WEBVTT

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 Matthew chapter 3.

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 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the desert of Judea,

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 and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.

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 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah,

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 a voice of one calling in the desert,

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 Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.

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 John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.

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 His food was locusts and wild honey.

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 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea,

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 and the whole region of the Jordan.

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 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

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 But when they saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come into where he was baptizing,

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 he said to them, You brood of vipers,

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 who warned you to flee from the coming wrath,

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 produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

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 And do not think that you can say to yourselves,

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 We have Abraham as our father.

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 I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

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 The axe is already at the root of the trees,

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 and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

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 I baptize you with water for repentance.

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 But after me will come one who is more powerful than I,

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 whose sandals I am not fit to carry.

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 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

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 His winnowing fork is in his hand,

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 and he will clear his threshing floor,

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 gathering his wheat into the barn

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 and burning the chaff of unquenchable fire.

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 Then Jesus came into Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

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 But John tried to deter him, saying,

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 I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?

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 Jesus replied, Let it be so now.

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 It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.

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 Then John consented.

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 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.

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 At that moment, heaven was opened,

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 and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.

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 And a voice from heaven said,

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 This is my Son, whom I love.

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 With him I am well pleased.

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 May God bless his word.

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 I was recently feeling very ambitious in my reading,

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 and I decided that I would read a Russian novel by Dostoevsky,

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 the Brothers Karamazov.

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 It's a massive brick of a book.

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 The reason I decided I would read it,

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 there's a very famous statement that comes from it,

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 that if there is no God, everything is permissible.

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 Maybe some of you have heard that.

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 It comes up, Christians often quote it.

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 If you've done the Christianity Explorer course,

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 I think, for example, it comes up there.

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 The point, obviously, is that we know that everything is not permissible,

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 and that's evidence that we recognize on one level that actually there is a God.

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 I decided I would read this book.

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 I said I finished it recently.

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 I won't tell you when I started reading it,

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 because that would be embarrassing.

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 It was very long and complex.

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 One of the things that made it difficult was that being a Russian novelist,

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 obviously, Dostoevsky would frequently make allusion to other Russian works,

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 which we wouldn't know anything about.

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 The editors would put footnotes at the back to explain that,

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 so that wasn't so bad.

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 Dostoevsky had obviously also read Shakespeare,

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 and at points he would make reference to that,

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 and my knowledge of Shakespeare, embarrassingly, isn't that good either.

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 But there were no references for that,

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 because the editors obviously felt that we ought to already know that.

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 It was a very complex book to read,

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 and part of the reason is because he assumed so much.

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 He was assuming an awareness of other literature to understand what he was saying.

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 And sometimes, as we read the New Testament, it's a little bit like that.

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 The New Testament is written in light of the Old Testament,

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 and very often the authors, to a greater or lesser extent,

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 will assume a knowledge of the Old Testament.

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 Well, this morning I would like us to look at Matthew 3, verse 17.

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 This is my son.

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 That was the father's statement about Jesus

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 when he was being baptized by John the Baptist.

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 I would suggest that in order, many people suggest it,

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 in order to understand that,

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 there are several passages in the Old Testament

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 that are being referred to.

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 So I'd like us to look at those passages.

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 There are three of them.

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 Now, don't worry.

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 You may feel like you're going to be getting three sermons

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 for the price of one.

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 Don't worry.

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 We won't look in great detail at those passages.

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 But just briefly looking at them,

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 seeking to understand what they tell us

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 about what it means for Jesus to be the Son of God.

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 Now, hopefully, if I've done this right,

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 yes, there they are.

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 So the passages will appear in the screens there behind me.

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 So the first one is in Isaiah 42.

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 It's actually the passage that we read earlier.

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 Now, Matthew 3, verse 17,

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 we have the voice from heaven saying,

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 this is my Son whom I love.

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 With him I am well pleased.

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 And in Isaiah 42, we read God saying about Israel,

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 this is my, well, God saying about his servant, sorry.

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 Here is my servant whom I uphold,

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 my chosen one in whom I delight.

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 I will put my spirit on him,

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 and he will bring justice to the nations.

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 Now, the parts that are particularly similar,

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 I've put in bold in both of those places.

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 Now, you will have noticed, very obviously,

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 that the one thing that's missing in Isaiah 42

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 is the word Son, isn't it?

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 And nevertheless, we read this language of being well pleased.

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 God said about the servant that he was going to send

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 that he was well pleased in him.

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 When Jesus was baptized,

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 he said that he was his Son in whom he was well pleased.

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 This does seem to be the passage

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 that the Father is alluding to in what he says.

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 Also, notice what happened in verse 16 of Matthew's Gospel.

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 What happened to Jesus as this was going on?

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 At that moment, heaven was opened,

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 and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove

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 and lighting on him.

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 Notice what God says in Isaiah 42.

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 Here is my servant whom I uphold,

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 my chosen one in whom I delight.

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 I will put my Spirit on him.

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 The language and the events that are being recorded

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 in Matthew chapter 3

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 call to mind Isaiah 42.

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 This passage is one of those passages

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 that enables us to understand what it is

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 that Jesus is the Son of God

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 in whom the Father is well pleased.

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 Something that's helpful for us

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 to fully appreciate this passage

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 is that many Jews in Jesus' day

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 thought that when this figure came,

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 when this promised king came,

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 he would come just for Israel,

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 just for people who are physically descended

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 from Abraham.

