WEBVTT

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 Luke chapter 9, starting in verse 51, and I'll read all the way to chapter 10, verse 24.

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 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

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 And he sent messengers ahead of him who went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for him.

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 But the people did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem.

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 And when his disciples, James and John, saw it, they said, Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?

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 But he turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village.

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 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, I will follow you wherever you go.

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 And Jesus said to him, foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.

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 To another he said, follow me.

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 But he said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father.

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 And Jesus said to him, leave the dead to bury their own dead.

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 But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.

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 Yet another said, I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those in my home.

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 Jesus said to him, no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

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 After this, the Lord appointed 72 others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

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 And he said to them, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

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 Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

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 Go your way.

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 Behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

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 Carry no money bag, no knapsack, no sandals and greet no one on the road.

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 Whatever house you enter, first say, peace be to this house.

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 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him.

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 But if not, it will return to you and remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide for the laborer deserves his wages.

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 Do not go from house to house.

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 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.

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 Heal the sick in it and say to them, the kingdom of God has come near to you.

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 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,

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 even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you.

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 Nevertheless, know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.

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 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

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 Woe to you, Chorazin.

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 Woe to you, Bethsaida.

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 For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon,

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 they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

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 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

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 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?

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 You shall be brought down to Hades.

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 The one who hears you hears me.

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 And the one who rejects you rejects me.

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 And the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.

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 The 72 returned with joy, saying,

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 Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name.

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 And he said to them,

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 I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

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 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions

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 and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

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 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you,

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 but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

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 In that same hour, he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,

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 I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

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 that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding

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 and revealed them to little children.

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 Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

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 All things have been handed over to me by my Father,

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 and no one knows who the Son is except the Father,

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 or who the Father is except the Son,

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 and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

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 Then turning to the disciples, he said privately,

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 Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.

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 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desire to see what you see

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 and did not see it,

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 and to hear what you hear and did not hear it.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Jesus revealed himself as the Messiah, as we saw,

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 throughout chapter 9,

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 and Peter made the momentous observation of profession

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 that Jesus is the Christ of God,

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 in chapter 9, verse 2.

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 And in all three of the Synoptic Gospels,

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 Matthew, Mark, and Luke,

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 Peter's confession kind of is a pivot

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 in which the narrative turns

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 to Jesus' kind of unstoppable march toward the cross.

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 That's why he says he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

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 So he's about to go to die on the cross,

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 to be raised from the dead,

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 and to ascend to the right hand of the Father.

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 That's where he is headed now.

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 And coming to terms with the true messianic identity of Jesus

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 forces us to make a difficult decision.

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 Are we willing to follow such a Messiah?

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 If Jesus really is a suffering Messiah,

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 if Jesus really is going to the cross,

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 and following him involves bearing our own cross,

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 as Jesus taught us in chapter 9,

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 then is it worth it?

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 What does it mean to become a disciple of Jesus?

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 And this passage seeks to answer those questions.

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 And it does so in three parts.

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 First, we see the price of discipleship.

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 And then we see the proclamation of discipleship.

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 And then lastly, we see the privilege of discipleship.

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 First, let's look at the price of discipleship.

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 After Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem,

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 it says in verses 52 to 53,

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 that Jesus sent messengers ahead of him

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 who went and entered the village of the Samaritans

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 to make preparations for him.

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 But the people did not receive him

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 because his face was set toward Jerusalem.

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 In the Greek, the phrase,

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 sent messengers ahead of him,

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 is literally sent messengers before his face.

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 So there's actually a threefold repetition

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 of the word face in these verses.

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 Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem

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 and he sent messengers before his face.

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 But the Samaritans rejected him

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 because his face was set toward Jerusalem.

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 And we know from the Gospel of John

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 that there's some bad blood between Jews and Samaritans,

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 which we'll see more closely in the next passage,

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 next week.

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 But here, Luke doesn't mention any of that.

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 But I think there's a deeper reason for this conflict,

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 the rejection of the Samaritans of Jesus and his disciples.

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 And it's that Jesus' journey to Jerusalem

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 is his journey to the cross, as he taught us.

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 And when he set his face to go to Jerusalem,

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 he was embracing all that is entailed

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 in being the suffering Messiah

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 who will die for the sins of God's people.

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 And that radical redefinition

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 of what it means to be the Christ,

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 the king, the messianic king,

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 was controversial not only among the Jews,

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 but also among the Samaritans

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 who were also waiting for a Messiah.

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 And so he says in chapter 945

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 that they didn't understand

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 what Jesus was talking about.

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 So he seems that that's what's going on here,

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 that this is the price

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 that the disciple of Christ also has to consider

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 and pay.

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 That the king that is rejected

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 means his followers too will face rejection,

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 and that's not a popular result.

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 And so here, as Jesus is on his way,

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 he's so determined to go through

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 the territory of the Samaritans to Jerusalem,

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 he faces rejection

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 because of that determined course.

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 Jesus was earlier rejected in Luke 8, 37

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 among the Gentiles,

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 those who were non-Jews.

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 And now here he is rejected among the Samaritans

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 who are like the half-Jews

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 with mixed blood.

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 And soon he will be rejected

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 by the Jews themselves in Jerusalem.

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 And that's the pattern,

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 the kind of the trajectory

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 of the Gospel of Luke.

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 But the disciples don't take

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 this rejection very well.

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 They're the proud Jews,

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 and these are the half-breed Samaritans.

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 And yet they have the audacity

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 to reject their Messiah.

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 And so James and John,

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 whom Jesus nicknamed

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 the Sons of Thunder in Mark 3, 17,

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 they react with appropriately

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 thunderous indignation.

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 In verse 54,

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 And when his disciples,

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 James and John,

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 saw it,

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 they said,

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 Lord, do you want us to tell fire

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 to come down from heaven

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 and consume them?

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 Seems a bit dramatic,

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 but that's exactly what had happened

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 to those who opposed Prophet Elijah

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 in the Old Testament.

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 Those soldiers that were sent

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 to arrest him

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 were consumed by fire.

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 So they must have

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 that precedent in mind

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 as they suggest this.

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 But Jesus rebukes them.

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 He says,

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 He turned and rebuked them,

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 and they went on

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 to another village.

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 So it's not that Jesus

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 is totally against

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 any form of judgment.

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 He himself will later

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 speak of judgment

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 in verses 10 to 16.

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 But what he's teaching here

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 is that he came

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 in his first coming

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 in grace

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 to save his people.

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 He has not come to judge.

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 He will return

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 in his second coming,

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 in his glory to judge.

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 But for the disciples

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 who are ministering

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 and living in between

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 those two comings of Christ,

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 they are not to retaliate,

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 even in the face of rejection.

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 And this is a helpful correction to us.

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 We count it a virtue

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 to be well-liked.

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 We don't like to face rejection.

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 But as our culture

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 becomes increasingly post-Christian

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 and moves on from its

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 kind of Christian underpinnings,

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 the saving message

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 of Jesus Christ

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 is going to be

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 increasingly ridiculed

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 and rejected.

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 And so we shouldn't be surprised

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 by the kind of

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 the trials

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 and suffering

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 that we face

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 as followers of Christ.

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 That's the price

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 of discipleship

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 that Jesus is speaking of.

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 He doesn't sugarcoat that.

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 And as Jesus continues

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 on his way to Jerusalem,

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 he encounters

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 three potential followers.

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 And Jesus' conversation

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 with them

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 is very counterintuitive.

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 Usually when you have

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 potential followers,

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 you want to win them over,

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 lure them,

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 show them why

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 it would be worth it.

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 But this is how

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 he reacts to them.

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 He says in verses 57 to 58,

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 As they were going

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 along the road,

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 someone said to him,

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 I will follow you

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 wherever you go.

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 And Jesus said to him,

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 Foxes have holes

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 and birds of the air

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 have nests,

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 but the Son of Man

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 has nowhere to lay his head.

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 He's expressing a desire

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 to become a disciple of Jesus.

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 That's what the language

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 of following implies.

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 And in the ancient

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 Jewish context,

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 the disciple would travel

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 everywhere with their teacher

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 and sit at their feet

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 to learn the Jewish laws.

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 But Jesus knows

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 that following him

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 involves much more

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 than simply learning

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 like a typical Jewish disciple.

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 But it's a dangerous road.

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 It's a costly road

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 because the Son of Man

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 has nowhere to lay his head.

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 This is one of his favorite ways

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 of referring to himself

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 as the representative

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 of humankind before God.

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 And throughout his ministry,

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 Jesus was a homeless teacher.

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 He was at the mercy

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 of the hospitality of others.

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 And because he preaches

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 a counterintuitive

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 and countercultural message

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 of the cross

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 that he came to die

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 as the king

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 to pay the penalty

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 for the sins of his people,

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 the disciples also face

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 suffering and rejection

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 and they have to count the cost

00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:02.579
 before they can follow him.

00:12:03.579 --> 00:12:05.740
 Verses 59 to 60 continue.

00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:08.559
 It gets even harsher seemingly.

00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:10.319
 To another he said,

00:12:10.539 --> 00:12:11.079
 follow me.

00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:12.240
 But he said,

00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:14.500
 Lord, let me first go

00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:16.000
 and bury my father.

00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:18.939
 And Jesus said to him,

00:12:19.579 --> 00:12:20.299
 leave the dead

00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:21.459
 to bury their own dead.

00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:23.039
 But as for you,

00:12:23.439 --> 00:12:24.360
 go and proclaim

00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:25.740
 the kingdom of God.

00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:28.580
 This is a shocking statement,

00:12:28.779 --> 00:12:29.560
 right, to us.

00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:31.580
 But it would have been

00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:32.700
 even more shocking

00:12:32.700 --> 00:12:34.019
 in the ancient world

00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:34.899
 because there,

00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:36.500
 arranging for the burial

00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:37.440
 of your parents

00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:38.080
 was considered

00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:39.159
 a sacred duty.

00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:41.539
 One of the most important duties

00:12:41.539 --> 00:12:43.480
 within the family.

00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:44.659
 In fact,

00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:46.360
 even though coming into contact

00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:47.120
 with the dead

00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:48.560
 was ritually defiling

00:12:48.560 --> 00:12:49.480
 in Judaism,

00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:50.980
 the Old Testament scriptures

00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:52.259
 made special exceptions

00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:53.360
 when it came to

00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.419
 burying your relatives.

00:12:54.419 --> 00:12:57.219
 So it said in Leviticus 21,

00:12:57.459 --> 00:12:58.179
 1 to 3,

00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:00.159
 no one shall make himself

00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:01.319
 unclean for the dead

00:13:01.319 --> 00:13:02.120
 among his people

00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:05.179
 except for his closest relatives,

00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:05.939
 his mother,

00:13:06.299 --> 00:13:07.099
 his father,

00:13:07.199 --> 00:13:07.779
 his son,

00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:08.419
 his daughter,

00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:09.039
 his brother,

00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:10.539
 or his virgin sister

00:13:10.539 --> 00:13:11.519
 who is near to him

00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:13.099
 because she has had no husband.

00:13:13.439 --> 00:13:13.959
 For her,

00:13:14.099 --> 00:13:15.259
 he may make himself

00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:16.120
 unclean.

00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:19.179
 But Jesus tells this man

00:13:19.179 --> 00:13:20.799
 to leave the dead,

00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:22.699
 to bury their own dead.

00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:24.040
 But as for you,

00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:24.860
 go and proclaim

00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:25.879
 the kingdom of God.

00:13:26.940 --> 00:13:28.640
 Jesus is not teaching

00:13:28.640 --> 00:13:29.440
 his followers

00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:30.900
 to neglect their families.

00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:32.600
 We know that

00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:34.000
 because in 1 Timothy 5,

00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:34.240
 8,

00:13:34.280 --> 00:13:34.540
 it says,

00:13:34.700 --> 00:13:35.280
 but if anyone

00:13:35.280 --> 00:13:36.160
 does not provide

00:13:36.160 --> 00:13:37.220
 for his relatives

00:13:37.220 --> 00:13:38.160
 and especially

00:13:38.160 --> 00:13:38.740
 for members

00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:39.660
 of his household,

00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:41.280
 he has denied the faith

00:13:41.280 --> 00:13:42.020
 and is worse

00:13:42.020 --> 00:13:42.920
 than an unbeliever.

00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:45.139
 So Jesus is not making

00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:46.240
 a literal point here,

00:13:46.299 --> 00:13:47.019
 but he's using

00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:48.219
 a figurative language

00:13:48.219 --> 00:13:49.199
 to establish

00:13:49.199 --> 00:13:50.740
 a spiritual principle.

