WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.879
 Our reading comes from Matthew chapter 9.

00:00:03.620 --> 00:00:08.120
 Please follow along on the screen in your bulletin or your own Bible.

00:00:09.200 --> 00:00:12.220
 In Matthew 9 verse 1, we read,

00:00:12.980 --> 00:00:17.280
 And getting into a boat, he crossed over and came to his own city.

00:00:17.780 --> 00:00:22.260
 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed.

00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:25.960
 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,

00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:29.339
 Take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven.

00:00:29.339 --> 00:00:32.659
 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves,

00:00:33.340 --> 00:00:34.960
 This man is blaspheming.

00:00:35.939 --> 00:00:38.399
 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said,

00:00:39.159 --> 00:00:40.920
 Why do you think evil in your hearts?

00:00:41.500 --> 00:00:42.980
 For which is easier to say,

00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:47.219
 Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise and walk?

00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:52.240
 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.

00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:54.439
 He then said to the paralytic,

00:00:55.140 --> 00:00:57.900
 Rise, pick up your bed, and go home.

00:00:57.899 --> 00:00:59.979
 And he rose and went home.

00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:05.980
 When the crowd saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

00:01:06.859 --> 00:01:12.079
 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth.

00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:14.480
 And he said to him, Follow me.

00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:16.980
 And he rose and followed him.

00:01:16.980 --> 00:01:19.960
 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house,

00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:22.939
 Behold, many tax collectors and sinners came,

00:01:23.300 --> 00:01:25.420
 And were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.

00:01:25.939 --> 00:01:28.760
 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples,

00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:32.540
 Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?

00:01:32.540 --> 00:01:35.760
 But when he heard it, he said,

00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:40.719
 Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

00:01:41.460 --> 00:01:43.040
 Go and learn what this means.

00:01:43.660 --> 00:01:46.140
 I desire mercy and not sacrifice.

00:01:46.780 --> 00:01:49.520
 For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:52.840
 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying,

00:01:53.399 --> 00:01:57.659
 Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?

00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:00.219
 And Jesus said to them,

00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:04.359
 Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?

00:02:04.939 --> 00:02:07.920
 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,

00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:09.479
 and then they will fast.

00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:13.680
 No one puts a piece of unshrung cloth on an old garment,

00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:16.099
 For the patch tears away from the garment,

00:02:16.640 --> 00:02:18.620
 And a worse tear is made.

00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:22.360
 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins.

00:02:22.900 --> 00:02:26.200
 If it is, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled,

00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:27.819
 And the skins are destroyed.

00:02:28.379 --> 00:02:31.040
 But new wine is put into fresh wineskins,

00:02:31.620 --> 00:02:32.920
 And so both are preserved.

00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:35.760
 Amen. This is the word of God.

00:02:39.939 --> 00:02:41.860
 Great. Good morning, everybody.

00:02:41.860 --> 00:02:43.439
 And wonderful to see you.

00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:46.079
 Thank you, Karen and Pui, for reading God's word to us.

00:02:46.539 --> 00:02:50.159
 And welcome, all watermarkers and those that may be visiting.

00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:53.120
 If you're a guest of ours, so great to have you with us today.

00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:54.159
 A warm welcome to you.

00:02:54.659 --> 00:02:55.939
 If you don't know me, my name is Kevin.

00:02:56.079 --> 00:02:58.259
 I'm one of the elders and the pastors here.

00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:01.800
 And it is great to be able to look at God's word together this morning.

00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:04.520
 I wonder if you'll join me as we pray together.

00:03:05.099 --> 00:03:08.259
 Let's come before our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:03:08.259 --> 00:03:10.360
 the Holy Spirit, and pray for a few minutes now.

00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:10.979
 Let's pray together.

00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:16.560
 Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit,

00:03:16.740 --> 00:03:18.300
 the Triune God,

00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:20.060
 we come before you this morning,

00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:24.939
 not in any sense of self-sufficiency or self-righteousness.

00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:30.079
 We've come, God, very aware of our own depravity and our brokenness.

00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:33.560
 We've come, God, very aware of our need for you,

00:03:33.640 --> 00:03:36.140
 our foulness and our finiteness.

00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:38.540
 That you are God and we are not.

00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:42.900
 And, Lord, we really do come with a sense of need for you.

00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:44.420
 Come and speak to our hearts.

00:03:44.580 --> 00:03:45.620
 Come and encourage us.

00:03:45.740 --> 00:03:48.260
 Come and minister to us this morning.

00:03:48.800 --> 00:03:50.700
 Not just in the sermon,

00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:53.960
 but, God, as we sing these songs of worship and devotion to you,

00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:58.599
 I pray that you, the Spirit of God, will stir our hearts to see you freshly this morning.

00:03:59.480 --> 00:04:02.260
 God, we pray that as we come to your word in Matthew 9,

00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:04.640
 that it will be you that is speaking to us.

00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:07.879
 God, your word is not just pages on a screen.

00:04:08.020 --> 00:04:09.480
 It's living and active.

00:04:09.479 --> 00:04:13.119
 We need it, God, to come speak to our hearts,

00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:14.719
 to cut open to our hearts, Lord,

00:04:14.780 --> 00:04:17.120
 and to really speak to the depth of us.

00:04:17.180 --> 00:04:20.639
 And so we ask you to come and have your way as we look at your word.

00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:23.319
 God, come and show us more what Jesus is like,

00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:25.099
 what the gospel is like, we pray.

00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:28.899
 But we also just pray for every watermarker,

00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:31.659
 those maybe that are watching, those who maybe aren't,

00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:34.079
 those that are going through a difficult time.

00:04:34.300 --> 00:04:36.000
 You know where all our hearts are at.

00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:37.139
 You know where our lives are at.

00:04:37.139 --> 00:04:40.659
 You know the pains we face, the struggles we endure,

00:04:41.379 --> 00:04:42.939
 the difficulties we're going through.

00:04:42.979 --> 00:04:47.219
 We pray for your grace to really minister to us this morning and this week, God.

00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:50.939
 Come and minister to us, we pray, God.

00:04:52.620 --> 00:04:54.879
 Lord, we also pray, won't you send us out.

00:04:54.939 --> 00:04:57.519
 As we look this morning at this passage,

00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:00.459
 we see your heart, God, for people that are far from you.

00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:02.219
 We pray, God, for us as a church.

00:05:02.300 --> 00:05:05.199
 Won't you make us like you, Jesus.

00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:07.560
 May you send us out into the city, God.

00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:12.519
 May Hong Kong be better off because there is a simple church called Watermark Church here

00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:18.379
 that is participating in your kingdom come adventure of being salt and light in the city.

00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:21.000
 And so we pray, God, may we become more like you, Jesus.

00:05:21.719 --> 00:05:23.860
 May we love and serve those that are far from you.

00:05:23.980 --> 00:05:27.419
 May we also this morning recognize our own need for the gospel.

00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:30.539
 Come speak to us, we pray.

00:05:30.540 --> 00:05:35.379
 God, we also just this morning want to pray for our city, Hong Kong,

00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:38.720
 that's going through so many changes and so much that's going on,

00:05:38.980 --> 00:05:42.160
 both here at home in Hong Kong and across the world.

00:05:42.740 --> 00:05:45.180
 We pray, God, won't you come and lead in, guys.

00:05:45.260 --> 00:05:47.580
 We pray for our leaders, our political leaders, God.

00:05:47.640 --> 00:05:53.180
 We pray that they will serve the citizens of Hong Kong with fear and trembling,

00:05:53.340 --> 00:05:55.879
 that they will do what is good for the people of our city.

00:05:56.420 --> 00:05:58.580
 We do just pray for our city and all government officials.

00:05:58.579 --> 00:06:00.219
 We pray for peace in our times.

00:06:00.339 --> 00:06:02.060
 We pray for flourishing.

00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:04.859
 We pray that people's lives will be lifted up, God.

00:06:04.899 --> 00:06:06.300
 We pray for the poor and the marginalized,

00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:12.079
 that policies will be put in place and the church will respond in a way that serves our city.

00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:16.560
 God, we bring all these things before you and you're wonderful in your gracious name.

00:06:17.500 --> 00:06:17.819
 Amen.

00:06:18.740 --> 00:06:19.099
 Amen.

00:06:20.180 --> 00:06:25.139
 Okay, well, we are looking at this passage in Matthew chapter 9.

00:06:25.139 --> 00:06:27.939
 We're working through Matthew's gospel for a couple of weeks and months.

00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:31.759
 And seeing what does it mean to follow Jesus in all of life.

00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:39.740
 And today, in our passage, the passage that we look at, if you've got a Bible in front of you,

00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:41.779
 is often broken up into two sections.

00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:46.439
 There's verses 1 to 8, and then there's verses 9 and onwards.

00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:49.639
 And in most Bibles, this is divided into two sections.

00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:52.959
 And we can tend to think of this as two separate incidences.

00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:57.459
 But I think actually Jesus wants us to see this as one holistic picture.

00:06:57.819 --> 00:06:59.519
 And the reason is twofold.

00:07:00.339 --> 00:07:05.259
 The first reason is because in all of the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke,

00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:11.000
 these sections where Jesus heals the paralytic and where Jesus calls Matthew actually go together.

00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:13.179
 And I think the Holy Spirit has done that for a reason.

00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:17.560
 He wants us to read these two incidences as one flow of thought.

00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:20.780
 But the second reason is because there's a clear link.

00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:22.519
 There's a theme that is linking them.

00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:26.959
 In both Jesus' healing of the paralytic and his call to Matthew,

00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:32.259
 Jesus is comparing physical health with spiritual health.

00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:36.660
 Or maybe you could say he's using physical health as an analogy,

00:07:36.840 --> 00:07:40.939
 an illustration of what spiritual health and vitality looks like.

00:07:40.939 --> 00:07:43.920
 And so Jesus wants us to look at this section together.

00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:47.779
 Additionally, you may have seen when we read this,

00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:49.219
 when Priya and Karen were reading to us,

00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:53.660
 that in the three sections in the passage today,

00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:57.480
 Jesus responds to three objections or challenges.

00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:01.240
 In each one of these, somebody comes up to Jesus with a challenge.

00:08:01.620 --> 00:08:02.779
 And Jesus responds.

00:08:02.899 --> 00:08:05.379
 In the first one, some scribes come to Jesus and say,

00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:06.860
 Jesus, who do you think you are?

00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:08.360
 How can you say that?

00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:09.060
 That's blasphemy.

00:08:09.060 --> 00:08:13.319
 In the second one, some Pharisees come to Jesus and they say,

00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:17.759
 how on earth can you eat and feast with such scoundrels, such sinners?

00:08:18.379 --> 00:08:21.819
 And in the third passage, John's disciples come to Jesus and they say,

00:08:21.899 --> 00:08:24.439
 Jesus, all the devout Jews are fasting.

00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:26.660
 You and your disciples are not fasting.

00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:28.240
 What's wrong with you?

00:08:28.840 --> 00:08:33.059
 And in each one of these, Jesus responds to these misunderstandings,

00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:35.500
 these misconceptions of who he is.

00:08:35.500 --> 00:08:39.919
 And today, what we're going to see is three ingredients

00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:43.740
 that are absolutely essential to have genuine faith in Jesus.

00:08:44.259 --> 00:08:48.360
 Three things that you must know about Jesus if you're going to be a Christian at all.

00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:51.899
 If you take out any one of these three ingredients,

00:08:52.899 --> 00:08:57.720
 you will never really get to know the life transforming power of the gospel.

00:08:57.720 --> 00:09:01.180
 Take out any one of these ingredients and forever,

00:09:01.940 --> 00:09:06.320
 your Christianity will feel like a duty or a dry religion.

00:09:06.820 --> 00:09:08.460
 But that's not what Jesus has for us.

00:09:08.540 --> 00:09:11.120
 And so this morning, we're going to look at these three things.

00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:13.940
 We're going to look at his identity, who Jesus is,

00:09:14.379 --> 00:09:17.060
 his mission or his purpose, why he came,

00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:20.860
 and then his call, what it means to follow him.

00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:25.740
 Okay, so let's dive in the first one, who Jesus is.

00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:30.759
 Look at the first passage with me in Matthew 9, verses 1-8.

00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:32.840
 Now, we looked at this briefly last week.

00:09:33.019 --> 00:09:35.580
 So let's look at it briefly again this morning.

00:09:35.940 --> 00:09:37.680
 Jesus is back in Capernaum.

00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:39.019
 That's his hometown.

00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:40.919
 It's not the town where he grew up,

00:09:40.940 --> 00:09:45.100
 but it's kind of his adopted hometown during the time of his ministry.

00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:48.379
 It's where he often retreats after going out to ministry,

00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:50.519
 comes back to Capernaum, his adopted hometown,

00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:54.500
 and some people bring to him a paralyzed man on a stretcher.

00:09:55.340 --> 00:09:57.440
 They've heard of the miraculous power of Jesus.

