WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.140 Well, good evening. 00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:09.640 We're looking at the Gospel of Mark tonight, as we have been in our evening service this 00:00:09.640 --> 00:00:09.900 year. 00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:14.040 We are at chapter 11, starting at verse 27. 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:22.100 We are coming toward the climactic ending, which we will hit right around Easter Sunday. 00:00:22.100 --> 00:00:33.100 Today, last week, we looked at the story that's associated with Palm Sunday, Jesus entering 00:00:33.100 --> 00:00:40.880 the city of Jerusalem and being welcomed as a king and hailed as a king, and then coming 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:49.560 to the temple and driving out people who are selling and buying and clearing the temple 00:00:49.560 --> 00:01:00.740 and then cursing the fig tree as sort of a parable of his judgment on the temple as a lifeless 00:01:00.740 --> 00:01:01.540 and barren place. 00:01:01.620 --> 00:01:06.740 So we looked at that last week, and today, tonight, we're looking at some controversies 00:01:06.740 --> 00:01:07.719 that come out of that. 00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:12.300 So actually, for the next two weeks, tonight and next week, we're looking at the end of 00:01:12.300 --> 00:01:13.740 chapter 11 and chapter 12. 00:01:14.200 --> 00:01:18.800 So I'm going to be focusing on some parts of it tonight, and then Malcolm is going to preach 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:20.579 next week and focus on some other parts of it. 00:01:20.679 --> 00:01:26.759 So tonight, we're going to start at 1127 and read the rest of chapter 11, and then read 00:01:26.759 --> 00:01:29.019 chapter 12, verse 13 through 37. 00:01:30.579 --> 00:01:32.319 There's a lot of details in this text. 00:01:32.439 --> 00:01:36.140 I'm not going to be able to explain everything as we go along, but we will have, as we usually 00:01:36.140 --> 00:01:38.879 do in our evening service, a question and answer time at the end. 00:01:39.099 --> 00:01:44.679 So if you have questions that I don't address or that you want to pursue further, we'll take 00:01:44.680 --> 00:01:49.140 a note of those as we go along, and you'll have time to ask those at the end. 00:01:49.860 --> 00:01:52.840 All right, so Mark 11, beginning at verse 27. 00:01:53.600 --> 00:01:55.040 And they came again to Jerusalem. 00:01:55.940 --> 00:01:59.780 And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came 00:01:59.780 --> 00:02:00.120 to him. 00:02:00.600 --> 00:02:05.580 And they said to him, by what authority are you doing these things? 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:08.400 Or who gave you this authority to do them? 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:12.659 Jesus said to them, I will ask you one question. 00:02:13.620 --> 00:02:16.640 Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:20.340 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? 00:02:21.420 --> 00:02:21.960 Answer me. 00:02:23.060 --> 00:02:29.000 And they discussed it with one another, saying, if we say from heaven, he will say, why then 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:30.060 did you not believe him? 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:32.319 But shall we say from man? 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:36.960 They were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:39.599 So they answered Jesus, we do not know. 00:02:40.740 --> 00:02:45.060 And Jesus said to them, neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:47.219 Chapter 12, verse 13. 00:02:47.300 --> 00:02:50.800 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians to trap him in his 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:51.219 talk. 00:02:52.300 --> 00:02:56.819 And they came and said to him, teacher, we know that you are true and that you do not 00:02:56.819 --> 00:03:01.620 care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the 00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:02.319 way of God. 00:03:03.200 --> 00:03:06.939 Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:10.040 Should we pay them or should we not? 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:15.360 But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, why put me to the test? 00:03:16.140 --> 00:03:18.400 Bring me a denarius and let me look at it. 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:19.600 And they brought one. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:23.340 And he said to them, whose likeness and inscription is this? 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:25.560 They said to him, Caesar's. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:33.140 Jesus said to them, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that 00:03:33.140 --> 00:03:33.800 are God's. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:36.000 And they marveled at it. 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:39.280 And Sadducees came to him who say that there is no resurrection. 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:45.540 And they asked him a question, saying, teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother 00:03:45.540 --> 00:03:50.780 dies and leaves a wife but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring 00:03:50.780 --> 00:03:51.500 for his brother. 00:03:52.380 --> 00:03:53.500 There were seven brothers. 00:03:53.500 --> 00:03:56.719 The first took a wife and when he died, he left no offspring. 00:03:57.419 --> 00:03:59.740 And the second took her and died, leaving no offspring. 00:03:59.860 --> 00:04:00.639 And the third likewise. 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:02.099 And the seven left no offspring. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:04.360 Last of all, the woman also died. 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:10.199 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? 00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:13.280 For the seven had her as wife. 00:04:14.419 --> 00:04:18.699 Jesus said to them, is this not the reason you are wrong? 00:04:19.599 --> 00:04:23.519 Because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:28.180 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:29.199 angels in heaven. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:35.240 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage 00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:41.399 about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:42.360 and the God of Jacob. 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:44.800 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. 00:04:45.599 --> 00:04:47.120 You are quite wrong. 00:04:48.860 --> 00:04:53.000 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another and seeing that 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:57.480 he answered them well, asked him, which commandment is the most important of all? 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:04.900 Jesus answered, the most important is here, O Israel, the Lord, our God, the Lord is one. 00:05:06.020 --> 00:05:11.600 And you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:13.960 all your mind and with all your strength. 00:05:14.460 --> 00:05:18.640 The second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:05:19.200 --> 00:05:22.319 There is no other commandment greater than these. 00:05:23.460 --> 00:05:25.460 And the scribe said to him, you are right, teacher. 00:05:25.459 --> 00:05:30.339 You have truly said that he is one and there is no other besides him. 00:05:31.180 --> 00:05:35.919 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength 00:05:35.919 --> 00:05:41.519 and to love one's neighbor as oneself is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 00:05:42.719 --> 00:05:48.560 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, you are not far from the kingdom 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:49.060 of God. 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:55.060 And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions. 00:05:55.879 --> 00:06:00.459 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, how can the scribes say that the Christ is the 00:06:00.459 --> 00:06:01.079 son of David? 00:06:01.899 --> 00:06:06.759 David himself in the Holy Spirit declared, the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:08.540 until I put your enemies under your feet. 00:06:09.420 --> 00:06:11.079 David himself calls him Lord. 00:06:11.079 --> 00:06:14.539 So how is he his son? 00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:18.919 And the great throng heard him gladly. 00:06:20.539 --> 00:06:24.360 If you could ask God one question, what would it be? 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:29.639 The website ted.com did a survey. 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:32.339 So here are some of the answers that people gave. 00:06:32.339 --> 00:06:36.279 How did you create this beautiful world? 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:40.259 Why don't you show yourself clearly to everyone? 00:06:41.779 --> 00:06:43.159 Will I ever be happy? 00:06:44.539 --> 00:06:48.319 Why is there so much suffering and evil if you are loving and all powerful? 00:06:50.059 --> 00:06:54.019 Can I really be forgiven for all the wrongs I've done? 00:06:55.459 --> 00:07:02.219 Another author wrote a book entitled 50 Questions Kids Ask About God, including chapters on the 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:02.560 following. 00:07:03.820 --> 00:07:05.100 Will my dog be in heaven? 00:07:06.380 --> 00:07:08.520 Did Jesus get into trouble when he was a kid? 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:12.880 Why did God make the sky blue and not green? 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:16.360 Will God get mad if I don't finish my broccoli? 00:07:17.660 --> 00:07:19.920 Why do some kids have more toys than I do? 00:07:21.180 --> 00:07:23.920 Will God love me no matter what? 00:07:25.200 --> 00:07:29.120 You see, people ask all kinds of different questions about God. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:31.840 For all kinds of different reasons. 00:07:31.980 --> 00:07:36.639 There are philosophical questions, theoretical questions, and there are personal, existential 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:37.379 questions. 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:41.740 There are deep questions, and there are shallow questions. 00:07:42.459 --> 00:07:45.980 There are sincere questions, and there are smoke screens. 00:07:47.259 --> 00:07:50.720 Now, in tonight's passage, four groups of people approach Jesus with questions. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:53.879 Four different kinds of questions. 00:07:53.879 --> 00:08:03.000 So, first, we, we, and Jesus gives four very different answers to these four questions. 00:08:04.219 --> 00:08:11.100 But each answer displays something about Jesus' character, his wisdom, and his authority. 00:08:11.819 --> 00:08:16.360 Now, as we look at each of these questions and answers, I want you to think about two things. 00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:20.960 First, what kinds of questions are you asking God? 00:08:21.900 --> 00:08:23.840 Or are you just on your mind? 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:25.800 Maybe you haven't actually voiced them. 