I would like to introduce this
message by asking you to turn to Ecclesiastes, the third chapter. Now some, say 60 to 35, 56 years
ago, a group by the name of the birds sang this song entitled
Turn, Turn, and they quoted Ecclesiastes 3, verses 1 through 8. Probably most of you, if not
all of you, have heard that song, and do you know it reached number
one in the United States? It was a top-selling song. And I've asked myself the question,
why? This is a scripture, since when
does a scripture make the top selling song? Well, I believe
the answer is, is this passage of scripture is looked upon by
the world as a philosophy of life. Things happen, good things,
bad things, they happen and they'll pass. and it's all happening
for a reason, some kind of vague philosophy that everybody can
find some kind of comfort in. Yeah, there is a time to live,
and there is a time to die, and there is a time to gather up
stones, there is a time to cast away stones, and it's just kind
of a vague philosophical view of life that makes me feel better
about the way things are, and it is founded on a complete misunderstanding
of this passage of scripture. Now, let me say this. This passage
of scripture is not a philosophy of life. It's a prophecy regarding
the Lord Jesus Christ. Now read it in that light. Sure, there are a lot of good
things we can draw from it, but more than anything else, this
is a prophecy with regard to the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now he talks about purpose. God's
got one purpose. the eternal purpose, which he
purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. And everything that happens
comes out of that one single purpose. Now let's read this
passage of scripture. And you look at this in light
of the Lord. To everything there's a season
and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born
and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to
pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill and a time to
heal. A time to break down. A time to build up. A time to
weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to
dance. A time to cast away stones and
a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace and a time
to refrain from embracing. A time to get and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to
cast away. A time to rend and a time to
sow, a time to keep silence, and a time to speak, a time to
love, and a time to hate, a time of war, and a time of peace. Now, when our Lord Jesus left
eternity and entered time, All of these things took place in
his great work. And I want to call your attention
to verse seven, a time to keep silence and a time to speak. Now we have that prophecy fulfilled
in the passage of scripture we just read about when the Lord
kept silence and when the Lord spake. Now turn with me back
to Mark chapter 14, if you would. Verse 53, and they led Jesus
away to the high priest. Now I think it's kind of ironic
that these same people that led him away had just been knocked
backwards. You remember when they came to
arrest him? And he said, whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus
of Nazareth. And he said, I am. And they were
driven backwards by irresistible omnipotence. And they were made
to see that this is the almighty one. This is God. This is the
one who's in control. He's no victim at this time.
And I wonder how they felt while they were binding him up. They
bound his hands and they led him to the high priest. You know, Isaiah 53, seven says
he'll be led as a sheep before her shearers is done. He'll be
led. Well, he's being led at this time to the high priest.
Now the high priest at that time was an utterly corrupt man in
a position of power. We can find that all over the
place, can't we? an utterly corrupt man in a position of power. As a matter of fact, there were
two high priests at this time, and just so you know, this was
a political position. If they had any understanding
of the high priest, there would have never been two high priests.
So this was a political position. This was a corrupt man, but he
was put in this position by God for this time. The Lord controls
all things. And they led Jesus away to the
high priest and with him were assembled all the chief priests
and the elders and the scribes. What a group. Verse 54 and Peter
followed him far off, even into the palace of the high priest.
And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire
and the chief priests and all the council sought for witnesses
against Jesus to put him to death. That's what they wanted. That's
what they wanted. They wanted to put him to death.
These religious leaders wanted to put him to death. They hated
Jesus Christ. And my dear friend, this is such
a humbling thought. You and I were born into this
world with the same nature they had, with a hatred of the Lord
Jesus Christ. I mean, I've never hated Christ.
Well, you didn't hate the Christ you made up. But the Christ of
the Bible, the natural man, And these men wanted to see to it
that he was put to death. That was their goal. That was
their end in what was taking place. And they sought witnesses
against the Lord, but found none. For many bear false witness against
him, but their witness agreed not together. Now, a false witness,
a false prophet will always have a contradictory message that
doesn't agree with scripture. Every time. Verse 57 and there arose certain
and bear false witness against him saying, we heard him say,
and they're going to go back to three years ago when the Lord
began his public ministry. Would you turn to John two for
just a moment? Verse 18. Then answered the Jews
and said unto him, what sign showest thou unto us, seeing
that thou doest these things? What gives you the authority
to make a whip and whip people and drive them out of the temple? Give us a sign. Jesus answered
and said unto them, destroy this temple in three days. And in
three days, I will raise it up. Then said the Jews forty and
six years was the temple and building without reared up in
three days But he spake of the temple of his body now they Misquoted
that and look what they said verse 58 We heard him say I'll
destroy this temple that's made with hands and within three days.