00:09:57.580 --> 00:09:58.539
 They've heard of what he does.

00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:01.300
 And so they come to Jesus with a clear request.

00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:03.120
 They want Jesus to heal their friend.

00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:07.360
 But Jesus doesn't do for them what they initially expect.

00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:08.340
 Look at what he says.

00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:10.180
 Jesus simply says,

00:10:10.300 --> 00:10:11.259
 Take heart, my son.

00:10:11.340 --> 00:10:12.720
 Your sins are forgiven.

00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:16.139
 Now, that really upsets the religious leaders.

00:10:16.560 --> 00:10:18.279
 And you can understand why.

00:10:18.560 --> 00:10:20.620
 To heal someone of their paralysis,

00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:25.560
 that's the realm of doctors and miracle workers and wise sages,

00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:27.620
 religious leaders, possibly.

00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:29.720
 But to forgive someone of sins,

00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:31.620
 that's the prerogative of God alone.

00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:33.000
 Only God can do that.

00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:34.940
 Remember in Psalm 51,

00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:36.519
 that amazing Psalm in the Old Testament,

00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:39.580
 King David has committed this outrageous sin.

00:10:39.700 --> 00:10:41.659
 He's committed adultery with Bathsheba.

00:10:41.659 --> 00:10:43.759
 And he's challenged on this.

00:10:43.860 --> 00:10:46.879
 And he writes this incredible Psalm of confession and repentance,

00:10:47.079 --> 00:10:47.620
 Psalm 51.

00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:48.559
 And what he says there,

00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:48.819
 he says,

00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:52.019
 God, against you and you only have I sinned.

00:10:52.659 --> 00:10:53.240
 Now, obviously,

00:10:53.339 --> 00:10:56.120
 David did sin grievously against other people,

00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:56.339
 right?

00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:56.959
 Bathsheba,

00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:57.639
 her husband.

00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:03.600
 But David knows that primarily sin is vertical before it's horizontal.

00:11:04.659 --> 00:11:05.399
 That whenever we sin,

00:11:05.699 --> 00:11:08.519
 God is the offender,

00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:09.500
 the agreed party,

00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:10.419
 primarily.

00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:11.740
 And so,

00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:12.919
 when Jesus says,

00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:14.299
 I forgive you of your sins,

00:11:14.659 --> 00:11:15.480
 to the Pharisees,

00:11:15.559 --> 00:11:16.519
 this is blasphemy,

00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:19.360
 because Jesus is taking on the prerogative of God himself.

00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:22.480
 But look at Jesus' response.

00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:24.060
 He wants them,

00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:25.800
 but he also wants us to know,

00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:27.580
 to be absolutely clear on who he is.

00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:29.000
 And that's why he does two miracles.

00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:31.800
 He does a visible one and an invisible one.

00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:33.120
 Look at what he says.

00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:34.060
 He says in verse 6,

00:11:34.539 --> 00:11:37.820
 that you may know that I have the authority to forgive sins.

00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:39.440
 Then he says to the man,

00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:40.639
 rise,

00:11:40.800 --> 00:11:41.460
 pick up your mat,

00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:42.600
 and go home.

00:11:43.560 --> 00:11:46.200
 Jesus visibly heals this man of this paralysis,

00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:49.340
 because he wants everyone to know he's not just a wise teacher.

00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:53.139
 He's not just a sage of religious genius.

00:11:53.580 --> 00:11:55.800
 He's not just a compassionate miracle worker.

00:11:56.340 --> 00:11:56.779
 Rather,

00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:00.060
 he's nothing less than the one who hung the stars in space.

00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:03.800
 He's nothing less than the one who knit this man together in his mother's womb.

00:12:04.340 --> 00:12:08.899
 He's nothing less than the one who with a word can give life and take life away,

00:12:08.899 --> 00:12:12.120
 because he's nothing less than the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,

00:12:12.659 --> 00:12:15.259
 the God of their forefathers that they worshipped and endured.

00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:17.840
 He is God coming to them in human form.

00:12:18.780 --> 00:12:20.340
 And that's why throughout the Gospels,

00:12:20.540 --> 00:12:25.780
 Jesus is constantly drawing the anger of the crowds, of the people.

00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:27.580
 They want to throw him off the cliff.

00:12:27.820 --> 00:12:29.019
 They want to crucify him.

00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:29.920
 They want to murder him.

00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.399
 They come to plot to destroy him.

00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:36.120
 Jesus is constantly drawing the ire and the irritation of the people,

00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:40.580
 because he's constantly making claims that make no bones about it,

00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:41.899
 the fact that he is God.

00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:46.019
 And Jesus says he's not just one of a plethora of gods.

00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:47.560
 He's the one true God.

00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:50.740
 He is on par with Yahweh himself.

00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:52.779
 He is the one true God,

00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:54.179
 the creator of heaven and earth,

00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:56.200
 along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:59.340
 This is who he is.

00:13:00.160 --> 00:13:03.540
 Now, simply knowing who Jesus is,

00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:05.460
 his identity is not enough.

00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:08.960
 If all you know about Jesus is that he's God,

00:13:09.040 --> 00:13:09.920
 that he's divine,

00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:11.520
 that he has authority,

00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:13.980
 you still don't know him very well.

00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:17.480
 We saw this last week in the passage preceding this.

00:13:17.660 --> 00:13:21.600
 Jesus, remember, he gets off the boat in the area of the Gadarenes.

00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:24.279
 And two men that are demon-possessed come up to him.

00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:26.860
 And the demons speak to Jesus through the men.

00:13:26.940 --> 00:13:27.779
 And this is what they say.

00:13:28.300 --> 00:13:28.659
 They say,

00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:31.560
 What have you to do with us, O Son of God?

00:13:32.040 --> 00:13:33.340
 They know exactly who he is.

00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:35.740
 They know that he is God himself,

00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:36.420
 the Son of God,

00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:38.600
 the divine second member of the Trinity.

00:13:39.180 --> 00:13:40.800
 But that doesn't help them very much.

00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:43.480
 Simply knowing who Jesus is,

00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.180
 his identity,

00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:45.960
 is not enough to make you a Christian.

00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:48.379
 And it's not enough to help you understand

00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:50.660
 or encounter the life-transforming power

00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:51.699
 of the gospel.

00:13:52.219 --> 00:13:55.120
 In order to really understand who Jesus is

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:55.879
 and know him,

00:13:55.939 --> 00:13:58.019
 in order to really encounter his grace,

00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:01.019
 you need to know not just who he is,

00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:02.579
 but why he came.

00:14:03.480 --> 00:14:04.179
 Why he came.

00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:08.519
 Now, in almost nowhere in all of scripture

00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:10.559
 is this more beautifully portrayed

00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:12.439
 than in our passage there.

00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:13.519
 And it's so rich,

00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:15.039
 we could spend hours on it.

00:14:15.319 --> 00:14:16.480
 And we're not going to do that.

00:14:16.539 --> 00:14:17.379
 You'll be pleased to know.

00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:19.720
 But in this passage,

00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:21.039
 in Matthew chapter 9,

00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:23.120
 verses 9 to 13,

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:25.419
 we see this incredible picture

00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:27.519
 of not just who Jesus is,

00:14:27.580 --> 00:14:28.259
 but why he came.

00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:30.620
 Matthew shares the story

00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:32.340
 of what happened in his own house.

00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:33.820
 And Matthew is a tax collector.

00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:35.059
 We'll talk about that in a minute.

00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:37.399
 He's recently become a follower of Jesus.

00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:41.080
 And he throws this massive get-together banquet party

00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:43.740
 for Jesus with all his friends,

00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:44.419
 his cronies,

00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:45.459
 at his house.

00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:47.419
 Now, in ancient times,

00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:50.459
 houses were fairly open affairs.

00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:52.179
 They weren't behind gated communities.

00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:54.439
 You didn't have security guards at the front.

00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:56.719
 They were fairly open.

00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:58.399
 Everyone could see into the house

00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:59.259
 and see what was happening.

00:14:59.819 --> 00:15:00.479
 Many times,

00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:01.819
 you could actually kind of walk through

00:15:01.819 --> 00:15:03.379
 the outer perimeters of the house,

00:15:03.439 --> 00:15:04.159
 the portico,

00:15:04.719 --> 00:15:06.899
 and actually even interact with people

00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:09.519
 on the outskirts of the house,

00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:10.079
 or the property.

00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.180
 And so,

00:15:11.300 --> 00:15:12.379
 Jesus is here

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:14.160
 at Matthew's house.

00:15:14.520 --> 00:15:15.500
 Everyone can see

00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:16.860
 in what's happening.

00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:18.240
 And to the horror

00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.320
 of the religious leaders,

00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:20.540
 there is Jesus

00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:22.060
 with his disciples

00:15:22.060 --> 00:15:23.300
 in the midst

00:15:23.300 --> 00:15:25.160
 of this great big get-together

00:15:25.160 --> 00:15:27.560
 with all the people in society

00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:29.020
 that you would not want

00:15:29.020 --> 00:15:29.800
 to be seen with.

00:15:30.540 --> 00:15:31.600
 Jesus is there

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.960
 in the middle of the party.

00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:34.420
 And look at what Matthew says.

00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:36.480
 He's there with tax collectors

00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.820
 and sinners.

00:15:37.820 --> 00:15:41.000
 Many of us will know

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:43.180
 that tax collectors

00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:45.100
 were the most hated members

00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:46.480
 of Hebrew society.

00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:47.960
 And the reason is

00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.220
 because they were Jews

00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:51.080
 that were collecting taxes

00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:53.120
 from the Jewish people

00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:55.480
 on behalf of the Roman government.

00:15:56.160 --> 00:15:56.379
 And so,

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:56.920
 in many ways,

00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:58.540
 they are seen as traitors.

00:15:58.820 --> 00:15:59.980
 They are those

00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:00.980
 that have colluded

00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:01.780
 with the enemy

00:16:01.780 --> 00:16:03.880
 to tax their own people.

00:16:04.400 --> 00:16:05.600
 But more than that,

00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:06.640
 in ancient Israel,

00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:07.640
 there was no regulation

00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:08.500
 to how the taxes

00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:09.220
 were collected.

00:16:09.699 --> 00:16:11.419
 It was very just open

00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:12.559
 to interpretation.

00:16:13.199 --> 00:16:13.460
 And so,

00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:14.019
 one day,

00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:15.439
 you set up your tax booth

00:16:15.439 --> 00:16:16.299
 on the toll road

00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:17.659
 and you've got your license

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:18.340
 and one day,

00:16:18.419 --> 00:16:19.679
 you charge 10 denarii

00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:21.139
 for anyone that's passing through.

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.399
 And the next day,

00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:23.059
 maybe you charge

00:16:23.059 --> 00:16:24.860
 12 or 13 denarii.

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:25.679
 And then,

00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.379
 the next month,

00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.460
 maybe the tax collector,

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.720
 it's his son's birthday

00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.860
 and he wants to buy his son

00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:30.879
 a very special present.

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:31.299
 And so,

00:16:31.819 --> 00:16:32.460
 for a week,

00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.819
 he charges 20 denarii.

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.460
 It was very arbitrary.

00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:36.560
 And so,

00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:36.960
 what happened,

00:16:37.040 --> 00:16:37.480
 what that meant

00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:38.420
 was the tax collectors

00:16:38.420 --> 00:16:40.759
 were not only traitors,

00:16:41.180 --> 00:16:42.379
 they were extortionists.

00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:43.620
 They were those

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.440
 that were robbing

00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:45.259
 their own people

00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:46.840
 to line their own pockets

00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:48.000
 and to aid

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.540
 and facilitate

00:16:48.540 --> 00:16:49.420
 the foreign government.

00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.480
 The Mishnah

00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.100
 and the Talmud,

00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:54.200
 these ancient rabbinic documents,

00:16:54.540 --> 00:16:55.680
 lumped tax collectors

00:16:55.680 --> 00:16:57.060
 together with murderers

00:16:57.060 --> 00:16:58.019
 and thieves.

00:16:58.720 --> 00:16:59.200
 Tax collectors

00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.300
 were not allowed to witness

00:17:00.300 --> 00:17:01.379
 in a court of law.

00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:02.679
 They were not considered

00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:04.420
 trustworthy or honest enough.

00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:05.460
 Their testimony

00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:07.519
 was considered meaningless.

00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:08.579
 And so,

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.000
 in some ways,

00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:11.200
 think of a Jewish person

00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:13.720
 sidelining or informing

00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:16.480
 the Nazi German government

00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.539
 in World War II

00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:19.259
 how to capture other Jews.

00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:20.220
 That's kind of how

00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:22.420
 Israel felt about tax collectors.

00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:25.380
 Not only have they turned

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:27.700
 their back on their own people,

00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:29.380
 they've sought to live for themselves

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:32.040
 and for their own pleasure.

