WEBVTT

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 All right, let's read together from Luke's Gospel, chapter 9, verses 51 to 62, as we begin a new series tonight called The Call to Discipleship from Luke 9-12.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 When the days drew near for Jesus 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 towards Jerusalem.

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 And when His disciples James and John saw it, they said,

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 Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?

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

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 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him,

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 I will follow you wherever you go.

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 And Jesus said to him,

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 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,

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 Follow Me.

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 But He said,

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 Lord, let me first go and bury my father.

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 And Jesus said to him,

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 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,

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 I will follow you, Lord.

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 But let me first say farewell to those at my home.

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 And Jesus said to him,

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 No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

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 This is God's holy word.

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 We turn this evening to that passage that Corey read for us in Luke chapter 9,

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 just at the end of the chapter from verse 51 to verse 62.

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 Some years ago now,

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 I conducted the funeral of a lady from a small holding,

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 a farm near Trenent in East Lothian.

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 She was a woman and she died in her mid-80s.

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 And I went to visit her sister in Portobello

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 and to kind of find out a little bit about her and her life.

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 And one of the striking things I learned about her was this,

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 that in all her days,

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 she had never traveled any further than Edinburgh.

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 She'd never been abroad.

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 She'd never been to England.

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 She'd never been to Fife.

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 Well, you can understand that.

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 But she'd never even,

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 she'd never even been to Glasgow.

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 And it seems incredible to us.

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 I was quite astonished.

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 In our age, trains, planes, automobiles, and the rest,

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 someone could live their whole life

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 and never travel more than just a few miles from their home.

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 And yet, as I reflected on it,

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 in times past,

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 this woman's experience would have been the norm

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 rather than the exception.

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 In ancient times,

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 people didn't travel far from their homes.

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 People seldom have ever traveled anywhere.

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 Travel was often the luxury of the rich or merchants

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 or perhaps those conscripted for military service.

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 Those wealthy enough for horses could travel a distance,

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 but frequently didn't because of the potential dangers.

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 Many people stayed in their local communities

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 all their lives.

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 And that was true for most people in Jesus' world too.

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 Perhaps with one major exception,

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 Jews regularly made one journey each year

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 as a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

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 Often it might take a walk of two or three days.

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 And this was frequently made at the time of the Passover.

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 As the people traveled,

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 they would retell the story of the Exodus,

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 of God's redemption of His people

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 when their ancestors made that journey

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 from slavery in Egypt

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 to ultimately the Promised Land.

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 And I think it's that kind of journey

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 that provides the background

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 to what is happening here

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 in this section of Luke's Gospel.

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 Here, Jesus is kind of beginning

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 a journey to Jerusalem

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 that will mark His own exodus.

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 We read in verse 51,

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 when the days drew near for Him to be taken up,

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 He set His face to go to Jerusalem.

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 And these words really mark a turning point

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 in Luke's Gospel.

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 From this point onward,

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 Luke traces the journey of our Lord Jesus Christ

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 towards the city

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 where He would accomplish

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 His great work of redemption.

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 Earlier on in chapter 9,

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 we don't have time to read that,

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 on the Mount of Transfiguration,

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 we're told there in verses 30 and 31,

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 Behold, two men were talking with Him,

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 Moses and Elijah,

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 who appeared in glory

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 and spoke of His departure,

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 which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.

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 And that word translated departure

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 is literally the word Exodus.

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 Jesus is here beginning a journey

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 that will lead to His departure

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 or Exodus in Jerusalem.

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 And all through this great section of the Gospel

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 really runs into chapter 19.

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 Luke reminds us that Jesus is on a journey.

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 In fact, one might say that Luke

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 is presenting us here

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 with the most significant

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 and important journey

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 ever taken by any human being.

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 A journey that leaves Christopher Columbus

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 and Marco Polo

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 and Neil Armstrong

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 all together in the shade.

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 And over the next couple of months,

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 God willing,

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 in our evening service,

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 we're going to follow

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 part of that journey with Jesus.

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 Much of the material here

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 relates to the whole issue

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 of Christian discipleship

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 and what it means

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 to be a follower of Jesus.

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 It's a journey

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 that's not just to be understood

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 in some geographical sense.

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 Because in truth,

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 it is a redemptive journey

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 that Jesus is taking.

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 And in a sense,

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 it's a journey that Luke invites us

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 to join with Him.

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 He invites us to follow Jesus

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 on this journey

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 towards His exodus

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 to heaven and glory.

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 He invites us, in fact,

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 to become His followers.

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 Through Luke's words,

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 Jesus Himself

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 calls us

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 to come

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 and to follow

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 after Him.

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 And so,

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 in this little section

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 before us this evening,

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 let me highlight

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 three things

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 about Jesus

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 and His journey.

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 And the first thing

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 I want you to notice

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 here in the text

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 is the resolve

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 that Jesus

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 displays.

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 The resolve

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 Jesus displays here.

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 We find that

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 in verse 51

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 and again

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 in verse 53.

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 When the days

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 drew near

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 for Him

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 to be taken up,

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 He set His face

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 to go to Jerusalem.

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 Verse 53,

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 the people did not receive Him,

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 that's the Samaritans,

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 because His face

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 was set

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 toward Jerusalem.

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 It's as if

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 in these verses,

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 if you imagine

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 a camera,

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 a filmmaker,

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 the camera lens

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 lens,

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 zooms in,

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 as it were,

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 on the countenance

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 of Jesus.

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 He is resolute,

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 He is steadfast,

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 He is unflinching.

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 He sets His face

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 towards Jerusalem,

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 knowing full well

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 what will await Him

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 there.

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 And that expression,

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 set His face,

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 it echoes words

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 of the prophet Isaiah.

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 It occurs as part of

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 what we know

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 as the third servant song

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 in Isaiah 50.

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 The context there

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 is that of the servant

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 facing unexplained suffering,

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 and yet he faces it

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 with confidence

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 and trust in God.

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 So, we read in Isaiah 50,

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 verse 7,

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 But the Lord God

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 helps me,

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 therefore I have not

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 been disgraced,

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 therefore I have set

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 my face

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 like a flint,

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 and I know

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 that I shall not

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 be put to shame.

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 The servant sets

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 his face

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 like a flint,

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 for he knows

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 that Yahweh

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 will carry him

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 through his suffering

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 and bring vindication.

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 And so,

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 Jesus too

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 sets His face

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 towards Jerusalem,

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 knowing what lies ahead,

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 betrayal,

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 suffering,

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 the cross,

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 and beyond that,

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 vindication

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 in His resurrection

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 and ascension.

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 We're told here

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 that in Jerusalem,

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 Jesus will be

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 taken up.

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 And that phrase

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 is a kind of

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 unusual one.