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:29.439 But what kinds of spiritual questions do you have? 00:08:30.280 --> 00:08:32.500 And how would Jesus respond to you? 00:08:33.560 --> 00:08:38.899 And second, perhaps others ask you questions about God or about Jesus. 00:08:39.860 --> 00:08:44.960 And maybe you wonder, how should I respond when other people ask me spiritual questions? 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:51.000 And I think the way that Jesus responds, in some ways, gives us some guidance and some 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:52.980 direction in that way. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:54.940 So, let's look at each question in turn. 00:08:55.019 --> 00:08:59.200 The first question is in chapter 11, the end of chapter 11, verse 27 through 33. 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:01.259 It's a threatening question. 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:04.620 By what authority are you doing these things? 00:09:04.740 --> 00:09:06.360 Who gave you this authority? 00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:12.940 Now, as we said in the beginning, as we saw last week, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. 00:09:13.580 --> 00:09:17.539 People shouted Hosanna and hailed him as the coming king of Israel. 00:09:18.560 --> 00:09:24.460 And then he came to the temple, which was the center of Jewish religious life, where sacrifices 00:09:24.460 --> 00:09:26.240 were offered on a daily basis. 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:30.980 And he began driving out all the people who exchanged money and sold animals. 00:09:30.980 --> 00:09:38.200 It says he wouldn't let anyone carry anything through the temple, making it practically impossible 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:42.580 for people to offer the sacrifices that they were used to offering. 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:50.500 So, the head honchos, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders, got together and 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:51.259 confronted Jesus. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:54.080 And they basically said, what are you doing here? 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:56.820 Are you trying to shut the whole place down? 00:09:57.700 --> 00:09:59.060 Who in the world are you? 00:09:59.059 --> 00:09:59.139 Who? 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:02.239 You're walking in here as if you own the place. 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:06.039 Now, in one sense, it's a very reasonable question. 00:10:06.939 --> 00:10:10.719 They recognize the symbolic significance of what Jesus did. 00:10:11.839 --> 00:10:19.399 He wasn't only protesting that the temple had become corrupt and it was too noisy and people 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:20.439 need to just be quieter. 00:10:21.579 --> 00:10:25.759 He was saying the temple has become corrupt and it's on its way out. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:33.419 And God's going to scrap it like the fig tree that didn't produce any fruit. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.860 And Jesus said, it won't produce any fruit ever again. 00:10:36.860 --> 00:10:42.360 So, the leaders of the temple understood what Jesus was doing there. 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:46.899 But they were threatened since they were the leaders of the temple. 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:48.940 So, they thought, who in the world? 00:10:49.680 --> 00:10:50.820 What's going to happen to us? 00:10:51.539 --> 00:10:53.539 And who in the world is this guy to do this? 00:10:53.539 --> 00:10:56.599 And so, they confront him. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.279 They try to intimidate him. 00:10:58.319 --> 00:10:59.099 They threaten him. 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:02.980 Now, look at Jesus' response. 00:11:05.099 --> 00:11:07.000 Jesus is not intimidated one bit. 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:10.059 He doesn't back down one bit. 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:19.659 He doesn't go into a long explanation of how he was quoting from Jeremiah and whatever. 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:22.079 Give all the background to what he was doing in the temple. 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:26.040 He actually asked them a question in return. 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:29.259 He says, I will ask you one question. 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:30.720 Answer me. 00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:35.400 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? 00:11:37.680 --> 00:11:39.960 Now, everybody back then knew about John the Baptist. 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:44.200 John the Baptist was a popular preacher, well-known preacher. 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:50.020 Went out into the wilderness and called people to turn away from their sins and get dunked in 00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:52.659 the Jordan River to make a new start. 00:11:53.779 --> 00:12:00.360 And the people recognized him as a prophet sent from God to give his people a new start. 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:04.299 But John was also the one who introduced Jesus. 00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:09.659 John said, I'm the voice crying out in the wilderness. 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:12.500 Prepare the way for the Lord. 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:27.779 And he said, someone's coming who's so much greater than me that I'm not worthy to even untie his sandal to be the lowliest servant in his kingdom. 00:12:28.580 --> 00:12:30.279 The Lord himself is coming. 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:35.340 And when John saw Jesus, he said, look, he's the one. 00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:40.080 Now, what Jesus is saying here is this. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:51.379 If John the Baptist was a prophet from God, sent from heaven, then you should listen to him and believe what he said about Jesus. 00:12:52.660 --> 00:12:58.100 That Jesus is the King and the Lord who is prophesied to come. 00:12:58.100 --> 00:13:05.019 But if you don't accept what John says, then don't call him a prophet. 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:09.700 In other words, Jesus is saying it's one way or the other. 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:15.000 And the in-between position is completely illogical and completely unreasonable. 00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:25.560 You see, Jesus isn't trying to avoid a hard question by abruptly changing the topic. 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:28.219 That's not what he's doing here. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:32.919 He's not changing the topic to something totally irrelevant. 00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:37.859 But his question exposes the heart of his questioners. 00:13:39.839 --> 00:13:45.459 And sometimes, that's the wisest response to a threatening question. 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:54.839 It's not to try to explain everything, but to ask a sincere question that gets to the heart. 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:56.979 Of what's behind the threat. 00:13:58.079 --> 00:14:06.159 And Jesus is a master at doing this because he sees that behind their threatening question is fear and cowardice. 00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:10.019 They don't want to take a side publicly. 00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:15.799 They're not willing to commit to Jesus and following him as the Lord. 00:14:16.119 --> 00:14:19.899 But they also don't want to say that John wasn't a prophet. 00:14:20.359 --> 00:14:22.039 They want to have it both ways. 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:24.399 They want the people to like them. 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:28.159 And they don't want to commit to following Jesus. 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:31.740 And Jesus says you can't have it both ways. 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:33.980 You can't stay neutral. 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:38.279 In the end, it's one way or the other. 00:14:40.219 --> 00:14:43.099 And the middle ground doesn't exist. 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:47.540 C.S. Lewis wrote this. 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:53.639 He says, people often say, I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher. 00:14:54.420 --> 00:14:56.460 But I don't accept his claim to be God. 00:14:57.779 --> 00:15:01.460 He said, that is the one thing that we must not say. 00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:10.960 A man who is merely a man and said and did the sort of things that Jesus said and did would not be a great moral teacher. 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:17.019 He would either be a lunatic or else he would be the devil of hell. 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:19.740 You must make your choice. 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:28.780 Either this man was and is the son of God as he claimed to be or else he was a madman or something worse. 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:32.579 In other words, there's no in-between position. 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:37.360 And that's what Jesus exposes in his first answer. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:42.379 So we see first a threatening question and a bold answer. 00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:45.899 Second, we see a trick question. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:50.459 This is the political question in chapter 12, verse 13 to 17. 00:15:50.839 --> 00:15:56.360 Verse 13 says, they sent him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians to trap him in his talk. 00:15:56.360 --> 00:16:12.360 Now, if you lived back then and you heard that, it would sort of be like saying they sent to him the head of the Tea Party and the head of the left wing of the Democratic Party together to ask some political questions. 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:16.680 You think, how in the world are those people working together? 00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:19.899 The Pharisees were religious conservatives. 00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:28.620 They were the Jewish nationalists who resented the Roman Empire's interference in local affairs. 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:34.360 The Herodians were Herod's party and Herod was the Roman ruler in Judea. 00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:37.539 The Herodians were pro-Roman. 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:39.159 They loved the empire. 00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:42.139 They were worldly pragmatists. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:45.159 They were as far off as you could be. 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:55.120 But they come together to ask Jesus a trick question about a hot-button political issue in their day. 