I'll build another made without hands He didn't say that did he They
changed what he said, be it ever so slight. They changed what
he said, but neither did their witnesses agree together. It's
always that way. Verse 60 and the high priest,
this corrupt man stood up in the midst and asked Jesus saying,
answer us, thou nothing. What is it which these witness
against thee? Aren't you going to try to defend
yourself? Are you answering nothing? And he held his peace. just as Isaiah said he would
hold his peace. Isaiah 53, seven says he was
oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He brought as a lamb to the slaughter
and sheep before her shears as dumb, so openeth he not his mouth. And how majestic is the king
in his silence. How powerful is the roar of his
silence. Now let me give you seven reasons
why the Lord kept silent at this time. Now I know this, if I'm
accused of something that I didn't do, I'm gonna try to defend myself. I'm not going to just Keep my
mouth shut. I know I will. I'll try to do
it. If I didn't do it and you accuse me of it, I'm going to
try to defend myself. But the Lord doesn't. He keeps
silent with all these accusations. And let me give you these seven
reasons real quickly. First of all, he kept silent
that the scripture might be fulfilled. Isaiah 53, seven says he would
keep silent. And that's exactly what he did. Secondly, he kept silent because
he's letting us know his utter willingness to go through all
of this. Everything he's doing. He's doing
it in a completely willing way. He could have defended himself,
but he knew the purpose behind this, and he was completely willing
to do this. His hour had come, and he was
willing. He's letting us know that. Whatever
it was he was doing, he was willing to do it. Thirdly, he did not
speak to these men because he was not pleased to make himself
known to them. That's a sobering thought, but
if he doesn't speak to us, we'll never hear his voice. We will
not be saved if he doesn't speak to us. The fourth reason he remained
silent is because of his complete submission to his father's will. He said, the cup which my father
hath given me to drink, shall I not drink it? Now he had said
earlier, if it'd be possible, let this cup pass from me. Who
knows what all is in that? I know that he knew as God that
it wasn't possible, but the thought of being made sin in the flesh,
he was overcome with. He said, if it'd be possible,
this thing of being forsaken of God, being cut off from God,
losing the Father's smile, losing the Father's acceptance, knowing
he was going to bear all that hell is, if it'd be possible,
let this cup pass from me. But it wasn't possible. He knew
that, nevertheless not my will but thine be done. And then he
said to his disciples, the cup which my father hath given me
to drink, shall I not drink it? Why did he remain silent? And if you haven't heard anything
else, hear this, because he's guilty. Because he was guilty. Now I've already touched on this.
If I'm not guilty of what I'm accused of, you can be sure I'm
going to speak in my defense. The Lord remains silent. Romans chapter three, verse 19
says, we know that what things so ever the law sayeth, it sayeth
to them who are under the law that every mouth may be stopped. and all the world stand guilty
before God. At this time, his mouth was stopped. When he drank that cup, he became
guilty of the commission of the sins of his people. Somebody
says he bore the wrath. More than that, he bore the reason
for the wrath. He bore the guilt. He bore the
sin itself. And he became guilty of the commission
of that sin. Now, he never personally committed
a sin, but on the cross, it was not the innocent being punished. It was the guilty being punished. 2 Corinthians 5.21 says, For
he hath made him to be sin. Who knew no sin? THAT WE MIGHT
BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM. YOU SEE, HIS DEATH
WAS A SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH, AND ALL HE DIED FOR MUST BE SET
FREE. NOW LISTEN TO THIS REAL CAREFULLY.
IF HE CAN DIE FOR YOUR SINS, AND YOU'RE PUNISHED ANYWAY FOR
THOSE SAME SINS THAT HE DIED FOR, HIS DEATH IS MEANINGLESS. IT'S UTTERLY MEANINGLESS. It's without power, it's without
efficacy. If he can die for you and you
end up being damned anyway, his death is utterly without meaning. And salvation is by works. Now
that's how serious this thing is. 99% and I don't think I'm
overstating that 99% of what goes on under the name of Christianity
says that Jesus Christ died for everybody and made everybody's
salvation Available, but it's up to what you do as to whether
or not it'll work for you. There's no gospel in that Message
at all. It's a false Message what he
was doing he was doing as a substitute he was guilty. And the scripture says he shall
see the travail of his soul and be satisfied, not frustrated,
not disappointed that his will is not being done. Well, I'm
timid for this happened and it didn't take place. No, he'll
see the travail of his soul and be satisfied by his knowledge. Shall my righteous servant justify
many for he shall bear their iniquities. That is why he was
silent, guilty, guilty before the law
of God, and he held his peace, listen to this, he held his peace
out of love for his bride. You see, if he didn't hold his
peace, I mean, you're in big trouble, aren't we? but he held
his peace out of the love he had for his bride. Isn't his silence powerful? So much is said by his silence,
and there is a time to keep silence, and this is that time. But not only is there a time
to remain silent, There is a time to speak. And there was a time
for the Lord to speak during this time. Let me read a passage
from John chapter 19. If you want to turn over there,
this is before Pilate. We're going to consider this
in more detail in a couple of weeks. But we read where the
Jews, the chief priest said to Pilate, verse seven, the Jews
answered him. We have a law. And by our law
he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God." When
Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid. Now you
know what that means? That means Pilate was freaked
out at this time. What am I getting into? Who is
this? What's happening to me? He was
freaked out. He was afraid. He was afraid
of the Lord in a human way. He had a great respect for him.