00:13:51.439 --> 00:13:52.159
 And we know

00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:53.240
 that this is figurative

00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:54.319
 because dead people

00:13:54.319 --> 00:13:55.620
 can't bury dead people.

00:13:56.459 --> 00:13:57.259
 They're already dead.

00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.039
 So Jesus is not referring

00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:00.299
 to the physically dead,

00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:01.159
 but he's referring

00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:02.099
 to those who are

00:14:02.099 --> 00:14:03.099
 spiritually dead.

00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:05.439
 So in Luke 7,

00:14:05.599 --> 00:14:06.639
 11 to 17,

00:14:06.839 --> 00:14:07.480
 if you guys remember,

00:14:07.599 --> 00:14:08.439
 Jesus touched

00:14:08.439 --> 00:14:09.679
 the funeral bear

00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:10.879
 of the dead son

00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:12.120
 of the widow of nine.

00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:13.700
 And in Luke 8,

00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:14.740
 49 to 56,

00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:15.620
 Jesus touched

00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:16.600
 the dead daughter

00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:17.440
 of Jairus.

00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:19.440
 But in both of those cases,

00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:21.179
 contrary to expectation,

00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:22.200
 instead of Jesus

00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:23.220
 being defiled

00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:24.379
 by coming into contact

00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:25.019
 with the dead,

00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:26.379
 the dead were instead

00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:28.159
 raised to new life.

00:14:28.560 --> 00:14:29.799
 Jesus imparted life

00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:30.220
 to them.

00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:31.720
 And that's because

00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:32.139
 Jesus,

00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:33.179
 as he taught in John,

00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:33.620
 that he said,

00:14:33.620 --> 00:14:34.740
 I am the resurrection

00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:35.720
 and the life.

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:36.860
 Whoever believes in me,

00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:37.680
 though he die,

00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:39.060
 yet shall he live.

00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:40.299
 And everyone who lives

00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:41.080
 and believes in me

00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:42.139
 shall never die.

00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:43.840
 So Jesus' kind of

00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:45.220
 resuscitation of the dead

00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:46.120
 in the Gospels

00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:48.000
 functioned as a foretaste

00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:50.000
 of the eternal resurrection life

00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.200
 that he promises

00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:52.259
 all of his followers.

00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:54.300
 And that should inform

00:14:54.300 --> 00:14:55.040
 how we interpret

00:14:55.040 --> 00:14:56.759
 Jesus' command here.

00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:58.040
 Leave the dead

00:14:58.040 --> 00:15:00.200
 to bury their own dead,

00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:01.600
 but as for you,

00:15:02.040 --> 00:15:03.040
 go and proclaim

00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:04.560
 the kingdom of God.

00:15:05.140 --> 00:15:06.500
 That's what that means here.

00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:08.179
 Even the spiritually dead

00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:09.580
 can take care

00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:10.639
 of their own parents.

00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:14.259
 But only a Christian

00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:15.179
 can proclaim

00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:16.259
 the kingdom of God.

00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:20.759
 So you must go do it.

00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:23.620
 Even the spiritually dead

00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.960
 can work hard

00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:26.120
 to earn a living

00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:27.240
 for their families.

00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:29.200
 But only a Christian

00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:29.960
 can proclaim

00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:31.039
 the kingdom of God.

00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:31.120
 God.

00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:34.139
 So you must go do it.

00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:37.019
 Even the spiritually dead

00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:37.879
 can study hard

00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:39.059
 to earn their degrees,

00:15:39.939 --> 00:15:40.679
 win grants,

00:15:41.199 --> 00:15:42.079
 and make breakthrough

00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:42.779
 contributions

00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:44.159
 in their academic disciplines

00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:45.480
 and advance human knowledge.

00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:48.460
 But only a Christian

00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:49.700
 can proclaim

00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:51.220
 the kingdom of God.

00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:54.659
 This is not to belittle

00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:55.340
 the activities

00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:56.360
 and relationships

00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:57.420
 that preoccupy

00:15:57.420 --> 00:15:58.100
 our human lives,

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.379
 but simply to express

00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.539
 the priority

00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:01.920
 and necessity

00:16:01.920 --> 00:16:03.060
 of proclaiming

00:16:03.060 --> 00:16:03.940
 the kingdom of God.

00:16:04.300 --> 00:16:04.759
 In short,

00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:06.060
 what Jesus is saying here is

00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:08.500
 there is no temporal duty

00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:10.379
 that is so important

00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:12.259
 that we should neglect

00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:13.139
 or delay

00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:14.159
 following Christ

00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:14.779
 for it.

00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:19.539
 Arranging for the care

00:16:19.539 --> 00:16:20.039
 and burial

00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:21.139
 of our aged parents

00:16:21.139 --> 00:16:22.060
 is important.

00:16:22.800 --> 00:16:23.779
 Schooling our children

00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:24.440
 and taking them

00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:25.360
 to music lessons

00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.480
 and little league games

00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.560
 are important.

00:16:28.560 --> 00:16:29.600
 Alleviating poverty

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.279
 and abolishing

00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:31.200
 human trafficking

00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:32.159
 are important.

00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.360
 But while we do

00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:34.180
 all of these things,

00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:35.480
 we must not forget

00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:36.700
 the important truth

00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:37.860
 that the world's

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:39.100
 greatest need

00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:41.560
 and our unique ability

00:16:41.560 --> 00:16:42.620
 as Christians

00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:44.460
 meet in the proclamation

00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:46.019
 of the kingdom of God.

00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:48.400
 That's our unique

00:16:48.400 --> 00:16:49.220
 responsibility

00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.440
 and prerogative.

00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:53.960
 This man had a very good,

00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:56.040
 reasonable request

00:16:56.040 --> 00:16:57.360
 to make of Jesus.

00:16:57.960 --> 00:16:58.920
 He just wanted to

00:16:58.920 --> 00:16:59.879
 honor his parents

00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:01.019
 and give them

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:01.860
 a proper burial

00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:02.840
 before he left

00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:03.600
 to follow Jesus

00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:04.340
 as a disciple.

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.079
 But Jesus says

00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:06.840
 even that

00:17:06.840 --> 00:17:08.140
 is an insufficient

00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:08.759
 excuse

00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.840
 for postponing

00:17:09.840 --> 00:17:11.680
 Christian discipleship

00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:13.299
 because an important

00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:14.360
 thing must never

00:17:14.360 --> 00:17:15.279
 take precedence

00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:16.820
 over the ultimate thing.

00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:19.200
 Because a good thing

00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:20.779
 must never take precedence

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.519
 over the best thing.

00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:27.000
 Some people say,

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:28.019
 well, after I have

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:29.080
 graduated from school

00:17:29.080 --> 00:17:30.440
 and when I'm less busy,

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.960
 I will really follow Christ

00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.660
 and serve Him.

00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:35.480
 After I climb

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.420
 the corporate ladder

00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:38.039
 to a point where

00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:39.320
 I have built sufficient wealth

00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:40.159
 and job security,

00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:41.579
 then I will really

00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:42.339
 follow Christ.

00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:45.779
 After I'm married

00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:46.659
 and have a family,

00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:48.119
 I will really follow Christ

00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:48.819
 and serve Him.

00:17:49.379 --> 00:17:50.240
 After my kids

00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.019
 are grown up,

00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:52.439
 I will really then

00:17:52.439 --> 00:17:53.119
 apply myself

00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:54.079
 to following Christ.

00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.619
 That's not how

00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:57.220
 Christian discipleship works.

00:17:57.619 --> 00:17:58.259
 That's what Jesus

00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:58.819
 is saying.

00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:00.359
 His command

00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:01.639
 doesn't necessarily mean

00:18:01.639 --> 00:18:02.339
 that all of us

00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:02.939
 have to leave

00:18:02.939 --> 00:18:03.659
 our day jobs

00:18:03.659 --> 00:18:04.980
 and leave our families

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:06.200
 to move to a foreign country

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:07.139
 as a Christian missionary.

00:18:07.899 --> 00:18:08.639
 It might mean that

00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.300
 for some of us,

00:18:09.340 --> 00:18:10.040
 but that's not what

00:18:10.040 --> 00:18:11.060
 it necessarily means

00:18:11.060 --> 00:18:12.020
 for all of us.

00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:13.900
 But what it does mean

00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:15.360
 is that all of our lives'

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:17.420
 purposes and priorities

00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:18.500
 have to be radically

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.960
 reoriented with Christ

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:21.360
 as the center.

00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.120
 Because following Christ

00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:25.120
 subordinates

00:18:25.120 --> 00:18:26.360
 and subsumes

00:18:26.360 --> 00:18:27.500
 all of our other

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.360
 obligations.

00:18:30.040 --> 00:18:30.660
 So then,

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:32.060
 are you faithfully involved

00:18:32.060 --> 00:18:33.120
 in the worship

00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:33.960
 and fellowship

00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:34.780
 of the church?

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:39.579
 what are the relations

00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.700
 and activities

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.960
 that you have allowed

00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.940
 to push out

00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:44.039
 your priority

00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.980
 of following Christ

00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.660
 and proclaiming

00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:46.359
 the kingdom of God?

00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:50.240
 Have you been sharing

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.000
 the good news

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.920
 of Jesus Christ

00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:52.839
 with your friends

00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:53.319
 and neighbors?

00:18:55.899 --> 00:18:57.460
 Because you may be,

00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:58.440
 very well be,

00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:00.119
 the only Christian

00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:01.220
 close enough

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:03.240
 to them to proclaim

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:04.099
 the kingdom of God.

00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:09.880
 Do you realize

00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:11.000
 that that's precisely

00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:12.920
 where our unique ability

00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:13.839
 as Christians

00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.839
 and the world's

00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:16.059
 most desperate need

00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.660
 meet?

00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:18.380
 That's what that means.

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.299
 Leave the dead

00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.359
 to bury their own dead.

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.180
 But as for you,

00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:24.079
 go and proclaim

00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:25.539
 the kingdom of God.

00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:28.480
 We encounter

00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.259
 a third candidate

00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.940
 in verses 61 to 62.

00:19:31.399 --> 00:19:32.139
 Yet another said,

00:19:33.159 --> 00:19:34.299
 I will follow you, Lord,

00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:36.259
 but let me first

00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:37.039
 say farewell

00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:38.059
 to those at my home.

00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.440
 Jesus said to him,

00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.079
 no one who puts

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.119
 his hand to the plow

00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:43.940
 and looks back

00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:44.480
 is fit

00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.599
 for the kingdom of God.

00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:48.039
 This is an allusion

00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:49.940
 to 1 Kings 19

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:51.460
 verses 19 to 21.

00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.559
 That's where

00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:53.700
 prophet Elijah

00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:55.819
 calls Elisha

00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:57.160
 to become

00:19:57.160 --> 00:19:57.900
 his disciple.

00:19:59.180 --> 00:19:59.559
 It says,

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.120
 so Elisha,

00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:01.940
 so he departed

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:02.440
 from there

00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:03.559
 and found Elisha,

00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:04.539
 the son of Shaphat,

00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.720
 who was plowing

00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:07.240
 with 12 yoke of oxen

00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:07.960
 in front of him.

00:20:08.340 --> 00:20:08.799
 And he was

00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.799
 with the 12th.

00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:11.360
 Elisha passed by him

00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:12.279
 and cast his cloak

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.960
 upon him.

00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:14.360
 And he left the oxen

00:20:14.360 --> 00:20:15.480
 and ran after Elisha

00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:15.860
 and said,

00:20:15.860 --> 00:20:17.160
 let me kiss my father

00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:17.740
 and my mother

00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.940
 and then I will follow you.

00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:20.340
 And he said to him,

00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.319
 go back again

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:22.039
 for what have I done

00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:22.420
 to you?

00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:23.860
 And he returned

00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:24.779
 from following him

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.980
 and took the yoke

00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.500
 of oxen

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.820
 and sacrificed them

00:20:27.820 --> 00:20:29.160
 and boiled their flesh

00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:29.759
 with the yokes

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.440
 of the oxen

00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:31.580
 and gave it to the people

00:20:31.580 --> 00:20:32.300
 and they ate.

00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.039
 Then he arose

00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:35.480
 and went after Elisha

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.920
 and assisted him.

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:39.320
 So in this passage,

00:20:39.560 --> 00:20:40.320
 Elisha

00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:42.620
 literally looks back

00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.519
 while he's plowing

00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:43.920
 the field.

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.460
 But more importantly,

00:20:45.620 --> 00:20:47.240
 he figuratively looks back

00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:48.660
 from plowing the field.

