WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:02.580 Good morning to all of you. 00:00:03.220 --> 00:00:04.139 My name's Tommy. 00:00:04.600 --> 00:00:06.360 I'm the rector of Church of the Advent, 00:00:06.620 --> 00:00:08.839 and so I'm delighted to welcome you here. 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:12.540 And I know that this has been an especially heavy week 00:00:12.540 --> 00:00:17.780 in our community and in our city with the plane crash. 00:00:18.219 --> 00:00:19.780 I know many of you are struggling 00:00:19.780 --> 00:00:21.460 with job insecurity right now, 00:00:21.940 --> 00:00:24.260 and I'm deeply sorry for that. 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:26.379 And I think that you're in the right place. 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:28.519 I'm glad that we can gather together 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:31.620 to worship, to pray, to hear God's Word preached. 00:00:32.659 --> 00:00:34.259 I'm just thankful to be here. 00:00:35.179 --> 00:00:40.200 There's nowhere I'd rather be when things are challenging. 00:00:40.740 --> 00:00:42.460 We wanna open God's Word together, 00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:45.980 and we're gonna look at this passage in Luke chapter four. 00:00:46.820 --> 00:00:49.700 And it raises this question of, you know, 00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:51.799 have you ever wondered what it would be like 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:53.000 to be able to go to church 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:55.579 and to hear Jesus preach the sermon? 00:00:55.579 --> 00:00:59.920 You know, to get to this part of the service, 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:03.259 Hillary stands up, she reads the text for the day, 00:01:03.339 --> 00:01:04.799 and then Jesus comes up, 00:01:05.259 --> 00:01:07.120 and Jesus is about to preach a sermon. 00:01:07.739 --> 00:01:10.039 You know, a lot of people think about that, 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:11.719 and I've actually heard people say, 00:01:12.280 --> 00:01:13.680 you know, I'm not a Christian, 00:01:13.959 --> 00:01:16.780 but if I could actually just meet Jesus face-to-face, 00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:18.599 if Jesus would appear to me face-to-face, 00:01:19.039 --> 00:01:21.319 and if Jesus were to just appear to me and say, 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:24.699 it's all true, I'm the Savior, I'm the Messiah, 00:01:25.339 --> 00:01:26.399 then I would believe it. 00:01:26.919 --> 00:01:29.659 But I just need some proof to get me there. 00:01:30.339 --> 00:01:32.459 And I've, in earlier times in my life, 00:01:32.500 --> 00:01:33.519 have thought the same thing. 00:01:33.699 --> 00:01:35.839 And the question we wanna ask this morning is, 00:01:35.899 --> 00:01:37.119 is that really the case? 00:01:38.139 --> 00:01:40.159 Would it really be that cut and dry? 00:01:40.899 --> 00:01:42.859 Because what we see in our gospel reading 00:01:42.859 --> 00:01:44.139 makes us question that. 00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:47.040 In Luke chapter four, Jesus stands up, 00:01:47.780 --> 00:01:49.099 he preaches a sermon, 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:52.920 and essentially the through line of his sermon, 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:57.200 the main idea is, I am God's Messiah, 00:01:57.780 --> 00:01:59.599 and I have been sent to the world 00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:01.299 as a fulfillment of God's promises. 00:02:01.900 --> 00:02:03.359 And Jesus preaches that sermon, 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:05.760 and it doesn't result in mass conversions. 00:02:06.780 --> 00:02:08.180 This sermon almost gets him killed. 00:02:09.099 --> 00:02:10.979 And so we're gonna look more at this, 00:02:10.979 --> 00:02:14.099 we're gonna talk about what it means for us. 00:02:14.139 --> 00:02:15.899 We're gonna look at the context, the meaning, 00:02:16.359 --> 00:02:18.159 and then ultimately the implications. 00:02:18.399 --> 00:02:20.379 So let's pray and ask God to help us 00:02:20.379 --> 00:02:21.599 as we open God's word together. 00:02:22.839 --> 00:02:24.339 Lord, we thank you for your word, 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:26.099 and we ask now that your Holy Spirit 00:02:26.099 --> 00:02:27.099 would illuminate your word. 00:02:27.519 --> 00:02:29.679 And we pray that through your ministry to us, 00:02:29.819 --> 00:02:30.479 through your word, 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:32.479 you would do your work in us. 00:02:33.179 --> 00:02:35.179 We are all here desperately needing 00:02:35.179 --> 00:02:37.060 what only you can provide. 00:02:37.139 --> 00:02:38.899 And we pray that you would do this 00:02:38.900 --> 00:02:41.480 in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:42.620 Amen. 00:02:43.640 --> 00:02:45.260 So first, I wanna catch you up 00:02:45.260 --> 00:02:46.760 and help you understand the context 00:02:46.760 --> 00:02:47.860 of what's going on here. 00:02:48.939 --> 00:02:50.700 By this point in Jesus's ministry, 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:51.560 he's been baptized, 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:53.560 he's been tempted in the wilderness, 00:02:54.280 --> 00:02:56.460 he has begun his public ministry, 00:02:56.659 --> 00:02:58.960 he's been doing some things in Capernaum 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:01.060 that have earned him some notoriety. 00:03:01.200 --> 00:03:04.580 So there's a buzz circulating about this rabbi, 00:03:04.580 --> 00:03:06.879 Jesus, and the amazing things that he can do. 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:08.500 And so it's a big deal 00:03:08.500 --> 00:03:09.740 when Jesus finally returns 00:03:09.740 --> 00:03:12.199 to his hometown of Nazareth, 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:13.900 which is kind of a backwater town, 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:16.000 mostly insignificant. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:18.079 Not on anybody's radar 00:03:18.079 --> 00:03:20.859 is a place where anything of any import would happen. 00:03:21.319 --> 00:03:23.180 So Jesus comes Sabbath, 00:03:23.300 --> 00:03:24.740 like every good Jew, 00:03:24.859 --> 00:03:25.939 he goes to the synagogue. 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:28.319 And when people begin to realize 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:29.900 that Jesus himself is the one 00:03:29.900 --> 00:03:31.120 who's gonna give the message, 00:03:31.500 --> 00:03:32.240 they're excited. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:34.120 And so people pack in, 00:03:34.460 --> 00:03:35.740 and they're craning their necks, 00:03:35.740 --> 00:03:37.820 and they're dying to know what he's gonna say. 00:03:38.480 --> 00:03:40.820 So Jesus takes the scroll from the attendant. 00:03:40.980 --> 00:03:43.439 This is what they used to do when it was time. 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:44.980 It's a lot like what we do today. 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:46.980 He takes the scroll, 00:03:47.379 --> 00:03:50.420 and he unrolls it to this place in Isaiah, 00:03:50.900 --> 00:03:52.240 Isaiah chapter 61, 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:54.300 and then he reads these words. 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:57.160 The spirit of the Lord is upon me 00:03:57.160 --> 00:03:58.520 because he has anointed me 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:00.260 to proclaim good news to the poor. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:03.400 He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:04.980 and recovery of sight to the blind, 00:04:04.979 --> 00:04:07.259 to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 00:04:07.259 --> 00:04:10.439 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. 00:04:10.539 --> 00:04:12.039 Now this is an amazing passage. 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:13.560 It's mostly Isaiah 61, 00:04:13.839 --> 00:04:16.500 but also a little bit taken from Isaiah 58. 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:18.300 But it essentially lays out 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:20.180 the entire mission of God's Messiah. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:22.779 That's what anointed one means. 00:04:22.839 --> 00:04:24.120 It means the Messiah. 00:04:24.779 --> 00:04:27.240 And it lays out his mission. 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:28.439 The Messiah's gonna come, 00:04:29.139 --> 00:04:31.920 and he's gonna bring good news to the poor. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:36.199 He's gonna bring about the return of exiles from captivity. 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:38.819 He's gonna bring sight to the blind. 00:04:38.980 --> 00:04:41.040 He's gonna bring liberation for the oppressed. 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:43.560 And at this time in history, 00:04:44.140 --> 00:04:48.060 the Jews placed an enormous amount of hope 00:04:48.060 --> 00:04:49.700 in this passage. 00:04:49.700 --> 00:04:52.720 They interpreted it according to what they believed 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:53.580 they most needed. 00:04:54.520 --> 00:04:55.740 The Messiah's gonna come, 00:04:55.800 --> 00:04:57.259 he's gonna overthrow the Romans. 00:04:58.019 --> 00:04:59.420 He's gonna vindicate Israel. 00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:03.039 He's gonna restore us to our former glory. 00:05:03.219 --> 00:05:04.680 He's gonna be from the line of David. 00:05:04.819 --> 00:05:05.699 And so when he comes, 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:07.879 it's gonna be like the good old days 00:05:07.879 --> 00:05:09.139 when David was our king, 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:10.480 the high point in their history. 00:05:11.819 --> 00:05:13.680 So Jesus reads this passage. 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:16.120 Everybody, the tension just goes up in the room. 00:05:16.420 --> 00:05:17.219 Everybody's hyped. 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:18.379 Everybody's excited. 00:05:19.659 --> 00:05:21.899 And Jesus sits down and begins to preach. 00:05:22.719 --> 00:05:23.860 Everyone's craning their necks. 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:26.620 And Luke gives us the essence of his message. 00:05:26.620 --> 00:05:27.939 When you see a summary like this, 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:31.480 it's essentially a summary of Jesus's sermon. 00:05:32.060 --> 00:05:34.060 And here's Jesus's sermon main idea. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:40.199 Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. 00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:44.360 So that's the main idea of his sermon. 00:05:44.540 --> 00:05:46.360 Jesus begins to explain to them 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:50.780 how he is the fulfillment of this messianic prophecy. 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:54.180 He is the one that Israel has been waiting for. 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:56.819 He says, the time has come, the kingdom is here, 00:05:56.939 --> 00:05:58.220 and I am that kingdom. 00:05:59.300 --> 00:06:01.060 And look at how the people respond. 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:03.459 At first, it seems like the sermon's going really well. 00:06:05.019 --> 00:06:07.040 He has them eating out of his hand, right? 00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:10.280 They're all, and they start to nod their heads, 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:12.920 and it says they're speaking favorably about him, 00:06:12.980 --> 00:06:14.899 and they're nudging one another and saying, 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:16.319 this is absolutely amazing. 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:19.339 But then things take a turn. 00:06:20.579 --> 00:06:22.040 Someone recognizes them. 00:06:22.099 --> 00:06:24.620 They say, aren't you Joseph's son? 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:29.139 And all of a sudden, the mood in the room begins to shift, 00:06:29.219 --> 00:06:32.319 and people begin to realize, oh, this is that Jesus 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:34.539 who is from here. 00:06:34.899 --> 00:06:37.500 And people say, I remember watching you run around 00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:38.680 as a snot-nosed kid. 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:43.439 I remember seeing you working next to your dad 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:46.900 in the shop, fixing things, and covered in sweat 00:06:46.900 --> 00:06:47.620 and sawdust. 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:51.340 And they begin to realize that this isn't some far-off, 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:52.560 exalted rabbi. 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:56.819 This is that Jesus, Joseph's son, Mary's son. 00:06:57.899 --> 00:06:59.980 And then the whole thing begins to take a turn, 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:01.879 and Jesus senses what's about to come, 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:03.500 the very next question out of their mouths. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:07.000 He knows what they're thinking, and he anticipates it. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:09.699 He says in verse 23, doubtless, you know, 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:13.000 now that you're doubting this, now that you're doubting me, 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:15.040 doubtless you're gonna quote to me this proverb. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:17.399 Physician, heal yourself. 00:07:18.980 --> 00:07:21.000 What we have heard you did at Capernaum, 00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:23.319 do here in your hometown as well. 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:25.579 In other words, Jesus says, I know what you're thinking. 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:27.500 You want me to prove it. 00:07:28.259 --> 00:07:30.560 You want me to do some miraculous sign. 00:07:30.899 --> 00:07:32.100 You want me to heal somebody. 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:33.920 You want me to do what I did in Capernaum. 00:07:33.980 --> 00:07:35.339 You want me to do that here and prove 00:07:35.339 --> 00:07:37.159 that I am who I say I am. 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:39.179 They want to see a show. 00:07:40.299 --> 00:07:43.239 And here's where we see Jesus's incredible boldness. 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:45.139 It'd be very tempting in this moment to just say, 00:07:45.419 --> 00:07:46.339 okay, here you go. 00:07:46.459 --> 00:07:47.739 And you just kind of do a miracle. 00:07:49.139 --> 00:07:49.879 Is that enough? 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:50.579 You want to see more? 00:07:51.239 --> 00:07:52.399 But that's not what he does. 00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:54.299 He's not trying to win a popularity contest. 00:07:56.299 --> 00:07:57.120 He's a prophet. 00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:01.000 And he's going to speak truth whether they like it or not. 