WEBVTT

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 It's my joy and pleasure to bring God's Word to you guys this morning. I see a bunch of new faces.

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 For those who don't know me, my name is Ed. I'm a pastoral resident here at Trinity Cambridge.

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 I'm excited to be able to bring God's Word to you this morning.

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 We are going to continue on in our sermon series in Matthew as we open up our Bibles.

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 If you are in need of a Bible, feel free to raise your hand and we'll be happy to give you a Bible that you can use and you can keep yourself.

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 If not, let's open up our Bibles to Matthew 11.

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 The passage this morning will be from verses 1 to 24.

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 Verses 1 to 24.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.

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 Heavenly Father,

00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:56.579
 we are a weak people,

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 small people,

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 beaten and battered

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 by life,

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 tempted by Satan,

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 and struggling with our own habitual sin.

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 And we see

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 in our own experiences

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 and in Scripture this morning

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 that it's easy for us

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 to doubt you.

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 To doubt

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 your existence,

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 your promises,

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 but I pray

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 you would help me today

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 to preach with clarity,

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 with love,

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 with wholeness,

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 so that our faith

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 would be built up

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 so that we have

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 faith

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 that seeks understanding

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 even in the midst

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 of question

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 and trial

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 and confusion.

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 So Lord,

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 please

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 meet us,

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 address us by your Word.

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 Won't you increase

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 and that we decrease,

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 Lord,

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 as we look to you.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Thank you.

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 If you are able,

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 please rise

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 for the reading

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 of God's Word.

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 Starting off

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 in verse 1.

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 When Jesus had finished

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 instructing his 12 disciples,

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 he went on from there

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 to teach

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 and preach

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 in their cities.

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 Now when John

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 heard in prison

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 about the deeds

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 of the Christ,

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 he sent word

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 by his disciples

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 and said to him,

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 Are you the one

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 who is to come

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 or shall we look

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 for another?

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 And Jesus answered them,

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 Go

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 and tell John

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 what you hear

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 and see.

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 The blind

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 receive their sight,

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 the lame walk,

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 lepers are cleansed,

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 and the deaf hear,

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 and the dead

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 are raised up,

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 and the poor

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 have good news

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 preached to them.

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 And blessed

00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:04.039
 is the one

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 who is not

00:03:04.819 --> 00:03:06.159
 offended by me.

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 As they went away,

00:03:09.119 --> 00:03:09.819
 Jesus began

00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:10.899
 to speak to the crowds

00:03:10.899 --> 00:03:11.839
 concerning John.

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 What did you go out

00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:14.759
 into the wilderness

00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:15.339
 to see?

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 A reed shaken

00:03:17.519 --> 00:03:18.179
 by the wind?

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 What then

00:03:20.139 --> 00:03:20.839
 did you go out

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 to see?

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 A man dressed

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 in soft clothing?

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 Behold,

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 those who wear

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 soft clothing

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 are in king's houses.

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 What then

00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:31.379
 did you go out

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 to see?

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 A prophet?

00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:34.099
 Yes,

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 I tell you,

00:03:35.340 --> 00:03:35.800
 and more

00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:36.479
 than a prophet.

00:03:37.259 --> 00:03:38.159
 This is he

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 of whom it is written.

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 Behold,

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 I send my messenger

00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:42.400
 before your face

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 who will prepare

00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:44.620
 your way

00:03:44.620 --> 00:03:45.180
 before you.

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 Truly,

00:03:47.020 --> 00:03:48.000
 I say to you,

00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:49.020
 among those

00:03:49.020 --> 00:03:49.860
 born of women

00:03:49.860 --> 00:03:50.800
 there has arisen

00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:51.699
 no one greater

00:03:51.699 --> 00:03:52.919
 than John the Baptist.

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 Yet,

00:03:54.919 --> 00:03:55.400
 the one

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 who is least

00:03:56.259 --> 00:03:57.319
 in the kingdom

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 of heaven

00:03:58.180 --> 00:03:59.360
 is greater

00:03:59.360 --> 00:03:59.879
 than you.

00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:02.139
 From the days

00:04:02.139 --> 00:04:03.259
 of John the Baptist

00:04:03.259 --> 00:04:04.020
 until now,

00:04:04.099 --> 00:04:04.560
 the kingdom

00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:04.979
 of heaven

00:04:04.979 --> 00:04:05.520
 has suffered

00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:06.080
 violence

00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:07.199
 and the violence

00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:08.360
 taken by force.

00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:10.759
 For all the prophets

00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:11.460
 and the law

00:04:11.460 --> 00:04:12.939
 prophesied until John,

00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:14.039
 and if you are

00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:15.219
 willing to accept it,

00:04:15.819 --> 00:04:17.319
 he is Elijah

00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:19.019
 who is to come.

00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:20.839
 He who has ears

00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:21.259
 to hear,

00:04:21.399 --> 00:04:22.199
 let him hear.

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 But to what

00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:25.579
 shall I compare

00:04:25.579 --> 00:04:26.699
 this generation?

00:04:26.699 --> 00:04:28.159
 it is like

00:04:28.159 --> 00:04:28.699
 children

00:04:28.699 --> 00:04:30.060
 sitting in the

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 marketplaces

00:04:30.719 --> 00:04:31.439
 and calling

00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:32.279
 to their playmates.

00:04:32.740 --> 00:04:33.620
 We played the

00:04:33.620 --> 00:04:34.360
 flute for you

00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:35.060
 and you did not

00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:35.519
 dance.

00:04:36.219 --> 00:04:37.240
 We sang a dirge

00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:38.180
 and you did not

00:04:38.180 --> 00:04:38.519
 dance.

00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:40.659
 For John came

00:04:40.659 --> 00:04:41.399
 neither eating

00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:42.120
 nor drinking

00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:43.379
 and they say,

00:04:43.719 --> 00:04:45.039
 he has a demon.

00:04:47.039 --> 00:04:47.699
 The son of man

00:04:47.699 --> 00:04:48.480
 came eating

00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:49.079
 and drinking

00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:50.419
 and they say,

00:04:50.659 --> 00:04:51.399
 look at him,

00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:52.699
 a glutton

00:04:52.699 --> 00:04:53.740
 and a drunker,

00:04:53.740 --> 00:04:54.680
 a friend of

00:04:54.680 --> 00:04:55.420
 task collectors

00:04:55.420 --> 00:04:56.240
 and sinners.

00:04:57.160 --> 00:04:57.939
 Yet wisdom

00:04:57.939 --> 00:04:58.900
 is justified

00:04:58.900 --> 00:04:59.980
 by her deeds.

00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:02.379
 Then he began

00:05:02.379 --> 00:05:03.139
 to denounce

00:05:03.139 --> 00:05:03.819
 the cities

00:05:03.819 --> 00:05:04.519
 where most

00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:05.180
 of his mighty

00:05:05.180 --> 00:05:06.120
 works have been

00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:06.460
 done

00:05:06.460 --> 00:05:07.960
 because they

00:05:07.960 --> 00:05:09.100
 did not repent.

00:05:10.579 --> 00:05:11.699
 Woe to you,

00:05:11.900 --> 00:05:12.400
 Chorazin.

00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:13.960
 Woe to you,

00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:14.680
 Bethsaida.

00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:17.139
 For if the

00:05:17.139 --> 00:05:17.840
 mighty works

00:05:17.840 --> 00:05:18.439
 done in you

00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:19.000
 have been done

00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:20.340
 in Tyre and Sidon,

00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:21.840
 they would have

00:05:21.840 --> 00:05:22.840
 repented long ago

00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:24.199
 in sackcloth

00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:24.859
 and ashes.

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 But I tell you,

00:05:27.459 --> 00:05:28.060
 it will be

00:05:28.060 --> 00:05:28.859
 more bearable

00:05:28.859 --> 00:05:29.419
 on the day

00:05:29.419 --> 00:05:29.859
 of judgment

00:05:29.859 --> 00:05:31.279
 for Tyre and Sidon

00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:32.079
 than for whom?

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 And you,

00:05:33.919 --> 00:05:34.339
 Capernaum,

00:05:34.419 --> 00:05:35.079
 will you be

00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:35.899
 exalted to heaven?

00:05:37.039 --> 00:05:38.139
 You will be

00:05:38.139 --> 00:05:38.659
 brought down

00:05:38.659 --> 00:05:39.339
 to Hades.

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 For if the

00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:42.039
 mighty works

00:05:42.039 --> 00:05:42.559
 done in you

00:05:42.559 --> 00:05:43.279
 had been done

00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:44.359
 in Sodom,

00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:45.419
 it would have

00:05:45.419 --> 00:05:45.839
 remained

00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:46.899
 until this day.

00:05:47.919 --> 00:05:50.000
 But I tell you

00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:51.399
 that it will be

00:05:51.399 --> 00:05:52.439
 more tolerable

00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:53.060
 on the day

00:05:53.060 --> 00:05:53.519
 of judgment

00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:54.219
 for the land

00:05:54.219 --> 00:05:54.899
 of Sodom

00:05:54.899 --> 00:05:56.339
 than for you.

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 This is God's

00:05:57.920 --> 00:05:58.459
 holy and

00:05:58.459 --> 00:05:59.219
 exhortated word.

00:05:59.579 --> 00:06:00.100
 You may be seated.

00:06:08.379 --> 00:06:10.459
 I am struggling

00:06:10.459 --> 00:06:13.000
 to believe in Jesus.

00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:18.220
 I am plagued

00:06:18.220 --> 00:06:18.860
 with doubts

00:06:18.860 --> 00:06:19.740
 on whether God

00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:20.500
 really is with you.

00:06:22.920 --> 00:06:23.939
 I am not sure

00:06:23.939 --> 00:06:24.580
 if I believe

00:06:24.580 --> 00:06:25.139
 the Bible.

00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:28.520
 If your friend

00:06:28.520 --> 00:06:30.060
 honestly shared

00:06:30.060 --> 00:06:31.240
 those concerns

00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:32.379
 with you,

00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:33.480
 how do you think

00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:33.939
 that you would

00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:34.360
 respond?

00:06:36.060 --> 00:06:36.939
 What do you think

00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:37.620
 that you would say?

00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:41.139
 Back in college,

00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:42.620
 I met regularly

00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:43.759
 with a friend

00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:44.699
 who was faithfully

00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:45.579
 attending church,

00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:48.060
 but for years

00:06:48.060 --> 00:06:49.120
 struggled with

00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:50.500
 this kind of doubt.

00:06:51.379 --> 00:06:52.300
 Doubt about Jesus,

00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:53.420
 doubt about his faith.

00:06:54.660 --> 00:06:55.680
 I would regularly

00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:57.040
 hear these opening

00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:57.579
 lines

00:06:57.579 --> 00:06:58.360
 from him.

00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:01.180
 There were good

00:07:01.180 --> 00:07:01.519
 weeks,

00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:03.180
 there were bad

00:07:03.180 --> 00:07:03.500
 weeks,

00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:05.860
 but he always

00:07:05.860 --> 00:07:06.379
 seemed to be

00:07:06.379 --> 00:07:07.860
 stuck on the

00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:08.660
 same death.

00:07:08.660 --> 00:07:10.980
 In the end,

00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:12.180
 we finished

00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:12.580
 school,

00:07:13.020 --> 00:07:13.840
 we moved away

00:07:13.840 --> 00:07:15.500
 with him

00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:16.480
 still being

00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:17.000
 in the same

00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:17.460
 place,

00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:18.439
 still confessing

00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:18.939
 the same

00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:19.380
 doubts.

00:07:22.100 --> 00:07:23.320
 What about you?

00:07:25.320 --> 00:07:26.280
 Have you ever

00:07:26.280 --> 00:07:27.020
 wrestled with

00:07:27.020 --> 00:07:27.760
 these questions

00:07:27.760 --> 00:07:28.340
 before,

00:07:28.460 --> 00:07:29.040
 these doubts

00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:29.500
 before?

00:07:30.820 --> 00:07:31.780
 Are you struggling

00:07:31.780 --> 00:07:32.379
 with doubts

00:07:32.379 --> 00:07:32.760
 today?

00:07:35.440 --> 00:07:36.460
 In our passage

00:07:36.460 --> 00:07:36.900
 today,

00:07:36.899 --> 00:07:38.279
 Matthew wants

00:07:38.279 --> 00:07:39.359
 us to overcome

00:07:39.359 --> 00:07:40.620
 our doubts

00:07:40.620 --> 00:07:41.579
 by faith.

00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:43.099
 And the

00:07:43.099 --> 00:07:43.719
 Son of God

00:07:43.719 --> 00:07:44.399
 needs to apply

00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:45.539
 reasons for

00:07:45.539 --> 00:07:46.120
 us to do so,

00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:46.739
 reason after

00:07:46.739 --> 00:07:47.060
 reason.

00:07:48.039 --> 00:07:48.679
 So the main

00:07:48.679 --> 00:07:49.379
 point of this

00:07:49.379 --> 00:07:50.239
 passage and

00:07:50.239 --> 00:07:51.000
 my sermon

00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:51.739
 is simple.

00:07:52.299 --> 00:07:52.879
 It's because

00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:54.079
 of his ministry

00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:55.479
 and because

00:07:55.479 --> 00:07:56.159
 of his

00:07:56.159 --> 00:07:56.939
 messenger,

00:07:57.219 --> 00:07:57.939
 believe that

00:07:57.939 --> 00:07:58.799
 Jesus is the

00:07:58.799 --> 00:07:59.439
 Messiah.

00:08:01.500 --> 00:08:02.779
 But Matthew

00:08:02.779 --> 00:08:03.399
 doesn't just

00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:04.239
 state that

00:08:04.239 --> 00:08:04.539
 truth,

00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:05.739
 he shows us

00:08:05.739 --> 00:08:06.679
 two real

00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:07.920
 contrasting

00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:08.400
 examples,

00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:09.519
 responses to

00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:09.840
 Jesus.

00:08:10.660 --> 00:08:11.600
 On the one

00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:11.800
 hand,

00:08:11.900 --> 00:08:12.100
 you have

00:08:12.100 --> 00:08:12.759
 John the

00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:13.079
 Baptist,

00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:13.959
 on the other

00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:14.439
 you have

00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:15.019
 this wicked

00:08:15.019 --> 00:08:15.680
 generation.

00:08:18.400 --> 00:08:19.680
 One exemplified

00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:20.860
 humble faith,

00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:21.519
 seeking

00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:22.280
 understanding,

00:08:22.840 --> 00:08:23.379
 the other

00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:25.240
 a heart-hearted

00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:26.079
 skepticism,

00:08:26.780 --> 00:08:27.340
 demanding

00:08:27.340 --> 00:08:27.980
 proof.

00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:29.939
 One said,

00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:30.920
 I believe,

00:08:31.340 --> 00:08:32.399
 help my unbelief,

00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:33.279
 the other

00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:33.579
 said,

00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:34.980
 I don't

00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:35.360
 believe.

00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:36.360
 Prove me

00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:36.720
 wrong.

00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:40.159
 As a result,

00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:40.720
 there is a

00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:42.059
 stark contrast

00:08:42.059 --> 00:08:42.759
 in the way

00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:43.240
 that Jesus

00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:44.639
 responds to

00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:45.100
 these two

00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:45.419
 people.

00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:47.340
 And that's

00:08:47.340 --> 00:08:47.559
 going to be

00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:47.939
 the main

00:08:47.939 --> 00:08:48.579
 roadmap for

00:08:48.579 --> 00:08:49.000
 the rest of

00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:49.519
 this sermon.

00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:50.120
 you can

00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:50.639
 follow along

00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:51.980
 on the

00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:52.240
 screen.

00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:53.019
 We'll

00:08:53.019 --> 00:08:53.500
 see first

00:08:53.500 --> 00:08:55.379
 how John

00:08:55.379 --> 00:08:56.240
 doubts

00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:56.720
 Jesus,

00:08:57.659 --> 00:08:58.419
 but in

00:08:58.419 --> 00:08:58.720
 turn,

00:08:58.860 --> 00:08:59.139
 Jesus

00:08:59.139 --> 00:08:59.879
 defends

00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:00.340
 John.

00:09:01.939 --> 00:09:02.199
 And then

00:09:02.199 --> 00:09:02.639
 we'll learn

00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:03.799
 of what not

00:09:03.799 --> 00:09:04.039
 to do,

00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:04.919
 how not to

00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:05.299
 deal with

00:09:05.299 --> 00:09:05.799
 our doubts,

00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:06.980
 by reading

00:09:06.980 --> 00:09:07.399
 how these

00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:08.159
 wicked cities

00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:09.220
 deny Jesus,

00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:10.259
 and in

00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:10.500
 turn,

00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:11.079
 Jesus

00:09:11.079 --> 00:09:11.919
 denounces

00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:12.199
 them.

00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:14.639
 Getting

00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:15.199
 into the

00:09:15.199 --> 00:09:15.980
 text now,

00:09:16.379 --> 00:09:16.699
 in verse

00:09:16.699 --> 00:09:17.059
 one,

00:09:17.059 --> 00:09:17.679
 we read

00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:18.219
 that Matthew

00:09:18.219 --> 00:09:19.479
 signals a

00:09:19.479 --> 00:09:20.259
 transition to

00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:20.719
 the next

00:09:20.719 --> 00:09:21.939
 phase of

00:09:21.939 --> 00:09:22.359
 the narrative

00:09:22.359 --> 00:09:22.879
 as Jesus

00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:23.819
 wraps up

00:09:23.819 --> 00:09:24.500
 his discourse

00:09:24.500 --> 00:09:25.239
 on missions

00:09:25.239 --> 00:09:25.739
 in chapter

00:09:25.739 --> 00:09:26.099
 10.

