WEBVTT

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 We could look at the courtroom characters.

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 We could look at the failure of humanity.

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 We could spend time looking at the failure of Jesus' disciples.

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! But I don't want to do that.

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 I want to take the camera and I want us to zoom in on the person of Jesus.

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 And so then this morning there are four things about Jesus.

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 And then I want to tell you what not to think.

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 And then I want to tell you what to think.

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 All right?

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 Four things about Jesus.

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 First of all, he is innocent.

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 He is innocent of the charges brought against him.

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 We find ourselves, don't we, in the Jewish courtroom.

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 It's a sort of pre-trial.

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 It's not a legal trial by Jewish standards.

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 But they bring Jesus in on a kind of nighttime pre-trial

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 in order that the following day, 27 verse 1,

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 can you see all the chief priests and the elders then turn up.

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 But this is the night before.

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 27 verse 1, they're going to hand him over to the Roman authorities

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 because only the Roman authorities could give the verdict of guilty and death.

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 And that's where they're heading.

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 That's what these Jewish leaders wanted.

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 Jesus dead.

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 They've been scheming it from chapter 26.

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 Can you just look there?

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 Verses 3 and 4.

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 The chief priests and the elders of the people gather in the palace,

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 the high court.

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 This guy Caiaphas, he's there.

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 And they plot together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth.

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 And they want to kill him.

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 They want him dead.

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 The trail begins in verse 57.

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 But notice they've made up their mind before this.

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 They wanted him dead.

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 They were looking in verse 59.

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 If you see there.

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 The chief priests and the whole council are seeking false testimony against Jesus

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 so that they might put him to death.

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 So do you see what they're doing?

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 They're looking for false evidence, pseudo evidence.

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 Because there's no true evidence they could come up with.

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 They were looking intently.

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 It's the same word that Jesus uses in the parable of the hundred sheep.

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 And the 99 are on the hillside.

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 But one goes missing.

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 And the shepherd starts looking intently for the one lamb.

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 And so here that same word is used.

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 And these men are relentlessly pursuing Jesus looking for false evidence.

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 But they couldn't find any.

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 There is no presumption of innocent.

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 There is no innocent until proven guilty.

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 But Jesus is innocent.

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 You see that, don't you?

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 Explicitly at the start of verse 60.

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 They found none.

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 Though many false witnesses came forward.

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 And finally these two false witnesses come forward.

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 And they say, this fellow once said that he's able to destroy this temple and rebuild it in three days.

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 And what they're doing is they are patchworking together some stuff they've heard about Jesus in the past.

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 And they're turning it into a different idea.

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 In fact, they misquote Jesus.

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 Jesus does in fact say those words.

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 John tells us that.

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 Where Jesus says, I will destroy this temple.

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 And we'll raise it in three days.

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 But John tells us he was referring to his body.

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 And of course, Jesus' body, his temple, was raised on the third day.

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 And they heard him say that.

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 And they probably thought, well, of course, he's not a lover of this great temple, this building.

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 Maybe they heard him say, this one day, this building, this temple, they thought, will be flattened.

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 So they cobbled together the story.

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 And they come up with this idea that Jesus was referring to the bricks and mortar.

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 They have no idea what they're saying.

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 They're just dragging out some mud and throwing it and hoping it will stick.

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 And the high priest, in reply to this word,

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 that fellow says he'll destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,

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 comes to Jesus.

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 You can see him in verse 62.

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 He's in his face, isn't he?

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 There's a little bit of spit in the corner of his mouth, so to speak.

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 And the high priest stood up and said, have you any answer to make?

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 What is it that these men have against you?

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 And at last, they think the mud is beginning to stick, but verse 63.

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 Jesus remained silent.

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 He remains silent at the accusation.

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 And Matthew wants you and I to see the innocence of Jesus

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 in that they couldn't come up with anything.

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 It is all false evidence.

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 But in this little word, remained silent,

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 he wants us to see that although Jesus is innocent,

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 he is secondly the suffering servant of God.

