WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.540 Page 88, Luke chapter 1. 00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:05.400 Luke is a doctor and he writes this, he says, 00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:12.599 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative to write the history of the things that have been accomplished among us, 00:00:12.959 --> 00:00:19.259 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 00:00:19.259 --> 00:00:22.399 just as we've been taught about what's happened. 00:00:23.460 --> 00:00:23.980 Verse 3. 00:00:24.100 --> 00:00:28.920 It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, 00:00:29.340 --> 00:00:34.719 to write an orderly account for you, singular, most excellent Theophilus, 00:00:35.700 --> 00:00:40.859 that you may have certainty concerning the things that you've been taught. 00:00:40.859 --> 00:00:48.219 And it's 20 years today, actually, that I was on camp in Bala in North Wales, 00:00:49.299 --> 00:00:53.379 and a friend of mine who has now given his testimony, 00:00:54.340 --> 00:00:57.560 and he finished the testimony with this hymn that many of you know, 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:00.460 When I surveyed the Wondrous Cross, we sang it, I think, last week. 00:01:01.120 --> 00:01:02.460 And the last verse goes like this, 00:01:02.460 --> 00:01:09.960 Were there whole realm of nature life that were an offering far too small? 00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:12.379 Nothing has been the same since in many ways. 00:01:12.459 --> 00:01:17.000 That last verse, love so amazing, so divine, so God-like, 00:01:17.099 --> 00:01:20.359 demands my life, my soul, my all. 00:01:21.759 --> 00:01:24.819 As I think back to these past 20 years, you never get beyond that, do you? 00:01:25.780 --> 00:01:26.859 You never get beyond that. 00:01:26.939 --> 00:01:31.899 The love of Jesus Christ so amazing, so divine, demands. 00:01:31.900 --> 00:01:34.680 It doesn't ask you, it demands. 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:39.260 Your life, your soul, your all tonight. 00:01:39.260 --> 00:01:45.520 And that is why Luke is taking his time, walking us through the humiliation, 00:01:46.520 --> 00:01:50.080 and the suffering, and the passion of the Lord Jesus. 00:01:51.300 --> 00:01:54.320 He takes his friend, Theophilus, who he wrote the Gospel for, 00:01:55.060 --> 00:01:59.820 and he takes him to the very heartbeat of what Christianity is all about. 00:01:59.819 --> 00:02:03.399 And Luke is a kind of genius. 00:02:04.479 --> 00:02:07.859 What he does is he tells the story as it was. 00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:10.699 But he tells the story as it was, 00:02:10.979 --> 00:02:15.120 so that Theophilus and you and I would see the meaning, 00:02:15.939 --> 00:02:17.900 and see the significance of the story, 00:02:18.139 --> 00:02:20.680 not just for Jesus, but for ourselves, 00:02:21.299 --> 00:02:23.079 and for those around us. 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:28.100 And so Jesus is moved from scene to scene tonight. 00:02:28.500 --> 00:02:29.380 And that's really what we're going to do. 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:31.460 I'm not going to point, so we're just going to walk through the passage. 00:02:32.340 --> 00:02:34.560 That he was despised and rejected. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:40.180 He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. 00:02:41.160 --> 00:02:44.060 He's hurried by the high priest, 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:47.420 in order, first of all, at the beginning of chapter 23, 00:02:47.860 --> 00:02:49.560 to be placed on trial. 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:51.640 Do you see it, verse 1, before Pontius Pilate? 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:54.459 But, it's fascinating, in the opening words, 00:02:54.819 --> 00:02:57.759 then the whole company of them arose, 00:02:58.139 --> 00:02:59.399 as a single man. 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:00.619 They arose like one. 00:03:02.139 --> 00:03:04.219 And we see the sheer isolation, 00:03:05.139 --> 00:03:07.059 and the desolation of this for the Lord Jesus. 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:08.699 It is utterly unimaginable. 00:03:09.699 --> 00:03:11.219 They moved from their proceedings, 00:03:11.359 --> 00:03:15.560 which had begun as this kangaroo court. 00:03:16.179 --> 00:03:19.319 They began at midnight, or earlier, kangaroo court. 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:22.139 And now they are deciding legally, 00:03:22.139 --> 00:03:25.859 what they decided illegally to do long ago. 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:28.719 That Jesus must be dealt with. 00:03:29.219 --> 00:03:30.979 That there must be something done about him. 00:03:31.259 --> 00:03:33.340 That Jesus must be crucified. 00:03:33.340 --> 00:03:35.659 And so they bring their charge, 00:03:35.819 --> 00:03:37.420 which could never stick. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:40.319 Why could it never stick? 00:03:41.620 --> 00:03:43.060 Against the Son of God, 00:03:43.460 --> 00:03:45.699 that he has committed blasphemy, 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:48.360 making himself the Son of God. 00:03:48.420 --> 00:03:49.539 Well, he is the Son of God. 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:51.860 But more than that, you notice, 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:53.879 when they arrive at Pontius Pilate, 00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:55.340 they use legal language 00:03:55.879 --> 00:03:58.520 to describe what they have done illegally. 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:02.320 They use legal language, 00:04:02.939 --> 00:04:04.600 but it doesn't change that their accusations 00:04:04.600 --> 00:04:05.520 are just as illegal. 00:04:06.600 --> 00:04:07.939 I don't know, I've not been in court, 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:10.719 but when the judge turns to the jury, 00:04:11.140 --> 00:04:12.719 and he asks for the verdict, 00:04:13.340 --> 00:04:14.340 he says something like this, 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:14.500 he says, 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:15.920 how do you find the accused? 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:19.019 And the foreman of the jury will say, 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:20.519 we find the accused guilty, 00:04:21.280 --> 00:04:23.860 or we find the accused not guilty. 00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:26.100 And they say, 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:29.980 we find this man guilty. 