#8 (The 12 Disciples
Series)
"JUDE – THE REALIST!"
(Also called: "Lebbaeus
& Thaddaeus")
TEXTS: John
14:15-24; Luke 16:19-31
INTRO: If only God
would listen to me! I could win the
world for Jesus if God would only follow my evangelistic plan, it would go
something like this:
1. First we would have Jesus come down
physically to this planet and get rid of all the terrorists by a hand gesture
and then have Jesus rule as king over the whole
planet!
2. Second we would have Jesus multiply
all the food resources in the world so that no one goes
hungry.
3. We would broadcast on world-wide TV
Jesus speaking with a single command and healing all the sick people so all the
hospitals would empty out at once, no more sick
people.
4. Jesus would give gold to everyone
thus making everyone rich.
5. Every person would miraculously
receive a brand new Cadillac.
6. Jesus would destroy every evil
political system and dictator.
This was pretty much the plan the
disciples had for Jesus (except the Cadillac & TV broadcast). Jude was the realist of the group. When Jesus talked about going away and
leaving them and only revealing Himself to them and not the world Judas (not
Iscariot) protested Jesus' plan, in essence saying:
"GET REAL JESUS, WHY ONLY TO US? WE ALREADY BELIEVE, HOW ABOUT ALL THOSE
UNBELIEVERS? DO A GREAT MIRACLE FOR
THEM SO THEY WILL BELIEVE! THIS IS
NO PLAN TO BUILD YOUR KINGDOM, WE NEED TO SOMETHING
DRAMATIC!"
Yet the Bible teaches that miracles
alone are not sufficient to make followers of Jesus Christ, it takes something
more than that!
PROP SENT: The Bible teaches that faith
and obedience to God's Word are required to be a true follower of Jesus
Christ. This is the greatest
reality!
I. THE REAL PLAN! John 14:15-21
A. Cross 14:16-20
1. Jesus shares with all His disciples
His plan for saving the world, it includes the cross and then leaving them
behind while He goes back to heaven!
a. This was not their idea of saving
the world, their ideas included some of the suggestions I mentioned in my
introduction.
b. Jesus promised them however that He
would not leave them orphaned, He would send them “another” (meaning: “someone just like Him”) … the Holy
Spirit that would empower them and help them.
c. Jesus does promise them that He
will appear to them however before He goes back to heaven, but He will NOT
APPEAR to the world before He goes back, this is the issue that brought out “Judas the
realist” to question Jesus’ plan!
2. What kind of crazy plan did God
devise for saving mankind? Why not
just open the heavens and tell off all the sinners and make everyone get
saved?
a. For one thing, this wouldn't be
love, it would be coercion!
b. People forced this way would resent
having to serve God!
3. Jesus' plan was so much better,
show His love by paying the price for our sins and then invite in love those who
wish to fellowship with Him to come, our choice!
a. The condition of coming was simply
faith, something both rich and poor could give!
b. His first coming was an invitation;
the second coming will be to set things straight!
c. He came to reveal Himself to those
who respond by faith FIRST, faith thus is a
requirement.
4. This “cross” concept just didn’t
sit well with “Judas the
realist!”
a. It still doesn’t sit well with
realists today!
b. Most people today who are
“realists” have a hard time understanding the concept of salvation by the cross
of
c. What we need according to realists
is better education, better jobs, better politicians, and better health … then
the world will be saved.
B. Commands
1. Jesus' plan for them while He is
gone is for them to obey His Word, and to help them with this He will give them
His Holy Spirit!
2. Jesus clearly connects “loving
Him” with “obeying His
commands!”
3. Their obedience to His Word would
keep them close to Him, this is the fruit of love and
obedience:
ILLUS: LIKE THE
LITTLE BOY WHO WAS FOUND BY A POLICE OFFICER RIDING HIS BIKE AROUND THE BLOCK IN
CIRCLES ALL DAY LONG. THE LITTLE
BOY WAS RIDING ALL DAY FURIOUSLY.