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 And the people that knew their Bibles, their Old Testament,

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 would know that most famous passage,

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 which we've looked at the last couple of weeks of Isaiah 53,

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 the suffering servant.

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 Innocent, though bearing our sin and guilt.

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 Guiltless, though becoming guilty.

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 They understood the suffering servant.

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 Perhaps it's lost on us.

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 But some 700 years before,

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 the prophet talked of one who would take our pain,

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 who would bear our suffering,

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 punished by God,

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 stricken and afflicted,

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 pierced for our transgression,

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 wounded for our iniquities.

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 The punishment that would bring us peace with God

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 was laid on him.

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 And we all, like sheep, have gone astray.

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 We've all turned to our own way

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 and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

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 He was oppressed and he was afflicted,

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 yet he did not open his mouth.

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 Like a lamb that's led to the slaughter

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 and a sheep before its shearers is silent,

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 so he opened not his mouth.

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 And Matthew takes the highlighter pen,

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 recording what happened here,

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 that Jesus is silent,

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 but Jesus is the suffering servant of the Lord.

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 He is innocent.

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 Isaiah would go on to tell us

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 that there was no guilt or deceit found in his mouth.

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 He was innocent.

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 Matthew is screaming at you here,

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 yes, he is innocent,

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 but he is the suffering servant of God.

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 And not only that,

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 but thirdly,

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 he is the reigning and returning king of the cosmos.

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 He is the reigning and returning king of the cosmos.

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 Well, as I mentioned,

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 Jesus is silent.

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 It enrages the high priest, Caiaphas.

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 The blood pressure rises.

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 Look at verse 63.

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 Jesus remains silent

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 and the high priest said to him,

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 I adjury you.

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 I charge you by the living God.

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 Tell us if you are the Christ,

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 the son of the living God.

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 It's the big guns come out.

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 Tell us,

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 are you the Messiah?

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 Are you the long-awaited God's king?

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 Are you the king of the cosmos?

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 Are you the king of the universe?

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 Tell us.

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 And Jesus says,

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 verse 64,

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 you said it.

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 Yes.

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 Before Caiaphas has the chance to say anything more,

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 Jesus says,

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 but I tell you,

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 from now on,

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 you will see the son of man seated at the right hand of power

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 and coming on the clouds of heaven.

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 Make no mistake about what Jesus is claiming here.

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 Jesus' claim here is massive.

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 Whatever your view of Jesus is,

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 you cannot avoid what Jesus is claiming about himself.

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 He is claiming to be God's king,

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 the one to whom all authority and power has been given.

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 And so these people who heard him,

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 these people reading Matthew's gospel,

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 would have understood the words,

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 the son of man.

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 And again,

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 it can be a little bit lost on us

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 because we don't understand our Bibles as well

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 as they might have.

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 And the title son of man is unpacked for us

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 by Daniel in the Old Testament,

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 where he tells us that the son of man was given authority,

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 all authority and all power

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 and sovereign power

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 and all nations

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 and all glory

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 and people of every language

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 will worship him.

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 And his dominion,

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 his rule will be an everlasting dominion

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 and his kingdom

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 will be one that will never end

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 and never be destroyed,

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 the son of man.

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 And Jesus is saying here,

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 I am the Christ,

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 I am the Messiah,

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 I am the son of man.

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 We can't ignore this.

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 So for a person to make such a claim about themselves,

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 as C.S. Lewis said,

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 would either make them a liar,

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 he knows the truth,

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 he knows he's not the son of man,

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 he knows he's not the king,

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 but he's just lying

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 through his teeth,

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 or it would make him a madman.

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 A madman wouldn't have a clue

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 what he's saying.

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 Or the third option is that

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 he really is who he says he is.

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 And so you're left with this choice this morning,

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 who is this Jesus?

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 You might say it's just a fairy tale,

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 but you cannot say that

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 if you go and look at the historical documents.

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 Don't go on hearsay,

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 don't go on documentaries,

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 go back to the evidence.

