WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.559 Hi, my name is George Sinclair. I'm the lead pastor of Church of the Messiah. 00:00:16.859 --> 00:00:21.820 It is wonderful that you would like to check out some of the sermons done by Church of the Messiah, 00:00:21.940 --> 00:00:25.660 either by myself or some of the others. Listen, just a couple of things. First of all, 00:00:25.660 --> 00:00:32.399 would you pray for us that we will open God's Word well to His glory and for the good of people like 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:38.259 yourself? The second thing is, if you aren't connected to a church and if you are a Christian, 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:43.539 we really, I would really like to encourage you to find a good local church where they believe the 00:00:43.539 --> 00:00:49.900 Bible, they preach the gospel, and if you have some trouble finding that, send us an email. We 00:00:49.899 --> 00:00:55.719 will do what we can to help connect you with a good local church wherever you are. And if you're 00:00:55.719 --> 00:01:00.640 a non-Christian checking us out, we're really, really, really glad you're doing that. Don't 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:05.980 hesitate to send us questions. It helps me actually to know, as I'm preaching, how to deal with the 00:01:05.980 --> 00:01:09.079 types of things that you're really struggling with. So God bless. 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:22.840 Father, I ask that you would, Father, we're dealing with a passage of Scripture that many Christians 00:01:22.840 --> 00:01:30.519 in Canada, many of us maybe feel very uncomfortable with. And so Father, we ask that the Holy Spirit 00:01:30.519 --> 00:01:39.060 would come with gentle but deep power to bring us to Jesus. And as your Holy Spirit brings us to 00:01:39.060 --> 00:01:45.600 Jesus, that you, Father, will bring us to the words that Jesus speaks to us this morning. 00:01:46.859 --> 00:01:55.159 And Father, help us to listen to him. And we ask that the Holy Spirit would bring the words of Jesus 00:01:55.159 --> 00:02:03.340 deep into who we are so that it will be his word that forms us. And we ask this in the name of Jesus, 00:02:03.340 --> 00:02:07.060 your Son and our Savior. Amen. Please be seated. 00:02:09.060 --> 00:02:18.020 So let's just be frank about a couple of things. You've heard the text that I'm preaching through 00:02:18.020 --> 00:02:28.039 the Gospel of Mark. And we just had a text read which talks about hell. And for Canadians, 00:02:28.539 --> 00:02:38.640 hell is a repellent topic. In fact, actually, I think if our non-Christian friends, maybe it's one of you 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:43.919 who are here this morning or maybe one of you who are here online and you're just sort of curious and 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:50.159 you've been either watching this sermon downstream or you're participating in the service through 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:58.000 online, you'd probably say to me, George, no one is frightened by hell in Canada. Like in Canada, 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:07.780 no one at all is frightened by hell. And the fact is, George, that we will only think less of you 00:03:07.780 --> 00:03:14.719 if you mention hell. And we will only think less of Jesus and we will only think less of Christianity. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:21.360 If you persist and talk as if you actually believe it, we will mock you. 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:29.800 And in fact, George, you might as well just accept the fact that in Canada, it is an unwinnable, 00:03:30.380 --> 00:03:37.580 unwinnable, I don't know if that's a word, it's an unwinnable thing to hold. Like you'll never convince us. 00:03:38.580 --> 00:03:44.400 It's just ridiculous. And if you really believe it, we'll just think there's something evil about you. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:51.819 So that I think, I don't know, I think that's sort of a fair way to describe how much of our culture 00:03:51.819 --> 00:03:57.240 would think about this topic. In fact, if you think about it, you know, if you watch a Netflix 00:03:57.240 --> 00:04:03.879 or some other comedy special, if the person came bounding out all chipper and then said, 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:09.060 I'm going to talk about hell, everybody would laugh, right? That's what they would do. They would just laugh. 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:16.680 That's the normal North American response to this. And this attitude seeps into us as Christians and 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:26.740 makes us very uncomfortable with this doctrine. So what are we going to do? We're going to be 00:04:26.740 --> 00:04:33.519 looking at verses 30 to 50. But just before we go up to verse 30, let's just look once again at the 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:38.959 words at the end, the words about hell. And if once again, if Claire could put it up, 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:45.699 but if you have your Bibles, it's page 58. And we begin at verse 43. And here's what Jesus says. 00:04:47.039 --> 00:04:53.839 And here's part of the problem about the text. It's not a problem from one point of view, 00:04:53.899 --> 00:04:59.519 but it is a problem from another point of view. The problem with the text is that this is the same 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:06.539 just type of language that Jesus is going to use about, you know, feeding the poor and caring for 00:05:06.540 --> 00:05:11.560 the sick and loving people. And it's the same language. It's not as if all of a sudden, 00:05:12.300 --> 00:05:16.939 you know how sometimes when you're watching movies or something and all of a sudden it moves to a 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:24.120 slightly different color or the color template or filter and maybe becomes a little bit fuzzy. And 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:29.160 you know, it's like a dream sequence or a memory or something like that. In the original language, 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:33.480 if you're reading along, it's the same type of language as he talks about the other things that 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:39.760 we like. And here's what he says in verse 43, before we go back to verse 30 and look at it, 00:05:39.780 --> 00:05:47.180 it goes like this. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:56.500 crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, 00:05:56.500 --> 00:06:03.279 cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:10.720 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:18.319 one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell. And here he quotes from Isaiah verse 48, 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:23.360 where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. 00:06:25.300 --> 00:06:31.879 So a couple of things about this. Jesus is saying that hell is real. 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:42.339 He's obviously using a little bit of symbolic language, but he's using some symbolic language 00:06:42.339 --> 00:06:49.540 to talk about something which is real. The other thing about it is that Jesus is talking about hell 00:06:49.540 --> 00:06:58.779 as if it will not be empty. And thirdly, he's talking about it as if human beings listening to him 00:06:58.779 --> 00:07:10.739 and all human beings are in danger of ending up in hell. That's what he's saying. He says hell three times. 00:07:11.379 --> 00:07:17.979 And not only does he say it three times, he says it in a memorable way. At the eight o'clock service, 00:07:18.119 --> 00:07:21.619 there's a person who comes to the eight o'clock service who's involved in theater. 00:07:21.620 --> 00:07:28.139 And as I said to the two people who are involved in the theater, I mean, like live theater, and I said, 00:07:28.360 --> 00:07:33.680 this is the type of line that if you had it in a play, it would be memorable because of the rhythm, 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:40.459 you know, of the hand, the foot, the eye. And they said, that's exactly right. A line like this 00:07:40.459 --> 00:07:44.699 is more memorable because of the type of rhythm and the other imagery that goes along with it. 00:07:45.060 --> 00:07:48.399 So in other words, Jesus says it three times. He says it in a memorable way. 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:53.719 And he says it in the same type of language as he talks about the types of things that we would like. 00:07:53.859 --> 00:07:59.000 In fact, actually, if you think about it for a second, what we'd like is life and the kingdom of God. 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:03.959 And he's not saying that if you cut off your hand, so you enter light. I mean, he's talking about people 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:09.199 who are alive. He's talking about how there's basically two destinations. 00:08:11.539 --> 00:08:15.199 And even to say that is something which we Canadians, we balk at. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:22.819 There's only two ultimate endings. And one ending is described with hell, hell, hell, 00:08:24.479 --> 00:08:31.879 unquenchable fire, and always nibbling worms. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:41.659 And the other end, the end we like, is described as life and life and the kingdom of God. 00:08:41.659 --> 00:08:44.179 And those are the ends. 00:08:46.899 --> 00:08:47.839 So what do we do? 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:49.480 Well, 00:08:49.980 --> 00:08:51.779 generally speaking, 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:54.319 you look at context to see if that's going to help. 00:08:54.439 --> 00:08:58.459 And the context is profoundly, deeply, satisfyingly helpful, 00:08:58.659 --> 00:08:59.719 but not in the way 00:08:59.719 --> 00:09:02.480 that we Canadians want it to be helpful. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:05.199 But we need to get over our being Canadians 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:09.800 and listen to how what the context that Jesus puts it in is, in fact, 00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:12.060 deeply and profoundly helpful. 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:14.700 So let's go back to verse 30, 00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:16.879 the beginning of our text for this week, 00:09:16.940 --> 00:09:18.940 and that's found on page 56. 00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:22.080 And if later on, 00:09:22.180 --> 00:09:24.720 you decide to sort of catch up on the Gospel of Mark 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:28.860 to see where we've come to in this ancient eyewitness biography of Jesus, 00:09:28.860 --> 00:09:31.860 written while eyewitnesses were still alive, 00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:36.680 that what we see that's just a little bit before this, 00:09:36.779 --> 00:09:38.139 Jesus, for the first time, 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:40.580 prophesied or predicted 00:09:40.580 --> 00:09:43.680 that he was going to be crucified 00:09:43.680 --> 00:09:46.419 and die and rise again. 