00:17:32.820 --> 00:17:33.060
 And so,

00:17:33.120 --> 00:17:34.080
 in this close-knit,

00:17:34.280 --> 00:17:35.600
 family-orientated,

00:17:35.760 --> 00:17:36.780
 unashamed culture,

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.300
 this is the ultimate act

00:17:38.300 --> 00:17:39.020
 of betrayal

00:17:39.020 --> 00:17:40.260
 and unfaithfulness.

00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:43.320
 And here is Jesus.

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.000
 Jesus.

00:17:45.760 --> 00:17:47.900
 This popular teacher

00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:49.900
 who crowds are attracted to Him.

00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:51.300
 And He's in the middle

00:17:51.300 --> 00:17:52.640
 of this great big

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.700
 get-together party

00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:54.900
 with tax collectors

00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:56.360
 and other sinners.

00:17:56.460 --> 00:17:57.920
 That means prostitutes

00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:58.960
 and pimps

00:17:58.960 --> 00:17:59.620
 and murderers

00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:00.160
 and thieves.

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:02.000
 And He's not preaching at them.

00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:03.580
 He's eating with them.

00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.380
 He's feasting with them.

00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:07.400
 About a year ago,

00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.840
 I was down in Central

00:18:08.840 --> 00:18:09.840
 on the corner of

00:18:09.840 --> 00:18:10.560
 Peter Street

00:18:10.560 --> 00:18:11.860
 and Queens Road.

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:12.759
 You know,

00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:14.220
 where the new decathlon is.

00:18:14.300 --> 00:18:14.400
 Now,

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.440
 I'm on the street corner there

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.519
 and I see a man

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.539
 with a loud hailer,

00:18:18.120 --> 00:18:19.279
 a megaphone.

00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.480
 And he's standing

00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.400
 on the street corner

00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:22.480
 shouting out,

00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:23.340
 Repent!

00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:24.680
 You sinners!

00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.740
 Repent, Hong Kongers!

00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:29.299
 I think that's what the Pharisees

00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:30.400
 wanted Jesus to do

00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:30.960
 at this party.

00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:31.960
 But that's not what Jesus

00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:32.539
 is doing at all.

00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:33.740
 He's not preaching at them.

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:35.220
 He's not scolding them.

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.740
 He's not rebuking them

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.299
 and telling them

00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:38.620
 what dirty rotten scoundrels

00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:39.039
 they are.

00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:40.880
 He's eating with them.

00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:42.539
 He's eating pork chops

00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:43.660
 and bacon, probably.

00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:45.660
 He's drinking Gentile wine.

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.240
 Jesus is doing

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:48.220
 the very thing

00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:49.480
 He's not supposed to do

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.400
 with the very people

00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.720
 He's not supposed to be with.

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.779
 And why is He doing it?

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:56.160
 Well, He tells us.

00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:58.500
 Look at verse 12 and 13.

00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:00.139
 Jesus says,

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.379
 Those who are well

00:19:01.379 --> 00:19:03.539
 have no need of a physician

00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.839
 but those who are sick.

00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:08.799
 I came not to call the righteous

00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:11.519
 but I've come to call sinners.

00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:16.660
 I've come not to associate

00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:17.859
 and hang out with those

00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:20.139
 who got it all together.

00:19:20.140 --> 00:19:22.600
 My purpose for coming

00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:24.340
 was to call people

00:19:24.340 --> 00:19:25.440
 who are far from God

00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.820
 back into relationship

00:19:26.820 --> 00:19:28.220
 with God.

00:19:28.300 --> 00:19:29.040
 That's what He means

00:19:29.040 --> 00:19:29.460
 when He says,

00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:31.060
 Go and learn what this means.

00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:32.620
 I desire mercy,

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.480
 not sacrifice.

00:19:33.600 --> 00:19:34.240
 It's a quote from

00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.540
 Isaiah chapter 6

00:19:35.540 --> 00:19:37.380
 where Jesus is saying,

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.620
 What I desire

00:19:38.620 --> 00:19:39.880
 is covenant relationship.

00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.800
 That's what mercy means.

00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:41.220
 Like I said,

00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:42.540
 covenant relationship

00:19:42.540 --> 00:19:43.540
 with people.

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:45.000
 I want to be really nice.

00:19:45.040 --> 00:19:46.360
 I want people that are far from me

00:19:46.360 --> 00:19:47.000
 to come back

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.040
 and experience my love

00:19:48.040 --> 00:19:48.560
 and my mercy.

00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:50.039
 I'm not just interested

00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:51.740
 in religious devotion

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:54.500
 and practices.

00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:56.019
 I'm not interested

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:57.299
 in people feeling entitled.

00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:58.799
 I want covenant relationship.

00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.379
 I've come to call people

00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:02.419
 back to God.

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.980
 Douglas O'Donnell says this,

00:20:06.879 --> 00:20:08.139
 Christ stands close

00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:09.220
 to those who know

00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.119
 they are far from Him.

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.480
 Why?

00:20:11.679 --> 00:20:13.079
 Because that's why He came.

00:20:13.659 --> 00:20:15.179
 He came to call sinners.

00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:17.000
 Not after they've shown

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.720
 interest in Him

00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:19.140
 or cleaned up their act.

00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.619
 But while they are still

00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:21.680
 10 feet deep

00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:23.180
 in their sins.

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:24.720
 Friends,

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:26.119
 at the heart of Christianity

00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:27.539
 is this claim

00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:29.119
 that all of humanity,

00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:30.079
 all of us,

00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:31.440
 Jews and Gentiles,

00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.559
 rich and poor,

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.859
 educated and uneducated,

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:35.920
 Hong Kongers,

00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:36.839
 mainlanders,

00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:37.720
 Malaysians,

00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.259
 Koreans,

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.180
 South Africans,

00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:39.819
 Australians,

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.980
 all of us,

00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:42.619
 face a massive problem

00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:44.160
 that we cannot solve

00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:45.160
 on our own.

00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:46.360
 And that is that

00:20:46.360 --> 00:20:48.220
 as a result of our sin,

00:20:48.600 --> 00:20:49.180
 which is really

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:50.600
 us turning our back

00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:50.980
 on God

00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.060
 and living for ourselves,

00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:54.160
 we are under God's judgment.

00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:55.580
 We are alienated

00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:56.660
 from the life

00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:57.360
 that God has

00:20:57.360 --> 00:20:58.800
 destined us for

00:20:58.800 --> 00:20:59.460
 and the love

00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:00.860
 that He's designed us

00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:01.940
 and made us to experience.

00:21:02.300 --> 00:21:03.540
 And there's no way back.

00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.880
 We cannot buy

00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:05.660
 our way back.

00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:06.880
 We cannot earn

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.480
 our way back

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.300
 with good behavior.

00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:10.080
 We cannot merit

00:21:10.080 --> 00:21:10.800
 our way back

00:21:10.800 --> 00:21:12.040
 with religious devotion

00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:13.200
 and duty.

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:14.720
 All of us have

00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:16.039
 turned our back on God.

00:21:16.159 --> 00:21:17.379
 We've gone our own way.

00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:17.920
 In a sense,

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:18.720
 we are our own

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.680
 tax collectors

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.819
 and sinners.

00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.859
 And so Jesus Christ,

00:21:23.139 --> 00:21:23.940
 God Himself,

00:21:24.379 --> 00:21:25.399
 God in human form,

00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.059
 the greatest physician

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:29.000
 ever has come to us

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:30.339
 to bring healing

00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:31.079
 and redemption

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:32.079
 and reconciliation.

00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:33.899
 Jesus has come

00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:34.960
 to call us back

00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.359
 to Himself,

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.240
 to make a way

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:37.759
 for men and women,

00:21:38.159 --> 00:21:38.960
 people like me

00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.740
 and you,

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:41.640
 to be reconciled

00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:42.120
 to God.

00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:43.720
 This is who Jesus is

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:45.299
 and this is why

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.559
 He has come.

00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.480
 If you look again

00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:52.240
 at the first pericope,

00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:53.019
 the first story

00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:54.099
 of Jesus healing

00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:54.900
 the paralytic,

00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:58.480
 Jesus says to the paralytic,

00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.240
 I've got good news.

00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:00.299
 Take heart, my son.

00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:02.039
 Your sins are forgiven you.

00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:03.859
 And Jesus challenged,

00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:04.960
 how can you say that?

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.819
 And so look what He says

00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:06.400
 in verse 6.

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:06.779
 He says,

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:08.519
 that you may know

00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.599
 that I,

00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.160
 the Son of Man,

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.920
 have authority

00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:12.019
 to forgive sins.

00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.480
 And He turns to man

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:13.720
 and says,

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.579
 pick up your mat

00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.740
 to rise and walk.

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:18.119
 Jesus is doing more

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:19.359
 than merely proving

00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:20.160
 His credentials.

00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:21.059
 He's doing more

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:22.000
 than merely proving

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.680
 that He's God.

00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:24.819
 Jesus is making the point

00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:25.779
 that more important

00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.940
 than a renewed body

00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:28.139
 is a renewed heart,

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.019
 a renewed soul.

00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.839
 Jesus is making the point

00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:32.039
 that He hasn't just

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.379
 come to improve our lives,

00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.839
 He's come to solve

00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:35.779
 the deepest problem,

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:37.079
 which is the problem

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:38.180
 of sin in our hearts,

00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.779
 the cancer of sin.

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.220
 Jesus is demonstrating

00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.720
 that merely healing

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.619
 this man's body

00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:44.839
 would have been wonderful,

00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:46.299
 but insufficient.

00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.319
 To restore His health

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:49.180
 would perhaps save Him

00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:50.319
 from a couple of decades

00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:50.879
 of suffering,

00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:52.619
 but to restore His soul,

00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.740
 to restore His heart,

00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.639
 to restore relationship

00:22:54.639 --> 00:22:55.079
 with God,

00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:56.319
 that's going to save Him

00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:57.180
 from an eternity

00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:59.220
 of suffering and damnation.

00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.279
 Friends,

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.839
 Jesus says in verse 2,

00:23:01.899 --> 00:23:02.519
 His declaration,

00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.839
 that the forgiveness

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:05.879
 of sins may not have been

00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:06.660
 what the paralytic

00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:07.779
 wanted to hear,

00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:08.960
 but oh,

00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:09.859
 it was what he needed

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.359
 to hear.

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:12.440
 And friends,

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.400
 that's true for you

00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:14.940
 and I as well.

00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:17.759
 One of the most important

00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:19.119
 scriptures in the whole

00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:19.599
 of the Bible,

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.379
 and I want to encourage you

00:23:20.379 --> 00:23:21.579
 to memorize this scripture,

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.859
 learn it off by heart,

00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:23.779
 is this,

00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:24.940
 1 Timothy chapter 1.

00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.559
 The Apostle Paul,

00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:28.139
 the great Apostle Paul,

00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:28.599
 writes this.

00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:28.980
 He says,

00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:30.519
 this saying is trustworthy

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:32.240
 and deserves full acceptance.

00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:34.279
 That means this is absolutely true

00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.539
 and you can bank your life on it.

00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:38.400
 Jesus Christ came into the world

00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:39.700
 to save sinners.

00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:42.640
 And then he adds this amazing line,

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:46.160
 of whom I am the foremost,

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:48.620
 of whom I am the very worst.

00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:49.740
 Friends,

00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:51.680
 remember we mentioned it last week,

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:53.660
 the angel Gabriel comes to Mary

00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:54.059
 and she says,

00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:54.360
 Mary,

00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:56.079
 you are going to be with child

00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:57.440
 and the child within you

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:59.440
 is going to be called Jesus.

00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:00.940
 God saves,

00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:02.460
 for he is going to save his people

00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.519
 from their sins.

00:24:04.100 --> 00:24:04.940
 Right at the beginning

00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:06.220
 of Jesus' earthly ministry,

00:24:06.320 --> 00:24:07.340
 his disciples come to him

00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:07.500
 and say,

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:09.059
 Jesus teaches how to pray.

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:11.100
 And Jesus teaches them famously

00:24:11.100 --> 00:24:11.900
 the Lord's Prayer.

00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.299
 And right at the center of that

00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:13.559
 is,

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:15.720
 forgive us our sins

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.820
 as we forgive those

00:24:16.820 --> 00:24:18.299
 that have sinned against us.

00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.740
 At the end of his life,

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.340
 Jesus,

00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:21.900
 the night before he goes to the cross,

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.680
 he's having a meal

00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.440
 with his disciples

00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:25.340
 and he grabs a glass of wine

00:24:25.340 --> 00:24:26.980
 at Passover meal

00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.860
 and he says,

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:29.380
 this is the blood of my covenant

00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:31.200
 which is poured out for you

00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:33.420
 for the forgiveness of sins.

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.620
 Friends,

00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.039
 Jesus,

00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:35.599
 the next day,

00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:37.279
 he's hanging on the cross,

00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:39.240
 nails smashed to his hands,

00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.599
 he's struggling to breathe

00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:42.599
 as his body is weighed down

00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:44.380
 and he dies of asphyxiation

00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:45.420
 and he cries out

00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.519
 with his dying breath,

00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:47.460
 Father,

00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:49.079
 forgive them.

