WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:05.919 Good evening everyone, it's great to see you. Thank you for coming out on this warm summer night that we're having. 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:10.759 So yeah, we're in Luke chapter 20. Thanks for reading that, Cato, that was great. 00:00:10.820 --> 00:00:14.679 If you could have it open, that would be very handy as we work our way through it. 00:00:15.780 --> 00:00:17.780 Let me just add a word of prayer before we begin. 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:23.440 God and Father, we thank you for your word and we just pray that you'll speak to each one of us tonight as we hear from it. 00:00:24.339 --> 00:00:24.660 Amen. 00:00:24.660 --> 00:00:33.399 So I don't know all of you that well. I know some of you very well. You'll know me fairly well. 00:00:34.100 --> 00:00:36.719 And some of you probably don't even know your name. 00:00:37.659 --> 00:00:41.879 But it's pretty safe to say that at some point you've faced rejection. 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:45.420 I know I have, I'm sure you have to some degree. 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:49.600 This might be in varying forms and varying severities. 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:55.140 Maybe it was when you were at school. Maybe you wanted to go to college or university. 00:00:55.600 --> 00:00:57.660 Maybe you wanted a particular degree. 00:00:58.340 --> 00:01:00.780 You applied, but then that letter came in. 00:01:01.760 --> 00:01:04.579 Unfortunately, you're not accepted this time. 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:12.780 Or maybe in the world that we're in today, maybe you put an offer in for a house that you thought was pretty reasonable. 00:01:13.579 --> 00:01:16.079 And it turns out someone paid double what you did. 00:01:16.760 --> 00:01:18.340 It wouldn't be unheard of. 00:01:18.340 --> 00:01:23.439 Or maybe, you know, maybe, and this could be really hurtful, maybe it's to do with our relationships. 00:01:23.859 --> 00:01:25.140 Maybe it's to do with our friendships. 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:28.900 Maybe we have faced rejection in that regard. 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:33.280 But we have a passage tonight which is full of rejection. 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:39.920 And you know, all these things, these examples I mentioned, all these things have consequences for us. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:46.040 And likewise, the rejection that we see in this parable tonight has consequences. 00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:50.100 And we're going to look a wee bit into that this evening. 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:54.620 We see rejection of the servants. 00:01:55.520 --> 00:01:57.420 We see rejection of the son. 00:01:58.100 --> 00:02:00.600 And we see rejection of the tenants. 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:06.320 Now, I'm in the NIV and it sort of says tenants and farmers. 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:10.000 But to try and keep it clear, I'm going to try and stick to saying tenants. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:10.479 Okay. 00:02:11.359 --> 00:02:13.939 But tenants or farmers, it's the same thing. 00:02:14.280 --> 00:02:19.819 And we see as part of the rejection of the tenants that is mentioned about the rejection of the cornerstone. 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:23.239 And we'll look into that a little bit as well. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:27.840 So, we're doing a parable series. 00:02:28.099 --> 00:02:29.079 So, we're doing parables. 00:02:29.780 --> 00:02:32.579 So, parables are stories that Jesus told. 00:02:32.900 --> 00:02:34.039 That was a way that he taught. 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:41.319 And it uses everyday things that people could understand in order to teach a spiritual lesson. 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:48.419 And because we're not working the way through a book like we are in the morning, we need a bit of context to where we are tonight. 00:02:48.900 --> 00:02:50.400 We're in Luke chapter 20. 00:02:51.939 --> 00:02:53.199 We are in Jerusalem. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:56.039 In chapter 19, Jesus enters Jerusalem. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:02:58.359 And the people treat him as a king. 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:02.340 It's his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. 00:03:02.979 --> 00:03:04.900 And he goes straight to the temple. 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:06.620 And he starts to teach. 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:09.219 So, he starts to teach the people there. 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:10.199 So, that's where we're at. 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:17.179 And just at the start of chapter 20 in the first eight verses, his authority is challenged. 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:26.500 The chief priests and the scribes, they challenge Jesus' authority to be there, to be teaching, to be saying the things that he is saying. 00:03:27.780 --> 00:03:30.560 So, in response, Jesus addresses the people. 00:03:31.979 --> 00:03:35.739 And he does so in order to inform them of their leader's wickedness. 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:39.639 And when are we at in Jesus' life? 00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:41.799 Well, this is the final week of his life. 00:03:42.579 --> 00:03:43.619 He is in Jerusalem. 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:47.019 He is just a couple of days before he will be killed. 