to me is that in this if we look at the brokenness in our world. So creation right God creates he makes humanity he invites them into a partnership with him. Everything is beautiful and perfect and wonderful. humanity makes a choice. Now there's brokenness in the world. and the
00:27:44 rest of the story is like the putting back together of this, right? But we also know we still live in a very broken world. and for whatever reason, the thing that's sitting with me that that struck me is that God, it's like God, it's like God was like, "Okay, from the moment of the fall, when brokenness enters the world, he's like, okay, I am putting the pieces of this world back together. , but with Jesus, Jesus's life and ministry, his death on the cross, his resurrection, it's like God said, "Okay, the first
00:28:16 thing though is a relationship. We're going to reconcile this relationship. You I am going to give you a way back into right relationship with me, back into the fullness of relationship with me, and then you can help me put the pieces of the physical broken world back together and , you know, the whatever the relational and all of those things." But I don't know why I'm struck by this like part of part of recognizing Jesus as more than just a story in scripture even as more than
00:28:48 just my savior in a single moment. Because I think that's the other thing that I would tell you I started out yesterday the very first thing I did was ask everybody to fill in the blank. Jesus is what? and I think for a lot of us we're like Jesus is the savior and without Jesus like I'm not saved. But we also point that to a moment like we even in the church circle it's like when did you get saved? What's your date? Like whatever. and then that's like what Jesus came for. But if I
00:29:15 understand Jesus in this broader context then really what he came for was so that I could have a reconciled relationship with God. And so for whatever reason God was like that's the thing we're going to do first. These other pieces you can help me 2 Corinthians 5. you're going to help me put the pieces of the world back together, but not before our relationship is right and good and he doesn't hold back in that. That's the other piece I think the veil is torn and all of a sudden it's like, yes,
00:29:43 this brokenness still exists and there will be a day when it's not, but do you know what? You have full access to me right now. I'm not holding anything back anymore. and I that that is like take my breath away kind of thing. Yeah. Jesus is Lord. Yeah. And Jesus is Lord and you can come and be with me. And like you don't all of the prophecies and the promises of what will be that are so beautiful. No more weeping, no more death, no more whatever. Those things are beautiful, but they're not here yet. But there is
00:30:17 no contingency on it's not like in that day then you'll then you'll have full access to my presence. He's like right now because of what Jesus did on the cross and who he is. because he's seated. revelations because he's seated at the right hand of the father. Now I can be part of this kingdom priesthood which gives me access to relationship full nothing held back from that. Yeah, that's good. That's big and deep. Mine's my guy far less. Should you have gone first? I probably should have. So
00:30:53 now like don't be disappointed. , but hey, if it's something God's speaking, that's not disappointing. It's not disappointing, but it's far less just say big picture and grand. It's okay. Just say it. You have to give a caveat. Okay. mine is the peace be with you. And Jesus repeats that in John and he comes into the room and yeah, peace be with you. and he repeats it and repeats it again with Thomas. And for me, I sense there's an invitation there for me like in the places that God sends me,
00:31:34 where is it that I might be able to not because I can in and of myself, but be Christ but because Christ in me, his spirit in me. Yeah. I can go into those places or be in those spaces and say, "Peace be with you." Wherever you were spiraling, remember Christ is Lord. Yeah. He's the son of God and God is still on that throne and his son sits on the right hand interceding on our behalf. Remember like peace be with you. So I think that for me is the invitation in this one of the kairos. Where are those
00:32:11 spaces that God might be sending me or has already positioned me and placed me that I might be able to be that presence. Yeah. and call out that reminder. Yeah. All right, guys. Well, thank you for joining us on this episode of Beyond Sunday, and we look forward to next week as we continue on this road to Pentecost. Take care. [Music]
