WEBVTT 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:03.459 God, thank you that you know us so well and so deeply. 00:00:04.299 --> 00:00:08.500 God, thank you that you know the highlights and you know the toughest stuff from the past year. 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:12.419 God, you know the things that we're looking forward to as we look forward to a new year. 00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:14.439 And you know the things that some of us are really afraid of. 00:00:15.060 --> 00:00:16.820 God, thank you that you're with us here. 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:20.879 God, just as you have over the past thousands of years, 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:24.679 since the very beginning of creation when you spoke it into being, 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:26.440 we pray that you'd speak to us again. 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:30.620 That you'd give us more than just a morning of going through the motions, 00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:33.820 but that you would actually speak to every one of us, including myself, 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:37.179 in a way that would change the rest of this year and the rest of our lives. 00:00:37.380 --> 00:00:40.299 For your glory and our good. In Jesus' name, amen. 00:00:41.299 --> 00:00:42.120 Please be seated. 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:45.939 Back in June, I was coming back from a conference, 00:00:46.260 --> 00:00:48.740 and I got to combine a bit of vacation time into it. 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:51.740 And so I arrived in Ottawa, so refreshed. 00:00:51.740 --> 00:00:53.799 It was an amazing conference out in Vancouver. 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:55.980 I also had the opportunity to go surfing. It was great. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:58.839 I don't check luggage, so I got off the plane really quickly, 00:00:58.979 --> 00:01:00.459 and I was there waiting to be picked up. 00:01:00.779 --> 00:01:02.539 I had broken my phone for what was, I think, 00:01:02.579 --> 00:01:05.459 the third of four times different phones this year I broke. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:08.299 But that meant I couldn't get myself an Uber. 00:01:08.459 --> 00:01:11.259 But I had borrowed someone's phone, called up a friend the day before, 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:13.280 and said, hey, I'm not going to be able to Uber home. 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:15.359 Any chance? Before I even said it, they said, you know what? 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:16.819 I'll be there. I'll pick you up. 00:01:17.099 --> 00:01:19.539 I said, well, you're not going to have to contact me if anything changes, 00:01:19.539 --> 00:01:20.560 because my phone is broken. 00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:23.299 So do you want me to call you tomorrow before I get on the plane 00:01:23.299 --> 00:01:24.340 to make sure everything's okay? 00:01:24.340 --> 00:01:26.520 And they said, I give you my word. 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:27.400 I will be there. 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:30.140 And so there I am with my carry-on. 00:01:30.200 --> 00:01:30.680 I'm waiting there. 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:31.659 I'm feeling so refreshed. 00:01:31.900 --> 00:01:33.980 I'm so ready to get back to the office the very next day. 00:01:34.460 --> 00:01:35.359 And I'm waiting. 00:01:35.600 --> 00:01:36.760 And because I didn't check any luggage, 00:01:36.820 --> 00:01:38.560 I knew I'd probably be earlier than they thought. 00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:41.140 So it's fine that while everyone else was getting picked up, 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:41.719 I'm just waiting. 00:01:42.460 --> 00:01:43.980 But that continued to go on. 00:01:44.020 --> 00:01:45.680 And so finally there's just a few of us, 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:48.340 like the last kind of stragglers waiting to be picked up. 00:01:48.340 --> 00:01:49.900 And if you've ever been in that situation, 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:51.359 you know that there's a bond that you form. 00:01:51.500 --> 00:01:52.520 You never say anything. 00:01:52.900 --> 00:01:54.680 We all see, like everyone else has been picked up, 00:01:54.980 --> 00:01:55.880 and you guys are waiting. 00:01:56.900 --> 00:01:58.159 Every one of them got picked up. 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:00.460 And eventually more people came, and we're waiting, 00:02:00.540 --> 00:02:01.359 and everyone's getting picked up. 00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:06.080 And then there's a new bond that I have with my beloved abandoned brothers. 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:07.480 But they all get picked up and leave. 00:02:07.900 --> 00:02:12.240 And eventually I go from being refreshed and ready to get to the office, 00:02:12.480 --> 00:02:13.560 grateful for my vacation, 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:16.340 just filled with this gnawing anxiety. 00:02:16.340 --> 00:02:17.759 I don't know if my friends are going to come, 00:02:17.819 --> 00:02:18.719 but they gave me their word. 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:21.979 And so as time went on, and this kept on happening, 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:22.960 it went more than an hour. 00:02:23.060 --> 00:02:24.020 It got to two hours. 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:25.680 I went from being there, like I thought, 00:02:25.740 --> 00:02:27.319 I can't step away from my post, 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:29.219 because they might show up at any moment. 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:31.659 They can't text me if they're here, so I just have to wait. 00:02:31.960 --> 00:02:34.520 But eventually, even though I was still waiting for them, 00:02:34.819 --> 00:02:36.840 I went in, I got myself some Tim Hortons. 00:02:36.939 --> 00:02:38.039 It was very late at night. 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:39.659 It was the next day, actually, by that point. 00:02:39.780 --> 00:02:40.340 I'm waiting. 00:02:40.480 --> 00:02:41.920 It was a pretty rough experience. 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:44.099 Finally, I just thought, something's wrong. 00:02:44.099 --> 00:02:46.439 Now, you probably would have clued in earlier than me. 00:02:46.659 --> 00:02:48.180 But anyway, I'm like, something's wrong. 00:02:48.299 --> 00:02:51.859 So I go in, I find car rental computer people, 00:02:52.060 --> 00:02:55.159 because who has numbers memorized in their phones, right? 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:58.719 So I had to get online, find their number, borrow a phone, call the person, 00:02:59.180 --> 00:03:03.259 and they answer the phone with the most sleepy voice. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:05.759 I'm just still holding on to the last shred of hope, 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:07.799 like, hey, are you going to see you soon? 00:03:07.959 --> 00:03:08.799 And they're like, no, I'm sick. 00:03:08.819 --> 00:03:09.680 I can't pick you up. 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:10.859 And have a good night. 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:11.420 And hung up. 00:03:11.920 --> 00:03:16.000 I was just like, they're like, feeling so abandoned and betrayed. 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:19.860 And all the emotions you think I'd feel, I felt all of them and more. 00:03:20.900 --> 00:03:23.800 I share this story with you, not because it still agitates me. 00:03:24.060 --> 00:03:25.140 We worked it through the next day. 00:03:25.180 --> 00:03:25.580 We're good. 00:03:25.920 --> 00:03:30.280 But because this, I think, reflects the way that many of us relate to Jesus, 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:34.220 with Jesus when he said he gave us his word, that he's coming back. 00:03:34.480 --> 00:03:35.920 He's actually coming back for us. 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:41.059 You know, maybe it was easy for that first generation to be waiting for him to come back. 00:03:41.299 --> 00:03:43.780 Maybe by the second generation, the third, the fourth, the fifth, 00:03:44.079 --> 00:03:45.779 they're starting to have a bit of that, like, gnawing feeling. 00:03:45.879 --> 00:03:46.739 Is he coming back? 00:03:47.099 --> 00:03:49.359 But by the time we're in our day, it's been more than two, 00:03:49.500 --> 00:03:53.539 it's been about 2,000 years since Jesus said, I give you my word, I'm coming back. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:56.879 And it's easy for us to begin to just feel like, hey, maybe he's coming, 00:03:57.219 --> 00:03:59.479 but it's not going to be any time soon. 00:03:59.899 --> 00:04:02.139 Because, you know, if you look at the stats, like, if you do the numbers, 00:04:02.139 --> 00:04:05.599 those who thought he's not coming back in their lifetime have been right. 