WEBVTT

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 Well, I wonder if you've ever got somebody badly wrong.

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 My favourite example of this is a famous story from 1962,

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 told of a man who travelled to London with his guitar and his three friends

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 to perform one of their first ever music auditions in front of a record producer.

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 So they perform in front of this record producer.

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 They finish and then they ask him what he thought about them.

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 And he replied, sorry mate, we don't like your sound.

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 Boy bands are on the way out.

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 As it turns out, the record producer had just turned down Paul McCartney and the Beatles.

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 Getting somebody badly, badly wrong.

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 Well, as we turn to Luke chapter 15 this morning,

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 I encourage you to have that passage open in front of you.

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 As we turn to Luke chapter 15 this morning,

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 and to think, no exaggeration to say one of the world's most loved stories,

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 we need to understand that Jesus is talking to a crowd.

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 And in this crowd are people who have got God badly wrong.

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 Luke who's listening to Jesus at verses 1 and 2.

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 Luke tells us, do you see, that there are two groups in this crowd.

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 First group, tax collectors and sinners.

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 As we've seen in the play, you don't get much more hated.

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 I'm a much more hated group of people in this culture than tax collectors.

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 Because they are Jews who work for the Romans by collecting taxes for the Romans from their fellow Jews.

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 I mean, these guys are like the opposite of Robin Hood.

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 They steal from the poor and they take that money and they give it to the rich.

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 And so in this culture, they're regarded as total scum.

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 Probably told that every day, that God wants absolutely nothing to do with you.

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 Little wonder then that as they hear Jesus talk about God's great banquet.

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 Remember we saw that in Luke chapter 14?

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 God's great banquet where outsiders are welcomed in.

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 No wonder that they are drawing near to Jesus.

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 Because they have never seen or heard or met anyone quite like him in their whole life.

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 Pharisees and the scribes of the other group.

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 What are they doing in this story?

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 They're grumbling.

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 Do you see how Luke tells us that?

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 Why?

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 Well, because they are watching Jesus as an action.

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 And they are aghast at what he's doing.

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 He associates with them.

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 He associates with them.

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 He eats with them.

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 And it's not like Jesus and the tax collectors and sinners have just accidentally turned up at the same restaurant.

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 It's not like they've gone to Nando's and they just happen to share a booth.

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 Jesus is going towards these despicable outsiders.

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 That is a red rag to a bull to these Pharisees.

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 Because in their minds, Jesus should be at their parties,

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 wining and dining with them,

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 and proposing a toast, raising a glass to their righteousness.

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 They want him to say about them.

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 When the God said in the beginning,

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 when we were thinking about the epitome of man,

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 we could not have imagined it could have got any better than this to the Pharisees.

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 That's what they want them to say.

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 You see these two groups in this story?

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 Two groups in this crowd?

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 Both of them asking, why?

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 Why Jesus?

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 One group asking,

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 why would Jesus bother with me?

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 And the other group asking,

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 why would Jesus bother with them?

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 I wonder if that's you here this morning.

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 If that's the,

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 right, I've got a thing for symmetry,

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 okay, I'm just moving this to the middle.

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 I wonder if that's you this morning.

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 Are you asking,

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 why would Jesus bother with me?

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 Why would Jesus bother with me?

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 Because if he knew what I'd done,

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 if he knew what I'm doing,

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 then he would run a mile from me.

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 But the thing about being God,

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 the one who created you,

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 is that he knows you.

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 He knows all things about you.

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 It's kind of how being God works.

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 He knows all things.

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 And here are two groups of people in their minds asking why.

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 Well, to help this crowd understand the why,

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 verse 3,

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 do you see Jesus told them this parable?

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 Featuring firstly verses 3 to 7,

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 a determined shepherd.

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 See how many sheep he's got?

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 100 sheep.

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 What happens?

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 One wanders off.

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 Now we might look at that and say,

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 a 1% loss?

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 I think I take those odds.

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 1% loss?

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 Are you kidding me?

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 But we have to understand that in this culture,

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 this is a big deal.

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 A big deal.

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 Most likely this flock of 100 sheep

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 would have been made up of the shepherd sheep,

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 his wider family sheep,

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 and maybe even some of their neighbor sheep as well.

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 And the shepherd has got collective responsibility

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 to look after this whole flock.

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 And so when Jesus asked his listeners,

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 would the shepherd not leave the 99

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 and would he not go and hunt for the one?

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 They are not thinking,

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 no chance.

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 They are thinking,

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 of course he would.

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 Of course he would.

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 But the question is,

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 what is this shepherd in this story?

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 What's he going to do?

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 You know,

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 our little girl Chloe,

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 she was singing,

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 in the bath the other night,

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 she was singing Little Bo Peep.

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 Do you know that song?

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 Little Bo Peep.

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 Little Bo Peep

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 has lost her sheep

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 and doesn't know where to find them.

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 And I'm listening to her singing this song

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 and I'm thinking,

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 that's interesting

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 because I've been studying a shepherd this week

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 who has also lost some sheep.

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 I wonder how Little Bo Peep plans

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 on finding her sheep.

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 And she goes on,

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 leave them alone

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 and they will come home

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 wagging their tails behind them.

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 And I'm thinking to myself,

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 I don't want to burst her bubble,

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 I don't have the heart,

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 but I'm thinking to myself,

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 Little Bo Peep,

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 you've been getting away with this for years.

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 So I'm going to out her

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 as a terrible shepherdess this morning

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 because couched in the middle

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 of a sweet lullaby

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 is some quite shocking shepherding.

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 Her plan on getting her lost sheep to come back

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 is to leave them alone

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 and trust that they will find their own way back.

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 It's terrible shepherding.

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 That would never happen.

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 That's why that's terrible shepherding.

