WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:04.299 The scripture reading comes from Matthew, chapter 11. 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:09.480 Please follow along on the screen, the bulletin, or your own Bible. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:13.060 Starting in verse 1, we read, 00:00:14.060 --> 00:00:17.740 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:21.920 he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:27.620 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, 00:00:27.620 --> 00:00:30.839 he sent word by his disciples and said to him, 00:00:31.260 --> 00:00:35.200 Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? 00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:38.039 And Jesus answered them, 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:42.260 Go and tell John what you hear and see. 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:46.260 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk. 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:51.040 Lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, 00:00:51.340 --> 00:00:53.980 and the poor have good news preached to them. 00:00:53.980 --> 00:00:57.439 And blessed is the one who is not offended. 00:00:57.619 --> 00:01:04.879 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John. 00:01:05.679 --> 00:01:08.340 What did you go out into the wilderness to see? 00:01:08.899 --> 00:01:11.060 A reed shaken by the wind? 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:14.259 What then did you go out to see? 00:01:15.219 --> 00:01:17.439 A man dressed in soft clothing. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:22.180 Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses. 00:01:22.180 --> 00:01:25.280 What then did you go out to see? 00:01:25.740 --> 00:01:26.560 A prophet? 00:01:27.440 --> 00:01:30.060 Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 00:01:30.840 --> 00:01:33.160 This is he of whom it is written, 00:01:33.960 --> 00:01:36.900 Behold, I send my messenger before your face, 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:39.200 who will prepare your way before you. 00:01:40.300 --> 00:01:41.740 Truly I say to you, 00:01:42.300 --> 00:01:43.740 among those born of women, 00:01:43.960 --> 00:01:47.620 there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. 00:01:47.620 --> 00:01:51.540 Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven 00:01:51.540 --> 00:01:53.160 is greater than he. 00:01:54.579 --> 00:01:57.160 From the days of John the Baptist until now, 00:01:57.660 --> 00:01:59.920 the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, 00:02:00.260 --> 00:02:02.320 and the violent take it by force. 00:02:03.160 --> 00:02:06.880 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 00:02:07.600 --> 00:02:09.379 And if you are willing to accept it, 00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:12.180 he is Elijah who is to come. 00:02:12.180 --> 00:02:16.280 He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:20.640 But to what shall I compare this generation? 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:24.159 It is like children sitting in the marketplaces 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:26.280 and calling to their playmates. 00:02:26.760 --> 00:02:29.540 We played the flute for you, and you did not dance. 00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:32.219 We sang a dirge, and you did not mourn. 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:36.900 For John came neither eating nor drinking, 00:02:37.219 --> 00:02:39.319 and they say, he has a demon. 00:02:39.319 --> 00:02:43.340 The son of man came eating and drinking, 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:47.579 and they say, look at him, a glutton and a drunkard, 00:02:48.079 --> 00:02:50.139 a friend of tax collectors and sinners. 00:02:50.900 --> 00:02:53.759 Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:57.500 Then he began to denounce the cities 00:02:57.500 --> 00:03:00.240 where most of his mighty works had been done, 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:02.039 because they did not repent. 00:03:03.299 --> 00:03:05.180 Woe to you, Chorazin! 00:03:05.799 --> 00:03:07.379 Woe to you, Bethsaida! 00:03:07.379 --> 00:03:10.099 For if the mighty works done in you 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:12.699 had been done in Tyre and Sidon, 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:14.780 they would have repented long ago 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:16.299 in sackcloth and ashes. 00:03:16.979 --> 00:03:18.240 But I tell you, 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:21.019 it will be more bearable on the day of judgment 00:03:21.019 --> 00:03:23.180 for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:25.639 And you, Capernaum, 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:27.900 will you be exalted to heaven? 00:03:28.539 --> 00:03:30.379 You will be brought down to Hades. 00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:33.120 For if the mighty works done in you 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:34.479 had been done in Sodom, 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:37.039 it would have remained until this day. 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:40.459 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable 00:03:40.459 --> 00:03:41.560 on the day of judgment 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:44.379 for the land of Sodom than for you. 00:03:45.579 --> 00:03:47.519 At that time, Jesus declared, 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:50.199 I thank you, Father, 00:03:50.839 --> 00:03:52.199 Lord of heaven and earth, 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:54.339 that you have hidden these things 00:03:54.339 --> 00:03:56.099 from the wise and understanding 00:03:56.099 --> 00:03:58.899 and revealed them to little children. 00:03:58.900 --> 00:04:00.939 Yes, Father, 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:03.360 for such was your gracious will. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:05.680 This is the word of God. 00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:18.699 Great. 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:20.879 Thank you so much, Karen. 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:24.259 And I think let me do some, 00:04:24.459 --> 00:04:25.279 I'm not that tall. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:30.240 Great. 00:04:31.180 --> 00:04:32.159 If you don't know me, 00:04:32.219 --> 00:04:32.980 my name's Chris. 00:04:33.079 --> 00:04:35.199 Really excited to see you this morning. 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:36.719 Wasn't that an awesome song? 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:38.019 Leo and Henrika, 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:39.120 man, that was just, 00:04:39.259 --> 00:04:41.279 that was just an awesome song. 00:04:41.339 --> 00:04:41.839 That really, 00:04:42.100 --> 00:04:43.579 particularly really spoke to me. 00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:45.079 We've had a crazy 24 hours. 00:04:45.180 --> 00:04:46.319 Our son's just been in the hospital. 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:48.599 And, you know, 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:49.159 actually when you're, 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:50.240 we took him to A&E 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.219 and when you're in A&E, 00:04:51.459 --> 00:04:52.839 just right next door, 00:04:52.939 --> 00:04:53.360 there's this, 00:04:53.579 --> 00:04:54.699 just right opposite, 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:56.079 there's this room 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:59.040 which has got resuscitation in progress. 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:01.639 And suddenly just you realize, 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:03.860 like you kind of live this comfortable life 00:05:03.860 --> 00:05:05.079 for a lot of your time, 00:05:05.139 --> 00:05:05.680 but actually you see 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:06.699 there's so much brokenness 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:07.759 in the world around us. 00:05:08.219 --> 00:05:10.019 There's so much of people who need, 00:05:10.379 --> 00:05:11.959 there's physical resuscitation, 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:13.959 but there's also spiritual resurrection 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:16.139 that people need in their lives. 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:17.199 And so let me just, 00:05:17.379 --> 00:05:18.459 before we begin, 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:19.860 let me just pray for us 00:05:19.860 --> 00:05:24.000 and pray that God would really speak to us 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:25.759 and open our eyes to see his heart, 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:28.379 to be broken with what he is broken with, 00:05:28.579 --> 00:05:31.579 but also to enjoy him as he wants us to. 00:05:31.659 --> 00:05:33.800 So could you just pray with me right now? 00:05:39.800 --> 00:05:40.759 Father, I thank you 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:43.620 that you are the Lord of life, 00:05:43.620 --> 00:05:46.879 the one who has come to set us free. 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:48.100 Thank you that you have come 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:49.240 to bring in your kingdom. 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:50.899 Thank you that you're the one 00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:52.319 who comes to set us free, 00:05:52.420 --> 00:05:53.420 to liberate us. 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:55.959 Thank you that you are the one 00:05:55.959 --> 00:05:58.560 who wants to change our lives completely. 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:01.220 And Father, we just know right at the moment, 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:02.540 Lord, in our congregation, 00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:03.939 there are those who are struggling 00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:04.600 and suffering. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:06.720 Again, we keep bringing Jacob 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:08.820 and Wilson and Gloria 00:06:08.820 --> 00:06:09.840 and their family to you. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:10.720 We just keep praying 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:12.420 for your mercy there, 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:14.760 particularly with just the rounds of chemo 00:06:14.760 --> 00:06:15.420 that are going on. 00:06:15.500 --> 00:06:16.460 Lord, would you have mercy? 00:06:17.280 --> 00:06:19.660 Father, would you be with their family 00:06:19.660 --> 00:06:21.140 and all those other people 00:06:21.140 --> 00:06:22.060 in Watermark as well 00:06:22.060 --> 00:06:23.180 who I know there is sickness 00:06:23.180 --> 00:06:24.040 that's going around. 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:25.360 I know there's people struggling 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:26.860 just with family relationships. 