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 And that was true in Isaiah's day.

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 As they looked forward to what God was going to do,

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 they thought that God was going to do it

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 just for them

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 and not for other nations.

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 Now,

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 we can sympathize with that kind of attitude,

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 excluding people, that is,

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 because we often do that, don't we,

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 if we're honest.

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 It's easy for us to compartmentalize people,

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 to think that there are some people

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 who might be interested in Christianity

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 and other people who just wouldn't be interested.

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 And perhaps we write them all.

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 We may make these decisions based on interest.

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 We may think that Christianity

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 is just for people from a certain class.

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 There was a story that illustrates this.

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 When I was at the Free Church College,

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 one of our professors told us a story,

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 a true story.

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 He can tell you afterwards

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 if I've gotten the details wrong.

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 I think I've gotten most of the details correct.

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 In the 19th century,

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 there was a minister named John Eady.

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 He was a very well-known minister and theologian.

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 He was minister of a church in Glasgow,

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 and the church was on Cambridge Street.

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 If it's the same Cambridge Street that's still there,

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 I think it's been redeveloped.

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 But in his day,

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 it was a very poor part of the town.

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 He was minister of a church there.

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 He was a very well-known preacher,

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 and things were going well.

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 The church was growing and thriving,

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 so much so that it was decided

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 to build a new church building.

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 I'm not sure.

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 I suspect they were given a gift of money

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 to build the church.

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 But this building wasn't in the poor part of town.

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 It was in the rich part of town,

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 here, Calvin Bridge.

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 And when the church was dedicated,

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 when it was opened,

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 there was a poem.

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 It was an unofficial poem that was written.

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 I think it may have been fixed on the door,

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 but I'm not sure.

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 But the poem says,

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 about the new church building,

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 that this church is not built for the poor and needy,

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 but for the rich and Dr. Eady.

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 The rich may come in and take their seat,

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 but the poor must go to Cambridge Street.

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 So there was a perception, at least,

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 that poor people were being excluded.

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 They didn't really count.

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 Now, we can laugh at that,

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 but as God's people,

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 we have often done that.

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 We have often excluded people.

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 But notice the language that we read in Isaiah 42.

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 Here is my servant whom I uphold,

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 my chosen one in whom I delight.

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 I will put my spirit on him,

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 and he will bring justice to whom?

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 To the nations.

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 To everyone.

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 In verse four,

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 he will not falter or be discouraged

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 till he establishes justice on earth.

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 In his law,

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 the islands will put their hope.

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 Now, in the free church,

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 for many people,

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 because of where many folk are from,

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 the islands can seem like the center of the universe.

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 But we appreciate that,

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 obviously, for them,

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 it was the other way around, wasn't it?

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 The islands were the furthest corner of the world.

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 Okay?

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 This figure who is coming,

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 whom we know to be Jesus,

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 he would come for the nations.

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 He would come for the islands,

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 for the furthest flung parts of the world.

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 In verses six and seven,

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 I, the Lord,

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 have called you in righteousness.

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 I will take hold of your hand.

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 I will keep you,

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 and will make you to be a covenant for the people,

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 and a light for the Gentiles,

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 to open the eyes of the blind,

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 to free captives from prison,

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 and to release from the dungeon

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 those who sit in darkness.

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 It's a very simple point here,

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 that if Jesus is the son,

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 if he is this figure who is spoken about,

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 then Jesus is for everyone.

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 Now, in some ways, that's challenging.

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 It's challenging for you

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 if you're maybe not yet a Christian.

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 Maybe you've made it this far,

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 you're here in church,

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 but you can't really imagine things

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 going any further than that.

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 You can't really imagine yourself

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 professing to be a Christian,

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 professing to follow Jesus.

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 Maybe you think that Christianity

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 is just not for you.

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 Jesus would challenge that,

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 because he is telling us

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 that he is for everyone.

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 That's challenging as well

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 if we are Christians,

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 because often we can behave in ways

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 that exclude other people,

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 whether it's as a congregation,

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 or whether it's as individuals.

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 We can behave in such a way

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 that place obstacles

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 in front of other people,

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 that make it unnecessarily difficult

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 for them to come to faith in Jesus.

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 Well, again, Jesus is challenging us,

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 because he's telling us

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 that he is for everyone,

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 and he wants everyone

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 to hear about him

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 and to come to him.

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 That means that we need to think

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 about everything that we do

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 as Christians,

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 whether as individuals

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 or as a congregation.

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 Are we making it possible

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 for people to hear

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 the good news about Jesus?

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 So this is challenging,

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 but it's also tremendously encouraging.

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 Again, if you're not yet a Christian,

00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:15.780
 or maybe you feel that you're a Christian,

00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:18.060
 but you struggle in your faith,

00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:20.600
 read through the Gospels

00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:24.180
 and try to find any occasion

00:13:24.180 --> 00:13:27.340
 on which Jesus excluded people.

00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:31.320
 Whenever Jesus encountered people,

00:13:31.660 --> 00:13:32.500
 actually, interestingly,

00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:34.900
 the people that he often seemed

00:13:34.900 --> 00:13:36.620
 to have the most affinity for

00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:38.220
 were those who would have seemed

00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:39.800
 to be the least religious.

00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:43.679
 Jesus never said to anyone,

00:13:43.819 --> 00:13:44.240
 I'm sorry,

00:13:44.319 --> 00:13:45.979
 I can't afford to be seen with you.

