Eyes on God: Lesson 4
Overview
God, the One Who Responds
The disciples Jesus called were ordinary people, and their experience reveals a common thread of human emotion that we still recognize today: fear, trouble, and despair. When Jesus sent the Twelve out on mission, He did not soften the difficulty of what awaited them. In Matthew 10:16–25, He warned of wolves, councils, floggings, and hatred for His name's sake. After the crucifixion, the disciples huddled behind locked doors "for fear of the Jews" John 20:19. At the Last Supper, they were troubled when Jesus spoke of betrayal and departure John 13:21–38. And Peter, after denying his Lord three times, "went out and wept bitterly" Luke 22:55–62. These are real people with real emotions—and we share them.
The good news is that God does not stand back with folded arms and tell us to "get a grip." He responds. To anxious disciples sent into hostile places, Jesus promised the Spirit's words and reminded them they were of more value than many sparrows: "So do not be afraid" Matthew 10:26–31. To the frightened group behind locked doors, He came and stood among them, saying, "Peace be with you" John 20:19–20. To troubled hearts at the table, He gave the assurance of a prepared place and named Himself the way, the truth, and the life John 14:1–6. He promised the Holy Spirit and a peace the world cannot give: "Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid" John 14:18–27.
Most tenderly, Jesus did not turn His back on Peter after the denials. By the charcoal fire, He asked three times, "Do you love me?"—matching three denials with three restorations and recommissioning Peter to feed His sheep John 21:15–17. This is the heart of God toward His people. We know that heart because of the cross where our sins were atoned, the empty tomb, the promise of heaven, and the witness of Scripture itself.
In days of pandemic and uncertainty, fear and trouble are no strangers. But the God who heard the cries of His disciples hears ours, and He still responds with His reassuring Word. When you feel afraid, run to the revealed God in Christ. Receive His peace, lean on His Spirit, and remember: you are of more value than many sparrows, and not one of them falls apart from your Father.
Transcript
Good morning. Let's pray together, please. 1s
Grace of Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this time and your word, your word is 4s
truth. We give you thanks, O Lord, that you continually lift our eyes unto you, that we can 9s
live on the sure foundation, the bedrock of your word. As we go, O Lord, through these 17s
difficult times, we do so with the confidence that you are still on your throne, that you 24s
are still sovereign, and that you indeed not only hear our cry, but you respond to our 31s
cry. Bless now, this time of study in your holy word in Jesus' name. Amen. 38s
Well, welcome to the fourth session in this series I've entitled Eyes on God, as we are 47s
looking at the pandemic through the lenses of Holy Scripture. And as we look through the 53s
lenses of Holy Scripture, our eyes are lifted up unto God Almighty. We can be so tempted 60s
to look elsewhere, but the Word of God gives us our joy and our hope as we go through 70s
the difficult times and the days in which we are in. I'd like just to give a brief overview 77s
of what we have studied so far, and then we'll move into our fourth session together. In the first 83s
session, we took a look at the topic God, the Lord, God, the Lord. We examine three things. One, 90s
God never, ever changes. God is absolutely constant. He's constant in who he is. He's constant 97s
with regard to his promises. God is not fickle and changing in his person. God does not change. 107s
Secondly, we took a look at that faithfulness of his promises, that if God says it, you can count 117s
on it. And third, how God freely gives his mercy to us all. So God never changes. He's faithful to 126s
his promises and he freely bestows his mercy. In the second session, we took a look at the topic, 137s
God amidst the storm. And we address the question of why, especially in difficult times in our life, 144s
we say, why God is this happening? And relatedly, the question, where God are you? We took a look at how 151s
we don't know the why answer, but we know the who. And knowing the who, the Lord Jesus, we know the 161s
what? What he can bring out of difficult times such as those that we're going through. How he can 169s
bring us dependency. Remember, we were created to be absolutely dependent upon God. The animal that we are 181s
compared to and Holy Scripture is the sheep, which is the most dependent animal that God has created. 188s
And when he comes to us, then God says my sheep. We are to be dependent on God for everything. 196s
So we're looking at the why question. We don't know the answer to the why, but we do know the who, 204s
God, and we do know what he can accomplish through difficult times. We also examined how Martin 209s
Luther said that amidst times in which we say these are bad times and God doesn't explain the reason 217s
for the bad times. That what we're dealing with, what Luther said was the hidden God. And that at 224s
times when we're dealing with the hidden God, what we should do is we should run to the revealed God. 232s
He is revealed who he is in the Lord Jesus Christ. He's revealed who he is in his promises. He's 238s
revealed who he is through the cross and the empty tomb. He's revealed who he is in the very pages 245s
of Holy Scripture. And so when we face the hidden God, where we don't have the answer to the why, 253s
we run to the revealed God, the God that we know. Last week we took a look at the topic 261s
God, the one who hears our cries. We examine how fear can come from without, it can come from within, 267s
it can come from all around. And that we do not have a God who turns a deaf ear to us, 277s
but he hears the very cries and he comes to us with his glorious fear not. 285s
Today I'd like to continue to examine the response of God in a session I've 294s
entitled God, the one who responds. God, the one who responds. As you turn the pages of 298s
Scripture and you examine the various people in Holy Scripture, they are in credibly ordinary, 308s
aren't they? These are average people that God uses to his glory, 314s
average people that we see in Holy Scripture. There is such a commonality that we have with one 323s
