WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.859 Father, maybe it's only in times like this when we gather in your presence to worship you on the Lord's Day 00:00:10.859 --> 00:00:15.720 that it sort of comes into our head that often we, too often, maybe always, 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:19.539 we flatter ourselves too much to detect or hate our own sin. 00:00:20.539 --> 00:00:25.859 And we confess, Father, that we are way, way, way better at seeing little specks in other people's eyes 00:00:25.859 --> 00:00:31.640 and we can be completely blind and unfeeling about the log in our own eye. 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:38.519 So we ask, Father, that as we now spend some time reading your word again and thinking about it, 00:00:39.159 --> 00:00:43.060 we ask, Father, that the Holy Spirit would move with might and power and deep conviction. 00:00:43.620 --> 00:00:50.659 And we give you permission with no qualifications, Father, for your word to come into the very depths of who we are, 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:54.299 for your word to speak and rule within us. 00:00:54.299 --> 00:00:59.859 Father, because we know through the gospel that as your word rules within us, 00:00:59.899 --> 00:01:04.219 it is for our good, for our healing, for your glory, for the good of the world. 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:07.280 And so, Father, we ask for this wonderful work of grace. 00:01:07.479 --> 00:01:11.019 And we ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:12.560 Please be seated. 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:22.200 So, I don't expect people to always remember what my sermons were the week before. 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:24.620 In fact, I don't know how much time I always remember them. 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:27.920 But for some of you who listened to the sermon last week, 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:31.799 you would have a very, very valid type of critique of me, 00:01:32.620 --> 00:01:34.920 or at least potentially a very valid critique. 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:37.379 You'd say, George, last week you didn't tell the truth. 00:01:38.100 --> 00:01:41.740 Last week you gave us completely false expectations. 00:01:41.739 --> 00:01:47.579 Last week, George, the text that went just before this, just before this text, 00:01:48.039 --> 00:01:52.759 you told us that if we sort of trust God's will and do God's will, 00:01:52.839 --> 00:01:53.879 that our needs would be met. 00:01:53.959 --> 00:01:56.640 In fact, George, you even used as an example tithing, 00:01:56.839 --> 00:01:59.539 that part of what the purpose of tithing is, 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:03.379 is that if you trust, if you obey God and trust him 00:02:03.379 --> 00:02:06.299 and give away some of your money, that your needs are going to be met. 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:08.659 And that's what you said the text was about last week. 00:02:08.659 --> 00:02:12.219 And now we come to this text, and here you have a guy, John the Baptist. 00:02:12.359 --> 00:02:15.379 He obviously did God's will, and his needs weren't met. 00:02:15.460 --> 00:02:16.859 In fact, he gets beheaded. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:18.379 He gets killed. 00:02:18.859 --> 00:02:20.359 So I just want you to know, George, 00:02:20.419 --> 00:02:24.439 I do not have a need to be spent to go to jail and then be beheaded. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:28.219 That's not how I would understand having my needs being met. 00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:29.740 So, George, what's going on? 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:32.039 In fact, some people might also say, 00:02:32.539 --> 00:02:36.579 in fact, George, this is part of the reason I don't like Christianity. 00:02:36.580 --> 00:02:39.719 I don't like religion in general, but I don't like Christianity in particular. 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:43.700 Because you seem to say one thing, and you try to cover up other things, 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:47.060 and you're not really honest, and it's just very, very confusing to understand. 00:02:49.340 --> 00:02:51.920 And that's a very valid type of pushback. 00:02:52.760 --> 00:02:53.760 It really is. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:59.720 And, I mean, it's something that we need to really look at 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:02.300 to try to sort of figure out what's sort of going on 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:07.139 with these types of, you know, this question and these types of complaints. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:09.419 So let's walk towards it. 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:11.319 And, in fact, actually, for some people, 00:03:11.460 --> 00:03:14.360 if you're maybe here for the first time or you're watching for the first time, 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:17.759 one of the reasons that at this church we preach through books of the Bible 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:19.919 is precisely not to hide things. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:23.419 It would be we want to go through it. 00:03:23.460 --> 00:03:24.120 We don't want to just say, 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:26.439 oh, I'm just going to look at this little happy-clappy bit 00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:29.180 and this little happy-clappy bit and this happy-clappy bit 00:03:29.180 --> 00:03:33.620 and then this other bit that's really angry at all the people who aren't like us 00:03:33.620 --> 00:03:34.199 and then another half. 00:03:34.219 --> 00:03:35.120 No, no, we don't do that. 00:03:35.180 --> 00:03:36.960 We go right through the book from beginning to end, 00:03:37.060 --> 00:03:38.039 and so nothing's hidden. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:39.219 So let's look. 00:03:39.859 --> 00:03:41.740 And it's Mark chapter 6. 00:03:41.819 --> 00:03:44.280 It would be a great help to you and to me if you follow. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:45.699 I mean, the words will be on the screen, 00:03:45.780 --> 00:03:48.579 but it's always a good help for you to look at the Bible yourself 00:03:48.579 --> 00:03:53.379 and just see if I'm actually being fair and honest to the text 00:03:53.379 --> 00:03:54.960 and to have your own questions. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:56.540 So here's how it is. 00:03:56.580 --> 00:04:00.760 As I've already said, what's just happened before this is that, 00:04:00.939 --> 00:04:05.980 first of all, Jesus was rejected by his family and his home village 00:04:05.980 --> 00:04:06.700 and his relatives. 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:11.460 Then Jesus sends out his 12 disciples for a ministry of proclamation, 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:14.200 and that's what happens just before this, 00:04:14.219 --> 00:04:16.100 and now the story continues like this. 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:21.579 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. 00:04:21.579 --> 00:04:28.079 Some said, John the Baptist or John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead. 00:04:28.899 --> 00:04:31.579 That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him. 00:04:32.099 --> 00:04:37.060 But others said he is Elijah, and others said he is a prophet like one of the prophets of old. 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:40.539 But when Herod, King Herod, heard of it, he said, 00:04:40.699 --> 00:04:43.579 John, whom I beheaded, has been raised. 00:04:43.579 --> 00:04:47.159 Now, you just sort of have to pause here for a second. 00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:53.199 One of the reasons that modern or Canadians have troubles reading the Bible 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:56.279 is that we're very used to lots of emotional descriptions. 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:01.759 And generally speaking, the New Testament doesn't give very many emotional descriptions. 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:04.879 It, in a sense, just records what happens, 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:08.439 and so what we need to do is we need to be able to, in a sense, 00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:10.240 put ourselves into the story a little bit 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:12.879 and try to understand emotionally what's going on. 00:05:13.420 --> 00:05:14.319 And so here's the thing. 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:15.699 In fact, just for a moment, 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:19.620 imagine that you were responsible for beheading an innocent person, 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:24.839 and then later on you hear that he's come back to life with miraculous powers. 00:05:25.860 --> 00:05:27.159 Would you be happy or worried? 00:05:27.579 --> 00:05:28.879 That's a stupid question. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:32.439 That's the fundamental plot of almost every horror movie, isn't it? 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:35.980 Somebody who's been terribly treated, 00:05:36.439 --> 00:05:39.519 and then all of a sudden they either come back to life 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:41.300 or they rise out of the whole mess, 00:05:41.540 --> 00:05:44.560 and whoa, all of a sudden they can make fire, 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:46.300 they can do all these things, 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:47.480 and everybody runs, 00:05:47.579 --> 00:05:49.300 and there's lots of screaming and lots of death 00:05:49.300 --> 00:05:50.279 before the movie ends, 00:05:50.659 --> 00:05:52.100 either on a happy note or a bad note. 00:05:52.139 --> 00:05:55.079 This is like the standard plot of a horror movie. 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:56.279 All right there. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:05:59.360 And so what you need to understand is 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:02.019 you have, if you're doing a movie of this scene, 00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:05.980 you would have Herod in his mighty fortress, 00:06:06.219 --> 00:06:08.959 and you'd have the scenes of his soldiers walking around, 00:06:09.060 --> 00:06:11.219 maybe doing their exercises out front, 00:06:11.699 --> 00:06:13.480 the servants and all the, you know, 00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:14.980 the boot lickers and, you know, 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:18.000 butt kissers and all that sort of all fawning around him, 00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:21.240 but he is there in the midst of all his pomp and glory, 00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:22.100 deeply worried. 00:06:23.860 --> 00:06:25.579 The man that he had beheaded, 00:06:25.740 --> 00:06:27.319 the innocent man that he had beheaded, 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:29.519 has miraculous powers and is on the loose. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:38.079 That's where Herod is in this particular thing. 00:06:38.859 --> 00:06:40.539 Just as a bit of an aside, 00:06:41.299 --> 00:06:43.500 but it's a very important aside, 00:06:45.099 --> 00:06:46.479 much of the, 00:06:46.599 --> 00:06:48.299 what we're going to see in this story 00:06:48.299 --> 00:06:52.539 is actually validated by one of the most important historians, 00:06:52.799 --> 00:06:55.799 non-Christian historians of the ancient world for that region 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:58.759 by the name of Josephus, who talks about John the Baptist, 00:06:58.960 --> 00:06:59.819 talks about Herod, 00:07:00.100 --> 00:07:01.960 and actually talks about some of the events 00:07:01.960 --> 00:07:03.240 that take place in this story. 00:07:03.860 --> 00:07:07.460 It's all part of what I say over and over and over again 00:07:07.460 --> 00:07:09.080 is that when you're reading the book of Mark, 00:07:09.620 --> 00:07:12.460 some of us might have a hard time with Mark 00:07:12.460 --> 00:07:13.939 because it records miracles, 00:07:14.139 --> 00:07:15.000 but what Mark is, 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:18.139 it's an ancient biography based on eyewitness testimony, 00:07:18.139 --> 00:07:22.240 which the more that archaeologists know about the past, 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:23.339 the more they discover, 00:07:23.479 --> 00:07:25.979 the more they see that it's historically accurate 00:07:25.979 --> 00:07:28.399 to the point that it's not uncommon, 00:07:28.539 --> 00:07:29.560 in fact, it's very common, 00:07:29.819 --> 00:07:33.000 that Jewish archaeologists go to the Gospels 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:36.360 to get information to help them make archaeological discoveries. 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:40.580 And so what we're reading here is an historical account 00:07:40.580 --> 00:07:43.939 of two people that are known in general history. 00:07:44.939 --> 00:07:49.220 And so you have this picture of Herod brooding in his castle, 00:07:49.220 --> 00:07:50.600 and now if this was a movie, 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:54.360 what you'd have is the flashback that brings him up, 00:07:54.580 --> 00:07:56.060 that shows why he's brooding. 00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:57.540 And that's what John does. 00:07:57.600 --> 00:07:58.860 That's how Mark writes his book. 00:07:58.960 --> 00:08:01.180 Look at what happens in verse 17. 00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:03.639 It begins with a flashback. 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:06.019 For it was Herod, verse 17, 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:08.579 who had sent and seized John 00:08:08.579 --> 00:08:10.419 and bound him in prison 00:08:10.419 --> 00:08:12.300 for the sake of Herodias, 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:14.339 his brother Philip's wife, 00:08:14.759 --> 00:08:16.939 because he had married her. 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:19.560 For John, that's John the Baptist, 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:20.819 had been saying to Herod, 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:23.519 it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:27.379 Now just sort of pause here for a second as well. 00:08:28.180 --> 00:08:29.839 First of all, in the original language, 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:32.340 it's John the Baptist doesn't just sort of say it once 00:08:32.340 --> 00:08:33.720 as a throwaway comment. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:35.440 He says it over and over and over again. 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:37.300 He wouldn't shut up. 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:39.300 He said it many times. 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:43.139 And it sounds as if he said it before he got thrown in jail 00:08:43.139 --> 00:08:44.519 and even after he was in jail, 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:47.519 he would continue to say that it was in fact against the law. 00:08:48.259 --> 00:08:49.620 Now for many people, 00:08:49.800 --> 00:08:51.000 reading this now, 00:08:51.180 --> 00:08:52.280 I mean maybe for churches, 00:08:53.540 --> 00:08:55.420 you know we're supposed to agree with it 00:08:55.420 --> 00:08:56.900 and we're supposed to not have any questions 00:08:56.900 --> 00:08:58.580 and we're supposed to not have any problems, 00:08:58.840 --> 00:08:59.680 so it's you know, 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:00.859 blah, blah, blah, 00:09:00.959 --> 00:09:01.659 let's just go on. 00:09:01.719 --> 00:09:02.719 Of course it's all the right thing. 