August 12, 2024 • 26 mins
What if you could navigate today’s contentious world with the same grace and compassion Jesus showed during His darkest hours? Join us on the Hopeful Perspective Podcast as we reflect on Jesus' profound response to betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane, based on Matthew 26. Discover how His choice to heal and forgive, even in the face of arrest, offers timeless lessons for dealing with division and adversaries today. We delve into the poignant story of Judas' betrayal and draw parallels to our contemporary struggles, inviting you to embrace a Christ-like approach to conflict.
As we pivot to a critical discussion on faith versus politics, you'll be challenged to rethink your political allegiances and prioritize your heavenly citizenship. We explore the transformative power of aligning your perspective with Christ’s vision, urging a deep dive into scripture and prayer with humility.
Looking ahead, we preview our upcoming series inspired by "Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You," a book that has deeply impacted my personal journey with Dissociative Identity Disorder. If you have questions about what it was like to live and learn while living with DID, than you will want to tune in for a transformative dialogue designed to strengthen your faith and provide hope!
Are you inspired by what you hear today? Jason deeply appreciates his listeners taking their time to listening, downloading, and sharing The Hopeful Perspective Podcast. Please help me spread 'hope' to others by writing a review for the podcast making it reachable for all who need to be inspired, encouraged, and changed by hoping once again. Further, understand that downloading the podcast is a surefire way to help increase the algorithm thus the reach of The Hopeful Perspective, even if you delete the episode after listening so as to not affect your data storage. I have also provided a (Support the Show) link DIRECTLY ABOVE THIS PARAGRAPH to click on for those who have shared with me they are "all in" and feel called to financially support the mission and vision of The Hopeful Perspective. A special thank you to those who have made this humble step to financially support the podcast. Without you, there is no US!
Jason Hopkins can also be reached on Facebook as well as Instagram and Threads (jayhop9953). You can also follow 'The Hopeful Perspective' FB page; where you can find more information as well as learn about upcoming news and episodes on the The Hopeful Perspective Podcast.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Hopeful Perspective Podcast.
I am your host, jason Hopkins.
This podcast is designed togive you a perspective of hope
that impacts your daily life inan authentic and tangible way.
If you've been with us from thebeginning, you know that I
opened the first six episodes,where we learned how my life
(00:22):
story illustrates God's glorythrough my own experiences
overcoming child abuse andtrauma, 26 foster homes and
institutions, various diagnosesaffect me throughout my life and
an eventual brain tumor,resulting in multiple brain
surgeries on my brain stem.
Despite all of this, I havemoved from merely being a
(00:43):
survivor to a faithful andGod-loving thriver.
Though my past was full of painand suffering, I have been
restored with purpose andsanctification.
I have been redeemed.
I have also been called tofollow Christ within my
redemption.
I want to thank you forlistening today and taking the
time to download our episodes.
(01:04):
I want to thank you forlistening today and taking the
time to download our episodes,as when you download, along with
rating our podcast with anhonest response, you are indeed
helping the algorithm immenselyto spread our reach.
We have also provided a fewoptions to either contact our
show with your direct feedback,as well as to support the
(01:26):
podcast financially if you arecalled to partner with us in
bringing hope to a hurting world.
We are finishing up a seriestoday entitled the Bible and the
Ballot, where we're exploringwhat it means to be a committed
believer in a contentious andpartisan culture.
I'm sure you would agree thatour country is more divided
right now than at any time,probably since the Civil War.
(01:46):
How do we show the love ofChrist during this perilous time
?
This is our venture in lookingat what the scriptures have to
say about our posture and ourattitude.
We have addressed contentioustopics such as the right to life
and the biblical definition ofmarriage, and I even shared
(02:07):
where I stand on what the Bibleteaches.
I shared these insights from myextensive research and
conversations with diversetheological perspectives and
illuminated my own personalstances in order to begin laying
the foundation for a biblicalperspective as a Christian
living in our partisan world.
We last time walked through thescriptures that gave us further
(02:30):
insight.
Today, we are going to talkthrough further biblical
passages that give us more ofJesus' perspective as to how we
approach our enemies, eventhough seemingly out to get him
and or his followers.
So, as always, I encourage youto grab your favorite snack, hot
(02:51):
or cold beverage.
Get comfortable and come onthis journey with me today, as
we explore some of Jesus' truthstaught in the Garden of
Gethsemane and how they apply toour living as a Christian in
our perilous and partisan world.
To begin, I want you to openyour Bible to the book of
Matthew again this week, exceptthis time we are going to pick
(03:13):
up in chapter 26.
We will be resuming a scenewhere Jesus and his followers
are in the Garden of Gethsemaneand their enemies have come to
apprehend them following thebetrayal of the one-time
disciple Judas.
Let's look at it together,starting in verse 47, we read
(03:35):
While he was still speaking,judas, one of the twelve arrived
.
With him was a large crowdarmed with swords and clubs sent
from the chief priests and theelders of the people.
Now the betrayer had arranged asignal with them.
The one I kiss is the man.
Arrest him.
Going at once to Jesus.