00:06:27.160 --> 00:06:28.060 Father, would you help us 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:29.000 to run to you 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:31.120 knowing that you're a faithful father 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:32.080 in the midst of this? 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:35.719 And Lord, even as we're going to be going out 00:06:35.719 --> 00:06:36.740 to do loving the city 00:06:36.740 --> 00:06:40.120 and seeing just different areas of the city 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:41.439 maybe we've not seen before, 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:43.079 Lord, I pray, open our eyes, 00:06:43.459 --> 00:06:45.479 break our hearts for what breaks yours 00:06:45.479 --> 00:06:47.819 so that we might pray as you call us to 00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:49.699 and love as you call us to 00:06:49.699 --> 00:06:51.560 and be the people you want us to be. 00:06:52.659 --> 00:06:55.019 And Father, we pray as we see today 00:06:55.019 --> 00:06:55.719 in your word, 00:06:55.799 --> 00:06:57.439 as we come to see how people 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:58.719 are to respond to Jesus, 00:06:58.860 --> 00:07:00.659 I pray that you would melt our hearts 00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:02.680 so that we come again 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:03.780 like little children 00:07:03.780 --> 00:07:05.700 who just know that we have 00:07:05.700 --> 00:07:06.740 an awesome Father 00:07:06.740 --> 00:07:09.220 who loves to give us good gifts, 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:10.420 who is so faithful, 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:12.100 who is so compassionate, 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:15.380 and yet you are the center of everything. 00:07:15.520 --> 00:07:17.760 So I pray speak to us right now. 00:07:18.580 --> 00:07:20.940 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:07:23.280 --> 00:07:23.760 Great. 00:07:26.520 --> 00:07:28.860 So talking of medical things, 00:07:28.860 --> 00:07:31.800 a week after my daughter was born, 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:34.080 so this is just about six weeks ago, 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:36.580 we'd gone home 00:07:36.580 --> 00:07:38.259 and we were just kind of settling 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:40.699 into the rhythm of feeding 00:07:40.699 --> 00:07:41.920 and everything that you do 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:42.840 with a newborn baby. 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:44.780 And then at 6 p.m., 00:07:44.780 --> 00:07:47.020 we get this call from our doctor 00:07:47.020 --> 00:07:48.400 saying, 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:50.480 listen, we've just found 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:53.500 an abnormality in the test result 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:55.360 and you need to get to the hospital 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:56.259 immediately 00:07:56.259 --> 00:07:58.879 because this could be so serious 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:00.060 this could be sudden death. 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:04.500 Now that's news 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:07.680 which just rocks your world, right? 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:09.720 It throws all of your plans 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:10.500 out of the window. 00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:11.360 It doesn't matter 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:12.399 what you were doing before. 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:13.639 Everything stops 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:15.000 and everything's got to change 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:15.899 at that point, right? 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:18.680 Now she's fine, by the way. 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:21.600 So don't come up afterwards 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:22.280 asking like, 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:22.920 what's happened? 00:08:23.019 --> 00:08:23.500 She's fine. 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:26.079 But the Gospel of Matthew 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:27.800 is what we're going through 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:28.639 and been going through 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:29.879 over the last few weeks 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:32.360 has been telling us 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:33.799 news, 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:35.440 but of a different kind. 00:08:36.560 --> 00:08:37.940 He's been telling us news 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:39.879 that Jesus is the king 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:41.879 of all creation. 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:43.100 He is the one 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:44.379 who is bringing God's kingdom 00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:45.200 in of healing, 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:46.379 of restoration, 00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:47.679 of life, 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:50.519 drawing people back to God, 00:08:50.700 --> 00:08:51.559 transforming them 00:08:51.559 --> 00:08:53.019 in every single way 00:08:53.019 --> 00:08:53.519 physically, 00:08:53.939 --> 00:08:54.580 emotionally, 00:08:54.899 --> 00:08:55.580 spiritually. 00:08:56.460 --> 00:08:57.759 And the response 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.279 that Jesus has been calling for 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:00.659 is to repent 00:09:00.659 --> 00:09:01.720 and believe 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:03.279 and to follow him. 00:09:05.179 --> 00:09:06.919 And this news, 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:09.080 it's easy, 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:10.259 particularly if you've been 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:11.379 in church for a while 00:09:11.379 --> 00:09:12.159 and you kind of read 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:12.960 these stories, 00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:14.679 to kind of think of this news 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:15.240 a bit like, 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:15.480 you know, 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:16.759 you hear about some orphan 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:18.300 in Guatemala 00:09:18.300 --> 00:09:19.680 who just got reunited 00:09:19.680 --> 00:09:20.539 with their family 00:09:20.539 --> 00:09:21.019 and you think, 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:21.279 oh, 00:09:21.340 --> 00:09:22.080 that's nice, 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:22.539 isn't it? 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:24.960 But it doesn't always feel 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:26.200 like personal news. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:27.879 Personal news 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:28.860 which actually is going to 00:09:28.860 --> 00:09:30.500 reshape entirely 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:31.980 your whole of your world. 00:09:32.700 --> 00:09:33.659 Sometimes it feels like 00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:34.360 distant news. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:35.300 But Matthew 00:09:35.300 --> 00:09:36.680 is coming to us 00:09:36.680 --> 00:09:37.139 saying, 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:38.960 this news 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:40.320 is not distant news. 00:09:40.420 --> 00:09:41.680 The news of who Jesus is 00:09:41.680 --> 00:09:43.580 is personal news for you 00:09:43.580 --> 00:09:44.259 and you've got to 00:09:44.259 --> 00:09:45.379 respond to it. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:46.960 And so, 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:48.319 the book of Matthew 00:09:48.319 --> 00:09:49.399 is actually structured 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:50.620 around five 00:09:50.620 --> 00:09:53.240 different teaching points, 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:54.679 blocks of teaching 00:09:54.679 --> 00:09:56.200 that Jesus gives, 00:09:56.299 --> 00:09:57.279 which actually is to correlate 00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:58.220 onto the five 00:09:58.220 --> 00:09:59.620 books of Moses 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:01.299 in the Old Testament 00:10:01.299 --> 00:10:01.939 showing that Jesus 00:10:01.939 --> 00:10:02.860 is the new Moses 00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:04.080 who's bringing God's word 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:04.700 to people. 00:10:05.439 --> 00:10:06.740 But if you look 00:10:06.740 --> 00:10:07.960 on the screen, 00:10:08.059 --> 00:10:08.659 I don't know if you've got 00:10:08.659 --> 00:10:09.819 the PowerPoint up there. 00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:11.980 Maybe we haven't. 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:12.319 Yeah? 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:13.440 Ah, great. 00:10:13.660 --> 00:10:14.720 You'll see that actually 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:15.780 what we've just been, 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:17.000 we're in the second of these 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:18.320 and we've just heard 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:19.720 how Jesus taught 00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:20.500 the people, 00:10:20.780 --> 00:10:21.440 the disciples 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:22.300 about mission 00:10:22.300 --> 00:10:23.920 and he's been sending 00:10:23.920 --> 00:10:24.600 them out 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:25.620 on mission. 00:10:26.060 --> 00:10:26.840 And right now 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:27.379 it says 00:10:27.379 --> 00:10:28.740 Jesus had finished 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:29.960 instructing 00:10:29.960 --> 00:10:30.680 his disciples 00:10:30.680 --> 00:10:31.180 and actually 00:10:31.180 --> 00:10:31.740 you'll see 00:10:31.740 --> 00:10:32.660 every one of these blocks 00:10:32.660 --> 00:10:34.040 of teaching finishes 00:10:34.040 --> 00:10:35.060 with that kind of phrase 00:10:35.060 --> 00:10:35.640 due when Jesus 00:10:35.640 --> 00:10:36.360 had finished 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:37.320 these sayings, 00:10:37.420 --> 00:10:38.020 these parables, 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:39.120 these teachings. 