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 And the shepherd that Jesus talks about here,

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 he knows that all too well.

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 See how Jesus describes the plan of this shepherd

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 at verse four.

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 Look at it there.

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 What does he do?

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 He goes after the lost sheep

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 and he finds the lost sheep

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 and you see the joy that it brings him

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 that he's found his lost sheep.

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 See the effort that he goes to

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 to find the sheep

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 and then get it back.

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 What does he do?

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 He puts it on his shoulders

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 and he walks all the way home

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 with it on his shoulders.

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 And when he gets home,

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 he doesn't just collapse in the armchair.

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 What does he do?

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 He throws a massive party

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 to celebrate all his friends and neighbours.

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 Come and rejoice

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 because this lost sheep of mine,

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 I found it.

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 Now that is what I call a shepherd.

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 That is what I call a shepherd.

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 And as we'll see in a little bit's time,

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 we've got to praise God

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 that this is the shepherd

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 that he describes here.

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 Is that just a nice story?

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 No, it's a wonderful picture,

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 says Jesus,

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 of God's heart for the lost

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 and the party that kicks off in heaven

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 every time a lost sinner

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 repents and calls out to God

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 and comes home to the Father.

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 Do you see how you have got

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 God badly wrong,

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 says Jesus?

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 So if to underscore the point,

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 secondly, verses 8 to 10,

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 he says,

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 picture a diligent woman in your minds,

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 picture a diligent woman.

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 She's got 10 coins.

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 And the Greek word for coin there,

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 drachma,

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 one drachma is the equivalent

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 of one day's wage in this culture.

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 So this woman has lost

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 one day's wage.

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 That is a significant amount

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 of money to her

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 and it's little surprise

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 that she wants to get it back.

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 And look at the lengths

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 that she goes to again

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 to find it.

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 Verse 8,

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 what does she do?

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 She lights the lamp,

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 she sweeps the house,

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 she searches carefully.

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 And again,

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 do you see the joy

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 that finding that lost coin

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 brings to her?

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 She calls all her friends

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 and her neighbors together,

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 come and celebrate with me

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 because I found my lost coin.

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 Is that a nice story?

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 No.

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 It's a wonderful truth,

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 a wonderful picture,

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 says Jesus,

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 of God's heart for the lost

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 and the party

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 that kicks off in heaven

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 every time a lost sinner

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 puts their hand up

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 and says,

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 God, I'm sorry

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 and comes back home

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 to God the Father.

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 Do you see how you've got

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 God wrong,

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 says Jesus?

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 Do you see how he's,

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 Jesus being the master

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 storyteller that he is?

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 Do you see how he's just

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 building the suspense here?

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 He's intensifying the drama

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 and we've moved from a,

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 what did we start with?

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 A 1% loss.

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 Now we've moved to a 10% loss.

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 Well, at verses 11 to 31,

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 Jesus continues

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 and he speaks about

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 a desperate father.

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 A desperate father

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 who's not suffered

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 a 1% loss,

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 who's not suffered

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 a 10% loss,

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 but who's suffered

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 a 50% loss.

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 And a 50% loss,

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 not of his possessions,

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 but of something

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 far, far more precious to him.

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 He's lost 50% of his sons.

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 Remember Jesus,

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 he's still trying to get

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 these folks in the crowd

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 to understand the why

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 of what he's doing.

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 He tells them a story.

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 A story that centers

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 around a family home

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 and it centers around

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 a father.

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 And the big question

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 we have to ask

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 as we meet this father

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 here in Luke chapter 15

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 is what is this father like?

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 What is he like?

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 And as we meet

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 the father's two sons,

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 the question we need

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 to ask is,

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 what do they think

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 their father is like?

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 Have they got him right?

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 Or have they got him wrong?

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 Verse 12,

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 we're introduced

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 to the younger of the sons.

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 You see him,

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 son number two.

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 Well, what's he like?

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 Well, we get to know him

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 a little bit.

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 He loves the thought

00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:01.299
 of the high life.

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 He wants the clothes.

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 He wants the parties.

00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:04.639
 He wants the cars.

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 But what he lacks

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 is both the money

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 to make it happen

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 and the freedom

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 to live it out.

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 So what does he do?

00:11:14.659 --> 00:11:15.720
 He goes to his father

00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:17.399
 and he doesn't say,

00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:17.699
 Father,

00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:18.340
 would you give me

00:11:18.340 --> 00:11:19.000
 just a little bit

00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:19.620
 of pocket money?

00:11:19.699 --> 00:11:20.759
 Because if I could save up

00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:21.659
 over a number of months

00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:22.439
 and a number of years

00:11:22.439 --> 00:11:23.220
 and just put it away,

00:11:23.299 --> 00:11:24.240
 then maybe I could afford

00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:25.080
 to do some of the things

00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:25.539
 I want to do.

00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:26.460
 He doesn't say that,

00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:26.779
 does he?

00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:28.899
 He goes to his father

00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:30.919
 and he says effectively,

00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:31.539
 Dad,

00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:33.240
 I'd much prefer

00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:33.939
 if you were dead.

00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:36.480
 Because when you die,

00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:38.159
 I can get the stuff

00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:39.100
 that's going to come to me.

00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:41.220
 So I would really like it

00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:42.379
 if somehow we could

00:11:42.379 --> 00:11:43.879
 speed up that process.

00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:45.439
 I'd love it

00:11:45.439 --> 00:11:46.159
 if we could speed up

00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:47.000
 that process.

00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:48.139
 In other words,

00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:48.559
 Dad,

00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:49.620
 I don't want you.

00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:50.699
 I don't want you.

00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:52.059
 I just want your stuff.

00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:54.860
 I just want your stuff.