00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:51.539
 They know not what they do.

00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:53.319
 Friends,

00:24:53.400 --> 00:24:54.980
 Jesus rises from the grave

00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:56.039
 and he's walking on the road

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:57.279
 and he meets two disciples

00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.519
 on the way to Emmaus

00:24:58.519 --> 00:25:00.880
 and he says to them,

00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:02.279
 this it was written,

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.759
 that the Christ should suffer

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.640
 and on the third day

00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:06.440
 rise from the dead,

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.620
 that repentance

00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:10.099
 and the forgiveness of sins

00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:10.960
 should be proclaimed

00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.900
 in his name

00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:13.539
 to every corner

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.900
 of the world.

00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.339
 Friends,

00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.599
 this is the heart of Christianity.

00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.720
 This is what the entire Bible

00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.220
 is about

00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.160
 from beginning to end.

00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.759
 This is what Christians worship.

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:24.200
 This is why we sing songs

00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:25.579
 of adoration and glory.

00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:27.079
 This is why we rejoice

00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:27.960
 in who God is.

00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:29.379
 This is why we sang

00:25:29.379 --> 00:25:30.480
 like we did this morning.

00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.559
 This is why we live

00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:32.519
 with hope in our hearts

00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.519
 because though our sins

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:35.240
 are red as crimson,

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:36.019
 friends,

00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.400
 though our sins are as many

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.940
 as the sand on the seashore,

00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.980
 though our sins are as high

00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:43.140
 as the skyscrapers of Hong Kong,

00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:45.720
 Jesus Christ came into the world

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.839
 for people like you

00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.940
 and people like me

00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:49.799
 to take our sins upon himself.

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:53.259
 Jesus says,

00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:54.180
 those who are well,

00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:56.000
 those who are perfect,

00:25:56.899 --> 00:25:57.619
 have no need

00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.819
 for a physician.

00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:01.019
 I've come

00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:03.139
 not just to do religious duty.

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:03.980
 I've come not just

00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:05.759
 to bring a new religious system.

00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:06.740
 I've come not just

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:08.119
 to start a new religion.

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:10.799
 I've come to call sinners

00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:12.299
 to myself.

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:16.259
 Now,

00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:16.919
 in one sense,

00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:18.299
 the religious leaders

00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.240
 in Jesus' day,

00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:21.579
 they would not disagree with this.

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.680
 They would acknowledge

00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:25.159
 this is what all prophets do,

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:26.480
 all wise men,

00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.180
 religious men,

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.759
 all the prophets in Israel

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:30.299
 were constantly calling Israel

00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:31.159
 back to God,

00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:31.740
 to repentance

00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:33.399
 for their sins.

00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.919
 But in another way,

00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:38.460
 they completely miss Jesus.

00:26:38.659 --> 00:26:39.460
 They see it,

00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.240
 but they don't see it.

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.339
 And they miss Jesus.

00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.279
 And they miss Jesus,

00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:42.579
 I think,

00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:43.279
 for three reasons.

00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:44.539
 And it's the same three reasons

00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:46.279
 that we miss Jesus.

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.500
 Friends,

00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.140
 my guess is that

00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:49.339
 for many of us this morning,

00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:50.640
 this scripture

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.519
 where Jesus said,

00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.920
 I came to call sinners,

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:54.779
 is probably not new to us.

00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.240
 But we miss it

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.880
 for three reasons.

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:58.000
 The one reason is this.

00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.799
 We tend to think of

00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:00.859
 other people

00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:01.819
 as the sinners

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.779
 that Jesus came for.

00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:05.099
 The scribes

00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.740
 and the Pharisees

00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:07.079
 in Jesus' day,

00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:08.680
 they would nod their heads

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:08.880
 and say,

00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.600
 that's very good.

00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:10.320
 You're right,

00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:11.500
 we need to call sinners

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.019
 to repentance.

00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:13.200
 But it was those people

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:13.580
 out there.

00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:15.039
 It was the tax collectors.

00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:17.019
 It was the prostitutes

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.860
 and the sex workers.

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:18.759
 And friends,

00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.660
 we can do the same.

00:27:20.080 --> 00:27:20.480
 We can think

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.940
 it's those drug dealers

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:23.080
 out there on the streets.

00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:24.259
 It's those ladies

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:25.480
 that work in the red light district.

00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:27.180
 It's those Wall Street bankers

00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:27.940
 that are greedy

00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:29.660
 and full of greed.

00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.960
 It's those people

00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.779
 that we need to organize

00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.279
 a mission

00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:32.880
 to go out there

00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.539
 and save them.

00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:34.600
 We need to send

00:27:34.600 --> 00:27:35.500
 some church planters

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.200
 there to go and speak

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:37.200
 to those people.

00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:39.259
 And yet we miss

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:39.980
 the fact that Jesus

00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:41.259
 has come for us.

00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:42.759
 For us.

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.500
 Here's another way

00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.500
 that we miss it.

00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:47.299
 We tend to think

00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.180
 of ourselves as sinners

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:49.880
 but in a generic sense.

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:51.160
 We kind of tend to say,

00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:52.220
 yes, yes, it's true.

00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:52.880
 We all sinners.

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.019
 I too am a sinner.

00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.059
 And when we tend

00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:57.620
 to think of our sins

00:27:57.620 --> 00:27:58.480
 as things like,

00:27:59.480 --> 00:27:59.880
 you know,

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.640
 six months ago

00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:02.440
 I lost my temper

00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.000
 in the traffic

00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:04.019
 and I swore

00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:04.799
 at another car

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.279
 when he pulled

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.940
 in front of me.

00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.319
 And it's true.

00:28:07.399 --> 00:28:08.220
 I shouldn't have done that

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.200
 and I'm glad

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.099
 that Jesus came

00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:11.480
 for my swearing.

00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:13.019
 I really need Jesus

00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:13.619
 to help me

00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:14.639
 with my road rage.

00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.180
 Or we tend to say

00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:16.619
 things like,

00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.599
 I guess I haven't

00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:19.000
 really read my Bible

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.139
 so much

00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:20.899
 in the last month

00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:22.119
 and that's true.

00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:22.700
 I really should

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.420
 do a better job.

00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:24.559
 I should be more committed.

00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.740
 So we tend to think

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.099
 of ourselves

00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:28.539
 as we all kind of sinners

00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:29.799
 in a very generic sense.

00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:31.039
 But we don't see

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:32.039
 what's really going

00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.460
 in our hearts.

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:32.940
 We don't see

00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:34.059
 the anger

00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:34.819
 in our hearts.

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.200
 We don't see

00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.480
 the self-righteousness.

00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:37.819
 We don't see

00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.379
 that when people

00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.679
 challenge us

00:28:39.679 --> 00:28:41.179
 the anger that rises

00:28:41.179 --> 00:28:42.579
 is not merely

00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:43.119
 because they're

00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:43.759
 challenging us.

00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.619
 It's because of

00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:46.460
 a sense of self-righteousness

00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:46.940
 in our hearts.

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.399
 Friends,

00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.259
 I've got to tell you

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.359
 that happens to me

00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:49.919
 so often.

00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.679
 People challenge me

00:28:51.679 --> 00:28:52.440
 and correct me

00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.759
 and I don't take it

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.220
 very well.

00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:54.940
 I don't like

00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.539
 to be challenged

00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:57.220
 because my heart

00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:58.240
 is bent into myself.

00:28:58.779 --> 00:29:00.339
 I like the Pharisees.

00:29:00.399 --> 00:29:01.139
 I've turned away

00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:01.540
 from God

00:29:01.540 --> 00:29:01.880
 and I want

00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:02.660
 to live for myself.

00:29:03.380 --> 00:29:03.940
 I want to be

00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.720
 my own God.

00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.280
 There is a God

00:29:06.280 --> 00:29:06.700
 that sits

00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:07.200
 on the throne

00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:07.759
 of my life

00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.180
 and his name

00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:08.780
 is Kevin.

00:29:09.580 --> 00:29:10.480
 And I constantly

00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.020
 want to be

00:29:11.020 --> 00:29:11.600
 my own God.

00:29:12.280 --> 00:29:13.380
 I find ways

00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:14.660
 to prop up

00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:15.840
 the idolatry

00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:16.620
 of my own heart.

00:29:17.340 --> 00:29:18.060
 And I'm a sinner

00:29:18.060 --> 00:29:18.860
 and I need Jesus.

00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:20.360
 But I don't like

00:29:20.360 --> 00:29:21.080
 to admit that.

00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.540
 So it's easier

00:29:22.540 --> 00:29:23.340
 to compare myself

00:29:23.340 --> 00:29:23.720
 to others

00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.180
 and think of

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:24.940
 those people out there.

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.620
 But here's the third

00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.240
 way to do it.

00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:27.700
 Sometimes think of

00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.300
 ourselves as

00:29:28.300 --> 00:29:29.680
 Jesus came to save us

00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.259
 from our sins

00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:30.860
 but it happened

00:29:30.860 --> 00:29:31.720
 a long time ago.

00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:33.980
 Back in 1978

00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:35.080
 God radically

00:29:35.080 --> 00:29:35.940
 saved my life.

00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.539
 I was a drug dealer.

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.980
 I was doing this.

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.640
 I was doing that.

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:41.200
 And God saved me.

00:29:41.840 --> 00:29:42.340
 And you know

00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:44.140
 he really revolutionized

00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:44.680
 my life.

00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:45.720
 Yeah yeah

00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.660
 40 years ago

00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.400
 God came

00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:48.120
 and saved a sinner

00:29:48.120 --> 00:29:48.600
 like me.

00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:50.080
 But notice

00:29:50.080 --> 00:29:51.340
 what Paul says here.

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:52.759
 Paul says

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.299
 this saying is

00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:53.660
 trustworthy

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.240
 and deserving

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.980
 of full acceptance.

00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:56.000
 That Jesus came

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.400
 to the world

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.120
 to save sinners.

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:57.980
 He says

00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:59.400
 of whom I am

00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:00.259
 present tense.

00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.980
 Of whom I am

00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.740
 the very worst.

00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:03.319
 Jesus is not

00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:04.319
 Paul is not just saying

00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:04.960
 you know

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.339
 I was really bad.

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.839
 Long time ago

00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:08.539
 when I was a Pharisee

00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.420
 I was so bad.

00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:10.360
 He's saying

00:30:10.360 --> 00:30:11.019
 right now

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.860
 the current reality

00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:12.339
 of my heart

00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:13.099
 is I'm the worst

00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:13.640
 sinner I know

00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:14.480
 and I need

00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:15.700
 Jesus grace today.

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.940
 John Newton

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.860
 was this

00:30:19.860 --> 00:30:21.019
 amazing man

00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:21.539
 who

00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.240
 well he was actually

00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:22.940
 a dreadful man

00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.559
 when he first

00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:25.500
 first half of his life

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.059
 he was a

00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:27.839
 a ship captain

00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:29.639
 in the

00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:30.599
 transatlantic

00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.700
 slave trade

00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.899
 used to captain ships

00:30:32.899 --> 00:30:33.299
 that went along

00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.259
 the coast of Africa

00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:35.259
 Sierra Leone

00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.799
 and other parts of Africa

00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.980
 capturing

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:39.500
 men and women

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:42.079
 tying them up

00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.519
 and then

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.759
 selling them as slaves

00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.279
 to the new

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.460
 colonies in America.