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:48.899 And Peter responds to that by saying, 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:49.680 no way, Jose, 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:50.840 no way, Jesus, 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:52.139 that's never going to happen to you. 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:54.100 Jesus rebukes Peter 00:09:54.100 --> 00:09:54.500 and says, 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:57.319 you're not thinking in terms of how I'm thinking, 00:09:57.419 --> 00:09:59.199 you're thinking in terms of how the devil thinks. 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:01.439 And then Jesus gives his teaching 00:10:01.439 --> 00:10:03.159 about how people who want to follow Jesus, 00:10:03.299 --> 00:10:05.080 they need to pick up their cross and follow him. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:07.659 And then the very next thing, 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:09.460 which is just what we looked at last week, 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:11.360 is about a week after that, 00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:14.879 Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain, 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:16.439 and he's transfigured. 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:18.899 Before them, in a sense, 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:20.240 it's a vision of heaven. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:23.060 And the new heaven and the new earth, 00:10:23.320 --> 00:10:24.879 Moses and Elijah are there. 00:10:25.980 --> 00:10:29.480 And then Jesus goes down the mountain, 00:10:29.680 --> 00:10:31.039 and he comes down the mountain, 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:33.340 and he goes right into the normal type of mess 00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:35.659 that we as human beings sort of have to live with, 00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:38.700 of sickness and demonic oppression 00:10:38.700 --> 00:10:42.759 and arguments and religion and all of that. 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:46.080 And the disciples aren't able to cast the demon 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:48.039 out of the young boy, but Jesus does. 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:49.680 And that's what's just happened. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:51.899 And now the story continues, 00:10:52.059 --> 00:10:53.559 and here's how it goes in verse 30. 00:10:55.079 --> 00:10:56.500 They went on from there. 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:57.819 That's Jesus and the 12. 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:02.099 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:05.339 And Jesus did not want anyone to know, 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:08.659 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, 00:11:09.199 --> 00:11:11.179 the Son of Man is going to be delivered 00:11:11.179 --> 00:11:14.039 into the hands of men, and they will kill him. 00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:17.819 And when he is killed, after three days he will rise. 00:11:18.459 --> 00:11:20.620 But they did not understand the saying 00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:22.399 and were afraid to ask him. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:25.740 Now we're going to camp in that just a little bit 00:11:25.740 --> 00:11:28.579 because it's a bit longer than we will for the other things 00:11:28.579 --> 00:11:31.639 because it's exceptionally, you know, important. 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:37.899 Just this past week I was watching and listening to something on YouTube, 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:43.819 an interview by a fellow by the name of Sean McDowell 00:11:43.819 --> 00:11:46.740 with a person by the name of Andrew Clavin. 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:51.000 And it was a very interesting interview. 00:11:51.779 --> 00:11:56.340 Andrew Clavin grew up as a secular Jew in an artistic family, 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:59.940 and at a very early age he recognized, 00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:01.960 and others recognized, that he was very creative. 00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:09.500 And in fact, he had a very long career in that artistic community, 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:13.419 that sort of upper type of artistic community. 00:12:13.419 --> 00:12:17.079 As he says in the interview, he lived in either London, England, 00:12:17.439 --> 00:12:19.240 New York, or Los Angeles. 00:12:19.579 --> 00:12:21.539 And he's a successful thriller writer. 00:12:22.079 --> 00:12:24.879 He got into screenwriting, was very successful at that. 00:12:24.939 --> 00:12:27.719 And the circles he traveled in were these circles 00:12:27.719 --> 00:12:32.519 of very creative people, Hollywood people, literary people, 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:34.979 and he was very at home in that. 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:36.860 He was raised as a secular Jew. 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:39.659 But through a series of circumstances, 00:12:39.819 --> 00:12:41.679 and that's partially what the interview is all about, 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:43.939 at the age of 50, he became a Christian. 00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:47.199 At the age of 50, he became a Christian. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:51.759 And the interview, one of the things which is really interesting 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:54.259 in the interview is he describes how his father, 00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:57.899 who was completely a non-practicing Jewish man, 00:12:58.479 --> 00:13:00.299 when Andrew was 15, 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:04.379 he'd started to develop a huge love of the stories of Arthur, 00:13:04.539 --> 00:13:06.279 you know, the Knights of the Round Table and all of that. 00:13:06.339 --> 00:13:07.759 He developed a huge interest in it. 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:12.360 And so he's reading all of these old things about it, 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:14.779 and he realizes there's all this Christian symbolism in it. 00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:16.179 So he thinks to himself, 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:18.360 well, I don't know anything at all about Christian symbolism. 00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:19.799 Like, I know zero about it. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:21.840 And so he decided he'd find a New Testament. 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:24.159 And he did, and he brought it home, 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:27.419 and he's lying in his bed at night reading the Gospel of Luke, 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:30.519 because he'd somehow figured out that Luke had the Christmas story, 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:31.860 and he thought he'd start with that. 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:34.100 And as he's reading the Gospel of Luke, 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:36.620 not because he's even remotely interested in Christianity, 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:41.700 he just really wants to try to understand the Arthurian legends better. 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.940 His dad comes into the room, 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:45.980 sees him reading the New Testament, 00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:47.480 and his dad says to him, 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:51.800 how dare you bring that book into our house? 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:54.539 That is the book of the enemy. 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:57.420 It is the book of the people who've killed 00:13:57.420 --> 00:14:01.159 millions of Jewish people in the Holocaust. 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:03.419 It is the book of people who have been prejudiced 00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:07.419 against our people for 2,000 years. 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:10.039 How dare you bring that book into our house? 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:14.839 And it is the book of the enemy. 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:19.980 So one of the questions that came to Andrew was, 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:24.159 like, how did you overcome that to become a Christian? 00:14:25.439 --> 00:14:27.679 Like, how did you get your mind around that? 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:30.819 And Andrew said, 00:14:30.939 --> 00:14:34.019 that actually was one of the harder barriers for me to become a Christian. 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:40.019 The long history of people saying that it was the Jews that killed Jesus 00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:41.839 and that we are a hateful group. 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:45.839 But then as I'm thinking about it, 00:14:45.859 --> 00:14:47.439 and he's been reading the New Testament 00:14:47.439 --> 00:14:49.679 over and over and over again 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:51.839 as part of his religious quest, 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:53.620 which will culminate in him 00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:55.460 as he puts it, 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:57.399 one day he's driving in Los Angeles 00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:59.320 and it's as if God speaks to him. 00:14:59.340 --> 00:14:59.960 But it's not God. 00:15:00.040 --> 00:15:01.780 He says, just this has overwhelming sense 00:15:01.780 --> 00:15:02.899 that he's become a Christian. 00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:04.000 He needs to get baptized. 00:15:05.160 --> 00:15:06.399 I need to get baptized. 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:08.700 And he said, 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:10.800 I came to realize that Christians who said 00:15:10.800 --> 00:15:12.000 that it's Jesus who killed, 00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:14.700 that Jews killed Jesus were wrong. 00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:19.259 that ultimately it is human beings, 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.820 the human race that killed Jesus. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:23.980 Now, in the interview, 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:27.360 he didn't say anything about Bible verses, 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:30.200 but the verse that we have before us 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:32.900 is actually exactly what Andrew Clavin just said. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:35.200 If you look at the key verse, 00:15:35.300 --> 00:15:37.640 the prophecy in verse 31, 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:40.199 Jesus was teaching his disciples, 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:40.879 saying to them, 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:43.039 the son of man is going to be delivered 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:44.460 into the hands of men 00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:46.279 and they will kill him. 00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:47.460 And when he is killed, 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:49.340 after three days, he will rise. 