00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:57.639
 Now who does he understand

00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:58.720
 his father to be?

00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:01.080
 He understands his father

00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:02.039
 to be just a means

00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:03.039
 to an end.

00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:05.539
 He thinks that true joy

00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:06.959
 is not to be found,

00:12:07.079 --> 00:12:08.259
 certainly not to be found

00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:09.839
 at home with his father.

00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:12.259
 He thinks that true joy

00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:13.779
 and true satisfaction

00:12:13.779 --> 00:12:14.419
 is to be found

00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:15.299
 in living his life

00:12:15.299 --> 00:12:17.399
 as far away from home

00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:18.879
 as he can possibly get.

00:12:21.719 --> 00:12:22.480
 C.S. Lewis

00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:24.059
 in his book,

00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:25.279
 Surprised by Joy,

00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:26.279
 which is really just

00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:28.799
 his autobiography,

00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:29.879
 testimony of how

00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:30.620
 he became a Christian,

00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:31.799
 he talks about how

00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:32.639
 before he became

00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:33.080
 a Christian,

00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:34.600
 he viewed the God

00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:35.080
 at the heart

00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:36.220
 of the Christian faith

00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:37.919
 as nothing other

00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:39.360
 than a giant interferer.

00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:41.639
 I read that,

00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:42.360
 I remember reading that book

00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:43.019
 a few years ago

00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:43.419
 and thinking,

00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:44.259
 that's kind of how

00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:45.139
 I used to think of God.

00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:47.659
 He was kind of like

00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:48.560
 the football referee.

00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:49.779
 I used to hate

00:12:49.779 --> 00:12:50.560
 football referees

00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:51.299
 when I was growing up.

00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:52.139
 Do you know why?

00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:53.519
 Because I thought,

00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:54.360
 your job,

00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:55.539
 and you're getting paid

00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:55.980
 for this,

00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:57.600
 your job is just

00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:58.820
 to spoil my fun,

00:12:59.680 --> 00:13:01.060
 to tell me I'm doing wrong,

00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:02.279
 to stop me from

00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:03.279
 doing certain things,

00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:04.659
 and to probably stop me

00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:05.279
 from winning the game.

00:13:05.460 --> 00:13:06.500
 That's how I viewed God.

00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.940
 He was just a killjoy.

00:13:09.040 --> 00:13:09.899
 Certainly no joy

00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:10.420
 to be found

00:13:10.420 --> 00:13:11.279
 in knowing him.

00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:12.980
 So C.S. Lewis

00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:13.440
 is saying,

00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:16.080
 God is a giant interferer.

00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:19.240
 And she's son number two,

00:13:19.300 --> 00:13:19.960
 he's got his father

00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:20.460
 all wrong.

00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:22.920
 But his father,

00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:25.500
 amazingly,

00:13:26.660 --> 00:13:27.940
 he divides his property.

00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:29.940
 You see,

00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:30.460
 for the father,

00:13:30.580 --> 00:13:31.580
 this is more than simply

00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:32.800
 writing out a blank check

00:13:32.800 --> 00:13:33.460
 to his son.

00:13:34.680 --> 00:13:35.759
 The father here

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.200
 is literally said

00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:38.800
 to have divided himself

00:13:38.800 --> 00:13:40.980
 over this request

00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:41.519
 from his son.

00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:42.540
 Do you see

00:13:42.540 --> 00:13:43.420
 what he's saying?

00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:44.080
 Jesus is saying

00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:44.700
 the father is,

00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:46.360
 he's been ripped apart

00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:46.840
 by this.

00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:48.320
 He's heartbroken

00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:49.259
 by what his younger son

00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:49.960
 wants to do.

00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:53.259
 But God,

00:13:54.060 --> 00:13:55.300
 the father in the story,

00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:56.960
 gives him up.

00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:00.620
 And the son takes

00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.480
 his father's money

00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.360
 in verse 13.

00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:03.240
 Do you see that he goes

00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:03.900
 in the gap year

00:14:03.900 --> 00:14:04.639
 of all gap years?

00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:08.160
 He lives this life

00:14:08.160 --> 00:14:09.560
 that he once wanted to live,

00:14:09.800 --> 00:14:10.519
 but eventually

00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:11.680
 that money rounds out.

00:14:11.800 --> 00:14:12.680
 Eventually the champagne

00:14:12.680 --> 00:14:13.420
 stops flowing.

00:14:13.560 --> 00:14:14.440
 Eventually these new

00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:15.600
 friends that he made

00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.240
 have disappeared.

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:18.879
 And to survive,

00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:19.700
 what does he do?

00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:20.300
 Well, he,

00:14:20.420 --> 00:14:21.280
 a Jewish boy,

00:14:22.520 --> 00:14:23.560
 he melts himself

00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:24.160
 a slave,

00:14:24.540 --> 00:14:25.680
 which is bad enough.

00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:30.000
 But to a Gentile pig farmer,

00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:31.900
 that is incredibly shameful.

00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:34.920
 And to feed the pigs

00:14:34.920 --> 00:14:36.700
 total humiliation

00:14:37.400 --> 00:14:38.700
 for son number two,

00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:43.120
 he has hit rock bottom.

00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:45.140
 Total rock bottom.

00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:46.139
 And as he's there

00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:47.080
 in rock bottom,

00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:47.879
 he remembers

00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.639
 what life was like

00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:50.059
 at home.

00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:53.379
 And he thinks,

00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:54.259
 I've got to get home.

00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:55.759
 Got to get home.

00:14:55.819 --> 00:14:57.259
 And he makes his way home

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:58.159
 and you can imagine him,

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:58.460
 can't you?

00:14:58.519 --> 00:14:59.240
 Cap in hand.