00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:49.399
 Jesus never said to anybody,

00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:50.179
 no, I'm sorry,

00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:51.479
 I've given you so many chances

00:13:51.479 --> 00:13:52.259
 and you've messed up

00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:53.099
 and I don't really want

00:13:53.099 --> 00:13:54.399
 to have anything to do with you now.

00:13:56.299 --> 00:13:57.740
 Jesus never did that.

00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:59.639
 He accepted everybody

00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:00.939
 who comes to him.

00:14:02.959 --> 00:14:04.000
 I think we could say

00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.419
 that all human beings

00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:07.139
 naturally have a desire

00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:08.120
 for acceptance.

00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:11.339
 We want to find acceptance

00:14:11.339 --> 00:14:12.139
 with one another

00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:13.740
 and I think that's because

00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:15.419
 whether we acknowledge it or not,

00:14:15.479 --> 00:14:16.339
 we seek acceptance

00:14:16.339 --> 00:14:18.139
 with the God who created us.

00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:21.219
 The tremendously good news

00:14:21.219 --> 00:14:21.759
 of the Gospel

00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.959
 is that that acceptance

00:14:22.959 --> 00:14:24.719
 is offered to you

00:14:24.719 --> 00:14:25.419
 through Jesus

00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:27.839
 because he is for everyone.

00:14:29.459 --> 00:14:30.399
 There should be no one

00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.559
 who is sitting here this morning

00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:32.419
 thinking to themselves,

00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:34.359
 Jesus just isn't for me.

00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:37.479
 So first of all,

00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.539
 if Jesus is the Son,

00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:40.199
 we see that he is for everyone.

00:14:41.199 --> 00:14:42.919
 A second point that we see,

00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.439
 and this comes from Psalm 2,

00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:48.360
 is that if Jesus is the Son,

00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:51.759
 Jesus is in charge.

00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:55.199
 We sang earlier in the service

00:14:55.199 --> 00:14:56.319
 from Psalm 2,

00:14:56.320 --> 00:15:02.340
 and there we notice

00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:03.840
 particularly in verse 7,

00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:04.660
 again, this is up

00:15:04.660 --> 00:15:05.740
 on the screens for you.

00:15:06.900 --> 00:15:07.820
 I will proclaim

00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:08.960
 the decree of the Lord.

00:15:09.680 --> 00:15:10.540
 He said to me,

00:15:10.900 --> 00:15:12.060
 you are my son.

00:15:12.920 --> 00:15:13.379
 Today,

00:15:13.560 --> 00:15:15.000
 I have become your father.

00:15:16.780 --> 00:15:17.140
 Again,

00:15:17.180 --> 00:15:18.180
 this is one of the passages

00:15:18.180 --> 00:15:18.840
 that the father

00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:19.600
 is alluding to

00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.660
 at Jesus' baptism.

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.140
 He says,

00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:22.480
 you are my son.

00:15:22.560 --> 00:15:23.540
 This is my son.

00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:25.759
 And again,

00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:26.439
 in Psalm 2,

00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.299
 what does it mean

00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:28.779
 for Jesus to be the Son?

00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:30.819
 Well,

00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:32.360
 at the very least,

00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:33.539
 it means

00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:34.419
 that Jesus

00:15:34.419 --> 00:15:35.659
 is in charge.

00:15:38.199 --> 00:15:39.199
 If we continue

00:15:39.199 --> 00:15:40.559
 reading through this Psalm,

00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.799
 we see that he tells him,

00:15:42.199 --> 00:15:42.860
 ask of me,

00:15:43.099 --> 00:15:43.879
 and I will make

00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:44.519
 the nations

00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.339
 your inheritance,

00:15:46.199 --> 00:15:47.419
 the end of the earth

00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:48.419
 your possession.

00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:49.599
 Again,

00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:50.579
 we see this universal

00:15:50.579 --> 00:15:51.779
 reign of Jesus.

00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:53.319
 Then we read,

00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:54.439
 you will rule them

00:15:54.439 --> 00:15:55.860
 with an iron scepter.

00:15:56.439 --> 00:15:57.379
 You will dash them

00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.679
 to pieces like pottery.

00:15:59.799 --> 00:16:00.120
 Therefore,

00:16:00.339 --> 00:16:01.199
 you kings,

00:16:01.459 --> 00:16:02.259
 be wise.

00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:03.519
 Be warned,

00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.579
 you rulers of the earth.

00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:05.939
 Serve the Lord

00:16:05.939 --> 00:16:06.559
 with fear

00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:07.459
 and rejoice

00:16:07.459 --> 00:16:08.240
 with trembling.

00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:09.879
 Kiss the Son

00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:10.799
 lest ye be angry

00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:12.139
 and ye be destroyed

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.799
 in your way.

00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.159
 For his wrath

00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:14.779
 can flare up

00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:15.259
 in a moment.

00:16:16.199 --> 00:16:17.759
 Blessed are all those

00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:19.019
 who take refuge

00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:19.539
 in him.

00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:24.000
 Notice particularly

00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.079
 verse nine.

00:16:25.899 --> 00:16:26.679
 You will rule them

00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:27.919
 with an iron scepter.

00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:29.279
 You will dash them

00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:30.559
 to pieces like pottery.

