WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:05.400 Well, again, let me welcome those of you, especially those of you who are here for the 00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:08.900 first time, joining us, maybe visiting with friends. 00:00:09.540 --> 00:00:11.439 We are glad that you've joined us tonight. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:15.860 Tonight's a unique night in the church calendar. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:22.039 Actually, in the Christian calendar, this is the last Sunday of the year, and beginning 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:24.940 next Sunday, we begin in the Christian calendar a new year. 00:00:24.940 --> 00:00:30.840 So this is sort of the final Sunday gathering of this Christian year. 00:00:31.300 --> 00:00:36.880 And I want to give you fair warning that tonight we're going to talk a lot about the A word, 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:38.400 authority. 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:44.719 And this is a word that really is, I think, synonymous with many four-letter words. 00:00:45.260 --> 00:00:50.380 The word authority, I think, the minute we hear it, the minute we hear things associated 00:00:50.380 --> 00:00:58.820 with it, words like submission, words like king, we squirm. 00:01:00.060 --> 00:01:02.340 And so it really is a difficult word. 00:01:02.440 --> 00:01:06.400 I think that we, you know, there are a lot of things that make us squirm, talking about 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:08.680 politics or sex or any of these other things. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:13.480 But authority really is one of the most difficult to talk about. 00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:19.340 And yet we have to talk about it, because this Sunday is actually in the Christian calendar 00:01:19.340 --> 00:01:28.060 called Christ the King Sunday, where we focus on the fact that Jesus, in fact, is a king 00:01:28.060 --> 00:01:30.100 and what that means. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:37.320 In John chapter 18, these verses that we just read, Jesus is actually making it clear that 00:01:37.320 --> 00:01:42.840 he's not just a teacher, that he's not just a healer. 00:01:43.480 --> 00:01:53.320 That he's not just a crusader for reform, but that in fact, he is a king. 00:01:53.960 --> 00:01:59.460 And yet what we'll see is he's a king unlike any king the world has ever known. 00:01:59.620 --> 00:02:02.320 He's a completely different kind of king. 00:02:03.020 --> 00:02:07.020 And on the surface, there's this fascinating story, and we're not going to be able to get 00:02:07.020 --> 00:02:11.099 into all of the little aspects of this story, because there's a lot going on here. 00:02:11.099 --> 00:02:18.060 But there's this fascinating story where Jesus is brought before the Roman governor, Pontius 00:02:18.060 --> 00:02:23.299 Pilate, and Pilate has to decide his fate. 00:02:23.459 --> 00:02:28.459 But what's really going on in this story under the surface is this is all about authority. 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:36.659 It's about the difference and really the conflict between Jesus' authority and human authority. 00:02:36.659 --> 00:02:36.699 authority. 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:41.340 The conflict between Jesus' authority and human authority. 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:46.060 And so we're going to look at authority, this sort of four-letter word, and we're going 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:48.120 to look at how we resist it. 00:02:48.699 --> 00:02:50.560 And by we, I mean every single one of us. 00:02:51.219 --> 00:02:55.280 How Jesus transforms it, and then why we need it. 00:02:56.599 --> 00:03:00.599 So why we resist it, how Jesus transforms it, and then why we need it. 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:01.859 Let's pray. 00:03:05.219 --> 00:03:14.799 Our Father, we have joined together in song, proclaiming that you are the holy God from 00:03:14.799 --> 00:03:16.579 all eternity, of all eternity. 00:03:17.939 --> 00:03:22.740 We've confessed our unworthiness to be in your presence, and yet we've heard of your grace 00:03:22.740 --> 00:03:25.579 that comes through Jesus that enables us to know you. 00:03:25.580 --> 00:03:32.880 And now we look at you from a different angle, that you're not only the one who came to save 00:03:32.880 --> 00:03:35.240 us, but you're the one who came to lead us. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:43.420 And Lord, we know that this can be a terrifying thing for many of us, and yet we hope that through 00:03:43.420 --> 00:03:50.980 your word we would come to understand the hope that can only be found in your kingship. 00:03:50.979 --> 00:03:55.439 We hope that your word will do your work in us by your spirit. 00:03:55.659 --> 00:03:56.780 In your son's name, amen. 00:03:58.620 --> 00:04:02.639 So the first thing we want to ask and consider together is, how do we resist authority? 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:09.000 And I say that as an assumption, you know, and you may think of yourself as not necessarily 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:14.719 the most anti-authoritarian person, and maybe you're thinking, well, I think I'm pretty much 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:15.780 okay with it. 00:04:15.899 --> 00:04:17.519 I've never been a rebellious type. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:20.759 And to a certain degree, I would probably believe you. 00:04:21.259 --> 00:04:26.240 But when you really get under the surface, I think, and this is as autobiographical as 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:31.219 as much about me as it is about anybody I know, but virtually everybody I know, when 00:04:31.219 --> 00:04:37.479 you push deep enough, we all at some point start to become highly suspicious of, highly 00:04:37.479 --> 00:04:39.859 mistrustful of authority. 00:04:40.579 --> 00:04:44.000 I think down deep, we all have authority issues. 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:46.399 And so the question we want to ask is, why? 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:51.639 At this point in the story, when we look at John chapter 18, the Jewish leaders have been 00:04:51.639 --> 00:04:53.979 trying to find a way to get rid of Jesus. 00:04:54.099 --> 00:04:55.060 They've tried everything. 00:04:56.279 --> 00:05:00.099 And finally, they realize that they need Rome's help, and they realize, well, here's one thing 00:05:00.099 --> 00:05:01.599 that the Roman authorities won't ignore. 00:05:01.899 --> 00:05:10.039 If we tell them that Jesus is a threat to Caesar, that Jesus is setting himself up as a rival 00:05:10.039 --> 00:05:12.839 king to Caesar, well, that'll get their attention. 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:20.179 And so they take Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the local governor there. 00:05:20.979 --> 00:05:28.139 He had been given this territory of Judea, and word on the street was that he was a pretty 00:05:28.139 --> 00:05:35.059 brutal ruler and thought nothing of doing horrible things to the people under him. 00:05:35.060 --> 00:05:37.360 And so the Jewish leaders said, perfect. 