WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.560 Let me read to you just the last three verses of Matthew chapter 11. 00:00:07.339 --> 00:00:16.100 ! Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. 00:00:16.100 --> 00:00:24.120 ! Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart. 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:32.679 And you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:42.620 Anyone weary? Anyone heavy laden? These words are for you aren't they? 00:00:44.520 --> 00:00:48.680 There's a Greek laden about a man who was given a task to do by the gods. 00:00:49.420 --> 00:00:52.900 It was a particularly criminal punishment in the afterlife. 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:59.259 And this man's punishment was that for all eternity he would have to push a boulder up a hill. 00:00:59.939 --> 00:01:04.019 And each time he got to the top of the hill the boulder would slip through his fingers. 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:09.780 And it would go right to the bottom of the hill and he'd have to start all over again. 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:15.280 And I suppose after a few hundred years of pushing that boulder up that hill he would be weary wouldn't he? 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:19.259 Weary from trying but never succeeding. 00:01:19.260 --> 00:01:24.740 Weary of doing the same thing again and again and again but not succeeding. 00:01:24.880 --> 00:01:26.120 And sometimes life is like that. 00:01:27.420 --> 00:01:28.660 You get up in the morning. 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:31.480 You grab yourself some breakfast. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:33.420 You get on the bus. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:34.580 Particularly Broadway. 00:01:35.719 --> 00:01:36.980 You get on the tube. 00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:39.880 You buy coffee on the way to work. 00:01:39.980 --> 00:01:41.100 You work all morning. 00:01:41.099 --> 00:01:44.159 You dash out of the office for a sandwich. 00:01:44.459 --> 00:01:45.939 You get back to work in the afternoon. 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:48.899 You end up working later than you'd hoped. 00:01:49.619 --> 00:01:51.439 You get a tube which is delayed home. 00:01:52.339 --> 00:01:53.599 You get the bus back home. 00:01:54.359 --> 00:01:55.019 You have your dinner. 00:01:55.919 --> 00:01:57.299 You maybe come out for a church meeting. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:01:58.500 You watch TV. 00:01:58.899 --> 00:01:59.479 You go to bed. 00:02:00.659 --> 00:02:01.599 You get up the following morning. 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:03.319 You make some coffee. 00:02:03.479 --> 00:02:04.219 You grab some breakfast. 00:02:04.699 --> 00:02:05.879 You get the bus to the tube. 00:02:06.259 --> 00:02:07.579 You get the tube into work. 00:02:07.579 --> 00:02:09.719 Grab a coffee on the way to work. 00:02:09.780 --> 00:02:10.620 Work in the morning. 00:02:10.780 --> 00:02:12.659 You wish you did lunch time but you haven't got time. 00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:14.960 So you grab a sandwich and work all afternoon. 00:02:15.479 --> 00:02:18.199 You thought you'd finish early but you've worked late. 00:02:18.300 --> 00:02:19.620 And so you get the tube home. 00:02:20.079 --> 00:02:20.719 You get the bus. 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:22.039 You get home. 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:23.079 You maybe go to a church meeting. 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:23.879 You watch the TV. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:25.479 You have some dinner. 00:02:25.699 --> 00:02:26.360 You go to bed. 00:02:26.579 --> 00:02:27.939 Again and again and again. 00:02:30.659 --> 00:02:34.659 Life seems to keep on going back to where it's been. 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:36.680 And you never seem to be getting anywhere. 00:02:37.580 --> 00:02:38.140 Matthew Arnold. 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:41.300 I talked about a foiled, circuitous wanderer. 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:42.920 Round and round we go. 00:02:43.020 --> 00:02:45.220 Only to come back to where we started before. 00:02:45.620 --> 00:02:47.100 And sometimes life is like that, isn't it? 00:02:47.180 --> 00:02:50.360 Sometimes life is like trying to push a boulder up a hill. 00:02:51.860 --> 00:02:53.100 And religion doesn't help either. 00:02:54.420 --> 00:02:58.080 Jesus said about the religious leaders of his day. 00:02:58.439 --> 00:03:02.020 Let me read it to you from chapter 23, verses 1-4. 00:03:02.020 --> 00:03:03.180 Let me read what he says. 00:03:03.580 --> 00:03:04.720 Jesus said of them. 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:34.699 He said, 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:38.319 He loved the places of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogue. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:39.379 It's what religion does. 00:03:41.659 --> 00:03:45.560 What God intended to be a blessing for the whole of mankind so often becomes a burden. 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:47.939 And that's how it was under the yoke of the Pharisees. 00:03:48.979 --> 00:03:50.259 It's at the time of the Reformation. 00:03:50.979 --> 00:03:52.039 Under the medieval church. 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:56.699 The message of the gospel which was supposed to have been a great blessing. 00:03:56.859 --> 00:03:58.699 Religion had become a tolerable burden. 00:03:59.019 --> 00:04:00.259 And it's often how it is today. 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:05.639 That we can make Christianity into a religion which becomes a burden. 00:04:06.379 --> 00:04:07.139 Like, bop it. 00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:09.060 You do this and you don't do that. 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:14.560 And it's a burden that we put on people's shoulders and they're not meant to carry it. 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:16.939 Because it's not religion that we need as human beings. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:19.500 It's a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:24.780 And that's what's so wonderful about the invitation that I read at the start of this service. 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:25.180 Isn't it? 00:04:25.180 --> 00:04:31.160 It's an invitation to you to come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 00:04:31.220 --> 00:04:32.220 So let me read it to you again. 00:04:33.980 --> 00:04:35.000 Where Jesus says, 00:04:35.100 --> 00:04:41.259 Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 00:04:42.280 --> 00:04:48.360 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:50.120 It is a remarkable invitation. 00:04:51.280 --> 00:04:55.060 But what I want you to see this morning is it is full of the most remarkable paradoxes. 00:04:56.180 --> 00:04:59.500 Two truths which seem to be contradictory, but actually they fit together. 00:05:00.019 --> 00:05:02.500 So the first thing is the invitation of who it's from. 00:05:03.699 --> 00:05:06.540 The invitation is from the master who is slave. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:08.560 Can you see that? 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:12.180 When you get an invitation, you find out who it's from, don't you? 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:19.399 And Jesus says, come to me, verse 28, come to me, because I am gentle and humble in heart. 00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:23.100 Those words, gentle and humble, they are servant words. 00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:27.840 And the invitation is from someone with a servant heart. 00:05:29.460 --> 00:05:34.360 It's not from a tyrant, but from somebody who has got your best interests at heart. 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:38.280 He is gentle, he says, and he is humble. 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:42.840 And those words reveal to us the heart of Jesus. 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:44.800 And it's a servant heart. 00:05:44.860 --> 00:05:50.960 But when you look at the context, and you go back to verse 27, there's a great paradox of the way Jesus describes himself. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:51.900 Look at verse 27. 00:05:51.899 --> 00:05:57.060 He says, all things have been given to me by the Father. 00:05:58.060 --> 00:06:04.719 This invitation comes from a man who says, I am humble and I am gentle. 00:06:04.899 --> 00:06:08.539 And the verse before he says, all things have been given to me. 00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:14.660 So here is someone with a servant heart who is humble and gentle and kind. 00:06:14.819 --> 00:06:17.620 And yet he claims to be the master of the universe, the Lord of all. 00:06:19.200 --> 00:06:20.420 That's a huge paradox, isn't it? 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:22.300 That is the paradox of biblical Christianity. 