00:03:47.020 --> 00:03:51.480 So, that's a bit of background to where we're at. 00:03:51.479 --> 00:03:55.359 And we're going to look, as I've mentioned already, in three sections. 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:57.399 It splits itself up quite nicely. 00:03:57.819 --> 00:03:59.439 We're going to look at 9 to 12. 00:04:00.060 --> 00:04:02.120 And we're going to look at the rejection of the servants. 00:04:03.399 --> 00:04:08.060 In 13 to the first half of 15, we're going to look at the rejection of the son. 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:16.079 And finally, from the second half of 15 through to the end of 19, we're going to look at the rejection of the tenants. 00:04:18.579 --> 00:04:21.819 And these sections actually split themselves up a little bit. 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:27.040 So, the first one looks into the past from the point of view where Jesus is speaking. 00:04:27.840 --> 00:04:31.920 The middle section, when it talks about the son, is actually the present. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:37.759 And from when Jesus is speaking, the rejection of the tenants is actually looking to the future. 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:43.140 So, I'm going to, hopefully that will make sense as we work our way through. 00:04:43.860 --> 00:04:45.280 But it's something to keep in mind. 00:04:46.200 --> 00:04:51.780 So, our first section, the rejection of the servants in verse 9 to 12. 00:04:51.779 --> 00:04:57.699 So, Jesus, just to summarise a little bit, Jesus goes on to tell the people a parable. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:00.019 This man, he plants a vineyard. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:03.659 He puts it in the trust of these tenants. 00:05:04.119 --> 00:05:05.939 And he goes away for a long time. 00:05:06.719 --> 00:05:10.319 To give you a wee bit of, maybe a bit of a timeline, I looked it up. 00:05:10.359 --> 00:05:15.239 And apparently a vineyard, if you were to go and plant it, you shouldn't expect any grapes for three years. 00:05:15.559 --> 00:05:19.939 And even then, you'd be waiting maybe five years to get anything that's worth eating. 00:05:19.939 --> 00:05:23.459 So, that's maybe not common knowledge to us. 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:26.759 But to the people Jesus was speaking of, they would have been aware of these things. 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:27.899 This would have been their culture. 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:30.920 So, he does that. 00:05:31.100 --> 00:05:32.459 And then harvest time comes. 00:05:32.579 --> 00:05:35.420 And he sends servants back to get some fruit. 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:38.180 The first one comes back. 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:39.519 But the tenants, they beat him. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:42.079 And they send him away empty-handed. 00:05:42.620 --> 00:05:45.180 And we see an escalation of violence here. 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:48.600 The second one, they beat him. 00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:49.939 The second one, treated him shamefully. 00:05:50.520 --> 00:05:51.840 And sent them away. 00:05:52.600 --> 00:05:55.020 And the third one was wounded and thrown out. 00:05:58.220 --> 00:06:00.800 Now, this here is actually looking into the past. 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:06.379 From when Jesus is speaking here in AD 33, he's looking into the past. 00:06:07.960 --> 00:06:09.939 Now, it's not particularly obvious to us. 00:06:10.140 --> 00:06:12.720 But we need a little bit of a translation here. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:17.940 So, the man who planted the vineyard, well, that is speaking of God. 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:22.720 We know that because the vineyard represents Israel. 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:26.340 It may not be obvious on first look to us. 00:06:26.420 --> 00:06:28.980 But to the Jews here, they would have known this. 00:06:29.060 --> 00:06:35.280 Because in the Old Testament, there's many times when Israel is referred to as the vineyard. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:37.959 In Isaiah 5, verse 7, it says, 00:06:38.119 --> 00:06:41.579 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel. 00:06:42.339 --> 00:06:45.399 And the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. 00:06:45.819 --> 00:06:48.239 And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:51.559 For righteousness, but heard cries of distress. 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:56.579 And this means that the tenants here, well, they are the religious leaders. 00:06:57.179 --> 00:06:59.199 They are in charge of the nation. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:04.759 So, Israel was God's chosen people. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:08.959 And they incurred the benefits that came with this. 00:07:09.779 --> 00:07:11.779 They were led by God. 00:07:12.599 --> 00:07:14.279 They were fed by God. 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:16.339 We can think of the wilderness where they were fed. 00:07:17.500 --> 00:07:18.680 They were also saved. 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:20.180 Saved out of Egypt. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:23.319 Many other occasions in battles, in wars. 00:07:25.319 --> 00:07:28.199 But, you know, Israel was also chosen to bear fruit. 00:07:30.159 --> 00:07:32.579 Why in the story does a man plant a vineyard? 00:07:32.719 --> 00:07:33.579 Well, it's to get fruit. 00:07:35.740 --> 00:07:40.019 You know, if you're a Christian here tonight, if you would call yourself a follower of God, 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:43.620 well, you have been chosen to be part of God's church. 