WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.960 Today we're going to look at John the Baptist, or as I prefer to call him John the Baptizer. 00:00:06.100 --> 00:00:10.040 ! Let's read together the first eight verses. Mark chapter 1. 00:00:11.540 --> 00:00:15.179 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 00:00:16.019 --> 00:00:18.120 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, 00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:23.160 Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way. 00:00:23.660 --> 00:00:25.620 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:29.539 Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:36.299 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 00:00:36.980 --> 00:00:40.780 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him, 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:44.759 and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:49.359 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and wore a leather belt around his waist, 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:51.500 and ate locusts and wild honey. 00:00:51.740 --> 00:00:53.179 And he preached, saying, 00:00:53.820 --> 00:00:56.460 After me comes he who is mightier than I, 00:00:56.859 --> 00:00:59.700 the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down, 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:00.880 and untie. 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:06.000 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. 00:01:06.219 --> 00:01:07.239 Let's pray together. 00:01:09.659 --> 00:01:14.319 Father, certainly this morning we can echo the writing of the hymnists. 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:15.560 We need you. 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:20.019 We need you in this hour to bless the preaching of your word, 00:01:20.299 --> 00:01:22.859 for our hearing, for your sake. 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:24.900 We pray this in Christ's name. 00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:26.219 Amen. 00:01:27.180 --> 00:01:30.400 So, today we're going to look a bit at who is John. 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:31.859 Last week, who was Mark? 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:35.039 Here we see who is John. 00:01:35.140 --> 00:01:41.280 But I want you to be very clear and remember that this is ultimately a story about Jesus Christ. 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:44.719 But it's important, I think, that we know a little bit of the background. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:48.319 We see here in verse 4 that John appears. 00:01:49.140 --> 00:01:55.620 And he appears as the fulfillment of prophecy, as the foretold prophet. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:58.780 So, firstly, John was the foretold prophet. 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:02.859 We see this bit of prophecy here in verse 2 and verse 3, 00:02:03.060 --> 00:02:04.700 which is kind of a mash-up. 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:08.139 We know it's attributed here in Mark to Isaiah, 00:02:08.139 --> 00:02:11.199 but it's actually a bit of a combination of two. 00:02:11.359 --> 00:02:15.099 Verse 2 is the first part of Malachi 3.1, 00:02:15.339 --> 00:02:16.879 which reads in the ESV, 00:02:17.299 --> 00:02:21.579 Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:27.560 And then verse 3 in Mark is from Isaiah 40, verse 3, 00:02:27.779 --> 00:02:28.199 which says, 00:02:28.339 --> 00:02:29.219 A voice cries, 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:31.379 In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord. 00:02:31.619 --> 00:02:35.339 Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 00:02:35.340 --> 00:02:38.960 And these two verses together are commonly used, 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:41.420 both in Matthew and in Luke, 00:02:41.580 --> 00:02:45.759 to prove who John the baptizer was, 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:49.159 that he was this foretold prophet. 00:02:49.920 --> 00:02:51.719 Now, to clarify for you, 00:02:52.740 --> 00:02:55.219 as it says, as written in Isaiah, the prophet, 00:02:55.340 --> 00:02:57.800 it was very common when this was done, 00:02:57.840 --> 00:02:59.620 when two different prophecies were put together, 00:02:59.780 --> 00:03:02.159 to use the greater prophet, 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:04.420 the prophet that had had more influence, 00:03:04.419 --> 00:03:06.599 that people would have been more familiar with, 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:10.019 and to attribute the prophecy to that man. 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:13.659 So this is a very common thing done in Hebrew writing. 00:03:14.279 --> 00:03:18.459 The writers of the New Testament quote sometimes exactly from the Hebrew. 00:03:19.379 --> 00:03:21.299 Sometimes they quote from the Septuagint, 00:03:21.379 --> 00:03:24.379 which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament. 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:25.599 They would have had at this time. 00:03:26.259 --> 00:03:29.299 Sometimes they make sort of a general reference to a text. 00:03:29.300 --> 00:03:33.080 And sometimes it's an interpretive reference. 00:03:33.219 --> 00:03:34.320 This is what we see here. 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:36.480 If you carefully were listening to me, 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:39.100 quoting to you Malachi 3.1 and Isaiah 43, 00:03:39.700 --> 00:03:42.020 you saw that it wasn't the exact wording, 00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:44.880 but rather an interpretive reference. 00:03:45.720 --> 00:03:49.360 Remember that the New Testament writers were inspired, 00:03:49.939 --> 00:03:53.120 carried along by the Spirit of God to write this, 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:57.439 and therefore we can take their interpretations as inspired 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:02.400 to help us find meaning and help us understand the Old Testament text. 00:04:02.480 --> 00:04:04.099 So it's a common thing that's happening. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:05.340 As you're reading through your New Testament, 00:04:05.640 --> 00:04:07.460 and you're really checking out those cross references, 00:04:07.640 --> 00:04:08.759 and you're going back to the Old Testament, 00:04:08.920 --> 00:04:11.319 so that's not exactly what this says. 00:04:12.020 --> 00:04:13.000 It is. 00:04:13.780 --> 00:04:16.860 Because this was common practice that these people did 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:20.040 as they were carried along by the Spirit of God. 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:24.960 So we see that he is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, 00:04:25.100 --> 00:04:28.319 and this is the extent of the argument that Mark makes in that regard. 00:04:28.780 --> 00:04:32.360 He gives us two verses put together as they were commonly done to say, 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:34.800 this John, John the Baptizer, 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:37.379 is the one that the Old Testament was telling us about, 00:04:37.580 --> 00:04:40.939 that Malachi the prophet and Isaiah the prophet said would come 00:04:40.939 --> 00:04:45.660 and make the way, would be the predecessor for Jesus Christ. 00:04:46.740 --> 00:04:48.980 Now I say to you, this is proof enough. 00:04:48.980 --> 00:04:50.800 There it is. 00:04:50.920 --> 00:04:51.819 Need he say more? 00:04:52.460 --> 00:04:55.480 Some of the other Gospel accounts make a more extensive case 00:04:55.480 --> 00:04:58.240 for who John the Baptizer was, 00:04:58.280 --> 00:05:00.640 that he was in fact this foretold prophet. 00:05:00.780 --> 00:05:04.040 But I want to remind you that Mark, most likely, 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:05.100 it's widely accepted, 00:05:05.280 --> 00:05:08.160 wrote this Gospel account from Rome, 00:05:08.379 --> 00:05:10.920 more than likely in a Roman prison, 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:16.540 for Roman Christians or a Roman audience to convince them. 00:05:16.540 --> 00:05:19.780 He didn't need to use the Old Testament in an extensive fashion. 00:05:19.900 --> 00:05:22.700 It wouldn't have meant that much to them. 00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:26.180 So it's important, I think, just to pause at this moment 00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:32.200 and recognize that it's important for us to look at a letter intended audience. 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:34.640 Why is it that Mark did it in this way? 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:36.280 It gives us two verses to say, 00:05:36.540 --> 00:05:37.700 this is John. 00:05:38.200 --> 00:05:40.640 This is the foretold prophet. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:43.659 And so we see this here in verse 2 and verse 3. 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:48.639 Now, let's get down to verse 6 for a moment as we ask this question, 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:50.060 who was John? 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:55.219 There is certainly much that could be said about John the Baptizer. 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:55.860 Right? 00:05:56.099 --> 00:05:59.240 Matthew, Luke, even John, the Gospel of John, 00:05:59.579 --> 00:06:01.819 speak of John rather extensively. 00:06:02.519 --> 00:06:05.899 And they report to us a number of interesting facts about him. 00:06:05.899 --> 00:06:09.779 Firstly, he was miraculously conceived 00:06:09.779 --> 00:06:13.060 because his parents were too old and had been barren. 00:06:13.679 --> 00:06:17.419 He was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb. 00:06:18.139 --> 00:06:19.859 It's a unique thing in this day. 00:06:20.339 --> 00:06:22.379 He was a relative of Jesus. 00:06:23.139 --> 00:06:27.279 He was the culmination of Old Testament prophetic history, 00:06:27.859 --> 00:06:29.299 the last prophet, 00:06:29.779 --> 00:06:32.560 and there hadn't been a prophet for 400 years. 00:06:33.219 --> 00:06:35.239 This is John the Baptizer. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:37.960 Jesus said in Matthew 1.11, 00:06:38.379 --> 00:06:42.060 He's the greatest man that ever lived up until His time. 