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 It's not just the Bible,

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 there were historians writing about this.

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 And so Jesus makes this massive claim

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 that he will come on the clouds,

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 seated at the right hand of God,

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 with all authority and all power.

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 And so this morning,

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 Jesus either means everything,

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 or nothing at all.

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 If what he says is true,

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 and he is God's anointed king,

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 God's king,

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 seated at the right hand,

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 and coming on the clouds,

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 and you and I will meet him,

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 and he will be our judge,

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 that means absolutely everything.

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 If that is true.

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 If he's a liar,

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 or a lunatic,

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 it means nothing.

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 I'm deluded.

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 If he's a liar.

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 We're wasting our time this morning,

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 if he's a liar.

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 He either means everything,

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 or nothing at all.

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 And that is why,

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 down through history,

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 Jesus has polarized people.

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 People who love him,

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 and see him as innocent,

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 and see him as the suffering servant,

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 who has taken my sin,

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 and that he is God's king,

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 and that he is returning,

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 and he means everything to us,

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 or there are people that say no.

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 I don't want anything to do with him.

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 And that's what happens in the courtroom,

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 isn't it?

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 Caiaphas is strongly antagonistic,

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 verse 65.

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 He tears his clothes.

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 He says,

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 he's spoken blasphemy.

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 He's called himself equal with God here.

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 Why do we need any more witnesses?

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 You've heard this blasphemy.

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 What do you think?

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 Caiaphas says.

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 What judgment do you make of him?

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 And they reply,

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 he is worthy of death.

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 They come to that strong conclusion,

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 that what Jesus is speaking about here,

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 is absolute rubbish,

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 and he is worthy of death.

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 The final picture in the text of Jesus,

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 is the loving patience of Jesus,

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 isn't it?

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 He's a loving,

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 innocent,

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 suffering servant,

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 reigning and ruling,

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 returning king,

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 and the loving patience of Jesus.

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 He's so patient with these people.

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 And it's because,

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 isn't it?

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 It's all because he wants to be,

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 above anything else,

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 obedient to his father's plan,

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 to come into our world,

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 to live the perfect life,

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 to be the spotless sacrifice for our sin,

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 that you and I could be forgiven.

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 And yet,

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 his loving patience is seen,

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 even with those who spit in his face,

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 verse 67,

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 who strike him with their fist.

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 They blindfold him,

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 and they hit him,

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 and they say,

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 tell us,

00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:42.120
 who hit you?

00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:43.779
 Who slapped you?

00:12:44.939 --> 00:12:46.259
 You are God's king,

00:12:46.699 --> 00:12:47.179
 are you?

00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:48.139
 Well, tell us who did that.

00:12:49.859 --> 00:12:50.779
 We know, don't we,

00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:53.339
 that he could have called 10,000 angels down,

00:12:53.859 --> 00:12:55.099
 and yet he died alone.

00:12:56.479 --> 00:12:57.939
 He died for his people,

00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:58.819
 for his elect,

00:12:59.439 --> 00:13:00.359
 for you and for me.

00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:04.220
 It's the loving patience,

00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:05.539
 of a saviour,

00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:07.820
 who dies in our place.

00:13:10.180 --> 00:13:11.460
 And God's patience,

00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:13.340
 continues right down,

00:13:13.419 --> 00:13:14.340
 to this very moment.

00:13:16.580 --> 00:13:17.840
 And Jesus' patience,

00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:19.440
 continues with all of us today.

00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:22.539
 He's not yet returned,

00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:23.519
 in the clouds,

00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:24.240
 for what reason?

00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:27.700
 That you would hear,

00:13:27.700 --> 00:13:31.100
 and that you would come to repentance,

00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:35.600
 and that you would run from running your life,

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.600
 your way,

00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:38.540
 to his way.

00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:41.400
 And so that you would be ready,

00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:43.300
 for him when he returns.

00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:44.800
 Do you see his innocence?

