WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.620 Luke. You thought I was going to say 2 Samuel, didn't you? The Gospel of Luke, chapter 9. We're 00:00:06.620 --> 00:00:12.560 starting a new sermon series tonight in Luke's Gospel. We're going to start in chapter 9, 00:00:12.900 --> 00:00:19.059 verse 51. If you're looking in the Pew Bible, that's page 868. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:29.560 868, we're going to read Luke 59 through 61. These two paragraphs at the end of Luke chapter 9. 00:00:30.699 --> 00:00:31.980 Let me read these for us. 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:39.140 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. 00:00:40.259 --> 00:00:45.539 And he sent messengers ahead of him who went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make 00:00:45.539 --> 00:00:52.000 preparations for him. But the people did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 00:00:53.179 --> 00:00:58.320 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:05.239 down from heaven and consume them? But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village. 00:01:06.859 --> 00:01:11.420 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, I will follow you wherever you go. 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:17.060 And Jesus said to him, foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the son of man has nowhere 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:24.299 to lay his head. To another, he said, follow me. But he said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father. 00:01:24.299 --> 00:01:30.920 Jesus said to him, leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:38.539 of God. Yet another said, I will follow you, Lord. But let me first say farewell to those at my home. 00:01:38.540 --> 00:01:46.280 Jesus said to him, no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. 00:01:47.600 --> 00:01:48.440 Let's pray together. 00:01:51.100 --> 00:01:55.480 Lord Jesus, we ask that you would bless the reading of your word, the hearing of your word, 00:01:55.580 --> 00:02:03.300 Lord, the preaching of your word tonight. As we turn our attention towards this narrative about you 00:02:03.299 --> 00:02:08.579 from the gospel of Luke, we pray that we would see you in fresh ways and that your spirit would do 00:02:08.579 --> 00:02:15.460 his work in our hearts. God, help us and shape us more and more into your image, we pray. Amen. 00:02:18.340 --> 00:02:23.740 Well, so starting this spring and going through the summer, actually, what we're doing here in the 00:02:23.740 --> 00:02:31.599 evening service is focusing, we're going to be focusing on the topic of discipleship. What does it 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:39.019 mean? What does it look like to be a follower of Jesus? You know, it's interesting if you're in the 00:02:39.019 --> 00:02:44.519 working world or even if you're in a school setting too, you can find lots and lots of resources or 00:02:44.519 --> 00:02:50.560 classes or seminars about how to grow in your leadership skills, about how to be a good leader. 00:02:51.419 --> 00:02:55.299 And in fact, in the last five to 10 years, you can even find lots of literature and lots of help and 00:02:55.299 --> 00:03:01.579 lots of online stuff about how to grow as a good team member, how to be an effective member of a 00:03:01.580 --> 00:03:08.880 team and work well with others. But Christianity makes this incredibly counter-cultural claim 00:03:08.880 --> 00:03:14.840 that the path to real flourishing, not just spiritually, but really in the full dimension 00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:20.060 of what it means to be human, is found first and foremost, not necessarily in being a good leader, 00:03:20.920 --> 00:03:24.960 not necessarily in being a good team member, how all those things have their place, 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:32.640 but it's found most fundamentally in being a follower, a disciple. 00:03:34.980 --> 00:03:40.360 Now that sounds kind of strange to us. After all, who wants to be a follower, right? 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:52.420 Trendsetter, yes. Entrepreneur, sure. Cutting edge, always. But follower, that doesn't sound very attractive. 00:03:52.419 --> 00:04:02.679 But the call of Christianity is the call to come follow Jesus. We see it in the second paragraph of our text 00:04:02.679 --> 00:04:09.119 tonight. Again and again and again, we find this language of following. Follow me, Jesus says. 00:04:10.859 --> 00:04:13.719 But then again, who wants to be a mere follower? 00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:23.160 And yet think about, I think, think about a craft like woodworking or furniture design or architecture, 00:04:23.259 --> 00:04:29.060 even music. Think about one of these sort of robust human skills, human traditions, human crafts. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:35.860 How do you go about becoming really great in that area of expertise, whatever it is? 00:04:35.860 --> 00:04:44.360 Well, the best way is to find someone who does it really, really well. 00:04:44.900 --> 00:04:53.560 To find a master of the art, of the craft, and spend as much time with them as possible, right? 00:04:54.520 --> 00:04:59.139 To apprentice yourself to them, to become a learner in their school, to let them mentor you. 00:04:59.139 --> 00:05:05.519 Because so much of what it means to become proficient and expert in a robust human skill or craft or art form 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:09.959 can't be learned from books or from YouTube videos. 