(03:56):
Judas said Greetings, rabbi.
And kissed him.
Jesus replied Do what you camefor, friend.
Then the men stepped forward,seized Jesus and arrested him.
Jesus replied sword back in itsplace.
Jesus said to him for all whodraw the sword will die by the
sword.
I just want to pause here andlet you know that in Luke,
(04:34):
chapter 22, verse 51, we get afurther insight where it says
Jesus answered no more of thisand he touched the man's ear and
healed him.
But as we resume in verse 53,do you think I cannot call on my
father and he will at once putat my disposal more than 12
legions of angels?
But how then would thescriptures be fulfilled that say
(04:55):
it must happen in this way?
In that hour, jesus said to thecrowd am I leading a rebellion
that you have come out withswords and clubs to capture me?
Every day I sat in the templecourts teaching, and you did not
arrest me.
But this has all taken placethat the writings of the
prophets might be fulfilled.
And then all the disciplesdeserted him and fled.
(05:20):
In this passage, I want us toconsider a few things.
In this passage, I want us toconsider a few things.
What does this setting in theGarden of Gethsemane teach us
about how we are to handledivisive people, politics and
our enemies?
Let's establish what ishappening.
A few verses earlier, we readabout the deep agony Jesus was
(05:43):
in and the grief that came fromwithin, and so we know if there
was ever a time for him to giveup or to call upon his
protective angels.
This would have been that time.
Secondly, let's take note ofwho is in the camp of Jesus'
adversaries.
The first that appears with hisenemies is one of his own
(06:05):
disciples, judas, who we know.
Only an hour or two prior tothis event happening, he was
breaking bread with Jesus andhis disciples.
Have you ever considered thisfact how soon after Judas is
carrying out deception andbetrayal I know I'm confronted
(06:26):
with this question as well.
Are there believers who, likeJudas, are exchanging truth for
a lie by turning to a faultymovement Instead of the
Pharisees, though it'sconservatism and turning to
false messiahs, such as found incontemporary Trumpism?
Are there believers out therethat, like Judas, are responding
(06:54):
to fear, the way man is alwaystempted to, by taking control in
areas the Lord is certainlyalready sovereign?
They're not fully trusting Godand they're rather willing to
bet on themselves.
God, and they're rather willingto bet on themselves.
Notice this as well.
Judas came close up to Jesus,so if there's ever a time that
Judas would repent for hisbetrayal or to think twice about
(07:16):
his actions, wouldn't you thinkit would be at the moment he
came up so close to the Saviorto give him that kiss.
Yet somehow he was able to comeinto Jesus' very sight and
presence, to look him in the eyeand then betray him.
How does this truth pertain tous, you wonder?
(07:36):
I can't help but to think ofall the times I have heard
believers who claim to be closeto Christ but, instead of
bringing their enemies closer toJesus in humility for possible
prayer, repentance and renewal,are instead betraying Christ and
even using complementarylanguage in Christendom to do so
(07:58):
.
In other words, they are usinglanguage of the kingdom as
fighting words instead of usingthe true spirit of Christ and
his kingdom to deal with hisenemies.
Let's reread what occurs whenthe mob moves in, at the end of
verse 50.
Then the men stepped forward,seized Jesus and arrested him
(08:20):
With that one of Jesus'companions we just read in Luke
that this companion is Peter, noless reached for his sword,
drew it out and struck theservant of the high priest,
cutting off his ear.
And of course we read thatJesus replied Put your sword
back in its place, for all whodraw the sword will die by the
(08:41):
sword.
Here we are in this scene, andI want you to notice that Jesus
does not command the officersand the soldiers that were his
adversaries to put up theirswords that were drawn against
him, as he seemed content toleave them to the judgment of
the Father.
Rather, we see that Jesuscommands Peter to put up his
(09:06):
sword, as he is establishingJesus.
That is a precedent that is tobe followed for generations.
Christ's mission and messageinto the world was to make peace
, not war, and this is where wegather the famous words that you
live by the sword and die bythe sword.
(09:27):
Now, of course, we do not fightwith swords today, so I wonder
what it would sound like if weread live by the gun, die by the
gun.
Live by the second amendment,die by the second amendment.
Amendment die by the secondamendment.
Now wait, jason, are youpromoting that soft, progressive
(09:52):
kind of Christianity thatfar-righters accuse anyone who
says peace is Christ's priorityover insurrection and division?
If you are seriously hearingthis, then I say let's read your
Bible and try again.
What I am actually saying isthat when we claim we have
freedom and rights to be angryand to fight over just as the
Apostle Peter certainly hadcaused to fear and draw his
(10:14):
sword for his rights, then wewill be subjected and
subservient to those same rights.
That is what the Bible says.
When Jesus says to thepresident we live by the sword,
die by the sword.
Now many will try and deflectthe spiritual truths of
scripture by claiming thoseteaching these truths are soft,
(10:38):
if not mistaken altogether.
But I'd like for us to look atthis again only after this next
point.
