WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.060 The Russian Leo Tolstoy was a great novelist, apparently. 00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:10.359 I've never read him, but apparently he's one of the most famous novelists in the world. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:11.439 I know who he is. 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:19.199 Historians would say that he's potentially the greatest novelist of all time. 00:00:19.859 --> 00:00:23.339 I don't know because I don't read novels as a general rule. 00:00:23.640 --> 00:00:27.160 I read biographies of novelists instead. 00:00:27.160 --> 00:00:33.859 But with things like war and peace, which I do know about, to his credit, that's pretty impressive. 00:00:33.980 --> 00:00:39.620 He wrote something about Anna, somebody at some point as well, if you're familiar with him at all. 00:00:40.100 --> 00:00:46.079 But he's Russian, and we call him Leo Tolstoy because we can't pronounce his Russian name, for those who are English. 00:00:46.539 --> 00:00:51.359 But it would seem that he believed the press about himself also. 00:00:51.939 --> 00:00:54.120 He thought that he was pretty special. 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:57.199 There were certain things I did read about him. 00:00:57.739 --> 00:01:00.699 For instance, this prayer that he wrote in his diary. 00:01:01.559 --> 00:01:04.439 Help, Father, come and dwell within me. 00:01:04.979 --> 00:01:07.140 You are already dwell within me. 00:01:07.479 --> 00:01:08.959 You are already me. 00:01:10.939 --> 00:01:13.979 A historian, Paul Johnson, wrote, 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:19.280 There are times when Tolstoy seemed to think of himself as God's brother. 00:01:20.040 --> 00:01:21.980 Indeed, his elder brother. 00:01:23.260 --> 00:01:26.260 Tolstoy once wrote in one of his diaries, 00:01:26.260 --> 00:01:31.260 Read a work on the literary characterization of genius today, 00:01:31.260 --> 00:01:36.640 And this awoke in me the conviction that I am a remarkable man. 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:41.280 Both as regards capacity and eagerness to work, 00:01:41.800 --> 00:01:47.880 I have not met a single man who was more morally as good as I. 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:52.019 Obviously need to get out a little bit more, I think. 00:01:53.319 --> 00:01:58.039 He wrote that he felt in his own soul an immeasurable grandeur. 00:01:59.379 --> 00:02:03.579 He regarded himself as above the rest of humanity 00:02:03.579 --> 00:02:11.120 as part of a historic apostolic succession of moral superiors 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:15.099 like Moses and Abraham and Jesus. 00:02:15.979 --> 00:02:18.680 And down the line you get to Tolstoy. 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:26.000 It could be said, borrowing from today's, 00:02:27.180 --> 00:02:29.340 the opening words of today's text, 00:02:29.340 --> 00:02:33.620 that Leo Tolstoy was confident of his own righteousness 00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:36.780 and looked down on everyone else. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:43.840 The irony of his words is that he got this version 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:46.140 of a superior, moral superiority, 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:50.099 because of his love of Jesus' teaching 00:02:50.099 --> 00:02:53.800 in the Sermon on the Mount and his parables. 00:02:54.860 --> 00:02:57.780 I'm not sure if he read Luke 18. 00:02:59.340 --> 00:03:02.719 Confident of his own righteousness 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:05.039 and looked down on everyone else. 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:12.740 Last week, we started this journey to Jerusalem with Jesus. 00:03:13.659 --> 00:03:15.480 We saw there, quite clearly, 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:18.939 that Jesus demands commitment 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:20.860 from those who would follow him. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:23.000 We saw that Jesus' journey to Jerusalem 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:27.400 is our journey as he sets his face to Jerusalem 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:28.580 to go there and die. 00:03:28.700 --> 00:03:32.039 We must set our face to die to ourselves with him. 00:03:33.640 --> 00:03:36.520 Luke 9, 23, 24 00:03:36.520 --> 00:03:38.480 could not be any clearer 00:03:38.480 --> 00:03:40.620 for the disciple of Jesus. 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:44.000 If anyone would come after me, 00:03:44.200 --> 00:03:45.379 he must deny himself, 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:46.659 take up his cross daily, 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:48.340 and follow me. 00:03:48.460 --> 00:03:50.700 Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, 00:03:50.939 --> 00:03:52.580 but whoever loses his life for me 00:03:52.580 --> 00:03:53.540 will save it. 00:03:53.539 --> 00:03:57.319 Daily, taking up your cross. 00:03:57.979 --> 00:04:01.659 Daily, taking on the position of a dead man walking. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:05.000 Dead to self, alive to Christ. 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:10.740 So when Jesus set his face to walk the Calvary Road, 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:14.620 he was not merely taking our place, 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:17.860 where we are just the spectators in it, 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:18.879 watching him do it. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:22.360 He was also setting our pattern. 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:25.819 He was both our substitute and our pace setter. 00:04:27.180 --> 00:04:30.540 And so the question for us is why? 00:04:30.540 --> 00:04:36.040 Why would I want to get on this road with Jesus 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:40.220 when his call upon my life is so massive? 00:04:41.140 --> 00:04:42.500 The radical call, 00:04:42.660 --> 00:04:43.980 the radical claim of Jesus 00:04:43.980 --> 00:04:47.620 is extremely costly. 00:04:49.100 --> 00:04:51.220 The highest possible price, 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:53.879 the surrendering of our lives. 00:04:55.460 --> 00:04:57.060 Why would you want to do that? 00:04:57.060 --> 00:05:00.639 Now, last week I touched on the answer to that question. 00:05:02.300 --> 00:05:06.680 And tonight I want to drive down into it. 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:09.699 I want to use this text that's in front of us 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:15.079 in Luke 18 as my launching pad, if you like. 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:16.340 I want to dig deeper 00:05:16.340 --> 00:05:20.899 because what we're seeing in this text here 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:24.540 underlies everything about radical. 00:05:24.540 --> 00:05:27.439 and everything that's going to flow from this 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:28.420 about radical, 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:29.960 what it means to be a radical disciple. 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:34.060 So we've had the call last week 00:05:34.060 --> 00:05:38.320 and now the radical foundation for that call. 00:05:39.520 --> 00:05:40.660 And the core issue with this 00:05:40.660 --> 00:05:41.900 is how to get right with God. 00:05:42.660 --> 00:05:44.320 It's spelled out in verse 14. 00:05:44.580 --> 00:05:46.220 I tell you, it says, 00:05:46.340 --> 00:05:47.580 I tell you that this man, 00:05:48.400 --> 00:05:49.420 rather than the other, 00:05:49.660 --> 00:05:51.600 went home justified before God. 00:05:52.680 --> 00:05:53.740 That's the core issue. 00:05:54.540 --> 00:05:56.200 How to get right. 00:05:58.220 --> 00:06:01.720 And so to help us understand that issue clearly, 00:06:02.220 --> 00:06:05.160 to understand what it means to be declared right before God, 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:06.760 what it means to be justified, 00:06:07.660 --> 00:06:09.980 Jesus tells this story about two extraordinary men. 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:16.580 And these men are drawn by Jesus so starkly. 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:18.160 They're set against each other 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:19.939 so that we can see the issue. 00:06:19.939 --> 00:06:24.519 They're characterized so clearly as black and white. 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:26.360 We know from verse 10 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:28.160 that these two men go up to the temple to pray. 00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:30.339 But as it says in verse 14, 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:32.839 only one of them goes home okay with God. 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:35.240 Only one of them is a friend of God's 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:36.399 at the end of the experience. 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:37.579 One of them, we are told, 00:06:37.620 --> 00:06:38.459 is a tax collector. 00:06:38.459 --> 00:06:40.899 The other one is a Pharisee. 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:45.159 Now, we need to sort of pause for a moment. 00:06:45.579 --> 00:06:50.219 And it's really crucial for us not to get this all mucked up right from the start. 00:06:50.299 --> 00:06:52.819 Because if you're familiar with the Bible at all, 00:06:53.259 --> 00:06:54.620 and you've read through the Gospels, 00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:56.819 you will know that Jesus constantly goes, 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:58.939 clash, clash, clash to every Pharisee. 00:06:59.579 --> 00:07:01.279 Jesus and Pharisees didn't get on. 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:01.799 Jesus said, 00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:04.319 the harshest words from the mouth of Jesus 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:07.659 was directed to the Pharisees and the scribes 00:07:07.659 --> 00:07:08.479 and the teachers of the law. 00:07:08.599 --> 00:07:09.579 A group of three people, 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:10.679 Pharisees, 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:12.299 just copped it from Jesus. 00:07:12.559 --> 00:07:13.219 Woe to you. 00:07:13.419 --> 00:07:14.879 Curse to you, Pharisees. 