00:06:24.780 --> 00:06:29.259 A lot of people think that Christianity is about us serving God. 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:32.339 But it's not primarily about that. 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:35.060 It is primarily about God serving us. 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:39.339 Let me read to you from Philippians 2. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:44.339 It spoke about the Lord Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, he was God. 00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:48.039 He did not account equality with God, a thing to be grasped. 00:06:48.039 --> 00:06:51.759 He wasn't like Adam in the book of Genesis, grasping. 00:06:52.459 --> 00:06:57.500 But verse 7 of Philippians 2, when he emptied himself and he took on the form of his servant. 00:06:59.259 --> 00:07:00.879 And he humbled himself. 00:07:02.699 --> 00:07:05.159 Becoming obedient to death, even to death on the cross. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:10.339 So the Lord of all has become the servant of all. 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:13.420 And that is who sends the invitation to you. 00:07:14.779 --> 00:07:16.379 Let's explore this paradox. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:22.219 Jesus is presenting himself to you as the world's burden bearer. 00:07:23.259 --> 00:07:26.060 Notice that it's a global invitation, isn't it? 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:26.959 In Hebrews 11. 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:29.959 And it's much bigger than you or me and us in the UK. 00:07:30.599 --> 00:07:32.659 It is a great global invitation. 00:07:33.299 --> 00:07:37.239 And Jesus is inviting everyone to come to him with their problems. 00:07:37.419 --> 00:07:38.000 Look at verse 28. 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:41.079 Come to me, all you who labour. 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:42.699 On a heavy ladle. 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:48.159 And we all know people, don't we, who've got the weight of the world on their shoulders. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:50.379 It's often good to avoid people like that. 00:07:50.379 --> 00:07:56.079 But here is Jesus and he invites the whole world to come to him. 00:07:57.719 --> 00:07:58.800 All of you come to me. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:00.379 All of you who are weary and burdened. 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:03.240 And he offers to take the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. 00:08:04.719 --> 00:08:07.819 That's a massive claim for anyone to make, isn't it? 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:10.939 For anyone to take. 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:15.740 Come to me with all your problems and all your worries and all your anxieties and all your cares. 00:08:17.819 --> 00:08:21.719 And the unnerving thing is, the unassuming way which he makes this claim. 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:23.240 Come to me, all of you. 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:24.420 Do it right down through the centuries. 00:08:25.539 --> 00:08:26.560 Right across the world. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.100 Whenever you're weary and heavy laden. 00:08:28.100 --> 00:08:31.820 I know a little bit of what that's like. 00:08:31.900 --> 00:08:35.000 It's a past day you get people coming to you with their problems. 00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:39.200 And there are times when that can be emotionally and psychologically draining. 00:08:40.620 --> 00:08:44.800 But here is Jesus inviting the whole world to come to him with their problems. 00:08:46.899 --> 00:08:49.940 And the question that we've got to ask, well, can he handle it? 00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:50.659 Is he up to it? 00:08:51.920 --> 00:08:53.279 It's a massive claim, isn't it? 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:59.939 How do you know that you can trust Jesus this morning with whatever's weighing you down all the way to this world? 00:09:02.839 --> 00:09:05.019 How do I know that you can trust Jesus with your problems? 00:09:06.199 --> 00:09:07.339 We all do have problems. 00:09:08.139 --> 00:09:08.959 And burdens. 00:09:10.620 --> 00:09:13.079 And we all carry loads around with us. 00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:16.919 And there are times out there when they seem too much to bear. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:22.360 What British psychiatrists have said, two-thirds are suffering from anxiety. 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:23.440 In the UK. 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:26.120 It's a huge weight to carry, isn't it? 00:09:26.180 --> 00:09:27.159 Fear, anxiety. 00:09:27.740 --> 00:09:28.180 Anxiety. 00:09:28.259 --> 00:09:31.320 Do you know what it is to be anxious and fearful about life? 00:09:32.659 --> 00:09:34.360 The burden about myself. 00:09:36.139 --> 00:09:39.240 Malcolm Baggage was a cynical atheist before he became a Christian. 00:09:39.560 --> 00:09:40.960 And he said this about himself. 00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:45.919 I felt myself to be a prisoner of my own self-centeredness. 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:48.539 That is what sin is. 00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:52.180 The dark little dungeon of my ego. 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:54.560 He says to be turned in on oneself. 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:57.560 Imprisoned in one's own egocentricity. 00:09:57.940 --> 00:09:58.899 Oh, what a burden. 00:09:59.100 --> 00:10:00.419 What a bondage that is. 00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:04.600 Sting of the police. 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:06.700 Another great philosopher said, 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:09.220 In this desert that I call my soul, 00:10:09.379 --> 00:10:11.100 I always play the starring role. 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:13.440 Do you agree with that? 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:17.120 Cranmer, in their book of common prayer, 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:18.720 A better theologian than this thing, 00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:20.440 Calls this an intolerable burden. 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:23.420 My sin is an intolerable burden more than I can bear. 00:10:24.060 --> 00:10:25.240 Doesn't your conscience feel guilty? 00:10:26.880 --> 00:10:31.760 Doesn't your heart get bowed down with a sense of shame and failure? 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:31.840 Yeah? 00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:34.919 Well, I'm very glad you're here this morning. 00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:37.580 Because this promise is for you. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:40.399 And if you haven't got any problems, 00:10:40.539 --> 00:10:41.600 And life is just a breeze, 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:43.200 Well, you've come to the wrong place this morning. 00:10:44.059 --> 00:10:45.720 But if you're weary and burdened, 00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:47.620 And carrying loads that you can't carry, 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:49.939 And you feel that you don't live up to your own standards, 00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:51.360 Let alone anyone else's standards, 00:10:51.500 --> 00:10:52.960 And let alone God's standards, 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:54.379 Jesus says, verse 28, 00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:56.620 Come to me, 00:10:58.159 --> 00:10:58.879 All you who labour. 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:01.000 Now how do we know that he can do that? 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:02.240 Well, let's go back to the verses earlier. 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:05.519 And I want you to notice something strange in verse 25. 00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:09.600 The whole passage is full of paradoxes. 00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:10.480 Look at verse 25. 00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:13.179 At that time, Jesus, the clearly, speaks aloud, 00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:13.559 And he says, 00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:15.259 I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:17.740 That you've hidden these things from the wise and understanding, 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:19.720 And you've revealed them to little children. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:24.019 Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will, your purpose. 