00:30:45.659 --> 00:30:46.659
 He was a slave trader

00:30:46.659 --> 00:30:47.879
 and he

00:30:47.879 --> 00:30:49.519
 encounters the gospel

00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:50.579
 he encounters Jesus

00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:52.379
 his life turns around

00:30:52.379 --> 00:30:54.159
 a couple years later

00:30:54.159 --> 00:30:55.099
 he leaves shipping

00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:57.039
 he then becomes

00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:57.599
 a pastor

00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:58.819
 and many years later

00:30:58.819 --> 00:30:59.980
 he writes this amazing

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.659
 amazing hymn

00:31:00.659 --> 00:31:02.079
 Amazing Grace

00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:03.119
 how sweet the sound

00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:04.199
 that God could save

00:31:04.199 --> 00:31:05.059
 a wretch like me

00:31:05.059 --> 00:31:06.339
 I once was lost

00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:07.399
 now I'm found

00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:08.059
 was blind

00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:09.219
 but now I see

00:31:09.219 --> 00:31:10.759
 but towards the end

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.159
 of his life

00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:11.740
 John Newton

00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:13.259
 says these amazing words

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:13.599
 he says

00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:15.299
 though I am an old man

00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:16.480
 now and my memory

00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.219
 is failing

00:31:17.219 --> 00:31:18.859
 two great things

00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:19.919
 I shall never forget

00:31:19.919 --> 00:31:21.879
 I am a great sinner

00:31:21.879 --> 00:31:24.619
 and Christ is a great savior

00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:27.859
 my dear friend

00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:28.599
 do you know that

00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:30.500
 Jesus is a great savior

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.279
 and that he came

00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:31.799
 for you

00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:33.319
 he didn't just come

00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:34.159
 in a generic sense

00:31:34.159 --> 00:31:35.599
 for the sins of the world

00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.839
 he didn't just come

00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:37.659
 for those scoundrels

00:31:37.659 --> 00:31:38.199
 out there

00:31:38.199 --> 00:31:39.939
 he came for people

00:31:39.939 --> 00:31:40.500
 like me

00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:41.459
 and he came for people

00:31:41.459 --> 00:31:42.259
 like you

00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:43.639
 friends

00:31:43.639 --> 00:31:45.139
 Jesus came

00:31:45.139 --> 00:31:46.459
 for us

00:31:46.459 --> 00:31:47.719
 and you know why

00:31:47.719 --> 00:31:48.899
 because of his

00:31:48.899 --> 00:31:50.899
 unquestionable love

00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:51.439
 for us

00:31:51.439 --> 00:31:53.119
 because of his love

00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:53.500
 for you

00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:53.939
 and his love

00:31:53.939 --> 00:31:54.239
 for me

00:31:54.239 --> 00:31:55.479
 it wasn't the nails

00:31:55.479 --> 00:31:56.139
 that hung Jesus

00:31:56.139 --> 00:31:56.719
 on the cross

00:31:56.719 --> 00:31:57.799
 it was his love

00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.279
 for us

00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:59.339
 Jesus came

00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:00.059
 for us

00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:02.279
 and that leads us

00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:03.599
 to the third

00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:04.539
 and final thing

00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:05.719
 which is that

00:32:05.719 --> 00:32:06.339
 if you want to know

00:32:06.339 --> 00:32:06.759
 who Jesus

00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:07.779
 if you want to really

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.539
 experience the life

00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:09.239
 transforming power

00:32:09.239 --> 00:32:09.539
 of Jesus

00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:10.139
 you've got to not