00:07:15.919 --> 00:07:16.439 And so, 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:21.319 we just automatically think that the Pharisee is the bad guy. 00:07:22.719 --> 00:07:24.859 But not in first century Palestine 00:07:24.859 --> 00:07:25.979 for the followers of Jesus 00:07:25.979 --> 00:07:28.559 who heard these words from Jesus' mouth for the very first time. 00:07:29.019 --> 00:07:30.659 Peter, James, John, and the rest of the boys. 00:07:32.099 --> 00:07:35.559 The Pharisee was deeply respected in first century Palestine. 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:37.299 They were a pillar of the community. 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:38.579 Trustworthy. 00:07:39.099 --> 00:07:41.019 Very generous to the poor and needy. 00:07:42.059 --> 00:07:43.500 And we can see in the text here, 00:07:43.899 --> 00:07:44.279 he says, 00:07:44.359 --> 00:07:46.219 I'm a good guy and I give a tenth of everything. 00:07:46.599 --> 00:07:47.659 Very, very generous. 00:07:48.939 --> 00:07:52.559 They were not men who made their money out of religion. 00:07:53.659 --> 00:07:55.219 They were regular church attendees 00:07:55.219 --> 00:07:58.239 who were deeply, deeply serious 00:07:58.239 --> 00:07:59.879 about their commitment to God 00:07:59.879 --> 00:08:01.459 and obedience to God. 00:08:02.659 --> 00:08:03.639 On the other hand, 00:08:03.699 --> 00:08:04.659 you've got the tax collectors. 00:08:05.980 --> 00:08:08.300 And they are lowlifes. 00:08:09.060 --> 00:08:10.800 They are very greedy. 00:08:12.019 --> 00:08:14.439 No one would socialite with them. 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:20.540 Tax collectors were considered absolute filth 00:08:20.540 --> 00:08:23.200 because they were traitors. 00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:26.760 They were Jewish people 00:08:26.760 --> 00:08:30.560 who teamed up with the occupying Romans, 00:08:30.760 --> 00:08:32.940 joined forces with the occupying Romans 00:08:32.940 --> 00:08:34.840 against their own people. 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:37.840 They had sold out their families, 00:08:37.980 --> 00:08:38.540 their friends, 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:39.200 their nation, 00:08:39.300 --> 00:08:39.860 their religion, 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:41.660 their God for the sake of money. 00:08:43.540 --> 00:08:45.340 And so the Romans came in, 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:45.940 they occupied, 00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:46.820 and they said, 00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:49.660 we're going to charge a 20% tax 00:08:49.660 --> 00:08:52.259 on everyone in this area. 00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:56.019 And to collect the taxes, 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:58.080 they recruited these people 00:08:58.080 --> 00:08:59.159 who were Jewish people, 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:00.340 put their hands up, 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:01.399 and said, 00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:01.600 yeah, 00:09:01.700 --> 00:09:04.139 I'll collect taxes from my own people. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:06.659 And the Romans gave them permission 00:09:06.659 --> 00:09:08.639 to put their cut on top of that. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:12.319 Whatever you want, 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:13.360 whatever it is that you, 00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:13.799 you know, 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:15.500 you want to buy yourself a fancy camel, 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:16.740 you know, 00:09:16.779 --> 00:09:17.720 put an extra tax, 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:18.360 you know, 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:19.860 you want to buy yourself a bigger house, 00:09:20.340 --> 00:09:21.200 put whatever tax. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:23.680 So a tax collector could add 00:09:23.680 --> 00:09:25.580 whatever they wanted on top of that. 00:09:25.820 --> 00:09:27.000 And when they went in 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:28.060 to collect the taxes, 00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:30.000 they had the Roman soldiers 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.160 with their spears, 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:32.340 protecting them 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:33.860 and ensuring that the people 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:34.740 handed over the money. 00:09:36.060 --> 00:09:37.900 Tax collector would hand over his dollars 00:09:37.900 --> 00:09:38.600 to the Romans 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:40.580 and keep the rest for himself. 00:09:43.460 --> 00:09:44.520 So this guy, 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:46.700 as far as their friends, 00:09:46.800 --> 00:09:47.280 their nations, 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:49.220 the other Jewish people, 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:50.500 these are scum. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:52.540 They were not welcome 00:09:52.540 --> 00:09:54.040 in any place of worship. 00:09:55.400 --> 00:09:56.560 Tax collectors historically 00:09:56.560 --> 00:09:57.280 were known 00:09:57.280 --> 00:09:58.280 when they didn't have 00:09:58.280 --> 00:09:59.740 the Roman soldiers around them, 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:00.920 were very vulnerable 00:10:00.920 --> 00:10:01.820 and they were known 00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:02.960 to be stabbed to death 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:03.920 in broad daylight 00:10:03.920 --> 00:10:04.940 in marketplaces 00:10:04.940 --> 00:10:06.940 and people would not come 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:08.180 to their aid at all. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.240 You would spit on them 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:10.900 and kick them 00:10:10.900 --> 00:10:11.700 while they're dying. 00:10:12.259 --> 00:10:12.879 Step over them 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:13.680 to buy you apples 00:10:13.680 --> 00:10:14.740 or whatever it is that you buy. 00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:19.320 And they hated the tax collectors. 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:22.519 And so here we have, 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:23.460 these are the two men, 00:10:23.539 --> 00:10:24.399 the pillar of the community 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.919 and the absolute scum 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:29.500 going up to the temple to pray. 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:31.659 Most likely, 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:32.860 it's one of the two daily 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:34.180 worship services 00:10:34.180 --> 00:10:35.620 that took place in the temple. 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:36.560 One was at dawn, 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:37.480 one was around 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:38.879 three in the afternoon. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:42.240 They were both services 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:43.980 of atonement offerings. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:47.220 And each service would begin 00:10:47.220 --> 00:10:49.919 in the inner sanctuary, 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:50.320 sorry, 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:51.480 outside the inner sanctuary 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:53.720 at the great high altar 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:54.519 where the sacrifice 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:55.600 of a lamb 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:56.720 for the sins of Israel 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:57.340 was made. 00:10:58.600 --> 00:10:59.639 The service would include 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:01.580 the sound of a silver trumpet 00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:02.600 and the clanging of cymbals 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:03.559 and the reading of a psalm. 00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:05.639 And the officiating priest 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:07.379 would then enter 00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:08.739 the outer part of the sanctuary 00:11:08.739 --> 00:11:10.399 where he would offer incense 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:11.839 and he would trim the lamps. 00:11:12.019 --> 00:11:12.919 And at that point, 00:11:13.500 --> 00:11:15.259 he would take the blood 00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:16.079 of the sacrifice, 00:11:17.199 --> 00:11:18.619 disappear into the building 00:11:18.619 --> 00:11:20.539 to offer the sacrifice 00:11:20.539 --> 00:11:21.399 of atonement. 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:23.759 And when the priest 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:24.779 disappeared in the building 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:25.579 by himself 00:11:25.579 --> 00:11:27.039 in the inner sanctuary, 00:11:27.479 --> 00:11:29.079 it was time then 00:11:29.079 --> 00:11:30.259 for those who gathered 00:11:30.259 --> 00:11:31.559 into the outer courts 00:11:31.559 --> 00:11:34.559 to offer private prayers 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:35.259 to God 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:37.259 while the offering 00:11:37.259 --> 00:11:37.939 of atonement 00:11:37.939 --> 00:11:38.799 was being made. 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:40.619 And here, 00:11:40.779 --> 00:11:42.579 we read the private prayers 00:11:42.579 --> 00:11:43.919 of our two characters. 00:11:45.619 --> 00:11:46.879 Forget who these two men 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:47.959 are on the outside 00:11:47.959 --> 00:11:48.739 and what the perceptions 00:11:48.739 --> 00:11:50.779 of society are of them. 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.879 Their prayers reveal 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:53.819 their hearts 00:11:53.819 --> 00:11:54.719 and the heart 00:11:54.719 --> 00:11:56.319 is what God sees. 00:11:59.099 --> 00:12:00.699 Pharisee prays like this. 00:12:01.559 --> 00:12:02.599 Father, 00:12:02.859 --> 00:12:03.259 God, 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:04.759 I thank you 00:12:04.759 --> 00:12:06.000 that I'm not like other men. 00:12:06.959 --> 00:12:07.439 Robbers, 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:08.219 evildoers, 00:12:08.359 --> 00:12:08.959 adulterers, 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:10.239 or even that scumbag 00:12:10.239 --> 00:12:10.959 tax collector 00:12:10.959 --> 00:12:11.899 sitting over there. 