00:11:24.939 --> 00:11:25.519 Verse 27, 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:27.720 All things have been handed over to you by my Father, 00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:29.879 And no one knows the Son except the Father, 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:32.220 And no one knows the Father except the Son, 00:11:32.299 --> 00:11:34.439 And anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:36.919 Now that doesn't sound very humble, does it? 00:11:39.419 --> 00:11:40.779 Look at the end of verse 27. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:42.179 Think about what Jesus is saying there. 00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:42.580 He's saying, 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:45.120 Nobody knows anything about God except me. 00:11:47.179 --> 00:11:48.379 That isn't very humble. 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:50.639 That's what he's saying. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:53.659 Nobody knows anything about God except me, 00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:55.279 And those I choose to reveal him to. 00:11:56.219 --> 00:11:57.299 And that is a huge paradox. 00:11:57.419 --> 00:11:59.019 It is an outrageous thing to say. 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:02.559 How does that swear with being gentle and humble? 00:12:02.779 --> 00:12:05.919 Well, I think C.S. Lewis expressed this better than anyone. 00:12:07.219 --> 00:12:07.459 He said, 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:09.339 Jesus is worse than Hitler or Stalin. 00:12:10.219 --> 00:12:12.899 He's a megalomaniac of the first order if this isn't true. 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:15.159 The whole world belongs to me. 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:16.939 The Father has put everything to me. 00:12:16.940 --> 00:12:20.860 And no one can know God unless I reveal God to them. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:23.920 So Mohammed doesn't know anything about God. 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:26.240 Buddha doesn't know anything about God. 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:28.240 Nobody knows God except me. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:29.260 That's what Jesus is saying. 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:35.160 And the only way anyone can start to know about God is if I decide to share that knowledge. 00:12:36.160 --> 00:12:36.880 To reveal him. 00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:38.380 It doesn't sound very humble. 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:39.180 That is outrageous. 00:12:39.660 --> 00:12:40.260 C.S. Lewis says, 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:41.399 If you ask Buddha, 00:12:41.539 --> 00:12:42.519 Are you the son of Rama? 00:12:42.899 --> 00:12:43.480 He would have said, 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:44.639 You're still in the veil of illusion. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:46.700 If you ask Socrates, 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:48.120 Are you Zeus? 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:49.139 He would have laughed at you. 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:50.439 If you ask Mohammed, 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:51.279 Are you Allah? 00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:53.259 He would have beheaded you for blasphemy. 00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:55.860 But here Jesus is saying, 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:57.120 Well look what he says in verse 27. 00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:59.419 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:02.399 And no one knows the Son except the Father. 00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:04.120 And no one knows the Father except the Son. 00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:06.319 And anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:07.899 It's an outrageous thing to say. 00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:12.340 It's an absolute and exclusive claim. 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:17.299 Let's think about it a little bit more. 00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:20.659 On one of the church directories a long time ago, 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:22.559 Paul Hosea's mobile number, 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.459 Which I don't think he had, 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:28.019 My mobile number was under Paul Hosea's mobile number. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:31.319 And so occasionally people would ring me and say, 00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:31.879 Hi Paul. 00:13:32.079 --> 00:13:33.199 And I would say, 00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:33.519 Hi. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:34.799 How are you? 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:37.340 And then suddenly they would realise we sounded just a little bit different. 00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:39.379 It was a case of a mistake in the identity. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:40.899 Same name, but different people. 00:13:43.299 --> 00:13:45.019 I think that happens a lot in our culture. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:48.379 Because when a Christian and a non-Christian have a discussion about God, 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:50.379 We assume that we're talking about the same person. 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:52.319 But we're not. 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:54.240 People say, 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:56.699 Well surely we all believe in the same God. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:57.459 Don't we? 00:13:58.779 --> 00:13:59.500 Monotheist religions. 00:13:59.579 --> 00:14:00.699 We're not a monotheist religion. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:04.299 Surely we're all talking about the same God. 00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:04.860 But we're not. 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:07.039 Not according to Jesus. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:10.000 The only way that you can possibly know God is to come to Jesus. 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:12.399 And if you haven't come to Jesus, you can't know God. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.580 That's the claim Jesus is making this way. 00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:16.740 If I put it this way. 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:19.220 God doesn't put himself in the public domain. 00:14:20.659 --> 00:14:22.580 He hides himself from the wise and the learned. 00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:23.500 Look at verse 25. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.840 Who does he reveal himself to? 00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:27.200 Two little children. 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:27.860 Babies. 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:32.080 And so that's really important. 00:14:32.220 --> 00:14:34.200 You cannot put God in a test tube. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:35.659 In a laboratory. 00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:36.960 Discover him there. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:41.120 God can only be known in Jesus. 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:44.000 And to those whom Jesus makes himself known to. 00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:49.600 So a school girl wrote to an Anglican information office. 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:51.500 And said we're doing God this term. 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:54.440 Please send all the leaflets and pamphlets you've got. 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:56.400 But we can't do that. 00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:59.380 We can't know God that way. 00:14:59.520 --> 00:15:02.640 You can't know God just by studying theology. 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:07.220 God will only allow himself to be known in Jesus. 00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:11.300 It's an outrageous thing what Jesus is saying. 00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:16.220 It's an absolutely exclusive claim. 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.279 But it's also universal. 00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:19.360 Because he says come to me all of you. 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:22.879 All of you are wearied and burdened. 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:25.360 And you can't cope in this fallen world. 00:15:25.660 --> 00:15:27.000 And in this broken city. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:30.279 Because you are rebels against his authority. 00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:31.639 All of you come to me. 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:33.720 And you'll find rest. 