00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:27.139
 And he

00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:27.559
 moves on

00:09:27.559 --> 00:09:28.000
 to carry

00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:28.599
 out his

00:09:28.599 --> 00:09:29.239
 ministry,

00:09:29.739 --> 00:09:30.179
 to teach

00:09:30.179 --> 00:09:30.659
 and preach

00:09:30.659 --> 00:09:31.279
 through the

00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:31.659
 cities.

00:09:33.059 --> 00:09:33.839
 Even when

00:09:33.839 --> 00:09:35.059
 Jesus performed

00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:36.019
 grand miracles

00:09:36.019 --> 00:09:37.059
 like cleansing

00:09:37.059 --> 00:09:37.459
 lepers,

00:09:37.619 --> 00:09:37.919
 or raising

00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:38.639
 people from

00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:39.179
 the dead,

00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:41.099
 it's fascinating

00:09:41.099 --> 00:09:41.719
 that Matthew

00:09:41.719 --> 00:09:42.599
 summarizes

00:09:42.599 --> 00:09:43.000
 Jesus'

00:09:43.239 --> 00:09:43.859
 ministry in

00:09:43.859 --> 00:09:44.539
 this particular

00:09:44.539 --> 00:09:44.839
 way,

00:09:44.939 --> 00:09:45.819
 focusing on

00:09:45.819 --> 00:09:46.739
 his teaching

00:09:46.740 --> 00:09:47.379
 and his

00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:47.779
 preaching.

00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:49.700
 After all,

00:09:50.560 --> 00:09:51.080
 wouldn't those

00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:52.279
 miracles stand

00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:52.860
 out most

00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:53.340
 in your

00:09:53.340 --> 00:09:53.680
 mind?

00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:55.180
 If someone

00:09:55.180 --> 00:09:57.180
 today taught

00:09:57.180 --> 00:09:58.399
 to preach

00:09:58.399 --> 00:09:59.360
 and performed

00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:00.120
 miracles,

00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:01.560
 we'd like to

00:10:01.560 --> 00:10:02.360
 focus on

00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:02.879
 the miracles,

00:10:03.340 --> 00:10:04.720
 but Matthew,

00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:05.580
 he has a

00:10:05.580 --> 00:10:06.200
 different focus.

00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:07.240
 He highlights

00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:08.680
 the preaching

00:10:08.680 --> 00:10:10.159
 ultimately because

00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:11.159
 these miracles,

00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:12.820
 these healings,

00:10:12.820 --> 00:10:13.620
 they were never

00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:14.919
 the primary focus

00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:15.320
 of Jesus'

00:10:15.580 --> 00:10:16.000
 ministry.

00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:18.139
 They instead

00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:18.680
 were just

00:10:18.680 --> 00:10:19.440
 these big,

00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:20.060
 bright,

00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:20.840
 neon-lit

00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:22.080
 signs to

00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:23.120
 confirm

00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:23.960
 Jesus'

00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:24.879
 message.

00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:26.399
 It's an

00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:27.080
 affirmation,

00:10:27.180 --> 00:10:27.700
 it's God's

00:10:27.700 --> 00:10:28.539
 affirmation to

00:10:28.539 --> 00:10:29.299
 the preached

00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:30.100
 message of

00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:30.419
 Christ,

00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:31.399
 that he is

00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:32.720
 the foretold

00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:33.259
 Messiah.

00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:35.360
 After all,

00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:36.600
 God would

00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:37.279
 not work

00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:38.279
 such amazing

00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:39.120
 miracles through

00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:39.480
 the mouth

00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:40.120
 of a lion.

00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:40.240
 God.

00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:43.659
 And if

00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:44.480
 Jesus came

00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:45.299
 primarily to

00:10:45.299 --> 00:10:45.779
 teach and

00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:46.879
 preach about

00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:47.639
 his identity,

00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:48.519
 we then

00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:49.360
 carry out

00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:50.060
 that legacy,

00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:50.740
 that same

00:10:50.740 --> 00:10:51.340
 focus in

00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:52.100
 our mission,

00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:53.100
 as we

00:10:53.100 --> 00:10:53.740
 fulfill the

00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:54.500
 great commission,

00:10:55.100 --> 00:10:55.879
 teaching in

00:10:55.879 --> 00:10:56.720
 every community,

00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:57.919
 every county,

00:10:58.080 --> 00:10:58.799
 every country,

00:10:58.919 --> 00:10:59.720
 every continent,

00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:00.879
 to obey,

00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:02.560
 teaching everyone

00:11:02.560 --> 00:11:03.299
 to obey what

00:11:03.299 --> 00:11:03.720
 Jesus has

00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:04.460
 commanded us to

00:11:04.460 --> 00:11:04.659
 do.

00:11:04.659 --> 00:11:07.519
 Now, as

00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:08.079
 Jesus is

00:11:08.079 --> 00:11:09.219
 teaching throughout

00:11:09.219 --> 00:11:10.399
 the cities in

00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:11.120
 verses 2 to

00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:12.120
 3, he's

00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:13.139
 interrupted by

00:11:13.139 --> 00:11:13.899
 a question,

00:11:14.439 --> 00:11:15.039
 a question from

00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:15.539
 a few of

00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:16.039
 John the

00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:16.339
 Baptist

00:11:16.339 --> 00:11:17.039
 deciders.

00:11:18.819 --> 00:11:19.079
 If you're

00:11:19.079 --> 00:11:19.639
 new to our

00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:20.259
 Matthew series,

00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:20.879
 or simply

00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:21.659
 new to the

00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:22.980
 Bible, John

00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:23.399
 the Baptist

00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:24.919
 was a prophet

00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:25.899
 sent by God

00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:26.600
 with one

00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:27.639
 singular mission,

00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:29.179
 to prepare the

00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:30.000
 way for the

00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:30.339
 Messiah.

00:11:31.459 --> 00:11:32.240
 He preached

00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:33.240
 repentance and

00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:34.419
 baptized crowds

00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:35.699
 all to prepare

00:11:35.699 --> 00:11:36.699
 people for the

00:11:36.699 --> 00:11:37.659
 arrival of the

00:11:37.659 --> 00:11:38.120
 Messiah.

00:11:39.479 --> 00:11:40.219
 And even when

00:11:40.219 --> 00:11:41.419
 he was massively

00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:42.959
 popular, and

00:11:42.959 --> 00:11:43.679
 everyone saw

00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:44.439
 him and his

00:11:44.439 --> 00:11:45.879
 baptism, John

00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:47.120
 unwaveringly

00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:48.240
 testified that

00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:49.939
 he is not, he

00:11:49.939 --> 00:11:50.979
 was not the

00:11:50.979 --> 00:11:51.360
 Messiah.

00:11:53.939 --> 00:11:54.819
 So given all

00:11:54.819 --> 00:11:55.799
 that John had

00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:56.559
 already said

00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:58.279
 and seen, this

00:11:58.279 --> 00:11:58.860
 question from

00:11:58.860 --> 00:12:00.240
 John is quite

00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:00.939
 astonishing.

00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:03.059
 He asks,

00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:03.939
 are you the

00:12:03.939 --> 00:12:04.360
 one who

00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:05.120
 is to come?

00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:06.460
 Or shall we

00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:06.879
 look for

00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:07.180
 another?

00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:09.919
 Huh?

00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:12.100
 What?

00:12:13.560 --> 00:12:14.120
 John is

00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:14.899
 suddenly filled

00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:16.139
 with doubt.

00:12:18.019 --> 00:12:18.820
 Unlike my

00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:19.720
 college friends,

00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:21.759
 John isn't

00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:22.600
 doubting the

00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:23.399
 reliability of

00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:23.840
 the scriptures,

00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:24.419
 or the

00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:25.039
 existence of

00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:25.539
 God, or

00:12:25.539 --> 00:12:26.240
 even his

00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:26.980
 promise of

00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:27.940
 Messiah, but

00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:29.820
 John is

00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:31.220
 now doubting

00:12:31.220 --> 00:12:32.899
 if Jesus is

00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:33.440
 the true

00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:33.920
 Messiah.

00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:36.500
 Before, John

00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:37.560
 refused, tried

00:12:37.560 --> 00:12:38.519
 to refuse to

00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:39.399
 baptize Jesus,

00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:40.000
 saying that I

00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:40.379
 need to be

00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:41.480
 baptized by you,

00:12:41.820 --> 00:12:43.100
 but now he's

00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:44.000
 questioning,

00:12:44.420 --> 00:12:46.000
 not sure.

00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.180
 Once

00:12:48.180 --> 00:12:48.820
 convictional,

00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:50.820
 but now

00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:51.420
 confused.

00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:52.620
 Once

00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.240
 settled,

00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:54.660
 but now

00:12:54.660 --> 00:12:55.220
 shaken.

00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:57.940
 But why

00:12:57.940 --> 00:12:59.100
 did John

00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:00.100
 now doubt

00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:00.620
 Jesus?

00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:02.600
 First, it

00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:03.100
 seems like

00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:03.660
 John is

00:13:03.660 --> 00:13:05.500
 expecting a

00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:06.000
 completely

00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:06.540
 different

00:13:06.540 --> 00:13:07.379
 ministry from

00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:07.920
 the Messiah.

00:13:08.920 --> 00:13:09.240
 After

00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:09.940
 proclaiming that

00:13:09.940 --> 00:13:10.740
 he is not

00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:11.500
 the Christ,

00:13:12.040 --> 00:13:12.840
 in chapter 3 of

00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:13.160
 Matthew,

00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:14.379
 John continues

00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:14.980
 to say,

00:13:14.980 --> 00:13:15.680
 his

00:13:15.680 --> 00:13:16.379
 wind and

00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:16.980
 fork is

00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:17.420
 in his

00:13:17.420 --> 00:13:18.320
 hand, and

00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:18.639
 he will

00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.360
 clear his

00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:19.879
 threshing

00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:20.500
 floor and

00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:21.139
 gather his

00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:21.639
 wheat into

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:22.740
 the barn, but

00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.779
 the chaff he

00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:24.659
 will burn

00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:25.480
 with fun

00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:25.960
 punch the

00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:26.240
 fire.

00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:28.519
 It

00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:29.740
 sounds like

00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:30.840
 John, he's

00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:31.779
 expecting Jesus

00:13:31.779 --> 00:13:32.659
 to come with

00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:34.120
 fire, with

00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:35.399
 judgment, with

00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:37.620
 vengeance, to

00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:38.340
 overthrow the

00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:39.139
 evil in the

00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:39.519
 world.

00:13:41.220 --> 00:13:41.800
 John didn't

00:13:41.800 --> 00:13:42.340
 expect the

00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:42.779
 foretold

00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:43.440
 Messiah to

00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:43.740
 be

00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:46.879
 eating, dining

00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:48.320
 with prostitutes

00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:48.879
 and tax

00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:49.620
 collectors, let

00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.120
 alone even

00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:50.879
 choosing one

00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:51.659
 tax collector

00:13:51.659 --> 00:13:52.600
 to be his

00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:53.039
 disciple.

00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:55.379
 And

00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:56.120
 secondly, there's

00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:56.799
 a small detail

00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:57.360
 that we skipped

00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:58.039
 over that

00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:59.100
 might be part

00:13:59.100 --> 00:13:59.460
 of the reason

00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:00.379
 why John is

00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:00.639
 down.

00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:03.000
 He is in

00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:03.620
 prison.

00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:06.600
 We find out

00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:07.060
 later in

00:14:07.060 --> 00:14:08.259
 Matthew 14

00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:09.060
 why he's in

00:14:09.060 --> 00:14:09.740
 prison, because

00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:11.220
 he had boldly

00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:11.799
 rebukes.

00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:12.379
 Hannah, the

00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:13.200
 tetrarch, the

00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:13.879
 Roman leader

00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:14.520
 of the land

00:14:14.520 --> 00:14:15.640
 for his

00:14:15.640 --> 00:14:16.240
 immoral

00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:16.860
 marriage.

00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.200
 And you

00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:19.520
 have to

00:14:19.520 --> 00:14:20.440
 understand that

00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:21.500
 prisons back

00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:23.040
 then were

00:14:23.040 --> 00:14:24.460
 much, much,

00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:25.080
 much worse

00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:25.500
 compared to

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.060
 prisons today.

00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:26.700
 Prisons today

00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:27.400
 are five-star

00:14:27.400 --> 00:14:28.520
 marriage compared

00:14:28.520 --> 00:14:28.960
 to prisons

00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.500
 back then.

00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:31.580
 Back then,

00:14:31.800 --> 00:14:32.840
 conditions were

00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:35.000
 unsanitary,

00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:35.540
 poorly

00:14:35.540 --> 00:14:36.080
 ventilated,

00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:36.660
 with limited

00:14:36.660 --> 00:14:37.740
 food, little

00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:38.379
 access to

00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:40.300
 daylight, and

00:14:40.300 --> 00:14:41.160
 given Harry's

00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:42.039
 reputation as

00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:42.759
 a tyrannical

00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.179
 ruler.

00:14:43.419 --> 00:14:43.860
 He knows

00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:44.240
 that his

00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:44.980
 life is

00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:46.159
 unlawed.

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.879
 His external

00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:49.919
 circumstances are

00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:51.759
 squeezing John

00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:53.419
 and testing

00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:54.039
 his faith.

00:14:55.839 --> 00:14:56.539
 So I think it

00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:57.839
 makes sense why

00:14:57.839 --> 00:14:59.019
 John would

00:14:59.019 --> 00:14:59.860
 question why

00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.559
 Jesus isn't

00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:01.679
 coming thrashing,

00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:02.659
 burning,

00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:04.719
 judging, when

00:15:04.719 --> 00:15:05.439
 he is currently

00:15:05.439 --> 00:15:06.439
 suffering at the

00:15:06.439 --> 00:15:07.159
 hands of the

00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:07.360
 wicked.

00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:10.419
 knowing all

00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:11.500
 this, Jesus

00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.600
 responds to

00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:13.220
 John in

00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:15.419
 truly a

00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:16.279
 most gracious

00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:16.779
 manner.

00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:18.580
 It's not

00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:19.279
 soaked with

00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:19.980
 passive

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:21.860
 aggression or

00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:22.419
 disappointment.

00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:23.519
 It doesn't

00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:25.379
 say, come

00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:25.899
 on, John,

00:15:26.820 --> 00:15:27.360
 I thought you

00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:27.820
 knew better

00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:28.300
 than this.

00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:30.080
 John,

00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:30.600
 John,

00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:31.019
 John,

00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:32.460
 you know

00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:32.940
 better.

00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:34.659
 No, he

00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:35.920
 patiently,

00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:38.159
 gently answers

00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:38.719
 John,

00:15:39.719 --> 00:15:40.399
 saying, the

00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:42.039
 blind receive

00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:42.899
 their sight from

00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:43.579
 a walk,

00:15:43.979 --> 00:15:44.500
 lepers are

00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.039
 cleansed,

00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:45.379
 and the

00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:45.919
 deaf hear,

00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:46.719
 and the

00:15:46.719 --> 00:15:47.339
 dead are

00:15:47.339 --> 00:15:47.979
 raised up,

00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:48.299
 and the

00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:48.699
 poor have

00:15:48.699 --> 00:15:49.240
 good news

00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:49.959
 preached to

00:15:49.959 --> 00:15:50.159
 them.

00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.639
 Now, in the

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.559
 recent passages

00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:54.279
 in Matthew,

00:15:54.839 --> 00:15:55.799
 particularly in

00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:56.579
 chapters 8 and

00:15:56.579 --> 00:15:57.839
 9, we've seen

00:15:57.839 --> 00:15:58.919
 Jesus do all of

00:15:58.919 --> 00:15:59.319
 these things,

00:15:59.399 --> 00:15:59.860
 haven't we?

00:16:00.819 --> 00:16:01.519
 Jesus has

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.279
 likely performed

00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:03.319
 lots more

00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:03.879
 miracles than

00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.459
 the ones that

00:16:04.459 --> 00:16:05.599
 we actually see

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.000
 in these

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.200
 chapters, but

00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:07.519
 we don't

00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.279
 read specific

00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:09.240
 examples about

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:09.600
 them, or

00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:10.420
 specific details

00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:11.899
 rather, because

00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:12.860
 editor Matthew,

00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:14.440
 he's down-selected

00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:15.159
 these few

00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:16.500
 miracles, all so

00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.340
 that we as

00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.680
 readers would

00:16:18.680 --> 00:16:19.240
 get to this

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.180
 quote in

00:16:20.180 --> 00:16:20.840
 chapter 11,

00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:21.460
 saying, ah,

00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:23.240
 yes, John,

00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:24.300
 or Jesus, has

00:16:24.300 --> 00:16:25.180
 done all of

00:16:25.180 --> 00:16:25.800
 these things.