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:47.279 And we are to enjoy the benefits of this. 00:07:48.060 --> 00:07:49.399 We have that peace. 00:07:49.919 --> 00:07:54.339 We have that forgiveness that comes with being of God. 00:07:54.339 --> 00:07:59.419 And we have that assured hope in our future and where we will end up. 00:08:00.419 --> 00:08:02.639 But, you know, God also expects fruit from us. 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:04.039 It's not a one-way thing. 00:08:05.159 --> 00:08:09.500 We are to respond in love to this privileged position that we find ourselves in. 00:08:10.219 --> 00:08:13.239 Speaking and acting for God in everything that we do. 00:08:15.299 --> 00:08:19.120 In the story here, the servants, they were sent to get the fruit. 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:21.939 The servants, that was their job, to go and do that. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:27.340 And in Old Testament times, we see that God's prophets were sent to call the people 00:08:27.340 --> 00:08:30.120 to repentance and faith. 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:36.019 They often challenged the religious leaders of the time while they were doing so. 00:08:36.560 --> 00:08:38.419 But they were all treated with contempt. 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:44.080 They were rejected or beaten, killed and imprisoned. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:48.500 There's many examples we could look to, but if you read the story of Jeremiah, 00:08:48.700 --> 00:08:51.820 read the book of Jeremiah, you can see that this happened to him. 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:57.820 He was sent to declare judgment, but he was cursed, beaten and thrown in jail. 00:09:00.060 --> 00:09:01.139 And this isn't right. 00:09:01.460 --> 00:09:05.500 They were sent doing God's work, and yet they were rejected. 00:09:08.180 --> 00:09:10.500 You know, if we're living out our Christian lives today, 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:12.580 then we aren't to expect any different. 00:09:12.580 --> 00:09:17.379 If we're doing something that God has asked us to, 00:09:17.860 --> 00:09:21.980 then we aren't to expect it all to go as we wish. 00:09:22.680 --> 00:09:24.500 We can expect rejection. 00:09:25.660 --> 00:09:28.780 We can expect persecution and bad treatment. 00:09:32.820 --> 00:09:36.840 And we see in the story that the tenants, well, they act despicably, don't they? 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:37.900 They act terribly. 00:09:39.259 --> 00:09:41.940 And the religious leaders of the nation of Israel, 00:09:41.940 --> 00:09:45.320 well, they were entrusted with God's people, God's nation. 00:09:45.760 --> 00:09:48.780 But they fell well short more often than not. 00:09:49.800 --> 00:09:52.780 There's many leaders throughout that we can read about. 00:09:52.880 --> 00:09:57.000 There's Moses, David, Samson, Hezekiah, the list goes on. 00:09:57.800 --> 00:10:01.320 And you know, sometimes they were good, godly stewards of God's people. 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:04.800 But other times they were godless and they failed. 00:10:05.980 --> 00:10:09.900 And when Jesus is speaking here, the religious leaders of the times, 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:11.980 well, they were corrupt. 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:13.600 They were greedy. 00:10:14.260 --> 00:10:15.680 And they fell well short. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:22.699 You know, this is a challenge to anyone that's maybe in a position of leadership. 00:10:24.199 --> 00:10:28.179 Anyone that's in charge of God's people in a small way or a big way. 00:10:29.059 --> 00:10:30.659 People today, they can look the part. 00:10:30.819 --> 00:10:34.259 They can wear the right clothes, turn up to the right things, 00:10:34.839 --> 00:10:36.899 but are empty or false inside. 00:10:36.899 --> 00:10:41.819 That's a real danger that we need to watch out for with one another, 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:43.860 but also in those in leadership. 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:48.039 I don't want to get into politics here, but we've seen that this week. 00:10:48.539 --> 00:10:50.120 We've seen our failed leaders. 00:10:50.699 --> 00:10:53.480 Our leader has fallen in the UK government, hasn't he? 00:10:55.399 --> 00:10:59.539 And you know, the word that I've heard more and more this week has been integrity. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:01.340 That's what people want. 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:04.360 The opposition politicians are calling for it. 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:08.820 The leaders that are all now squabbling to become the new leader. 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:11.379 Well, they're all saying we need integrity. 00:11:11.700 --> 00:11:13.220 And that means to be honest. 00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:17.340 Basically, to do something and say something for it to match. 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:23.460 It should be no different with leaders in the church. 00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:28.580 So we've seen here that there was this escalation of violence. 00:11:28.580 --> 00:11:33.580 There was a growing boldness, a growing diminishing of God-fearing behavior. 00:11:33.580 --> 00:11:35.879 And the lessons were not learned. 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:38.240 The warning wasn't heeded. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:43.700 So we move into our second section, which is the rejection of the son. 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:47.420 In verse 13 through to the second half of 15. 