00:16:32.319 --> 00:16:32.559
 Now,

00:16:33.319 --> 00:16:34.220
 we could easily

00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.539
 misunderstand that.

00:16:35.959 --> 00:16:36.779
 We could think

00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:37.579
 this language

00:16:37.579 --> 00:16:38.399
 is smashing them

00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.039
 like pottery,

00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:39.519
 that Jesus

00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:40.319
 is someone

00:16:40.319 --> 00:16:40.779
 who's given

00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:42.279
 to wanton destruction,

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.220
 a bit like

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.279
 the children's talk,

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.740
 that Jesus

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.639
 is presented here

00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.000
 as someone

00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:48.000
 who's simply

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.659
 dangerous

00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:49.860
 and violent.

00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:52.259
 We need to bear

00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:52.600
 in mind

00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:53.539
 that those people

00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:54.819
 who are at risk

00:16:54.819 --> 00:16:55.299
 from him

00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:57.100
 are his enemies.

00:16:58.839 --> 00:17:00.240
 Those who reject them.

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.719
 They're the ones

00:17:01.719 --> 00:17:02.759
 who are smashed.

00:17:03.719 --> 00:17:03.899
 Now,

00:17:04.159 --> 00:17:05.500
 we shouldn't think

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.119
 that this means

00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:06.599
 that Jesus

00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.500
 is somehow

00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.480
 given to wanton

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.279
 destruction,

00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:11.700
 but it does mean

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:12.920
 that Jesus

00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:14.519
 is not to be trifled with.

00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:16.539
 It's another book

00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:17.079
 that I read

00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:18.160
 recently about

00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:20.379
 a journalist

00:17:20.379 --> 00:17:21.460
 who had covered

00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.400
 the war,

00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.139
 the civil war

00:17:23.139 --> 00:17:23.980
 in Yugoslavia

00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:25.660
 in the 1990s.

00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:27.940
 And on the anniversary

00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:28.460
 of that,

00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:31.539
 it was 2014,

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.359
 I think,

00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.740
 tied in as well

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.619
 with anniversaries

00:17:34.619 --> 00:17:35.220
 relating to

00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:36.299
 the First World War,

00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:37.420
 he went back

00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:37.980
 to that part

00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:38.519
 of the country

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:40.039
 and he decided

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.980
 that he would follow

00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:41.799
 the route

00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.960
 that Gavrilo Princip

00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:44.559
 took in 1914.

00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:45.620
 Now,

00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:47.000
 because of the conflict

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.900
 that had happened

00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:49.500
 in the last century

00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:52.319
 in the 1990s,

00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:53.840
 there are still landmines

00:17:53.840 --> 00:17:55.279
 all over that country.

00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:56.960
 And so he got

00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.640
 a local guide,

00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.440
 someone that he'd known

00:17:58.440 --> 00:17:59.279
 actually when he had

00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:00.039
 been there before.

00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:01.519
 And the guide

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.559
 had the maps

00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.620
 and the guide

00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:04.660
 could read the language

00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:05.880
 and he knew

00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:07.160
 where the minefields were

00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:08.480
 and he could guide him.

00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:10.079
 Now,

00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:10.539
 the journalist

00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:11.440
 had a choice.

00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:14.299
 He could either say,

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.700
 who do you think

00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.200
 you are?

00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.059
 Who do you think

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:18.920
 you are to tell me

00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:19.779
 where I should go?

00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:21.620
 Well,

00:18:21.620 --> 00:18:22.059
 that would have been

00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:22.480
 suicidal,

00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:23.000
 wouldn't it?

00:18:23.340 --> 00:18:24.079
 Because if he wandered

00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:25.319
 off the wrong way,

00:18:25.620 --> 00:18:26.440
 it would have led

00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:27.299
 to his destruction.

00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:28.559
 Alternatively,

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.400
 he could listen to him

00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:32.259
 and he would guide him

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.180
 on the safe path.

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.880
 Maybe that's a little bit

00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:36.440
 of an illustration

00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:37.579
 of who Jesus is.

00:18:38.840 --> 00:18:39.559
 Jesus claims

00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.640
 that he is in charge.

00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:42.720
 He is the son of God.

00:18:43.040 --> 00:18:43.980
 He has the authority

00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:44.800
 to direct us

00:18:44.800 --> 00:18:45.960
 how we should live.

00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:47.860
 And we have a choice

00:18:47.860 --> 00:18:48.360
 to make.

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.200
 Either we could say,

00:18:50.540 --> 00:18:51.320
 who do you think

00:18:51.320 --> 00:18:51.960
 you are

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.840
 to tell me

00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:53.600
 how to live?

00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:55.620
 Or,

00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:57.240
 we could follow him.

00:18:58.800 --> 00:18:59.140
 Now,

00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:00.600
 I suspect

00:19:00.600 --> 00:19:02.000
 this is one of the things

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.880
 that puts many people

00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:04.040
 off of Christianity

00:19:04.040 --> 00:19:05.860
 because they don't

00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:06.560
 want someone

00:19:06.560 --> 00:19:07.460
 who's going to tell them

00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.020
 how to live.

00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:09.920
 But as we think

00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:10.180
 of that,

00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:10.900
 we should notice,

00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:11.720
 for example,

00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:12.700
 in Psalm 2,

00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.759
 in verse 11,

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.039
 serve the Lord

00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:16.799
 with fear

00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:18.180
 and rejoice

00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:18.940
 with trembling.