00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:04.199 But let's just be honest for ourselves, 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:05.239 just even as Christians, 00:09:05.359 --> 00:09:07.199 if I was to discover that one of you folks 00:09:07.199 --> 00:09:08.559 were working on Parliament Hill 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:10.579 and you were making a big fuss 00:09:10.579 --> 00:09:12.379 about the marital status of somebody, 00:09:12.479 --> 00:09:13.219 some of you might say, 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:14.719 George, would you tell him to shut up 00:09:14.719 --> 00:09:15.539 or her to shut up 00:09:15.539 --> 00:09:16.439 or would you say, 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:17.159 no, no, no, no, no, 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:18.620 go into the fact that he's divorced 00:09:18.620 --> 00:09:20.039 or would you say that that's just, 00:09:20.479 --> 00:09:21.919 you know, don't you think, George, 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.039 that we Canadians are wiser and smarter 00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:24.779 and we've understood 00:09:24.779 --> 00:09:25.959 that you don't make a big fuss 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:27.400 about things like that, 00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:28.620 sexual things like that. 00:09:28.680 --> 00:09:29.960 You just don't make a fuss about it. 00:09:29.980 --> 00:09:31.280 George, wouldn't you counsel 00:09:31.280 --> 00:09:32.759 the staffer 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:34.720 or the person who works for the think tank, 00:09:34.800 --> 00:09:36.180 you don't even bring up that stuff, 00:09:36.259 --> 00:09:37.400 like, you know, move on, 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:38.420 get on with life, 00:09:38.540 --> 00:09:39.840 don't make a big fuss about it, 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:40.960 don't ruin your career. 00:09:41.100 --> 00:09:42.460 Isn't that what you would say, George? 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:44.360 Like, we Canadians are wiser. 00:09:47.980 --> 00:09:49.280 But the problem is 00:09:49.280 --> 00:09:50.759 when we think things like that, 00:09:51.940 --> 00:09:53.460 that we're actually not really being, 00:09:53.460 --> 00:09:54.800 in fact, actually, 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:57.440 to think that is to not live 00:09:57.440 --> 00:09:58.400 in the real world. 00:10:00.420 --> 00:10:01.780 I mean, good grief. 00:10:02.820 --> 00:10:04.560 Has there been a greater time 00:10:04.560 --> 00:10:06.440 over the last decades 00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:08.960 when sex hasn't been a bigger issue? 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:12.000 I mean, good grief. 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:14.180 J.K. Rowling's been cancelled 00:10:14.180 --> 00:10:15.840 from the whole Harry Potter thing 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:16.720 because she doesn't have 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:18.480 an acceptable view on sex. 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:19.980 Isn't that true? 00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:23.659 I mean, the fact of the matter is, 00:10:23.960 --> 00:10:25.980 because we occasionally talk about that, 00:10:26.060 --> 00:10:27.639 we have to actually think through 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:29.300 whether lay people can get up 00:10:29.300 --> 00:10:30.180 and be on YouTube 00:10:30.180 --> 00:10:32.779 because they might get cancelled. 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:35.300 Because our culture 00:10:35.300 --> 00:10:38.420 is unbelievably opinionated 00:10:38.420 --> 00:10:40.800 and fixated on having the right views. 00:10:41.539 --> 00:10:44.120 So this isn't an unrealistic story. 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:46.240 This is a very contemporary story. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:49.360 And for a Christian or non-Christian 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:50.320 to think that they're making 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:51.279 a mountain out of a molehill 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:51.840 that has nothing to do 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:52.480 with today's world, 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:53.980 it has everything to do 00:10:53.980 --> 00:10:54.899 with today's world. 00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:56.100 Everything to do 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:57.080 with today's world. 00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:03.820 And now, 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:05.419 I have to be careful, 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:06.860 I don't go down a rabbit hole, 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:07.879 but I need you 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:09.539 to give me a little bit 00:11:09.539 --> 00:11:10.560 of a moment's mercy. 00:11:14.820 --> 00:11:15.919 Maybe more than a moment. 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:18.960 The fact of the matter is, 00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:20.600 is that this is talking about divorce, 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:21.820 which isn't a big issue 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:22.940 in our culture, 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:24.399 because in our culture, 00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:27.159 our culture maintains a myth, 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:29.259 a whole pile of myths 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:30.139 about divorce, 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:33.279 of the happy divorce, 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:36.000 the divorce without consequences. 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:37.419 And I have to be very careful. 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:40.460 And I'm not, 00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:41.299 what I'm going to say 00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:42.399 in the next minute or two 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:43.960 isn't meant to make anybody 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:44.779 feel guilty, 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:45.860 although it might. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:49.259 I mean, 00:11:49.299 --> 00:11:50.419 the bottom line is 00:11:50.419 --> 00:11:51.879 that the Bible is the, 00:11:52.060 --> 00:11:52.919 that the gospel 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:54.240 is about restoration 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:55.620 and about new life. 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:56.620 It's about forgiveness. 00:11:57.740 --> 00:11:57.840 And, 00:11:57.899 --> 00:11:59.080 and no matter when 00:11:59.080 --> 00:12:00.000 the gospels 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.980 talk about sin, 00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:02.080 it's always in the point, 00:12:02.299 --> 00:12:03.340 it's just like, 00:12:03.680 --> 00:12:04.960 I often tell men 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:06.240 if their wives 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:07.180 are confronting them, 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:07.919 they confront you 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:08.860 to connect with you, 00:12:09.560 --> 00:12:10.700 not to push you away. 00:12:11.019 --> 00:12:12.200 They confront to connect. 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:13.140 And that's what the gospel 00:12:13.140 --> 00:12:13.460 is doing. 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:14.980 The fact of the matter 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:16.140 is here that 00:12:16.140 --> 00:12:18.540 every single one of us 00:12:18.540 --> 00:12:19.940 has been affected by divorce. 00:12:20.860 --> 00:12:22.620 Some of us have had marriages 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:23.940 that have almost ended in divorce. 00:12:24.140 --> 00:12:25.360 Some of us are divorced. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:27.180 Some of us are probably 00:12:27.180 --> 00:12:28.500 divorced more than once. 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:30.220 Many of us, 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:31.460 if not all of us, 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:32.740 have siblings 00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:34.220 who are divorced. 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:36.220 many of us 00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:37.259 are children 00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:39.040 whose parents divorced. 00:12:40.680 --> 00:12:42.480 And so in some cases, 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:44.240 people here 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.180 know what it's like 00:12:45.180 --> 00:12:45.980 to be abandoned, 00:12:46.420 --> 00:12:46.940 abused, 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:47.779 or to have had your, 00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:49.180 your spouse 00:12:49.180 --> 00:12:50.019 commit adultery. 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:52.360 And it's also 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.279 probably the case 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:53.980 that some of us 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:54.560 who are here 00:12:54.560 --> 00:12:55.160 were the one 00:12:55.160 --> 00:12:56.600 who abandoned the spouse 00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:59.279 or abused the spouse 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:01.180 or broke up 00:13:01.180 --> 00:13:02.220 the marriage by adultery. 00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:09.200 And my point here 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.220 is not to make anybody 00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:11.240 particularly here 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:11.920 to feel guilty, 00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:12.920 but I'm trying to, 00:13:13.060 --> 00:13:14.240 it's very, very funny. 00:13:14.660 --> 00:13:15.680 People will talk about 00:13:15.680 --> 00:13:16.100 the Bible 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:16.820 not talking about 00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:17.460 the real world, 00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:18.700 but what often is happening 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:19.399 is that we don't want 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:20.560 to deal with the real world. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:22.340 We don't want to deal 00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:22.940 with the reality 00:13:22.940 --> 00:13:23.700 of our heart 00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:25.620 and the reality 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:26.279 of what we've done. 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:29.840 But the fact of the matter is 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:35.399 divorce does cause 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:36.399 deep wounds. 00:13:38.820 --> 00:13:40.500 It causes deep wounds. 00:13:41.800 --> 00:13:43.080 Maybe not for both, 00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:44.759 but at least for one. 00:13:46.820 --> 00:13:47.720 And often then 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:49.240 it expands beyond 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:49.899 to children 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:51.280 and to grandchildren 00:13:51.280 --> 00:13:52.220 and to 00:13:52.220 --> 00:13:55.580 parents 00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:56.800 and parents-in-law. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:58.839 it's not nothing. 00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:03.559 And so we might not 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:04.879 particularly agree 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.639 on the surface 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:07.899 with John the Baptist 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:09.419 making a fuss about this, 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:10.419 but the fact of the matter 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:11.199 is we can't really 00:14:11.199 --> 00:14:12.199 say anything about it 00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:13.019 given how obsessed 00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:14.019 our culture is 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:15.079 about the right 00:14:15.079 --> 00:14:16.299 sexual views. 00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:18.419 And actually, 00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:19.019 even in this 00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:20.319 particular context, 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:21.879 I'm going to tell you 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.079 something. 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:22.599 Remember I said 00:14:22.599 --> 00:14:23.759 that this whole incident 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.559 is covered by 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:25.479 ancient historians. 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:27.720 Here's another thing 00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:28.159 about this 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:28.879 in the real world. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:29.680 This is what actually 00:14:29.680 --> 00:14:30.100 happened. 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:30.860 It's not recorded 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:31.539 in the Bible story, 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.180 but this is what 00:14:32.180 --> 00:14:34.120 we know from historians. 00:14:35.420 --> 00:14:36.500 So what happened 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.379 is Herod 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:38.440 has a brother 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:40.920 and Herod's brother 00:14:40.920 --> 00:14:42.019 is married to Herodias 00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:43.120 and they have 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:43.879 the daughter 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:45.500 who's unnamed 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:46.259 in this story 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.399 and Herod 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:48.480 is also married. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:49.820 And so Herod 00:14:49.820 --> 00:14:50.899 wants to be married 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:51.740 to Herodias, 00:14:52.820 --> 00:14:53.639 whether it's for 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.360 a combination 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:54.820 of just, 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:55.259 you know, 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.639 he's tired of 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:58.340 Model A 00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:58.820 and he'd rather 00:14:58.820 --> 00:14:59.519 have Model B 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.360 because Model B 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:00.779 is younger, 00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:01.240 cooler, 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:01.600 hipper, 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.259 more pretty, 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:03.120 you know, 00:15:03.180 --> 00:15:03.779 more pleasant, 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:04.560 more flattering, 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:05.019 whatever, 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:05.960 or it's also 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:06.379 going to maybe 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.100 help that his 00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:08.379 career and her 00:15:08.379 --> 00:15:08.820 likewise. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:09.940 So he divorces 00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:10.560 his wife 00:15:10.560 --> 00:15:11.360 and she divorces 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:11.879 her husband 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.480 and they marry. 00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:14.899 And so in the 00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:16.200 mythology of our 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:16.600 culture, 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:17.080 of course, 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:19.860 there's no harm 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.639 that comes from it, 00:15:20.680 --> 00:15:21.120 but actually 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:21.720 there's almost 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.259 always harm. 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.360 And the story 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.220 not recorded here 00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:24.899 actually tells you 00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:25.159 the harm 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:25.740 because you see 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.980 what historians 00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:27.740 tell us 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:28.720 is that Herod 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:29.399 was married 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:30.059 to the daughter 00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:30.659 of a king. 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:33.159 And the king 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:35.179 was the neighboring 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:35.600 area. 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.120 So they're all 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:36.759 under Rome, 00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.259 but Rome 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.019 generally let 00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:38.700 like kings 00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:39.439 or other high 00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:40.100 level people 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.600 manage territories 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:42.159 for them. 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:43.799 And so Herod 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:44.580 is married 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:45.580 to the daughter 00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:46.759 of a neighboring 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.439 king. 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:49.680 And just 00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:50.240 as we see 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:51.280 that Herodias 00:15:51.280 --> 00:15:51.840 has a big 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.420 grudge in a 00:15:52.420 --> 00:15:52.840 moment and 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:53.260 she's not 00:15:53.260 --> 00:15:53.500 going to 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.840 forgive John 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:55.340 the Baptist 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:56.060 for questioning 00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:56.720 the marriage, 00:15:57.160 --> 00:15:57.680 well, the fact 00:15:57.680 --> 00:15:58.080 of the matter 00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:59.660 is, is the 00:15:59.660 --> 00:16:01.480 king is really 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:02.420 bothered that 00:16:02.420 --> 00:16:03.100 Herod just 00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:03.900 dismissed his 00:16:03.900 --> 00:16:04.860 wife like she's 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:06.500 just like garbage. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.620 And he holds 00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:09.200 a grudge. 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:10.360 And a couple 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.100 of years after 00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:11.860 this incident, 00:16:12.540 --> 00:16:14.260 this king 00:16:14.260 --> 00:16:15.140 invades 00:16:15.140 --> 00:16:16.080 Herod's kingdom. 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:17.500 Herod's kingdom 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.540 is ruinously 00:16:18.540 --> 00:16:19.120 defeated. 00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:21.879 And a couple 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.520 of years after 00:16:22.520 --> 00:16:23.240 that, because 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.020 of the ruinous 00:16:24.020 --> 00:16:25.220 defeat and 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:25.820 the discord 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.360 that Herod 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:27.040 has caused, 00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.740 Herod is 00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:29.379 deposed. 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:30.980 That's what 00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:31.680 actually happened. 00:16:33.660 --> 00:16:34.220 That's what 00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:34.660 happened in 00:16:34.660 --> 00:16:35.040 history. 00:16:37.060 --> 00:16:37.240 In fact, 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.040 all of a sudden 00:16:38.040 --> 00:16:38.600 now you'd say 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.220 if John the 00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:39.800 Baptist is 00:16:39.800 --> 00:16:40.000 saying, 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:40.900 listen, dude, 00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:41.900 you divorce 00:16:41.900 --> 00:16:42.820 her, you're 00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:43.180 going to bring 00:16:43.180 --> 00:16:44.000 about a ruinous 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.220 war, and 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:45.860 not only is it 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.040 going to 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:46.539 lead to you 00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:47.319 being deposed, 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.120 but the fact 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:48.439 of the matter 00:16:48.439 --> 00:16:49.439 is, is that 00:16:49.439 --> 00:16:49.980 when there 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.740 is a ruinous 00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.299 war, 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:55.699 generally 00:16:55.699 --> 00:16:56.459 speaking, 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:59.079 it's not 00:16:59.079 --> 00:17:00.319 the king's 00:17:00.319 --> 00:17:00.899 or prime 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.500 minister's 00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:01.939 kids who 00:17:01.939 --> 00:17:02.419 die in the 00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:04.019 war, but 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.940 working class 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.639 and middle 00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:06.700 class and 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.139 the poor 00:17:07.139 --> 00:17:08.579 who die 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:08.980 in the war. 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:11.759 And all of a 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.039 sudden we 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.460 think, whoa, 00:17:12.859 --> 00:17:13.339 maybe John 00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:13.740 the Baptist 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:14.319 was on to 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:14.619 something. 00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:15.019 We 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.279 shouldn't 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:15.419 have 00:17:15.419 --> 00:17:15.819 dismissed 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:16.119 it. 00:17:16.739 --> 00:17:17.179 But now 00:17:17.179 --> 00:17:17.719 we're actually 00:17:17.719 --> 00:17:18.279 dealing with 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:18.719 the real 00:17:18.719 --> 00:17:19.000 world. 00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:19.319 The way 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:19.699 the world 00:17:19.699 --> 00:17:20.699 actually works 00:17:20.699 --> 00:17:21.039 is how 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:21.519 the Bible 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:22.119 is talking, 00:17:22.419 --> 00:17:22.899 and the 00:17:22.899 --> 00:17:23.459 Bible is 00:17:23.459 --> 00:17:24.000 holding up 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.500 a mirror 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.139 to us 00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:25.939 and giving 00:17:25.939 --> 00:17:26.339 us a 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.019 window into 00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:27.399 what the 00:17:27.399 --> 00:17:27.799 world is 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:28.479 really like. 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:30.759 And now, 00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:31.159 actually, 00:17:31.239 --> 00:17:31.779 the very next 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:31.939 thing, 00:17:32.179 --> 00:17:32.979 it's really 00:17:32.979 --> 00:17:33.419 interesting, 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.179 what immediately 00:17:34.179 --> 00:17:34.959 happens after 00:17:34.959 --> 00:17:35.579 verse 18, 00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:35.979 which we've 00:17:35.979 --> 00:17:36.459 just read, 00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:37.699 is two 00:17:37.699 --> 00:17:38.879 deeply human 00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:39.519 moments, 00:17:39.919 --> 00:17:40.439 if we're able 00:17:40.439 --> 00:17:40.799 to see 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:41.200 ourselves 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:41.519 in it. 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:41.980 Deeply, 00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:42.319 deeply 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:42.680 human. 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.339 Look what 00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:43.879 happens in 00:17:43.879 --> 00:17:44.639 verse 19. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.180 So remember 00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:46.119 verse 18, 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.240 you know, 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:47.639 he's been 00:17:47.639 --> 00:17:48.059 saying, 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.019 you shouldn't 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:49.440 be married, 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:49.799 you shouldn't 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.079 have taken 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:50.639 your brother's 00:17:50.639 --> 00:17:50.940 wife. 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:51.960 Verse 19, 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:52.859 and Herodias, 00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:53.700 that's the 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:55.119 new wife, 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:56.200 the current 00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:56.700 wife of 00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:57.079 Herod, 00:17:57.879 --> 00:17:58.980 had a grudge 00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.599 against John 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.079 the Baptist 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:00.980 and wanted 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:01.539 to put him 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.119 to death, 00:18:03.159 --> 00:18:03.740 but she 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.419 could not 00:18:04.419 --> 00:18:06.180 yet. 00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:07.980 for Herod, 00:18:08.060 --> 00:18:08.560 verse 20, 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.580 feared John, 00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:12.360 knowing, 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:13.560 and feared, 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:14.299 probably the 00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:14.820 better word 00:18:14.820 --> 00:18:15.340 for feared 00:18:15.340 --> 00:18:15.620 there, 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.039 when some 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:16.259 of your 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:16.860 versions might 00:18:16.860 --> 00:18:18.360 say perplexed, 00:18:20.060 --> 00:18:20.720 knowing that 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.259 he was a 00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:21.799 righteous and 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.340 holy man 00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:22.740 and kept 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.180 him safe, 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:23.460 when he 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:26.259 heard him, 00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:26.759 he was greatly 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.519 perplexed and 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.019 yet heard him 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.440 gladly. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.560 And this is 00:18:29.560 --> 00:18:29.820 very, 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:30.519 very interesting 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.000 because the 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:31.279 fact of the 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:31.380 matter, 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:31.860 this is what 00:18:31.860 --> 00:18:32.180 the real 00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:32.920 world is like, 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:33.259 isn't it? 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:33.799 You do 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.980 something and 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.880 somebody hates 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:36.160 you for 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:36.519 the rest 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:36.840 of your 00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:37.180 life. 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:37.580 Isn't that 00:18:37.580 --> 00:18:37.940 just like 00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:38.460 real life? 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.200 In fact, 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:39.720 maybe some 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.200 of us here 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:40.800 right now, 00:18:40.860 --> 00:18:41.120 if we're 00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:41.700 honest about 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:41.840 it, 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:42.240 somebody's 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:42.500 done a 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:42.900 wrong to 00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.240 us and 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:43.640 we hate 00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:44.140 them still. 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.500 One year, 00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.040 five years, 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:46.700 ten years 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.240 later, 00:18:47.340 --> 00:18:47.720 we still 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.259 hate them. 00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:51.700 And in 00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:51.880 fact, 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.220 actually, 00:18:52.340 --> 00:18:52.860 that's often, 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.240 there are 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:53.759 many people 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:55.540 who hate 00:18:55.540 --> 00:18:57.019 Christians. 00:18:59.240 --> 00:18:59.460 I mean, 00:18:59.500 --> 00:18:59.940 if you think 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.360 about it, 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:01.000 it was only 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.019 a year ago 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.580 that 50 00:19:03.580 --> 00:19:04.420 churches were 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:04.900 burned, 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:07.920 or defaced, 00:19:08.540 --> 00:19:09.540 and virtually 00:19:09.540 --> 00:19:10.140 nobody in 00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:10.580 the chattering 00:19:10.580 --> 00:19:11.380 classes were 00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:12.019 upset with 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.460 it. 00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:14.900 Yeah, 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:15.140 the Bible 00:19:15.140 --> 00:19:15.540 has nothing 00:19:15.540 --> 00:19:15.860 to do with 00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:16.220 the modern 00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:16.600 world, 00:19:16.820 --> 00:19:17.259 nothing at 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:17.460 all. 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:18.540 And the 00:19:18.540 --> 00:19:18.800 other thing 00:19:18.800 --> 00:19:19.440 about Herod, 00:19:19.840 --> 00:19:20.040 I mean, 00:19:20.080 --> 00:19:20.380 I'll be 00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:20.720 honest, 00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:21.640 the year 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:22.320 processed 00:19:22.320 --> 00:19:23.100 before me 00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:23.880 becoming a 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:24.320 Christian, 00:19:25.040 --> 00:19:26.240 in many ways, 00:19:26.340 --> 00:19:26.780 I was 00:19:26.780 --> 00:19:27.340 Herod. 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:29.279 I was 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.039 both really 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.879 drawn to 00:19:30.879 --> 00:19:31.559 Christianity 00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:32.799 and repulsed 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.399 by it. 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.500 Drawn and 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.459 repulsed. 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.419 Drawn to it 00:19:40.419 --> 00:19:40.959 because there 00:19:40.959 --> 00:19:41.720 was something, 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:42.939 gosh, 00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.459 when I was 00:19:43.459 --> 00:19:44.220 with Christians, 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:44.959 there was just 00:19:44.959 --> 00:19:46.240 something there. 00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:47.299 I felt a 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:48.039 presence. 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.799 At the same 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.119 time, 00:19:51.199 --> 00:19:52.379 I was repulsed 00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:52.819 by it. 00:19:52.819 --> 00:19:53.200 it would 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:55.319 mean that 00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:56.279 I was 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:56.720 never going 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:57.079 to be a 00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:57.939 cool kid. 00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:58.539 It would 00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:59.139 mean that 00:19:59.139 --> 00:19:59.339 I, 00:20:00.179 --> 00:20:00.619 it would 00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:01.980 make me 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:02.419 have to 00:20:02.419 --> 00:20:03.279 believe things 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.000 that weren't 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.299 going to 00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:04.679 make me 00:20:04.679 --> 00:20:05.299 fit in. 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:06.839 And so, 00:20:06.939 --> 00:20:07.419 in many ways, 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:07.919 if you think 00:20:07.919 --> 00:20:08.299 about it, 00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:09.460 Herod or 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:11.059 his wife 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:11.700 are us. 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:16.939 Now, 00:20:17.619 --> 00:20:20.419 one of 00:20:20.419 --> 00:20:20.859 the things 00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:22.519 about the 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.019 divorce, 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:23.599 and I'm 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:23.819 not going 00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:24.019 to go 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.359 into it, 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:24.680 actually, 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:25.619 down the 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:25.779 road, 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:26.039 we're going 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:26.359 to talk 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:26.980 about divorce 00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.420 because it's 00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:27.599 going to 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:27.940 come up 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.400 in Mark's 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:29.019 gospel later 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.319 on. 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:30.879 But one 00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:31.059 of the 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:33.019 things that 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.980 Christians need 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:34.660 to understand 00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.139 is that the 00:20:35.139 --> 00:20:35.539 fact of the 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.019 matter is, 00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.500 is that we 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.160 are the 00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:37.740 inheritors 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.079 through the 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.500 Bible of 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:39.139 a 3,500 00:20:39.139 --> 00:20:40.139 year sexual 00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:40.759 revolution. 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.319 A sexual 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:44.139 revolution which 00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:44.660 is deeply 00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:45.200 wise, 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:45.680 that goes 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.440 right back to 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:46.740 the giving 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.220 of the Ten 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:47.980 Commandments, 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:48.500 and it's 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.359 deeply wise. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.079 And it 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:52.480 constantly is 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.299 countercultural 00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:53.860 to the 00:20:53.860 --> 00:20:54.900 world, 00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:56.319 and constantly 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:56.819 the church 00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:57.420 has to be 00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:58.039 drawn back. 00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:58.640 The church 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:00.140 becomes a 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:00.539 thing of 00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.579 horror when 00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:02.140 it forgets 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:02.660 the Bible 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.120 and is 00:21:03.120 --> 00:21:03.740 shaped by 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.200 the world, 00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:04.579 and we 00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.220 constantly 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.799 need to be 00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:06.360 brought back 00:21:06.360 --> 00:21:06.920 to hear the 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:07.799 Bible afresh, 00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:09.059 to speak 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:10.059 wisdom into 00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:10.500 us about 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.120 the sexuality 00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:12.000 of things. 00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:13.059 And one 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:13.259 of the 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.740 things which 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:14.779 you're going 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.220 to see here 00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:15.700 in the story 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.079 is part of 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:16.640 the wisdom 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:18.040 of the 00:21:18.040 --> 00:21:18.420 Bible, 00:21:18.540 --> 00:21:18.820 part of 00:21:18.820 --> 00:21:19.540 the 3,500 00:21:19.540 --> 00:21:20.360 year 00:21:20.360 --> 00:21:22.120 perpetual 00:21:22.120 --> 00:21:23.200 sexual 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.120 revolution that 00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:24.880 the Bible 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:25.860 launched and 00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:26.520 continues to 00:21:26.520 --> 00:21:26.640 be. 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:27.180 Look what 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:27.820 happens in 00:21:27.820 --> 00:21:28.520 verse 21. 00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.380 But an 00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.340 opportunity came 00:21:31.340 --> 00:21:32.020 when Herod, 00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:32.400 on his 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:32.800 birthday, 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:33.220 gave a 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:33.759 banquet for 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.280 his nobles 00:21:34.280 --> 00:21:34.860 and military 00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:36.320 commanders and 00:21:36.320 --> 00:21:36.620 the leading 00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:36.980 men of 00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:37.300 Galilee. 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:37.759 So three 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.180 groups. 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.440 He brings 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.040 his nobles, 00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:40.540 he brings 00:21:40.540 --> 00:21:41.060 the military 00:21:41.060 --> 00:21:41.540 commanders, 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:41.940 he brings 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.220 the leading 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.540 men of 00:21:42.540 --> 00:21:42.820 Galilee, 00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:43.379 all men, 00:21:44.159 --> 00:21:44.439 it's an 00:21:44.439 --> 00:21:44.859 all-male 00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:45.460 gathering. 