See, as I was reading thispassage one day in my own
devotional time, somethingjumped at me like it never
before We'd read in the gardenthat it wasn't just a former
follower of Christ in Judas whowas creating damage, but Peter,
(11:02):
when he gave in to fear andimpulse, thinking he was
standing up for Christ, actuallycut the ear off of one of the
adversarial mobsters.
But it's what occurs next thatI want us to look at.
We read it in Luke's gospelthat Jesus, upon rebuking Peter,
then reached out his hand andhealed the soldier's ear.
(11:24):
Did you catch that?
Jesus reached out his hand andoffered respite and healing to
one of the men that was sent toarrest him.
Christ was healing the woundscaused by one of his most
devoted followers against hisown enemies.
(11:45):
This truth moved me and impactedme immensely.
See, it's this scene that Ibelieve speaks most powerfully
to us contemporary believersliving in a tumultuous, divided
and a partisan world?
How many wounds are we creatingin the name of defending our
(12:07):
liberties, thinking we areprotecting our faith and even
our Lord that Jesus himselfhasn't asked us to take charge
of?
How many today are trumpetingour values and our visions, yet
crossing the very line andviolently inciting division
against those enemies that wesupposedly have?
(12:29):
How often do we hear and readhow the Democrats are evil, the
immigrants are all criminal,everyone not voting Republican
is woke and we have to bindtogether to stop the wickedness
in our world.
Yet our exploits are creatingdeep wounds and divisiveness.
(12:50):
In the name of Christ, should wenot be looking to bind up the
brokenhearted and to help be thehope and the healing that the
world desperately needs?
Jesus showed us he needs morepeacemakers.
Not in the name of some soft,progressive, gentle type of
(13:11):
Messiah, as truth deflectorswill claim as a talking point to
put down those calling forbiblical peace.
Rather, being a peacemaker,this day and age even looks like
calling out our own, just likeChrist did in the garden, and
reminding fellow believers thatwe are to be the spiritually
(13:33):
mature ones in the room that thetruth of his mission was not
about division at all, and itcertainly isn't about rights,
violation of our rights andpersecution isn't even an excuse
.
If you think it is, I'd justlike to encourage you to read
(13:53):
the Sermon on the Mount theBeatitudes, and to again read
this scene in Gethsemane.
What you will read is heavenapplauds when we handle
persecution with grace, as thisis when we are the most
Christ-like, and also because wethen get to show the world we
(14:14):
want to see turned to Him thevery contrast of their own ways.
But political idolatry robs usof this power and authority
found in our faith and it makesenemies of the very people we
are called to minister to and toserve, of the very people we
(14:35):
are called to minister to and toserve.
Matthew 5, 11, and 12 declaresto us that you're blessed when
your commitment to God provokespersecution.
The persecution drives you evendeeper into God's kingdom.
Not only that, count yourselvesblessed every time people put
you down or throw you out orspeak lies about you to
discredit me.
What it means is that the truth.
See, when Christians are mocked, we are supposed to rejoice and
(15:01):
celebrate versus becomingdefensive and angry.
Most of all, we are to beputting our trust in God's
sovereignty, that, just as inthe Garden of Gethsemane, these
events needed to happen so as toaccomplish the will of the
Father, so we too put our faithand trust in His will when
(15:22):
politics, persecution andwarfare are being waged around
us.
Again, the spiritually maturewill remember that the weapons
of our warfare are not carnalbut spiritual.
Spiritual discernment is whenwe can see beyond the physical
world in front of us and intothe spiritual truths and the
(15:43):
reality behind the physicalworld.
You see, the spiritually matureare not necessarily the loudest
voices who see evil in theworld and are doing all they can
to combat it with theirlegislation and their ballots.
Does this mean, again, that weshould be full-blown pacifists
and not vote for the candidatesor the laws that tend to follow
(16:05):
Christ's kingdom values?
Of course that's not anythingclose to what we've been
learning in this series.
Of course that's not anythingclose to what we've been
learning in this series.
This is the reason I began thefirst episode in this series
telling you that I am passionateabout the unborn having the
right to life and that I am forthe biblical definition of
marriage and the nuclear family.
(16:27):
We are not to be passive in ourculture.
Rather, what I'm saying is thatthe spiritually mature should
certainly participate in yourlocal and federal government as
devoted citizens, all the whilekeeping an eye on what is truly
behind the evil acts.
That we still remain steadfastand we put our trust in the Lord
(16:51):
, who warned us of these days.
Then we will fight the battleand accomplish as much on our
knees in prayer to our Father inheaven, more so than we do
shaking our fists and pointingour fingers toward a candidate
or the ballot box.
The truly strong and passionateadvocate will defer to Christ
(17:16):
when we begin to experience ourown anxieties and fears.
That will indeed occur as evilpresses in on every side.
The mature believer willacknowledge that Jesus is still
on the throne in heaven,regardless of who is in the
White House.
On the throne in heaven,regardless of who is in the
White House.
Jesus is on the throne nomatter what laws are passed or
(17:37):
what legislation is overturned.
So I ask of you do you believethis today?
Does your social media reflectthis or does it more so, reflect
the donkey or the elephant, theblue shirt or the red hat?
You are subservient to yoursymbols for dividing the people.
