WEBVTT

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 All right, please take out your copy of God's Word and turn to the Gospel according to Mark chapter 9.

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 While you're doing that, I feel it necessary to say that Wes mentioned this morning as we're doing Father Abraham that my frail body may be able to do it.

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 And I just want you to know that he wasn't insulting me.

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 This is to protect his own.

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 I've got a lot of tendon muscle issues that I've had for over a decade that are undiagnosed, and that's what Wes was mentioning as we did some service yesterday, and I'm feeling it a little bit today.

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 So we'll see how the energy level keeps up as we work here through Mark chapter 9, verse 30 through 41.

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 Follow along as I read that out loud to you.

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 They went on from there and passed through Galilee, and he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them,

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 The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him.

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 And when he is killed after three days, he will rise.

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 But they did not understand the saying and were afraid to ask him.

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 And they came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house, he asked them,

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 What were you discussing on the way?

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 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

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 And he sat down and called the twelve, and he said to them,

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 If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.

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 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,

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 Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

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 and whoever receives me receives not me, but him who sent me.

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 John said to him,

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 Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.

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 But Jesus said,

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 Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able to soon afterward to speak evil of me.

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 For the one who is not against us is for us.

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 For truly I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

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 This is God's word to us, written for his glory and for our good.

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 We would all do well to listen to it this morning in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Father, we ask you this morning that you would bless the reading and the preaching of your word.

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 Father, we are a people of the book of your word.

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 It is by it that your spirit transforms who we are.

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 Father, we ask this day, Lord, that you would renew our minds and therefore shape who we are from one degree of glory to the next to look more like Christ.

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 That in our living we would in greater degree exalt your name.

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 We cannot accomplish this on our own.

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 We fully recognize this this morning.

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 And so we ask, we plead that you would work in us.

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 And we pray this in Christ, precious, holy, lifted name.

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 Amen.

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 So our preaching in the Gospel of Mark, we've come now to a sort of, and of course Mark did not break it down in this way,

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 but kind of a second act in the book itself.

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 Begins in chapter 8, beginning at verse 22.

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 We see Jesus heal a blind man at the town of Bethsaida in varying degrees.

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 We see it end at the end of chapter 10 with, again, the healing of a blind man.

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 This is blind Bartimaeus.

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 And the reason that it's framed in this way is that Mark's trying to say to us that Jesus is sovereign over spiritual blindness.

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 And he shows us that with these two real events, but that are metaphorical in this way.

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 Because we see the disciples coming to a dawning understanding of who Jesus is and what it means to be part of the kingdom of God.

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 Thus the healing in degrees we saw with the man at Bethsaida.

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 We, of course, get to experience, and we talked at length about the great confession of Peter in verse 29 of chapter 8.

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 Peter answered him,

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 You are the Christ.

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 And we're now in the midst of a series of lessons that are being taught to the disciples on their journey towards Jerusalem.

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 The Galilean ministry is coming to a close.

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 The public ministry is coming to a close.

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 And Jesus is working.

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 He's about six months out now from his crucifixion.

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 He's wrapping up the teaching.

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 The things that they have heard from him over the past two years.

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 He's making sure that they get it, that it clicks, that they have the proper information to be able to function forward in their discipleship.

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 So we saw three weeks ago, verse 31 and 38 through 38 of chapter 8, the cost of discipleship.

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 We then got to witness the transfiguration, that glorious moment, the climax here of the second act in chapter 9, verse 1 through 13,

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 of the surety of the coming kingdom.

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 Last week, verses 14 to 29 of chapter 9, we saw the necessity of faith, the need for it,

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 even a faith that is weak and imperfect, but sufficient.

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 This week we're going to look at the excellence of service.

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 And in the coming weeks, the seriousness of sin, the nature of marriage, the child likeness of faith,

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 the difficulty of riches, and the prominence of humility.

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 But for this week, the excellence of service.

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 And we see in this text, the excellence of service taught in principle, in a teaching moment.

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 So we see that they move from there, the valley that's below the mountain where the transfiguration happened.

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 We don't know exactly.

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 We're not sure of the mountain.

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 I postulated to you that it's Mount Hermon, which is north of the area of Caesarea Philippi.

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 I still hold that view.

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 I think likely this is where this happens.

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 So they've come down back into the valley where the villages of Caesarea Philippi are located,

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 about a three days journey north of the Sea of Galilee.

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 And they have now moved down through Galilee.

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 And we find out that they're on their way back to Capernaum, which is on the northwest coast of the Sea of Galilee.

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 You remember this was kind of the base camp, the station that Jesus operated out of during his Galilean ministry.

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 So they're moving back to that place.

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 And we see again this theme of secrecy in verse 13.

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 He did not want anyone to know.

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 And it's interesting as we've read through Mark so far, there's this constant swearing into secrecy.

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 He does an amazing thing and then he tells somebody, do not tell anyone.

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 And we've asked the question, why is that?

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 It seems so much better that everyone would know.

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 Isn't that the place we find ourselves this day?

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 We want the whole world to know about Jesus, that he is the Christ, that he reigns as prophet, priest, and king.

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 We want to spread that word far and wide.

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 Why did Jesus operate in secrecy?

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 And the large reason for that is because he was concerned that they would take him captive.

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 That they would take him and make him by force become king.

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 That they would try to set him up militarily and politically to overthrow Rome.

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 It was a very common misunderstanding in this day.

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 It was the widely accepted understanding of who the Christ would be.

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 That the Christ would come and would reign politically and militarily.

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 That he would deliver them from their momentary trouble rather than their eternal trouble of sin.

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 But specifically here, he helps define for us, Mark does, that he was teaching his disciples.

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 So not only because of this larger reason, the bigger context of the reason for the secrecy, but he was avoiding the crowds.

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 He was constantly pressed in by the crowds.

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 He was constantly being diverted by the crowds.

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 And here he's got a very intensive purpose in these coming six months.

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 And so he avoids the crowds.

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 He didn't want anybody to know.

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 Now when you look at the first part of verse 31, it says,

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 For he was teaching.

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 So they're on a journey.

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 It's safe to presume.

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 They're passing through Galilee.

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 And in the process of that, he is teaching.

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 It's an imperfect verb tense.

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 So he was constantly teaching.

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 He was in the process of teaching.

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 But Mark sums it up for us in a very simple two sentences.

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 Saying to them, the Son of Man is going to be delivered in the hands of men and they will kill him.

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 And when he is killed, after three days, he will rise.

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 He's saying to this to them.

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 He's teaching it to them again and again and again.

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 He's trying to get them to understand.

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 He's making this passion prediction as he's done previously, beginning in verse 31 of chapter 8.

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 And he'll do it again later on in chapter 10.

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 Yeah, chapter 10.

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 Well, he's making these continual passion predictions and all of them are followed by a rather dramatic misunderstanding of who he is and what he came to accomplish.

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 But it was, in some sense, rightly misunderstood.

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 I think it's really easy for us to read these stories and really beat up on the disciples to say, like, I would have never misunderstood this.

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 In fact, in verse 32 of chapter 8, Mark records that he said this plainly.

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 He spoke it in clear language.

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 He didn't confuse it at all, but they just couldn't wrap their minds around it.

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 And that was because of their cultural context.

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 It didn't make sense to them that the one who had been promised, the one who would come and who would reign, was going to have to suffer and to die.