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:59.199 Should we pay taxes to Caesar or not? 00:17:01.079 --> 00:17:07.799 You see, if Jesus said, no, don't pay the tax, he could be immediately accused of subverting the government. 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:15.720 Now, the background is, about 25 years previous, Caesar had instituted a new tax, a poll tax. 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:24.899 And immediately, there was a guy from Galilee named Judas the Galilean who stirred up a revolt, a violent revolt against the Roman Empire. 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.319 He did not succeed. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:34.519 So, if Jesus said, no, don't pay the tax, immediately accuse him. 00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:43.399 But if Jesus said, yes, pay the tax, he would seem to be taking Caesar's side against his own people. 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.899 Caesar was the Roman Emperor. 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:48.879 And the Roman Empire ruled over Judea. 00:17:49.159 --> 00:17:52.399 The Jews were an oppressed minority group. 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:55.399 And Caesar was a ruthless pagan ruler. 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:59.640 Caesar made, who made grandiose claims about himself. 00:18:00.300 --> 00:18:09.100 In fact, the coins that Caesar made, that you had to pay the tax with, had a picture of Caesar on it. 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:10.460 A bust of Caesar. 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:12.720 And the inscription said, 00:18:12.840 --> 00:18:18.000 Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the divine Augustus. 00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:21.900 In other words, he was claiming to be the son of God. 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:24.580 Or divine man. 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:28.040 And on the back it read, high priest. 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:33.200 Caesar was making idolatrous claims. 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:37.360 And that's what offended so many of the Jews. 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:43.340 That they had to pay this tax to this guy who was making an idolatrous claim. 00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:47.879 So what's Jesus going to answer? 00:18:49.399 --> 00:18:50.939 You see how they want to trap him. 00:18:53.439 --> 00:18:57.519 Of course, many people today try to do the same. 00:18:58.679 --> 00:19:02.879 To try to co-opt Jesus into a political agenda. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:06.520 But Jesus will not be co-opted. 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:10.600 Jesus does not always side with the conservatives. 00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:13.480 And he does not always side with the progressives. 00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:19.540 He will never be contained by the agenda of any political party. 00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:24.500 He will always challenge people on both sides in different ways. 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:29.200 Not because he's a wimpy moderate who stands in the middle on everything. 00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:32.440 But because he's the sovereign lord over all. 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:41.680 And because no one's political agenda fully lines up with his claim to be the sovereign king over all. 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:44.180 And so what he says here, he says, 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:45.799 Give to Caesar what is Caesar's. 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:48.759 And give to God what is God's. 00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:53.059 So his response challenges both the Pharisees and the Herodians. 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:55.340 First he says, Give to Caesar what is Caesar's. 00:19:55.340 --> 00:19:57.160 In other words, pay the tax. 00:19:57.160 --> 00:20:01.580 If the money belongs to Caesar, give it to him. 00:20:03.080 --> 00:20:07.340 And making a violent revolt is not the way to bring in the kingdom of God. 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:11.800 But he also says, Give to God what is God's. 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:17.000 In other words, God, not Caesar, is the ultimate authority here. 00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:23.540 And if coins with Caesar's image stamped on them belong to Caesar, 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:31.299 every human being with God's image stamped on you and me. 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.819 We belong to God. 00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:37.180 And we owe him every part of our lives. 00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:41.879 And so Jesus challenges them. 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:47.420 Are you giving yourself fully to God? 00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:54.360 Is he your first and foremost loyalty above everything else? 00:20:56.860 --> 00:21:01.820 Or is it, or are you somewhere in the middle? 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:06.420 You see, Caesar claimed to be the Son of God. 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:10.000 But Jesus Christ, the true Son of God, 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:13.019 the true image of God was standing right in front of them. 00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:17.160 So they came to trap Jesus. 00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:20.660 But in the end, Jesus challenged them. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:27.119 So we see, first, a threatening question and a bold response. 00:21:27.639 --> 00:21:30.599 Second, a trick question and a clever response. 00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:32.619 Third, a mocking question. 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.700 This is the Sadducees. 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:38.200 Now the Sadducees were powerful and rich. 00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:41.799 They controlled the highest positions of religious authority, 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.299 particularly the high priesthood. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:47.019 But unlike most of the other Jews at that time, 00:21:47.080 --> 00:21:49.880 they did not believe in any kind of afterlife. 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:53.059 So they make up this crazy story. 00:21:54.580 --> 00:21:58.620 In the case of a woman married in succession to seven brothers, 00:21:59.380 --> 00:22:01.660 whose wife will she be in the resurrection? 00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:08.620 Now, the background to this custom is in many traditional clan-based societies, 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:12.060 a man was obligated to marry a childless widow of his brother 00:22:12.060 --> 00:22:15.000 in order to preserve the deceased brother's memory 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:17.000 and keep his inheritance within the family line. 00:22:17.060 --> 00:22:18.040 It was an ancient custom. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:20.300 It was practiced in many societies. 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:24.779 It is still practiced in a few traditional societies. 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:26.640 But that's just the background. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:31.860 It's probably not a real event that they were referring to. 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:35.700 But it seems like one of these stories that comes up in, you know, 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:38.900 a late night college dorm discussion around 2 a.m., you know, 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:41.620 or maybe a philosophy class. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:45.320 Now, okay, if you're a philosophy major, it's no offense. 00:22:45.580 --> 00:22:47.220 I almost was a philosophy major. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:51.940 And I know there's more things in philosophy than silly questions 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.680 that can't be answered. 00:22:52.680 --> 00:23:00.380 But Jesus responds to their mocking question with a blunt rebuke. 00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:04.019 Twice he says, you're wrong. 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:08.660 The first thing he says is, isn't this why you're wrong? 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:11.220 And at the end he says, you're quite wrong. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:15.539 Jesus isn't afraid to tell people you're wrong. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.720 And he explains why they're wrong. 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:26.259 He says, you're wrong because you don't know the scriptures or the power of God. 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:31.120 Which is ironic because that's exactly what the Sadducees claim to know best. 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:34.720 They claim to know the scriptures. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:39.600 In fact, they believed that the only authentic scriptures were the first five books of Moses. 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:42.920 They didn't accept anything else. 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:46.380 They said, we got Moses. 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:48.140 We go right to the source. 00:23:50.800 --> 00:23:52.320 That's where we stake our claim. 00:23:53.820 --> 00:23:59.380 And they also held the highest positions of power in the temple. 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:05.560 Jesus says, you don't understand the scriptures and you don't understand the true power of God. 00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:08.339 Even though you claim to have both. 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:17.960 He says, you're thinking in merely human categories and projecting your human assumptions onto God. 00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:24.919 She says, you're thinking of the resurrection and you think it's just life on this earth. 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:29.180 Extended forever in time. 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:31.080 But Jesus says, no. 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:37.820 The resurrection isn't just the kind of life we experience now extended forever. 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:40.900 It's a whole new kind of life. 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.860 That we can hardly imagine. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:45.720 Much less described in concrete terms. 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:51.480 It's like the difference between the life of a caterpillar and the life of a butterfly. 