00:32:10.139 --> 00:32:11.179
 only know who he is

00:32:11.179 --> 00:32:12.639
 not only know

00:32:12.639 --> 00:32:13.399
 why he came

00:32:13.399 --> 00:32:14.539
 you've got to know

00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.099
 what it means

00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:16.479
 to follow him

00:32:16.479 --> 00:32:18.179
 look at the third

00:32:18.179 --> 00:32:19.479
 story in our

00:32:19.479 --> 00:32:20.779
 passage today

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:23.500
 this time

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.059
 it's not the

00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:24.559
 Pharisees

00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:24.980
 but it's

00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:25.240
 John

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.759
 disciples

00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.539
 who come

00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:26.980
 to Jesus

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.579
 and they ask

00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:28.180
 him a question

00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:28.879
 and they say

00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:29.240
 to him

00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:30.559
 why is it

00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.519
 that neither

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.299
 you nor

00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:33.059
 your disciples

00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:34.079
 fast like

00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:34.379
 the other

00:32:34.379 --> 00:32:34.839
 rabbis

00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:35.200
 and the

00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:35.720
 Pharisees

00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.720
 now what's

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.079
 going on

00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.359
 here is

00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:37.660
 that in

00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:38.240
 first century

00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:38.779
 Israel

00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:40.099
 all devout

00:32:40.099 --> 00:32:40.440
 Jews

00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:41.519
 fasted twice

00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:41.920
 a week

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.759
 on Mondays

00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.599
 and Thursdays

00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.420
 why Mondays

00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:45.059
 and Thursdays

00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:45.700
 I'm not too

00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:45.879
 sure

00:32:45.879 --> 00:32:46.859
 that was just

00:32:46.859 --> 00:32:47.339
 the custom

00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:48.420
 Mondays

00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:49.099
 and Thursdays

00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:49.799
 all devout

00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.059
 Jews

00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:50.779
 would fast

00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:52.480
 but Jesus

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:52.879
 and his

00:32:52.879 --> 00:32:53.339
 disciples

00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:53.759
 are not

00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.139
 fasting

00:32:54.139 --> 00:32:54.839
 in fact

00:32:54.839 --> 00:32:55.359
 we can't

00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:55.720
 prove it

00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.200
 but I

00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:57.159
 like to

00:32:57.159 --> 00:32:57.500
 imagine

00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:58.759
 that Jesus

00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.240
 is at

00:32:59.240 --> 00:32:59.759
 Matthew's

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.099
 house

00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.639
 having this

00:33:00.639 --> 00:33:01.299
 great big

00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:02.599
 feast

00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:03.019
 this get

00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:03.379
 together

00:33:03.379 --> 00:33:04.599
 on a

00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:04.839
 Thursday

00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:05.240
 night

00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:06.240
 and so

00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:06.679
 all the

00:33:06.679 --> 00:33:06.879
 other

00:33:06.879 --> 00:33:07.359
 devout

00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:07.679
 Jews

00:33:07.679 --> 00:33:08.059
 are

00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:09.079
 fasting

00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:09.679
 and they

00:33:09.679 --> 00:33:10.319
 are

00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:10.940
 devout

00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:11.240
 and they

00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:11.819
 are hungry

00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:12.919
 and here's

00:33:12.919 --> 00:33:13.299
 Jesus

00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:14.500
 and these

00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.079
 other Jews

00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:15.919
 when everyone

00:33:15.919 --> 00:33:16.419
 else should be

00:33:16.419 --> 00:33:16.799
 fasting

00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.259
 and they're

00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:17.779
 feasting it

00:33:17.779 --> 00:33:18.039
 up

00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.839
 and so

00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:19.279
 they come

00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:19.579
 to him

00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:19.779
 and they

00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:19.980
 say

00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.419
 Jesus

00:33:20.419 --> 00:33:20.740
 it's

00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.059
 Thursday

00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:21.539
 what are

00:33:21.539 --> 00:33:21.960
 you doing

00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:22.519
 why aren't

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:22.940
 you guys

00:33:22.940 --> 00:33:23.440
 fasting

00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:24.740
 and Jesus

00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.179
 gives them

00:33:25.179 --> 00:33:26.079
 three mini

00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:26.700
 parables

00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:28.079
 and essentially

00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:28.599
 what he says

00:33:28.599 --> 00:33:28.960
 is this

00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:30.659
 if you try

00:33:30.659 --> 00:33:31.759
 and add me

00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.859
 or squeeze

00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:33.980
 me onto

00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:34.960
 your religious

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.619
 system

00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:36.960
 it's not

00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:37.259
 going to

00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:37.539
 work

00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:39.059
 you can't

00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:39.659
 have your

00:33:39.659 --> 00:33:40.659
 religious system

00:33:40.659 --> 00:33:41.500
 and just

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.159
 try and tag

00:33:42.159 --> 00:33:42.659
 me on

00:33:42.659 --> 00:33:43.240
 like a piece

00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:43.700
 of cloth

00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:44.980
 either you've

00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:45.539
 got to

00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:46.839
 follow me

00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:47.500
 or reject

00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:47.779
 me

00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.119
 you've

00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:48.460
 got to

00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:49.440
 orientate

00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:49.940
 your whole

00:33:49.940 --> 00:33:50.519
 life around

00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:50.740
 me

00:33:50.740 --> 00:33:51.180
 or you've

00:33:51.180 --> 00:33:51.440
 got to

00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:52.599
 discard me

00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:53.660
 you can't

00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.319
 just admire

00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:54.660
 me

00:33:54.660 --> 00:33:55.000
 and you

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.319
 can't

00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:55.519
 just

00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.099
 add me

00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:56.539
 onto your

00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:56.899
 life

00:33:56.899 --> 00:33:58.480
 so the

00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:58.940
 disciples

00:33:58.940 --> 00:33:59.339
 John's

00:33:59.339 --> 00:33:59.720
 disciples

00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:00.319
 the Pharisees

00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:00.579
 are coming

00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:00.779
 saying

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.079
 Jesus

00:34:01.079 --> 00:34:01.460
 we can

00:34:01.460 --> 00:34:01.819
 see you're

00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:02.059
 a good

00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:02.379
 man

00:34:02.379 --> 00:34:02.839
 you're a good

00:34:02.839 --> 00:34:03.240
 teacher

00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:03.819
 you can do

00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.299
 miracles

00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:06.339
 we see

00:34:06.339 --> 00:34:06.720
 you're

00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:07.519
 following the

00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:07.919
 traditions

00:34:07.919 --> 00:34:08.219
 of our

00:34:08.219 --> 00:34:08.519
 fathers

00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:08.840
 etc

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.779
 why don't

00:34:09.779 --> 00:34:09.960
 you

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:10.579
 fast

00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:11.000
 like the

00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:11.259
 others

00:34:11.259 --> 00:34:11.719
 and Jesus

00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:12.219
 says I

00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:12.539
 haven't

00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.059
 come just

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:13.480
 to join

00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:13.659
 your

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:13.980
 system

00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:15.539
 I've

00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:15.980
 come to

00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.860
 completely

00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:18.099
 overhaul

00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:18.279
 it

00:34:18.279 --> 00:34:18.739
 either you've

00:34:18.739 --> 00:34:19.000
 got to

00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:19.420
 follow me

00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:19.800
 or reject

00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:19.960
 me

00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:20.219
 but don't

00:34:20.219 --> 00:34:20.380
 just

00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:20.719
 admire

00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.000
 me

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.960
 and Jesus

00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:22.360
 gives you

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:22.779
 three

00:34:22.779 --> 00:34:23.920
 parables

00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.559
 and let's

00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:24.940
 just look at

00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:25.199
 two of

00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:25.920
 them in

00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:26.460
 modern day

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:26.800
 context

00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.219
 imagine

00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:28.039
 this

00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.460
 imagine you

00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:28.880
 engage

00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:29.099
 to be

00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:29.420
 married

00:34:29.420 --> 00:34:30.320
 and you're

00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:30.599
 trying to

00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:30.980
 find a

00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:31.599
 wedding date

00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:32.179
 and your

00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:32.599
 fiancee

00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:33.039
 comes to you

00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:33.380
 and says I've

00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:33.920
 got great

00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:34.320
 news

00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:35.340
 the venue

00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:35.720
 that we

00:34:35.720 --> 00:34:36.019
 wanted

00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:37.019
 and the

00:34:37.019 --> 00:34:37.500
 date that

00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:37.960
 we wanted

00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:38.420
 works

00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:39.119
 we've got

00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:39.680
 our wedding

00:34:39.680 --> 00:34:40.220
 venue on

00:34:40.220 --> 00:34:40.559
 our wedding

00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:40.860
 date

00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:41.780
 and you

00:34:41.780 --> 00:34:42.059
 look at

00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.400
 the date

00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:42.640
 and you

00:34:42.640 --> 00:34:43.380
 say oh

00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:43.780
 love

00:34:43.780 --> 00:34:44.079
 I've got

00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:44.660
 bad news

00:34:44.660 --> 00:34:45.380
 I've just

00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:45.920
 started this

00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:46.420
 this new

00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:46.840
 diet

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:48.180
 and according

00:34:48.180 --> 00:34:48.420
 to my

00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:48.800
 new diet

00:34:48.800 --> 00:34:49.079
 I'm going

00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:49.280
 to be

00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:49.680
 fasting

00:34:49.680 --> 00:34:50.019
 on that

00:34:50.019 --> 00:34:50.220
 date

00:34:50.220 --> 00:34:50.640
 do you

00:34:50.640 --> 00:34:50.940
 think we

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.440
 can find

00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:52.119
 another day

00:34:52.119 --> 00:34:52.599
 for our

00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:52.880
 wedding

00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:54.420
 friend your

00:34:54.420 --> 00:34:55.140
 fiancee is

00:34:55.140 --> 00:34:55.539
 going to

00:34:55.539 --> 00:34:56.260
 either slap

00:34:56.260 --> 00:34:56.760
 you or

00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:57.960
 kick you

00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:58.220
 out

00:34:58.220 --> 00:34:58.720
 she's going

00:34:58.720 --> 00:34:59.039
 to say

00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.860
 listen it's

00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:00.200
 either the

00:35:00.200 --> 00:35:00.640
 wedding or

00:35:00.640 --> 00:35:01.160
 your diet

00:35:01.160 --> 00:35:01.500
 right

00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:02.500
 don't

00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.119
 just

00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:03.980
 attach me

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.299
 to a

00:35:04.299 --> 00:35:04.759
 little part

00:35:04.759 --> 00:35:05.019
 of your

00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:05.380
 life

00:35:05.380 --> 00:35:06.880
 you either

00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:07.460
 take me

00:35:07.460 --> 00:35:07.839
 or you

00:35:07.839 --> 00:35:08.380
 take your

00:35:08.380 --> 00:35:08.599
 life

00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:09.420
 but I'm

00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:09.819
 not just

00:35:09.819 --> 00:35:10.539
 an add-on

00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:10.819
 that you

00:35:10.819 --> 00:35:11.380
 can attach

00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:12.139
 to your

00:35:12.139 --> 00:35:12.420
 life

00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:13.639
 your wedding

00:35:13.639 --> 00:35:14.440
 takes preference

00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:14.880
 over your

00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:15.659
 eating habits

00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:17.199
 imagine this

00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:17.699
 Jesus says

00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:18.159
 you go down

00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:18.420
 to the

00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:19.099
 IFC mall

00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:20.219
 and you

00:35:20.219 --> 00:35:20.779
 see this

00:35:20.779 --> 00:35:21.299
 you've got

00:35:21.299 --> 00:35:21.719
 this old

00:35:21.719 --> 00:35:22.239
 jacket on

00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:22.559
 that your

00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:23.199
 dad gave

00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:23.420
 you

00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:23.819
 or your

00:35:23.819 --> 00:35:24.380
 mom gave

00:35:24.380 --> 00:35:24.480
 you

00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:24.739
 or some

00:35:24.739 --> 00:35:25.099
 special

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.480
 person

00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:25.880
 gave you

00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:26.059
 and you

00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:26.500
 love this

00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:26.799
 jacket

00:35:26.799 --> 00:35:27.699
 but it's

00:35:27.699 --> 00:35:28.000
 getting a

00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:28.460
 bit old

00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:29.259
 it's got

00:35:29.259 --> 00:35:29.500
 a few

00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.019
 tears

00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:30.539
 but it's

00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:31.179
 got sentimental

00:35:31.179 --> 00:35:31.739
 value

00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:32.699
 and you

00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:33.259
 see in the

00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:33.759
 shop window

00:35:33.759 --> 00:35:34.439
 this new

00:35:34.439 --> 00:35:34.819
 jacket

00:35:34.819 --> 00:35:35.519
 and it's

00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:36.539
 beautiful

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.659
 lovely cloth

00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.179
 and fabric

00:35:38.179 --> 00:35:38.839
 just the

00:35:38.839 --> 00:35:39.259
 color you

00:35:39.259 --> 00:35:39.579
 want

00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:40.599
 and you

00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:41.019
 think oh

00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:41.279
 I should

00:35:41.279 --> 00:35:41.839
 get that

00:35:41.839 --> 00:35:42.739
 but you

00:35:42.739 --> 00:35:43.139
 don't let

00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:43.519
 go of

00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:44.399
 the sentimental

00:35:44.399 --> 00:35:45.119
 item of

00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:45.519
 clothing that

00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:46.019
 you have

00:35:46.019 --> 00:35:46.939
 and so you

00:35:46.939 --> 00:35:47.239
 think I

00:35:47.239 --> 00:35:47.519
 know what

00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:47.839
 I'll do

00:35:47.839 --> 00:35:48.799
 I'll cut

00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:49.299
 off the

00:35:49.299 --> 00:35:49.799
 sleeve of

00:35:49.799 --> 00:35:50.139
 the new

00:35:50.139 --> 00:35:50.319
 one

00:35:50.319 --> 00:35:50.919
 I'll sew

00:35:50.919 --> 00:35:51.319
 it onto

00:35:51.319 --> 00:35:51.819
 this one

00:35:51.819 --> 00:35:52.199
 and then I

00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:52.419
 can have

00:35:52.419 --> 00:35:52.719
 the best

00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:53.159
 of both

00:35:53.159 --> 00:35:53.979
 that'll

00:35:53.979 --> 00:35:54.339
 work

00:35:54.339 --> 00:35:55.379
 no friends

00:35:55.379 --> 00:35:55.679
 that's not

00:35:55.679 --> 00:35:55.859
 going to

00:35:55.859 --> 00:35:56.299
 work well

00:35:56.299 --> 00:35:56.639
 at all

00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:57.679
 you either

00:35:57.679 --> 00:35:58.099
 wear the

00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.639
 new one

00:35:58.639 --> 00:35:59.299
 or the

00:35:59.299 --> 00:35:59.739
 old one

00:35:59.739 --> 00:36:00.019
 but you

00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:00.480
 can't try

00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:01.000
 and merge

00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:01.699
 them together

00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:03.019
 do you see

00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:03.559
 what Jesus

00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:04.219
 is saying

00:36:04.219 --> 00:36:05.199
 he's saying

00:36:05.199 --> 00:36:05.859
 either you're

00:36:05.859 --> 00:36:06.039
 going to be

00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:06.659
 my follower

00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:08.059
 or you've

00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:08.259
 got to

00:36:08.259 --> 00:36:08.739
 reject me

00:36:08.739 --> 00:36:09.159
 but you

00:36:09.159 --> 00:36:09.879
 can't simply

00:36:09.879 --> 00:36:10.779
 add a little

00:36:10.779 --> 00:36:11.379
 bit of me

00:36:11.379 --> 00:36:11.940
 to your

00:36:11.940 --> 00:36:12.199
 life

00:36:12.199 --> 00:36:12.699
 you can't

00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:13.440
 simply patch

00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:13.940
 me onto

00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:14.400
 your life

00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:15.339
 you need to

00:36:15.339 --> 00:36:16.239
 reorientate

00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:16.799
 your entire

00:36:16.799 --> 00:36:17.420
 life around

00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:17.619
 me

00:36:17.619 --> 00:36:18.319
 you need to

00:36:18.319 --> 00:36:18.719
 choose your

00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:19.319
 wedding or

00:36:19.319 --> 00:36:19.779
 your diet

00:36:19.779 --> 00:36:20.199
 you need to

00:36:20.199 --> 00:36:20.579
 choose the

00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:21.159
 old jacket

00:36:21.159 --> 00:36:21.519
 or the

00:36:21.519 --> 00:36:21.920
 new one

00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:22.659
 you need to

00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.039
 choose whether

00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:23.259
 you're going

00:36:23.259 --> 00:36:23.659
 to follow

00:36:23.659 --> 00:36:24.440
 me or you're

00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:24.579
 going to

00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:25.319
 follow yourself

00:36:25.320 --> 00:36:26.780
 remember two

00:36:26.780 --> 00:36:27.320
 weeks ago

00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:28.660
 some man

00:36:28.660 --> 00:36:29.039
 comes to

00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:29.260
 Jesus

00:36:29.260 --> 00:36:29.480
 and says

00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:29.720
 Jesus

00:36:29.720 --> 00:36:29.980
 I'm going

00:36:29.980 --> 00:36:30.320
 to follow

00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:30.480
 you

00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:31.180
 I'm with

00:36:31.180 --> 00:36:31.420
 you

00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:32.340
 just give

00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:32.840
 me a few

00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:33.140
 months

00:36:33.140 --> 00:36:33.440
 I just

00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:33.780
 need to

00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:34.100
 tie up

00:36:34.100 --> 00:36:34.519
 some loose

00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:34.740
 ends

00:36:34.740 --> 00:36:35.039
 I've got

00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:35.660
 a big

00:36:35.660 --> 00:36:37.140
 inheritance

00:36:37.140 --> 00:36:37.800
 that's coming

00:36:37.800 --> 00:36:38.019
 in

00:36:38.019 --> 00:36:39.100
 just let

00:36:39.100 --> 00:36:39.420
 me type

00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:39.780
 some things

00:36:39.780 --> 00:36:40.380
 then when

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:41.080
 everything's

00:36:41.080 --> 00:36:41.300
 sorted

00:36:41.300 --> 00:36:41.780
 I'll come

00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:41.980
 and be

00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:42.360
 with you

00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:43.559
 Jesus

00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:43.940
 says let

00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.280
 the dead

00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:44.720
 bury the

00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:44.940
 dead

00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:45.440
 you come

00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:45.740
 and follow

00:36:45.740 --> 00:36:46.000
 me

00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:48.260
 and sometimes

00:36:48.260 --> 00:36:48.640
 we say

00:36:48.640 --> 00:36:49.080
 well you know

00:36:49.080 --> 00:36:49.660
 Monday to

00:36:49.660 --> 00:36:50.360
 Friday is

00:36:50.360 --> 00:36:51.140
 a prioritized

00:36:51.140 --> 00:36:51.559
 work

00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:52.700
 Saturday it's

00:36:52.700 --> 00:36:53.180
 the kids

00:36:53.180 --> 00:36:54.120
 Saturday night

00:36:54.120 --> 00:36:54.720
 it's friends

00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:55.739
 and Sunday

00:36:55.739 --> 00:36:56.500
 morning if I'm

00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:56.879
 up to it

00:36:56.879 --> 00:36:57.519
 Sunday morning

00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:57.980
 I'll give to

00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:58.299
 Jesus

00:36:58.299 --> 00:36:58.679
 Jesus

00:36:58.679 --> 00:36:59.500
 no no no

00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.439
 you orientate

00:37:00.439 --> 00:37:00.959
 your entire

00:37:00.959 --> 00:37:01.559
 life around

00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:01.839
 me

00:37:01.839 --> 00:37:02.719
 you follow

00:37:02.719 --> 00:37:03.159
 me or you

00:37:03.159 --> 00:37:03.939
 follow yourself

00:37:03.939 --> 00:37:06.659
 you can't

00:37:06.659 --> 00:37:07.159
 just add a bit

00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:07.719
 of me here

00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:08.059
 and there

00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:09.980
 now as we come

00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.480
 to a close

00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:11.559
 in verses 8

00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:12.099
 and 9

00:37:12.099 --> 00:37:13.500
 Matthew shows us

00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:14.379
 two responses

00:37:14.379 --> 00:37:15.079
 one negative

00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:16.019
 and one positive

00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:17.339
 to show us what it

00:37:17.339 --> 00:37:17.919
 means to follow

00:37:17.919 --> 00:37:18.259
 Jesus

00:37:18.259 --> 00:37:19.000
 let's look at the

00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:19.379
 negative one

00:37:19.379 --> 00:37:19.959
 verse 8

00:37:19.960 --> 00:37:21.039
 look what

00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:21.579
 happens here

00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:23.280
 Matthew writes

00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:23.539
 this

00:37:23.539 --> 00:37:24.400
 this is after

00:37:24.400 --> 00:37:25.179
 Jesus heals

00:37:25.179 --> 00:37:25.900
 the paralytic

00:37:25.900 --> 00:37:26.380
 right

00:37:26.380 --> 00:37:27.420
 verse 8

00:37:27.420 --> 00:37:28.179
 when the crowd

00:37:28.179 --> 00:37:28.760
 saw it

00:37:28.760 --> 00:37:30.000
 they were afraid

00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:30.519
 that means they

00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:31.099
 were filled

00:37:31.099 --> 00:37:31.559
 with awe

00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:33.159
 and they glorified

00:37:33.159 --> 00:37:33.840
 God who had

00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:34.320
 given such

00:37:34.320 --> 00:37:34.780
 authority

00:37:34.780 --> 00:37:36.159
 to men

00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:37.519
 now at first

00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:38.000
 this seems like

00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:38.539
 a wonderful

00:37:38.539 --> 00:37:39.039
 response

00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:39.579
 the crowd

00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:40.159
 see what

00:37:40.159 --> 00:37:40.619
 Jesus do

00:37:40.619 --> 00:37:41.059
 and they say

00:37:41.059 --> 00:37:41.880
 brilliant

00:37:41.880 --> 00:37:43.380
 this is amazing

00:37:43.380 --> 00:37:44.240
 they glorify

00:37:44.240 --> 00:37:44.760
 God

00:37:44.760 --> 00:37:46.480
 but actually

00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:48.320
 unfortunately

00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:49.560
 that's all

00:37:49.560 --> 00:37:50.340
 that they were

00:37:50.340 --> 00:37:50.860
 they were

00:37:50.860 --> 00:37:51.860
 they were

00:37:51.860 --> 00:37:52.200
 honored

00:37:52.200 --> 00:37:52.620
 they were

00:37:52.620 --> 00:37:53.060
 amazed

00:37:53.060 --> 00:37:54.380
 but they never

00:37:54.380 --> 00:37:55.300
 came to Jesus

00:37:55.300 --> 00:37:56.240
 for more than that

00:37:56.240 --> 00:37:57.740
 why do I say that

00:37:57.740 --> 00:37:59.320
 a couple of chapters

00:37:59.320 --> 00:38:00.300
 later in chapter 11

00:38:00.300 --> 00:38:02.000
 Jesus says this

00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:02.980
 about the very people

00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:03.620
 in Capernaum

00:38:03.620 --> 00:38:04.120
 he says

00:38:04.120 --> 00:38:05.000
 you Capernaum

00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:06.000
 will you be exalted