00:04:06.019 --> 00:04:09.619 Well, those who thought he's coming back right here, right now, have been wrong. 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:12.479 Because people have come and lived and died, and Jesus hasn't come back. 00:04:12.939 --> 00:04:16.139 And so, if you're someone that doesn't identify as a Christian, 00:04:16.579 --> 00:04:18.800 and you kind of throw out the thing at Christians, 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:20.979 and you know what, Christians say they believe all sorts of things, 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:23.560 but they don't really believe the things they say they believe. 00:04:23.899 --> 00:04:25.279 The thing is that you're right. 00:04:25.399 --> 00:04:29.120 There's so many things in the Bible that we read and that we say we believe, 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:32.579 but if you look at the way we live, if you listen to the way we talk, 00:04:32.740 --> 00:04:34.980 it doesn't seem like we really believe it. 00:04:35.180 --> 00:04:37.939 If you think about the way we make our plans, then we talk about the future, 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:43.079 we don't tend to be talking as if there's a chance that Jesus might come back. 00:04:43.780 --> 00:04:46.160 I had some friends who had an outdoor wedding this past year, 00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:48.000 and the way they talked about it was very clear. 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:49.759 We're going to do this if it's sunny. 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:51.420 We're going to do that if it rains. 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:55.180 You can tell that there's an expectation that the weather might change. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:56.620 But if you listen to the way we talk, 00:04:56.620 --> 00:04:58.420 we don't tend to have that kind of condition. 00:04:58.420 --> 00:05:00.600 We're going to do this if Jesus doesn't come back yet. 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:03.319 We don't tend to really talk or think like that. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:07.160 I bring this up because Jesus actually, in Luke 12, what George just read, 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:12.379 says that we're supposed to have our life shaped and defined and inspired and transformed 00:05:12.379 --> 00:05:16.000 by the expectation that Jesus is coming back, 00:05:16.100 --> 00:05:18.020 that we're not to let go of that expectation. 00:05:18.580 --> 00:05:21.060 And so in the passage that George just read in Luke 12, 00:05:21.540 --> 00:05:25.259 you'll see that there are all these different images that Jesus brings up, 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:28.860 the reoccurring one that unites just about all of them, 00:05:29.139 --> 00:05:32.480 is that of servants who are waiting for their master to come home from a wedding. 00:05:32.899 --> 00:05:35.680 And so it says, verse 35, Luke chapter 12, 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:37.420 stay dressed for action. 00:05:37.819 --> 00:05:39.939 The Hebrew actually says, gird up your loins. 00:05:39.980 --> 00:05:41.959 Or maybe today we'd say, roll up your sleeves. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:43.539 Be ready for action. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:45.399 And keep your lamps burning. 00:05:45.980 --> 00:05:49.539 And be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, 00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:52.760 so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 00:05:54.080 --> 00:05:56.220 So he's saying you're supposed to be dressed for action. 00:05:56.280 --> 00:05:56.780 You're ready. 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:00.460 The idea of girding up your loins or rolling up your sleeves is that 00:06:00.460 --> 00:06:03.960 even your clothes would reflect a readiness for action. 00:06:04.020 --> 00:06:06.500 You're not going to be tripped up by your long robe, 00:06:06.580 --> 00:06:07.920 like being all down there. 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:12.879 And have your lamp burning is that image of you're going to have to continue to have that, 00:06:13.020 --> 00:06:17.780 tend to the oil of the lamp and be taking action so that they have the lamp up 00:06:17.779 --> 00:06:19.519 so they're able to see when the master's coming, 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:21.559 they're able to open the door ready to serve him. 00:06:21.899 --> 00:06:23.579 So we're to be dressed for action. 00:06:23.679 --> 00:06:24.699 We're to keep our lamp burning. 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:28.439 And we're to be like men who are eagerly waiting their master to come home 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:29.519 so that they can serve him. 00:06:30.479 --> 00:06:34.659 The idea here is that you're able to be a faithful person. 00:06:34.659 --> 00:06:39.059 You're able to be ready for his return by holding on to that expectation. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:44.639 You'll see as we continue on after verse, in verse 41 and beyond, 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:49.979 Jesus talks about the servants who are, because they're expecting their master to come home, 00:06:50.060 --> 00:06:51.159 they're faithfully serving. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:53.459 But then there's other ones who are like, you know what, 00:06:53.539 --> 00:06:55.159 the master isn't going to come home anytime soon. 00:06:55.180 --> 00:06:56.560 And so they just kind of relax. 00:06:56.979 --> 00:07:01.000 The idea is that by what we expect shapes the way we behave. 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:03.719 What we expect shapes the way we behave. 00:07:04.039 --> 00:07:06.039 And Jesus is showing us here that the expectation, 00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:08.279 the great expectation that he might come at any moment, 00:07:08.699 --> 00:07:13.620 gives you a bit greater strength to be able to be faithful to all that you're called to be. 00:07:14.139 --> 00:07:17.319 Here's an example of how expectations help us find greater strength. 00:07:17.540 --> 00:07:20.840 This past summer, I went with a friend to a job interview he had in Kingston. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:23.639 I drove with him, I dropped him off where his interview was, 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:25.079 and I walked down to the waterfront. 00:07:25.160 --> 00:07:25.939 It's really pretty. 00:07:26.300 --> 00:07:27.360 So I'm waiting and waiting. 00:07:27.459 --> 00:07:28.040 I'm looking at the time. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:29.000 Oh, he's going to come any minute. 00:07:29.220 --> 00:07:32.899 And I look up and I see a woman flagging to Christian music. 00:07:33.379 --> 00:07:36.060 If you've been to a more charismatic church where that's normal, 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:37.840 you'll recognize what's going on. 00:07:37.899 --> 00:07:39.040 So I'm like, you know what? 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:40.420 That's awesome. 00:07:40.740 --> 00:07:42.620 My friend's going to come around the corner at any moment. 00:07:42.780 --> 00:07:44.180 He probably should have been there already. 00:07:44.580 --> 00:07:46.300 So I'm just going to go and I'm going to flag. 00:07:46.379 --> 00:07:47.939 And he's going to come around and he's going to see me. 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:49.900 I was serving as his pastor at camp. 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:51.360 He's going to see me just flagging. 00:07:51.819 --> 00:07:54.400 He's a dignified guy older than his 60s. 00:07:54.520 --> 00:07:56.180 So it's going to be funny. 00:07:56.400 --> 00:07:58.120 So I go up there and I ask if I can flag. 00:07:58.200 --> 00:07:59.480 And the girl's like, yeah, here's some flags. 00:07:59.660 --> 00:08:01.520 And it was a worship techno music. 00:08:01.960 --> 00:08:02.500 So I go up there. 00:08:02.520 --> 00:08:03.139 You can see it right here. 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:03.560 I go up there. 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:04.500 I start flagging. 00:08:05.139 --> 00:08:06.840 And I thought I'd do this 30 seconds. 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:07.859 He's going to come around the corner. 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:08.939 It's really easy to flag. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:12.359 If you've been to a charismatic church like I grew up in, it's really easy to flag for 00:08:12.359 --> 00:08:12.959 at least 30 seconds. 00:08:13.039 --> 00:08:13.459 I'm going. 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:14.379 I'm doing the stuff. 00:08:14.799 --> 00:08:15.259 And I'm going. 00:08:15.379 --> 00:08:15.919 I kid you not. 