00:24:53.180 --> 00:25:00.180 Or it's like the difference between the experience of a baby in the mother's womb and a full-grown adult. 00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:06.200 You can hardly compare the difference in the experience. 00:25:08.600 --> 00:25:12.620 Between this life and the resurrection that God has promised. 00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:16.039 So he says, your question betrays your ignorance. 00:25:17.179 --> 00:25:24.159 You're taking your own experience and your own categories from the life you have right now. 00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:28.259 And projecting it onto God and what God promises in the world to come. 00:25:30.239 --> 00:25:34.159 And then he says, the scripture clearly teaches that there will be a resurrection. 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:36.599 In fact, he goes right back to Moses. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:42.439 When God talks to Moses and God says, I am the God of Abraham. 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:44.099 And the God of Isaac. 00:25:44.199 --> 00:25:45.099 And the God of Jacob. 00:25:46.179 --> 00:25:49.099 Now where were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when God spoke to Moses? 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.599 They were dead. 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:52.539 Right? 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:56.539 And if they were dead, never to return again. 00:25:56.879 --> 00:25:58.519 Like the Sadducees believed. 00:26:00.199 --> 00:26:03.959 Then it would make no sense for God to say, I am their God. 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.239 Because they're dead. 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.139 They're never going to return. 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:08.699 In what sense is he ever, is he really their God anymore? 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:08.819 No. 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:11.420 But he says, no. 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:16.519 When God says, I will be your God. 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:18.400 And you will be my people. 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:22.100 It's a promise that remains forever. 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:24.360 And death does not cut it off. 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:33.339 So he says, even if you look at just the five books of Moses. 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:37.299 They testify to the reality of the resurrection. 00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:40.259 Now, what do we take from this? 00:26:41.379 --> 00:26:46.159 So first, Jesus would respond to some questions with a blunt rebuke. 00:26:48.459 --> 00:26:50.799 You're thinking in merely human terms. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:54.720 You think you know what the Bible says. 00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:56.319 But you are wrong. 00:26:56.919 --> 00:27:00.740 Because you are projecting your own assumptions onto it. 00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:03.639 And your own categories onto it. 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:06.599 And so you don't understand it. 00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:07.259 Rightly. 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:11.119 You see, every question that we ask. 00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:13.180 Or every doubt that we entertain. 00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:16.519 Has an assumption behind it. 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:20.759 And sometimes, before we question God. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:24.299 Or conclude that some part of the Bible just doesn't make any sense. 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:28.259 We need to first question our own assumptions. 00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:31.160 About God and the Bible. 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:36.019 So there's a mocking question. 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.359 And a blunt rebuke. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.599 Number three. 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:40.259 Finally, number four. 00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:43.500 We have a sincere question. 00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.619 And a straight answer. 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:51.039 A scribe has been listening to this dialogue all along. 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:54.920 And it says he saw that Jesus had answered well. 00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:57.599 And so he came to Jesus and he said. 00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:03.900 Which commandment is the most important of all? 00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:10.240 Now when Jesus was asked a threatening question. 00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:12.160 He gave a bold answer. 00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:15.700 Which revealed the people's cowardice and fear. 00:28:16.800 --> 00:28:18.320 When he was asked a trick question. 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:19.420 He gave a clever answer. 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:22.080 Which exposed people's ultimate loyalties. 00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:24.700 When he was asked a mocking question. 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:26.220 He delivered a blunt rebuke. 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:28.880 To uncover erroneous assumptions. 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:31.720 But when he was asked a sincere question. 00:28:32.520 --> 00:28:34.220 He gave a straight answer. 00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:37.660 To guide a soul who was hungry for the truth. 00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:41.960 In fact. 00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:43.880 He gives them even more than an answer. 00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:44.980 To his question. 00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:47.380 He doesn't just give the number one command. 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:50.060 Love the Lord your God with everything you have. 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:52.580 He also gives the number two. 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:54.420 Love your neighbor as yourself. 00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:58.759 Now many rabbis had already tried to answer this question. 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:01.040 Which is the greatest in the law? 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:02.859 And some of them said number one. 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:04.659 And some of them said number two. 00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.579 But as far as we know. 00:29:05.659 --> 00:29:06.920 Nobody put them together. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:08.639 Quite like Jesus did here. 00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:10.879 You see. 00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:11.599 If you just say. 00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:13.539 The greatest commandment is to love God. 00:29:13.639 --> 00:29:13.940 Period. 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:16.440 Then you could be tempted. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:18.440 To isolate yourself. 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:19.720 From other people. 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.879 Because other people are too messy. 00:29:21.879 --> 00:29:23.159 And difficult to deal with. 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.980 And if you just say. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.920 The greatest commandment is to love your neighbor. 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.619 As yourself. 00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:30.859 Then you could be tempted. 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:32.419 To live a very busy life. 00:29:32.979 --> 00:29:34.779 Doing lots of things for other people. 00:29:36.699 --> 00:29:37.899 But ignore God. 00:29:38.439 --> 00:29:39.819 Or simply see God. 00:29:39.899 --> 00:29:41.079 As a means to an end. 00:29:42.459 --> 00:29:43.799 But if the greatest commandment. 00:29:43.879 --> 00:29:44.859 Is to love God. 00:29:45.639 --> 00:29:46.319 And the second. 00:29:46.679 --> 00:29:47.799 Is to love our neighbor. 00:29:48.639 --> 00:29:49.559 It protects us. 00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.599 From both extremes. 00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:52.159 And it points us. 00:29:52.199 --> 00:29:53.579 To the fullness of the life. 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:55.719 That God desires for us. 00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:58.299 You know. 00:29:58.360 --> 00:29:59.500 If you come to Jesus. 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:01.120 With a sincere question. 00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:03.759 He will give you a wise answer. 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:05.740 And he may give you. 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:07.160 Even more than you ask for. 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:09.360 Verse 34. 00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:09.900 Jesus says. 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.779 You're not far. 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.819 From the kingdom of God. 00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:16.900 The scribe had come close to Jesus. 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:19.039 And so Jesus says. 00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:20.539 Because you've come close to me. 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:23.220 You're close to the kingdom of God. 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:26.339 See even in this exchange. 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:26.700 We see. 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.740 Jesus says something. 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.880 That nobody else would say. 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:31.059 What other teacher could say. 00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:32.839 You're not far. 00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:33.920 From the kingdom of God. 00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:37.700 Because you're close to me. 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:39.880 And you've shown that you agree with me. 00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:41.759 Only Jesus. 00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:42.519 The true king. 00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:46.140 So there's the four questions. 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:47.039 That people ask Jesus. 