00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:45.620
 He is innocent.

00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:48.400
 Do you see that he's taken our guilt?

00:13:48.520 --> 00:13:49.960
 He is the suffering servant.

00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:51.920
 Do you see his reign,

00:13:52.100 --> 00:13:52.580
 and rule,

00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:53.300
 and return?

00:13:55.920 --> 00:13:57.540
 And so submit to him,

00:13:57.780 --> 00:13:58.720
 as Lord.

00:14:00.060 --> 00:14:02.000
 And see his loving patience,

00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:03.639
 continued even to this morning,

00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:04.340
 to you,

00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:05.320
 and to me.

00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:07.560
 To our friends.

00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:09.940
 His patience to our city.

00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:12.240
 To our world.

00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:15.560
 That we would hear his call,

00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:17.399
 that we would trust in his death,

00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:18.419
 for our sins.

00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:20.000
 And so here's the application.

00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:21.180
 I want to spend the rest of my time,

00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:21.659
 on application.

00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:22.620
 Look at verse 66.

00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:25.060
 There's a great question there.

00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:27.820
 The question is this,

00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:28.539
 what's your judgment?

00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:32.060
 The NIV puts it,

00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:33.159
 what do you think?

00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:33.700
 I like that.

00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:36.060
 What's your judgment?

00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:37.259
 What do you think?

00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:39.759
 They reply,

00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:40.120
 don't they,

00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:41.620
 he is worthy of death.

00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:43.240
 I want you to answer this morning.

00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:45.240
 He is worthy of your discipleship.

00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.779
 He is worthy of you following him.

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.639
 And so I want to tell you,

00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:50.159
 a number of things,

00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:51.299
 that I don't want you to think.

00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:56.159
 Do's and don'ts,

00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:57.179
 about your thinking.

00:14:59.179 --> 00:14:59.759
 First of all,

00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:01.480
 don't think that you can overthrow him.

00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:04.659
 Look at verse 59.

00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:08.320
 Caiaphas thought that,

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:08.680
 didn't he?

00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.080
 He thought that he could dismiss,

00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:12.759
 the tiresome Jesus,

00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:14.200
 and that would be the end of him.

00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:17.060
 Political leaders have tried to do that

00:15:17.060 --> 00:15:17.639
 throughout history,

00:15:17.820 --> 00:15:18.680
 and they have failed,

00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:19.879
 because the cause of Christ

00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:21.000
 will not be overthrown.

00:15:23.400 --> 00:15:24.139
 Verse 64,

00:15:24.280 --> 00:15:26.020
 Jesus is clearly saying to his name,

00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:26.660
 Caiaphas,

00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:27.460
 you judge me now,

00:15:27.520 --> 00:15:28.340
 I will judge you later.

00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:29.580
 You cannot overthrow him.

00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:30.620
 Don't think that.

00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:32.740
 Secondly,

00:15:32.900 --> 00:15:34.460
 don't think that false witnesses,

00:15:34.800 --> 00:15:36.259
 will ever be able to,

00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:38.060
 disprove the claims,

00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:39.159
 and teachings of Christ.

00:15:39.219 --> 00:15:40.199
 We see that in verse 60.

00:15:41.699 --> 00:15:43.319
 Don't think that the claims,

00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:46.479
 and people who,

00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:48.579
 seeking to disprove the claims,

00:15:48.739 --> 00:15:49.919
 and teachings of Christ,

00:15:49.979 --> 00:15:50.659
 will never be able to do that.

00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:51.379
 Nearly every year,

00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:52.219
 there's a book brought out,

00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:52.579
 isn't there?

00:15:53.859 --> 00:15:54.639
 That's so,

00:15:54.859 --> 00:15:56.519
 called disproves,

00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.799
 that Jesus didn't really happen,

00:15:59.359 --> 00:16:00.459
 or exist,

00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:02.379
 or he had a wife and kids,

00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:04.220
 or there's no resurrection,

00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:06.080
 and it blazes away,

00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.720
 and then disappears.