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:37.920 And so God is not an object of inquiry. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.660 For you to study. 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:42.240 But he is somebody who calls to you. 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:42.920 In Christ. 00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:46.480 And the only way you can come to know God. 00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:47.399 Is to come to Jesus. 00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:48.519 Which is the one thing. 00:15:48.560 --> 00:15:48.779 Isn't it? 00:15:48.800 --> 00:15:50.620 The angry atheists won't do. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:54.379 It's the one thing the Muslims won't do. 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:58.960 God refuses to be known in that way. 00:15:59.040 --> 00:15:59.879 He hides himself. 00:16:00.180 --> 00:16:01.399 And so if you want to know God. 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:02.480 Look at what he says. 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:04.379 He reveals himself to babies. 00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:08.080 Babies who come in simple repentance. 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:09.399 And dependence of faith. 00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:12.300 They cry out to Jesus. 00:16:12.980 --> 00:16:14.039 Lift our load. 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:16.680 And the answer to our human need. 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:17.320 Is not religion. 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:18.139 It is a relationship. 00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:20.659 And have you noticed how these words. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:23.060 What these words are that are used in this passage. 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:24.180 They're family words aren't they? 00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:24.980 Father. 00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:25.759 Son. 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:26.840 Babies. 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:30.759 You see. 00:16:31.560 --> 00:16:33.160 The invitation to come to Jesus. 00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:34.280 Is to join the family. 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.980 When those people became members. 00:16:38.560 --> 00:16:39.780 Members isn't a bad word. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:40.820 It's not a great word. 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:41.420 You see. 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:42.379 What happened this morning. 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:44.300 Is they're not joining a club are they? 00:16:44.420 --> 00:16:45.620 It's not like they get a tie. 00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:47.519 For joining the church. 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:49.240 You know. 00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:50.299 When you come to Jesus. 00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:51.319 You join the family. 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:52.259 Brothers and sisters. 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:56.840 Coming into the family. 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:57.340 Jesus is saying. 00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:59.620 It's not a philosophy that you need this morning. 00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:01.019 It's a family that you need. 00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:04.759 And the only way that you can come to God. 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:05.279 Jesus says. 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:06.000 Is if you come to me. 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:06.879 It's outrageous. 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:09.820 It's a huge paradox. 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:10.460 I'm gentle. 00:17:10.600 --> 00:17:11.020 I'm humble. 00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:11.520 I'm meek. 00:17:11.560 --> 00:17:12.040 And I'm mild. 00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:13.440 But I'm the only one you'll ever know God. 00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:16.960 I'm the one to whom God has committed absolutely everything. 00:17:17.080 --> 00:17:18.700 And I'm the only one who can lift your load. 00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:20.480 So come to me and I will give you rest. 00:17:20.540 --> 00:17:21.760 That's the first thing to understand. 00:17:21.860 --> 00:17:23.340 Where the invitation is coming from. 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:25.480 It comes from the master of the universe. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:28.260 The CEO of the universe. 00:17:28.260 --> 00:17:29.260 Who loves you so much. 00:17:29.340 --> 00:17:30.400 That he's taken human form. 00:17:32.120 --> 00:17:33.160 And he's gone to the cross. 00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:34.780 And he's taken the whole load of your sin. 00:17:34.840 --> 00:17:35.860 And he's put it on his shoulders. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:39.280 And the Lord of all has become the servant of all. 00:17:40.260 --> 00:17:42.000 And God can only be known in him. 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:45.120 But God has made himself known in Jesus. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.760 And so our job as Christians. 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:49.500 Is to make Jesus known. 00:17:49.780 --> 00:17:51.780 To get people seeing Jesus. 00:17:53.860 --> 00:17:54.960 Our job as people. 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:57.060 Who've come to understand the gospel. 00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:58.400 Is to know Jesus and make him known. 00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.220 The second paradox. 00:17:59.820 --> 00:18:01.280 He is the master who is slave. 00:18:01.640 --> 00:18:03.720 And he calls you to the work which is rest. 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:07.740 Who is this invitation from? 00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:08.600 It's from the slave. 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:10.940 The master who is slave. 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:12.259 And what is the invitation to? 00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:12.920 What's it about? 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.759 It's about the work which is rest. 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.500 It's about what Jesus says. 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:19.480 Taking his yoke upon you. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.039 What is a yoke? 00:18:20.100 --> 00:18:21.079 It's a farming implement. 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:23.579 It's how they used to plough fields. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:26.940 You put the yoke over the two cows. 00:18:27.860 --> 00:18:28.900 And they carried. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.779 The cart that was behind them. 00:18:30.860 --> 00:18:32.120 And they ploughed the field. 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:33.400 And the stronger animal. 00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:37.559 Could lift the load for the smaller and younger animal. 00:18:38.580 --> 00:18:39.799 And he would guide the way. 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:41.160 For the less experienced animal. 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:42.620 And Jesus said to me. 00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:44.080 That is what it looks like. 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.779 If you're going to come to me. 00:18:47.320 --> 00:18:49.200 You're going to come under my yoke. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:51.299 You're going to take my authority. 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:52.539 Upon you. 00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:54.340 You're going to come under my control. 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:55.900 You're going to come under my sway. 00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:59.240 That's so important isn't it? 00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:01.980 But to come to Jesus means. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:04.299 That you will live under his authority. 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:07.920 It is as if you're playing a game. 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:08.539 I don't know. 00:19:08.620 --> 00:19:08.820 What is it? 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:10.940 PS4 or Game Boy. 