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:34.939 We find this man guilty of misleading our nation, 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:38.580 and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar. 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:41.980 We find this man guilty of sedition. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:46.660 Now, it is contrary to all natural justice, 00:04:47.580 --> 00:04:49.600 in that they hurried Jesus away, 00:04:49.860 --> 00:04:51.660 having accused him of blasphemy, 00:04:52.060 --> 00:04:53.620 but they go to another court, 00:04:53.860 --> 00:04:54.680 and they say, 00:04:54.819 --> 00:04:56.120 we find him guilty of, 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:57.540 not blasphemy, treason. 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:00.600 The charge is utterly false, 00:05:00.699 --> 00:05:01.900 on two accounts, isn't it? 00:05:02.280 --> 00:05:02.900 They say, 00:05:02.980 --> 00:05:04.240 he was telling people, 00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:05.740 not, verse 2, 00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:07.180 to give tribute to Caesar. 00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:09.600 But we know, don't we, 00:05:09.620 --> 00:05:11.139 we've seen it earlier on in Luke's Gospel, 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:13.340 that Jesus had urged people 00:05:13.340 --> 00:05:14.860 to pay their taxes to Caesar. 00:05:15.939 --> 00:05:16.379 Remember, 00:05:16.500 --> 00:05:18.300 when he asked for a denarius, 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:19.460 and he says, 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:20.939 whose face is on this coin? 00:05:20.939 --> 00:05:21.319 And they say, 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:22.180 well, it's Caesar's face. 00:05:22.180 --> 00:05:24.540 Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:25.319 Pay your taxes. 00:05:26.540 --> 00:05:27.280 But make sure, 00:05:27.400 --> 00:05:30.160 since God's image is on your life, 00:05:30.620 --> 00:05:32.759 that you give to God what is God's. 00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:36.120 So far from committing treason, 00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:38.680 far from misleading our nation, 00:05:38.780 --> 00:05:40.860 and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, 00:05:40.860 --> 00:05:45.780 he's encouraging his disciples to be the very best citizens they can be. 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:48.020 Or they possibly could be. 00:05:49.180 --> 00:05:52.400 And how false of them to find him guilty of blasphemy, 00:05:53.460 --> 00:05:56.280 and then to say that they've actually found him guilty of treason. 00:05:56.600 --> 00:05:58.259 And Pilate sees through the whole thing. 00:05:58.580 --> 00:05:59.100 It's amazing. 00:05:59.100 --> 00:06:01.200 This man, 00:06:01.320 --> 00:06:01.900 Pontius Pilate, 00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:03.700 who's so deeply unpopular, 00:06:04.320 --> 00:06:07.040 a man who is of desperately flawed character, 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:08.780 as the story makes clear, 00:06:09.140 --> 00:06:11.920 but he's at least got enough grasp of Roman law, 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:13.300 and natural justice, 00:06:13.420 --> 00:06:13.640 to say, 00:06:13.700 --> 00:06:15.680 I find this prisoner not guilty. 00:06:17.640 --> 00:06:18.740 And then having heard, 00:06:19.140 --> 00:06:20.180 and this is his out, 00:06:20.400 --> 00:06:22.860 having heard that Jesus is a Galilean, 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:25.340 taking the opportunity that's given to him, 00:06:25.339 --> 00:06:26.979 by the legal system, 00:06:27.479 --> 00:06:30.419 to have him tried under the jurisdiction of residence, 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:34.819 rather than the jurisdiction he is, 00:06:35.239 --> 00:06:38.639 he was being charged with this crime of treason, 00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:41.019 he sends him to out her it. 00:06:42.179 --> 00:06:43.139 But his verdict, 00:06:43.299 --> 00:06:44.219 Pontius Pilate's verdict, 00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:46.259 is absolutely essential to the story. 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:50.959 And you will not understand Luke's story, 00:06:51.059 --> 00:06:52.439 unless you see that here, 00:06:53.039 --> 00:06:55.259 and on six other occasions in this chapter, 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:56.919 the Lord Jesus is announced, 00:06:57.079 --> 00:06:58.819 by a variety of individuals, 00:06:59.139 --> 00:07:00.079 to be not guilty. 00:07:01.579 --> 00:07:03.639 The Lord Jesus is utterly innocent. 00:07:05.299 --> 00:07:07.379 And so he's hurried off to Herod Antipas. 00:07:08.620 --> 00:07:09.219 And do you notice, 00:07:09.539 --> 00:07:10.679 in verse 8, 00:07:11.459 --> 00:07:12.959 when Herod saw the Lord Jesus, 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:14.000 he was very glad. 00:07:15.919 --> 00:07:16.939 Now this is the Herod, 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:18.479 who has executed John the Baptist, 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:20.519 who cut his head off, 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:21.419 and put it off a plate, 00:07:21.559 --> 00:07:22.919 when he was in a drunken sleeper. 00:07:23.719 --> 00:07:24.599 This is the Herod, 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:25.400 who earlier on, 00:07:25.660 --> 00:07:26.860 seems to have at least, 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:29.520 have some sensitive conscience. 00:07:31.260 --> 00:07:33.840 To be frightened of who Jesus really was. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:35.640 He thought, 00:07:35.840 --> 00:07:37.080 perhaps this is John the Baptist, 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:38.000 back from the dead, 00:07:38.040 --> 00:07:38.980 and he's afraid of that, 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:39.900 to haunt me. 00:07:39.899 --> 00:07:41.819 But all of that is now in the past. 00:07:43.659 --> 00:07:44.639 Herod is like the person, 00:07:44.739 --> 00:07:45.679 who comes to church, 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:48.319 and goes from church, 00:07:49.339 --> 00:07:50.019 and on his way, 00:07:50.099 --> 00:07:50.819 although the preacher, 00:07:51.060 --> 00:07:52.319 has maybe raised his voice, 00:07:52.739 --> 00:07:54.679 and spoken about the depth of sin, 00:07:55.099 --> 00:07:56.639 and the wonder of the Lord Jesus, 00:07:57.399 --> 00:07:58.699 says on the way out of church, 00:07:58.759 --> 00:07:58.899 he says, 00:07:58.959 --> 00:07:59.620 well actually, 00:07:59.699 --> 00:08:00.879 I didn't get much out of that today. 