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:03.180 And so first he says this. 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:04.579 He says, truly I say to you, 00:08:04.819 --> 00:08:06.899 no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 00:08:08.019 --> 00:08:09.860 In other words, when it comes to recognizing 00:08:09.860 --> 00:08:12.740 true prophets who have been sent from God, 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:15.120 Israel does not have the best track record. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:20.340 So why would anyone think that these people 00:08:20.340 --> 00:08:22.620 would be able to recognize God's own son, 00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:24.819 even if he comes, stands in front of them, 00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:27.819 and says directly exactly who he is? 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:30.319 He says, we don't have a great track record 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:32.259 of recognizing true prophets when they come. 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:35.940 And then he reminds them of two events from their past. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:39.240 Now these are sore subjects for Israelites. 00:08:39.240 --> 00:08:41.980 He says, you know, there was a time 00:08:41.980 --> 00:08:43.560 when the great prophet Elijah, 00:08:43.820 --> 00:08:46.680 during a famine in Israel, many died. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:48.399 Many died from the famine. 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:50.899 And there were many widows left alone. 00:08:52.680 --> 00:08:54.279 And he's like, but do you remember what happened? 00:08:54.539 --> 00:08:57.519 God only sent Elijah to bless a woman in Zarephath. 00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:00.220 All these other people died. 00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:04.460 And then his successor, Elisha, he says, 00:09:04.680 --> 00:09:07.159 though many in Israel had leprosy, 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:11.339 God only sent Elisha to heal a Syrian named Naaman. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:15.139 And we say, well, what does this mean? 00:09:15.179 --> 00:09:16.579 It seems like a non-sequitur, 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:18.819 but in fact, it's not at all a non-sequitur. 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:23.620 The widow in Zarephath, she was poor, dirt poor. 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:25.659 She was also a Gentile. 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:27.919 She's a spiritual outsider. 00:09:28.199 --> 00:09:30.059 She's a racial and ethnic outsider. 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:32.860 She's a heretic and an idol worshiper. 00:09:34.059 --> 00:09:35.319 And he says, remember that time 00:09:35.319 --> 00:09:36.299 when all those people were struggling? 00:09:36.299 --> 00:09:39.000 God only sent the prophet Elijah to her. 00:09:40.459 --> 00:09:41.539 And then he says, remember the time 00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:43.779 that he sent Elisha to Naaman? 00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:44.939 Well, Naaman wasn't poor. 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:45.859 He was very wealthy. 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:47.839 Also a Gentile. 00:09:48.339 --> 00:09:50.339 He was a foreign military commander 00:09:50.339 --> 00:09:52.199 who had actually fought against Israel. 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:54.959 He was also an idol worshiper. 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:56.639 And he was a leper. 00:09:57.939 --> 00:10:00.120 So Jesus is reminding these people 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:02.059 of times when, although there was 00:10:02.059 --> 00:10:03.419 plenty of legitimate need, 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:06.079 plenty of need among the Israelites, 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:09.179 God sent his prophets to help Gentiles 00:10:09.179 --> 00:10:10.500 instead of Israelites. 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:13.319 And you gotta understand, 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:14.779 if you're a first century Jew 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:16.039 and you live in a place like Nazareth 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:17.639 and you see Gentiles all around 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:19.159 and you're very concerned about 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:21.539 keeping yourself separate from the Gentiles 00:10:21.539 --> 00:10:24.079 and you hear Jesus saying this, 00:10:24.299 --> 00:10:25.899 this is deeply offensive. 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:29.559 The Jews had always imagined God's Messiah 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:31.220 coming to vindicate them 00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:32.959 over and above the Gentiles. 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:37.019 And Jesus is reminding them of times 00:10:37.019 --> 00:10:38.659 in their past when God did something 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:39.179 very different. 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:40.379 He actually sent his prophets 00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:42.759 to the Gentiles instead of the Israelites. 00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:45.480 So this is a slap in the face 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:47.360 to their pride as people. 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:49.000 And it says in verse 28, 00:10:49.100 --> 00:10:49.960 when they heard these things, 00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:52.059 all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 00:10:52.059 --> 00:10:54.159 So they literally drive Jesus 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:55.019 out of the synagogue. 00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:57.839 They drive him out of the town. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:10:59.079 They drive him up to the edge of a cliff 00:10:59.079 --> 00:11:00.799 and they intend to throw him off the cliff 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:01.379 and kill him. 00:11:03.119 --> 00:11:04.919 But Jesus is able to mysteriously 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:06.039 pass through their midst 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:07.879 and he goes away to Capernaum. 00:11:08.779 --> 00:11:10.599 Now in order to understand this, 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:11.759 we have to understand 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:13.959 that every single thing 00:11:13.959 --> 00:11:15.219 that Jesus is saying 00:11:15.219 --> 00:11:18.959 is a continuation of his sermon 00:11:18.959 --> 00:11:20.639 on Isaiah chapter 61. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:22.699 He does not get derailed 00:11:22.699 --> 00:11:23.939 by their skepticism 00:11:23.939 --> 00:11:25.319 and go in a different direction. 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:27.980 All of this is expounding 00:11:27.980 --> 00:11:29.759 upon Isaiah 61. 00:11:31.179 --> 00:11:33.279 God has sent his Messiah Jesus 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:34.259 into the world 00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:36.019 to bring good news to the poor, 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:37.620 return for the exiles, 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:38.899 sight to the blind, 00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:40.399 liberation for the oppressed. 