00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:46.879 And what 00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.399 does a 00:21:47.399 --> 00:21:47.819 very, 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.379 very rich 00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:49.139 tyrant do 00:21:49.139 --> 00:21:49.519 when there's 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.019 an all-male 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:50.779 gathering and 00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:51.099 there's going 00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:51.439 to be a 00:21:51.439 --> 00:21:51.639 feast? 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:52.079 There's lots 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:52.639 of alcohol. 00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:54.299 Okay? 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.419 And sorry 00:21:55.419 --> 00:21:55.899 to offend 00:21:55.899 --> 00:21:56.480 vegans, 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.220 lots of 00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:57.480 meat. 00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.099 Okay? 00:21:58.859 --> 00:21:59.740 And all 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.179 the things 00:22:00.179 --> 00:22:01.259 that go 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:01.639 along with 00:22:01.639 --> 00:22:01.799 that. 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.599 Verse 22, 00:22:03.439 --> 00:22:03.859 for when 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:04.460 Herodias' 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.399 daughter came 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:05.700 in and 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.179 danced, 00:22:06.899 --> 00:22:07.759 she pleased 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.439 Herod and 00:22:08.439 --> 00:22:09.079 his guests, 00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:09.579 and the 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.039 king said 00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:10.359 to the 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:10.599 girl, 00:22:11.419 --> 00:22:12.099 ask me 00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:12.659 for whatever 00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:13.180 you wish, 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:13.400 and I 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:13.720 will give 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:13.980 it to 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.200 you. 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.340 And he 00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:15.660 vowed, 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.360 whatever you 00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:16.880 ask me, 00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:17.400 I will give 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:17.800 you up to 00:22:17.800 --> 00:22:18.259 half of 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.860 my kingdom. 00:22:20.300 --> 00:22:20.740 Now, 00:22:20.860 --> 00:22:21.500 pause here, 00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:22.000 and I'm 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.180 going to 00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:22.880 be X-rated. 00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:27.040 This is 00:22:27.040 --> 00:22:27.920 his niece 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.840 and his 00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:30.480 stepdaughter. 00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:31.420 And the 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:31.820 word for 00:22:31.820 --> 00:22:32.540 girl is 00:22:32.540 --> 00:22:32.960 the same 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:33.680 word in 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.500 chapter 5, 00:22:34.560 --> 00:22:35.140 talking about 00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:35.519 Jairus' 00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.360 daughter around 00:22:36.360 --> 00:22:36.759 12. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:37.220 It's the 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:38.220 same word. 00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:41.180 She does 00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:41.960 a sexually 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.759 provocative 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.440 and arousing 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:44.819 dance that 00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.480 pleases all 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:45.860 the men. 00:22:49.860 --> 00:22:50.700 It almost 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.120 makes you 00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.380 want to 00:22:51.380 --> 00:22:51.640 vomit. 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.740 It almost 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.140 makes you 00:22:58.140 --> 00:22:58.380 want to 00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:58.640 vomit. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:02.880 And him 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:03.140 and the 00:23:03.140 --> 00:23:03.440 men, 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:04.700 his niece, 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:05.960 his niece, 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.079 his 12 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:07.720 to 14 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.259 year old 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.319 niece and 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:09.900 his step 00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:10.299 daughter, 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:13.599 does this 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:14.200 dance. 00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:16.519 And they're 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:16.960 all so 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.680 aroused and 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.099 clapping, 00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:18.680 he makes 00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:19.480 this rash 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:20.039 promise. 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.279 See, 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:26.619 one of the 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:27.099 things that's 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:27.279 at the 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.799 very heart 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.039 of the 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:28.359 Christian 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:28.879 sexual 00:23:28.879 --> 00:23:30.039 revolution 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:30.440 that's 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:30.980 constantly 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:31.659 having to 00:23:31.659 --> 00:23:32.460 deal with 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.419 our natural 00:23:33.419 --> 00:23:34.159 inclinations, 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.579 and we can 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.259 really see it 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:37.319 very powerfully 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:37.720 today, 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.380 one of the 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:39.039 problems with 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:39.680 today's world 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.019 is that 00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:40.680 everything is 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.440 sensualized, 00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.160 everything is 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:43.019 sexualized. 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.559 And as 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.500 everything becomes 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.160 sexualized, 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:46.819 it gets harder 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:47.440 and harder for 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:47.920 there to be a 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:48.640 place just for 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.220 a kid to be 00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:49.680 a kid, 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.579 for a dad 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:52.380 just to be a 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:52.960 dad that 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.440 doesn't take 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:54.039 any type of 00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:54.980 sexual advantage 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.720 on others 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.519 or his 00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.900 family or 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:59.279 neighbors. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.539 others. 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.059 But, you 00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:01.259 know, in 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:01.899 the ancient 00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:02.279 world, 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.180 everything was 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:03.799 sensualized, 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:04.480 everything was 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:04.980 sexualized, 00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:06.119 worship was 00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:07.180 sexualized and 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.180 sensualized. 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.000 In the 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.859 coliseum of 00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:15.299 the day, 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:15.819 in the 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.579 coliseums of 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.039 the day, 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.180 to the 00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:18.740 roaring of 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.279 the crowd, 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.299 bestiality was 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:20.819 practiced. 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.619 That's the 00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:25.839 world that 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:26.200 John the 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:26.879 Baptist lived 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:27.460 in and Jesus 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.019 lived in. 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:29.139 That's the 00:24:29.139 --> 00:24:29.619 world that 00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.079 the gospel 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:30.559 was first 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:30.980 proclaimed. 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:34.339 And one of 00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:34.720 the major 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.420 religions of 00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.039 the world 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.720 thinks it's 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:38.359 fine for 00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:39.319 underage girls 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:39.700 to get 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.059 married. 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.200 And there's 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.619 a problem 00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.139 with sex 00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:45.779 slaves and 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.200 trading of 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.819 young daughters 00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:47.519 all over the 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:47.900 world. 00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.299 In the midst 00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:49.819 of this, 00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.680 the constant 00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.720 sexual revolution 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.079 of the 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.839 integrity of 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.420 the male and 00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:53.940 the integrity 00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:54.299 of the 00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:54.740 female, 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:56.379 and that 00:24:56.379 --> 00:24:57.139 sexual knowing 00:24:57.139 --> 00:24:57.559 is to be 00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.720 restricted to 00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.559 sexual knowing 00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.159 between a 00:25:00.159 --> 00:25:00.740 husband and 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.419 a wife in 00:25:01.419 --> 00:25:01.859 the covenant 00:25:01.859 --> 00:25:02.639 of marriage. 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:05.019 It's a 00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:05.500 profound 00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:06.159 revolution, 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.599 and we are 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:07.859 in the 00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:08.679 after stages 00:25:08.679 --> 00:25:09.019 of the 00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.359 Me Too 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:09.919 movement, 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.240 reacting and 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:12.099 rejecting to 00:25:12.099 --> 00:25:13.039 the centralizing 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.960 and sexualizing 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:15.339 of everything, 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.659 which always 00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:17.539 benefits the 00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:18.460 powerful at 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:19.139 the expense 00:25:19.139 --> 00:25:19.519 of the 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:19.859 weak. 00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:21.419 Always. 00:25:21.419 --> 00:25:21.700 Always. 00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:21.779 Always. 00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:21.819 Always. 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:21.859 Always. 00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:21.919 Always. 00:25:21.919 --> 00:25:21.940 Always. 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:21.960 Always. 