WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.500 Well, let's pray as we come to God's word together this morning. 00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:13.080 Heavenly Father, as we come to your timeless, perfect and life-giving words now, 00:00:13.900 --> 00:00:21.160 we bring to you our words from that last song that we are ready to surrender to you every care. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:26.780 So would you come now and would you take our hands and would you lead us? 00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:31.679 Would you take our ears and would you speak to us? 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:38.840 And would you take our hearts and would you mold us for your glory and for our good? 00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:43.540 And this is our prayer in Jesus' precious name. Amen. 00:00:44.579 --> 00:00:49.500 Well, please do have that Luke chapter 3 passage open in front of you if you have it there. 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:56.060 And as Ian mentioned, we're going to be camping out in the Gospel of Luke for the next little while. 00:00:56.800 --> 00:01:02.140 I had a conversation recently with somebody in church, a new person to church, 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:08.700 and they asked me, they said, Graham, once they'd learned my name, Graham, what is Brunsfield all about? 00:01:10.020 --> 00:01:10.840 Great question. 00:01:11.600 --> 00:01:16.900 I don't think this person was asking me about the type of coffee that we use on a Sunday morning. 00:01:16.960 --> 00:01:20.560 I don't think they were asking me about the pews and how many we can fit in this building. 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:25.960 Actually, what they were asking me is, what are you all about at Brunsfield? 00:01:26.060 --> 00:01:26.960 That's a great question. 00:01:27.859 --> 00:01:29.260 That's a great question to ask. 00:01:29.320 --> 00:01:34.400 Maybe if you're on the hunt for a church, maybe you're new to the city, you're exploring this kind of stuff. 00:01:34.460 --> 00:01:35.820 It's a great question to ask. 00:01:35.939 --> 00:01:37.680 What are we all about? 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:43.420 Well, as we begin this journey in Luke's Gospel over the next little while, 00:01:43.500 --> 00:01:50.320 what a great chance for us as a church community here to re-tap into what we're all about. 00:01:50.319 --> 00:01:52.899 What are we all about? 00:01:53.039 --> 00:01:59.099 Well, we're all about Jesus Christ being the great hope of our broken world. 00:02:00.139 --> 00:02:08.919 We're all about Jesus Christ, the great light, who is the great light for our city and for our nation of Scotland that is living in darkness. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:17.079 And actually, we're all about Jesus Christ, the saviour and the great transformer of our lives. 00:02:17.139 --> 00:02:18.019 That's what we're all about. 00:02:18.020 --> 00:02:21.820 Taking the Gospel to this city of Edinburgh. 00:02:21.980 --> 00:02:31.360 So what better thing for us to do over the next little while as we hang out in this Gospel of Luke to get to know this man, Jesus Christ, better. 00:02:32.260 --> 00:02:37.320 So as Ian said, we're jumping in at chapter 3 this morning and we'll return to chapters 1 and 2. 00:02:37.740 --> 00:02:44.680 The Christmas story as it's told by Luke in December when the weather outside will be frightful, but the fire inside will be delightful. 00:02:45.640 --> 00:02:47.960 We'll come back to chapters 1 and 2. 00:02:48.020 --> 00:02:52.180 But this is the Gospel according to Luke. 00:02:53.180 --> 00:03:06.320 Luke, who is a doctor by profession and he's a man whose services have been employed by another man who you'll see at the end of verse 3 of chapter 1, is called Theophilus. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:10.000 Now what on earth is Theophilus doing hiring Luke? 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:15.060 Well, you see, Theophilus wants what I want in my life. 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:19.159 Theophilus wants what you want in your life. 00:03:20.079 --> 00:03:25.139 And Theophilus wants what the people in our world, what they want in their lives. 00:03:25.139 --> 00:03:29.759 And you'll see it at verse 4 of chapter 1. 00:03:29.839 --> 00:03:30.579 What does he want? 00:03:35.799 --> 00:03:37.119 He wants certainty. 00:03:38.259 --> 00:03:41.839 Or if you've got an NIV there, it says that you may know the truth. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:44.080 This is what Theophilus wants. 00:03:44.640 --> 00:03:48.539 He wants something in his life that he can build it on. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:50.000 Something solid. 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:51.020 Something trustworthy. 00:03:51.340 --> 00:03:52.860 Something that's been looked into. 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:54.860 Something that's unchanging. 00:03:55.080 --> 00:03:56.800 Something that is eternally true. 00:03:57.539 --> 00:03:59.319 He wants to base his life on those things. 00:03:59.419 --> 00:04:00.759 Does that know what you want for your life? 00:04:01.780 --> 00:04:02.879 It's what I want for my life. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:05.060 It's what I want for my family's life. 00:04:05.139 --> 00:04:06.859 It's what I want for my church family's life. 00:04:06.859 --> 00:04:10.439 That we would base our lives on something that is certain. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:12.979 It's not the world we're living in. 00:04:13.959 --> 00:04:15.539 A world, what is it marked by? 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:16.920 Uncertainties. 00:04:17.980 --> 00:04:20.600 In our world of Brexit, what is the future going to hold? 00:04:21.699 --> 00:04:24.839 In our world of fluctuating economies. 00:04:25.719 --> 00:04:27.480 In our world of unemployment. 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:30.700 I was speaking to a pastor recently up in Aberdeen. 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:33.439 Many of his congregation work in the oil sector. 00:04:34.220 --> 00:04:36.500 Sunday before he meets them, the job's going great. 00:04:36.620 --> 00:04:39.800 The very next Sunday they've got the redundancy package in their hands. 00:04:41.780 --> 00:04:43.500 Uncertainties in our world. 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:44.560 Sudden illnesses. 00:04:45.860 --> 00:04:47.200 Unexplainable tragedies. 00:04:48.700 --> 00:04:50.080 What does Theophilus want? 00:04:50.660 --> 00:04:53.379 Something certain to base his life upon. 00:04:53.379 --> 00:04:58.899 He wants to be certain about the things that he's heard about this man, Jesus of Nazareth. 