WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.740 Good evening everyone, as Aaron said, I'm Ian. It's great to see such a full hall here this evening. 00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:11.640 ! Before I start, perhaps I can just remind you there's a prayer meeting on Tuesday evening for Danny at 8 o'clock on Zoom. 00:00:12.140 --> 00:00:18.640 Be great if as many as possible can come to that. It'll be the normal church prayer meeting link or it'll be in the weekly email tomorrow. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:21.219 Great to see a good number at that. 00:00:22.460 --> 00:00:28.100 So our subject this evening is, have you ever wondered why we long for justice? 00:00:28.860 --> 00:00:32.000 Honest answer, no I hadn't. I have now. 00:00:32.939 --> 00:00:37.679 But being a bit contrary, my first thought was, well do we really long for justice? 00:00:37.800 --> 00:00:41.800 And I've not really been able to get that out of my mind. I want to talk a little bit about that to begin with. 00:00:41.800 --> 00:00:46.280 We will come on to our main subject and in case you're worried, we will read from the Bible. 00:00:46.820 --> 00:00:51.079 Being unconvinced from a game will be doing it at the end rather than at the beginning. 00:00:51.980 --> 00:00:55.660 So I want to begin by just thinking, do we long for justice? 00:00:55.659 --> 00:01:00.759 Remember Sunday is probably quite a good day to think about that. 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:09.340 Because most wars are fights for justice on one side or sometimes both sides think they're fighting for justice. 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:13.439 So the Second World War is a prime example of that. 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:24.840 Britain went to war to prevent Hitler rampaging across Europe and to try to stop the murder of millions and millions of Jews and others. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:29.379 It was what people would see was a just war fighting for justice. 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:32.239 Many people gave their lives for that. 00:01:32.659 --> 00:01:36.219 And as a nation we are really thankful to God for that. 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:37.640 It was a war. 00:01:37.979 --> 00:01:40.099 It fought for justice. 00:01:40.099 --> 00:01:44.780 We saw that something was wrong that needed to be put right. 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:52.239 And the country as a whole, many other countries were willing to fight for it to achieve justice. 00:01:53.399 --> 00:01:59.259 Perhaps if we look around too we can see some justification for saying we long for justice. 00:01:59.959 --> 00:02:03.219 We look at the Windrush generation who came from the West Indies. 00:02:03.219 --> 00:02:10.939 And if we see how terribly they were treated by many people in authority, then we can say they deserve justice. 00:02:12.020 --> 00:02:16.520 Or the sub-postmaster and post-mistresses who were wrongly accused of fraud. 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:18.000 Some of them sent to prison. 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:20.020 Their lives turned upside down. 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:23.020 We look at that and say there's a grave injustice there. 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:25.360 There must be justice for them. 00:02:25.900 --> 00:02:31.659 And probably going beyond that, someone needs to be held to account for the injustice. 00:02:31.659 --> 00:02:34.699 There we go. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:44.120 But at the most basic level, if you have a child and something's gone wrong and they're not happy, they'll shout out, that's not fair. 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:50.740 They may not have learned what justice is, but they look around and see, someone's done something that's wrong to me. 00:02:50.939 --> 00:02:51.960 It's not fair. 00:02:52.259 --> 00:02:54.879 It needs to be sorted out. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:03:00.539 And that suggests there is an instinct in all of us that wrong should be righted. 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:04.939 And as I said, that those who have done wrong should be held to account. 00:03:06.099 --> 00:03:15.740 Justice satisfies a deep human need for moral order, that good should be rewarded, and that wrongs should be set right. 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:20.319 So why am I questioning whether we long for justice? 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:20.400 Justice. 00:03:20.900 --> 00:03:21.840 Well, there are two reasons. 00:03:22.699 --> 00:03:28.239 One is that what seems just to me may seem unjust to you. 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:32.979 If I'm going for justice, you may say, actually, that is unjust. 00:03:33.259 --> 00:03:34.739 I'll give you an example from my youth. 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:40.419 The war that Britain was involved in when I was in my early 20s was the Falklands War. 00:03:40.419 --> 00:03:52.619 The Falklands War came about because in Argentina there was a deeply held grievance that an island that was quite close to them was ruled by a country that was thousands of miles away. 00:03:53.359 --> 00:04:04.339 And there was some political maneuvering by the president to gain popularity in it, but it did reflect a deeply held view in Argentina that there was injustice, 00:04:04.339 --> 00:04:09.179 that the Malvinas, as they called them, were held by Britain. 00:04:10.419 --> 00:04:17.060 Come to our side of it, and when Argentina invaded the Falklands, we said that is unjust. 00:04:17.899 --> 00:04:21.259 The people who live in the Falklands should have the right to self-determination. 00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:25.439 They should be able to decide which country they belong to. 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:33.719 Different perspectives, both firmly held, both saying we want justice, but coming to the opposite conclusion. 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:37.320 Another example, a bit closer to us. 00:04:38.200 --> 00:04:45.760 There are many people who feel that justice can only be achieved if a woman has a right over what is in her own body. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:54.819 And there are many people who believe that the right there, the justice is achieved through the right of an unborn baby to life. 00:04:55.300 --> 00:05:02.839 Now you may have strong views on that as I do, but there's no denying that both CIs feel that they're on the side of justice. 