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 They couldn't wrap their minds around what that meant.

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 And so he continues to unfold it for them in this journey.

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 Now, it's important here, I think, to stop for a moment and remember, recall, why it is that Jesus calls himself the Son of Man.

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 It's an interesting title that he gives to himself.

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 And he does this because of Daniel chapter 7, verse 13 and 14.

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 One of Daniel visions, he says,

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 One who was human, who had human form.

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 But this is the title that Jesus pulls for himself.

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 When he came to the Ancient of Days, this is God, and was presented before him.

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 And to him, the Son of Man, was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.

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 His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away.

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 In his kingdom, one that shall not be destroyed.

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 They got that.

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 They understood that, these Jewish men that were following him.

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 But they didn't understand the suffering.

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 They didn't understand the death and the resurrection.

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 They had yet to really comprehend the cross.

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 Verse 32 says,

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 But they did not understand the saying and were afraid to ask him.

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 And I love that we get a number of accounts after some of the rather foolish things that are said in chapter 8 and in chapter 9 of silence.

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 We have a number of different ways that they just stopped talking altogether because they just didn't know what to say in response to the things he had to say.

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 They didn't understand.

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 They believed that Christ was the Son of Man of Daniel chapter 7.

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 They believed that he was the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace of Isaiah chapter 9.

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 They believed that he was the ruler of Israel of Micah 5.

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 But they didn't understand how all of this would be accomplished.

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 They didn't get how Jesus got from where he was the son of a carpenter from a small town to being this Christ.

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 They didn't understand that he first must be the man of sorrows of Isaiah chapter 53.

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 And the suffering servant of Psalm 22.

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 They had a too narrow view of who Jesus was and therefore is.

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 After all, what did the scriptures tell us?

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 That the cross was to the Jews.

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 What does it say?

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 It was a stumbling block.

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 They couldn't understand.

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 They had a misconceived notion about who Jesus was and how it was that he came to reign.

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 They thought he came to reign in the physical, not in the spiritual.

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 He came to reign in our hearts.

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 Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1.23,

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 We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews, and folly to Gentiles.

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 They didn't understand.

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 And they were afraid to ask.

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 Afraid to ask.

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 It's no wonder they were afraid to ask.

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 After Peter rebukes Jesus for thinking something could even be possible,

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 he's just said, you are the Christ.

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 And from our understanding of who the Christ is,

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 it's impossible that you would have to suffer and die,

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 that being raised from the dead even means something if you don't die.

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 But he rebukes in return these scathing words.

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 Chapter 8, verse 33,

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 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said,

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 Get behind me, Satan.

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 For you are not setting your mind on the things of God,

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 but on the things of man.

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 They were right to be concerned and afraid to ask.

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 Afraid to challenge him once again about what he was saying would be the case.

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 Jesus, at this point, has fixed his gaze on the cross.

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 He is headed there intently.

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 And all along the way, he's trying to get them to understand why it is he must go.

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 And so they come to the town of Capernaum.

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 And it says that when he was in the house,

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 this is likely the house of Simon and Andrew.

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 There is a definite article there in the Greek.

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 The house.

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 And remember back in chapter 1, verse 29,

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 this is the house that he was at,

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 was likely the base camp.

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 Likely where he lived when he was there in the house of the disciples,

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 Simon and Andrew.

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 And he asked them a question.

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 What were you discussing on the way?

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 Now they're making this journey,

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 about a three-day journey.

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 And the nature of walking along together,

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 if you've done any hiking in a big group,

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 or even just being in a city and trying to get down a sidewalk together,

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 you tend to be able to group up,

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 and then you have to kind of spread out.

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 Just the nature of crowd,

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 the nature of narrow paths through fields,

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 is kind of going to cause you to have to spread out at times.

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 And so, this is conjecture on my part,

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 but I'm assuming that they get together in groups,

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 they're eating meals together,

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 Jesus is teaching them along the way,

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 and then they have to spread out some.

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 Or he's fading from the front of the crowd to the back of the crowd,

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 and he's teaching them as he goes.

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 He speeds up.

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 You've ever done that?

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 Made a little hop on the trail to get around in front of somebody,

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 because you want to talk to somebody else.

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 And he's moving back and forth,

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 and he's doing this teaching.

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 But they've been able to have a conversation.

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 The twelve have been discussing on the way,

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 who is the greatest.

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 But notice that they kept silent.

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 It's like they know in their being

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 that they shouldn't be having such a conversation.

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 Jesus has been teaching them about dying.

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 He's been teaching them about picking up their cross

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 and following him,

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 and how he must suffer and die.

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 And they're ashamed that they're having this conversation,

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 this great display of human pride.

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 What a thing to be talking about

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 when the one you have declared to be the Christ,

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 your Lord,

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 the one that you have followed,

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 given your lives for,

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 has said that he will die.

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 To be talking about how great you will be in the kingdom.

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 And again, it's easy here to say,

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 stupid disciples,

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 how could you do this?

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 But the sad thing about this

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 is that this is not at all unlike us.

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 In fact,

00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:21.519
 as part of the story,

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:23.079
 the saddest thing is that

00:16:23.079 --> 00:16:25.959
 it's like holding a mirror up to ourselves.

00:16:27.199 --> 00:16:28.740
 We are the very same way.

00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:32.240
 It's a result of the fall.

00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:34.279
 In fact, the very nature of the fall,

00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:36.679
 Adam and Eve were perfect image bearers.

00:16:37.199 --> 00:16:38.959
 Adam and Eve were the absolute,

00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:42.779
 pre-fall, perfect images of humanity.

00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:44.559
 It couldn't get any better.

00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:47.219
 It absolutely couldn't get any better.

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.119
 There was a proper order.

00:16:49.219 --> 00:16:52.039
 There was a creator that made a creation.

00:16:52.719 --> 00:16:56.399
 And they lived in perfect harmony with God.

00:16:56.479 --> 00:16:58.459
 But they believed the lie of the serpent

00:16:58.459 --> 00:16:59.899
 in Genesis 3.5.

00:17:00.479 --> 00:17:03.779
 You will be like God.

00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:06.000
 The very motivation for the fall

00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:08.240
 was that they wanted to be more than they were.

00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:10.799
 They wanted to step out of the creator,

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:15.200
 creation role and be like God.

00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:17.960
 And humanity now, by nature,

00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:21.720
 is self-seeking, self-exalting,

00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:25.099
 self-determining, or at least we think.

00:17:26.659 --> 00:17:28.980
 Before God changes our hearts,

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:31.960
 everything is all about us

00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:34.839
 at all times, in all ways.

00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:37.799
 And this is rightly seen as rebellion

00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:40.179
 against the created order.

00:17:40.919 --> 00:17:42.399
 This is what makes us rebels against God.

00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:44.879
 Even if you're a typical good person,

00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:47.240
 the fact that you've stepped out

00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.319
 of this created order

00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:50.980
 and you're concerned primarily about yourself

00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:53.279
 and what you may gain by your goodness

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:55.939
 makes you a rebel against God.

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:59.420
 God created us to be God-seeking,

00:18:00.320 --> 00:18:01.460
 Christ-exalting,

00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:04.740
 and Spirit-determined.

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:08.320
 And those of us who have been found in Christ

00:18:08.320 --> 00:18:10.880
 now have the capacity once again to do this.

00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:13.740
 Do we do this well at all times?