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:16.439 I'm going. 00:08:17.039 --> 00:08:18.319 It goes into more than 30 seconds. 00:08:18.379 --> 00:08:19.239 It's like 10 minutes. 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:23.659 And at this point, even though I identify as an athletic guy, like my arms start to kind 00:08:23.659 --> 00:08:24.199 of feel it. 00:08:24.419 --> 00:08:26.000 But I'm like, any second he's coming. 00:08:26.059 --> 00:08:26.620 So I'm going. 00:08:27.179 --> 00:08:28.399 Eventually, he didn't come. 00:08:28.459 --> 00:08:30.620 But this guy with the Pokemon hat shows up. 00:08:30.620 --> 00:08:32.019 This is a YouTube sensation. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:33.279 He joins us. 00:08:33.539 --> 00:08:36.519 This is a screenshot from a video of more than 40,000 views. 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:39.139 I'm very embarrassed because I'm not that good at flagging. 00:08:39.579 --> 00:08:40.439 But I'm going. 00:08:40.620 --> 00:08:41.899 And I'm like, you know, I'm not going to stop. 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:44.259 Even while they're filming, I'm like, I'm not going to stop. 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:45.840 It was 40,000 views by the next day. 00:08:45.939 --> 00:08:46.759 I'm not going to stop. 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:47.620 I'm just going to keep. 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:50.500 And eventually, I kid you not, because I looked at the time to see when he's coming 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:51.259 when I went up there. 00:08:51.539 --> 00:08:55.740 And then more than 40 minutes later, your old friend Daniel right here. 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:56.939 I'm still going. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:57.879 And my arm's like shaking. 00:08:57.879 --> 00:09:02.080 But the thing that kept me going the whole time was the idea that it'd be funny if he 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:02.860 saw me flagging. 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:06.600 And second, at any moment, every time I thought, I'm going to give up now, I thought, he's 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:07.320 going to come around the corner. 00:09:07.539 --> 00:09:08.460 He's going to come around the corner. 00:09:08.500 --> 00:09:09.779 He said he's going to be here by 7. 00:09:09.939 --> 00:09:10.799 It's now 735. 00:09:10.939 --> 00:09:11.340 He's going to go. 00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:13.620 And so I kept going all the way until he finally came. 00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:14.519 And he chuckled. 00:09:14.939 --> 00:09:16.139 Yes, I got my laugh. 00:09:16.419 --> 00:09:22.100 But the point is that I was able to find the strength for these small arms to do great 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:24.580 things as I kept expecting him to come. 00:09:24.580 --> 00:09:29.280 And in a sense, though, Jesus isn't using YouTube as an analogy. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:33.800 In a sense, here, his analogy is servants who are faithful and who are diligent even 00:09:33.800 --> 00:09:34.879 as time goes on. 00:09:35.040 --> 00:09:36.740 And maybe there's servants around you going, you know what? 00:09:36.940 --> 00:09:37.980 He hasn't come for so long. 00:09:38.020 --> 00:09:39.460 He's not going to come for a while more. 00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:40.600 And they're chillaxing. 00:09:40.740 --> 00:09:45.200 But you are saying, no, as a servant of his, he might come any moment. 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:47.160 I'm looking forward to him coming. 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:48.000 I'm going to be faithful. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:48.900 He's going to find me. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:49.740 Not flagging. 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:51.720 He's going to come across me being faithful. 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:57.460 And so, Andrew, if you can put up the first point, I become more fully human as I embrace 00:09:57.460 --> 00:10:00.440 the expectation that Jesus may come back at any moment. 00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:05.320 The stuff that Jesus is talking about, the analogies of being ready for action and being 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:09.879 found faithful and all this stuff, is talking about the stuff that we're really made for 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:10.639 as human beings. 00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:15.100 It's January 1st, so there's likely some of us in the room who've made some New Year's 00:10:15.100 --> 00:10:15.580 resolutions. 00:10:16.160 --> 00:10:18.279 You know how hard it is to actually keep those things. 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:22.339 People wait to New Year's because there's such a sense of it being fresh and we feel 00:10:22.339 --> 00:10:23.299 like it's a clean slate. 00:10:23.559 --> 00:10:26.639 And so we're going to promise ourself that we're going to do better this year. 00:10:26.819 --> 00:10:29.679 In a sense, we're going to be more fully human, more everything we were made for. 00:10:30.139 --> 00:10:34.959 Jesus is saying here that the way to actually be faithful, the way to be so everything that 00:10:34.959 --> 00:10:40.679 we should be, the way that we're going to be found faithful is by holding on to the 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:41.079 belief. 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:44.240 Even when it feels like it, how could it be true? 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:47.820 It's been 2,000 years holding on to the belief at any moment. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:51.039 Even while I'd be preaching this sermon, Jesus might come back. 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:54.700 And so one of the things I'm praying as I get ready for today and as we get ready as 00:10:54.700 --> 00:10:58.840 a church for this new year is to say, God, would you please help us to be a church? 00:10:59.680 --> 00:11:03.519 That when people interact with us, they're like, man, those people at Church of the Sive 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:05.720 really believe that Jesus might come back today. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:10.360 They really believe in their planning and in their budgeting that Jesus might come back. 00:11:10.419 --> 00:11:12.060 And they want to be found faithful. 00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:17.559 They want Jesus to stumble across them being faithful, serving him and being all that it 00:11:17.559 --> 00:11:18.779 means to be human. 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:25.359 But not only does Jesus use this positive analogies or in a sense the positive image of 00:11:25.359 --> 00:11:28.379 servants being faithful, as I mentioned, he also has a warning. 00:11:29.599 --> 00:11:33.219 So Peter asks, as Jesus is saying these things in verse 41, Lord, are you telling this parable 00:11:33.219 --> 00:11:34.059 for us or for all? 00:11:34.619 --> 00:11:38.439 And the Lord, Jesus said, who then is this faithful and wise manager whom his master will 00:11:38.439 --> 00:11:41.539 set over his household to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:45.279 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:48.059 Truly I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:54.139 But listen, but if that servant says to himself, my master is delayed in coming and begins to 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:59.379 beat the male and female servants and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that 00:11:59.379 --> 00:12:03.480 servant will come on a day when he does not expect him, an hour he does not know and will 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:06.559 cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:10.299 It continues on with these words of warning and promise. 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:12.979 Note here, it really hit me. 00:12:13.059 --> 00:12:16.439 I always thought, just growing up, becoming across this passage, whatever, I always thought 00:12:16.439 --> 00:12:20.539 that Jesus is saying, those who expect me to come, they'll be faithful. 00:12:21.079 --> 00:12:24.179 And those who don't think I'm coming will not be faithful. 00:12:24.179 --> 00:12:29.299 But in this passage, and this is a sobering message that every one of us needs to hear, 00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:34.419 in this passage, Jesus is saying, both people expect him to come. 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:36.639 Both believe he's coming back. 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:39.379 Even if it's hard to believe, both believe the master's coming. 