00:05:02.980 --> 00:05:05.399 They are on the side of what's right. 00:05:05.399 --> 00:05:12.799 But coming to directly, diametrically opposite conclusions to what the other one does. 00:05:13.679 --> 00:05:22.279 So in many ways, justice seems to be slightly subjective, and we can't say necessarily there's an objective form of justice, 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:24.699 at least not without coming to the Bible. 00:05:24.699 --> 00:05:36.300 It's probably also fair to say that when we think about justice from our own viewpoint, it is justice for us as often as not. 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:38.939 What's best for me? 00:05:39.719 --> 00:05:41.079 We come back to our child there. 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:45.039 They're saying that's not fair because they feel they've lost out. 00:05:45.159 --> 00:05:46.620 They're not interested in anyone else. 00:05:46.980 --> 00:05:51.719 It is their justice, their rights that they're standing up for. 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:54.900 And that I think is very often the case with us too. 00:05:54.980 --> 00:05:59.720 The things that we feel really strongly about, the injustices that we see round about us, 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:06.240 very often their injustices affect us where we're on the receiving end of it. 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:10.780 Indeed, sometimes, if we can take an example of a child again, 00:06:11.020 --> 00:06:13.900 think of the opposite situation where they've been found out, 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:17.320 and they've done something wrong and their parents have discovered it. 00:06:17.500 --> 00:06:21.540 What they're interested in at that point is not justice, but mercy. 00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:24.200 They want to get off for what they've done again. 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:29.000 Even as grown-ups, I'm sure there's a lot of that in us as well. 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:34.760 So justice is, and the safe face of it at least, 00:06:35.080 --> 00:06:41.780 is not something in some cases that we can say absolutely this is just and this is unjust. 00:06:43.379 --> 00:06:48.280 The second reason for questioning this is the phrase long for. 00:06:48.280 --> 00:06:50.980 Why do we long for justice? 00:06:51.540 --> 00:06:55.300 Do we really long for justice? 00:06:55.420 --> 00:06:59.319 Now all of us probably have some injustices we feel really strongly about. 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:03.780 And there will be situations where we're willing to do something about them. 00:07:04.400 --> 00:07:06.980 We might confront someone about their actions. 00:07:07.620 --> 00:07:10.500 We might write a letter of complaint to a big company. 00:07:11.259 --> 00:07:17.720 We might even lobby parliament or go on a protest march about something we feel really strongly about. 00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:23.220 But alongside that, there are many, many situations where we might look at it and say, 00:07:23.320 --> 00:07:28.380 yeah, that's not right, but actually we're not willing to do anything about it. 00:07:28.780 --> 00:07:35.280 We've other priorities in our lives and it doesn't get to the top of things that we say we need to sort that out. 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:39.219 We don't want to get our hands dirty by wading in. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:44.679 If that's the case, can we say we really long for justice? 00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:49.459 Let me give you thoughts of two philosophers that think can help us. 00:07:50.860 --> 00:07:51.920 This guy is Plato. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:58.800 Plato, as I'm sure you know, was an ancient Greek philosopher and he wrote a lot about justice. 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:04.379 Now he doesn't have that many easily quotable quotes or borrowed from John Nelix and David Gooding 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:05.980 and something they said about Plato. 00:08:06.100 --> 00:08:12.040 They said, Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, held that no man could consider himself truly just 00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:16.899 unless he was prepared not only to receive no reward for acting justly, 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:22.839 but to be persecuted for acting justly when he could, by acting unjustly, 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:26.879 avoid persecution and receive reward. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:32.960 Acting justly goes a bit beyond having a longing for justice, but certainly includes it. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:35.540 And I think there's a bit of a challenge there. 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:43.920 When we have a longing for justice, if we do, are we willing to lose out by addressing it? 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:53.280 Are we willing to suffer other people saying to us, you're wrong, or doing things that are really quite nasty to us? 00:08:54.300 --> 00:08:56.600 That's a challenge, I think, for all of us. 00:08:57.940 --> 00:08:59.600 It was brought on to me by this guy. 00:08:59.660 --> 00:09:00.780 This guy is called Dave. 00:09:00.779 --> 00:09:03.259 I'm sure many of you know him better than I do. 00:09:03.699 --> 00:09:04.879 He's a very well-known rapper. 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:07.539 I'm not really into rap, but I read two things. 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:12.579 One was that Dave's latest album is called The Boy Who Plays the Harp, 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:16.179 and the other is that it has a lot of religious themes to it. 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:19.399 So I thought, let's have a look at the title tracks. 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:21.480 Let's listen to what he has to say. 00:09:22.059 --> 00:09:24.419 And I have to say, it's very powerful. 00:09:24.419 --> 00:09:31.659 So Dave is ultimately in the song, he's looking at King David from Israel, the boy who played the harp, 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:36.279 and saying, do I live up to the person I've been named after? 00:09:36.939 --> 00:09:38.339 How can you be a king? 