(17:58):
I realize that for some of youlistening, you may be steeped
pretty far into this and you arenot convinced by anything that
you're hearing.
That'll change your mind.
Maybe people in spiritualauthority have taught you for
years to take the battle to theballots, and so hearing anything
alternative to this almostsounds unchristian to you.
(18:21):
I get this.
I again have heard of manyleaders and even whole churches
that cross the line of whatJesus taught us of the kingdom
and of our government.
All I can do is encourage you togo to the scriptures yourself,
to read the Bible to discoverthe truth, just as we were doing
(18:46):
today.
Read the Sermon on the Mount,the Beatitudes, all of Jesus'
words and even the ChurchFathers as to what our
priorities are to be concerningour citizenship in heaven versus
our citizenship to our nationsand our worldly governments.
Pray with humility andearnestness, and I know the Lord
(19:10):
will either confirm or convictyou toward the repentance
necessary, and then I know thathe will personally be your
comforter once you havegenuinely turned your heart back
to His will and His ways.
Friends, to err or sin isobviously common in this fallen
(19:30):
world, yet we show our brokenworld the resurrection and the
redemption of Christ when ourhopeful perspective is brought
into alignment with the king'svision, and our king is Christ.
Our kingdom is not of thisworld, so our perspective should
be one of hope, not out ofdesperation.
(19:52):
Our priorities should rise outof our faith, not our fear.
We will be known by our fruit.
If you recall, we coveredGalatians last week and our
fruit will be produced accordingto our roots.
So who and what are you rootedin today?
(20:12):
Maybe others of you have walkedaway from that faith and the
trust that you maybe, perhaps atone time, had placed in Jesus,
or maybe you've been temptedaway in your own pain, like I
once was, to pursue otheravenues you thought provided.
Maybe you have never put yourhope and faith and your trust
(20:33):
nor belief in Christ, but you'refeeling compelled in your
search for truth by theevidences that the Holy Spirit
is clearly illuminating just foryou.
Either way, I would be remissif we left our time today
without providing an opportunityas we do every time on the
Hopeful Perspective for you torespond to Christ, and I want to
(20:54):
pray for you right now.
So all of you that arelistening to this either agree
with this prayer or lift thoseup that are hearing this and
needing this in their life.
Lord Jesus, I repent of my sinsand I surrender this life to you
.
Wash me and cleanse me from allunforgiveness and pride.
(21:18):
I believe that you are the sonof God, that you died on the
cross for the forgiveness of mysins and you rose again on the
third day for my victory.
I believe that in my heart andI want to make confession with
my mouth that you, jesus, are myLord and my Savior.
You are my King.
(21:39):
You are higher than any earthlyking and president, and your
kingdom is forever.
I want to live my lifeaccording to your terms and I
want you to change my reliancefrom myself or on worldly
political pursuits where I'veplaced hope, and instead I trust
your plan and ask for you toput the people and the process
(22:01):
by which I need to pursuerestoration into my life.
Lord, I ask for you to reveal tome where I have mistakenly
become idolatrous in this andwhatever dynamics the enemy has
utilized to keep us apart Ispeak your truth over it when I
have become overzealous in mypassion for politics or
(22:22):
politicians or even just theability to vote, that has taken
me out of balance and away fromfaith.
I ask for your grace and mercyand, most importantly, I ask for
your forgiveness.
Thank you for being a God ofmercy, a God of healing and a
God of truth.
Might I become a bridge builderwho stands on truth, yet does
(22:44):
so with the wisdom anddiscernment of your Holy Spirit.
Give us the spiritual eyes tosee on earth as it is in heaven,
and may our priorities begin toreflect your heart and your
kingdom.
Jesus, we love you.
We have nothing without yoursacrifice, and our life is
(23:05):
meaningless if not for yourdeath and your resurrection.
So it is in your name, jesus ofNazareth, the one true Messiah,
that I pray today.
Amen.
If you have today agreed withthis prayer from the depths of
your heart, I just want topersonally welcome you to the
eternal family of God, or I wantto commend you in your return
(23:30):
to faith.
I think it's important we dothese sort of check-ins with
ourselves and let the HolySpirit reflect to us the areas
that need refining, needfine-tuning.
I also want to continue as anencouragement for you to find an
Orthodox, biblically-basedfaith family who worships the
(23:50):
Lord passionately, and devoteyourself to the reading of the
scriptures, as there is so muchto grow, to learn from and be
discipled in as it pertains tonew life and maturity in Christ.
I'm excited for next time.
On the Hopeful Perspective, wewill begin a new series based on
(24:11):
a book that was instrumental inmy therapy living with
dissociative identity disorder.
This book helped lay thefoundation for me to have a
hopeful perspective about whereI came from and where the Lord
desires to take me forward.
If you are interested at all inthis book and you maybe want to
(24:31):
purchase it, it's entitledLiving from the Heart Jesus Gave
you.
The authors are multiplethere's James Friesen E James
Wilder, Anne Beerling, rickKopke and Mary Beth Poole.
This will be an informativeseries that will apply to
everybody who hears it.