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:41.460 But here's the point 00:11:41.460 --> 00:11:42.460 that Jesus is making. 00:11:44.319 --> 00:11:46.379 Unless you recognize 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:49.159 that you are spiritually poor, 00:11:49.159 --> 00:11:51.659 the coming of Jesus 00:11:51.659 --> 00:11:53.399 is going to be irrelevant. 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:55.839 Unless you recognize 00:11:55.839 --> 00:11:57.579 that you are right now 00:11:57.579 --> 00:11:59.500 a spiritual exile, 00:12:00.299 --> 00:12:01.799 the coming of Jesus 00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:03.399 is not going to be good news. 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:05.719 Unless you recognize 00:12:05.719 --> 00:12:07.019 that you right now 00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:08.500 are spiritually blind, 00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:11.000 Jesus has nothing to offer you. 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:13.480 Unless you recognize 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:14.940 that you are in fact 00:12:14.940 --> 00:12:16.940 spiritually possessed, 00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:19.139 spiritually oppressed 00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:20.500 by death, 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:21.519 by sin, 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:22.560 by the demonic, 00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:24.039 the liberation of Jesus, 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:26.740 the freedom that he offers 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.899 is meaningless. 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:29.940 Unless you recognize your need 00:12:29.940 --> 00:12:31.940 and unless you're willing 00:12:31.940 --> 00:12:33.680 to look to Jesus, 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:36.180 he has nothing to offer. 00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:38.639 And this is a slap in the face 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:39.300 to the Israelites 00:12:39.300 --> 00:12:40.800 because they always assumed 00:12:40.800 --> 00:12:41.519 that the Messiah 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:42.159 was going to come 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:43.299 for them only. 00:12:44.219 --> 00:12:45.360 But Jesus is saying this, 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:46.559 God does not send 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:47.219 his Savior 00:12:47.219 --> 00:12:48.659 to a people group. 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:50.839 He does not send 00:12:50.839 --> 00:12:51.399 his Messiah 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:52.399 to the Jews. 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:53.439 He does not send 00:12:53.439 --> 00:12:53.980 his Messiah 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:55.480 to the Gentiles. 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:56.159 He does not send 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:56.759 his Messiah 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:57.939 only to the poor. 00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.279 He does not send 00:12:59.279 --> 00:12:59.860 his Messiah 00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:00.819 to the wealthy. 00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:04.319 He sends his Savior 00:13:04.319 --> 00:13:05.899 only to those 00:13:05.899 --> 00:13:07.659 who truly know 00:13:07.659 --> 00:13:08.600 they need a Savior. 00:13:09.659 --> 00:13:10.740 Whether they are Jew, 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:13.019 Gentile, rich, poor, 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:14.220 morally upright, 00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:15.480 morally bankrupt. 00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:17.379 He sends his Savior 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:18.440 only to those 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:19.700 who know they need 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:20.879 a Savior. 00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:22.080 And this becomes 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:22.840 very clear 00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:23.720 in the next chapter 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:24.139 in Luke. 00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:25.200 The religious leaders 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:26.440 are scandalized 00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:29.200 when they see Jesus, 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:31.200 who's this respectable rabbi, 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:32.879 eating with the very 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:33.899 worst kind of people. 00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:35.240 In Luke chapter 5, 00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:35.960 they see him eating 00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:36.419 with sinners 00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:37.240 and tax collectors. 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:37.340 sinners. 00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:39.419 And they're scandalized. 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:41.159 And Jesus responds 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:41.600 this way. 00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:41.919 He says, 00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:43.019 those who are well 00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:43.600 have no need 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:44.139 of a physician. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:47.220 You don't go to the doctor 00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:47.820 when you're well. 00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:49.600 You don't value 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.080 the doctor 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:50.639 when you're well. 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:51.460 You don't seek out 00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:51.860 the doctor 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:52.460 when you're well. 00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:54.700 It's those who are sick. 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:55.639 He says, 00:13:56.180 --> 00:13:56.879 I have come 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:58.740 not to call 00:13:58.740 --> 00:13:59.220 the righteous, 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:00.539 but sinners 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:01.960 to repentance. 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:04.159 And this really brings 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:04.879 us to the point. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.379 At the beginning, 00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:07.960 we talked about 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:08.899 people who think, 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:09.620 if I could just 00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:10.360 hear Jesus 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:12.220 stand up in front of me 00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:13.419 and say directly to me 00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:14.919 that I am God's Messiah, 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:16.360 if Jesus would do that, 00:14:16.439 --> 00:14:17.279 then I would believe 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:18.460 because I would have proof. 