00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:28.680
 And while

00:16:28.680 --> 00:16:29.279
 this isn't a

00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:30.379
 direct quote from

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:32.879
 one Old

00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:33.560
 Testament prophet,

00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:34.799
 Jesus does seem

00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:35.839
 to be fulfilling

00:16:35.839 --> 00:16:36.899
 a combination

00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:37.939
 of two

00:16:37.939 --> 00:16:38.599
 messianic

00:16:38.599 --> 00:16:39.319
 prophecies from

00:16:39.319 --> 00:16:40.559
 Isaiah 35 and

00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:41.919
 61, which I

00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:43.079
 threw up on the

00:16:43.079 --> 00:16:43.719
 screen here,

00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:46.519
 John, who

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:46.839
 would have

00:16:46.839 --> 00:16:48.019
 intimately known

00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:48.879
 the book of

00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:49.539
 Isaiah, would

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.719
 have understood

00:16:50.719 --> 00:16:51.519
 what Jesus

00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:52.139
 was saying.

00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:53.599
 By giving

00:16:53.599 --> 00:16:54.879
 concrete evidence

00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:56.039
 of his ministry,

00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:57.059
 of his work,

00:16:57.779 --> 00:16:58.699
 Jesus affirms

00:16:58.699 --> 00:16:59.699
 that the

00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:00.779
 wait is over.

00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:03.079
 He is the

00:17:03.079 --> 00:17:03.740
 foretold

00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.339
 Messiah.

00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:07.039
 John is

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:08.240
 right that

00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:09.019
 Jesus will

00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:09.799
 come to judge

00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.359
 the living and

00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:10.779
 the dead, but

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.319
 that's not

00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:12.119
 now.

00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:14.559
 That's later.

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:16.940
 For now,

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.339
 look, look

00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:19.639
 clearly at the

00:17:19.639 --> 00:17:20.619
 evidence of who

00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:21.480
 Jesus is.

00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:23.039
 Because of his

00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:23.839
 ministry,

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.680
 believe, be

00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.599
 convinced, have

00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.740
 no doubt, that

00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.879
 Jesus is the

00:17:28.879 --> 00:17:29.299
 Messiah.

00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:29.440
 God.

00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:32.399
 If you are

00:17:32.399 --> 00:17:33.220
 struggling with

00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:36.259
 doubt today, or

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.139
 if you're trying

00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:38.259
 to minister to a

00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:39.180
 doubting Christian,

00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:40.599
 I think there

00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:41.519
 are four quick

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.379
 lessons that we

00:17:42.379 --> 00:17:43.819
 can read from

00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:44.940
 this passage.

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.019
 Number one,

00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:49.000
 ask Jesus

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.940
 honestly.

00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:52.119
 Just as

00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:52.720
 John the

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.700
 Baptist wasn't

00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:54.619
 afraid to ask

00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:55.159
 Jesus the

00:17:55.159 --> 00:17:56.000
 honest questions,

00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:56.599
 the raw

00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:58.240
 questions, don't

00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:59.059
 be afraid to

00:17:59.059 --> 00:17:59.519
 admit to

00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:00.319
 yourself and

00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.119
 to others and

00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:02.519
 before God, the

00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:03.039
 things that you're

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.759
 thinking and

00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.460
 struggling with.

00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:06.319
 There is truly

00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:07.679
 great value in

00:18:07.679 --> 00:18:08.519
 working through

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.200
 your doubts,

00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:11.019
 because frankly

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:11.740
 speaking, if you

00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:12.259
 have never

00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:13.259
 struggled through

00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:13.940
 any kind of

00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:14.519
 doubt throughout

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.200
 your entire

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:15.980
 Christian life,

00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.339
 it may be

00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:18.819
 because you

00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.599
 have not truly

00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.319
 made faith

00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:21.559
 your own.

00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:23.720
 Then when

00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.399
 tragedy

00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:25.339
 strives or

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.799
 when a smart

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.379
 skeptic

00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:28.000
 attacks,

00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:29.799
 your faith

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.339
 is shown to

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:30.839
 be a

00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:31.299
 house of

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:31.680
 thoughts.

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:33.940
 But as

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.399
 you work

00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:35.299
 through your

00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:35.759
 doubts,

00:18:36.419 --> 00:18:37.019
 bring them

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:38.159
 before God.

00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:40.139
 Bobby Conway,

00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:40.980
 the author of

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.279
 the book

00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:41.859
 Doubting

00:18:41.859 --> 00:18:42.799
 Towards Faith,

00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:43.579
 he makes

00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:44.099
 the arguments

00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:45.159
 that doubt

00:18:45.159 --> 00:18:46.759
 is directional.

00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:48.919
 You either

00:18:48.919 --> 00:18:49.680
 doubt for

00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:50.919
 God or you

00:18:50.919 --> 00:18:51.940
 doubt away

00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.539
 from Him.

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:56.440
 John exemplified

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.180
 the former,

00:18:57.339 --> 00:18:57.680
 doubting

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.859
 toward God,

00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.659
 to Jesus,

00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:00.779
 with a faith

00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:01.460
 that sought

00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:02.279
 understanding.

00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:04.000
 So bring

00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.500
 your doubts

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.059
 to God,

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.079
 and He

00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.599
 will answer

00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:06.859
 them.

00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:08.460
 Number two,

00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:09.480
 reflect on

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:10.119
 the evidence.

00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:12.119
 When Jesus

00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:13.079
 answers John,

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.000
 he doesn't

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:14.319
 say,

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.579
 go searching

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:17.059
 within your

00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:18.420
 heart to go

00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.299
 figure out

00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:19.619
 what you

00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:20.500
 feel is

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:20.779
 through.

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.039
 what you

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.819
 feel is

00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:23.920
 most important.

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.200
 The answer

00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:25.940
 is within you.

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.139
 He doesn't

00:19:27.139 --> 00:19:27.539
 say that.

00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.039
 Instead,

00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:29.180
 he gives

00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:29.500
 them a

00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:29.839
 cold,

00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.839
 hard fact

00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:31.480
 about what

00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.119
 Jesus has

00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:32.940
 done and

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.420
 who He

00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:33.839
 is.

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:35.559
 If you

00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.119
 are struggling

00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:36.579
 with doubt

00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:36.960
 today,

00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.139
 take time

00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:38.720
 to study

00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:39.379
 and reflect

00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:40.119
 on the

00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:40.680
 concrete

00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.299
 evidence we

00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:41.759
 have for

00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.259
 our faith,

00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:44.019
 the historical

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.660
 evidence of

00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:45.319
 the resurrection

00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:45.960
 of our

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:46.379
 Messiah,

00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.839
 the reliability

00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:48.480
 of our

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:48.839
 scriptures,

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:49.759
 solid

00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.359
 philosophical

00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.099
 reasons to

00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:51.559
 believe in

00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:51.919
 God,

00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:52.799
 even just

00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.259
 look to

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.699
 nation.

00:19:55.219 --> 00:19:55.500
 And as

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.000
 you study

00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.699
 my third

00:19:56.699 --> 00:19:57.219
 point is,

00:19:57.659 --> 00:19:58.279
 be willing

00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:59.399
 to correct

00:19:59.399 --> 00:19:59.799
 any

00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:00.279
 misconceptions

00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:00.979
 that you

00:20:00.979 --> 00:20:01.759
 have about

00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.219
 the Christian

00:20:02.219 --> 00:20:02.619
 faith.

00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:04.659
 Perhaps

00:20:04.659 --> 00:20:05.699
 you're doubting

00:20:05.699 --> 00:20:06.299
 your faith

00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:07.039
 because ultimately

00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:08.159
 you have a

00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:09.539
 wrong understanding

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.179
 about

00:20:10.179 --> 00:20:10.799
 Christianity.

00:20:12.459 --> 00:20:12.719
 If you

00:20:12.719 --> 00:20:13.319
 grew up hearing

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:14.139
 the health

00:20:14.139 --> 00:20:14.659
 and wealth

00:20:14.659 --> 00:20:15.219
 gospel,

00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:16.099
 believing that

00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:16.519
 if you put

00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.039
 that point

00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:18.259
 in the

00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:18.939
 offering box

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.900
 that your

00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:20.279
 life will

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:20.980
 be amazing,

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:21.740
 pain-free,

00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.640
 blessing-filled,

00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:24.140
 and that when

00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:25.640
 tragedy strikes,

00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:26.640
 when life

00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.620
 knocks you

00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.080
 down and

00:20:28.080 --> 00:20:28.519
 kicks you

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:28.740
 in the

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.100
 teeth,

00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:31.200
 your

00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:31.460
 faith

00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:31.680
 is

00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:32.100
 shaking.

00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:35.640
 Just as

00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:36.059
 John the

00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.580
 Baptist had

00:20:36.580 --> 00:20:37.080
 to learn

00:20:37.080 --> 00:20:37.500
 and be

00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.140
 corrected,

00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.420
 be willing,

00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.420
 be willing to

00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:41.240
 learn and to

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.059
 correct any

00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:42.539
 misconceptions

00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.120
 that you

00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:43.759
 might have

00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.640
 about the

00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:44.960
 faith.

00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:46.900
 finally,

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.579
 number four,

00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:49.039
 give proper

00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:49.779
 weight to

00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:50.160
 life

00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:51.000
 circumstances.

00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:53.380
 Understand

00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:53.940
 that we

00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:55.700
 are not

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.220
 robots.

00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:58.779
 John the

00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.640
 Baptist was

00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:00.039
 not a

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:00.259
 robot.

00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:02.720
 No one

00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.279
 is immune

00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.059
 to hardship

00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:05.200
 and Jesus

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.940
 knows our

00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:06.259
 friend,

00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:07.100
 he knows

00:21:07.100 --> 00:21:07.519
 that we

00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.019
 are but

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:08.440
 us.

00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.140
 Understand

00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:10.640
 that more

00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:11.200
 times than

00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.700
 not,

00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:12.860
 doubts

00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:14.579
 are not

00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.599
 necessarily

00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.359
 intellectual

00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:17.079
 in nature

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.839
 or in

00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.000
 their

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:18.359
 origin.

00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:21.439
 When a

00:21:21.439 --> 00:21:21.719
 Christian

00:21:21.719 --> 00:21:23.079
 unjustly

00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:23.459
 fires,

00:21:24.579 --> 00:21:25.139
 or suffers

00:21:25.139 --> 00:21:26.099
 a miscarriage,

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:27.500
 or loses

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.099
 a spouse,

00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:29.419
 that stuff

00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:30.500
 is hard.

00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:31.719
 It's really,

00:21:31.719 --> 00:21:32.859
 really hard.

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:33.939
 And it

00:21:33.939 --> 00:21:34.579
 shakes,

00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:35.419
 it can shake

00:21:35.419 --> 00:21:35.859
 your head.

00:21:39.699 --> 00:21:40.359
 But the

00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:40.859
 good news of

00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:41.839
 the gospel is

00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:42.379
 that we are

00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:42.719
 not,

00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.419
 ultimately,

00:21:43.659 --> 00:21:43.899
 the same

00:21:43.899 --> 00:21:45.079
 by the

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.679
 clarity

00:21:45.679 --> 00:21:46.740
 or the

00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.339
 intensity

00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.059
 of our

00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:48.399
 faith,

00:21:49.159 --> 00:21:49.579
 but by

00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:49.819
 the

00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.519
 objects

00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.099
 of it.

00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:54.039
 Imagine

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:55.119
 you and

00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:55.919
 a friend,

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.179
 probably

00:21:58.179 --> 00:21:59.219
 John Buckley,

00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:01.039
 hiking out

00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:01.779
 in Mount

00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:02.259
 Washington

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.779
 in the

00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.159
 cold

00:22:03.159 --> 00:22:03.619
 winters,

00:22:04.479 --> 00:22:04.919
 where you

00:22:04.919 --> 00:22:05.659
 suddenly run

00:22:05.659 --> 00:22:06.419
 into an

00:22:06.419 --> 00:22:06.939
 angry

00:22:06.939 --> 00:22:07.339
 bear.

00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.019
 In

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.339
 fleeing,

00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:09.939
 you guys

00:22:09.939 --> 00:22:10.659
 get split

00:22:10.659 --> 00:22:11.019
 up.

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:12.599
 the only

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:13.240
 option is

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.519
 for you

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.059
 guys to

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:15.180
 jump into

00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:15.799
 a frozen

00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:16.279
 pond,

00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:17.819
 hoping that

00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:18.180
 the ice

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:18.440
 will be

00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.039
 strong enough

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:19.299
 for you.

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:20.740
 Your

00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:21.799
 friend John,

00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:22.240
 the Cisco

00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:22.539
 John,

00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:23.799
 John has a

00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.619
 strong assurance

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:25.279
 that his

00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:25.900
 section of the

00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:26.819
 pond is going

00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:27.200
 to hold

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:27.700
 his weight.

00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:28.180
 He's going

00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:29.319
 to survive.

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.420
 You're in a

00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:32.119
 different spot.

00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.599
 Your mind is

00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.240
 filled with

00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:34.759
 doubts,

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.700
 uncertainty,

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.200
 that the

00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.640
 ice will

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.000
 hold you

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.279
 up.

00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.299
 But you

00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:40.660
 both

00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:41.380
 jump,

00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:42.680
 only to

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.080
 find out

00:22:43.080 --> 00:22:44.059
 that only

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.559
 you can

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:44.880
 stand.

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.440
 Sorry to

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:47.900
 kill you

00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:48.319
 off in

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:48.680
 the sword.

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:53.660
 It's not

00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:54.420
 the strength

00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:54.960
 of your

00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.319
 faith,

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.120
 but the

00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:58.380
 object of

00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.019
 your faith

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.920
 that saves

00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.140
 you.

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.580
 But if

00:23:03.580 --> 00:23:04.140
 you're able

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:04.640
 to work

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:04.980
 through your

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.319
 doubts,

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:05.899
 just as

00:23:05.899 --> 00:23:06.359
 John the

00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:06.639
 Baptist

00:23:06.639 --> 00:23:07.039
 did,

00:23:08.419 --> 00:23:09.000
 Jesus

00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.519
 promises

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.019
 another

00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.639
 beatitude,

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.500
 just like

00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:11.879
 he did

00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:12.240
 in the

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:12.679
 Sermon on

00:23:12.679 --> 00:23:12.980
 the Mount,

00:23:13.419 --> 00:23:13.740
 he uses

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.240
 the same

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.720
 word and

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.079
 the same

00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.480
 sentence

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:15.799
 brushes.

00:23:15.939 --> 00:23:16.359
 He says,

00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:17.279
 blessed

00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:17.919
 is the

00:23:17.919 --> 00:23:18.539
 one who

00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:18.960
 is not

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.419
 offended

00:23:19.419 --> 00:23:20.119
 by you.

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:21.859
 Now,

00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:22.720
 as gentle

00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.599
 and gracious

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.519
 Jesus has

00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:24.879
 been to

00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:25.159
 John,

00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:26.259
 this last

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:26.559
 statement

00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:27.939
 feels like

00:23:27.939 --> 00:23:28.899
 and it

00:23:28.899 --> 00:23:29.240
 is.

00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:29.659
 It's a

00:23:29.659 --> 00:23:30.019
 mild

00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:30.559
 repute

00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.439
 to

00:23:31.439 --> 00:23:31.919
 John.

00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:33.559
 And I'm

00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:33.980
 glad that

00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:34.299
 this is

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:34.619
 here.

00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:36.359
 In our

00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:36.639
 day and

00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:36.939
 age,

00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.759
 suspicion,

00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:39.759
 skepticism,

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:40.799
 our praise,

00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.179
 conviction,

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.139
 and assurance

00:23:43.139 --> 00:23:43.899
 of truth

00:23:43.899 --> 00:23:44.939
 are denigrated.

00:23:46.139 --> 00:23:46.700
 Our secular

00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:47.599
 culture teaches

00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:48.099
 us to

00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:48.579
 question

00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.159
 everything,

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:50.899
 missing the

00:23:50.899 --> 00:23:51.240
 fact that

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:51.919
 the purpose

00:23:51.919 --> 00:23:52.579
 of questioning

00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:53.179
 is to

00:23:53.179 --> 00:23:53.759
 arrive at

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.119
 truth,

00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:55.039
 not to

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:55.519
 question

00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.179
 indefinitely.

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:56.320
 it.

00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:58.840
 Like the

00:23:58.840 --> 00:23:59.279
 gnostic

00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.380
 who insists

00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:01.340
 that we

00:24:01.340 --> 00:24:01.840
 can never

00:24:01.840 --> 00:24:02.380
 really know

00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:03.080
 whether God

00:24:03.080 --> 00:24:03.880
 exists or

00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:05.000
 not because

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.640
 he believes

00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:06.160
 endless

00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:07.000
 uncertainty

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.660
 is better

00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.080
 than

00:24:08.080 --> 00:24:09.299
 arriving at

00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:09.880
 conviction,

00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:10.759
 arriving at

00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:11.240
 truth.

00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:13.500
 People

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.060
 claim to

00:24:14.060 --> 00:24:14.779
 see through

00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.200
 things,

00:24:15.320 --> 00:24:15.920
 especially

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.740
 religion,

00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:17.860
 and they

00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:18.279
 call that

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.560
 wisdom.

00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:18.779
 love.

