WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.240 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:13.179 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:13.240 --> 00:00:17.320 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:17.699 --> 00:00:22.580 but because we're following Jesus together as one community, and as we follow Jesus together, 00:00:23.219 --> 00:00:29.100 we become convinced that there's no one so good, they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad they can't have it, 00:00:29.100 --> 00:00:34.160 which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word. 00:00:34.859 --> 00:00:38.620 We're continuing this morning our study in the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:44.980 You'll remember that the Gospel of Mark tells the story of Jesus in His life and His death and His resurrection, 00:00:45.159 --> 00:00:48.840 and as I've been telling you, when we look at Jesus, when we talk about Him, 00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:52.159 we're not talking about an abstraction or an idea or a theory. 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:54.060 We're not talking about a mythical figure. 00:00:54.060 --> 00:00:59.100 In fact, we're talking about a real man who lived in real time and real space, 00:00:59.179 --> 00:01:04.640 and so I've been giving you these facts about Jesus to help us remember just the earthiness and the reality of Him. 00:01:04.700 --> 00:01:10.500 I've told you a couple times, two weeks ago, that He was born in Bethlehem, five to six miles south of Jerusalem. 00:01:11.060 --> 00:01:17.200 He grew up in Nazareth, 64 to 65 miles north of Jerusalem, and Jesus had brothers and sisters. 00:01:17.300 --> 00:01:19.960 I told you last week, He had at least seven. 00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:22.359 Now, why do I say at least seven? 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:24.859 Why did I not give you an exact number? 00:01:24.979 --> 00:01:27.719 Well, it's because the Bible does not give us an exact number. 00:01:27.899 --> 00:01:30.959 In Mark 6, verse 3, which we'll come to eventually, 00:01:31.579 --> 00:01:38.019 and also in Matthew 13, verse 55, we're told that Jesus has four brothers. 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:44.699 Their names are James and Joseph and Judas and Simon, so four brothers, and then He has sisters. 00:01:45.179 --> 00:01:46.959 So we're not told how many sisters He has. 00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:49.659 We just know that He has two or more. 00:01:50.119 --> 00:01:51.879 Now, why the Bible doesn't tell us? 00:01:51.979 --> 00:01:56.639 My personal theory, which I can't prove, is that He had so many sisters that they couldn't name them all. 00:01:57.500 --> 00:01:59.500 We actually don't know exactly why it doesn't tell us. 00:01:59.559 --> 00:02:00.459 But just do the math with me. 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:01.459 So you've got four brothers. 00:02:01.939 --> 00:02:03.019 Jesus is number five. 00:02:03.099 --> 00:02:04.919 Then you've got two sisters, six and seven. 00:02:05.019 --> 00:02:10.240 So that's how we have at least Jesus being one of at least seven brothers and sisters. 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:15.420 So as I said last week, if you have a lot of brothers and sisters, Jesus feels your pain. 00:02:16.820 --> 00:02:18.960 Okay, this morning we are coming. 00:02:19.100 --> 00:02:22.939 We're continuing going slowly through Mark chapter 1. 00:02:23.020 --> 00:02:25.740 We're coming now to verses 12 and 13. 00:02:26.219 --> 00:02:28.920 And we're asking our two questions for the gospel of Mark. 00:02:29.379 --> 00:02:31.160 Our first question is, who is Jesus? 00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:33.460 And our second question is, how do we respond to Him? 00:02:33.939 --> 00:02:34.660 Who is Jesus? 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:36.000 How do we respond to Him? 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:45.120 And we saw at the very beginning, chapter 1, verses 1 through 8, that Jesus is the one who comes looking for our repentance. 00:02:45.740 --> 00:02:47.039 So He comes as the physician. 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:50.020 Remember, Jesus tells us in Mark chapter 2, verse 17, 00:02:50.659 --> 00:02:53.560 those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 00:02:53.639 --> 00:02:56.219 I've come to call the righteous, but sinners. 00:02:56.340 --> 00:02:57.360 So He comes as the physician. 00:02:57.520 --> 00:02:59.920 We have to respond to Him by admitting our need. 00:03:00.280 --> 00:03:03.000 Remember, need is the price of admission for Jesus. 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:07.659 Then last week we looked at Jesus' baptism, and we saw that Jesus is not just the physician. 00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:12.099 He's also the king that we see from Psalm 2, the king who rules over the nations. 00:03:12.419 --> 00:03:14.819 And He's also the suffering servant from Isaiah. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:20.280 So He's so great on the one hand that the heavens are torn open for God to speak about Him. 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:24.879 He's so humble on the other hand that He receives baptism from John the Baptist, 00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:27.620 who's unworthy even to untie His sandals. 00:03:28.259 --> 00:03:31.379 And so He stands in the place of sinners. 00:03:31.379 --> 00:03:38.500 This morning as we come to verses 12 and 13, we're going to see, again in our question about Jesus, 00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:42.799 we're going to see Jesus' perfection, and we're also going to look at Jesus' power. 00:03:42.900 --> 00:03:45.460 We're going to look at His perfection and His power. 00:03:45.539 --> 00:03:49.280 And with that, I invite you to turn with me to the Gospel of Mark chapter 1, verse 12. 00:03:49.340 --> 00:03:50.840 You can turn there in your worship guide. 00:03:51.359 --> 00:03:53.000 You can turn there in your Bible. 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:54.519 You can turn there in your phone. 00:03:54.599 --> 00:03:58.099 Regardless of where you turn, remember that this is God's Word. 00:03:58.099 --> 00:04:03.120 And God tells us that His Word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold, 00:04:03.379 --> 00:04:07.799 and it's sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:04:07.900 --> 00:04:12.340 And so that's why we read now Mark chapter 1, starting at verse 12. 00:04:12.340 --> 00:04:31.160 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:38.740 Our Father in heaven, we thank you again that you have spoken to us, 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:43.060 and we ask that you would speak to us clearly this morning by your Word, 00:04:43.280 --> 00:04:47.640 that you would show us Jesus, that we would understand more who He is, 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:52.480 and that you'd encourage us and you'd challenge us to follow Him. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:55.300 We ask that you do these things by your Spirit, 00:04:55.460 --> 00:04:57.900 that you would help us do what we cannot do alone, 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.540 which is to hear from you and to respond. 00:05:01.660 --> 00:05:05.180 We ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:11.580 If you are familiar at all with rock climbing, 00:05:11.720 --> 00:05:14.500 you know that there's at least two types of climbing you can do. 00:05:14.580 --> 00:05:16.420 You can do what's called free climbing, 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:18.939 or you can do what's called free solo. 00:05:18.939 --> 00:05:22.980 And if you're free climbing, it means that you use ropes 00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:26.639 and you use safety equipment not to help you, but just to protect you. 00:05:26.699 --> 00:05:29.779 So you're using all your own strength to move up the rock. 00:05:30.180 --> 00:05:33.279 The good thing is if you fall, you have a rope to catch you. 00:05:33.740 --> 00:05:35.899 If you hit the ground, you have a helmet to protect you. 00:05:36.819 --> 00:05:40.459 Now, free solo, however, is a step beyond that. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:44.779 You have to use all your own strength to push yourself up the rock, 00:05:44.860 --> 00:05:45.980 just like in free climbing. 00:05:45.980 --> 00:05:48.699 But in free solo, you have no safety equipment. 00:05:49.379 --> 00:05:51.399 So you don't have any ropes to back you up. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:54.579 Often, if you see pictures or video of people free soloing, 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:55.839 they have no helmet either. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:58.459 And so it is just you and the rock. 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:01.439 And you can imagine, obviously, this is extremely dangerous. 00:06:02.579 --> 00:06:07.339 Less than 1% of people who rock climb will do free soloing 00:06:07.339 --> 00:06:09.959 because it's basically you have to be crazy to do it. 00:06:11.339 --> 00:06:13.819 Now, if you have Disney Plus or Netflix, 00:06:13.819 --> 00:06:15.500 you probably know where I'm going here. 00:06:15.500 --> 00:06:17.980 The movie Free Solo came out in 2018, 00:06:17.980 --> 00:06:21.300 and it tells the story of this man named Alex Honnold 00:06:21.300 --> 00:06:23.699 whose free solo's El Capitan, 00:06:23.959 --> 00:06:29.019 which is this 3,200 feet flat, just straight up rock face 00:06:29.019 --> 00:06:31.220 on Yosemite National Park in California. 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:33.779 And so he does what no one has done before, 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:35.319 what is literally crazy. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:36.620 In fact, at some point in the movie, 00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:39.100 they find out his amygdala doesn't really work. 00:06:39.540 --> 00:06:42.120 So he doesn't have an appropriate measure of fear 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:43.400 like a normal person would. 00:06:43.939 --> 00:06:46.240 And we track his time as he's training 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:50.000 and preparing to climb up this flat rock face. 00:06:50.900 --> 00:06:52.760 Now, his friend, Tommy Caldwell, 00:06:52.860 --> 00:06:54.820 who has his own movie called The Dawn Wall, 00:06:55.580 --> 00:06:58.480 shows up at various points throughout Free Solo 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:01.020 and he tells us this to explain what it is 00:07:01.020 --> 00:07:02.000 that this man's up against. 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:05.780 Imagine an Olympic gold medal level achievement 00:07:05.779 --> 00:07:08.739 that if you don't get that gold medal, 00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:10.079 you're going to die. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.759 That's pretty much what free soloing El Cap is like. 00:07:14.179 --> 00:07:15.759 You have to do it perfectly. 00:07:17.039 --> 00:07:18.379 And then later he tells us, 00:07:18.479 --> 00:07:21.019 I think everybody who has made free soloing 00:07:21.019 --> 00:07:23.719 a big part of their life is dead now. 00:07:24.939 --> 00:07:26.819 And so he lays out the stakes for us. 00:07:27.119 --> 00:07:30.199 It is either perfection on the one hand 00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:31.759 or death on the other. 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:32.939 That's what this man is up against. 00:07:33.059 --> 00:07:34.419 It's a binary choice. 00:07:34.420 --> 00:07:36.680 He's either going to succeed or he's going to die. 00:07:36.780 --> 00:07:38.420 And so as it comes to the point in the film 00:07:38.420 --> 00:07:40.300 where he's actually going to do the climb, 00:07:40.640 --> 00:07:42.460 his girlfriend, Sunny, leaves town 00:07:42.460 --> 00:07:44.280 because she can't stand to be there 00:07:44.280 --> 00:07:45.220 where he's doing the climb. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:46.900 She just waits with a cell phone 00:07:46.900 --> 00:07:48.400 so that she can receive news 00:07:48.400 --> 00:07:51.100 about whether he's been successful or not. 00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:51.980 Of course, if you've watched it, 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:52.879 you know how it ends. 00:07:53.780 --> 00:07:56.840 He makes it to the top in just under four hours. 00:07:57.720 --> 00:07:59.960 And so we see at the very end of the movie this text. 00:08:00.259 --> 00:08:02.060 On June 3rd, 2017, 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:04.660 Alex Honnold becomes the first person 00:08:04.660 --> 00:08:07.019 to free solo El Capitan. 00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:11.339 It took him three hours and 56 minutes. 00:08:12.579 --> 00:08:14.139 Now I tell you all this 00:08:14.139 --> 00:08:16.600 as we come to Jesus' time in the wilderness 00:08:16.600 --> 00:08:18.759 because Alex does two things here. 00:08:18.819 --> 00:08:19.360 First of all, 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:22.240 he does something that's absolutely perfect. 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:24.959 He is able to climb up 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:28.180 at a completely 90 degree straight up rock face 00:08:28.180 --> 00:08:31.900 for 3,200 feet with no helmet and no ropes. 00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:34.980 Not only does he do something 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:36.580 that's completely perfect, 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:39.259 he also is able to succeed 00:08:39.259 --> 00:08:41.259 where no one else has been able to. 00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:45.680 He succeeds where others have failed. 00:08:45.940 --> 00:08:47.960 And as we come to this passage this morning 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:49.120 in Mark chapter one, 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:51.399 we are looking at something very similar. 00:08:51.500 --> 00:08:52.639 When we talk about Jesus, 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:54.940 as I mentioned during our confession of faith this morning, 00:08:54.940 --> 00:08:58.660 we often talk about the fact that Jesus dies for our sins. 00:08:58.760 --> 00:09:00.340 He paid the penalty for our sins. 00:09:00.400 --> 00:09:01.780 And amen, we believe that's true. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:02.540 That is our hope. 00:09:02.920 --> 00:09:04.400 What we also need to remember 00:09:04.400 --> 00:09:07.580 is that Jesus did not just take the punishment we deserve. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:11.360 He also lived the perfect life 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:14.460 that we should have lived but did not. 00:09:15.060 --> 00:09:16.740 And we see that perfection, 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:19.120 that sinlessness of Jesus throughout his life. 00:09:19.160 --> 00:09:21.260 We're gonna see it throughout the gospel of Mark. 00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:24.860 We see it in a special way here in this passage 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:26.860 because Mark is highlighting for us 00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:29.379 that Jesus does what is perfect. 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:33.000 He succeeds where others have failed. 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:35.399 And specifically, he succeeds here 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:38.240 where the nation of Israel failed. 00:09:38.319 --> 00:09:39.039 And I'll explain. 00:09:39.139 --> 00:09:40.620 Remember last week, I talked about the fact 00:09:40.620 --> 00:09:43.879 that we can hear just a few notes sometimes 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:44.799 in the New Testament, 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:47.659 and it will pull up for us this whole story 00:09:47.659 --> 00:09:48.899 from the Old Testament. 00:09:48.899 --> 00:09:50.959 Just like Mark did that last week, 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:52.799 he's doing it this week as well. 00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:55.720 And so I invite you to turn back in your worship guide 00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:58.419 and look at our reading from Deuteronomy chapter eight. 00:09:58.699 --> 00:10:00.980 And I'm gonna show you this echo here that's happening. 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:02.360 There's this echo that happens 00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:04.740 between the New Testament and the Old Testament. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:08.100 First of all, Jesus is out in the wilderness for 40 days. 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:11.399 You'll see in Deuteronomy chapter eight in verse four, 00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:15.159 God tells them you were in the wilderness for 40 years. 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:17.960 So Jesus, 40 days being tempted. 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:20.660 He's tempted Israel in the wilderness for 40 years. 00:10:21.940 --> 00:10:24.120 We're told, again, wilderness, by the way, 00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:26.000 appears in the book of that chapter, 00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:27.080 that reading three times. 00:10:27.180 --> 00:10:28.100 We see it in verse two. 00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:29.800 We see it in verse 15. 00:10:29.900 --> 00:10:30.960 We see it in verse 16. 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:32.120 If you've been with us for a while, 00:10:32.200 --> 00:10:34.460 you know that repetition in the Bible really matters. 00:10:34.980 --> 00:10:37.620 So wilderness here is an idea showing up over and over. 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:39.560 Same thing in this reading from Mark. 00:10:39.680 --> 00:10:43.480 We see the word wilderness show up in verse 12 and verse 13. 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:45.060 We saw it earlier, by the way. 00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:48.139 John the Baptist is out baptizing in the wilderness. 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:51.220 So there's this echo of 40 days, 40 years. 00:10:51.300 --> 00:10:53.159 There's the echo of the wilderness. 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:55.120 There's even an echo of wild animals. 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:58.060 If you look in verse 15 of Deuteronomy chapter eight, 00:10:58.740 --> 00:11:01.440 God tells them about the scorpions and the serpents 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:02.539 that he saved them from. 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:06.960 Why is Jesus faced with wild animals as well? 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:08.139 Look at verse 13. 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:13.040 Because he is in the wild and dangerous wilderness, 00:11:13.040 --> 00:11:14.620 just like Israel. 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:18.900 And if that were not enough, 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:23.300 we can also see here, 00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:25.900 angels were ministering to him. 00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:27.900 Deuteronomy chapter 16, 00:11:28.060 --> 00:11:32.000 God talks about how he cared for Israel in the wilderness. 