FINALLY THE POLICE OFFICER STOPPED THE BOY AND ASKED HIM WHY HE WAS GOING
ROUND AND ROUND ALL THE TIME. THE
BOY SAID HE WAS RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME, HE WAS MAD AT HIS MOM! THE CONFUSED POLICEMAN THEN ASKED BY HE
WENT AROUND THE BLOCK OVER AND OVER AGAIN IF HE WAS RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME! THE BOY'S ANSWER WAS INTERESTING: HE
SAID, "BECAUSE MY MOM SAID THAT I'M NOT ALLOWED TO CROSS THE STREET!" THE LITTLE BOY'S OBEDIENCE TO HIS MOM
KEPT HIM CLOSE TO HOME AND CLOSE TO HIS MOTHER'S LOVE EVEN WHEN HE WAS MAD AT
HER, THUS HE WAS SAFE! – SOURCE UNKNOWN
4. Judas for the most part ignored
this part of what Jesus was trying to tell them, his concern was more about
Jesus' plan to reveal Himself to them but not show Himself to the world later
on.
a. To Judas Jesus’ plan didn't seem
very realistic, why would people obey Jesus if they didn't ever see
Him!?
b. Judas’ question was an attempt to
say to Jesus, “Don’t you think we should consider another more realistic
program Jesus?”
5. What Judas was really saying was,
“Show
yourself physically to the whole world with power after you come back and then
everyone will follow you without question!”
a. Jesus was appealing for people to
follow Him because they believed in Him and in His
Word.
b. If they are to follow Him they
should obey His commands.
II. THE REALIST'S PUZZLE! John 14:22-24; Luke 16:19-31
A. Convincing?
John
14:22
1. Judas the realist just isn't buying
Jesus' plan, it didn't make sense, it just didn't seem like a realistic plan for
winning the world!
a. “Come on Jesus,
there has got to be a better way to do
this?”
b. “Be real, if you
want to get the word out show yourself to
everyone!”
c. “If you want
them to follow you show power, do miracles, be a
king!”
2. Certainly Judas had a better
way!
a. “Jesus, how
about getting you a spot on the ‘Tonight show,’ millions will see you and become
followers?”
b. “We'll make a
movie; this is the way it is done today.”
c. “We'll build
beautiful buildings that will create 'awe' in
people.”
d. “We'll feed the
poor, and heal the sick, this will get them
all!”
3. Judas wasn't convinced Jesus’ plan
would work, if just only believers see Him then how will anyone ever become a
believer?
a. The realist is troubled by God's
plan of salvation, why FAITH? Wouldn’t it be easier if God proved His
existence? There are still those
today that can’t understand this requirement of the “faith” thing, and why God doesn’t
simply show up and prove Himself!
b. When God did prove it by sending
Jesus in the flesh and doing the miracles such as raising the dead and feeding
the multitudes and healing the sick the realists out there crucified Jesus
rather than believe on Him! People still
didn't believe even when they did get the miracles!!! Today people simply rationalize miracles
away if they see or hear of one!
c. Most people would rather not think
about God or the sacrifice Jesus made for them, they just ignore Christ and go
about their business. Even a great
sacrifice can be ignored, as the existing miracles can
be!