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:41.860 and what he's done now 00:10:41.860 --> 00:10:43.299 is he's sending them out 00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:45.659 and just as Jesus 00:10:45.659 --> 00:10:46.899 had taught them to go, 00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:47.940 now what he's doing 00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:48.779 is he himself 00:10:48.779 --> 00:10:49.320 is going out 00:10:49.320 --> 00:10:50.240 preaching and teaching 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:51.440 and he's going to show you 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:52.259 how people 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:53.399 are going to respond 00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:54.960 to the news 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:55.779 that as they are 00:10:55.779 --> 00:10:56.700 to proclaim it 00:10:56.700 --> 00:10:57.580 you're going to see 00:10:57.580 --> 00:10:58.379 responses. 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:01.000 So chapters 11 and 12 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:01.779 are all about 00:11:01.779 --> 00:11:03.399 how people respond 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:04.799 to Jesus, 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:06.379 the news 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:07.620 of this king 00:11:07.620 --> 00:11:08.399 in town. 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:10.459 And so I want to look 00:11:10.459 --> 00:11:11.279 in this passage 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:12.959 at just three kinds 00:11:12.959 --> 00:11:13.679 of responses 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:16.459 to those who are doubters, 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:18.659 to those who are resistors 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:20.139 and to those who are believers. 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:20.879 Okay? 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:21.799 So that's kind of 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:22.220 where we're going. 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:22.620 We're going to go 00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:23.340 through the passage. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:24.459 So the first one, 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:25.019 doubters, 00:11:25.199 --> 00:11:26.299 kind of 2 to 15 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:27.720 verses 2 to 15. 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:29.120 So if you've got 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:29.600 your bulletin 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:30.899 just kind of follow along 00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:32.480 with me as you go. 00:11:33.539 --> 00:11:34.579 So doubters. 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:37.240 John the Baptist 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:40.000 is the dude. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:40.639 I mean, 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:41.259 I call him 00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:41.919 Jay the Beat 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:43.919 because he is just, 00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:44.419 he's got this 00:11:44.419 --> 00:11:45.299 no-nonsense 00:11:45.299 --> 00:11:46.680 preaching style 00:11:46.680 --> 00:11:47.960 which is like 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:49.700 he's calling people 00:11:49.700 --> 00:11:50.759 to repent 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:51.700 in anticipation 00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:53.580 that God's kingdom, 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:54.779 this Messiah figure, 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:55.460 is going to just 00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:56.700 totally change 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:57.840 everything. 00:11:58.299 --> 00:11:58.659 And there's this 00:11:58.659 --> 00:12:00.560 atmosphere of expectation 00:12:00.560 --> 00:12:01.980 in Israel 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:02.740 at the time 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:03.620 that God's kingdom 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.159 is coming. 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:05.439 and John's message 00:12:05.439 --> 00:12:06.240 has gone viral 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:07.039 and everyone's been 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:07.839 coming out 00:12:07.839 --> 00:12:08.480 to see. 00:12:09.719 --> 00:12:10.419 And John has been 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:10.819 preaching 00:12:10.819 --> 00:12:11.879 in the light 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:12.959 of the prophecy 00:12:12.959 --> 00:12:13.939 after prophecy 00:12:13.939 --> 00:12:15.000 in the Old Testament 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:16.559 which tells you 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:18.639 that when this Messiah 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:19.399 comes, 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:21.439 oppressive rulers 00:12:21.439 --> 00:12:25.059 will be removed. 00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:25.799 There will be a time 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:26.439 of peace 00:12:26.439 --> 00:12:27.159 and harmony. 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:27.919 There will be 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:28.759 this restoration. 00:12:29.179 --> 00:12:29.480 There will be 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:30.100 this life. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:31.539 And John has seen 00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:32.000 Jesus 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:33.519 and he's gone, 00:12:34.179 --> 00:12:35.179 this is the guy. 00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:36.620 He's gone in 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:37.120 John 1, 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:37.439 he says, 00:12:37.779 --> 00:12:38.879 this is the Lamb of God 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:39.620 who takes away 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.360 the sin of the world. 00:12:40.419 --> 00:12:40.719 He said, 00:12:40.939 --> 00:12:41.980 this is the one 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:44.879 who will baptize you 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:45.699 not with water 00:12:45.699 --> 00:12:47.419 but with the Holy Spirit. 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:48.360 The one who's going 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:49.699 to bring new life 00:12:49.699 --> 00:12:50.779 and liberation 00:12:50.779 --> 00:12:51.539 to you. 00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:53.000 And he's also 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:53.819 going to be the one 00:12:53.819 --> 00:12:54.679 who's going to judge 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:55.419 God's enemies. 00:12:55.839 --> 00:12:56.719 He's going to burn 00:12:56.719 --> 00:12:57.799 them like chaff. 00:12:58.659 --> 00:12:59.519 This is what 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.419 John's been preaching. 00:13:00.419 --> 00:13:01.179 This is what 00:13:01.179 --> 00:13:01.860 he's expecting. 00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:05.599 But J the bee 00:13:05.599 --> 00:13:06.339 has got in trouble 00:13:06.339 --> 00:13:11.399 because Herod Antipas, 00:13:11.479 --> 00:13:12.000 who is like the 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:13.179 chief executive 00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:13.879 of Galilee, 00:13:14.699 --> 00:13:16.539 he has gone to Rome 00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:17.379 to visit his brother 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:18.319 and when he's 00:13:18.319 --> 00:13:18.939 sawing his brother, 00:13:19.319 --> 00:13:20.299 he met his wife 00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:21.620 and his wife, 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.479 his brother's wife 00:13:22.479 --> 00:13:23.000 was hot 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:24.299 and she was bored 00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:26.019 with Herod's brother 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:27.319 and so what happens 00:13:27.319 --> 00:13:28.919 is she leaves 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:29.620 his brother, 00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:31.120 Herod divorces 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:31.659 his wife 00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:32.179 and they get 00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:32.460 together 00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:32.779 and they get 00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:33.139 married. 00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:35.519 And John 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:40.179 really condemns 00:13:40.179 --> 00:13:40.659 him from this. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:41.340 He really 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:42.940 says, 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:44.940 this is not 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:45.500 what you should 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:45.980 be doing 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:47.000 as a leader 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:47.539 in Israel. 00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:50.159 And if you'd 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:50.799 say that to any 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:51.840 authoritarian leader, 00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:52.419 what do you think 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:52.940 you're going to get? 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:55.019 He gets thrown 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:55.879 in prison 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:57.740 awaiting execution 00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:58.919 on death row 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:00.060 because that's 00:14:00.060 --> 00:14:00.620 not the kind 00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.360 of thing you do. 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:02.680 And imagine 00:14:02.680 --> 00:14:03.200 if you were 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:03.960 John the Baptist, 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.379 you've gone 00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:05.740 from being 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.460 the talk of the 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:07.259 town to now 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:07.960 languishing 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:09.740 in the dungeon 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:12.519 and you've been 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.500 expecting God's 00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:14.240 enemies to be 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:14.700 destroyed, 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:15.519 but here you are 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:16.320 about to be killed 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:17.180 by God's enemies. 