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:34.800 Now, if you think that I'm just making this up 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:37.620 and I just happened to find some words that correspond, 00:11:38.139 --> 00:11:40.099 I'll tell you in Matthew chapter four 00:11:40.099 --> 00:11:41.319 and Luke chapter four, 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.459 which are the other passages 00:11:42.459 --> 00:11:44.059 that talk about Jesus' temptation, 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:47.979 Jesus actually quotes directly from Deuteronomy chapter eight. 00:11:49.059 --> 00:11:53.279 And so we're meant to see here this pattern, 00:11:53.859 --> 00:11:55.799 this incident here that helps us understand 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:58.120 what Jesus' ministry will look like. 00:11:58.120 --> 00:12:01.220 He is going to do perfectly 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:05.940 where in the past everyone else has failed. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:09.720 Jesus is going to do what was previously impossible. 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:10.419 Because of course, 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:12.659 if you know the story of Israel in the wilderness, 00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:15.440 you know part of the reason they were wandering for 40 years 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:17.000 is because of their lack of faith. 00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:19.179 They rebelled against God. 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:22.019 As they wandered in the wilderness, 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:23.840 they grumbled against God. 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:26.860 There were people there who were not allowed 00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:28.460 to enter the promised land. 00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:30.320 They weren't able to go in 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:33.019 because of their lack of faith. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.220 And so we need to have that background, 00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:37.200 that understanding as we come to this passage. 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:38.820 If you've watched Free Solo, 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:41.379 you know there's something strange and foreign 00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:44.240 and exhilarating about watching this man. 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:45.940 He's literally climbing up a crack. 00:12:46.019 --> 00:12:47.540 Like you think maybe he's going to have all these holes, 00:12:47.660 --> 00:12:48.139 but he's not. 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:49.519 There's this crack in the wall 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.600 and he's just wedging his fingers between it 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:53.379 to go up 3,200 feet. 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:56.019 So there's something that's not real about it. 00:12:56.780 --> 00:12:57.860 In the same way, 00:12:57.940 --> 00:12:59.320 there's something not real 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:01.160 about what's happening with Jesus here. 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:04.480 He is doing what for anyone else would be impossible. 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:07.840 He is able in the wilderness for 40 days 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:09.980 to withstand this temptation, 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:11.300 this opposition. 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:12.840 He's surrounded by animals 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:16.440 and he's tempted by Satan here. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.120 Oh, I didn't point out another echo. 00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:21.360 By the way, Deuteronomy 8, verse 2, 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:23.539 Jesus talks about testing Israel. 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:27.419 Here we see Jesus is tempted. 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:30.080 And so there's an echo there as well. 00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:32.519 And so that's the point for us first 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:34.259 as we look at who Jesus is. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:36.139 Jesus is the perfect one. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:39.379 Jesus succeeds where Israel failed. 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:43.639 Jesus succeeds where we fail as well. 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:47.919 Jesus is the one we look to for our perfection. 00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:50.980 He is the one we look to for our righteousness. 00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:53.480 And so that's our first question, right? 00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:54.600 We're asking who is Jesus? 00:13:54.699 --> 00:13:56.679 We're also asking how do we respond? 00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:57.899 By the way, these are not questions 00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:59.059 that I just came up with. 00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:00.179 These are the questions 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:02.759 that the Gospel of Mark actually asks itself. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:03.939 In Mark chapter 8, 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:06.220 Jesus is going to ask his disciples, 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:08.319 who do people say that I am? 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:09.700 They're going to tell him 00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:10.420 and then he's going to say, 00:14:10.520 --> 00:14:12.820 okay, who do you say that I am? 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:15.600 So we're looking forward to that chapter 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.560 as we ask this question. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.320 The question of how we respond 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:20.460 is also a question from the Gospel of Mark 00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:21.620 and also in chapter 8. 00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:23.240 In chapter 8, verse 34, 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:24.200 Jesus says, 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:26.360 if anyone would come after me, 00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:27.800 let him deny himself, 00:14:28.280 --> 00:14:30.440 take up his cross and follow me. 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.620 And so Jesus is saying, 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:35.100 you have to respond to who I am. 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:37.060 I demand a response. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.779 And so that's part of our paradigm 00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:40.199 as we come over and over. 00:14:40.319 --> 00:14:41.939 It's from Mark chapter 8 00:14:41.939 --> 00:14:42.719 and I want us to think, 00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:46.000 I'm introducing this new category of 834. 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.319 If anyone would come after me, 00:14:47.359 --> 00:14:49.539 let him take up his cross and follow me. 00:14:49.619 --> 00:14:51.379 So if Jesus is the perfect one, 00:14:51.699 --> 00:14:53.939 how are we meant to follow after him? 00:14:53.959 --> 00:14:54.859 Well, one of the ways 00:14:54.859 --> 00:14:56.819 that we're going to deny ourselves 00:14:56.819 --> 00:15:00.739 is that Jesus has to be our perfection. 00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:02.959 In other words, 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:06.080 we have to find our identity in Jesus 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:08.080 more than anything else. 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.780 We have to find our righteousness 00:15:09.780 --> 00:15:13.840 in Jesus more than anything else. 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:15.160 We have to see him 00:15:15.160 --> 00:15:17.400 as the one who's obedient for us. 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:19.220 And if we don't, 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:22.200 we'll fall into one of two traps. 00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:22.920 First of all, 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:24.660 if our identity is not in Jesus, 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:26.960 we'll be tempted to find 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:29.440 our perfection in ourselves. 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.540 There's this question 00:15:31.540 --> 00:15:33.680 of what motivates someone 00:15:33.680 --> 00:15:36.620 to be willing to risk their lives 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:37.520 so dramatically 00:15:37.520 --> 00:15:40.780 by climbing up with no ropes 3,200 feet. 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:42.940 And Alex gives us an answer 00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:44.320 at one point during this documentary. 00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:45.320 He gives us a couple answers, 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:46.620 but I'm just going to tell you one. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:49.300 Now, there's this meditation 00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:50.280 throughout the film 00:15:50.280 --> 00:15:51.400 on the nature of death 00:15:51.400 --> 00:15:52.740 because of course, 00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:54.700 it's in his face 00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:55.860 every time he does this, right? 