00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:48.000 And how he responds. 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:49.120 But there's one more question. 00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.579 In this chapter. 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:55.059 As one person put it. 00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:56.079 A day of questions. 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:58.319 Leads to the question of the day. 00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:00.960 Verse 35 through 37. 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:04.599 Jesus doesn't only respond. 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.579 To people's questions. 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:07.419 He also asks. 00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.859 His own question. 00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:10.419 To us. 00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:13.460 And the question is about. 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.899 Whose son. 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:16.779 Is the Messiah. 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:16.859 Messiah. 00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:20.200 The scribes assumed. 00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:20.740 That the Messiah. 00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:21.759 Would be the son of David. 00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:24.240 That he would be like David. 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.700 Descended from David. 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.740 But Jesus also. 00:31:28.899 --> 00:31:29.899 Jesus points to this psalm. 00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:30.319 Where David. 00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:31.920 Calls the Messiah Lord. 00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:34.200 And so he says. 00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:35.319 In other words. 00:31:35.379 --> 00:31:36.759 The Messiah has to be. 00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.359 Even greater. 00:31:38.859 --> 00:31:39.399 Than David. 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:41.019 Now the whole point. 00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.539 Of this question. 00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:42.759 It might seem like an obscure. 00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:44.359 Old Testament. 00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:46.099 Quotation that Jesus is asking. 00:31:46.719 --> 00:31:48.439 But the point of Jesus question is. 00:31:48.639 --> 00:31:50.159 What are you expecting me to be? 00:31:52.219 --> 00:31:53.979 Are you expecting me to be. 00:31:54.639 --> 00:31:55.619 Like David. 00:31:55.959 --> 00:31:56.979 A military leader. 00:31:58.139 --> 00:32:00.179 Who brings you military victory. 00:32:00.179 --> 00:32:01.000 Over your enemies. 00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:04.500 Or are you expecting. 00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.639 Me to be. 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:07.319 On your side. 00:32:08.199 --> 00:32:09.079 In some. 00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:10.240 Debate. 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:14.680 Jesus is saying. 00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:14.900 What. 00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.299 What. 00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:16.039 What box. 00:32:16.120 --> 00:32:17.120 Are you expecting me. 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:18.039 To fit into. 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:20.500 And why do you think. 00:32:21.120 --> 00:32:21.859 That I should fit. 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:22.759 Into your box. 00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:25.599 I'm the one who draws the boxes. 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:27.859 I'm the Lord overall. 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:31.220 I want to conclude with. 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.940 The story of a person. 00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:34.680 Who for a long time. 00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.920 Asked questions. 00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:36.740 Of Jesus. 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:38.599 But was eventually confronted. 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:40.319 By the questions. 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:40.759 Of. 00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:41.819 Jesus. 00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:43.640 For many years. 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:45.140 His name is Sheldon Van Ocken. 00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.259 He. 00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:46.759 For many years. 00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.579 He was an agnostic. 00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.819 Or as he called it. 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:51.240 An easy going theist. 00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:52.900 Believe in God. 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:54.059 God's somewhere out there. 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.960 God's sort of a vague. 00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:57.200 Force in the universe. 00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:57.640 And. 00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.200 Maybe. 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:00.579 Behind some of the beauty. 00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:01.380 We experience. 00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:03.579 But he never really. 00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:05.019 Took the Bible seriously. 00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:06.599 He thought Christianity. 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.460 That's a fairy tale. 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:09.900 Maybe a nice fairy tale. 00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:12.099 I'm not that interested in it. 00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:14.799 But over time. 00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:15.019 He. 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:16.379 He met some Christian friends. 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:18.259 He actually came and studied here. 00:33:18.339 --> 00:33:18.660 In New Haven. 00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:19.440 For a couple years. 00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:20.599 And that was part of his journey. 00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:22.119 Then went to Oxford. 00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.799 As is his. 00:33:24.460 --> 00:33:24.900 Friendships. 00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.859 And in his reading. 00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:27.940 He was gradually confronted. 00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:28.660 And he. 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:28.980 He thought. 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:29.220 You know. 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:30.160 I really should. 00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:31.960 I guess I really should read the Bible. 00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:32.859 It's sort of an important. 00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:33.900 Historical book. 00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:35.460 And so he starts reading. 00:33:35.600 --> 00:33:36.420 And he reads the gospels. 00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:36.980 About Jesus. 00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:39.420 And he starts to ask more and more questions. 00:33:39.840 --> 00:33:41.460 And he sees his Christian friends. 00:33:41.660 --> 00:33:41.680 And. 00:33:41.860 --> 00:33:42.460 And he says. 00:33:43.180 --> 00:33:44.240 They've got something. 00:33:44.820 --> 00:33:44.980 They're. 00:33:45.080 --> 00:33:46.120 These Christian people. 00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:46.360 They. 00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:48.140 They just approach life. 00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:48.820 A little differently. 00:33:49.040 --> 00:33:49.160 And. 00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.740 You know. 00:33:50.820 --> 00:33:51.640 It's a little weird. 00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:52.120 But it's. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:52.680 In some ways. 00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:53.300 It's attractive. 00:33:54.280 --> 00:33:55.700 They start asking all these questions. 00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.259 But then he got to a place. 00:33:57.320 --> 00:33:58.000 Where he was stuck. 00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:01.280 And he describes it this way. 00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:03.279 He says. 00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:03.899 At that point. 00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:04.579 Christianity. 00:34:05.180 --> 00:34:05.879 Or in a word. 00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:07.079 The divinity of Jesus. 00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:07.960 Seemed. 00:34:08.500 --> 00:34:08.940 Probable. 00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:09.679 To me. 00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.860 Makes sense. 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:13.480 Perhaps. 00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:15.139 But there is a gap. 00:34:15.279 --> 00:34:16.219 Between probable. 00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:18.000 And proved. 00:34:18.779 --> 00:34:20.139 How was I to cross it? 00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:22.940 If I were to stake my whole life. 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.300 On the risen Christ. 00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:24.900 I wanted. 00:34:25.219 --> 00:34:25.619 Proof. 00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:27.000 I wanted. 00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:27.920 Certainty. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:29.780 I wanted to see him. 00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:30.820 Eat a bit of fish. 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.860 I wanted letters of fire. 00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:33.840 Across the sky. 00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:35.720 I got none of these. 00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:38.159 And I continued to hang about. 00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.420 On the edge of the gap. 00:34:40.700 --> 00:34:41.760 But one day later. 