00:18:14.100 --> 00:18:15.700
 Absolutely not.

00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:19.539
 None of us escape this lesson in this text today.

00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:23.580
 None of us escape the constant nagging

00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:25.820
 of our prideful flesh.

00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:28.820
 So what is the remedy to pride?

00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:31.320
 What is the antithesis of pride?

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:33.279
 It's humility.

00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:35.320
 It's humility.

00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:37.200
 There's a response.

00:18:38.580 --> 00:18:40.380
 Remember here they haven't told him

00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.580
 what they were talking about,

00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.720
 but he asks,

00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:44.059
 and they're too ashamed to talk about it,

00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.539
 but he knows just the same.

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.460
 So verse 35,

00:18:46.580 --> 00:18:49.580
 he sits down as a teacher of the law would.

00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:51.720
 He sits down and he calls them to him

00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.440
 in the house.

00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:54.500
 And he says to them,

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:56.339
 if anyone will be first,

00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:58.019
 he must be last of all

00:18:58.019 --> 00:19:00.119
 and servant of all.

00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.539
 Axiom statement.

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:04.500
 The hinge on which this story swings.

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:07.799
 That's another paradoxical statement.

00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:10.059
 I explained paradox to you a couple of weeks ago.

00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:12.339
 I like to say that it's an apparent paradox.

00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:14.399
 On the surface it seems to be.

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:16.000
 A paradoxical statement,

00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.939
 the one we discussed earlier,

00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:19.279
 is this statement is false.

00:19:21.439 --> 00:19:23.279
 Wrap your mind around what a paradox is.

00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:24.559
 This is an apparent paradox.

00:19:24.679 --> 00:19:25.159
 It seems that,

00:19:25.419 --> 00:19:27.579
 how can I possibly be first to be last

00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:29.259
 and last to be first?

00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:31.399
 It doesn't seem to jive well

00:19:31.399 --> 00:19:33.259
 in our human logic.

00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.779
 This is really just a restating

00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.619
 of what Jesus taught them

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.819
 in chapter 8, verse 34.

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:39.980
 If anyone would come after me,

00:19:40.659 --> 00:19:42.159
 let him deny himself,

00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:45.079
 set down his self-determination,

00:19:45.399 --> 00:19:47.359
 his self-exaltation,

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:49.099
 and take up his cross

00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:51.279
 and follow me.

00:19:51.439 --> 00:19:52.240
 Follow him where?

00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:54.439
 Even to the point of death.

00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:56.519
 Jesus says,

00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.939
 if you are to have me,

00:19:58.619 --> 00:20:00.759
 you must lose yourself.

00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.919
 If we are to have Jesus,

00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.439
 the greatest possible thing

00:20:04.439 --> 00:20:05.720
 that we could possess in this life,

00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:08.620
 we are to put ourselves down.

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:12.480
 See, humility has a proper outworking.

00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:14.039
 If we are humble,

00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:15.880
 if we recognize the created order

00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:17.160
 and we know who we are

00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:18.339
 apart from Christ,

00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:20.980
 there is a proper outworking.

00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:24.100
 And that outworking is service.

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.059
 Placing others,

00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:27.660
 their real needs,

00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:29.240
 not necessarily their felt needs,

00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:30.460
 but their real needs

00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:32.579
 before our own.

00:20:33.600 --> 00:20:34.980
 In Sinclair Ferguson's commentary

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.900
 on Mark,

00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.380
 he says,

00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:39.299
 humility is according importance

00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:41.819
 to the unimportant.

00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:44.860
 This is a rampant problem

00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:46.480
 of the human condition.

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.519
 So rampant, in fact,

00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:50.660
 that the Scripture speaks of it

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.799
 constantly.

00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.759
 Here's a few.

00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:54.740
 You ready?

00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:56.880
 Micah 6.8

00:20:56.880 --> 00:20:58.500
 He has told you,

00:20:58.580 --> 00:20:58.940
 O man,

00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.160
 what is good.

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:02.400
 And what does the Lord require of you

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.560
 but to do justice

00:21:03.560 --> 00:21:05.120
 and to love kindness

00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:06.760
 and to walk humbly

00:21:06.760 --> 00:21:07.700
 with your God.

00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.460
 Luke 4.11

00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:10.700
 For everyone who exalts himself

00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.280
 will be humbled,

00:21:11.520 --> 00:21:12.940
 and he who humbles himself

00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:14.240
 will be exalted.

00:21:15.280 --> 00:21:16.460
 Ephesians 4.1-2

00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.100
 I therefore,

00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:17.740
 prisoner of the Lord,

00:21:17.840 --> 00:21:18.980
 urge you to walk in a manner

00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.280
 worthy of the calling

00:21:20.280 --> 00:21:21.180
 to which you have been called

00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:22.320
 with all humility

00:21:22.320 --> 00:21:23.640
 and gentleness,

00:21:23.760 --> 00:21:24.340
 with patience,

00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.180
 bearing with one another,

00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:25.700
 in love.

00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.680
 Colossians 3.12

00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.380
 Put on then,

00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.440
 as God's chosen ones,

00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.180
 holy and beloved,

00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.680
 compassionate hearts,

00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:32.500
 kindness,

00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:33.759
 humility,

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.000
 meekness,

00:21:35.560 --> 00:21:36.299
 and patience.

00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:38.160
 James 4.6

00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:39.779
 But he gives more grace,

00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:40.500
 therefore it says,

00:21:40.600 --> 00:21:41.740
 God opposes the proud,

00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.019
 but gives grace

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:44.120
 to the humble.

00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:44.920
 And verse 10,

00:21:45.060 --> 00:21:45.860
 Humble yourselves

00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:46.720
 before the Lord,

00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:48.840
 and he will exalt you.

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:51.580
 John 14.6-7

00:21:51.580 --> 00:21:52.380
 Jesus said to him,

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:53.680
 I am the way

00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.740
 and the truth

00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:56.000
 and the life.

00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:58.140
 No one comes to the Father

00:21:58.140 --> 00:21:58.839
 except through me.

00:21:59.180 --> 00:22:00.220
 If you have known me,

00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.279
 you would have known

00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:03.039
 my Father also.

00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.380
 From now on,

00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:05.200
 you do not know him

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:06.200
 and have seen him.

00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:07.099
 Look at what Jesus

00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:08.480
 has to say to us

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:09.400
 in verse 37

00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:11.660
 about the action of service.

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.720
 Receiving a child

00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.359
 in his name

00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:15.079
 is to behold him

00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:15.859
 and therefore

00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:17.279
 the Father.

00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:20.259
 This is the necessary

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:21.019
 outworking

00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:22.680
 of humility

00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:23.860
 and that is service.

00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:25.560
 Look at the humble example

00:22:25.560 --> 00:22:27.200
 of John the baptizer.

00:22:27.320 --> 00:22:28.259
 Mark 1.7

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.660
 John's preaching.

00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:30.160
 He says,

00:22:30.320 --> 00:22:30.960
 After me

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.120
 comes he

00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:33.240
 who is mightier than I,

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:35.039
 the strap of whose sandals

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.880
 I am not worthy

00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:37.019
 to stoop down

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.299
 and untie.

00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:40.320
 John the baptizer

00:22:40.320 --> 00:22:41.980
 has a great prominence

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:43.039
 in redemptive history.

00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:45.779
 From our view,

00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:47.740
 a great platform

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.960
 with which to boast on.