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:00.540 Who he is. 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:03.180 What people say about him. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:05.500 Is it just an old wife's tale? 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:08.939 Because if it is an old wife's tale, would you just tell me the truth? 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:10.339 Because I can get on with my life. 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:12.740 I can drink and be merry. 00:05:13.159 --> 00:05:15.000 I can live for the moment. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:19.500 And as the cool kids are saying these days, just to show you that I'm down with the cool kids. 00:05:20.019 --> 00:05:21.240 Y-O-L-O. 00:05:21.779 --> 00:05:23.459 You only live once. 00:05:24.500 --> 00:05:28.019 Because that's the world that we live in if this is not true. 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:31.360 But if it is true, says Theophilus. 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:32.040 If it is true. 00:05:32.100 --> 00:05:33.860 If this stuff about Jesus is true. 00:05:34.300 --> 00:05:36.500 Then that changes absolutely everything. 00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:38.879 So look, I need to be certain. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:43.219 And what does Luke write at verse 3 of chapter 1? 00:05:44.719 --> 00:05:48.860 He says, Theophilus, I've researched this man, Jesus Christ, closely now for some time. 00:05:49.019 --> 00:05:50.639 I've followed up in the leads. 00:05:51.060 --> 00:05:52.759 I've asked the eyewitnesses. 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:54.519 And here is your certainty. 00:05:56.219 --> 00:05:58.860 His gospel is all about certainty. 00:05:59.060 --> 00:06:01.980 This isn't just a biography of this man, Jesus Christ. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:03.500 This is certainty. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:07.879 And it's the story of God's great rescue plan for the world. 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:09.439 That's what Luke's gospel is. 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:18.500 And I guess chapters 1 and 2, if we just give a run up to chapter 3 that we'll come back to in a few weeks time, as I said. 00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:22.740 Chapters 1 and 2 have been the anticipatory story of two boys. 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:26.480 John the Baptist and Jesus. 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:31.920 As we'll see in a few weeks time, as you follow Luke chapter 1 and Luke chapter 2, 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:35.839 the stories of their lives, they almost run in parallel. 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:42.839 Luke tells the story of their two oh-so-natural, yet oh-so-supernatural births. 00:06:44.839 --> 00:06:47.259 Luke tells us about their two sets of parents. 00:06:48.579 --> 00:06:52.419 Luke tells us two sets of prophecies which have been made about them, 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:55.799 about what these boys will be and what they will do with their lives. 00:06:55.800 --> 00:07:00.460 And at chapter 3 and verse 1, where I invite you to turn now, 00:07:01.620 --> 00:07:05.560 and as Jesus and John the Baptist, as they're probably about 30 years of age, 00:07:06.139 --> 00:07:09.900 we see John the Baptist step into the public arena. 00:07:10.840 --> 00:07:14.920 And so the question is, what will John the Baptist be like? 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:22.520 Well, I had the great privilege on Friday just there of marrying Becky and Struan, 00:07:22.640 --> 00:07:24.319 two young people who come to this church. 00:07:24.860 --> 00:07:26.120 And it was a wonderful day. 00:07:26.660 --> 00:07:27.520 A wonderful day. 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:29.160 It was a very Scottish day. 00:07:29.819 --> 00:07:33.180 It was a McDonald's marrying a gamble up in Inverness. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:35.120 You don't get much more Scottish than that. 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:36.879 I thought they were going to shout, 00:07:36.960 --> 00:07:37.240 freedom! 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:38.379 As they walked up the aisle. 00:07:38.620 --> 00:07:39.620 But that never happened. 00:07:42.340 --> 00:07:44.920 This was the picture book Scottish wedding. 00:07:46.280 --> 00:07:48.280 Now, I've been to a lot of weddings in my time. 00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:49.860 I've done the usher thing. 00:07:50.620 --> 00:07:52.120 I've done the best man thing. 00:07:52.280 --> 00:07:54.759 And by God's grace, would you believe it, I've done the groom thing. 00:07:55.660 --> 00:07:57.240 But I've never done the minister thing. 00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:59.660 This is the first time I've ever done the minister thing. 00:08:00.259 --> 00:08:03.960 So I'm standing at the front of the church with the groom and his best man. 00:08:04.620 --> 00:08:07.000 And the moment comes where the usher at the back of the hall, 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:09.399 he gives me the nod as if to say the bride is here. 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:13.360 And in those two minutes before she walks down the aisle, 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:16.459 your job is to get people prepared for her coming. 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:19.120 So you need to get your phones off. 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:21.199 You need to get your phone, at the very least, on silent. 00:08:22.019 --> 00:08:23.899 You need to make sure your hat is in the right place. 00:08:23.959 --> 00:08:25.779 You need to make sure that you've got your seat with a view. 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:28.600 You need to make sure that you've got your order of service. 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:31.180 You need to make sure that you know what you're doing. 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:34.320 You need to make sure that the camera has got enough space for photos on it. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:38.440 Or if you use your camera on your phone, that you've got enough space there for it. 00:08:38.680 --> 00:08:44.420 You need to get yourself ready because the moment that we've all been waiting for is about to happen. 