00:05:10.740 --> 00:05:15.300 You need to learn it in a relationship from someone who's mastered the craft. 00:05:18.419 --> 00:05:21.259 As many of you know, my wife and I bought our first home last summer. 00:05:21.259 --> 00:05:27.519 So we now have to take up all sorts of crafts in our home, fixing things, repairing things. 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:30.899 So I've tried to learn a lot of things from YouTube. 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:36.759 I've learned that YouTube cannot teach you everything about how to fix your house. 00:05:38.939 --> 00:05:42.819 But friends, this is what it meant to be a disciple in the ancient world. 00:05:43.139 --> 00:05:45.120 To be a student of a teacher. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:49.180 To be better an apprentice of a craftsman. 00:05:49.180 --> 00:05:53.579 In fact, to enter into a relationship where you would begin, 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:58.560 not just to learn how to do this or that skill, to learn a certain competency, 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:05.840 but you would actually learn how to become the sort of person who really could master that art, 00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:08.939 that way of seeing and expressing yourself in the world. 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:17.379 Now imagine that there were someone to whom you could attach yourself 00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:23.399 that wasn't just a master at this or that particular technique or profession or skill. 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:30.939 Imagine you could attach yourself to someone who was truly the master at the art of being human. 00:06:32.719 --> 00:06:36.180 Of living human life as it was meant to be lived in all of its dimensions. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:38.740 Imagine you could attach yourself to that person, 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:40.319 to be a learner at his feet, 00:06:40.519 --> 00:06:42.519 to be an apprentice to his craft. 00:06:42.519 --> 00:06:45.639 Imagine you could enter into a relationship with someone who through that relationship 00:06:45.639 --> 00:06:48.500 could actually cause you to become more fully human. 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:53.419 Who could cause you to come alive to who you were created to be. 00:06:56.299 --> 00:06:59.419 Well, when we talk about discipleship in Christianity, 00:06:59.919 --> 00:07:02.159 that's what we're talking about. 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:07.740 We're talking about entering into a vital relationship with Jesus Christ 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:09.500 in the fellowship of his church 00:07:09.500 --> 00:07:13.320 and becoming in and through that relationship alive 00:07:13.320 --> 00:07:15.600 to who God created us to be. 00:07:18.400 --> 00:07:20.680 Discipleship just isn't about learning how to do Bible studies 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:21.780 and going to prayer meetings 00:07:21.780 --> 00:07:25.100 and doing one-on-one coffee dates every once in a while 00:07:25.100 --> 00:07:26.800 with your pastor who keeps pestering you. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:33.120 It's about becoming alive in relationship with Jesus. 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:37.300 Now, perhaps all this sounds a bit far-fetched to you. 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:40.900 Of course, maybe you're hungry to become more authentically you, 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:42.620 more fully human and alive. 00:07:43.019 --> 00:07:45.000 Who isn't after all, right? 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:48.340 But maybe you're not so sure that becoming a follower of Jesus 00:07:48.340 --> 00:07:50.100 is really the road to get there. 00:07:51.180 --> 00:07:52.660 Well, let me say, if that's you, 00:07:52.660 --> 00:07:57.220 why not at least come and listen? 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:00.380 Why not at least in the coming weeks 00:08:00.380 --> 00:08:03.820 explore what Jesus has to offer? 00:08:04.300 --> 00:08:05.060 Try it on. 00:08:05.820 --> 00:08:06.700 Give it a shot. 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:08.780 What do you have to lose? 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:13.940 And as we kind of embark on this exploration together, 00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:17.860 it makes sense for us to go to the Gospels. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:19.580 Of course, in a sense, 00:08:19.660 --> 00:08:21.800 the whole of Scripture was actually given to us 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:23.960 to shape us into disciples of Jesus. 