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.980
 As we follow Jesus,

00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:22.920
 we're meant to rejoice

00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:24.039
 in who he is

00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:25.279
 and what he has done

00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:25.700
 for us.

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.559
 We might also think

00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:28.099
 of the language

00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:29.119
 that Jesus himself

00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:29.559
 uses

00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:31.720
 later on

00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.720
 in Matthew's gospel.

00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:35.420
 In Matthew chapter 11.

00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:38.840
 Come to me,

00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:39.960
 all you who are weary

00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.740
 and burdened,

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:42.080
 and I will give you rest.

00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:44.380
 Take my yoke upon you

00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:45.259
 and learn from me,

00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:46.420
 for I am gentle

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.380
 and humble in heart,

00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.759
 and you will find rest

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.560
 for your souls.

00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.539
 For my yoke is easy

00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:52.680
 and my burden

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.360
 is light.

00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:55.620
 Now,

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.000
 see there

00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.580
 that Jesus

00:19:56.580 --> 00:19:57.519
 again claims

00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.360
 that he is the one

00:19:58.360 --> 00:19:59.180
 who is in control,

00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.460
 he is in charge,

00:20:01.100 --> 00:20:01.700
 he is the one

00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:02.640
 who claims the authority

00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.300
 to tell you

00:20:03.300 --> 00:20:04.440
 how you should live.

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.980
 But that's not

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.759
 an onerous,

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:07.740
 terrible thing.

00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:09.620
 Jesus says

00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.500
 that that is actually

00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.779
 the path of true freedom

00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:13.500
 in following him.

00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:16.799
 So if Jesus is the son,

00:20:17.620 --> 00:20:18.660
 it means that he is

00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.380
 for everyone.

00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:22.700
 If Jesus is the son,

00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.600
 it means also

00:20:23.600 --> 00:20:25.120
 that he is in charge.

00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.640
 Then finally,

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.880
 if Jesus is in charge,

00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.220
 sorry,

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.360
 if Jesus is the son,

00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:33.319
 it means that he is

00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:34.000
 the one who brings

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.599
 salvation.

00:20:36.139 --> 00:20:37.119
 And through him,

00:20:37.179 --> 00:20:38.679
 we come to recognize,

00:20:38.959 --> 00:20:39.299
 in fact,

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.399
 how precious

00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:41.439
 and how costly

00:20:41.439 --> 00:20:43.039
 our salvation is.

00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.939
 The third passage

00:20:44.939 --> 00:20:46.000
 that we would look at

00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.959
 is in Genesis

00:20:46.959 --> 00:20:48.259
 chapter 22.

00:20:53.979 --> 00:20:55.240
 God had called out

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.939
 to Abraham,

00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:56.080
 Abraham,

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.700
 and then in verse 2

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.259
 he says,

00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:00.299
 take your son,

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.880
 your only son,

00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.059
 Isaac,

00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:04.140
 whom you love.

00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:07.539
 Now again,

00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:08.480
 when Jesus,

00:21:08.860 --> 00:21:09.380
 when the father

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:10.240
 says to Jesus,

00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:12.160
 this is my son

00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:13.259
 whom I love,

00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:15.500
 he's clearly echoing

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:15.980
 the language

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.059
 of Genesis

00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:18.100
 chapter 22.

00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:21.679
 But this passage

00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:22.980
 in Genesis 22

00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:23.519
 is perhaps

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.359
 the most difficult

00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:25.399
 passage of the ones

00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:26.079
 we've looked at,

00:21:26.719 --> 00:21:27.919
 partly because salvation

00:21:27.919 --> 00:21:28.939
 is hard for us.

00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.480
 It can be difficult

00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.399
 for us to acknowledge

00:21:31.399 --> 00:21:32.119
 that we need

00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:33.259
 to be saved,

00:21:33.939 --> 00:21:35.199
 but also simply

00:21:35.199 --> 00:21:36.219
 because this passage

00:21:36.219 --> 00:21:36.959
 is difficult.

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.419
 Notice what we read here.

00:21:40.179 --> 00:21:41.039
 Take your son,

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.399
 your only son,

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:42.819
 Isaac,

00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:43.659
 whom you love,

00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:45.240
 and go to the region

00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:45.899
 of Moriah.

00:21:47.159 --> 00:21:47.480
 We know,

00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.039
 interestingly,

00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:49.240
 interestingly enough

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.599
 that that is the temple.

00:21:51.179 --> 00:21:51.859
 It's the area

00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:52.480
 where the temple

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.159
 would be built

00:21:53.159 --> 00:21:53.879
 in Jerusalem.

00:21:54.419 --> 00:21:55.779
 That's where Moriah was.

00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:56.719
 That's where Abraham

00:21:56.719 --> 00:21:58.000
 was called to go.

00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.179
 But notice what God

00:21:59.179 --> 00:22:00.099
 tells him to do.

00:22:01.959 --> 00:22:03.019
 Sacrifice him there

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:04.219
 as a burnt offering

00:22:04.219 --> 00:22:05.599
 on one of the mountains

00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:07.240
 that I will tell you about.

00:22:09.379 --> 00:22:10.719
 We read that

00:22:10.719 --> 00:22:12.419
 and we tremble.

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:15.299
 It is God

00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:16.919
 commanding Abraham

00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:18.640
 to offer his son

00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.900
 as a sacrifice.