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 It almost certainly,

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 I think,

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 refers to what will happen

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 at the end of this gospel

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 when Jesus ascends

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 to the Father.

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 Remember,

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 Luke's gospel

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 ends not with

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 the resurrection,

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 but with an account

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 of the ascension

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 of Jesus.

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 And this is the goal

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 towards which

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 the gospel is moving.

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 Jesus is accomplishing

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 the redemption

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 of His people

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 and returning

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 to His Father.

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 He is making

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 His exodus journey.

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 It's a journey

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 with a glorious goal.

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 But that road

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 to glory

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 is one that must

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 pass through

00:09:32.460 --> 00:09:33.460
 great sorrow

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 and pain

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 and rejection

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 and suffering.

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 Jesus must travel

00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:39.300
 the way of the cross.

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 And so,

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 He sets His face

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 towards Jerusalem.

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 He is determined

00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:45.960
 to fulfill

00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:46.820
 God's plan

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 and purpose

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 come what may.

00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:49.980
 God's plan

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 to fulfill

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 His life.

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 That's why already,

00:09:52.040 --> 00:09:52.340
 again,

00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:53.500
 earlier in this chapter,

00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:55.120
 when we read

00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:56.200
 of Peter's confession

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 of Jesus

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 as the Christ of God,

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 Jesus speaks

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 of His impending death

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 in just those kind

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 of terms.

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 In chapter 9,

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 verse 22,

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 He says,

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 the Son of Man

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 must suffer

00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:12.100
 many things.

00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:14.160
 This suffering

00:10:14.160 --> 00:10:15.060
 and death

00:10:15.059 --> 00:10:16.619
 is a must

00:10:16.619 --> 00:10:17.739
 for Jesus

00:10:17.739 --> 00:10:19.479
 because it is

00:10:19.479 --> 00:10:20.099
 a must

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 in the very heart

00:10:21.199 --> 00:10:21.839
 of God Himself.

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 It's the divine must

00:10:24.379 --> 00:10:25.119
 that lies

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 at the heart

00:10:25.599 --> 00:10:26.259
 of the gospel,

00:10:27.059 --> 00:10:28.279
 the divine imperative

00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:29.579
 of God's love.

00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:32.079
 Jesus must suffer

00:10:32.079 --> 00:10:33.039
 and be killed

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 for sinners

00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:34.839
 to be redeemed,

00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:36.119
 for sinful men

00:10:36.119 --> 00:10:36.639
 and women

00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:37.559
 to enter heaven.

00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:38.279
 Jesus,

00:10:38.539 --> 00:10:39.539
 God's Son,

00:10:39.719 --> 00:10:40.399
 must die.

00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:43.519
 Jesus is no

00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:45.259
 reluctant victim.

00:10:46.139 --> 00:10:47.019
 He is the willing

00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:48.319
 Lamb of God

00:10:48.319 --> 00:10:50.240
 marching deliberately

00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:51.819
 towards the cross

00:10:51.819 --> 00:10:52.500
 for the joy

00:10:52.500 --> 00:10:53.579
 set before Him,

00:10:53.699 --> 00:10:54.899
 the joy of fulfilling

00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:56.480
 the divine purpose,

00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:58.139
 redeeming a people

00:10:58.139 --> 00:10:59.120
 for Himself.

00:11:00.379 --> 00:11:01.919
 So, we have to be clear.

00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:03.799
 The cross

00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:05.460
 was not a surprise

00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:06.379
 to Jesus.

00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:07.460
 It wasn't something

00:11:07.460 --> 00:11:08.960
 He sought to evade

00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:09.600
 or avoid.

00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:11.300
 He embraced it

00:11:11.300 --> 00:11:12.879
 because it was

00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:13.580
 the very reason

00:11:13.580 --> 00:11:14.300
 He came.

00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:16.100
 Before He would be

00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:17.340
 taken up to His Father,

00:11:17.560 --> 00:11:18.580
 He knew that He would

00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:19.580
 be taken up

00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:20.879
 and impaled

00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:21.659
 on a cross.

00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:22.540
 Lifted up

00:11:22.540 --> 00:11:23.560
 was He to die.

00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:24.779
 It is finished

00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:26.000
 was His cry.

00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:28.480
 That's why He had

00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:29.540
 come into the world

00:11:29.540 --> 00:11:30.560
 to live

00:11:30.560 --> 00:11:31.899
 and then to die

00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:32.700
 on a cross.

00:11:33.580 --> 00:11:34.139
 He had come

00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:35.519
 to do His Father's will

00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:36.740
 to secure

00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:38.420
 His people's salvation.

00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:41.980
 Octavius Winslow,

00:11:42.300 --> 00:11:43.759
 he was a Baptist

00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:46.300
 preacher in England,

00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:47.080
 a contemporary

00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:48.200
 of C.H. Spurgeon,

00:11:48.340 --> 00:11:49.100
 he wrote this,

00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:51.180
 Who delivered Jesus

00:11:51.180 --> 00:11:52.139
 up to die?

00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:54.420
 Not Judas for money,

00:11:55.540 --> 00:11:57.139
 not Barabbas for freedom,

00:11:57.800 --> 00:11:59.740
 not Pilate for fear,

00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:02.159
 not the crowd for blood,

00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:04.720
 not the Jews for envy,

00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:06.639
 but the Father

00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:08.160
 for love.

00:12:09.940 --> 00:12:11.180
 And so here we see

00:12:11.180 --> 00:12:12.160
 Jesus setting

00:12:12.160 --> 00:12:13.160
 His face

00:12:13.160 --> 00:12:14.360
 towards Jerusalem,

00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:16.000
 towards the agony

00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:16.759
 of the cross,

00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:18.220
 becoming obedient

00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:18.779
 to death,

00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:19.600
 even death

00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:20.300
 on a cross,

00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:22.060
 preparing to shed

00:12:22.060 --> 00:12:22.560
 His blood

00:12:22.560 --> 00:12:23.660
 for the forgiveness

00:12:23.660 --> 00:12:24.820
 of His people's sin.

00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:26.779
 And as Jesus

00:12:26.779 --> 00:12:27.820
 sets His face

00:12:27.820 --> 00:12:28.720
 to the cross,

00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:30.980
 so it is for those

00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:31.660
 who would come

00:12:31.660 --> 00:12:32.519
 after Him,

00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:34.100
 for they too

00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:34.860
 are called

00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:35.460
 to travel

00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:36.220
 the way

00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:37.019
 of the cross.

00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:38.439
 And indeed,

00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:39.639
 just a few verses

00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:40.139
 earlier,

00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:41.480
 again,

00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:42.699
 earlier in this chapter,

00:12:42.899 --> 00:12:44.759
 Jesus has spoken

00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:45.620
 to His disciples

00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:46.980
 in just those terms.