00:14:59.319 --> 00:14:59.759
 He's no doubt

00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:00.759
 thinking through

00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:02.740
 what's going to happen

00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:03.460
 when he gets home.

00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:04.699
 The fact that he returns

00:15:04.699 --> 00:15:05.299
 a failure,

00:15:05.439 --> 00:15:06.240
 he does not return

00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:06.720
 a success.

00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:08.139
 He cannot go up

00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:08.679
 to his father

00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:09.120
 and say,

00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:09.379
 Father,

00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.539
 I've got a master's degree

00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:10.779
 now.

00:15:10.819 --> 00:15:11.980
 I've got 2.4 children.

00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:12.779
 I've got a Ferrari.

00:15:12.920 --> 00:15:13.659
 I'm a success.

00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:14.539
 Get me on the wall.

00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:17.539
 He returns to his father

00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:19.480
 with an empty stomach,

00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:21.680
 with stinking clothes

00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:23.620
 and with a bruised ego.

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.840
 And here's the tension

00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:26.360
 in the drama

00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:27.039
 at this point.

00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:29.320
 See,

00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.159
 when he gets home

00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:32.279
 and his father learns

00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:33.440
 that he's blowing it

00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:33.840
 big time,

00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:34.039
 I mean,

00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:35.019
 that inheritance money

00:15:35.019 --> 00:15:36.000
 that the father gave him,

00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:37.220
 gone just like that.

00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:39.800
 What's the father

00:15:39.800 --> 00:15:40.340
 going to do?

00:15:42.920 --> 00:15:43.600
 As the reader,

00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:44.740
 we know what son number 2

00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:45.240
 deserves.

00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:47.139
 The people in the crowd

00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:48.120
 listening to the story,

00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:49.259
 they know what son number 2

00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:49.600
 deserves.

00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:49.980
 Hey,

00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:51.000
 even son number 2

00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.139
 knows what son number 2

00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:52.480
 deserves.

00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.600
 The question is,

00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:55.180
 will the father give him

00:15:55.180 --> 00:15:55.820
 what he deserves?

00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:58.480
 And we cannot stress

00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:59.200
 enough

00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:01.820
 the sense of shock

00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:03.320
 that the original

00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.279
 hearers

00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.240
 would have had

00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:06.120
 at what comes next.

00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:06.820
 Verse 20,

00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.440
 do you see it?

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.080
 The camera pans

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:10.800
 from looking at son number 2

00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:12.500
 to now looking

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:13.059
 at the father.

00:16:14.199 --> 00:16:15.000
 And I just want you

00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:15.919
 to see two words

00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:16.979
 that Jesus uses

00:16:16.979 --> 00:16:18.199
 to describe the father

00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:18.419
 here.

00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:19.779
 First word at verse 20,

00:16:20.859 --> 00:16:22.059
 what does the father feel?

00:16:23.199 --> 00:16:23.719
 Compassion.

00:16:24.979 --> 00:16:25.859
 The father is

00:16:25.859 --> 00:16:27.019
 desperate

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:29.439
 to see his lost son

00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:30.459
 come home.

00:16:31.479 --> 00:16:32.459
 His father is

00:16:32.459 --> 00:16:34.459
 looking for his lost son.

00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:35.479
 His father is

00:16:35.479 --> 00:16:37.319
 longing for his lost son.

00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:39.460
 And so then

00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:39.879
 it's little

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:41.000
 wonder

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:42.200
 that as he sees him

00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:42.960
 in the distance,

00:16:43.540 --> 00:16:45.300
 he runs to meet him

00:16:45.300 --> 00:16:47.520
 and he greets him.

00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:49.280
 Not with a handshake,

00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:49.900
 not with a nod

00:16:49.900 --> 00:16:50.460
 of appreciation,

00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:51.740
 not with a fist pump.

00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:52.500
 He's not from the west

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.160
 coast of Scotland.

00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:56.100
 But he embraces him

00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:58.100
 and he kisses him

00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:59.560
 and he hugs him.

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.220
 Which you have to say

00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:04.559
 is horrendously strange

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.059
 behaviour

00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:06.639
 for a Jewish man.

00:17:07.879 --> 00:17:08.119
 I mean,

00:17:08.139 --> 00:17:09.399
 they didn't run anywhere.

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:10.259
 In fact,

00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.339
 it's more than strange

00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:12.579
 the father here,

00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:13.720
 and we need to see this,

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:15.019
 the father here

00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:16.779
 is humiliating himself.

00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:19.039
 His father is

00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:20.700
 stooping so low.

00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:21.659
 His father is

00:17:21.659 --> 00:17:22.720
 taking the spotlight

00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.279
 of shame

00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:24.399
 off of his son,

00:17:24.659 --> 00:17:25.539
 taking it instead

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.559
 upon himself

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.559
 out of his great love

00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.299
 for his lost child.

00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.500
 What a father.

00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:35.279
 And what does that lead to?

00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:35.980
 Second words

00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:36.700
 for us to see

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:37.500
 at verse 23.

00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.599
 What does the father do?

00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:40.519
 He celebrates.

00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:43.740
 The father is joyous.

00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:44.940
 The father is lavish.

00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:45.880
 Look at the description

00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:47.480
 at verse 22.

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.819
 Give him the best robe.

00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.980
 Give him a ring.

00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:52.880
 Give him sandals.

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:54.339
 Kill the fattened calf.

00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:55.940
 The son who came

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:56.579
 to the father

00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:57.359
 thinking that he was

00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.700
 going to negotiate terms

00:17:58.700 --> 00:18:00.400
 and start off again low

00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:02.400
 is blown away

00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:03.580
 by the grace of the father.

00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:07.400
 What is the father like?