00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.399
 But here,

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:20.839
 see us

00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:21.539
 who will speak

00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.039
 about this

00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:22.839
 attitude prevalent

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:23.240
 today.

00:24:24.679 --> 00:24:25.440
 You cannot

00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.419
 go on seeing

00:24:26.419 --> 00:24:27.299
 through things

00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:27.819
 forever.

00:24:28.419 --> 00:24:28.980
 The whole

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.559
 point of

00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.159
 seeing through

00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:31.079
 something is to

00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:31.619
 see something

00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:32.419
 through it.

00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.960
 it is good

00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.460
 that the

00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:35.060
 window should

00:24:35.060 --> 00:24:35.820
 be transparent

00:24:35.820 --> 00:24:36.640
 because the

00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.539
 street or

00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.340
 garden beyond

00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:39.180
 it is opaque.

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:41.019
 How if you

00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:41.560
 saw through

00:24:41.560 --> 00:24:42.300
 the garden too?

00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:44.060
 If you see

00:24:44.060 --> 00:24:44.820
 through everything,

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.820
 then everything

00:24:45.820 --> 00:24:46.820
 is transparent.

00:24:47.800 --> 00:24:48.240
 But a

00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:49.240
 wholly transparent

00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.200
 world is an

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.279
 invisible world.

00:24:51.800 --> 00:24:52.279
 To see

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.060
 through all

00:24:53.060 --> 00:24:53.840
 things is

00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.900
 the same

00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.980
 as not

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.500
 to see.

00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.220
 Jesus

00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:00.500
 wants us

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.500
 to see,

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.480
 to see

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.059
 with faith

00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.680
 who he

00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.640
 really is.

00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:06.339
 He wants

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:06.900
 us to have

00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.519
 the faith

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.619
 that overcomes

00:25:08.619 --> 00:25:09.140
 doubts.

00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:10.900
 So he

00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:11.839
 promises this

00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.519
 blessing,

00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.019
 this joy to

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.680
 all those who

00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:15.440
 work through

00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.140
 their doubts

00:25:16.140 --> 00:25:17.059
 with a faith

00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:17.640
 that seeks

00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:18.380
 understanding

00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:19.920
 and a faith

00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.539
 that ultimately

00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.359
 accepts Jesus

00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:22.400
 as the

00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:22.960
 Messiah.

00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:25.680
 This is a

00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.799
 kind of funny

00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.640
 way to

00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.779
 pronounce true

00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:29.140
 blessing,

00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:29.740
 is it not?

00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:30.700
 You might

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.440
 expect Jesus

00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:32.019
 to say,

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.340
 blessed is

00:25:33.340 --> 00:25:33.660
 the one

00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:34.259
 who gives

00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:34.559
 up your

00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:35.000
 life for

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.400
 me or

00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:36.460
 serves me.

00:25:37.820 --> 00:25:38.200
 And those

00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:38.640
 things are

00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:38.980
 true,

00:25:39.080 --> 00:25:39.840
 but on

00:25:39.840 --> 00:25:40.539
 your first

00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:40.799
 reading,

00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:41.240
 it almost

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:41.779
 might sound

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.160
 like Jesus

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.840
 is lowering

00:25:42.840 --> 00:25:43.680
 the bar

00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.600
 for obedience.

00:25:45.100 --> 00:25:45.460
 All that

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:45.860
 you have to

00:25:45.860 --> 00:25:46.299
 do is

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.039
 not be

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.420
 offended

00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.039
 by Jesus.

00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.820
 That might

00:25:50.820 --> 00:25:51.400
 seem easy

00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:52.019
 at first,

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:53.900
 but Jesus

00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:54.720
 knows that

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.299
 in the end,

00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.279
 he and his

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:56.860
 ministry

00:25:56.860 --> 00:25:58.200
 would ultimately

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:59.259
 be incredibly

00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.400
 polarizing

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.940
 and offend

00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:02.279
 the

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:02.879
 multitudes.

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.160
 Why?

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:05.759
 Because

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.140
 Jesus knew

00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:07.779
 that he

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.680
 would not

00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:09.079
 be the

00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:09.460
 kind of

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:09.779
 Messiah

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.200
 that the

00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.619
 public

00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:10.980
 would be

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.440
 expecting.

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:13.160
 Not the

00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:13.480
 kind of

00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:13.819
 Messiah

00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.579
 celebrated

00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:15.599
 by everybody.

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.379
 Even

00:26:17.379 --> 00:26:18.180
 John the

00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:18.539
 Baptist

00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.539
 expected

00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:20.000
 somebody

00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.319
 different.

00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.099
 The same

00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.440
 is true

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:23.859
 today.

00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:24.960
 Lots of

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.759
 people like

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.200
 Jesus.

00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:26.759
 They do.

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:28.000
 They like

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.799
 him as a

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.440
 moral teacher

00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.019
 or as a

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.660
 good man.

00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.700
 But then,

00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:33.640
 when they

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.100
 actually

00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:34.880
 understand

00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:37.140
 Jesus is

00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:37.740
 the only

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.460
 way to

00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:38.940
 salvation,

00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:40.279
 when Jesus

00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:40.880
 challenges

00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:41.319
 them on

00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:41.660
 their sin,

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.779
 then they're

00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.100
 offended.

00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:45.700
 And

00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.380
 although

00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:46.880
 perhaps

00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:47.340
 John was

00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:47.779
 offended

00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:49.319
 by Jesus

00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:49.920
 and did

00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.200
 struggle

00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:50.680
 without,

00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:51.100
 he,

00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:51.980
 again,

00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:52.680
 embodied

00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:53.759
 faith that

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.220
 sought

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:54.940
 understanding,

00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:55.720
 so in

00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.039
 turn,

00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:56.900
 ultimately,

00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:57.660
 we'll see

00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:58.680
 how Jesus

00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.460
 responds.

00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:01.759
 After his

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.660
 disciples leave,

00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.680
 notice how

00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.519
 Jesus immediately

00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.299
 turns to

00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:06.539
 defend John

00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.259
 before the

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:07.660
 cross.

00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:09.700
 He does

00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.180
 so with a

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.779
 series of

00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.240
 rhetorical

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:12.079
 questions and

00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:12.740
 figurative

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.460
 metaphors to

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.259
 describe who

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.100
 John is.

00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.360
 But when

00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:17.740
 John's

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.319
 popularity

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.759
 among the

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.079
 Jews,

00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.000
 he asks,

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.480
 what did

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:20.799
 they go

00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.600
 out all

00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:22.140
 to see?

00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:23.579
 First,

00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:23.900
 he can

00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.960
 contrasts

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.560
 John with

00:27:25.560 --> 00:27:26.400
 a reed

00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:26.880
 shaken

00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:27.340
 by the

00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:27.580
 wind,

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.460
 reeds

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.120
 a light

00:27:30.120 --> 00:27:31.140
 and slender

00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:32.000
 plant that

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.620
 thrives in

00:27:32.620 --> 00:27:33.420
 marshy areas

00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:34.720
 where likely

00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:36.080
 are easily

00:27:36.080 --> 00:27:36.820
 and constantly

00:27:36.820 --> 00:27:37.620
 slung about

00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:37.980
 by the

00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.140
 wind.

00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:39.720
 And at

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.060
 that time,

00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:40.440
 the term

00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:40.960
 likely had

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.500
 cultural

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:41.980
 baggage

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.380
 too,

00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:43.480
 when rabbis

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.040
 would use

00:27:44.040 --> 00:27:44.740
 that phrase

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.380
 to insult

00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:46.200
 the toothpicks,

00:27:47.300 --> 00:27:47.660
 those who

00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:48.220
 would easily

00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:48.920
 flip-flop

00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.820
 between opinions

00:27:49.820 --> 00:27:50.580
 just to

00:27:50.580 --> 00:27:50.980
 please the

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.300
 masses

00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:52.359
 and again

00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:53.379
 achieve their

00:27:53.379 --> 00:27:53.980
 own agendas.

00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:56.299
 But even

00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:57.059
 when John

00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:59.180
 was moved,

00:27:59.440 --> 00:27:59.859
 he was

00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.440
 shaken in

00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:01.039
 his doubts.

00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:02.839
 Jesus is so

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.139
 gracious.

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.019
 He sees

00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:04.859
 John not

00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:05.759
 as a reed

00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.639
 shaken by

00:28:06.639 --> 00:28:07.000
 the wind,

00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:07.859
 but as a

00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:08.220
 steady,

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:08.879
 strong,

00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:09.659
 oak tree.

00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:12.819
 Next,

00:28:12.919 --> 00:28:13.440
 Jesus speaks

00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.180
 about soft

00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:15.740
 clothing that

00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.220
 can only be

00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:16.599
 found in

00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:16.919
 kings'

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.460
 houses,

00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:19.079
 those who

00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:19.859
 would kiss

00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:20.479
 their way

00:28:20.479 --> 00:28:20.799
 up,

00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:21.899
 you know,

00:28:22.459 --> 00:28:23.659
 flattery and

00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:25.419
 gifts.

00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:26.159
 They would do

00:28:26.159 --> 00:28:26.500
 all these

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.000
 things so

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:27.279
 that they

00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:27.719
 could make

00:28:27.719 --> 00:28:28.000
 it,

00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.479
 be comfortable

00:28:29.479 --> 00:28:30.139
 living in

00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:30.619
 the king's

00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:31.500
 house in

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.219
 their smooth

00:28:32.219 --> 00:28:33.159
 satin robes

00:28:33.159 --> 00:28:33.459
 or their

00:28:33.459 --> 00:28:34.039
 comfortable

00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:34.639
 casual

00:28:34.639 --> 00:28:35.119
 flares.

00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.479
 But John

00:28:37.479 --> 00:28:38.319
 wasn't like

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:38.659
 that.

00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.519
 He wore

00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.279
 garments of

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:41.000
 canons

00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:42.299
 and a

00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:42.859
 leather belt,

00:28:42.979 --> 00:28:43.599
 clothing that

00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:44.539
 embodied his

00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.359
 practical devotion

00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.979
 to God and

00:28:46.979 --> 00:28:47.839
 his separation

00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.439
 from the rest

00:28:48.439 --> 00:28:48.939
 of the world.

00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:51.199
 And at the

00:28:51.199 --> 00:28:51.759
 last question,

00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:52.619
 Jesus gets to

00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:53.059
 the main

00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:53.539
 point.

00:28:54.199 --> 00:28:55.099
 He identifies

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:56.699
 John as a

00:28:56.699 --> 00:28:57.559
 prophet, but

00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:59.319
 not just any

00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:00.219
 prophet, the

00:29:00.219 --> 00:29:01.859
 final prophet,

00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.599
 the one who

00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.119
 would predict

00:29:04.119 --> 00:29:05.199
 the arrival of

00:29:05.199 --> 00:29:05.799
 the coming

00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.399
 Messiah.

00:29:08.879 --> 00:29:09.479
 Actually, he

00:29:09.479 --> 00:29:10.159
 was more than

00:29:10.159 --> 00:29:11.319
 a prophet because

00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:12.500
 he didn't just

00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.439
 predict Jesus

00:29:13.439 --> 00:29:14.619
 from a distance

00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.039
 away.

00:29:16.199 --> 00:29:17.359
 He personally

00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.219
 prepared the

00:29:18.219 --> 00:29:19.039
 way for Jesus.

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.740
 and he

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.779
 introduced Jesus

00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.359
 to the world.

00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:23.559
 No other

00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.559
 prophet in the

00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.399
 Old Testament

00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:26.059
 and the Old

00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:26.899
 Covenant could

00:29:26.899 --> 00:29:27.579
 claim that

00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:28.039
 for us.

00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:31.119
 And that's

00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:31.700
 what makes

00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:32.519
 John the

00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.700
 greatest of

00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.559
 all those

00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:35.059
 born of

00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:36.059
 women before

00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.659
 the coming

00:29:36.659 --> 00:29:37.159
 of the

00:29:37.159 --> 00:29:37.399
 kingdom,

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.359
 which is

00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:38.899
 just another

00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:39.519
 way to say

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.259
 that he is

00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.680
 the greatest

00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.599
 of all the

00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:42.420
 Old Covenancies.

00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:44.879
 He was

00:29:44.879 --> 00:29:45.240
 greater.

00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:46.420
 He's greater

00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:46.980
 than Abraham,

00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:48.480
 greater than

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.339
 Moses, greater

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:50.160
 than David.

00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:51.640
 Why?

00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:54.180
 It was, again,

00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:55.220
 one thing.

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.299
 John's

00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:58.000
 historical

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.240
 proximity to

00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.759
 Jesus is the

00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.539
 one thing that

00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:01.960
 made him the

00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:02.319
 greatest.

00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:04.000
 That he

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.680
 personally

00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:05.400
 introduced the

00:30:05.400 --> 00:30:06.160
 world to

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.660
 Jesus.

00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.940
 In other

00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.500
 words, simply

00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.860
 put, Jesus

00:30:10.860 --> 00:30:12.079
 is what made

00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.819
 John

00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:13.299
 great.

00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:14.299
 God

00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:15.159
 is the

00:30:15.159 --> 00:30:15.559
 greatest.

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.339
 Only with

00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:16.879
 that metric

00:30:16.879 --> 00:30:17.579
 of greatness

00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:18.159
 can we then

00:30:18.159 --> 00:30:18.980
 understand this

00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:19.899
 next verse.

00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:21.639
 Because while

00:30:21.639 --> 00:30:22.279
 John was

00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:22.779
 greater than

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:23.659
 anyone in

00:30:23.659 --> 00:30:24.159
 the Old

00:30:24.159 --> 00:30:24.619
 Covenant,

00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:26.319
 that's the

00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:26.960
 era of

00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.680
 prophecy.

00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.200
 That's the

00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:28.639
 era of

00:30:28.639 --> 00:30:29.200
 waiting,

00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:30.180
 anticipation,

00:30:30.639 --> 00:30:31.259
 preparation.

00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.240
 But Jesus

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.180
 teaches us in

00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:36.039
 verse 11 that

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.819
 the one who

00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:37.980
 is last in

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.480
 the kingdom

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.339
 of heaven is

00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:40.220
 greater than

00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:40.539
 him.

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:42.879
 what does

00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:43.299
 that mean?

00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:45.980
 The key to

00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.960
 understanding this

00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.579
 verse is

00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:48.619
 understanding that

00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:49.420
 John the

00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:50.500
 Baptist, because

00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.460
 he lived and

00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:52.579
 died before

00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.440
 Jesus' death

00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:54.079
 and resurrection,

00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.859
 isn't counted

00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:57.240
 as part of the

00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:57.879
 new covenant

00:30:57.879 --> 00:30:58.839
 people of God.

00:30:59.899 --> 00:31:00.339
 Instead, he

00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:00.940
 functions, again,

00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:01.759
 as the last

00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:02.819
 prophet of the

00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.440
 Old Covenant,

00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:04.940
 the transitional

00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:05.839
 figure between

00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.759
 the two eras,

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:07.960
 the Old

00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.480
 Era of

00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.059
 prophecy,

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:09.839
 the Old

00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:10.240
 Era of

00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:11.019
 anticipation,

00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:13.220
 gives way to

00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:14.279
 the Era of

00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:15.140
 fulfillment,

00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:16.160
 of arriving.

00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:18.660
 And that's

00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.359
 why the

00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:20.160
 least of us

00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:20.839
 who live on

00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:22.079
 this side of

00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:23.220
 the cross is

00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:23.740
 greater than

00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.279
 the greatest

00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:25.279
 man on that

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.180
 side of the

00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:26.599
 cross.

00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:28.440
 So if you're

00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.299
 here today and

00:31:29.299 --> 00:31:29.819
 you have put

00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:30.900
 your faith in

00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:31.779
 Jesus Christ,

00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:33.480
 you are

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.339
 greater than

00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.019
 John the

00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:35.359
 Baptist,

00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:35.839
 you are

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.299
 greater than

00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:36.660
 Abraham,

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.400
 you are

00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:37.819
 greater than

00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:38.380
 Moses and

00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:38.680
 David.

00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:41.420
 because of

00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:42.660
 the unbelievable

00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:43.759
 privilege that

00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.980
 you have as

00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.799
 a new covenant

00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.680
 saint of God,

00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:47.779
 you have

00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:50.180
 specific knowledge

00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:51.360
 and participation

00:31:51.360 --> 00:31:52.560
 in the new

00:31:52.560 --> 00:31:53.400
 covenant in

00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:54.240
 Jesus' blood.

00:31:55.860 --> 00:31:56.660
 Matthew 13,

00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.380
 17 says,

00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:58.420
 many prophets

00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:59.279
 and righteous

00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:00.660
 people longed

00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:01.320
 to see what

00:32:01.320 --> 00:32:01.880
 you see,

00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:03.019
 and they did

00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:03.820
 not see it,

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:04.799
 and to hear

00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:05.560
 what you hear,

00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:06.500
 and they did

00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.279
 not hear it.