00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.700
 And he says,

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:51.500
 don't look at me.

00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:52.840
 I must become less.

00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:54.220
 He must become great.

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:56.000
 I am not even worthy

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.840
 to untie

00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:57.600
 his

00:22:57.600 --> 00:22:59.140
 sandals.

00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.480
 Charles Haddon Spurgeon

00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:01.900
 in his book

00:23:01.900 --> 00:23:02.400
 Humility

00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:03.600
 and How to Get It

00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:04.819
 said,

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.759
 We are not worthy

00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.420
 to unloose

00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.080
 the latchets

00:23:07.080 --> 00:23:07.940
 of Jesus' shoes

00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:08.319
 because

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:09.960
 if we do,

00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:11.080
 we begin to say

00:23:11.080 --> 00:23:11.700
 to ourselves,

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:13.279
 what great folks

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.759
 are we?

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:15.200
 We have been allowed

00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.039
 to loose the latchets

00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:16.880
 of the Lord's sandals.

00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:18.920
 If we do not tell

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:20.160
 somebody else about it

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:21.260
 with many exultation,

00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:22.540
 we at least tell

00:23:22.540 --> 00:23:23.380
 ourselves about it

00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.240
 and feel that we are

00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:25.400
 something after all

00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:26.400
 and ought to be held

00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.800
 in no small

00:23:27.800 --> 00:23:29.040
 repute.

00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:31.740
 We're not even worthy

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.940
 to untie

00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:34.020
 the Lord's

00:23:34.020 --> 00:23:35.560
 sandals.

00:23:36.540 --> 00:23:37.220
 And as all good

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:37.860
 teachers do,

00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:39.540
 Jesus drives

00:23:39.540 --> 00:23:40.180
 this teaching

00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:41.560
 with an example.

00:23:41.800 --> 00:23:42.300
 There's a child

00:23:42.300 --> 00:23:42.840
 in this house.

00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.220
 We don't know

00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:43.880
 the age of the child.

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.320
 We don't know

00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:45.179
 the name

00:23:45.179 --> 00:23:45.939
 of the child,

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:47.099
 but he brings

00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:47.899
 the child over

00:23:47.899 --> 00:23:48.859
 into the middle

00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:49.919
 of their conversation

00:23:49.919 --> 00:23:51.039
 and he takes

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:51.819
 him in his arms,

00:23:51.899 --> 00:23:52.879
 which is such a

00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:54.179
 beautifully tender

00:23:54.179 --> 00:23:55.000
 moment to think

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.619
 of our Lord

00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:57.119
 wrapping his arms

00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:58.279
 around a little child

00:23:58.279 --> 00:24:00.139
 and says to them,

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:00.919
 Whoever receives

00:24:00.919 --> 00:24:01.439
 one such child

00:24:01.439 --> 00:24:01.720
 in my name

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.220
 receives me

00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:02.500
 and whoever

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:02.859
 receives me

00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:03.759
 receives not me

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.639
 but him

00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:06.720
 who sent me.

00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:08.039
 Now we have

00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:08.579
 to understand

00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:09.480
 in our culture

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.740
 much of what we do

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.720
 revolves around

00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.720
 our children.

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.940
 This was not

00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.380
 the case

00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:14.960
 in this day.

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.059
 The status

00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.440
 of children

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.380
 was very low

00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:17.980
 in this day.

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.000
 No rights.

00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.339
 They were lowly.

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.360
 We could probably

00:24:22.360 --> 00:24:23.120
 take some lessons

00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:23.640
 from them.

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.100
 They maybe

00:24:24.100 --> 00:24:24.740
 could have taken

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.200
 some lessons

00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:25.680
 from us

00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.779
 in this regard.

00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:27.920
 But it's hard

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.799
 for us to think

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.700
 about the service

00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.140
 to children

00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:30.860
 when some of our

00:24:30.860 --> 00:24:31.680
 lives seem to

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.240
 revolve around

00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:33.339
 service to our

00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:33.620
 children.

00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.319
 But this was not

00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:36.200
 the case in this day.

00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:37.460
 The lowest of the low

00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.900
 children were.

00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.460
 So what is Jesus

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.460
 communicating to us?

00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:43.319
 Be last

00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:43.720
 so that you

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.380
 will be first.

00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.340
 Place others

00:24:45.340 --> 00:24:47.059
 even those

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.900
 you don't think

00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:48.799
 deserve it

00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:50.180
 before yourself.

00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.759
 Show honor

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:53.340
 to the unhonorable.

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.740
 Follow his logic

00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.140
 here.

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.500
 Follow the great

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:57.960
 logician.

00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:00.360
 Receive a child

00:25:00.360 --> 00:25:01.299
 you receive Jesus

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:02.340
 therefore you receive

00:25:02.340 --> 00:25:02.920
 God.

00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.380
 And it certainly

00:25:03.380 --> 00:25:04.000
 works in the other

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.340
 way.

00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.600
 And we can see

00:25:05.600 --> 00:25:06.579
 this more clearly

00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:07.460
 from our vantage

00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.039
 point on the other

00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:08.759
 side of the cross

00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.799
 that if we have

00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.700
 been accepted by

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.440
 God it's because

00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.140
 we've accepted

00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.860
 Christ

00:25:12.860 --> 00:25:14.720
 and this works

00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.460
 out into the

00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.160
 acceptance of

00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:16.880
 the child

00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:17.740
 or those who

00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.799
 we don't deem

00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:20.360
 worthy of our

00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:20.900
 service.

00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:23.100
 Service is one

00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:24.539
 great evidence

00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:25.920
 of our faith.

00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:26.740
 Not the only

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.660
 but it is one

00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.360
 great evidence

00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:28.900
 of our faith.

00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:29.580
 Us making

00:25:29.580 --> 00:25:30.860
 ourselves low

00:25:30.860 --> 00:25:31.720
 and serving

00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:33.160
 this world.

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.519
 Let me read

00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:34.880
 to you again

00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.600
 John 14

00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:36.860
 6 and 7.

00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:37.860
 That actually

00:25:37.860 --> 00:25:38.799
 snuck its way

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.380
 into my notes

00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:40.080
 further up.

00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.419
 That's why

00:25:40.419 --> 00:25:40.839
 I was lost

00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.259
 for a second

00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:41.480
 there.

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:42.639
 Here's where

00:25:42.639 --> 00:25:42.939
 I intended

00:25:42.939 --> 00:25:43.539
 to read it.

00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:44.579
 Jesus said to

00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:44.740
 him,

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.240
 I am the

00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.679
 way and

00:25:45.679 --> 00:25:46.099
 the truth

00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.419
 and the

00:25:46.419 --> 00:25:46.740
 life.

00:25:47.419 --> 00:25:47.659
 No one

00:25:47.659 --> 00:25:47.919
 comes to

00:25:47.919 --> 00:25:48.240
 the Father

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.980
 except through

00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:49.240
 me.

00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:49.659
 If you had

00:25:49.659 --> 00:25:50.220
 known me

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:51.000
 you would

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.319
 have known

00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:51.879
 my Father

00:25:51.879 --> 00:25:52.419
 also.

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.519
 From now

00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.079
 on you

00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:54.740
 do know

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.939
 him and

00:25:55.939 --> 00:25:57.399
 have seen

00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:57.699
 him.