00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:42.900 Came the chilling realization. 00:34:42.900 --> 00:34:44.579 That I could not go back. 00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:46.320 In my old. 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.440 Easy going theism. 00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:48.760 I had regarded Christianity. 00:34:48.760 --> 00:34:50.240 As a sort of fairy tale. 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:52.000 And I had neither. 00:34:52.340 --> 00:34:52.900 Accepted. 00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:58.079 Nor rejected Jesus. 00:34:58.940 --> 00:34:59.880 Since I had never. 00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:00.300 In fact. 00:35:00.360 --> 00:35:01.019 Encountered him. 00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:01.720 Now. 00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:02.480 I had. 00:35:03.320 --> 00:35:04.639 The position was not. 00:35:04.720 --> 00:35:06.139 As I had been comfortably thinking. 00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:07.059 All these months. 00:35:07.639 --> 00:35:08.440 Merely a question. 00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:09.780 Of whether I was to accept. 00:35:09.860 --> 00:35:10.300 The Messiah. 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:10.960 Or not. 00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:13.000 It was a question. 00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:14.619 Of whether I was to accept him. 00:35:15.220 --> 00:35:16.139 Or reject. 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:17.039 My God. 00:35:17.960 --> 00:35:18.780 There was a gap. 00:35:19.200 --> 00:35:19.880 Behind me. 00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:20.539 Too. 00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:23.079 Perhaps the leap to acceptance. 00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:24.519 Was a horrifying gamble. 00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:26.920 But what of the leap to rejection? 00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:29.619 I might never have. 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:31.199 Absolute certainty. 00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.759 That Christ was God. 00:35:33.320 --> 00:35:34.659 But there was no certainty. 00:35:34.659 --> 00:35:35.579 That he was not. 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:38.119 If I were to accept. 00:35:38.239 --> 00:35:38.599 I might. 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:40.119 And probably would face. 00:35:40.179 --> 00:35:41.179 The thought through the years. 00:35:41.820 --> 00:35:42.259 Perhaps. 00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:43.219 After all. 00:35:43.300 --> 00:35:43.940 It's a lie. 00:35:44.059 --> 00:35:44.820 I've been had. 00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:46.980 But if I were to reject. 00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:48.900 I would certainly face. 00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:49.400 The haunting. 00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:50.320 Terrible thought. 00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:52.259 Perhaps it's true. 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:54.519 And I have rejected my God. 00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.900 I could not reject Jesus. 00:35:57.779 --> 00:35:59.320 There was only one thing to do. 00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:00.460 Once I had seen the gap. 00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:01.519 Behind me. 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.559 I turned away from it. 00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:05.659 And flung myself over the gap. 00:36:06.219 --> 00:36:06.579 Toward. 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:07.179 Jesus. 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:13.340 So we began by asking. 00:36:14.279 --> 00:36:17.219 If you had one question to ask. 00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:18.440 God. 00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:19.400 What would you ask? 00:36:19.400 --> 00:36:19.480 What would you ask? 00:36:22.619 --> 00:36:24.200 But I want to conclude by asking. 00:36:24.720 --> 00:36:26.300 If Jesus were to ask you. 00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:27.300 One question. 00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:29.059 What would he ask you? 00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:30.579 And what would you answer? 00:36:31.480 --> 00:36:32.960 What would you answer to this question. 00:36:32.960 --> 00:36:33.860 That he asks here. 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:35.000 About who he is. 00:36:35.220 --> 00:36:35.720 Let's pray. 00:36:35.719 --> 00:36:38.059 Lord Jesus. 00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:38.139 Lord Jesus. 00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:38.819 We thank you. 00:36:38.819 --> 00:36:42.500 For your wisdom. 00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:42.879 We thank you. 00:36:42.879 --> 00:36:44.639 For your wisdom. 00:36:45.199 --> 00:36:46.379 That we see in this passage. 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:48.359 Lord. 00:36:48.459 --> 00:36:48.559 We. 00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:51.599 Each may come with different questions. 00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:52.399 And different assumptions. 00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.399 We pray that you would. 00:36:54.199 --> 00:36:54.939 Speak to us. 00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:56.359 In the way that is most appropriate. 00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:57.960 To our needs. 00:36:59.579 --> 00:37:00.760 We pray that we would. 00:37:01.400 --> 00:37:02.160 Not only. 00:37:02.820 --> 00:37:04.160 Think about the questions. 00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:05.140 That we have for you. 00:37:06.099 --> 00:37:07.640 But as we read in your word. 00:37:08.200 --> 00:37:09.740 That we would listen to the questions. 00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:10.740 That you have for us. 00:37:12.740 --> 00:37:13.880 That we would consider. 00:37:14.880 --> 00:37:16.300 Your probing questions. 00:37:17.640 --> 00:37:19.160 That expose our hearts. 00:37:19.159 --> 00:37:21.779 And that we would. 00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:23.779 By your grace. 00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:25.000 Be drawn. 00:37:26.259 --> 00:37:27.259 To embrace you. 00:37:28.379 --> 00:37:29.399 And to walk with you. 00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:30.099 More and more. 00:37:32.279 --> 00:37:33.019 Pray in your name. 00:37:33.279 --> 00:37:33.500 Amen. 00:37:36.379 --> 00:37:37.599 I've got five or ten minutes. 00:37:37.899 --> 00:37:38.940 For questions. 00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.440 And. 00:37:41.159 --> 00:37:42.420 I'm not as good as Jesus. 00:37:42.779 --> 00:37:43.480 By any means. 00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:43.960 In answering. 00:37:44.059 --> 00:37:44.799 But I will do my best. 00:37:45.219 --> 00:37:45.399 Lord. 00:37:45.839 --> 00:37:46.639 Since we are. 00:37:47.279 --> 00:37:48.239 Praising pastors. 00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:49.139 Or as spokesmen. 00:37:49.159 --> 00:37:50.000 Persons on the earth. 00:37:51.839 --> 00:37:52.940 Do you have any guidelines. 00:37:53.239 --> 00:37:55.139 For which type of answer. 00:37:55.239 --> 00:37:56.980 You would answer when. 00:37:57.539 --> 00:37:58.500 Aside from say. 00:37:58.699 --> 00:37:59.639 Guidance of the Holy Spirit. 00:37:59.839 --> 00:38:00.259 Or wisdom. 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:02.480 They presented four answers. 00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:03.379 Four types of answers. 00:38:03.379 --> 00:38:05.359 Are there any further guidelines. 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:06.359 For us as Christ. 00:38:06.819 --> 00:38:07.819 As to when we would give. 00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:08.879 Which type of answer. 00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:10.859 Yeah. 00:38:10.960 --> 00:38:11.539 So the question is. 00:38:11.659 --> 00:38:12.799 Are there guidelines for us. 00:38:12.879 --> 00:38:13.679 As to when we. 00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:14.980 As Christ's ambassadors. 00:38:15.699 --> 00:38:17.179 Would give which type of answer. 00:38:17.879 --> 00:38:18.719 So I think. 00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:20.679 I think it depends on the question. 00:38:21.879 --> 00:38:22.559 Now. 00:38:23.059 --> 00:38:24.599 We are not always. 00:38:24.799 --> 00:38:26.379 As perceptive as Jesus. 00:38:26.839 --> 00:38:28.539 As to the exact nature of the question. 00:38:29.439 --> 00:38:29.719 And. 00:38:30.219 --> 00:38:31.959 So I think it takes time. 00:38:32.099 --> 00:38:33.839 With carefully listening to people. 00:38:34.339 --> 00:38:35.379 And knowing them. 00:38:35.380 --> 00:38:37.380 Well enough to. 00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:39.420 To be able to discern. 00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:41.480 What's. 00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:43.119 A sincere question. 00:38:44.039 --> 00:38:45.619 Where Jesus just gives a very direct. 00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:46.360 And simple. 00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:46.940 And plain. 00:38:47.300 --> 00:38:47.880 And clear. 00:38:48.720 --> 00:38:49.900 And beautiful answer. 00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:51.480 And where he. 00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:52.960 Pushes back. 00:38:53.400 --> 00:38:54.140 And or even. 00:38:54.139 --> 00:38:55.039 Rebukes them. 00:38:55.039 --> 00:38:55.460 And says. 00:38:55.819 --> 00:38:56.239 You're wrong. 00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:57.519 And this is why you're wrong. 00:39:00.099 --> 00:39:01.219 So I think it's. 00:39:01.359 --> 00:39:02.839 I think it depends on the nature of the question. 00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:03.579 And I think. 00:39:03.799 --> 00:39:05.039 What we can grow in. 00:39:05.219 --> 00:39:05.519 Is. 00:39:06.059 --> 00:39:07.639 Seeking to carefully listen to people. 00:39:08.299 --> 00:39:08.699 And. 00:39:09.059 --> 00:39:10.039 And get to know them. 00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:11.079 Well enough. 00:39:11.619 --> 00:39:12.579 To be able to. 00:39:13.079 --> 00:39:13.539 Discern that. 00:39:14.819 --> 00:39:15.219 Dorothy. 00:39:15.219 --> 00:39:16.939 Isn't there a verse about. 00:39:17.679 --> 00:39:19.439 Giving the word to the swine. 00:39:20.599 --> 00:39:22.759 People are exposing themselves like that. 00:39:23.279 --> 00:39:24.779 Is you not supposed to do that? 00:39:26.199 --> 00:39:26.639 Yeah. 00:39:26.759 --> 00:39:27.119 So Jesus. 00:39:27.379 --> 00:39:28.019 Jesus says. 00:39:28.139 --> 00:39:29.039 In the sermon on the mount. 00:39:29.139 --> 00:39:29.439 He says. 00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:29.839 Don't. 00:39:30.159 --> 00:39:31.819 Throw your pearls before pigs. 00:39:32.359 --> 00:39:34.119 Lest they trample them underfoot. 