00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.660
 Our society,

00:22:22.840 --> 00:22:23.640
 understandably,

00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:25.160
 has a profound fear

00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.759
 of religious fanaticism.

00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.860
 And a religion

00:22:28.860 --> 00:22:29.980
 that would lead you

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.720
 to sacrifice

00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.860
 your own child

00:22:31.860 --> 00:22:33.740
 would be the very worst

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.860
 possible kind

00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:35.820
 of fanaticism.

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.740
 And so we find

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.320
 this passage

00:22:38.320 --> 00:22:39.019
 very troubling

00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:39.480
 and we wonder

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.200
 what on earth

00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:41.560
 is going on here.

00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:43.879
 we should appreciate

00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:44.579
 that we are not

00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:45.319
 the first people

00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:46.480
 to find this passage

00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:46.899
 troubling.

00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:49.039
 The people of Israel

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.779
 for whom this book

00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.339
 was written,

00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:51.859
 they would have been

00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:52.839
 troubled by this,

00:22:52.899 --> 00:22:53.799
 not least because

00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:55.159
 their God himself

00:22:55.159 --> 00:22:56.359
 had told them

00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:57.899
 that they mustn't

00:22:57.899 --> 00:22:59.579
 ever worship him

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.200
 in this way.

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:02.179
 He pointed out

00:23:02.179 --> 00:23:02.799
 that that's the way

00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.899
 the nations around them

00:23:03.899 --> 00:23:04.940
 worshiped their gods,

00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:05.759
 but he said

00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.720
 that that was an abomination

00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.779
 and that they must

00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:08.519
 not do that,

00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.179
 that it was a very

00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.960
 great evil.

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:12.640
 And yet we come

00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.340
 to this passage

00:23:13.340 --> 00:23:14.340
 and it would appear

00:23:14.340 --> 00:23:15.160
 that that is what

00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:16.240
 God is telling

00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.180
 Abraham to do.

00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:19.600
 Now as it happens,

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.460
 as we read through

00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.500
 Genesis 22,

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.019
 it makes it clear

00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:24.100
 that that is not

00:23:24.100 --> 00:23:24.759
 ultimately

00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:26.360
 what God intended.

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.920
 Some people commenting

00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.779
 on this passage

00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.560
 have pointed out

00:23:30.560 --> 00:23:32.039
 that in Abraham's society,

00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:33.440
 child sacrifice

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.480
 is as horrific

00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.560
 as it is to us

00:23:35.560 --> 00:23:36.740
 in their cultures

00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.720
 wouldn't have been

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.400
 that surprising.

00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.299
 So the thing for them

00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:40.840
 that would have been

00:23:40.840 --> 00:23:42.000
 surprising wasn't so much

00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:43.080
 that a God might ask

00:23:43.080 --> 00:23:43.440
 for that,

00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.440
 but that in fact

00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.240
 that a God would say

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:46.340
 no, stop that.

00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:48.820
 That is what is surprising.

00:23:49.600 --> 00:23:50.759
 And then consistently

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:52.000
 from this point onward

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.759
 in the Old Testament,

00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.360
 God says,

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.940
 you must not ever

00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:55.960
 do this.

00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:59.120
 And so what is the point?

00:23:59.820 --> 00:24:01.240
 Why is it that God

00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:02.440
 speaks to Abraham

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.140
 in this way?

00:24:04.840 --> 00:24:05.920
 So we come to Matthew

00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:06.680
 chapter 3,

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.360
 I would suggest

00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.139
 that we see at least

00:24:08.139 --> 00:24:09.359
 one profound lesson

00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:11.099
 that is being taught here.

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:15.679
 God in Matthew chapter 3,

00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.339
 verse 17,

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.679
 is echoing the language

00:24:17.679 --> 00:24:19.479
 of this passage

00:24:19.479 --> 00:24:21.019
 and he is using it

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:22.619
 to describe his own son,

00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:24.699
 his beloved son.

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.240
 As we think about

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.919
 what that means,

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.699
 I think it's helpful

00:24:28.699 --> 00:24:30.079
 for us to call to mind

00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:30.679
 two things

00:24:30.679 --> 00:24:31.979
 that I mentioned previously.

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.940
 one thing,

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:34.980
 I suggested

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.960
 that everybody

00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:37.480
 seeks acceptance.

00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:40.420
 We seek acceptance

00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:41.299
 with other people.

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.079
 Ultimately,

00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:44.700
 we seek acceptance

00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.299
 with God.

00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.420
 And when Christians

00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.720
 speak about salvation,

00:24:49.620 --> 00:24:50.920
 that's one of the ways

00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:52.259
 you could understand salvation.

00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:53.319
 It means to be accepted

00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:54.200
 by God,

00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:55.360
 to know that he loves you,

00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:55.940
 to know that he's

00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:56.779
 forgiven your sins.

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:56.940
 acceptance.

00:24:57.940 --> 00:24:58.379
 So,

00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.799
 we all seek acceptance.

00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:02.180
 The other thing

00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:02.700
 that I mentioned

00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:03.399
 was that quote

00:25:03.399 --> 00:25:04.440
 from Dostoevsky,

00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:06.440
 that if there is no God,

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:08.200
 anything is permissible.

00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:10.519
 But of course,

00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.700
 the whole point of that

00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:13.599
 is that not everything

00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.359
 is permissible

00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:16.099
 because there is a God.