00:25:58.399 --> 00:25:58.939
 The writer

00:25:58.939 --> 00:25:59.379
 of Hebrews

00:25:59.379 --> 00:25:59.939
 chapter 1

00:25:59.939 --> 00:26:00.339
 verse 3

00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:00.859
 says Jesus

00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:01.199
 is the

00:26:01.199 --> 00:26:01.779
 radiance

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.139
 of the

00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:02.579
 glory of

00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:02.919
 God

00:26:02.919 --> 00:26:03.599
 and the

00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.119
 exact

00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:05.000
 imprint

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.920
 of his

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.259
 nature.

00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:07.980
 Do you

00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:08.339
 see that

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:08.579
 for us

00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.500
 to experience

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:09.960
 God,

00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:10.700
 to understand

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:10.960
 him in

00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.579
 his fullness,

00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.559
 to have

00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:12.920
 him,

00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:14.819
 service

00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:16.279
 is necessary.

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.720
 Now to

00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.160
 further drive

00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:19.640
 the point,

00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:21.119
 Mark records

00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:21.700
 for us

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.920
 another event

00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:23.259
 and I don't

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.619
 know if it

00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:24.019
 came right

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.440
 on the heels

00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:25.119
 or not,

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.339
 but certainly

00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:27.059
 he was inspired

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.500
 to put it

00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.220
 in this order

00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:28.980
 to further

00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.500
 drive the

00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:29.819
 point.

00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:31.160
 John speaks

00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:31.400
 up.

00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:31.599
 We don't

00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.440
 see John

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.039
 speaking very

00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.599
 often and

00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:34.219
 he tells

00:26:34.219 --> 00:26:34.439
 them a

00:26:34.439 --> 00:26:34.899
 story about

00:26:34.899 --> 00:26:35.279
 someone he

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:35.839
 saw casting

00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:36.379
 out demons

00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:36.740
 in the

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.259
 name of

00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:38.119
 Jesus and

00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:38.379
 they tried

00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:38.939
 to stop

00:26:38.939 --> 00:26:39.379
 him because

00:26:39.379 --> 00:26:39.879
 he was not

00:26:39.879 --> 00:26:40.539
 one of

00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:40.699
 us.

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.099
 He was not

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.639
 following

00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:42.539
 us.

00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:42.859
 He wasn't

00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:43.119
 one of

00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:44.839
 the twelve,

00:26:44.959 --> 00:26:45.139
 one of

00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.699
 the disciples.

00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:49.779
 John's

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.559
 zeal was

00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.480
 misplaced

00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:51.899
 in this

00:26:51.899 --> 00:26:52.299
 case.

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.299
 They had

00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:53.919
 been corrected

00:26:53.919 --> 00:26:54.519
 on debating

00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:54.959
 amongst

00:26:54.959 --> 00:26:55.599
 themselves

00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:56.740
 who was

00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.099
 the most

00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.559
 important.

00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:58.599
 It set

00:26:58.599 --> 00:26:59.179
 aside this

00:26:59.179 --> 00:27:00.059
 status issue

00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:00.419
 amongst

00:27:00.419 --> 00:27:01.019
 themselves,

00:27:01.299 --> 00:27:01.819
 but that

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.240
 had not

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.639
 stopped

00:27:02.639 --> 00:27:03.419
 them from

00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:03.960
 thinking they

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.279
 were more

00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:05.000
 important as

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.700
 a group.

00:27:06.840 --> 00:27:07.240
 They've

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.779
 turned their

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.580
 status from

00:27:08.580 --> 00:27:09.080
 within the

00:27:09.080 --> 00:27:09.660
 group to

00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.460
 outside of

00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:10.820
 the group.

00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:11.500
 We saw

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.000
 somebody doing

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.440
 a work in

00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:12.840
 your name and

00:27:12.840 --> 00:27:13.180
 we told them

00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:13.720
 to quit it

00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:13.960
 because they're

00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.360
 not one of

00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:14.779
 us.

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:15.940
 The disciples.

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.120
 The very

00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:18.620
 thing that he's

00:27:18.620 --> 00:27:19.180
 doing here in

00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:19.640
 his zeal is

00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.440
 incredibly

00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.539
 misplaced and

00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.200
 Jesus says to

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.380
 him,

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.400
 do not stop

00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:23.680
 him.

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.140
 For no one

00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:25.480
 who does a

00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:25.960
 mighty work in

00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.400
 my name will

00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:26.860
 be able soon

00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:27.220
 afterward to

00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:27.680
 speak evil

00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.019
 of me.

00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:29.340
 For the one

00:27:29.340 --> 00:27:29.840
 who is not

00:27:29.840 --> 00:27:31.180
 against us

00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:32.860
 is for

00:27:32.860 --> 00:27:33.340
 us.

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.680
 Surely, I

00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.019
 know that you

00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:36.460
 guys are all

00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:37.259
 so studious and

00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:37.580
 you know your

00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:38.320
 Old Testament so

00:27:38.320 --> 00:27:38.900
 well that your

00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:39.220
 mind is

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:40.200
 automatically drawn

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:41.180
 to the story of

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:41.759
 Eldad and

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.759
 Medad in

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.279
 Numbers chapter

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:43.700
 11,

00:27:44.360 --> 00:27:46.299
 verse 26-29.

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:46.820
 Just listen

00:27:46.820 --> 00:27:47.400
 carefully to

00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:47.620
 this.

00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.740
 Now two men

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.340
 remained in the

00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:50.460
 camp, one named

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.279
 Eldad and the

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:51.759
 other named

00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.340
 Medad, and the

00:27:53.340 --> 00:27:54.799
 Spirit rested

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.299
 on them.

00:27:56.080 --> 00:27:56.799
 They were among

00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.380
 those registered,

00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.340
 but they had not

00:27:58.340 --> 00:27:59.320
 gone out to the

00:27:59.320 --> 00:28:00.299
 tent, and so

00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.279
 they prophesied

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:02.480
 in the camp.

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.779
 And a young

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.419
 man ran and

00:28:04.419 --> 00:28:04.879
 told Moses,

00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:05.720
 Eldad and

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.259
 Medad are

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.220
 prophesying in

00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:07.779
 the camp.

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.440
 This is the

00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:10.019
 declaration of

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.460
 John.

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.539
 How dare

00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:11.899
 they?

00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:12.759
 They're in the

00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:14.000
 camp prophesying.

00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.740
 And Joshua,

00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:16.319
 the son of

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:16.779
 Nun, the

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.240
 assistant of

00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:17.659
 Moses from

00:28:17.659 --> 00:28:17.940
 his youth,

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.180
 said,

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.639
 My Lord

00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:19.119
 Moses,

00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.220
 stop them.

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.519
 But Moses

00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.139
 said to him,

00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.299
 Are you

00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:23.759
 jealous for

00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.419
 my sake?

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:25.819
 Would that

00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.599
 all the

00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:27.180
 Lord's people

00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:27.819
 were prophets,

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.359
 that the

00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:28.859
 Lord would

00:28:28.859 --> 00:28:29.359
 put his

00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:29.799
 spirit

00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:31.019
 on them?

00:28:31.659 --> 00:28:32.079
 They're not

00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:32.759
 against us,

00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:33.599
 they're for

00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.079
 us.