00:18:08.560 --> 00:18:10.000
 He is a longing looker,

00:18:10.060 --> 00:18:10.540
 says Jesus.

00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.960
 He is a loving seeker.

00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.580
 He is one who rejoices

00:18:13.580 --> 00:18:14.759
 when lost people

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.620
 who have no way

00:18:15.620 --> 00:18:16.680
 of finding themselves

00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:18.120
 are found.

00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:20.160
 This is what

00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:22.000
 the father is like.

00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.680
 Just a nice story?

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.460
 No.

00:18:26.100 --> 00:18:27.519
 It's a wonderful picture,

00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:28.220
 says Jesus.

00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:29.600
 A wonderful picture

00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:30.339
 of God's heart

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:31.140
 for the lost

00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:32.440
 and the description

00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.240
 of the party

00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.420
 that kicks off in heaven

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:36.039
 every time a lost sinner

00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:36.759
 repents,

00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.660
 puts their hand up

00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:37.940
 and says,

00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:38.960
 God, I am lost.

00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:40.380
 I'm sorry for what I've done

00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.360
 and comes home

00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:42.220
 to God the father.

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.360
 Do you see how

00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:46.079
 you've got God wrong,

00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:46.600
 says Jesus?

00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:48.860
 Do you see how

00:18:48.860 --> 00:18:49.420
 you've got him wrong?

00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.299
 Let me ask you,

00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:53.019
 are you sitting here

00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:53.620
 this morning

00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:56.839
 as we see the father here?

00:18:58.359 --> 00:18:59.379
 Have you got God wrong?

00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:03.379
 You're like son number one.

00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:05.139
 Do you believe

00:19:05.139 --> 00:19:06.619
 that true joy,

00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:07.959
 that true satisfaction

00:19:07.959 --> 00:19:08.539
 in life

00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:09.279
 is to be found

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.159
 away from him

00:19:10.159 --> 00:19:12.159
 rather than with him?

00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:14.039
 You see,

00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:15.459
 the question to this crowd

00:19:15.459 --> 00:19:17.959
 and to us this morning

00:19:17.959 --> 00:19:20.099
 is how will the younger

00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.939
 brothers in the crowd

00:19:20.939 --> 00:19:21.559
 respond

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:23.799
 as they see themselves

00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.639
 in his character

00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:26.379
 and

00:19:26.379 --> 00:19:27.559
 as they see

00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:29.319
 the character

00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:30.659
 of the father?

00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:34.200
 So what about son number one?

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:35.419
 What about the older son?

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:35.700
 Well,

00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.679
 from the field,

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.559
 verse 25,

00:19:38.879 --> 00:19:39.659
 son number one

00:19:39.659 --> 00:19:40.399
 hears the party

00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:41.419
 that's going on inside

00:19:41.419 --> 00:19:42.839
 and he finds out

00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:44.460
 that the arrogant traveler,

00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.099
 he finds out

00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:46.000
 that his brother

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.200
 has somehow

00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:47.940
 had the audacity

00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.940
 to turn up at home.

00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:52.600
 But here's the square

00:19:52.600 --> 00:19:53.920
 that he can't quite circle

00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:54.860
 in his mind.

00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:56.680
 If my brother

00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:57.840
 has returned a failure,

00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:00.120
 then why are we celebrating?

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.360
 Why are we celebrating?

00:20:03.820 --> 00:20:04.900
 What is he described

00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:06.279
 as being at verse 28?

00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:06.940
 Do you see it?

00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:08.140
 He is angry.

00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:10.720
 He's not just indifferent,

00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:12.340
 he's raging

00:20:12.340 --> 00:20:13.680
 at his brother.

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.080
 You see,

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.620
 he wants a front row seat

00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:16.340
 at his brother's

00:20:16.340 --> 00:20:17.820
 public humiliation party.

00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.700
 He's not interested

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.899
 in taking a front row seat

00:20:19.899 --> 00:20:20.480
 at his brother's

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:20.939
 welcome home

00:20:20.939 --> 00:20:21.960
 celebration party.

00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:24.339
 He is angry.

00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:27.019
 And so the father

00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.599
 goes to son number two,

00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.379
 the older son,

00:20:29.439 --> 00:20:30.259
 and he pleads with him,

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:30.879
 my son,

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.679
 you should be in here

00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:32.759
 celebrating with me.

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.200
 You should be in here

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:35.159
 sharing my joy

00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:36.039
 with my guests.

00:20:36.159 --> 00:20:36.659
 Come on in

00:20:36.659 --> 00:20:37.399
 and celebrate

00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:38.319
 because your son,

00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:38.919
 my son,

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:39.779
 your brother

00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:40.839
 is back.

00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:43.720
 Not a chance,

00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:44.359
 says the older brother.

00:20:44.419 --> 00:20:44.960
 Not a chance

00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.639
 I'm going in there.

00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:48.259
 Who does son number one

00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:49.380
 understand the father to be?

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.460
 We'll see how he describes

00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.640
 his relationship to him

00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:52.420
 at verse 29.

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:54.900
 All these years,

00:20:55.540 --> 00:20:56.680
 I've been what for you?

00:20:56.820 --> 00:20:58.220
 I've been slaving for you.

00:20:59.280 --> 00:21:00.220
 Slaving for you.

00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:03.840
 Who does son number one

00:21:03.840 --> 00:21:05.100
 understand his father to be?

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.420
 Someone to be tolerated?

00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:08.240
 Someone to just obey?

00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:08.960
 Someone to keep up

00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:09.720
 appearances with?

00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.759
 Certainly not somebody

00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.420
 to be enjoyed.

00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.940
 Because I perform for you,

00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:15.279
 father.

00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:16.380
 Because I obey you,

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:16.640
 father.

00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.460
 Because I am better

00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:17.920
 than others,

00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.200
 father.