00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:49.139
 Verses 23 and 24,

00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:51.179
 If anyone would come

00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:51.819
 after Me,

00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:53.340
 let him deny himself

00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:54.460
 and take up his cross

00:12:54.460 --> 00:12:55.439
 and follow Me.

00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:57.159
 For whoever would

00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:57.960
 save his life

00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:58.659
 will lose it,

00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:00.580
 but whoever loses

00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:02.000
 his life for My sake

00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.340
 will save it.

00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:05.840
 Those words

00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:07.460
 fly in the face,

00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:07.779
 don't they,

00:13:07.819 --> 00:13:09.720
 of much contemporary

00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:10.939
 Christian thinking.

00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:13.580
 He describes discipleship

00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:15.720
 not in terms of

00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:17.059
 personal piety

00:13:17.059 --> 00:13:17.779
 and devotion,

00:13:18.599 --> 00:13:19.619
 nor in terms

00:13:19.619 --> 00:13:20.139
 of a kind of

00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:21.819
 purpose-driven life,

00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:24.119
 or any particular

00:13:24.119 --> 00:13:25.099
 kind of spiritual

00:13:25.099 --> 00:13:25.919
 experience.

00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:26.379
 No,

00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:26.939
 Jesus says,

00:13:27.059 --> 00:13:28.239
 Christian discipleship

00:13:28.239 --> 00:13:29.439
 means losing

00:13:29.439 --> 00:13:30.500
 your life

00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:31.219
 to Me.

00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:33.479
 Carrying

00:13:33.479 --> 00:13:34.439
 our cross

00:13:34.439 --> 00:13:35.839
 means nothing

00:13:35.839 --> 00:13:36.699
 less than giving

00:13:36.699 --> 00:13:38.019
 over our whole

00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:39.859
 life to Jesus

00:13:39.859 --> 00:13:40.899
 as our King.

00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:43.039
 Bonhoeffer,

00:13:43.699 --> 00:13:44.579
 who Corey quoted

00:13:44.579 --> 00:13:44.979
 earlier,

00:13:45.099 --> 00:13:45.739
 famously wrote,

00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:47.360
 when Christ bids a man,

00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:48.419
 He bids him

00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:49.519
 come die.

00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:52.560
 The man with the cross

00:13:52.560 --> 00:13:54.379
 is one whose life

00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.139
 is forfeit.

00:13:55.799 --> 00:13:56.419
 It's no longer

00:13:56.419 --> 00:13:57.019
 his own.

00:13:58.440 --> 00:13:58.759
 And so,

00:13:58.860 --> 00:13:59.919
 Jesus confronts

00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.600
 and challenges

00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:02.440
 the sovereignty

00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:04.259
 of our individual

00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:05.019
 consciousness.

00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:07.419
 He is Lord

00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:08.460
 and God.

00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:10.360
 He is God,

00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:11.019
 not us.

00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:12.840
 He confronts

00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:13.680
 the idolatry

00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:14.279
 of self

00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:15.439
 that is at the

00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:16.519
 heart of all

00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:17.339
 human rebellion

00:14:17.339 --> 00:14:18.199
 against God.

00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:20.899
 And He invites us

00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:22.099
 and calls us

00:14:22.099 --> 00:14:23.819
 to follow Him

00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:25.019
 in the way

00:14:25.019 --> 00:14:26.000
 of the cross.

00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:28.279
 He calls us

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.359
 to set our face

00:14:29.359 --> 00:14:31.579
 not towards Jerusalem,

00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:34.399
 but towards Him.

00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:37.359
 The resolve

00:14:37.359 --> 00:14:39.599
 Jesus displays.

00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:42.040
 And that brings me

00:14:42.040 --> 00:14:42.840
 to the second thing

00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:43.180
 here.

00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:45.100
 And that's the rebuke

00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:46.700
 Jesus gives

00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:48.500
 in verses 52

00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:49.600
 through 56.

00:14:50.700 --> 00:14:51.379
 We're told

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:52.180
 in verse 52,

00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:53.120
 He sent messengers

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:53.820
 ahead of Him

00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:55.120
 who went and entered

00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:56.460
 a village of the Samaritans

00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:57.360
 to make preparations

00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:57.899
 for Him,

00:14:58.200 --> 00:14:58.820
 but the people

00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:00.040
 did not receive Him

00:15:00.040 --> 00:15:01.700
 because His face

00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:03.080
 was set towards Jerusalem.

00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.160
 So,

00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:04.580
 messengers

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:06.180
 are sent ahead

00:15:06.180 --> 00:15:07.420
 probably to prepare

00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:08.759
 suitable food

00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.360
 and lodging

00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:10.479
 and they enter

00:15:10.479 --> 00:15:11.579
 a Samaritan village,

00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:12.899
 but the villagers

00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:13.719
 there refuse

00:15:13.719 --> 00:15:14.819
 to receive Jesus.

00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:16.819
 They want nothing

00:15:16.819 --> 00:15:17.659
 to do with Him.

00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:18.860
 Why was that?

00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:19.319
 Well,

00:15:19.339 --> 00:15:19.759
 we're told

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.959
 because His face

00:15:20.959 --> 00:15:22.179
 was set towards

00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:22.899
 Jerusalem.

00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:24.639
 And the background

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.679
 to their refusal

00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:27.199
 is,

00:15:27.339 --> 00:15:27.740
 of course,

00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:28.120
 they can have

00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:28.719
 age-old

00:15:28.719 --> 00:15:30.459
 antagonism

00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:31.240
 between the Jews

00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.279
 and the Samaritans.

00:15:33.219 --> 00:15:34.539
 The Samaritans

00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:35.959
 had their own rival

00:15:35.959 --> 00:15:36.500
 temple

00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.439
 on Mount Gerizim

00:15:37.439 --> 00:15:38.579
 and they were

00:15:38.579 --> 00:15:39.439
 in no way

00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:41.379
 disposed

00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:41.839
 to offer

00:15:41.839 --> 00:15:42.579
 hospitality

00:15:42.579 --> 00:15:43.399
 to Jews

00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:44.779
 going to the temple

00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:45.799
 in Jerusalem.

00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:47.279
 And so,

00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:47.959
 with Jesus'

00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:48.980
 approach,

00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:51.599
 this long-standing

00:15:51.599 --> 00:15:52.379
 enmity

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.019
 with the Jews

00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:53.759
 flares up.

00:15:54.439 --> 00:15:54.959
 They will not

00:15:54.959 --> 00:15:55.839
 welcome one

00:15:55.839 --> 00:15:56.879
 whose destiny

00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:57.599
 lies

00:15:57.599 --> 00:15:59.039
 in the holy city

00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:00.059
 of their enemies.