00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.400
 He's called

00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:51.000
 to the prophetic ministry

00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:52.780
 by Prophet Elijah.

00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:54.019
 But he says

00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:56.400
 he needs some time

00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:57.340
 to put his former life

00:20:57.340 --> 00:20:57.759
 in order.

00:20:58.060 --> 00:20:58.640
 He's going to settle

00:20:58.640 --> 00:20:59.259
 some accounts.

00:20:59.540 --> 00:21:00.060
 He's going to sell

00:21:00.060 --> 00:21:01.300
 all the things

00:21:01.300 --> 00:21:03.019
 related to his day job,

00:21:03.120 --> 00:21:03.759
 sell the oxen,

00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:05.560
 get some money

00:21:05.560 --> 00:21:06.140
 for his family.

00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:06.880
 He's going to kiss

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.980
 his father and mother goodbye

00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.400
 and then he joins him.

00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:10.380
 And this was

00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:11.519
 an urgent mission.

00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:12.519
 They lived

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.500
 in a desperate time

00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.560
 under the wicked king,

00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:15.080
 Ahab.

00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.199
 And yet,

00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:18.039
 and Elijah was given

00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:19.019
 a once-in-a-lifetime

00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:19.960
 opportunity to follow

00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.699
 one of the greatest

00:21:20.699 --> 00:21:21.579
 prophets of old,

00:21:21.699 --> 00:21:22.079
 Elijah.

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:24.059
 Yet even in that context,

00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:25.720
 Elijah was given

00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.480
 the freedom

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.439
 to return

00:21:27.439 --> 00:21:28.000
 and to settle

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.599
 his accounts

00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.619
 and to first say

00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:30.819
 goodbye to his family.

00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:31.819
 But Luke

00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.759
 and Jesus here

00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.460
 is intentionally

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:34.659
 drawing a contrast

00:21:34.659 --> 00:21:35.759
 to convey

00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.720
 the reality

00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:38.179
 that following Christ

00:21:38.179 --> 00:21:39.740
 is far more urgent

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.559
 than that.

00:21:42.419 --> 00:21:43.480
 What Elisha

00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.839
 had the luxury

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.400
 to do.

00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:46.960
 The disciple of Christ

00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:48.039
 does not have

00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:48.559
 the luxury

00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:49.440
 to do

00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.380
 because it's a matter

00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:51.579
 of eternal life.

00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:57.380
 And like the two

00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:58.680
 preceding cases,

00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.759
 this case too

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:01.460
 is more illustrative

00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:02.460
 than literal.

00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:05.180
 What Jesus is saying

00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:05.940
 is you cannot

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:07.279
 have split

00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.180
 allegiances.

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:11.759
 You cannot follow

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.980
 after two things

00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:13.799
 at once.

00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.759
 The Israelites

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:17.000
 after their deliverance

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:17.759
 from their slavery

00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.140
 in Egypt,

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.960
 after the Exodus,

00:22:19.080 --> 00:22:19.880
 they looked back

00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:20.700
 on their time

00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:21.299
 of slavery

00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:22.360
 and they said,

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:22.580
 well,

00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.160
 maybe it would have

00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.140
 been better there

00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:25.460
 than being in the wilderness

00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.200
 here in freedom.

00:22:27.600 --> 00:22:28.580
 Lot's wife,

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:30.100
 if you guys remember,

00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:31.279
 when she was rescued

00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:32.880
 from Sodom

00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:35.259
 as he was being destroyed,

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:37.079
 she looked back

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:38.440
 longingly

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:39.519
 at that city

00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:40.579
 that was being destroyed

00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.420
 and was turned

00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:42.379
 into a pillar of salt.

00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.480
 Jesus is issuing

00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.140
 a warning

00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:45.799
 that's similar.

00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:46.299
 He's saying,

00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.700
 don't look back

00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:49.140
 at your former life.

00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.799
 When you're called

00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.279
 to Christ,

00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:52.079
 don't look,

00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:52.759
 don't be lured

00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.480
 by the things

00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.359
 of this world.

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.359
 Have no regrets

00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:56.559
 about following Christ.

00:22:56.879 --> 00:22:57.619
 Hold fast

00:22:57.619 --> 00:22:58.599
 to your confession

00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.579
 because no one

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.420
 who puts his hand

00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:01.059
 to the plow

00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:02.180
 and looks back

00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:02.980
 is fit

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.960
 for the kingdom

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:05.059
 of God.

00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.619
 When you're plowing

00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.119
 a field

00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:07.900
 with an ox,

00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.359
 the goal

00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:10.099
 is to plow

00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:11.259
 a straight furrow

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.940
 and just

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.140
 a little distraction

00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.839
 looking around

00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:15.599
 and looking back

00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:16.799
 could veer you

00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.420
 off course.

00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:19.940
 And because of that,

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.640
 in the ancient world,

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.839
 in a lot of ancient literature,

00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:23.099
 that metaphor,

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.059
 that image

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.960
 of plowing a field

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.740
 was used

00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.539
 to convey

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.680
 a sense of discipline

00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:28.799
 and focus,

00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.619
 a dedication,

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:31.019
 a single-minded dedication

00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:32.180
 to a task.

00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:33.920
 And that's what

00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:35.000
 Jesus is calling

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.820
 Christian disciples

00:23:35.820 --> 00:23:37.200
 to an unwavering

00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.800
 discipline

00:23:37.800 --> 00:23:39.200
 and a focus.

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.960
 And Jesus is not saying

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:42.300
 that if you ever falter

00:23:42.300 --> 00:23:43.340
 in your faith

00:23:43.340 --> 00:23:44.000
 and look back

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.820
 from following Christ

00:23:44.820 --> 00:23:45.820
 that you will automatically

00:23:45.820 --> 00:23:46.600
 be disqualified.

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.539
 He's gracious.

00:23:49.380 --> 00:23:50.500
 Jesus later restores

00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.380
 Apostle Peter

00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:53.140
 even after he denies

00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.480
 Jesus three times.

00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:56.740
 But Jesus is saying

00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:58.080
 that following Christ

00:23:58.080 --> 00:23:59.480
 requires focus

00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.579
 and dedication

00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:01.480
 much like

00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:02.360
 plowing a field.

00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.279
 Following Christ

00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:05.700
 is an all-consuming

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.440
 affair.

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:08.640
 It's not a side gig

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.740
 or a hobby.

00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.039
 Following Christ

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:14.660
 should be

00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:15.920
 our first love,

00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:16.400
 should be

00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:17.660
 our great purpose,

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:19.339
 our consuming passion,

00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:21.079
 our life's work.

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:23.680
 Not just for ministers

00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:24.339
 and missionaries

00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:25.599
 but for every Christian.

00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.620
 And following Christ,

00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.359
 I admit

00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:29.079
 and many of you

00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.679
 can testify

00:24:29.679 --> 00:24:30.779
 will often feel

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.899
 like an uphill climb.

00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:34.459
 That's because

00:24:34.459 --> 00:24:35.039
 we're fighting

00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.039
 our sinful flesh.

00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.079
 That's because

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:37.739
 we're going up

00:24:37.739 --> 00:24:38.799
 against the currents

00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:39.979
 of the sinful world.

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.619
 And as soon as

00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:42.439
 you align yourself

00:24:42.439 --> 00:24:43.379
 to Jesus Christ,

00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.279
 you become

00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:45.319
 the sworn enemy

00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.359
 of Satan

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.719
 and his demonic minions

00:24:47.719 --> 00:24:49.239
 because we're engaged

00:24:49.239 --> 00:24:50.059
 in this cosmic

00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:51.259
 spiritual warfare.

00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:52.879
 And because of that,

00:24:52.939 --> 00:24:53.579
 there will be

00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:54.479
 hard days.

00:24:55.179 --> 00:24:55.639
 There will be

00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:56.759
 very hard days.

00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:58.579
 And there will be

00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.099
 suffering.

00:24:59.899 --> 00:25:00.799
 And there will be

00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.659
 temptations.

00:25:02.239 --> 00:25:03.179
 And there will be

00:25:03.179 --> 00:25:04.039
 persecutions.

00:25:04.739 --> 00:25:05.519
 But don't

00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.299
 look

00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:07.339
 back.

00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:11.739
 Keep your hands

00:25:11.739 --> 00:25:12.279
 on the plow.

00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:14.859
 Plow ahead.

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.659
 Keep going

00:25:17.659 --> 00:25:18.419
 because your

00:25:18.419 --> 00:25:19.899
 great reward,

00:25:20.419 --> 00:25:21.339
 Jesus Christ

00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:21.879
 himself,

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.579
 awaits you.

00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:25.240
 we need to

00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:25.819
 constantly

00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:26.859
 encourage each

00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.119
 other

00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:28.159
 with this

00:25:28.159 --> 00:25:28.559
 truth

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.119
 in this way.

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:29.939
 We're always

00:25:29.939 --> 00:25:30.519
 being tempted

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.339
 to look back,

00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.399
 to look around.

00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.619
 But we need

00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:35.299
 to call each

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.579
 other

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.639
 when our eyes

00:25:36.639 --> 00:25:37.279
 begin to

00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:37.659
 wander.

00:25:39.399 --> 00:25:40.059
 Keep plowing.

00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:41.480
 That's the

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:41.899
 price of

00:25:41.899 --> 00:25:42.519
 discipleship.

00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:44.579
 Nowadays,

00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.359
 sometimes it

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:45.939
 feels like

00:25:45.939 --> 00:25:46.500
 churches are

00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:46.919
 in a mad

00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:47.599
 dash to see

00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.079
 how quickly

00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:48.500
 they can

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.399
 lower the

00:25:49.399 --> 00:25:49.819
 bar of

00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:50.119
 Christian

00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:50.819
 discipleship.

00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:53.639
 you don't

00:25:53.639 --> 00:25:55.059
 have enough

00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:55.619
 people joining

00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:56.119
 your church.

00:25:56.899 --> 00:25:57.379
 Easy.

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:59.000
 Just lower

00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.579
 the bar so

00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.220
 less people

00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:01.099
 are offended

00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:01.740
 and more

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.200
 people are

00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:02.559
 comfortable

00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:02.839
 in the

00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:03.099
 pews.

00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:06.200
 You can

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.619
 be a church

00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.119
 member without

00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:07.740
 coming to the

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.319
 worship service

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:08.720
 regularly.

00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.419
 You can be a

00:26:10.419 --> 00:26:10.879
 Christian without

00:26:10.879 --> 00:26:11.399
 believing what

00:26:11.399 --> 00:26:11.720
 the Bible

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.099
 teaches.

00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.399
 You can be a

00:26:13.399 --> 00:26:13.899
 Christian without

00:26:13.899 --> 00:26:14.480
 changing your

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:14.879
 lifestyle.

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.139
 You can be a

00:26:16.139 --> 00:26:16.720
 Christian without

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.460
 renouncing your

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:17.720
 sins.

00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:18.359
 You can be a

00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:19.379
 Christian and

00:26:19.379 --> 00:26:20.000
 still live for

00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.519
 yourself.

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:22.359
 These are

00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:23.919
 soul-destroying

00:26:23.919 --> 00:26:24.700
 lies.

00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:28.779
 Don't

00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:29.220
 believe them.

00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.200
 Jesus raises

00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.779
 the bar

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:32.419
 impossibly high.

00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:32.700
 Why?

00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:33.819
 Because Christian

00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.599
 discipleship is

00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:35.059
 hard.

00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:36.559
 And unless you

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.119
 set the bar

00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:37.859
 high, people

00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.839
 who climb

00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:40.099
 over are not

00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:40.899
 going to make

00:26:40.899 --> 00:26:41.439
 it to the end

00:26:41.439 --> 00:26:41.879
 of the journey.

00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:42.339
 That's the

00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:42.899
 price of

00:26:42.899 --> 00:26:43.539
 discipleship.

00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:46.279
 And then in

00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:46.879
 verses 1 to

00:26:46.879 --> 00:26:47.679
 16 of chapter

00:26:47.679 --> 00:26:48.500
 10, we see the

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.259
 proclamation of

00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.939
 discipleship.

00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:52.039
 He had sent

00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:52.580
 out 12

00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:53.380
 apostles earlier

00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:53.700
 in chapter

00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.420
 9, but here

00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.539
 he sent 72

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.279
 others and

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.100
 sent them on

00:26:57.100 --> 00:26:57.620
 ahead of him

00:26:57.620 --> 00:26:58.279
 two by two

00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.539
 into every town

00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.100
 and place where

00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:00.779
 he himself is

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.460
 about to go.