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:41.680 This is the kind of person that we need to get rid of Jesus once and for all. 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:45.620 And so they take him, but very ironically, so that they won't defile themselves. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:49.959 They don't actually enter his house because they want to be able to eat the Passover meal. 00:05:50.340 --> 00:05:53.560 And so they wait outside and send Jesus in. 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:58.500 Ironic, because this is leading to the fulfillment of all that the Passover meal points to. 00:05:58.779 --> 00:05:59.879 But that's a different sermon. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:01.279 So we'll move on from that. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:05.799 And so they send him in, and Luke's version tells us what their accusation is. 00:06:05.859 --> 00:06:09.019 Luke's version of the story says that they say this to Pilate. 00:06:09.079 --> 00:06:11.559 They say, we found this man subverting our nation. 00:06:11.859 --> 00:06:15.819 He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king. 00:06:18.159 --> 00:06:25.119 So in verse 33, Pilate asks Jesus essentially, he says, so, is it true? 00:06:25.919 --> 00:06:26.859 Are you a king? 00:06:27.779 --> 00:06:30.319 And Jesus responds in a very interesting way. 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:34.480 He responds with a question, which is very common to Jesus' style. 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:40.599 And he responds by asking Pilate, are you asking for yourself, or are you asking because 00:06:40.599 --> 00:06:41.480 that's what they said? 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:45.060 In other words, is there something in you that wants to know this for your own sake? 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:49.219 When you look at me, and you look at the things I've done, and you consider my life, 00:06:49.259 --> 00:06:54.100 and you consider the things that you've seen and heard about me, does that lead you to think 00:06:54.100 --> 00:06:54.740 that I'm a king? 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:58.339 Or are you just saying that because that's what they're accusing me of? 00:06:58.339 --> 00:07:04.719 And you see by Pilate's response that what he's really after is not understanding who 00:07:04.719 --> 00:07:05.479 Jesus really is. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:09.339 But I don't want to move past the fact that Jesus is trying to create an opportunity for 00:07:09.339 --> 00:07:09.819 Pilate here. 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:12.579 He's trying to give him an opportunity. 00:07:13.679 --> 00:07:19.319 Pilate bypasses it and says, and you can tell by his response, that what he's really trying 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:25.360 to get after is whether or not Jesus poses any political threat to his authority. 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:28.259 Are you setting yourself up as a political rival? 00:07:30.899 --> 00:07:38.639 And what Pilate is trying to get at is, is my authority as this governor secure or not? 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:40.360 Are you a threat to me? 00:07:41.060 --> 00:07:43.279 And there are two possible outcomes to this. 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:48.839 Either he decides that Jesus doesn't pose a threat and he lets him go, or he decides 00:07:48.839 --> 00:07:51.679 that Jesus does pose a threat and has him executed. 00:07:52.379 --> 00:07:55.439 It's the only two ways out of this situation for Jesus. 00:07:55.819 --> 00:08:00.839 But what we need to see is here that Pilate's main priority is making sure that Jesus' authority 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:03.199 will in no way threaten his own authority. 00:08:03.419 --> 00:08:04.579 Okay, you claim to have authority. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:06.379 Does that have anything to do with me? 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:09.239 Because if it does, you're going to die. 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:11.439 That's essentially what he's saying. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:19.560 So, I want to pause right here because I think this is something we can actually identify 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:19.920 with. 00:08:22.540 --> 00:08:23.899 We're not Roman governors. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:25.259 This is a long time ago. 00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:35.759 But I think that hopefully you would agree that our generation is quite possibly, relative 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:47.379 to previous generations, the most resistant and suspicious, the most mistrustful of any outside 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:51.240 authority imposing itself upon us. 00:08:52.019 --> 00:08:58.439 That there's nobody I know who thinks that's a good thing or would even really be open to 00:08:58.439 --> 00:09:00.159 the idea of that being a good thing. 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:02.500 It sounds like everything that's wrong with the world. 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:08.039 And I actually believe that our generation is more aware of and resistant to this than 00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:09.460 any previous generation. 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:14.120 It's so extreme in our culture that we don't even want people to influence how we think. 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:24.100 You know, among our highest ethical convictions as a culture, I would say, one of our highest 00:09:24.100 --> 00:09:31.240 ethics is the idea that each of us must create our own system of beliefs, our own system of 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:36.180 ethics, our own moral framework, that each of us must create that for ourselves. 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:43.340 And that the only rule here, the only rule in that is that your self-creation of your beliefs 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:52.259 and your ethics and your morals and your identity, that that cannot be, that has to be something 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:55.060 that resonates with who we feel we really are. 00:09:56.340 --> 00:09:58.580 That that is, that's the source. 00:09:59.460 --> 00:10:01.420 It has to, it has to feel right. 00:10:02.460 --> 00:10:05.500 And, and the absolute worst thing that we can do is to conform. 00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:11.580 You know, somebody who just conforms to some institution or some outside source of authority, 00:10:11.580 --> 00:10:12.600 they're selling out. 00:10:12.680 --> 00:10:14.040 That's the kind of cheap way out. 00:10:14.680 --> 00:10:21.080 The only authentic way to develop a belief system or to develop a system of morals or 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:27.980 ethics or identity or meaning or purpose is to do it entirely free from any external influence. 00:10:29.520 --> 00:10:33.820 So the eminent philosopher Charles Taylor has written very thoughtfully on this and he says 00:10:33.820 --> 00:10:40.160 that there are five kind of kinds of authority that we tend to resist because they threaten our 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:42.419 individual authenticity. 