00:15:55.900 --> 00:15:56.640 And so he says this, 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.980 look, I don't want to fall off 00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:58.820 and die either, 00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:00.920 but there's a satisfaction 00:16:00.920 --> 00:16:02.259 to challenging yourself 00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:03.539 and doing something well. 00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:05.720 That feeling is heightened 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:07.860 when you're for sure facing death. 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:10.759 You can't make a mistake. 00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:13.360 If you're seeking perfection, 00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:16.120 free soloing is as close 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:17.539 as you can get. 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:20.480 And it does feel good 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:21.820 to feel perfect 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:24.420 for a brief moment. 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:26.919 In other words, 00:16:27.219 --> 00:16:29.360 Alex is looking to himself 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:30.599 for perfection. 00:16:31.479 --> 00:16:32.659 Now, I would imagine 00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.679 most of you, 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:34.939 probably none of us, 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:36.519 look for perfection 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:40.079 in doing death-defying feats. 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:42.939 However, there are all sorts of ways 00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:43.719 in our lives 00:16:43.719 --> 00:16:45.659 we look to ourselves 00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:47.000 to justify ourselves. 00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.659 And it can play out like this. 00:16:48.719 --> 00:16:50.659 Maybe you're the trash talker. 00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:53.179 You're desperately trying 00:16:53.179 --> 00:16:54.319 to convince yourself 00:16:54.319 --> 00:16:55.379 that you're okay. 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.459 The way you do that 00:16:56.459 --> 00:16:57.179 is you need to talk 00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:58.279 about other people's failures. 00:16:58.579 --> 00:16:59.620 If someone else 00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:01.980 fails more spectacularly 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:02.719 than you do, 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.740 then everything's going to be fine. 00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:05.420 You're all right. 00:17:05.879 --> 00:17:06.920 You are justified. 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:09.159 You can find 00:17:09.159 --> 00:17:10.579 your satisfaction in that. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:11.720 Maybe you're someone 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.720 who's consumed, 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:14.079 not by trash talking 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:14.859 about individuals, 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:15.779 but about the world. 00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:16.799 You're convinced 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:18.319 that the world is terrible 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.299 and it's going to hell 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.159 in a handbasket. 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:21.759 And so if you can talk 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.799 about that all the time, 00:17:22.859 --> 00:17:23.940 then obviously you're good 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:25.039 by comparison, right? 00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:27.279 You don't do those things 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:28.559 that those people out there do. 00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:29.220 You don't believe 00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:29.779 those things 00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:30.559 that they believe. 00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:31.740 You're safe. 00:17:31.879 --> 00:17:33.440 You do all the right things. 00:17:34.619 --> 00:17:36.899 You are your own justification. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.440 Maybe you're a tribalist. 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.019 You just know 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.659 you're not like 00:17:40.659 --> 00:17:41.879 those terrible conservatives 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:43.139 or those terrible liberals. 00:17:43.379 --> 00:17:44.619 As long as you stay away 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:45.180 from them, 00:17:45.399 --> 00:17:46.299 you'll be okay. 00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.299 And so we're taking 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:49.200 God's law, right? 00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.119 And we're reducing it 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:51.319 to something manageable 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:52.740 and controllable. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.500 We'll get to the Pharisees, 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:54.960 by the way, 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.759 before too long. 00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:57.639 Maybe you're someone 00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:58.399 who's obsessed 00:17:58.399 --> 00:17:59.599 with always looking right 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.659 and doing right. 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:02.419 Appearances are everything. 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:04.339 Okay, no one can come over 00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:04.940 to your house 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:06.639 unless it's absolutely perfect 00:18:06.639 --> 00:18:09.379 because they can't see 00:18:09.379 --> 00:18:11.480 that you are anything less 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.720 than justified. 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:14.740 Maybe you're the performer 00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.539 and the pretender. 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.980 People are only allowed 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:18.519 to get so close to you 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.480 before they receive 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.680 the stiff arm 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:22.319 because you can't handle 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.180 other people 00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:25.000 knowing the truth. 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:26.019 And we could go on. 00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.779 But if Jesus 00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:29.420 is not our perfection, 00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:31.480 we are tempted 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:33.640 to try to be 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:34.299 or appear 00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:36.079 perfect ourselves. 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:38.240 The other ditch 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:38.960 we can fall into, 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:39.599 maybe you know 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:40.279 you're not perfect 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:41.259 and so instead of 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:41.980 asking Jesus 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:43.220 to be perfect for you 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:43.980 and looking to him, 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:45.420 you want, 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.140 you demand 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:46.940 other people 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:48.059 be perfect for you. 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.579 The closer 00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:50.900 you tie 00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:51.680 your identity 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:52.400 to someone, 00:18:52.860 --> 00:18:54.140 the harder it is 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.839 for you to handle 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:56.000 failure in them. 00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:57.680 Now you know this 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.259 intuitively. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.900 There's things 00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:01.279 that people would do, 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:02.120 can do, 00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.079 that you just laugh at, 00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:03.259 right? 