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.700 It's not surprising, 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:21.019 I can understand it, 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:21.720 that suddenly 00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:22.399 doubts start 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.039 creeping in. 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.299 You start going, 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:25.779 is this Jesus 00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:26.859 really the real 00:14:26.859 --> 00:14:27.199 deal? 00:14:28.479 --> 00:14:28.779 I don't know 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:29.519 if you've ever 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.240 had that, 00:14:30.299 --> 00:14:30.620 have you? 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:31.959 Where the promises 00:14:31.959 --> 00:14:32.559 of God are what 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:33.079 you've read in 00:14:33.079 --> 00:14:34.120 scripture and then 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:34.979 your circumstances 00:14:34.979 --> 00:14:35.779 just don't seem 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:37.039 to align in some 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.319 way. 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:38.359 Maybe you've been 00:14:38.359 --> 00:14:39.719 praying for healing 00:14:39.719 --> 00:14:40.419 and really trusting 00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:41.500 God to heal someone, 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:42.599 really expecting it, 00:14:42.599 --> 00:14:43.059 and then they just 00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:44.000 seem to get worse. 00:14:44.839 --> 00:14:46.179 Or maybe you thought 00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:46.779 God was going to 00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:47.339 bring you this 00:14:47.339 --> 00:14:48.319 provision of a new 00:14:48.319 --> 00:14:49.039 job and you've got 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:49.779 this interview and it 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:50.439 all seems to be going 00:14:50.439 --> 00:14:51.179 well and then suddenly 00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:51.939 it falls through. 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:53.819 And you just wonder, 00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:56.939 is this for real? 00:14:57.059 --> 00:14:57.859 You read something 00:14:57.859 --> 00:14:58.759 in scripture that 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:00.439 goes, man, I'm not 00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:01.219 sure if I can really 00:15:01.219 --> 00:15:02.199 deal with this. 00:15:02.899 --> 00:15:03.799 And we begin to 00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:05.299 question God and this 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.599 is where John's 00:15:06.599 --> 00:15:07.759 head space is at the 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:07.979 moment. 00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:09.359 He's going, is Jesus 00:15:09.359 --> 00:15:10.359 really the Messiah? 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:11.719 Which is why he goes, 00:15:11.979 --> 00:15:12.759 sends his disciples 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:15.659 to go, are you the 00:15:15.659 --> 00:15:17.039 one who was to come? 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:19.939 Or should we expect 00:15:19.939 --> 00:15:20.339 another? 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:20.420 another? 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:25.680 You see, John gives 00:15:25.680 --> 00:15:27.180 us an amazing lesson 00:15:27.180 --> 00:15:29.060 in how to deal with 00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:31.139 doubt and questions. 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:33.639 Because what he does, 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:35.340 you know, generally I 00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:36.780 think in the church, we 00:15:36.780 --> 00:15:37.759 don't deal with doubt 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:39.000 and questions very well. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:41.300 We often deal with them 00:15:41.300 --> 00:15:42.379 in a couple of ways. 00:15:43.280 --> 00:15:45.280 One, I think we just 00:15:45.280 --> 00:15:47.460 hide them, right? 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:48.620 You know, we feel 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:49.580 ashamed of what other 00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:50.580 people will think about 00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:51.220 us, whether they'll 00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:51.980 reject us. 00:15:52.280 --> 00:15:53.280 And so we kind of keep 00:15:53.280 --> 00:15:54.180 it to ourselves. 00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:56.920 That's the worst thing 00:15:56.920 --> 00:15:57.700 to do with doubt. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.480 That's like having a 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.300 wound which you just 00:16:02.300 --> 00:16:03.620 leave and it just gets 00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:05.560 infected and it becomes 00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:07.639 more toxic and dangerous. 00:16:08.900 --> 00:16:10.580 But what does John do 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:11.060 here? 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:14.680 John opens up. 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:16.799 He shares his doubt. 00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:18.819 And then he humbly 00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:21.219 runs to Jesus with 00:16:21.219 --> 00:16:21.500 them. 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:22.679 And he does it through 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.459 his disciples because 00:16:23.459 --> 00:16:24.419 obviously he can't do it. 00:16:24.459 --> 00:16:25.039 He's in prison. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.759 But just think about 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:31.039 that. 00:16:31.719 --> 00:16:32.799 He's got a ton to 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.159 lose. 00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:34.299 His whole reputation, 00:16:34.459 --> 00:16:35.439 his whole ministry is 00:16:35.439 --> 00:16:37.319 staked on everything he's 00:16:37.319 --> 00:16:38.339 been saying about this 00:16:38.339 --> 00:16:38.699 Messiah. 00:16:38.819 --> 00:16:39.679 And now he's coming out 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:40.639 going, hey guys, I'm not 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.319 really sure whether it is 00:16:41.319 --> 00:16:41.879 true or not. 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:44.779 That's a lot to lose. 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.840 He might want to hide 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:47.919 that, but he doesn't. 00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:50.840 He doesn't even just open 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:51.740 up to a small group of 00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:52.700 friends and say, hey, just 00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:53.679 keep it between yourselves. 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:56.000 No, he runs to Jesus 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.019 himself because he wants 00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:59.700 to know the truth from 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.059 Jesus. 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:03.259 And this is amazing because 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.660 I think if you are a 00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.920 believer or if you're not a 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:08.960 believer, I think what he's 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:10.599 trying to show us is there 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:12.000 is no question or doubt 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.019 which is off the table. 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:16.480 You can open up to others 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.639 in your community group, 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:19.859 to elders, to friends, 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.519 but he's going to say, 00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:22.719 don't just stop there with 00:17:22.719 --> 00:17:24.119 kind of horizontal sharing. 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.819 No, you've got to run to 00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:27.439 Jesus as well. 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:29.079 And some of us go, but I 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:30.039 can't tell God what I'm 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:30.859 really thinking. 00:17:32.939 --> 00:17:33.919 Don't you think he already 00:17:33.919 --> 00:17:34.419 knows? 00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:37.539 The Psalms, as we saw just 00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:39.740 now, teach us how to bring 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:41.380 our doubts to God and to 00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:42.579 wrestle with him. 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:45.180 Doubt is only a disaster 00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:46.420 when you run away from God, 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.779 not when you run to God. 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:51.180 You see, not running to 00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.859 Jesus with our doubts and 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:54.940 our questions because we 00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:56.039 think he'll be displeased 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:58.039 at us is a bit like when 00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:59.200 you've seen somebody who's 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.140 just had an emotional 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:01.779 breakdown and tears are 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:03.339 running down their face and 00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:04.620 you go to them, are you 00:18:04.620 --> 00:18:05.099 okay? 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:06.839 And they say, I'm fine. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:10.299 And you go, listen, I know 00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:12.240 you're not fine, but until 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.519 you open up, I can't help 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:13.740 you. 00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:16.419 That's why Jesus calls us to 00:18:16.419 --> 00:18:17.099 run to him. 00:18:17.939 --> 00:18:19.119 So that's the first thing. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.679 Don't hide. 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:22.719 John doesn't hide. 00:18:22.939 --> 00:18:25.879 The second thing that often 00:18:25.879 --> 00:18:27.939 we do unhealthily in church is 00:18:27.939 --> 00:18:28.879 I think when some people 00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:30.759 express their doubts, then 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.939 other people just kind of shut 00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:33.700 them down or just kind of 00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:35.440 dismiss them or just give 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.759 cheap answers to them. 00:18:38.080 --> 00:18:39.420 That often justifies us 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.380 hiding those doubts. 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.759 But look at how Jesus 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:43.940 responds to these things. 00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:46.380 Notice he doesn't 00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:47.380 chastise him. 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:49.460 He doesn't say, how can you 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.759 be such a weak follower? 00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:54.420 No, he does three things in 00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:55.059 the same breath. 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.559 Okay, this is beautiful. 00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:58.539 First of all, he actually 00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.860 points him to scripture. 00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:01.740 He points him to his work and 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.579 then he honors him. 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.120 Here's verse four and six. 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:06.900 It says, go and tell John 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:09.120 what you hear and see. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:11.740 The blind receive sight, the 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:13.539 lame walk, lepers are 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:15.559 cleansed, the deaf hear, the 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:17.400 dead are raised up, the poor 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:19.339 have good news preached to 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:21.579 them, and blessed is the one 00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:23.160 who is not offended by me. 00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:26.319 Do you see what Jesus is 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:26.460 doing? 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:28.400 Jesus is actually quoting 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:31.960 Isaiah 29, 35 and 61 in one 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.360 sentence. 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.140 He knew his Bible. 00:19:33.560 --> 00:19:33.700 Okay. 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:37.259 And he's also, these are all 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:38.880 passages which are about what 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:40.800 the spirit anointed Messiah is 00:19:40.800 --> 00:19:41.380 going to do. 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.860 And what he's done at the same 00:19:44.860 --> 00:19:46.060 breath, he's actually said, 00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:48.380 now compare what scripture says 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:50.160 about the Messiah with what I'm 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:50.500 doing. 00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:52.759 Look at the signs of what I'm 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:54.180 doing, the restoration, the 00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:56.220 healing, the deliverance that I'm 00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:57.640 doing, what you hear and you 00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:59.720 see that I'm doing, and trust 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:01.839 me, on the basis of what you 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:03.579 see that I am doing here, 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:06.220 trust me with even the things 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:07.799 you don't understand with what's 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.700 going on right now. 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:13.019 You see, he says, blessed is the 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:14.700 one who's not offended by me. 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.880 That means the one who's not 00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:17.440 stumbled by me, but the one who 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:19.259 comes and runs to me and trusts 00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:19.640 me. 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:23.039 And that's what God actually tells 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:24.379 each one of us to do. 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:27.960 To run to Jesus with our doubts 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:30.659 means that we run to scripture 00:20:30.659 --> 00:20:34.579 and that we run with comparing 00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:36.859 the reality of the world, the 00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:38.899 reality of what's going on with 00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:40.740 who Jesus really is and what he 00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.500 shows us. 00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:42.879 And that's why, actually, if you 00:20:42.879 --> 00:20:44.240 are wrestling right now with 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:45.960 questions, we want to ask you, 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.779 like, come to us. 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:48.379 We'd love to do one-on-one Bible 00:20:48.379 --> 00:20:50.000 study, either CG leader and elder 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.659 staff, member of the congregation. 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:53.420 We'd love to just walk with you 00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:54.279 in that. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:57.200 And allow yourself to wrestle with 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:59.920 God's word and allow him to speak 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.220 to you. 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:01.600 But don't just keep it between you. 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:03.240 Allow yourself to run to Jesus 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:05.460 with all of that and to pray. 00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:07.100 Because what he wants you to do, 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.700 he's not going to answer every 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.980 single question that you have. 00:21:11.320 --> 00:21:13.000 That's why he's God and we're not. 00:21:13.080 --> 00:21:14.259 Because there's always mystery. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:15.620 But he's going to show you. 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:17.920 He wants you to see enough of his 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:22.820 goodness and his grace so that with 00:21:22.820 --> 00:21:24.600 the stuff that you can't see right 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:26.500 now, you know I've got enough to be 00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:28.039 able to hold on and to trust him. 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:30.640 That's what Jesus is doing with John 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.380 right here. 00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:36.380 You see, he points into scripture. 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:38.300 He points into his works and what 00:21:38.300 --> 00:21:39.779 you're seeing him already do in his 00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.140 life. 00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:41.800 But the third thing he does, he also 00:21:41.800 --> 00:21:42.680 honors John. 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.420 Now, this is amazing. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.300 This really is extraordinary. 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:49.419 You see, instead of shaming him, 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:51.119 he honors his faithfulness. 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:54.200 He goes, what did you go out into 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.180 the wilderness to see? 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:57.359 A reed shaken by the wind? 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.740 What then did you go out to see? 00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:00.399 A man dressed in soft clothing? 00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:03.940 These who wear soft clothing are in 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:04.819 king's houses. 00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:05.859 What's he saying? 00:22:06.159 --> 00:22:07.799 He's saying, was he just going out? 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.639 Was John just like a trendy kind of 00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:11.519 cultural speaker who just told you 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:14.059 what anyone wanted to hear at the 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.399 time? 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:17.540 Was he a kind of guy who was really 00:22:17.540 --> 00:22:19.000 in it for the money and was kind of 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:20.540 a bit of prosperity gospel teacher? 00:22:22.040 --> 00:22:22.680 He says, no. 00:22:22.820 --> 00:22:23.660 He was all the time. 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:25.080 He was going against the current. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.840 No, he wasn't in it for the 00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:29.140 lifestyle because, listen, he wore 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.140 goat's hair. 00:22:30.320 --> 00:22:32.040 Now, that's not in Berbera's next 00:22:32.040 --> 00:22:32.920 range of jackets. 