00:12:12.579 --> 00:12:13.479 How dare he? 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:16.299 I fast twice a week, 00:12:16.359 --> 00:12:17.000 I give a tenth 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:17.779 of all that I get. 00:12:20.459 --> 00:12:22.119 It's like he's praying 00:12:22.119 --> 00:12:24.259 and just hugging himself 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:25.699 and man, 00:12:25.819 --> 00:12:26.939 I'm a great guy. 00:12:26.940 --> 00:12:31.200 He praises himself. 00:12:31.420 --> 00:12:32.720 He adores himself. 00:12:33.660 --> 00:12:34.360 He starts with, 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:34.600 God, 00:12:34.660 --> 00:12:35.340 I thank you, 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:36.920 but instead of thanking God 00:12:36.920 --> 00:12:38.500 for what God has given him, 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:39.920 he's thanking God 00:12:39.920 --> 00:12:42.220 for what he has given God. 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:43.500 He's thankful for that. 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:46.920 And he does it so spiritually. 00:12:47.060 --> 00:12:48.040 He spiritualizes 00:12:48.040 --> 00:12:49.140 his self-righteousness. 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:49.680 He says, 00:12:49.780 --> 00:12:50.020 God, 00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:50.660 thank you. 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:52.840 God, 00:12:52.880 --> 00:12:53.240 I thank you 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:54.020 that I'm okay. 00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:57.399 And then he goes on 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:57.960 and explains 00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:58.939 how different he is 00:12:58.939 --> 00:12:59.699 from other people. 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:00.919 And the problem 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:01.819 with this Pharisee 00:13:01.819 --> 00:13:03.220 is that his evaluation 00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:04.740 of himself 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:07.620 is based on the wrong standard. 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:08.699 He's using the wrong measure. 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:10.439 He compares himself 00:13:10.439 --> 00:13:11.319 with other people. 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.100 I'm okay, God, 00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:12.799 because there's always 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:13.759 someone worse than me, 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:15.120 especially that 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:16.220 scumbag 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:16.980 tax collector 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:17.579 over there. 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:20.840 That's what we do 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:22.319 with morality. 00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:23.159 We always, 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:24.100 ironically, 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:24.919 when it comes to wealth, 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:25.860 we don't think 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:26.679 we're wealthy 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:27.259 because we can always 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:28.079 find people richer than us. 00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:28.879 When it comes to morality, 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:30.480 we always look down the line 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:31.559 and find people 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:32.899 who are morally worse than us, 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:33.519 which makes us feel 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:33.980 more comfortable 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:34.699 about ourselves. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:38.740 We always 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:41.019 default 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:42.379 towards 00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:43.259 an inflated 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:43.699 view 00:13:43.699 --> 00:13:44.879 of self. 00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:48.759 We're like 00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:51.139 filthy coal miners, 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:51.519 you know, 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.419 five kilometers 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:53.740 below the earth's surface 00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:54.980 in all the darkness 00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:56.299 and coal dust 00:13:56.299 --> 00:13:57.340 and dirt 00:13:57.340 --> 00:13:58.100 and mud 00:13:58.100 --> 00:13:58.679 and stuff, 00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:00.980 comparing ourselves 00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:01.579 with each other, 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:02.480 imagining who's 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:03.279 the most cleanest 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:04.100 in this environment. 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.879 Who cares? 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.399 You're all filthy. 00:14:10.939 --> 00:14:12.460 We compare ourselves 00:14:12.460 --> 00:14:12.899 with whoever 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:14.100 makes us comfortable 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:15.659 regardless of our own filth, 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:16.980 regardless of our own sin 00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:17.939 and corruption. 00:14:17.940 --> 00:14:20.840 And in this case, 00:14:20.900 --> 00:14:21.580 the Pharisee 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.540 is feeling great 00:14:22.540 --> 00:14:23.080 because, 00:14:23.660 --> 00:14:23.860 well, 00:14:23.900 --> 00:14:24.900 there's the tax collector 00:14:24.900 --> 00:14:26.040 just over there. 00:14:27.900 --> 00:14:28.600 You see, 00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:29.780 a religious person 00:14:29.780 --> 00:14:31.660 is easy 00:14:31.660 --> 00:14:32.800 on themselves 00:14:32.800 --> 00:14:34.900 and they're hard 00:14:34.900 --> 00:14:36.340 on everyone else. 00:14:37.160 --> 00:14:38.560 That's a religious person. 00:14:38.680 --> 00:14:39.600 Easy on themselves 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:40.460 and hard 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:41.660 on everyone else. 00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:44.480 God's assessment, 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:45.719 the true tape measure, 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:46.620 the true line 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:48.059 of the human condition 00:14:48.059 --> 00:14:49.319 is quite different 00:14:49.319 --> 00:14:50.439 and his diagnosis 00:14:50.439 --> 00:14:51.839 is what Sam read out to us 00:14:51.839 --> 00:14:52.860 in Ephesians 2. 00:14:52.959 --> 00:14:53.799 Let me read it to you. 00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:54.699 As for you, 00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:55.199 you were dead 00:14:55.199 --> 00:14:56.159 in your transgressions 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:56.579 and sins 00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:57.600 in which you used to live 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:58.120 when you followed 00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.179 the ways of this world 00:14:59.179 --> 00:15:00.120 and of the ruler 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.079 of the kingdom of the air, 00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:02.600 the spirit who is now 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:03.559 at work in those 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:04.459 who are disobedient. 00:15:04.939 --> 00:15:06.519 All of us also lived 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:07.759 among them at one time, 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:09.360 gratifying the cravings 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:10.399 of our sinful nature 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:12.319 and following its desires 00:15:12.319 --> 00:15:13.000 and thoughts 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:13.980 and like the rest, 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.360 we were by nature 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:16.939 objects of wrath. 00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:19.240 And you see the diagnosis 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:21.000 in Romans 3. 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:23.199 There is no one righteous, 00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:24.120 not even one. 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:26.039 There is no one 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.600 who understands, 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.959 no one who seeks God. 00:15:28.079 --> 00:15:29.259 All have turned away. 00:15:29.579 --> 00:15:30.220 They have together 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:31.039 become worthless. 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.039 There is no one 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:32.819 who does good, 00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:34.139 not even one. 00:15:35.939 --> 00:15:37.039 No one righteous, 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:39.299 no one who seeks God. 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:40.120 Worthless, 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:40.560 dead, 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:43.179 that is the natural 00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:44.060 human condition 00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:45.659 left to our own devices. 