00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:02.439
 When the disciples,

00:16:02.839 --> 00:16:03.559
 James and Joss,

00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:03.959
 saw it,

00:16:03.960 --> 00:16:04.780
 James and John

00:16:04.780 --> 00:16:05.160
 saw it,

00:16:05.180 --> 00:16:05.540
 they said,

00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:06.139
 Lord,

00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:06.879
 do you want us

00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:07.759
 to tell fire

00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:08.379
 to come down

00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:08.840
 from heaven

00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:09.900
 and consume them?

00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.500
 But He turned

00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:12.280
 and rebuked them

00:16:12.280 --> 00:16:13.600
 and they went on

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:14.660
 to another village.

00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:16.900
 Rejection

00:16:16.900 --> 00:16:17.500
 is never easy

00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.080
 to take.

00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:20.000
 How we handle it

00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:20.440
 can often be

00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:21.560
 a very important issue.

00:16:22.180 --> 00:16:22.860
 How we deal

00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:23.620
 with, you know,

00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:24.720
 maybe it's a failed

00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:26.259
 interview or test

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.460
 or the person

00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:28.000
 who doesn't want

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.660
 anything to do

00:16:28.660 --> 00:16:29.220
 with us,

00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:30.660
 with people

00:16:30.660 --> 00:16:31.360
 who won't let us

00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:32.100
 be part of what

00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:32.660
 they're doing,

00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:33.440
 with those who want

00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:33.820
 to keep us

00:16:33.820 --> 00:16:34.600
 at arm's length.

00:16:35.420 --> 00:16:36.520
 Dealing with rejection

00:16:36.520 --> 00:16:37.300
 is never easy.

00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:39.360
 And here the disciples,

00:16:39.520 --> 00:16:40.240
 James and John,

00:16:40.380 --> 00:16:41.600
 appear not to handle

00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:42.560
 it terribly well.

00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:43.740
 In fact,

00:16:43.800 --> 00:16:44.960
 they're very angry.

00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:45.560
 They're raging

00:16:45.560 --> 00:16:46.500
 about what has happened.

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.440
 Those sons of thunder,

00:16:48.780 --> 00:16:49.080
 actually,

00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.160
 they're righteously

00:16:50.160 --> 00:16:50.920
 indignant

00:16:50.920 --> 00:16:52.220
 at this rejection

00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:52.840
 of Jesus,

00:16:53.040 --> 00:16:53.540
 their master.

00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:55.060
 And they're rightly

00:16:55.060 --> 00:16:56.520
 jealous of Jesus' honor.

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.340
 They're rightly,

00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:57.880
 perhaps,

00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.500
 enraged

00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.540
 at this slight

00:16:59.540 --> 00:17:00.280
 done to Him.

00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:01.220
 And so,

00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:01.860
 they respond,

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:02.159
 Lord,

00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:02.899
 do you want us

00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:03.839
 to tell fire

00:17:03.839 --> 00:17:04.859
 to come down

00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:05.299
 from heaven

00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:06.519
 and consume them,

00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.500
 obliterate them?

00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:10.119
 They want those

00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:11.240
 wicked and ungrateful

00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.119
 Samaritans

00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:13.079
 dealt with immediately

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:15.059
 and in no uncertain terms.

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:17.200
 And commentators

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:20.940
 kind of surmise

00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:22.539
 that they may well

00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:23.220
 have had in mind

00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:24.059
 that incident

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:25.200
 back in the Old Testament

00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:27.220
 in 2 Kings chapter 1

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:29.420
 verses 9 through 18,

00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:30.840
 when fire fell

00:17:30.840 --> 00:17:31.519
 and consumed

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:33.299
 King Ahaziah's

00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:33.759
 captain

00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.880
 and his fifty men

00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.259
 as a judgment

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.000
 from God

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.140
 because they rejected

00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:39.360
 and they gave

00:17:39.360 --> 00:17:40.019
 ill treatment

00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.279
 to Elijah,

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:42.059
 God's prophet.

00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.740
 We read there

00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:45.220
 in chapter 1 verse 10

00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:45.860
 of 2 Kings,

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:47.380
 let fire come down

00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:47.980
 from heaven

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:49.200
 and consume you

00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:49.900
 and your fifty.

00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:51.360
 Because,

00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:51.900
 you see,

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.940
 they're rejecting

00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:53.940
 God's prophet

00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:56.880
 is a serious business.

00:17:58.440 --> 00:17:58.680
 Yet,

00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.240
 even so,

00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:00.400
 here,

00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.880
 Jesus does not

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:03.640
 endorse this suggestion.

00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:05.400
 Quite the reverse,

00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.240
 He returned

00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:08.240
 and rebuked them.

00:18:09.600 --> 00:18:10.320
 He immediately

00:18:10.320 --> 00:18:11.799
 rebukes His disciples.

00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.960
 Their response

00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:14.960
 is wholly inappropriate here.

00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:17.779
 Well,

00:18:17.840 --> 00:18:18.400
 we might have

00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:20.000
 perhaps expected

00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.640
 a fuller explanation.

00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:22.860
 There is in the footnote

00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:24.019
 in the ESV there,

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:25.119
 some manuscripts,

00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:26.399
 you do not know

00:18:26.399 --> 00:18:27.279
 what man of spirit

00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:27.779
 you are,

00:18:27.939 --> 00:18:28.839
 for the Son of Man

00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.819
 came not to destroy

00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:30.699
 people's lives,

00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:32.259
 but to save them.

00:18:36.479 --> 00:18:37.740
 Perhaps the reason

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:40.699
 for that

00:18:40.699 --> 00:18:42.579
 omission

00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.619
 in many manuscripts

00:18:43.619 --> 00:18:46.139
 is that the explanation

00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:47.559
 is in the story

00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:48.059
 itself.

00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:50.199
 It is in

00:18:50.199 --> 00:18:50.859
 the journey

00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:51.339
 that Jesus

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.039
 is taking

00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.899
 to Jerusalem

00:18:53.899 --> 00:18:55.359
 and to the cross

00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:58.279
 for people

00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.259
 who have rejected

00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.019
 God.

00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:02.279
 He's traveling

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.419
 the road of mercy

00:19:03.419 --> 00:19:04.019
 for sinners.

00:19:04.879 --> 00:19:05.439
 Now is not

00:19:05.439 --> 00:19:05.899
 the time

00:19:05.899 --> 00:19:06.519
 for judgment.

00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.099
 Now is the time

00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:08.739
 for mercy.