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:42.960 Why? 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:45.120 Because He was the predecessor. 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:47.720 He was the herald for Jesus Christ. 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:52.560 Jesus Himself said He's the greatest man that ever lived up until His time. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:57.120 There's much that could be said about John the Baptizer, 00:06:57.240 --> 00:07:00.639 but Mark doesn't mention any of this, does he? 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:02.579 He doesn't mention any of it. 00:07:02.579 --> 00:07:08.699 In verse 6, He gives us some seemingly obscure facts. 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:14.419 The things that I have read over the years and just thought made John an odd guy. 00:07:15.099 --> 00:07:15.240 Right? 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:17.180 He was clothed with camel's hair, 00:07:17.300 --> 00:07:18.599 wore a leather belt around his waist, 00:07:18.860 --> 00:07:20.439 and ate locusts and wild honey. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:22.299 What an oddball. 00:07:22.300 --> 00:07:24.780 But there's significance to this. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:32.660 The reason that the descriptive things that were given by Mark as just this is very, very important. 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:36.760 So recognize, we need to hone in on these things. 00:07:37.300 --> 00:07:40.000 Firstly, we need to see that He was in the wilderness. 00:07:40.860 --> 00:07:41.040 Right? 00:07:41.100 --> 00:07:42.380 It doesn't actually say that in verse 6. 00:07:42.460 --> 00:07:44.340 I think we're up in verse 4. 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:44.800 Right? 00:07:45.460 --> 00:07:48.240 But we need to recognize that He was in fact in the wilderness, 00:07:48.440 --> 00:07:55.980 which was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 43 and Micah 1.3 that we saw in verse 3. 00:07:56.320 --> 00:07:56.540 Right? 00:07:56.700 --> 00:07:59.940 He'd be the voice of one crying in the wilderness. 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:01.660 So here we see the fulfillment of that. 00:08:01.899 --> 00:08:04.139 But why would He have been in the wilderness? 00:08:05.100 --> 00:08:10.360 It seems to me that it would have been more beneficial for John to have planted himself somewhere in the city 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:11.920 where there were more people. 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:15.180 That's typically a good habit if you're trying to perpetuate something, 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:19.019 trying to get truth going, some sort of a movement, to be with people. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:19.720 Right? 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:25.220 I wouldn't suggest to any of you that you go off in the wilderness to be a gospel herald. 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:26.779 It's really not the best place to be. 00:08:26.779 --> 00:08:30.019 Go park on the AT and just talk to people who walk by you occasionally. 00:08:30.659 --> 00:08:30.819 Right? 00:08:31.019 --> 00:08:32.179 It's good to be around people. 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:32.959 Be on campus. 00:08:33.079 --> 00:08:33.919 Be in your workplaces. 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:34.620 Be in your neighborhoods. 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:35.759 That's where people are. 00:08:35.860 --> 00:08:40.839 So why is it that He's in the wilderness and people are coming out to Him? 00:08:41.860 --> 00:08:47.439 You remember the wilderness at the first exodus when the people of God were led out of captivity, 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:49.100 which was symbolic. 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:53.759 It was a foreshadowing of the full and final salvation we have in Christ. 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:58.059 The wilderness was a place of trial and judgment. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:05.500 So they're being called back out to the wilderness for the very same reason. 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:11.340 A great quote I'm going to read to you, and I could not find the author of the quote. 00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:14.120 I found it attributed to somebody, but I don't think this person exists. 00:09:14.319 --> 00:09:16.620 I couldn't find any information about them anyway. 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:20.279 So I'm just going to say to an unknown author, but this is very good. 00:09:20.439 --> 00:09:20.939 Listen carefully. 00:09:20.940 --> 00:09:27.260 The summons to be baptized in the Jordan means that Israel must once more come to the wilderness. 00:09:28.260 --> 00:09:32.640 As Israel long ago had been separated from Egypt by a pilgrimage through the waters of the Red Sea, 00:09:32.900 --> 00:09:36.160 the nation is exhorted again to exercise separation. 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:41.200 The people are called to a second exodus in preparation for a new covenant with God. 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:44.560 As the people heed John's call and go out to him in the desert, 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:47.700 far more is involved than contrition and confession. 00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:51.820 They returned to a place of judgment, the wilderness, 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:58.940 where the status of Israel as God's beloved son must be reestablished in the exchange of pride for humility. 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:03.580 The willingness to return to the wilderness signifies the acknowledgement of Israel's history 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:09.879 as one of disobedience and rebellion and a desire to begin once more. 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:13.659 So not only is this a fulfillment of the prophecy, 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:16.439 which I would say is the most important reason John was in the wilderness, 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:20.700 but it was also a beckoning for people to come back to a place of humility, 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:22.120 a place of recognition. 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:27.379 Israel existed, dwelt in the desert for 40 years because of their disobedience. 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:30.679 They come out once again to the wilderness to meet with him, 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:33.519 to hear his preaching, and to be baptized. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:39.179 We see a record in verse 6, as I said, that he was dressed oddly. 00:10:40.340 --> 00:10:41.460 That he was dressed oddly. 00:10:41.579 --> 00:10:47.139 Certainly there could have been some practical application to him being clothed in camel's hair. 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:50.240 In the desert it gets very cold at night. 00:10:50.319 --> 00:10:51.120 You may not realize that. 00:10:51.199 --> 00:10:54.379 Very hot in the day, but very cold at night. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:58.340 But the reference here is not to a hide. 00:10:58.500 --> 00:10:59.480 This wasn't a camel's hide. 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:01.460 This would have been camel's hair woven. 00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:02.080 It's common. 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:03.540 This happened, right? 00:11:03.820 --> 00:11:06.180 Coats and things were made of this type of material. 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:07.759 And this is what he's wearing. 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:10.800 Camel's hair and a leather belt. 00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:14.340 This was the garb. 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:17.660 This was the uniform of prophets. 00:11:18.680 --> 00:11:22.580 There had yet been a prophet for 400 years. 00:11:23.540 --> 00:11:24.879 And John comes on the scene, 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:28.139 and he knows that to be taken as a prophet, 00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:31.080 he must dress as a prophet. 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:33.100 So catch this. 00:11:33.160 --> 00:11:35.460 Let me show you the evidence of this. 00:11:36.180 --> 00:11:37.780 Zechariah 13.4. 00:11:38.680 --> 00:11:41.480 Speaking of a day when false prophecy will cease, 00:11:41.900 --> 00:11:44.160 there's a prophecy about false prophecy ceasing, 00:11:44.920 --> 00:11:46.780 says he, being the false prophet, 00:11:47.100 --> 00:11:51.420 will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive. 00:11:51.419 --> 00:11:56.740 2 Kings 1.8, when we meet Elijah the prophet, 00:11:56.959 --> 00:12:02.759 says he wore a garment of hair with a belt of leather about his waist. 00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:06.779 Elijah set the dress code for prophets. 00:12:07.459 --> 00:12:11.219 This was the way they set themselves apart from the people. 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:12.919 They wore a rough clothing. 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:16.500 Rather than a fine cotton, they wore rough clothing. 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:19.700 Would have been similar to somebody clothing themselves in sackcloth. 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:21.200 Uncomfortable cloth. 00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:23.379 This was the garb. 00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:26.480 This was the uniform of a prophet. 00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:29.340 And that's why Mark records it for us here. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:31.539 If you think about this, 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:35.940 and I hope maybe at least a few of your minds were drawn to Jesus' words in Matthew 7.15, 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:36.800 where he says, 00:12:37.160 --> 00:12:40.620 Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, 00:12:41.180 --> 00:12:43.120 but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 00:12:43.260 --> 00:12:46.080 Very clever turn of phrase for Jesus, 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:48.880 because the false prophets would have in fact come 00:12:48.880 --> 00:12:52.440 in some woven form of animal fur 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:55.000 to say to the people, 00:12:55.160 --> 00:12:56.700 I am a prophet. 00:12:56.860 --> 00:13:00.240 But the heart is what matters in this case. 00:13:00.820 --> 00:13:03.660 So, he was dressed oddly, to be sure, 00:13:03.660 --> 00:13:05.460 but to set himself apart. 00:13:05.940 --> 00:13:07.440 As a prophet for God. 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:11.680 John did not wish to be associated with the people, 00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:14.900 but rather with the prophets. 00:13:16.160 --> 00:13:20.520 Look at this prophecy in Malachi 4, 5, and 6 concerning John. 00:13:21.420 --> 00:13:24.360 Behold, I will send you Elijah, 00:13:24.780 --> 00:13:25.500 the prophet, 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:27.760 before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 00:13:28.180 --> 00:13:30.580 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, 00:13:30.580 --> 00:13:32.780 and the hearts of children to their fathers, 00:13:33.140 --> 00:13:35.180 lest I come and strike the land with a decree 00:13:35.179 --> 00:13:37.159 of utter destruction. 00:13:37.979 --> 00:13:42.639 This is Malachi prophesying much time has passed 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:44.199 since Elijah was on the scene. 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:44.859 And here it says, 00:13:45.099 --> 00:13:46.679 Behold, I will send you Elijah, 00:13:46.979 --> 00:13:48.519 one like Elijah, 00:13:48.699 --> 00:13:50.019 the one we know as John, 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:51.379 the baptizer. 00:13:52.479 --> 00:13:53.679 Now, as a side note, 00:13:53.959 --> 00:13:55.419 it's of some significance, 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:57.179 but we also see that he ate oddly. 00:13:57.719 --> 00:14:00.299 He ate locusts and honey. 00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:02.539 These would have been plentiful things for him to eat in the desert. 00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:08.939 Would have been things that the average individual would not have ate as their set-apart diet. 00:14:09.579 --> 00:14:12.459 And so again, he's separating himself from the people. 00:14:13.479 --> 00:14:15.659 Incidentally, if you care about this, 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:16.859 Leviticus 11, 22, 00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:22.240 the locusts were one of the only insects that God permitted people to eat in this day. 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:26.840 So locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers were permissible in this way. 00:14:27.180 --> 00:14:30.399 I thought it was very interesting information about how they cooked them. 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:31.539 All kinds of ways. 00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:34.800 I thought of the scene in Forrest Gump, 00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:36.700 all the different ways you can cook shrimp. 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:39.340 They did all kinds of things with them. 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:40.060 They roasted them. 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:41.779 They ground them up and put them in flour. 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:43.220 It's a good source of protein. 00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:44.740 Took off the legs and the wings, 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:46.560 and did all kinds of things with the locusts. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:48.500 And this is what John ate. 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:53.100 Plentiful supply of locusts and honey would have been there for him. 00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:56.860 Good protein and carbohydrate complement there. 00:14:57.960 --> 00:14:59.419 So this is what John is doing. 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:03.080 This is why Mark chooses to share this information with us. 00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:04.399 So here's how we see it. 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:07.460 We see John as a prophet in the line of Elijah, 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:11.519 sent from God to herald the coming of the king. 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:13.519 So that's who John was secondly. 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:16.079 John was the herald of the king. 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:18.899 We'll go back to verse 1. 00:15:19.699 --> 00:15:20.740 And recall his language here. 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:23.139 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:25.059 The Son of God. 00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:29.220 And this word gospel is the word euangelion. 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:30.980 Euangelion. 00:15:31.579 --> 00:15:35.620 And now as he's writing to a primarily Gentile population, 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:37.600 in Rome there would have been Jews as well. 00:15:37.939 --> 00:15:40.779 And they would have really understood this term. 00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:43.279 It meant generally good news. 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:44.319 We know that. 00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:44.679 Gospel. 00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:45.240 Good news. 00:15:45.339 --> 00:15:46.360 It meant that generally. 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:48.939 And was used in that way throughout history. 00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:50.839 Throughout both Hebrew and Greek writing. 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:51.899 In a very general sense. 00:15:52.339 --> 00:15:58.720 But it more often was specifically used to speak of the coming of a God king. 00:15:59.540 --> 00:16:01.759 We have a couple of Old Testament examples of that. 00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:03.200 I read these to you last week. 00:16:03.560 --> 00:16:05.360 Isaiah 40 chapter 9. 00:16:06.160 --> 00:16:08.240 Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion. 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:10.180 Herald of good news. 00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:10.920 Here's the word. 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:14.200 In the Greek, in the Septuagint, would have been this word. 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:15.200 Would have been translated that way. 00:16:15.660 --> 00:16:17.800 Lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem. 00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:19.720 Herald of good news. 00:16:20.160 --> 00:16:20.639 Euangelion. 00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:21.440 Lift it up. 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:21.980 Fear not. 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.060 Say to the cities of Judah, 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:25.240 Behold your God. 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:27.379 So here they are heralding God. 00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:29.860 Isaiah 52.7 says, 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:33.720 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news. 00:16:33.820 --> 00:16:34.399 Euangelion. 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.799 Who publishes peace. 00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:37.700 Who brings good news of happiness. 00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:39.240 Who publishes salvation. 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:41.080 Who says to Zion, 00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:43.240 Your God reigns. 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:47.659 Again, heralding the God king who will come. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:53.159 There also would have been a very clear understanding of this term in Greek culture. 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:54.240 In Gentile culture. 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:56.419 In Rome as well. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:59.879 Listen to this inscription from 9 B.C. 00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:01.719 Okay, so track the timeline there. 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:03.480 Pre-Christ, 9 B.C. 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:05.220 Listen to this inscription. 00:17:05.899 --> 00:17:09.339 The providence which has ordered the whole of our life, 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.879 Showing concern and zeal, 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:14.159 Has ordained the most perfect consummation for human life, 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:16.319 By giving to it Augustus. 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:17.240 Caesar Augustus. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:21.119 By filling him with virtue for doing the work of a benefactor among men, 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:23.599 And by sending in him, as it were, 00:17:23.959 --> 00:17:25.919 A savior for us and those who come after us, 00:17:25.979 --> 00:17:26.979 To make war cease, 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.619 To create order everywhere, 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:31.059 The birthday of the God Augustus 00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:33.500 Is the beginning for the world of the good news, 00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:36.579 Of the gospel that has come to men through him. 00:17:37.179 --> 00:17:38.859 So this inscription, apparently, 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:42.779 Etched on Caesar Augustus' birthday, 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:45.359 Uses that very same term, 00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:47.519 Of course, in this manner, 00:17:47.679 --> 00:17:49.839 Speaking of Caesar Augustus. 