I look forward to being withyou next time on the Hopeful
(24:54):
Perspective as we begin tounpack some of the lessons and
the truths that I learned fromthe Lord in my own battles with
a very rare and intensepersonality disorder.
Until then, I want to thank youfor joining me along this
journey and, if you would be sokind to follow, subscribe if you
(25:15):
haven't, and, most importantly,to rate and write a review for
others on your platform who mayneed to hear the hopeful
perspective in their life.
Did you know that you can alsocontribute monetarily by
pressing our support the showlink that is embedded on your
platform in the episodedescriptions.
Be reassured that all of yourcontributions are utilized to
(25:38):
grow the podcast, to multiplyour equipment, to broaden our
reach and basically just toshare this hope of Jesus Christ.
I want to shout out mygratitude to the multiple new
donors who already have madethis commitment to support the
podcast financially.
Without you, it would not bepossible to reach as many people
(25:59):
with the messages that we do,or anyone who needs to be
reminded that hope is indeedreal.
So thank you so much in advance, hopeful family, and until next
time, remember you are loved.
Welcome to the Hopeful Perspective Podcast.
I am your host, jason Hopkins.
This podcast is designed togive you a perspective of hope
that impacts your daily life inan authentic and tangible way.
If you've been with us from thebeginning, you know that I
opened the first six episodes,where we learned how my life
(00:22):
story illustrates God's glorythrough my own experiences
overcoming child abuse andtrauma, 26 foster homes and
institutions, various diagnosesaffect me throughout my life and
an eventual brain tumor,resulting in multiple brain
surgeries on my brain stem.
Despite all of this, I havemoved from merely being a
(00:43):
survivor to a faithful andGod-loving thriver.
Though my past was full of painand suffering, I have been
restored with purpose andsanctification.
I have been redeemed.
I have also been called tofollow Christ within my
redemption.
I want to thank you forlistening today and taking the
time to download our episodes.
(01:04):
I want to thank you forlistening today and taking the
time to download our episodes,as when you download, along with
rating our podcast with anhonest response, you are indeed
helping the algorithm immenselyto spread our reach.
We have also provided a fewoptions to either contact our
show with your direct feedback,as well as to support the
(01:26):
podcast financially if you arecalled to partner with us in
bringing hope to a hurting world.
We are finishing up a seriestoday entitled the Bible and the
Ballot, where we're exploringwhat it means to be a committed
believer in a contentious andpartisan culture.
I'm sure you would agree thatour country is more divided
right now than at any time,probably since the Civil War.
(01:46):
How do we show the love ofChrist during this perilous time
?
This is our venture in lookingat what the scriptures have to
say about our posture and ourattitude.
We have addressed contentioustopics such as the right to life
and the biblical definition ofmarriage, and I even shared
(02:07):
where I stand on what the Bibleteaches.
I shared these insights from myextensive research and
conversations with diversetheological perspectives and
illuminated my own personalstances in order to begin laying
the foundation for a biblicalperspective as a Christian
living in our partisan world.
We last time walked through thescriptures that gave us further
(02:30):
insight.
Today, we are going to talkthrough further biblical
passages that give us more ofJesus' perspective as to how we
approach our enemies, eventhough seemingly out to get him
and or his followers.
So, as always, I encourage youto grab your favorite snack, hot
(02:51):
or cold beverage.
Get comfortable and come onthis journey with me today, as
we explore some of Jesus' truthstaught in the Garden of
Gethsemane and how they apply toour living as a Christian in
our perilous and partisan world.
To begin, I want you to openyour Bible to the book of
Matthew again this week, exceptthis time we are going to pick
(03:13):
up in chapter 26.
We will be resuming a scenewhere Jesus and his followers
are in the Garden of Gethsemaneand their enemies have come to
apprehend them following thebetrayal of the one-time
disciple Judas.
Let's look at it together,starting in verse 47, we read
(03:35):
While he was still speaking,judas, one of the twelve arrived
.
With him was a large crowdarmed with swords and clubs sent
from the chief priests and theelders of the people.
Now the betrayer had arranged asignal with them.
The one I kiss is the man.
Arrest him.
Going at once to Jesus.
(03:56):
Judas said Greetings, rabbi.
And kissed him.
Jesus replied Do what you camefor, friend.
Then the men stepped forward,seized Jesus and arrested him.
Jesus replied sword back in itsplace.
Jesus said to him for all whodraw the sword will die by the
sword.
I just want to pause here andlet you know that in Luke,
(04:34):
chapter 22, verse 51, we get afurther insight where it says
Jesus answered no more of thisand he touched the man's ear and
healed him.
But as we resume in verse 53,do you think I cannot call on my
father and he will at once putat my disposal more than 12
legions of angels?
But how then would thescriptures be fulfilled that say
(04:55):
it must happen in this way?
In that hour, jesus said to thecrowd am I leading a rebellion
that you have come out withswords and clubs to capture me?
Every day I sat in the templecourts teaching, and you did not
arrest me.
But this has all taken placethat the writings of the
prophets might be fulfilled.
And then all the disciplesdeserted him and fled.
