JESUS WILL MEET YOU THERE
Then go quickly and tell His disciples: ’He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ Now I have told you." (Matthew 28:7)
I regularly read “A Pastoral Letter” that I receive bi-monthly from Paul W. Powell of George W. Truett Theological Seminary. The May-June issue contains a sermon starter by Charles A. Tope, retired missionary from East Africa. I want to acknowledge my use of the excellent alliterative outline entitled “Jesus Will Meet You There” that was shared in that issue of “A Pastoral Letter”.
The ever-presence of the Lord in our life is a source of great comfort and strength. The promise that Jesus made to His disciples “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) has brought peace and assurance to many a troubled heart.
In the early years of my ministry, there was a song that was popular with gospel singing groups entitled: “Kneel at the Cross” written by Charles Moody. It is not commonly used in worship services today; nevertheless the words of this song have an important evangelistic message for the world today. The lyrics of the song are:
.
“Kneel at the cross; Christ will meet you there,
Come while He waits for you;
List to His voice, Leave with Him your care
And begin life anew.”
“Kneel at the cross; There is room for all,
Who would His glory share?
Bliss there awaits, Harm can ne’er befall
Those who are anchored there.”
CHORUS:
“Kneel at the cross,
Leave ev’ry care;
Kneel at the cross,
Jesus will meet you there.”
The promise “Jesus will meet you there” is that which was given to the women by the angel at the tomb of Jesus. John records the fulfillment of this promise. “After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias… But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.” (John 21:1a; 4).
I. JESUS WILL MEET US WHERE WE WORSHIP
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20 NKJV
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Acts 1:4-5 NKJV
The size of the congregation is not the qualifying condition. It may be as few as two or three; or thousands as was the case on the Day of Pentecost, when we gather in His name our Lord has assured us of His presence in our midst. (Acts 2:41)
II. JESUS WILL MEET US WHERE WE WORK
And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. Mark 1:16-20 NKJV
As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. Matthew 9:9 NKJV
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:20 NKJV
It is a source of solace to know that when we enter the door of our workplace, there is no power on earth that can keep our Lord outside.
III. JESUS WILL MEET US WHERE WE WEEP
1. At the place of failure:
Peter failed the test of loyalty in our Lord’s most trying hour. We read about it in Matthew 26:69-75.
Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth." But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!" And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you." Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:69-75)
But Jesus did not deny Peter. The Gospel account of that wonderful post-resurrection meeting of Jesus with His disciples clearly sets forth this truth. We read:
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love Me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love You."
Jesus said, "Feed My lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love Me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love You."
Jesus said, "Take care of My sheep."
The third time He said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love Me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love Me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; You know that I love You."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."
Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to him, "Follow Me!" (John 21:15-19)
2. At the place of sorrow:
Overwhelming sorrow gripped the hearts of Mary and Martha.
“Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there." Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." John 11:31-32 NKJV
How can we measure the sorrow that gripped the heart of the widow of Nain? But Jesus met that widow at the moment of her great grief. The account is found in Luke 7:11-15. We read:
Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.
CONCLUSION
When the time of our departure comes, Jesus will meet us at the point of our death. His Holy Spirit, who has “sealed us until the day of redemption” (Ephesians 1:13-14), will present us faultless before the throne of the Father in heaven.” Thomas Ramsey tells us in the hymn he wrote that “We Won’t Have to Cross Jordan Alone”.
“When I come to the river at ending of day
When the last winds of sorrow have blown;
There’ll be Somebody waiting to show me the way
I won’t have to cross Jordan alone.
“Oftentimes I’m forsaken, and weary and sad,
When it seems that my friends have all gone;
There is on thought that cheers me, and makes my heart glad,
I won’t have to cross Jordan alone.
“Though the billows of sorrow and trouble may sweep,
Christ the Savior will care for His own;
‘Till the end of the journey, my soul He will keep,
I won’t have to cross Jordan alone.
CHORUS
“I won’t have to cross Jordan alone
Jesus died for my sins to atone;
When the darkness I see, He’ll be waiting for me,
I won’t have to cross Jordan alone.”
AMEN.