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:51.879 They worshipped him as a God-king. 00:17:51.959 --> 00:17:54.859 So they would have understood this term as well, 00:17:54.959 --> 00:17:56.839 This euangelion, right? 00:17:56.899 --> 00:18:00.919 That this was a good news of the coming of a king 00:18:00.919 --> 00:18:02.240 That was not just a king, 00:18:02.379 --> 00:18:04.199 But God who would reign. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:06.039 A lot of significance, right? 00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:07.480 In that little word, 00:18:07.679 --> 00:18:09.959 Right there at the beginning of the gospel of Mark. 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:13.500 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, 00:18:13.679 --> 00:18:14.559 The Son of God. 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:16.779 And here we see him ascribing to Jesus 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:19.960 As Yeshua, the God who saves, 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:22.759 As Christ, the anointed one, right? 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:24.619 The king who saves, 00:18:24.879 --> 00:18:26.079 And as the Son of God, 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:28.279 Who has equality then with God. 00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:31.659 You see now the power and the thrust of verse 1. 00:18:32.139 --> 00:18:33.899 And then he goes right on to tell us about 00:18:33.899 --> 00:18:35.220 John the baptizer, 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:37.819 The one who is coming to tell us of this 00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:38.879 God-king, 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:41.080 Who is coming to reign. 00:18:43.140 --> 00:18:44.700 Turn to Luke chapter 1. 00:18:50.300 --> 00:18:53.020 This is the record of the angel coming to Zechariah, 00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:54.820 Who was John the baptizer's father. 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.220 Beginning in verse 13, 00:18:57.320 --> 00:18:57.460 It says, 00:18:57.560 --> 00:18:58.920 Do not be afraid, Zechariah, 00:18:59.080 --> 00:19:00.720 For your prayer has been heard, 00:19:00.820 --> 00:19:02.660 And your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, 00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:03.420 John. 00:19:03.540 --> 00:19:04.900 And you shall call his name John, 00:19:05.060 --> 00:19:06.780 And you will have joy and gladness, 00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:08.500 And many will rejoice at his birth. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.539 For he will be great before the Lord. 00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:12.779 And he must not drink wine or strong drink, 00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:15.000 And he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:16.599 Even from his mother's womb. 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:19.000 And he will turn many of the children of Israel 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:20.240 To the Lord their God. 00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.740 And he will go before him 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:23.200 In the spirit and power of Elijah. 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.220 There he is again, Elijah. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.640 To turn the heart to the fathers, 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.160 To the children, 00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:28.859 And the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, 00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:30.859 To make ready for the Lord 00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:32.440 A people prepared. 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:35.759 So here's the work that he's about doing, right? 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:38.279 Heralding the coming of this king, 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.220 The Lord, 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:41.259 The one who will come and reign, 00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:44.279 To make them ready for his reign. 00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:46.740 So what was he saying to prepare the people? 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:48.619 What was it that he was preaching 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:50.299 To prepare the people 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:52.160 For the coming of Jesus? 00:19:52.599 --> 00:19:53.859 We see in verse 4, 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:56.920 Excuse me, I'm going to back up a sec. 00:19:58.099 --> 00:19:59.539 Firstly, judgment. 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:01.859 Not found necessarily in verse 4, 00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:04.179 But we see that in verse 4, 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:06.579 He was preaching a baptism of repentance 00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:08.579 For the forgiveness of sins. 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:11.079 Why do we need forgiveness of sins 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:11.839 If there is no judgment? 00:20:12.199 --> 00:20:13.619 Okay, so there's my connection for you. 00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:13.979 Right? 00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:16.359 But turn down to Luke chapter 3. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.779 To show you some of what he was saying. 00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:20.679 We'll step out of Mark 00:20:20.679 --> 00:20:22.699 To give you a little bit of weight 00:20:22.699 --> 00:20:24.399 To what was being preached 00:20:24.399 --> 00:20:25.879 By John the baptizer. 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:30.000 Beginning in verse 7, 00:20:30.100 --> 00:20:31.300 He said therefore to the crowds 00:20:31.300 --> 00:20:32.880 That came out to be baptized by him, 00:20:33.580 --> 00:20:34.740 You brood of vipers, 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:36.280 Who warned you to flee 00:20:36.280 --> 00:20:37.240 From the wrath to come? 00:20:38.040 --> 00:20:39.440 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:41.280 And do not begin to say to yourselves, 00:20:41.540 --> 00:20:43.220 We have Abraham as our father. 00:20:43.620 --> 00:20:44.160 For I tell you, 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:45.620 God is able from these stones 00:20:45.620 --> 00:20:46.800 To raise up children for Abraham. 00:20:47.260 --> 00:20:48.700 Even now the axe is laid 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.560 To the root of the tree. 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:51.020 Every tree therefore 00:20:51.020 --> 00:20:52.200 That does not bear good fruit 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:54.780 Is cut down and thrown into the fire. 00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.259 Right? 00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:56.599 Don't come out here 00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.720 Making claims 00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.899 That just because you're a Jew 00:20:58.899 --> 00:21:00.119 You have salvation. 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:00.960 Right? 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.500 You must bear fruit 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:04.099 In keeping with repentance. 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:04.819 That's what he's saying. 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:06.139 He's preaching judgment to them. 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.599 And then skip down to verse 15. 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:10.460 As the people were in expectation 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:11.539 And all were questioning 00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.899 In their hearts concerning John 00:21:12.899 --> 00:21:14.599 Whether he might be the Christ, 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:16.200 John answered them all saying, 00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:17.920 I baptize you with water, 00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:19.559 But he who is mightier than I 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.039 Is coming, 00:21:20.379 --> 00:21:21.339 The strap of whose sandals 00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:22.319 I'm not worthy to untie, 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:23.579 He will baptize you 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.460 With the Holy Spirit 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:25.200 And fire. 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.900 His winnowing fork 00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:27.799 Is in his hand 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:29.319 To clear his threshing floor 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:30.700 And to gather the wheat 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.440 Into his barn. 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:33.079 But the chaff he will burn 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:34.660 With unquenchable fire. 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.360 So here he is 00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:36.680 Preaching this judgment 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.600 Upon the people 00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:38.920 That are coming out to him. 