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:46.560 We are dead 00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:47.560 in our sins. 00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:48.659 And so the core 00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:49.779 of human nature 00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:52.019 is not basically good 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:52.960 and we just need 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:53.759 to mine the goodness 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.379 out of it somehow 00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:56.440 and let people flourish. 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:57.919 It is in fact 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:59.259 fundamentally bad. 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:01.500 We are spiritually bankrupt. 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:04.100 We are spiritually dead, 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:06.019 born dead to God 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:08.279 because we are born sinners. 00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:09.439 And so therefore, 00:16:09.699 --> 00:16:10.819 spiritual life 00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:12.259 is impossible 00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:13.500 for something for us 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:15.179 to conjure up in ourselves 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:16.199 because corpses 00:16:16.199 --> 00:16:19.220 cannot help themselves. 00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:22.319 That doesn't mean 00:16:22.319 --> 00:16:23.000 that we are as bad 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:24.279 as we all can possibly be 00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:25.779 because God is gracious enough 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:27.419 not to totally remove 00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:28.799 His sovereign and gracious hand 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:29.919 from our lives 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:30.500 and leave us 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.399 to our own devices. 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:33.559 What it does mean though 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:34.220 is that sin 00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.679 has totally marred 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:36.939 every aspect 00:16:36.939 --> 00:16:38.720 of the human life. 00:16:39.539 --> 00:16:40.419 Every aspect. 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:42.000 We've got nothing 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.840 to offer God. 00:16:43.079 --> 00:16:43.759 We've got nothing 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.559 to contribute. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:46.079 Not only do we not 00:16:46.079 --> 00:16:46.899 have any righteousness 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.740 in our account 00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:48.840 but we've actually got 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:49.819 a massive debt 00:16:49.819 --> 00:16:50.559 in our account. 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:53.240 We are spiritually bankrupt. 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:55.139 We are deserving 00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:56.360 of God's wrath. 00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:57.419 Far from being 00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:58.240 a good person, 00:16:58.419 --> 00:16:59.560 every person sits 00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:01.899 under the wrath of God. 00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:09.480 And so we don't need God 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.859 to make up the difference 00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:12.400 between our deficiencies 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.500 and what He requires. 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:17.059 we need God 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:17.839 to provide 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:19.059 a remedy 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:20.759 for our guilt, 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:22.619 for our rebellion, 00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:23.880 for our sin, 00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:24.660 our pollution 00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:25.559 and our offenses 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.400 against God. 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.660 What we need 00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:30.059 is radical mercy. 00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:30.759 We need 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:32.380 radical grace 00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:34.079 to provide 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:35.019 a satisfaction 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:36.420 for God's justice 00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:38.019 to cancel a debt 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:39.000 that we cannot pay. 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:41.099 And that 00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:42.079 is what this 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:42.839 low-life 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:44.059 tax collector 00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:45.279 understands. 00:17:47.139 --> 00:17:48.480 Everything on the surface 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.699 and on the inside 00:17:49.699 --> 00:17:50.980 tells him 00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:51.579 that he has 00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:52.639 no reason 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:53.799 to look to himself 00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:54.579 for hope. 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.419 And his prayer 00:17:57.419 --> 00:17:57.980 is simple. 00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:59.039 Have a look at it there. 00:17:59.399 --> 00:18:00.419 He beats himself 00:18:00.419 --> 00:18:01.439 on the chest 00:18:01.439 --> 00:18:02.299 and he says, 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:03.539 God, 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.679 have mercy 00:18:04.679 --> 00:18:05.699 on me, 00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:06.539 a sinner. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.000 And see what Jesus 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.959 says at the end of that 00:18:10.959 --> 00:18:11.859 about this prayer, 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.659 verse 14? 00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:13.879 I tell you that 00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:14.579 this man, 00:18:15.399 --> 00:18:16.639 rather than the other, 00:18:17.379 --> 00:18:18.339 went home justified 00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:19.179 before God. 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.059 Now the word 00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:22.059 justified there 00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:23.419 means to be 00:18:23.419 --> 00:18:24.059 approved, 00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:26.480 legally 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.279 declared, 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:28.539 innocent 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.779 of all wrongdoing 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:30.819 and to receive 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.459 the approval 00:18:31.459 --> 00:18:32.119 of God. 00:18:33.179 --> 00:18:34.019 And this 00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:34.699 lone life, 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.220 it says, 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.619 is right with God 00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:37.359 and the pillar 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.039 of the community, 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.700 the paradigm 00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:39.500 of virtue 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:41.539 goes away 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.960 not right 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.579 with God. 00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:46.200 And you see this 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:47.099 if you've read 00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:47.839 through Luke's gospel, 00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:49.119 you'll see this 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.000 again and again 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.779 in Luke's gospel. 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:53.039 In Luke 7, 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:54.460 there's a Pharisee 00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:55.819 and a sinful woman. 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.720 In Luke 15, 00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.420 there's a father 00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.359 with two sons. 00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.420 One son 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:01.200 stays at home, 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:01.759 always does 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.460 what he's told. 00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:03.559 And then there's 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:04.259 a younger brother 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.539 who rejects his dad, 00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:06.000 says, 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:06.460 I want nothing 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:06.980 to do with you 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:07.559 but I want my 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:08.039 share of the hidden 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.799 runs off, 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:09.519 spends the money 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.359 in wild living. 