00:27:02.320 --> 00:27:02.920
 As you have

00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.539
 seen throughout

00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:04.140
 the Gospel of

00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:04.680
 Luke, numbers

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.440
 are significant.

00:27:06.340 --> 00:27:06.700
 He sends

00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:07.240
 them two by

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.900
 two so that

00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:08.700
 they can bear

00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.240
 a credible

00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.880
 witness to

00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:10.320
 whether or not

00:27:10.320 --> 00:27:10.980
 someone accepts

00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:11.660
 or rejects the

00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:12.080
 Gospel of

00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:12.680
 Jesus Christ.

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.500
 That was the

00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.120
 standard given

00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:14.640
 in Deuteronomy

00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.720
 19.15 for

00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:16.519
 establishing a

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.259
 credible witness.

00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:20.240
 And that's

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.799
 why in the

00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.240
 cases of

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.960
 church discipline

00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.640
 and excommunication

00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:23.279
 you need two

00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:23.599
 or three

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:23.940
 witnesses.

00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:24.420
 It has to

00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:24.879
 happen in

00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.339
 the context

00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:25.680
 of the

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.019
 gathered

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.619
 church, the

00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:26.879
 corporate

00:27:26.879 --> 00:27:27.279
 body.

00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:29.559
 72 is also

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.140
 significant.

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.619
 Jesus chose

00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:32.640
 the 12 earlier

00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:33.319
 to represent

00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:35.420
 as an allusion

00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:35.879
 to the 12

00:27:35.879 --> 00:27:36.400
 tribes of

00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.160
 Israel to

00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:37.819
 signal the

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.220
 fact that he

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.279
 is reconstituting

00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:39.980
 God's people.

00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.379
 But now here

00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:42.599
 he picks 72

00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:43.139
 for this

00:27:43.139 --> 00:27:43.779
 reason because

00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:44.379
 in Genesis

00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:47.379
 10,

00:27:47.939 --> 00:27:50.539
 chapter 10

00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:51.099
 verses 1 to

00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:51.859
 31, it

00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.500
 begins this

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:52.679
 way.

00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.299
 These are the

00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:54.139
 generations of

00:27:54.139 --> 00:27:54.839
 the sons of

00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:55.980
 Noah, Shem,

00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:56.579
 and Ham,

00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.359
 and Japheth.

00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.299
 Sons were

00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:58.799
 born to them

00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.219
 after the

00:27:59.219 --> 00:27:59.379
 flood.

00:27:59.439 --> 00:28:00.099
 So this is

00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:00.699
 kind of a

00:28:00.699 --> 00:28:01.359
 starting over

00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:02.159
 of the line

00:28:02.159 --> 00:28:02.659
 of humanity

00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:03.359
 after the

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:03.959
 flood judgment.

00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:05.639
 And it

00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:07.679
 lists 72

00:28:07.679 --> 00:28:08.619
 names.

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:09.899
 And it

00:28:09.899 --> 00:28:10.519
 says after

00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.019
 at the end,

00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:11.779
 these are the

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.399
 sons of Shem

00:28:12.399 --> 00:28:12.839
 by their

00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:13.500
 clans,

00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:14.559
 their languages,

00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:15.779
 their lands,

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:16.879
 and their

00:28:16.879 --> 00:28:17.639
 nations.

00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:18.879
 And from

00:28:18.879 --> 00:28:19.619
 these, the

00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:20.440
 nations spread

00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.160
 abroad on the

00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:21.920
 earth after the

00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:22.119
 flood.

00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:22.579
 That's what it

00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:23.079
 says in verse

00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:23.559
 31.

00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:25.379
 And that's why

00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:26.099
 Genesis chapter

00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.740
 10 is called

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.460
 the table of

00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.000
 the nations.

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.180
 And by sending

00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:30.220
 out 72

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.980
 disciples,

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:31.879
 Jesus is

00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.519
 signifying the

00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:32.879
 fact that

00:28:32.879 --> 00:28:33.639
 Christian mission

00:28:33.639 --> 00:28:34.559
 is not

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.180
 restrictive,

00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:35.559
 it's not

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.379
 merely to the

00:28:36.379 --> 00:28:37.299
 Jews, but

00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.059
 it's to all

00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:38.980
 national and

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.839
 ethnic people

00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.480
 groups of

00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:40.839
 earth.

00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:42.399
 because our

00:28:42.399 --> 00:28:43.139
 God is not

00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:43.779
 a local

00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.459
 deity, he's

00:28:44.459 --> 00:28:45.359
 not a regional

00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.559
 deity, but he's

00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:47.480
 the God of all

00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.579
 creation, he's

00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.179
 the God over

00:28:49.179 --> 00:28:49.740
 all the

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.539
 nations, and

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:50.839
 so his

00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.839
 worship is due

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.839
 from every

00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:53.519
 nation and

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.439
 all tribes

00:28:54.439 --> 00:28:55.139
 and peoples

00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:56.019
 and tongues.

00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:57.279
 That's what

00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.019
 this is about.

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.199
 It's the cosmic

00:28:59.199 --> 00:28:59.740
 mission that we

00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.259
 get to be a

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:00.759
 part of.

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.099
 Take a look

00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:04.199
 at this map

00:29:04.199 --> 00:29:04.539
 that I'm

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.179
 projecting for you.

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.339
 It's from a

00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:06.939
 book entitled

00:29:06.939 --> 00:29:07.720
 The Atlas of

00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.039
 Global

00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:08.659
 Christianity.

00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:10.859
 The colors

00:29:10.859 --> 00:29:11.819
 display the

00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.700
 percentage of

00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:13.980
 majority

00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.680
 religions.

00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:16.639
 Blue is

00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:17.159
 Christianity,

00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:18.899
 green

00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:19.460
 concentrated

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.059
 heavily in

00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.639
 North Africa

00:29:20.639 --> 00:29:20.980
 and the

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.339
 Middle East

00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:21.980
 is Islam,

00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:23.099
 pink

00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:24.059
 concentrated in

00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.599
 India is

00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:25.159
 Hinduism,

00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.379
 orange is

00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:26.960
 for Buddhism,

00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.079
 and the tan

00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:28.759
 color in much

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.319
 of China

00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:29.920
 represents

00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:30.899
 agnosticism.

00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:34.099
 And that

00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:35.519
 multicolored

00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.159
 region in the

00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:37.399
 center represents

00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:39.460
 the areas of

00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.800
 greatest missions

00:29:40.800 --> 00:29:41.340
 need.

00:29:44.360 --> 00:29:45.019
 And that

00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.660
 map might make

00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:46.240
 us think that

00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.040
 Christians are a

00:29:47.040 --> 00:29:48.019
 minority in those

00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:48.780
 regions, those

00:29:48.780 --> 00:29:49.540
 countries, because

00:29:49.540 --> 00:29:50.500
 people there are

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.420
 more resistant to

00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:51.860
 the gospel.

00:29:53.280 --> 00:29:54.220
 But that would be

00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:54.759
 a false

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.700
 assumption.

00:29:58.140 --> 00:29:58.940
 Take a look at

00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.740
 this next map

00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:02.759
 that shows

00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.440
 people's

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.280
 responsiveness

00:30:04.280 --> 00:30:05.380
 to evangelism.

00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:08.380
 the darker the

00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:08.800
 color, the

00:30:08.800 --> 00:30:09.519
 more responsive

00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.000
 they are.

00:30:18.300 --> 00:30:18.940
 There's no

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.800
 reason why we

00:30:19.800 --> 00:30:20.420
 shouldn't be going

00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:20.720
 to those

00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.140
 places.

00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:29.280
 the harvest is

00:30:29.280 --> 00:30:29.800
 plentiful.

00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:32.340
 Laborers are

00:30:32.340 --> 00:30:32.680
 few.

00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:36.500
 I pray, hope, that

00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.120
 our church sends

00:30:37.120 --> 00:30:38.000
 many missionaries to

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.700
 these places.

00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:40.240
 People are coming to

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:41.100
 know the Lord in

00:30:41.100 --> 00:30:41.620
 these places.

00:30:44.320 --> 00:30:45.259
 And it's our

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.100
 calling as the

00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:46.920
 people of God to

00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:47.759
 go to the ends of

00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:49.020
 the earth so that

00:30:49.020 --> 00:30:50.259
 God who deserves

00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:51.440
 all glory and

00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.019
 honor and praise

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.980
 is worshipped from

00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:54.680
 every nation, tribe,

00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.180
 and tongue.

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:56.299
 That's our

00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:57.680
 greatest consuming

00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:59.180
 desire to see him

00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:00.460
 glorified among all

00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.039
 the nations.

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:03.079
 That's what this

00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:03.819
 mission is about.

00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.460
 And as Jesus

00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.599
 sends out the 72,

00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:11.940
 he tells them this

00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:12.500
 in verse 2,

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.720
 the harvest is

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:15.799
 plentiful, but the

00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.859
 laborers are few.

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:19.419
 therefore pray

00:31:19.419 --> 00:31:20.399
 earnestly to the

00:31:20.399 --> 00:31:21.159
 Lord of the harvest

00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:21.839
 to send out

00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:23.039
 laborers into

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:24.240
 his harvest.

00:31:25.219 --> 00:31:25.819
 This single

00:31:25.819 --> 00:31:27.319
 verse dispels

00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:28.479
 two of the most

00:31:28.479 --> 00:31:29.699
 pernicious lies

00:31:29.699 --> 00:31:30.759
 that prevent

00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.799
 Christians from

00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.599
 proclaiming the

00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:33.539
 good news of

00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.379
 Jesus Christ.

00:31:34.879 --> 00:31:35.839
 First is the

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:37.119
 lie that evangelism

00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:38.139
 is futile,

00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.639
 that no one

00:31:40.639 --> 00:31:41.759
 wants to hear

00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.359
 the good news of

00:31:42.359 --> 00:31:43.039
 Jesus Christ.

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:45.759
 but Jesus

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.579
 tells us here

00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:47.480
 that the harvest

00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.940
 is plentiful.

00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:52.059
 Even here in the

00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:52.759
 United States of

00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.740
 America, even here

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.940
 in New England,

00:31:56.159 --> 00:31:57.079
 the frozen chosen

00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:57.559
 they say.

00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.519
 The harvest

00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.940
 is plentiful.

00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.539
 Yes, we will face

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.779
 rejection sometimes.

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.279
 There is a

00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:07.119
 threshold of pain

00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:08.200
 to cross, but

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:08.619
 there are still

00:32:08.619 --> 00:32:09.399
 plenty of people

00:32:09.399 --> 00:32:10.180
 who respond

00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:11.099
 favorably to the

00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:11.480
 gospel.

00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:12.779
 The harvest is

00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.339
 plentiful.

00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:14.240
 What is lacking

00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:15.240
 is not the

00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.019
 harvest as we

00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:16.539
 like to think,

00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:17.259
 but it is the

00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:19.099
 workers, the

00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:20.019
 labors that are

00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:20.440
 lacking.

00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:21.839
 The labors are

00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:22.819
 few, and one of

00:32:22.819 --> 00:32:23.620
 the purposes of

00:32:23.620 --> 00:32:25.079
 discipleship is to

00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:26.099
 increase the

00:32:26.099 --> 00:32:27.180
 labor force, the

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:27.779
 workforce that

00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.279
 will go into

00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:28.960
 this harvest.

00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:31.360
 So, he tells us,

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.819
 pray earnestly to

00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.460
 the Lord of the

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:34.480
 harvest to send

00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.599
 out laborers into

00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:36.460
 his harvest.

00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:38.120
 This part exposes

00:32:38.120 --> 00:32:38.960
 the second line.

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.220
 The second line

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:41.240
 that says we are

00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:42.120
 responsible for

00:32:42.120 --> 00:32:42.799
 creating the

00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:43.200
 harvest.

00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:45.380
 It's our job to

00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:45.940
 get people

00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:46.460
 converted.

00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:47.960
 That's not our

00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:48.400
 job.

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.160
 God is the

00:32:51.160 --> 00:32:51.799
 Lord of the

00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:52.120
 harvest.

00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:53.420
 He is the

00:32:53.420 --> 00:32:53.880
 Lord of the

00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:54.140
 harvest.

00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:55.079
 It's his

00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:55.680
 harvest.

00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:56.600
 He is the

00:32:56.600 --> 00:32:57.339
 one that gets

00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:57.799
 it ready.