00:12:39.979 --> 00:12:45.019 But the ones who are faithful, the ones who receive blessing, are the ones who expect him 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:46.019 to come at any moment. 00:12:46.019 --> 00:12:52.779 And those who are cut into pieces, who are unfaithful and are condemned, are those who 00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:55.840 think he's coming, but that it's not going to be for a while. 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:57.919 They let go of that expectation. 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:03.399 And so the second point, Andrew, if you can put it up, is letting go of this great expectation 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:09.559 that Jesus is coming back at any moment makes me lethargic in my responsibilities, distracted 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:12.600 from my priorities, and hurtful to the people I love. 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:16.940 In fact, to take it one more, in this, it's not just hurtful to the people close to you. 00:13:17.420 --> 00:13:22.960 In this case, this kind of overseer of the other servants is just hurting people in proximity 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:23.519 to him. 00:13:24.340 --> 00:13:29.139 Jesus is saying that this servant, not only you see that he lets go of his sense of urgency, 00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:33.360 he lets go of his being faithful, and then it continues to spiral down. 00:13:33.460 --> 00:13:37.540 So he starts doing things that aren't ethical, he's getting drunk, which he shouldn't be doing. 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:43.579 So then it gets even worse that he begins actually hurting people, beating people that were in 00:13:43.579 --> 00:13:45.099 his care, that were close to him. 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:47.379 I'll read it again. 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:52.299 Letting go of this great expectation that Jesus might come back at any moment makes me lethargic 00:13:52.299 --> 00:13:57.459 in my responsibilities, distracted from my priorities, and hurtful to the people I love, 00:13:57.959 --> 00:13:59.339 hurtful to the people close to me. 00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:01.459 That's a sobering truth. 00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:06.500 And it actually kind of hurt me this week as I was looking at this passage because I 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.139 had to preach it. 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:10.700 I was looking at it and going, hmm, I honestly don't. 00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:15.920 I would identify as the people who are in the passage who expect Jesus to come, but don't 00:14:15.920 --> 00:14:17.600 have that urgency that he'd come at any moment. 00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:18.900 I look at my life. 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:22.200 Are there ways that I'm not being as responsible as I should be? 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:26.040 And to be honest, if I look at, I'm in pastor school seminary right now, if I look at the 00:14:26.040 --> 00:14:29.800 way I do my assignments, if I look at the way I relate to my friendships, if I look at 00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:33.679 different areas in my life, I can see areas that I'm not being as faithful as I should 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:33.959 be. 00:14:34.299 --> 00:14:38.240 And I think part of it, if I'm taking what Jesus says seriously, part of it is that I'm 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:41.519 not living with an expectation that Jesus might come back at any moment. 00:14:42.339 --> 00:14:44.699 We need to embrace that great expectation. 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:49.939 Now, it's interesting that the analogy Jesus uses for how we should be found faithful, 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:53.759 holding on, gripped by that good news that he might come back at any moment. 00:14:54.339 --> 00:14:55.399 What image does he use? 00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:59.099 Well, if I thought about the way that we'd probably expect, the image we'd expect him to use 00:14:59.100 --> 00:15:02.820 based on the way we think about stuff, typically as Christians in North America, is this image 00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:03.279 right here. 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:04.340 Next one, Andrew. 00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:07.159 You got this? 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:08.879 The hitchhiker? 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:10.580 Yeah. 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:13.340 We got this. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:13.960 Bam! 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:15.040 That's the image. 00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:18.399 If you think about the way we tend to think about Jesus coming back, it's this image. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:21.779 We'd expect Jesus to say, expect me to come back at any moment. 00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:27.000 Just, you know, hold out your holy thumb and just stand there and just hold on to that 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:30.860 belief and through the years just keep having your thumb out there, believing I'm going 00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:31.259 to be there. 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.320 I'm going to come up. 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:36.820 I'm going to pick you up in my heavenly chariot and we're going to go to heavenly land and 00:15:36.820 --> 00:15:37.940 we're going to have a great time. 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:41.159 That's the way we tend to think about Jesus coming back. 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:46.379 We just have to hold tight to our belief, stick out your holy thumb and just wait and 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:46.700 wait. 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.500 And he's going to come back. 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:48.600 He's going to see that thumb. 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.779 He's going to see that you still believe the Apostles' Creed. 00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:52.740 He's going to take you away in his heavenly chariot. 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:57.720 But the analogy Jesus actually uses is that of a servant who's two things, doing two 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.139 things. 00:15:58.700 --> 00:16:00.180 I guess this is four, doing two things. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:03.440 One, that they're ready for him to come back. 00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:05.879 They're ready for action, not just for him to come back. 00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:07.139 They're ready to serve. 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:08.360 And two, that they're serving. 00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:11.419 They're ready to serve and they are serving. 00:16:12.060 --> 00:16:14.779 And it began to, as it worked through this, it started to think about it. 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:20.240 Why, like, if all our expectations of what it looks like when Jesus comes back, why would 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.519 we be ready for action? 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:24.539 Because we tend to just think he's going to come, whisk us away, and we're just going 00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:25.480 to be there in his glory. 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:27.720 But he's saying, no, be ready to serve. 00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:29.939 And don't just, like, be willing to serve. 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:31.240 Be ready to serve. 00:16:31.699 --> 00:16:32.480 Gird up your loins. 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:33.379 Roll up your sleeves. 00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:34.439 Be ready for action. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:38.939 It's the kind of imagery of, it would make sense if Jesus was saying, yeah, I'm going 00:16:38.939 --> 00:16:40.059 to peace out from Jerusalem. 00:16:40.319 --> 00:16:41.460 I'm going to get me an army. 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.439 I'm going to come back. 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:45.059 When you hear my bird call, you're going to recognize that. 00:16:45.179 --> 00:16:48.480 You're inside the city and you're going to take out your sword and we're going to take the 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:48.699 city. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:50.299 You know, me from the outside, you from the inside. 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:53.599 Like, there's a sense where he's going to be ready for action. 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:56.299 And so you'd understand, okay, that means I should have a sharp sword. 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:58.000 I should have it, you know, on me. 00:16:58.099 --> 00:16:58.859 All that kind of stuff. 00:16:58.859 --> 00:17:00.259 Because you're ready to do something. 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:03.659 But when we think about what's it going to look like when Jesus comes back, and there's 00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:05.639 so many questions about what that would look like. 00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:06.480 We don't have answers to it. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:06.980 And that's okay. 00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:10.960 But we see that we're called to actually do something. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.680 We're called to be ready to serve. 00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:15.680 And in the meantime, we're to be faithfully serving. 00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:16.880 How does this make sense? 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:20.980 Well, it's important for us always when we're reading the Bible, in our day-to-day, as well 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:23.299 as at church, for us to be looking at the context. 00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:28.180 We read just a little section, but it's often part of a greater story or bigger monologue. 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:32.980 Jesus has just been talking about the kingdom of heaven and seeking the kingdom of heaven and 00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:36.140 all that stuff, and then he talks about being ready for action. 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:40.779 In fact, as I started flipping through more of the Gospels, I started seeing that it seems 00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:44.200 that the number one thing Jesus talks about is the kingdom of heaven. 00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:46.759 It's definitely one of the most common things he talks about. 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:50.299 When you're trying to do an impression of someone, not only do you try to match their 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:53.380 voice, but you try to say things like they actually commonly say. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:56.400 So if you're trying to do an impression of George and a bunch of us are in the office 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:58.360 and someone's impressed, exactly that. 00:17:58.420 --> 00:18:00.620 We just try to laugh, just like he's doing right now. 00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:02.620 And everyone's like, oh, you're George, right? 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:06.140 I find that people, and they're trying to make fun of me, will stand like this, put 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:07.779 their arms out and be there, and be like, something like that, whatever. 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:10.660 And I don't know what they say, but we hover things. 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:16.019 If you look at the Gospels, this is just my speculation, that the disciples of Jesus, 00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:19.759 those who are around them, if they're chilling around, they're by the fire, whatever they're 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:21.720 doing, and someone's like, guys, who am I, who am I? 00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:25.519 The kingdom of heaven, and before they even get to the next line, they're like, Jesus, 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:28.819 you're trying to be Jesus, because he's always, you see him daydreaming about it. 00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:31.839 The kingdom of heaven, it's like a mustard seed. 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:38.039 The kingdom of heaven is, he's speaking like that all the time, all the time. 00:18:38.199 --> 00:18:41.059 He's always speaking to him, and just before he says these words. 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:45.159 And so when he's talking about being ready for his coming, in light of that being that 00:18:45.159 --> 00:18:51.579 he is the king, and that he's coming to complete, fulfill the fullness of the kingdom, it makes 00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:54.599 sense that there's a readiness for action. 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:59.879 That we're not just being saved that our soul isn't thrown into hell, but that we're actually 00:18:59.879 --> 00:19:01.919 being rescued to a kingdom. 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:04.899 They're being rescued to serve a great king. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:10.139 And just on that, you know that the command to subdue the earth, and to fill it, and to 00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:13.439 work the ground, all that stuff, comes before the curse. 00:19:13.879 --> 00:19:15.539 That's what we're made for in the Garden of Eden. 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:21.299 And so we should rightly expect that when Jesus comes and makes the world right, that 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.379 there's work for us to do. 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:26.659 And he's saying, for us to do that work, we need to be getting ready now, and faithfully 00:19:26.659 --> 00:19:27.299 doing the work already. 00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:32.279 So Andrew, if you could put up the next point, try to summarize this by saying, there's work 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:35.139 for me to do in this life, and in the world to come. 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:39.180 There's work for me to do in this life, and in the world to come. 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:41.420 It's really important for us to get that. 00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:46.440 That being a Christian is not just about believing a bunch of true statements about God and reality 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:49.740 and ourselves, but it's actually about living life with Jesus. 00:19:50.580 --> 00:19:53.039 Five times in the Gospels, Jesus says, believe in me. 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:55.820 More than 20 times, he says, follow me. 00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:59.360 If as a kid, you ever played follow the leader, or maybe some of you as an adult, you still 00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.380 love the game, no judgment. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:01.480 Follow the leader. 00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.940 You're actually, you're going somewhere. 00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:03.680 You're doing stuff. 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:08.340 You're doing actions, and you're actually literally following and behaving like the person 00:20:08.340 --> 00:20:09.440 who you're following. 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:11.259 And that's what Jesus is saying. 00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:15.960 For us to be faithful people, for us to be fully human, we're to be actually serving 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:21.259 him, following him, living life like he was living, living life like he is living, even 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:23.559 to this day, doing the work of God. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:31.740 Now, as we get to that, it'd be easy for this message to simply be a message that we can do 00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:36.660 better, we can fulfill our New Year's promises, we can be people who are faithfully shining his 00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:40.960 light and making a difference if we just hold on to that expectation that Jesus is coming 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.279 back. 00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:42.320 We can be more moral. 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:46.600 We can be inspirations to everyone around us if we just live life gripped by the expectation 00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:49.400 that Jesus is coming back any moment. 