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.759 And then here 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.720 in Luke 18, 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:13.460 we have a pillar 00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:13.880 of the community, 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:14.579 we have a traitor 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:16.319 and in every case, 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:18.039 the good person, 00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:18.799 we have a good person 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.720 and a bad person, 00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.819 the bad person 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:21.680 is saved, 00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:22.720 the good person 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.579 is lost 00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.539 in every one 00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:25.319 of those stories. 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:31.859 There are two ways, 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:34.079 two ways 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:35.220 to be your own 00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:35.579 savior 00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:36.259 and Lord. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:38.899 There's two ways 00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:39.939 to reject God 00:19:39.939 --> 00:19:41.500 and be your own God. 00:19:42.679 --> 00:19:43.480 One way 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:43.939 is doing 00:19:43.939 --> 00:19:44.919 what the tax collector 00:19:44.919 --> 00:19:45.659 has been doing, 00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:48.019 living any way 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:48.740 he wants, 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.119 thumbing his nose 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:51.759 at God 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:53.439 and frankly, 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.939 using everyone else 00:19:55.939 --> 00:19:57.039 for his own end. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:58.079 That's one way 00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:58.519 of doing it. 00:19:58.699 --> 00:19:59.379 It's obvious 00:19:59.379 --> 00:20:00.220 to most people. 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.460 The other way 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:05.339 to reject God 00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:06.519 and be your own God 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.659 is to be 00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.859 very moral, 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.919 very righteous, 00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:12.879 very dutiful 00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:16.559 and then saying, 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.099 well God, 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.480 look at me, 00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:20.959 now you owe me God 00:20:20.959 --> 00:20:22.139 and you people, 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:23.199 you now owe me too. 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.599 You owe me the respect 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.199 I deserve. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:27.259 And the mark 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:28.000 of someone 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.880 being their own savior, 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.759 their own lord, 00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:31.799 their own God, 00:20:32.080 --> 00:20:33.220 despite all of how 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:33.860 they might look 00:20:33.860 --> 00:20:35.000 on the outside, 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:37.720 is that they 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:39.519 look down 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:41.980 on everyone else. 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:46.559 You see, 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:48.099 religious people, 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.720 Pharisees, 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.860 the self-righteous, 00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:51.579 the superior, 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.980 are easy on themselves 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:56.200 but hard 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:57.500 on everyone else. 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.980 So why is it 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:03.000 that this bad person 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:04.259 goes home right with God 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:04.980 and the good person 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:05.720 gets lost 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:07.240 as it is 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.440 with the rest of Luke? 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.779 It's not because 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.700 one is good 00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.880 and the other is bad. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:12.880 It's not because 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:13.320 God, 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.759 you know, 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.100 doesn't condemn, 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:16.620 you know, 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.980 God doesn't condemn 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:19.279 people for being good 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.740 and saves people 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.700 because they're bad. 00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.380 It's not like, 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.700 you know, 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.380 it's not like 00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:26.000 he specifically 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.059 just saves 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:27.860 all the bad people. 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:28.860 It's because 00:21:28.860 --> 00:21:29.759 the good person 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.400 doesn't know 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:31.660 they are in fact bad. 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.400 They don't know 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.279 that they are rotten 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:34.019 and in need 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.140 of a rescuer. 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:38.420 They ought to know it 00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:39.840 because according 00:21:39.840 --> 00:21:40.880 to Luke 18, 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:41.759 at least one 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.500 of the symptoms 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:44.220 of our desperate 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:45.960 need of a rescuer 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:49.320 is that we judge 00:21:49.320 --> 00:21:49.980 and condemn 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:51.140 everyone else around us 00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:51.940 who do not meet 00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:52.620 our standards. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.500 We look down the nose 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.300 at other people. 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:58.580 That's the symptom 00:21:58.580 --> 00:21:59.160 of someone 00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:00.700 who needs a rescuer. 00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.460 And here, 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.519 in this story, 00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:05.300 as in the others 00:22:05.300 --> 00:22:05.740 in Luke, 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:07.259 the bad person 00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:08.539 knows that they're bad. 00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:10.339 And see the prayer 00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:11.160 of this tax collector? 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:11.640 God, 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.779 have mercy on me, 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:13.480 the sinner. 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:15.059 That is in fact 00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.799 a better reading. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.720 It's not a sinner 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.940 but the sinner. 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.339 He's not trying 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:20.980 to find comfort 00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.599 in the fact that, 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:21.779 well, 00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:22.120 you know, 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:23.859 we're all in the same boat. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.740 He doesn't say, 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:27.019 sure, 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:28.059 I've made my mistakes 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:28.720 but I'm no different 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.140 than anyone else. 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:30.180 I'm only human after all. 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:31.559 He says, 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:31.880 God, 00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:32.960 I am the sinner. 