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:39.940 Because of your sin, 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.460 Because of your offense to God, 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:43.960 You will be destroyed. 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:44.840 Right? 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:46.039 So here we see 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.720 As he's preaching 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.299 A baptism of repentance 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.700 For the forgiveness of sins, 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.640 This is why. 00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:51.400 Right? 00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:52.880 It's this teaching of judgment 00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:54.060 That he's bringing upon them. 00:21:54.280 --> 00:21:55.860 That God will in fact 00:21:55.860 --> 00:21:57.340 Judge the wicked. 00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.340 Secondly, 00:21:59.760 --> 00:22:00.840 He's also preaching 00:22:00.840 --> 00:22:01.980 Repentance. 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:03.660 I flipped my notes this morning 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.500 So I apologize for the 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:06.400 Previous misspeak. 00:22:07.560 --> 00:22:08.640 He's preaching repentance. 00:22:08.840 --> 00:22:10.020 A baptism of repentance 00:22:10.020 --> 00:22:12.060 For the forgiveness of sins. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.780 Now at this point, 00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:13.880 This is where I'd like to explain to you 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.500 Why I like to call him 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.420 John the Baptizer. 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.100 Right? 00:22:16.100 --> 00:22:18.340 This was a signifying mark for him. 00:22:18.419 --> 00:22:19.559 Certainly appropriate to him 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.559 As he was in the wilderness 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.759 Baptizing 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:23.740 In the Jordan River. 00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:24.519 Right? 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.480 It's a way to set him apart. 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.599 There were a lot of Johns 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.639 In this day. 00:22:27.899 --> 00:22:28.599 A couple of years ago 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:29.159 We would have said that 00:22:29.159 --> 00:22:30.039 Of our church as well. 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:30.859 Lots of Johns 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:32.720 In our church. 00:22:33.199 --> 00:22:33.319 Right? 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:33.939 So this is a way of 00:22:33.939 --> 00:22:34.799 Setting him apart. 00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:35.240 Right? 00:22:35.639 --> 00:22:37.459 John was not the first Baptist. 00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:38.679 To be clear. 00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:39.299 Right? 00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:40.000 I think he would have 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.699 Agreed with us. 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:42.279 But he was not 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.059 The first Baptist. 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:43.919 He was simply 00:22:43.919 --> 00:22:45.720 John who baptized. 00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:46.159 Right? 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.980 John the Baptizer. 00:22:48.899 --> 00:22:49.019 Right? 00:22:49.159 --> 00:22:50.000 But what is this 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:51.720 Baptism that he's doing? 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.839 What is this 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:54.220 Pre-Christ 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.099 Baptism 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.959 That we're observing 00:22:55.959 --> 00:22:56.519 At this point? 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:57.799 Because we understand 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.720 Baptism to be 00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.879 A symbol 00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:00.399 A picture 00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:01.199 Of what Christ 00:23:01.199 --> 00:23:01.720 Has accomplished 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.619 On our behalf 00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:04.319 With his death 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:05.500 And his resurrection. 00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:06.319 Right? 00:23:06.459 --> 00:23:07.240 Romans 6 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:08.699 3-4 says 00:23:08.699 --> 00:23:09.179 Do you not know 00:23:09.179 --> 00:23:09.699 That all of us 00:23:09.699 --> 00:23:10.399 Who have been baptized 00:23:10.399 --> 00:23:11.419 Into Christ Jesus 00:23:11.419 --> 00:23:12.019 Were baptized 00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:13.000 Into his death? 00:23:13.419 --> 00:23:14.179 We were buried 00:23:14.179 --> 00:23:15.220 Therefore with him 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:15.939 By baptism 00:23:15.939 --> 00:23:16.559 Into death 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.559 In order that 00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.299 Just as Christ 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:19.179 Was raised from the dead 00:23:19.179 --> 00:23:20.119 By the glory of the Father 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:21.619 We too might walk 00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:23.200 In the newness of life. 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:23.899 Okay? 00:23:23.919 --> 00:23:24.419 So here we have 00:23:24.419 --> 00:23:25.139 The picture 00:23:25.139 --> 00:23:26.339 That Paul's laying out 00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:26.639 For us 00:23:26.639 --> 00:23:27.460 About what baptism 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.960 Is meant to symbolize 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.879 To show people 00:23:29.879 --> 00:23:30.940 What has taken place 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:32.079 In our hearts. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:32.799 Right? 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:34.980 But Christ has yet to be 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:37.099 Killed and buried 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.879 And resurrected. 00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:38.279 Right? 00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:39.419 So what is this baptism 00:23:39.419 --> 00:23:41.759 That John is performing 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.700 In the wilderness? 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:45.420 There was a practice 00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:48.100 Called proselytite baptism 00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:50.120 And that would have been 00:23:50.120 --> 00:23:50.559 For somebody 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:51.360 Who was not 00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:52.880 Of Jewish descent 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:54.380 But was a Gentile 00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:55.480 And wanted to come 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.340 And worship God 00:23:56.340 --> 00:23:57.220 With the Jews. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.100 Right? 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.559 As they saw rightly 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:00.720 To worship the God 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.360 Of the Hebrews 00:24:01.360 --> 00:24:03.140 And wanted to be included 00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:04.620 In that community 00:24:04.620 --> 00:24:05.660 Of faith. 00:24:05.840 --> 00:24:06.200 It's called 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:08.240 Proselytite baptism. 00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.019 Right? 00:24:09.080 --> 00:24:10.740 It was a very uncommon thing. 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.839 Very, very rarely happened. 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:15.059 But by and large 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:16.880 Up until this point 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:19.039 Until Christ sends the gospel 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:19.940 Out to the world. 00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:20.759 Right? 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:22.259 Israel had been very closed off 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:23.039 To the nations. 00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:23.819 They were really meant 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.420 To be that way. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.259 We talked about that 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:25.839 In Nehemiah 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:26.279 That they were meant 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:26.880 To be a people 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:28.599 Set apart for God's glory. 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.720 So it's very rare 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:30.599 That God brought 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.660 Into the family 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:33.019 Into the community 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.859 Somebody in this way. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:35.920 00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:36.960 But recognize 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.319 Who's coming out. 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:39.039 Verse 5 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.079 And all the country 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:40.759 Of Judea 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.859 And all Samaria 00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:43.779 A vast number of people 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.460 We don't read these 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.839 Alls as literal 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.599 Alls 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:47.460 But a vast number 00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:47.879 Of people 00:24:47.879 --> 00:24:48.759 Are coming out. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.699 People of Jewish descent 00:24:50.699 --> 00:24:52.220 Judea and Jerusalem. 00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:52.879 Right? 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.720 I think I just said 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.039 Samaria. 00:24:54.159 --> 00:24:54.439 Excuse me. 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.740 Judea and Jerusalem 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:57.119 They're coming out 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:58.539 To be baptized 00:24:58.539 --> 00:25:01.079 With a proselytite 00:25:01.079 --> 00:25:02.159 Baptism. 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:04.199 Which was to say 00:25:04.199 --> 00:25:05.779 They recognized 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:07.559 Their offense 00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.299 Against God 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.139 To the degree 00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:10.680 That they saw 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:11.359 That they ought 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:12.119 Not be treated 00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:13.339 As the people of God. 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.779 That they should be 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:16.220 Treated as a Gentile 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:17.419 Outside of this 00:25:17.419 --> 00:25:18.299 Community 00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:19.639 This covenant community. 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.659 They were seeing 00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:22.419 That it was more 00:25:22.419 --> 00:25:22.940 Than just 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:24.399 Their Jewish descent 00:25:24.399 --> 00:25:25.480 That made them 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.539 Right before God. 00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:27.399 But rather 00:25:27.399 --> 00:25:29.619 Repentance of sin 00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:31.039 And righteous living. 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.319 Catch that. 00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:33.919 That's important. 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:35.000 This was 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:36.320 For these Jews 00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:38.039 Radical repentance. 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:39.660 Seeing this 00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:40.519 To be the case 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:42.220 Was a huge 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:42.800 Deal 00:25:42.800 --> 00:25:43.560 For them. 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.440 Now 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.720 What John 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.420 Was doing for them 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.120 Was simply 00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:49.279 To prepare them 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:50.360 For the Christ. 00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:52.039 Simply to prepare them 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.539 For what was happening. 00:25:52.620 --> 00:25:53.140 This was not 00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:53.820 Forgiveness 00:25:53.820 --> 00:25:55.120 Of their sins. 00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:56.000 Right? 00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:56.800 But it was to prepare 00:25:56.800 --> 00:25:57.560 Their hearts 00:25:57.560 --> 00:25:58.640 For the gospel 00:25:58.640 --> 00:25:59.360 That was coming 00:25:59.360 --> 00:26:00.160 To them 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:01.080 In the person 00:26:01.080 --> 00:26:01.960 And work 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:03.140 Of Jesus Christ. 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.120 Okay? 00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.900 So be careful 00:26:04.900 --> 00:26:06.380 At that step. 00:26:06.600 --> 00:26:06.740 Right? 00:26:06.800 --> 00:26:07.259 This was not 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:08.300 John had a special 00:26:08.300 --> 00:26:09.420 A special time 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:10.000 Where he got to 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:10.620 Baptize people 00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:11.300 And that forgave 00:26:11.300 --> 00:26:11.680 Their sins. 00:26:11.800 --> 00:26:12.240 It didn't. 00:26:12.300 --> 00:26:12.680 In fact 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.680 We have a record here 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:15.300 That all the country 00:26:15.300 --> 00:26:15.920 Of Judea 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:17.200 And all Jerusalem 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:18.300 Were coming out to him 00:26:18.300 --> 00:26:19.560 Listening to his teaching 00:26:19.560 --> 00:26:20.759 Receiving his baptism. 00:26:21.280 --> 00:26:22.040 How many people 00:26:22.040 --> 00:26:23.380 After Christ is crucified 00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:24.460 Do we see waiting 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.180 Upon him 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:26.280 Afterwards? 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:26.820 Right? 00:26:27.280 --> 00:26:27.880 120. 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.660 So was there 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.640 True 00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:32.500 Genuine 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.380 Repentance 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.359 On their part? 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:35.519 No. 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.619 But this was a step 00:26:37.619 --> 00:26:38.779 To prepare them 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:40.180 For what was to come. 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.519 Most of these people 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:43.140 Came out 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:44.079 Thinking 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:45.619 They were repenting 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.299 And in fact 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:46.680 Weren't. 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.160 But this was what 00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:47.799 Was going on. 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.839 This is proselytite 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.299 Baptism. 00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:50.220 This is why 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.339 He was baptizing 00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:52.339 In this way. 00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:54.480 Thirdly 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.440 John was preaching 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.799 Jesus Christ. 00:26:57.119 --> 00:26:57.980 I'm getting to you next. 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:00.079 Verse 8 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.579 We see that 00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:02.259 John baptized 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:02.879 With water 00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:03.980 But Jesus 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:05.059 Will baptize 00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:07.139 With the Holy Spirit. 00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:08.899 We're not referring here 00:27:08.899 --> 00:27:09.419 To some 00:27:09.419 --> 00:27:10.460 Pentecostal 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:11.179 Second baptism. 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:11.899 It's not at all 00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:12.819 What's being talked about here. 00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.379 This is the washing 00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:15.179 Of regeneration 00:27:15.179 --> 00:27:17.079 And the renewing 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.699 Of the Holy Spirit 00:27:17.699 --> 00:27:18.740 Of Titus chapter 3. 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.500 This is the new covenant 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.899 Purification 00:27:21.899 --> 00:27:22.759 Cleansing 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.839 Transformation 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:24.919 Regeneration 00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:26.100 New birth. 00:27:27.060 --> 00:27:28.240 And John says to them 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:29.800 I can't give you that. 00:27:30.840 --> 00:27:32.279 I can prepare the way. 00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:33.180 I can herald 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:33.900 The coming king. 