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:55.700 But there's a problem there because, like I said and confessed to you a few minutes ago, 00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:59.540 even though I know that's true, I still struggle to actually hold on to that hope. 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:03.920 And even when I hold on to that hope, I still find myself doing things that are not in line 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:05.559 with that great expectation. 00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:10.440 And I have a feeling that you and I are more alike than you might want to admit that actually 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:12.200 that's the case for so many of us. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:15.899 So you read this and like, okay, that's all well and good, Jesus, but you're saying that 00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:18.980 those who let go of that expectation get demolished. 00:21:19.659 --> 00:21:20.879 How is this good news? 00:21:21.659 --> 00:21:23.480 Well, two things. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:29.680 First, there's something really, really surprising and actually kind of odd about this. 00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:32.160 And that's found in verse 37. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:34.059 Jesus says, 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:37.400 Blessed are those servants who the Master finds awake when he comes. 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:43.400 Truly I say to you, he, the Master, Jesus, will dress himself for service and have them 00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:46.500 recline at table and he will come and serve them. 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:51.660 Jesus, a few days later, illustrates this by actually doing that. 00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:57.660 He actually gets on his, he like, he gets on his knees and begins washing, cleaning his 00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:59.759 disciples' dirty, gucky feet. 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:04.700 He becomes the servant of his servants, illustrating for us what he does for us. 00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:10.480 In that analogy of the servant that's waiting on them, he's cleaning them, he's feeding them, 00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:11.860 he's caring for them. 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:18.060 And as I read this, it really hit me because New Year's is known to be one of the saddest 00:22:18.060 --> 00:22:18.940 times for people. 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:23.360 Because there's a great expectation that everyone's having a party and a good time and all this 00:22:23.360 --> 00:22:26.480 stuff, but most people fail to make that awesome of a plan. 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:30.080 And so you only have an expectation everyone else is having a good time, yourself are kind 00:22:30.080 --> 00:22:31.279 of feeling this emptiness inside. 00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:37.100 And that feeling of emptiness amidst all the expectation of parties and stuff is actually 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:41.240 something not just that New Year's for us in 2016, 2017, but it's actually the way so 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.360 many of us live our lives. 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:48.399 Research shows because of, even more so because of social media and the busyness and the chaos 00:22:48.399 --> 00:22:50.859 and the noise of life in 2017. 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:54.019 It's so easy for us to have an expectation. 00:22:54.179 --> 00:22:55.199 Everyone else is happy. 00:22:55.679 --> 00:22:57.779 Everyone else is living a Photoshop life. 00:22:58.539 --> 00:23:02.979 But there's this kind of nagging emptiness, this hunger for something more. 00:23:03.399 --> 00:23:06.759 Not just for those who don't identify as Christians, but even for many Christians. 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:09.759 There's an emptiness that can nag at us. 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:14.579 And if we're honest with ourselves, so much of the noise we bring into our life is a way 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:19.980 to self-medicate that hunger, that emptiness, sometimes even that feeling of dirtiness and 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.660 unworthiness. 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:25.299 And Jesus is saying right here that He can feed us. 00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:28.640 That He is ready and He is able to feed us. 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:30.319 To fill that emptiness. 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:32.379 To clean us. 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:38.980 And that He does so, not as a king throwing out scraps to His hungry people, but by being 00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:40.759 the king that becomes a servant of His people. 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.619 It's just so unusual here. 00:23:42.899 --> 00:23:47.159 We live in a world that tends to feel like it's the survival of the fittest. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:52.159 That the most attractive kids in high school, the jocks, the nerds, all, whatever, they're 00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:56.299 good at academics or sports or this or that, they get ahead and those who are just average 00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:57.279 just kind of feel invisible. 00:23:57.279 --> 00:24:00.799 In a world where the biggest dog gets the bone. 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:06.740 And Jesus is saying right here that He clearly is the, I feel wrong saying He's the biggest 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.039 dog. 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:07.779 He's so much more than that. 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:09.000 He's the lion, right? 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.839 He's the top of the food chain. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:12.019 He's the almighty. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.200 He's the most powerful. 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:15.539 He's not just the one who gets the greatest marks. 00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.519 He invented marks. 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.460 He's the inventor of the universe. 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:21.579 This guy breathes stars into existence. 00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:28.679 And He's the one who humbly becomes a servant, gets on His knees, cleans the muck and the 00:24:28.679 --> 00:24:31.460 stink and the embarrassing stuff of His servants. 00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:34.439 He becomes a servant to the servants. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:39.379 It's one thing to become, like, if you become a helper, like an aide. 00:24:39.380 --> 00:24:44.280 I used to work in politics, so if you become an assistant to the prime minister, like, man, 00:24:44.360 --> 00:24:45.540 like, you might be a servant. 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:47.080 You might feel like a slave. 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:49.400 But there's actually something like, put out your chest. 00:24:50.020 --> 00:24:53.180 But a servant to servants, that's not something that people esteem. 00:24:53.780 --> 00:24:59.400 The one who's the top of the food chain humbles himself to become the lowest of the low. 00:25:00.360 --> 00:25:00.780 Why? 00:25:01.280 --> 00:25:03.700 Because he loves his servants so much. 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:05.300 He loves the lowest of the low. 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:06.379 He loves the invisible. 00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:10.359 He loves those of us who were actually really lonely last night. 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:12.460 Those of us who kind of had a miserable Christmas. 00:25:13.159 --> 00:25:16.659 Those of us who, there's fear when we look forward to 2017. 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:19.259 We're not doing life the way we should do. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.619 We've messed up. 00:25:22.659 --> 00:25:24.460 Jesus is speaking these words. 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.559 This is the second element to this. 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:30.539 Jesus is speaking these words on His way to die in Jerusalem. 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:35.759 The second half of the Gospel of Luke is all since the end of Luke chapter 9. 