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:40.719 Don't speak for your people. 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:45.019 And he repeatedly challenged himself with two questions. 00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:48.259 One is, what am I willing to die for? 00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:52.300 And the other is, what would I do in the next generation? 00:09:52.420 --> 00:09:57.680 I think, actually, what would I do for the next generation would be how most of us would put it. 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:01.620 So he thinks, how would I have felt if I'd been enlisted in World War II? 00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:07.139 How would I have felt in the midst of the civil rights movement in the States? 00:10:07.139 --> 00:10:08.819 Would I have been involved? 00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:11.659 Would I have been making sacrifices for others? 00:10:12.439 --> 00:10:19.019 Or as he said, would I lay down my life on the line so my grandkids could live a life that's peaceful? 00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:23.139 And throughout the song, he questions his priorities. 00:10:24.179 --> 00:10:25.179 There's a few lines. 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:28.039 You don't want to hear me rapping, so I'm just going to read them out normally. 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:31.120 But here's some things that Dave said. 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:35.720 I sometimes wonder, what would I do in the next generation? 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:40.160 But I'm knowing the answer because what am I doing in this generation? 00:10:41.139 --> 00:10:45.680 Afraid to speak because I don't want to risk it, my occupation. 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:48.500 We've got kids under occupation. 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:50.920 My parents, they wouldn't get that. 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:56.600 The people that died for our freedom, spoke on justice, couldn't accept that. 00:10:57.379 --> 00:11:03.600 I talk about the money in all my accounts, so why don't I speak on the West Bank? 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:07.220 Very challenging, I think, probably for all of us. 00:11:07.860 --> 00:11:14.139 Are we more interested in our jobs, in our careers, in our comfort, in our money, 00:11:14.680 --> 00:11:18.600 than we are when we look around us and we see injustice? 00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:21.259 We like the idea of justice. 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:24.159 We may well feel we know what is just. 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:28.899 But often we're more concerned with our own comfort. 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:37.000 So there may be many things that we care about, but in the round, do we long for justice? 00:11:37.579 --> 00:11:41.379 About weeks ago on Sunday morning, we were looking at the story of the rich-ranked ruler. 00:11:42.219 --> 00:11:47.579 This man who had everything in worldly terms, who could look at himself and say, 00:11:47.580 --> 00:11:50.240 I'm a very moral person, I live to high standards. 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:57.900 But when Jesus challenges him effectively on justice, he's not willing to sell what he has and give it to the poor. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:00.740 His money was too important to him. 00:12:01.400 --> 00:12:02.940 And perhaps that's the challenge for us. 00:12:02.980 --> 00:12:06.879 If we think we long for justice, what are we willing to do about it? 00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:13.540 Are we willing to affect our lifestyle or to get us into some really uncomfortable situations? 00:12:13.539 --> 00:12:15.759 So where have we got to? 00:12:16.599 --> 00:12:23.360 Our view of justice, I've said, can be subjective and often based on self-interest. 00:12:24.339 --> 00:12:30.059 Our willingness to do something about it may be limited to how much we care about the particular issue 00:12:30.059 --> 00:12:33.120 and how much it might cost us. 00:12:34.099 --> 00:12:40.839 But given all that, with these caveats, there is in all of us an instinct for that's not fair. 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:46.240 We look at something and say, that's not right, something should be done about it. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:49.440 And I think if we take that as a longing for justice, 00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:52.740 then we can start to look at the question that we've been given, 00:12:53.180 --> 00:12:55.600 why do we have that longing? 00:12:56.920 --> 00:12:57.639 Let's have a look now. 00:12:57.700 --> 00:13:00.060 I've got four points and we'll just go through them fairly quickly, 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:02.720 then you'll have the opportunity for discussion. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:14.720 So the first thing is that as humans, all humans, we're made in the image of God 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:19.660 and we have an inbuilt understanding of right and wrong. 00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:22.580 Our God is just. 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:25.639 Moses says in Deuteronomy 32.4, 00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:30.279 He is the rock, his ways are perfect, and all his ways are just. 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:36.779 A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:39.779 This isn't just something that God does. 00:13:40.419 --> 00:13:42.519 This is what God is. 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:44.860 God is just. 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:47.639 And he has a passion for justice, 00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:49.779 including particularly, as we read to the Bible, 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:52.819 justice for the poor and oppressed. 00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:56.260 And part of being made in his image 00:13:56.260 --> 00:14:01.760 is that we have a similar, much weaker, but a similar longing. 