00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:06.500
 to heaven

00:38:06.500 --> 00:38:07.780
 no no no

00:38:07.780 --> 00:38:08.400
 you'll be brought

00:38:08.400 --> 00:38:09.260
 down to Hades

00:38:09.260 --> 00:38:10.660
 for if the mighty

00:38:10.660 --> 00:38:11.560
 works that I had done

00:38:11.560 --> 00:38:12.220
 in you

00:38:12.220 --> 00:38:13.020
 had been done

00:38:13.020 --> 00:38:13.640
 in places like

00:38:13.640 --> 00:38:14.320
 Sodom and Gomorrah

00:38:14.320 --> 00:38:14.800
 they would have

00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:15.640
 repented a long

00:38:15.640 --> 00:38:16.140
 time ago

00:38:16.140 --> 00:38:17.360
 I tell you

00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:17.860
 it'll be more

00:38:17.860 --> 00:38:19.000
 bearable in Sodom

00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.559
 and Gomorrah

00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:20.019
 on the day of

00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:20.320
 judgment

00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:20.840
 than it will be

00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:21.260
 for you

00:38:21.260 --> 00:38:22.800
 what's Jesus

00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:23.200
 saying

00:38:23.200 --> 00:38:25.140
 Matthew's warning

00:38:25.140 --> 00:38:25.900
 us against

00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:27.160
 following the

00:38:27.160 --> 00:38:27.620
 crowds

00:38:27.620 --> 00:38:28.820
 in Matthew's

00:38:28.820 --> 00:38:29.140
 gospel

00:38:29.140 --> 00:38:30.019
 like in life

00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:30.620
 and particularly

00:38:30.620 --> 00:38:31.720
 in a digital

00:38:31.720 --> 00:38:32.019
 world

00:38:32.019 --> 00:38:32.740
 social media

00:38:32.740 --> 00:38:34.180
 the crowds

00:38:34.180 --> 00:38:34.600
 are always

00:38:34.600 --> 00:38:35.220
 deceptive

00:38:35.220 --> 00:38:36.940
 Jesus is never

00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:37.760
 without a crowd

00:38:37.760 --> 00:38:38.240
 the crowds

00:38:38.240 --> 00:38:38.960
 are always right

00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:39.120
 there

00:38:39.120 --> 00:38:39.960
 they're

00:38:39.960 --> 00:38:40.440
 howling

00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:41.180
 they're

00:38:41.180 --> 00:38:41.720
 cheering him

00:38:41.720 --> 00:38:41.880
 on

00:38:41.880 --> 00:38:42.519
 they're applauding

00:38:42.519 --> 00:38:42.840
 him

00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:43.700
 they're loving

00:38:43.700 --> 00:38:44.059
 what he's

00:38:44.059 --> 00:38:44.300
 doing

00:38:44.300 --> 00:38:45.260
 but these

00:38:45.260 --> 00:38:45.920
 same crowds

00:38:45.920 --> 00:38:46.460
 are never

00:38:46.460 --> 00:38:47.220
 described as

00:38:47.220 --> 00:38:48.039
 following him

00:38:48.039 --> 00:38:48.840
 with faith

00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:49.360
 and repentance

00:38:49.360 --> 00:38:50.840
 they may be

00:38:50.840 --> 00:38:51.260
 amazed

00:38:51.260 --> 00:38:51.640
 they may

00:38:51.640 --> 00:38:53.140
 say generic

00:38:53.140 --> 00:38:54.019
 platitudes

00:38:54.019 --> 00:38:54.680
 of praise

00:38:54.680 --> 00:38:55.120
 and wonder

00:38:55.120 --> 00:38:56.480
 but they may

00:38:56.480 --> 00:38:56.800
 even be

00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:57.580
 grateful for

00:38:57.580 --> 00:38:58.180
 who Jesus

00:38:58.180 --> 00:38:58.660
 and what he

00:38:58.660 --> 00:38:58.880
 does

00:38:58.880 --> 00:38:59.220
 but they

00:38:59.220 --> 00:38:59.920
 never turn

00:38:59.920 --> 00:39:00.400
 to Jesus

00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:01.680
 in faith

00:39:01.680 --> 00:39:03.140
 and repentance

00:39:03.140 --> 00:39:04.100
 they never

00:39:04.100 --> 00:39:04.560
 come to

00:39:04.560 --> 00:39:04.880
 Jesus

00:39:04.880 --> 00:39:06.240
 for forgiveness

00:39:06.240 --> 00:39:06.720
 of sins

00:39:06.720 --> 00:39:07.300
 and they never

00:39:07.300 --> 00:39:07.960
 experience the

00:39:07.960 --> 00:39:08.620
 life transforming

00:39:08.620 --> 00:39:09.280
 power of his

00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:09.600
 grace

00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:11.900
 the

00:39:11.900 --> 00:39:12.279
 crowds

00:39:12.279 --> 00:39:12.839
 of Capernaum

00:39:12.839 --> 00:39:13.360
 they see

00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:13.759
 Jesus

00:39:13.759 --> 00:39:14.279
 in flesh

00:39:14.279 --> 00:39:14.619
 and blood

00:39:14.619 --> 00:39:15.000
 more than

00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:15.659
 anyone else

00:39:15.659 --> 00:39:16.579
 Jesus

00:39:16.579 --> 00:39:17.159
 considers

00:39:17.159 --> 00:39:17.659
 their city

00:39:17.659 --> 00:39:18.519
 his hometown

00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:19.779
 the crowds

00:39:19.779 --> 00:39:20.420
 hear his

00:39:20.420 --> 00:39:20.699
 sermon

00:39:20.699 --> 00:39:21.319
 live and

00:39:21.319 --> 00:39:21.880
 in person

00:39:21.880 --> 00:39:22.960
 they witness

00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:23.500
 his miracles

00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:23.860
 with his

00:39:23.860 --> 00:39:24.319
 own eyes

00:39:24.319 --> 00:39:24.619
 they are

00:39:24.619 --> 00:39:25.059
 amazed

00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:25.360
 they are

00:39:25.360 --> 00:39:25.759
 astonished

00:39:25.759 --> 00:39:26.079
 they are

00:39:26.079 --> 00:39:26.599
 filled with

00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:26.900
 awe

00:39:26.900 --> 00:39:28.119
 but friends

00:39:28.119 --> 00:39:28.420
 are never

00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:28.819
 filled with

00:39:28.819 --> 00:39:29.119
 faith

00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:30.259
 and they

00:39:30.259 --> 00:39:30.480
 never

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:31.059
 follow him

00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:32.239
 and they

00:39:32.239 --> 00:39:32.639
 never

00:39:32.639 --> 00:39:33.219
 experience

00:39:33.219 --> 00:39:33.480
 his

00:39:33.480 --> 00:39:33.799
 life

00:39:33.799 --> 00:39:34.420
 transforming

00:39:34.420 --> 00:39:34.980
 power

00:39:34.980 --> 00:39:36.260
 of the

00:39:36.260 --> 00:39:36.619
 gospel

00:39:36.619 --> 00:39:39.059
 contrast

00:39:39.059 --> 00:39:39.579
 that with

00:39:39.579 --> 00:39:40.199
 verse 9

00:39:40.199 --> 00:39:41.500
 Jesus

00:39:41.500 --> 00:39:41.880
 is walking

00:39:41.880 --> 00:39:42.199
 along the

00:39:42.199 --> 00:39:42.460
 roads

00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:42.740
 and he

00:39:42.740 --> 00:39:43.139
 sees this

00:39:43.139 --> 00:39:43.360
 man

00:39:43.360 --> 00:39:43.599
 called

00:39:43.599 --> 00:39:43.940
 Matthew

00:39:43.940 --> 00:39:44.300
 Matthew

00:39:44.300 --> 00:39:44.599
 is a

00:39:44.599 --> 00:39:44.840
 tax

00:39:44.840 --> 00:39:45.199
 collector

00:39:45.199 --> 00:39:45.699
 one of

00:39:45.699 --> 00:39:45.940
 the most

00:39:45.940 --> 00:39:46.199
 hated

00:39:46.199 --> 00:39:46.500
 men

00:39:46.500 --> 00:39:47.199
 ancient

00:39:47.199 --> 00:39:47.480
 Israel

00:39:47.480 --> 00:39:47.960
 society

00:39:47.960 --> 00:39:49.019
 but don't

00:39:49.019 --> 00:39:49.420
 feel sorry

00:39:49.420 --> 00:39:49.639
 for him

00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.039
 he's chosen

00:39:50.039 --> 00:39:50.460
 that job

00:39:50.460 --> 00:39:50.980
 because it's

00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:51.679
 well paying

00:39:51.679 --> 00:39:52.300
 he makes

00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:52.800
 a lot

00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:53.240
 of money

00:39:53.240 --> 00:39:54.400
 Matthew

00:39:54.400 --> 00:39:55.400
 may not

00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:55.920
 have respect

00:39:55.920 --> 00:39:56.480
 of society

00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:57.019
 but his

00:39:57.019 --> 00:39:57.559
 bank balance

00:39:57.559 --> 00:39:57.940
 is pretty

00:39:57.940 --> 00:39:58.260
 good

00:39:58.260 --> 00:40:00.000
 Jesus

00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:00.500
 comes up

00:40:00.500 --> 00:40:00.679
 to him

00:40:00.679 --> 00:40:00.800
 and he

00:40:00.800 --> 00:40:00.960
 says

00:40:00.960 --> 00:40:01.539
 follow me

00:40:01.539 --> 00:40:03.139
 and Matthew

00:40:03.139 --> 00:40:03.719
 gets up

00:40:03.719 --> 00:40:04.000
 and he

00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:04.300
 leaves

00:40:04.300 --> 00:40:04.880
 everything

00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:05.340
 behind

00:40:05.340 --> 00:40:06.460
 and he

00:40:06.460 --> 00:40:06.760
 follows

00:40:06.760 --> 00:40:07.059
 him

00:40:07.059 --> 00:40:09.340
 Matthew

00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:09.619
 doesn't

00:40:09.619 --> 00:40:09.820
 say

00:40:09.820 --> 00:40:10.099
 you know

00:40:10.099 --> 00:40:10.320
 geez

00:40:10.320 --> 00:40:10.480
 I've

00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:10.660
 got a

00:40:10.660 --> 00:40:10.800
 big

00:40:10.800 --> 00:40:11.099
 bonus

00:40:11.099 --> 00:40:11.380
 coming

00:40:11.380 --> 00:40:11.720
 in

00:40:11.720 --> 00:40:12.760
 Matthew

00:40:12.760 --> 00:40:13.039
 doesn't

00:40:13.039 --> 00:40:13.220
 say

00:40:13.220 --> 00:40:13.619
 just give

00:40:13.619 --> 00:40:13.820
 me a

00:40:13.820 --> 00:40:13.980
 couple

00:40:13.980 --> 00:40:14.119
 of

00:40:14.119 --> 00:40:14.360
 months

00:40:14.360 --> 00:40:14.720
 I just need

00:40:14.720 --> 00:40:15.079
 to tie up

00:40:15.079 --> 00:40:15.559
 some family

00:40:15.559 --> 00:40:15.960
 deals

00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:16.360
 some loose

00:40:16.360 --> 00:40:16.660
 ends

00:40:16.660 --> 00:40:17.559
 in the

00:40:17.559 --> 00:40:17.780
 ancient

00:40:17.780 --> 00:40:18.140
 world

00:40:18.140 --> 00:40:19.480
 tax collectors

00:40:19.480 --> 00:40:19.900
 that often

00:40:19.900 --> 00:40:20.599
 paid up

00:40:20.599 --> 00:40:21.039
 front a

00:40:21.039 --> 00:40:21.380
 license

00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:21.920
 to collect

00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:22.240
 taxes

00:40:22.240 --> 00:40:22.820
 they paid

00:40:22.820 --> 00:40:23.200
 a big

00:40:23.200 --> 00:40:23.740
 sum up

00:40:23.740 --> 00:40:23.920
 front

00:40:23.920 --> 00:40:24.240
 and then

00:40:24.240 --> 00:40:24.940
 they could

00:40:24.940 --> 00:40:25.539
 collect the

00:40:25.539 --> 00:40:25.860
 taxes

00:40:25.860 --> 00:40:26.780
 retrospectively

00:40:26.780 --> 00:40:28.079
 Matthew

00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:28.760
 walks away

00:40:28.760 --> 00:40:29.300
 from all