00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:37.799 Jesus sets His face toward Jerusalem to die. 00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:40.960 And He and those with Him are walking to Jerusalem for Him to die. 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:47.659 And all the different conversations Jesus has on His way to Jerusalem are in light of His pending death. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.579 And His resurrection. 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:52.879 And so as we see these words and we read that, 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:58.059 that Jesus is expecting us to be faithful, to be ready on all the stuff. 00:25:58.059 --> 00:26:02.000 And if you're willing to be honest with yourself that you have messed up, 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:05.179 that you are a little more empty than you want to admit, 00:26:05.899 --> 00:26:07.599 that there's a hunger, a nagging hunger, 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:10.299 that there's parts of your life where there's dirt, 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:12.940 it's easy for us to be like, oh no. 00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:16.559 And it's okay to feel like that if it leads us to say, 00:26:16.639 --> 00:26:17.879 Jesus, I need help. 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:20.319 Jesus, I have hunger. 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.779 Jesus, I have emptiness. 00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:22.679 Jesus, I have dirt. 00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:25.099 And I need you to clean me. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:27.299 I need you to feed me. 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:28.819 I need you to help. 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:31.500 So Andrew, if you could put up the next point. 00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:34.200 Jesus is ready and able to forgive me, 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.799 to forgive my failure, 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:37.139 to fill my emptiness, 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.700 and freshen my soul. 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:41.299 I had to use refreshing rather than refresh, 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.940 because if you see there's three F's. 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:45.000 But I looked up freshen, 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:47.419 and freshen can mean to strengthen, 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.799 to make new, 00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:51.139 also to make more attractive. 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:52.960 Be that as it may, 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:55.279 Jesus is ready and able to forgive my failure, 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.440 to fill my emptiness, 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.980 and freshen my soul. 00:26:58.359 --> 00:26:59.700 That he's able to go into those places 00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.899 that no one else can go, 00:27:01.379 --> 00:27:04.039 to bring healing to scars we never thought possible. 00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:06.559 That he's able to clean the dirt 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.700 that we've tried so hard. 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:09.339 If you know the story of Macbeth, 00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:10.619 where Lady Macbeth is scrubbing, 00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:11.559 and scrubbing, and scrubbing, 00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.980 no matter how hard she scrubs, 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.940 she can't get it off. 00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:15.940 And perhaps there's things in your life like that, 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.399 where you've tried to forget it, 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:18.440 you've tried to confess it, 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.039 you've tried to, 00:27:19.320 --> 00:27:19.880 and Jesus is saying, 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.940 hey, I'm able. 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.320 I can wash you, 00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:23.180 I can cleanse you, 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:24.799 and I can strengthen you, 00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:25.640 and help you, 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:27.400 for all that you were born to be, 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.940 for all that you were made to be. 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.279 And so, 00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:32.259 as we look forward to this year, 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.320 I really want to encourage us 00:27:33.320 --> 00:27:34.779 to be people who are able to, 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:36.620 to hold on to that hope. 00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:39.920 One thing I forgot to mention. 00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:45.960 If we're honest with ourselves, 00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:48.160 and if you're someone that doesn't identify as a Christian, 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:50.440 it can especially sound weird that, 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:53.039 Christians believe Jesus is coming back. 00:27:53.600 --> 00:27:53.900 It can, 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.819 it can sound like, 00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:55.299 like Jesus, 00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.380 you know, 00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:57.880 you know he lived 2,000 years ago, 00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:59.340 and now we're believing he's coming back. 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:00.460 That sounds probably, 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.279 to some, 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.140 like, 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:03.240 where people are saying, 00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:04.319 Elvis is still alive, 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:06.059 or that the aliens are coming. 00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:06.539 In fact, 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:08.019 there's a chance that there's more, 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.340 some of you who believe that, 00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:11.680 it's more like the aliens exist, 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.660 than Jesus is coming back. 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:12.940 Like, 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.600 people from 2,000 years ago, 00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:15.779 don't tend to come back, 00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:16.639 and say hello. 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.079 But, 00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:19.740 the reason we're able, 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:21.019 and the reason I think it's not just, 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:21.559 uh, 00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.980 a possible to believe, 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:24.700 but actually the most logical, 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.559 the most reason, 00:28:25.639 --> 00:28:25.920 and the, 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:27.019 the smartest thing. 00:28:27.339 --> 00:28:27.819 If you want to be, 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:29.559 if you want to be intelligent about this, 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:32.279 it's intelligent to believe Jesus is coming back. 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:34.500 And he might come back at any moment. 00:28:34.599 --> 00:28:34.839 Why? 00:28:35.399 --> 00:28:35.899 Because like I said, 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.240 Jesus, 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:38.839 Jesus says these words on his way to die in Jerusalem. 00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:41.839 Jesus predicted about himself that he would die, 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:43.559 and that he would come back to life. 00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.359 That's really hard to do. 00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:47.259 I find it hard to get out of bed in the morning. 