ILLUS: LIKE A MAN
NAMED JOHN GRIFFITH WHO WORKED A DRAWBRIDGE DURING THE DEPRESSION FOR THE
RAILROAD OVER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
ONE DAY IN THE SUMMER OF 1937 HE DECIDED TO TAKE HIS 8 YEAR OLD SON GREG
WITH HIM TO WORK. AT NOON JOHN
RAISED THE HUGE BRIDGE TO LET SHIPS PASS THROUGH WHILE HE HAD LUNCH WITH HIS SON
GREG. TIME PASSED QUICKLY AND AS HE
CLEANED UP HIS SON LEFT TO PLAY. SUDDENLY HE WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE TO HEAR
THE SHRIEK OF A NEARBY TRAIN COMING AT HIGH SPEED. HE LOOKED AT HIS RR WATCH AND REALIZED
THE MEMPHIS EXPRESS WITH 400 PEOPLE ON BOARD WAS STREAKING TOWARD THE
BRIDGE. HE PANICKED REALIZING IT
TOOK SOME TIME TO DROP THE BRIDGE USING THE HUGE WOODEN GEARS MADE FOR THIS
PURPOSE. HE WOULD HAVE TO THROW THE
SWITCH IMMEDIATELY OR THE BRIDGE WOULD NOT DROP IN TIME TO KEEP THE TRAIN AND
400 PEOPLE FROM PLUNGING TO THEIR DEATHS, BUT JUST AS HE WAS ABOUT TO THROW THE
SWITCH HE HEARD HIS SON DOWN BELOW HOLLER – HIS SON GREG WAS CAUGHT IN THE GREAT
GEAR AND COULDN'T GET OUT, HE HAD STUMBLED PLAYING NEAR THE GEAR AND HAD SOMEHOW
LODGED HIS FOOT IN THE GEAR! THERE
WAS NO TIME TO GO AND SAVE HIS SON, 400 OTHER PEOPLE WOULD DIE IF HE DID! WITH TEARS STREAMING DOWN HIS CHEEKS HE
THREW THE SWITCH KNOWING IT WOULD KILL HIS SON BUT SAVE 400 OTHERS. AS THE TRAIN PASSED BY HE NOTICED
PASSENGERS IN THE WINDOWS READING PAPERS, EATING, CHATTING AS IF NOTHING HAD
HAPPENED – AND LIFTING HIS FIST AT THEIR INDIFFERENCE HE SAID, “I SACRIFICED MY
SON FOR YOU, DON'T YOU CARE?!” JUST
LIKE LAMENTATIONS 1:12 “IS IT NOTHING TO
YOU, ALL WHO PASS BY?”
NOBODY NOTICED THE FATHER IN THE WATCHTOWER, OR
TOOK NOTICE OF THE SACRIFICE FOR THEIR LIVES –
SOURCE UNKNOWN
4. Only those who take notice of what
our heavenly Father did in sending His only Son to die for us will find the joy
of salvation, it is by faith that we enter into
salvation.
B. Conviction! Luke
16:19-31
1. Certainly Judas must have thought
some other way would be more realistic in reaching the lost, the BIG miracles
perhaps, and some other way besides just believing!
a. This idea was not new, Jesus had
addressed this issue before in this story, the rich man found himself in Hell
and desired Lazarus who had gone to Paradise to rise from the dead and go to his
5 brothers and warn them about the reality of Hell, if someone from the dead
showed up they would certainly believe, or so he
thought!
b. However, the reply of Abraham to
the rich man lays out the same plan that Jesus later espoused, namely that the
Word of God is the way in,“They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to
them.” The Scriptures contain it all!
2. The rich man however uses the same
logic as Judas, his question implies this clearly: “No, father
Abraham, if someone from the dead goes to them they will repent!” but
Abraham says, “IF they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will
not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” 16:31
a. The
idea that great miracles alone will bring people to Jesus is wrong!!!! If they saw one they would rationalize
it away if they don’t already have faith!
b. If people ignore the Bible they
will certainly ignore miracles or they will excuse them by some rational
explanation!
c. To ignore the prophets is to ignore
Jesus, He was the greatest prophet and more!
3. The point here is simple:
REALISTICALLY, Judas “the realist”
wasn't being very realistic!
a. It
is God’s Word that dramatically changes those who believe it!
b. This was Jesus’ chosen method for
revealing Himself in time!
c. No miracle changes people more than God's
Word!
ILLUS: THE STORY
IS TOLD ABOUT A SOUTH SEA ISLANDER WHO PROUDLY DISPLAYED HIS BIBLE TO A G.I.