00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:58.940
 We simply go

00:32:58.940 --> 00:33:00.079
 and tell people

00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:00.700
 about the

00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.600
 saving news of

00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:02.259
 Jesus Christ,

00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:03.180
 and it's up to

00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:04.039
 God to enable

00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:05.019
 them to hear

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.059
 and believe it.

00:33:06.600 --> 00:33:07.339
 So, if you're

00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:08.000
 telling people

00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:08.600
 about Jesus,

00:33:08.599 --> 00:33:09.500
 which I know

00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:10.099
 many of you

00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:10.459
 are,

00:33:11.939 --> 00:33:12.839
 regardless of

00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:13.719
 how many or

00:33:13.719 --> 00:33:14.500
 how few of

00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.459
 them become

00:33:15.459 --> 00:33:16.279
 Christians as a

00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:16.919
 result of your

00:33:16.919 --> 00:33:17.339
 testimony,

00:33:17.619 --> 00:33:18.199
 you're being

00:33:18.199 --> 00:33:19.240
 faithful to your

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:19.659
 calling.

00:33:21.159 --> 00:33:21.839
 You're being

00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.799
 faithful as a

00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:23.599
 Christian disciple.

00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:30.439
 Does Romans 10

00:33:30.439 --> 00:33:31.079
 not say this?

00:33:31.139 --> 00:33:31.719
 For everyone

00:33:31.719 --> 00:33:33.000
 who calls on

00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.539
 the name of

00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:34.079
 the Lord will

00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:34.719
 be saved.

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.879
 How then will

00:33:35.879 --> 00:33:36.599
 they call on

00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.699
 him unless

00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.200
 they have

00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:38.920
 believed?

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:39.860
 And how

00:33:39.860 --> 00:33:40.180
 could they

00:33:40.180 --> 00:33:40.900
 believe if

00:33:40.900 --> 00:33:41.160
 they have

00:33:41.160 --> 00:33:41.860
 never heard?

00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:42.460
 And how

00:33:42.460 --> 00:33:42.720
 can they

00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:43.420
 hear unless

00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:44.440
 someone preaches

00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:44.819
 to them?

00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:45.400
 And how can

00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:46.400
 someone preach

00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:47.100
 unless they

00:33:47.100 --> 00:33:47.880
 are sent?

00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:48.779
 And we can

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.500
 add to that

00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:50.200
 this verse

00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.960
 in Luke 10.

00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:52.299
 How are they

00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:52.720
 going to be

00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:54.259
 sent unless

00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:55.420
 you pray

00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:56.460
 earnestly to

00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:57.400
 the Lord of

00:33:57.400 --> 00:33:58.180
 the harvest for

00:33:58.180 --> 00:33:58.880
 laborers?

00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.720
 It begins

00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:01.500
 with earnest

00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:02.640
 prayer for

00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:03.660
 more laborers.

00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:04.759
 And the

00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.440
 laborers go,

00:34:05.600 --> 00:34:06.440
 and then they're

00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:07.299
 sent, and

00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:07.559
 then they

00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:08.340
 preach, and

00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:08.579
 then they

00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.380
 hear, and

00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:09.659
 then they

00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:10.639
 believe, and

00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:10.880
 then they

00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.599
 are saved.

00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:16.019
 It's great

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:16.579
 that we pray

00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:16.920
 for the

00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:17.460
 salvation of

00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:18.039
 our non-Christian

00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.679
 friends and

00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:19.019
 neighbors.

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:19.420
 We need to

00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:19.980
 go beyond

00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:20.300
 that.

00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:20.920
 Pray for

00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:22.179
 ourselves, that

00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:22.639
 God may

00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:23.960
 embolden us as

00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.599
 his witnesses,

00:34:25.059 --> 00:34:25.619
 that God may

00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:26.519
 give us open

00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:27.059
 doors of

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.820
 opportunity to

00:34:27.820 --> 00:34:28.200
 share the

00:34:28.200 --> 00:34:28.700
 gospel with

00:34:28.700 --> 00:34:29.039
 people.

00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:31.059
 We need

00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:32.059
 more laborers.

00:34:32.059 --> 00:34:35.980
 And these

00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:36.599
 laborers that

00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:36.960
 are raised

00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.500
 up must be

00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:38.199
 prepared for

00:34:38.199 --> 00:34:38.679
 suffering,

00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:39.679
 sacrifice, and

00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:40.159
 service.

00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:41.759
 Because Jesus

00:34:41.759 --> 00:34:42.519
 says in verse

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:42.820
 3,

00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.980
 Go your way,

00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:45.860
 behold, I am

00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:46.820
 sending you out

00:34:46.820 --> 00:34:48.279
 as lambs in

00:34:48.279 --> 00:34:48.940
 the midst of

00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:49.279
 wolves.

00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:53.900
 If the

00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:54.360
 verses weren't

00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:54.940
 so morbid,

00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:55.340
 like it's

00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:56.099
 almost humorous,

00:34:56.139 --> 00:34:56.299
 right?

00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:57.820
 This is

00:34:57.820 --> 00:34:59.920
 their kind

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:00.740
 of final

00:35:00.740 --> 00:35:01.480
 huddle before

00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.440
 they're sent

00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:02.900
 out into

00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:03.780
 this mission.

00:35:04.860 --> 00:35:05.120
 Everyone

00:35:05.120 --> 00:35:05.680
 bring your

00:35:05.680 --> 00:35:06.160
 hands in,

00:35:06.220 --> 00:35:06.420
 right?

00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:08.180
 Let's go.

00:35:08.500 --> 00:35:08.880
 Lamb among

00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:09.200
 wolves.

00:35:11.340 --> 00:35:11.860
 What?

00:35:18.200 --> 00:35:18.720
 Conquering

00:35:18.720 --> 00:35:19.100
 lions?

00:35:20.580 --> 00:35:21.240
 How about

00:35:21.240 --> 00:35:21.519
 that?

00:35:23.100 --> 00:35:23.840
 Lamb among

00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:24.240
 wolves.

00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:29.519
 Why?

00:35:29.720 --> 00:35:30.360
 Because Jesus

00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:30.900
 was the

00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.700
 slain lamb

00:35:31.700 --> 00:35:32.180
 of God.

00:35:35.400 --> 00:35:36.060
 And we

00:35:36.060 --> 00:35:36.820
 go as his

00:35:36.820 --> 00:35:37.480
 representatives.

00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:39.100
 And so

00:35:39.100 --> 00:35:39.580
 when we

00:35:39.580 --> 00:35:40.460
 represent him

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:40.920
 and when we

00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:41.560
 obey him,

00:35:41.600 --> 00:35:41.840
 when we

00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:42.560
 live for him,

00:35:42.700 --> 00:35:43.320
 and as a

00:35:43.320 --> 00:35:43.840
 result of

00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:44.200
 that we

00:35:44.200 --> 00:35:44.700
 suffer,

00:35:45.120 --> 00:35:45.620
 ridicule

00:35:45.620 --> 00:35:46.280
 and suffering,

00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:47.580
 we become

00:35:47.580 --> 00:35:48.400
 pictures for

00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:49.019
 this world to

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:50.280
 see of the

00:35:50.280 --> 00:35:50.820
 slain lamb

00:35:50.820 --> 00:35:51.200
 of God

00:35:51.200 --> 00:35:51.680
 himself.

00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.440
 That's the

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.060
 privilege of

00:35:53.060 --> 00:35:53.880
 being lamb

00:35:53.880 --> 00:35:54.760
 among wolves.

00:35:56.300 --> 00:35:57.000
 We are

00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:57.440
 living

00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:58.180
 pictures,

00:35:58.800 --> 00:35:59.500
 metaphors of

00:35:59.500 --> 00:35:59.980
 Christ,

00:36:00.100 --> 00:36:00.680
 our king,

00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:01.519
 our slain

00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:01.960
 lamb.

00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:03.620
 That's the

00:36:03.620 --> 00:36:03.960
 glorious

00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:04.380
 calling.

00:36:07.220 --> 00:36:08.320
 And Jesus

00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:09.400
 continues his

00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:09.780
 challenging

00:36:09.780 --> 00:36:10.460
 instruction in

00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:10.960
 verse 4,

00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.200
 carry no

00:36:12.200 --> 00:36:12.940
 money bag,

00:36:13.300 --> 00:36:14.060
 no knapsack,

00:36:14.180 --> 00:36:14.880
 no sandals,

00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:15.700
 and greet no

00:36:15.700 --> 00:36:16.600
 one on the

00:36:16.600 --> 00:36:16.840
 road.

00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:17.580
 The task

00:36:17.580 --> 00:36:18.460
 is so

00:36:18.460 --> 00:36:19.620
 urgent that

00:36:19.620 --> 00:36:20.240
 the disciples,

00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:21.200
 like a farmer

00:36:21.200 --> 00:36:22.120
 who only looks

00:36:22.120 --> 00:36:22.820
 forward while

00:36:22.820 --> 00:36:23.360
 plowing the

00:36:23.360 --> 00:36:23.660
 field,

00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.620
 are to avoid

00:36:24.619 --> 00:36:25.819
 distractions by

00:36:25.819 --> 00:36:26.559
 greeting no

00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:27.659
 one on the

00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:27.980
 road.

00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:28.880
 They are to

00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:29.719
 go straight to

00:36:29.719 --> 00:36:30.440
 their destinations

00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:31.400
 and proclaim

00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:32.440
 the kingdom of

00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:32.639
 God.

00:36:32.699 --> 00:36:33.079
 And as they

00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:33.420
 go,

00:36:33.739 --> 00:36:34.059
 they're to

00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:34.859
 travel lightly

00:36:34.859 --> 00:36:36.699
 and deliberately

00:36:36.699 --> 00:36:37.699
 forego extra

00:36:37.699 --> 00:36:38.219
 provisions.

00:36:39.359 --> 00:36:39.920
 Jesus is not

00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:40.460
 telling them to

00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:41.099
 go barefoot.

00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:42.839
 What he's telling

00:36:42.839 --> 00:36:43.460
 them is do not

00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.619
 carry sandals.

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:45.519
 They're already

00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:46.400
 wearing sandals.

00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:46.799
 He's telling

00:36:46.799 --> 00:36:47.299
 them not to

00:36:47.299 --> 00:36:48.500
 carry an extra

00:36:48.500 --> 00:36:49.239
 pair of sandals.

00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:50.859
 Don't pack

00:36:50.859 --> 00:36:51.839
 anything extra.

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:54.039
 These instructions

00:36:54.039 --> 00:36:54.760
 for missions

00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:55.400
 work are not

00:36:55.400 --> 00:36:56.019
 normative for

00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:56.420
 us today,

00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:56.980
 as I mentioned

00:36:56.980 --> 00:36:57.539
 a couple weeks

00:36:57.539 --> 00:36:57.800
 ago.

00:36:57.900 --> 00:36:58.320
 And the reason

00:36:58.320 --> 00:36:59.220
 for that is

00:36:59.220 --> 00:36:59.800
 because Jesus

00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:01.140
 explicitly modifies

00:37:01.140 --> 00:37:01.820
 this instruction

00:37:01.820 --> 00:37:02.539
 later in Luke

00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:03.460
 chapter 22

00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:04.480
 verses 35 to

00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:05.000
 37.

00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:06.200
 He says to

00:37:06.200 --> 00:37:06.380
 them,

00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:07.000
 When I sent

00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:07.460
 you out with

00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:08.180
 no money bag

00:37:08.180 --> 00:37:08.760
 or knapsack

00:37:08.760 --> 00:37:09.300
 or sandals,

00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:09.860
 did you lack

00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:10.240
 anything?

00:37:10.720 --> 00:37:11.079
 They said

00:37:11.079 --> 00:37:11.440
 nothing.

00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:12.380
 He said to

00:37:12.380 --> 00:37:12.500
 them,

00:37:12.519 --> 00:37:13.440
 But now let

00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:13.940
 the one who

00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:14.460
 has a money

00:37:14.460 --> 00:37:15.220
 bag take it

00:37:15.220 --> 00:37:15.680
 and likewise

00:37:15.680 --> 00:37:16.360
 a knapsack

00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:16.800
 and let the

00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:17.280
 one who has

00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:17.860
 no sword

00:37:17.860 --> 00:37:18.500
 sell his cloak

00:37:18.500 --> 00:37:19.120
 and buy one.

00:37:19.620 --> 00:37:20.100
 For I tell

00:37:20.100 --> 00:37:20.600
 you that the

00:37:20.600 --> 00:37:21.500
 scripture must be

00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:21.820
 fulfilled.