00:08:25.139 --> 00:08:26.660 So I suppose we could have preached 00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:28.600 just about any part of the Bible in this series 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:29.040 and said, 00:08:29.400 --> 00:08:31.699 we're doing a series on discipleship 00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:33.820 from the second half of Jeremiah 00:08:33.820 --> 00:08:34.879 or something like that. 00:08:36.659 --> 00:08:38.519 But, you know, 00:08:38.560 --> 00:08:41.039 if we want to focus with laser-like intensity 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:42.779 on what it means to follow Christ, 00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:44.399 it makes sense, doesn't it, 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:47.159 to go to the Gospel accounts in the New Testament 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:50.720 where we are shown face-to-face 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:51.460 the person of Jesus 00:08:51.460 --> 00:08:52.620 and shown firsthand 00:08:52.620 --> 00:08:53.860 what it was like 00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:54.980 for those first disciples 00:08:54.980 --> 00:08:57.259 to actually follow Him. 00:08:59.180 --> 00:09:00.899 And the reason why we're sort of jumping 00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:02.480 into the middle of Luke's Gospel 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:03.800 this spring and summer 00:09:03.800 --> 00:09:05.779 is because in Luke's Gospel, 00:09:05.920 --> 00:09:07.240 starting in chapter 9, verse 51, 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:09.580 and going all the way to chapter 19, really, 00:09:10.060 --> 00:09:11.560 Luke uses almost a third 00:09:11.560 --> 00:09:12.860 of his Gospel account 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:15.800 to take us on a journey 00:09:15.799 --> 00:09:17.259 of following Jesus. 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:20.779 In this part of Luke's narrative, 00:09:21.219 --> 00:09:22.699 the disciples are literally 00:09:22.699 --> 00:09:25.539 following Jesus on the way. 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:30.659 Now, a bit of context in Luke. 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:31.979 At this part of the story, 00:09:32.419 --> 00:09:34.139 the disciples have already confessed 00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:36.000 their belief in Jesus as the Messiah. 00:09:37.339 --> 00:09:39.639 And now, as Jesus makes His way to Jerusalem, 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:41.500 where He's going to complete His mission, 00:09:41.859 --> 00:09:43.159 He's going to, along the way, 00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:45.139 teach His disciples all about 00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:47.339 what it means to be His follower. 00:09:47.980 --> 00:09:49.459 Roughly speaking, in Luke's Gospel, 00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:50.980 if you think of chapters 1 through 9 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:51.539 as a unit, 00:09:51.779 --> 00:09:52.779 they really kind of talk about 00:09:52.779 --> 00:09:54.319 who Jesus is in a broad way, 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:56.399 the nature of His identity and mission. 00:09:56.759 --> 00:09:57.519 And then if you go ahead 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:59.259 to chapters 20 through 24 00:09:59.259 --> 00:09:59.919 in Luke's Gospel, 00:09:59.939 --> 00:10:00.919 that's kind of all about 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:02.360 what Jesus has come to do, 00:10:02.459 --> 00:10:04.139 the climax of His death and resurrection. 00:10:04.740 --> 00:10:05.579 And in the middle, 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:07.860 from chapter 9 to 19, 00:10:09.179 --> 00:10:10.919 we're not so much shown who He is 00:10:10.919 --> 00:10:11.679 or what He's come to do, 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:13.500 but what it means to follow Him. 00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:17.359 What does a life shaped by His person 00:10:17.359 --> 00:10:18.659 and work by faith in Him 00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:20.120 really look like? 00:10:20.539 --> 00:10:22.279 That's one of the major concerns 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:24.259 that Luke takes up 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:25.779 in this middle section of his Gospel 00:10:25.779 --> 00:10:28.039 as he takes us on this journey 00:10:28.039 --> 00:10:29.399 with Jesus to Jerusalem. 00:10:31.219 --> 00:10:33.179 So it's a good place for us to be 00:10:33.179 --> 00:10:34.459 for the next few months 00:10:34.459 --> 00:10:36.599 as we think about what it means for us 00:10:36.599 --> 00:10:38.159 to follow Jesus today. 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:41.100 And in the two paragraphs 00:10:41.100 --> 00:10:42.240 of our text tonight, 00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:44.279 real basically tonight, 00:10:44.279 --> 00:10:45.159 I just want us to see 00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:46.879 two lessons about discipleship. 00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:49.539 First, a lesson in mercy. 00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:52.860 And second, a lesson in priority. 00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:54.339 So let's look first 00:10:54.339 --> 00:10:55.620 at this lesson in mercy. 00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:57.919 In verses 51 through 56, 00:10:58.059 --> 00:10:59.779 Jesus begins His journey to Jerusalem. 00:11:00.219 --> 00:11:01.539 And this is a real turning point 00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:02.259 in Luke's Gospel. 00:11:02.459 --> 00:11:03.539 As we said, up till now, 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:05.079 most of the action has been 00:11:05.079 --> 00:11:06.539 in the north, in Galilee. 