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.059 You just think that's, 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:04.960 or it's not a big deal 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.319 to you. 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:07.680 Maybe that's a little quirky, 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.700 maybe that's a little silly, 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:09.140 but you know, 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.740 that's just them. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:11.680 But if someone 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:13.200 who's related to you 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:13.720 does it, 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:15.740 the feeling 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.640 is very different, 00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:16.920 right? 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.480 It's like nails 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.480 on a chalkboard. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.920 What's forgivable 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:21.779 in other people 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.700 is unforgivable 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.460 in this person. 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:23.839 Why? 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:26.299 Because you're so tied up 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:27.000 in your identity 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:27.440 with them, 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.819 you can't allow them 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:30.039 to be anything less 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:31.059 than perfect. 00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:32.059 It's why there's things 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:33.480 that we find endearing 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:35.120 in people we know, 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:35.980 they're just our friends 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:37.799 that we find excruciating 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:38.940 about our family members. 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:41.200 It's because our identity 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.380 is tied up in them. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.859 We need them, 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:44.519 in other words, 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:47.099 to be perfect for us. 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:50.299 So it's hard to show grace 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:51.400 for other people's mistakes, 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:51.660 right? 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.599 Because they're making you 00:19:52.599 --> 00:19:53.200 look bad. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:54.960 It's what happens 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:56.200 when parents drive 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:57.440 their kids to success, 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.839 not because of their desires 00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.539 for them, 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:01.259 but because they want 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.380 the glory that comes. 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.779 They want people to know, 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.480 I am the perfect parent. 00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:08.319 We are the perfect family. 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:11.700 And so looking to Jesus 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:13.359 as our perfection 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:14.859 allows us 00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:17.039 to actually love 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:17.500 the people 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.740 who are closest to us. 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:20.740 Jesus frees us 00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:22.039 to be close 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:23.159 to imperfect people. 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.419 Imperfect people 00:20:25.419 --> 00:20:27.839 like you and me. 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.299 Of course, 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.220 this takes us 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:32.159 back to Mark 1, 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:33.399 verses 1-8. 00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.159 Remember we said, 00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:35.279 need is the price 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:35.839 of admission. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:37.899 If we want 00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:38.879 to follow Jesus, 00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:40.139 we have to admit 00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:41.139 our need. 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:42.639 The question is, 00:20:42.679 --> 00:20:43.500 how do we do that? 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:44.199 One of the ways 00:20:44.199 --> 00:20:44.839 we do it 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:46.059 is we know 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.779 it's okay 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:48.039 to admit our need 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:48.859 when we know 00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:49.619 that Jesus 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.879 is the one 00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:51.980 who's perfect for us. 00:20:52.379 --> 00:20:53.000 When we know 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.740 we can look 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:55.379 to his perfect life 00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:56.679 on our behalf. 00:20:56.879 --> 00:20:58.439 That's what makes it safe 00:20:58.439 --> 00:21:00.559 to live a 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.299 verse 1, 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.559 1-8 sort of life. 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:04.460 That's what makes it safe 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.119 for us 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:06.379 to confess our need 00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:07.359 to God 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:08.819 and to others. 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.919 And so Jesus, 00:21:11.159 --> 00:21:11.919 he's our perfection. 00:21:13.159 --> 00:21:14.440 We respond to him 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.720 by letting him 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.519 be that for us. 00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:17.919 We don't demand it 00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:18.559 of ourselves. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:20.339 We don't demand it 00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:21.159 of others. 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:23.039 Now we could also talk 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:24.539 about following Jesus 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.639 in suffering here. 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.579 That's another portion 00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.299 of this passage. 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.639 We're going to save that 00:21:28.639 --> 00:21:29.980 for later in the Gospel of Mark 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:31.079 and I'll point you back 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:31.779 to this passage 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.779 because we're going to have 00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.599 plenty of opportunities 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:34.679 to talk about that. 00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:36.720 But as we look 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.319 at this idea 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.339 of following Jesus, 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.159 remember I told you 00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:39.519 we're going to look 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.199 at his perfection 00:21:40.199 --> 00:21:42.039 and his power. 00:21:42.179 --> 00:21:43.000 The question is 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.279 how is it 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:45.399 that we look 00:21:45.399 --> 00:21:45.859 to Jesus? 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.000 How do we experience 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.359 him as the one 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:49.539 who makes things right 00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:51.059 rather than everyone else? 00:21:51.179 --> 00:21:52.159 And Jesus gives us, 00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:53.879 Mark here gives us 00:21:53.879 --> 00:21:54.579 a hint. 00:21:55.419 --> 00:21:55.939 There's something 00:21:55.939 --> 00:21:57.379 I did not talk about 00:21:57.379 --> 00:21:58.399 last week 00:21:58.399 --> 00:21:59.720 because there's so much 00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.659 in each of these verses 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:01.720 even as our readings 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.500 are so short 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.220 that I want to point 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:04.700 your attention to this week 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.820 if you have your Bible open. 