00:14:02.900 --> 00:14:05.640 Paul writes in Romans 2, verses 14 to 15, 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:10.800 When the Gentiles who do not have the law do by nature things required by the law, 00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:14.720 they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 00:14:15.680 --> 00:14:19.340 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts. 00:14:20.260 --> 00:14:22.480 Their conscience is also bearing witness. 00:14:22.820 --> 00:14:25.200 And their thoughts sometimes accusing them, 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:28.440 and at other times defending them. 00:14:29.180 --> 00:14:34.400 So Paul is saying all of us have an innate sense of right and wrong. 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:37.520 It doesn't matter whether we're Christians or not at this point. 00:14:37.900 --> 00:14:41.300 Everyone has a sense of right or wrong given by God. 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:46.480 And we have a conscience that we choose either to go with or not to go with. 00:14:46.580 --> 00:14:49.520 Now sometimes our conscience doesn't serve us well. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:53.139 Paul says in Timothy that people have had their consciences seared, 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:56.480 as with a hot iron, in other words, they become ineffective. 00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:59.100 But we all have a God-given conscience, 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:03.120 and we all have a sense of right and wrong. 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:08.079 Paul corrupted the mortality, the clarity of that, 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:10.079 because injustice enters our hearts. 00:15:10.579 --> 00:15:14.699 But even in our fallen state, we long to be right. 00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:17.900 God's moral law is active in us, 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:21.440 even in those who have no direct knowledge of him, 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:23.759 even of those who have never heard of Jesus Christ. 00:15:24.160 --> 00:15:29.580 God has given them the conscience and the desire to look for him. 00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:34.860 Second point, maybe a little bit more subtle. 00:15:35.540 --> 00:15:37.460 We live in society. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:42.220 And in a society, you need a set of agreed standards. 00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:45.520 Now living together is God's plan for us. 00:15:46.040 --> 00:15:47.259 Think right back to the beginning. 00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:51.100 God said Adam needs someone to be a companion for him. 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.920 He made Eve. 00:15:52.520 --> 00:15:53.280 They had a family. 00:15:53.400 --> 00:15:55.940 God says you'll stay with your family until you get married, 00:15:56.020 --> 00:15:57.700 then you'll leave your father and your mother. 00:15:57.700 --> 00:16:03.840 Then they lived in communities, in extended families, in cities, in nations. 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:07.100 And God chose a nation for himself, the nation of Israel. 00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:11.660 And he gave them a set of laws that they could live by. 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:15.500 Ultimately, those of us who know Jesus and our trust is in him, 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:19.700 we'll live in a perfect society together in the new Jerusalem 00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:22.580 with all the saints from down the years. 00:16:23.300 --> 00:16:25.700 So we're made to live together. 00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:29.140 And if you're going to live together in any kind of peace, 00:16:29.520 --> 00:16:32.600 you need to have a set of commonly agreed standards. 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.860 You need laws. 00:16:34.780 --> 00:16:38.080 That's why God's established governing authorities in countries. 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:43.620 Remember Romans 13 says the authorities that exist have been established by God. 00:16:44.140 --> 00:16:46.540 Consequently, whoever rebels against this authority 00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:51.060 is rebelling against what God has instituted. 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:55.839 We look around the world and even sometimes our own country 00:16:55.839 --> 00:17:01.179 and we see governments and we recognise they're not governing justly. 00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:06.779 We do live in a fallen world and governments sometimes don't prevent injustice. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:09.480 Sometimes they even cause it. 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:13.339 And then we feel empathy with those who are suffering. 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:16.220 Those from our community or from other communities 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:22.839 who are being treated unfairly and are being exploited for the benefit of others. 00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:26.140 When people who are innocent suffer, 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:29.420 when the poor are treated particularly badly, 00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:32.100 when systems favour the powerful, 00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:34.900 we look at it and say that's not right. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:38.539 That's not how society should be. 00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:42.759 It should be a place of order and of law. 00:17:42.899 --> 00:17:48.519 And at that point we identify with God's instruction in the book of Amos 5.24, 00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:50.940 let justice roll on like a river, 00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:55.059 righteousness like a never failing stream. 00:17:56.639 --> 00:18:00.119 We have a sense of what is right and what is wrong of justice 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:04.519 because that is necessary if we are to live in society. 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:08.480 Now these first two, although I've quoted Bible passages, 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:10.240 these are universal things. 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:13.420 They're not particularly looking at it as a Christian. 