00:10:43.079 --> 00:10:45.600 He says we resist, first of all, anything that comes from the outside. 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:46.959 It has to resonate from within. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:52.819 He says we very strongly resist societal imposition. 00:10:53.819 --> 00:10:58.819 So for instance, gender, the whole idea that, that gender identity, that's something that 00:10:58.819 --> 00:11:02.579 is imposed upon us and it's a very strong value in our culture to resist that. 00:11:02.580 --> 00:11:06.540 To not allow yourself to be defined by social norms. 00:11:07.860 --> 00:11:14.639 That we, we very strongly resist having our, our being imposed upon by previous generations. 00:11:16.020 --> 00:11:16.720 You know, it's interesting. 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:20.360 I mean, a lot of cultures actually very much value the wisdom of the ancients. 00:11:20.940 --> 00:11:26.020 The, the, the elders and the older people in society are looked to and respected and treated 00:11:26.020 --> 00:11:26.640 with reverence. 00:11:26.800 --> 00:11:28.580 It's really not true in our culture. 00:11:28.580 --> 00:11:32.220 We tend to assume that newer is better. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:39.080 You know, to call somebody progressive, all that means is that they are moving forward, 00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:43.560 leaving tradition behind in significant ways in this area or that area of life. 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:45.500 But that's a highest of high compliments. 00:11:46.900 --> 00:11:49.720 You know, if somebody says you're, you're such a progressive, most of us would say, well, 00:11:49.780 --> 00:11:50.460 thank you. 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:53.300 I think so too, you know. 00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:56.879 But, but if somebody says, wow, you're, you're pretty traditional kind of person. 00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:58.559 You'd be like, well, what gave you that idea? 00:11:58.820 --> 00:11:59.799 You know, is it the jacket? 00:11:59.939 --> 00:12:02.360 Well, why would you say something like that? 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:04.100 You know, we hear it completely differently. 00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:08.220 But to be progressive is the highest of compliments. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:12.980 And so we resist the imposition from previous generations. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:16.419 Our culture today very much values innovation. 00:12:17.019 --> 00:12:18.559 We believe that newer is better. 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:21.600 We also resist and are very cynical of political authority. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:25.799 You know, we get very passionate about candidates. 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:28.319 I don't know if you're passionate about anybody this time around. 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:29.479 Maybe you are. 00:12:30.079 --> 00:12:34.240 But very quickly, a lot of that passion will turn to cynicism, regardless of who's elected. 00:12:35.079 --> 00:12:40.059 And then, and then lastly, Taylor says that we're all very resistant to religious authority. 00:12:40.699 --> 00:12:45.819 You know, the rise of, of people who say, I prefer to my, think of myself as spiritual, 00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:52.500 but not religious, is, is really a way of saying, I want ways of experiencing, having spiritual experiences, 00:12:53.040 --> 00:12:57.120 but, but which are not tied to any institution. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:08.899 Because the idea that any institution would have any say into your spiritual experience is anathema to everything our culture seems to hold dear. 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:15.840 That, that's, again, tainting an otherwise authentic spiritual experience, 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:20.560 if it is somehow corrupted by the influence of a religious institution. 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:23.379 And so these are all of the things that we resist. 00:13:23.439 --> 00:13:28.319 And I want to make it clear that we're not talking about the difference between Christians and non-Christians, 00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:30.279 or a religious versus a secular worldview. 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:32.839 This is something that affects all of us. 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:34.339 This is something that Christians feel. 00:13:34.439 --> 00:13:35.699 It's something that non-Christians feel. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.239 If you're here and you're not a Christian, 00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:40.599 it may surprise you to know that this is as real and as, 00:13:40.839 --> 00:13:44.979 as much a factor among Christian communities as it is anywhere else. 00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:47.600 Because it's the water that we're swimming in. 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:52.840 So I know that some people are hearing this and they're thinking, 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:57.420 well, you know, you're saying that we're resistant to authority and all these different kinds of authority and blah, blah, blah. 00:13:57.560 --> 00:13:58.800 But doesn't that make sense? 00:13:59.800 --> 00:14:02.620 I mean, look at what happens when people are given power. 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.279 Look at, look at all around the world. 00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:07.279 Look at the violence that's happening right now all around the world. 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:08.279 Look at all that stuff. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:13.259 And you say, you know, haven't you ever heard that power corrupts, 00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:15.299 and absolute power corrupts absolutely. 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:17.460 And of course we should question authority. 00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:19.139 Of course we should resist authority. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:24.679 Abuses of authority are responsible for all kinds of horrors all across history. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.600 And I would say absolutely. 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:26.399 You're right. 00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:29.500 All of that is true. 00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:37.700 But I think we also need to be honest and actually understand that our authority issues didn't originate there. 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:43.360 Yeah, they're justified by that, but they didn't originate there. 