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:35.220 He wasn't up to that. 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:37.780 No, John was a prophet, he says. 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:40.400 And he says he's the greatest man 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.700 who's ever lived. 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:44.800 That's pretty, that's a huge 00:22:44.800 --> 00:22:45.500 commendation. 00:22:47.100 --> 00:22:47.759 Now, why? 00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:49.600 He's not saying that because of his 00:22:49.600 --> 00:22:50.840 performance in life. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:54.460 He's saying that because he lived to be 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:57.500 the witness to who Jesus is, the one who 00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:59.820 was preparing the way for Jesus. 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:02.620 That is the highest honor you could have. 00:23:03.459 --> 00:23:04.759 He says, until this point. 00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:07.379 You see, the Old Testament had said 00:23:07.379 --> 00:23:09.319 there'd be this Elijah-like, Old 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:11.799 Testament prophet-like figure who would 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:15.539 come and who would herald the Messiah 00:23:15.539 --> 00:23:17.219 going to come in and bring his kingdom. 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:19.019 And Jesus says, John is that man. 00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:20.839 John's that man. 00:23:21.899 --> 00:23:25.079 And he says, why is John in prison? 00:23:25.219 --> 00:23:26.339 Well, he says, from the time of John the 00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:28.599 Baptist until now, there's been violence 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:31.319 and people trying to attack the kingdom 00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:31.899 of God. 00:23:33.199 --> 00:23:34.859 And actually, that's what's going on with 00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:35.699 John right now. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:37.559 The kingdom of God is being attacked by 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:38.359 violent men. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:41.139 But that's nothing to do with actually 00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:43.539 that God has failed in his promises or 00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.159 his plan. 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:50.959 Because God is still working his promises. 00:23:51.419 --> 00:23:53.659 But at the same time, he is honoring 00:23:53.659 --> 00:23:56.619 John by commending him in front of 00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:57.079 everybody. 00:23:58.599 --> 00:24:02.980 You know, and if you go, hey, I wonder, 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:04.599 maybe that's just John the Baptist. 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.919 That's kind of what God does with him. 00:24:05.959 --> 00:24:06.959 He's a pretty cool guy. 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.939 Well, actually, it's exactly what God 00:24:08.939 --> 00:24:10.839 does with Job in the Old Testament, 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.519 who has a lot of questions. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:14.939 But at the end, God honors him with 00:24:14.939 --> 00:24:15.459 his friends. 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.980 It's the same that he does with Peter 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.980 in the New Testament. 00:24:18.099 --> 00:24:19.740 It's the same he does with every single 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:22.719 person who runs genuinely to him, 00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:24.619 wrestles with him. 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:27.480 He will bring you to that place where 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.680 you can trust him. 00:24:28.860 --> 00:24:31.099 And instead of shame, you receive honor. 00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:35.879 You see, why do we come to Jesus with our 00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.139 doubts? 00:24:36.139 --> 00:24:38.019 Because if you go anywhere else, 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:41.779 you're never 100% sure exactly what the 00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:43.059 response you're going to get. 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:48.039 But when you come to Jesus, you can be 100% 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:49.819 guaranteed at the response you're going to 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:50.139 get. 00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:52.279 It's not going to be condemnation. 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.960 It's not going to be a private, well, 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:55.279 let's just keep this to ourselves. 00:24:55.539 --> 00:25:00.579 It's going to be the gracious honoring of 00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:01.619 the King of Kings. 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:04.059 Isn't that awesome? 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:07.299 Which means this. 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:10.559 If we're disciples of Jesus in Watermark, 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:13.619 one of the things about disciples of Jesus is 00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:15.660 we're to become like him and to be like him. 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:18.579 So that Watermark needs to be a place where 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:20.359 it's the most open place for people to come 00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:22.079 with your questions wherever you are. 00:25:23.099 --> 00:25:27.159 It needs to be a place where those who are 00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:28.819 doubting, those who are wrestling, find 00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:32.019 others to walk alongside you, point you to 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:35.019 scripture, point you to Christ, to run to him 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:38.399 together and to find that deepening faith as 00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:38.759 you wrestle. 00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:40.500 Do you know, like a lot of people who grow up 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:43.259 in Christian homes, many of them go through 00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:46.419 this crisis of faith, right, where they just 00:25:46.419 --> 00:25:47.799 start wrestling with stuff. 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:50.839 Don't get panicked by that if you're a parent 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.220 or anything. 00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:54.460 We all need to go through wrestling with God. 00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:56.879 Enable it to, our faith go from just an 00:25:56.879 --> 00:25:59.799 intellectual idea to a reality where you know 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:01.240 that you know that God is good. 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:04.180 That's for doubters. 00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:08.740 Let's come on to resistors. 00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:09.960 Okay, secondly. 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:14.600 And this is going down from verses 16 to 24. 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:26.900 See, resistors have seen the kind of things that 00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:27.940 Jesus has been talking about. 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.120 They've seen the miracles. 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.559 They've heard the teaching. 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:33.460 But unlike doubters who have questions but they're 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:38.240 open for Jesus to speak to them, resistors are 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:38.599 hardened. 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:42.480 You see, they willfully, repeatedly ignore and resist 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:42.819 Jesus. 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.539 What does he say? 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:48.220 Verse 16, he says, to what shall I compare this 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:48.900 generation? 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:52.000 Notice it's a generation, not just a few individuals. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:55.160 This is a whole culture within the villages that 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:56.059 Jesus is going to. 00:26:56.960 --> 00:27:01.160 And he says, they're like fickle children sitting in 00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:01.740 the marketplace. 00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:08.019 And it doesn't matter how you bring the gospel to 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.240 them. 00:27:08.540 --> 00:27:12.100 You can bring it kind of John the Baptist style, like 00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:15.519 turn or burn, self-denial, like neither eating nor 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.380 drinking, he says. 00:27:16.820 --> 00:27:21.400 Or you can do it Jesus style, like a party of grace, eating 00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:23.759 and drinking with tax collectors and sinners. 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:26.220 It says it doesn't matter which way you do it. 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:28.000 They're like a deaf grandfather. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:30.960 You know, it doesn't matter if you speak softly and sweetly or 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:32.660 loudly and seriously. 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:34.420 They're just not listening to you. 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:42.299 And Jesus says that this is serious. 00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:45.759 You know, I've got a friend who I've had a ton of 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:48.119 conversations with him about the gospel, about 00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:48.519 Christianity. 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:48.720 Christianity. 00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:54.000 And he said to me, you know, I think Christianity is the 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.619 most plausible religion in the world. 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:57.279 I mean, it just makes total sense. 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:59.039 Like it just changes people. 