00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:09.399
 You may read

00:32:09.399 --> 00:32:10.079
 the stories of

00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:10.960
 how Moses

00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:12.259
 personally talked

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:13.000
 to God face

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.519
 to face,

00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:15.139
 or how Jacob

00:32:15.139 --> 00:32:15.819
 wrestled with

00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.079
 God,

00:32:16.179 --> 00:32:16.919
 or how Israelites

00:32:16.919 --> 00:32:17.779
 walked through

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.599
 the Red Sea,

00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:20.139
 and a part of

00:32:20.139 --> 00:32:20.599
 us, when we

00:32:20.599 --> 00:32:21.480
 read stories like

00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:21.980
 that, we feel

00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:23.740
 like, yeah, I

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.220
 wish I could

00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:24.819
 have been there,

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.000
 I wish I could

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.579
 have experienced

00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.200
 these things.

00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:29.919
 But the truth

00:32:29.919 --> 00:32:31.500
 is, they

00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:32.480
 wish to be

00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:33.059
 like us,

00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:35.200
 because we

00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:35.599
 have the

00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:36.679
 unbelievable

00:32:36.679 --> 00:32:37.399
 spiritual

00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:38.440
 privilege to

00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:38.899
 have the

00:32:38.899 --> 00:32:40.319
 whole testimony

00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:41.279
 of God in

00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:42.099
 the canon of

00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:43.339
 scripture, to

00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:43.720
 have the

00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:44.460
 Pentecostal

00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.139
 gift of the

00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:45.919
 Holy Spirit

00:32:45.919 --> 00:32:47.119
 indwelling us

00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:48.159
 now, and

00:32:48.159 --> 00:32:49.740
 most importantly,

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.139
 we get to

00:32:51.139 --> 00:32:51.639
 have a

00:32:51.639 --> 00:32:52.119
 relationship

00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:53.119
 with Jesus,

00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:54.960
 with King

00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:55.960
 Jesus.

00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:58.359
 All the

00:32:58.359 --> 00:32:59.240
 Old Testament

00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:00.519
 saints longed

00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:02.359
 to hear what

00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:02.859
 we hear,

00:33:02.859 --> 00:33:03.619
 to see what

00:33:03.619 --> 00:33:04.199
 we see.

00:33:04.919 --> 00:33:05.500
 So may we

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.699
 never lose the

00:33:06.699 --> 00:33:07.519
 wonder of the

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:08.719
 privilege it is

00:33:08.719 --> 00:33:09.399
 to be in

00:33:09.399 --> 00:33:10.699
 relationship with

00:33:10.699 --> 00:33:11.179
 our King

00:33:11.179 --> 00:33:11.599
 Jesus.

00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:15.559
 Verse 12

00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:16.719
 is one of the

00:33:16.719 --> 00:33:17.419
 hardest verses

00:33:17.419 --> 00:33:18.599
 in all the

00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:19.500
 book of Matthew

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.579
 to interpret and

00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:22.000
 translate, and

00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.059
 to be honest,

00:33:23.199 --> 00:33:24.339
 I'm still not

00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:26.099
 quite sure, but

00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:27.839
 I think that the

00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:28.839
 ESC, along with

00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:29.439
 many other

00:33:29.439 --> 00:33:29.919
 reliable

00:33:29.919 --> 00:33:30.459
 translations,

00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:31.500
 they get it

00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:32.379
 right when it

00:33:32.380 --> 00:33:33.080
 says, from the

00:33:33.080 --> 00:33:33.880
 days of John

00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:34.300
 the Baptist

00:33:34.300 --> 00:33:36.000
 until now, the

00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.440
 kingdom of

00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:36.820
 heaven has

00:33:36.820 --> 00:33:37.580
 suffered violence

00:33:37.580 --> 00:33:37.940
 and the

00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:38.220
 violent

00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:39.140
 taken by

00:33:39.140 --> 00:33:39.560
 force.

00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:42.060
 Although the

00:33:42.060 --> 00:33:42.760
 time from

00:33:42.760 --> 00:33:43.500
 John the

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.380
 Baptist until

00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:46.440
 the point of

00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:47.520
 the kingdom,

00:33:48.380 --> 00:33:49.020
 the point that

00:33:49.020 --> 00:33:49.520
 Jesus is

00:33:49.520 --> 00:33:50.100
 speaking, that

00:33:50.100 --> 00:33:50.840
 time is

00:33:50.840 --> 00:33:51.560
 comparatively

00:33:51.560 --> 00:33:52.040
 short.

00:33:53.040 --> 00:33:53.640
 But even

00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:54.120
 within that

00:33:54.120 --> 00:33:54.920
 short time,

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:55.660
 the kingdom

00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:56.100
 has suffered

00:33:56.100 --> 00:33:57.120
 great violence.

00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:58.919
 you have

00:33:58.919 --> 00:33:59.699
 exhibit A

00:33:59.699 --> 00:34:01.059
 in John,

00:34:01.399 --> 00:34:01.759
 who is

00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.159
 currently

00:34:02.159 --> 00:34:02.639
 brought in

00:34:02.639 --> 00:34:03.000
 the way

00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:03.379
 in a

00:34:03.379 --> 00:34:03.699
 dingy

00:34:03.699 --> 00:34:04.379
 prison cell.

00:34:05.679 --> 00:34:05.979
 Take

00:34:05.979 --> 00:34:07.000
 Joseph and

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.500
 Mary, who

00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:07.919
 had to

00:34:07.919 --> 00:34:08.359
 flee

00:34:08.359 --> 00:34:09.179
 Bethlehem to

00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:09.579
 protect

00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.239
 baby Jesus

00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:11.339
 from King

00:34:11.339 --> 00:34:11.819
 Herod, who

00:34:11.819 --> 00:34:12.159
 committed

00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:13.539
 infanticide in

00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:14.259
 killing all the

00:34:14.259 --> 00:34:15.460
 baby boys in

00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:15.940
 that region.

00:34:17.359 --> 00:34:17.779
 And in the

00:34:17.779 --> 00:34:18.460
 end, both

00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:19.519
 John and

00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.139
 Jesus, they

00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:21.079
 are martyred

00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.079


00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:28.000
 coming, but

00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:28.420
 it's not

00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.279
 without conflict

00:34:29.279 --> 00:34:30.639
 or challenge.

00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.519
 And that's

00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.659
 why Jesus

00:34:33.659 --> 00:34:34.960
 confirms John

00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:36.039
 as the

00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:36.719
 foretold

00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:37.199
 Messiah.

00:34:37.319 --> 00:34:37.559
 And when he

00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:38.920
 does so, he

00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:40.199
 says, if you

00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:41.000
 are willing to

00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:41.759
 accept it,

00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:42.380
 knowing that

00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:43.219
 there will be

00:34:43.219 --> 00:34:44.099
 a cost.

00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:46.779
 But nonetheless,

00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:47.719
 the violence

00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:48.699
 that comes with

00:34:48.699 --> 00:34:50.339
 being a follower

00:34:50.339 --> 00:34:50.759
 of the

00:34:50.759 --> 00:34:51.779
 crucified Christ,

00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:52.559
 it doesn't

00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:53.299
 change the

00:34:53.299 --> 00:34:54.440
 reality of

00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:55.699
 who John

00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.319
 and Jesus

00:34:56.319 --> 00:34:56.819
 are.

00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:57.359
 It doesn't

00:34:57.359 --> 00:34:57.900
 change the

00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:58.719
 cold-hearted

00:34:58.719 --> 00:34:59.920
 reality of

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:00.659
 their identities.

00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:04.400
 While John

00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:04.960
 isn't the

00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:05.239
 literal

00:35:05.239 --> 00:35:06.699
 reincarnation of

00:35:06.699 --> 00:35:08.059
 Elijah, Jesus

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:09.199
 confirms that

00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:10.440
 John is the

00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:11.799
 spiritual Elijah,

00:35:12.679 --> 00:35:13.359
 foretold in

00:35:13.359 --> 00:35:14.519
 Malachi 4-5.

00:35:15.359 --> 00:35:15.659
 And that

00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:16.460
 passage was

00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:17.279
 well-known

00:35:17.279 --> 00:35:17.920
 throughout all

00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:18.659
 of Judea and

00:35:18.659 --> 00:35:18.980
 Israel.

00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:20.380
 Rabbis

00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:21.000
 quoted it

00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:21.559
 often, and

00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:21.920
 there was

00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:23.079
 eager anticipation

00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:23.639
 for the

00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:24.359
 Elijah to

00:35:24.359 --> 00:35:24.719
 come.

00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:26.880
 And when

00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:27.820
 Jesus is

00:35:27.820 --> 00:35:29.059
 defending and

00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:29.619
 vindicating

00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:30.380
 John here,

00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:31.380
 explaining who

00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.220
 John is,

00:35:32.300 --> 00:35:33.220
 that's also

00:35:33.220 --> 00:35:33.840
 because he's

00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:34.220
 making a

00:35:34.220 --> 00:35:34.900
 bold statement

00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:35.480
 about him

00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.119
 himself.

00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:38.539
 Because if

00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:40.000
 John is the

00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:41.140
 true prophesied

00:35:41.140 --> 00:35:42.400
 Elijah, that

00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:43.119
 means Jesus

00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:44.380
 was the true

00:35:44.380 --> 00:35:45.260
 prophesied

00:35:45.260 --> 00:35:45.940
 Messiah.

00:35:45.940 --> 00:35:48.740
 God, Jesus

00:35:48.740 --> 00:35:49.340
 and John, they

00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:49.880
 come as a

00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:50.720
 package deal.

00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.059
 You can't

00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:52.860
 have one without

00:35:52.860 --> 00:35:53.280
 the other.

00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:54.519
 So if you

00:35:54.519 --> 00:35:55.280
 believe in

00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:55.860
 John, you

00:35:55.860 --> 00:35:56.960
 must believe

00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:57.780
 in Jesus.

00:35:58.500 --> 00:36:00.039
 So now, because

00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:00.360
 of this

00:36:00.360 --> 00:36:02.420
 messenger, he

00:36:02.420 --> 00:36:03.099
 urges us,

00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:03.480
 Matthew

00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:04.039
 urges us,

00:36:04.159 --> 00:36:04.440
 Jesus

00:36:04.440 --> 00:36:05.300
 urges us,

00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.659
 believe that

00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.539
 he is the

00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.079
 Messiah.

00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:09.099
 Have no

00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:09.700
 doubt in

00:36:09.700 --> 00:36:10.240
 your mind.

00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:10.339
 God.

00:36:12.839 --> 00:36:14.019
 Although Jesus

00:36:14.019 --> 00:36:14.779
 points to his

00:36:14.779 --> 00:36:15.739
 work as clear

00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:16.479
 evidence of

00:36:16.479 --> 00:36:17.239
 who he is,

00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:18.179
 the reality

00:36:18.179 --> 00:36:19.500
 is that only

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:21.199
 some, only

00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:21.919
 some will have

00:36:21.919 --> 00:36:22.599
 ears to hear

00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:22.919
 this.

00:36:24.379 --> 00:36:24.739
 And we'll

00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:26.339
 see a prime

00:36:26.339 --> 00:36:27.099
 example of this

00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:27.959
 in the very next

00:36:27.959 --> 00:36:28.719
 verses when he

00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:29.599
 speaks about the

00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:30.379
 wicked generation

00:36:30.379 --> 00:36:31.779
 of Israel who

00:36:31.779 --> 00:36:32.500
 reject him.

00:36:33.899 --> 00:36:34.799
 When he

00:36:34.799 --> 00:36:36.439
 describes them,

00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:37.659
 he draws this

00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:38.559
 analogy from

00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:39.539
 children who

00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:40.079
 are playing

00:36:40.079 --> 00:36:40.519
 in the market

00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:40.900
 place.

00:36:42.299 --> 00:36:43.119
 Like they do

00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:44.360
 today, kids

00:36:44.360 --> 00:36:45.840
 like to pretend

00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:46.539
 and play

00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:46.960
 after like

00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:47.360
 adults.

00:36:48.320 --> 00:36:48.759
 They play

00:36:48.759 --> 00:36:50.199
 house or

00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:50.739
 a restaurant.

00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:52.239
 And by

00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:52.679
 then they

00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:53.659
 played wedding

00:36:53.659 --> 00:36:54.840
 or funeral.

00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:57.579
 So here you

00:36:57.579 --> 00:36:58.179
 have some kids

00:36:58.179 --> 00:36:59.139
 eagerly saying

00:36:59.139 --> 00:37:00.400
 to another

00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:00.759
 group,

00:37:01.299 --> 00:37:01.719
 let's play

00:37:01.719 --> 00:37:02.099
 wedding.

00:37:03.299 --> 00:37:03.960
 We'll play

00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:04.840
 a happy tune

00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:05.639
 on the flutes

00:37:05.639 --> 00:37:06.119
 and you can

00:37:06.119 --> 00:37:06.599
 dance.

00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:08.139
 I'm going to

00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:08.739
 hear a,

00:37:09.799 --> 00:37:10.239
 meh,

00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:11.319
 I'm not

00:37:11.319 --> 00:37:11.639
 interested.

00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.839
 Okay,

00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:14.440
 well,

00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:15.619
 what about

00:37:15.619 --> 00:37:16.339
 funeral then?

00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:18.619
 We'll sing a

00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:19.119
 sad tune,

00:37:19.179 --> 00:37:19.739
 you can play

00:37:19.739 --> 00:37:20.299
 last morning.

00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:22.480
 Meh,

00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:22.859
 not,

00:37:22.859 --> 00:37:23.440
 not interested.

00:37:25.319 --> 00:37:25.940
 Could be

00:37:25.940 --> 00:37:26.500
 compared to

00:37:26.500 --> 00:37:27.339
 hosting a new

00:37:27.339 --> 00:37:27.879
 guest for

00:37:27.879 --> 00:37:28.079
 dinner.

00:37:29.739 --> 00:37:30.059
 You work

00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:30.900
 for hours

00:37:30.900 --> 00:37:31.920
 and hours

00:37:31.920 --> 00:37:33.219
 preparing a

00:37:33.219 --> 00:37:33.920
 delicious,

00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:34.940
 nutritious meal

00:37:34.940 --> 00:37:35.500
 to present

00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:35.840
 them.

00:37:36.940 --> 00:37:37.179
 And they

00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:37.559
 take one

00:37:37.559 --> 00:37:38.099
 bite and

00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:38.659
 say,

00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:40.340
 too spicy,

00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:41.579
 can you

00:37:41.579 --> 00:37:41.880
 do this?

00:37:43.820 --> 00:37:44.159
 Shoot,

00:37:44.300 --> 00:37:44.460
 okay,

00:37:44.619 --> 00:37:45.300
 my bad.

00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:46.079
 Let me

00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:47.300
 work on it

00:37:47.300 --> 00:37:47.679
 again.

00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:49.320
 Present the

00:37:49.320 --> 00:37:49.720
 dish.

00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:50.380
 After you make

00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:50.920
 it milder,

00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:51.360
 you'll need to

00:37:51.360 --> 00:37:51.619
 hear,

00:37:52.700 --> 00:37:53.340
 too mild.

00:37:54.200 --> 00:37:54.840
 I'm not going

00:37:54.840 --> 00:37:55.340
 to eat this.

00:37:56.860 --> 00:37:57.220
 Wow,

00:37:57.400 --> 00:37:57.599
 okay,

00:37:57.920 --> 00:37:58.780
 let me try

00:37:58.780 --> 00:37:59.139
 to get this

00:37:59.139 --> 00:37:59.380
 gold.

00:37:59.380 --> 00:37:59.500
 You'll be

00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:00.000
 allowed someone

00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:00.559
 to spice

00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:01.119
 this in.

00:38:02.119 --> 00:38:02.800
 Only then to

00:38:02.800 --> 00:38:03.119
 hear,

00:38:04.119 --> 00:38:04.599
 too salty.

00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:06.460
 Then,

00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:07.360
 too bland,

00:38:08.380 --> 00:38:09.099
 too sweet,

00:38:09.720 --> 00:38:10.539
 too acidic,

00:38:10.860 --> 00:38:11.480
 too hot,

00:38:11.599 --> 00:38:12.159
 too cold.

00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:14.260
 Jesus is

00:38:14.260 --> 00:38:15.139
 using figurative

00:38:15.139 --> 00:38:16.559
 language to

00:38:16.559 --> 00:38:16.960
 show that

00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:17.519
 there is

00:38:17.519 --> 00:38:19.019
 nothing that

00:38:19.019 --> 00:38:19.800
 this wicked,

00:38:20.039 --> 00:38:20.480
 skeptical

00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:21.679
 generation would

00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:22.039
 accept.

00:38:22.179 --> 00:38:22.880
 They're always

00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:23.639
 moving the

00:38:23.639 --> 00:38:24.220
 gold coast.

00:38:26.019 --> 00:38:26.440
 They're like

00:38:26.440 --> 00:38:26.960
 the people who

00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:27.700
 make faith

00:38:27.700 --> 00:38:28.280
 conditional.

00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:29.860
 And you

00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:30.400
 likely know

00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:30.579
 that.

00:38:30.659 --> 00:38:30.940
 And you've

00:38:30.940 --> 00:38:31.320
 heard these

00:38:31.320 --> 00:38:31.599
 things.

00:38:31.700 --> 00:38:32.119
 They say

00:38:32.119 --> 00:38:32.679
 things like,

00:38:33.099 --> 00:38:33.240
 no,

00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:33.800
 I'll follow

00:38:33.800 --> 00:38:34.220
 Jesus.

