The Sin Transplant
Hebrews 4:12-13
Introduction:
I want to talk to you today about a transplant. Our modern American culture is very accustomed to transplants. Eye transplants, liver transplants, heart transplants, bone marrow transplants. Almost any organ can now be transplanted from one human to another. And not just from humans. Scientists have long transplanted pig valves into human hearts. Scientists recently even grew a human ear on the back of a rat, and then transplanted it to a human.
Listen, and allow your mind to picture what I speak of.
This is no organ transplant.
THE OPERATING ROOM
It is not even a typical O.K.. The Operating room is a hill outside of Jerusalem, usually known as Golgotha, and associated with death.
The operating table is two bare wooden beam nailed or grooved together.
THE SURGEON
The surgeon is the greatest physician in the world. In fact, he is even called, "The Great Physician."
THE PATIENT
You will recognize the patient. He is YOU! He is mankind, us, you and me.
THE DIAGNOSIS
The condition of the patient is critical, in fact he is suffering from a disease for which the mortality rate is 100%. Worse than aids!!!!!
A biopsy has been taken and the results are back.
THE SCALPEL
The scalpel used for the biopsy is the greatest one in the world. It is not electronic. It is not. It is old, eternally old.
"It is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as both joints and marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no thing hidden from his sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of him..." Heb. 4:12-13
No scalpel known to man can see into the motives and thoughts of a man.
No internal camera can see the real condition of a man’s soul.
God’s scalpel is sharper, more precise, and more powerful than any other scalpel or machine known to modern science.
Nothing is hidden from His eyes, His knowledge.
The Biopsy
A malignant tumor was found
The tumor has metastasized, or spread throughout the entire body. Not one organ or part of the body is unaffected.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
It affects all of the major organs.
THE PROGNOSIS
The prognosis is DEATH. 100% death
"For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23
THE TREATMENT RECOMMENDED
The only hope is a transplant. The old organ, the heart, is diseased beyond cure. It is beyond surgical repair.
The only hope is a good, healthy, un-diseased organ from a matching donor.
THE PROBLEM
A search was conducted and NOT ONE suitable donor was found for two reasons.
1. ALL WERE DISEASED! For all have sinned, there is none that is righteous, NO NOT ONE
2. Only useful organ was NOT A MATCH.
The only organ found that was not diseased was God’s heart. It was 100% righteous, pure, and good.
But God was no match because he is spirit and we are flesh.
THE PLAN
Recently the world was outraged at the news that a couple had decided to have a baby. Why were people angry? These were the parents of a girl dying of a disease for which she needed a transplant, Leukemia. And there was no donor match.
So they decided to have their own child that would, hopefully, be a suitable match. She was. And the transplant saved the life of the sister.
Was that immoral? Was that selfish? Was that the wrong reason to have a child
Before you answer, consider this. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT GOD DID!
God had a child dying of a disease (sin) for which the only cure was a transplant. God could find no matching donors, no useful organs, (for all had sinned)
What did God do? HE GAVE BIRTH TO A CHILD FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF BEING A DONOR FOR THE DYING CHILD.
Why was Jesus born in the stable? TO DIE!
God for-ordained it. "forordained before the foundation of the world. 1 Peter 1:20
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that are under the law.. Gal 4:4-5
Why did he come? TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM (donor) FOR MANY. Mk 10:45
Why did God cause him to be born in the flesh?
We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels (flesh) for the suffering of death. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest I things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Heb 2:9, 17
THE OPERATION
It is a strange type of bi-lateral, or two-way transplant. Normally the good organ is removed from the donor and placed in the recipient, the dying patient, and the sick, diseased organ is discarded.
In this operation, however, The healthy organ was removed from the donor and placed in the dying patient.
Then the diseased, malignant, deadly organ was placed in the healthy donor.
4 He suffered and endured great pain for us, but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. 3 He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us completely well. 6 All of us were like sheep that had wandered off. We had each gone our own way, but the LORD gave him the punishment we deserved. His life was taken away because of the sinful things my people had done. 10 The LORD decided his servant would suffer as a sacrifice to take away the sin and guilt of others. Although he is innocent, he will take the punishment for the sins of others, so that many of them will no longer be guilty. Isaiah 53
THE OUTCOME
FOR THE RECIPIENTS: The results of the transplant were a tremendous success. 100% of those who received the transplant were cured, not one recurrence of the disease, and not one death.
FOR THE DONOR: the results were tragic. As the diseased organ was placed in his body his body began to convulse terribly.
The body contorts and shakes as it tries valiantly to reject the diseased, malignant organ (SIN). This body has always been healthy and pure, it has never had any sickness (Sin). His mind is wracked with pain of rejection and cries, "Father how could you do this to me, why have you forsaken me." The seizing and pain go on for 6 hours... from the third hour (9am) until the ninth hour (3pm). And then the donor cries out, "It is finished.." and death is pronounced at 3 pm on Friday.
In pain and heartbreak, the Surgeon can not bear to watch and he turns out the lights and walks out of the O. R.
THE MIRACULOUS MANEUVER
You have all seen t.v. shows where the patient dies in the OR. You have watched as the whole surgical team goes into a frenzy of excitement, orders, and emotions. You’ve seen the surgeon grab the defibrillation pads and call, "Clear." A shock... no response. Another shock... still no response. Again and again the surgeon tries. He reaches inside and massages the heart. Finally, all resuscitation efforts are abandoned. You see the look of frustration and helplessness on the face of the surgeon. He tried, He wishes with all of his heart there was more He could do.
This is where all of the analogies to modern medicine break down.
Three days after most patients die, there is a funeral.
Rarely, if ever, does the surgeon come. He is busy saving the living.
There is nothing he can do at the grave side.
NOT SO FOR THE GREAT PHYSICIAN.
On Sunday morning, this physician goes to the funeral. He reaches down into the grave and administers one life giving blow. One shock.
It is the death blow to Satan, death, the grave and sin’s power It was a shock to the world.
Immediately, there is "sinus rhythm." (I don’t know what that means but you always hear the nurse say it when the person comes back to life.)
The patient stands up, the grave bursts open, and he comes out, ALIVE!
THE QUESTION
Have you ever prayed a prayer to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins... to come into your life as your Lord... confessing your sins, promising to repent of your sinning.
IF NOT
The OR is ready
The Dr. is ready
The Donor is ready
ARE YOU READY.
307 "Just As I Am