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:20.000 But here we see 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.720 in Luke chapter 4 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:21.399 that that is 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:22.879 far from the truth. 00:14:23.439 --> 00:14:24.539 It's not that simple. 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:26.320 Jesus does that 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:27.019 very thing. 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:28.000 He stands up in front 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:28.860 of a crowd of people 00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:29.320 and says, 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:30.580 I am God's Messiah. 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:32.879 And they reject him. 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:35.659 That's because 00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:37.360 the primary obstacle 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:37.939 to faith 00:14:37.939 --> 00:14:38.919 is not intellectual. 00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:41.100 Those of us who think, 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.679 if I could just 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:42.320 have some proof, 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:44.679 it is not intellectual. 00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:45.559 It is spiritual. 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:47.960 These people 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:48.639 want a champion. 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:49.860 They want a political hero. 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:51.019 They want somebody 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:52.139 to make them feel proud 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:52.820 to be Israelites. 00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:54.120 They want somebody 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:54.700 to stand up 00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.240 to the Romans. 00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:56.759 The last thing they want 00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.440 is a savior 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:00.240 because that means 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:00.720 that they are 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.700 the sort of people 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:02.639 who need saving. 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.740 And that's the rub 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:05.500 for most of us 00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.559 if we're really honest 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:08.319 is that fundamentally 00:15:08.319 --> 00:15:09.600 down deep 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:10.620 we don't actually 00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.299 believe that. 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:13.159 These people 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:13.779 are blinded 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.679 by their own pride 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:15.779 so they can't recognize 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:16.980 Jesus for who he is 00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:18.159 even when he's standing 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:19.360 right in front of them. 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:21.220 You know, 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.240 this is like the story 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.299 of Joy Davidman. 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:25.319 She was a poet. 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:26.639 She was a committed atheist. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:27.759 At one point in her life 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:28.220 she joined 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:29.159 the Communist Party 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:29.980 because she thought 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:31.120 that that would offer 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:31.960 the kind of meaning 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:33.580 and focus on justice 00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:34.940 that mattered to her 00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:36.700 and she says this 00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:37.679 about her atheism. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.600 She says, 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:41.580 of course I thought 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:42.539 atheism was true 00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:43.740 but I hadn't given 00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:44.720 quite enough attention 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:45.360 to developing 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.100 the proof of it. 00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:47.639 Someday when the children 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.299 grow older 00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:49.399 I'd work it out. 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:50.539 So she's like, 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:51.779 I'm sure there's no God. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.419 I don't really, 00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:53.440 can't get there intellectually 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.860 but one of these days 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:55.399 I'll sit down 00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:56.240 and I'll do my homework 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:57.279 but I already know 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.100 there's no God. 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.220 And she was very confident 00:15:59.220 --> 00:15:59.740 about that. 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.500 And she marries a man 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.159 named Bill 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:03.659 and Bill is a workaholic. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:06.659 He is chronically unfaithful. 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.759 He's an alcoholic. 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:09.560 He's kind of a train wreck. 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:12.060 And one day 00:16:12.060 --> 00:16:13.240 Bill calls 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.460 from his New York office. 00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:15.279 He calls Joy 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:16.899 and he's in the midst 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:17.820 of a nervous breakdown. 