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:12.059 Whatever those things they are. 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.480 And you're playing it. 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:14.480 And it is as if. 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.759 You are playing the game. 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:18.820 But you're going to hand it over to someone else. 00:19:18.820 --> 00:19:20.640 And you are no longer going to be able to play it. 00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:22.340 Because you've handed the controls over. 00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:25.039 And that is what being a Christian is. 00:19:27.840 --> 00:19:28.539 It's work. 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:29.140 Jesus says. 00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:33.019 I think probably that's why you're not a Christian. 00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:34.080 If you're not a Christian this morning. 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:34.440 Because. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.920 It's not because you don't think it's true. 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:39.500 It's not because you think it's irrelevant. 00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:42.460 If you know anything about the gospel of the Lord Jesus. 00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:43.299 It is relevant. 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:45.240 You'll know that there's nothing more relevant. 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:46.539 Surely. 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:47.660 In our world. 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:49.200 Than to be gentle and humble in heart. 00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:50.519 And to serve one another in love. 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:52.039 In our dog eat dog world. 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:53.840 That is the message we need to hear. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.039 It's not because of it. 00:19:55.159 --> 00:19:56.419 Nobody in their right mind. 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.339 Who never studied it. 00:19:57.399 --> 00:19:58.019 Thinks Christianity. 00:19:58.119 --> 00:19:58.659 It's irrelevant. 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:00.879 You know the problem is this. 00:20:00.899 --> 00:20:01.939 It's too hard isn't it? 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:02.899 It's not the issue. 00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:06.939 Gandhi said. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.379 I'd become a Christian if I could find one. 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:11.159 He admired Jesus Christ. 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:12.579 He admired the teaching of Jesus. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:14.659 But he thought that Jesus set the bar too high. 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:18.820 And maybe you're here this morning. 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:19.220 And you. 00:20:19.600 --> 00:20:21.019 It's not that you don't believe it's true. 00:20:21.580 --> 00:20:24.000 And it's not that you don't believe it's irrelevant. 00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:24.900 But you just think. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.820 I can't do it. 00:20:25.840 --> 00:20:26.519 I can't keep it up. 00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:29.860 What Jesus asks is impossible. 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.100 So let's think about that. 00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:34.980 What does he ask? 00:20:36.300 --> 00:20:37.400 We come under his yoke. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.140 And that means. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:40.300 To submit to him mentally and morally. 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:43.259 And that means. 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.319 That we allow Jesus. 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:44.879 To. 00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:47.680 Dictate our beliefs. 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:49.599 For us. 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:53.079 That he is the one that dictates our behaviour. 00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:55.879 And so that means. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.700 You've got to stop. 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:57.659 Sleeping around. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.339 Because. 00:20:58.839 --> 00:21:00.759 You'll know that sex outside of marriage. 00:21:00.899 --> 00:21:01.139 Is. 00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:03.639 Not in accordance with Christ's commands. 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:06.940 And you might say. 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.240 Well that's far too harsh. 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.980 What planet are you living on? 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:10.579 You dinosaur. 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:13.880 But the one who is the master of all. 00:21:15.360 --> 00:21:16.519 Is the slave of all. 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:18.480 And he is gentle and kind. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:19.940 And he is the one who made you. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:22.160 And he made you for himself. 00:21:22.360 --> 00:21:22.920 And he said. 00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:24.440 Come and take my yoke upon you. 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:26.059 Because my yoke is easy. 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:29.900 And you know when you. 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.940 Put on a new pair of shoes. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.799 They hate new shoes. 00:21:32.860 --> 00:21:33.140 Don't you? 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:35.360 They can't stand new shoes. 00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:37.160 You put on new shoes. 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:38.039 If they're good shoes. 00:21:38.360 --> 00:21:39.160 They hurt. 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:40.680 They pinch. 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:42.099 You get blisters. 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:42.980 They don't fit at all. 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:43.779 It's not like that. 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.779 Jesus is saying. 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:48.039 Take my yoke upon you. 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:48.960 It's not like that. 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:50.380 It's not like putting on a new pair of shoes. 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:51.940 He's saying. 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.759 My morals actually fit. 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:56.480 Because I am the moral governor of the universe. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:59.620 And if Jesus says. 00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.680 That sex outside of marriage. 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.680 Between a man and a woman. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.740 Is wrong. 00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:05.240 You better listen to him. 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.759 And you better listen to him. 00:22:06.860 --> 00:22:07.019 Why? 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:07.880 Because he is gentle. 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.680 And he is kind. 00:22:08.860 --> 00:22:10.220 And he's got your best interest at heart. 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.700 And what you'll find. 00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:13.779 Is that as you take. 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:15.460 His yoke upon your shoulders. 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:17.599 You might stand out like a sore thumb. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.480 Amongst your friends. 00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:20.160 But you will find out. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.140 That as you follow Jesus. 00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:21.640 As it fits. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.480 So think about. 00:22:26.580 --> 00:22:27.900 How many damaged relationships. 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.200 Would have been avoided. 00:22:29.320 --> 00:22:30.060 In my generation. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:34.020 And about three generations before me. 00:22:34.780 --> 00:22:35.720 If they had taken. 