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:03.480 It's like water off a duck's back. 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:07.079 This person can hear the most moving sermon, 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:09.060 can hear of their need of Christ, 00:08:09.139 --> 00:08:09.699 and they think, 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:12.180 but I didn't really get much out of that. 00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:14.420 It's like being like Herod. 00:08:15.719 --> 00:08:16.920 This man who is interested, 00:08:17.699 --> 00:08:18.759 and then scared, 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:20.360 and now hardens. 00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:23.420 And it's like being like Herod, 00:08:23.459 --> 00:08:23.659 isn't it? 00:08:23.660 --> 00:08:24.460 And the danger is, 00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:25.320 the next day, 00:08:25.400 --> 00:08:26.160 and the next day, 00:08:26.340 --> 00:08:26.820 well actually, 00:08:26.960 --> 00:08:27.580 you get to the stage, 00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:28.600 where you can make fun of Jesus. 00:08:29.700 --> 00:08:31.400 And you can make fun of Jesus' people. 00:08:31.700 --> 00:08:32.820 And you join in the fun, 00:08:32.860 --> 00:08:33.940 about Jesus and his people. 00:08:34.060 --> 00:08:35.720 How foolish that is to do. 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:39.440 How glad he is to see Jesus. 00:08:41.560 --> 00:08:42.560 You have a conscience, 00:08:43.040 --> 00:08:43.879 that is peaceful, 00:08:44.300 --> 00:08:44.980 and is clear, 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:46.960 clear enough to make fun of the Lord Jesus. 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:48.980 Well if that's you, 00:08:49.040 --> 00:08:49.840 your name is Herod. 00:08:51.019 --> 00:08:52.220 And your need is desperate. 00:08:53.659 --> 00:08:55.159 And this was his situation. 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:57.459 Can you see what happens? 00:08:57.539 --> 00:08:58.399 It is appalling. 00:08:58.519 --> 00:09:00.379 We don't often linger on this. 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:03.299 And of all the gospel writers, 00:09:03.699 --> 00:09:05.199 Luke may be the most careful. 00:09:05.459 --> 00:09:07.259 So just stand a little bit back, 00:09:07.339 --> 00:09:09.419 from all that the Lord Jesus is going through. 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:12.219 But look what happens. 00:09:12.459 --> 00:09:13.120 Here is a man, 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:15.459 who gathers the chief priests, 00:09:15.579 --> 00:09:17.379 who are accusing Jesus vehemently. 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:18.559 Here is a man, 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:20.240 who encourages his soldiers, 00:09:20.839 --> 00:09:22.480 his soldiers of all people. 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:25.000 His most disciplined of people, 00:09:25.820 --> 00:09:27.139 his most disciplined of men, 00:09:27.180 --> 00:09:28.200 who obey his will. 00:09:29.800 --> 00:09:30.940 He encourages his soldiers, 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:33.220 to mock and derive the Lord Jesus. 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:36.100 To play games with the Lord Jesus. 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:38.279 And he joins in. 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:41.360 And they array him in splendid clothing. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:44.539 And even from a human point of view, 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:45.639 it should break our hearts. 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:48.340 But the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:49.279 who has been declared, 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:50.659 just been declared, 00:09:50.779 --> 00:09:52.419 by the highest court in Jerusalem, 00:09:52.539 --> 00:09:55.019 to be utterly innocent of all the charges, 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:57.059 should be treated with such contempt. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:00.299 It's interesting. 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:03.919 You must have noticed it in your own life. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:09.620 People who have no reason to do it. 00:10:10.939 --> 00:10:12.719 And they blaspheme in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:10:13.299 --> 00:10:14.279 Every single day. 00:10:15.979 --> 00:10:16.899 And their consciences, 00:10:17.019 --> 00:10:17.819 they go home at night, 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:18.620 they eat their meals, 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:19.360 they lie down, 00:10:19.439 --> 00:10:21.579 they sleep the sleep of death. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:25.319 Because nothing touches their consciences. 00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:28.700 And they're the most desperately needy people, 00:10:28.940 --> 00:10:29.860 in all the world. 00:10:31.940 --> 00:10:32.980 And you can be one of them, 00:10:33.060 --> 00:10:33.400 this evening. 00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:37.400 You've heard the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:38.340 it touched your conscience, 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:38.720 you know, 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:40.620 I need to get right with God. 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:42.160 I know that I'm a sinner. 00:10:42.660 --> 00:10:44.500 And yet you've hardened your heart, 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:46.200 again and again and again. 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:48.480 So now you can sit through all the sermons in the world, 00:10:48.540 --> 00:10:49.440 and it doesn't affect you. 00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:52.700 I'm reading, 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:54.640 John Elias, 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:55.939 his biography. 00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:57.759 He's a Welshman in the 18th century, 00:10:57.879 --> 00:10:58.480 he's a great preacher. 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:00.220 And it's a good story. 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:03.240 And John Elias used to go down to his blacksmith. 