00:16:18.800 --> 00:16:20.879 And from the phone conversation 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:23.040 she's deeply worried 00:16:23.040 --> 00:16:23.700 that he's gonna take 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:24.340 his own life. 00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:25.519 And he says he's 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:26.320 in the middle of a breakdown. 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.279 He doesn't know what to do 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:28.319 and then he hangs up the phone. 00:16:29.079 --> 00:16:31.439 And then for the entire next day 00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:33.100 she's frantically calling 00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:34.299 the New York office 00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:35.039 trying to get through, 00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:35.819 trying to find out 00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:36.579 what happened to him 00:16:36.579 --> 00:16:37.699 and she can't get through 00:16:37.699 --> 00:16:38.919 and she has no idea 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:40.639 if he's alive or dead. 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.620 And by nightfall 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.439 that next night 00:16:42.439 --> 00:16:43.720 she recalls 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.559 there's nothing to do 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:45.039 but wait 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:46.179 and see if he turns up 00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:46.779 alive or dead. 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.480 So she has no idea 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:48.959 if her husband 00:16:48.959 --> 00:16:50.299 is even still alive. 00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:51.379 And so she talks 00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:52.079 about that night. 00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:53.419 She puts her children 00:16:53.419 --> 00:16:53.879 to sleep 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.819 and then she just waits. 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.679 And here's what she writes 00:16:56.679 --> 00:16:57.979 about what happens next. 00:16:58.479 --> 00:16:59.500 In that silence 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.539 something happened. 00:17:02.339 --> 00:17:03.539 For the first time 00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:04.179 in my life, 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.079 Joy writes, 00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:06.980 I felt helpless. 00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:09.399 For the first time 00:17:09.399 --> 00:17:10.099 my pride 00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:11.119 was forced to admit 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:12.899 that I was not calm 00:17:12.899 --> 00:17:13.599 after all. 00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.319 That I was not 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:17.460 the master of my fate 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.179 and the captain 00:17:18.179 --> 00:17:18.859 of my soul. 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:20.980 All my defenses, 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:21.960 all the walls 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:22.559 of arrogance 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.460 and cockiness 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:24.740 and self-love 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.400 behind which 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:25.960 I had hidden 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:26.579 from God 00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:28.299 went down momentarily 00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.980 and God came in. 00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:31.779 It's like for this 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.620 brief moment 00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:34.000 she feels utterly helpless. 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:35.319 Her walls go down 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:36.059 and in that moment 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:36.579 she says, 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:37.600 God came in. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.819 There was a person 00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.440 with me 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.259 in that room 00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:42.840 directly present 00:17:42.840 --> 00:17:43.779 to my consciousness. 00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:45.600 A person so real 00:17:45.600 --> 00:17:47.079 that all my previous life 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:48.380 was by comparison 00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:49.960 a mere shadow play. 00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:51.360 And I myself 00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:52.240 was more alive 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.319 than I had ever been. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:54.819 It was like waking 00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:55.620 from sleep. 00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.579 Now of course 00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:59.680 God had been there 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.279 all along. 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.920 Jesus had been there 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:03.940 all along. 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.559 But it wasn't 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:06.500 until she felt 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.859 her own helplessness. 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:09.599 It wasn't until 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.700 that illusion 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:12.440 of her self-sufficiency 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:13.400 crumbled. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.160 It wasn't until 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:15.799 that moment 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:17.559 that she became aware 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:18.380 of the presence 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:19.079 of God 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:20.140 with her. 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:21.380 That is what enabled 00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:22.540 her to recognize 00:18:22.540 --> 00:18:24.400 Jesus who was standing 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.860 right in front of her. 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:28.100 And it's this experience 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:29.200 that leads her 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:31.400 to convert to Christianity 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.760 which profoundly changed 00:18:32.760 --> 00:18:33.620 her life. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.300 And by the way 00:18:34.300 --> 00:18:35.000 the epilogue 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:36.360 is that after 00:18:36.360 --> 00:18:38.040 Bill eventually 00:18:38.040 --> 00:18:39.820 survived that night 00:18:39.820 --> 00:18:40.480 but he eventually 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.920 left her for her cousin 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:44.600 and they got divorced 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:46.379 and so Joy went on 00:18:46.379 --> 00:18:47.379 to marry C.S. Lewis. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.959 And she's the wife 00:18:49.959 --> 00:18:51.740 that Lewis loved 00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.839 and writes about. 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.959 And this story 00:18:54.959 --> 00:18:56.099 of Joy's conversion 00:18:56.099 --> 00:18:57.399 I think shows us 00:18:57.399 --> 00:18:58.639 something extremely important. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:01.059 No one could have argued 00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:02.059 her into the faith. 00:19:03.419 --> 00:19:05.199 No amount of cups of coffee 00:19:05.199 --> 00:19:06.199 and sitting down 00:19:06.199 --> 00:19:07.000 and laying out 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:08.099 all of the rational 00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:08.819 apologetics 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:10.099 for the existence of God 00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:11.319 or the truth 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:12.119 of the resurrection 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:13.980 or the claims 00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:14.619 of Christ 00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:16.019 as fulfillments 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:16.679 of prophecy. 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:18.079 No one sitting down 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:19.299 and laying all of that out 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:19.799 would have 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.720 I would think 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:22.019 convinced Joy 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:22.980 to give up 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.799 her atheism. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.659 She couldn't 00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:26.679 be argued 00:19:26.679 --> 00:19:27.619 into faith. 00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:28.519 She needed to be 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.599 humbled into faith. 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:32.119 She had to be humbled 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:32.879 into faith. 00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:34.519 She had to come 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.200 face to face 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:36.539 with her own helplessness. 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:38.339 She had to see herself 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:39.879 as spiritually poor. 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.639 And then Jesus began 00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.699 to look like good news. 00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:44.000 She had to see herself 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.559 as spiritually blind 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.720 and then Jesus' 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.059 message began 00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:48.740 to have relevance 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.220 for her. 00:19:50.399 --> 00:19:51.819 It's only at that point 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.619 that the reality 00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:53.119 of Jesus 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:54.519 becomes plain to see. 00:19:55.939 --> 00:19:57.059 Now this is why 00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:58.519 in terms of implications 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:00.599 some people 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.439 maybe some people 00:20:01.439 --> 00:20:02.179 in this room 00:20:02.179 --> 00:20:03.879 remain in unbelief. 00:20:04.939 --> 00:20:05.879 The problem 00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:06.639 I would suggest 00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.500 for some of us 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.700 who remain in unbelief 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:10.859 is not primarily 00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.319 intellectual. 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.059 I'm not saying 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:12.759 there's not a place 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.599 for intellectual arguments. 00:20:14.099 --> 00:20:14.559 I'm not saying 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.200 there's not a place 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:16.900 for rational argument 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.819 and apologetics. 00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:19.059 And anybody 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:20.319 who has seriously looked 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:21.619 you will discover 00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:22.339 that there are 00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:23.140 incredible 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:24.059 thoughtful 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:24.960 compelling 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.859 arguments 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:26.579 for the truth 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:27.319 of the things 00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:27.859 that we believe 00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:28.400 as Christians. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.259 Absolutely. 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.720 There's incredible 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.480 compelling evidence 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:32.500 that the resurrection 00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:32.920 happened. 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.720 There's incredible 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.500 compelling evidence 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.640 that this is true. 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:37.580 But I would suggest 00:20:37.580 --> 00:20:38.500 that for some people 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:39.680 who remain in unbelief 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:41.120 the primary issue 00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:42.240 is not intellectual. 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:43.700 You're not going 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.040 to be able 00:20:44.040 --> 00:20:44.600 to be argued 00:20:44.600 --> 00:20:45.380 into the faith. 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.300 Your primary obstacle 00:20:47.300 --> 00:20:48.080 is spiritual. 00:20:48.300 --> 00:20:49.160 It's a heart 00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:50.300 posture issue. 