00:21:18.320 --> 00:21:19.120
 Surely that means

00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:19.660
 that I deserve

00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.580
 to be treated better

00:21:20.580 --> 00:21:21.700
 than those who don't

00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.600
 perform and don't

00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:23.539
 obey for you.

00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.660
 You see how son number

00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:27.740
 two had the father wrong?

00:21:28.620 --> 00:21:29.240
 Do you see how son

00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:30.019
 number one has equally

00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:30.580
 got the father

00:21:30.580 --> 00:21:31.200
 just as wrong?

00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:33.740
 What's son number

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.460
 two's problem?

00:21:34.820 --> 00:21:35.380
 Son number one's

00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:35.840
 problem rather.

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.779
 He's got a hard heart.

00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:38.559
 He's got a hard heart.

00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:39.680
 Geographically speaking,

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.600
 he's right up close

00:21:40.600 --> 00:21:41.120
 to the father.

00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:41.820
 He's in the house.

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.720
 Proximity speaking,

00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.400
 he's right there.

00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:44.460
 But spiritually speaking,

00:21:44.840 --> 00:21:46.620
 his heart is a million

00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:49.240
 miles away from

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.140
 understanding the truth

00:21:50.140 --> 00:21:50.900
 about who his father

00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:51.320
 is.

00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:53.620
 You know,

00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:54.140
 I wonder if that's

00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:54.880
 some of us here this

00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:55.180
 morning.

00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.480
 Your relationship with

00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:57.720
 God,

00:21:57.780 --> 00:21:58.660
 if you had to describe

00:21:58.660 --> 00:21:58.820
 it,

00:21:58.860 --> 00:21:59.640
 you would describe it

00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.980
 in slave terms

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:02.280
 rather than son terms.

00:22:04.140 --> 00:22:04.940
 This is the older

00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:05.540
 brother here.

00:22:06.820 --> 00:22:07.259
 You know,

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.740
 we might have been

00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.700
 at church all these

00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.000
 years.

00:22:09.060 --> 00:22:09.440
 We might have been

00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:10.220
 living our lives

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:11.019
 in and around

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:12.539
 Christian family

00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.500
 and Christian friends

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:14.220
 and Christian circles

00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.980
 all these years.

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.700
 But the truth of it

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:15.900
 is,

00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.640
 if you scratch beneath

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:17.100
 the surface,

00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:17.779
 if you look deep

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.079
 down,

00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:20.700
 you don't really

00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:21.500
 know who God is.

00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.240
 Certainly some

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:24.740
 who are in this

00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.339
 crowd that Jesus

00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:25.960
 is talking to

00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.519
 this morning,

00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:28.140
 talking to here

00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:28.380
 rather,

00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:28.680
 sorry,

00:22:29.100 --> 00:22:29.519
 have you got

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.039
 God wrong?

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.960
 It's interesting

00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:34.019
 how as we come

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.579
 to the end

00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.180
 of this story

00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:35.700
 that we're not

00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.519
 told how son

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.079
 number one

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:38.279
 responds.

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:40.220
 I mean,

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:40.720
 does he stay

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.399
 outside or

00:22:41.399 --> 00:22:42.079
 does he go in?

00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:42.980
 That's a deliberate

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.879
 cliffhanger from

00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:44.619
 Jesus aimed at

00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:45.299
 the older brothers

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:45.839
 in the crowd

00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:47.099
 because how will

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:47.879
 they respond as

00:22:47.879 --> 00:22:48.599
 they see themselves

00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:49.420
 in his character?

00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.000
 And how will

00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.740
 they respond as

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.579
 they see the

00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:53.899
 character of the

00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:54.240
 father?

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:56.519
 Now,

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.059
 if Jesus has

00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.619
 shown them that

00:22:57.619 --> 00:22:58.099
 they are getting

00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:58.740
 God wrong,

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.920
 then surely the

00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:01.559
 question as we

00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.480
 come to the end

00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.700
 of this parable

00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:04.359
 is now,

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:06.139
 will you get

00:23:06.139 --> 00:23:06.720
 God right?

00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:09.259
 How are they

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.680
 going to do

00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:10.019
 that?

00:23:10.899 --> 00:23:12.059
 By understanding

00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:12.879
 that this

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:15.019
 is what Jesus

00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.799
 is all about.

00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.779
 He is the one

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:19.000
 who has humiliated

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.680
 himself by

00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.399
 leaving his

00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:22.279
 father's house,

00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:23.240
 by taking on

00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:25.379
 our flesh to

00:23:25.379 --> 00:23:26.259
 go in search

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:27.839
 of those who

00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:28.639
 are lost.

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.539
 He is the one

00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:31.200
 who is on the

00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:31.759
 way to the

00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.160
 cross.

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.559
 Remember where

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.200
 this comes in

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.839
 Luke's gospel?

00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:35.920
 To go to the

00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:36.799
 cross, the place

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.200
 where he will

00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.259
 stoop so low

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:40.720
 offering his

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.339
 life on the

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.140
 cross, taking

00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:42.900
 the sin of

00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:43.799
 running rebels

00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.460
 like you and

00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:45.279
 me on himself

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.819
 so that we

00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:46.279
 can be made

00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:46.799
 right with

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.319
 God and we

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:47.900
 can come into

00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:48.440
 the father's

00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:48.819
 house.

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.339
 Will the

00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:52.500
 people in

00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.000
 the crowd

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:54.000
 get God

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.319
 right?

00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:55.180
 How are they

00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:55.539
 going to do

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:55.779
 that?

00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:56.180
 By getting

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:56.859
 Jesus right.

00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.220
 And that's

00:23:59.220 --> 00:23:59.640
 the challenge

00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:00.220
 for us this

00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.779
 morning as we

00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.299
 work towards

00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:01.839
 a close.