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.880 The one 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.840 Who can come 00:27:35.840 --> 00:27:37.259 And give to you 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.500 New hearts. 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:39.539 The one that will 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.140 Come to you 00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:40.960 And bring you 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.880 The Holy Spirit. 00:27:42.100 --> 00:27:42.860 I can't do that. 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:44.060 I can prepare your hearts. 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.740 I can maybe 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.720 Massage them a little bit 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:46.720 To get you prepared 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.640 For the coming 00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:48.519 Of the king 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.600 Who can give you 00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:50.660 The spirit. 00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:53.100 This is why 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:53.860 He says 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.639 He's not even 00:27:54.639 --> 00:27:56.439 Worthy to untie 00:27:56.439 --> 00:27:58.139 Jesus' sandals. 00:27:59.199 --> 00:28:00.179 It was not his point 00:28:00.179 --> 00:28:00.659 To get people 00:28:00.659 --> 00:28:01.279 To worship him. 00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:01.899 It was his point 00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:02.359 To get people 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.119 To worship 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:04.339 The Christ. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:05.539 Right? 00:28:05.719 --> 00:28:06.519 Now understand 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:08.039 That this task 00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.579 That he says 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.479 That he is below 00:28:09.479 --> 00:28:11.059 Would have been 00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:12.139 The lowest 00:28:12.139 --> 00:28:13.599 Possible task 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:15.519 For any slave 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.359 In Jewish culture. 00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.559 This would have been 00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:19.000 The lowliest 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.459 Of the low task. 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.059 The reason that 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:21.799 Jesus washed 00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.699 The disciples' feet 00:28:22.699 --> 00:28:23.279 Would have been this. 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.119 You did not 00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:24.819 Want to be around 00:28:24.819 --> 00:28:26.240 Feet at this time. 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:27.519 I think as a culture 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.440 Now we probably 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.759 Understand that more 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:31.460 Because all of you 00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.240 Wear Chacos 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:32.960 All summer. 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.579 And your feet 00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:35.139 Stink. 00:28:35.399 --> 00:28:35.599 Right? 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:36.240 We at least 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:36.779 Get the benefit 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.559 Of bathing 00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.039 And soap 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:39.119 For our sandals 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:40.019 And can do things 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:40.819 Like that. 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.680 They didn't do that 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.480 As often 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.440 In this case. 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.180 And their feet 00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:45.039 Stunk. 00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:45.779 Right? 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:46.599 They were dirty. 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.500 Filthy. 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.920 So the job 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:49.940 For a slave 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.740 To untie 00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:51.799 Somebody's sandals 00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:53.240 Was a low job. 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:53.700 In fact 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.519 Most masters 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.259 Didn't require 00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:55.700 That of any 00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.220 Of their slaves. 00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:56.839 They thought 00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:58.279 It so belittling 00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.859 They didn't even 00:28:58.859 --> 00:28:59.960 Ask them to do it. 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:00.859 They would untie 00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:01.859 Their sandals 00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:02.579 Themselves 00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:03.440 And then let 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:03.740 The slave 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.380 Wash their feet. 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:05.059 Right? 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:05.759 So this is 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.779 An incredibly 00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:08.380 Subservient thing. 00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:08.880 And what John 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:09.420 Is saying is 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:10.619 I'm not even 00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.160 Worthy 00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:11.859 To do that. 00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:12.799 Right? 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:13.720 Think of the 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:15.200 Most humble person 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:16.039 In our society. 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.659 I am more humble 00:29:17.659 --> 00:29:18.419 Than that 00:29:18.419 --> 00:29:19.819 Compared to 00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:21.559 This Christ. 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:22.299 Right? 00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:23.879 John was a great man. 00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:25.359 Jesus himself said 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:26.899 That John was a great man. 00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:28.220 Filled with the spirit 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:29.500 From his mother's womb. 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:30.259 Right? 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.220 Accomplishing 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:32.579 Great things 00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:33.139 For the coming 00:29:33.139 --> 00:29:33.700 Of the kingdom. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:34.500 The first prophet 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.599 In 400 years. 00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:36.559 And he says 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.240 Compared to the one 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:37.779 Who is coming 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:39.519 I am 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.460 Nothing. 00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:41.639 His aim 00:29:41.639 --> 00:29:42.399 Was to point 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:43.080 People 00:29:43.080 --> 00:29:44.440 To Christ. 00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:47.080 We see the record 00:29:47.080 --> 00:29:48.380 Of the words here. 00:29:48.560 --> 00:29:49.320 John chapter 3 00:29:49.320 --> 00:29:50.360 Verse 28 through 30. 00:29:50.780 --> 00:29:51.759 John the baptizer 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.220 Speaking. 00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:53.360 He says 00:29:53.360 --> 00:29:54.620 I am not the Christ. 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.840 People were speculating that. 00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:57.060 They thought maybe he was. 00:29:57.280 --> 00:29:57.500 He says 00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:58.500 I am not the Christ 00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.740 But I have been sent 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:00.380 Before him. 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:02.300 The one who has the bride 00:30:02.300 --> 00:30:03.220 Is the bridegroom. 00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:04.960 The friend of the bridegroom 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.120 Who stands and hears him 00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:07.240 Rejoices greatly 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:08.740 At the bridegroom's voice. 