Brian preaches on John 14.

For Pentecost Sunday, Brian preaches through Joel 2:28-32 and Acts 2:1-21.

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 18--46 -Q. What do you mean by saying, -He ascended to heaven-- -A. That Christ, while his disciples watched, was taken up from the earth into heaven and remains there on our behalf until he comes again to judge the living and the dead.--47 -Q. But isn't Christ with us until the end of the world as he promised us- -A. Christ is true man and true God. In his human nature Christ is not now on earth- but in his divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit he is never absent from us.--48 -Q. If his humanity is not present wherever his divinity is, -then aren't the two natures of Christ separated from each other- -A. Certainly not. Since divinity is not limited and is present everywhere, it is evident that Christ's divinity is surely beyond the bounds of the humanity that has been taken on, but at the same time his divinity is in and remains personally united to his humanity. --49 -Q. How does Christ's ascension to heaven benefit us- -A. First, he is our advocate in heaven in the presence of his Father. --Second, we have our own flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that Christ our head will also take us, his members, up to himself. --Third, he sends his Spirit to us on earth as a corresponding pledge. By the Spirit's power we seek not earthly things but the things above, where Christ is, sitting at God's right hand.

Joel 2-28-32---And it shall come to pass afterward,- that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh--your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,- your old men shall dream dreams,- and your young men shall see visions.-Even on the male and female servants- in those days I will pour out my Spirit.---And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.-

Mark 1-40-45--And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, -If you will, you can make me clean.- Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, -I will- be clean.- And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, -See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.- But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

Mark 1-21ff--And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, -What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth- Have you come to destroy us- I know who you are-the Holy One of God.- But Jesus rebuked him, saying, -Be silent, and come out of him-- And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, -What is this- A new teaching with authority- He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.- And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.--And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.--That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Mark 1-14 - 20--Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, -The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand- repent and believe in the gospel.---Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, -Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.- And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

Mark 1-1-15--The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.--As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,---Behold, I send my messenger before your face,- who will prepare your way,-the voice of one crying in the wilderness-- 'Prepare the way of the Lord,- make his paths straight,'---John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, -After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.---In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, -You are my beloved Son- with you I am well pleased.---The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.--Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, -The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand- repent and believe in the gospel.-

On April 27, 2019, the Chabad of Poway, a synagogue in California, was attacked by a shooter who is alleged to have posted an anti-semitic manifesto online. The shooter was a current member of Escondido Orthodox Presbyterian Church, a congregation with which we share fellowship. --Following the shooting, much commentary explored the question of whether the Reformed faith tolerates or encourages anti-semitism and racism. --The elders of Christ Reformed encouraged Pastor Brian Lee to explore this question in a special catechism lesson, using Heidelberg Catechism Question 54 to explore racism in the light of the catholicity of the church---54 Q. What do you believe concerning -the holy catholic church-- --A. I believe that the Son of God through his Spirit and Word, out of the entire human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith. And of this community I am and always will be a living member.

Mark 1-1-3--The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.--As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,---Behold, I send my messenger before your face,- who will prepare your way,-the voice of one crying in the wilderness-- 'Prepare the way of the Lord,- make his paths straight,'-