When Enemies Preach the Gospel, Part 4

The last gospel sermon from Christ’s enemies that we will consider in this series is the one preached by the chief priests and the scribes, who mocked our Lord as he hung upon the cross.

Mark 15:31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

The chief priests and scribes were joining in the mockery of those who were challenging Christ to prove Himself by coming down from the cross. It was in connection with this challenge that they mocked our Lord saying: “He saved others; himself he cannot save.” Christ indeed had saved others during His ministry on this earth. His miracles were miracles of salvation, saving men from physical, emotional, circumstantial, and spiritual calamities. But now in the time of His dire calamity, Christ could not save Himself.

Little did these chief priests and scribes realize that it was in order to save others that Jesus did not save Himself. Had he saved Himself, we all would have perished in our sin. It was absolutely necessary that He suffer and die on that cross, because that was the means God had determined to make satisfaction for the sins of His people and thus to secure their salvation from sin and all its consequences. Had Christ not suffered and died on that cross, He would not have obeyed His Father.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The very determinate counsel of God was being fulfilled in that crucifixion death.

Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain….

Had Christ come down from that cross, Christ would have disobeyed His Father and the counsel of God would have come to nought. This would never be. This could never be. Had Christ come down from that cross, His whole ministry would have been a lie and His miracles a cheat. It was because He was God’s Christ appointed to die on that cross that He had been able to save others. Indeed, the chief priests and scribes had it right: “Himself he cannot save.” Unbeknown to themselves, they were proclaiming the gospel.

And not saving Himself, our Lord has saved others, yea, a multitude no man can number, a multitude redeemed by the blood He was shedding on that cross.

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation….

Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

It fascinates me that the life and ministry of our Lord was such that even some of the criticisms leveled against Him were testimonies to the truth of His mission. Thank God, He did not save Himself. In not saving Himself, He saved me!

When Enemies Preach the Gospel, Part 3

We now come to the next enemy of our Lord Jesus Christ who unwittingly preached the gospel. He was Pontius Pilate, who issued the decree to have our Lord crucified.

Before we get to his words that express the gospel, let’s establish that Pilate was indeed an enemy of Christ. During the trial of our Lord, Pilate sought to release Jesus as the following verses prove.

John 19:12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

Pilate could find no fault in Jesus. Hence, he tried to persuade the people to release Him. But the pressure of the crowd to eliminate Jesus was so great that Pilate capitulated and gave the decree to have our Lord crucified. Pilate’s cowardice in the face of public pressure placed him in the list of the enemies of Christ as the following passage makes clear.

Acts 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together….

And you will be in that list as well, if you allow the fear of man to move you to act contrary to the truth of Christ. This calls to mind these words of Christ:

Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me….

It was during the trial that Pilate uttered the following words that express the gospel of Christ:

John 19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

Notice Pilate’s reason for delivering Christ up to be crucified: “For I find no fault in him.” According to Pilate’s decree, Christ was condemned to die a criminal’s death because he had committed no crime. This is the very heart of the gospel.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The reason Christ could bear our sins and suffer the condemnation they deserve was because He had no sin of His own. Had He had any faults, He would have had to die for His own sin and, therefore, could not have died for ours. Hence, it was precisely because there was no fault in Him, that He was delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God to be crucified, to be nailed to a tree to be made a curse for us.

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree….

This agreed with the Law of Moses that required the sacrifice of innocent beasts in the place of guilty sinners to make atonement. This was also according to that vivid prophecy of the sufferings and death of Christ given in Isaiah 53.

Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Our Lord died, and that violently, “because he had done no violence.” “Take ye him and crucify him.” But why? “Because he has done no violence.” Or, to put it in Pilate’s words, “For I find no fault in him.”

Don’t you see the gospel in Pilate’s decree? Christ was crucified in the place of sinners because He Himself had no sin. What a sermon Pilate preached that day! As a gospel preacher Pilate did a good job. But given what a compromiser he was, I would also not recommend him for your pastor.

