"But Jesus Can!"

“But Jesus Can!”

Psalm 32:1-11

David P. Nolte

You’ve heard the phrase, “Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None” or, it might be, “Jill of all trades” for a woman. Such a person may set a hand to any number of tasks with greater or lesser skill but is likely not master of more than one or two.

Then we all know the guy who, according to him, knows how to do it all and in a better way than anyone else. And to be honest we meet the rare, enviable, person who actually seems to be able to do anything he or she sets out to do.

Most of us can do something with somewhat better than fair proficiency, and it is up to us to learn what God has equipped us to do and to do it with diligence.

There is that One Who has it all together in one package: He knows everything because He is omniscient. He can do anything because He is omnipotent. He is with us always, everywhere and knows our needs because He is omnipresent! And He wants to do for us what none other can do because He is omnigracious.

The song the trio sang puts it this way:

“I can’t take a heart that’s broken, Make it over again

But I know a man who can.

I can’t take a soul that’s sin sick make it white as the snow

But I know a man who can.”

There are numerous things we can’t do that Jesus Christ does easily. Among those things would be, He saves, He keeps, He satisfies, He sanctifies, He provides, He enables and on and on. But let’s look at what God did for King David – and let us be assured that God, in Jesus Christ, will do that for us as well!

“Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’ -- and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You while You may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct You and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” Psalm 32:1-11 (NIV).

I want to tell a story about a greedy and dishonest tailor who, like David, made bad choices and suffered for it.

In a small town in Bohemia there lived a tailor so skilled that customers came to him from far and wide. His sewing was expert and the clothes he made were beautiful and hardy. But the tailor was greedy and dishonest. When asked how much silk or wool or satin he needed to make this coat or that suit, he always demanded more than was really required. Thus he was always able to keep a good piece of fine material for himself.”

One day a gentleman entered the tailor’s shop, carrying a package of fabric. “I want you to make a hunting jacket with this red satin,” he told the tailor. And immediately the tailor got busy. First he brought out the patterns so that the gentleman could choose just the style jacket he wanted. After measuring the man the tailor said, “There isn’t enough material for a jacket.” He planned to steal some of it. The man insisted there was enough fabric and left the shop.

Like that tailor, David got greedy and took Bathsheba, his neighbor’s wife, and then selfishly tried to cover up his sin by murder. This part of his past was unholy. Our past, too, might be unholy and shameful. But Jesus can handle even that for us.

I. HE CAN FORGIVE OUR UNHOLY PAST:

A. “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.”