The Question Is Backward

[Title: THE QUESTION IS BACKWARD] [Intro] All rise. The Court is seated. A generation stands before the Judge. But everybody's staring at the witnesses. [Verse 1] A woman enters. From the South. And immediately the courtroom whispers— Who is SHE? Who gave HER the right to speak? Who is this woman to stand in judgment? Who is this woman to condemn? She says nothing. She doesn't need to defend herself. The record has already spoken. [Pre-Chorus] “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it...” [Chorus] WHO IS SHE TO RISE IN JUDGMENT? THE QUESTION IS BACKWARD. WHO WERE THEY TO REJECT THE CHRIST? She came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold— A GREATER THAN SOLOMON IS HERE. [Verse 2] Then footsteps. MEN. The men of Nineveh enter the court. Now the whispers start again— Who are THEY? What makes THEM righteous? Who gave THEM the right to condemn? Again— Wrong question. “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it...” Why? Because they repented at the preaching of Jonas. [Chorus] WHO ARE THESE MEN TO RISE IN JUDGMENT? THE QUESTION IS BACKWARD. WHO WERE THEY TO REJECT THE CHRIST? Nineveh heard the preaching of Jonas— AND REPENTED. And behold— A GREATER THAN JONAS IS HERE. [Bridge] Now bring the witnesses forward. Men of Nineveh— What did you do? WE REPENTED. Queen of the South— What did you do? I CAME. How far? FROM THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH. For whom? SOLOMON. For what? WISDOM. [Silence] And what did this generation receive? [Build] Not Jonas. GREATER. Not Solomon. GREATER. Not merely a prophet. Not merely a king. THE CHRIST. [Break] And now the courtroom understands. The Queen was never the glory. The men were never the glory. Their testimony is evidence. LESSER LIGHT MOVED THEM. GREATER LIGHT STOOD BEFORE YOU. Nineveh repented. The Queen came. AND YOU? [Silence] What did you do with Jesus Christ? [Final Chorus] WHO IS SHE TO RISE IN JUDGMENT? THE QUESTION IS BACKWARD! WHO ARE THESE MEN TO CONDEMN? THE QUESTION IS BACKWARD! WHO WERE THEY TO REJECT THE CHRIST? A GREATER THAN JONAS WAS HERE! A GREATER THAN SOLOMON WAS HERE! THE MEN REPENTED! THE WOMAN CAME! AND THIS GENERATION SAW THE CHRIST— [Silence] What did you do with Him? [Outro] The witnesses may be seated. The record remains. “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment...” “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment...” Not because they are the glory. Because their response testifies against unbelief. A greater is here. Jesus is the Lord.