00:08:45.140 --> 00:08:46.280 So let me ask you again. 00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:47.440 Are you ready? 00:08:47.440 --> 00:09:00.300 John the Baptist, as we meet him here in chapter 3, is one who has come to get people ready. 00:09:01.160 --> 00:09:01.880 That's his job. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:02.720 That's what he's all about. 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:04.900 He is the great preparer. 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:11.660 Now Luke has given us a few indicators that that is his job so far in his gospel. 00:09:11.760 --> 00:09:15.220 Do you want to turn with me to chapter 1 and verse 17? 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:23.100 The angel is telling John the Baptist's dad, Zechariah, about what his son will be. 00:09:24.899 --> 00:09:27.820 What does he say that his son will do? 00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:32.080 He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 00:09:32.259 --> 00:09:33.379 There's that word, prepared. 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:37.840 And if you've got chapter 1 there, verse 76 of chapter 1, 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:45.899 Zechariah again, after he regains his speech, he prophesies about his son and he says, 00:09:46.680 --> 00:09:50.019 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. 00:09:50.620 --> 00:09:55.360 For you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him. 00:09:56.220 --> 00:09:57.720 There's that word again, prepare. 00:09:57.860 --> 00:10:00.240 John the Baptist is the great preparer. 00:10:01.300 --> 00:10:05.220 And Luke in these verses wants us to know three things about John the Baptist. 00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:08.500 He wants us to know why he is preparing. 00:10:09.139 --> 00:10:11.580 He wants us to know what he is preparing. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:15.540 And he wants us to know who he is preparing for. 00:10:16.600 --> 00:10:21.580 So firstly, verses 1 to 6, Luke tells us why John is preparing. 00:10:22.920 --> 00:10:25.540 And the answer will, just like the wedding, 00:10:26.680 --> 00:10:32.399 John's arrival signifies the greater arrival of God's promised moment. 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:39.100 Now we know for Luke that John the Baptist is no footnote in God's salvation story. 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:45.500 Because you'll see it there, John roots, John the Baptist appearing in real context, 00:10:45.959 --> 00:10:49.279 with a real date, and in real political history. 00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:56.799 As if to solidify for us, the readers, that John the Baptist is no mythical or allegorical figure. 00:10:57.220 --> 00:10:58.639 He really did come. 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:01.240 And he came in this year. 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:05.519 He wasn't just a random bloke who turned up in the wilderness, 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:09.480 who was doing some traveling, and who was cultivating his inner bear grills. 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:11.379 He really did come. 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:15.899 And his message of grace is timely. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:20.379 And his coming is hugely significant. 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:25.100 And to help us see and make that connection, 00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:28.879 Luke takes us to Isaiah chapter 40. 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:32.159 If you've got your Bibles there, it might be worth turning there. 00:11:32.259 --> 00:11:36.620 If not, you can maybe catch up on Isaiah 40 after this morning's service. 00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:39.860 But Isaiah chapter 40. 00:11:41.139 --> 00:11:46.659 Isaiah is prophesying to God's people who are in captivity in Babylon. 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:49.240 They're away from their homeland. 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:58.080 And the message from God to his people who are questioning, who are doubting, is one of comfort. 00:11:59.700 --> 00:12:06.500 Some of them may have given up on God, but make no mistake that God hasn't given up on them. 00:12:07.340 --> 00:12:11.560 God may have punished them for their sin, but God has not forgotten them. 00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:15.879 And what is God promising to do in Isaiah chapter 40? 00:12:16.599 --> 00:12:22.979 He's promising to act by his grace for their good and for his glory. 00:12:23.459 --> 00:12:24.799 What is God saying? 00:12:25.339 --> 00:12:28.219 He's saying that he will come and save his people. 00:12:28.779 --> 00:12:34.399 And he will come and he will take it upon himself to win his people back. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:43.240 And you'll know when that moment is here, says Isaiah, when you hear a voice crying in the wilderness. 00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:51.459 And Luke, in Luke chapter 3, he sees in full what Isaiah probably only saw in part. 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:56.840 That John the Baptist is that voice in the wilderness. 00:12:56.840 --> 00:13:05.120 He is the one who has come, and there's our magic word again at verse 4 of chapter 3 of Luke. 00:13:05.700 --> 00:13:08.180 To prepare the way for the Lord. 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:12.960 John the Baptist has come and he's going to call people to repentance. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:18.860 That biblical word that means to turn from yourself and from your sin. 00:13:19.180 --> 00:13:23.340 And be washed clean, as we said earlier, by the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:29.500 And to turn the direction of your life towards God and be made right with him. 00:13:29.560 --> 00:13:30.600 That's what it means to repent. 00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:33.440 To turn your whole life to God. 00:13:34.780 --> 00:13:42.820 And you see there in Luke chapter 3, Isaiah's picture of creation getting itself ready, of leveling itself out. 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:48.259 It's a picture of what we would use the term rolling out the red carpet. 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:54.279 Isaiah is saying, when you hear that voice in the wilderness, prepare yourself, for the Lord is about to come. 00:13:56.019 --> 00:14:01.559 And John's arrival signifies that long promised moment of God's grace and salvation. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:06.460 And it signifies that that moment of grace and salvation is here. 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:19.060 I got home from church last Sunday evening and I walked into our living room and there was my mother-in-law cuddling our week-old little baby daughter, Grace. 00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:23.280 And she said to me, she said, Graham, what does grace mean? 00:14:24.300 --> 00:14:27.200 Now talk about a gift-wrapped gospel opportunity. 00:14:27.420 --> 00:14:27.820 There you go. 00:14:27.900 --> 00:14:28.700 What does grace mean? 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:37.440 And it was my joy to explain to her that the word grace, in its very essence, means getting something that I don't deserve. 00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:41.100 And getting something that I have not earned. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.280 That is grace. 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:48.100 That God would seek me out when I wasn't looking for him. 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:49.360 That's grace. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:59.159 That God would send his son to come to earth and to die in my place on the cross and offer me forgiveness. 00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:07.300 And not only to offer me forgiveness, but to adopt me as his child and to give me life by his spirit who lives in me. 00:15:08.060 --> 00:15:09.159 That's grace. 00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:16.980 That God wouldn't give up on me, even though I fail him time and time and time again. 00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:22.480 But is holding me and is committed to my goods and his glory. 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:28.659 And who is working in me, transforming me by his spirit to be more like his son Jesus Christ. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:30.240 That's grace. 00:15:32.420 --> 00:15:35.740 Let me ask you this morning, do you know what grace means? 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:40.500 Do you know what grace means? 00:15:42.180 --> 00:15:45.200 Do you know what grace means? 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:49.240 Do you know what grace means? 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:53.440 John the Baptist's message of grace. 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:55.220 See at verse 6. 00:15:56.400 --> 00:16:02.360 His message of grace and of repentance and forgiveness and newness is for all people. 00:16:03.960 --> 00:16:05.360 Why is John preparing? 00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:12.480 Well, he's preparing because God's promised moment of grace and of salvation and of forgiveness is now. 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:17.220 And so if that's why John the Baptist is preparing. 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:21.360 See what he is preparing at verses 7 to 14. 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:23.139 What is he preparing? 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:25.840 He's preparing people's hearts. 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:30.779 Now again, that's something Luke's already told us about John's ministry. 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:35.019 If you flick again to chapter 1 and verses 16 and 17. 00:16:36.839 --> 00:16:45.559 We see the angel telling his father, Zechariah, that his son, John, will turn the hearts of people back to their gods. 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:52.779 And in chapter 3, notice two things that Luke wants us to know about John and his ministry. 00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:57.459 Firstly, notice the content of John's message. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.639 Notice the severity of his language. 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:02.100 You brood of vipers! 00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:06.059 And see the vividness of his imagery. 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:11.819 The axe is at the root of the tree and fruitless trees are destined for the fire. 00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:17.079 I mean, do you see straight away that John's not got a script writer who's filtering this stuff for him? 00:17:17.419 --> 00:17:17.899 Do you see that? 00:17:17.939 --> 00:17:22.980 That he is just delivering a direct message from God that people need to get right with their creator. 00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:28.539 And it's language and it's imagery that's deliberately designed and used to wake people up. 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:32.779 And to see the fact that you are not right with God on your own. 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:36.379 And you need to come and to think about how you can be made right with your creator. 00:17:37.179 --> 00:17:38.419 It's a serious thing. 00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:40.779 That God is coming. 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:43.279 And you need to get yourself ready. 00:17:44.100 --> 00:17:46.440 You need to examine your own heart before God. 00:17:46.560 --> 00:17:49.140 And you need to do right before him. 00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:54.440 And I guess that's the second thing to note in chapter 3. 00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:57.060 The recipients of John's message. 00:17:58.080 --> 00:17:59.380 Who is in this crowd? 00:17:59.560 --> 00:18:01.160 Well, we have religious people. 00:18:02.100 --> 00:18:08.160 You see, we've got devout Jews, most likely, who are committed to the law of God, who know the law of God. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:12.680 But look who else is coming out to the wilderness to hear John preach. 00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:15.700 And who else is responding to John's message. 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:18.600 Verse 12, we've got tax collectors. 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.660 And verse 14, we've got soldiers. 00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:27.400 So we've got two groups of people who are the most hated outsiders in that society. 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:32.440 As if Luke wants us to know that John's message of grace, it really is. 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:34.740 It really is for all people. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:42.019 That all people, no matter who you are, are called to respond with repentance and to get your heart right with God. 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:49.559 To turn from your old way of life and to embrace your creator, to embrace God and to embrace his ways. 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:51.859 What does John say? 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.839 You're a tax collector. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:56.079 Well, be a clean tax collector. 00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:58.240 Be honest with your expenses. 00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.639 Don't diddle your books. 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:01.119 You're a soldier. 00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:04.079 Be a soldier who's marked with integrity. 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.559 Be content with your pay. 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.579 Speak honestly with your lips. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:16.059 For you see, that's what happens when God's grace, his message of grace, it hits us. 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:22.159 As his spirit works in our lives, God begins to change us. 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:31.460 And he begins to change us by putting in reverse gear, as it were, the sinful habits and the sinful lifestyle that used to dominate us. 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:42.319 You know, I heard a preacher this week tell a famous story about Harland and Wolfe, the great shipbuilding company in Belfast. 00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:45.400 Probably most famous for being the place where the Titanic was built. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:53.600 And at one point in their history, this shipbuilding company used to employ 35,000 men in the city of Belfast. 00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:56.819 35,000 men in the shipyard. 00:19:56.819 --> 00:20:05.079 So you can imagine when the hooter or the siren, whoever it is, that this signaled the end of the working day is these men left en masse. 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:13.539 You can imagine it was the easiest thing in the world just to take a bit of metal, a bit of scrap, a bit of ship and just put it under your jacket and just walk out. 00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:16.819 I mean, there is no policing 35,000 men en masse, is there? 00:20:17.919 --> 00:20:21.099 So things started to go missing from this warehouse. 00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:29.759 But in one of those periods of revival in Northern Ireland, many of those 35,000 men were converted to Jesus Christ. 00:20:31.139 --> 00:20:38.259 And as the gospel hit them, and as the grace of God started to work in their lives, 00:20:38.939 --> 00:20:45.339 and as the Spirit of God started to poke and to prod at areas in their life that needed to change, 00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:53.199 all of a sudden these converted men started to bring back to the shipyard all those little bits of ship and metal and scrap that they'd stolen. 00:20:54.259 --> 00:21:01.319 So much so, such was the scale of the work of grace, of transforming grace in the lives of these men, 00:21:02.199 --> 00:21:06.379 that eventually the directors of Harland and Wolfe had to write to these men and say, 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:10.900 please, please, please, would you stop bringing back all those bits of ship that you've stolen? 00:21:11.320 --> 00:21:16.420 Because we simply do not have the space in our warehouses to deal with all this bits of machinery. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:21.540 I wonder what that might look like in your life this morning. 00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:29.540 Is there anything that you need to stop doing as you get your heart right with God? 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:36.019 Is there anything that you need to start doing in order to get your heart right with God? 00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:41.799 Friends, is there evidence in our lives that our hearts are right with our Creator? 00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:46.879 You know, Sinclair Ferguson puts it well when he says, 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:53.659 we can't fully grip onto Christ if we're still fully gripping to our sinful habits and lifestyle. 00:21:53.660 --> 00:21:59.600 What does John the Baptist say to the people who are coming to him? 00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:03.120 He says, bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:08.380 Turn your life to God and turn it to his ways. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:14.440 Take responsibility for your sin and come clean before your holy God 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:16.660 and ask that he would be gracious to you. 00:22:17.540 --> 00:22:22.840 And come to the God who loves justice and who calls his people to act with humility. 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:28.960 And come to the God who bestows transforming grace on those who are truly undeserving. 00:22:30.620 --> 00:22:31.860 What is John preparing? 00:22:32.060 --> 00:22:34.180 He's preparing people's hearts. 00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:38.040 And thirdly, who is John preparing for? 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:44.160 Well, verses 15 to 20, he's preparing the way for Jesus Christ, the Messiah. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:50.620 The Messiah, that little word that's packed full of meaning and with expectation, 00:22:50.820 --> 00:22:53.019 that literally means God's anointed one. 00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:56.900 God's anointed one who will come to save his people. 00:22:58.440 --> 00:23:00.680 Now, you can understand as we read these verses, 00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:05.820 having experienced 400 years of silence as it were up to this point, 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:13.000 that when the people encounter John and as they hear his direct and powerful and explosive preaching, 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:15.500 that people begin to think that he is the one. 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:18.099 But what does John say? 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:19.140 He says, don't look at me. 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.420 Don't look at me. 