00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:34.039 I am the model sinner. 00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:35.319 I'm the essential sinner. 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.559 He doesn't care 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.220 how he compares 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:37.759 with other people. 00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:38.339 He's not looking 00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:39.079 at other people. 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.500 This guy knows 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.639 that he's not okay 00:22:42.639 --> 00:22:43.180 with God 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:44.180 and he cries out 00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:44.799 in despair 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:46.399 and he pleads 00:22:46.399 --> 00:22:47.159 for mercy. 00:22:48.639 --> 00:22:48.859 You see, 00:22:48.899 --> 00:22:49.819 the religious person 00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:52.399 is easy on themselves 00:22:52.399 --> 00:22:53.839 and hard on others. 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:54.539 The disciple 00:22:54.539 --> 00:22:55.440 of the Lord Jesus 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.879 is hard on themselves 00:22:56.879 --> 00:22:58.319 and easy on others. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.500 Now, 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.279 it's interesting here 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:03.839 in this text 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.539 that the word 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:05.459 mercy 00:23:05.459 --> 00:23:09.539 is an unusual word. 00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:13.039 The common word 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.740 for mercy 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.379 that's used 00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:15.639 in most of the New Testament 00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:16.579 is different 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.399 than the word 00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:18.359 here. 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:22.079 And what it's saying, 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:22.799 and it's used 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.819 only in one other place 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:25.159 apart from Luke 18 00:23:25.159 --> 00:23:26.000 in the New Testament, 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.879 this tax collector 00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:29.059 isn't asking God 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:29.639 for sympathy. 00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:31.079 He's not asking God 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:31.819 for compassion. 00:23:31.819 --> 00:23:33.039 He isn't asking God 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:34.179 to give him a break. 00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:36.659 The word for mercy here, 00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.679 as I said, 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:39.139 is found in one other place 00:23:39.139 --> 00:23:40.619 and it means 00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.859 to appease 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:43.200 or to 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:44.899 turn away 00:23:44.899 --> 00:23:45.980 someone else's 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:46.599 anger, 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.519 to propitiate 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.439 someone else's 00:23:49.439 --> 00:23:49.939 anger. 00:23:50.939 --> 00:23:52.019 So the tax collector 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.740 in this moment 00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.579 is not saying, 00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.199 oh Lord, 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.379 come on, 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.139 let me off the hook, 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:56.879 let bygones be 00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:57.539 guy gones, 00:23:57.659 --> 00:23:57.819 you know, 00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.379 I'm not that bad 00:23:58.379 --> 00:23:58.919 after all. 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.740 He's crying out to God 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.819 in this moment 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.759 as he sits 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.960 in the temple courts 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:06.319 and the sacrifice 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:06.900 for atonement 00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:07.500 is happening. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.740 He's crying out, 00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:09.480 Lord, 00:24:09.840 --> 00:24:11.079 atone for my sin. 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:15.559 I need your anger 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.400 to be turned away 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:16.920 from me. 00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:20.319 He understood 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.360 his true condition. 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:23.500 The wages of sin 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.340 is death 00:24:24.340 --> 00:24:26.000 according to Romans 3 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:28.279 and he's asking God 00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:30.059 to pay that wage 00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:30.600 for him. 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.940 Pay it for me. 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:36.740 He wants atonement. 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:37.000 You see, 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:38.259 because in this moment 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.880 the fog of his 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:40.920 self-righteousness 00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:42.460 and his self-justification 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:44.299 has finally parted 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.799 and he now sees 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:47.700 who he truly is. 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.880 He finally sees 00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:50.799 that there is a God 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.620 who created him 00:24:51.620 --> 00:24:52.580 and keeps him alive 00:24:52.580 --> 00:24:53.500 every second. 00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.700 He finally sees 00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:55.700 that he should do 00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:57.080 absolutely everything 00:24:57.080 --> 00:24:57.920 for this God. 00:24:58.299 --> 00:25:00.279 He sees that this God 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:01.200 should be loved 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:02.519 more than anything else 00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.740 that no one 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.460 should be obeyed 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:05.519 more than this God. 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.500 He finally sees 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:08.019 that he hasn't even 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.879 got close 00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:09.839 to that standard. 00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:14.059 He finally sees 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:15.039 that if anyone 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:16.940 was as ungrateful 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:17.759 to him 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:19.200 as he has been 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:20.279 to this God, 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:22.220 he would cut them off 00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.700 forever. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:28.139 He sees that 00:25:28.139 --> 00:25:28.980 that's exactly 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:30.079 what he deserves. 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:32.379 that's what he deserves 00:25:32.379 --> 00:25:33.099 from this God. 00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:35.319 To be cut off 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.220 from the source 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.939 of life 00:25:36.939 --> 00:25:37.439 and hope 00:25:37.439 --> 00:25:38.139 and peace 00:25:38.139 --> 00:25:39.359 and so he cries out, 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:39.740 God, 00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:43.639 please pay that wage 00:25:43.639 --> 00:25:44.220 for me. 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:51.539 the other place 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.440 in the New Testament 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:54.100 where the word 00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:55.079 for this word 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:55.600 for mercy 00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.420 is used 00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.740 is in Hebrews 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.600 chapter 2 00:25:58.600 --> 00:25:59.600 verse 17 00:25:59.600 --> 00:26:01.519 and it tells us 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.180 why 00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:03.380 Jesus was 00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:04.400 on this road 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.500 to Jerusalem. 