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.400 The yoke of Christ upon them. 00:22:38.600 --> 00:22:39.600 Rather than run riot. 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:40.380 And thrown that off. 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:43.700 How people's health. 00:22:43.820 --> 00:22:45.320 Would have been saved from the STDs. 00:22:45.320 --> 00:22:46.940 How much less mental illness. 00:22:47.100 --> 00:22:47.340 There would be. 00:22:48.060 --> 00:22:50.000 If we had taken the yoke of Christ upon us. 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:51.339 The devastation. 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:53.220 That has been wreaked in families and homes. 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.779 Forgiveness is another one. 00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:55.980 Isn't it? 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.779 Jesus calls us to forgive one another in love. 00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.140 And it's so difficult. 00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:00.539 But what's the alternative? 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.980 Holding a grudge. 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:03.940 What does that do to you? 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:06.980 What does that do to the people around you? 00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:08.599 You know. 00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:09.220 It is hard. 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.460 Isn't it? 00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.740 To take the yoke of Jesus. 00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:11.480 On our shoulders. 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.980 And to live as a Christian in the world. 00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:14.000 But Jesus says. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.839 When you do that. 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:15.940 You'll find that it fits. 00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.579 And my yoke is easy. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:22.619 Think of the apostle Paul. 00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:26.700 He speaks about this in Philippians chapter 4. 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:31.259 And he describes what this yoke of Christ is like. 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.339 And sort of tells us. 00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:33.779 He says. 00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:36.339 Philippians chapter 4. 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:38.220 And verses 12 and 13. 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:43.960 He says. 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:45.500 I know how to be brought low. 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.240 That's what he's learnt. 00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:47.460 And I know how to abound. 00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:48.940 In any and every circumstance. 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.920 I've learnt the secret of facing plenty. 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.339 Of hunger. 00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:51.940 And abundance. 00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:52.400 And need. 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:53.980 And I can do all things. 00:23:54.100 --> 00:23:55.660 Through him who strengthens me. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.200 That's what it means. 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:00.860 To come under the yoke of Christ. 00:24:02.360 --> 00:24:03.319 That when you become a Christian. 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.460 Your life isn't your own anymore. 00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:07.380 You're on the Christ's yoke. 00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:08.579 And he can direct you where you're going. 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:08.900 And so. 00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:10.880 He might change the direction of your life radically. 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.920 But if he does that. 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:14.539 You can do it. 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:17.039 And he will enable you to do it. 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:20.279 Whatever call he makes on my life. 00:24:20.360 --> 00:24:21.120 Whatever direction. 00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:22.579 He wants me to take. 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:24.480 Whatever demands he makes upon me. 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.460 His burden is light. 00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:27.860 I love the quote from the Puritans. 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.620 I've used it loads. 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:30.799 About taking Jesus' yoke upon me. 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.059 He says. 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:33.460 It's no more burdensome. 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:35.319 Than wings are to a bird. 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:38.180 Or a wedding ring to a bride. 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:40.519 That's what. 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.680 The Christian life. 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.960 No more burdensome. 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:45.579 Yeah there are demands. 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.500 There are certain demands. 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:48.340 But we're no longer our own. 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:50.900 And it means that Jesus calls the shots. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.880 But it's not wearisome. 00:24:52.100 --> 00:24:53.420 Imagine a bird flying. 00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:55.080 Or over this building. 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:55.380 Is it? 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.400 Flapping its wings. 00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.120 That's not how birds fly. 00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:02.019 Birds don't see their wings. 00:25:02.120 --> 00:25:03.300 As a heavy burden. 00:25:05.060 --> 00:25:06.000 Or the new bride. 00:25:06.080 --> 00:25:07.759 Rachel comes back from her honeymoon with Ollie. 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.840 And he said to Rachel. 00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:09.320 How are you? 00:25:10.300 --> 00:25:11.100 It's this ring. 00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:12.640 It's weighing me down. 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:14.240 It's a terrible thing. 00:25:14.300 --> 00:25:14.740 No of course. 00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:15.800 That's not how brides are. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.320 And yet so many of us as Christians. 00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:20.160 We go around. 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:20.380 Don't we? 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.259 With long faces. 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:21.940 On the ground. 00:25:22.080 --> 00:25:23.100 Dragging ourselves about. 00:25:23.099 --> 00:25:24.500 Saying oh it's so hard to be a Christian. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.980 It's a great privilege to be a Christian. 00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.779 It's a great great privilege. 00:25:29.919 --> 00:25:31.059 Take my yoke upon you. 00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:32.059 Because Jesus says. 00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:32.639 Learn of me. 00:25:32.679 --> 00:25:34.099 And you will find my yoke is easy. 00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:35.179 And my burden is light. 00:25:36.199 --> 00:25:37.019 His demands fit. 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:39.419 And now the third thing. 00:25:39.459 --> 00:25:41.519 Who is for this salvation? 00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:43.719 Where's the invitation? 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.059 Come from? 00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:45.199 It comes from the master or slave. 00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:47.019 It's inviting you to the work which is rest. 00:25:47.419 --> 00:25:48.079 And thirdly. 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:51.079 It is for losers. 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:51.879 Losers. 