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:16.759 We have two more which are much more looking at what we, 00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:20.299 if we are Christians, particularly understand in this. 00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:24.119 And if we're Christians, our understanding of justice 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:27.900 comes largely through the work of what Jesus has done 00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:31.259 and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:34.980 It is when we understand God's grace 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:38.900 and how his justice has been satisfied through Jesus 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:42.720 that we have the desire to go, to copy, 00:18:43.140 --> 00:18:46.539 to follow the example of the Lord Jesus 00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:50.240 and to live and to act justly. 00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:52.839 So when we come to trust in Jesus, 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:57.779 we recognise that injustice isn't just something out there 00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:59.220 that other people do. 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.640 It's personal. 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:02.740 We've all done wrong 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:05.660 and if we were to be treated justly by God, 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:08.740 then there is a punishment for that. 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:10.620 There are consequences. 00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:13.500 And the great message of Christian faith, 00:19:13.600 --> 00:19:14.960 the great message of grace, 00:19:15.360 --> 00:19:17.660 is that Jesus has taken the punishment 00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:20.480 of a holy and just God. 00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:21.839 What should have come to us, 00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.079 Jesus has taken 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:25.240 and God in his mercy 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:29.579 has provided a way of forgiveness for us. 00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:31.439 I love Isaiah 53. 00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.500 I'm sure you do too. 00:19:32.659 --> 00:19:33.399 Verse 6 says, 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:35.259 We all like sheep have gone astray. 00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:38.480 Each of us has turned to his own way 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:41.259 and the Lord has laid on him 00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:44.259 the iniquity of us all. 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:46.339 The cross of Jesus, 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.379 the death of Jesus, 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:51.599 is the ultimate demonstration of God's love for us. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:55.160 That he gave his son to die for us. 00:19:55.839 --> 00:20:00.539 It's also the ultimate demonstration of his justice. 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:03.660 That he knew there was no other way 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:05.160 that we could be forgiven 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:07.000 for all the wrong we've done 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:10.440 than for his perfect son to take that punishment for us. 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:14.120 And he was willing to do it as a just God 00:20:14.120 --> 00:20:18.880 so that he can declare us in Jesus to be righteous. 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:22.220 Then as we look at Jesus' life, 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:25.440 we see his passion for justice. 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:29.100 In the first sermon that's recorded in Luke chapter 4, 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.440 he quotes Isaiah 61. 00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:33.320 The spirit of the Lord is upon me 00:20:33.320 --> 00:20:37.620 because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. 00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:40.919 He sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners 00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:43.419 and recovery of sight to the blind, 00:20:43.879 --> 00:20:45.359 to set the oppressed free, 00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:49.599 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour. 00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:53.759 So we see Jesus living a perfect life. 00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:57.000 We see God's passion for justice, 00:20:57.459 --> 00:20:59.719 particularly passion for social justice, 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:01.879 throughout the Bible. 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:04.920 We see above all the death of Jesus 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:07.940 and how God's justice was satisfied there. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:10.180 And that reminds us, 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:11.740 it brings to our hearts, 00:21:12.300 --> 00:21:15.520 what an unjust, unjust world we live in. 00:21:16.020 --> 00:21:17.920 How sinful we are. 00:21:18.620 --> 00:21:20.300 And we long for more justice, 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:23.600 the justice that comes through the Lord Jesus. 00:21:24.540 --> 00:21:25.380 And as Christians, 00:21:25.580 --> 00:21:27.560 we have the gift of the Holy Spirit 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:29.579 convicting us of sin, 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:31.779 bringing us to Jesus, 00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:33.599 leading us into all truth, 00:21:34.139 --> 00:21:36.839 and giving us that longing for justice, 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.839 for things to be right. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.839 In the words of Micah 6, 8, 00:21:40.919 --> 00:21:42.319 we want to act justly, 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:44.039 to love mercy, 00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:47.740 and to walk humbly with our God. 00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:51.500 Then my final point 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:56.200 is that we long for a better world. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:58.599 We anticipate heaven. 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:01.240 When we say the Lord's Prayer, 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:01.660 we say, 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:02.799 Thy kingdom come, 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:04.420 thy will be done, 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:06.940 on earth as it is in heaven. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.660 And in that, 00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:11.259 we recognise that things are not 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:13.539 as they should be. 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:16.720 And they're not as they will be. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:18.519 Paul says in Romans 8, 00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:19.900 we know that the whole creation 00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:20.779 has been groaning, 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:22.940 as in the pains of childbirth, 00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:25.019 right up to the present time. 00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:27.019 Not only so, 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:28.940 but we ourselves 00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:30.720 have the first fruit of the Spirit 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:32.460 grown inwardly 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:34.319 as we eagerly wait 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:36.039 for our adoption to sonship, 00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:38.660 the redemption of our bodies. 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.380 He could have added, 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:41.559 as we wait for the justice of God 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:42.480 and of the Lord Jesus 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:45.579 to be universally seen. 00:22:45.579 --> 00:22:47.740 We, if we are Christians, 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:49.259 have the sure hope 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.960 that God's justice 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:53.259 will ultimately prevail. 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:54.679 One day, 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:56.399 he'll bring all wrongdoing 00:22:56.399 --> 00:22:57.159 into the light 00:22:57.159 --> 00:22:59.599 and make everything right. 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.899 One day, 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:02.159 Jesus will return 00:23:02.159 --> 00:23:03.500 and will reign 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:05.059 in righteousness. 00:23:06.099 --> 00:23:06.980 That hope 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.679 shouldn't lead us 00:23:07.679 --> 00:23:08.319 to be passive 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:09.839 and to just sit back 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:11.019 and wait for that day. 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.639 It should prompt us 00:23:12.639 --> 00:23:13.339 to action 00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:15.299 and persistent prayer 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:16.400 as we wait 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:18.400 for the Lord's return. 00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:20.740 We know that a better day 00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.819 is coming. 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.700 We know that Jesus 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:24.759 is coming back 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:26.480 and justice in full 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.960 will be achieved. 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.319 And I wonder, 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.460 do we really long 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.500 for that day? 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.519 Are we groaning 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:34.180 as we look around us 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:34.940 at the injustice 00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:35.599 in the world 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.480 and saying, 00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:37.359 come Lord Jesus, 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:37.900 come 00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:39.740 and make everything 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.720 right? 00:23:41.600 --> 00:23:42.460 Four reasons 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:44.019 why we long 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.600 for justice. 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.920 We're made in God's image. 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:47.700 We're living in a society 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:49.420 that needs laws, 00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:50.300 just laws. 00:23:50.780 --> 00:23:51.660 We know Jesus 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.600 and the grace 00:23:52.600 --> 00:23:53.880 that he has shown to us. 00:23:54.320 --> 00:23:55.580 And we're anticipating heaven. 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.380 We're looking forward 00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:57.060 to the day 00:23:57.060 --> 00:23:58.259 when everything 00:23:58.259 --> 00:24:00.300 will be put right. 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:02.040 I said I'd end 00:24:02.040 --> 00:24:02.860 with a Bible reading, 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.740 so let's do that. 00:24:03.820 --> 00:24:05.600 It's from Luke chapter 18. 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.100 And you're very welcome 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:07.879 to turn to it 00:24:07.879 --> 00:24:08.579 if you want to 00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:10.419 or I'll just read it out. 