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:23.779 Always. 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:23.819 Always. 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:25.779 Always. 00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:26.039 bald. 00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:33.240 I 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:35.819 have to 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.680 watch the 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:36.899 image. 00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:37.339 leasen 00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:38.680 carefully because 00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:39.160 what we 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:39.759 actually see 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.500 next isn't 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.619 entirely honest, 00:25:41.639 --> 00:25:42.160 not that the 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.839 Bible's lied, 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.639 but you need 00:25:43.639 --> 00:25:44.399 to understand 00:25:44.399 --> 00:25:44.740 that the 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.619 Bible records 00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.240 the way 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:46.599 somebody Say 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:47.399 good to 00:25:47.399 --> 00:25:48.099 ask and 00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:48.480 think if 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:48.700 that's 00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:49.019 actually 00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:49.539 accurate, 00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:49.960 if his 00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:50.779 self-perception 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.319 is true. 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.099 Look what 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:52.660 happens in 00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:54.040 verse 24 to 26. 00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:56.480 So he's promised up to half her kingdom. 00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:58.980 And she went out and said to her mom, 00:25:59.300 --> 00:26:00.560 what should I ask for? 00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:04.040 And the mom said, the head of John the Baptist. 00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:07.460 Friends, if you're here today 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:11.160 and you are nurturing long-term hatred of another person, 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:13.740 this is the day for you to repent 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:15.779 and ask for God's help 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:18.860 to give up your anger and your hatred. 00:26:18.859 --> 00:26:23.299 She said the head of John the Baptist. 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:26.219 Verse 25, and she came in immediately with haste, 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.639 that's the young girl, 00:26:27.959 --> 00:26:30.419 and said to the king, I want you to give me at once 00:26:30.419 --> 00:26:32.139 the head of John the Baptist on a platter. 00:26:32.939 --> 00:26:35.000 And the king was exceedingly sorry, 00:26:35.179 --> 00:26:36.779 but because of his oaths and his guests, 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:38.639 he did not want to break his word to her. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.039 And that is a lie. 00:26:46.219 --> 00:26:46.939 Come on. 00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:50.479 If she'd said, I'd like half your kingdom. 00:26:51.679 --> 00:26:53.299 You have four fortresses. 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:54.059 I'd like two of them. 00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:56.039 You can keep the rest of the fortresses in the land. 00:26:57.899 --> 00:26:59.419 Even in arousal, 00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:02.099 and even with a lot of alcohol under him. 00:27:05.219 --> 00:27:11.000 The reptilian eyes would focus on her. 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:18.019 And said, would say, no matter all the oaths, 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:19.700 you better change your request. 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.059 Isn't that what he would do? 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:23.140 That's what he would do. 00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:24.440 That's what he would do. 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.900 But you see, the fact of the matter is, 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:29.259 is that John the Baptist is just a little person, 00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:32.259 and little people don't matter to the powerful. 00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:35.039 Little people do not matter to the powerful. 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:39.000 Little people can be just inconvenient, 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:42.940 like gum on a hot day stuck to the bottom of your foot, 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:45.119 or that you just scrape off. 00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:49.839 So if she'd actually asked for something that mattered to Herod, 00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:50.659 he would have said, 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:52.339 I don't care about my oaths. 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:56.159 In fact, there might be a place in my dungeon prepared for you. 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:58.980 But because John the Baptist is a little person, 00:27:59.600 --> 00:28:00.519 well, what happens? 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.240 Let's look. 00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:03.840 Verse 27. 00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:07.720 And immediately the king sent an executioner 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:09.320 with orders to bring John's head. 00:28:10.080 --> 00:28:13.120 The executioner went and beheaded John in prison, 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:16.040 and brought John's head on a platter, 00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:17.040 and gave it to the girl, 00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:18.519 and the girl gave it to her mom. 00:28:19.540 --> 00:28:21.259 And when his disciples heard of it, 00:28:21.320 --> 00:28:22.420 that's John's disciples, 00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:24.560 they came and took his body, 00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:25.980 minus the head, 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.300 and laid it in the tomb. 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:32.759 So the sermon began is, 00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:34.560 the sermon began 00:28:34.560 --> 00:28:38.800 with a very valid type of, 00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:40.740 an understandable, I should say, 00:28:40.800 --> 00:28:41.340 maybe not valid, 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:43.540 very understandable pushback about, 00:28:44.080 --> 00:28:45.860 last week I talked about how, 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:46.840 you know, 00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:48.420 what was going on there was, 00:28:48.600 --> 00:28:50.400 when Jesus sends his disciples out, 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:50.900 and he says, 00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:51.980 don't bring any, you know, 00:28:52.300 --> 00:28:52.680 money, 00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:54.540 and don't bring extra clothes, 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.019 and, you know, 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:56.080 don't bring swords, 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:56.960 and, you know, 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:58.480 just basically have nothing, 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:00.259 and go and proclaim, 00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:01.820 and do works of healing, 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:02.759 and do works of deliverance, 00:29:03.800 --> 00:29:04.120 and, 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:04.640 and, 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:06.100 and really the messages, 00:29:06.360 --> 00:29:09.519 it's just like that Hudson Taylor's famous line, 00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:11.220 God's work done in God's way, 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.580 will receive God's supply. 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:14.460 And that's one of the many places in the Bible, 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.560 you could have got that saying, 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:16.940 God's work done in God's way, 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:18.360 will receive God's supply. 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:19.240 And I said, 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:19.819 God's needs, 00:29:20.179 --> 00:29:20.500 you will, 00:29:20.879 --> 00:29:21.399 God's, 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.719 he will meet your needs. 00:29:22.979 --> 00:29:24.859 And now here we see this story, 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.659 where, 00:29:26.119 --> 00:29:26.859 a person, 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.619 and you'd have to say, 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:27.939 but, 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:28.839 I mean, 00:29:28.979 --> 00:29:31.359 doesn't Jesus say later on in chapter nine, 00:29:31.479 --> 00:29:31.619 that, 00:29:31.699 --> 00:29:31.939 like, 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.459 John the Baptist is like Elijah? 00:29:33.659 --> 00:29:33.979 Doesn't, 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.339 doesn't he say that, 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:36.000 doesn't the, 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:37.659 the Jesus in other places say that, 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:39.500 John is the greatest of all the prophets, 00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:40.019 and all that? 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.539 So how, 00:29:40.659 --> 00:29:41.939 how does that fit, 00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:42.419 George, 00:29:42.459 --> 00:29:43.000 with this? 00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:43.719 And that's a very, 00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:44.419 very good question, 00:29:44.459 --> 00:29:45.699 and if you could put up the first point, 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.259 it would be very, 00:29:46.380 --> 00:29:46.799 very helpful. 00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:48.080 Here's the first point. 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.000 Remember, 00:29:49.080 --> 00:29:50.460 the Bible is a mirror, 00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:54.220 and often what it shows us, 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:55.880 if we're willing to let it show us something, 00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:59.240 is something not very pleasant about myself and yourself. 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:02.500 You cannot walk the way of truth, 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.880 or of love, 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.740 or of goodness, 00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:06.600 without the real risk of suffering. 00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:07.900 You cannot. 00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:12.140 You cannot walk the way of truth, 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.720 or the way of love, 00:30:13.840 --> 00:30:14.740 or the way of goodness, 00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:17.620 without the real risk of suffering. 00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:21.140 You can't. 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:22.599 Eventually, 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:24.539 you will come face to face with a lie, 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:27.259 a lie held by a person who has lots of power. 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.700 At some point in time, 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:30.140 you might have to say to your boss, 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:31.240 that's just not true. 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.880 At some point in time, 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:35.200 you might have to say to the government, 00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:36.440 that's just not true. 00:30:38.140 --> 00:30:40.579 And you know that if you say that to your boss, 00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:43.240 or you say it to a powerful person, 00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:44.700 there might be consequences. 00:30:45.620 --> 00:30:47.940 And so what we think of in our own minds, 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.839 is on one hand, 00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:50.279 we want to do the two things, 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.880 and we're just not aware of it. 00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:52.720 This is the mirror. 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:53.779 The mirror is, 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:55.819 I'd like to have as my self-image, 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:57.059 that I am a man of the truth, 00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:58.220 that I am a man of love, 00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:59.380 that I am a man of goodness. 00:30:59.620 --> 00:31:00.700 But at the same time, 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.880 I want to say to myself, 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.140 well, 00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:04.440 there's no point making a fuss about that truth. 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:07.279 There's no point making a fuss about love in this case. 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:09.759 There's no point making a fuss about goodness in this case, 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:11.139 because if I do, 00:31:11.379 --> 00:31:12.319 I'm screwed. 00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:16.519 But I'm a man of the truth. 00:31:17.859 --> 00:31:18.319 Well, 00:31:18.639 --> 00:31:20.559 in this world, 00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:23.079 you cannot love without suffering, 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.480 or at least the risk of suffering. 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:28.720 You cannot truly be good 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:30.779 without the risk, 00:31:30.899 --> 00:31:31.379 at least, 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:33.600 and probably the actuality of suffering, 00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.740 small or big. 