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:08.019 Talking about 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.660 Jesus says 00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:09.559 for this reason 00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:10.379 he 00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:13.359 had to be 00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:14.500 made like them 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.799 fully human 00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:17.079 in every way 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:18.500 in order that 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.679 he might become 00:26:19.679 --> 00:26:20.619 a merciful 00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.700 and faithful 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.460 high priest 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.700 in service to God 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:25.259 and that he 00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:25.960 might make 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.720 atonement, 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:28.079 he might make 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:28.899 mercy 00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:30.679 for the sins 00:26:30.679 --> 00:26:31.619 of the people. 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:34.519 In other words, 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:36.419 God is 00:26:36.419 --> 00:26:37.720 infinitely holy, 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:39.400 he hates 00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:40.700 evil and sin 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.319 but he came 00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:41.940 to earth 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.680 in the person 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.519 of the Lord Jesus 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.980 and he lost 00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.620 everything. 00:26:47.100 --> 00:26:47.559 He lost 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:48.200 his glory, 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:48.860 he lost 00:26:48.860 --> 00:26:49.920 his invulnerability, 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:50.660 he lost 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.900 all of his riches, 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.740 he lost his place 00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.860 beside the Father, 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.779 he was tortured, 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.660 he was mocked, 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.660 he was ridiculed, 00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:59.039 everything was 00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.640 stripped from him, 00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.579 even his clothes 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:01.259 were stripped 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:01.720 from him. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:03.140 He was killed, 00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:04.440 abandoned by his 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:04.960 disciples 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.019 and he was 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:07.200 doing it for you 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:08.000 and for me 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.980 and for humanity 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:10.000 and for this 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.819 tax collector 00:27:10.819 --> 00:27:13.000 to make atonement 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.960 for our sin. 00:27:14.100 --> 00:27:14.840 He was paying 00:27:14.840 --> 00:27:15.840 the wage 00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:18.840 of death 00:27:18.840 --> 00:27:20.100 for the sins 00:27:20.100 --> 00:27:20.580 of the world. 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:23.120 That is the 00:27:23.120 --> 00:27:23.840 radical grace 00:27:23.840 --> 00:27:24.340 of God. 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.620 And we heard 00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:28.500 from Ephesians 2 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.340 the natural state 00:27:29.340 --> 00:27:30.740 before God 00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:31.880 before is that 00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:32.420 we are dead 00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.319 in our transgressions 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:33.779 and sins 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.240 but in the very 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:34.960 next verses 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.779 in Ephesians 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.740 we have the 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.559 hope of grace 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.079 but 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:39.920 you've got to 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:40.420 love the word 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:40.819 but 00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:42.079 but 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:42.840 because of 00:27:42.840 --> 00:27:43.220 his great 00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:44.120 mercy for us 00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:44.759 God who is 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.500 rich in mercy 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.340 made us alive 00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:46.880 in Christ 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:47.559 even when we 00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.299 were dead 00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:49.539 in transgressions 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.559 it's by grace 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:51.000 you have been 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.579 saved. 00:27:53.579 --> 00:27:54.360 We were dead 00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:55.340 in our transgressions 00:27:55.340 --> 00:27:56.340 but God intervened 00:27:56.340 --> 00:27:57.480 and gave us life. 00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.180 We were dead 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.720 in bondage 00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.120 to sin 00:27:59.120 --> 00:28:00.259 but God intervened 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.160 and released us. 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:02.240 We were objects 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:02.859 of wrath 00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:04.079 but God intervened 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:05.000 and he poured 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.819 out his anger 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:07.019 upon himself. 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.700 God who is 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.740 rich in mercy 00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.680 intervened. 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:12.980 Our condition 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.599 was hopeless 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:14.700 but God intervened 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.299 in grace. 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:16.819 The grace 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.599 of God 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:19.799 is his love 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:21.240 freely 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.700 freely 00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.359 given 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.579 shown towards 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:25.319 guilty sinners 00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:25.880 contrary 00:28:25.880 --> 00:28:27.380 to their merit 00:28:27.380 --> 00:28:28.500 and in fact 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.720 in total defiance 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:30.400 of all their 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.099 demerit. 00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:31.779 that has nothing 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.619 to do with us 00:28:32.619 --> 00:28:33.679 it's got everything 00:28:33.679 --> 00:28:34.259 to do 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.439 with the character 00:28:35.439 --> 00:28:36.199 of this God 00:28:36.199 --> 00:28:37.139 and the radical 00:28:37.139 --> 00:28:38.240 grace and generosity 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:38.740 of God 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:40.219 is the great exchange. 