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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/john-meekin/he-goeth-before-you/
Let's turn to Matthew's Gospel, please. Matthew chapter 28. Matthew's Gospel, and in chapter 28, and we'll read from verse number one. In the end of the Sabbath, it's really a plural expression, in the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow, and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not, for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen as he said. Come see the place where the Lord lay, and go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead.
And behold, he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall you see him, lo I have told you. Now come over with me please to the book of Hebrews, further into the New Testament, the book of Hebrews, and we'll take a first reference in chapter 6.
Hebrews 6 please, verse number 17, wherein God willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable or unchangeable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before us, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, whether the forerunner is for us entered even Jesus, made a high priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
And we'll take a final reference in chapter 12 please, the same book, and in chapter 12, Hebrews 12, verse number 1, wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about, with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience or endurance, the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. That's our reading. We trust further with the Lord's blessing. It must have been quite a thing for these disciples when the women came to them in Matthew's gospel, chapter 28, and when the news reached them that the one who had been placed into a garden tomb on that afternoon in Jerusalem, the one that they had witnessed physically being taken from the cross, now they come to the tomb, and as they get to the tomb, the earthquake happens.
The angel descends from heaven, rolls back the stone to the sepulcher, sits upon the stone, and announces to the angel, or to the ladies, I better not get too excited here either, announces to the women, he is not here, he is risen, and then says this to those women, go, go and tell his disciples, and tell them this, he goeth before you into Galilee.
Now can you imagine? I mean, think of the pathos of it. These downhearted disciples, these disciples who left that afternoon and went to their homes, they had trusted in a Messiah, and they thought he will deliver Israel, and instead he was put upon a cross.
And now these women come to them, and the women are bearing tidings, listen, he's risen, we have been to the tomb, we have been at the sepulcher, we have seen an angel, we saw the stone pushed back with mighty power, and we heard the angel say, he is not here, he is risen, come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Must have been quite a thing. And then the women said, he's going before you, he goeth before you into Galilee. The disciples must have looked at one another. I mean, a disappointed, downhearted crew, they must have looked at one another.
And you know, it gave them impetus. These downhearted men who had gathered in an upper room and locked the doors, you know, seven weeks later, everything has changed. Seven weeks from this day, everything changed.
And in Acts chapter 2, the same men go out onto the streets of Jerusalem. One of them stands up to preach. You know, I've got to be honest, brethren and sisters, I would have loved to have been there that day.
If I could have chosen one day to be in Jerusalem, it would have been that day. To see Peter stand up with the eleven, standing around him, and he starts to preach. What made the difference? There were two things that made the difference.
The first was this, the realization of a risen Christ. The impetus brought into their life by the fact Christ is risen and the descent of the Holy Spirit of God. And now men with burning hearts, men are going onto the streets of Jerusalem.
He goeth before you, and they're going out. And it's quite a wonderful thing. Men with melted hearts are preaching the gospel. It was in England. Just at the end of the civil war in England, Oliver Cromwell, he became Lord Protector, and the country was bankrupt.
I mean, they couldn't even find gold or silver. People had buried it. So Cromwell, he sent his soldiers into the churches, and he said, listen, check in the churches. Smart man, I guess. There's bound to be silver there.
Those men came back to him, and they said, sir, there's nothing there. They've melted down the silver, and they've made them into life-size saints. You know what Cromwell said? He said, melt down the saints and put them into circulation.
That's what happened in Jerusalem. Men with melted hearts went out preaching the gospel, and God worked in power as the gospel spread. And these disciples had this incentive. He goeth before you. That's what I want to speak about.
Just in case you think I've lost my way here, that happens quite occasionally. I've got to be honest with you. But so that you understand where I am trying to go, I look in Matthew chapter 28, and I learn this.
He goeth before you. And I bring that over to the book of Hebrews, and I read this expression. He goeth before you. The joy that was set before him. He goeth before you. Hebrews chapter 12. I think it's verse number one.
The race that is set before us. And finally, Hebrews chapter 6. He goeth before you. And we read in Hebrews chapter 6 about the hope that is set before. So you've got the synopsis of it. You've got the bones of it.