00:28:47.399 --> 00:28:49.839 Jesus said he'd come back out of the grave. 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.539 Okay? 00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:52.599 That sounds like crazy. 00:28:53.659 --> 00:28:55.099 He predicts the impossible, 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:58.899 and then the best eyewitness accounts we have, 00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:01.159 as historians love seeing, 00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:01.359 like, 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.700 people who actually saw some, 00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:02.839 like, 00:29:02.919 --> 00:29:04.220 primary sources when they were there, 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.220 hostile sources, 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.799 people who wanted him dead, 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:08.000 who would then say, 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.220 no, 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:08.640 actually, 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.960 he's come back to life. 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:12.460 People who have everything to lose by saying that, 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.559 yet they believe it. 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:14.440 There's so, 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:16.759 we have all these different types of eyewitness accounts 00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:19.039 that Jesus actually came back to life. 00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:22.940 The evidence shows that Jesus predicted the impossible, 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:25.000 and then actually the impossible came true. 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:28.380 And when someone is that good at predicting the future, 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:31.220 when someone can come back from the dead just like they said they would, 00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:33.079 then when they say something else, 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.460 that they're going to come back, 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.860 even after so many years, 00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:36.700 they're going to come back, 00:29:37.360 --> 00:29:39.019 it's logical to trust them, 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:42.019 because he's earned our trust by fulfilling the impossible before. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:46.539 And so the last point is that I can trust that Jesus is coming back, 00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:51.200 because he proved through his death and resurrection that he is trustworthy. 00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.079 And actually, 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:54.519 it's very illogical. 00:29:54.840 --> 00:30:00.620 It's really silly to say that he's not going to come back when he did come back from the dead already, 00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:02.600 and he's also just the same way to predict that he's coming back. 00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:04.459 And so the most logical, 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:07.419 the most smartest thing is expecting to come back at any moment. 00:30:07.679 --> 00:30:09.279 And he's saying that it's not just logic, 00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:13.439 but something that we need to do for the very health of the innermost parts of our lives, 00:30:13.459 --> 00:30:14.679 and for day-to-day actions. 00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:19.480 So I was chatting with my friend about this sermon, 00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:21.899 asked for his permission if I could share the story about the airport, 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:22.599 and he said, 00:30:22.639 --> 00:30:22.839 you know what, 00:30:22.919 --> 00:30:23.179 mention, 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:27.019 mention at the end that there's a difference between Jesus and me, 00:30:27.439 --> 00:30:29.059 that Jesus always keeps his word. 00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:30.200 We humans, 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.279 we make mistakes sometimes. 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.799 Sometimes we can't help it. 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:33.319 We get sick. 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:34.139 We can't get to the airport. 00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:35.159 But Jesus, 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:37.179 he's coming back. 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.639 He might even come back today. 00:30:38.679 --> 00:30:39.419 Would you stand with me? 00:30:40.639 --> 00:30:42.139 I want to invite you to say these words. 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:43.079 I'll just read it first, 00:30:43.639 --> 00:30:44.879 and hopefully we can say them together. 00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:46.380 Dear Jesus, 00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:49.540 please forgive me for not living fully as a faithful servant. 00:30:50.340 --> 00:30:50.920 We'll read it again. 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:51.640 I'll just read it aloud, 00:30:51.760 --> 00:30:53.020 so you have a chance to see what you're saying. 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.120 Dear Jesus, 00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:56.200 please forgive me for not living fully as a faithful servant. 00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:57.520 I have not said things, 00:30:57.540 --> 00:30:59.540 and I have not done things that I should have. 00:30:59.780 --> 00:31:00.780 And I have said things, 00:31:00.820 --> 00:31:02.400 and done things that I shouldn't have. 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.440 I am hungry, 00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:05.100 and I need you to feed me, 00:31:05.300 --> 00:31:06.020 to clean me, 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:06.920 to save me, 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:09.100 and to help me live this year and all my life, 00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:11.660 with the expectation that you're coming back at any moment. 00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.060 God, 00:31:12.060 --> 00:31:13.700 so if these words reflect your heart, 00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:14.540 let's say them together. 00:31:15.320 --> 00:31:15.900 Dear Jesus, 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:20.040 please forgive me for not living fully as a faithful servant. 00:31:20.600 --> 00:31:21.820 I have not said things, 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:24.160 and I have not done things that I should have, 00:31:24.380 --> 00:31:25.519 and I have said things, 00:31:25.580 --> 00:31:27.200 and done things that I shouldn't have. 00:31:27.580 --> 00:31:28.360 I am hungry, 00:31:28.820 --> 00:31:30.040 and I need you to feed me, 00:31:30.300 --> 00:31:31.080 to clean me, 00:31:31.320 --> 00:31:32.120 to save me, 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:35.140 and to help me live this year and all my life, 00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:38.460 with the expectation that you're coming back at any moment. 00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:39.360 God, 00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:41.640 thank you so much that your love is steadfast, 00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:43.700 and that you always keep your word. 00:31:44.320 --> 00:31:44.540 God, 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:44.860 again, 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:49.300 you know how different ones of us have various hungers and needs, 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:50.380 feelings of emptiness, 00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.600 different stuff, 00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:52.940 and we just so need you. 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.040 God, 00:31:54.100 --> 00:31:55.279 would you come through for us? 00:31:55.300 --> 00:31:56.480 Would you answer to this prayer? 00:31:57.019 --> 00:32:01.420 And would you help us to be able to live this day and every day of our lives, 00:32:01.600 --> 00:32:04.200 with that great expectation that you're coming back? 00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:05.759 We ask you to come back soon. 00:32:06.560 --> 00:32:07.540 In Jesus' name, 00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:07.860 Amen.