00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:18.119
 And that God

00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:19.039
 who exists

00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.639
 is judge.

00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:22.940
 He is the one

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:24.220
 to whom all people

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.819
 are accountable.

00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:28.240
 and he is a just judge.

00:25:29.179 --> 00:25:29.839
 If you think

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.599
 of human judges,

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:32.099
 you can get just judges,

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:34.139
 you can get corrupt judges.

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:36.379
 A just judge

00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:37.379
 will not condemn

00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:37.919
 the innocent.

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:40.000
 He will not justify

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.559
 the wicked.

00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:43.179
 A crooked judge

00:25:43.179 --> 00:25:44.439
 would simply

00:25:44.439 --> 00:25:45.039
 let the guilty

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.619
 walk free.

00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.480
 That's not

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.379
 the kind of judge

00:25:49.379 --> 00:25:50.399
 that God is.

00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.919
 But then you begin

00:25:52.919 --> 00:25:53.819
 to see perhaps

00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:54.240
 that there is

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.700
 a tension

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.759
 between those two things

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.400
 that I've mentioned.

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:58.200
 Our desire

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.839
 for acceptance

00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.559
 with God

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.380
 and the fact

00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:00.819
 that God

00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:02.640
 is a just judge.

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.859
 We tend

00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:06.559
 to think

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:08.480
 that our salvation

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:10.019
 is easy for God.

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:13.079
 I think if we're honest,

00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:14.359
 we tend to view salvation

00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:15.359
 almost as something

00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:16.680
 that God owes us.

00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:17.680
 to be a good

00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.560
 God

00:26:18.560 --> 00:26:19.500
 but what if we've

00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.019
 sinned?

00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:23.279
 What if we have

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:24.279
 done wicked things?

00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:26.120
 It's easy for us

00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:27.160
 to think of other people

00:26:27.160 --> 00:26:27.799
 whom we reckon

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:28.720
 to be bad people

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:30.120
 but what if we're

00:26:30.120 --> 00:26:30.660
 the problem?

00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:32.980
 What if we are

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:34.080
 the bad people?

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.600
 Then how is it

00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:37.400
 that we can find

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.039
 acceptance

00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.779
 with a God

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:40.299
 who is perfectly just?

00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:42.460
 So you see,

00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.879
 for God to save us

00:26:43.879 --> 00:26:44.940
 is not in fact

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:46.039
 an easy thing.

00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:48.000
 Had God simply said,

00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:48.599
 well yes,

00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:49.139
 you've sinned,

00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:49.399
 yes,

00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.399
 you've done horrible things

00:26:50.399 --> 00:26:51.919
 but let's just forget

00:26:51.919 --> 00:26:52.619
 about that.

00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:55.759
 Had God done that,

00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.899
 he wouldn't be just.

00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:59.079
 In order for God

00:26:59.079 --> 00:26:59.799
 to be just

00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:01.139
 and the God

00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:02.319
 who saves us,

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.299
 he himself

00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:06.659
 needed to satisfy

00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.420
 his justice

00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:10.340
 and we get a glimpse

00:27:10.340 --> 00:27:11.080
 of that here.

00:27:12.320 --> 00:27:13.180
 Remember where

00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:14.480
 Abraham was

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:16.100
 as he was traveling

00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:16.820
 along with

00:27:16.820 --> 00:27:17.820
 his beloved son.

00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:19.820
 He was traveling

00:27:19.820 --> 00:27:20.980
 to Moriah.

00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:22.820
 He was traveling

00:27:22.820 --> 00:27:23.400
 to the place

00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:24.200
 that would ultimately

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.279
 be Jerusalem

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:27.660
 and as he was traveling

00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:27.880
 there,

00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:28.400
 he was going

00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:28.940
 to the place

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.820
 where he thought

00:27:29.820 --> 00:27:30.720
 that he was going

00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:31.759
 to have to sacrifice

00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.900
 his beloved son

00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:35.420
 and you can't read

00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.740
 Genesis 22

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.560
 without your heart

00:27:37.560 --> 00:27:38.320
 being moved.

00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:40.820
 It's a fearful passage

00:27:40.820 --> 00:27:43.340
 and yet ultimately

00:27:43.340 --> 00:27:44.160
 at the last moment

00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:44.980
 there was that voice

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.660
 that cried out

00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:47.539
 staying Abraham's hand

00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.980
 and stopping that.

00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:50.240
 He didn't sacrifice

00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.980
 his son.

00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:52.500
 But here in Matthew

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.440
 chapter 3

00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:55.660
 we find the reality.

00:27:57.300 --> 00:27:58.080
 Here we have

00:27:58.080 --> 00:27:59.000
 our heavenly father

00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:01.160
 and his beloved son

00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:04.720
 and in a few short years

00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.579
 they will be traveling

00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:07.440
 together to Jerusalem.

00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:10.539
 Except this time

00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:11.660
 there will be no stain

00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:12.660
 of the sacrifices

00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:13.440
 to be made.

00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:16.180
 The son will be

00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:17.860
 sacrificed upon the cross.

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.200
 And why is it

00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:20.920
 that that happened?

00:28:22.360 --> 00:28:23.539
 Why would God

00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:25.299
 do that to his beloved son?

00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:29.059
 Well he did it for us.