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:48.500 In fact, our authority issues as human beings go all the way back to Genesis chapter 3, 00:14:48.660 --> 00:14:53.700 when human beings set ourselves up as kings and queens of our own lives. 00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:58.220 This is the thing that we call sin in Christian tradition. 00:14:58.860 --> 00:15:04.100 This desire to set ourselves up as kings and queens of our own lives. 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:11.600 And this desire is actually woven into all of our ambitions, even our most altruistic ambitions. 00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:21.000 Woven into those ambitions is this ancient desire to set ourselves up as kings and queens. 00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:22.300 I don't want to be under authority. 00:15:22.420 --> 00:15:23.639 I want to be the authority. 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:28.300 So all of us have ambition. 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:33.600 You know, some cities, you know, it's about looking good, right? 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:35.820 In some cities, it's about having a lot of money. 00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:42.240 A lot of good-looking people in D.C., but not really concerned overly about looking good relative to other places. 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:44.480 A lot of money in D.C., but same kind of thing. 00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:54.840 But there is more ambition per capita, more ambition per city block than anywhere I know in the world. 00:15:54.940 --> 00:15:56.700 People come here because they are ambitious. 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.279 They want to succeed. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:00.279 They want to make a difference. 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:09.519 And so all of that ambition, we, you know, we have these desires to gain more influence, to have a bigger platform, right? 00:16:09.579 --> 00:16:17.039 To have more people under us, to have more sway and more ability to shape the direction of the institutions we're a part of. 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:21.799 And we say, well, I want to do that because I want to increase the good that can be done. 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:24.240 And I believe you. 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:28.299 I think that that motivation is in all of us, but I don't think it's the only motivation. 00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:44.219 I think that alongside the very good motivations for ambition, right alongside, there is a deep-rooted hunger for all of the trappings of power and authority. 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:47.779 The sense of self-importance. 00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:52.860 The sense of personal value. 00:16:53.779 --> 00:17:02.139 The sense that because you're in this position of influence rather than all these other people, there must be something different or special or unique about you. 00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:06.740 The sense that we're special. 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:13.380 And those things are like, it's like a shot of heroin to your soul. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:17.339 It just, there's nothing like it. 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:19.960 It is the most delicious feeling. 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:22.859 It's intoxicating. 00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:25.480 It makes all of the bad things in life fade. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:31.779 Because it feels so good to have that sense of peerless value. 00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:33.380 I'm the one. 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.559 I'm the one. 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:43.240 And so all of our best intentions are laced with this same desire that we see in Genesis 3. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:45.940 To define ourselves apart from God. 00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:47.299 This is where I get my meaning. 00:17:47.639 --> 00:17:48.940 This is where I get my identity. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:53.339 And so human beings have this innate resistance to authority. 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:56.460 And that's rooted in our rebellion against God. 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:59.399 Our desire to be our own kings and queens. 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:01.519 And so that, I believe, is where. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:05.139 I just want to suggest to you, that is the root of our authority issues. 00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:10.379 All our authority issues are ultimately rooted in our authority issue with God. 00:18:10.380 --> 00:18:15.520 So the question then becomes, how does Jesus respond to this? 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:20.340 And we said that Jesus responds by actually transforming authority. 00:18:20.560 --> 00:18:22.920 So how does Jesus transform authority here? 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:25.960 And I want you to see how Jesus responds to Pilate. 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:26.980 Verse 36. 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:30.060 It says, Jesus answered, 00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:32.620 My kingdom is not of this world. 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:35.000 If my kingdom were of this world, what? 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:39.220 My servants would have been fighting. 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:42.060 My servants would have been fighting. 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:46.379 So he's not saying he's not a king. 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:51.359 He doesn't say, well, Pilate, I think there's been a huge misunderstanding here. 00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:56.599 And all, when, okay, when the Jews talk about Christ, it's a spiritual thing. 00:18:57.819 --> 00:19:00.579 And, you know, all this, you don't understand the theology. 00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:01.000 It's okay. 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:02.940 You believe in lots of different gods and goddesses. 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.460 That's fine. 00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:05.639 But this is just kind of a Jewish thing. 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:06.879 It has nothing to do with you. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.099 He doesn't say that. 00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:11.179 No, in fact, it has everything to do with Pilate. 00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:13.839 But what does he say? 00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:17.940 He says, if my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting. 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:19.879 But my kingdom is not of this world. 