00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:10.959
 Yes,

00:19:11.159 --> 00:19:12.359
 we need to understand

00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:12.979
 there will come

00:19:12.979 --> 00:19:13.319
 a time

00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:13.879
 for judgment

00:19:13.879 --> 00:19:15.240
 and God's

00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:15.959
 righteous anger

00:19:15.959 --> 00:19:16.759
 will be shown

00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.979
 to hard hearts.

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.799
 But in this

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.419
 current age,

00:19:20.479 --> 00:19:20.979
 the call

00:19:20.979 --> 00:19:22.899
 of Christ's

00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:23.419
 disciples

00:19:23.419 --> 00:19:25.519
 is to reach out

00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.539
 with the good news

00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.579
 of His grace

00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:28.139
 and mercy.

00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:29.559
 Today is a day

00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.219
 of grace.

00:19:31.479 --> 00:19:32.099
 Paul says

00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:33.279
 in 2 Corinthians 6,

00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:33.659
 behold,

00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.479
 now is the favorable

00:19:34.479 --> 00:19:35.000
 time.

00:19:35.399 --> 00:19:35.659
 Behold,

00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.719
 now is the day

00:19:36.719 --> 00:19:37.379
 of salvation.

00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:38.939
 We're living

00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:39.279
 in a day

00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:40.159
 of good news,

00:19:40.899 --> 00:19:41.899
 a day of salvation

00:19:41.900 --> 00:19:42.620
 and rescue

00:19:42.620 --> 00:19:44.220
 from divine judgment.

00:19:45.080 --> 00:19:45.500
 We're living

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:45.820
 in a day

00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:46.400
 of mercy,

00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:47.340
 a day in which

00:19:47.340 --> 00:19:48.340
 there is yet time

00:19:48.340 --> 00:19:49.080
 for men and women

00:19:49.080 --> 00:19:49.940
 to discover

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.840
 and experience

00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:51.620
 for themselves

00:19:51.620 --> 00:19:52.420
 the mercy

00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:53.060
 of God.

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:55.700
 And friends,

00:19:55.820 --> 00:19:56.340
 those of us

00:19:56.340 --> 00:19:56.880
 who are Christian

00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.580
 believers need

00:19:57.580 --> 00:19:58.160
 to remember

00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:58.820
 that judgment

00:19:58.820 --> 00:20:01.360
 is Jesus'

00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:01.940
 job,

00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:02.900
 not ours.

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:04.960
 Tragically,

00:20:05.040 --> 00:20:05.380
 down through

00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:05.980
 the centuries,

00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:07.080
 many have

00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:08.140
 discarded

00:20:08.140 --> 00:20:08.759
 or ignored

00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.519
 this teaching.

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:12.400
 And a misguided

00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.539
 zeal for God.

00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:14.339
 They've behaved

00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:15.519
 despicably,

00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:16.759
 inflicting pain

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.339
 and harm

00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:17.940
 on others

00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:18.779
 in the name

00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:19.259
 of Jesus.

00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:20.299
 Not just calling

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:21.559
 down fire

00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.259
 of judgment,

00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.339
 but actually

00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:24.359
 enacting it.

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.839
 Crusades,

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.680
 Inquisition,

00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:27.839
 great European

00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:28.940
 wars of religion,

00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:30.639
 thousands put

00:20:30.639 --> 00:20:31.119
 to death

00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:31.480
 in the name

00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:31.980
 of Christ.

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:33.160
 What a travesty

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:34.200
 of the gospel

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:34.599
 message.

00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:36.779
 What a repudiation

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.700
 and rejection

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.899
 of Jesus

00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:39.799
 and His teaching.

00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.039
 And yes,

00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:41.539
 of course,

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.680
 zeal and passion

00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:43.779
 for God's glory

00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:44.299
 and honor

00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.200
 are good things.

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.339
 And we are called

00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:47.639
 to stand for the truth

00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:49.759
 and to reject error.

00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:52.059
 But we have no business

00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:53.339
 seeking vengeance

00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:54.319
 on others.

00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:56.579
 Zeal that spills over

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.599
 into violence

00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.180
 on others

00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:59.079
 is unholy

00:20:59.079 --> 00:21:00.139
 and unchristian.

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:01.700
 Paul writes

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.279
 to the Christians

00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:02.819
 in Rome,

00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.000
 Romans 12,

00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.759
 19 and 21,

00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.920
 Beloved,

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.299
 never avenge yourselves,

00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:08.920
 but leave it

00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:09.940
 to the wrath of God.

00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:10.879
 For it's written,

00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.160
 vengeance is mine,

00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:13.119
 I will repay,

00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:13.960
 says the Lord.

00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.700
 Do not be overcome

00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.579
 with evil,

00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:18.599
 but overcome evil

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.420
 with good.

00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:21.579
 And yes,

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:22.759
 it is a serious matter

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:24.500
 to reject Jesus,

00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:27.119
 to despise His Word.

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:29.379
 But those caught up

00:21:29.379 --> 00:21:30.759
 in theological error

00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.379
 are not to be

00:21:31.379 --> 00:21:32.319
 put to the sword.

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.579
 We're not in the business

00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:35.680
 of burning heretics.

00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.579
 But we are in the business

00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:39.160
 of praying and interceding

00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:40.359
 and holding out

00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:42.299
 the gospel of God's grace,

00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.599
 conscious indeed

00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.599
 that the great day

00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:45.700
 of judgment will come

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.599
 and men and women

00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:47.720
 will have to be ready

00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:48.259
 for it.

00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:50.379
 It's interesting

00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:51.839
 that in Luke's

00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:53.220
 second volume,

00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:54.200
 the book of Acts,

00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:55.940
 he tells of

00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:56.799
 a man,

00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.680
 an evangelist,

00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.099
 Philip,

00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.319
 who traveled

00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:00.140
 to Samaria

00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:02.259
 and did just that.

00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:02.799
 What did he do?

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.419
 He preached

00:22:03.419 --> 00:22:04.039
 the gospel

00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:05.720
 of Jesus' death

00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:06.379
 and resurrection.

00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:07.259
 You can read about it

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:08.559
 in Acts chapter 8.

00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:09.339
 We're told there,

00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:10.099
 he proclaimed

00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:11.720
 to them the Christ,

00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:13.559
 and there was much joy

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.359
 in that city.

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:17.440
 So, let's not forget

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.259
 Jesus' words

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.180
 of rebuke here.

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:20.819
 The Son of Man

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:22.240
 came not to destroy lives,

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.099
 but to save them.

00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.639
 And here is grace

00:22:25.639 --> 00:22:26.139
 in the face

00:22:26.139 --> 00:22:26.779
 of rejection.

00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:29.180
 Our Lord presses on

00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:29.839
 undeterred,

00:22:29.899 --> 00:22:31.059
 His mission one of mercy,

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.039
 not destruction.

