4 THINGS JESUS TOOK BACK TO HEAVEN
Jn. 20:27-28
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: WORDS FROM THE WISE
1. A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
2. If it weren’t for STRESS I’d have no energy at all.
3. Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.
4. I know God won’t give me more than I can handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.
5. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
6. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
7. If you’re too open-minded, your brains will fall out.
8. Junk is something you’ve kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
9. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
B. THINGS THAT WON’T BE IN HEAVEN
1. Rev. 21:4, "shall be no more death... sorrow... crying... pain, for the former things are passed away."
2. Rev. 21:27, "shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles... abomination... lie..."
3. 1 Cor. 15:20, "that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God."
4. Rev. 22:15, dogs, sorcerers, whore mongers, murderers, idolaters and all liars -- "are without."
5. You can't take it with you! The pharaohs couldn't and either can we. [Story of the guy buried in a Cadillac]
C. SO YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU
1. Ps. 49:16-17, "For when he dies, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him."
2. 1 Tim. 6:7, "For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
3. But there are at least four things that Jesus took back to heaven.
D. HUMOR
1. Joke of the man who put his money in the attic so when he died and the angel came to take him to heaven, he could grab his money on the way up.
2. He died. After the funeral, his wife went to check on the money. It was still there. She commented, “I guess he went the other direction!”
3. TITLE: “4 THINGS JESUS TOOK BACK TO HEAVEN.”
I. HIS WOUNDS
“Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:27-28.
A. SOUVENIRS
1. Anytime we go somewhere, we like to buy something, some little moments those of our trip to remember it by. (Examples -- rain stick, Gourd, coffee cups, Arafat turban).
2. Souvenirs. The only souvenirs Jesus took back from His trip to Earth were His scars and wounds.
B. “BY HIM ALL THINGS WERE MADE”
1. Recent movement -- "buy American." This was emphasized as important for balancing trade and obtaining quality products.
2. All imports must disclose where they are made: "Made in China"... "Mexico"... "Japan"... "Philippines."
3. Everything in heaven was made by God and the angels. Nothing there has "made by man" or "Made on Earth,"
4. Except one thing; the wounds of Jesus. They are the only "man-made" things in heaven.
C. RESURRECTED BODY
1. Jesus, God the Son, has chosen to take on the human body for all eternity. He also chose to allow that body to bear the marks of His love for all eternity -- suffering.
2. In heaven, all hearts will be healed. No one will be maimed.
3. Isaiah 35:5-6 says that the blind will see and the lame will leap.
4. All the amputated feet or legs will be restored and people will appear whole and in their prime, ALL without defect.
5. Not so with Jesus! He will be the only person in heaven
with scars/wounds.
6. Zech. 12:10 tells us that the Jews will identified Jesus as their Messiah (at the 2nd Coming) by the marks of his piercing.
7. We won't have any trouble identifying our Crucified and Risen Savior.
II. THE BLOOD OF JESUS
Hebrews 12:24 “to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”
A. NO BLOOD IN HEAVEN, EXCEPT JESUS’
1. “…flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” 1 Cor. 15:50.
2. “For the life of a creature is in the blood” Lev. 17:11.
3. “A ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” Lk. 24:39.
4. IT’S BELIEVED THE RESURRECTION BODY WILL DERIVE ITS LIFE FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. HUMAN BLOOD IS UNNECESSARY IN HEAVEN. EXCEPT JESUS’!
B. JESUS’ BLOOD SPRINKLED ON MERCY SEAT
1. Lev. 16:15-16 says, “[Aaron] shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. 16 In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been.”
2.The writer of Hebrews alluded to this when he said, “It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” Heb. 9:23.
3. “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption” Heb. 9:12.
4. So we know that the Earthly Blood of Jesus was taken into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled on the Mercy Seat, to atone for our sins for all time!
III. KEYS OF DEATH & HELL
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Rev. 1:17-18.
A. SYMBOLS OF HIS TRIUMPH OVER OUR ENEMIES
1. This comforts us, because it tells us He has conquered the two worst enemies of mankind.
2. "Keys" represent:
a. Access
b. Power to open and shut
c. Ownership -- like keys to a car.
3. Not only has the Lord Jesus demonstrated His Lordship over:
a. Sickness b. the Sabbath
c. Angels d. Demons
e. Nature
but now shows His lordship over death and hell!
B. WHAT ARE DEATH & HELL?
1. 1 Cor. 15:25-26 tells us how difficult death is to overcome, because it is based on the Law and man's sin.
2. But Hebrews 2:14 tells us that Jesus overcame the One. Had the power of death.
3. Death -- once called the "King of Terrors" now is controlled by Jesus, so that we no longer need to fear it.
4. Hell (Lake of fire?) -- Is the
a. Final depository of the Lost Souls, or
b. Realm of the Underworld where the spirits of the dead were kept.
5. They waited, powerless late, for someone to free them from its grip. Jesus overcame it also.
C. EMBLEMS OF HIS KINGLY POWER
1. As He sits on His heavenly throne, He now wears those keys as part of His Royal Clothing.
2. Besides the:
a. Scepter of his Power,
b. The Sword of His Judgment/wrath, He now wears the,
c. Keys to His dungeons, to demonstrate His ability to lose the prisoners and set the captives free.
IV. HIS DESIRE TO COME AGAIN
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3.
A. WEDDING OF THE SON OF GOD
1. Great excitement is building in heaven. An event similar to a wedding between the Lord Jesus and His Bride, the Church, is approaching.
2. Just as the Bride and Groom can't wait for the Wedding Day to arrive, so Christ went back to His Father's House to make preparations for His Coming to take us away.
3. This Great Event is always on His mind.
B. THE CLAIMING OF HIS OWN: Illustration
1. Englishmen who saved small children from burning huts. The children screamed. The natives just stood by watching the hut burn.
2. He rushed in. The parents were killed. He was terribly burned on his hands. He had to stay at another villager’s house until he recovered.
3. A meeting was held to determine who would get the children.
a. The mayor said, "I can best help them."
b. A rich family said, "We can by them what they need."
c. Others said, "We're their neighbors or friends."
4. Finally the Englishman stepped forward and said "I claim them." "On what basis? What right do you have to them?"
5. The Englishman only held up his wounded hands and said, "I loved them enough to risk my life for them. These hands are the symbols of my love and my claim."
CONCLUSION
A.ONE THING YOU CAN TAKE TO HEAVEN
1. People you get saved!
2. DL Moody said, "When I was young, I thought of heaven as cathedrals, spires, and buildings. Now I think of it as inhabited by people I know and love."
B. THE CALL
1. Pray, intercede for family, church, friends, neighbors, etc. to be saved.
2. Salvation of people present.
C. LORD’S SUPPER
[This is a rewrite of David Carter’s message, “What Jesus Took Back To Heaven.”]