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:03.539 It gives people purpose, hope, meaning it just answers like 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.559 so many questions. 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:08.440 It just makes like total sense in almost every way. 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:10.379 And I said to him, and he said, but I don't believe in 00:28:10.379 --> 00:28:10.779 Jesus. 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:15.220 And I went, wait, help me out with that a little bit. 00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:17.579 And, you know, he came back with some things and I pushed him 00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:20.000 a little bit and he said, okay, let me just be honest with 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.200 you. 00:28:21.879 --> 00:28:25.019 The reason I don't want to become a Christian is because if I 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:28.619 truly trusted in Jesus, I have to change my life. 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:32.859 And I'm quite comfortable the way I am and it seems scary to do 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.980 that, so I don't really want to. 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:37.819 I appreciated his honesty because that's the truth. 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:40.599 That's a resistor to you. 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:48.799 You see, and Jesus says to a culture like this, whoa, doom. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:52.180 That's like going, ayah, Chorazin. 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:54.279 Ayah, Bethsaida. 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.660 It's whoa. 00:28:55.819 --> 00:29:00.619 It's like this deep cry of pain, a deep cry of lament, and a deep 00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:02.839 cry of threat all in the same words. 00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:04.940 It's right from your heart. 00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:13.740 You know, when Isaiah sees God, he goes, woe is me for I am ruined. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.960 He's like going, I'm screwed. 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.400 That's kind of what it means. 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:20.039 Like judgment's coming upon me. 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:28.139 Now for Jesus to say that, you've got to begin to sit up and take notice. 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.859 Because think about it. 00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:32.819 Jesus is the most compassionate person who's ever lived. 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:36.579 He's the one who weeps over the harassed and the helpless. 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:39.779 He's the one who's that friend of tax collectors and sinners. 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:41.879 He reaches out to the brokenhearted. 00:29:42.139 --> 00:29:43.659 He reaches out to the outcasts. 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:45.939 He draws in people from every background. 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:47.859 He is gentle and lowly. 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:52.220 He's the most gracious person in the entire universe. 00:29:52.220 --> 00:30:04.720 So when Jesus says, whoa, you've got to go, whoa, this is serious. 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:11.220 You see, our culture doesn't like the idea of judgment. 00:30:13.620 --> 00:30:16.299 Except, you know, because it sounds harsh. 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:26.299 Except when you see like atrocities like in Rwanda, Myanmar, the rape in Nanjing or sex trafficking or all these horrific injustices. 00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:30.180 Then people go, when is God going to put an end to this? 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:32.379 Like, this is evil. 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.279 This is wrong. 00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.399 Why? 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:38.200 Because deep down, we actually really want judgment. 00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:42.720 We want the world to be put to rights. 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:47.960 We want God's kingdom to heal and restore. 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:51.140 And God says he will do that. 00:30:51.360 --> 00:31:01.960 And there will be a day of judgment where he will come and both bring an end to injustice and bring a life of healing and freedom. 00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:07.440 And, you know, the basis of that judgment will not be based on our performance. 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:14.759 Because, as Isaiah said, if it was based on any of our performance, we'd all be screwed, if I can say that. 00:31:16.600 --> 00:31:19.580 But it will be based on how you responded to Jesus. 00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:22.539 It will be based on him. 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:26.380 Because he is the center of God's plan of redemption. 00:31:26.380 --> 00:31:40.520 And if in this life you say, I don't want you, Jesus, then Jesus, at the day of judgment, will turn around and say, then you won't get me or my father. 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:42.520 Because I and the father are one. 00:31:43.540 --> 00:31:44.420 You know, this is hard. 00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:46.180 But it's scripture. 00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:57.759 You know, one Thessalonians says, resistors will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might. 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:06.680 He's saying, if you don't get Jesus, you're cutting yourself off from the source of life itself. 00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:11.680 You know, God's presence is like the sun shining. 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:16.340 And the rays are like all the good gifts we enjoy in this world. 00:32:16.460 --> 00:32:17.759 You know, you think of sex. 00:32:17.860 --> 00:32:18.779 You think of food. 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:20.100 You think of laughter. 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:20.960 You think of the beach. 00:32:21.060 --> 00:32:23.019 You think of friendship and kindness. 00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:25.840 And all those beautiful things that we enjoy in this world. 00:32:26.100 --> 00:32:30.019 The Bible says, those are the rays which come from the sun. 00:32:30.360 --> 00:32:32.480 And God and Jesus is the sun. 00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:48.160 And, you know, the reason why, actually, we can all enjoy the sun right now is because of God's common grace, his gracious gift to each one of us, whether we are believers or not, so that we will see his goodness and we will turn and repent and tumble to him. 00:32:48.160 --> 00:33:02.380 And, you know, woe says, if we seek to blot out the sun in our lives right now, we don't want God. 00:33:03.140 --> 00:33:06.880 God will remove his sun from the sky and you'll be left with darkness. 00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:08.880 That's a scary thought, right? 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:11.120 It's a scary thought. 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:13.600 But he gives us the time right now. 00:33:13.860 --> 00:33:14.300 Why? 00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:16.160 Because he doesn't want anyone to perish. 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:18.880 He wants everyone and he's saying, wake up. 00:33:19.080 --> 00:33:20.140 The sun is setting. 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.640 Repent. 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:23.440 Come back to me today. 00:33:24.380 --> 00:33:25.540 That's the message. 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:32.320 And Jesus here isn't talking to non-religious people. 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:34.320 This is the really scary part. 00:33:35.340 --> 00:33:38.160 Jesus is talking to three very religious towns. 00:33:39.180 --> 00:33:41.160 Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. 00:33:41.160 --> 00:33:50.240 Capernaum, who thought that religion, the equivalent of going to church or praying or even believing in God and being moral, could actually save them. 00:33:51.820 --> 00:33:53.279 And he says, no, it won't. 00:33:53.360 --> 00:33:54.000 It won't. 00:33:54.340 --> 00:33:59.840 What saves you is trusting in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:01.380 That's what saves you. 00:34:01.380 --> 00:34:05.720 And he says, and this is the really hard part. 00:34:05.800 --> 00:34:14.079 He says, the three wickedest pagan cities in the Old Testament, Tyre, Sidon, sorry, Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom. 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:18.820 Even they, that's kind of like going the Nazis, ISIS, the Khmer Rouge. 00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:28.900 They're going to get a lighter deal on judgment day than you guys, you religious communities who knew the message, but you resisted it. 00:34:33.100 --> 00:34:38.500 So that means when we hear the gospel, it's dangerous because we need to respond to it. 00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:41.880 But this message isn't for people who are doubting. 00:34:41.880 --> 00:34:47.059 It's not, if you're going, okay, I'm not sure whether I'm really saved. 00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:48.000 Maybe I'm coming under judgment. 00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:51.059 Or if that's your heart, then you're probably not one of the resistors. 00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:53.180 Jesus is just calling you to run to him now. 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:55.619 A resistor doesn't even care about that. 00:34:56.280 --> 00:35:00.220 But right now, there may be some people here who are in that category. 00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:08.480 And so Jesus is going to say to you, do you listen to sermon after sermon, but think it's about everybody else and not about you? 00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:14.179 He's going to say, is your faith just boxed into maybe some kind of religious ritual coming on Sunday? 00:35:14.340 --> 00:35:21.480 But the rest of your life, your priorities, your sexuality, your money, you don't want Jesus to lay any hands on that. 00:35:22.699 --> 00:35:26.240 He's going to say, do you think you're going to be saved just because you're a good person? 00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:30.119 Then he'll say, hear the warning of woe from Jesus. 00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:32.340 Wake up. 00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:34.820 Now is the chance to repent. 00:35:34.820 --> 00:35:40.740 That's the hard part that Jesus, you know, sometimes we think Jesus is just compassionate. 