00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:10.659
 False witnesses abound,

00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:11.799
 they did then,

00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:13.360
 and they do now,

00:16:13.439 --> 00:16:14.419
 but they're no more successful.

00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:16.600
 Jesus says,

00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:17.759
 heaven and earth will pass away,

00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:19.299
 but my words will never pass away.

00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:21.759
 Thirdly,

00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:23.659
 don't think that mockery,

00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:24.879
 of Jesus,

00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:27.080
 in verses 67 and verses 68,

00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:30.059
 will prove to be anything,

00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:31.299
 but contemptible.

00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:35.220
 It was then,

00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:36.279
 and it is now.

00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:39.820
 Those who spit in his face,

00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:43.120
 who strike him with their fists,

00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:46.240
 it seemed the right thing,

00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:47.000
 for them to do.

00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:48.379
 People who use the name,

00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:49.419
 of Jesus Christ,

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.580
 as a swear word,

00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:51.779
 and because everyone does it,

00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:52.980
 they think it's okay,

00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:54.840
 it's in fact contemptible.

00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:58.139
 Those who mock,

00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:59.580
 the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:01.059
 in their comedy shows,

00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:01.759
 and skits,

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:04.160
 don't think it's anything,

00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:05.240
 other than contemptible.

00:17:07.619 --> 00:17:08.019
 Fourth,

00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:09.420
 don't think that you can follow,

00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:11.259
 Jesus Christ at a distance,

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:12.339
 we're into next week's passage,

00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.740
 but look at verse 58,

00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.019
 69,

00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:16.420
 sorry,

00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:19.039
 Peter is sitting outside,

00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:20.319
 in the courtyard,

00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.099
 sorry,

00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:22.019
 and do look at verse 58,

00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.859
 Peter was following him,

00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:24.799
 at a distance.

00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.279
 It is,

00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:25.980
 it is,

00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:25.980
 it is,

00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:25.980
 it is,

00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:28.059
 the most miserable,

00:17:28.159 --> 00:17:30.200
 and bitter experience,

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:31.440
 in the Apostle Peter's life,

00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:34.819
 and you and I need to learn from that,

00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:36.379
 that to follow Christ,

00:17:36.419 --> 00:17:37.419
 at a distance,

00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:40.519
 will always end in tears and woes.

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.440
 Verse 57,

00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:45.099
 don't think that you can trust,

00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:46.399
 the religious establishment,

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:48.360
 you can always rely on them

00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:51.759
 in this passage it's clear isn't it

00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:53.740
 the high priests, the teachers of the law, the elders

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:56.240
 and often in history

00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:59.640
 religious leaders have proven to be a broken crutch

00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:02.000
 and we see that today don't we

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:04.300
 national leaders that are insipid

00:18:04.300 --> 00:18:07.220
 that never say anything offensive

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.820
 they talk about Jesus

00:18:08.820 --> 00:18:11.600
 but they talk about him as a weak pathetic figure

00:18:11.600 --> 00:18:13.680
 pleading with you to be nice

00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:17.480
 and don't put your faith in religious leaders

00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:20.140
 yes they'll rage at political controversy

00:18:20.140 --> 00:18:23.279
 but they will not expose sin

00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:26.740
 and they will not call this nation to repentance

00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:30.500
 and so do not put your trust in religious leaders

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:32.279
 or any man

00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:34.680
 or even Presbyterian leaders

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:40.160
 surely Caiaphas is unlikely to be the last high priest who went wrong

00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:42.720
 number six

00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:45.060
 don't think that standing with the majority

00:18:45.060 --> 00:18:47.180
 is a safe place

00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:49.000
 and that standing with the majority

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:49.800
 will be okay with you

00:18:49.800 --> 00:18:50.980
 27 verse 1

00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:52.800
 look at the all in that word

00:18:52.800 --> 00:18:56.460
 in 26 not everybody's there

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:59.860
 but in 27 everyone's arrived