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.539 Luke chapter 18 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:12.939 and I'm reading 00:24:12.939 --> 00:24:13.919 from verse 1 00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:15.399 and it says, 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.379 Then Jesus told 00:24:16.379 --> 00:24:17.099 his disciples 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:17.839 a parable 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:19.379 to show them 00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:19.980 that they should 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:20.899 always pray 00:24:20.899 --> 00:24:22.319 and not give up. 00:24:23.399 --> 00:24:23.919 He said, 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.839 In a certain town 00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:25.679 there was a judge 00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:27.079 who neither feared God 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:28.299 nor cared 00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:29.359 what people thought. 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:31.359 And there was a widow 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:32.039 in that town 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:33.159 who kept coming to him 00:24:33.159 --> 00:24:33.879 with the plea, 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:35.559 Grant me justice 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.799 against my adversary. 00:24:37.099 --> 00:24:38.799 For some time 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:39.539 he refused. 00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:41.259 But finally 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.379 he said to himself, 00:24:42.379 --> 00:24:43.500 Even though I don't 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.279 fear God 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:46.419 or care what people think, 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:48.699 yet because this widow 00:24:48.699 --> 00:24:49.919 keeps bothering me, 00:24:50.419 --> 00:24:51.339 I will see 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:52.579 that she gets justice 00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:54.379 so that she won't 00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:55.399 eventually come 00:24:55.399 --> 00:24:57.039 and attack me. 00:24:58.179 --> 00:24:59.439 And the Lord said, 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:03.220 listen to what the unjust judge says. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:05.460 And will not God 00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.600 bring about justice 00:25:06.600 --> 00:25:07.940 for his chosen ones 00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:10.039 who cry out to him 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:11.299 day and night? 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.960 Will he keep putting them off? 00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:15.820 I tell you, 00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:18.220 he will see that they get justice 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.700 and quickly. 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.080 However, 00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:23.799 when the Son of Man comes, 00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:26.299 will he find faith 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.599 on earth? 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.599 I think this brings together 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.460 quite a lot of what 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.519 I've been trying to say 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.559 this evening. 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.339 We should have 00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:35.379 the same longing 00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:36.139 for justice 00:25:36.139 --> 00:25:38.079 as that widow. 00:25:38.639 --> 00:25:39.359 We should see 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:40.579 when things are wrong 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:42.539 and we should be willing 00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:44.379 to act on our convictions 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:46.359 and to not give up 00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:47.180 even if the answer 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.279 doesn't come quickly, 00:25:48.919 --> 00:25:49.980 even if there are 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.299 discouragements. 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:52.819 we should have 00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:54.200 absolute confidence 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:55.539 in the character 00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.980 of our God. 00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.399 This is a parable 00:25:58.399 --> 00:25:59.399 not of similarities 00:25:59.399 --> 00:26:00.480 but of contrast. 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.220 The contrast is 00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:03.759 between this unjust ruler 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:05.220 who only gives justice 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.899 because the widow 00:26:05.899 --> 00:26:06.879 keeps nagging him 00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:08.419 and he wants to get rid of her 00:26:08.419 --> 00:26:10.339 and our loving God 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:13.159 who desires justice 00:26:13.159 --> 00:26:14.119 in everything 00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:15.919 and who is working 00:26:15.919 --> 00:26:16.700 everything 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:18.539 for our good. 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.579 The question's not 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:22.359 whether God is just 00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:23.659 and whether he'll 00:26:23.659 --> 00:26:25.059 bring about justice. 