00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:53.699 Who win. 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.599 Losers who win. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.139 Last week. 00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:00.779 It was the Golden Globes. 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:01.599 Last Sunday. 00:26:01.919 --> 00:26:02.259 It's another. 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.299 It's BAFTA's isn't it? 00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:03.619 This week. 00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.740 I got no interest. 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.379 Couldn't care less. 00:26:05.939 --> 00:26:07.759 About Oscars. 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.359 BAFTA's. 00:26:09.459 --> 00:26:10.659 But you go on the BBC website. 00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:11.399 Those of you went on it. 00:26:11.659 --> 00:26:11.919 And you. 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:12.759 They say. 00:26:12.919 --> 00:26:14.159 Photos from Golden Globes. 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:15.660 For some unknown reason. 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:17.420 You end up looking at how. 00:26:19.300 --> 00:26:19.700 Clowns. 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.660 Dressed up. 00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.220 I don't know. 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.920 There's something there. 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.160 Isn't there? 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:24.900 You end up looking at the kind of in people. 00:26:25.040 --> 00:26:25.880 The cool. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.759 The itch crowd. 00:26:28.120 --> 00:26:28.740 The movers. 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:29.340 And the shakers. 00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:30.779 Everybody likes to be seen with a winner. 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:31.600 Don't they? 00:26:33.300 --> 00:26:34.700 Everybody likes to be seen with a nominee. 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.860 On awards night. 00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:40.259 Jesus mixes with losers. 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.379 Like you and me. 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:44.799 Come to me. 00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.659 All of you who struggle. 00:26:46.439 --> 00:26:47.479 We haven't got your act together. 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:50.099 You can't do what God wants. 00:26:50.219 --> 00:26:51.539 And you fail him again and again. 00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:52.139 And come to me. 00:26:52.179 --> 00:26:52.619 Jesus says. 00:26:52.679 --> 00:26:53.279 And I can do that. 00:26:54.219 --> 00:26:55.259 Come under my yunk. 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.659 And I'll help you shoulder this load. 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.259 Come to me. 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.919 Jesus identifies with little babies. 00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:00.139 Verse 25 and 26. 00:27:00.639 --> 00:27:01.819 He distinguishes there. 00:27:01.919 --> 00:27:02.559 Between the wise. 00:27:02.679 --> 00:27:03.099 And the learned. 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:03.979 And the little babies. 00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:05.000 Who would you rather be with? 00:27:06.679 --> 00:27:08.759 Somebody knows a little bit about something. 00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.879 That would make, wouldn't it? 00:27:09.899 --> 00:27:11.199 For an interesting dinner party. 00:27:11.659 --> 00:27:15.039 Or would you rather be in the creche with snotty nosed kids? 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:18.479 And Jesus says. 00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:20.619 God hides the truth from the wise and the learned. 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:24.259 And he reveals the truth to snotty nosed kids. 00:27:25.159 --> 00:27:26.119 Little babies literally. 00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:27.859 What does that mean? 00:27:27.939 --> 00:27:30.099 Is it positive discrimination for the under 12? 00:27:30.679 --> 00:27:32.619 Is this anti-intellectualism? 00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:35.939 Is Christianity anti-intellectual? 00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.119 Obscurantist? 00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:38.639 We don't use our minds. 00:27:39.139 --> 00:27:39.979 We don't think about it. 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:41.259 We just feel the vibe. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.779 Is that what it's all about? 00:27:42.959 --> 00:27:43.239 No. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.219 No. 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:45.059 It's not what it's all about. 00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.359 If that was the case. 00:27:47.419 --> 00:27:48.719 What about someone like the Apostle Paul. 00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:49.579 Or Blaise Pascal. 00:27:49.939 --> 00:27:53.899 Or some of the greatest minds that have ever lived have been Christians. 00:27:54.479 --> 00:27:54.719 No. 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:56.359 It's not about intellectual powers. 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.799 That's not what Jesus is talking about. 00:27:57.799 --> 00:28:02.279 It's about your intellectual pride. 00:28:04.419 --> 00:28:06.139 Because if you're so wise in your own eyes. 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:07.240 If you're self-sufficient. 00:28:07.919 --> 00:28:10.119 And you look down at your nose at poor Christians. 00:28:10.899 --> 00:28:12.659 Who've got this crush to lean on. 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:14.919 And it's only for the feeble minded Christianity. 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:15.680 The weak. 00:28:16.379 --> 00:28:17.359 If that's your attitude. 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:19.000 If you're too wise and too learned. 00:28:19.399 --> 00:28:21.500 And you can cope with life just fine. 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:23.879 And you don't need this prop called Christianity. 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:26.480 Well this invitation is not for you this morning. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:28.839 Jesus has got some very other things. 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:30.200 Lots of other things to say to you. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:31.000 But they're not very nice. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.839 They're not comfortable. 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:37.839 I love this illustration. 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:40.539 Somebody was in a maze in Australia. 00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:43.839 And as they went round the maze. 00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:45.660 You know there's one in Bunny Park. 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.880 There's a massive maze. 00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:49.099 They went round the maze. 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:51.779 But there was an exit. 00:28:52.380 --> 00:28:53.380 In the maze. 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.579 With a sign on it. 00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:56.819 For the elderly and disabled. 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:58.240 And those who've given up. 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.740 And what you didn't know. 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.879 When you went round that maze. 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:02.960 Is that was the only way out. 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.960 And the only alternative. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.199 Was to keep going round. 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:07.839 And round. 00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:08.519 And round. 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.980 Until you got the message. 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:12.019 That the only way out of the maze. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.740 Was to admit you were disabled. 00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:14.699 And elderly. 00:29:15.439 --> 00:29:16.119 The only. 00:29:16.919 --> 00:29:17.939 Way to get out. 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:18.919 Was to give up. 00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:23.800 And the only way. 00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.980 Of the treadmill of life. 00:29:25.080 --> 00:29:25.620 The only way. 