He could see that these people had delivered him for envy. He
was a savvy politician. He knew what was going on, but
he couldn't give an explanation for this man before him. So look
what he says when verse eight, when Pilate therefore heard that
saying, he was the more afraid and he went in again into the
judgment hall and saith unto Jesus, whence art thou? But Jesus
gave him no answer. He was silent before Pilate.
He was silent before Herod. And they were going to bring
him back to before Pilate needed to be silent again. Then saith
Pilate unto him. Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest
thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and I have power
to release thee? You know, the Lord had to respond
to this. He had to respond to this. Jesus answered, thou couldst
have no power at all against me. except it were given thee
from above. Now what our Lord is saying to
Pilate, this is my will being done. You are my pawn performing
my will. I am in control of every event. While we're here, look over in
John chapter 18. John gives this detail with regard
to the Lord's Speech that no one else did in the Gospels. John 18, verse 19, The high priest
then asked Jesus of his disciples and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly
to the world. I ever taught in the synagogue
and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort, and in secret
have I said nothing. You're asking about my doctrine?
I never said anything in secret. Everything I said was out in
the open. Why askest thou me? Ask them
which heard me what I said, and to them, behold, they know what
I said. Now what a man believes is what he preaches publicly.
It's what he confesses publicly. You know, I ran into somebody
that used to attend this church, that they're now attending a
church where the gospel's not preached. And I was talking to
them, and I said, do they believe that God elected a people that
the church are going to now? And the person answered, well,
I don't know. I've never heard them say anything
about it. And well, that pretty much answers that question, doesn't
it? If you hear a man preach a gospel, you're gonna know whether
or not he believes election right off the bat. You just will, because
that's who God is. That's how he saves. But this
is the way the Lord spake, and this is the way every true preacher
speaks. He didn't say anything in secret.
He says publicly what he believes. And he said, don't ask me, ask
them that heard me. They're the one who heard me, and they can
tell what I preach. Well, back to Mark chapter 14. Verse 60, And the high priest
stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, Answers thou nothing?
What is it which these witness against thee? But he held his
peace and answered nothing. Again, the high priest asked
him. And notice the question this
time. It's a different question. The high priest asked him and
said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? Does he keep silence? No. And Jesus said, I am. No mistake about that, is there?
I am. I am the Christ. I am the son
of the blessed. Now, he's already told them this
before. Matthew's account says, are you
the son of God? I love the way he said, thou
sayest, which means it is as you said, I am the son of God. In John chapter five, verses
17 and 18, and this was earlier in his public ministry. He said,
my father worketh hitherto and I work. In other words, my work
and his work are one. We're one and the same. My father
worketh hitherto and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the
more to kill him because not only had he broken the Sabbath,
but he said also that God was his father making himself equal
with God. If you believe not that I am,
you'll die in your sins, he said. I am God. Are you the Christ, the son of
the blessed? It's now time to speak. I am
equal. I am equal with God for this
one singular reason. I am God. Earlier he had said to his disciples,
he that see me, what? Hath seen the Father. I'm the creator. I'm in control
of all this. He'd already demonstrated this
at his arrest when he knocked them backwards when they came
to get him to let him know, I'm not a victim. You're my pawns
doing my will, and I'm in control of all this. Are you gonna take
it that far? Yes, I'm gonna take it that far.