00:38:34.940 --> 00:38:35.159
 And I'll

00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:35.400
 go to

00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:35.700
 church

00:38:35.700 --> 00:38:36.480
 only if

00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:37.760
 I get

00:38:37.760 --> 00:38:38.340
 this job.

00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:40.220
 I get

00:38:40.220 --> 00:38:40.559
 married.

00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:42.059
 I make

00:38:42.059 --> 00:38:42.519
 more money.

00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:43.360
 My friends

00:38:43.360 --> 00:38:43.720
 go to

00:38:43.720 --> 00:38:43.980
 church.

00:38:43.980 --> 00:38:45.420
 The list

00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:45.960
 of excuses

00:38:45.960 --> 00:38:46.539
 go on

00:38:46.539 --> 00:38:46.940
 and on.

00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:48.940
 Then God

00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:49.380
 gives them

00:38:49.380 --> 00:38:49.820
 these things,

00:38:49.880 --> 00:38:50.280
 but they're

00:38:50.280 --> 00:38:51.260
 again moving

00:38:51.260 --> 00:38:52.059
 the gold

00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:52.400
 post.

00:38:54.920 --> 00:38:55.740
 You can

00:38:55.740 --> 00:38:56.400
 follow Jesus'

00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:56.900
 argument

00:38:56.900 --> 00:38:57.639
 clearly here.

00:38:58.480 --> 00:38:58.820
 John,

00:38:58.940 --> 00:38:59.280
 who's

00:38:59.280 --> 00:39:00.019
 eating

00:39:00.019 --> 00:39:01.280
 locusts

00:39:01.280 --> 00:39:01.620
 and

00:39:01.620 --> 00:39:02.300
 honey,

00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:03.900
 he mirrors

00:39:03.900 --> 00:39:05.100
 a sorrowful

00:39:05.100 --> 00:39:05.720
 ascetic

00:39:05.720 --> 00:39:06.420
 diet like

00:39:06.420 --> 00:39:06.820
 that of

00:39:06.820 --> 00:39:07.019
 someone

00:39:07.019 --> 00:39:07.460
 mourning.

00:39:08.540 --> 00:39:08.920
 And that

00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:09.640
 extreme

00:39:09.640 --> 00:39:10.500
 asceticism

00:39:10.500 --> 00:39:11.180
 and devotion

00:39:11.180 --> 00:39:11.780
 to God,

00:39:12.060 --> 00:39:12.519
 it doesn't

00:39:12.519 --> 00:39:13.300
 barter any

00:39:13.300 --> 00:39:14.120
 attention or

00:39:14.120 --> 00:39:14.840
 respect from

00:39:14.840 --> 00:39:15.320
 the Jews,

00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:17.140
 but harsh

00:39:17.140 --> 00:39:18.000
 rejection,

00:39:18.720 --> 00:39:19.420
 calling him

00:39:19.420 --> 00:39:20.980
 demon-possessed.

00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:22.400
 That's a

00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:24.019
 really harsh

00:39:24.019 --> 00:39:24.580
 rejection.

00:39:24.579 --> 00:39:27.400
 then what

00:39:27.400 --> 00:39:28.000
 about Jesus

00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:28.420
 then?

00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:28.920
 He came

00:39:28.920 --> 00:39:29.659
 eating and

00:39:29.659 --> 00:39:30.039
 drinking.

00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:31.360
 If they

00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:31.739
 didn't like

00:39:31.739 --> 00:39:32.119
 John's

00:39:32.119 --> 00:39:32.980
 asceticism,

00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:34.179
 then surely

00:39:34.179 --> 00:39:34.699
 they'd like

00:39:34.699 --> 00:39:35.079
 Jesus.

00:39:36.360 --> 00:39:37.279
 But no,

00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:38.059
 they call

00:39:38.059 --> 00:39:38.639
 Jesus a

00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:39.239
 glutton,

00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:41.179
 a drunkard,

00:39:41.259 --> 00:39:41.739
 a friend of

00:39:41.739 --> 00:39:42.480
 tax collectors

00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:43.159
 and sinners.

00:39:44.119 --> 00:39:44.799
 This wicked

00:39:44.799 --> 00:39:45.779
 flesh is

00:39:45.779 --> 00:39:47.039
 impossible to

00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:47.539
 please.

00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:49.960
 And you

00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:50.319
 know,

00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:52.139
 we often

00:39:52.139 --> 00:39:52.679
 think that

00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:54.159
 Jesus is a

00:39:54.159 --> 00:39:54.739
 hard to

00:39:54.739 --> 00:39:55.019
 please,

00:39:55.139 --> 00:39:55.460
 Master.

00:39:56.599 --> 00:39:56.980
 But in

00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:57.379
 reality,

00:39:57.500 --> 00:39:57.699
 as we

00:39:57.699 --> 00:39:58.119
 observe,

00:39:58.839 --> 00:39:59.339
 Jesus was

00:39:59.339 --> 00:39:59.899
 very,

00:40:00.079 --> 00:40:00.739
 very kind

00:40:00.739 --> 00:40:01.599
 to doubting

00:40:01.599 --> 00:40:02.019
 John.

00:40:03.219 --> 00:40:03.699
 It's not

00:40:03.699 --> 00:40:04.379
 Jesus who

00:40:04.379 --> 00:40:04.940
 is hard to

00:40:04.940 --> 00:40:05.359
 please,

00:40:05.599 --> 00:40:06.019
 but it's

00:40:06.019 --> 00:40:06.500
 this wicked

00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:07.259
 generation.

00:40:09.759 --> 00:40:10.239
 More than

00:40:10.239 --> 00:40:10.539
 anything,

00:40:10.659 --> 00:40:11.039
 they are

00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:11.799
 proud,

00:40:12.059 --> 00:40:12.819
 full of

00:40:12.819 --> 00:40:13.279
 themselves.

00:40:14.219 --> 00:40:14.699
 They think

00:40:14.699 --> 00:40:15.259
 that they

00:40:15.259 --> 00:40:15.759
 have a

00:40:15.759 --> 00:40:16.179
 discerning

00:40:16.179 --> 00:40:16.639
 eye to

00:40:16.639 --> 00:40:17.039
 be able to

00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:17.539
 see the

00:40:17.539 --> 00:40:17.960
 spiritual

00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:18.719
 truth about

00:40:18.719 --> 00:40:19.420
 John and

00:40:19.420 --> 00:40:19.679
 Jesus'

00:40:19.940 --> 00:40:20.279
 ministers,

00:40:20.920 --> 00:40:21.319
 when in

00:40:21.319 --> 00:40:21.839
 fact they

00:40:21.839 --> 00:40:22.139
 are the

00:40:22.139 --> 00:40:22.559
 ones that

00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:23.099
 are utterly

00:40:23.099 --> 00:40:23.799
 blind.

00:40:24.159 --> 00:40:26.299
 rest assured

00:40:26.299 --> 00:40:26.759
 there are

00:40:26.759 --> 00:40:28.159
 those in

00:40:28.159 --> 00:40:28.920
 your life

00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:30.000
 that you

00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:30.799
 will evangelize

00:40:30.799 --> 00:40:32.139
 to who

00:40:32.139 --> 00:40:32.839
 will simply

00:40:32.839 --> 00:40:34.099
 not accept

00:40:34.099 --> 00:40:34.920
 the message

00:40:34.920 --> 00:40:35.339
 of the

00:40:35.339 --> 00:40:35.699
 gospel.

00:40:37.139 --> 00:40:37.460
 And when

00:40:37.460 --> 00:40:37.639
 we're

00:40:37.639 --> 00:40:38.059
 rejected,

00:40:39.359 --> 00:40:40.059
 our first

00:40:40.059 --> 00:40:40.779
 instinct is

00:40:40.779 --> 00:40:42.319
 to question,

00:40:43.539 --> 00:40:43.899
 did I

00:40:43.899 --> 00:40:44.319
 share that

00:40:44.319 --> 00:40:44.519
 right?

00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:47.379
 When our

00:40:47.379 --> 00:40:48.099
 evangelism

00:40:48.099 --> 00:40:48.639
 efforts were

00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:49.279
 shut down,

00:40:49.399 --> 00:40:50.299
 we wondered

00:40:50.299 --> 00:40:50.779
 did we

00:40:50.779 --> 00:40:51.420
 share that

00:40:51.420 --> 00:40:51.659
 at the

00:40:51.659 --> 00:40:52.420
 right time,

00:40:52.699 --> 00:40:53.259
 the right

00:40:53.259 --> 00:40:53.739
 content,

00:40:53.739 --> 00:40:54.739
 right tone?

00:40:56.739 --> 00:40:57.339
 It's

00:40:57.339 --> 00:40:58.279
 often not

00:40:58.279 --> 00:40:58.819
 because of

00:40:58.819 --> 00:40:59.099
 you.

00:41:00.279 --> 00:41:00.399
 The

00:41:00.399 --> 00:41:01.399
 Spirit hasn't

00:41:01.399 --> 00:41:02.159
 worked on

00:41:02.159 --> 00:41:02.779
 their thoughts,

00:41:02.959 --> 00:41:03.459
 softening

00:41:03.459 --> 00:41:03.759
 them.

00:41:04.159 --> 00:41:04.519
 They will

00:41:04.519 --> 00:41:05.019
 be just

00:41:05.019 --> 00:41:05.459
 like these

00:41:05.459 --> 00:41:05.939
 heart-hearted

00:41:05.939 --> 00:41:06.379
 children.

00:41:07.219 --> 00:41:07.779
 So keep

00:41:07.779 --> 00:41:08.799
 evangelizing

00:41:08.799 --> 00:41:09.959
 boldly,

00:41:10.500 --> 00:41:11.179
 not worried

00:41:11.179 --> 00:41:11.639
 about whether

00:41:11.639 --> 00:41:12.159
 you're getting

00:41:12.159 --> 00:41:13.019
 it perfectly

00:41:13.019 --> 00:41:13.539
 right.

00:41:15.459 --> 00:41:16.319
 Because even

00:41:16.319 --> 00:41:16.879
 when the

00:41:16.879 --> 00:41:18.059
 responses to

00:41:18.059 --> 00:41:18.779
 our evangelism

00:41:18.779 --> 00:41:19.599
 is mixed,

00:41:20.199 --> 00:41:20.739
 the truth

00:41:20.739 --> 00:41:22.500
 remains clear.

00:41:22.500 --> 00:41:24.019
 wisdom is

00:41:24.019 --> 00:41:25.280
 justified by

00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:25.940
 her deeds.

00:41:27.059 --> 00:41:27.380
 We all

00:41:27.380 --> 00:41:27.679
 know the

00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:27.980
 same,

00:41:28.340 --> 00:41:29.340
 actions speak

00:41:29.340 --> 00:41:29.860
 louder than

00:41:29.860 --> 00:41:30.219
 words.

00:41:31.360 --> 00:41:31.880
 And if

00:41:31.880 --> 00:41:32.500
 John is

00:41:32.500 --> 00:41:33.159
 faithfully

00:41:33.159 --> 00:41:34.000
 preparing the

00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:34.440
 life for the

00:41:34.440 --> 00:41:34.820
 Messiah,

00:41:35.280 --> 00:41:35.820
 and Jesus

00:41:35.820 --> 00:41:36.519
 is performing

00:41:36.519 --> 00:41:37.659
 miracle after

00:41:37.659 --> 00:41:38.139
 miracle,

00:41:39.539 --> 00:41:40.420
 helping people,

00:41:40.719 --> 00:41:41.500
 confirming that

00:41:41.500 --> 00:41:42.119
 he is the

00:41:42.119 --> 00:41:42.659
 Messiah,

00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:43.980
 their actions

00:41:43.980 --> 00:41:45.579
 justify themselves

00:41:45.579 --> 00:41:46.139
 in their

00:41:46.139 --> 00:41:46.539
 plans.

00:41:46.539 --> 00:41:46.659
 God.

00:41:47.940 --> 00:41:48.639
 So because

00:41:48.639 --> 00:41:49.340
 of his

00:41:49.340 --> 00:41:49.920
 ministry,

00:41:50.360 --> 00:41:50.900
 because of

00:41:50.900 --> 00:41:51.860
 his messenger,

00:41:52.440 --> 00:41:53.079
 they should

00:41:53.079 --> 00:41:54.840
 have believed

00:41:54.840 --> 00:41:55.440
 that Jesus

00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:55.880
 is the

00:41:55.880 --> 00:41:56.219
 Messiah.

00:41:56.380 --> 00:41:56.800
 They should

00:41:56.800 --> 00:41:57.340
 have repented

00:41:57.340 --> 00:41:57.719
 of their

00:41:57.719 --> 00:41:58.079
 sins.

00:41:59.039 --> 00:42:00.559
 But because

00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:00.880
 of their

00:42:00.880 --> 00:42:01.619
 unbelief and

00:42:01.619 --> 00:42:02.599
 refusal to

00:42:02.599 --> 00:42:02.980
 repent,

00:42:03.739 --> 00:42:04.579
 Jesus begins

00:42:04.579 --> 00:42:05.800
 to denounce

00:42:05.800 --> 00:42:06.699
 all their

00:42:06.699 --> 00:42:07.139
 sins.

00:42:07.820 --> 00:42:08.500
 Specifically,

00:42:09.119 --> 00:42:09.759
 the towns

00:42:09.759 --> 00:42:10.759
 Chorazin,

00:42:10.880 --> 00:42:11.480
 Bethsaida,

00:42:12.119 --> 00:42:12.900
 and Capernaum,

00:42:13.019 --> 00:42:13.980
 which were the

00:42:13.980 --> 00:42:14.880
 hometowns of some

00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:15.200
 of the

00:42:15.200 --> 00:42:15.680
 disciples,

00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:16.539
 and a

00:42:16.539 --> 00:42:17.099
 home base

00:42:17.099 --> 00:42:17.539
 for Jesus'

00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:18.480
 ministry for

00:42:18.480 --> 00:42:18.920
 some time.

00:42:20.200 --> 00:42:20.760
 That means

00:42:20.760 --> 00:42:21.320
 that Jesus

00:42:21.320 --> 00:42:22.519
 performed many,

00:42:22.640 --> 00:42:23.300
 many mighty

00:42:23.300 --> 00:42:24.079
 works in

00:42:24.079 --> 00:42:24.720
 their midst.

00:42:25.960 --> 00:42:26.920
 But like

00:42:26.920 --> 00:42:27.820
 these impossible

00:42:27.820 --> 00:42:28.599
 to please

00:42:28.599 --> 00:42:29.019
 children,

00:42:29.160 --> 00:42:29.880
 they are too

00:42:29.880 --> 00:42:30.599
 obstinate,

00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:31.480
 too blind

00:42:31.480 --> 00:42:32.099
 to see the

00:42:32.099 --> 00:42:32.360
 truth.

00:42:34.160 --> 00:42:34.660
 In fact,

00:42:34.800 --> 00:42:35.400
 Jesus claims

00:42:35.400 --> 00:42:35.840
 that even

00:42:35.840 --> 00:42:37.240
 Tyre and

00:42:37.240 --> 00:42:38.019
 Sidon,

00:42:38.500 --> 00:42:38.840
 which were

00:42:38.840 --> 00:42:39.260
 the leading

00:42:39.260 --> 00:42:40.059
 cities of

00:42:40.059 --> 00:42:40.860
 Phemnesia,

00:42:41.519 --> 00:42:42.519
 a pagan,

00:42:42.800 --> 00:42:43.940
 idol-worshiping

00:42:43.940 --> 00:42:44.660
 nation,

00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:45.440
 that they

00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:45.760
 would have

00:42:45.760 --> 00:42:46.800
 been quicker.

00:42:47.240 --> 00:42:47.660
 They would

00:42:47.660 --> 00:42:47.880
 have been

00:42:47.880 --> 00:42:48.400
 quicker to

00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:49.260
 come to

00:42:49.260 --> 00:42:49.820
 repentance.

00:42:50.500 --> 00:42:50.720
 And these

00:42:50.720 --> 00:42:51.180
 are nations

00:42:51.180 --> 00:42:52.099
 that prophets

00:42:52.099 --> 00:42:53.059
 frequently

00:42:53.059 --> 00:42:54.119
 rebuked and

00:42:54.119 --> 00:42:55.019
 condemned all

00:42:55.019 --> 00:42:55.480
 throughout the

00:42:55.480 --> 00:42:55.900
 Old Testament

00:42:55.900 --> 00:42:56.400
 scriptures.

00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:58.400
 This is such

00:42:58.400 --> 00:42:58.860
 a harsh

00:42:58.860 --> 00:42:59.260
 rebuke.

00:43:00.519 --> 00:43:01.220
 The Jews

00:43:01.220 --> 00:43:01.860
 were especially

00:43:01.860 --> 00:43:02.760
 proud to call

00:43:02.760 --> 00:43:03.700
 themselves the

00:43:03.700 --> 00:43:04.619
 people of God,

00:43:04.720 --> 00:43:05.260
 right, because

00:43:05.260 --> 00:43:05.900
 they have the

00:43:05.900 --> 00:43:06.920
 oracles of God.

00:43:08.340 --> 00:43:08.940
 They think that

00:43:08.940 --> 00:43:09.340
 they are going

00:43:09.340 --> 00:43:10.160
 to be exalted

00:43:10.160 --> 00:43:10.780
 to heaven.