He goeth before you. The joy set before him. He goeth before you. The race set before us. He goeth before you. He himself is the hope which is set before. As we look here in Hebrews chapter 12, there are three looks that we are given attention to.
In fact, the chapter opens and it says this. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of testimony bearers. And in fact, the unnamed writer to the Hebrews, he's telling these people, listen, there were people brought to your attention.
Hebrews chapter 11. He started with Abel, and he runs right down through that list of faith. One brother that we know very well, he calls it God's hall of fame. Hebrews chapter 11. He starts with Abel, and he finishes with Samuel.
Interesting thing, isn't it, brethren? You theologians can help me. When he gets to the end of that list, it's out of chronological order, right? I mean, he puts Samuel last, and he puts David before Samuel.
For some reason, he reverses the chronological order. But he tells them right here, Hebrews chapter 12. He says, listen, you're compassed about with so great a cloud of testimony bearers. And you would think, and I would think, we look at Abel.
We look at Enoch. We look at Noah. We look at Abraham. We look at Sarah. All mentioned in the chapter. And we start running down through the list of names, and our minds are taken up with it. And we are compassed about with it.
And the writer says, no, no. Just hold on a second. Look away. Take another look. You've got to look away from them all. And we take our eyes away from them. There's one going before us. He goeth before you.
Listen, my beloved brethren. There was a joy set before him. And not only are we told to look away, but we are told to look unto him. In fact, the writer says in verse number two, looking unto Jesus. Who would want to be occupied with Abel?
Who would want to be occupied with Abraham? Who would even look at Noah or Moses, the man of faith, looking unto Jesus? Now, you will likely know that this is often being compared to the tribe of Judah.
There were seven things in the Old Testament in which Judah is given primary status. You will remember when it comes to Judah, Genesis chapter 49, he is first in praise. And as we read that chapter, Reuben comes before old Jacob, no praise.
Simeon comes before Jacob, no praise. Levi comes before Jacob, no praise. And at last Judah steps before the old patriarch and old Jacob looks at him. And he says, Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise.
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the lawgiver from beneath his feet until Shiloh come, the pacifier. And unto him shall the gathering of the people be. And you will find Genesis 49, Judah, he is first in praise.
You will notice Judah is first in service. You remember when God is going to build the tabernacle, two men are going to build it for him. Two men are given status to build for God, to make that brazen altar and to make that brazen labor and to make the golden altar and all of those other, the seven vessels.
Who was the man given primary status? Which tribe did he come from? Tribe of Judah. A man by the name of Bezalel in service for God. Judah has primary status and Bezalel, he's given the task to build for God.
You'll notice Judah is first in fruitfulness. Numbers chapter one, when that census is taken of all the tribes, which is the biggest tribe? You got it. It's the tribe of Judah. You will remember Judah is first in communion as those tribes are told to gather around the tabernacle.
Who is mentioned first? It's Judah. You will recall again, Judah is first in offering. Numbers chapter seven, those men are going to bring to God and they're going to worship. And you can see all the princes of the tribes standing forth.
And one man comes before them all, Nashon of the tribe of Judah, first in offering. I notice Judah is first in the journey as the tribes are moving out. And as the tribes, as the camp breaks up and the tabernacle goes out, you will remember there was one tribe went out first, always first.
What tribe was that? It was the tribe of Judah. And of course, you will remember the seventh thing. They were first in the conquest. Joshua chapter one, they're going to go into the promised land. They're going to set feet on territory for God.
They're going to work for God, brethren, and take ground for God. I hope we still believe in Iowa that we can take ground for God. I challenge our hearts, brethren, beloved sisters, let's go home from this conference, absolutely convinced.
Oh, the days are dark. Sure they are dark, but my beloved brethren, my beloved sisters, we can still take ground for God. And they're moving into the conquest. And as those Canaanites look, as the Israelites advanced, there was one standard that they saw.
What did they see? They saw a lion, the lion of the tribe of Judah coming first. And here we have it in Hebrews chapter 12, looking off. What are we looking to? Looking off unto Jesus, one standard. We look away.
We look away from Hebrews 11 and we look unto Jesus, who is carrying the standard for God, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame. Ah, but my brethren, wait a second.