00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:35.700
 Moses says,

00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.559
 Praise God

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:36.859
 that he's

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.200
 doing a

00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:37.919
 work in

00:28:37.919 --> 00:28:38.259
 the lives

00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:38.940
 of Eldad

00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:39.980
 and Medad

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.799
 for the

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.039
 sake of

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.419
 the people

00:28:41.419 --> 00:28:41.799
 and his

00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.159
 glory.

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:43.759
 Paul had

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.099
 learned this

00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:45.680
 lesson from

00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:46.039
 Paul's

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.700
 imprisonment as

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:47.159
 he writes to

00:28:47.159 --> 00:28:47.440
 the church

00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.019
 at Philippi,

00:28:48.659 --> 00:28:49.379
 chapter 1,

00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:50.859
 verse 14

00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:51.740
 through 18.

00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.720
 And most

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:53.919
 of the

00:28:53.919 --> 00:28:54.299
 brothers,

00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:55.599
 having become

00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:56.259
 confident in

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:56.680
 the Lord by

00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:57.399
 my imprisonment,

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:57.899
 are much

00:28:57.899 --> 00:28:58.639
 more bold to

00:28:58.640 --> 00:28:59.180
 speak the

00:28:59.180 --> 00:28:59.820
 word without

00:28:59.820 --> 00:29:00.320
 fear.

00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:01.940
 Some indeed

00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.820
 preach Christ

00:29:02.820 --> 00:29:03.540
 from envy

00:29:03.540 --> 00:29:04.180
 and rivalry,

00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:05.280
 but others

00:29:05.280 --> 00:29:05.780
 from good

00:29:05.780 --> 00:29:06.100
 will.

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.240
 The latter

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.660
 do it out

00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.120
 of love,

00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:08.460
 knowing that

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:08.860
 I am put

00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:09.180
 here for

00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:09.600
 the defense

00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:09.820
 of the

00:29:09.820 --> 00:29:10.160
 gospel.

00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:11.440
 The former

00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.240
 proclaim Christ

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.140
 out of selfish

00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:13.880
 ambition,

00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.320
 not sincerely,

00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.080
 but thinking to

00:29:16.080 --> 00:29:16.800
 afflict me

00:29:16.800 --> 00:29:17.640
 in my

00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:18.320
 imprisonment.

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:18.980
 The very

00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:20.160
 motivation behind

00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:20.600
 some of these

00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:21.160
 men sharing

00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:22.000
 the gospel is

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.660
 to heighten

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.360
 the tension

00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:24.860
 of Paul's

00:29:24.860 --> 00:29:25.700
 imprisonment,

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.340
 to make

00:29:26.340 --> 00:29:27.779
 the political

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.720
 and religious

00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.680
 atmosphere

00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.840
 more challenging

00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:31.519
 for him.

00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:33.240
 In verse 18,

00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:34.160
 Paul writes,

00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:35.200
 what then?

00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:36.860
 Only that in

00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:37.539
 every way,

00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.380
 whether in

00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:39.160
 pretense

00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:40.240
 or in truth,

00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.600
 Christ is

00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:42.740
 proclaimed.

00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:44.519
 And in that

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.160
 I rejoice.

00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:45.680
 Yes,

00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:47.100
 and I will

00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:47.880
 rejoice.

00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.460
 The name of

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.200
 Christ was being

00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.640
 spread.

00:29:50.940 --> 00:29:51.400
 Would Paul have

00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:52.200
 desired them to

00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:52.720
 do it from

00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.200
 love,

00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:53.700
 from pure

00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.279
 motivations?

00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:55.100
 Of course he

00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:55.580
 would have.

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.420
 But he was

00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.460
 just glad

00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:58.180
 that the name

00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:58.779
 of Christ

00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.940
 was being

00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:01.160
 proclaimed.

00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:03.779
 Jesus

00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:05.019
 wraps this up

00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:05.720
 speaking about

00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.740
 this cup of

00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:07.100
 water.

00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:07.660
 For truly I

00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.080
 say to you,

00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:08.460
 whoever gives

00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.080
 you a cup of

00:30:09.080 --> 00:30:09.759
 water to drink

00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.200
 because you

00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:10.680
 belong to

00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:11.140
 Christ,

00:30:11.600 --> 00:30:12.220
 will by no

00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.759
 means lose

00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:14.680
 his reward.

00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:15.559
 Now the

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:15.920
 giving of a

00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:16.380
 cup of water

00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:17.360
 was a basic

00:30:17.360 --> 00:30:18.220
 feature of

00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:18.440
 Eastern

00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:19.000
 hospitality.

00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.220
 A basic

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:20.600
 thing.

00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.220
 This was a

00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:22.900
 common offer

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.440
 that was made

00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:23.980
 to people as

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.220
 they were

00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:25.100
 traveling because

00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:25.919
 it's very

00:30:25.919 --> 00:30:27.139
 dry in this

00:30:27.139 --> 00:30:27.980
 area and

00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.679
 water was a

00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:29.759
 great way in

00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.079
 which you

00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:31.179
 could serve

00:30:31.179 --> 00:30:32.000
 somebody.

00:30:33.179 --> 00:30:34.059
 In fact,

00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:35.619
 it was such a

00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:37.139
 commonplace thing

00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:38.019
 that there would

00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:38.480
 have been no

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.799
 reward as a

00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.579
 response to it.

00:30:40.679 --> 00:30:41.119
 Somebody offered

00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:41.659
 you a cup of

00:30:41.659 --> 00:30:41.980
 water,

00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:42.500
 you may have

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:42.919
 extended to

00:30:42.919 --> 00:30:43.099
 them,

00:30:43.419 --> 00:30:43.879
 hey thank you,

00:30:43.919 --> 00:30:44.139
 but you

00:30:44.139 --> 00:30:44.759
 wouldn't pay

00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.299
 them for it.

00:30:45.339 --> 00:30:45.619
 It was a

00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:46.379
 common thing

00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:47.419
 that was done

00:30:47.419 --> 00:30:48.519
 in this day.

00:30:49.199 --> 00:30:49.740
 But it's key

00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.279
 for us to see

00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:51.219
 here that not

00:30:51.219 --> 00:30:51.599
 just that they

00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:52.019
 give you the

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.539
 cup of water,

00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:52.779
 but they

00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.079
 give you the

00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.460
 cup of water

00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:54.660
 because you

00:30:54.660 --> 00:30:56.379
 belong to

00:30:56.379 --> 00:30:56.900
 Christ.

00:30:57.639 --> 00:30:58.059
 The one who

00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:59.139
 is not against

00:30:59.139 --> 00:31:00.920
 us is for

00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:01.319
 us.

00:31:01.639 --> 00:31:02.180
 Because you

00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:02.980
 are a disciple

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:04.319
 of the Christ,

00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.200
 I'm giving

00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:06.759
 this offer to

00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.119
 you.

00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:08.680
 Interestingly,

00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:09.139
 this is the

00:31:09.139 --> 00:31:10.119
 only place Jesus

00:31:10.119 --> 00:31:10.980
 uses this title

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:12.519
 of himself in

00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.379
 Mark's gospel.

00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:14.099
 He never refers

00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:14.759
 to himself as

00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:16.019
 the Christ again

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:18.420
 in Mark's gospel.