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:50.840 In the first prophecy, 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:53.159 he says it's going to be the Jewish leaders 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:54.059 that he's handed to. 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.519 But in this text, 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:59.819 it's very specifically all human beings. 00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:02.720 He's being handed over to human beings 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:04.779 and human beings will kill him. 00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:06.899 That's exactly what this text is talking about. 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:09.579 In fact, it adds something to it that, 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:11.399 I mean, maybe Andrew would know this. 00:16:11.579 --> 00:16:12.699 It wasn't part of the interview, 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:16.240 is that the word delivered 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:17.720 is a very, very good word. 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.840 Notice that the son of man 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:19.819 is going to be delivered. 00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.740 It's a very, very good word. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:23.579 But what you don't get in English 00:16:23.579 --> 00:16:24.539 is that in Greek, 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:27.059 there's a tense called the divine passive. 00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:29.840 It's a tense which is used 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:31.419 when it's God who does something. 00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:34.460 And that's the tense for the word delivered. 00:16:34.980 --> 00:16:36.860 So what Jesus is saying here 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:37.759 is the son of man 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:40.500 is going to be delivered by God the Father 00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:43.500 into the hands of human beings, 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.440 that's you and me, 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:48.019 and we will kill him. 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.460 Some of you, 00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:55.419 I think most of you, 00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:56.759 maybe all of you know the distinction 00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:58.240 between got to and get to. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:01.480 The way to read this, 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:02.139 you see, 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.879 if you think about it for a second, 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.980 if Jesus knows that this is what, 00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:07.359 that he's going to be crucified, 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:09.640 he could have done things to get out of it. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:13.279 Or he could have this prophecy 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:15.640 that he's delivered hanging over him 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:16.980 a little bit like a curse. 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.779 Sort of like those of you 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:19.559 who know a little bit about, 00:17:19.620 --> 00:17:20.700 you know, Greek mythology, 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:22.279 I think it's the Oedipus 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:24.640 who's cursed to kill his father 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:25.600 or something. 00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:27.800 I think it's the Oedipus curse 00:17:27.800 --> 00:17:28.740 that there's a prophecy 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:29.980 that he'll kill his father 00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:31.100 and he tries to avoid it 00:17:31.100 --> 00:17:32.460 and he ends up killing his father anyway. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.140 And it could read it 00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:35.800 as if that's what Jesus is saying here, 00:17:35.840 --> 00:17:37.200 as if it's some type of a fate 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.620 which has been put on him 00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:39.400 that he doesn't want. 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.580 But the way to understand it 00:17:40.580 --> 00:17:42.240 is not that I've got to do this, 00:17:42.800 --> 00:17:44.240 but that I get to do this. 00:17:44.780 --> 00:17:46.160 I get to do this. 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:48.460 I get to be the means 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:51.300 by which human beings 00:17:51.300 --> 00:17:54.779 who are destined to hell 00:17:54.779 --> 00:18:00.279 can be delivered from that fate 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:05.120 into something they don't deserve, 00:18:06.320 --> 00:18:08.740 into something we don't deserve, 00:18:09.080 --> 00:18:10.700 which is the kingdom of God 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.800 and which is life. 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:15.700 The other thing here 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:17.319 which is sort of very 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:21.819 important for us to understand 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:22.559 about the text 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.819 is why on earth is it 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:26.339 that in the year 2022, 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.919 in post-modern, 00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:32.299 post-truth Ottawa, 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:35.359 there's even a couple of us 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:36.579 who are reading 00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:39.180 this ancient eyewitness biography 00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:39.839 of Jesus. 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:43.039 Now, this, by the way, 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:45.039 is something that, you know, 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:47.199 that generally skeptics 00:18:47.199 --> 00:18:48.339 don't really actually 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.279 give their mind 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.419 much attention to. 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.839 But the fact is 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:53.919 the only reason 00:18:53.919 --> 00:18:55.439 that we're reading this 00:18:55.439 --> 00:18:58.379 is because the person of Jesus 00:18:58.379 --> 00:18:59.779 who really did live 00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:01.959 really did make such predictions. 00:19:03.199 --> 00:19:04.439 In fact, including, 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.119 if you look at all 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:06.679 of the eyewitness biographies, 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:10.640 details of his death, 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:12.160 which he could not possibly 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.400 have managed himself, 00:19:13.580 --> 00:19:14.620 namely that the Romans 00:19:14.620 --> 00:19:16.160 would decide to crucify him. 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:19.820 And he really did die on the cross. 00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:23.299 And he really did, 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.920 on the third day, 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:26.019 rise from the dead 00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:29.600 and appear to many people 00:19:29.600 --> 00:19:31.279 who recognized him 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:33.279 and saw that he wasn't 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:33.920 a person 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:35.539 who had just barely, 00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:37.660 by the skin of his teeth, 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:40.980 survived a harrowing experience 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:41.920 of flogging 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:43.220 and the nailing of the wrists 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.440 and the nailing of the feet 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:46.180 and the dehydration 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:47.240 and the spear piercing. 00:19:47.399 --> 00:19:48.399 And somehow or another 00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:50.680 was able to hobble along, 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.160 having had all of that happen, 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.680 is the evidence 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:56.119 of all of the different people 00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:57.419 and sometimes pairs, 00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.459 sometimes groups, 00:19:58.619 --> 00:19:59.659 sometimes individuals, 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.500 sometimes large groups, 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:03.679 is that he was alive. 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:08.659 And that's the only explanation 00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:10.619 as to why it is 00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:13.319 that we are still reading this. 00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:13.619 Do you know, 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.919 this is a true fact. 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:17.039 There is only one religion 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:18.819 that was started 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:20.419 in the time of the Roman Empire 00:20:20.419 --> 00:20:21.519 that still exists. 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:24.019 It's Christianity. 00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:26.799 Only religion. 00:20:28.399 --> 00:20:29.539 But of all the ones 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:30.099 that started 00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:31.199 during the time 00:20:31.199 --> 00:20:32.000 of the Roman Empire. 