00:11:06.539 --> 00:11:08.579 But in Jerusalem, 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:10.360 Jesus' ministry is going to reach 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:12.079 its climax in Luke's Gospel. 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:13.799 There, He will accomplish 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:14.959 the work He's come to do. 00:11:15.459 --> 00:11:16.879 Which, if you look a little earlier 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:17.659 in chapter 9, 00:11:17.719 --> 00:11:19.679 in the account of Jesus' transfiguration, 00:11:19.839 --> 00:11:21.740 it's described as His departure. 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:24.879 Or literally, His exodus. 00:11:26.319 --> 00:11:30.019 That is, in Jesus' climactic event, 00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:30.980 what He's going to go 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:32.620 and accomplish in Jerusalem, 00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:35.340 God is going to accomplish 00:11:35.340 --> 00:11:37.299 a new event of liberation 00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:38.700 and redemption for His people. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:41.000 So here Jesus sets out 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:42.179 and begins. 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:45.759 But, 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:48.320 just as, 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:50.240 back in chapter 4, 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:51.860 where Jesus' ministry 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:53.139 in Galilee begins, 00:11:54.700 --> 00:11:55.139 how do you remember 00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:56.320 how it begins in chapter 4? 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:58.360 Jesus being rejected 00:11:58.360 --> 00:11:59.360 in Nazareth. 00:12:00.180 --> 00:12:01.360 Jesus' public ministry 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:02.019 in Luke's Gospel 00:12:02.019 --> 00:12:03.960 begins with a scene of rejection. 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:05.680 And so it is here. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:07.019 At this turning point 00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:07.659 in Luke's Gospel, 00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:08.560 the journey to Jerusalem 00:12:08.560 --> 00:12:09.539 begins also 00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:10.980 with a story of rejection. 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:11.620 And this time, 00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:12.460 not in Nazareth, 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:13.639 but in Samaria. 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:15.899 Now, many of you 00:12:15.899 --> 00:12:16.740 are students of the Bible 00:12:16.740 --> 00:12:17.460 and you know 00:12:17.460 --> 00:12:18.899 that Samaria 00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:19.960 was this region 00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:21.159 sort of sandwiched 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:22.120 in between Jerusalem 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:22.700 in the south 00:12:22.700 --> 00:12:23.879 and Galilee in the north. 00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:25.680 And historically, 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:26.879 for all sorts of cultural 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:27.620 and ethnic reasons, 00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:28.639 Jews and Samaritans 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:30.159 utterly despised each other. 00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:32.480 But here, 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:33.600 in Luke 9, 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.539 notice what Jesus is doing. 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:37.419 Instead of taking 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:38.460 the long route 00:12:38.460 --> 00:12:39.240 that he could have taken 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:40.799 around Samaria 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:42.740 to avoid 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:44.039 all those Samaritans 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:45.019 like most Jews 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:45.519 of that day 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:46.100 would have done, 00:12:46.939 --> 00:12:47.659 Jesus goes 00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:48.699 straight in. 00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:51.220 And he asks 00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:51.840 to stay 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:53.179 in one of their villages. 00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:55.080 He extends 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:56.200 an offer to them 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:57.200 to be received, 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:58.120 to be welcomed, 00:12:58.120 --> 00:12:59.240 to be embraced, 00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:00.159 yes, 00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:01.879 even by Samaritans. 