00:31:19.379 --> 00:31:20.200
 So the fact

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:20.519
 that this

00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.420
 person has

00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:21.900
 humbled

00:31:21.900 --> 00:31:22.740
 themselves to

00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:23.380
 do a simple

00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:24.440
 act of

00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:26.039
 service to

00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:26.500
 gain the

00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.539
 greater reward

00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.740
 becoming last

00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.700
 so that he

00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.259
 will become

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:32.059
 first is the

00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:33.600
 period of what

00:31:33.600 --> 00:31:34.059
 Jesus is trying

00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:34.539
 to say to

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.220
 them about the

00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:36.860
 excellence of

00:31:36.860 --> 00:31:39.019
 service taught

00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.620
 in principle.

00:31:41.120 --> 00:31:41.900
 That's not all

00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:42.440
 he's done.

00:31:44.120 --> 00:31:44.900
 He's also

00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:45.440
 taught them the

00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:45.980
 excellence of

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:48.220
 service or will

00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:49.360
 in example.

00:31:50.200 --> 00:31:51.460
 remember back

00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:51.759
 at the beginning

00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.440
 of our text,

00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:53.380
 back in verse

00:31:53.380 --> 00:31:54.779
 31, he says,

00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:55.259
 the Son of

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.380
 Man, I am

00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:56.600
 going to be

00:31:56.600 --> 00:31:57.160
 delivered into

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:57.620
 the hands of

00:31:57.620 --> 00:31:59.259
 men and they

00:31:59.259 --> 00:31:59.980
 will kill me.

00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.259
 And when I'm

00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:02.059
 dead three days

00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:03.480
 later, I will

00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:04.080
 rise.

00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:05.319
 He sets for

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.480
 them an example

00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.720
 of this.

00:32:09.080 --> 00:32:10.980
 Jesus humbled

00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:12.120
 himself on the

00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:13.299
 cross and

00:32:13.299 --> 00:32:14.900
 therefore he was

00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:15.440
 exalted.

00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:17.319
 Beloved, we're on

00:32:17.319 --> 00:32:18.059
 this side of that.

00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:18.620
 They had yet to

00:32:18.620 --> 00:32:19.059
 behold it.

00:32:19.080 --> 00:32:19.819
 Jesus just said

00:32:19.819 --> 00:32:20.160
 it to them.

00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:21.960
 We have seen

00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:22.279
 it.

00:32:23.120 --> 00:32:24.000
 We read about

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.140
 it.

00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.200
 Multiple accounts

00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:25.519
 of it.

00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:26.620
 All the outworkings

00:32:26.620 --> 00:32:27.500
 of the things

00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:27.960
 that Jesus

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.900
 accomplished for

00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:29.860
 us on the

00:32:29.860 --> 00:32:30.440
 cross.

00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:33.319
 Paul uses it

00:32:33.319 --> 00:32:33.799
 in Philippians

00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:34.580
 chapter 2

00:32:34.580 --> 00:32:37.019
 to motivate us

00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:38.000
 to humble

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.420
 living.

00:32:39.080 --> 00:32:39.480
 Beginning of

00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.039
 verse 5,

00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:41.039
 have this mind

00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:41.880
 among yourselves

00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:43.620
 which is yours.

00:32:43.860 --> 00:32:44.620
 You possess it

00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:45.519
 in Christ

00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:46.140
 Jesus.

00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:48.120
 Who, though he

00:32:48.120 --> 00:32:48.700
 was in the form

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.539
 of God, the

00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:49.080
 power of God

00:32:49.080 --> 00:32:49.660
 did not count

00:32:49.660 --> 00:32:50.600
 equality with

00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:51.940
 God a thing

00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:53.240
 to be grasped.

00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:54.799
 Jesus himself

00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:56.480
 was God.

00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:58.940
 You are not.

00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:00.400
 Verse 7,

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:01.019
 But he emptied

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:02.420
 himself by taking

00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:03.180
 the form of a

00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:04.039
 servant, being born

00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:04.840
 in the likeness of

00:33:04.840 --> 00:33:05.860
 men, and being

00:33:05.860 --> 00:33:06.740
 found in human

00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:08.340
 form, he humbled

00:33:08.340 --> 00:33:09.960
 himself by becoming

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:10.600
 obedient to the

00:33:10.600 --> 00:33:11.259
 point of death,

00:33:11.860 --> 00:33:13.539
 even death, on a

00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:13.920
 cross.

00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:15.039
 It's the worst

00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:15.840
 form of death

00:33:15.840 --> 00:33:17.100
 ever invented

00:33:17.100 --> 00:33:17.700
 by man.

00:33:19.080 --> 00:33:21.200
 Therefore, God

00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:21.680
 has highly

00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:23.039
 exalted him, and

00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:23.920
 bestowed on him

00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:25.160
 the name that is

00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:26.300
 above every name,

00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.240
 so that the name

00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:27.700
 of Jesus every

00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.240
 knee should bow

00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:28.680
 in heaven and

00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:29.060
 earth and under

00:33:29.060 --> 00:33:29.779
 the earth, and

00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:30.279
 every tongue

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:31.140
 confess that Jesus

00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:32.340
 Christ is Lord, to

00:33:32.340 --> 00:33:33.460
 the glory of God

00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:34.100
 the Father.

00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:35.840
 Jesus became the

00:33:35.840 --> 00:33:37.720
 most last, and

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.440
 now he is the

00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:39.160
 most highly

00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:40.660
 exalted.

00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:40.800
 blessed.

00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:43.240
 Hebrews 12,

00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:44.620
 verse 1 and 2,

00:33:44.740 --> 00:33:45.320
 after the great

00:33:45.320 --> 00:33:46.300
 faith chapter,

00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.779
 chapter 11 of

00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.460
 Hebrews, says,

00:33:48.620 --> 00:33:49.440
 Therefore, since we

00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.200
 are surrounded by so

00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:51.200
 great a cloud of

00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:52.140
 witnesses, all these

00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:53.300
 men and women of

00:33:53.300 --> 00:33:54.200
 faith in the past,

00:33:54.620 --> 00:33:55.640
 let us also lay

00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:56.779
 aside every weight

00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:57.360
 and sin which

00:33:57.360 --> 00:33:58.259
 clings so closely,

00:33:58.560 --> 00:33:59.440
 and let us run

00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:00.180
 with endurance the

00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:01.380
 race that is set

00:34:01.380 --> 00:34:02.480
 before us, which

00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:04.120
 includes service.

00:34:05.140 --> 00:34:05.779
 Verse 2,

00:34:06.340 --> 00:34:07.560
 looking to Jesus,

00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:09.700
 the founder and

00:34:09.700 --> 00:34:10.340
 perfecter,

00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:11.839
 of our faith,

00:34:12.359 --> 00:34:12.980
 who for the joy

00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:13.679
 that was set before

00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:15.279
 him endured the

00:34:15.279 --> 00:34:16.500
 cross, despising

00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.539
 the shame, and

00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:18.139
 is seated at the

00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:18.779
 right hand of the

00:34:18.779 --> 00:34:19.460
 throne of God.

00:34:20.279 --> 00:34:21.379
 For the joy set

00:34:21.379 --> 00:34:22.019
 before him, for the

00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:22.839
 exaltation that

00:34:22.839 --> 00:34:23.679
 would be his one

00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:24.739
 day, he made

00:34:24.739 --> 00:34:25.739
 himself least of

00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:26.920
 all and suffered

00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:28.759
 on our behalf.