00:40:29.300 --> 00:40:29.640
 of it

00:40:29.640 --> 00:40:30.660
 he says

00:40:30.660 --> 00:40:30.940
 Jesus

00:40:30.940 --> 00:40:31.300
 you have

00:40:31.300 --> 00:40:31.460
 my

00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:31.880
 life

00:40:31.880 --> 00:40:33.500
 friends

00:40:33.500 --> 00:40:33.700
 can I

00:40:33.700 --> 00:40:33.920
 ask you

00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:34.059
 this

00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:34.260
 morning

00:40:34.260 --> 00:40:34.560
 are you

00:40:34.560 --> 00:40:34.780
 one of

00:40:34.780 --> 00:40:34.900
 the

00:40:34.900 --> 00:40:35.220
 crowd

00:40:35.220 --> 00:40:36.800
 or are

00:40:36.800 --> 00:40:36.880
 you

00:40:36.880 --> 00:40:37.080
 like

00:40:37.080 --> 00:40:37.480
 Matthew

00:40:37.480 --> 00:40:39.660
 are you

00:40:39.660 --> 00:40:40.180
 one of

00:40:40.180 --> 00:40:40.380
 those

00:40:40.380 --> 00:40:40.760
 that have

00:40:40.760 --> 00:40:41.460
 in some

00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:41.840
 part

00:40:41.840 --> 00:40:43.540
 inspired by

00:40:43.540 --> 00:40:43.860
 Jesus

00:40:43.860 --> 00:40:44.160
 you're

00:40:44.160 --> 00:40:44.680
 encouraged by

00:40:44.680 --> 00:40:44.820
 the

00:40:44.820 --> 00:40:45.340
 testimonies

00:40:45.340 --> 00:40:45.560
 you're

00:40:45.560 --> 00:40:45.940
 wired by

00:40:45.940 --> 00:40:46.100
 the

00:40:46.100 --> 00:40:46.440
 miracles

00:40:46.440 --> 00:40:47.260
 you're

00:40:47.260 --> 00:40:47.580
 grateful

00:40:47.580 --> 00:40:48.020
 for his

00:40:48.020 --> 00:40:48.400
 grace

00:40:48.400 --> 00:40:49.360
 but you're

00:40:49.360 --> 00:40:49.720
 not really

00:40:49.720 --> 00:40:50.180
 willing to

00:40:50.180 --> 00:40:50.600
 follow him

00:40:50.600 --> 00:40:51.140
 completely

00:40:51.140 --> 00:40:52.500
 who are you

00:40:52.500 --> 00:40:53.000
 like Matthew

00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:53.600
 one who has

00:40:53.600 --> 00:40:54.560
 seen your

00:40:54.560 --> 00:40:55.000
 need for

00:40:55.000 --> 00:40:55.300
 Jesus

00:40:55.300 --> 00:40:56.080
 that Jesus

00:40:56.080 --> 00:40:56.500
 came

00:40:56.500 --> 00:40:57.320
 not just

00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:58.060
 for the

00:40:58.060 --> 00:40:58.560
 sinners of

00:40:58.560 --> 00:40:58.880
 the world

00:40:58.880 --> 00:40:59.140
 but he

00:40:59.140 --> 00:40:59.620
 came for

00:40:59.620 --> 00:41:00.020
 you

00:41:00.020 --> 00:41:00.760
 he came

00:41:00.760 --> 00:41:01.480
 for me

00:41:01.480 --> 00:41:02.420
 friends

00:41:02.420 --> 00:41:02.760
 have you

00:41:02.760 --> 00:41:03.579
 like Matthew

00:41:03.579 --> 00:41:04.179
 completely

00:41:04.179 --> 00:41:04.920
 orientated your

00:41:04.920 --> 00:41:05.420
 life around

00:41:05.420 --> 00:41:05.719
 him

00:41:05.719 --> 00:41:06.860
 friends

00:41:06.860 --> 00:41:07.260
 you'll never

00:41:07.260 --> 00:41:07.659
 know him

00:41:07.659 --> 00:41:08.079
 you'll never

00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:08.940
 experience the

00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:09.719
 life transforming

00:41:09.719 --> 00:41:11.039
 power of

00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:11.539
 his gospel

00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:12.280
 and his grace

00:41:12.280 --> 00:41:13.699
 unless you come to

00:41:13.699 --> 00:41:14.059
 him and know

00:41:14.059 --> 00:41:14.900
 who he really

00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:15.500
 is that he is

00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:16.260
 God almighty

00:41:16.260 --> 00:41:16.780
 he's not just

00:41:16.780 --> 00:41:17.460
 one of many

00:41:17.460 --> 00:41:17.800
 gods

00:41:17.800 --> 00:41:18.240
 he's not just

00:41:18.240 --> 00:41:19.099
 one religious

00:41:19.099 --> 00:41:19.420
 leader

00:41:19.420 --> 00:41:20.340
 he is the

00:41:20.340 --> 00:41:20.679
 one true

00:41:20.679 --> 00:41:20.920
 God

00:41:20.920 --> 00:41:21.460
 heaven and

00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:21.619
 earth

00:41:21.619 --> 00:41:22.159
 true king

00:41:22.159 --> 00:41:23.320
 friends

00:41:23.320 --> 00:41:23.619
 you'll never

00:41:23.619 --> 00:41:24.440
 experience the

00:41:24.440 --> 00:41:25.099
 life transforming

00:41:25.099 --> 00:41:26.059
 power of

00:41:26.059 --> 00:41:26.920
 the gospel

00:41:26.920 --> 00:41:28.000
 unless you

00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:28.400
 come and see

00:41:28.400 --> 00:41:29.059
 why he

00:41:29.059 --> 00:41:29.480
 came he

00:41:29.480 --> 00:41:29.880
 came for

00:41:29.880 --> 00:41:30.380
 people like

00:41:30.380 --> 00:41:31.099
 you and

00:41:31.099 --> 00:41:31.519
 people like

00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:32.320
 me

00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:32.920
 friends

00:41:32.920 --> 00:41:33.240
 you'll never

00:41:33.240 --> 00:41:33.900
 experience the

00:41:33.900 --> 00:41:34.639
 life transforming

00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:35.440
 power of

00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:35.940
 the gospel

00:41:35.940 --> 00:41:37.360
 until we

00:41:37.360 --> 00:41:38.700
 completely orientate

00:41:38.700 --> 00:41:39.400
 our whole lives

00:41:39.400 --> 00:41:39.940
 around him

00:41:39.940 --> 00:41:40.840
 until we

00:41:40.840 --> 00:41:41.720
 follow him

00:41:41.720 --> 00:41:42.019
 and say

00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:42.619
 Christ have

00:41:42.619 --> 00:41:43.159
 your way

00:41:43.159 --> 00:41:44.639
 in my life

00:41:44.639 --> 00:41:45.840
 let's pray

00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:46.300
 together

00:41:46.300 --> 00:41:49.840
 Lord Jesus

00:41:49.840 --> 00:41:50.519
 Christ we

00:41:50.519 --> 00:41:51.720
 do come before

00:41:51.720 --> 00:41:52.079
 you this

00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:52.400
 morning

00:41:52.400 --> 00:41:53.820
 and we are

00:41:53.820 --> 00:41:54.680
 deeply challenged

00:41:54.680 --> 00:41:55.720
 by this

00:41:55.720 --> 00:41:56.639
 passage God

00:41:56.639 --> 00:41:59.920
 Christ

00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:01.179
 when we have

00:42:01.179 --> 00:42:01.960
 eyes to see

00:42:01.960 --> 00:42:02.460
 it we have

00:42:02.460 --> 00:42:02.980
 to acknowledge

00:42:02.980 --> 00:42:04.920
 that our

00:42:04.920 --> 00:42:05.480
 own hearts

00:42:05.480 --> 00:42:06.079
 God are not

00:42:06.079 --> 00:42:06.920
 that far from

00:42:06.920 --> 00:42:07.719
 the tax collectors

00:42:07.719 --> 00:42:08.039
 and the

00:42:08.039 --> 00:42:08.579
 sinners we

00:42:08.579 --> 00:42:09.599
 might look

00:42:09.599 --> 00:42:10.379
 respectable on

00:42:10.379 --> 00:42:10.920
 the outside

00:42:10.920 --> 00:42:13.539
 but father in

00:42:13.539 --> 00:42:14.019
 our heart of

00:42:14.019 --> 00:42:14.639
 hearts we

00:42:14.639 --> 00:42:15.699
 too have

00:42:15.699 --> 00:42:16.079
 turned our

00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:16.460
 back on

00:42:16.460 --> 00:42:17.679
 you we

00:42:17.679 --> 00:42:18.219
 wanted to

00:42:18.219 --> 00:42:19.440
 serve ourselves

00:42:19.440 --> 00:42:19.779
 and our

00:42:19.779 --> 00:42:20.379
 own interests

00:42:20.379 --> 00:42:23.099
 Jesus thank

00:42:23.099 --> 00:42:23.500
 you that you

00:42:23.500 --> 00:42:24.059
 came for

00:42:24.059 --> 00:42:24.559
 sinners like

00:42:24.559 --> 00:42:25.960
 us thank

00:42:25.960 --> 00:42:26.259
 you that you

00:42:26.260 --> 00:42:26.820
 came to

00:42:26.820 --> 00:42:27.460
 redeem us

00:42:27.460 --> 00:42:27.980
 and rescue

00:42:27.980 --> 00:42:28.340
 us to

00:42:28.340 --> 00:42:28.700
 bring us

00:42:28.700 --> 00:42:28.940
 home

00:42:28.940 --> 00:42:30.040
 thank you

00:42:30.040 --> 00:42:30.460
 Jesus that

00:42:30.460 --> 00:42:31.280
 you you

00:42:31.280 --> 00:42:31.840
 didn't just

00:42:31.840 --> 00:42:32.300
 come to

00:42:32.300 --> 00:42:33.060
 deal with

00:42:33.060 --> 00:42:33.740
 sin as

00:42:33.740 --> 00:42:34.080
 an a

00:42:34.080 --> 00:42:34.440
 generic

00:42:34.440 --> 00:42:35.720
 debt but

00:42:35.720 --> 00:42:36.240
 you came

00:42:36.240 --> 00:42:36.900
 for sinners

00:42:36.900 --> 00:42:37.680
 for people

00:42:37.680 --> 00:42:39.000
 for people

00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:39.900
 like us

00:42:39.900 --> 00:42:41.080
 people like

00:42:41.080 --> 00:42:41.540
 watermark

00:42:41.540 --> 00:42:42.200
 people like

00:42:42.200 --> 00:42:42.580
 us in

00:42:42.580 --> 00:42:43.100
 Hong Kong

00:42:43.099 --> 00:42:44.420
 Jesus you

00:42:44.420 --> 00:42:44.880
 you came to

00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:45.279
 set us

00:42:45.279 --> 00:42:45.679
 free

00:42:45.679 --> 00:42:47.159
 father I

00:42:47.159 --> 00:42:47.880
 pray won't

00:42:47.880 --> 00:42:49.400
 you send

00:42:49.400 --> 00:42:49.739
 your Holy

00:42:49.739 --> 00:42:50.199
 Spirit to

00:42:50.199 --> 00:42:50.619
 open the

00:42:50.619 --> 00:42:51.259
 eyes of

00:42:51.259 --> 00:42:51.639
 our hearts

00:42:51.639 --> 00:42:52.239
 to see

00:42:52.239 --> 00:42:52.739
 and understand

00:42:52.739 --> 00:42:53.139
 the gospel

00:42:53.139 --> 00:42:53.579
 to see

00:42:53.579 --> 00:42:54.619
 you God

00:42:54.619 --> 00:42:54.980
 for who

00:42:54.980 --> 00:42:55.420
 you are

00:42:55.420 --> 00:42:56.679
 to see

00:42:56.679 --> 00:42:57.539
 you for

00:42:57.539 --> 00:42:57.940
 why you

00:42:57.940 --> 00:42:59.319
 came and

00:42:59.319 --> 00:43:00.019
 to give us

00:43:00.019 --> 00:43:00.739
 the faith to

00:43:00.739 --> 00:43:01.619
 turn our

00:43:01.619 --> 00:43:03.259
 lives towards

00:43:03.259 --> 00:43:03.539
 you to

00:43:03.539 --> 00:43:04.119
 orientate our

00:43:04.119 --> 00:43:04.920
 entire lives

00:43:04.920 --> 00:43:05.519
 around you to

00:43:05.519 --> 00:43:06.039
 not just

00:43:06.039 --> 00:43:06.880
 trying to

00:43:06.880 --> 00:43:07.440
 attach you

00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:07.980
 onto our

00:43:07.980 --> 00:43:08.960
 lives as

00:43:08.960 --> 00:43:09.539
 one more

00:43:09.539 --> 00:43:10.039
 piece of

00:43:10.039 --> 00:43:10.779
 our already

00:43:10.779 --> 00:43:11.679
 busy schedule

00:43:11.679 --> 00:43:12.900
 but to say

00:43:12.900 --> 00:43:13.539
 Jesus come

00:43:13.539 --> 00:43:13.900
 and have

00:43:13.900 --> 00:43:14.420
 your way

00:43:14.420 --> 00:43:15.719
 Christ give

00:43:15.719 --> 00:43:15.960
 us the

00:43:15.960 --> 00:43:16.279
 faith to

00:43:16.279 --> 00:43:16.539
 do that

00:43:16.539 --> 00:43:17.039
 we pray

00:43:17.039 --> 00:43:18.239
 come and

00:43:18.239 --> 00:43:18.539
 have your

00:43:18.539 --> 00:43:18.860
 way

00:43:18.860 --> 00:43:20.079
 in your

00:43:20.079 --> 00:43:20.360
 wonderful

00:43:20.360 --> 00:43:20.779
 name

00:43:20.779 --> 00:43:22.139
 Amen