00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:34.479 And, you know, 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.079 I know that there's 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:36.899 no technical, logical, 00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:38.279 that it doesn't sort of 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:40.939 logically or rationally follow, 00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:43.419 but gosh, it follows. 00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:46.659 You see, if Jesus says, 00:20:47.179 --> 00:20:49.319 I've come to die on a cross, 00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:50.559 I get to do this, 00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:51.979 and I'm going to die on the cross, 00:20:52.439 --> 00:20:54.319 and I'm going to rise from the dead, 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:58.319 that, at a technically literal, 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.519 like, logic level, 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.319 doesn't vindicate 00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:04.839 that he is who he said he is, 00:21:04.879 --> 00:21:05.819 and he's going to accomplish 00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:07.159 what he says he's going to accomplish. 00:21:07.639 --> 00:21:09.139 But if that doesn't vindicate him, 00:21:09.159 --> 00:21:09.819 what on earth will? 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:11.480 I mean, that clearly vindicates him. 00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.179 Good grief. 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.379 Defeating death? 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.960 Riding from the dead? 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:18.019 If that doesn't vindicate his words? 00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:21.519 Well, I just, I, it's, 00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:23.660 if we think about it seriously, 00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:25.200 that has to vindicate him. 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:27.240 And not just vindicate 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:28.519 that he wasn't a bad man 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:30.079 who died because he was a bad person, 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:31.900 because that wouldn't be the case 00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:32.859 of defeating death 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:34.799 and defeating sin, 00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:35.920 but it vindicates him 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:36.900 that he is, in fact, God, 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:37.539 the Son of God, 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.220 that he is, in fact, 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:39.039 the Lamb of God 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:40.940 that takes away the sin of the world, 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:42.000 that that vindicates 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:44.240 that that is who he is. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:47.660 And it's after he makes this prediction, 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:51.180 and it's only because 00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.660 this prediction came true 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.599 that Mark writes 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:55.120 his eyewitness biography, 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:57.680 which will end, spoiler alert, 00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:59.579 with Jesus, the tomb being empty, 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:01.599 and Jesus being alive. 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:05.299 That also means 00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:07.099 that we need to listen 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:08.259 to his warnings about hell 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.120 very seriously. 00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:14.220 Now, I'm not going to spend 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.900 that much time 00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:15.680 on the next bits. 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.880 They're all very, very important. 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.440 I'll make a few comments about them, 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:19.960 but it's very interesting 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:21.660 about how the text goes 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:23.319 and moves towards this part 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:25.620 of the teaching about hell. 00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:27.720 And it's especially hard 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:29.600 because it's especially interesting 00:22:29.600 --> 00:22:30.680 because it brings home, 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:31.600 psychologically, 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:34.440 a better understanding 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.440 of what hell is. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.059 Look at what happens 00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:39.420 very next, verse 33. 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.680 And they, 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:42.319 oh, by the way, 00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:42.900 verse 32, 00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:43.820 but they didn't understand 00:22:43.820 --> 00:22:44.259 the saying 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:45.580 and were afraid to ask him. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:47.600 See, even that little tiny bit 00:22:47.600 --> 00:22:48.540 is very significant. 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.519 Why are you afraid 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:52.220 to ask a question often? 00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:53.580 Well, you don't want 00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:54.140 to look stupid. 00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:55.120 Well, why don't you want 00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:55.759 to look stupid? 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.320 Because you're proud. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:03.160 Because you're proud. 00:23:03.580 --> 00:23:04.560 Because I'm proud. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.100 Verse 33, 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:09.199 verse 33, 00:23:09.699 --> 00:23:11.019 and they came to Capernaum, 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.639 and when he was in the house, 00:23:12.939 --> 00:23:13.859 he asked them, 00:23:14.179 --> 00:23:15.439 what were you discussing 00:23:15.439 --> 00:23:16.019 on the way? 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.719 But they kept silent, 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:20.879 verse, page 58, verse 34, 00:23:21.159 --> 00:23:21.879 for on the way, 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:23.279 they had argued with one another 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.659 about who was the greatest. 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:27.059 And he sat down 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.859 and called the 12, 00:23:27.939 --> 00:23:28.679 and he said to them, 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.679 he said, 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:30.899 if anyone would, 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:31.719 if anyone, 00:23:31.959 --> 00:23:33.699 if anyone would be first, 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.459 he must be last 00:23:35.459 --> 00:23:36.959 and servant of all. 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.779 And he took a child 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:40.019 and put him in the midst of them, 00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:41.720 and taking him in his arms, 00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:42.539 he said to them, 00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.860 whoever receives 00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:45.079 one such child 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:46.600 in my name receives me, 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:47.920 and whoever receives me 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.360 receives not me, 00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:50.579 but him who sent me. 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.120 In other words, 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:51.779 God the Father. 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:53.440 This other language 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:54.700 that God the Father 00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:56.880 has sent Jesus to die. 00:23:58.039 --> 00:24:00.039 Now, here's another thing. 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:00.880 You know, 00:24:00.900 --> 00:24:01.660 it's very interesting. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.140 I was reading 00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:03.980 a 19th century commentary 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:06.000 as part of my preparation 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.579 for this. 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:07.779 And one of the things 00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:09.339 a person in the 19th century, 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.500 you know, 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.380 it's just so interesting 00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:12.160 when you read something 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.460 which is like 150 00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:14.740 some odd years old, 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:17.339 and all the disciples 00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:19.940 were all lower working class. 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.460 And the person 00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:22.319 writing the commentary 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:23.000 wouldn't have been 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:24.519 from a lower working class 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:24.920 background. 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.599 He was from a bit 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.380 of a better background. 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:26.980 And he just sort of 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.619 makes the comment, 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:29.480 imagine lower working class 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.099 people thinking 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:30.700 they're the greatest. 