When Enemies Preach the Gospel, Part 2

Today we will consider another example of an enemy of Christ preaching His gospel. That enemy was Caiaphas, the high priest, who was a ringleader in the conspiracy to have our Lord Jesus killed. In the following account we find Caiaphas quite unbeknown to himself preaching the gospel.

John 11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

The particular event that sparked the gathering of this council was the raising of Lazurus from the dead by our Lord. As might be expected, this miracle gained our Lord a considerable amount of notoriety. The chief priests and Pharisees feared a mass conversion to Jesus that would threaten their place of prestige and power. They also feared that the Romans might feel threatened by the popularity of Jesus and would come and destroy their nation. So they consulted among themselves as to how to deal with this threat. It was in response to their fear that Caiphas spoke these words that express the very gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

First of all, notice the arrogance of Caiphas in telling the others that they knew nothing at all. After all, he was the high priest and he should know best. Being the high priest, they would not dare gainsay him. It is not uncommon for those in places of authority to use their position to intimidate others. The message is clear: “What do you know? I am Mr. Big Shot. Listen to me.” However, he was correct in saying that they knew nothing at all. For when it came to Jesus, they were in gross ignorance. But so was Caiphas. He did not even know what he was saying when he said it.

Caiphas’ opinion was that it was expedient that one should die for the people with the result that the whole nation would not perish. Commenting on his statement the Holy Spirit informs us that Caiphas did not speak this of himself, but that being high priest that year he prophesied regarding the death of Jesus. The high priest in Israel was supposed to be a messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 2:7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Quite without intending it, Caiphas was being God’s messenger proclaiming the gospel of the substitutionary death of Christ. He prophesied that Christ would die for the people so that they would not perish. His words were right in harmony with the proclamation of our Lord Jesus regarding His crucifixion death.

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Caiphas did not speak this of himself. To preach Christ’s gospel was the furthest thing from his mind. Of himself he was suggesting a way to secure his own place and his nation from the wrath of Rome. However, his suggested method was according to the divine plan to save men from the wrath of God.

Furthermore, Caiphas taught the gospel of limited atonement. That is, that Christ would die for the elect to save them from perishing rather than dying for all mankind. He preached that Christ would die “for the people, that the whole nation perish not.” He saw Christ’s death as saving the nation, not the entire mass of mankind. Of course, being a Jew, he believed his nation was the chosen people of God. The Holy Spirit gives a commentary on Caiphas’ prophecy and points out that Jesus would not die for that nation only, “but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.” This is precisely the doctrine of the substitutionary death of Christ. Christ died for the children of God, those given to Him by the Father to save.

Hebrews 2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Those who make up the children of God are God’s elect from among the Jews, called in our passage that nation, and God’s elect from among the Gentiles, who are scattered abroad. Paul shows who makes up God’s elect children in that great election chapter, Romans 9.

Romans 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

That verse 24 of Romans 9 sounds a lot like the Holy Spirit’s commentary on the words of Caiphas. Caiphas didn’t know it, but he was preaching Paul’s doctrine. And because of Christ’s death on the cross, all of God’s children, Jew and Gentile, will be gathered together in one, which will mark the culmination of the salvation of all of God’s elect.

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Because Christ died for the people, the whole nation or all of God’s elect, shall never perish. Yes, Caiphas, the archenemy of Jesus Christ, preached a great gospel sermon that day. As a preacher, Caiphas did a good job. But I would not recommend him for your pastor.

When Enemies Preach the Gospel, Part 1

Last evening I was singing the following words to myself:

When He lived on earth abased, Friend of sinners was His name;

Now, above all glory raised, he rejoices in the same.

This song about our Saviour is a favourite of mine. As I sang it, I began to think of the place in Scripture where Christ was called a friend of sinners. We read of Christ being called a friend of sinners in two passages both dealing with the same event. They are Matthew 11:19 and Luke 7:34. In these passages Christ is quoting what His enemies were saying of Him.