00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:07.340 And his blacksmith obviously helped John Elias 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:09.019 with his transport problems. 00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:12.759 The blacksmith used to put shoes on his horse. 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:15.139 And he put new shoes on his horse. 00:11:15.220 --> 00:11:17.819 And Elias loved to go down and speak with the blacksmith 00:11:17.819 --> 00:11:19.200 every couple of weeks. 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:20.819 And each year, 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:23.220 the blacksmith hammering on the anvil, 00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:24.680 you know that noise of sparks 00:11:24.680 --> 00:11:27.220 and bright red metal coming up the water. 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:30.240 And as he prepared this new shoe 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:31.600 for John Elias' horse, 00:11:32.040 --> 00:11:32.840 he went down one day 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:34.700 and he discovered that John Elias had a new dog. 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:38.100 And every time the hammer went down on the anvil, 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:40.740 the dog went absolutely crazy. 00:11:41.560 --> 00:11:44.500 The dog would howl and howl and howl. 00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:46.360 The hammer would come down, 00:11:46.560 --> 00:11:47.800 bang, bang, bang, 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:50.699 and the dog would respond with howl, howl, howl. 00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:53.039 Elias got on his horse, 00:11:53.099 --> 00:11:53.759 thought nothing of it. 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:55.539 He went on his preaching tour. 00:11:55.859 --> 00:11:57.899 And he came back from another part of North Wales. 00:11:58.459 --> 00:12:00.839 And as he was approaching the blacksmith, 00:12:00.939 --> 00:12:01.779 he heard the hammer, 00:12:01.979 --> 00:12:03.259 bang, bang, bang, 00:12:03.259 --> 00:12:03.979 on the anvil. 00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:08.319 But there was no howl, howl, howl. 00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:09.500 What had happened? 00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:13.120 Well, the dog was lying fast asleep 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:14.000 when he went in. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.299 Because the dog had got a used and sound 00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:19.220 with the bang, bang, bang, didn't it? 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:23.059 And your conscience can be like that dog. 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:28.320 You can have a peaceful conscience 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:32.159 that knows the message of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:33.460 but has done nothing about it. 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:34.860 And it used to disturb you, 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:36.860 but now it doesn't disturb you at all 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:38.740 and you sleep the sleep of death. 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:42.440 And that's what this man has. 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:46.100 And we don't often reflect 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:47.980 on how awful it must have been for the Lord Jesus. 00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:49.559 Maybe we should do that more. 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:52.960 None of the ransomed knew 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.659 how deep were the waters crossed 00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:56.399 or how dark was the night 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:58.379 that our Lord passed through 00:12:58.379 --> 00:12:59.940 to find the sheep that was lost. 00:13:02.059 --> 00:13:03.700 Well, now he's back to Pontius Pilate. 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:06.700 They've taken him to Annas the Caiaphas, 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:08.700 to the Sanhedrin, to Pilate, to Herod, 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:10.540 all in a matter of hours. 00:13:10.640 --> 00:13:13.120 He's been poured to and fro geographically, 00:13:13.280 --> 00:13:13.660 physically. 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:16.580 He's been despised, demeaned, rejected. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:19.360 His glory has been turned into shame. 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:23.180 And now he is back with the man 00:13:23.180 --> 00:13:24.519 who lives in notoriety 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:26.279 because every Sunday, 00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:28.680 millions of believers around the world 00:13:28.680 --> 00:13:31.060 confess the Apostles' craze, 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:34.120 that he suffered under Pontius Pilate. 00:13:35.680 --> 00:13:37.500 And so he's on trial before Pilate. 00:13:38.820 --> 00:13:40.120 And he's taken to Herod. 00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:43.000 And now he suffers under Pontius Pilate. 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:43.480 Do you see it? 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:44.759 Mob violence breaks out. 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:47.379 This is your saviour. 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:51.460 This is not some figure in a stained glass window. 00:13:51.560 --> 00:13:52.480 This is our saviour. 00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:55.340 And mob violence breaks out against him. 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:57.700 And they demand that he should be crucified. 00:13:57.700 --> 00:14:01.980 Pilate begins to wilt. 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:03.440 He stays with Roman justice. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:04.800 Strict Roman justice. 00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:06.220 He says, doesn't he, 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:10.000 he has done nothing deserving death. 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:10.540 Do you see that? 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:11.680 Look at verse 22. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:12.879 I have found in him, 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.620 just over the page on page 884, 00:14:14.860 --> 00:14:16.020 I have found in him 00:14:16.020 --> 00:14:18.160 no guilt deserving death. 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:19.040 Therefore, 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:20.900 I will punish him 00:14:20.900 --> 00:14:23.280 and set him free, release him. 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.540 What kind of logic is that? 00:14:24.640 --> 00:14:25.360 Do you understand that? 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:28.879 Therefore, I will punish him 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:30.779 and set him free, 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:31.879 even though he's done nothing wrong. 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:33.960 What kind of logic is that? 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:35.560 What kind of court does that stand up in? 00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:37.720 He's done nothing wrong, 00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:38.800 therefore I will punish him. 00:14:40.800 --> 00:14:42.440 And Pontius Pilate is saying this, isn't he? 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:43.580 I don't want to yield, 00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:44.740 but the pressure is too great. 00:14:47.680 --> 00:14:48.340 Theophilus, who, 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:50.899 and we read about right at the start of Luke's Gospel, 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:52.220 he was probably a Roman figure. 00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:55.899 A patristic figure. 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:58.040 Probably he was a government figure, perhaps. 00:15:00.160 --> 00:15:01.220 Perhaps this is one way, 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:02.360 as Luke writes this, 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:02.960 he is praying, 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:05.340 Lord, break through into Theophilus' heart. 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:08.660 Show Theophilus, 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.920 this is where he is 00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:11.139 with respect to the Lord Jesus. 00:15:13.940 --> 00:15:15.100 Show Theophilus, 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:17.420 that this is where he is 00:15:17.420 --> 00:15:18.460 with respect to the Lord Jesus. 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:20.759 I want the Lord Jesus to be free, 00:15:21.280 --> 00:15:22.320 but I'm not willing 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:24.759 to pay the price of him being free 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:25.840 in my personal life. 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:29.540 And so over and over again, 00:15:29.900 --> 00:15:30.500 they cry out, 00:15:30.560 --> 00:15:31.840 crucify him, crucify him. 00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:33.300 And they shout out for Barabbas, 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:34.480 give us Barabbas, 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:36.900 the insurrectionist, 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.900 the localized terrorist, 00:15:39.040 --> 00:15:39.580 the murderer, 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.200 instead of the Lord Jesus, 00:15:41.400 --> 00:15:41.700 the Savior. 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:43.220 And Pilate hands him over. 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:46.680 And I wonder, 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:48.040 as Luke is writing this, 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:49.480 he's projecting forward, 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:49.920 isn't he? 00:15:51.560 --> 00:15:52.580 Because he wrote this 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.500 years and years 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.460 after the event. 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:55.340 He wrote this 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:56.519 when he already knew 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.480 what would happen. 00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:00.840 In the first 15 or so chapters 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:01.879 in the Acts of the Apostles, 00:16:02.300 --> 00:16:04.580 Luke doesn't personally appear 00:16:04.580 --> 00:16:05.480 in the Acts of the Apostles 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.240 right until the middle. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:09.040 So he already knew 00:16:09.040 --> 00:16:09.660 of that occasion 00:16:09.660 --> 00:16:10.680 when the early church 00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:11.960 saw this 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:13.240 as the fulfillment 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.420 of all kinds 00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:15.720 of biblical prophecies. 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:17.280 Luke knew that. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.300 That the kings 00:16:19.300 --> 00:16:19.940 of the earth, 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:20.639 set up to, 00:16:21.060 --> 00:16:22.759 would gather together 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:24.720 against the Lord 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.960 and his anointed one. 00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:28.300 Or that wonderful story 00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:28.720 of Philip 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:30.040 and the Ethiopian eunuch, 00:16:31.060 --> 00:16:31.800 who's reading 00:16:31.800 --> 00:16:33.280 Isaiah chapter 53, 00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:34.440 that he was led 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:35.900 as a sheep 00:16:35.900 --> 00:16:36.879 to the slaughter, 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:38.780 as a lamb 00:16:38.780 --> 00:16:39.800 before his shearers, 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.580 is dumb, 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:41.780 and again and again 00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:42.620 in this passage. 00:16:43.319 --> 00:16:44.679 Luke goes to great lengths 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:45.039 to say, 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:46.679 Jesus said nothing. 