00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.079
 And in this,

00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:35.899
 He teaches us

00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:37.299
 that true discipleship

00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:38.279
 is not marked

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:41.500
 by retaliatory zeal,

00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.759
 but by the patience

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.660
 and long suffering

00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:46.759
 of the Savior Himself.

00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:50.440
 The resolve Jesus displays,

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:52.220
 the rebuke Jesus gives.

00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:52.819
 And thirdly,

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.579
 finally,

00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:56.240
 I'll not say briefly,

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:56.960
 but anyway,

00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:58.579
 the reality

00:22:58.579 --> 00:23:00.160
 that Jesus highlights

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:02.339
 in verses 57 to 62.

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:03.799
 You notice there

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.259
 at the end

00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.099
 of the chapter,

00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:05.559
 there follows

00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.599
 these three separate

00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.180
 encounters

00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:08.839
 with three would-be

00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:09.880
 followers of Jesus.

00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:11.359
 Each man expresses

00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.900
 a desire to follow Jesus,

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:14.000
 to become his disciple.

00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.120
 But it's clear

00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:16.259
 that each and in his own way

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:17.160
 has misunderstood

00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:19.660
 what the discipleship is

00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.539
 in the kingdom of God,

00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.539
 what it really entails.

00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:23.700
 And in these encounters,

00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:25.019
 Jesus reveals to us

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.220
 something of the reality

00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:27.380
 of discipleship.

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.960
 In the first encounter,

00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:31.279
 he reminds us

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.000
 that discipleship

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.700
 has a cost.

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.559
 The first man approaches

00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.920
 enthusiastically,

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:37.059
 I'll follow you

00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.920
 wherever you go.

00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.140
 Sounds very promising,

00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:39.940
 doesn't it?

00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:40.740
 And yet,

00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.620
 Jesus replies,

00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:43.140
 foxes of holes,

00:23:43.620 --> 00:23:44.279
 birds of the air

00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:45.039
 of nests,

00:23:45.600 --> 00:23:46.440
 the Son of Man

00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:47.019
 has nowhere

00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:48.299
 to lay his head.

00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.839
 So,

00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.919
 Jesus immediately

00:23:50.919 --> 00:23:51.619
 strips away

00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:53.519
 any romantic illusions

00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.159
 about being

00:23:54.159 --> 00:23:54.779
 a disciple.

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.319
 Discipleship

00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.099
 may not mean

00:23:59.099 --> 00:24:00.039
 health,

00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:00.419
 wealth,

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.240
 and happiness,

00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.680
 as some

00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:03.759
 want to suggest.

00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.159
 Indeed,

00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.819
 it may mean

00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.940
 poverty and homelessness.

00:24:08.879 --> 00:24:09.819
 To follow Jesus,

00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:11.659
 security in this world

00:24:11.659 --> 00:24:12.419
 may have to be

00:24:12.419 --> 00:24:12.899
 sacrificed.

00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:15.480
 To follow Him

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.340
 is to embrace

00:24:16.340 --> 00:24:18.540
 insecurity in this world,

00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:21.140
 to find no lasting home

00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:21.800
 here because

00:24:21.800 --> 00:24:22.720
 our citizenship

00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.440
 is in heaven.

00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:25.560
 He Himself,

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:27.120
 the very Creator of all,

00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:28.580
 became homeless

00:24:28.580 --> 00:24:29.720
 for our sake.

00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:31.920
 Discipleship means

00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.640
 identifying

00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:34.180
 with one

00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.240
 who was despised

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:35.980
 and rejected,

00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.039
 who had no place

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.039
 to rest His head

00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.700
 until it was

00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.759
 bowed in death

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.620
 on the cross.

00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:44.039
 Many of us here

00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:45.660
 in the Western world

00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:46.779
 want to hedge

00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:47.600
 our commitment

00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:48.320
 to Jesus

00:24:48.320 --> 00:24:49.440
 with all manner

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.340
 of qualifications.

00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.279
 Yes, Jesus,

00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.240
 I'll follow You

00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.200
 wherever You go,

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.660
 as long as

00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:56.400
 it's not there,

00:24:57.340 --> 00:24:58.060
 as long as

00:24:58.060 --> 00:24:58.620
 I don't have to

00:24:58.620 --> 00:24:59.200
 give up this,

00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.840
 or as long as

00:24:59.840 --> 00:25:00.279
 I don't have to

00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:01.060
 give up that.

00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.360
 As long as

00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:03.740
 I can still

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.660
 have what I want.

00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:06.960
 But friends,

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.900
 Jesus tells us here

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:09.240
 genuine discipleship

00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:10.240
 involves a cost.

00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.720
 And then the second man,

00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:15.519
 discipleship,

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:17.039
 not only has a cost,

00:25:17.080 --> 00:25:17.900
 it has a priority.

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.240
 Jesus issues

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.039
 this man

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:22.160
 with a very direct call,

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.279
 follow me.

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:26.120
 But the response

00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:27.300
 is this,

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:27.860
 Lord,

00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:29.320
 let me first go

00:25:29.320 --> 00:25:29.820
 and bury

00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:30.920
 my father.

00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:32.560
 It seems a reasonable,

00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:35.120
 maybe even a dutiful request,

00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:37.180
 honoring one's parents

00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:37.820
 as commanded

00:25:37.820 --> 00:25:38.400
 in Scripture,

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.100
 after all.

00:25:39.800 --> 00:25:41.019
 And yet Jesus says,

00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:42.539
 leave the dead

00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:43.820
 to bury their own dead,

00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.320
 but as for you,

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.180
 go and proclaim

00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:47.720
 the kingdom of God.

00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:49.940
 Harsh words?

00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.279
 No.

00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:54.120
 Simply, I think,

00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:55.180
 an uncomfortable truth.

00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:57.160
 almost certainly

00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:57.900
 the man's father

00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:58.980
 was not yet dead.

00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:00.660
 Funerals

00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.100
 in that

00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:03.240
 time and culture

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.400
 followed on

00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:04.980
 very quickly

00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:05.539
 from the death

00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.200
 of an individual.

00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:06.900
 Now,

00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:07.480
 this was really

00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.480
 a way of saying,

00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:10.259
 let me wait

00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:11.480
 until my family

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.240
 obligations

00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.060
 are fulfilled.

00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:14.759
 Then I'll follow you,

00:26:14.820 --> 00:26:15.039
 Jesus.

00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:18.339
 But Jesus

00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:18.940
 reigns

00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.819
 on this man's

00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:21.039
 parade of allegiance

00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:22.740
 because the kingdom

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.259
 of God

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.960
 will tolerate

00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:24.680
 no delays.