00:19:19.879 --> 00:19:24.440 In other words, when you use words like king and kingdom, you have no idea what you're talking about. 00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:28.000 When I use those words, I mean something completely different. 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:34.740 So he's saying, in effect, our whole notion of king, our whole notion of authority, 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:39.299 our whole notion of kingdom is completely twisted. 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:42.680 It's completely turned upside down. 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:47.039 It's completely perverted from what it was originally intended to be. 00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:48.419 And Jesus says, here's how you know. 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:52.680 You want to know that your concept of authority and kingship is completely messed up? 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:56.579 Look at how people in the world gain power. 00:19:57.379 --> 00:20:00.099 And then look at what those people do to keep power. 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:03.319 And then look at what those people do with their power. 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:08.500 Look at that and tell me if your understanding isn't a bit skewed. 00:20:10.159 --> 00:20:12.299 He says, this is how authority works in the world. 00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:15.000 People fight to get it and they fight to keep it. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:21.839 But in Jesus, we see a completely different kind of king. 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:24.579 It's a completely different kind of kingdom. 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:31.299 And Jesus makes it very clear that he doesn't want his followers to take power by force. 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:34.059 Why don't we get this? 00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:41.700 You know, so whether you're looking at the Crusades that happened eons ago but somehow just keep coming up, 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:45.259 whether you're looking at that or whether you're looking at something more recent, 00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:51.240 like the attempt by some politicians to institute in the United States a kind of Christian theocracy, 00:20:52.379 --> 00:20:59.359 whatever you're looking at, whether you're dealing with actual assassination or just character assassination, 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:05.139 you know, whether this is being worked out in the battlefield or in the boardroom, 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:13.059 that regardless, whenever you see Christians trying to take power in the name of Jesus, 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:17.399 they have deeply misunderstood the nature of the kingdom of God. 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:19.359 They've deeply misunderstood it. 00:21:19.679 --> 00:21:22.619 Now, that's not to say that Christians aren't called into positions of power. 00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:26.879 But he says this, listen, here's how you know the difference. 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:29.000 Jesus, my followers aren't fighting. 00:21:30.060 --> 00:21:31.220 They're not drawing the sword. 00:21:31.300 --> 00:21:35.760 The only time, in fact, any of his disciples ever draws the sword is when Jesus is being arrested. 00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:37.060 He draws the sword to defend Jesus. 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:37.980 And what does Jesus do? 00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:39.380 He doesn't say, hey, great job. 00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:40.660 Glad to know you're on my side. 00:21:40.780 --> 00:21:43.060 He rebukes him sternly. 00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:44.040 Put your sword back. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:45.560 That's not our way. 00:21:48.280 --> 00:21:52.500 Instead, here's how Jesus describes authority in the kingdom of God. 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:56.860 He says, you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them. 00:21:57.660 --> 00:22:00.420 And they're great ones, and the word is tyrannize them. 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.520 He says that's how they operate. 00:22:02.620 --> 00:22:04.780 They lord it over their underlings. 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:07.420 They tyrannize people under them. 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:11.520 And then he says very clearly, it shall not be so among you. 00:22:12.060 --> 00:22:15.700 But whoever would be great among you must be your servant. 00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:19.580 And whoever would be first among you must be your slave. 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:25.339 Even as the son of man came not to be served, but to serve. 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:28.740 And to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:22:28.919 --> 00:22:32.519 So Jesus is saying, we've forgotten the purpose of authority. 00:22:33.199 --> 00:22:37.460 We in the world have completely lost sight of the reason authority exists. 00:22:38.879 --> 00:22:41.099 Do you want to know why God gives human beings authority? 00:22:41.099 --> 00:22:44.319 What's the purpose of authority? 00:22:47.459 --> 00:22:47.899 Flourishing. 00:22:50.159 --> 00:22:54.639 When God gives authority to the first human beings, it's for a purpose. 00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:56.119 We just looked at this a few weeks ago. 00:22:56.119 --> 00:23:01.239 God creates this beautiful world, but it's incomplete. 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.599 And he needs these human beings. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:07.139 He creates these human beings with a purpose. 00:23:07.239 --> 00:23:10.719 And that is to make creation flourish. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:15.100 And in order to accomplish that mission, he gives them authority. 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.539 To do just that. 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.720 Have dominion. 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:21.960 Rule over and subdue. 00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.559 Make it flourish. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.640 That's what he's saying. 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:31.600 The purpose of authority is to bring about flourishing for everybody under your authority. 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.660 Often at your own expense. 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:36.220 That's the purpose of authority. 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:36.339 Authority. 