Luke 7:34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

That He was a friend of sinners was being registered as a complaint against our Lord. It struck me that what was a complaint against Christ by His enemies, is for believers a glorious theme to be celebrated in beautiful song. Just where would we be if our Lord were not a friend of sinners?

Then consider another complaint made against our Lord by His enemies.

Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Imagine murmuring about that! Had these Pharisees and scribes known what great sinners they were and what a great Saviour Christ Jesus is, they would have been praising God that “this man receiveth sinners.” If Christ is going to receive any man, it will have to be sinners He receives since all men are sinners. If Christ is going to have any friends among men, He will have to be the friend of sinners since that is what all men are.

Although they did not realize it, Christ’s enemies were preaching the gospel. That Christ is a friend of sinners and receives them is the gospel itself. Christ came into this world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). He died for sinners (Romans 5:8). He forgives sinners (Acts 13:38). He receives sinners (Romans 15:7). And He is the friend of sinners (John 15:14).

While on earth, Christ was a friend of sinners and received sinners. Now couple this with the following fact stated in this verse:

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

The song has it right. Although Christ is now raised above all glory, He is still a friend of sinners. He still receives them. Are you an outcast, lonely, needy sinner? Then believe the words of Christ’s enemies and find in the Lord Jesus Christ the friend you need. “What a Friend we have in Jesus!”

Blog About No Blog, Part 3

It seems I have quite a bit to say about saying nothing. We are considering the “time to keep silence,” the time when it is best to say nothing. Another such time is in the face of God coming forth in judgment against sin and sinners.

After prophesying of the judgments that would come upon Babylon for its sins, Habakkuk recorded these oft-sung words:

Habakkuk 2:20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

In the beginning of his prophecy, Habakkuk had complained of the spoiling and violence, and of the strife and contention that were going on about him in his own nation. He raised two questions with respect to the evil surrounding him: “How long?” and “Why?” How many times have these questions been asked when men have witnessed injustice? He HHGod responded by showing Habakkuk that He would raise up the Chaldeans as an instrument of judgment against Israel for its sins. This only perplexed the prophet since God would be using an even more wicked nation to punish His own people. God responded to Habakkuk’s perplexity by revealing that He would also judge the Chaldeans for their wickedness. In the final issue all wickedness would meet with judgment from a holy God. It was in the face of God rising up to judgment that Habakkuk uttered the words we have cited above. Now instead of questioning God as he had done, Habakkuk called upon all the earth to keep silence before such a holy and sovereign God.

In the book of Revelation when the Lamb of God opened the seventh seal, there followed the sounding of the seven trumpets. These trumpets herald fearful judgments to come upon the earth leading up to the final judgment of all nations when the seventh trumpet sounds. As a prelude to the sounding of these seven trumpets we read the following:

Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

Again, we find silence is in order in the face of divine judgment.

When Israel was departing out of Egypt, they reached a point at which the Red Sea was in front of them and Pharaoh’s host was nearing from behind. As Israel began to panic, Moses said this to them:

Exodus 14:13 …Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

The hour of Egypt’s overthrow was at hand. In the face of this approaching judgment Israel was called upon to keep silence.

When Israel marched around Jericho seven times before the walls fell down, Joshua gave them this instruction:

Joshua 6:10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

The overthrow of Jericho marked the beginning of God’s judgments upon the Canaanite nations for their abounding wickedness. As a prelude to this judgment, silence was called for.

Then notice this passage:

Zephaniah 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

8 And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

There is something about the display of God’s wrath in judgment that calls for reverential silence. When you hear the pastor thundering forth God’s threatenings against sin and sinners does it leave you feeling speechless? Well it should! When we see the clouds of divine judgment gathering, it is a time to keep silence before our God and watch Him work. For when God moves forth in judgment against His enemies, He also moves forth in the salvation of His people. Then after the silence comes forth the shout of triumph just as Israel shouted after marching around the wall of Jericho seven times.

Joshua 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

The advice of the Psalmist fits well here:

Psalms 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

As you see God arising in judgment, hold your peace. Know that He is God. Watch Him work as you worship is silent awe.