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.460 That's John. 00:30:09.580 --> 00:30:10.680 The friend of the bridegroom. 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:11.580 Therefore 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:13.299 This joy of mine 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:14.240 Is now complete. 00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:15.759 He must increase 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:17.359 But I must decrease. 00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:19.399 He must be made great. 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:20.500 Stop coming 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.379 And looking to me. 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.460 Stop worshipping me. 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.439 I am simply 00:30:23.439 --> 00:30:24.619 John the baptizer. 00:30:24.899 --> 00:30:25.980 The one you need to worship 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.839 Is Jesus. 00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:27.879 The Christ. 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:30.059 And that's what he was 00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:31.220 Out there doing. 00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.259 Preaching this. 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:33.399 Judgment. 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:35.079 The repentance of sin. 00:30:35.399 --> 00:30:36.259 And Jesus Christ 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.839 In whom we find 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:38.960 Our forgiveness. 00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:39.960 Jesus. 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.120 Jesus. 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:42.319 The coming king. 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.140 Jesus. 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.400 The one who would come 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:45.299 And rule 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.440 In the hearts of men. 00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:47.920 Who would bring his kingdom 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:48.720 To earth in a way 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:50.140 That nobody thought 00:30:50.140 --> 00:30:51.220 As they reviewed 00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:52.799 The Old Testament text. 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:53.700 They thought he would come 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:54.920 In a charge 00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.600 With an army. 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:57.259 Conquer Rome. 00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:58.200 Send them back 00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:58.880 Cowering. 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:01.200 Instead he came 00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:01.880 And brought his kingdom 00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.620 To rule in the hearts 00:31:02.620 --> 00:31:02.960 Of the men. 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.920 And that is the kingdom 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.800 We are part of 00:31:04.800 --> 00:31:05.519 This morning. 00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:07.060 We are part of 00:31:07.060 --> 00:31:08.340 This kingdom. 00:31:09.820 --> 00:31:10.500 So John was the 00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:11.420 Foretold prophet 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:12.779 Who came to herald 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:13.640 The coming 00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:15.120 Of a new king. 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.100 It's good news. 00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:17.940 Isn't it? 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.920 That is good news. 00:31:21.100 --> 00:31:21.920 A king who would usher 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:22.360 A kingdom 00:31:22.360 --> 00:31:23.460 Of forgiveness 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:24.100 For sins. 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:24.800 John foretold 00:31:24.800 --> 00:31:25.400 The coming of 00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:26.500 Jesus Christ 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.380 Who would be 00:31:27.380 --> 00:31:28.620 The great climax 00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:29.960 Of redemptive history. 00:31:30.600 --> 00:31:31.539 The Jesus that we 00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.640 Have placed our faith in 00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:33.240 For the forgiveness 00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.160 Of our sins. 00:31:34.520 --> 00:31:36.140 The source of our life. 00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:37.300 Our joy. 00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:38.400 Our comfort. 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:40.060 Our peace. 00:31:41.040 --> 00:31:41.880 He is to us 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:42.900 Our great prophet. 00:31:43.320 --> 00:31:44.740 Our atoning priest. 00:31:45.280 --> 00:31:47.620 And our glorious king. 00:31:48.660 --> 00:31:49.860 And now it has been 00:31:49.860 --> 00:31:50.759 Given to us 00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:52.640 As those who are 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:53.900 Filled by the spirit 00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:55.700 By the work of Christ. 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:57.400 Much like John 00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:58.780 Was filled by the spirit. 00:31:59.220 --> 00:32:01.580 To also be heralds 00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:02.759 Of our king 00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:04.019 Who is coming 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.740 Again 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.879 To return. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.559 This is the place 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:07.599 We find ourselves in. 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:08.799 He has come 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:09.679 Brought the kingdom. 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.679 He's coming 00:32:10.679 --> 00:32:11.859 To complete 00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:12.799 That work. 00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:13.319 Right? 00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:14.299 And that is our 00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:15.339 Task now. 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.559 In that way 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.899 John's a very unique 00:32:17.899 --> 00:32:18.759 Character in the 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.359 Biblical narrative. 00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:20.559 But in that way 00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.439 We should be 00:32:21.439 --> 00:32:23.319 Just like him. 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.799 Making much of Christ. 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:26.000 Making very little 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.879 Of ourselves. 00:32:27.179 --> 00:32:27.339 Right? 00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:28.679 I fail if you look at me 00:32:28.679 --> 00:32:29.399 On Sunday morning. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.220 Right? 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:30.779 If you look at me 00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:31.079 And think 00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:32.259 Nathan's a great speaker. 00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:34.319 But if you do that 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:35.019 I failed 00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:35.960 At my job. 00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:36.680 Right? 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.660 But if you look 00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:38.240 To Christ 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:38.579 And you say 00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:40.220 Christ is a great savior. 00:32:40.620 --> 00:32:41.380 He is a king 00:32:41.380 --> 00:32:42.440 Worth worshipping. 00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:43.799 Then I have succeeded. 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.240 Right? 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.519 I must decrease. 00:32:45.620 --> 00:32:46.839 He must increase. 00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:47.360 Right? 00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:48.259 All of us 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.339 Must do this 00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:50.600 For the sake of the kingdom 00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:51.440 Our good 00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:52.799 And God's glory. 00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:53.960 Let's pray together. 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:54.019 Amen. 00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:54.079 Amen. 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.079 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:56.079 Amen. 00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:58.079 Amen. 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:58.079 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:58.079 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:58.079 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:34.079 Amen.