00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:31.339
 It's only by the

00:34:31.339 --> 00:34:32.399
 grace of God that

00:34:32.399 --> 00:34:33.519
 we can be set free

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.500
 from ourselves,

00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:36.259
 from our self-service,

00:34:36.399 --> 00:34:37.639
 from our pride.

00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:39.239
 We should cry out

00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:40.299
 together, Lord, save

00:34:40.300 --> 00:34:41.320
 me from myself.

00:34:42.160 --> 00:34:42.880
 Thank you for

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.900
 redeeming my soul,

00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:45.780
 but deliver me from

00:34:45.780 --> 00:34:48.360
 my old me, the old

00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:49.960
 self-serving me, the

00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:51.420
 old self-exalting me,

00:34:51.600 --> 00:34:52.539
 the one that wants to

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:53.640
 be greatest at all

00:34:53.640 --> 00:34:54.100
 times.

00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:55.720
 Someday I'll be

00:34:55.720 --> 00:34:56.880
 least if this is the

00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:57.840
 engagement of my

00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:58.300
 life.

00:34:58.740 --> 00:35:00.120
 Make me small.

00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:01.519
 Make me little.

00:35:01.720 --> 00:35:02.640
 Give me the service

00:35:02.640 --> 00:35:04.220
 so that someday I will

00:35:04.220 --> 00:35:05.740
 be exalted.

00:35:05.739 --> 00:35:09.659
 Beloved, we all fail

00:35:09.659 --> 00:35:10.119
 at this.

00:35:10.959 --> 00:35:11.819
 We have been granted

00:35:11.819 --> 00:35:13.079
 opportunity after

00:35:13.079 --> 00:35:14.699
 opportunity after

00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:15.939
 opportunity to be

00:35:15.939 --> 00:35:17.139
 least of all.

00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:18.619
 So that someday we

00:35:18.619 --> 00:35:19.439
 might be exalted.

00:35:20.459 --> 00:35:21.899
 This is to our shame.

00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:24.579
 There is so much to

00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:26.379
 be done just for us,

00:35:26.479 --> 00:35:27.599
 just within our own

00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:29.179
 congregation, ways in

00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:30.439
 which we can love and

00:35:30.439 --> 00:35:32.039
 serve one another, to

00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:32.639
 put the needs of

00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:34.000
 others before our own,

00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:35.780
 to lift them up,

00:35:35.820 --> 00:35:37.139
 that we might be low.

00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:39.260
 And then extend that

00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:40.219
 to the world around

00:35:40.219 --> 00:35:40.480
 us.

00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:41.219
 This is the mission

00:35:41.219 --> 00:35:41.960
 that God has given

00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:42.320
 us to.

00:35:42.420 --> 00:35:45.119
 There is so, so much.

00:35:46.760 --> 00:35:48.280
 If you don't think

00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:48.840
 you have an issue

00:35:48.840 --> 00:35:49.699
 with pride this

00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:50.940
 morning, there is

00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.500
 your issue with

00:35:51.500 --> 00:35:51.800
 pride.

00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:57.219
 Lord, save us from

00:35:57.219 --> 00:35:57.760
 ourselves.

00:35:59.039 --> 00:35:59.719
 Now here's the

00:35:59.719 --> 00:36:00.500
 wonderful encouragement

00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:01.239
 of this story.

00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:03.320
 We can't miss this.

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.139
 Right?

00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:07.119
 The disciples are so

00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:08.760
 daft.

00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:11.260
 They just don't get

00:36:11.260 --> 00:36:11.519
 it.

00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:12.079
 Right?

00:36:12.099 --> 00:36:12.800
 He's talking about

00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:13.719
 suffering and that you

00:36:13.719 --> 00:36:14.739
 must die to follow

00:36:14.739 --> 00:36:15.039
 him.

00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:15.980
 And they want to talk

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:17.260
 about the ranking that

00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:18.360
 they're going to have in

00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:19.199
 the kingdom of God.

00:36:19.780 --> 00:36:20.760
 But Jesus doesn't cast

00:36:20.760 --> 00:36:21.179
 them away.

00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:22.219
 Right?

00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:23.280
 He doesn't say, you

00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:24.260
 bunch of idiots.

00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:25.380
 I'll go find another

00:36:25.380 --> 00:36:25.820
 twelve.

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:26.679
 Right?

00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:28.139
 You're so thick-headed

00:36:28.139 --> 00:36:29.219
 and you just can't catch

00:36:29.219 --> 00:36:29.440
 on.

00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.519
 I've said it again and

00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:30.800
 again.

00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.920
 I've said it plainly.

00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:32.659
 We've been walking

00:36:32.659 --> 00:36:33.720
 for days and I've been

00:36:33.720 --> 00:36:34.400
 talking about this.

00:36:34.440 --> 00:36:35.220
 He doesn't cast them

00:36:35.220 --> 00:36:35.519
 away.

00:36:36.680 --> 00:36:37.340
 Remember the high

00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:38.200
 priestly prayer before

00:36:38.200 --> 00:36:39.059
 Jesus was crucified.

00:36:39.240 --> 00:36:40.480
 John chapter 17

00:36:40.480 --> 00:36:41.680
 verse 12.

00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.119
 Jesus praying.

00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:43.820
 He says, while I was

00:36:43.820 --> 00:36:45.440
 with them, I kept

00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:45.599
 them.

00:36:45.700 --> 00:36:47.380
 I kept them in your

00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:48.619
 name, which you have

00:36:48.619 --> 00:36:49.039
 given me.

00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:50.480
 I have guarded them

00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:51.480
 and not one of them

00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:53.159
 has been lost except

00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:54.019
 the son of destruction.

00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:54.519
 Right?

00:36:54.579 --> 00:36:55.480
 You know the rest of

00:36:55.480 --> 00:36:56.000
 that story.

00:36:56.440 --> 00:36:57.700
 Jesus kept them.

00:36:58.240 --> 00:36:59.260
 Jesus finished the

00:36:59.260 --> 00:37:00.380
 task that he started.

00:37:00.380 --> 00:37:01.140
 He called them to

00:37:01.140 --> 00:37:02.160
 himself and he

00:37:02.160 --> 00:37:02.920
 completed it.

00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:04.000
 We'll see every single

00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:05.240
 one of these men one

00:37:05.240 --> 00:37:06.320
 day, except for John

00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:07.300
 who died as an old

00:37:07.300 --> 00:37:08.559
 man in prison and in

00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:10.160
 exile, all of them

00:37:10.160 --> 00:37:11.660
 would go to the cross

00:37:11.660 --> 00:37:12.720
 metaphorically.

00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:14.019
 They died in various

00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.760
 ways.

00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:16.200
 All of them would get

00:37:16.200 --> 00:37:18.160
 one day the power of

00:37:18.160 --> 00:37:19.360
 the cross of Jesus

00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:20.260
 Christ and what it

00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:21.200
 means to be made

00:37:21.200 --> 00:37:22.960
 small so that one day

00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:24.500
 we will be made

00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:24.940
 great.

00:37:25.700 --> 00:37:26.579
 Let's pray together.

00:37:26.579 --> 00:37:26.640
 Amen.

00:37:26.640 --> 00:37:26.640


00:37:26.640 --> 00:37:26.640


00:37:26.640 --> 00:37:26.640


00:37:26.640 --> 00:37:26.640


00:37:26.640 --> 00:37:26.640


00:37:26.640 --> 00:37:26.640