00:43:11.140 --> 00:43:11.599
 We read that

00:43:11.599 --> 00:43:12.400
 in verse 23,

00:43:12.960 --> 00:43:13.660
 when in reality

00:43:13.659 --> 00:43:14.519
 they are the

00:43:14.519 --> 00:43:14.920
 ones that

00:43:14.920 --> 00:43:15.279
 would be

00:43:15.279 --> 00:43:16.239
 condemned

00:43:16.239 --> 00:43:17.359
 to hell.

00:43:19.779 --> 00:43:20.480
 For the

00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:21.480
 idolatrous,

00:43:21.659 --> 00:43:22.519
 impious,

00:43:22.879 --> 00:43:24.179
 pagans were

00:43:24.179 --> 00:43:25.039
 more righteous

00:43:25.039 --> 00:43:25.639
 than they.

00:43:27.159 --> 00:43:28.179
 Even the land

00:43:28.179 --> 00:43:29.079
 of Sodom,

00:43:29.599 --> 00:43:30.480
 the notorious

00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:31.059
 city known

00:43:31.059 --> 00:43:32.000
 for its wickedness,

00:43:32.259 --> 00:43:33.259
 for its sexual

00:43:33.259 --> 00:43:34.219
 immorality,

00:43:35.399 --> 00:43:36.000
 that was judged

00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:36.920
 by fire and

00:43:36.920 --> 00:43:37.440
 brimstone,

00:43:37.599 --> 00:43:38.659
 even Sodom

00:43:38.659 --> 00:43:38.920
 would have

00:43:38.920 --> 00:43:39.259
 gone to

00:43:39.259 --> 00:43:39.599
 the earth.

00:43:41.159 --> 00:43:41.980
 So because

00:43:41.980 --> 00:43:42.739
 they did not

00:43:42.739 --> 00:43:43.579
 repent,

00:43:45.139 --> 00:43:45.480
 despite

00:43:45.480 --> 00:43:45.940
 noticing

00:43:45.940 --> 00:43:46.539
 miracle

00:43:46.539 --> 00:43:48.099
 after miracle,

00:43:49.480 --> 00:43:49.719
 Jesus

00:43:49.719 --> 00:43:50.759
 pronounces a

00:43:50.759 --> 00:43:51.960
 harsher

00:43:51.960 --> 00:43:53.179
 judgment

00:43:53.179 --> 00:43:53.739
 on these

00:43:53.739 --> 00:43:54.039
 cities.

00:43:56.739 --> 00:43:57.319
 It's a

00:43:57.319 --> 00:43:57.739
 sobering

00:43:57.739 --> 00:43:58.219
 reality.

00:44:00.579 --> 00:44:01.159
 The parable

00:44:01.159 --> 00:44:02.119
 of Luke 12

00:44:02.119 --> 00:44:02.920
 teaches a

00:44:02.920 --> 00:44:03.779
 similar lesson.

00:44:04.739 --> 00:44:05.019
 In that

00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.440
 parable,

00:44:05.659 --> 00:44:06.179
 a master

00:44:06.179 --> 00:44:06.739
 sets a

00:44:06.739 --> 00:44:07.579
 servant over

00:44:07.579 --> 00:44:08.340
 his household

00:44:08.340 --> 00:44:09.299
 while he's

00:44:09.299 --> 00:44:09.619
 away.

00:44:09.940 --> 00:44:10.639
 When he

00:44:10.639 --> 00:44:11.239
 returns,

00:44:11.460 --> 00:44:12.079
 the standard

00:44:12.079 --> 00:44:12.819
 of judgment

00:44:12.819 --> 00:44:14.079
 is in

00:44:14.079 --> 00:44:14.880
 accordance to

00:44:14.880 --> 00:44:15.440
 their level

00:44:15.440 --> 00:44:16.239
 of knowledge.

00:44:17.659 --> 00:44:17.880
 Jesus

00:44:17.880 --> 00:44:18.219
 says,

00:44:18.380 --> 00:44:19.179
 everyone to

00:44:19.179 --> 00:44:19.699
 whom much

00:44:19.699 --> 00:44:20.199
 was given,

00:44:20.679 --> 00:44:21.319
 of him

00:44:21.319 --> 00:44:22.400
 much will

00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:23.139
 be required.

00:44:24.059 --> 00:44:24.599
 And from

00:44:24.599 --> 00:44:25.019
 him to

00:44:25.019 --> 00:44:25.400
 whom he

00:44:25.400 --> 00:44:25.900
 trusted

00:44:25.900 --> 00:44:26.480
 much,

00:44:27.099 --> 00:44:27.519
 they will

00:44:27.519 --> 00:44:27.900
 demand

00:44:27.900 --> 00:44:28.420
 more.

00:44:30.299 --> 00:44:30.759
 Simply

00:44:30.759 --> 00:44:31.099
 put,

00:44:31.179 --> 00:44:31.500
 the more

00:44:31.500 --> 00:44:31.699
 you're

00:44:31.699 --> 00:44:31.960
 given,

00:44:32.920 --> 00:44:33.380
 the more

00:44:33.380 --> 00:44:33.639
 you're

00:44:33.639 --> 00:44:34.219
 responsible

00:44:34.219 --> 00:44:34.679
 for.

00:44:37.579 --> 00:44:39.239
 I

00:44:39.239 --> 00:44:39.340
 would

00:44:39.340 --> 00:44:39.619
 not be

00:44:39.619 --> 00:44:39.779
 a

00:44:39.779 --> 00:44:40.159
 faithful

00:44:40.159 --> 00:44:40.440
 her

00:44:40.440 --> 00:44:40.699
 of

00:44:40.699 --> 00:44:42.239
 God's

00:44:42.239 --> 00:44:42.460
 word

00:44:42.460 --> 00:44:42.739
 if I

00:44:42.739 --> 00:44:42.940
 didn't

00:44:42.940 --> 00:44:43.480
 properly

00:44:43.480 --> 00:44:44.159
 transmit

00:44:44.159 --> 00:44:44.539
 this

00:44:44.539 --> 00:44:44.860
 point

00:44:44.860 --> 00:44:45.219
 to

00:44:45.219 --> 00:44:45.440
 you,

00:44:45.519 --> 00:44:45.799
 friends.

00:44:47.299 --> 00:44:48.119
 If you've

00:44:48.119 --> 00:44:49.159
 heard the

00:44:49.159 --> 00:44:49.719
 gospel of

00:44:49.719 --> 00:44:50.400
 Jesus Christ,

00:44:52.400 --> 00:44:56.460
 there will be

00:44:56.460 --> 00:44:56.819
 a greater

00:44:56.819 --> 00:44:57.299
 punishment

00:44:57.300 --> 00:45:04.519
 you'd

00:45:04.519 --> 00:45:06.720
 face if

00:45:06.720 --> 00:45:07.160
 you reject

00:45:07.160 --> 00:45:07.700
 the gospel

00:45:07.700 --> 00:45:12.019
 and refuse

00:45:12.019 --> 00:45:12.519
 to repent

00:45:12.519 --> 00:45:12.800
 of your

00:45:12.800 --> 00:45:13.160
 sins.

00:45:16.060 --> 00:45:16.860
 So if

00:45:16.860 --> 00:45:17.240
 you're here

00:45:17.240 --> 00:45:19.580
 today and

00:45:19.580 --> 00:45:20.100
 you haven't

00:45:20.100 --> 00:45:21.440
 confessed the

00:45:21.440 --> 00:45:21.820
 name of

00:45:21.820 --> 00:45:22.240
 Jesus,

00:45:24.640 --> 00:45:26.740
 make no

00:45:26.739 --> 00:45:27.239
 delay.

00:45:28.519 --> 00:45:28.879
 Make

00:45:28.879 --> 00:45:29.899
 today the

00:45:29.899 --> 00:45:30.339
 day of

00:45:30.339 --> 00:45:30.959
 repentance.

00:45:33.279 --> 00:45:34.139
 With the

00:45:34.139 --> 00:45:34.679
 knowledge of

00:45:34.679 --> 00:45:35.179
 the gospel

00:45:35.179 --> 00:45:35.679
 today,

00:45:35.979 --> 00:45:36.659
 you now

00:45:36.659 --> 00:45:38.379
 have the

00:45:38.379 --> 00:45:38.959
 responsibility

00:45:38.959 --> 00:45:39.959
 to respond.

00:45:44.959 --> 00:45:45.899
 But it's

00:45:45.899 --> 00:45:46.759
 not just

00:45:46.759 --> 00:45:47.679
 responsibility.

00:45:49.500 --> 00:45:50.339
 It's not

00:45:50.339 --> 00:45:51.079
 just obligation.

00:45:51.379 --> 00:45:51.819
 It's not

00:45:51.819 --> 00:45:52.579
 just fear

00:45:52.579 --> 00:45:53.719
 that should

00:45:53.719 --> 00:45:54.519
 motivate you

00:45:54.519 --> 00:45:55.199
 to believe

00:45:55.199 --> 00:45:55.439
 in the

00:45:55.439 --> 00:45:55.759
 gospel.

00:45:56.739 --> 00:45:59.039
 we ought

00:45:59.039 --> 00:45:59.299
 to be

00:45:59.299 --> 00:45:59.779
 motivated

00:45:59.779 --> 00:46:00.159
 by

00:46:00.159 --> 00:46:01.799
 grace,

00:46:03.219 --> 00:46:03.479
 his

00:46:03.479 --> 00:46:04.159
 kindness.

00:46:06.419 --> 00:46:06.899
 Romans 2,

00:46:06.979 --> 00:46:07.399
 4 says,

00:46:07.519 --> 00:46:08.039
 it is

00:46:08.039 --> 00:46:08.579
 God's

00:46:08.579 --> 00:46:09.219
 kindness

00:46:09.219 --> 00:46:10.179
 that leads

00:46:10.179 --> 00:46:10.619
 us to

00:46:10.619 --> 00:46:11.259
 repentance.

00:46:12.819 --> 00:46:13.379
 To see

00:46:13.379 --> 00:46:14.119
 this in

00:46:14.119 --> 00:46:15.299
 our very

00:46:15.299 --> 00:46:15.719
 passage,

00:46:15.859 --> 00:46:16.399
 this kindness

00:46:16.399 --> 00:46:17.000
 of God,

00:46:17.399 --> 00:46:18.099
 goodness,

00:46:19.139 --> 00:46:19.759
 compassion,

00:46:20.099 --> 00:46:20.619
 grace,

00:46:21.219 --> 00:46:22.039
 these are the

00:46:22.039 --> 00:46:22.500
 things that

00:46:22.500 --> 00:46:23.099
 apply to

00:46:23.099 --> 00:46:23.379
 Jesus'

00:46:23.639 --> 00:46:24.099
 ministry.

00:46:24.099 --> 00:46:24.319
 people.

00:46:25.400 --> 00:46:25.860
 Remember,

00:46:26.019 --> 00:46:26.279
 even

00:46:26.279 --> 00:46:26.739
 John the

00:46:26.739 --> 00:46:27.079
 Baptist

00:46:27.079 --> 00:46:28.059
 didn't

00:46:28.059 --> 00:46:28.599
 expect

00:46:28.599 --> 00:46:29.039
 Jesus

00:46:29.039 --> 00:46:29.539
 to be

00:46:29.539 --> 00:46:29.819
 this

00:46:29.819 --> 00:46:30.239
 merciful.

00:46:32.579 --> 00:46:33.079
 For God

00:46:33.079 --> 00:46:33.619
 sent his

00:46:33.619 --> 00:46:34.339
 one and

00:46:34.339 --> 00:46:35.219
 only son

00:46:35.219 --> 00:46:36.039
 to give

00:46:36.039 --> 00:46:36.579
 sight to

00:46:36.579 --> 00:46:37.099
 the blind,

00:46:37.559 --> 00:46:38.319
 strength to

00:46:38.319 --> 00:46:38.639
 the lame,

00:46:38.779 --> 00:46:39.460
 cleansing to

00:46:39.460 --> 00:46:39.799
 the leper,

00:46:40.279 --> 00:46:40.799
 hearing to

00:46:40.799 --> 00:46:41.299
 the death,

00:46:41.799 --> 00:46:42.739
 life to the

00:46:42.739 --> 00:46:43.079
 dead,

00:46:43.319 --> 00:46:43.900
 and to preach

00:46:43.900 --> 00:46:44.679
 good news to

00:46:44.679 --> 00:46:45.119
 the poor.

00:46:46.480 --> 00:46:47.159
 He, of

00:46:47.159 --> 00:46:47.559
 course,

00:46:47.659 --> 00:46:48.239
 did that all

00:46:48.239 --> 00:46:48.619
 physically,

00:46:48.619 --> 00:46:48.759
 do.

00:46:49.239 --> 00:46:49.659
 But even

00:46:49.659 --> 00:46:50.299
 more importantly,

00:46:50.420 --> 00:46:50.940
 he has done

00:46:50.940 --> 00:46:51.960
 that spiritually

00:46:51.960 --> 00:46:53.359
 for the least

00:46:53.359 --> 00:46:53.980
 of us in the

00:46:53.980 --> 00:46:54.440
 kingdom of

00:46:54.440 --> 00:46:55.519
 heaven by

00:46:55.519 --> 00:46:56.400
 dying on

00:46:56.400 --> 00:46:57.380
 our behalf

00:46:57.380 --> 00:46:58.279
 and making

00:46:58.279 --> 00:46:59.179
 atonement for

00:46:59.179 --> 00:47:00.059
 our sins.

00:47:01.980 --> 00:47:02.739
 John and

00:47:02.739 --> 00:47:03.179
 the rest of

00:47:03.179 --> 00:47:03.420
 the Old

00:47:03.420 --> 00:47:03.699
 Testament

00:47:03.699 --> 00:47:04.139
 saints,

00:47:04.239 --> 00:47:05.480
 they didn't

00:47:05.480 --> 00:47:06.539
 understand God's

00:47:06.539 --> 00:47:07.779
 serious plan

00:47:07.779 --> 00:47:08.659
 to save

00:47:08.659 --> 00:47:09.519
 sinners near and

00:47:09.519 --> 00:47:10.199
 far, Jew

00:47:10.199 --> 00:47:11.099
 and Gentile.

00:47:11.759 --> 00:47:12.400
 We, you

00:47:12.400 --> 00:47:13.599
 covenant people

00:47:13.599 --> 00:47:14.219
 of God,

00:47:14.599 --> 00:47:15.359
 know, we

00:47:15.359 --> 00:47:15.960
 know this

00:47:15.960 --> 00:47:16.739
 good news,

00:47:16.739 --> 00:47:18.559
 that despite

00:47:18.559 --> 00:47:19.299
 how good

00:47:19.299 --> 00:47:20.259
 Jesus was,

00:47:21.119 --> 00:47:22.119
 he died a

00:47:22.119 --> 00:47:23.479
 sinner's death,

00:47:24.599 --> 00:47:25.000
 beaten,

00:47:25.779 --> 00:47:26.139
 naked,

00:47:26.339 --> 00:47:27.079
 humiliated.

00:47:28.079 --> 00:47:28.500
 Why?

00:47:28.859 --> 00:47:29.219
 It was

00:47:29.219 --> 00:47:29.879
 because of

00:47:29.879 --> 00:47:30.839
 his death,

00:47:31.299 --> 00:47:32.259
 his resurrection,

00:47:32.839 --> 00:47:33.319
 that we

00:47:33.319 --> 00:47:34.079
 now have

00:47:34.079 --> 00:47:34.539
 life.

00:47:36.479 --> 00:47:37.159
 And that's

00:47:37.159 --> 00:47:38.719
 good news.

00:47:39.079 --> 00:47:39.599
 That is

00:47:39.599 --> 00:47:40.559
 the greatest

00:47:40.559 --> 00:47:42.179
 news for

00:47:42.179 --> 00:47:42.779
 all those

00:47:42.779 --> 00:47:43.079
 who have

00:47:43.079 --> 00:47:43.759
 doubted God.

00:47:44.979 --> 00:47:45.979
 It's not

00:47:45.980 --> 00:47:46.980
 just those

00:47:46.980 --> 00:47:47.440
 who have

00:47:47.440 --> 00:47:48.159
 doubted God

00:47:48.159 --> 00:47:48.960
 intellectually

00:47:48.960 --> 00:47:50.420
 who need

00:47:50.420 --> 00:47:51.119
 God's help

00:47:51.119 --> 00:47:51.519
 and mercy.

00:47:53.199 --> 00:47:53.780
 You might

00:47:53.780 --> 00:47:54.599
 not struggle

00:47:54.599 --> 00:47:55.460
 with the

00:47:55.460 --> 00:47:56.099
 intellectual

00:47:56.099 --> 00:47:56.760
 side of

00:47:56.760 --> 00:47:57.119
 doubt,

00:47:57.820 --> 00:47:58.320
 questioning

00:47:58.320 --> 00:47:59.019
 the existence

00:47:59.019 --> 00:47:59.659
 of God

00:47:59.659 --> 00:48:00.800
 or the

00:48:00.800 --> 00:48:02.039
 reliability

00:48:02.039 --> 00:48:02.780
 of the

00:48:02.780 --> 00:48:03.159
 scriptures.