00:39:34.239 --> 00:39:35.319 And turn to attack you. 00:39:36.439 --> 00:39:37.739 It's very obvious. 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:39.399 That there's a lot of you. 00:39:39.819 --> 00:39:40.779 And tell your minds. 00:39:41.500 --> 00:39:43.079 You're really not looking for an answer. 00:39:43.359 --> 00:39:44.179 Just not to. 00:39:45.219 --> 00:39:45.919 Trick you. 00:39:47.339 --> 00:39:47.819 Yeah. 00:39:49.059 --> 00:39:49.500 Yeah. 00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:50.480 So I think. 00:39:51.399 --> 00:39:51.959 You know. 00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:52.480 We see. 00:39:52.899 --> 00:39:53.699 Examples of that. 00:39:53.819 --> 00:39:54.839 Even in Jesus parables. 00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:55.959 Where. 00:39:56.619 --> 00:39:57.679 He tells a parable. 00:39:58.259 --> 00:39:58.699 To. 00:39:59.099 --> 00:40:00.119 Large groups of people. 00:40:00.639 --> 00:40:01.379 Including some people. 00:40:01.480 --> 00:40:02.339 Who are just out to get him. 00:40:04.719 --> 00:40:05.579 But he. 00:40:05.919 --> 00:40:07.099 Reveals more of the meaning. 00:40:07.279 --> 00:40:07.959 To his disciples. 00:40:08.359 --> 00:40:08.939 And to anyone. 00:40:09.099 --> 00:40:09.839 Who comes to him. 00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:10.399 And says. 00:40:10.819 --> 00:40:12.259 Please explain this to us. 00:40:12.619 --> 00:40:13.579 We really want to know. 00:40:13.579 --> 00:40:16.239 And he goes into more detail. 00:40:16.920 --> 00:40:17.440 And so. 00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:20.019 I think. 00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:20.840 Yeah. 00:40:20.840 --> 00:40:21.279 Sometimes. 00:40:21.279 --> 00:40:21.319 Sometimes. 00:40:21.319 --> 00:40:22.900 Sometimes if someone's being antagonistic. 00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:24.400 The most loving thing to do. 00:40:24.940 --> 00:40:27.199 Isn't to try to get into a long debate with them. 00:40:27.199 --> 00:40:28.639 Which might just be unfruitful. 00:40:28.779 --> 00:40:28.799 Is. 00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:30.000 But simply to show. 00:40:30.460 --> 00:40:31.980 To show the love of Christ. 00:40:32.319 --> 00:40:33.019 And to. 00:40:33.739 --> 00:40:35.219 Show integrity in your life. 00:40:35.960 --> 00:40:36.319 And. 00:40:37.460 --> 00:40:38.099 You know. 00:40:38.259 --> 00:40:38.360 Some. 00:40:38.360 --> 00:40:39.420 And pray that. 00:40:40.019 --> 00:40:40.500 God would. 00:40:41.800 --> 00:40:42.940 Change their heart over time. 00:40:43.140 --> 00:40:43.300 So. 00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:45.340 Yeah. 00:40:45.800 --> 00:40:46.079 Dan. 00:40:46.260 --> 00:40:46.660 So I'm sorry. 00:40:46.720 --> 00:40:47.240 I have a comment. 00:40:47.420 --> 00:40:47.700 Question. 00:40:48.240 --> 00:40:48.620 That's right. 00:40:48.740 --> 00:40:49.579 The comment was. 00:40:49.860 --> 00:40:51.400 Just in the context of that. 00:40:51.559 --> 00:40:51.900 You know. 00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:53.440 Everyone probably saw the Ken Ham. 00:40:53.640 --> 00:40:54.220 Bill Nye. 00:40:54.360 --> 00:40:55.380 Debate that went on. 00:40:55.760 --> 00:40:56.280 And I think there's. 00:40:56.380 --> 00:40:57.960 A lot of antagonism right now. 00:40:58.099 --> 00:40:59.380 And I think the point you're making. 00:40:59.900 --> 00:41:01.180 Also makes the point that. 00:41:01.620 --> 00:41:03.740 We shouldn't approach people this way. 00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:05.300 That we shouldn't ask questions. 00:41:05.300 --> 00:41:06.460 That are antagonistic. 00:41:06.460 --> 00:41:09.139 And leading and creating circus stunts. 00:41:09.559 --> 00:41:11.380 So the other side of when people ask you questions. 00:41:11.579 --> 00:41:12.360 That are very obvious. 00:41:12.519 --> 00:41:13.360 That you're just trying to get. 00:41:13.539 --> 00:41:14.639 They're trying to get a gotcha. 00:41:14.960 --> 00:41:15.500 At the moment. 00:41:15.760 --> 00:41:17.820 We shouldn't do that same thing to other people. 00:41:18.139 --> 00:41:18.340 You know. 00:41:18.460 --> 00:41:19.480 When they're presenting you. 00:41:19.539 --> 00:41:20.420 And maybe we should ask them. 00:41:20.639 --> 00:41:21.019 Well please. 00:41:21.220 --> 00:41:23.500 Please explain evolution to me. 00:41:23.519 --> 00:41:25.240 Or whatever the debate happens to be. 00:41:25.420 --> 00:41:26.320 That would be my comment. 00:41:26.699 --> 00:41:27.539 My question is. 00:41:28.619 --> 00:41:29.360 Because you're. 00:41:29.699 --> 00:41:30.840 Maybe a philosophy major. 00:41:30.920 --> 00:41:31.720 Almost a philosophy major. 00:41:31.780 --> 00:41:32.019 I feel. 00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:33.360 I can ask this to you. 00:41:34.360 --> 00:41:35.460 It seemed like. 00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:36.059 At the end. 00:41:36.059 --> 00:41:36.900 We got to this point. 00:41:37.019 --> 00:41:38.019 Where we had almost like a. 00:41:38.599 --> 00:41:39.340 Pascal's wager. 00:41:39.779 --> 00:41:39.840 Of. 00:41:40.759 --> 00:41:41.119 Well. 00:41:41.599 --> 00:41:43.259 We don't really know if it's true. 00:41:43.840 --> 00:41:45.579 But we also don't know if it's not. 00:41:46.079 --> 00:41:47.380 And that is equally. 00:41:47.739 --> 00:41:49.519 For perhaps even more dangerous. 00:41:49.900 --> 00:41:51.559 To take the risk that it's not true. 00:41:51.880 --> 00:41:53.039 Than to maybe give up. 00:41:53.460 --> 00:41:54.820 A life of gratification. 00:41:55.480 --> 00:41:56.500 And it turns out not to be true. 00:41:56.559 --> 00:41:57.320 And you've lost nothing. 00:41:57.920 --> 00:41:59.980 But the worry for me would be. 00:42:00.279 --> 00:42:01.799 That it's not as simple as. 00:42:01.940 --> 00:42:02.659 Well I have a gap. 00:42:03.179 --> 00:42:03.759 In front of me. 00:42:03.779 --> 00:42:04.639 And a gap behind me. 00:42:04.639 --> 00:42:06.059 But I have all of these gaps. 00:42:06.059 --> 00:42:06.420 Of. 00:42:07.039 --> 00:42:07.420 Buddhism. 00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:08.359 Islam. 00:42:08.579 --> 00:42:08.980 Christianity. 00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:09.639 You know. 00:42:09.679 --> 00:42:10.079 All of these. 00:42:10.480 --> 00:42:10.879 Mormonism. 00:42:10.980 --> 00:42:12.219 All these multiple gaps. 00:42:12.719 --> 00:42:13.079 And. 00:42:13.519 --> 00:42:14.519 It's not as simple as. 00:42:14.619 --> 00:42:14.739 Well. 00:42:14.799 --> 00:42:15.579 I need to pick. 00:42:16.099 --> 00:42:16.500 God. 00:42:16.619 --> 00:42:17.299 Because I have to choose. 00:42:17.480 --> 00:42:18.400 Which version of this. 00:42:18.519 --> 00:42:19.400 That I'm going to believe. 00:42:19.679 --> 00:42:19.980 I guess. 00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:20.299 Kind of. 00:42:20.339 --> 00:42:20.719 What would you. 00:42:21.259 --> 00:42:22.179 What would be your response. 00:42:22.259 --> 00:42:23.379 To that kind of worry. 00:42:23.539 --> 00:42:24.679 That comes out of this question. 00:42:25.480 --> 00:42:25.799 Okay. 00:42:25.920 --> 00:42:26.259 Yes. 00:42:27.059 --> 00:42:27.420 So. 00:42:28.559 --> 00:42:28.920 If. 00:42:29.099 --> 00:42:29.619 If you didn't. 00:42:29.619 --> 00:42:31.319 Let me briefly summarize. 00:42:32.039 --> 00:42:32.519 So. 00:42:32.940 --> 00:42:34.159 His comment was. 00:42:34.779 --> 00:42:36.339 We shouldn't approach people. 00:42:36.880 --> 00:42:37.039 In. 00:42:38.359 --> 00:42:39.440 Antagonistic ways. 00:42:39.539 --> 00:42:40.579 That we wouldn't want to be approached. 00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:41.199 So basically. 00:42:41.359 --> 00:42:42.259 Apply the golden rule. 00:42:42.440 --> 00:42:43.099 To this scenario. 00:42:43.639 --> 00:42:44.400 Don't. 00:42:44.400 --> 00:42:44.699 Don't. 00:42:45.179 --> 00:42:46.179 Question other people. 00:42:46.900 --> 00:42:48.000 In a way that's. 00:42:49.039 --> 00:42:49.940 Acting like a pig. 00:42:50.179 --> 00:42:51.000 That I guess to. 00:42:52.339 --> 00:42:53.319 Put it that way. 00:42:53.779 --> 00:42:54.239 All right. 00:42:54.239 --> 00:42:54.559 So. 00:42:55.559 --> 00:42:55.919 But. 00:42:56.039 --> 00:42:57.239 Let's be truthful. 00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:58.099 And sincere. 00:42:58.779 --> 00:42:59.659 And ask honest. 00:42:59.959 --> 00:43:00.359 Questions. 00:43:00.439 --> 00:43:00.859 Other people. 00:43:00.979 --> 00:43:01.699 Who we disagree with. 00:43:02.119 --> 00:43:03.000 So that's a good point. 00:43:03.459 --> 00:43:04.739 The question was. 00:43:06.339 --> 00:43:07.379 The quote. 00:43:07.479 --> 00:43:08.079 At the end. 00:43:08.219 --> 00:43:09.239 Seemed to be a choice. 00:43:09.339 --> 00:43:09.779 Between. 00:43:11.459 --> 00:43:12.599 Not believing in Jesus. 00:43:12.679 --> 00:43:13.419 And believing in Jesus. 00:43:13.799 --> 00:43:14.099 What if. 00:43:15.279 --> 00:43:15.679 In. 00:43:16.259 --> 00:43:17.039 The world we're in today. 00:43:17.139 --> 00:43:17.819 There seems to be. 00:43:18.219 --> 00:43:19.500 Many different religious options. 00:43:19.619 --> 00:43:19.859 Buddhism. 00:43:20.019 --> 00:43:20.500 Hinduism. 00:43:21.379 --> 00:43:21.819 Islam. 00:43:22.739 --> 00:43:23.179 Christianity. 00:43:23.179 --> 00:43:23.379 Christianity. 00:43:23.579 --> 00:43:24.980 Maybe various forms of Christianity. 00:43:26.559 --> 00:43:27.000 Atheism. 00:43:27.940 --> 00:43:28.379 So. 00:43:28.619 --> 00:43:29.919 It's more complicated than. 00:43:30.319 --> 00:43:30.639 Simply. 00:43:31.319 --> 00:43:32.019 One or the other. 00:43:32.339 --> 00:43:32.559 So. 00:43:32.899 --> 00:43:33.619 When I say that. 00:43:34.079 --> 00:43:35.399 I gave a short quote. 00:43:35.500 --> 00:43:36.319 From a long book. 00:43:36.859 --> 00:43:37.239 That. 00:43:37.460 --> 00:43:39.019 He deals with more of the questions. 00:43:39.199 --> 00:43:39.559 If you read. 00:43:39.699 --> 00:43:40.679 If you read more of the book. 00:43:41.699 --> 00:43:42.139 So. 00:43:42.239 --> 00:43:43.139 He had already spent. 00:43:43.399 --> 00:43:44.539 A lot of time. 00:43:45.699 --> 00:43:46.139 Reading. 00:43:47.199 --> 00:43:47.599 The. 00:43:48.019 --> 00:43:48.579 New Testament. 00:43:49.679 --> 00:43:49.940 And. 00:43:50.639 --> 00:43:51.039 Seeing. 00:43:51.039 --> 00:43:52.919 That Jesus makes claims. 00:43:53.179 --> 00:43:53.859 That. 00:43:54.139 --> 00:43:54.779 No other. 00:43:55.279 --> 00:43:55.739 Founder. 00:43:55.919 --> 00:43:57.039 Of a major world religion. 00:43:57.579 --> 00:43:57.940 Made. 00:44:00.339 --> 00:44:00.819 Moses. 00:44:01.440 --> 00:44:02.960 Did not claim to be. 00:44:03.599 --> 00:44:04.480 The son of God. 00:44:04.940 --> 00:44:06.339 Who died and rose from the dead. 00:44:06.659 --> 00:44:07.359 There's no claim. 00:44:07.739 --> 00:44:08.059 That's. 00:44:08.339 --> 00:44:09.139 Not claimed. 00:44:09.319 --> 00:44:10.500 Mohammed did not claim that. 00:44:10.960 --> 00:44:11.919 He claimed to be a prophet. 00:44:12.099 --> 00:44:12.799 Pointing the way. 00:44:13.519 --> 00:44:14.000 Buddha. 00:44:14.759 --> 00:44:15.779 Claimed to be. 00:44:15.919 --> 00:44:16.659 A wise teacher. 00:44:16.659 --> 00:44:19.559 Jesus claim is unique. 00:44:19.839 --> 00:44:20.879 Among the world religion. 00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:21.480 So I think. 00:44:21.679 --> 00:44:22.980 He had already come to that point. 00:44:23.099 --> 00:44:23.199 Where. 00:44:23.379 --> 00:44:24.259 Where he had sorted through. 00:44:24.399 --> 00:44:24.980 Some of that. 00:44:26.980 --> 00:44:28.000 But that's a good question. 