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:41.819 And so authority is actually, if you had to define biblical authority, I would define it this way. 00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:52.360 Authority, biblical authority, is the responsibility to serve others in a way that enables them to flourish and become what God made them to be. 00:23:53.819 --> 00:24:02.660 It's the responsibility to serve others and enable them through your service to flourish and become what God made them to be. 00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:08.000 So you see glimmers of this, like tiny glimmers of this, with coaches. 00:24:09.040 --> 00:24:15.900 You put yourself under the authority of a coach, and that coach's job is to use their authority in your life to make you a better athlete. 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:18.019 And good coaches do that well. 00:24:19.040 --> 00:24:23.820 You see it with doctors who help their patients flourish by making them healthier. 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:28.080 You see it with good managers who help maximize their team's productivity. 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:34.579 You know, those of you who work on teams under managers, or maybe you are managers, you know the difference between a good manager and a bad one. 00:24:35.679 --> 00:24:37.079 I'm not a very good manager. 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.019 I know this. 00:24:38.919 --> 00:24:40.679 But I've been under amazing managers. 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:46.559 And I've seen how it maximizes the potential of each person on the team. 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:51.039 And people are satisfied and love their jobs because they're doing what they were built to do. 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:53.579 And that manager can see it and bring it out on them. 00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:54.859 Teachers do the same thing. 00:24:54.859 --> 00:25:02.839 The students are under their authority, but they use that authority to cultivate and to draw out the fullest potential of their students. 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:04.119 That's what makes a good teacher. 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:06.139 And you see it again and again and again and again and again. 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:14.719 These are all glimmers, little foretastes, little shadows of the ultimate example, which is in Jesus Christ. 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:21.700 And in John chapter 19, verse 11, Jesus says something really striking to Pilate. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:24.299 He says, you have no power over me. 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:30.600 You have no power over me except what's been given to you. 00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:38.500 In other words, he's saying, in this situation, I have all the power. 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:45.980 And yet, on this very same day, this is the early morning, but on this very same day, 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:54.200 Jesus allows himself to be marched out, tortured, and ultimately executed like a common criminal 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:58.460 by orders of Pontius Pilate. 00:25:58.460 --> 00:26:01.360 And so the question is, why? 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.840 And the answer is quite simply this. 00:26:04.120 --> 00:26:09.559 This is what real authority looks like when it's used the way it's meant to be used. 00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:10.940 The cross. 00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:13.220 That's what authority looks like. 00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:20.279 Jesus knows that the only way human beings are ever going to flourish again is if they can be reconciled to God. 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:25.079 And the only way that that's possible is if Jesus takes the punishment that we deserve. 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:30.659 And so he sacrifices himself so that we can be redeemed and restored and flourish. 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:38.859 This is Jesus as the ultimate king saying, if it takes that for you to flourish, then that's what I'll do. 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:41.720 And it takes nothing less than that. 00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:43.119 And so that's what he does. 00:26:43.879 --> 00:26:51.439 So this is how Jesus transforms and restores and writes authority to what it was always meant to be. 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:58.100 See, in our world, we so often abuse authority to make sure we flourish at other people's expense. 00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:00.440 And Jesus is saying, no, you got it backwards. 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.720 It's the opposite. 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:08.840 He's the one with authority, but he sacrifices himself so that everyone else can flourish. 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:11.400 So the cross is the picture of true authority. 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:11.720 Why? 00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:16.660 Because at the same time, it's a symbol both of his crucifixion and his coronation. 00:27:19.860 --> 00:27:20.980 Crucifixion, coronation. 00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:23.440 Defeat, victory. 00:27:24.320 --> 00:27:27.360 Weakness, ultimate strength together. 00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:32.519 And this brings us to the last point. 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:39.160 This isn't just the kind of authority Jesus has that we say, well, that's interesting. 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.720 Glad I learned some things. 00:27:42.080 --> 00:27:45.039 It's the kind of authority we all need in our lives. 00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:47.019 We need this in our lives. 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:48.320 And this is the hardest sell. 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:51.019 You know, this is the part where you're like, I don't know. 00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:53.740 We need this kind of authority. 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:55.599 Jesus goes on to say this to Pilate. 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.899 He says, you say I'm a king. 00:27:57.480 --> 00:28:00.399 For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I've come into the world. 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.879 To bear witness to the truth. 00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:04.879 Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:07.600 So what he's saying is, this is the whole reason I came. 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:14.420 The world needs not just another teacher, not just another spiritual guru, not just another healer. 00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:18.900 The world needs a massive reality check. 00:28:19.860 --> 00:28:21.720 A massive reality check. 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:24.539 When he talks about truth here, it's in the context of reality. 