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:24.420 Look at the one who's coming after me. 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:30.660 You see, this man, John the Baptist, he's a man who lives for the glory of another. 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:34.579 And in that respect, just to return to the wedding, 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:37.420 do you see that John isn't as much like the minister? 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:40.039 But actually, he's a lot like the best man. 00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:44.360 What does a best man do on his day? 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:48.039 He makes sure that everything on the day goes smoothly. 00:23:48.140 --> 00:23:49.820 He makes sure that everybody is ready. 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:53.740 He holds the rings and at the right time, he hands them over at the right moment. 00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:56.060 He bigs up the groom in his speech. 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:57.519 Neil, I hope you did that the other day. 00:23:57.519 --> 00:24:02.480 But he does everything in his power to make sure that the spotlight does not shine on him, 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:05.279 but the spotlight shines on the groom. 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:08.119 This is what John the Baptist is all about. 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:11.200 He lives for the glory of another. 00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:13.859 What does he say at verse 16? 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:15.139 Listen to this language. 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.639 The one who will come after me. 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:16.980 What? 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:21.720 I am not worthy to untie the straps of his sandals. 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:26.680 Sandals, smelly, sweaty, horrible feet. 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:32.119 Which is a job in John's day that is done by a servant and a slave. 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:36.759 Even that job with this man, I am not worthy to do, says John the Baptist. 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:39.779 Is that not the language of a good best man? 00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:42.700 Living for the glory of another. 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:48.980 Let me ask you this morning, we might not have the ministry of John the Baptist, 00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:52.099 but do you have the mindset of John the Baptist? 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:56.180 Does your life point to the glory of another? 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:00.960 In a few weeks' time, probably next Sunday actually, 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:03.799 we welcome a lot of students back to Brunsfield. 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:05.480 University terms kick off again. 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:07.160 I can see you've met some students already. 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:08.180 You're here this morning. 00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:11.420 But I know that it's always term time. 00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:13.160 And it's the beginning of term time. 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:16.299 Because when you walk down to Toll Cross from here, 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:19.859 there's always that guy who's standing in the corner who works for Domino's Pizza. 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:22.759 And he's dressed as a giant pizza box. 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:26.139 And on him it says, any pizza, any size, $6.99. 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:26.919 You know that guy? 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:28.259 All over the city. 00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:33.419 But there's a guy whose job it is not to attract attention to him, 00:25:33.959 --> 00:25:35.759 but to point you somewhere else. 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:40.339 Let me ask you this morning, do you have that mindset? 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:46.480 Are you that walking billboard who points people to the glory of another? 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:52.019 Do you see that John exemplifies what should be true in all of our lives this morning, 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.900 that we should be that walking billboard? 00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:58.880 It's pointing people not to our greatness, but to the greatness of Jesus Christ. 00:25:59.560 --> 00:26:01.640 We should have that attitude and mindset that says, 00:26:01.860 --> 00:26:04.220 don't look at me, please don't look at me and my greatness. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.840 Because there is no greatness there. 00:26:06.300 --> 00:26:09.360 But would you look to my Savior Jesus Christ and to his greatness? 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:14.320 See, John knows in these verses that what he's doing is just symbolic. 00:26:14.560 --> 00:26:16.800 That the baptism that he's doing is just water. 00:26:17.600 --> 00:26:18.280 What is he doing? 00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:21.240 He's just preparing the way for the one who will come after him. 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:24.099 The one who will come after him and be the true life giver. 00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:28.039 The one who will come after him and be the true spirit giver. 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:32.160 The one who will come after him and be the true life transformer. 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:34.599 And what will he do? 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:37.839 He will come to judge the world. 00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:42.960 He will come to judge and to hold every human being accountable to him. 00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:47.660 And he will come to put wrongs to right. 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:52.140 And he will come to separate the genuine from the fake. 00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.900 That will be Jesus Christ. 