00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:41.780 He can also be hard. 00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:43.480 But he's both. 00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:45.840 Because he loves us. 00:35:47.420 --> 00:35:53.740 But if right now there are those of us who have loved ones and we really feel this message. 00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:56.320 Because we have loved ones who are resistant. 00:35:56.860 --> 00:35:59.620 And we've been praying for a long time and going, is there hope? 00:36:00.680 --> 00:36:02.960 That this message can feel scary, right? 00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:08.920 What it should do, it should lead us onto our knees to pray and to not give up praying. 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:09.199 Why? 00:36:09.320 --> 00:36:11.440 Because there's a great hope in this passage too. 00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:13.320 This is my third point. 00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:15.199 It's to believe us. 00:36:16.260 --> 00:36:21.980 Do you know where Peter, Andrew, and Philip, the disciples, came from? 00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:25.260 They came from Bethsaida. 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:26.519 John 1 tells us that. 00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:36.079 We know that actually verse 1 of this passage tells that Jesus went into their towns, the towns of the disciples, to preach and teach. 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:40.079 And Jesus also made Capernaum his home base for ministry. 00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:44.300 So it's likely that many of the other disciples actually came from these same towns as well. 00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:46.480 Which is extraordinary. 00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:56.880 Because what that shows you, in the middle of this hardened, resistant culture, God can break through into people's lives and draw them to himself and bring salvation. 00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:58.940 Isn't that amazing? 00:37:00.380 --> 00:37:06.560 And here's what Jesus says is the response for those who come to him. 00:37:06.920 --> 00:37:07.600 He says this. 00:37:08.240 --> 00:37:09.380 And this is verse 25. 00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:20.720 I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children. 00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:25.720 Yes, Father, for such was your gracious, pleasing will. 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:28.519 Who is he talking to? 00:37:29.360 --> 00:37:30.960 He's talking about his disciples. 00:37:32.140 --> 00:37:33.300 And do you know what he calls them? 00:37:33.800 --> 00:37:36.360 He calls them little children. 00:37:36.700 --> 00:37:37.780 He doesn't just call them children. 00:37:37.780 --> 00:37:40.460 You notice he called them little children. 00:37:41.320 --> 00:37:45.560 That is actually really unflattering for a load of macho fishermen. 00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:46.680 Right? 00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:50.360 But what is he saying? 00:37:52.140 --> 00:37:55.260 He's saying his kingdom doesn't operate the way our kingdoms do. 00:37:55.680 --> 00:37:57.260 He doesn't work the way we do. 00:37:57.640 --> 00:37:58.620 Let me show you a picture. 00:38:02.360 --> 00:38:03.900 This is my daughter, Elodie. 00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:11.840 How many of you would entrust your investment portfolio to her? 00:38:14.780 --> 00:38:19.260 How many of you would actually give her a job in the company or wherever you work? 00:38:21.260 --> 00:38:22.220 Probably not many. 00:38:22.360 --> 00:38:22.680 Why? 00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:24.360 Because she's weak. 00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:25.639 She can't even hold her head up. 00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:27.780 Can't even hold her hand up by herself. 00:38:28.119 --> 00:38:28.860 She's dependent. 00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:31.260 She's significant in many ways. 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:31.980 She's inadequate. 00:38:32.180 --> 00:38:33.660 She can't do very much. 00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:41.840 You know, this is who God says he loves to reveal his kingdom to. 00:38:43.480 --> 00:38:52.579 People who are weak, insignificant, inadequate, fragile, incapable. 00:38:53.639 --> 00:38:56.320 And Jesus actually says that's what we're all like if we're going to admit it. 00:38:57.660 --> 00:39:00.700 Some of us think we are the wise and understanding in this passage. 00:39:00.820 --> 00:39:00.960 Why? 00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:03.599 Because we're actually, a lot of us, we're really quite smart. 00:39:04.039 --> 00:39:05.660 Guys, really capable. 00:39:06.340 --> 00:39:09.220 You can do a lot of stuff, great education, all those kind of things. 00:39:09.340 --> 00:39:13.720 But even if you know your Bible so well, you know Christianity like the back of your hand. 00:39:13.760 --> 00:39:14.960 You know, that can be dangerous. 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:18.760 Because it stops us from being like little children. 00:39:18.760 --> 00:39:24.679 And it's little children who get the kingdom of God's presence coming to us. 00:39:24.679 --> 00:39:29.679 You know, when we start going, yeah, I can do this by myself. 00:39:29.679 --> 00:39:32.339 It's like my daughter going, hey, I can get food by myself. 00:39:33.339 --> 00:39:34.799 You know, I don't need you guys. 00:39:35.639 --> 00:39:37.940 And you know, that's not a great place to be, right? 00:39:38.859 --> 00:39:40.579 With what's going to happen, she's going to die. 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:48.980 But some of us, right now, we're feeling weak. 00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:52.099 Maybe we've just been out of community for so long. 00:39:52.179 --> 00:39:54.019 Maybe you're just feeling dry spiritually. 00:39:55.019 --> 00:39:56.820 Maybe you're just feeling like you've stagnated. 00:39:56.920 --> 00:39:57.960 Maybe you're feeling fragile. 00:39:58.219 --> 00:40:00.440 Maybe you're feeling like, I don't know what's going on. 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:03.500 Maybe you're feeling overwhelmed with all the things that are happening in your world. 00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:13.739 Do you recognize that right now where you are, that can be a great place to be if you recognize that? 00:40:13.880 --> 00:40:18.539 If you recognize that you are just a little child and you desperately need Jesus. 00:40:18.539 --> 00:40:28.360 Because, you know, when we run to Jesus, whether you're a doubter, whether you're a resistor, or wherever you are right now, 00:40:29.619 --> 00:40:31.340 do you know what Jesus says he's going to do? 00:40:32.820 --> 00:40:37.440 When we cry out for more of his presence in our lives and we're desperate for it, 00:40:37.559 --> 00:40:38.940 we're not just kind of, oh, it's okay. 00:40:39.279 --> 00:40:40.619 This is fine news for me. 00:40:40.840 --> 00:40:46.380 No, this is news that you know you need right now, that there is a Savior who has compassion on you. 00:40:46.380 --> 00:40:47.460 Do you know what happens? 00:40:48.539 --> 00:40:55.159 Just like when my daughter cries for food, my wife doesn't go, ah, sort yourself out. 00:40:56.059 --> 00:40:58.340 She doesn't go, grow up, will you? 00:40:58.420 --> 00:40:59.880 You're six weeks old. 00:41:01.179 --> 00:41:02.779 She doesn't do any of that. 00:41:03.400 --> 00:41:07.139 She delights to bring her presence and to satisfy her. 00:41:09.800 --> 00:41:13.860 Jesus wants to start a revival in Watermark. 00:41:14.759 --> 00:41:15.719 Did you know that? 00:41:15.719 --> 00:41:19.459 He wants to start actually today in our hearts. 00:41:20.899 --> 00:41:24.519 But he won't be able to do anything, if I can put it like that. 00:41:24.619 --> 00:41:25.779 I mean, God can do anything. 00:41:26.019 --> 00:41:32.299 But he chooses not to do things with people who are unwilling to come as little children. 00:41:34.619 --> 00:41:36.759 For people who think they're okay. 00:41:36.760 --> 00:41:45.600 But he loves, he's his gracious will when we come to him as little children, going, Jesus, I need you right now. 00:41:46.560 --> 00:41:48.060 I come with all my questions. 00:41:48.180 --> 00:41:49.240 I come with all my issues. 00:41:49.340 --> 00:41:50.060 I come dry. 00:41:50.180 --> 00:41:51.980 I come needing you. 00:41:53.280 --> 00:41:57.520 And you know, right now is the time where God wants to saturate us with his presence. 00:41:57.519 --> 00:42:00.199 Do you want that? 00:42:01.559 --> 00:42:04.820 Do you want to respond to Jesus like that? 00:42:05.920 --> 00:42:08.679 Some of us, we need to go, God, I'm not in a great place right now. 00:42:09.059 --> 00:42:10.099 My heart is hard. 00:42:10.219 --> 00:42:11.940 I just feel all over the place. 00:42:12.099 --> 00:42:13.659 My motivation is pretty low. 00:42:14.579 --> 00:42:17.639 You need to just come and be real with God right now about that. 00:42:17.639 --> 00:42:20.099 Come and revive my heart. 00:42:20.159 --> 00:42:21.799 Because Jesus says, and it's the last thing. 00:42:22.980 --> 00:42:31.079 He says, the person who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater even than John the Baptist. 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:32.779 Do you know why? 00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:40.819 Because we live in a post-cross, post-resurrection age of the spirit of God. 00:42:40.819 --> 00:42:46.839 Where we can come face to face and experience God's presence in a way that John the Baptist never could. 00:42:48.579 --> 00:42:52.119 We can know Jesus in a way that John the Baptist never did. 00:42:54.099 --> 00:42:55.859 So do we want to this morning? 00:42:58.460 --> 00:43:01.259 I want us to just stop and pray for a second. 00:43:01.359 --> 00:43:03.199 I'm going to invite the communion stewards to come up. 00:43:05.940 --> 00:43:10.699 But what I'd like you to do is actually just to take stock of where you are right now. 00:43:14.460 --> 00:43:15.960 I actually want us to pray. 00:43:17.639 --> 00:43:22.339 And you may pray silently if you want to. 00:43:22.379 --> 00:43:30.339 But actually, if anyone wants to pray out loud and to just come and cry to God with wherever you are. 00:43:30.340 --> 00:43:32.860 Asking for more of him. 00:43:34.220 --> 00:43:37.700 Asking to see Jesus for who he really is. 00:43:38.200 --> 00:43:44.340 Asking that his kingdom, that restoration place, would come and start being at work in our hearts and our lives. 00:43:44.340 --> 00:43:49.019 So take a minute just to actually honestly go, where am I? 00:43:50.180 --> 00:43:51.400 Where am I with Jesus? 00:43:52.100 --> 00:43:54.200 How am I responding to him today? 00:43:54.199 --> 00:43:59.960 And I want you to just do business with God right now. 00:43:59.960 --> 00:44:01.659 For more of Jesus? 00:44:01.659 --> 00:44:06.000 And I want you to just do business with God. 00:44:06.059 --> 00:44:06.159 Yes. 00:44:06.159 --> 00:44:06.740 I don't know. 00:44:06.740 --> 00:44:07.000 Whatever. 00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:08.199 I'll just thank God. 00:44:08.199 --> 00:44:09.059 I want you to do business with God. 00:44:09.059 --> 00:44:10.199 Did you say, what does God right now?