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:36.600 But the fact of the matter is, 00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:38.100 how uncomfortable 00:24:38.100 --> 00:24:39.680 would every one of us be 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:41.600 if God could reveal 00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:42.720 our fantasies? 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:46.220 How many of us think 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.880 we're the greatest? 00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:50.080 It might be in Bible study, 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:50.799 it might be singing, 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:51.660 it might be cooking, 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:52.799 it might be holiness, 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:55.919 it might be prayer. 00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.680 How many of us 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.339 wouldn't be, 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.740 well, 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:05.200 how many of us 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:06.440 if God was just to reveal 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.299 some fantasy 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.180 about how we thought 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:08.799 we were the greatest 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.519 and all of a sudden 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.639 he put it on the screen 00:25:10.639 --> 00:25:11.980 and it was obvious 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:13.019 that it came from me 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:14.220 or it came from one of you, 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:16.539 every single one of us, 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.899 God would find something. 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.059 And gosh, 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.000 if it was me, 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.259 two things would happen. 00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:24.299 I would get so red 00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:26.839 and there wouldn't be 00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:28.240 a crack small enough 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.380 for me to crime into. 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:37.079 Some of us might not be 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:38.339 as obvious about our 00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:41.880 our personal fantasies 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:42.940 about greatness, 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:46.240 but then the second illustration 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:47.759 is very, very telling. 00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:50.180 Verse 38, 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:52.099 John said to him, 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:52.720 that's John, 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.660 the disciple, 00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:54.220 teacher, 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.700 we saw someone, 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.359 verse 38, 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.940 we saw someone casting out 00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:59.559 demons in your name 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:01.339 and we tried to stop him 00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:03.779 because he was not following us. 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:06.460 But Jesus said, 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.720 do not stop him 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.880 for no one 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:10.200 who does a mighty work, 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:11.240 and by the way, 00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:12.579 mighty work is literal, 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:14.599 but it's a little bit misleading. 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:16.720 It's referring to a miracle. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:18.440 So no one who does a miracle 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.900 in my name 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:21.660 will be able soon afterward 00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:22.980 to speak evil of me. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:25.539 For the one who is not against us 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.259 is for us. 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.640 For truly I say to you, 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.960 whoever gives a cup of water 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.640 to drink because you belong to Christ 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:32.900 will by no means lose his reward. 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:35.720 Now, here's the thing 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.640 which is not as obvious. 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.799 It's there in English, 00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:39.620 but it's not as obvious in English 00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:41.180 as it is in the original language, 00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:43.460 is if we were to try 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:46.920 to actually make it more accurate, 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:50.460 but it would look weird, 00:26:50.840 --> 00:26:51.779 in verse 38, 00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:54.680 because he was not following us. 00:26:57.060 --> 00:26:58.220 That's the issue. 00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:59.980 And not necessarily Jesus. 00:27:00.340 --> 00:27:02.019 It's us 12. 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:04.580 He's not with us 12 00:27:04.580 --> 00:27:06.900 because we're the greatest. 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.360 And it's so funny 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:11.059 because if you go back, 00:27:11.659 --> 00:27:12.459 the story, 00:27:12.659 --> 00:27:13.459 which is just part 00:27:13.459 --> 00:27:14.379 of the same chapter, 00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:15.240 is the fact that 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:16.299 they weren't able 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:17.740 to cast a demon out. 00:27:18.479 --> 00:27:19.579 And so here's a guy 00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:21.139 doing what they couldn't do. 00:27:22.419 --> 00:27:23.679 But they still think 00:27:23.679 --> 00:27:24.719 they're greater than him. 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:26.439 And so they want him 00:27:26.439 --> 00:27:28.659 to stop because of us. 00:27:29.719 --> 00:27:31.079 Well, isn't that very true as well? 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.879 I mean, right now, 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.619 by the way, 00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:35.219 and this is not, 00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:36.599 if John Charest had won, 00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.559 the John Charest people 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.959 would all be feeling very good. 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:41.740 If the Lesley and Lewis had won, 00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:44.199 they'd all been feeling really good. 00:27:44.939 --> 00:27:45.459 But right now, 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.639 it's the Pierre-Paul-Lavere people 00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:47.639 because it's us. 00:27:48.619 --> 00:27:49.639 We're the ones. 00:27:50.459 --> 00:27:50.579 Right? 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:52.219 It's us because 00:27:52.219 --> 00:27:53.639 we're the anti-charismatics. 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.599 It's us because 00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:55.719 we are the charismatics. 00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.519 It's us because 00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:57.500 we have the big church. 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.279 It's us because 00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:59.399 we have the small church. 00:27:59.899 --> 00:28:01.559 It's us because 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:03.519 just you fill in the blank. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.879 And there's a type of, 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:06.500 in a sense of a group pride. 00:28:09.340 --> 00:28:10.660 And you see the thing, 00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.580 I mean, here it is. 00:28:12.020 --> 00:28:12.500 What, you know, 00:28:12.540 --> 00:28:13.800 Jesus has just described 00:28:13.800 --> 00:28:14.600 the very nature. 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:16.920 If what Jesus has said is true, 00:28:17.600 --> 00:28:19.840 then the very, very heart of God 00:28:19.840 --> 00:28:21.240 is not about him 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.720 having his glory 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:24.300 so completely and utterly 00:28:24.300 --> 00:28:25.720 and obviously seen 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:27.180 that we just cower. 00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:32.759 but he wants us 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.680 to see his glory 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.539 and he wants us 00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.420 to see his beauty 00:28:35.420 --> 00:28:36.380 but the way he most 00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:37.660 fully reveals himself 00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:38.180 is by, 00:28:38.340 --> 00:28:39.560 is by God, 00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:40.279 the Son of God 00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:41.320 taking him to himself 00:28:41.320 --> 00:28:42.019 human nature 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.980 and coming and walking 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.880 amongst us 00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:45.460 so that he would die 00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:46.140 on a cross. 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.220 Like love. 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:51.380 Taking the lowest place. 00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:54.740 the opposite of pride. 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:58.080 And here we've had 00:28:58.080 --> 00:28:58.880 the two proud 00:28:58.880 --> 00:28:59.820 to ask a question. 