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:56.140 That's what he will come to do. 00:26:57.860 --> 00:27:00.180 And John says to his generation, how do you respond? 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:01.960 Are you ready? 00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:04.040 Are you prepared for the one who is to come? 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:06.640 Get your heart right before him because this is serious. 00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:11.320 Now let me ask you, I wonder how you respond this morning to John's message. 00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:18.419 I think Luke deliberately, he brings our attention to three such responses in this passage. 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:26.419 And as we move towards a close, let me just bring these three responses that Luke draws to our attention, to our attention. 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:29.099 See firstly that there's a reaction of presumption. 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:31.279 Verses 7 and 8. 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:38.159 Religious people, they come to John and they assume that this message is for everyone else and not for them. 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:45.860 That because they have a certain heritage and because they do certain things, they think that they're exempt from facing up to this challenge. 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:50.220 That somehow they've been written into heaven on their forefathers' wills. 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.060 And what does John say? 00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:52.220 It doesn't work like that. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:57.960 And so some of us here this morning who are presuming on God's grace. 00:27:57.960 --> 00:28:10.360 Are you presuming that because you do certain things, that because you come to church, because you sing certain songs to God and his direction, that because you tithe? 00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:20.340 Are you presuming because you don't do certain things, because you don't swear, because you don't sleep around, that those things somehow put you right with God on their own? 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:30.919 I wonder if some of us need reminded of that age-old kid song this morning that man looks on the outside, but God looks on the heart. 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.279 Presumption. 00:28:33.439 --> 00:28:35.879 Second reaction, see it in verses 10 to 14. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.659 It's conviction. 00:28:37.959 --> 00:28:45.339 People who come to John and who hear his message and know instantly by God's Spirit working in them that they need to change. 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:45.859 Change. 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:52.379 You know, I wonder if, as God has been speaking to us through his word this morning, have you been convicted? 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:58.919 Has the Holy Spirit of God, has he put the finger right on an issue in your life? 00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:03.559 If so, can I ask you to be encouraged by that? 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:06.919 That God is working in your life? 00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:19.279 And can I encourage you as well to see that as the knife of God's word goes into your heart, that this isn't the knife of a murderer, that actually this is the knife of a divine loving surgeon. 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:22.039 And that knife is marked grace. 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:26.180 So if you've been convicted this morning, go with that conviction. 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:28.300 Go with the Spirit of God. 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:33.840 And the third reaction in verses 19 and 20 is one of rejection. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:40.939 And Luke tells us about the reaction of King Herod as John so brashly has to be said. 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:45.959 He points out to him his moral insensitivity and his ethical failure. 00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:57.399 You see, Luke is telling us in these verses that being in a place of power, the high and mighty are not exempt from responding to God's message of grace and their need of repentance. 00:29:57.759 --> 00:30:00.000 What can Herod, what does Herod do rather? 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.299 He can't handle the truth. 00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:05.720 And so he seeks to squash the truth. 00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:09.220 And he's defensive when he's confronted with his sin. 00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:20.940 And Luke wants us to know in these verses that by doing that, by locking up John in prison, that actually Herod is adding yet another evil thing to his already growing and expanding list. 00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:28.440 Here is a person, King Herod, who is rejecting God's gracious message. 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:36.860 I wonder how you respond this morning to what we've read and what we've heard about John the Baptist's message. 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:41.059 If you're rejecting it, then see the seriousness of what you are doing. 00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:46.879 And let's be reminded again, as it says in these verses, that this message is one of good news. 00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:48.799 It's good news. 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:58.539 As I said, we've got students returning in the next couple of weeks and we always try and bless the students that come here to Brunsfield just by giving them free things. 00:30:58.899 --> 00:30:59.839 We all like free things. 00:30:59.919 --> 00:31:00.859 We're all Scottish, don't we? 00:31:00.919 --> 00:31:05.159 But particularly we do it with students and we try and give them a book of some sort that they can read. 00:31:05.160 --> 00:31:11.680 And we did this one last year and I think we've got a few copies left over if anyone wants to take this one away today. 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:16.800 This is a resource that's been produced by 10 of those and it's a cookbook. 