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.059
 The call of Christ

00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:27.079
 is an urgent one.

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.359
 It demands

00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:29.139
 precedence

00:26:29.139 --> 00:26:30.759
 over even

00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.619
 the most sacred

00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:32.779
 of earthly times.

00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.659
 Those who are

00:26:34.659 --> 00:26:35.539
 spiritually dead

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:36.119
 can attend

00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:37.139
 to earthly matters,

00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:38.619
 but those awakened

00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:39.359
 by grace

00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:40.299
 must proclaim

00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:40.940
 the life

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.819
 that is found

00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:42.839
 only in Jesus.

00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:44.619
 qualified discipleship

00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:45.259
 isn't really

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:45.799
 an option.

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:47.519
 And so,

00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.399
 Jesus demands

00:26:48.399 --> 00:26:49.179
 first place,

00:26:50.179 --> 00:26:51.439
 not out of tyranny,

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.339
 but because

00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:54.259
 of who He is

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.399
 and because

00:26:55.399 --> 00:26:55.839
 He alone

00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:56.439
 is worthy.

00:26:58.419 --> 00:26:59.319
 The kingdom

00:26:59.319 --> 00:27:00.220
 He proclaims

00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.019
 is no marginal

00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.799
 concern.

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:04.119
 It is the peril

00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:05.339
 of great price

00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.339
 worth selling

00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:07.559
 all to obtain.

00:27:08.419 --> 00:27:09.039
 Jesus must

00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:09.759
 come first.

00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:11.099
 We mustn't

00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:11.699
 allow anything

00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:12.759
 to deflect us

00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.900
 or take us

00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.960
 away from making

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:16.160
 or following

00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:16.619
 Jesus

00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:18.200
 as our priority.

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.500
 Discipleship

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.579
 has a cost.

00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:22.339
 Discipleship

00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.579
 has a priority.

00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:24.980
 And then,

00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:25.440
 thirdly here,

00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:25.980
 discipleship

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:26.579
 has a focus.

00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.279
 The third man,

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.299
 I'll follow you,

00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:28.599
 Lord.

00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:30.240
 Let me first

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:30.940
 say farewell

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:32.099
 to those at my home.

00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.579
 And again,

00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.259
 that sounds

00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:35.539
 innocent enough.

00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:36.680
 Elijah,

00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:38.440
 back in 1 Kings 19,

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.079
 permitted Elisha

00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:40.779
 to say farewell

00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.639
 to his family.

00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:43.119
 But Jesus

00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:43.740
 replies,

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.879
 no one who

00:27:44.879 --> 00:27:45.700
 puts his hand

00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:46.460
 to the plow

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.759
 and looks back

00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.460
 is fit for the

00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.259
 kingdom of God.

00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:51.700
 Plowing a straight

00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.139
 furrow

00:27:52.139 --> 00:27:53.720
 requires fixed

00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.500
 concentration.

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.899
 One glance back

00:27:55.899 --> 00:27:56.460
 and the row

00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.279
 becomes all

00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.440
 skew-whiff,

00:27:58.579 --> 00:27:58.799
 crooked.

00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:00.700
 And so it is

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.240
 in the kingdom.

00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.519
 To follow Christ

00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:03.220
 is to set

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.559
 your face

00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.240
 resolutely

00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:06.240
 forward,

00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.879
 like Him,

00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:08.319
 without nostalgic

00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:09.159
 looking back

00:28:09.159 --> 00:28:09.759
 to what lies

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.319
 behind.

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.720
 Those who

00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.179
 look back

00:28:13.179 --> 00:28:14.099
 all too often

00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:14.639
 want to go

00:28:14.639 --> 00:28:15.099
 back.

00:28:16.379 --> 00:28:16.879
 But following

00:28:16.879 --> 00:28:17.779
 Jesus is not

00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.639
 a short-term

00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:19.399
 temporary

00:28:19.399 --> 00:28:20.059
 commitment.

00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:20.819
 The call

00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:22.220
 to discipleship

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:22.799
 is not for

00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:23.500
 a season,

00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.599
 but for a

00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:24.980
 lifetime.

00:28:27.659 --> 00:28:27.960
 And so

00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.799
 the question

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:28.980
 is,

00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:30.259
 are our eyes

00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:30.899
 focused this

00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.220
 evening?

00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:32.700
 Are we

00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.579
 looking back

00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:34.019
 or are we

00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:34.639
 looking forward?

00:28:35.639 --> 00:28:36.359
 Are we

00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:37.559
 fixing our

00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.119
 eyes on

00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:38.479
 Jesus

00:28:38.479 --> 00:28:39.119
 or on

00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:39.439
 something

00:28:39.439 --> 00:28:39.899
 or someone

00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:40.419
 else?

00:28:41.199 --> 00:28:41.679
 What kind

00:28:41.679 --> 00:28:42.599
 of furrow

00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:43.240
 are we

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:43.659
 plowing?

00:28:44.659 --> 00:28:45.059
 Are you

00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:45.659
 cutting a

00:28:45.659 --> 00:28:46.479
 straight line?

00:28:47.479 --> 00:28:48.079
 Are you

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.500
 veering all

00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:49.819
 over the

00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.279
 place?

00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:53.619
 Friends,

00:28:53.679 --> 00:28:54.379
 these encounters,

00:28:55.179 --> 00:28:55.779
 three encounters,

00:28:55.939 --> 00:28:56.339
 are not meant

00:28:56.339 --> 00:28:57.079
 to discourage

00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:57.500
 us,

00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:59.819
 but to awaken

00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.359
 us to the

00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:00.919
 true nature

00:29:00.919 --> 00:29:01.439
 of Christian

00:29:01.439 --> 00:29:02.279
 discipleship.

00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:03.539
 Jesus is not

00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.319
 marketing a

00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:04.799
 comfortable,

00:29:05.199 --> 00:29:05.979
 kind of easy

00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.960
 going religion.

00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.460
 It's not your

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.140
 best life

00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:09.539
 now.

00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.360
 He's calling

00:29:11.360 --> 00:29:12.599
 sinners like

00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:13.180
 us to a

00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:14.220
 cross-shaped

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.779
 life.

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.480
 The cost

00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:16.980
 is high.

00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.299
 No earthly

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:18.920
 security,

00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.660
 no divided

00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:20.400
 loyalties,

00:29:20.860 --> 00:29:21.339
 no looking

00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:21.920
 back.

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:24.640
 Yet we

00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:25.059
 must never

00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.839
 forget that

00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:27.339
 this apparently

00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:27.960
 demanding

00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:30.079
 Savior is

00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:30.819
 the one who

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.519
 first set

00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.079
 his face

00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:33.299
 toward Jerusalem

00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:34.299
 for us.