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.160 I want you to look 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:08.000 at verse 11 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.900 from last week 00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:09.660 that comes 00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:11.240 right before 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:12.960 verse 12. 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.920 Verse 11 says, 00:22:15.040 --> 00:22:15.740 And a voice came 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:16.320 from heaven, 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:18.900 You are my beloved son. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.360 With you 00:22:20.360 --> 00:22:21.600 I am well pleased. 00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:24.019 Then immediately, 00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:25.100 verse 12, 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.940 the Spirit drove him 00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:27.740 into the wilderness 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:29.120 and he was in the wilderness 00:22:29.120 --> 00:22:30.440 40 days being tempted 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:31.519 by Satan. 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.180 Now Mark's narrative 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:34.160 is so tight, 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:35.160 it's so concise, 00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:37.579 there is no coincidence here. 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.859 We are meant 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:40.120 to see the contrast, 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.519 the juxtaposition, 00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:42.359 the connection 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:44.400 between those two verses. 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.039 In other words, 00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:46.299 why is Jesus 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.700 able to go 00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:49.079 out into the wilderness 00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:51.319 and withstand temptation? 00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:54.619 Jesus goes out 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:56.279 and withstands temptation 00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:58.419 out of his identity 00:22:58.419 --> 00:22:59.539 and relationship 00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.399 with the Father. 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.559 He hears 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:04.919 God's pleasure in him 00:23:04.919 --> 00:23:07.339 and it's out of that 00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:07.939 that he's able 00:23:07.939 --> 00:23:08.879 to remain faithful. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:10.839 Some people have put it this way, 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:12.179 even Jesus 00:23:12.179 --> 00:23:13.399 needed to know 00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:14.819 his Father was proud of him. 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:17.659 Jesus is acting 00:23:17.659 --> 00:23:19.099 with the rest of the Trinity. 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:20.359 He's not out of relationship 00:23:20.359 --> 00:23:20.759 with him. 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:21.399 We just saw 00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:22.819 Father, Son, Holy Spirit 00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:23.939 all at once 00:23:23.939 --> 00:23:25.079 in verses 8-11. 00:23:25.179 --> 00:23:25.779 That's why we did 00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.740 the confession of faith 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.419 last week 00:23:27.419 --> 00:23:28.599 about the Trinity. 00:23:29.199 --> 00:23:30.500 Jesus does this 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:32.279 in his relationship. 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.559 He has a secure 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.599 attachment 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.219 and identity 00:23:35.219 --> 00:23:36.099 with the Father. 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:37.939 And so Jesus 00:23:37.939 --> 00:23:39.359 walks in that 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:40.559 as he's faithful 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:41.240 in temptation. 00:23:42.619 --> 00:23:44.079 That is the power 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:45.319 that he has. 00:23:45.959 --> 00:23:46.619 That he has 00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:47.819 perfect communion 00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:48.700 with the Father 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:50.000 and the Spirit. 00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:52.419 Brothers and sisters, 00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:53.439 the same 00:23:53.439 --> 00:23:54.599 is true 00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:55.659 for us. 00:23:55.919 --> 00:23:57.039 Our power 00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:57.919 comes, 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.259 our ability 00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.019 to obey 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:00.779 comes, 00:24:00.899 --> 00:24:01.379 our ability 00:24:01.379 --> 00:24:02.039 to follow 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.460 Jesus 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.059 comes 00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:05.099 as we hear 00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:06.599 God's voice 00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:07.279 of pleasure 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.159 over us. 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:10.159 In other words, 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.159 God's grace 00:24:11.159 --> 00:24:12.139 always comes 00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:12.919 before obedience. 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.740 I pointed this out 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.879 before in our worship service. 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.940 There's a reason 00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:16.860 we have the confession 00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:17.260 of sin 00:24:17.260 --> 00:24:17.880 and the assurance 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:18.380 of pardon 00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:19.700 before we have 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.260 the offering. 00:24:21.100 --> 00:24:22.420 Because we give 00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:23.980 as children of God. 00:24:24.060 --> 00:24:24.540 We don't give 00:24:24.540 --> 00:24:25.160 to become 00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:26.000 children of God. 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.600 Jesus here 00:24:27.600 --> 00:24:28.500 obeys 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.600 as a member 00:24:29.600 --> 00:24:30.160 of the Trinity. 00:24:30.340 --> 00:24:31.220 He doesn't obey 00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:32.520 to become 00:24:32.520 --> 00:24:33.320 a member 00:24:33.320 --> 00:24:33.880 of the Trinity. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.820 It is his 00:24:35.820 --> 00:24:36.620 identity 00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:37.540 and connection 00:24:37.540 --> 00:24:38.380 and love 00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:39.540 with the Father 00:24:39.540 --> 00:24:41.240 that is his power. 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:43.559 Now I told you 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.120 that I was going 00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:44.539 to give you 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.359 Alex gives us 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:46.039 two reasons 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.680 he climbs. 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.839 One of them 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:48.279 is because 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:49.019 he wants to be 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.380 perfect. 00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.460 He loves that 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:50.900 feeling 00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.940 for a moment. 