another. Indeed, we're all created differently. We're all created uniquely. When God created 331s
you and He created me, He broke the mold. It's never to be repeated again. God has uniquely 338s
put His stamp of creation on each one of us. That being said, there's incredible commonality 346s
that we share. That is part of the human race, is part of being a human being. There are fears, 354s
there are disappointments, there are troubles. As we're talking with one another, we can say, 363s
you know, I understand that. I understand it because it's part of the human experience. 371s
I want to start today in Matthew the 10th chapter. Here are these ordinary people that God had 380s
called the 12 and He's giving them instructions as He sends them out in mission. So let's start in the 389s
very first book in the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew, the 10th chapter, please. Matthew chapter 396s
10 and we'll start in verse 16. Matthew 10 verse 16. Jesus said this, 403s
See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves. So be wise as serpents and 414s
innocent as dogs. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their 422s
synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me as a testimony to them 430s
and the Gentiles. Drop down please to verse 22, the first part. You will be hated by all because 439s
of my name, the first part of 23. When they persecute you in one town flee to the next, 452s
and then verse 24. A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master. It is 465s
enough for the disciple to be like the teacher and the slave like the master. If they have called the 475s
master of the house be eligible or Satan, how much more will they malign those of his households? 483s
So try and crawl into the sandals here of the disciples. Jesus is giving instructions as he sends 494s
them out for this mission trip, and those are some of the things that he is sharing with them. 500s
How might you feel when you hear those words? Because Jesus is not missing any words. He's not 508s
candy coating what the experience is going to be like. He is telling them the truth. This is what 515s
is going to happen to you. And so as you crawl into the sandals of the people and you hear the words, 522s
how might you have felt as Jesus shared those instructions to you? Afraid? Afraid? 530s
Let's go to John the 20th chapter, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and then John. John chapter 20, 542s
and we'll pick up in verse 19. This is after the cross. It's after the resurrection. 551s
Beginning in verse 19 of chapter 20, we read this, when it was evening on that day, the first day of 562s
the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews. 569s
You see, the disciples just didn't understand. The constant teaching that Jesus was giving with regard 578s
to the necessity for his suffering, his death, and his resurrection. They had all these expectations, 585s
and all these hopes for the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. And now, after the cross, they're just 592s
huddled together in the room. They're filled with fear, their comprehension of what Jesus Christ had 597s
told them, surely lacking. And the scripture says, they were afraid. They were afraid. 606s
We understand fear. Every human being has been, is or will be afraid? We understand fear. 618s
The followers of the Lord Jesus Christ were average humans just like us, and fear was no stranger 631s
to them. Let's turn to the 13th chapter of John, the 13th chapter of John. 642s
Jesus, in this setting, is celebrating the Passover. The cross is imminent. It's the last time that he's 654s
going to celebrate the Passover with his disciples. And so we pick up in verse 21 of John the 13th chapter. 662s
The scripture says, after saying this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, 672s
very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me. The disciples looked at one another uncertain 681s
of whom he was speaking. Jump down now, please, to verse 33 of the same chapter. Jesus says, 689s
little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me. And as I said to the Jews, 700s
so now I say to you, where I am going, you cannot come. And further down into verse 36. 708s
Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus answered, where I am going, you cannot 719s
follow me now, but you will follow after. Peter said to him, Lord, why can I not follow you now? I 726s
will lay down my life for you. Jesus answered, will you lay down your life for me? 736s
Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times. 746s
So put yourself back there in ancient day once again. You're hearing these words from the Lord 756s
Jesus Christ. The cross is imminent. You're celebrating the Passover. And Jesus says this, put yourself 762s
as if you're Peter. And Jesus turns and says, you'll deny me. You'll deny me three times. 771s
How might they have felt? Troubled? Troubled? 782s
Let's go to Luke, the 22nd chapter, Matthew, Mark, and then Luke. Luke chapter 22 will pick up in verse 55. 792s
Luke chapter 22, picking up in verse 55. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of a court yard and 805s
sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him in the firelight, 816s
stared at him and said, this man also was with him. But he denied it, saying, woman, I do not know him. 824s
Although later someone else on seeing him said, you also are one of them, but Peter said, man, I am not. 835s
Then about an hour later, still another kept insisting, surely this man also was with him for he is 844s
a Galilean. The Peter said, man, I do not know what you're talking about. At that moment, while he was 852s
still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter, then Peter remembered the 864s
word of the Lord how he had said to him, before the cock crowed today, you will deny me three times. 873s
And he went out and wept bitterly. Imagine, imagine, you are a Peter. Imagine, you have just 881s
denied the Lord three times exactly what the Lord has said. Imagine seeing the look as Jesus looks 891s
at you. How might you feel? The spare? The spare? As humans, we know the feelings of fear. We know 903s
the feelings of the despair. The disciples were average human beings. They felt those emotions and we 921s
do too. How about in the days that we're living through right now? Have you felt fear? Being troubled? 933s