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.279
 Have we

00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:04.000
 got God

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.420
 right?

00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:06.620
 have we

00:24:06.620 --> 00:24:07.200
 got God

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:07.600
 right?

00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:08.920
 Two thoughts

00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.660
 as we finish.

00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:11.320
 First thought

00:24:11.320 --> 00:24:11.779
 to make us

00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.200
 praise.

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:14.100
 I was left

00:24:14.100 --> 00:24:14.740
 marvelling this

00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:16.200
 week as I've

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.700
 been studying

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.340
 this passage

00:24:17.340 --> 00:24:17.779
 and what a

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.160
 joy it's

00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:20.380
 been in just

00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:23.180
 how much God

00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:23.820
 has done for

00:24:23.820 --> 00:24:24.100
 me.

00:24:25.580 --> 00:24:26.720
 Just how much

00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.420
 God has done

00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:27.720
 for me.

00:24:27.800 --> 00:24:28.360
 The lengths

00:24:28.360 --> 00:24:28.820
 that he has

00:24:28.820 --> 00:24:31.380
 gone to to

00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:31.880
 buy me for

00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:33.060
 himself.

00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:34.660
 Do you see

00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.380
 yourself in

00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:35.960
 Luke 15?

00:24:38.520 --> 00:24:39.480
 I was that

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.020
 lost sheep.

00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:43.200
 I was that

00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:43.800
 lost coin.

00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:46.040
 I was that

00:24:46.040 --> 00:24:46.600
 lost son.

00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:47.600
 I had no

00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:48.260
 chance of

00:24:48.260 --> 00:24:49.120
 finding myself.

00:24:50.360 --> 00:24:51.440
 No chance of

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.000
 saving myself.

00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.860
 No chance of

00:24:52.860 --> 00:24:53.660
 rescuing myself.

00:24:53.800 --> 00:24:54.940
 But praise God

00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:56.200
 this morning

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.740
 that he is not

00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.600
 like an

00:24:58.600 --> 00:24:59.300
 apathetic

00:24:59.300 --> 00:24:59.700
 shepherd.

00:25:00.800 --> 00:25:01.640
 Praise God

00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:02.200
 this morning

00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:02.860
 that he is

00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:03.560
 not like an

00:25:03.560 --> 00:25:04.380
 unconcerned

00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:04.680
 woman.

00:25:05.780 --> 00:25:06.500
 And praise God

00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.080
 this morning

00:25:07.080 --> 00:25:07.780
 that he is

00:25:07.780 --> 00:25:09.140
 not like a

00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:10.440
 cold father.

00:25:12.020 --> 00:25:12.540
 No.

00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:13.000
 What were we

00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.640
 singing earlier?

00:25:14.040 --> 00:25:14.480
 What's the

00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:14.900
 truth?

00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.220
 That Jesus

00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:17.180
 sought me

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:18.560
 when a

00:25:18.560 --> 00:25:19.040
 stranger.

00:25:20.080 --> 00:25:20.620
 When I was

00:25:20.620 --> 00:25:21.600
 wandering far

00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:22.520
 from the fold

00:25:22.520 --> 00:25:23.320
 of God.

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:25.320
 He, to

00:25:25.320 --> 00:25:26.100
 rescue me

00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:26.960
 from danger.

00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.220
 He shed

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.840
 for me

00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:30.259
 his precious

00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.020
 blood.

00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.339
 Does that

00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:31.740
 thrill your

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.160
 heart this

00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:32.460
 morning?

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:34.599
 Because that

00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.079
 is right at

00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:35.460
 the heart of

00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:35.900
 the gospel,

00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:36.440
 is it not?

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:36.980
 This is what

00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:37.599
 our God has

00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:38.359
 done for us.

00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:40.940
 Does that

00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:42.079
 thrill your

00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.539
 heart?

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.279
 That you

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:44.220
 are that

00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:44.960
 valuable to

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.440
 God?

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:47.059
 That as his

00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:47.740
 once lost

00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.379
 creature, he

00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:49.299
 made a way for

00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:49.940
 you to be

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.379
 found?

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:51.720
 That's the

00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.160
 heart of the

00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:52.480
 gospel.

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:55.920
 First thing to

00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:56.440
 make us pray.

00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:57.700
 Second thought to

00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.480
 make us pray.

00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.700
 do we share

00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.360
 God's heart

00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:00.799
 for lost

00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.140
 people?

00:26:04.120 --> 00:26:04.720
 You see, here

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.240
 is Jesus

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.319
 showing us

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:07.099
 God's heart.

00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:09.019
 And here is

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.759
 Jesus in the

00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.599
 wider context

00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:11.259
 of Luke as

00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:11.799
 he's calling

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.360
 sinners to

00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:12.819
 himself.

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.539
 Here he is

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.799
 filling the

00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.839
 Father's house

00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:17.160
 with guests.

00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:19.759
 So remember

00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.220
 the question

00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:20.500
 that the

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:20.839
 crowd were

00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:21.259
 asking at

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:21.599
 the beginning?

00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:22.920
 Why

00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:23.300
 Jesus?

00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.279
 Well, here

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:25.880
 is Rico

00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:26.759
 Tyson in

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.300
 his wonderful

00:26:27.300 --> 00:26:27.940
 little book

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.300
 Honest

00:26:28.300 --> 00:26:28.980
 Evangelism.

00:26:29.320 --> 00:26:29.779
 Probably the

00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.539
 best book I've

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.200
 read on

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:31.960
 talking to

00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:32.400
 your friends

00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:33.019
 about Jesus

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.380
 if you're

00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.420
 looking for

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:34.800
 something to

00:26:34.800 --> 00:26:35.360
 buy and

00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:36.560
 devour, maybe

00:26:36.560 --> 00:26:37.120
 over the next

00:26:37.120 --> 00:26:37.440
 week.