(05:20):
In this passage, I want us toconsider a few things.
In this passage, I want us toconsider a few things.
What does this setting in theGarden of Gethsemane teach us
about how we are to handledivisive people, politics and
our enemies?
Let's establish what ishappening.
A few verses earlier, we readabout the deep agony Jesus was
(05:43):
in and the grief that came fromwithin, and so we know if there
was ever a time for him to giveup or to call upon his
protective angels.
This would have been that time.
Secondly, let's take note ofwho is in the camp of Jesus'
adversaries.
The first that appears with hisenemies is one of his own
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disciples, judas, who we know.
Only an hour or two prior tothis event happening, he was
breaking bread with Jesus andhis disciples.
Have you ever considered thisfact how soon after Judas is
carrying out deception andbetrayal I know I'm confronted
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with this question as well.
Are there believers who, likeJudas, are exchanging truth for
a lie by turning to a faultymovement Instead of the
Pharisees, though it'sconservatism and turning to
false messiahs, such as found incontemporary Trumpism?
Are there believers out therethat, like Judas, are responding
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to fear, the way man is alwaystempted to, by taking control in
areas the Lord is certainlyalready sovereign?
They're not fully trusting Godand they're rather willing to
bet on themselves.
God, and they're rather willingto bet on themselves.
Notice this as well.
Judas came close up to Jesus,so if there's ever a time that
Judas would repent for hisbetrayal or to think twice about
(07:16):
his actions, wouldn't you thinkit would be at the moment he
came up so close to the Saviorto give him that kiss.
Yet somehow he was able to comeinto Jesus' very sight and
presence, to look him in the eyeand then betray him.
How does this truth pertain tous, you wonder?
(07:36):
I can't help but to think ofall the times I have heard
believers who claim to be closeto Christ but, instead of
bringing their enemies closer toJesus in humility for possible
prayer, repentance and renewal,are instead betraying Christ and
even using complementarylanguage in Christendom to do so
(07:58):
.
In other words, they are usinglanguage of the kingdom as
fighting words instead of usingthe true spirit of Christ and
his kingdom to deal with hisenemies.
Let's reread what occurs whenthe mob moves in, at the end of
verse 50.
Then the men stepped forward,seized Jesus and arrested him
(08:20):
With that one of Jesus'companions we just read in Luke
that this companion is Peter, noless reached for his sword,
drew it out and struck theservant of the high priest,
cutting off his ear.
And of course we read thatJesus replied Put your sword
back in its place, for all whodraw the sword will die by the
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sword.
Here we are in this scene, andI want you to notice that Jesus
does not command the officersand the soldiers that were his
adversaries to put up theirswords that were drawn against
him, as he seemed content toleave them to the judgment of
the Father.
Rather, we see that Jesuscommands Peter to put up his
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sword, as he is establishingJesus.
That is a precedent that is tobe followed for generations.
Christ's mission and messageinto the world was to make peace
, not war, and this is where wegather the famous words that you
live by the sword and die bythe sword.
(09:27):
Now, of course, we do not fightwith swords today, so I wonder
what it would sound like if weread live by the gun, die by the
gun.
Live by the second amendment,die by the second amendment.
Amendment die by the secondamendment.
Now wait, jason, are youpromoting that soft, progressive
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kind of Christianity thatfar-righters accuse anyone who
says peace is Christ's priorityover insurrection and division?
If you are seriously hearingthis, then I say let's read your
Bible and try again.
What I am actually saying isthat when we claim we have
freedom and rights to be angryand to fight over just as the
Apostle Peter certainly hadcaused to fear and draw his
(10:14):
sword for his rights, then wewill be subjected and
subservient to those same rights.
That is what the Bible says.
When Jesus says to thepresident we live by the sword,
die by the sword.
Now many will try and deflectthe spiritual truths of
scripture by claiming thoseteaching these truths are soft,
(10:38):
if not mistaken altogether.
But I'd like for us to look atthis again only after this next
point.
See, as I was reading thispassage one day in my own
devotional time, somethingjumped at me like it never
before We'd read in the gardenthat it wasn't just a former
follower of Christ in Judas whowas creating damage, but Peter,
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when he gave in to fear andimpulse, thinking he was
standing up for Christ, actuallycut the ear off of one of the
adversarial mobsters.
But it's what occurs next thatI want us to look at.
We read it in Luke's gospelthat Jesus, upon rebuking Peter,
then reached out his hand andhealed the soldier's ear.
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Did you catch that?
Jesus reached out his hand andoffered respite and healing to
one of the men that was sent toarrest him.
Christ was healing the woundscaused by one of his most
devoted followers against hisown enemies.
(11:45):
This truth moved me and impactedme immensely.
See, it's this scene that Ibelieve speaks most powerfully
to us contemporary believersliving in a tumultuous, divided
and a partisan world?
How many wounds are we creatingin the name of defending our
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liberties, thinking we areprotecting our faith and even
our Lord that Jesus himselfhasn't asked us to take charge
of?
How many today are trumpetingour values and our visions, yet
crossing the very line andviolently inciting division
against those enemies that wesupposedly have?