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:04.120 And that fact 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:04.779 in and of itself 00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:05.639 is saying something. 00:13:06.940 --> 00:13:08.139 Luke especially 00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:09.220 wants us to see 00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:10.100 that Jesus 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:10.720 has come 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:12.179 for all people, 00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:13.179 insiders 00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:14.100 and outsiders. 00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:15.340 They are all 00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:16.740 invited to receive him, 00:13:16.899 --> 00:13:18.259 to enter into God's kingdom, 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:19.580 to follow him. 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:22.660 But as Jesus 00:13:22.660 --> 00:13:23.680 makes this 00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:24.680 surprising, 00:13:24.920 --> 00:13:25.259 shocking 00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:26.639 embrace, 00:13:27.400 --> 00:13:28.440 the story 00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:28.879 takes 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.160 a different turn 00:13:30.160 --> 00:13:31.180 in verse 53. 00:13:32.040 --> 00:13:32.620 Instead of 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:33.340 receiving Jesus, 00:13:33.460 --> 00:13:33.879 what happens? 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:34.960 The Samaritan village 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:36.080 refuses him. 00:13:36.800 --> 00:13:37.480 And why? 00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:38.780 Because, 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:39.300 Luke says, 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:39.840 they knew 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:40.280 that Jesus 00:13:40.280 --> 00:13:41.020 and his disciples 00:13:41.020 --> 00:13:42.040 were headed to Jerusalem. 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:42.860 What does that mean? 00:13:43.520 --> 00:13:43.940 Well, 00:13:44.040 --> 00:13:44.420 you see, 00:13:44.520 --> 00:13:45.440 this time of year, 00:13:46.180 --> 00:13:47.220 every year, 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:49.600 Jews from Galilee 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.540 would journey south 00:13:50.540 --> 00:13:51.120 to Jerusalem 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.360 for the Passover festival. 00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:53.360 And where would 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:54.140 those Jews have to do? 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:54.580 They would have to 00:13:54.580 --> 00:13:55.420 either go through Samaria 00:13:55.420 --> 00:13:56.320 or go around. 00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:58.140 And Samaritans 00:13:58.140 --> 00:13:58.740 typically 00:13:58.740 --> 00:14:00.100 did not like 00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:00.600 helping 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:01.740 Jewish pilgrims 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:03.020 going to a feast 00:14:03.020 --> 00:14:03.800 at a place 00:14:03.800 --> 00:14:04.600 that they regarded 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:05.720 as the wrong 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:06.460 sanctuary. 00:14:06.640 --> 00:14:07.180 For them, 00:14:07.420 --> 00:14:08.560 the temple in Jerusalem 00:14:08.560 --> 00:14:09.400 was a sham 00:14:09.400 --> 00:14:10.340 and a parody 00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:11.040 and they weren't going 00:14:11.040 --> 00:14:11.800 to help anyone 00:14:11.800 --> 00:14:12.360 get there, 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:14.180 especially not Jews. 00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:16.479 You know, 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:17.059 it would be kind of like 00:14:17.059 --> 00:14:17.539 showing up 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:18.819 at a Microsoft convention 00:14:18.819 --> 00:14:20.039 proudly wearing 00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:21.079 your Apple t-shirt. 00:14:21.739 --> 00:14:22.359 Here I am. 00:14:22.439 --> 00:14:22.919 Where can I find 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:23.819 the iPhone booth? 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:24.439 Yeah, 00:14:24.459 --> 00:14:25.339 you can't find that here. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:26.839 You've got to buy a Zoom 00:14:26.839 --> 00:14:27.399 at the corner 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:27.799 or whatever. 00:14:28.859 --> 00:14:29.099 Oh wait, 00:14:29.139 --> 00:14:29.959 they don't make those anymore. 00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:30.299 Yeah, 00:14:30.319 --> 00:14:30.620 my bad. 00:14:31.739 --> 00:14:32.419 You're not going to get 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:33.019 a warm reception, 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:33.339 right? 