Even despair? We understand those feelings. We experience those feelings. And so when we see it in the 947s
average people that Jesus chose, we turn the camera then back on us and we see it in ourselves 960s
times in which we're just afraid, times in which we're troubled and times that we just feel despair. 970s
When we feel that way, when we feel fear or when we feel troubled or when we feel despaired, 982s
God does not look upon us and say, get a grip. The Lord Jesus does not fold his arms and look at us 994s
with a disapproving skull. God doesn't say, get a grip. God reaches out to us. He responds to us. 1005s
He reassures us. We know his heart because we know the cross. We know that our sins have been a 1021s
tone for. We know the heart of God because the tomb is empty. We know the heart of God because he 1030s
has prepared for us a glorious future in heaven itself. We know the heart of God because God 1038s
pours out his heart in holy scripture. And so amidst our times of fear, amidst our times of feeling 1045s
troubled, amidst our times of feeling despair, we know that God does not turn the deaf ear, 1052s
but that God responds to us. Let's go back to Matthew 10 once again. Matthew the 10th chapter, 1064s
the first book in the New Testament, the first gospel, Matthew chapter 10. Remember this is amidst 1077s
a section once again that he's giving the instructions for the disciples as he's going to send them 1085s
out in mission. Jesus has been very honest, very honest about what they're going to face. Notice 1091s
what else he says. Let's pick up in verse 19 of chapter 10. When they hand you over, do not worry 1099s
about how you are to speak or what you are to say for what you are to say will be given to you 1111s
at that time. For it is not you who speak, but the spirit of your Father speaking through you. 1118s
Go down to verse 26, please, same chapter. So have no fear of them. For nothing is covered up 1129s
that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the 1138s
dark, tell on the light in what you hear whispered proclaim upon the house tops. Do not fear those 1144s
who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body 1152s
in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny, yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart 1160s
from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid. You are of 1171s
more value than many sparrows. Jesus knows what they were feeling. Jesus knows what they were 1182s
thinking as Jesus is honest with them and says this is what you will experience. Jesus knows exactly 1193s
the feelings that are occurring and what does he do? He responds and reassures. 1200s
Let's go back to John the 20th chapter. Matthew, Mark, Luke and then John, John chapter 20. 1210s
Picking up in verse 19, once again, when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, 1221s
the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews. 1226s
Jesus came and stood among them and said, peace be with you. After he said this, he showed them his 1233s
hands and his side, then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus knew of their fear, 1242s
Jesus knew of their questions and what does he do? He doesn't fold his arms and say, get a grip. 1251s
He comes and reassures. Let's go to John the 14th chapter. John chapter 14. 1263s
Once again, the situation there is as Jesus had gathered to celebrate the Passover, the cross is 1275s
looming. Jesus says that one will betray. Notice what he says in the 14th chapter. 1282s
Do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me. 1292s
In my Father's house, there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, what I have told you 1297s
that I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again 1302s
and will take you to myself so that where I am, there you may be also, and you know the way to the 1309s
place where I am going. And here comes this honesty of the disciples once again. Thomas said to him, 1317s
Lord, we don't know where you're going. How can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I'm the way 1325s
and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, 1332s
you will know my Father also. From now on, you do know Him and I have seen Him. 1341s
Jesus knew what they were thinking, Jesus knew of their feelings, and what has He come? 1351s
He comes and reassures them. He responds to them. Pick up, please, same chapter, verse 18. 1356s
Jesus says, I will not leave you orphaned. I am coming to you. In a little while, well, 1368s
the world will no longer see me, but you will see me because I live. You also will live. 1375s
Let's go down in the same chapter, verse 26. But the advocate, the Holy Spirit, 1386s
whom the Father will send in my name will teach you everything and will mind you of all that I've 1394s
said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world 1399s
gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid. He knew. He knew the hearts 1405s
were troubled. He knew they were afraid and he responds to reassure. Let's go lastly to John, 1416s
21st chapter. John chapter 21, we'll pick up in verse 15. This is after the resurrection. This is 1429s
one of the resurrection appearances. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 1438s
Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. 1447s
Jesus said to him, feed my lambs. A second time, he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me? 1456s
He said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, 10, my sheep. 1464s
He said to him the third time, Simon son of John, do you love me? Peter felt hurt because he 1470s
said to him the third time, do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know everything. You know 1476s
that I love you. Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. What is Jesus doing? Remember Peter denying 1482s
him how many times? Three times. How many questions does Jesus ask? Three questions. 1493s
And Peter responds in the affirmative to the Lord Jesus Christ, not the Nile, but as a follower. 1503s
See Jesus didn't turn his back on Peter and give up on Peter? But what Jesus did was come to him, 1516s
reassure him with his precious word. God responds to our feel, our fear and our feelings of 1526s
feeling troubled, our feelings of despair. He hears the cry and he answers, he reassures. 1541s
He did it then and he continues to do it today. The Lord be with you. 1554s