00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:38.980
 He writes

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.560
 this, puts

00:26:39.560 --> 00:26:39.900
 it so

00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:40.400
 beautifully,

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.259
 God is the

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.480
 great evangelist,

00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:45.539
 the great

00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.200
 seeker and

00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:46.840
 finder of

00:26:46.840 --> 00:26:48.279
 people, and

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.880
 he's called

00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.560
 his followers

00:26:49.560 --> 00:26:50.279
 to the same

00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:51.779
 pursuit and

00:26:51.779 --> 00:26:52.440
 to the same

00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:53.340
 emotion.

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.340
 So here's

00:26:56.340 --> 00:26:56.600
 what I want

00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:56.940
 us to do

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.420
 just as we

00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:57.960
 close this

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.259
 morning.

00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:00.860
 I know

00:27:00.860 --> 00:27:01.279
 that many

00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:01.759
 of us have

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.880
 got good,

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.640
 good friends

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:05.420
 who we

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.299
 would love

00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:06.900
 to see, we

00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.200
 would love

00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:08.460
 nothing more

00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.019
 than to see

00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.400
 them become

00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:09.779
 Christians.

00:27:11.360 --> 00:27:12.000
 And I know

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.660
 for many of

00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:13.299
 us here that

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.620
 we have

00:27:13.620 --> 00:27:15.559
 parents and

00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:15.799
 we have

00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:16.420
 children who

00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:16.900
 have perhaps

00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.480
 wandered from

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.299
 the faith or

00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:20.620
 people who

00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.220
 we long to

00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:21.720
 see in our

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.160
 families,

00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:22.980
 one day bow

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.500
 the knee to

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.060
 Jesus and

00:27:24.060 --> 00:27:24.700
 worship him.

00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.240
 And it's

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.820
 painful, isn't

00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:27.480
 it, sometimes

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.320
 that the

00:27:28.320 --> 00:27:28.720
 people that

00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:29.140
 we love

00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:29.779
 sometimes don't

00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:31.180
 seem interested.

00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:32.700
 But here's

00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.060
 what I want

00:27:33.060 --> 00:27:33.420
 us to do

00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:33.920
 just as we

00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:34.200
 close.

00:27:34.300 --> 00:27:34.519
 I want you

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.220
 to picture

00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.720
 some people

00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:35.980
 in your

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.320
 mind.

00:27:38.060 --> 00:27:38.440
 Just picture

00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:38.880
 some people

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.120
 in your

00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:39.400
 mind.

00:27:43.860 --> 00:27:44.380
 And as

00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:44.720
 you're thinking

00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.140
 of them,

00:27:45.640 --> 00:27:46.259
 just before you

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:46.600
 go this

00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:46.960
 morning, why

00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:47.500
 do you ask

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.019
 someone else

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.440
 this morning

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:48.800
 who they

00:27:48.800 --> 00:27:49.320
 had in their

00:27:49.320 --> 00:27:49.620
 minds?

00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:50.159
 Who has

00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:50.759
 God placed

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.119
 in their

00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:52.779
 hearts and

00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:53.139
 minds?

00:27:53.239 --> 00:27:53.459
 And why

00:27:53.459 --> 00:27:53.679
 don't you

00:27:53.679 --> 00:27:54.079
 pray for

00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:55.279
 them as

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:55.699
 well this

00:27:55.699 --> 00:27:56.019
 week?

00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.179
 But just

00:27:58.179 --> 00:27:58.479
 as we

00:27:58.479 --> 00:27:58.939
 close in

00:27:58.939 --> 00:27:59.439
 the silence

00:27:59.439 --> 00:27:59.979
 now, having

00:27:59.979 --> 00:28:01.219
 seen the

00:28:01.219 --> 00:28:01.799
 heart of

00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.439
 God in

00:28:02.439 --> 00:28:02.919
 Luke chapter

00:28:02.919 --> 00:28:05.359
 15, these

00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:06.019
 people that are in

00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.519
 our hearts and

00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:06.959
 our minds, why

00:28:06.959 --> 00:28:07.299
 don't we just

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.419
 bring them before

00:28:08.419 --> 00:28:09.599
 our Father?

00:28:10.639 --> 00:28:11.359
 Just now as we

00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:13.139
 close, and then

00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:14.019
 I'll close in

00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.279
 prayer.

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:15.819
 let's pray

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.180
 together.

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.000
 So dear

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.500
 Father, we

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.220
 thank you

00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:30.259
 that we've

00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:30.859
 seen in Luke

00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:31.839
 chapter 15 this

00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.680
 morning that you

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.920
 are the great

00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:35.359
 seeker of

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.240
 lost people.

00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.740
 And so dear

00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.500
 Lord, we ask

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.099
 that by your

00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:41.859
 spirit who is

00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:42.720
 living in us,

00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:44.059
 that you would

00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:45.279
 install in us

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.740
 now your

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.900
 heart for a

00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.519
 broken and

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.079
 lost world.

00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:51.039
 So Lord, we

00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:52.039
 lift the names

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:52.799
 of those that

00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.339
 we love to

00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:54.019
 you, and we

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.819
 ask dear

00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:55.539
 Father that you

00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.079
 would be so

00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:57.480
 gracious in

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.759
 finding them.

00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:00.860
 Dear God, we

00:29:00.860 --> 00:29:01.539
 praise you this

00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.880
 morning, and we

00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:03.640
 thank you for

00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:05.079
 Jesus, and we

00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:05.680
 pray in his

00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:05.960
 name.

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:06.880
 Amen.