(12:29):
How often do we hear and readhow the Democrats are evil, the
immigrants are all criminal,everyone not voting Republican
is woke and we have to bindtogether to stop the wickedness
in our world.
Yet our exploits are creatingdeep wounds and divisiveness.
(12:50):
In the name of Christ, should wenot be looking to bind up the
brokenhearted and to help be thehope and the healing that the
world desperately needs?
Jesus showed us he needs morepeacemakers.
Not in the name of some soft,progressive, gentle type of
(13:11):
Messiah, as truth deflectorswill claim as a talking point to
put down those calling forbiblical peace.
Rather, being a peacemaker,this day and age even looks like
calling out our own, just likeChrist did in the garden, and
reminding fellow believers thatwe are to be the spiritually
(13:33):
mature ones in the room that thetruth of his mission was not
about division at all, and itcertainly isn't about rights,
violation of our rights andpersecution isn't even an excuse
.
If you think it is, I'd justlike to encourage you to read
(13:53):
the Sermon on the Mount theBeatitudes, and to again read
this scene in Gethsemane.
What you will read is heavenapplauds when we handle
persecution with grace, as thisis when we are the most
Christ-like, and also because wethen get to show the world we
(14:14):
want to see turned to Him thevery contrast of their own ways.
But political idolatry robs usof this power and authority
found in our faith and it makesenemies of the very people we
are called to minister to and toserve, of the very people we
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are called to minister to and toserve.
Matthew 5, 11, and 12 declaresto us that you're blessed when
your commitment to God provokespersecution.
The persecution drives you evendeeper into God's kingdom.
Not only that, count yourselvesblessed every time people put
you down or throw you out orspeak lies about you to
discredit me.
What it means is that the truth.
See, when Christians are mocked, we are supposed to rejoice and
(15:01):
celebrate versus becomingdefensive and angry.
Most of all, we are to beputting our trust in God's
sovereignty, that, just as inthe Garden of Gethsemane, these
events needed to happen so as toaccomplish the will of the
Father, so we too put our faithand trust in His will when
(15:22):
politics, persecution andwarfare are being waged around
us.
Again, the spiritually maturewill remember that the weapons
of our warfare are not carnalbut spiritual.
Spiritual discernment is whenwe can see beyond the physical
world in front of us and intothe spiritual truths and the
(15:43):
reality behind the physicalworld.
You see, the spiritually matureare not necessarily the loudest
voices who see evil in theworld and are doing all they can
to combat it with theirlegislation and their ballots.
Does this mean, again, that weshould be full-blown pacifists
and not vote for the candidatesor the laws that tend to follow
(16:05):
Christ's kingdom values?
Of course that's not anythingclose to what we've been
learning in this series.
Of course that's not anythingclose to what we've been
learning in this series.
This is the reason I began thefirst episode in this series
telling you that I am passionateabout the unborn having the
right to life and that I am forthe biblical definition of
marriage and the nuclear family.
(16:27):
We are not to be passive in ourculture.
Rather, what I'm saying is thatthe spiritually mature should
certainly participate in yourlocal and federal government as
devoted citizens, all the whilekeeping an eye on what is truly
behind the evil acts.
That we still remain steadfastand we put our trust in the Lord
(16:51):
, who warned us of these days.
Then we will fight the battleand accomplish as much on our
knees in prayer to our Father inheaven, more so than we do
shaking our fists and pointingour fingers toward a candidate
or the ballot box.
The truly strong and passionateadvocate will defer to Christ
(17:16):
when we begin to experience ourown anxieties and fears.
That will indeed occur as evilpresses in on every side.
The mature believer willacknowledge that Jesus is still
on the throne in heaven,regardless of who is in the
White House.
On the throne in heaven,regardless of who is in the
White House.
Jesus is on the throne nomatter what laws are passed or
(17:37):
what legislation is overturned.
So I ask of you do you believethis today?
Does your social media reflectthis or does it more so, reflect
the donkey or the elephant, theblue shirt or the red hat?
You are subservient to yoursymbols for dividing the people.
(17:58):
I realize that for some of youlistening, you may be steeped
pretty far into this and you arenot convinced by anything that
you're hearing.
That'll change your mind.
Maybe people in spiritualauthority have taught you for
years to take the battle to theballots, and so hearing anything
alternative to this almostsounds unchristian to you.
(18:21):
I get this.
I again have heard of manyleaders and even whole churches
that cross the line of whatJesus taught us of the kingdom
and of our government.
All I can do is encourage you togo to the scriptures yourself,
to read the Bible to discoverthe truth, just as we were doing
(18:46):
today.
Read the Sermon on the Mount,the Beatitudes, all of Jesus'
words and even the ChurchFathers as to what our
priorities are to be concerningour citizenship in heaven versus
our citizenship to our nationsand our worldly governments.
Pray with humility andearnestness, and I know the Lord
(19:10):
will either confirm or convictyou toward the repentance
necessary, and then I know thathe will personally be your
comforter once you havegenuinely turned your heart back
to His will and His ways.