He was delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of
God, and everything was done, was done according to God's purpose
and according to God's will. Everything, everything was done
by the will of Christ. Everything. I'm not taking that
too far. Because I am, look what he says,
I am, verse 62, I am. And you shall see the son of
man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds
of heaven. Now, because I am, you're going
to see me sitting, not standing, but sitting on the right hand
of power. Now he's speaking of the authority
of his omnipotence. You're going to see me sitting
at the right hand of power. You know, I love that scripture,
power belongs to the Lord. I don't know of anything that
annoys me more than somebody calling some son of Adam or daughter
of Adam, a powerful person. All power is given unto me. In heaven, and in earth thou
has given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal
life to as many as thou has given him oh the place of power you know
when daniel said he doeth according to his will in the armies of
heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay
his hand or say to him, what doest thou? He's talking about
the Lord Jesus Christ. He's the one that does his will
in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.
And not only is he the sovereign, he's the sitting sovereign. Now there's great significance
to that. He is the sitting sovereign. You're in Mark, look at Mark
chapter 16. Verse 19. So after the Lord had spoken
unto them, he was received up into heaven, and what did he
do? He sat down. He sat down on the right hand
of God. Now this sitting has to do with
him finishing his work. When he had by himself purged
our sins, made them not to be, put them away. He sat down at
the right hand of the majesty on high, from henceforth expecting
till his enemies be made his footstool. The work of purging
was done. The writer to the Hebrews said,
every high priest standeth standeth daily, offering oftentimes the
same sacrifices, which can never take away sin. But this man,
after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at
the right hand of God. from henceforth expecting till
his enemies be made his footstool for by one offering, he hath
perfected. That's talking about you if you're
a believer. He hath perfected. Not he will perfect, he hath
perfected forever them which are sanctified the sitting sovereign
savior his work being completed there's nothing left for him
to do you remember his last words it's finished his great high
priestly prayer for his people speaking to his father he said
i've glorified thee on the earth i finished the work thou gavest
me to do oh the high priest said are you the son of blessed the
blessed The Christ, I am. And after this, you're gonna
see the Son of Man. I love the way he calls himself
the Son of Man. You know, that's the title he gave to himself
more than any other title, the Son of Man. You're gonna see
the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power. Look what
it says next. And coming in the clouds of heaven. Now he does not only speak about
his sitting, but he speaks of his coming, his second return. You'll see me coming in the clouds
of heaven is speaking of his second advent. He said in Matthew
25, when the son of man shall come in his glory, don't you
long for that sight? When the Son of Man shall come
in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He
sit upon the throne of His glory. And before Him shall be gathered
all nations. And then we read of that great
division that will take place when He separates the nations
into two groups, the sheep and the goats. And He'll say to the
sheep, come. ye blessed of my Father inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. And he'll say to the goats, depart
ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his
angels. Now, when we talk about his return,
you say, well, there's so much that you holes left and there's
so much we don't know. We have certain statements, but
I know this, I know this. The thief on the cross understood
his return. He might not have understood
all the mechanics behind it, but he said this, Lord, you see,
here's the key. He knew who he was. This is everything. This is knowing who he is, is
everything. It's gonna determine everything
else. Thief knew who he was. Lord! Oh, he knew he was the
Lord. Remember me when you come and
return into your kingdom. You're not gonna stay dead. I
know who you are. It's impossible for you to fail. You're gonna
come back as a mighty reigning king. You believe that? You believe
what the thief did? You're going to come back. Nothing's
going to stop you. You're going to come back as
a mighty reigning king. Oh, remember me when you come
into your kingdom. If you simply mention my worthless
name, all is well. Remember me when you come into
your kingdom. Well, here's what the high priest
thought about all this, verse 63. Then the high priest ran
his clothes and said, what need we any further witnesses? You've
heard the blasphemy, what think ye? And they all condemned him
to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on him
and cover his face and to buffet him and saying to him, prophesy
and the servants that strike him with the palms of their hands. The king's silence and the king's
speech. The king's silence tells us the
nature of what he was doing. He was silent because he took
my sin and my sorrow and he made it his very own. And he was silent because he
really was guilty. This isn't play acting. This
isn't pretend. He stood guilty before God. His mouth was stopped. Oh, how loud his silence is and
how glorious his word is. Are you the Christ, the Son of
the Blessed? I am. I am. And after this, You're going
to see me sitting down at the right hand of power. And then
I'm going to come back in the clouds to receive my people unto
myself. The king's silence and the king's
speech. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you for the
excellency and the glory of our Redeemer. How we thank you for
his silence. In taking our guilt and making
it his own and standing guilty before you. His mouth was stopped. And Lord, our. Hearts shrink up in thinking
of the greatness of what took place. And how we love what he
said. How we love his I am's because
he is the great I am. How we thank you for his power
and how we thank you that he sat down at the right hand of
power, having completed his work. and how we thank you for his
return. And Lord, our heart's cry is
even so, come Lord Jesus. Bless this message for your glory
and for our good. In Christ's name we pray, amen.