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.539 People don't think 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:35.059 you belong. 00:14:35.579 --> 00:14:35.939 You're playing 00:14:35.939 --> 00:14:36.759 for the wrong team. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:38.939 Now imagine that feeling 00:14:38.939 --> 00:14:40.139 times about one million 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:41.279 and you can imagine 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:42.259 how a typical Jew 00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:43.099 on his way to Jerusalem 00:14:43.099 --> 00:14:43.919 would have been received 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:45.299 in a typical Samaritan village. 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:46.819 You don't belong here 00:14:46.819 --> 00:14:47.539 and we're certainly 00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:48.399 not going to help you. 00:14:51.599 --> 00:14:52.740 And what's the disciples' 00:14:52.939 --> 00:14:54.039 response to all this? 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:56.379 Well, 00:14:56.779 --> 00:14:57.939 there's certainly 00:14:57.939 --> 00:14:59.319 no love lost, 00:14:59.599 --> 00:14:59.879 right? 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:02.120 They want to call down 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:03.299 fire from heaven 00:15:03.299 --> 00:15:04.099 to consume 00:15:04.099 --> 00:15:05.099 the whole village. 00:15:06.099 --> 00:15:07.099 James and John 00:15:07.099 --> 00:15:08.379 were told in Mark's gospel 00:15:08.379 --> 00:15:09.000 were known 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:10.699 as the sons of thunder. 00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:10.759 father. 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:12.080 And here, 00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:12.680 unfortunately, 00:15:12.680 --> 00:15:13.660 it seems they are 00:15:13.660 --> 00:15:14.960 living up to their nickname. 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:18.600 And actually, 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:19.440 in doing this, 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:20.879 the disciples are remembering 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:22.400 a story from the Old Testament. 00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:25.000 A story where the prophet Elijah, 00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:26.300 when confronted 00:15:26.300 --> 00:15:27.560 by hostile armies, 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.360 was able to call down 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.120 fire from heaven 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:30.840 and be protected. 00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:33.440 In verse 54, 00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:34.200 the disciples are 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:35.080 actually practically 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:36.080 quoting that story 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:37.920 from 1 Kings 1, 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:38.860 verse 10. 00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:39.479 And if you look at 00:15:39.479 --> 00:15:40.479 the footnote of your Bible, 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:41.839 some later sort of 00:15:41.839 --> 00:15:43.079 copyists of the New Testament 00:15:43.079 --> 00:15:43.719 actually gave us 00:15:43.719 --> 00:15:44.339 a little bit of an 00:15:44.339 --> 00:15:45.539 explanatory gloss there 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:45.860 and said, 00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:47.039 as Elijah did. 00:15:50.279 --> 00:15:50.799 But you know, 00:15:50.839 --> 00:15:51.779 more than just echoing 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.779 some Old Testament scripture, 00:15:53.459 --> 00:15:54.099 don't you see that 00:15:54.099 --> 00:15:55.039 the disciples here, 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:57.899 they're being kind of angry 00:15:57.899 --> 00:16:00.459 and maybe a little protective. 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:03.679 Their master 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:05.819 has just been rejected, 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:07.160 the one that they believe 00:16:07.160 --> 00:16:08.100 to be God's king 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:10.160 and rejected by Samaritans, 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:10.660 no less. 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.320 How dare they? 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.960 Would it not be right, 00:16:16.020 --> 00:16:16.600 after all, 00:16:16.640 --> 00:16:17.840 to bring swift judgment 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.620 down from heaven? 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.700 Isn't that what this village 00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:20.180 deserves? 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.440 They're rejecting God's king. 00:16:21.780 --> 00:16:22.560 Wouldn't that teach 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:23.640 all these Samaritans a lesson? 