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:49.439 Jesus said nothing. 00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:51.839 Jesus said nothing. 00:16:53.579 --> 00:16:54.279 It is as though 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:55.100 he is saying to you, 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:55.639 do you see what's 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.139 happening here? 00:16:57.459 --> 00:16:58.339 Do you see that Jesus 00:16:58.339 --> 00:17:00.399 is the suffering servant? 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.860 He is despised 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:03.079 and rejected of men. 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:04.220 Do you see that Jesus 00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:06.299 is the Lamb of God 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:07.079 who will take away 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.079 the essence of the world? 00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:11.339 Do you see that Jesus 00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:12.939 is standing silently 00:17:12.939 --> 00:17:14.500 because while judged 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:16.039 to be utterly innocent, 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.779 he is willing to be treated 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:19.059 as though he were guilty? 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:26.119 And not least, 00:17:26.179 --> 00:17:26.720 how significant 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.779 that he is innocent 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.700 of, 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:29.819 but he is condemned 00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:30.779 for blasphemy 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.579 and treason. 00:17:35.399 --> 00:17:35.779 Which, 00:17:35.919 --> 00:17:37.220 as you read 00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:37.839 through the passage 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:38.179 with me, 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:38.659 did you notice 00:17:38.659 --> 00:17:39.779 they were the two crimes 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.519 of Barabbas? 00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.919 That he was charged 00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:43.639 with treason 00:17:43.639 --> 00:17:44.339 and murder. 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.619 And murder, 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.859 if you know your Bibles 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:48.859 at all from the early chapters 00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:49.459 of Genesis, 00:17:51.139 --> 00:17:52.659 murder is a capital crime 00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:54.519 in the Bible 00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:55.639 because it is an offence 00:17:55.639 --> 00:17:56.859 against the image of God. 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.339 And I wonder if Theophilus 00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:01.599 ever saw what is really 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:02.719 being acted out here. 00:18:04.399 --> 00:18:05.519 Of the man 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.519 who was guilty 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.439 of blasphemy 00:18:07.439 --> 00:18:08.219 and treason 00:18:08.219 --> 00:18:09.479 was being set free. 00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:11.399 Because the man 00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:12.699 who was the son of God 00:18:12.699 --> 00:18:13.979 and who lived in obedience 00:18:13.979 --> 00:18:14.799 to God 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:16.099 was going to be crucified. 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:18.740 I wonder if it ever 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.399 dawned on him 00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:21.159 that he was in the same position. 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.879 Because these are actually 00:18:23.879 --> 00:18:25.279 my essential sins 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.219 as well as yours. 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:28.579 Blasphemy, 00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:29.539 what have you done? 00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:30.179 What have I done? 00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:31.699 I have made myself 00:18:31.699 --> 00:18:33.240 rather than the Lord 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.500 the centre of the universe. 00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:37.140 If I asked you 00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:38.119 to stand up tonight 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:39.420 if you've never done that 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.619 you know, don't you, 00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:41.160 there wouldn't be 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.240 a single person 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.680 that hasn't made themselves 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.759 the centre of their universe. 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:47.299 It's the very heart 00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:47.920 of our sin. 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:50.200 We are so accustomed 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:51.460 to being the centre 00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.180 of our universe 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:53.160 that we don't even 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:54.000 begin to think 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.839 that it's actually 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:56.579 blasphemy against God. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.400 But he hasn't become 00:18:59.400 --> 00:19:00.259 to you and I 00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:02.160 the centre of our universe, 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.000 of our life, 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.839 of our adoration, 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.640 of our homes, 00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:05.799 of our ambition, 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:06.519 of our families, 00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:07.619 of everything that we do. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:09.759 And treason. 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.519 That we have denied 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:14.599 Jesus as absolute king 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:15.960 over our lives. 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.160 And so this is 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:20.079 the story of the gospel. 00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:23.420 That Jesus again and again 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.720 is innocent. 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:26.119 He is innocent, 00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:26.920 not guilty. 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:28.579 He is pure 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.440 and righteous 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.220 and holy 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:32.259 while I am a blasphemer. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.960 And I am guilty 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:35.680 of treason 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:37.019 against the most high God. 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:38.519 And in the most amazing 00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.980 providence of God, 00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:41.440 Jesus is the one 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.180 who is crucified 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:43.519 and Barabbas 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.160 and I 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:44.839 and you 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:45.460 are the ones 00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.299 who may go free. 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:50.700 And if you ever 00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:52.180 really want to understand 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:53.059 how awful 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:53.920 your sin is, 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:56.339 if you ever want 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:56.799 to understand 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.559 how awful 00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.220 your sin is, 00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:59.079 how awful 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:00.440 your blasphemy is, 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.519 how awful 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.620 your treason is, 00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:03.840 please do not 00:20:03.840 --> 00:20:04.900 compare yourself 00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:06.700 with anyone else. 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.660 But you go to the 00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:10.220 cross of the Lord 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:10.860 Jesus Christ 00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:13.620 and you watch 00:20:13.620 --> 00:20:14.799 everything that takes 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:15.720 place in these 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.759 24 hours 00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:19.460 before his crucifixion. 00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.519 And you say to yourself, 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:24.340 if this alone 00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:26.299 will take away 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.039 my sin, 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:27.940 how profound 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:30.200 and how awful 00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.419 my sin must be. 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.200 And the amazing 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:34.919 thing is this, 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.819 the amazing 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:37.779 thing is this, 00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:38.519 that the name 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.379 Barabbas 00:20:39.379 --> 00:20:40.980 means 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:42.480 son of the 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:42.799 father. 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:44.759 That's what the name 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.159 means. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:46.700 Bar 00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.960 Abba. 00:20:48.919 --> 00:20:49.659 Son of the 00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:49.919 father. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:52.519 And so you 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.180 might say, 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:55.539 the very first 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:56.220 man in history 00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:56.840 during the 00:20:56.840 --> 00:20:57.600 life and story 00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:58.120 of our Lord 00:20:58.120 --> 00:20:58.420 Jesus, 00:20:58.560 --> 00:20:59.140 who would ever 00:20:59.140 --> 00:20:59.700 be able to 00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.039 say, 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:02.220 in my place, 00:21:03.360 --> 00:21:03.900 condemned 00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:04.539 he stood, 00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:06.539 sealed my 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:07.820 pardon with 00:21:07.820 --> 00:21:08.420 his blood. 00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:10.660 Hallelujah, 00:21:10.820 --> 00:21:11.100 what a 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:11.380 saviour, 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:12.120 was a man 00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:12.420 who was 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.240 privileged to 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:13.960 live the rest 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.440 of his life 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:14.860 and somebody 00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:15.420 said to him, 00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:16.420 who are you? 00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:18.500 Who are you? 