Friends, to err or sin isobviously common in this fallen
(19:30):
world, yet we show our brokenworld the resurrection and the
redemption of Christ when ourhopeful perspective is brought
into alignment with the king'svision, and our king is Christ.
Our kingdom is not of thisworld, so our perspective should
be one of hope, not out ofdesperation.
(19:52):
Our priorities should rise outof our faith, not our fear.
We will be known by our fruit.
If you recall, we coveredGalatians last week and our
fruit will be produced accordingto our roots.
So who and what are you rootedin today?
(20:12):
Maybe others of you have walkedaway from that faith and the
trust that you maybe, perhaps atone time, had placed in Jesus,
or maybe you've been temptedaway in your own pain, like I
once was, to pursue otheravenues you thought provided.
Maybe you have never put yourhope and faith and your trust
(20:33):
nor belief in Christ, but you'refeeling compelled in your
search for truth by theevidences that the Holy Spirit
is clearly illuminating just foryou.
Either way, I would be remissif we left our time today
without providing an opportunityas we do every time on the
Hopeful Perspective for you torespond to Christ, and I want to
(20:54):
pray for you right now.
So all of you that arelistening to this either agree
with this prayer or lift thoseup that are hearing this and
needing this in their life.
Lord Jesus, I repent of my sinsand I surrender this life to you
.
Wash me and cleanse me from allunforgiveness and pride.
(21:18):
I believe that you are the sonof God, that you died on the
cross for the forgiveness of mysins and you rose again on the
third day for my victory.
I believe that in my heart andI want to make confession with
my mouth that you, jesus, are myLord and my Savior.
You are my King.
(21:39):
You are higher than any earthlyking and president, and your
kingdom is forever.
I want to live my lifeaccording to your terms and I
want you to change my reliancefrom myself or on worldly
political pursuits where I'veplaced hope, and instead I trust
your plan and ask for you toput the people and the process
(22:01):
by which I need to pursuerestoration into my life.
Lord, I ask for you to reveal tome where I have mistakenly
become idolatrous in this andwhatever dynamics the enemy has
utilized to keep us apart Ispeak your truth over it when I
have become overzealous in mypassion for politics or
(22:22):
politicians or even just theability to vote, that has taken
me out of balance and away fromfaith.
I ask for your grace and mercyand, most importantly, I ask for
your forgiveness.
Thank you for being a God ofmercy, a God of healing and a
God of truth.
Might I become a bridge builderwho stands on truth, yet does
(22:44):
so with the wisdom anddiscernment of your Holy Spirit.
Give us the spiritual eyes tosee on earth as it is in heaven,
and may our priorities begin toreflect your heart and your
kingdom.
Jesus, we love you.
We have nothing without yoursacrifice, and our life is
(23:05):
meaningless if not for yourdeath and your resurrection.
So it is in your name, jesus ofNazareth, the one true Messiah,
that I pray today.
Amen.
If you have today agreed withthis prayer from the depths of
your heart, I just want topersonally welcome you to the
eternal family of God, or I wantto commend you in your return
(23:30):
to faith.
I think it's important we dothese sort of check-ins with
ourselves and let the HolySpirit reflect to us the areas
that need refining, needfine-tuning.
I also want to continue as anencouragement for you to find an
Orthodox, biblically-basedfaith family who worships the
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Lord passionately, and devoteyourself to the reading of the
scriptures, as there is so muchto grow, to learn from and be
discipled in as it pertains tonew life and maturity in Christ.
I'm excited for next time.
On the Hopeful Perspective, wewill begin a new series based on
(24:11):
a book that was instrumental inmy therapy living with
dissociative identity disorder.
This book helped lay thefoundation for me to have a
hopeful perspective about whereI came from and where the Lord
desires to take me forward.
If you are interested at all inthis book and you maybe want to
(24:31):
purchase it, it's entitledLiving from the Heart Jesus Gave
you.
The authors are multiplethere's James Friesen E James
Wilder, Anne Beerling, rickKopke and Mary Beth Poole.
This will be an informativeseries that will apply to
everybody who hears it.
I look forward to being withyou next time on the Hopeful
(24:54):
Perspective as we begin tounpack some of the lessons and
the truths that I learned fromthe Lord in my own battles with
a very rare and intensepersonality disorder.
Until then, I want to thank youfor joining me along this
journey and, if you would be sokind to follow, subscribe if you
(25:15):
haven't, and, most importantly,to rate and write a review for
others on your platform who mayneed to hear the hopeful
perspective in their life.
Did you know that you can alsocontribute monetarily by
pressing our support the showlink that is embedded on your
platform in the episodedescriptions.
Be reassured that all of yourcontributions are utilized to
(25:38):
grow the podcast, to multiplyour equipment, to broaden our
reach and basically just toshare this hope of Jesus Christ.
I want to shout out mygratitude to the multiple new
donors who already have madethis commitment to support the
podcast financially.
Without you, it would not bepossible to reach as many people
(25:59):
with the messages that we do,or anyone who needs to be
reminded that hope is indeedreal.
So thank you so much in advance, hopeful family, and until next
time, remember you are loved.
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