00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.559
 Going to

00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.079
 the cross

00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:37.440
 to bear

00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:38.039
 our sin,

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.000
 bearing the

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.200
 ultimate cost,

00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:42.799
 forsaken by

00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:43.240
 God,

00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:43.960
 homeless in

00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.480
 death,

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.539
 cut off

00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:47.299
 from every

00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:48.379
 earthly tie

00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:49.720
 that we

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.279
 might have a

00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:51.619
 place in

00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:52.240
 his Father's

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:52.639
 house.

00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:54.659
 The call to

00:29:54.659 --> 00:29:55.779
 discipleship then

00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.339
 is not

00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:58.500
 to a life of

00:29:58.500 --> 00:30:00.079
 grim self-denial,

00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:02.339
 but to a

00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:03.220
 life centered

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.460
 on Christ

00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:06.000
 crucified and

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.859
 risen, a

00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:08.480
 life joined

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.740
 and united

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.899
 to Jesus.

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:12.799
 And to

00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.299
 follow him

00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:14.000
 is to lose

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.659
 our lives,

00:30:15.399 --> 00:30:16.299
 but in

00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:17.079
 losing them,

00:30:18.199 --> 00:30:18.899
 to find

00:30:18.899 --> 00:30:19.240
 them.

00:30:20.439 --> 00:30:21.460
 Because in

00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.259
 union with

00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:23.919
 him, the

00:30:23.919 --> 00:30:25.159
 cost becomes

00:30:25.159 --> 00:30:26.179
 a joy and

00:30:26.179 --> 00:30:26.740
 a delight.

00:30:27.659 --> 00:30:28.439
 His demands

00:30:28.439 --> 00:30:29.019
 become

00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:29.639
 privileges.

00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:32.199
 By the

00:30:32.199 --> 00:30:32.779
 Spirit,

00:30:33.419 --> 00:30:33.619
 his

00:30:33.619 --> 00:30:34.579
 resoluteness

00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:35.980
 strengthens

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:37.159
 our weak

00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:37.639
 resolve.

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.500
 His rejection

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.559
 secures our

00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.179
 acceptance.

00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.839
 His single-minded

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:44.159
 obedience covers

00:30:44.159 --> 00:30:45.480
 over our

00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:46.579
 wandering and

00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.559
 often divided

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:48.199
 hearts.

00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.339
 And so

00:30:50.339 --> 00:30:51.079
 tonight, Jesus

00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:52.099
 calls us

00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:53.279
 to journey

00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:54.319
 with him.

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:55.879
 He wants

00:30:55.879 --> 00:30:56.939
 to take us

00:30:56.939 --> 00:30:57.740
 on the

00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:58.659
 greatest journey

00:30:58.660 --> 00:30:59.400
 of all,

00:30:59.480 --> 00:30:59.900
 because that

00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:00.259
 is what

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.860
 Christian

00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:01.600
 discipleship

00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:01.980
 is.

00:31:03.320 --> 00:31:04.480
 It is to

00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:05.140
 take the

00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:05.820
 path to

00:31:05.820 --> 00:31:07.400
 glory that

00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:08.220
 Jesus took.

00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.540
 It is to

00:31:10.540 --> 00:31:11.279
 place our

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.220
 faith in

00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.900
 him, to

00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:14.540
 follow him

00:31:14.540 --> 00:31:16.340
 resolutely on

00:31:16.340 --> 00:31:16.920
 the Calvary

00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:18.560
 road, to

00:31:18.560 --> 00:31:19.460
 follow him in

00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.500
 showing mercy

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:21.660
 to others,

00:31:22.120 --> 00:31:23.640
 to follow him

00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.620
 by loving him

00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:25.659
 and by putting

00:31:25.659 --> 00:31:26.339
 him first.

00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.559
 Therefore, as the

00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:30.019
 writer to

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:31.459
 Hebrews tells

00:31:31.459 --> 00:31:33.039
 us, let us

00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:34.179
 fix our eyes

00:31:34.179 --> 00:31:34.879
 on Jesus,

00:31:35.579 --> 00:31:36.199
 the author

00:31:36.199 --> 00:31:37.559
 and perfecter

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.179
 of faith,

00:31:38.859 --> 00:31:39.819
 who for the

00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.739
 joy set

00:31:40.739 --> 00:31:41.659
 before him

00:31:41.659 --> 00:31:42.879
 endured the

00:31:42.879 --> 00:31:43.279
 cross,

00:31:43.399 --> 00:31:44.239
 despising the

00:31:44.239 --> 00:31:44.559
 shame,

00:31:45.439 --> 00:31:46.000
 and is now

00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:47.119
 seated at the

00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:47.779
 right hand of

00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.259
 the throne of

00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:48.659
 God.

00:31:48.660 --> 00:31:51.019
 Lord, may we

00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:51.860
 like him

00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:53.740
 set our faces

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:55.100
 towards the

00:31:55.100 --> 00:31:55.960
 heavenly Jerusalem

00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:57.920
 and follow

00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:59.340
 wherever he

00:31:59.340 --> 00:32:00.500
 chooses to

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:01.080
 lead us.

00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:02.440
 Let's pray

00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:02.820
 together.

00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:11.939
 Lord, give us

00:32:11.939 --> 00:32:12.879
 ears to hear

00:32:12.879 --> 00:32:14.339
 your call

00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:15.200
 to follow

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:16.480
 Jesus,

00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:18.399
 to be

00:32:18.399 --> 00:32:19.359
 your disciples.

00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:22.500
 Lord, we

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.019
 know that we

00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:24.579
 cannot embark

00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:25.079
 on that

00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:25.899
 journey in

00:32:25.899 --> 00:32:26.339
 our own

00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:26.939
 strength,

00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:27.700
 in our own

00:32:27.700 --> 00:32:28.099
 wisdom.

00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:30.539
 We need

00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:32.079
 your help.

00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:32.619
 We need

00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:33.879
 the guidance

00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:34.879
 and direction

00:32:34.879 --> 00:32:35.959
 and illumination

00:32:35.959 --> 00:32:36.579
 of your Holy

00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:36.919
 Spirit.

00:32:38.139 --> 00:32:38.959
 Lord, open

00:32:38.959 --> 00:32:39.599
 our eyes

00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:41.239
 that we

00:32:41.239 --> 00:32:42.059
 might see

00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:42.559
 Jesus,

00:32:43.399 --> 00:32:44.000
 and seeing

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:45.359
 him, follow

00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:46.699
 him, and

00:32:46.699 --> 00:32:47.279
 trust him

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.019
 always.

00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:49.459
 We pray this

00:32:49.459 --> 00:32:50.279
 in his name.

00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.079
 Amen.