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:43.039 2 Corinthians 8 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.599 and 9 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:43.859 says 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.299 for you know 00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:44.759 the grace 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.279 of our Lord 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.000 Jesus Christ 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:47.039 though he was 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:47.839 rich 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.719 speaking about 00:28:48.719 --> 00:28:49.980 internally rich 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.759 with the Father 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.959 perfect with the Father 00:28:51.959 --> 00:28:53.579 yet for our sakes 00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.539 he became poor 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.839 he became human 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.939 for everlasting 00:28:56.939 --> 00:28:57.959 from that point on 00:28:57.959 --> 00:28:58.939 so that through 00:28:58.939 --> 00:28:59.559 his poverty 00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:00.839 we might join 00:29:00.839 --> 00:29:01.839 into the everlasting 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.379 relationship 00:29:02.379 --> 00:29:02.919 of the Father 00:29:02.919 --> 00:29:04.000 that's 2 Corinthians 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.700 8 and 9 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.700 2 Corinthians 5 00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:06.059 21 00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:06.980 God made him 00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:08.019 who had no sin 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:09.079 sinless 00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:09.759 to be sin 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.679 for us 00:29:10.679 --> 00:29:11.980 so that in him 00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.899 we might become 00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:13.879 sinless 00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:14.500 the righteousness 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.200 of God 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:17.079 God's radical 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.940 grace is the 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.500 foundation 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.240 and the motivation 00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:19.839 of his radical 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:20.279 call 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:24.419 the radical call 00:29:24.419 --> 00:29:25.059 to take up our 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.779 cross and follow 00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.159 him 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:28.480 it's his grace 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:31.080 radical grace 00:29:31.080 --> 00:29:33.180 self-righteousness 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.960 leads to a life 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.560 of looking down 00:29:34.560 --> 00:29:35.100 your nose 00:29:35.100 --> 00:29:35.920 at everyone else 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:36.940 judging people 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.920 condemning people 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:40.340 the religious person 00:29:40.340 --> 00:29:41.620 is easy on themselves 00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:42.279 and they're hard 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:43.160 on everyone else 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:44.759 but the grace 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.620 fueled 00:29:45.620 --> 00:29:46.340 disciple 00:29:46.340 --> 00:29:46.980 of the Lord 00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:47.400 Jesus 00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:49.100 is hard 00:29:49.100 --> 00:29:49.800 on themselves 00:29:49.800 --> 00:29:50.860 and easy 00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:51.779 on others 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:53.980 on everyone else 00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:57.099 you see 00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:58.660 God's 00:29:58.660 --> 00:30:00.319 radical grace 00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:00.599 to us 00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.019 in the Lord 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:01.379 Jesus 00:30:01.379 --> 00:30:02.619 leads to a life 00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:03.740 of radical grace 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.759 it leads to a life 00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:05.539 of abundant 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.559 generosity 00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.839 and graciousness 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:09.139 towards other people 00:30:09.139 --> 00:30:10.139 in fact I would say 00:30:10.139 --> 00:30:12.000 grace and generosity 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:14.299 in every area of life 00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:15.700 free abandonment 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.879 in every area of life 00:30:16.879 --> 00:30:17.759 so that we take up 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.119 our cross 00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:19.099 and we follow Christ 00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:20.000 we've got nothing 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.599 to lose 00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:21.299 he's been given 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:21.879 everything 00:30:21.879 --> 00:30:23.939 and we see 00:30:23.939 --> 00:30:24.719 that happens 00:30:24.719 --> 00:30:26.079 for one tax collector 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:27.799 in the very next chapter 00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.399 I don't want to kind of 00:30:28.399 --> 00:30:28.919 steal too much 00:30:28.919 --> 00:30:29.779 of my message 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.419 which I'll probably 00:30:30.419 --> 00:30:31.359 preach on in a few weeks 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:32.099 about this guy 00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:33.939 very next chapter 00:30:33.939 --> 00:30:35.319 it's just as Jesus 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:36.459 gets right on the 00:30:36.459 --> 00:30:37.579 very edge of Jerusalem 00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:39.619 and what we introduce 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.839 there is to a young 00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:41.719 not a young bloke 00:30:41.719 --> 00:30:42.539 a little bloke 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.939 who is described 00:30:43.939 --> 00:30:45.179 as the chief 00:30:45.179 --> 00:30:46.799 tax collector 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:48.279 he's the chief 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.659 scumbag 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.759 he's the chief 00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.900 low life 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:53.080 he is the lowest 00:30:53.080 --> 00:30:53.380 I mean 00:30:53.380 --> 00:30:56.320 he's lower than a snake 00:30:56.320 --> 00:30:57.259 sliding on the ground 00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:57.740 this guy 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:59.360 there's no one worse 00:30:59.360 --> 00:31:00.140 in society 00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:01.120 than Zacchaeus 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:04.440 self-centered 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:05.440 totally greedy 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.480 rejected by all 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:07.240 the recipient of 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:08.140 scorn and hatred 00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:09.360 and vitriol 00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:10.380 and then Jesus 00:31:10.380 --> 00:31:11.180 comes along 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:12.080 and Jesus 00:31:12.080 --> 00:31:12.740 is the only person 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.480 who looks at him 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:14.160 he's the only person 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:15.240 who speaks to him 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:16.559 and Jesus picks him 00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:16.859 out 00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:18.279 loves him 00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:20.180 and so overwhelmed 00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:21.440 by the grace of Jesus 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:22.099 to him 00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:23.839 Zacchaeus just 00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:25.660 overflows 00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:27.120 in abundant 00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:27.880 generosity 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:29.759 from that moment 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:32.200 nothing 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:33.980 Zacchaeus holds 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:35.120 nothing back 00:31:35.120 --> 00:31:41.059 that is a disciple 00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:42.120 who's taken up his cross 00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:42.879 and following Christ 00:31:42.879 --> 00:31:46.799 we will never 00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.799 take up our cross 00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.619 we will never 00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:49.679 obey that call 00:31:49.679 --> 00:31:51.539 we will never 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.099 take up our cross 00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:52.959 and follow Christ 00:31:52.959 --> 00:31:53.619 as his radical 00:31:53.619 --> 00:31:54.119 disciples 00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:55.259 until we recognize 00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.259 our appalling 00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.399 natural condition 00:31:57.399 --> 00:31:58.279 without Jesus 00:31:58.279 --> 00:32:00.119 and truly 00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:01.239 rejoice 00:32:01.239 --> 00:32:02.479 in the wonderful 00:32:02.479 --> 00:32:03.059 news 00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:03.879 of his radical 00:32:03.879 --> 00:32:04.459 grace 00:32:04.459 --> 00:32:06.679 we will 00:32:06.679 --> 00:32:07.539 always 00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:08.259 hold 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.039 something 00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:09.639 back 00:32:09.639 --> 00:32:10.500 from him 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:12.099 until we fully 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:12.759 understand 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.460 and appreciate 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:14.900 that he has 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:15.420 never 00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:16.319 held anything 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:17.200 back from us