The writer doesn't finish there. Look away from the word these of chapter 11. Look unto Jesus as the conquest goes forth. You know what the writer says? Look up. Who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame.
Where is he? Where is he today? He is set down on the right hand of the majesty in the house. Isn't it quite a thing? We have an exalted savior today. Now you brethren and sisters know, four times in the book, he sits.
Twice he sits down of his own volition and twice he is set down on the throne of God. I'm referring to chapter 1, he's set down. I'm referring to chapter 8. I'm referring to chapter 10 in the book. And here's the fourth reference and the unnamed writer of the book of Hebrews.
He says, listen, take a look up. He goeth before you. He has plowed the path of faith. Isn't it quite something? This is the example of faith. You say, he's plowed the path of faith. That's what it says.
Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. That word author is a very interesting expression. It's the word captain used in this book in chapter 2, the captain of our salvation. It's the word pathfinder.
It's actually the word pioneer. It's the word chief leader. You know what the word is? Trailblazer. I would never dare to use that word myself of the savior. That's the word the Holy Spirit used. He has blazed a trail.
Oh brethren and sisters, would God, we would leave this conference with it burning in our soul. He has blazed a trail for God, the path of faith. Abel, his wasn't the path. His was a path of faith, but the primary path of faith for God was blazed by the Lord Jesus.
He is the trailblazer and the perfecter of faith. And this afternoon, as I'm preaching in Iowa, he sits at the right hand of the majesty in the heights. He goeth before you. The joy that was set before him.
I notice as well in chapter 12 here. So we have not only the example of faith, but right here we have the endurance of faith. He goeth before you and the race that is set before us. Now you might not have known it, and I've got to be honest, I never even considered it, but the night the Lord saved me, I was put into a race.
You ever consider that? That the moment the Lord saved you, you were put into a race to run for God. That's the teaching of this passage. There is a race and it's set before us. That's the race and it's commencement.
I notice that we have the race considered. I'm referring to the book of Galatians. Galatians chapter 2. There's an amazing statement. It comes from the pen of Paul. You know what Paul says? He says, I went up to Jerusalem, and he says, in Jerusalem, I met with those of reputation.
He says, the reason I met with them was this, just in case I had run in vain. My brethren, there's the apostle and he's taking a check in the race. He's considering the race. He's checking, how am I doing in the race?
It was when our first child was born. My wife went into hospital and just before the birth, she was in a little room, a communal area. Well, it was the Olympics and there was a TV there. Now, I got to confess, we don't have a TV.
So I mean, you're sitting in a little room, you're waiting for the birth of a child. There's nothing else to do. And the Olympics are on. And I said, wow, this is good. I'm confessing my faults this day.
And it was the long distance race and it had been all over the press. The only difficulty was this. There was a friend of my wife's who was in the same hospital and she came to the same room and she was standing talking to my wife in front of the TV.
And I had to say, move over, move over, because I wanted to see the race. You know what impressed me? I'd never seen it before. That girl who was running in the race, she was English. As she's running that race, I saw her do this a number of times.
She just kept looking at her wrist. And I said to myself, what's she doing? You know what I found out? She was checking her position in the race and she kept checking, where am I in the race? That's what Paul is doing.
You know, beloved, since it would be a good thing for us today just to analyze again before God and in the presence of the Holy Spirit, how are we doing in this race? We have commenced this race at conversion.
We are presently in the race. But can I say to our hearts today, consider how we are doing in the race. I mean, I'm preaching to people today and they started that race well. They started running for God.
They started living for Christ. They started working for God. But things have interrupted that path of faith and things have interrupted the race. How are we doing today in the race for God? Not only the race in its commencement, the race considered.
I noticed the conditions of the race. You know, I was almost going to apologize. Of course, I don't think preachers do. Most normally they don't do that. I had a friend, we had a mutual friend. His name was Peter Orosok and he used to say something like this.
He said, you know, if you're going to be hung for stealing the heifer, you might as well be hung for stealing the herd. So I guess everyone take a deep breath, for here it goes. You know, brethren and sisters, there are conditions to this race.
In fact, Paul says, 2 Timothy chapter 2, he says, no man can strive for the masteries except he strive lawfully. Do you know what that means? That there are actually rules that God has imposed on the Christian path of faith.