00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:30.620 He's saying the world is completely blind and completely upside down. 00:28:30.800 --> 00:28:35.160 And the only hope for flourishing is a huge divine reality check. 00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:36.259 And that's why I'm here. 00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:47.619 The only way to flourish is if our entire way of thinking and feeling and loving and living is utterly turned upside down. 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.180 We need a divine revolution. 00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:50.339 We need a coup. 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.879 A spiritual coup. 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:54.059 A spiritual uprising. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:57.619 Where we are the ones who are toppled from the throne. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:59.900 And Jesus takes the throne. 00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:01.720 Of our lives. 00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:03.879 Nothing less will do. 00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:05.900 So I'll ask you this. 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:08.240 I mean, do you have issues with authority? 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.880 Some of you legitimately do. 00:29:10.760 --> 00:29:14.440 I said we all do spiritually, but I think some of us really do. 00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:17.780 You know, some of us have been abused. 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:21.820 Some of us have been deeply mistreated, deeply hurt. 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:23.140 We're right to be suspicious. 00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:28.920 But here's the counterintuitive truth that we're getting to here. 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:35.019 The only way to heal from your authority issues is not to flee from authority. 00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:38.860 It's to come under godly authority. 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:45.140 The only way to heal from your authority issues is not to flee, which is what we all want to do by instinct. 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:52.560 It's the counterintuitive hope that comes from putting your life under healthy, godly authority. 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.980 The authority of Jesus Christ. 00:29:53.980 --> 00:30:02.740 So if someone's abused their authority in your life, a parent or a pastor or a boss or any number of possibilities, 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:06.099 you're never going to heal from those wounds if you run from authority. 00:30:06.860 --> 00:30:10.200 Because we weren't made to live as sources of our own authority. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:12.240 We just don't have what it takes. 00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:18.000 The only way you'll heal is by coming under the authority of the king who loves you so much 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:21.720 that he was willing to give his life for you. 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:23.920 That's a king you can trust. 00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:29.440 And this is also, by the way, the way that we learn how to lead well. 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:36.400 Those of us who are in leadership, and many of you are at a point in your career where you're kind of beginning to move up, 00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:41.299 a number of you are going to continue to move up, and you will, at some point, some of you are there now, 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:44.380 find yourselves in positions of significant authority. 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:48.600 And you will have a lot of people under you, and you will have a lot of power by the world's standards. 00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:50.819 You want to know how to lead well? 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:52.480 You want to know what it takes to be a good leader? 00:30:53.279 --> 00:31:00.240 Something I'm continuing to fail at and learn every day is, in order to lead well, you have to know how to follow. 00:31:01.699 --> 00:31:02.919 You have to know how to follow. 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:05.899 If you don't know how to follow, you will never know how to lead. 00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:16.759 The only way you can keep your ambition in check, the only way you can keep that thread of sin that runs through all of your ambition in check, 00:31:16.820 --> 00:31:18.160 and keep it from taking over, 00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:25.620 The only way you can keep from ever risking abusing the authority that you have in your own life, 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:29.800 is if Jesus Christ is the central authority in your life. 00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:31.000 It's the only way. 00:31:31.800 --> 00:31:37.779 And you know that your power and your influence cannot be a source of meaning and value, 00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:40.160 that that has to be found in Jesus. 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:41.100 It's the only way. 00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:44.899 And if Jesus is love for you, his death for you, 00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:47.379 if those are the things that have come to define you, 00:31:47.419 --> 00:31:50.659 so that you're no longer trying to find these things in your power. 00:31:53.879 --> 00:31:56.519 So this passage really leaves us with a choice. 00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.980 You know, here's we kind of close. 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:02.839 Here's the thing that we need to consider, and I would encourage you to think about this. 00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:12.119 Will we see Jesus merely as one of the many sources of advice and input that we consider 00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:18.099 as we build our own meaning, identity, values, ethics, morals, etc.? 00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:21.199 Will Jesus be one of the things that we take into consideration? 00:32:21.439 --> 00:32:23.019 A lot of Christians operate that way. 00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:24.980 Well, yeah, I know Jesus is important, 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:27.039 but there's these other things that are important and meaningful too, 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:29.439 and to a certain extent that's true, 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:33.039 but, you know, you say, well, I think Jesus' words are important. 00:32:33.140 --> 00:32:34.400 I'll take them into account. 00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:37.900 I'll pray about it, you know? 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:41.980 I'll decide what I think about this or that. 