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.240 There's a somewhat 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:54.279 darker reason 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:54.859 we get some 00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.460 glimpses 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:55.900 throughout this 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.380 documentary 00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:56.980 into what 00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:57.460 his life 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:57.920 was like 00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:58.960 growing up. 00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.519 His mom 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.099 narrates 00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:01.099 that his 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:01.599 father 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:02.900 was distant 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:04.120 and often 00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:05.299 the only thing 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:05.759 Alex would 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.120 heal from 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.579 his parents 00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:07.299 was criticism. 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:09.220 And then 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.160 he goes on 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:11.279 to talk 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:11.680 about 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.320 what his 00:25:12.320 --> 00:25:12.800 mom was 00:25:12.800 --> 00:25:13.080 like. 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:13.420 He said 00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:14.000 my mom's 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.279 favorite 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:14.800 sayings 00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:15.160 are 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:16.040 almost 00:25:16.040 --> 00:25:16.660 doesn't 00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:17.100 count 00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:17.740 or 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.080 good 00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:18.480 enough 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.380 isn't. 00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:21.759 No matter 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.300 how well 00:25:22.300 --> 00:25:22.700 I ever 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.080 do at 00:25:23.080 --> 00:25:23.480 anything 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:23.980 it's 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.279 not 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:24.560 that 00:25:24.560 --> 00:25:24.920 good. 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:26.400 The 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:26.980 bottomless 00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:27.320 pit 00:25:27.320 --> 00:25:27.540 of 00:25:27.540 --> 00:25:27.900 self 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.340 loathing. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.160 I mean 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:29.500 that's 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:29.840 definitely 00:25:29.840 --> 00:25:30.120 the 00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:30.680 motivation 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:31.560 for 00:25:31.560 --> 00:25:32.080 some 00:25:32.080 --> 00:25:33.160 soloing. 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:34.880 In 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.540 other words 00:25:35.540 --> 00:25:36.200 Alex's 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:36.700 search 00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:36.960 for 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.660 perfection 00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:38.680 comes 00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:39.759 out of 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.019 his 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:41.220 disconnection 00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:41.759 from 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:41.940 his 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.339 parents. 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:42.660 He 00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.119 looks 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:43.319 to 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:43.819 find 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:43.980 it 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.220 in 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:44.799 himself 00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.599 because 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.000 he 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.379 does 00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:46.819 not 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.339 have 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:47.920 the 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.319 voice 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:48.819 of 00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:49.019 his 00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:49.440 father. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:52.059 Brothers 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:52.539 and 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.039 sisters 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.559 we 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:53.960 do 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.240 not 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.879 follow 00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:55.519 after 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.119 Jesus 00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:56.559 to 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.180 earn 00:25:57.180 --> 00:25:58.220 God's 00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:58.920 favor. 00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:00.859 We 00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:01.579 follow 00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.099 after 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:02.400 him 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:02.839 because 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:03.660 we 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.339 know 00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:05.000 that 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.160 we 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:05.599 already 00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:05.980 have 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:06.119 it. 00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:07.199 God 00:26:07.199 --> 00:26:13.579 does 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:13.839 not 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:14.179 say 00:26:14.179 --> 00:26:14.459 to 00:26:14.459 --> 00:26:14.859 us 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:15.799 almost 00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:16.339 doesn't 00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:16.699 count. 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:18.759 God 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:18.899 does 00:26:18.899 --> 00:26:19.099 not 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:19.299 say 00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:19.479 to 00:26:19.479 --> 00:26:19.679 us 00:26:19.679 --> 00:26:20.079 good 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:21.079 enough 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:22.119 isn't. 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:24.359 God 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:24.919 says 00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.199 to 00:26:25.199 --> 00:26:25.659 us 00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:26.179 in 00:26:26.179 --> 00:26:26.839 Christ 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:27.759 you 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.439 are 00:26:28.439 --> 00:26:29.419 my 00:26:29.419 --> 00:26:30.239 beloved 00:26:30.239 --> 00:26:31.239 son. 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.240 God 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:33.240 is 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:34.039 not 00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.079 to 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:35.779 understand 00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:38.180 Jesus' 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:38.700 action 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.339 in 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:39.519 this 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:39.640 one. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:39.740 I 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:39.880 know 00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:40.160 some 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:40.319 of 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:40.559 you 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:41.319 have 00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:41.559 picked 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:41.779 up 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:41.980 this 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.200 book 00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:42.380 called 00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:42.500 A 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:42.900 Theology 00:26:42.900 --> 00:26:43.079 of 00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:43.339 Mark 00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:43.640 by 00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.500 Hans 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:44.839 Beyer 00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:44.940 and 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.079 he 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:45.380 says 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:45.700 this 00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.079 talking 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:46.539 about 00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.539 God's 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.200 affirmation 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:48.620 of 00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:48.960 Jesus. 