Now, you know, young brethren, young sisters, I'm speaking to you at this moment. There are some people in assembly fellowship and you know what they want? They want to keep one foot in the assembly for God and they want to put one foot into denominational circles.
Did you get that? I hope I'm not speaking to anyone here this afternoon that wants to do that. Always remember the ecclesiastical system of our world is unbiblical. The denominational system that we have around us has no biblical basis.
Can I speak to my young brethren? Can I speak to younger saints today? Listen, in God's name, you put your back into God's assembly and you live for God. There are conditions in this race. There are rules that God has imposed and listen, beloved saints, let us run according to the rules, the conditions of the race.
I notice the race and its course because some people think this race we're involved in, what kind of a race is it? Well, it's not the 100 meter sprint. I know there's people here and you're likely taken up with that.
Tyson Gay and Usain Bolt, isn't that two of the known champions? I think so. You can confirm it, but I think that's two of them. And sometimes we're taken up with that where you start and you finish quickly.
This is the endurance race. In fact, that's the word used right there with patience, the race with endurance, the race that is set before us. This is the long distance endurance race. You know, there are some beloved saints and they've reached a stage and an age in their life and they think they have nothing more to offer to God's people.
Can I just speak to our older saints here? We value you in Christ Jesus. I just want to, as a younger person, in fact, I think I'm the youngest preacher at this conference. Can I say to the older believers, I said to our brother Robert, our brother Robert Orr, just at the break before this meeting, I shook our brother's hand and I said, brother Robert, I just want to tell you what an encouragement you are to us younger believers, men who have steered the path of faith, men who have lived for God, men who have steered a steady course, men who have worked for God.
Oh, let us beloved saints run with endurance the course, the race that is set before us. Just as I finish from this part of my message, I noticed the race and his crown. Paul speaks about the crown. First Corinthians chapter nine.
In fact, there are at least five crowns in the New Testament. You can go through them. You might even get seven if you push it far enough. But Mr. Irv Sweeter, he's not convinced about my ability with math.
So you'll at least get five. You'll get the crown of life and you'll get the crown of glory and you'll go through them. You go through them at your own leisure and check them yourself. There are at least five.
But never forget, beloved saints, there's a day coming when the race will be over. There's a day coming when the one who has gone before us will bring us before him. And as we stand there right from his own hand, well done, good and faithful servant.
He goeth before you, the race that is set before us. He goeth before you, the joy that was set before him. What about Hebrews chapter six then? In Hebrews chapter six, it's the hope that is set before.
And the picture really, I used to wonder about it. I've got to confess that to you. I used to wonder about Hebrews chapter six when it spoke about an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, which entereth into that within the veil.
Whether the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. I used to ask my heart, how is he an anchor? In what way is he an anchor that is dropped within the veil?
Well, the picture really is given of a boat, a ship, which is approaching the harbor. And when it gets almost to the entrance of the harbor, it lets down another little boat. That little boat is attached to the mother ship.
And that little boat then starts, and it goes within the harbor, and it drops an anchor. And when the anchor is dropped, that anchor is attached out to the ship that is not yet in the harbor. You know the picture that is given?
The advanced ship of the fleet has already gone in. That's the picture given, my brethren. There is one who has already gone in within the veil into heaven itself. Jesus, the Son of God. And you know what happened?
He ascended up through the aerial heavens. He ascended through the heavens of space. He entered heaven itself. And when he entered heaven, the angels bowed in silence. They'd never seen anything like it before.
A man in a body going up into heaven, and the angels were in silence. He passed the ranks of Cherubim, and the Cherubim were in silence. He went on upward, passed the Seraphim, and the Seraphim were in silence.
He went past the archangel, only one in scripture. He went past them all. And he sat down on the throne of eternal glory within the veil. And when he sat down on the throne of eternal glory, God saluted him.
And God broke the silence of heaven. And God said, thou art my son. This day have I begotten thee. Ah, my beloved brethren, beloved sisters today, he goeth before us. He goeth before you. The joy that was set before him, the race that is set before us, the hope that is set before, he himself is the hope.
He's within the veil. Someday he'll come out and take us home to be with him. May the Lord bless his word.