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:45.380 So is Jesus going to be just one of your advisors, 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:50.259 or will you actually allow Jesus to determine these things in your life? 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:55.220 In verse 37, Jesus gives us the litmus test 00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:59.579 for knowing whether or not we are on the side of truth. 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:01.839 He says, do you want to know whether or not you're on the side of truth? 00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:03.680 You want to know? 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:08.779 He says, everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:12.819 So we have two ways of responding. 00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:14.420 We can respond like Pilate 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:17.100 when Jesus says this to us and say, 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:18.900 well, what is truth really? 00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:20.700 What is truth? 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:22.339 Pilate's way ahead of his time. 00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:24.079 Doesn't that sound like what most of us say today? 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:24.720 What is truth? 00:33:24.879 --> 00:33:26.859 He's sort of a pre-modern, post-modernist. 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:30.199 He's just sort of a, you know, way ahead of his time. 00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:31.619 It's this anachronistic statement, 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:33.059 and yet it's right here. 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:34.179 What is truth, you know? 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:35.839 And I think the way that most of us 00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:37.939 functionally reject Jesus' authority, 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:39.039 and by us I mean Christians, 00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:41.139 is to constantly question it. 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.939 What is Jesus really saying? 00:33:43.419 --> 00:33:44.659 What does this really mean? 00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:47.119 Can we really know what Jesus is saying here? 00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:49.500 Can we really know what Jesus is implying here? 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.839 Because I just don't know if we can. 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:53.659 What is truth really? 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:55.240 What is this really about? 00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:59.460 It's also a great way to appear sophisticated and thoughtful, 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:03.680 to be sort of suspicious of any truth claim, 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:07.200 to be always seeking but never finding, you know? 00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:11.559 I had somebody tell me recently that when she became a Christian, 00:34:11.720 --> 00:34:14.720 she was seeking, and everybody around her thought that that was great. 00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:15.480 Oh, it's so cool. 00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:16.200 You're so open. 00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:16.960 You're so curious. 00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:18.039 I want to do that too, 00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:19.440 and let's do our spiritual journeys together. 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:21.260 And in a minute she said, 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:22.639 I found Jesus. 00:34:24.059 --> 00:34:24.659 People are like, 00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:25.780 what's wrong with you? 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:27.720 You sell out. 00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:30.099 You've been corrupted, you know? 00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:31.800 And they didn't want to talk about it anymore. 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.440 Closed door. 00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:35.500 So are we going to be like, 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.440 Pilate, what is truth? 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:37.900 Or when we look at the cross, 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:40.260 when we look at the depth of Jesus' love for us, 00:34:40.720 --> 00:34:44.220 are we going to actually have this divine reality check 00:34:44.220 --> 00:34:46.700 and realize that the one person in the universe 00:34:46.700 --> 00:34:51.119 more qualified to run my life than me 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:54.159 is Jesus the King? 00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:56.179 Let's pray. 00:34:59.239 --> 00:35:00.880 Our Father, these are hard words. 00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:02.319 They're hard for me. 00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:06.719 These words have challenged me greatly this week 00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:09.799 as I think about all of the areas of my life 00:35:09.799 --> 00:35:13.259 that I hold with a white-knuckle grip. 00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:17.679 And Lord, you know that about us. 00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:20.940 You know that if we joyfully submitted to you 00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:21.699 and followed you, 00:35:21.799 --> 00:35:23.239 that your death wouldn't have been necessary. 00:35:23.980 --> 00:35:25.579 We thank you and praise you 00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:27.419 that knowing this about us, 00:35:28.199 --> 00:35:30.059 knowing that we would do anything 00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:33.139 to avoid coming under your kingly authority, 00:35:33.539 --> 00:35:35.460 that you still gave your life for us. 00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:38.899 That you still did everything necessary 00:35:38.899 --> 00:35:40.579 to reconcile us to yourself. 00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:41.980 We thank you and praise you 00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:45.079 that though we may fail again and again and again 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:46.219 to live this out in our lives, 00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:48.159 that our relationship is not ultimately based 00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:50.959 on our willingness to submit ourselves to you, 00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:52.539 it is based on your willingness 00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:54.559 to sacrifice yourself for us. 00:35:55.459 --> 00:35:56.239 Thank you, Jesus. 00:35:56.879 --> 00:35:58.839 In your son's name we pray, Lord. 00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.279 Amen.