00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:22.160
 in me

00:37:22.160 --> 00:37:22.740
 and he was

00:37:22.740 --> 00:37:23.380
 numbered with

00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:24.260
 the transgressors

00:37:24.260 --> 00:37:24.680
 for what is

00:37:24.680 --> 00:37:25.220
 written about

00:37:25.220 --> 00:37:25.840
 me has

00:37:25.840 --> 00:37:27.039
 its fulfillment.

00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:27.680
 So that's

00:37:27.680 --> 00:37:28.240
 the instruction

00:37:28.240 --> 00:37:28.660
 that Jesus

00:37:28.660 --> 00:37:29.340
 gives just

00:37:29.340 --> 00:37:29.840
 before he's

00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:30.960
 arrested and

00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:31.559
 dies on the

00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:31.900
 cross.

00:37:32.240 --> 00:37:32.480
 So he

00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:33.039
 explicitly

00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:33.900
 modifies this

00:37:33.900 --> 00:37:34.440
 instruction.

00:37:35.059 --> 00:37:35.280
 And the

00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:35.820
 reason why

00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:36.380
 he changes

00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:37.140
 it is because

00:37:37.140 --> 00:37:37.880
 now that

00:37:37.880 --> 00:37:38.500
 Jesus is

00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:39.400
 dying and

00:37:39.400 --> 00:37:40.039
 being treated

00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:40.860
 as a sinner,

00:37:41.220 --> 00:37:41.539
 he's being

00:37:41.539 --> 00:37:42.320
 persecuted and

00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:43.200
 killed on

00:37:43.200 --> 00:37:43.880
 account of him,

00:37:43.940 --> 00:37:44.380
 all those who

00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:44.840
 follow him

00:37:44.840 --> 00:37:45.320
 will face

00:37:45.320 --> 00:37:45.740
 similar

00:37:45.740 --> 00:37:46.579
 fates and

00:37:46.579 --> 00:37:46.920
 so they can

00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:47.360
 no longer

00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:48.380
 count on

00:37:48.380 --> 00:37:49.240
 the receptivity

00:37:49.240 --> 00:37:49.840
 and hospitality

00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:50.700
 of the people

00:37:50.700 --> 00:37:51.019
 that they

00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:51.620
 minister to.

00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:52.460
 So they

00:37:52.460 --> 00:37:52.800
 have to

00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:53.360
 take provisions

00:37:53.360 --> 00:37:54.100
 for themselves.

00:37:54.980 --> 00:37:55.480
 So that's

00:37:55.480 --> 00:37:55.780
 why that

00:37:55.780 --> 00:37:56.559
 changes later.

00:37:57.440 --> 00:37:58.300
 But even if

00:37:58.300 --> 00:37:59.000
 the specific

00:37:59.000 --> 00:37:59.920
 practice doesn't

00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:00.720
 apply to us

00:38:00.720 --> 00:38:01.660
 now, the

00:38:01.660 --> 00:38:02.460
 principle that

00:38:02.460 --> 00:38:03.100
 is taught here

00:38:03.100 --> 00:38:03.500
 in Luke

00:38:03.500 --> 00:38:04.860
 chapter 10

00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:05.940
 applies to us

00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:07.280
 because by, as I

00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:08.000
 mentioned before,

00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:09.079
 there's a Bible

00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:09.800
 commentator who

00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:11.079
 calls this a

00:38:11.079 --> 00:38:12.559
 calculated deficit.

00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:14.480
 by traveling

00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:15.380
 with no extra

00:38:15.380 --> 00:38:16.079
 provisions, the

00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:16.799
 disciples were

00:38:16.799 --> 00:38:17.579
 intentionally

00:38:17.579 --> 00:38:18.440
 handicapped,

00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:20.039
 intentionally given

00:38:20.039 --> 00:38:20.940
 a calculated

00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:22.500
 deficit so

00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:23.099
 that they're

00:38:23.099 --> 00:38:23.639
 forced to

00:38:23.639 --> 00:38:24.259
 depend on

00:38:24.259 --> 00:38:24.900
 God's

00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:26.639
 provision, so

00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:26.960
 that they

00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:27.259
 have to

00:38:27.259 --> 00:38:27.860
 minister by

00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:28.639
 faith and

00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:29.320
 not by

00:38:29.320 --> 00:38:30.279
 sight, and

00:38:30.279 --> 00:38:30.639
 so that they

00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:31.139
 have to

00:38:31.139 --> 00:38:32.179
 expect God

00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:33.159
 and pray to

00:38:33.159 --> 00:38:33.579
 God to

00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:34.539
 supply all

00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:34.940
 of their

00:38:34.940 --> 00:38:36.179
 spiritual and

00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:36.719
 material

00:38:36.719 --> 00:38:37.799
 shortfalls.

00:38:37.800 --> 00:38:38.840
 That's the

00:38:38.840 --> 00:38:39.519
 nature of

00:38:39.519 --> 00:38:39.980
 Christian

00:38:39.980 --> 00:38:40.460
 mission and

00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:41.100
 discipleship.

00:38:42.200 --> 00:38:43.000
 Similarly, you

00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:44.460
 might feel

00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:45.360
 inadequate for

00:38:45.360 --> 00:38:46.500
 the task of

00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:47.360
 evangelism and

00:38:47.360 --> 00:38:48.019
 discipleship.

00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:50.039
 Will I have

00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:50.720
 the right

00:38:50.720 --> 00:38:51.220
 words to

00:38:51.220 --> 00:38:51.460
 say?

00:38:52.060 --> 00:38:52.840
 What if I

00:38:52.840 --> 00:38:53.400
 don't have the

00:38:53.400 --> 00:38:54.060
 answers to

00:38:54.060 --> 00:38:54.660
 their questions?

00:38:55.240 --> 00:38:55.800
 What if they

00:38:55.800 --> 00:38:56.560
 reject me and

00:38:56.560 --> 00:38:56.940
 think I'm

00:38:56.940 --> 00:38:57.400
 stupid?

00:38:58.220 --> 00:38:59.480
 I'm so sinful,

00:38:59.640 --> 00:39:00.080
 am I even

00:39:00.080 --> 00:39:00.940
 worthy to be

00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:01.480
 an ambassador

00:39:01.480 --> 00:39:02.140
 for Christ?

00:39:03.600 --> 00:39:04.460
 But God

00:39:04.460 --> 00:39:05.600
 sends all of

00:39:05.600 --> 00:39:06.360
 us with all

00:39:06.360 --> 00:39:07.060
 of those nagging

00:39:07.060 --> 00:39:07.640
 questions,

00:39:07.800 --> 00:39:08.840
 because even

00:39:08.840 --> 00:39:09.380
 the most

00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:10.120
 seasoned and

00:39:10.120 --> 00:39:11.300
 gifted evangelists

00:39:11.300 --> 00:39:12.780
 among us are

00:39:12.780 --> 00:39:13.860
 sent with the

00:39:13.860 --> 00:39:15.019
 calculated deficit.

00:39:16.320 --> 00:39:17.539
 So we find our

00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:18.539
 sufficiency not in

00:39:18.539 --> 00:39:19.519
 ourselves, but in

00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:20.100
 the Lord of the

00:39:20.100 --> 00:39:20.380
 harvest.

00:39:22.700 --> 00:39:23.560
 And one of the

00:39:23.560 --> 00:39:24.380
 means that God

00:39:24.380 --> 00:39:25.300
 uses to provide for

00:39:25.300 --> 00:39:25.860
 his servants will

00:39:25.860 --> 00:39:26.820
 be people of

00:39:26.820 --> 00:39:27.180
 peace.

00:39:28.500 --> 00:39:29.420
 Jesus says in

00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:30.160
 verses 5 to

00:39:30.160 --> 00:39:30.600
 8, whatever

00:39:30.600 --> 00:39:31.519
 house you enter

00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:33.100
 first say, peace

00:39:33.100 --> 00:39:33.660
 be to this

00:39:33.660 --> 00:39:34.400
 house, and if a

00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:35.140
 son of peace is

00:39:35.140 --> 00:39:35.560
 there, your

00:39:35.560 --> 00:39:36.260
 peace will rest

00:39:36.260 --> 00:39:36.820
 upon him.

00:39:36.820 --> 00:39:37.920
 But if not, it

00:39:37.920 --> 00:39:38.640
 will return to

00:39:38.640 --> 00:39:39.220
 you and remain

00:39:39.220 --> 00:39:40.220
 in the same

00:39:40.220 --> 00:39:40.980
 house, eating and

00:39:40.980 --> 00:39:41.559
 drinking what they

00:39:41.559 --> 00:39:42.500
 provide, for the

00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:43.480
 laborer deserves his

00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:43.820
 wages.

00:39:43.980 --> 00:39:44.700
 Do not go from

00:39:44.700 --> 00:39:45.440
 house to house.

00:39:45.880 --> 00:39:46.920
 Whenever you enter a

00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:47.440
 town and they

00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:48.420
 receive you, eat

00:39:48.420 --> 00:39:49.720
 what is set before

00:39:49.720 --> 00:39:50.019
 you.

00:39:50.580 --> 00:39:51.420
 The biblical

00:39:51.420 --> 00:39:52.860
 concept of peace

00:39:52.860 --> 00:39:53.700
 is not just an

00:39:53.700 --> 00:39:54.380
 absence of

00:39:54.380 --> 00:39:55.400
 conflict, but it's

00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:55.900
 a spiritual

00:39:55.900 --> 00:39:57.200
 wholeness of

00:39:57.200 --> 00:39:58.360
 being rightly

00:39:58.360 --> 00:39:59.260
 ordered and

00:39:59.260 --> 00:40:00.519
 being in proper

00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:01.440
 relation to God

00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:02.320
 and to the rest of

00:40:02.320 --> 00:40:02.780
 creation.

00:40:03.180 --> 00:40:04.080
 It's a wholeness.

00:40:04.079 --> 00:40:05.159
 And so this is

00:40:05.159 --> 00:40:05.739
 not just a

00:40:05.739 --> 00:40:06.460
 greeting, but it's

00:40:06.460 --> 00:40:07.079
 a blessing.

00:40:07.460 --> 00:40:08.079
 It's really a

00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:08.719
 promise of

00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:10.019
 salvation should

00:40:10.019 --> 00:40:11.319
 they receive these

00:40:11.319 --> 00:40:12.139
 messengers and

00:40:12.139 --> 00:40:12.920
 believe in their

00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:13.299
 message.

00:40:14.099 --> 00:40:14.900
 And so these

00:40:14.900 --> 00:40:16.039
 people of peace, the

00:40:16.039 --> 00:40:17.719
 son of peace is a

00:40:17.719 --> 00:40:18.420
 reference to the

00:40:18.420 --> 00:40:19.179
 child of the

00:40:19.179 --> 00:40:19.920
 kingdom that Jesus

00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:20.699
 mentioned earlier.

00:40:21.239 --> 00:40:22.259
 These are those who

00:40:22.259 --> 00:40:23.759
 are like the child, who

00:40:23.759 --> 00:40:24.920
 believe in Jesus, who

00:40:24.920 --> 00:40:26.119
 come with humble

00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:27.579
 faith to Jesus and

00:40:27.579 --> 00:40:29.000
 receive and provide

00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:29.980
 for his disciples.

00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:32.740
 And when received

00:40:32.740 --> 00:40:33.340
 into home, the

00:40:33.340 --> 00:40:34.079
 disciples are to

00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:34.960
 heal the sick and

00:40:34.960 --> 00:40:35.800
 say to them, the

00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:36.619
 kingdom of God has

00:40:36.619 --> 00:40:37.699
 come near to you.

00:40:38.360 --> 00:40:39.159
 And they are to

00:40:39.159 --> 00:40:40.019
 announce the kingdom

00:40:40.019 --> 00:40:41.240
 of God and to give

00:40:41.240 --> 00:40:42.619
 evidence of the

00:40:42.619 --> 00:40:43.300
 kingdom of God by

00:40:43.300 --> 00:40:44.099
 healing the sick.

00:40:44.780 --> 00:40:46.019
 But it says in

00:40:46.019 --> 00:40:47.019
 verses 10 to 12,

00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:48.619
 whenever you enter a

00:40:48.619 --> 00:40:49.340
 town and they do

00:40:49.340 --> 00:40:50.880
 not receive you, go

00:40:50.880 --> 00:40:52.119
 into its streets and

00:40:52.119 --> 00:40:53.460
 say, even the dust of

00:40:53.460 --> 00:40:54.659
 your own town that

00:40:54.659 --> 00:40:55.780
 clings to our feet, we

00:40:55.780 --> 00:40:56.940
 wipe off against you.