00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:50.519 There 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:50.680 is 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.019 great 00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:51.640 encouragement 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.099 for the 00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.559 disciples 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:52.960 in 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.180 this 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:53.960 affirmation 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.220 which 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:54.400 is 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:54.640 not 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.240 only 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:55.480 the 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.099 affirmation 00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:56.299 of 00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:56.620 Jesus 00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:57.359 as 00:26:57.359 --> 00:26:57.480 the 00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:57.839 eternal 00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:58.120 son 00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:58.279 of 00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:58.519 God 00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:58.660 who 00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:58.799 is 00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.200 well 00:26:59.200 --> 00:26:59.620 loved 00:26:59.620 --> 00:26:59.859 by 00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.079 his 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.440 father. 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:01.620 Nor 00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:01.859 is 00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:02.019 it 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:02.500 only 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:02.799 the 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.500 affirmation 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:03.720 of 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:03.880 the 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:04.440 divine 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.039 glory 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:05.339 of 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:05.700 Jesus. 00:27:06.599 --> 00:27:06.839 There 00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.019 is 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.380 far 00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:07.759 more 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.059 to 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.240 it 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:08.400 than 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:08.599 for 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:08.819 us 00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:09.000 to 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:09.380 simply 00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:10.019 understand 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.559 that 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:10.660 he 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:10.819 is 00:27:10.819 --> 00:27:10.960 the 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.420 exalted 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:11.740 son 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:11.900 of 00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:12.160 man. 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:13.859 Rather 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:14.299 since 00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:14.500 we 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:14.720 are 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.339 adopted 00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:16.019 sons 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:16.400 and 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:16.960 daughters 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:18.220 believers 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:18.940 benefit 00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:19.440 from 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:19.720 and 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:19.980 are 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.720 included 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.279 in 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:21.779 the 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.339 father's 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:22.759 love 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.200 for 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.400 his 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:23.680 son. 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.279 We 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:25.960 indeed 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.660 receive 00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.099 this 00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:27.799 profound 00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.759 affirmation 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.420 from 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:29.799 God. 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.940 we 00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.220 have been 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:31.480 brought 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:31.720 into 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:31.879 a 00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:32.180 family 00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:32.379 in 00:27:32.379 --> 00:27:32.519 which 00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:32.799 every 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:33.359 natural 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:33.599 and 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:34.059 adopted 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:34.419 member 00:27:34.419 --> 00:27:35.019 receives 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.279 that 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:35.559 kind 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:35.700 of 00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.000 love 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.819 and 00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:37.000 that 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.579 inclusion 00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:37.940 in 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.440 divine 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:38.839 love 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:39.059 is 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.419 based 00:27:39.419 --> 00:27:39.879 neither 00:27:39.879 --> 00:27:40.159 on 00:27:40.159 --> 00:27:56.319 where 00:27:56.319 --> 00:28:05.720 ask when we come to God is, why did you adopt me? The affirmation of the father's love for the son 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:13.019 is thus extended to his adopted children. Brothers and sisters, if you are in Christ, 00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:22.059 the father's affirmation of his love for the son is extended to you. It's when we hear that, 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:28.440 that we're able to put our identity in him rather than anything else. And so who is Jesus? 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:39.399 Jesus is the perfect one. How do we respond to him? We look to him for perfection. 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:44.779 We don't look to ourselves. We don't look to others. Let's pray. 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:53.779 Our father in heaven, we thank you that your word comes and it tells us the truth that if we 00:28:53.779 --> 00:29:02.059 belong to you, we have your favor. That we don't work to earn or achieve our adoption, 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:08.559 but it's simply that it's adoption. You have taken us as your sons and your daughters. And so we're 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:17.159 freed from striving and pretending and performing. And instead you offer for us to simply follow 00:29:17.159 --> 00:29:23.059 after you in love and obedience, knowing that we're secure and there's nothing in heaven and on earth 00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:28.240 that can separate us from the love that you have for us in Christ. We thank you. It's for this reason 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:35.819 we're able to pray these things. And so we ask them in Jesus name. Amen. I invite you to stand for our 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.419 closing hymn.