00:44:28.099 --> 00:44:29.279 I think people are at different stages. 00:44:29.279 --> 00:44:29.819 Of. 00:44:30.579 --> 00:44:31.139 Of that. 00:44:31.139 --> 00:44:32.119 And for some people. 00:44:32.579 --> 00:44:33.460 Considering Christianity. 00:44:33.839 --> 00:44:34.279 Feels. 00:44:35.079 --> 00:44:35.440 Almost. 00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:36.119 May. 00:44:36.119 --> 00:44:36.719 May feel. 00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:37.460 Arbitrary. 00:44:37.559 --> 00:44:37.980 Because like. 00:44:38.039 --> 00:44:38.099 Well. 00:44:38.159 --> 00:44:38.879 Why would I pick that. 00:44:38.960 --> 00:44:40.440 Among the 20 options. 00:44:40.440 --> 00:44:40.960 Out there. 00:44:40.960 --> 00:44:41.840 So I think. 00:44:44.539 --> 00:44:45.360 I think. 00:44:45.480 --> 00:44:46.860 I think the unique claims of Jesus. 00:44:46.860 --> 00:44:47.179 Is. 00:44:47.300 --> 00:44:48.860 Is one of the things that Mark highlights. 00:44:48.860 --> 00:44:49.699 Throughout his gospel. 00:44:50.559 --> 00:44:52.240 He just keeps saying things. 00:44:52.400 --> 00:44:53.000 And actually. 00:44:53.079 --> 00:44:53.440 Especially. 00:44:53.659 --> 00:44:54.340 Doing things. 00:44:54.820 --> 00:44:55.039 You know. 00:44:55.079 --> 00:44:55.960 Going into the temple. 00:44:56.420 --> 00:44:58.099 And acting like he owns the place. 00:44:58.679 --> 00:44:58.920 And. 00:45:00.199 --> 00:45:01.199 Basically saying. 00:45:02.019 --> 00:45:03.000 This is corrupt. 00:45:03.480 --> 00:45:03.880 And. 00:45:04.099 --> 00:45:05.079 It's on the way out. 00:45:05.760 --> 00:45:07.179 Because I'm here to replace it. 00:45:08.119 --> 00:45:08.360 I mean. 00:45:08.400 --> 00:45:09.440 That's basically what he says. 00:45:09.460 --> 00:45:10.240 If you put together. 00:45:10.239 --> 00:45:11.639 Him going into the temple. 00:45:11.919 --> 00:45:13.059 And then talking about. 00:45:13.179 --> 00:45:14.439 How the temple is going to be destroyed. 00:45:14.559 --> 00:45:15.419 In chapter 13. 00:45:15.500 --> 00:45:16.500 Which we'll get to in two weeks. 00:45:16.959 --> 00:45:17.500 And then. 00:45:17.699 --> 00:45:19.899 His claim that something greater than the temple is here. 00:45:20.679 --> 00:45:21.559 In other words. 00:45:21.579 --> 00:45:21.819 Himself. 00:45:21.959 --> 00:45:22.099 So. 00:45:22.819 --> 00:45:24.759 He's basically claiming to replace. 00:45:25.079 --> 00:45:26.759 The temple that God had instituted. 00:45:27.259 --> 00:45:28.079 Who in the world. 00:45:28.199 --> 00:45:29.139 Could make that claim. 00:45:29.359 --> 00:45:29.559 Like. 00:45:30.339 --> 00:45:32.279 That's completely preposterous. 00:45:32.699 --> 00:45:33.679 Unless he is. 00:45:34.199 --> 00:45:35.079 The son of God. 00:45:35.219 --> 00:45:36.619 Who became a human being. 00:45:36.779 --> 00:45:38.239 God who came to dwell among us. 00:45:39.179 --> 00:45:40.219 And to be the place. 00:45:40.219 --> 00:45:42.619 Where human beings and God can meet. 00:45:43.019 --> 00:45:44.019 And be reconciled. 00:45:44.539 --> 00:45:46.480 That's the only way that that claim makes any sense. 00:45:47.959 --> 00:45:48.599 So anyway. 00:45:48.719 --> 00:45:49.039 So I. 00:45:49.219 --> 00:45:49.859 That's what I would. 00:45:51.039 --> 00:45:51.819 Good question. 00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:52.539 Brief answer. 00:45:52.819 --> 00:45:53.079 Samuel. 00:45:53.079 --> 00:46:02.559 Why would somebody follow. 00:46:02.559 --> 00:46:03.559 Herod. 00:46:03.559 --> 00:46:04.559 Herodians. 00:46:04.559 --> 00:46:04.880 Herodians. 00:46:05.360 --> 00:46:05.400 Herod. 00:46:05.759 --> 00:46:06.159 Who else. 00:46:07.039 --> 00:46:08.579 Had a trading relationship with his. 00:46:09.519 --> 00:46:10.360 Some kind of relationship. 00:46:10.679 --> 00:46:11.679 And killed that. 00:46:12.139 --> 00:46:13.079 He brought John the Baptist. 00:46:13.079 --> 00:46:13.599 From the head. 00:46:13.759 --> 00:46:14.799 Why would somebody follow. 00:46:15.400 --> 00:46:16.239 Such a person. 00:46:17.400 --> 00:46:18.420 Why would somebody follow. 00:46:18.559 --> 00:46:18.759 Okay. 00:46:18.860 --> 00:46:20.519 So why would somebody be a Herodian. 00:46:20.639 --> 00:46:21.619 A follower of Herod. 00:46:21.739 --> 00:46:22.699 When Herod had killed. 00:46:22.940 --> 00:46:23.819 Beheaded John the Baptist. 00:46:24.219 --> 00:46:25.099 And was a. 00:46:25.940 --> 00:46:27.199 Sort of a ruthless king. 00:46:27.279 --> 00:46:27.480 Is that. 00:46:27.799 --> 00:46:28.239 Your question. 00:46:33.880 --> 00:46:34.239 Yes. 00:46:35.579 --> 00:46:36.639 Why follow him. 00:46:36.860 --> 00:46:37.980 Because he was powerful. 00:46:37.980 --> 00:46:39.900 And people follow a powerful leader. 00:46:41.099 --> 00:46:42.159 Even when he's not. 00:46:42.460 --> 00:46:42.820 In the right. 00:46:43.460 --> 00:46:44.539 And sometimes the cost. 00:46:44.940 --> 00:46:45.300 Of not. 00:46:45.719 --> 00:46:46.619 Being in line with Herod. 00:46:47.519 --> 00:46:48.639 Could get pretty high. 00:46:49.260 --> 00:46:49.699 Because. 00:46:50.420 --> 00:46:51.240 Herod was so ruthless. 00:46:51.840 --> 00:46:52.380 And he liked. 00:46:52.699 --> 00:46:52.980 And he. 00:46:53.300 --> 00:46:54.519 Did not hesitate to kill people. 00:46:55.880 --> 00:46:56.059 So. 00:46:59.599 --> 00:47:00.079 Yeah. 00:47:01.480 --> 00:47:01.940 Noelle. 00:47:02.760 --> 00:47:04.000 I have a question. 00:47:04.340 --> 00:47:06.199 In response to my third question. 00:47:06.599 --> 00:47:07.619 We talked about. 00:47:07.980 --> 00:47:21.619 They have a question. 00:47:24.340 --> 00:47:25.860 There. 00:47:26.380 --> 00:47:27.039 There. 00:47:31.000 --> 00:47:31.260 There. 00:47:31.260 --> 00:47:37.300 And then there are modern pastors like Tim Keller who might be tempted to follow everything they say. 00:47:37.300 --> 00:47:50.320 And so how would you suggest approaching the Word knowing that we're bringing assumptions to it and others are bringing assumptions to it and to not be paralyzed for that idea? 00:47:51.320 --> 00:47:52.480 Like, how would we know anything? 00:47:53.060 --> 00:47:53.380 Yeah. 00:47:53.560 --> 00:47:56.580 So we all bring assumptions to God's Word. 00:47:56.579 --> 00:48:02.719 How do we be honest about that and not be paralyzed by our assumptions or not fall into the trap of the Sadducees? 00:48:03.539 --> 00:48:05.400 So I think be honest first. 00:48:05.759 --> 00:48:08.199 Be honest about the assumptions that we bring. 00:48:09.259 --> 00:48:14.139 And that's even hard because sometimes we don't realize what our own assumptions are. 00:48:14.900 --> 00:48:19.219 You know, it's like, you know, you drink chlorinated water. 00:48:19.380 --> 00:48:21.539 You know, water that's filtered through chlorine and you don't. 00:48:22.299 --> 00:48:23.639 That's what I drink every day. 00:48:23.639 --> 00:48:30.639 I guess if you have a fancy filter, then maybe when you drink regular New Haven water, you taste the chlorine. 00:48:31.879 --> 00:48:33.779 But I don't, you know. 00:48:33.940 --> 00:48:36.619 So a lot of our assumptions are like that. 00:48:38.159 --> 00:48:41.940 It takes time and experience to realize what our assumptions even are. 00:48:41.940 --> 00:48:43.840 So recognize our own assumptions. 00:48:45.300 --> 00:49:04.900 And then I think letting the categories and the worldview of Scripture and the narrative of the Bible and the categories that God introduces in Scripture question our own categories and question our own assumptions. 00:49:04.900 --> 00:49:20.000 And I think that's a key is basically letting, being honest about our assumptions but letting Jesus question them. 00:49:20.000 --> 00:49:33.539 And then seeking to revise our categories and assumptions in light of who Jesus is most centrally and what God has revealed through all of Scripture. 00:49:33.539 --> 00:49:41.579 But yeah, that's a great question. 00:49:42.119 --> 00:49:47.559 Because I think it's, you know, if you're in, it's a good thing you can think about in small groups this week. 00:49:48.420 --> 00:49:51.779 Is, you know, what are the, what's the passage teaching us? 00:49:51.780 --> 00:50:03.320 How does it, in some ways, Scripture fulfills some of our, the things that we already know to be true, that God has implanted in our hearts because we bear his image. 00:50:03.540 --> 00:50:10.340 And some of our godly desires, some of our even human desires that God has given human beings. 00:50:11.519 --> 00:50:14.380 So he's put eternity in the heart of man, you know. 00:50:14.380 --> 00:50:21.700 So there, there are some things that it, that's where Scripture fulfills something that we already recognize or feel. 00:50:21.820 --> 00:50:29.340 And then there are other things, other parts of Scripture or other teachings that challenge things that we don't naturally gravitate to. 00:50:29.780 --> 00:50:33.539 And that we might even think, no, that can't be true. 00:50:35.000 --> 00:50:37.260 But Scripture clearly says otherwise. 00:50:37.260 --> 00:50:42.619 And so then we need to grapple with, well, why do I assume what I'm assuming? 00:50:42.619 --> 00:50:47.880 And why do I feel that what the Bible is saying can't be true? 00:50:48.460 --> 00:50:55.039 But really start to question where are my assumptions coming from in light of the teaching of Scripture? 00:50:56.179 --> 00:50:57.079 Good question. 00:50:59.179 --> 00:51:00.159 Dorothy, quick. 00:51:00.779 --> 00:51:07.719 No, I just wonder, the verse came to mind about where he says he'll be renewing our mind day by day. 00:51:07.719 --> 00:51:12.759 Which is why even though I'm old, I know he can still renew my mind day by day. 00:51:12.899 --> 00:51:14.079 It's spiritually I can grow. 00:51:15.279 --> 00:51:21.980 When I was young and I read the Old Testament, how could he send these people to kill everybody in this nation? 00:51:22.439 --> 00:51:24.699 Until I found out they were eating their children. 00:51:25.719 --> 00:51:27.119 I hadn't read the whole thing. 00:51:27.879 --> 00:51:34.839 I hadn't found out how disturbing, how disturbed God must have been to have to watch that. 00:51:35.319 --> 00:51:36.559 He had to stop it. 00:51:36.559 --> 00:51:38.519 You have to stop it. 00:51:38.579 --> 00:51:43.900 Just like even our nation has had to stop certain people from doing things like Hitler. 00:51:44.699 --> 00:51:45.299 Yeah. 00:51:45.659 --> 00:51:51.259 Yeah, there's often, I think recognizing that we don't see the whole picture is sort of what you're saying. 00:51:51.260 --> 00:52:01.860 And being, you know, being patient and realizing God's not going to answer every single question we have all at once. 00:52:01.860 --> 00:52:13.220 But he will, as we faithfully dig into his word, as we talk about it together, as we pray together, as we seek to submit our lives to Christ. 00:52:13.960 --> 00:52:15.640 He will help us to grow. 00:52:15.639 --> 00:52:24.480 And sometimes it can be encouraging to look back five or ten years in your life and think, what were the burning questions that I had five or ten years ago? 00:52:25.099 --> 00:52:29.879 And how many of those do I see differently in light of what God has taught me now? 00:52:30.519 --> 00:52:33.679 And of course, you'll have new questions that you didn't have five or ten years ago, too. 00:52:33.679 --> 00:52:36.980 But that's part of the growth process, I think, too. 00:52:39.480 --> 00:52:39.980 All right. 00:52:40.359 --> 00:52:41.279 Andrew, did you have a question? 00:52:41.460 --> 00:52:41.879 Did you raise your hand? 00:52:42.199 --> 00:52:42.679 I did. 00:52:42.839 --> 00:52:43.179 I was clear. 00:52:43.179 --> 00:52:43.719 Okay. 00:52:44.139 --> 00:52:44.359 All right.