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:32.460
 For God so loved the world

00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:33.240
 that he gave

00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.460
 his one and only son

00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:36.340
 that whoever believes

00:28:36.340 --> 00:28:36.759
 in him

00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.860
 might not perish

00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:39.279
 but have everlasting life.

00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:41.799
 And as you've begun

00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.740
 to understand that

00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.539
 as you see Matthew

00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:44.160
 chapter 3

00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:45.279
 and the whole of Matthew's

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:45.900
 gospel

00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:47.559
 in light of Genesis 22

00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:49.340
 we read about

00:28:49.340 --> 00:28:50.100
 this relationship

00:28:50.100 --> 00:28:50.720
 of a father

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.700
 and his beloved son

00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.680
 and our hearts

00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.120
 are torn

00:28:53.120 --> 00:28:53.640
 as we think

00:28:53.640 --> 00:28:54.900
 of what Abraham

00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:55.880
 must have gone through.

00:28:56.600 --> 00:28:57.500
 God is revealing

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.000
 to us

00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:58.660
 that that is

00:28:58.660 --> 00:28:59.819
 how much he loved us.

00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:03.599
 in spite of your sin

00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.299
 he loved you

00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:05.399
 so much

00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:06.539
 that he was willing

00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.359
 to give his son

00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:09.259
 that Jesus

00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.059
 would endure

00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:11.399
 what we deserve

00:29:11.399 --> 00:29:13.859
 that our sins

00:29:13.859 --> 00:29:14.659
 might be forgiven.

00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:16.159
 God didn't simply say

00:29:16.159 --> 00:29:17.119
 we'll just forget

00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:17.759
 about your sin

00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.759
 your sin doesn't matter.

00:29:19.919 --> 00:29:21.179
 He paid the price

00:29:21.179 --> 00:29:21.980
 himself

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:24.339
 so that he is just

00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:25.559
 and also

00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:27.039
 the one who accepts you

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:27.960
 and loves you

00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:29.039
 and forgives you.

00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:30.000
 and that's the thing

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.579
 that transforms

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.440
 everything else

00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:32.159
 that we've looked at

00:29:32.159 --> 00:29:32.680
 doesn't it?

00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:34.799
 Why does it make

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.500
 any difference

00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:35.980
 that Jesus

00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:37.059
 is for everybody?

00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:39.940
 Why should you care

00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:41.220
 if Jesus is for you?

00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:43.960
 Because Jesus

00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.460
 is the one

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:44.980
 who loved you

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.920
 and gave his life

00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:46.559
 for you

00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.960
 that through him

00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:49.099
 you might be forgiven.

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.460
 Why should we

00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:53.440
 give our lives to him?

00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:54.039
 Why should we

00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:54.859
 recognize that he

00:29:54.859 --> 00:29:55.480
 is in charge

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.359
 of our lives?

00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:57.480
 Why should we

00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:58.279
 willingly accept

00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:58.980
 his direction

00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:00.019
 in our lives?

00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:01.799
 Well again

00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.619
 because he loved you

00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:03.139
 so much

00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:04.299
 that he gave himself

00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:05.240
 for you.

00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:08.079
 What does it mean

00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.879
 for Jesus

00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:10.079
 to be the son of God?

00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:12.220
 As we think of that

00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.079
 we see lastly

00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:13.759
 that it means

00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:14.720
 that Jesus

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.279
 is the one

00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.259
 who brings salvation.

00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:19.079
 Not only does he

00:30:19.079 --> 00:30:19.819
 bring salvation

00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.740
 but we come

00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.379
 to understand

00:30:21.379 --> 00:30:22.019
 through him

00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.819
 how much

00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:23.519
 that salvation

00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.200
 caused.

00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:24.259
 Christ.

00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:26.319
 So as we think

00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:27.140
 about what it means

00:30:27.140 --> 00:30:27.620
 for Jesus

00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:28.279
 to be the son

00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:28.799
 of God

00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:30.880
 if Jesus

00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:31.480
 is the son

00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:31.840
 it means

00:30:31.840 --> 00:30:32.400
 that he is

00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:33.000
 for everyone.

00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.539
 Because Jesus

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.220
 is the son

00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:36.600
 of God

00:30:36.600 --> 00:30:37.240
 it means

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:37.620
 that he

00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:38.460
 is in charge.

00:30:39.620 --> 00:30:40.340
 And because

00:30:40.340 --> 00:30:41.059
 he is the son

00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:41.460
 of God

00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:42.259
 it means

00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:42.600
 that he

00:30:42.600 --> 00:30:43.140
 is the one

00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:43.920
 who brings

00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:44.600
 us salvation.

00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:46.159
 to be the son

00:30:46.159 --> 00:30:46.819
 of God

00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:47.219
 to be the son

00:30:47.219 --> 00:30:47.359
 of God

00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.039
 is in charge.

00:30:48.159 --> 00:30:49.599
 Of course

00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:50.419
 of God

00:30:50.419 --> 00:30:51.500
 we see

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:53.299
 Th так

00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:53.719
 are other

00:30:53.719 --> 00:30:54.939
 who Ми

00:30:54.939 --> 00:30:55.419
 are other

00:30:55.419 --> 00:30:55.939
 people

00:30:55.939 --> 00:30:56.879
 who Pelosi

00:30:56.879 --> 00:31:10.419
 are

00:31:10.419 --> 00:31:11.919
 trying

00:31:11.919 --> 00:31:12.879
 to other

00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:13.579
 who