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:20.160 He could say 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:20.539 if he ever 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.099 came to trust 00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:21.480 in the Lord 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:21.720 Jesus, 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.400 my name is 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:22.819 the son of 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.259 the father. 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:25.960 I am the 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:27.660 son for whom 00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:28.460 the eternal 00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:30.539 son of the 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.759 eternal father 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.240 took my 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:34.640 flesh and 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:35.019 bore my 00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:37.180 judgment and 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.599 paid the 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.339 penalty for my 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.240 sin to set me 00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:39.900 free to live 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.579 as a child of 00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:40.900 God. 00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:43.220 We don't know. 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.299 We don't know 00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:44.700 whether that was 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.220 ever true of 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.640 Barabbas. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.839 But the one 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.339 thing that really 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:48.959 matters is that 00:21:48.959 --> 00:21:49.279 it should be 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:49.899 true of you 00:21:49.899 --> 00:21:51.159 and it should 00:21:51.159 --> 00:21:51.599 be true of 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:51.819 me. 00:21:53.879 --> 00:21:54.579 Have you ever 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.159 seen your 00:21:55.159 --> 00:21:55.459 sin? 00:21:57.919 --> 00:21:59.179 There is no 00:21:59.179 --> 00:22:02.019 way to the 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.839 joy of 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:05.799 grace without 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.500 seeing your 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:06.799 sin. 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.279 But there 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.179 just isn't 00:22:10.179 --> 00:22:11.000 another way. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.759 There is no 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.819 other way to 00:22:14.819 --> 00:22:15.579 see the 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.439 marbles of 00:22:16.439 --> 00:22:17.439 his grace and 00:22:17.439 --> 00:22:18.119 his kindness 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:18.699 and his 00:22:18.699 --> 00:22:19.299 fatherly 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.799 care until 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.599 you realise 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.379 why that 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:23.379 grace is 00:22:23.379 --> 00:22:24.279 marvellous. 00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:27.039 So the 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.739 gospel's first 00:22:27.739 --> 00:22:28.500 word to you 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:28.959 tonight is 00:22:28.959 --> 00:22:29.459 have you seen 00:22:29.459 --> 00:22:29.919 your sin? 00:22:32.719 --> 00:22:33.559 Have you seen 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.179 how much Jesus 00:22:34.179 --> 00:22:35.099 suffered for you? 00:22:36.479 --> 00:22:37.059 He suffered 00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:38.879 and bled and 00:22:38.879 --> 00:22:39.539 died for you 00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:40.019 and he did that 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.559 for you 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:42.739 in order to 00:22:42.739 --> 00:22:43.119 take away 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:43.599 your sin? 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:47.439 And I wonder 00:22:47.439 --> 00:22:49.659 if I and 00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:50.379 perhaps you 00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:50.739 are in the 00:22:50.739 --> 00:22:51.379 position that I 00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:51.719 think I was 00:22:51.719 --> 00:22:52.279 in 20 years 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:52.579 ago. 00:22:55.219 --> 00:22:55.939 But reading 00:22:55.939 --> 00:22:56.719 this chapter I 00:22:56.719 --> 00:22:57.259 want to say 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:57.799 with all my 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.299 heart, 00:22:59.679 --> 00:23:00.379 whatever the 00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:01.339 future holds, 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.219 love so 00:23:03.219 --> 00:23:03.859 amazing, 00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:06.119 so divine, 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.439 shall have my 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:08.700 life, 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.180 my soul, 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.680 my all. 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.340 And if you've 00:23:12.340 --> 00:23:12.759 never done 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.100 that, 00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:15.779 why not do 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.299 that tonight? 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:18.779 Let's pray.