00:31:17.380 --> 00:31:24.880 But it's a cookbook that contains testimonies in it of university students who have been converted and turned to Jesus during their time at university. 00:31:25.600 --> 00:31:28.600 And I think the hope is, we used to do this in our flat at university all the time, 00:31:28.600 --> 00:31:31.240 that as you're cooking and as you're waiting for the pasta to boil, 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:34.920 that actually you'll look and you'll flick through and you'll think, oh, there's Ed's story. 00:31:35.560 --> 00:31:37.340 There is Dan's story. 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.700 There is Joanna's story. 00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:44.420 Well, let me read to you as we finish Anthony's story. 00:31:45.320 --> 00:31:48.940 Anthony is a politics student at the University of Nottingham 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:53.540 and this is his testimony of God's transforming grace in his life. 00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:55.620 Anthony writes this, 00:31:56.060 --> 00:31:58.740 When I set off for university, I was excited. 00:31:59.580 --> 00:32:01.800 I made friends quickly and my course was great. 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:04.800 Getting good drug connections was easy. 00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:06.960 And there were girls absolutely everywhere. 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:10.779 I got very into going out every night and smashing it. 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:16.180 My choices of drugs became more exotic and the quantities became more reckless. 00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:18.700 Outwardly, everything looked fine. 00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:20.720 And I felt I was pretty cool. 00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:24.140 I had made the right friends and in a way I was having a good time. 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:26.019 But inside, I was empty. 00:32:26.820 --> 00:32:29.299 I started to do things which surprised even me, 00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:33.900 like cheating on my girlfriend and allowing my relationship with my parents to deteriorate. 00:32:33.900 --> 00:32:39.700 And I would wake up with a heavy burden of guilt and the fear of someone who was beginning to lose control. 00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:44.140 These feelings, they grew in me like mold growing in the dark. 00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:48.100 Yet now and then, I would remember that friend who told me about Jesus. 00:32:49.319 --> 00:32:52.460 One night, I was back home from uni alone in my room. 00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:57.740 I had a habit at this point of buying some weed every day, finishing it and feeling unsatisfied. 00:32:57.740 --> 00:33:04.700 My mind and my body were in a very bad shape and I was completely unprepared for the exams I would soon have to sit. 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:07.759 I knew I needed to ask for help. 00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:12.579 I thought I had nothing to lose, so I thought I had asked Jesus to help me. 00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:17.940 I told him I was sorry and I ignored him all this time and that I was in trouble. 00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:22.339 And I asked him to help, even though I had done so many bad things. 00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:28.059 And immediately, my hair stood up and it felt as though I was being filled up with water. 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:33.759 I flicked open the Bible that I had been given by my friend and the page fell open to, 00:33:34.199 --> 00:33:38.759 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 5.3. 00:33:39.639 --> 00:33:45.459 I felt that Jesus was in the room beside me and it was as if he was speaking these words to me. 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:49.559 Something that had been dead inside me came alive that night. 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:54.919 In the following weeks, I continued to live the same way I had been, but it felt different. 00:33:55.779 --> 00:34:01.639 I was changing from the inside out and I began to hate the things I used to love. 00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:09.119 As God showed me his love, his kindness and his forgiveness, my habit with drugs fell off me. 00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:14.299 He is so much more real now than anything I've ever known before. 00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:15.480 Isn't that awesome? 00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:19.659 There is a story of God's transforming grace. 00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:25.740 As we finish this morning, let me ask you how you respond to that message. 00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:30.619 You know, we're going to move into a time of communion in just a moment. 00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:34.599 And just before I pray to close, why don't we just take a moment of silence? 00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:40.079 And let's respond to God's word this morning as we prepare our hearts before him. 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:53.179 And so, gracious God, a loving Heavenly Father, we praise you for your kindness to us. 00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:57.599 Thank you, Father, that as we respond to the message of the gospel, 00:34:58.299 --> 00:35:03.699 and as we see your story and message of grace, that we truly are those who are undeserving. 00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:08.859 But yet we are truly those who have been blessed in every way in Jesus Christ. 00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:14.019 Help us to be those who respond to your message of grace. 00:35:14.799 --> 00:35:20.219 And may your Spirit who lives in us continue to change us and to mold us. 00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:25.579 Our Father, we ask you would help us in our world of such uncertainty. 00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:30.099 Be those who live with a certain message of Jesus Christ. 00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:32.980 May we live for his glory this week, we ask. 00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:34.619 Because we ask in his name. 00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.339 Amen.