00:29:00.860 --> 00:29:02.220 They think they're the greatest. 00:29:02.540 --> 00:29:03.820 They think we're the greatest. 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:06.400 And it's in this context 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:07.260 that he's going to say 00:29:07.260 --> 00:29:07.920 a couple of things 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.440 about hell. 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:12.000 And notice first verse 42. 00:29:13.100 --> 00:29:14.080 Whoever causes 00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:16.440 one of these little ones 00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.220 who believe in me 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:17.820 to sin, 00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:20.240 it would be better for him 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:21.360 if a great millstone 00:29:21.360 --> 00:29:22.600 were hung around his neck 00:29:22.600 --> 00:29:23.220 and he were thrown 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:23.920 into the sea. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:25.360 Now, 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:27.539 little ones just mean 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.460 simple Christians. 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.039 In fact, 00:29:29.080 --> 00:29:29.640 it's another way 00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.700 to describe a Christian. 00:29:32.320 --> 00:29:33.640 We're little ones. 00:29:35.080 --> 00:29:36.259 I'm a little one. 00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:39.079 And so are you. 00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.680 You're not the greatest. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.539 I am a little one. 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.440 And it's a very, very, 00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:47.279 I think, 00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:48.539 a very, very significant 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.140 placement. 00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:51.839 And it's not as if, 00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:52.940 because in fact it is, 00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:54.759 God looks down the ages 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:56.599 and says, 00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.839 you know, George, 00:29:58.819 --> 00:30:00.420 well, 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:02.680 you're not as clever 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.700 as you think you are. 00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:07.299 But, 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.879 you don't have to be 00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:09.559 very clever 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:11.779 to try to do, 00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:12.400 well, 00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:13.539 it could be this, 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.539 it could be that, 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.460 it could be this, 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.539 it could be that, 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.579 and hell is just 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:18.779 a symbolic thing 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.599 and it's a metaphor 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:20.119 and, 00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:20.960 by the way, 00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:21.660 let me tell you 00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:22.359 about the history 00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:23.240 of Gehenna 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.640 and the valley 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:26.259 and do all of that 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.799 and what I end up doing 00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.660 is I end up, 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.359 by the end of it, 00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:29.599 thinking, 00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:29.940 oh, well, 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.420 good grief, 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:31.279 there's sin, 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.539 hell doesn't even exist 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.400 or if it does exist, 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:34.180 it doesn't really matter. 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:34.880 It's just a metaphor, 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:35.740 you know, 00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:36.340 for some type 00:30:36.340 --> 00:30:37.660 of psychological distress 00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:39.160 and if I could, 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:40.240 I could do that 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:41.740 and if I was to teach that 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.660 and then it was 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:44.200 to encourage people 00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:44.860 like you 00:30:44.860 --> 00:30:45.960 or people watching 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.360 to say, 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:46.519 well, 00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:47.259 I don't have to even 00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:48.259 think about hell. 00:30:49.060 --> 00:30:49.980 Jesus is saying, 00:30:50.080 --> 00:30:50.340 George, 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:51.240 if you do something 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:51.700 like that, 00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.299 it would be better 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:52.640 for you 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.380 if a millstone 00:30:53.380 --> 00:30:54.060 was hung around 00:30:54.060 --> 00:30:54.480 your neck 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.100 and you were thrown 00:30:55.100 --> 00:30:55.759 into the sea. 00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:58.240 If the Sunday school 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.120 teachers do that, 00:30:59.160 --> 00:30:59.740 it would be better 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:02.700 if the men's group, 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.000 the women's ministry, 00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:05.339 if they were to do that, 00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:06.500 if the small group leaders 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.220 were to do that, 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:07.920 it would be better 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.799 if God, 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:10.099 if you just took 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:11.039 a millstone around you 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:11.420 and throw you 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:11.920 into the depths 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.359 of the sea, 00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:13.019 that would be better 00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:13.480 for you. 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:17.160 And if your hand 00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.799 causes you, 00:31:17.880 --> 00:31:18.480 verse 43, 00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:19.059 to sin, 00:31:19.400 --> 00:31:20.039 cut it off. 00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:20.779 It is better for you 00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:22.200 to enter life crippled 00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:24.660 than with two hands 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.579 to go to hell, 00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:27.140 to the unquenchable fire. 00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:29.120 And if your foot 00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:30.259 causes you to sin, 00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:33.000 cut it off. 00:31:33.080 --> 00:31:33.820 It is better for you 00:31:33.820 --> 00:31:34.900 to enter life lame 00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:35.780 than with two feet 00:31:35.780 --> 00:31:36.860 to be thrown into hell. 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:38.780 And if your eye 00:31:38.780 --> 00:31:39.800 causes you to sin, 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:40.440 tear it out. 00:31:40.860 --> 00:31:41.700 It is better for you 00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:42.480 to enter the kingdom 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.660 of God with one eye 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:45.480 than with two eyes 00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:46.520 to be thrown into hell, 00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:48.420 where their worm 00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:49.640 does not die 00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:50.380 and the fire 00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:52.140 is not quenched. 00:31:57.140 --> 00:32:03.080 I believe Jesus 00:32:03.080 --> 00:32:04.040 rose from the dead. 00:32:06.320 --> 00:32:07.440 I believe that he 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:08.060 is the Savior 00:32:08.060 --> 00:32:08.640 and the Lord. 00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:12.120 And because he has told me, 00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:13.440 I believe that hell exists. 00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:22.440 If you look at it, 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:24.200 it's sort of there 00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:24.660 in English. 00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:26.120 It's also more obvious 00:32:26.120 --> 00:32:27.040 in the original language, 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:27.579 but it's there 00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:28.059 in the English. 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:29.700 If you look at verse 43 again, 00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:32.700 it says at the end 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:33.420 of verse 43, 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.279 it is better for you 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:36.359 to enter life crippled 00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:37.480 than with two hands 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.720 to go to hell. 00:32:41.379 --> 00:32:42.779 The other two images, 00:32:43.639 --> 00:32:44.539 verse 46, 00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.480 thrown into hell 00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:47.019 and verse 47, 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.139 thrown into hell. 