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:36.960 And boy, 00:31:37.040 --> 00:31:38.820 if we were ever a time in our culture 00:31:38.820 --> 00:31:41.180 where to actually speak the truth, 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.400 and to be a person of the truth, 00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.920 and to live not by lies, 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.880 might have consequences, 00:31:46.060 --> 00:31:47.760 we are in that time right now, 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:49.440 brothers and sisters and friends. 00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:52.440 And so the fact of the matter is, 00:31:52.520 --> 00:31:53.740 is that our complaint 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:56.220 about the apparent contradiction 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:57.820 between these two texts 00:31:57.820 --> 00:31:59.260 flows out of the fact 00:31:59.260 --> 00:32:00.760 that we aren't honest about ourselves. 00:32:02.380 --> 00:32:04.000 We aren't honest about ourselves 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:05.180 and the world that we live in. 00:32:07.020 --> 00:32:08.960 Jesus says to go out and bear witness, 00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:11.040 and your needs will be met. 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:14.300 But the fact of the matter is, 00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:17.140 if you bear witness, 00:32:18.120 --> 00:32:21.240 you constantly have the risk of suffering 00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:22.440 for the truth, 00:32:22.780 --> 00:32:23.200 for goodness, 00:32:23.380 --> 00:32:23.860 for justice, 00:32:24.020 --> 00:32:24.520 for mercy, 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.240 for love. 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:30.839 I mean, 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:31.920 that's the world we live in, 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.400 friends. 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:38.400 What about this whole thing 00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:39.640 about divorce and sex 00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:40.059 and all of that? 00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:40.460 Like, George, 00:32:40.539 --> 00:32:41.339 shouldn't just religion 00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:43.120 just be about spiritual things 00:32:43.120 --> 00:32:43.579 and not, 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:43.819 like, 00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:45.000 about that type of stuff? 00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:46.000 Well, 00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:46.519 here's the thing. 00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:47.579 If you could put up the next point, 00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:48.539 that would be very helpful. 00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:50.859 Jesus is the Savior and Lord 00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:52.059 of all of who you are. 00:32:52.059 --> 00:32:54.799 Jesus is the Savior 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.579 and the Lord 00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:57.019 of all of who you are. 00:32:58.500 --> 00:32:59.899 He's not just the Savior 00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:01.700 of the spiritual bit of you. 00:33:02.119 --> 00:33:03.440 He's not just the Savior 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:05.440 of the emotional bit of you. 00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:07.460 He's the, 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:08.039 you know, 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:09.700 you are a person 00:33:09.700 --> 00:33:10.799 and I am a person. 00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:12.460 We live in a physical world. 00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:13.980 We have responsibilities 00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:14.579 for, 00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:15.299 you know, 00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:16.419 cleaning the house. 00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:17.480 And if you've been, 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:18.099 if you've been blessed 00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:18.679 with a house 00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:18.940 or, 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.240 you know, 00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:20.200 cleaning your apartment, 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.320 washing the dishes, 00:33:22.080 --> 00:33:22.220 you know, 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:22.940 some of us have, 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:23.360 you know, 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:25.480 obligations towards family 00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:26.940 and friends 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:28.180 and those things 00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:28.840 are important 00:33:28.840 --> 00:33:30.060 and partly how we get our identity 00:33:30.060 --> 00:33:31.180 and we have to make money 00:33:31.180 --> 00:33:32.380 and we have to spend our money 00:33:32.380 --> 00:33:33.700 and we have to save our money 00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:35.620 and we have sexual desires 00:33:35.620 --> 00:33:37.160 and we have imagination 00:33:37.160 --> 00:33:38.680 and we have creativity 00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:39.560 and we have, 00:33:39.640 --> 00:33:41.120 we have willpower 00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:42.420 and we have minds 00:33:42.420 --> 00:33:44.240 and we have all of these things 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:45.420 and all of these things 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.440 and we have a history 00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:47.740 and we have a future 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.920 and all of these 00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:49.539 are the things 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.660 that make us us 00:33:50.660 --> 00:33:52.799 and when Jesus comes 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:55.220 he takes the place 00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:57.299 of all of who I am 00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.859 and all of who you are 00:33:58.859 --> 00:34:00.339 with nothing left over 00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:02.420 and you don't go to heaven 00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:04.180 you without a mind, 00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:05.819 you without a will, 00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:08.039 you without an imagination, 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:09.539 you without creativity, 00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:11.280 you without responsibilities, 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.099 you don't go, 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:13.260 you don't go to heaven 00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:14.960 without all of those things, 00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:15.960 you're not even a human being 00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:17.380 if you don't have those things. 00:34:17.739 --> 00:34:19.599 He dies for all of who you are 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:21.439 and if he dies for all of who you are, 00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:23.039 he is lord of all of who you are. 00:34:23.359 --> 00:34:23.779 It means, 00:34:24.019 --> 00:34:26.299 it means that it's not in tithing 00:34:26.299 --> 00:34:27.419 that you say something like, 00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:29.239 well, 10% of your money belongs to God, 00:34:29.319 --> 00:34:30.239 90% belongs to you, 00:34:30.259 --> 00:34:32.179 no, 100% of it belongs to God. 00:34:33.759 --> 00:34:35.179 All of it belongs to him. 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:38.479 How much of my imagination belongs to him? 00:34:38.479 --> 00:34:39.479 All of my imagination. 00:34:40.479 --> 00:34:41.500 How much of my sexuality? 00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:43.579 All of my sexuality belongs to him. 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.319 How much of my body? 00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:45.260 All of my body. 00:34:46.200 --> 00:34:47.780 It all belongs to him. 00:34:48.120 --> 00:34:49.340 He's lord of all of it. 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:54.480 He's the same one who's created all things. 00:34:54.620 --> 00:34:56.720 He is the same one who dies for all things. 00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:58.519 He is the same one who will restore 00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:59.580 and remake all things 00:34:59.580 --> 00:35:00.900 in the new heaven and the new earth. 00:35:02.700 --> 00:35:04.920 And we are wiser and stronger 00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:06.620 and taller when we bow to him. 00:35:06.619 --> 00:35:15.339 But the text isn't just a mirror 00:35:15.339 --> 00:35:19.940 to help me understand who I am. 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:20.339 As I said, 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:20.659 it's also, 00:35:20.799 --> 00:35:21.859 we see here a bit of a window 00:35:21.859 --> 00:35:22.980 because it's describing, 00:35:23.179 --> 00:35:24.119 helping us to understand better 00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:25.159 what Jesus does. 00:35:25.759 --> 00:35:27.779 And there's an even greater window, 00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:29.519 which this and the next point 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:30.539 would be a bit briefer, 00:35:30.659 --> 00:35:31.799 but very, very important. 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.539 If you put up the next point, 00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:34.079 it's this. 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:36.360 John the Baptist's death 00:35:36.360 --> 00:35:38.460 is a good example. 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:41.079 Jesus' death 00:35:41.079 --> 00:35:42.559 is the good news. 00:35:44.059 --> 00:35:45.440 John the Baptist's death 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:46.539 is a great example. 00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:48.039 It's a great example. 00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:50.920 But Jesus' death 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:52.299 is good news. 00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:53.299 You see, 00:35:53.799 --> 00:35:54.980 apart from the gospel, 00:35:56.759 --> 00:35:57.639 John the Baptist's death 00:35:57.639 --> 00:35:58.500 is a good example, 00:35:58.639 --> 00:35:59.799 worthy of emulation. 00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:00.739 But at the end of the day, 00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:01.960 if you think about it, 00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:04.639 Herod lives and John dies. 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:06.820 The powerful continue to live 00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:08.760 and the weak die. 00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.980 And it might be that, 00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:13.740 in hindsight, 00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.559 John the Baptist 00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:15.639 has a better reputation 00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:16.220 than Herod, 00:36:16.300 --> 00:36:17.539 but you know what the fact of the matter is, 00:36:17.559 --> 00:36:18.300 is a lot of people say 00:36:18.300 --> 00:36:18.840 it doesn't help you 00:36:18.840 --> 00:36:19.280 when you're dead. 00:36:22.579 --> 00:36:24.500 And if Jesus was just an example, 00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:26.820 well, 00:36:26.860 --> 00:36:27.900 then you still have 00:36:27.900 --> 00:36:29.019 the Roman power, 00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:31.599 his enemies in power, 00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:33.440 him dead. 00:36:35.179 --> 00:36:36.539 But the fact of the matter is, 00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:37.900 is this is preparing us. 00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:39.260 The story of John the Baptist, 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:39.980 on one hand, 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:40.720 is looking back 00:36:40.720 --> 00:36:41.820 to help us as disciples 00:36:41.820 --> 00:36:42.559 understand, 00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:43.820 well, you know what 00:36:43.820 --> 00:36:44.699 it's helping us to understand? 00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:46.099 If you come to receive communion 00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:47.920 on the pieces of bread, 00:36:47.960 --> 00:36:49.059 if you get one of the little pieces 00:36:49.059 --> 00:36:49.920 of unleavened bread, 00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:50.920 there's a cross 00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:52.480 indented on both sides. 00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.159 And in a sense, 00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.500 what we're being asked 00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.260 to realize 00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:56.220 when we take the bread 00:36:56.220 --> 00:36:56.840 to eat it, 00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:58.420 to feed on Christ 00:36:58.420 --> 00:36:59.320 spiritually, 00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:00.760 we're being asked 00:37:00.760 --> 00:37:01.640 as if to say, 00:37:01.720 --> 00:37:02.519 on one hand, 00:37:03.180 --> 00:37:05.780 in me, 00:37:06.160 --> 00:37:07.220 all your needs 00:37:07.220 --> 00:37:08.019 will be met. 00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:10.140 In a sense, 00:37:10.200 --> 00:37:10.800 on one side 00:37:10.800 --> 00:37:12.039 of the one piece of bread, 00:37:12.100 --> 00:37:12.820 on the other side, 00:37:12.900 --> 00:37:14.220 the cross is reminding us, 00:37:15.019 --> 00:37:15.920 pick up your cross 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:16.559 and follow me 00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.000 and die. 00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:20.860 And it's the one piece 00:37:20.860 --> 00:37:21.440 of bread, 00:37:22.059 --> 00:37:24.139 mindful of Christ's death 00:37:24.139 --> 00:37:25.239 that we partake of 00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:26.079 and we think about 00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:27.679 and we feed on spiritually. 00:37:28.539 --> 00:37:30.260 But it has those two sides, 00:37:30.360 --> 00:37:31.800 the cross on both sides. 00:37:32.619 --> 00:37:33.940 All of your needs met. 00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:36.019 Take up your cross 00:37:36.019 --> 00:37:36.960 and follow me. 00:37:39.800 --> 00:37:40.380 You see, 00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:42.139 Jesus' death is good news 00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:44.460 in the most unbelievable sense 00:37:44.460 --> 00:37:46.940 because in the case of Jesus, 00:37:47.480 --> 00:37:48.840 he also dies 00:37:48.840 --> 00:37:49.860 like John the Baptist. 