00:11:48.540 --> 00:11:50.400 So the owner, he sent his servants. 00:11:50.520 --> 00:11:51.120 That's failed. 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:52.940 He says, what shall I do? 00:11:53.020 --> 00:11:55.120 Well, I'll send my son, whom I love. 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:59.379 Surely they will respect him and give him fruit. 00:11:59.379 --> 00:12:02.860 But the tenants, they were wicked. 00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:03.759 They saw him. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:04.720 They got together. 00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:06.100 They said, this is the heir. 00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:07.059 Let's kill him. 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:09.580 And we will get the inheritance. 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:11.799 So that's what they did. 00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:13.419 They killed him and threw him out. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.379 This here is from when Jesus is speaking. 00:12:17.500 --> 00:12:18.500 This is the present day. 00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:20.259 He is on earth. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:22.259 The son has been sent. 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:24.100 God sent his son. 00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:27.500 They call him. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:28.220 No, no. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:30.759 Maybe next time. 00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:36.060 You know, Jesus here, he's answering the question of his authority. 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:39.639 Just before he's been asked, where does your authority come from? 00:12:39.899 --> 00:12:42.040 Well, he's saying, look, I came from the father. 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:43.200 The father sent me. 00:12:43.920 --> 00:12:44.800 I came from God. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:52.879 God's beloved son lays aside his glory and comes to earth. 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:55.219 There should have been this respect and the awe. 00:12:56.659 --> 00:12:58.399 This is the father's ambassador. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:02.659 This is the father's representative. 00:13:03.219 --> 00:13:08.599 You see the pomp and the fanfare that happens when an ambassador from a different country arrives. 00:13:09.319 --> 00:13:12.199 The queen comes out and, yes, nice to meet you and all that. 00:13:13.079 --> 00:13:14.179 You know, this didn't happen. 00:13:14.179 --> 00:13:16.159 When Jesus came, there was rejection. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:19.939 The religious leaders of Israel wanted nothing to do with Jesus. 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:25.919 The power hungry and jealous leaders, they planned to kill Jesus instead. 00:13:28.739 --> 00:13:34.799 And, you know, we can read elsewhere and look that at one point the demons stood in awe of Jesus. 00:13:36.219 --> 00:13:42.120 Pilate respected who he was, but not the religious leaders, not those that should have done so. 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:49.139 The religious leaders, they wanted the benefits of being part of God's people. 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:51.620 And yet they wanted to shun Jesus. 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:53.039 They didn't want anything to do with him. 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:56.679 And we all come across people like that. 00:13:57.500 --> 00:13:58.299 Maybe that's you. 00:13:58.899 --> 00:14:03.200 Maybe you want that forgiveness, that peace that comes from being part of God's family. 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.180 Maybe you want to go to heaven one day. 00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:07.080 But, oh no, not Jesus. 00:14:07.400 --> 00:14:08.240 He's not for me. 00:14:09.520 --> 00:14:11.460 People want to do things their own way, don't they? 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.240 Do it on their own. 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:21.060 You know, Jesus here was challenging their stranglehold that they had over the people. 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:21.980 They were powerful. 00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:22.740 They had money. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:24.440 They wore fancy clothes. 00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:27.100 And they didn't want to give that up. 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:32.019 This made them blind to the truth that Jesus was saying. 00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:37.000 So the rejection of the Son. 00:14:37.319 --> 00:14:40.259 What a God to send his Son, knowing what would happen. 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:41.980 It wasn't a surprise. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:44.199 It didn't all go pear-shaped. 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:45.639 It was planned from the beginning. 00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:46.480 What love. 00:14:47.699 --> 00:14:50.720 You know, equally, what a terrible thing to reject the Son. 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:57.419 And we're going to see the consequences of that in our last section, the rejection of the tenants. 00:14:57.419 --> 00:15:03.500 So the second half of 15 onwards to the end of 19, we see this rejection of the tenants. 00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:09.699 What then, Jesus asks this rhetorical question, what then will the owner of the vineyard do? 