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:27.220 We know that's true. 00:26:28.199 --> 00:26:28.980 The question is 00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:30.579 whether we really believe it. 00:26:31.699 --> 00:26:33.579 Whether we really believe 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:35.439 that Jesus does make 00:26:35.439 --> 00:26:35.960 a difference 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:37.699 when we stand against 00:26:37.699 --> 00:26:38.699 just injustice 00:26:38.699 --> 00:26:39.819 in the world. 00:26:39.939 --> 00:26:40.500 Whether we have 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.220 the convictions 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.500 of our conscience 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:44.559 even when it's hard 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:45.220 for us. 00:26:46.179 --> 00:26:47.759 Whether when Jesus returns 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.900 he will find 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:50.000 those who are faithful 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:51.279 he will find 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:52.299 faith on earth 00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:53.420 he will find 00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:54.420 people who share 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.299 his passion 00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:56.720 for justice. 00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:58.059 So let's be encouraged. 00:26:58.379 --> 00:26:59.200 Let's be encouraged 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.440 that we have a just God 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.180 who has shown 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:02.259 his amazing grace 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:02.900 to us 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:04.879 despite all our failures. 00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:06.579 Rejoice that one day 00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:07.819 justice will fully 00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:09.299 be seen to be done. 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:11.519 Let's also think about 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.900 as I've been challenged 00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:13.759 I hope you have 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:15.740 do I really long 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.960 for justice? 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:19.279 Is it only when it suits me 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.720 that I'm willing 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.440 to do anything? 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.859 Do I really long 00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:22.480 for justice? 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.960 Am I prepared 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:25.200 to make sacrifices 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:26.759 to achieve it? 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:28.259 Let's pray together. 00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:31.039 Father we thank you 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:31.599 for your word. 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.700 We thank you 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.940 for the comfort 00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:34.879 and the challenge 00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:35.619 it gives us. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.599 And we recognise 00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.359 that we live 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:37.879 in a world 00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:39.220 of great injustice. 00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:41.099 But we thank you 00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:42.379 that in all of us 00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:43.140 and everybody 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:44.940 you have put a sense 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:46.500 of right and wrong 00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:48.200 as part of being made 00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.380 in your image. 00:27:50.080 --> 00:27:50.720 And we thank you 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.440 that we can see 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.140 particularly 00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:53.500 your justice 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:55.240 as we read your word 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:55.680 and particularly 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.640 as we look at Jesus 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.540 at his life 00:27:57.540 --> 00:27:58.740 and especially 00:27:58.740 --> 00:28:00.140 at his death for us. 00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:01.780 I pray that you will 00:28:01.780 --> 00:28:02.560 give us a real 00:28:02.560 --> 00:28:04.040 longing for justice. 00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.540 And when you want 00:28:05.540 --> 00:28:07.120 to stir us into action 00:28:07.120 --> 00:28:08.580 when there is something 00:28:08.580 --> 00:28:09.240 that we need 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:10.240 to do about it 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.780 let us be willing 00:28:11.780 --> 00:28:12.540 to do it. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.399 whatever sacrifices 00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:16.059 we may need to make. 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.759 Thank you for your word. 00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:18.259 We thank you 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:18.839 for your presence. 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:20.139 We pray you be with us now 00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:21.460 as we spend some time 00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:22.359 discussing together. 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:24.099 We ask in Jesus name. 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.039 Amen.