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.840 To enter into the rest. 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:27.759 Which Jesus offers. 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.420 The only way. 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.220 To have God's presence. 00:29:29.340 --> 00:29:29.800 In your life. 00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:30.279 The only way. 00:29:30.320 --> 00:29:31.380 To enter into that rest. 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.779 Is to admit to this morning. 00:29:32.860 --> 00:29:34.160 You haven't got your act together. 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:38.980 There's a lovely story. 00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:40.000 About Rabbi Duncan. 00:29:40.120 --> 00:29:41.340 Rabbi Duncan was a professor. 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.320 At the Free Church College. 00:29:43.040 --> 00:29:43.500 In Edinburgh. 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:46.300 He was so good at Hebrew. 00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:48.300 He would preach from his Hebrew Bible. 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:48.900 With no notes. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.960 And his students thought. 00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:53.340 I bet when he goes to bed at night. 00:29:53.380 --> 00:29:54.080 He prays in Hebrew. 00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:56.000 And so they thought. 00:29:56.060 --> 00:29:56.560 To check it out. 00:29:56.560 --> 00:29:57.019 One night. 00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:58.420 They snuck up into the corridor. 00:29:58.620 --> 00:29:59.060 And they listened. 00:29:59.180 --> 00:30:00.180 At his bedroom door. 00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:01.640 And imagine. 00:30:02.040 --> 00:30:03.040 How surprised they were. 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.920 To hear him pray. 00:30:04.899 --> 00:30:05.960 Gentle Jesus. 00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:08.299 Meek and mild. 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.899 Look upon a little child. 00:30:12.379 --> 00:30:14.180 Pity my simplicity. 00:30:15.659 --> 00:30:17.039 Suffer me to come to thee. 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:19.059 Have you done that? 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:23.220 Have you got on your knees. 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:24.220 Beside your bed. 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:24.639 And said. 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.480 Gentle Jesus. 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.200 Meek and mild. 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.700 Master of the universe. 00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:29.559 But meek and mild. 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.759 Humble and gentle and kind. 00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:32.740 Lord of all. 00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:34.099 Who has become the servant of all. 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:36.859 The one who flung stars into space. 00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:40.460 Became the burden bearer for your sin. 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:42.160 And shouldered the weight of human sin. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:42.799 And rebellion. 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.660 And he put it on his own shoulders. 00:30:45.819 --> 00:30:46.539 Gentle Jesus. 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.440 Meek and mild. 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.920 Look upon a little child. 00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:51.440 Pity my simplicity. 00:30:51.819 --> 00:30:53.640 Suffer me to come to thee. 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:57.259 And so will you come to him this morning. 00:30:57.320 --> 00:30:58.140 If you've not come to him before. 00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:58.680 You know it's true. 00:30:58.740 --> 00:30:58.960 Don't you? 00:31:00.100 --> 00:31:01.120 You know it's relevant. 00:31:01.300 --> 00:31:01.560 Perhaps. 00:31:01.820 --> 00:31:02.080 You thought. 00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:02.920 Well I've got to do it on my own. 00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:03.420 But you don't. 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.240 It's an invitation. 00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:08.000 From Jesus. 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:08.860 But the thing is. 00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.500 What invitations. 00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:10.060 Is that. 00:31:10.060 --> 00:31:12.080 Those invitations require a response. 00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:21.619 As the Dutch company. 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.679 This is an awful illustration. 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.359 I don't think our Dutch people are here. 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:24.759 So. 00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:25.579 They won't get offended. 00:31:25.579 --> 00:31:29.399 And at the end of an invitational wedding. 00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:32.539 At the bottom of the wedding said. 00:31:33.439 --> 00:31:33.879 RSVP. 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:34.379 At the bottom. 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:36.039 They didn't know what that meant in Dutch. 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.740 And the wife said. 00:31:38.659 --> 00:31:39.139 RSVP. 00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.939 What is RSVP? 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:44.259 And the husband said. 00:31:44.859 --> 00:31:46.899 Remember send wedding presents. 00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:51.339 Sorry. 00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:55.379 A lot of people make that mistake. 00:31:55.439 --> 00:31:55.899 About the gospel. 00:31:56.099 --> 00:31:56.819 That they think. 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.599 That Christianity. 00:31:58.220 --> 00:31:59.179 You may think this morning. 00:31:59.259 --> 00:32:00.779 Jesus is making a demand of you. 00:32:00.879 --> 00:32:02.439 That he's some kind of tyrant. 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:04.079 Who's demanding something of you. 00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:07.059 No. 00:32:07.220 --> 00:32:08.559 You're under the yoke of a master. 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:09.240 Who is slave. 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:09.859 Who is gentle. 00:32:09.959 --> 00:32:10.839 And he's humble of heart. 00:32:10.919 --> 00:32:11.779 And he's saying to you. 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:12.279 Respond. 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.740 A student play. 00:32:16.199 --> 00:32:16.659 He's saying. 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.439 Please respond. 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.939 There's a great paradox here. 00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:21.100 Listen. 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:22.400 I haven't got time to look at it this morning. 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:23.340 But the one who chooses. 00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:25.080 Who is going to respond. 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:27.140 He chooses. 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.019 Who is going to respond. 00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:29.000 And yet at the same time. 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.440 He says. 00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:30.000 Will you choose. 00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:33.320 Will you choose to come to him. 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:37.100 And I don't know how you hold those two things together. 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:37.840 And neither do you. 00:32:38.620 --> 00:32:40.320 And neither does anyone in church history. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:42.480 But you must hold them both together. 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.120 Very firmly. 00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:45.539 So will you come this morning. 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:46.460 If you never come before. 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:49.340 Come unto me all you who labor. 00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:51.240 And a heavy laden. 00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.659 And I will give you rest. 00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.220 Let's pray.