DURING WORLD WAR II. THE SOLDIER
HOWEVER REPLIED, “WE'VE OUTGROWN THAT SORT OF THING, NEEDING THE BIBLE.” THE NATIVE SMILED BACK AND SAID, “IT'S A
GOOD THING FOR YOU WE HAVEN'T OUTGROWN IT, IF IT WEREN'T FOR THIS GOOD BOOK
YOU’D HAVE BEEN A MEAL BY NOW!” – SOURCE UNKNOWN
4. It is not GREAT WISDOM that saves
people, it’s GOD'S WORD!
a. There is no substitute for the Holy
Spirit using God's Word to convict hearts and turn them toward
Jesus.
b. This is why Paul said, “For the message
of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being
saved it is the power of God.” And “For since in the
wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased
through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who
believe.” 1 Cor. 1:18,21
C. Clarity!
John 14:23-24
1. Jesus’ reply to Judas the realist is the central
dynamic to salvation still!
a. “If anyone loves
me, they will obey my teaching!”
b. Being a Christian means obeying
Christ's commands and teachings, His Word becomes our guide, not the wisdom of
this world.
2. It is God’s Word that gives clarity
to the plan of God in salvation - this is why we stress the Bible so much, it is
the only plan for salvation! There
are no other paths to God!
a. You either love the Word of God or
you don't, you cannot read it and be neutral!
b. God’s Word will either turn you
toward God or toward hell, which is why there is such hostility towards the
Bible by unbelievers.
ILLUS: A WEALTHY
BUSINESS MAN WAS ON A VISIT TO ENGLAND YEARS AGO SHORTLY AFTER THE INVENTION OF
THE MICROSCOPE. LOOKING THROUGH IT
HE WAS FASCINATED BY THE DETAIL HE SAW LOOKING AT FLOWER PETALS. THE BEAUTY AND DESIGN AMAZED HIM! HE BOUGHT ONE AND TOOK IT BACK
HOME. ONE DAY WHILE HE WAS ABOUT TO
EAT ONE OF HIS FAVORITE FOODS HE DECIDED TO LOOK AT IT UNDER THE MICROSCOPE, BUT
WHAT HE FOUND DISTURBED HIM, HE SAW SMALL MICROBES CRAWLING AROUND ON HIS FOOD,
TINY LIVING CREATURES HE DIDN'T KNOW WERE THERE BEFORE! SINCE THIS WAS HIS FAVORITE FOOD HE
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT WHAT HE NOW KNEW! HE FINALLY CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION, HE
SIMPLY DESTROYED THE MICROSCOPE SO HE COULDN'T SEE AGAIN THE MICROBES AND THEN
HE COULD EAT HIS FOOD WITHOUT HAVING TO SEE THOSE CREATURES. THIS IS WHAT UNBELIEVERS DO WHEN THEY
HEAR THE GOSPEL AND READ THE BIBLE ABOUT THEIR SINS, THEY EITHER REPENT OR THEY
HOLD THE BIBLE IN DISDAIN AND IGNORE IT – HOPING THAT IF THEY JUST DON'T READ IT
THEN IT WILL ENABLE THEM TO IGNORE THEIR SINS AS THOUGH THEY DON'T EXIST! HOW FOOLISH! – SOURCE UNKNOWN
3. The realist in the kingdom of God
understands the importance of God's Word and the plan of
salvation!
a. For Judas the realist the message
was clear: "OBEDIENCE TO MY WORD BY FAITH IS THE WAY TO
LIVE."
b. Miracles alone will not bring
people to Christ; they will simply explain the miracles away even if they
see them happen if they don’t have faith in Christ. Realistically, reaching the lost will
require us to use the Word of God, by PRACTICING it and PREACHING
it!
CONCLUSION: Like most realists, Judas
(also called Thaddaeus) didn't understand why Jesus didn't just publicly show
Himself when He was resurrected, thus proving to the world who He is – the Son
of God! Jesus' answer to him is
still true today: He has revealed Himself through His Word, miracles don't
make converts, faith in Christ and obedience to God's Word
does!