00:20:51.520 --> 00:20:52.740 And God may love you 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.380 so much 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:53.900 and want you 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:54.540 so much 00:20:54.540 --> 00:20:55.780 that he does things 00:20:55.780 --> 00:20:56.440 in your life 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:57.340 that humble you. 00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:59.200 That he does things 00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.660 in your life 00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:00.220 that bring you 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:00.940 face to face 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.840 with your finitude, 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:02.580 your limitations. 00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:04.500 that he brings 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:04.960 a situation 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.819 into your life 00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:06.619 that causes you 00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:07.519 to feel helpless 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:09.519 because he's trying 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.439 to get through to you. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.220 He's standing 00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.279 right in front of you 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:12.899 saying, 00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:13.839 I am here, 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:14.599 the savior, 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.179 the fulfillment 00:21:15.179 --> 00:21:16.259 of all of God's promises 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:17.539 and all he wants 00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:18.000 is for you 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:19.220 to recognize him 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:21.399 instead of throwing 00:21:21.399 --> 00:21:22.179 him off a cliff. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:24.679 Right? 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.639 So that's the first thing. 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:26.439 Second implication 00:21:26.439 --> 00:21:26.980 is this. 00:21:27.139 --> 00:21:28.119 I do believe 00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:28.919 this is probably 00:21:28.919 --> 00:21:30.519 partly why the church, 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:31.619 not just our church 00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:32.419 but the church, 00:21:33.219 --> 00:21:34.419 is filled with people 00:21:34.419 --> 00:21:35.199 who have grown up 00:21:35.199 --> 00:21:35.819 with Christianity, 00:21:36.719 --> 00:21:37.379 filled with people 00:21:37.379 --> 00:21:38.199 who have grown up 00:21:38.199 --> 00:21:40.639 around these truths, 00:21:40.719 --> 00:21:41.859 who have heard the gospel 00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:43.099 a thousand times, 00:21:43.199 --> 00:21:44.379 they've gone to Sunday school, 00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.439 they've gone to youth group, 00:21:45.639 --> 00:21:46.599 they've gone to the camps, 00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:47.419 they've done all of it, 00:21:47.439 --> 00:21:47.879 they've heard it 00:21:47.879 --> 00:21:49.000 thousands of times. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:50.959 But it's never really 00:21:50.959 --> 00:21:51.919 connected with them 00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:52.599 on a deep level. 00:21:54.239 --> 00:21:54.519 You know, 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.899 it's never really penetrated. 00:21:57.659 --> 00:21:58.899 I think the reason 00:21:58.899 --> 00:21:59.899 is because maybe 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:00.820 you've heard the gospel 00:22:00.820 --> 00:22:01.800 a thousand times 00:22:01.800 --> 00:22:02.820 but it's never really 00:22:02.820 --> 00:22:03.660 moved you 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.680 because you've never 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:05.880 really been confronted 00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:06.660 with your need 00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:07.220 for a savior. 00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:10.120 You've never really 00:22:10.120 --> 00:22:11.019 come face to face 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.519 with the truth 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:12.460 of your own condition. 00:22:14.560 --> 00:22:16.259 In the UVA med school, 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.700 probably like all med schools, 00:22:18.580 --> 00:22:19.320 one of the ways 00:22:19.320 --> 00:22:20.240 that they train students 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.240 is by having actors 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:21.820 come in 00:22:21.820 --> 00:22:23.100 and they'll give the actor 00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:23.940 a medical condition 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.700 and then the actor 00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:26.560 has to act out 00:22:26.560 --> 00:22:27.180 the symptoms 00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.160 of the condition 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:29.240 and then they bring 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:30.080 the med students in 00:22:30.080 --> 00:22:30.720 to do an exam 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.560 and their goal 00:22:31.560 --> 00:22:32.460 is to try to correctly 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:34.019 diagnose the condition 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:35.100 that's being portrayed. 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.820 And a few years back 00:22:36.820 --> 00:22:37.560 at UVA, 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.380 an actor went in 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.940 and he was told 00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.720 that he was supposed 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:42.720 to pretend to have 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:44.920 an abdominal aortic aneurysm. 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:47.019 And here's the symptoms 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:48.060 and you need to pretend 00:22:48.060 --> 00:22:48.840 like you have this. 00:22:49.540 --> 00:22:51.060 And then the med student 00:22:51.060 --> 00:22:52.640 began to examine this actor 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:54.040 and the med student 00:22:54.040 --> 00:22:54.820 discovered that, 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.460 in fact, 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:57.259 the actor actually had 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:59.840 a real abdominal aortic aneurysm. 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:00.880 I mean, 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:01.500 can you imagine 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.259 the odds of that? 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:03.200 You go in, 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:03.880 you're randomly 00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:04.740 given a condition. 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.079 You go in, 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:04.220 you're randomly given 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:04.740 a condition.