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:50.519 John the Baptist 00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:51.579 is foreshadowing 00:37:51.579 --> 00:37:52.880 both Jesus' death 00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:54.199 and what is vastly greater 00:37:54.199 --> 00:37:55.519 about Jesus' death, 00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:57.599 that Jesus also dies 00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:58.960 at the hand of his enemies, 00:37:59.519 --> 00:38:00.119 the innocent, 00:38:00.639 --> 00:38:01.960 at the hand of the evil 00:38:01.960 --> 00:38:02.500 and the wicked, 00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:04.220 the people who do not love truth 00:38:04.220 --> 00:38:05.420 and do not love goodness 00:38:05.420 --> 00:38:06.699 and do not love justice 00:38:06.699 --> 00:38:07.940 and do not love mercy. 00:38:08.440 --> 00:38:09.559 And he dies 00:38:09.559 --> 00:38:10.800 at their hands. 00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:12.619 But he doesn't just die 00:38:12.619 --> 00:38:13.559 as himself. 00:38:13.559 --> 00:38:15.000 He dies. 00:38:15.199 --> 00:38:16.119 As God, 00:38:16.340 --> 00:38:17.699 he can die for everyone. 00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:18.759 And as man, 00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:19.900 he can die for you 00:38:19.900 --> 00:38:20.559 and for me. 00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:22.139 And so his death 00:38:22.139 --> 00:38:22.980 is a death 00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:24.139 as my representative. 00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:25.199 It is his death 00:38:25.199 --> 00:38:26.460 as my substitute. 00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:27.960 And in his death, 00:38:28.259 --> 00:38:29.759 all of the things 00:38:29.759 --> 00:38:30.559 which have kept me 00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.599 separate from God 00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:33.059 and all of the consequences 00:38:33.059 --> 00:38:33.579 they have 00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:34.619 with my alienation 00:38:34.619 --> 00:38:35.199 from others 00:38:35.199 --> 00:38:35.920 and with God 00:38:35.920 --> 00:38:36.679 and with the universe, 00:38:36.799 --> 00:38:38.299 they all are laid on him. 00:38:38.779 --> 00:38:39.639 And he 00:38:39.639 --> 00:38:41.000 tastes all there is 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:42.119 to taste of death 00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:43.279 as my representative 00:38:43.279 --> 00:38:44.139 and my substitute. 00:38:44.139 --> 00:38:45.559 And on the third day, 00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:47.199 he emerges on the far side 00:38:47.199 --> 00:38:48.559 having defeated death, 00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:49.880 having defeated that 00:38:49.880 --> 00:38:51.099 which causes death 00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:52.199 and having defeated 00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:53.639 all hostile, 00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:54.679 spiritual, 00:38:55.279 --> 00:38:55.799 social, 00:38:56.199 --> 00:38:57.480 worldly powers 00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:58.719 in his resurrection. 00:38:58.719 --> 00:39:00.359 And because he does 00:39:00.359 --> 00:39:01.579 all of this 00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:02.899 in my place, 00:39:03.759 --> 00:39:04.980 when I put my faith 00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:05.879 and trust in him, 00:39:05.959 --> 00:39:08.099 I share in his victory 00:39:08.099 --> 00:39:10.379 over sin 00:39:10.379 --> 00:39:11.179 and evil 00:39:11.179 --> 00:39:12.139 and injustice 00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:13.219 and hatred, 00:39:13.739 --> 00:39:15.439 over death 00:39:15.439 --> 00:39:16.779 and all hostile 00:39:16.779 --> 00:39:18.019 spiritual powers, 00:39:18.599 --> 00:39:19.500 weak me 00:39:19.500 --> 00:39:20.779 and weak you. 00:39:20.980 --> 00:39:22.000 When we look to him 00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:22.539 and ask him 00:39:22.539 --> 00:39:23.619 to be our savior and lord, 00:39:23.719 --> 00:39:24.759 he rushes across 00:39:24.759 --> 00:39:25.980 that infinite distance 00:39:25.980 --> 00:39:26.659 and takes you 00:39:26.659 --> 00:39:27.480 into his arms. 00:39:27.480 --> 00:39:29.320 And his death, 00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:30.719 you share in his victory. 00:39:35.360 --> 00:39:36.280 Could you put up 00:39:36.280 --> 00:39:36.980 the final point? 00:39:38.840 --> 00:39:39.480 Doing 00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:40.920 to become 00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:42.340 ends in either 00:39:42.340 --> 00:39:43.139 image management 00:39:43.139 --> 00:39:43.780 or despair. 00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:45.699 The gospel 00:39:45.699 --> 00:39:46.400 teaches you 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:47.619 to grow day by day 00:39:47.619 --> 00:39:49.119 in the security 00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:50.300 that Christ 00:39:50.300 --> 00:39:51.320 has done everything 00:39:51.320 --> 00:39:53.159 that is needed 00:39:53.159 --> 00:39:54.019 to be done 00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:55.260 for you 00:39:55.260 --> 00:39:56.320 to be reconciled 00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:57.380 to the triune God 00:39:57.380 --> 00:39:59.600 and be unfailingly 00:39:59.600 --> 00:40:00.220 in him 00:40:00.220 --> 00:40:01.420 and him in you. 00:40:03.160 --> 00:40:03.660 You see, 00:40:03.720 --> 00:40:04.840 that's the power 00:40:04.840 --> 00:40:05.559 of the gospel. 00:40:06.280 --> 00:40:06.500 You see, 00:40:06.580 --> 00:40:07.240 religion says, 00:40:07.380 --> 00:40:07.700 if I do, 00:40:07.760 --> 00:40:08.100 if I do, 00:40:08.160 --> 00:40:08.500 if I do, 00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:09.740 I become something 00:40:09.740 --> 00:40:10.800 acceptable to God. 00:40:11.460 --> 00:40:12.180 And as I do 00:40:12.180 --> 00:40:12.539 and I do 00:40:12.539 --> 00:40:12.920 and I do 00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:13.240 and I do, 00:40:13.300 --> 00:40:13.780 if I'm becoming 00:40:13.780 --> 00:40:14.660 acceptable to God, 00:40:14.740 --> 00:40:15.740 then all these good things 00:40:15.740 --> 00:40:16.519 will happen to me 00:40:16.519 --> 00:40:17.400 and that's the way 00:40:17.400 --> 00:40:17.660 to do it. 00:40:17.660 --> 00:40:18.280 And the Bible says, 00:40:18.360 --> 00:40:19.200 no, no, no, no, no, no, no. 00:40:19.260 --> 00:40:20.220 If you try to do that, 00:40:20.260 --> 00:40:20.900 all you end up doing 00:40:20.900 --> 00:40:21.700 is image management 00:40:21.700 --> 00:40:22.700 or you get into despair. 00:40:23.419 --> 00:40:24.539 The Bible completely 00:40:24.539 --> 00:40:24.859 and utterly, 00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:26.119 that's why this is good news. 00:40:26.219 --> 00:40:27.079 No, no, no, no, no, no, no. 00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:27.379 You see, 00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:28.460 Jesus has done everything 00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.980 for you. 00:40:29.099 --> 00:40:29.579 He's the one 00:40:29.579 --> 00:40:30.460 who's defeated death. 00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:31.500 He's the one 00:40:31.500 --> 00:40:32.439 who carried your sin. 00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:32.899 He's the one 00:40:32.899 --> 00:40:33.579 who clothes you 00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:34.339 with his new life. 00:40:34.419 --> 00:40:34.819 He's the one 00:40:34.819 --> 00:40:35.819 who gives you everything. 00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:36.599 He's the one 00:40:36.599 --> 00:40:37.659 who gives you 00:40:37.659 --> 00:40:38.359 the security 00:40:38.359 --> 00:40:39.299 that you are now 00:40:39.299 --> 00:40:40.399 the child of God, 00:40:40.480 --> 00:40:41.019 that the Father, 00:40:41.139 --> 00:40:41.379 the Son, 00:40:41.439 --> 00:40:41.879 the Holy Spirit, 00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:42.980 they dwell in you. 00:40:43.079 --> 00:40:44.000 He dwells in you. 00:40:44.119 --> 00:40:45.179 God dwells in you. 00:40:45.519 --> 00:40:46.579 They will never leave you. 00:40:46.639 --> 00:40:48.059 They will never forsake you. 00:40:48.599 --> 00:40:50.219 Jesus is your hope of glory. 00:40:50.219 --> 00:40:52.599 And out of who you have become 00:40:52.599 --> 00:40:53.379 in Christ, 00:40:54.379 --> 00:40:57.179 you begin to take 00:40:57.179 --> 00:40:58.480 the baby steps of doing 00:40:58.480 --> 00:41:00.739 in the security 00:41:00.739 --> 00:41:02.519 that he will never leave you. 00:41:02.619 --> 00:41:03.859 He will never forsake you. 00:41:04.939 --> 00:41:06.379 He will only love you. 00:41:07.379 --> 00:41:09.219 He will only love you. 00:41:09.939 --> 00:41:11.559 He will never forsake you. 00:41:12.359 --> 00:41:12.739 Never. 00:41:12.739 --> 00:41:15.399 Nothing you have done 00:41:15.399 --> 00:41:16.039 is so bad 00:41:16.039 --> 00:41:17.079 that he didn't die for you. 00:41:17.319 --> 00:41:18.239 Nothing that you will do 00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:18.739 in the future 00:41:18.739 --> 00:41:19.399 is so bad 00:41:19.399 --> 00:41:20.079 that he will change 00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:20.759 his mind of you. 00:41:21.500 --> 00:41:23.139 He died for all of you 00:41:23.139 --> 00:41:23.959 from the moment 00:41:23.959 --> 00:41:24.679 of your conception 00:41:24.679 --> 00:41:25.679 to the moment of your death. 00:41:26.139 --> 00:41:27.619 He died for the depth of you. 00:41:29.599 --> 00:41:30.739 And when he takes you 00:41:30.739 --> 00:41:31.339 as his child, 00:41:31.899 --> 00:41:33.539 he will never leave you 00:41:33.539 --> 00:41:34.359 or forsake you. 00:41:35.119 --> 00:41:36.659 And it is out of that security 00:41:36.659 --> 00:41:37.579 of who you've become 00:41:37.579 --> 00:41:38.199 in Christ 00:41:38.199 --> 00:41:40.319 that you can begin to do 00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:42.180 and pick yourself up 00:41:42.180 --> 00:41:42.820 when you fall. 00:41:43.820 --> 00:41:44.840 Thankful for his grace 00:41:44.840 --> 00:41:45.420 and mercy. 00:41:46.300 --> 00:41:47.180 Week by week, 00:41:48.340 --> 00:41:49.260 pledging once again 00:41:49.260 --> 00:41:49.960 that you are his. 00:41:51.740 --> 00:41:53.059 That is good news. 00:41:54.180 --> 00:41:55.760 And it is good news for you. 00:41:55.880 --> 00:41:56.880 It's good news for you. 00:41:57.900 --> 00:41:59.080 There's no better time 00:41:59.080 --> 00:41:59.620 than today 00:41:59.620 --> 00:42:01.640 to give your life to Christ. 00:42:01.740 --> 00:42:02.680 Say, Jesus, take me. 00:42:02.760 --> 00:42:03.840 I want you to be my Savior 00:42:03.840 --> 00:42:04.420 and my Lord. 00:42:04.480 --> 00:42:04.980 And I thank you 00:42:04.980 --> 00:42:06.140 that you will never let me go. 00:42:06.200 --> 00:42:07.580 And I know that I don't deserve it. 00:42:07.660 --> 00:42:08.039 Thank you. 00:42:08.140 --> 00:42:08.740 Just take me. 00:42:08.840 --> 00:42:09.559 There's no better time 00:42:09.559 --> 00:42:09.920 than today 00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:10.800 to pray it. 00:42:11.300 --> 00:42:12.180 And for those of us 00:42:12.180 --> 00:42:12.720 who know it, 00:42:12.780 --> 00:42:13.780 there's no better time 00:42:13.780 --> 00:42:14.180 than today 00:42:14.180 --> 00:42:14.820 to once again 00:42:14.820 --> 00:42:15.480 say, Jesus, 00:42:16.519 --> 00:42:17.460 some of us might say, 00:42:17.500 --> 00:42:18.400 this has been a pretty good week. 00:42:18.440 --> 00:42:19.180 And others will say, 00:42:19.260 --> 00:42:20.720 Jesus, I am so glad 00:42:20.720 --> 00:42:21.460 you died for me 00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:22.059 knowing how bad 00:42:22.059 --> 00:42:22.860 this week would be. 00:42:22.940 --> 00:42:24.099 And I recommit to you. 00:42:24.599 --> 00:42:25.920 I recommit to you. 00:42:26.740 --> 00:42:27.420 Let's stand. 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:30.019 I invite you to stand. 00:42:33.200 --> 00:42:33.900 In standing, 00:42:34.039 --> 00:42:34.659 let's bow our heads 00:42:34.659 --> 00:42:35.099 in prayer. 00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:47.900 Father, we give you thanks 00:42:47.900 --> 00:42:49.740 and praise for Jesus. 00:42:50.240 --> 00:42:51.260 We thank and praise you, 00:42:51.400 --> 00:42:51.619 Father, 00:42:51.740 --> 00:42:53.539 that he died in our place. 00:42:54.099 --> 00:42:54.840 He died for all 00:42:54.840 --> 00:42:55.900 that makes each one of us 00:42:55.900 --> 00:42:56.420 us. 00:42:57.559 --> 00:42:59.860 That he is my hope. 00:43:00.360 --> 00:43:01.559 He is the sinner's hope 00:43:01.559 --> 00:43:02.200 for glory. 00:43:02.920 --> 00:43:04.000 Give you thanks and praise, 00:43:04.180 --> 00:43:04.360 Father. 00:43:04.420 --> 00:43:05.599 It's not about my righteousness. 00:43:05.800 --> 00:43:06.500 I am, Father. 00:43:06.500 --> 00:43:08.280 I'm just one beggar 00:43:08.280 --> 00:43:09.340 telling another beggar 00:43:09.340 --> 00:43:10.619 where to find the bread of life. 00:43:10.800 --> 00:43:11.260 And, Father, 00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:12.760 thank you for that bread of life 00:43:12.760 --> 00:43:13.800 that makes us alive. 00:43:15.719 --> 00:43:16.320 Ask, Father, 00:43:16.380 --> 00:43:17.579 you know how hard it is 00:43:17.579 --> 00:43:19.360 to be a person of truth, 00:43:19.460 --> 00:43:20.559 to be a person of goodness, 00:43:20.699 --> 00:43:21.760 to be a person of love, 00:43:21.860 --> 00:43:22.980 to be a person of justice, 00:43:23.119 --> 00:43:24.239 to be a person of mercy. 00:43:25.280 --> 00:43:26.019 You know, Father, 00:43:26.099 --> 00:43:27.420 how selfish we can be 00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:28.420 and flatter ourselves 00:43:28.960 --> 00:43:31.760 when we give in to the lie 00:43:31.760 --> 00:43:32.800 or we give in to hatred 00:43:32.800 --> 00:43:33.539 or indifference 00:43:33.539 --> 00:43:34.219 or injustice. 00:43:34.780 --> 00:43:35.260 And, Father, 00:43:35.300 --> 00:43:36.059 you know how hard it is. 00:43:36.059 --> 00:43:37.119 And we thank and praise you 00:43:37.119 --> 00:43:38.420 that it's not you 00:43:38.420 --> 00:43:39.739 looking at how well we do, 00:43:39.920 --> 00:43:42.099 but that you want us 00:43:42.099 --> 00:43:43.400 to live out of the freedom 00:43:43.400 --> 00:43:44.139 and the fullness 00:43:44.139 --> 00:43:45.799 that Christ has won for us 00:43:45.799 --> 00:43:47.199 to be shaped by the gospel 00:43:47.199 --> 00:43:48.500 so that we can, 00:43:49.219 --> 00:43:49.820 day by day, 00:43:49.920 --> 00:43:51.639 increase in being 00:43:51.639 --> 00:43:52.860 a person of the truth 00:43:52.860 --> 00:43:53.799 and a person of love 00:43:53.799 --> 00:43:54.779 and a person of goodness 00:43:54.779 --> 00:43:55.880 and a person of justice 00:43:55.880 --> 00:43:56.960 and a person of mercy, 00:43:57.440 --> 00:43:58.400 a person of compassion. 00:43:59.099 --> 00:43:59.659 So, Father, 00:43:59.759 --> 00:44:00.799 grip us with the gospel 00:44:00.799 --> 00:44:02.840 that we might begin 00:44:02.840 --> 00:44:03.820 out of the strength 00:44:03.820 --> 00:44:04.539 of the gospel 00:44:04.539 --> 00:44:06.699 to live for your glory, 00:44:07.259 --> 00:44:07.960 for our good 00:44:07.960 --> 00:44:08.679 and for the good 00:44:08.679 --> 00:44:09.739 of this city and the world. 00:44:10.259 --> 00:44:10.960 And we ask this 00:44:10.960 --> 00:44:11.960 in Jesus' name. 00:44:12.559 --> 00:44:12.920 Amen.