00:48:04.760 --> 00:48:05.400
 But in

00:48:05.400 --> 00:48:06.139
 one sense,

00:48:06.340 --> 00:48:07.159
 every sin

00:48:07.159 --> 00:48:07.579
 that we

00:48:07.579 --> 00:48:08.280
 commit is

00:48:08.280 --> 00:48:09.000
 because we

00:48:09.000 --> 00:48:09.719
 doubt God

00:48:09.719 --> 00:48:10.360
 and his

00:48:10.360 --> 00:48:10.860
 promises.

00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:13.420
 In fact,

00:48:13.480 --> 00:48:13.840
 the very

00:48:13.840 --> 00:48:14.820
 first sin

00:48:14.820 --> 00:48:15.400
 of all

00:48:15.400 --> 00:48:16.059
 humanity

00:48:16.059 --> 00:48:17.240
 that

00:48:17.240 --> 00:48:17.760
 badly

00:48:17.760 --> 00:48:18.539
 commits

00:48:18.539 --> 00:48:19.760
 before they

00:48:19.760 --> 00:48:20.200
 even put

00:48:20.200 --> 00:48:20.780
 their lips

00:48:20.780 --> 00:48:21.400
 onto the

00:48:21.400 --> 00:48:21.700
 forbidden

00:48:21.700 --> 00:48:22.460
 fruit is

00:48:22.460 --> 00:48:23.320
 to doubt

00:48:23.320 --> 00:48:24.200
 God in

00:48:24.200 --> 00:48:25.019
 their hearts.

00:48:28.620 --> 00:48:28.980
 It's an

00:48:28.980 --> 00:48:30.000
 unclean lack

00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:31.019
 faith that

00:48:31.019 --> 00:48:31.900
 overflowed

00:48:31.900 --> 00:48:32.079
 than

00:48:32.079 --> 00:48:32.699
 ours

00:48:32.699 --> 00:48:33.400
 to sin.

00:48:34.239 --> 00:48:34.639
 So,

00:48:35.159 --> 00:48:35.699
 come,

00:48:36.079 --> 00:48:36.760
 come you

00:48:36.760 --> 00:48:37.199
 all.

00:48:38.460 --> 00:48:39.019
 Repent.

00:48:39.500 --> 00:48:39.900
 Jesus

00:48:39.900 --> 00:48:40.960
 wants all

00:48:40.960 --> 00:48:41.880
 to come

00:48:41.880 --> 00:48:42.579
 to repentance.

00:48:43.800 --> 00:48:44.579
 And he

00:48:44.579 --> 00:48:45.280
 stands

00:48:45.280 --> 00:48:46.079
 at the

00:48:46.079 --> 00:48:46.460
 ready

00:48:46.460 --> 00:48:47.119
 to save

00:48:47.119 --> 00:48:47.400
 you.

00:48:48.360 --> 00:48:48.980
 Let no

00:48:48.980 --> 00:48:49.519
 shame

00:48:49.519 --> 00:48:50.260
 hinder you

00:48:50.260 --> 00:48:51.559
 for even

00:48:51.559 --> 00:48:52.179
 the sins

00:48:52.179 --> 00:48:53.039
 of Sodom,

00:48:53.920 --> 00:48:54.500
 even the

00:48:54.500 --> 00:48:54.880
 sins of

00:48:54.880 --> 00:48:55.559
 fire and

00:48:55.559 --> 00:48:56.000
 Sodom,

00:48:56.500 --> 00:48:56.739
 Jesus

00:48:56.739 --> 00:48:57.980
 was ready

00:48:57.980 --> 00:48:58.920
 sitting at

00:48:58.920 --> 00:48:59.300
 the edge

00:48:59.300 --> 00:48:59.579
 of the

00:48:59.579 --> 00:49:00.159
 seat to

00:49:00.159 --> 00:49:01.440
 forgive if

00:49:01.440 --> 00:49:01.760
 they had

00:49:01.760 --> 00:49:02.000
 just

00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:02.460
 repented.

00:49:04.139 --> 00:49:04.900
 That is

00:49:04.900 --> 00:49:05.559
 his humble,

00:49:06.019 --> 00:49:06.920
 gentle posture

00:49:06.920 --> 00:49:07.579
 towards you.

00:49:10.099 --> 00:49:11.219
 1 John 1,

00:49:11.280 --> 00:49:11.860
 it's a famous

00:49:11.860 --> 00:49:12.159
 verse,

00:49:12.280 --> 00:49:12.639
 if you

00:49:12.639 --> 00:49:13.860
 confess your

00:49:13.860 --> 00:49:14.500
 sins.

00:49:15.500 --> 00:49:15.920
 There are

00:49:15.920 --> 00:49:17.619
 no qualifiers

00:49:17.619 --> 00:49:18.199
 to that

00:49:18.199 --> 00:49:18.539
 verse.

00:49:19.000 --> 00:49:19.639
 Any sin,

00:49:19.679 --> 00:49:19.980
 if you

00:49:19.980 --> 00:49:20.860
 confess your

00:49:20.860 --> 00:49:21.320
 sins,

00:49:21.860 --> 00:49:22.360
 he is

00:49:22.360 --> 00:49:23.460
 faithful and

00:49:23.460 --> 00:49:24.000
 just to

00:49:24.000 --> 00:49:24.460
 forgive us

00:49:24.460 --> 00:49:24.920
 our sins

00:49:24.920 --> 00:49:25.559
 and to

00:49:25.559 --> 00:49:26.099
 cleanse us

00:49:26.099 --> 00:49:26.639
 from all

00:49:26.639 --> 00:49:27.760
 unrighteousness.

00:49:27.980 --> 00:49:30.219
 There is

00:49:30.219 --> 00:49:31.260
 more mercy

00:49:31.260 --> 00:49:32.199
 in Christ

00:49:32.199 --> 00:49:33.380
 than there

00:49:33.380 --> 00:49:34.059
 is sin

00:49:34.059 --> 00:49:34.780
 in us.

00:49:37.099 --> 00:49:38.079
 So repent

00:49:38.079 --> 00:49:38.440
 of your

00:49:38.440 --> 00:49:38.740
 sin,

00:49:39.039 --> 00:49:39.699
 repent of

00:49:39.699 --> 00:49:40.280
 your doubts

00:49:40.280 --> 00:49:41.219
 and go

00:49:41.219 --> 00:49:42.059
 to Jesus.

00:49:42.619 --> 00:49:43.240
 Go to

00:49:43.240 --> 00:49:43.539
 Jesus,

00:49:43.679 --> 00:49:44.260
 the Messiah

00:49:44.260 --> 00:49:44.679
 who has

00:49:44.679 --> 00:49:45.099
 come to

00:49:45.099 --> 00:49:45.440
 save the

00:49:45.440 --> 00:49:45.740
 world.

00:49:46.860 --> 00:49:47.320
 Go to

00:49:47.320 --> 00:49:48.039
 Jesus as

00:49:48.039 --> 00:49:48.639
 you are,

00:49:48.880 --> 00:49:49.179
 whatever

00:49:49.179 --> 00:49:49.920
 place you

00:49:49.920 --> 00:49:50.699
 are spiritually.

00:49:51.559 --> 00:49:52.119
 Doubts,

00:49:52.420 --> 00:49:52.920
 sin and

00:49:52.920 --> 00:49:53.179
 all,

00:49:53.280 --> 00:49:53.860
 go to

00:49:53.860 --> 00:49:54.260
 Jesus,

00:49:54.539 --> 00:49:54.980
 flee to

00:49:54.980 --> 00:49:55.219
 him.

00:49:55.960 --> 00:49:56.480
 Don't

00:49:56.480 --> 00:49:57.300
 stop.

00:49:57.300 --> 00:49:58.160
 Don't

00:49:58.160 --> 00:49:58.640
 give up.

00:49:59.320 --> 00:49:59.580
 Keep

00:49:59.580 --> 00:50:00.120
 pursuing

00:50:00.120 --> 00:50:00.900
 and keep

00:50:00.900 --> 00:50:01.400
 seeking

00:50:01.400 --> 00:50:01.900
 him.

00:50:02.460 --> 00:50:02.780
 That you

00:50:02.780 --> 00:50:02.960
 will

00:50:02.960 --> 00:50:03.720
 persevere

00:50:03.720 --> 00:50:04.320
 so that

00:50:04.320 --> 00:50:04.580
 you can

00:50:04.580 --> 00:50:05.100
 believe

00:50:05.100 --> 00:50:05.640
 on the

00:50:05.640 --> 00:50:06.039
 name of

00:50:06.039 --> 00:50:06.260
 Jesus

00:50:06.260 --> 00:50:06.680
 Christ

00:50:06.680 --> 00:50:07.019
 for the

00:50:07.019 --> 00:50:07.440
 salvation

00:50:07.440 --> 00:50:07.880
 of your

00:50:07.880 --> 00:50:08.180
 soul.

00:50:10.420 --> 00:50:10.740
 And as

00:50:10.740 --> 00:50:11.240
 I wrap up

00:50:11.240 --> 00:50:11.600
 this sermon,

00:50:11.720 --> 00:50:12.420
 I'm happy,

00:50:13.300 --> 00:50:14.100
 I'm happy to

00:50:14.100 --> 00:50:14.460
 share that

00:50:14.460 --> 00:50:15.100
 this friend

00:50:15.100 --> 00:50:16.600
 from college,

00:50:17.300 --> 00:50:18.600
 he exemplified

00:50:18.600 --> 00:50:19.280
 this kind of

00:50:19.280 --> 00:50:19.760
 perseverance.

00:50:21.480 --> 00:50:22.019
 Although he

00:50:22.019 --> 00:50:22.600
 left school

00:50:22.600 --> 00:50:22.900
 within

00:50:22.900 --> 00:50:23.720
 unsure about

00:50:23.720 --> 00:50:24.280
 his faith,

00:50:24.940 --> 00:50:25.640
 struggling through

00:50:25.639 --> 00:50:26.719
 gaps, he

00:50:26.719 --> 00:50:28.159
 never stopped.

00:50:28.739 --> 00:50:29.500
 He never

00:50:29.500 --> 00:50:30.239
 stopped seeking

00:50:30.239 --> 00:50:30.799
 Jesus.

00:50:32.879 --> 00:50:33.400
 Though in

00:50:33.400 --> 00:50:33.859
 college there

00:50:33.859 --> 00:50:34.319
 were times

00:50:34.319 --> 00:50:35.079
 where he

00:50:35.079 --> 00:50:35.519
 wanted to

00:50:35.519 --> 00:50:35.859
 throw in

00:50:35.859 --> 00:50:36.339
 the towel

00:50:36.339 --> 00:50:38.059
 and I

00:50:38.059 --> 00:50:38.460
 had to

00:50:38.460 --> 00:50:39.480
 talk him

00:50:39.480 --> 00:50:39.799
 off the

00:50:39.799 --> 00:50:40.219
 bridge,

00:50:40.879 --> 00:50:41.599
 metaphorically.

00:50:43.000 --> 00:50:43.539
 But he

00:50:43.539 --> 00:50:44.659
 never stopped

00:50:44.659 --> 00:50:45.859
 pursuing a

00:50:45.859 --> 00:50:46.879
 faith that

00:50:46.879 --> 00:50:47.239
 sought

00:50:47.239 --> 00:50:47.859
 understanding.

00:50:49.539 --> 00:50:50.059
 And he

00:50:50.059 --> 00:50:50.559
 is now

00:50:50.559 --> 00:50:52.039
 growing and

00:50:52.039 --> 00:50:53.099
 thriving as a

00:50:53.099 --> 00:50:53.460
 believer,

00:50:54.339 --> 00:50:54.859
 an active

00:50:54.860 --> 00:50:55.280
 member of

00:50:55.280 --> 00:50:55.720
 a church.

00:50:57.079 --> 00:50:57.420
 And I

00:50:57.420 --> 00:50:58.760
 praise God

00:50:58.760 --> 00:50:59.260
 for this

00:50:59.260 --> 00:50:59.579
 brother,

00:51:00.660 --> 00:51:01.300
 in particular

00:51:01.300 --> 00:51:02.960
 because of

00:51:02.960 --> 00:51:03.860
 God's amazing

00:51:03.860 --> 00:51:05.059
 providence.

00:51:06.559 --> 00:51:06.980
 In the past

00:51:06.980 --> 00:51:07.800
 year he's

00:51:07.800 --> 00:51:09.400
 played such a

00:51:09.400 --> 00:51:10.460
 huge role in

00:51:10.460 --> 00:51:12.700
 a close

00:51:12.700 --> 00:51:13.320
 family member

00:51:13.320 --> 00:51:13.440
 of his

00:51:13.440 --> 00:51:13.900
 journey to

00:51:13.900 --> 00:51:14.240
 faith.

00:51:15.160 --> 00:51:15.920
 One that I've

00:51:15.920 --> 00:51:16.240
 been praying

00:51:16.240 --> 00:51:16.880
 for for a

00:51:16.880 --> 00:51:17.140
 decade.

00:51:19.260 --> 00:51:20.140
 God has

00:51:20.140 --> 00:51:21.620
 used it in

00:51:21.620 --> 00:51:22.280
 such a

00:51:22.280 --> 00:51:23.079
 powerful,

00:51:23.539 --> 00:51:24.260
 powerful way

00:51:24.260 --> 00:51:24.760
 faith and I'm

00:51:24.760 --> 00:51:25.400
 so thankful

00:51:25.400 --> 00:51:25.980
 to God

00:51:25.980 --> 00:51:26.820
 for him.

00:51:28.980 --> 00:51:29.760
 Thankful to

00:51:29.760 --> 00:51:30.660
 God and I

00:51:30.660 --> 00:51:31.520
 can't wait to

00:51:31.520 --> 00:51:33.560
 worship for

00:51:33.560 --> 00:51:34.300
 all eternity

00:51:34.300 --> 00:51:35.420
 with him and

00:51:35.420 --> 00:51:36.320
 his close

00:51:36.320 --> 00:51:36.680
 family.

00:51:39.400 --> 00:51:40.380
 So like my

00:51:40.380 --> 00:51:42.440
 friend, like

00:51:42.440 --> 00:51:42.720
 John

00:51:42.720 --> 00:51:43.540
 Baptist, let's

00:51:43.540 --> 00:51:44.740
 pursue a

00:51:44.740 --> 00:51:46.060
 faith, a

00:51:46.060 --> 00:51:46.380
 safe

00:51:46.380 --> 00:51:47.840
 understanding by

00:51:47.840 --> 00:51:48.360
 bringing our

00:51:48.360 --> 00:51:48.880
 doubts to

00:51:48.880 --> 00:51:51.120
 God and

00:51:51.120 --> 00:51:52.000
 repenting for

00:51:52.000 --> 00:51:52.719
 forgiveness of

00:51:52.719 --> 00:51:53.079
 our sins.

00:51:55.019 --> 00:51:55.880
 Let's pray.

00:52:01.000 --> 00:52:01.920
 Lord, we

00:52:01.920 --> 00:52:02.440
 are

00:52:02.440 --> 00:52:02.840
 humbled

00:52:02.840 --> 00:52:05.179
 and are

00:52:05.179 --> 00:52:06.039
 amazed of

00:52:06.039 --> 00:52:06.739
 your grace and

00:52:06.739 --> 00:52:08.320
 kindness that

00:52:08.320 --> 00:52:09.320
 saves us

00:52:09.320 --> 00:52:10.000
 doubting

00:52:10.000 --> 00:52:13.260
 us sweet

00:52:13.260 --> 00:52:13.900
 sinners.

00:52:13.900 --> 00:52:18.920
 that you

00:52:18.920 --> 00:52:19.680
 invite us to

00:52:19.680 --> 00:52:20.680
 come again

00:52:20.680 --> 00:52:21.160
 and again,

00:52:21.900 --> 00:52:22.579
 even when we

00:52:22.579 --> 00:52:23.519
 question you

00:52:23.519 --> 00:52:24.240
 and you give

00:52:24.240 --> 00:52:25.099
 us no reason

00:52:25.099 --> 00:52:25.760
 to question

00:52:25.760 --> 00:52:26.099
 you.

00:52:27.220 --> 00:52:27.740
 We question

00:52:27.740 --> 00:52:28.400
 you and you

00:52:28.400 --> 00:52:29.400
 answer so

00:52:29.400 --> 00:52:30.300
 gently,

00:52:30.900 --> 00:52:32.559
 so lovingly.

00:52:33.639 --> 00:52:34.500
 So please

00:52:34.500 --> 00:52:35.240
 help us to

00:52:35.240 --> 00:52:36.760
 run to you,

00:52:36.880 --> 00:52:37.480
 to cling to

00:52:37.480 --> 00:52:37.660
 you.

00:52:37.660 --> 00:52:37.720
 Thank you.

00:52:37.719 --> 00:52:42.699
 you are all

00:52:42.699 --> 00:52:43.299
 that we need.

00:52:47.039 --> 00:52:47.579
 Give us

00:52:47.579 --> 00:52:48.279
 more of you,

00:52:48.359 --> 00:52:48.719
 Lord Jesus.

00:52:49.079 --> 00:52:49.719
 In Jesus' name

00:52:49.719 --> 00:52:50.059
 we pray.

00:52:50.899 --> 00:52:51.299
 Amen.