00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:03.000
 and it's a strong majority

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:04.500
 and a minority of one

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:07.400
 and if you want to be with the majority

00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.720
 you want to go with the crowd

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:10.940
 you'll always be wrong

00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:13.860
 because to be a Christian

00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:15.800
 by its very nature

00:19:15.800 --> 00:19:18.340
 means that you cannot be on the broad road

00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:19.280
 that leads to destruction

00:19:19.280 --> 00:19:22.280
 but you find yourself as a Christian

00:19:22.280 --> 00:19:23.740
 on the narrow road

00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:26.000
 do not think that staying with the majority

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.060
 is safe in our culture

00:19:27.060 --> 00:19:30.040
 they must have thought that

00:19:30.040 --> 00:19:31.220
 when they went home that night

00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:33.259
 the family said

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:34.180
 where have you been

00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:37.480
 well actually we've condemned Jesus to death

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:40.500
 everybody agreed with that

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:42.720
 it must be right

00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:46.539
 it was unpleasant of course

00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:48.519
 but we must be right it wasn't

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:51.960
 and so let me tell you how to think

00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:53.980
 am I allowed to do that?

00:19:56.100 --> 00:19:57.320
 three things to think about

00:19:57.320 --> 00:20:01.900
 first of all think about where Jesus Christ is today

00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:05.660
 he is not on the cross

00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:08.740
 he is not in the grave

00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:11.380
 and he is not in the dock

00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:15.340
 today right now

00:20:15.340 --> 00:20:18.380
 Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God

00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:20.080
 and he is the ruler of the universe

00:20:20.080 --> 00:20:23.960
 and all authority has been given to him

00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:25.640
 authority over me

00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:26.820
 and authority over you

00:20:26.820 --> 00:20:28.160
 and authority over Caiaphas

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.340
 and everyone else

00:20:29.340 --> 00:20:30.500
 think about that

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:34.420
 and secondly

00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:36.740
 think what will happen when you die

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:41.119
 I am always nervous about saying that

00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:43.720
 I think we can misuse that

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:45.579
 and it can sound a little bit morbid

00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:47.079
 it can sound like I am trying to manipulate you

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:50.019
 but the Christian view of death

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:51.720
 is very clear isn't it

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:54.140
 that we see Christ as judge

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:57.480
 he is appointed for men and women and boys and girls

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:59.519
 once to die and then to face the judgment

00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:02.539
 and so that means that I will meet Christ

00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:04.859
 and you will meet Christ

00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:05.200
 isn't it

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.980
 and it's an alarming thing

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:09.920
 if Christ has only been on your lips

00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:13.740
 but you've not believed in him in your heart

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:15.339
 and confessed him as Lord

00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:19.559
 and so think where Christ is now

00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:21.099
 think what will happen when you die

00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:22.019
 and thirdly

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:23.879
 think

00:21:23.879 --> 00:21:27.839
 about the reason why Christ went through all of this

00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:31.559
 he went through all of this

00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:33.179
 for our salvation

00:21:33.179 --> 00:21:37.480
 and so today right now

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.959
 determine for yourself

00:21:38.959 --> 00:21:41.559
 to enthrone him in your heart

00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.299
 and in your life

00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:44.519
 and do that today

00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.439
 do that this morning

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:49.759
 what do you think

00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:53.220
 what is your judgment

00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:57.700
 he's worthy of death

00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.160
 they answer

00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.600
 what do you think

00:21:59.600 --> 00:22:03.039
 is he worthy of your life

00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:05.220
 your family

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:08.140
 and of your worship

00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:11.080
 what do you think

00:22:11.080 --> 00:22:12.720
 let's pray

00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:14.839
 let's pray

00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:14.839


00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:14.839


00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:14.839


00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:14.839


00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:14.839


00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:14.839


00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:14.839


00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.519
 let's pray

00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:15.960
 let's pray

00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:15.960


00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:16.539
 let's pray

00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:17.640
 let's pray

00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:17.640


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00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:17.640