00:40:57.400 --> 00:40:58.199
 Nevertheless, know

00:40:58.199 --> 00:40:58.719
 this, that the

00:40:58.719 --> 00:40:59.679
 kingdom of God has

00:40:59.679 --> 00:41:00.419
 come near.

00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:01.899
 I tell you, it

00:41:01.899 --> 00:41:02.399
 will be more

00:41:02.399 --> 00:41:03.279
 bearable on that

00:41:03.279 --> 00:41:04.199
 day for Sodom than

00:41:04.199 --> 00:41:04.879
 for that town.

00:41:05.659 --> 00:41:06.719
 So wiping off the

00:41:06.719 --> 00:41:07.579
 dust from your feet,

00:41:07.839 --> 00:41:08.579
 as we talked about a

00:41:08.579 --> 00:41:09.719
 few weeks ago, is a

00:41:09.719 --> 00:41:11.319
 dramatic gesture that

00:41:11.319 --> 00:41:12.179
 conveys that you have

00:41:12.179 --> 00:41:13.099
 nothing more to do

00:41:13.099 --> 00:41:13.719
 with this town.

00:41:14.539 --> 00:41:15.460
 It's a symbol of

00:41:15.460 --> 00:41:15.859
 judgment.

00:41:16.599 --> 00:41:17.440
 And the disciples are

00:41:17.440 --> 00:41:18.539
 still to tell them that

00:41:18.539 --> 00:41:19.819
 the kingdom of God has

00:41:19.819 --> 00:41:20.500
 come near.

00:41:20.819 --> 00:41:21.460
 But notice the

00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:22.339
 important distinction

00:41:22.339 --> 00:41:24.059
 between what they are

00:41:24.059 --> 00:41:24.960
 to say to those who

00:41:24.960 --> 00:41:25.759
 receive them in verse

00:41:25.759 --> 00:41:26.599
 9 and what they are to

00:41:26.599 --> 00:41:27.480
 say here to those who

00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:28.059
 reject them.

00:41:28.599 --> 00:41:29.399
 Earlier they were to

00:41:29.400 --> 00:41:30.000
 say to those who

00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:30.599
 receive them, the

00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:31.500
 kingdom of God has

00:41:31.500 --> 00:41:33.220
 come near to you.

00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:36.099
 But here they are

00:41:36.099 --> 00:41:36.880
 simply to say the

00:41:36.880 --> 00:41:37.880
 kingdom of God has

00:41:37.880 --> 00:41:40.340
 come near, but not

00:41:40.340 --> 00:41:40.860
 to you.

00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:44.300
 The kingdom of God

00:41:44.300 --> 00:41:44.880
 has come.

00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:46.700
 It is still near.

00:41:46.860 --> 00:41:47.400
 But to those who

00:41:47.400 --> 00:41:48.680
 reject the disciples

00:41:48.680 --> 00:41:50.260
 of Christ, it has not

00:41:50.260 --> 00:41:51.559
 come to them.

00:41:52.059 --> 00:41:52.840
 They are still on the

00:41:52.840 --> 00:41:53.900
 outside looking in.

00:41:53.900 --> 00:41:57.380
 And Jesus pronounces a

00:41:57.380 --> 00:41:58.160
 series of judgments.

00:41:58.280 --> 00:41:59.019
 He says, I tell you,

00:41:59.039 --> 00:41:59.579
 it will be more

00:41:59.579 --> 00:42:00.639
 bearable on that day

00:42:00.639 --> 00:42:01.680
 for Sodom than for

00:42:01.680 --> 00:42:02.300
 that town.

00:42:04.579 --> 00:42:07.000
 Sodom is kind of

00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:08.820
 the perfect example of

00:42:08.820 --> 00:42:10.220
 sin city in the Bible,

00:42:10.320 --> 00:42:10.500
 right?

00:42:12.300 --> 00:42:13.660
 So infamous for its

00:42:13.660 --> 00:42:15.160
 wickedness that God

00:42:15.160 --> 00:42:16.539
 literally destroyed it

00:42:16.539 --> 00:42:18.019
 with fire and brimstone

00:42:18.019 --> 00:42:19.099
 in Genesis 19.

00:42:19.099 --> 00:42:20.400
 That's where the

00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:21.319
 phrase fire and

00:42:21.319 --> 00:42:22.440
 brimstone comes from.

00:42:25.239 --> 00:42:27.900
 And Jesus says here

00:42:27.900 --> 00:42:29.779
 that that's how bad

00:42:29.779 --> 00:42:30.259
 Sodom was.

00:42:30.319 --> 00:42:31.539
 Yet on the day of

00:42:31.539 --> 00:42:32.339
 final judgment, what

00:42:32.339 --> 00:42:33.339
 God renders his

00:42:33.339 --> 00:42:35.000
 verdict, the towns that

00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:36.759
 reject Jesus' followers

00:42:36.759 --> 00:42:38.619
 will face a more severe

00:42:38.619 --> 00:42:39.819
 judgment even than

00:42:39.819 --> 00:42:40.319
 Sodom.

00:42:40.320 --> 00:42:43.320
 And then he pronounces

00:42:43.320 --> 00:42:44.860
 woes on several of the

00:42:44.860 --> 00:42:46.800
 cities in the Jewish

00:42:46.800 --> 00:42:49.039
 region of Galilee, that

00:42:49.039 --> 00:42:49.760
 their judgment will be

00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:51.920
 worse than the wicked

00:42:51.920 --> 00:42:52.800
 cities of Tyre and

00:42:52.800 --> 00:42:53.539
 Sidon from the Old

00:42:53.539 --> 00:42:53.920
 Testament.

00:42:54.980 --> 00:42:55.840
 And there's a reason

00:42:55.840 --> 00:42:56.580
 why the current

00:42:56.580 --> 00:42:57.860
 generation is accountable

00:42:57.860 --> 00:42:58.480
 for the current

00:42:58.480 --> 00:42:59.840
 generation since Jesus'

00:43:00.019 --> 00:43:00.900
 time, and that includes

00:43:00.900 --> 00:43:02.380
 us, we're liable to

00:43:02.380 --> 00:43:03.800
 greater punishment than

00:43:03.800 --> 00:43:05.019
 even the worst of the

00:43:05.019 --> 00:43:06.600
 past generations because

00:43:06.600 --> 00:43:08.400
 we have received the

00:43:08.400 --> 00:43:09.620
 greater revelation.

00:43:10.320 --> 00:43:11.380
 And therefore, we'll be

00:43:11.380 --> 00:43:12.760
 held accountable for

00:43:12.760 --> 00:43:13.180
 more.

00:43:14.840 --> 00:43:16.039
 Jesus explains this in

00:43:16.039 --> 00:43:16.580
 verse 16.

00:43:16.660 --> 00:43:17.900
 The one who hears you

00:43:17.900 --> 00:43:18.780
 hears me, and the one

00:43:18.780 --> 00:43:20.100
 who rejects you rejects

00:43:20.100 --> 00:43:21.160
 me, and the one who

00:43:21.160 --> 00:43:22.440
 rejects me rejects him

00:43:22.440 --> 00:43:23.260
 who sent me.

00:43:23.680 --> 00:43:24.920
 The disciples of Christ

00:43:24.920 --> 00:43:26.519
 represent the power and

00:43:26.519 --> 00:43:27.460
 authority of Christ

00:43:27.460 --> 00:43:29.120
 himself, and Christ

00:43:29.120 --> 00:43:30.220
 represents the power and

00:43:30.220 --> 00:43:31.280
 authority of God the

00:43:31.280 --> 00:43:31.940
 Father himself.

00:43:32.340 --> 00:43:33.240
 So to reject the

00:43:33.240 --> 00:43:34.440
 disciples of Christ is to

00:43:34.440 --> 00:43:36.120
 reject God himself, and

00:43:36.120 --> 00:43:37.100
 the past generations

00:43:37.100 --> 00:43:38.680
 didn't have this kind of

00:43:38.680 --> 00:43:40.300
 revelation, this kind of

00:43:40.300 --> 00:43:40.900
 privilege.

00:43:42.140 --> 00:43:43.640
 We've benefited from the

00:43:43.640 --> 00:43:45.500
 personal visitation of the

00:43:45.500 --> 00:43:46.620
 incarnate God.

00:43:47.140 --> 00:43:48.660
 We have benefited from

00:43:48.660 --> 00:43:50.300
 unprecedented demonstrations

00:43:50.300 --> 00:43:51.340
 of the power of the

00:43:51.340 --> 00:43:52.560
 Spirit, and for that

00:43:52.560 --> 00:43:53.500
 reason, we'll be held

00:43:53.500 --> 00:43:55.060
 accountable for more than

00:43:55.060 --> 00:43:56.580
 the previous generation.

00:43:59.160 --> 00:44:00.300
 That's the fearful

00:44:00.300 --> 00:44:01.880
 judgment that our

00:44:01.880 --> 00:44:03.340
 neighbors and friends who

00:44:03.340 --> 00:44:04.180
 do not know the Lord

00:44:04.180 --> 00:44:04.660
 face.

00:44:04.659 --> 00:44:09.539
 It's our responsibility to

00:44:09.539 --> 00:44:10.699
 tell them, to warn them

00:44:10.699 --> 00:44:11.719
 about it, and that's the

00:44:11.719 --> 00:44:12.679
 loving thing to do.

00:44:14.319 --> 00:44:15.539
 A 20th century American

00:44:15.539 --> 00:44:17.960
 pastor named Lee Rutland

00:44:17.960 --> 00:44:20.119
 Scarborough once said

00:44:20.119 --> 00:44:24.779
 this, if we could only have

00:44:24.779 --> 00:44:26.879
 a five-minute glimpse into

00:44:26.879 --> 00:44:29.659
 hell, our evangelism would be

00:44:29.659 --> 00:44:31.079
 changed for a lifetime.

00:44:31.079 --> 00:44:38.880
 Do you really know the

00:44:38.880 --> 00:44:41.340
 peril that awaits those who

00:44:41.340 --> 00:44:42.960
 perish apart from Christ?

00:44:47.299 --> 00:44:49.639
 People being tormented in

00:44:49.639 --> 00:44:52.199
 hell for eternity are not

00:44:52.199 --> 00:44:53.739
 going to be impressed that we

00:44:53.739 --> 00:44:55.219
 were too polite to warn

00:44:55.219 --> 00:44:55.480
 them.

00:44:55.480 --> 00:45:02.699
 We just don't get it

00:45:02.699 --> 00:45:03.219
 sometimes.

00:45:03.900 --> 00:45:04.900
 I include myself in that.

00:45:04.940 --> 00:45:06.519
 Do we really believe that

00:45:06.519 --> 00:45:08.480
 Jesus Christ is the only way

00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:09.920
 to salvation or not?

00:45:10.280 --> 00:45:11.980
 Do we really believe in life

00:45:11.980 --> 00:45:12.360
 eternal?

00:45:13.159 --> 00:45:14.619
 Do we really believe in God

00:45:14.619 --> 00:45:16.400
 our Father, in Christ the

00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:17.920
 Son, in the Holy Spirit?

00:45:18.000 --> 00:45:19.079
 Do we really believe in the

00:45:19.079 --> 00:45:19.860
 name of Jesus?

00:45:20.599 --> 00:45:22.139
 Because Jesus instructed his

00:45:22.139 --> 00:45:24.059
 disciples to greet no one on

00:45:24.059 --> 00:45:26.360
 the road because that's how

00:45:26.360 --> 00:45:27.699
 urgent this task is.

00:45:28.139 --> 00:45:29.659
 But are we so distracted by

00:45:29.659 --> 00:45:31.519
 the trinkets and frivolities

00:45:31.519 --> 00:45:34.000
 and pleasantries of this life

00:45:34.000 --> 00:45:35.860
 that we have lost sight of the

00:45:35.860 --> 00:45:37.739
 irreplaceability and the

00:45:37.739 --> 00:45:39.500
 urgency of this proclamation?

00:45:42.400 --> 00:45:44.239
 It's the proclamation of the

00:45:44.239 --> 00:45:45.139
 discipleship.

00:45:46.519 --> 00:45:48.699
 The price of discipleship is high

00:45:48.699 --> 00:45:50.079
 and the proclamation of

00:45:50.079 --> 00:45:52.019
 discipleship is imperative and

00:45:52.019 --> 00:45:53.960
 what motivates us still to pay

00:45:53.960 --> 00:45:55.579
 that price and proclaim the

00:45:55.579 --> 00:45:57.460
 gospel is the privilege of

00:45:57.460 --> 00:45:58.679
 discipleship that Jesus speaks

00:45:58.679 --> 00:46:00.920
 of in verses 17 to 24.