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:48.680 I mean, sorry, 00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:50.359 verse 45 and verse 47, 00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:51.240 thrown into hell. 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:54.579 this is, 00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:57.440 this beautifully captures 00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:59.579 the fact that 00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.620 there's sort of two things 00:33:00.620 --> 00:33:01.160 that happen. 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:03.440 The first thing is that I, 00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:04.620 the person going to hell 00:33:04.620 --> 00:33:05.559 willingly goes. 00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:09.319 They choose to go. 00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.579 And at the same time, 00:33:13.620 --> 00:33:14.400 it's also understood 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.240 as something that God 00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:16.000 sends you to, 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:17.819 without any contradiction 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:18.680 between the two. 00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:21.779 You see, 00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.440 one of the things, 00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:24.279 and it takes longer 00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:24.759 than I have, 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:25.359 I'm just going to throw 00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:25.839 this out, 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:26.220 it's, 00:33:27.640 --> 00:33:28.759 the doctrine of hell 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:29.880 is not a bug 00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:31.599 that needs to be fixed 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:32.359 in Christianity. 00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:34.500 It's a design feature. 00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:36.980 No, 00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:40.079 no religion, 00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:41.720 no spirituality, 00:33:42.140 --> 00:33:43.220 no philosophy 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:44.380 or theology, 00:33:45.140 --> 00:33:47.480 greater values, 00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:48.859 human freedom 00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:50.000 and autonomy 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:51.299 than the Christian faith 00:33:51.299 --> 00:33:51.900 and hell 00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:52.680 is the testimony 00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:53.299 to that. 00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:59.680 God doesn't force you. 00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:02.839 Demons force you. 00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:03.319 God, 00:34:03.319 --> 00:34:04.919 the true and living God, 00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:05.659 the triune God 00:34:05.659 --> 00:34:06.779 doesn't force you. 00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:12.319 You choose to go. 00:34:16.219 --> 00:34:17.380 You want to go. 00:34:18.420 --> 00:34:19.319 God at the end, 00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:20.239 the end, 00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:21.279 the end of the end 00:34:21.279 --> 00:34:22.099 which is the beginning 00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:23.099 of the true beginning 00:34:23.099 --> 00:34:24.659 says, 00:34:24.819 --> 00:34:25.159 child, 00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:26.920 you don't like me 00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:27.799 calling you child, 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:28.699 you'd rather that I 00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:29.539 called you God. 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:34.800 you find my existence, 00:34:37.279 --> 00:34:39.940 my existence only makes you angry. 00:34:41.239 --> 00:34:45.300 My love only makes you cringe. 00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:51.160 my truth only makes you furious. 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:56.039 My beauty only makes you gag. 00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:59.960 And you would rather have your own way 00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:03.119 and your own conceits 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:07.099 and your own little rule 00:35:07.099 --> 00:35:10.099 than be in my presence. 00:35:10.099 --> 00:35:12.239 you would choose anything other 00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:15.199 than to be in my presence, 00:35:15.799 --> 00:35:16.679 healed and unveiled. 00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:20.819 And that is what you choose 00:35:20.819 --> 00:35:21.739 right till the end 00:35:21.739 --> 00:35:23.500 and that is where you will go. 00:35:26.299 --> 00:35:26.920 And I'm, 00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:27.679 obviously, 00:35:27.839 --> 00:35:29.360 it's a metaphor 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:30.519 and I can't say 00:35:30.519 --> 00:35:31.239 that I'm making 00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:32.799 a doctrinal statement here. 00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:37.360 But if you were locked up 00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:38.180 for all eternity 00:35:38.180 --> 00:35:40.080 with your pride 00:35:40.080 --> 00:35:41.039 and your anger 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:41.960 and your envy 00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:42.880 and your greed 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:43.820 and your lust 00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:46.580 and your resentments 00:35:46.580 --> 00:35:49.120 and not only locked up 00:35:49.120 --> 00:35:49.680 by yourself 00:35:49.680 --> 00:35:50.580 but with others, 00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:52.320 it would be your very own 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:52.880 anger 00:35:52.880 --> 00:35:54.140 and fantasies 00:35:54.140 --> 00:35:55.140 and hatreds 00:35:55.140 --> 00:35:56.100 and rivalries 00:35:56.100 --> 00:35:57.060 and lusts 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:59.240 that would be the fire 00:35:59.240 --> 00:36:00.360 that would consume you 00:36:00.360 --> 00:36:01.120 and the worms 00:36:01.120 --> 00:36:02.480 that would eat you. 00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:09.300 and what the gospel 00:36:09.300 --> 00:36:10.080 is all about 00:36:10.080 --> 00:36:12.380 is not that George 00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:13.360 is so good 00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:14.220 that he's going 00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:14.880 to go to heaven 00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:17.820 but that God 00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:18.440 in his grace 00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:19.580 has provided a means 00:36:19.580 --> 00:36:20.360 by which 00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:22.920 the end of the end 00:36:22.920 --> 00:36:24.000 of the end of George 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:24.560 and the beginning 00:36:24.560 --> 00:36:25.120 of the beginning 00:36:25.120 --> 00:36:25.740 of the beginning 00:36:25.740 --> 00:36:26.700 of life 00:36:26.700 --> 00:36:28.039 after death 00:36:28.039 --> 00:36:28.720 for George 00:36:28.720 --> 00:36:29.580 is not hell 00:36:29.580 --> 00:36:32.780 but that when I'm 00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:33.600 in a sense 00:36:33.600 --> 00:36:35.200 stop running 00:36:35.200 --> 00:36:36.360 from Christ 00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:37.360 and allow him 00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:38.200 to catch me 00:36:38.200 --> 00:36:39.000 and take me 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:40.720 he takes me 00:36:40.720 --> 00:36:42.080 and transfers me 00:36:42.080 --> 00:36:44.000 from a fate 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:46.340 of hell 00:36:46.340 --> 00:36:48.560 and he transfers me 00:36:48.560 --> 00:36:49.820 to be his child 00:36:49.820 --> 00:36:50.560 by adoption 00:36:50.560 --> 00:36:51.220 and grace 00:36:51.219 --> 00:36:56.219 and clothe me 00:36:56.219 --> 00:36:57.879 in such a way 00:36:57.879 --> 00:36:58.759 that I will be fit 00:36:58.759 --> 00:36:59.419 for eternity 00:36:59.419 --> 00:37:02.059 and this is not 00:37:02.059 --> 00:37:02.679 of my doing 00:37:02.679 --> 00:37:03.939 it's not of my work 00:37:03.939 --> 00:37:05.339 I can only 00:37:05.339 --> 00:37:06.500 allow Christ 00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:07.259 to do 00:37:07.259 --> 00:37:08.099 that 00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:09.039 for me 00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:10.719 and in me 00:37:10.719 --> 00:37:14.819 he died 00:37:14.819 --> 00:37:15.419 the death 00:37:15.419 --> 00:37:16.579 that I deserved 00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:18.639 he 00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:20.099 entered into 00:37:20.099 --> 00:37:20.719 all of the 00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:21.339 there is of death 00:37:21.339 --> 00:37:22.539 whatever that means 00:37:22.539 --> 00:37:24.939 which I could not do 00:37:24.939 --> 00:37:26.179 but to remain there 00:37:26.179 --> 00:37:27.000 and be in hell 00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:30.299 he offers me 00:37:30.299 --> 00:37:32.259 his perfect obedience 00:37:32.259 --> 00:37:33.319 to the father 00:37:33.319 --> 00:37:34.299 to clothe me 00:37:34.299 --> 00:37:35.319 with his righteousness 00:37:35.319 --> 00:37:36.199 which I could 00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:38.079 I could never have 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:41.019 and he transfers me 00:37:41.019 --> 00:37:41.420 from 00:37:41.420 --> 00:37:43.340 the kingdom of darkness 00:37:43.340 --> 00:37:44.380 that ends in death 00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:44.860 and hell 00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:45.980 into the kingdom 00:37:45.980 --> 00:37:46.559 of light 00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.099 and life 00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:47.599 and truth 00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:48.079 and goodness 00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:48.719 and beauty 00:37:48.719 --> 00:37:50.059 which ends 00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:51.119 in the kingdom of God 00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:52.239 and life after life 00:37:52.239 --> 00:37:52.819 after life 00:37:52.819 --> 00:37:53.539 after life 00:37:53.539 --> 00:37:54.799 and it is all 00:37:54.799 --> 00:37:55.440 his doing 00:37:55.440 --> 00:37:56.139 not mine 00:37:56.139 --> 00:37:57.199 I receive it 00:37:57.199 --> 00:37:58.360 as an act of grace 00:37:58.360 --> 00:38:11.620 it says we're 00:38:11.620 --> 00:38:12.300 gripped with this 00:38:12.300 --> 00:38:13.120 that we begin 00:38:13.120 --> 00:38:13.960 to understand 00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:14.519 anew 00:38:14.519 --> 00:38:14.940 the wonder 00:38:14.940 --> 00:38:15.640 of the gospel 00:38:15.640 --> 00:38:18.039 when the bible 00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:18.680 talks about 00:38:18.680 --> 00:38:19.500 how you were lost 00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:20.660 and you have to be saved 00:38:20.660 --> 00:38:21.720 that's what it means 00:38:21.720 --> 00:38:22.760 you were lost 00:38:22.760 --> 00:38:23.840 and you need to be 00:38:23.840 --> 00:38:25.280 transferred by Christ 00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:25.860 and what he's done 00:38:25.860 --> 00:38:26.460 on the cross 00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:27.599 you need to be taken 00:38:27.599 --> 00:38:28.500 from there 00:38:28.500 --> 00:38:29.980 into his kingdom 00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:31.480 that's what being saved 00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:32.099 means 00:38:32.099 --> 00:38:33.639 that's what Christ 00:38:33.639 --> 00:38:34.940 has done for us 00:38:34.940 --> 00:38:37.000 and it's only 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:38.039 as these truths 00:38:38.039 --> 00:38:38.800 grip us 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:39.460 that we can be 00:38:39.460 --> 00:38:40.139 really just 00:38:40.139 --> 00:38:41.639 you know 00:38:41.639 --> 00:38:42.179 one of the things 00:38:42.179 --> 00:38:42.599 about it 00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:42.920 you know 00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.420 one of the things 00:38:43.420 --> 00:38:44.340 that Andrew Clavin 00:38:44.340 --> 00:38:44.820 said 00:38:44.820 --> 00:38:45.599 that one of the things 00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:46.119 that kept him 00:38:46.119 --> 00:38:47.119 from the Christian faith 00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:47.820 is and I hope 00:38:47.820 --> 00:38:48.619 I pronounce this right 00:38:48.619 --> 00:38:49.159 he called it 00:38:49.159 --> 00:38:50.720 the banal optimism 00:38:50.720 --> 00:38:52.960 of so many Christians 00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:53.800 that if you just 00:38:53.800 --> 00:38:54.480 you know 00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:55.519 you read a bible verse 00:38:55.519 --> 00:38:56.780 and your day 00:38:56.780 --> 00:38:57.719 will be successful 00:38:57.719 --> 00:39:00.320 and he just knew 00:39:00.320 --> 00:39:01.239 that couldn't possibly 00:39:01.239 --> 00:39:01.840 be true 00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:02.440 it was sort of 00:39:02.440 --> 00:39:03.800 just this weird optimism 00:39:03.800 --> 00:39:05.019 he certainly knew 00:39:05.019 --> 00:39:05.699 it couldn't be true 00:39:05.699 --> 00:39:07.840 because no fiction character 00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:08.960 portrayed like that 00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:10.239 is actually believable 00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:11.840 and so you know 00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:12.880 here's the thing 00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:14.019 as Christians 00:39:14.019 --> 00:39:14.880 if you give your life 00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:15.300 to Christ 00:39:15.300 --> 00:39:15.860 you will have 00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:16.960 many many hard things 00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:17.579 that are going to happen 00:39:17.579 --> 00:39:18.300 to you in life 00:39:18.300 --> 00:39:19.800 many hard things 00:39:19.800 --> 00:39:20.559 will happen to you 00:39:20.559 --> 00:39:21.759 you'll discover hard things 00:39:21.759 --> 00:39:22.420 about yourself 00:39:22.420 --> 00:39:23.780 and Christ will ask you 00:39:23.780 --> 00:39:24.940 to do hard things 00:39:24.940 --> 00:39:26.360 but it's a very 00:39:26.360 --> 00:39:27.500 very different thing 00:39:27.500 --> 00:39:28.980 to do these hard things 00:39:28.980 --> 00:39:29.640 when you know 00:39:29.640 --> 00:39:30.480 that the end 00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:30.980 of the end 00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:31.460 of the end 00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:32.180 of the end 00:39:32.180 --> 00:39:34.540 is entering into life 00:39:34.540 --> 00:39:38.720 that's the end 00:39:38.720 --> 00:39:40.840 you will enter into life 00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:43.300 and that is unstoppable 00:39:43.300 --> 00:39:45.080 when you put your faith 00:39:45.080 --> 00:39:46.000 and trust in Christ 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:47.820 it is unstoppable 00:39:47.820 --> 00:39:52.820 and so texts like this 00:39:52.820 --> 00:39:53.740 help us to understand 00:39:53.740 --> 00:39:54.880 the wonder of the gospel 00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:55.900 and also the need 00:39:55.900 --> 00:39:57.039 to pray for the lost 00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:59.680 I just want to say 00:39:59.680 --> 00:40:00.900 if there are any here 00:40:00.900 --> 00:40:02.000 or any who are watching 00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:05.980 I know you're not 00:40:05.980 --> 00:40:06.800 frightened by hell 00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:11.700 but it exists and it real 00:40:11.700 --> 00:40:12.640 and there is this wonderful 00:40:12.640 --> 00:40:14.120 Savior who died for you 00:40:14.119 --> 00:40:17.099 and to know him 00:40:17.099 --> 00:40:17.940 is to know life 00:40:17.940 --> 00:40:20.699 you might have 00:40:20.699 --> 00:40:21.900 very very hard times 00:40:21.900 --> 00:40:22.380 right now 00:40:22.380 --> 00:40:22.900 and you might have 00:40:22.900 --> 00:40:23.779 very hard times 00:40:23.779 --> 00:40:24.599 in the days to come 00:40:24.599 --> 00:40:25.519 some people here 00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:26.279 who are here today 00:40:26.279 --> 00:40:27.380 are going through 00:40:27.380 --> 00:40:28.319 very very difficult 00:40:28.319 --> 00:40:29.319 and hard times 00:40:29.319 --> 00:40:32.579 but when you put 00:40:32.579 --> 00:40:33.039 your faith 00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:33.960 and trust in Christ 00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:34.859 the end of the story 00:40:34.859 --> 00:40:36.199 for you is life 00:40:36.199 --> 00:40:37.179 and that life 00:40:37.179 --> 00:40:38.460 begins to be a life 00:40:38.460 --> 00:40:39.940 that you experience now 00:40:39.940 --> 00:40:41.719 even if there's things 00:40:41.719 --> 00:40:42.279 going wrong 00:40:42.280 --> 00:40:42.960 with your body 00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:43.880 and your finances 00:40:43.880 --> 00:40:44.600 and your mind 00:40:44.600 --> 00:40:45.200 and all of those 00:40:45.200 --> 00:40:46.120 other types of things 00:40:46.120 --> 00:40:47.440 that seed of life 00:40:47.440 --> 00:40:48.740 is something 00:40:48.740 --> 00:40:49.760 that will only grow 00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:51.000 and will end 00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:52.180 with you 00:40:52.180 --> 00:40:53.540 seeing God 00:40:53.540 --> 00:40:54.380 face to face 00:40:54.380 --> 00:40:55.880 and you being like Christ 00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:57.840 and so there's 00:40:57.840 --> 00:40:58.580 no better time 00:40:58.580 --> 00:40:59.080 than now 00:40:59.080 --> 00:41:00.760 to call out to Jesus 00:41:00.760 --> 00:41:01.700 and ask that he would 00:41:01.700 --> 00:41:02.300 be your Savior 00:41:02.300 --> 00:41:02.920 and your Lord 00:41:02.920 --> 00:41:06.120 let's stand 00:41:06.119 --> 00:41:13.880 bow our heads 00:41:13.880 --> 00:41:14.359 in prayer 00:41:14.359 --> 00:41:22.119 Father 00:41:22.119 --> 00:41:23.519 we ask that you 00:41:23.519 --> 00:41:24.659 help us to be mindful 00:41:24.659 --> 00:41:25.440 of the things 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:27.480 the true things 00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:28.799 the spiritual things 00:41:28.799 --> 00:41:29.279 the things 00:41:29.279 --> 00:41:29.859 which Christ 00:41:29.859 --> 00:41:31.000 talks us to about 00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:32.839 about our destinies 00:41:32.840 --> 00:41:34.160 Father 00:41:34.160 --> 00:41:34.760 we all know 00:41:34.760 --> 00:41:35.640 that human beings 00:41:35.640 --> 00:41:36.100 die 00:41:36.100 --> 00:41:37.220 and we 00:41:37.220 --> 00:41:38.640 all somehow 00:41:38.640 --> 00:41:39.380 blithely 00:41:39.380 --> 00:41:40.600 or just arrogantly 00:41:40.600 --> 00:41:41.480 think that we will 00:41:41.480 --> 00:41:42.500 all go to a better 00:41:42.500 --> 00:41:43.480 place just because 00:41:43.480 --> 00:41:44.039 we're us 00:41:44.039 --> 00:41:46.160 and Christ has issued 00:41:46.160 --> 00:41:46.960 a wake up call 00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:47.600 to us 00:41:47.600 --> 00:41:49.920 that just as we've 00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:50.920 lived our lives 00:41:50.920 --> 00:41:51.920 many of us 00:41:51.920 --> 00:41:52.780 in rebellion 00:41:52.780 --> 00:41:53.559 against you 00:41:53.559 --> 00:41:55.120 if Christ does not 00:41:55.120 --> 00:41:55.579 save us 00:41:55.579 --> 00:41:56.160 that will be the 00:41:56.160 --> 00:41:57.140 final word about us 00:41:57.140 --> 00:41:58.440 but we thank you 00:41:58.440 --> 00:41:58.760 Father 00:41:58.760 --> 00:41:59.720 that that is not 00:41:59.720 --> 00:42:00.559 the final word 00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:01.100 about those 00:42:01.100 --> 00:42:01.880 who put their faith 00:42:01.880 --> 00:42:02.820 and trust in Christ 00:42:02.820 --> 00:42:04.680 and so we ask 00:42:04.680 --> 00:42:05.400 Lord that you 00:42:05.400 --> 00:42:06.519 renew within us 00:42:06.519 --> 00:42:08.519 an appreciation 00:42:08.519 --> 00:42:09.200 of the wonder 00:42:09.200 --> 00:42:09.840 of the gospel 00:42:09.840 --> 00:42:10.660 and of what Jesus 00:42:10.660 --> 00:42:11.800 has done for us 00:42:11.800 --> 00:42:13.420 and grant us 00:42:13.420 --> 00:42:14.240 Father a heart 00:42:14.240 --> 00:42:14.800 to pray 00:42:14.800 --> 00:42:15.800 for those who are 00:42:15.800 --> 00:42:16.280 around us 00:42:16.280 --> 00:42:16.980 that they will come 00:42:16.980 --> 00:42:17.900 to a saving faith 00:42:17.900 --> 00:42:18.400 in Jesus 00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:19.820 and grant us 00:42:19.820 --> 00:42:20.920 Father the courage 00:42:20.920 --> 00:42:21.700 to bear witness 00:42:21.700 --> 00:42:22.320 to Jesus 00:42:22.320 --> 00:42:26.039 and we ask 00:42:26.039 --> 00:42:26.900 all of these things 00:42:26.900 --> 00:42:27.820 in the name of Jesus 00:42:27.820 --> 00:42:28.480 your Son 00:42:28.480 --> 00:42:29.420 and our Savior 00:42:29.420 --> 00:42:30.900 Amen 00:42:30.900 --> 00:42:48.639 you 00:42:48.639 --> 00:43:18.619 Thank you.