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:11.759 Well, he answers it. 00:15:11.819 --> 00:15:16.679 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:22.819 This here is the future from where Jesus is speaking. 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:24.740 He's looking forward. 00:15:27.419 --> 00:15:34.439 So in the story, the owner is going to kill the tenants and give it away. 00:15:35.959 --> 00:15:44.299 You know, in judgment for this rejection, God will take away the blessings and the responsibility that these religious leaders have. 00:15:44.939 --> 00:15:46.319 And will give it to others. 00:15:48.339 --> 00:15:50.039 This is a two-fold prophecy. 00:15:50.599 --> 00:15:54.459 It's partly fulfilled in AD 70, where Jerusalem is destroyed. 00:15:54.460 --> 00:16:00.820 But it will also be finally fulfilled in the future to us as well. 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:04.200 In the final judgment when Jesus returns. 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:10.540 The Jesus rejecting Jews, they will be thrown out and others are going to be put in their place. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:12.100 That's what Jesus is saying here. 00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:14.340 And we know that to be true. 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:20.840 The non-Jews, the Gentiles, become God's followers. 00:16:21.560 --> 00:16:22.780 Become the church. 00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:29.420 The church which now holds that place of spiritual and religious privilege that Israel once held. 00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:36.099 So if we are a follower of Jesus, we are Christian, then we are to cherish the church. 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:43.240 Not this building, not Brunsfield, but the global body of believers that makes up the church. 00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:52.179 There's responsibilities as well as blessings of being part of that church, just like it was being a part of the nation of Israel. 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:57.799 It's a demanding and yet it's a rewarding calling for each one of us. 00:16:58.939 --> 00:17:00.939 And it is a privileged position. 00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:09.019 But you know, the people that Jesus were addressing here at the end of 16, when they heard this, they said, 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:11.159 God forbid, or let it not be so. 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:14.980 They refused to believe this was going to happen. 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:20.000 Didn't want it to happen, despite the clear, to me anyway, justice of it. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.200 That these people, the leaders, they were not fit. 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:27.180 So quite right that it should be taken from them. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.720 But you know, this is recognizable. 00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:31.400 People scream for justice. 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.400 They want justice. 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.119 And quite right. 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:35.500 As Christians, we should more than anyone. 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:40.759 But you know, there's consequences of this justice. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:42.420 And often people don't want that. 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:45.240 Often the question is asked. 00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:49.900 And often, you know, when I was at university, we had events on this. 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:53.279 How can a loving God also bring judgment? 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:56.119 And it's, you know, it's a fair question. 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:58.220 But you know, God is just. 00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:04.160 And if God is just, then he can't just let us all get away with it. 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:09.319 There is judgment because God is just. 00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:13.319 You know, we need to be ready for that fact. 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:15.159 Each one of us individually. 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:21.700 We need to be ready for the fact that God, as well as being loving, is also judge. 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:29.840 In 17, Jesus looks at them and he says, well, what does this mean? 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:31.860 And he quotes Psalm 118. 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:35.220 It might be in inverted commas in your Bible. 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:38.140 But Psalm 118 here is quoted. 00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:41.060 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:44.100 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces. 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:46.759 Anyone on whom it falls will be crushed. 00:18:47.840 --> 00:18:51.860 This is quoted to show that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:55.219 This was a messianic prophecy in Isaiah. 00:18:55.839 --> 00:19:00.019 So the people listening to this, they would know that Jesus is saying, this is me. 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:04.639 They had this in their religious texts. 00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:08.719 Quite probably they would all know this passage off by heart. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:15.420 And you know, the cornerstone is the key to the whole building. 00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:18.779 It is laid first. 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.680 It is placed with care. 00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:23.799 It is cut most accurately. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:25.720 The most time is taken over it. 00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:28.880 It is built around and it is built upon. 00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:31.400 And make sure your walls are straight, basically. 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:35.839 If you've got wonky walls, what hope do you have of building anything? 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:41.759 And I laugh because it would be crazy to be like, don't need the cornerstone. 00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:42.480 What do you need that for? 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.819 Let's just start on the walls. 00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:46.019 But you know, that's what it's saying here. 00:19:46.099 --> 00:19:47.480 The stone the builders rejected. 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:50.319 It would be foolish to reject this stone. 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:53.039 That's exactly what we see. 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:59.059 The religious leaders here have rejected that cornerstone. 00:19:59.439 --> 00:20:00.419 The Lord Jesus. 00:20:01.459 --> 00:20:05.000 We're going to sing it after I've finished. 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:08.119 And you know, do we build our lives on him? 00:20:08.939 --> 00:20:10.500 Or do we build our lives on other things? 00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:13.359 Do we build our lives on our careers? 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:14.379 On our families? 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:16.319 On money? 00:20:16.419 --> 00:20:16.939 On wealth? 00:20:18.459 --> 00:20:21.179 You know, my daughter, she's just turned two. 00:20:21.459 --> 00:20:25.579 And her favourite song at the moment, and you can't get her to sleep at night without doing it, 00:20:25.639 --> 00:20:26.539 is Man on Rock. 00:20:26.899 --> 00:20:27.619 Man on Rock. 00:20:28.159 --> 00:20:30.799 But you know, there's such truth to these songs. 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:34.379 The wise man, he built his house on the rock. 00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:38.020 The foolish man is on the sand. 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:44.460 And Ian was talking this morning, and Paul was in these storms and acts, and he was on the shipwreck. 00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:49.520 And when the storms of life come, the man on the rock, well, he stood firm. 00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:52.000 He'd built his life on that rock. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:59.619 And you know, this is Sarah's favourite bit, but it's serious as well, that the foolish man, well, his house fell flat. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:09.059 We see in 18 that those who reject Jesus, they will be broken to pieces and crushed. 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:19.379 Once again, this is a two-fold prophecy, and it's fairly complex, but the basicness of it is that the stone on the ground, 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:24.980 the stone that people fall on and broke into pieces, well, this is Jesus' first coming, which is he's there now, 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:27.919 as he is speaking in this passage. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:30.900 And you know, Jesus was a stumbling block. 00:21:31.840 --> 00:21:38.060 He was a stumbling block to the religious way, the religious order that had been in place for so long. 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:42.140 Romans 9 says, 00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:57.840 Why not? 00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:02.539 Because they pursued it not by faith, but as if it were by works. 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:05.539 They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:07.179 As it is written, 00:22:07.399 --> 00:22:12.959 See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble, and a rock that makes them fall, 00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:16.879 and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:21.699 Jesus was a stumbling block. 00:22:23.459 --> 00:22:25.859 Secondly, anyone on whom it falls will be crushed. 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:28.359 Well, this looks to Jesus' second coming. 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:36.539 Total destruction when the Lord returns for those that have rejected him in final judgment. 00:22:36.719 --> 00:22:41.279 We've already seen that judgment will come one day, and that we need to be ready for it. 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:48.379 So we see that with the finish, with the last verse that Jesus is finished speaking, 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:52.579 the Jewish leaders, well, they want Jesus arrested. 00:22:52.579 --> 00:23:01.839 These populist leaders, they are challenged, they are scared, but they are equally powerless. 00:23:02.939 --> 00:23:06.179 At the end of chapter 19, they wanted to kill Jesus there and then, 00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:09.960 but the people stopped them because they hung on his every word. 