00:46:01.079 --> 00:46:03.079
 Please read verses 17 to 20

00:46:03.079 --> 00:46:03.500
 with me.

00:46:04.280 --> 00:46:06.860
 The 72 returned with joy

00:46:06.860 --> 00:46:09.300
 saying, Lord, even the demons

00:46:09.300 --> 00:46:10.760
 are subject to us in your name.

00:46:11.199 --> 00:46:12.539
 And he said to them, I saw

00:46:12.539 --> 00:46:14.059
 Satan falling like lightning

00:46:14.059 --> 00:46:14.619
 from heaven.

00:46:15.059 --> 00:46:16.019
 Behold, I have given you

00:46:16.019 --> 00:46:17.500
 authority to tread on serpents

00:46:17.500 --> 00:46:19.159
 and scorpions and over all the

00:46:19.159 --> 00:46:20.820
 power of the enemy and nothing

00:46:20.820 --> 00:46:21.980
 shall hurt you.

00:46:21.980 --> 00:46:24.179
 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in

00:46:24.179 --> 00:46:25.740
 this, that the spirits are

00:46:25.740 --> 00:46:27.840
 subject to you, but rejoice that

00:46:27.840 --> 00:46:30.099
 your names are written in

00:46:30.099 --> 00:46:30.559
 heaven.

00:46:33.360 --> 00:46:35.240
 They return with joy seeing that

00:46:35.240 --> 00:46:36.619
 even the demons are subject to

00:46:36.619 --> 00:46:38.079
 the name of Jesus Christ.

00:46:38.780 --> 00:46:40.800
 They have the authority to tread on

00:46:40.800 --> 00:46:42.920
 serpents and scorpions and that

00:46:42.920 --> 00:46:44.940
 meaning of that phrase is explained

00:46:44.940 --> 00:46:48.139
 by the next phrase, and over all the

00:46:48.139 --> 00:46:49.480
 power of the enemy and nothing

00:46:49.480 --> 00:46:50.179
 shall hurt you.

00:46:50.260 --> 00:46:51.659
 So serpents and scorpions

00:46:51.659 --> 00:46:54.240
 represent powers of the enemy.

00:46:54.579 --> 00:46:56.360
 So we shouldn't be going out in

00:46:56.360 --> 00:46:58.300
 search for serpents and scorpions

00:46:58.300 --> 00:46:59.639
 trying to step on them to test

00:46:59.639 --> 00:47:00.340
 this authority.

00:47:03.480 --> 00:47:05.260
 They symbolize, they're venomous

00:47:05.260 --> 00:47:07.579
 beasts that symbolize the poisonous

00:47:07.579 --> 00:47:10.019
 power of evil and they will not

00:47:10.019 --> 00:47:12.240
 prevail against true disciples of

00:47:12.240 --> 00:47:14.119
 Christ because God will protect and

00:47:14.119 --> 00:47:15.579
 preserve us from the power of the

00:47:15.579 --> 00:47:15.860
 enemy.

00:47:15.860 --> 00:47:18.340
 But it's not this authority and

00:47:18.340 --> 00:47:20.039
 power that's the chief source of

00:47:20.039 --> 00:47:20.740
 our joy.

00:47:21.120 --> 00:47:22.880
 Rather, the chief source of our joy is

00:47:22.880 --> 00:47:25.300
 that our names are written in

00:47:25.300 --> 00:47:25.680
 heaven.

00:47:27.880 --> 00:47:29.660
 Those who have been united with Jesus

00:47:29.660 --> 00:47:32.140
 Christ by faith are included in that

00:47:32.140 --> 00:47:33.539
 heavenly roll call.

00:47:34.680 --> 00:47:36.620
 We're in the census of heaven.

00:47:37.740 --> 00:47:40.340
 If refugees fleeing life-threatening

00:47:40.340 --> 00:47:42.300
 situations, they break down with

00:47:42.300 --> 00:47:44.780
 tearful joy that their names are on

00:47:44.780 --> 00:47:46.880
 that immigration list, how much more

00:47:46.880 --> 00:47:49.080
 should we rejoice that we have been

00:47:49.080 --> 00:47:51.300
 spared from eternity in hell?

00:47:52.340 --> 00:47:54.320
 That we will get to share eternity

00:47:54.320 --> 00:47:56.440
 with God, who is the infinite

00:47:56.440 --> 00:47:58.760
 perfection of all that is good and

00:47:58.760 --> 00:48:01.180
 right and beautiful and glorious.

00:48:01.940 --> 00:48:04.200
 That even though we face trials and

00:48:04.200 --> 00:48:06.560
 tribulations here, even though we are

00:48:06.560 --> 00:48:08.820
 strangers and exiles here on earth,

00:48:09.360 --> 00:48:11.660
 that we have a home in heaven, that we

00:48:11.660 --> 00:48:13.320
 have a citizenship in the kingdom of

00:48:13.320 --> 00:48:15.320
 God, that any, we have an inheritance

00:48:15.320 --> 00:48:16.640
 in the family of God.

00:48:16.800 --> 00:48:18.900
 That's the joy of knowing Jesus

00:48:18.900 --> 00:48:19.480
 Christ.

00:48:21.940 --> 00:48:23.519
 And if you're not yet a follower of

00:48:23.519 --> 00:48:25.600
 Christ, I want to exhort you.

00:48:28.700 --> 00:48:30.800
 This is how you come to know that joy.

00:48:31.880 --> 00:48:33.440
 Verses 21 and 22.

00:48:33.440 --> 00:48:36.700
 In that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the

00:48:36.700 --> 00:48:37.800
 Holy Spirit and said,

00:48:37.800 --> 00:48:40.599
 I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and

00:48:40.599 --> 00:48:42.659
 earth, that you have hidden these things

00:48:42.659 --> 00:48:44.860
 from the wise and understanding and

00:48:44.860 --> 00:48:47.380
 reveal them to little children.

00:48:48.200 --> 00:48:51.800
 Yes, Father, for such was your gracious

00:48:51.800 --> 00:48:52.159
 will.

00:48:52.659 --> 00:48:55.159
 All things have been handed over to me by

00:48:55.159 --> 00:48:55.760
 my father.

00:48:55.960 --> 00:48:57.820
 And no one knows who the son is except

00:48:57.820 --> 00:49:00.340
 the father or who the father is except

00:49:00.340 --> 00:49:03.440
 the son and anyone to whom the son

00:49:03.440 --> 00:49:05.720
 chooses to reveal him.

00:49:07.440 --> 00:49:10.059
 Jesus is the one mediator between God

00:49:10.059 --> 00:49:10.500
 and man.

00:49:10.960 --> 00:49:13.400
 No one comes to the father except through

00:49:13.400 --> 00:49:14.039
 him.

00:49:14.240 --> 00:49:16.320
 And Jesus, as the son of God, has the

00:49:16.320 --> 00:49:18.480
 exclusive privilege of revealing God the

00:49:18.480 --> 00:49:20.539
 father to us and bringing us into

00:49:20.539 --> 00:49:21.620
 relationship with him.

00:49:21.740 --> 00:49:23.660
 And the initiative doesn't lie with us.

00:49:23.700 --> 00:49:24.500
 It lies with him.

00:49:25.440 --> 00:49:27.280
 No one knows who the father is except the

00:49:27.280 --> 00:49:30.400
 son and anyone to whom the son chooses

00:49:30.400 --> 00:49:31.140
 to reveal him.

00:49:31.140 --> 00:49:33.300
 It's his sovereign choice.

00:49:33.380 --> 00:49:35.040
 That's what the doctrine of election is

00:49:35.040 --> 00:49:35.340
 about.

00:49:35.980 --> 00:49:38.280
 It's Jesus who sovereignly chooses who

00:49:38.280 --> 00:49:39.980
 will be whom he will reveal God the

00:49:39.980 --> 00:49:40.660
 father to.

00:49:41.160 --> 00:49:43.580
 But then how can we know if we are among

00:49:43.580 --> 00:49:44.740
 God's chosen people?

00:49:45.820 --> 00:49:48.560
 Verse 21 tells us, you have hidden these

00:49:48.560 --> 00:49:51.120
 things from the wise and understanding and

00:49:51.120 --> 00:49:53.500
 reveal them to little children.

00:49:53.500 --> 00:49:58.900
 Those to whom God has revealed himself are

00:49:58.900 --> 00:50:00.079
 called little children.

00:50:00.780 --> 00:50:03.019
 And that's the key that unlocks the

00:50:03.019 --> 00:50:04.199
 privilege of discipleship.

00:50:05.139 --> 00:50:08.000
 Jesus said earlier in Luke 9, 48, whoever

00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:10.699
 receives this child in my name receives me.

00:50:11.099 --> 00:50:13.059
 And whoever receives me receives him who

00:50:13.059 --> 00:50:13.619
 sent me.

00:50:13.739 --> 00:50:16.820
 For he who is least among you is the one

00:50:16.820 --> 00:50:17.599
 who is great.

00:50:18.739 --> 00:50:21.960
 Those who rely on their own wisdom, their

00:50:21.960 --> 00:50:24.039
 own righteousness, their own morality

00:50:24.039 --> 00:50:26.159
 cannot come to know God.

00:50:27.280 --> 00:50:28.880
 Only those who become like little

00:50:28.880 --> 00:50:29.440
 children.

00:50:30.480 --> 00:50:32.400
 Only those who humble themselves before

00:50:32.400 --> 00:50:32.659
 God.

00:50:32.740 --> 00:50:34.179
 Only those who become the least.

00:50:34.619 --> 00:50:36.260
 Only those who acknowledge that their

00:50:36.260 --> 00:50:39.699
 righteousness is insufficient and repent

00:50:39.699 --> 00:50:40.460
 of their sins.

00:50:41.159 --> 00:50:43.199
 Only those who acknowledge that their

00:50:43.199 --> 00:50:45.920
 wisdom is insufficient and confess their

00:50:45.920 --> 00:50:47.119
 ignorance before God.

00:50:47.500 --> 00:50:49.740
 Only those who abandon all hope of

00:50:49.739 --> 00:50:52.099
 saving themselves and entrust themselves

00:50:52.099 --> 00:50:55.139
 and cling entirely to the Jesus Christ

00:50:55.139 --> 00:50:57.359
 who was sent to die for our sins on the

00:50:57.359 --> 00:50:59.339
 cross and was raised from the dead on the

00:50:59.339 --> 00:51:01.139
 third day and ascended to the right hand of

00:51:01.139 --> 00:51:01.639
 the father.

00:51:01.979 --> 00:51:04.719
 Those who cling to him alone like a child

00:51:04.719 --> 00:51:06.819
 that clings desperately to his parent.

00:51:07.299 --> 00:51:08.119
 He alone.

00:51:08.659 --> 00:51:10.639
 She alone will be saved.

00:51:10.799 --> 00:51:11.919
 That's the little child.

00:51:11.920 --> 00:51:17.800
 Only such people are the little children to

00:51:17.800 --> 00:51:20.260
 whom God has revealed himself.

00:51:21.760 --> 00:51:23.400
 So I urge you to do that today.

00:51:25.559 --> 00:51:26.900
 Humble yourselves today.

00:51:28.180 --> 00:51:30.159
 Become children of God today.

00:51:30.159 --> 00:51:30.240
 Amen.

00:51:30.240 --> 00:51:30.300
 Amen.

00:51:30.300 --> 00:51:30.380
 Amen.

00:51:30.380 --> 00:51:30.420
 Amen.

00:51:30.420 --> 00:51:30.820
 Amen.

00:51:30.820 --> 00:51:30.880
 Amen.

00:51:30.880 --> 00:51:30.980
 Amen.

00:51:30.980 --> 00:51:31.000
 Amen.

00:51:31.000 --> 00:51:31.059
 Amen.

00:51:31.059 --> 00:51:32.059
 Amen.

00:51:32.059 --> 00:51:32.139
 Amen.

00:51:32.139 --> 00:51:32.200
 Amen.

00:51:32.200 --> 00:51:33.059
 Amen.

00:51:33.059 --> 00:51:34.059
 Amen.

00:51:34.059 --> 00:51:34.099
 Amen.

00:51:34.099 --> 00:51:34.139
 Amen.

00:51:34.139 --> 00:51:34.180
 Amen.

00:51:34.180 --> 00:51:34.200
 Amen.