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:16.399 And you know, the reaction here that they have, it shows their guilt. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:20.420 Why else would they react in the way that they did? 00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:24.680 If Jesus was speaking nonsense, they would just laugh and walk off. 00:23:25.060 --> 00:23:26.540 Let's not waste our time, guys. 00:23:27.320 --> 00:23:30.019 But they knew that Jesus was right in what he was saying. 00:23:32.340 --> 00:23:36.259 They knew the consequences, but they didn't respond in repentance. 00:23:36.600 --> 00:23:38.620 They responded in rejection. 00:23:38.619 --> 00:23:41.699 And everyone has guilt. 00:23:42.419 --> 00:23:43.399 I have guilt. 00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:46.759 You might be sitting there tonight raked with guilt. 00:23:48.139 --> 00:23:49.679 But you know, we have a choice. 00:23:51.239 --> 00:23:55.199 How do we react when we are faced with the truths of Jesus? 00:23:57.459 --> 00:23:59.519 Do we accept who Jesus is? 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:04.379 His act of the cross, which can take that guilt away and give us forgiveness? 00:24:04.380 --> 00:24:08.740 Or do we reject Jesus like the religious leaders? 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:10.420 Try and do it on our own. 00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:11.820 We don't need the air. 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:18.740 It's worth considering as well that that is how people will react 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:22.080 when we try and present the truths of Jesus to them. 00:24:22.760 --> 00:24:26.960 Some will accept, but equally, we should be prepared that some will reject. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:34.420 You know, the religious leaders, to a degree, you know, they did succeed. 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:37.200 They killed Jesus just probably two days later. 00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:39.079 But they didn't stop him. 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.400 That wasn't the end. 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:42.799 Of course, Jesus could not be stopped. 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:45.740 He was killed, and yet he rose again, 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:48.920 the feet in the grave, ascending to heaven. 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:51.799 And he is now our living Savior. 00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:58.059 So just to conclude, to sum up, 00:24:58.779 --> 00:25:01.899 we should be well aware of the consequences of rejecting Jesus. 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:03.960 We have seen that in this passage. 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:08.019 Warnings were given in the Old Testament through the prophets. 00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:12.200 Jesus came, and he taught, and yet was rejected. 00:25:13.659 --> 00:25:16.559 And us now, well, we need to be made right before God 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:21.000 by accepting Jesus, his death, in our place. 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:23.519 And he can take that guilt that we have away. 00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:27.079 And it allows us to come into the blessings 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:31.680 and also take up the responsibilities of being part of God's church. 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:39.200 It's a challenge to live our lives according to that calling that we have received. 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:43.279 You know, we've also seen that justice will be done, 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:44.299 that God is judge. 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:47.619 So that should spur us on to tell those that we know, 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.759 that don't know Jesus, 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:52.519 the truth of what he said and did. 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:59.419 Let me pray, and then the band can come up while I'm praying, 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:01.539 and we're going to have our last hymn before Peter 00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:05.220 comes up to open the time of prayer. 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:10.740 God and Father, we just thank you so much for your word. 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:13.460 We thank you for having it in our own language, 00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:15.200 that it is open to us, 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:19.420 and that we are free to read it and to discuss it. 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:23.019 We thank you for the Lord Jesus and all that he has done, 00:26:23.860 --> 00:26:25.279 that he has made that way, 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:30.720 that we can not have the guilt that the religious leaders here had. 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:33.680 that we can have that peace and that forgiveness, 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:38.059 the blessings of being part of God's family. 00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:40.600 So we just ask your blessing, 00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:45.740 and we pray that you'll continue these things in our head as we leave tonight. 00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:48.480 We pray all these things in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.539 Amen.