00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:24.660 Wouldn't that actually 00:16:24.660 --> 00:16:25.740 compel the other villages 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.260 to submit? 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:26.840 Hey, Jesus, 00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:27.980 if we burn up this village, 00:16:28.160 --> 00:16:28.760 you better believe 00:16:28.760 --> 00:16:29.640 that the next one we go to, 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:30.240 they're probably going 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:31.020 to receive you, right? 00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:35.439 And of course, 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.179 it's easy to see 00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:36.960 that the disciples 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:39.840 are way off base 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:42.159 and wrongheaded. 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:45.139 It's funny how they can 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:46.120 quote a passage 00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:47.659 from 1 Kings 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:49.079 on the spot 00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:50.539 to justify their anger 00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.240 and prejudice, 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:52.939 and yet they have 00:16:52.939 --> 00:16:53.960 so quickly forgotten 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:54.960 what Jesus himself 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.819 has just taught them 00:16:55.819 --> 00:16:56.620 in recent days, 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.600 to love their enemies 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:00.399 and to be merciful 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:01.460 as our Father in heaven 00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:02.080 is merciful. 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.440 But it's easy 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.039 to point a finger 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.660 at the disciples, 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:08.120 isn't it? 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.860 Aren't we so often 00:17:10.860 --> 00:17:11.799 the same way as them? 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:14.500 In our own anger, 00:17:14.740 --> 00:17:15.920 in our own self-righteousness, 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:16.660 when we get offended, 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.720 when we get rejected, 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:19.360 we lash out, 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:19.680 don't we? 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.680 Maybe we don't literally 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.960 call down fire from heaven, 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:24.000 but in our hearts, 00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:25.400 there's kind of a low-grade 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:27.500 sort of judgment 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.339 and retribution 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:29.819 that boils just the same. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.720 And of course, 00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:33.779 we can very easily 00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.720 justify our anger 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.299 and justify our judgmental spirit. 00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:37.459 Maybe even we can 00:17:37.459 --> 00:17:38.879 quote a Bible verse or two 00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:40.740 in support of our own position. 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:45.059 But what does Jesus do? 00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.799 He turns 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:48.519 and rebukes them 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:49.980 and us. 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:53.079 Rebukes them 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:54.279 because that sort of violence 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:55.539 has no place in his kingdom. 00:17:55.659 --> 00:17:56.879 This is not the kind of kingdom 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:58.680 that's going to compel people 00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:00.400 to submit with fire from heaven. 00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:04.480 Jesus rebukes our desire 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.820 to judge our enemies. 00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:07.380 Instead, 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.060 Jesus tells us 00:18:08.060 --> 00:18:08.840 to pray for our enemies, 00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:09.460 to love them 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.300 and do good to them. 00:18:11.100 --> 00:18:11.760 You can see Jesus 00:18:11.760 --> 00:18:12.460 teaching this 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.260 for yourself 00:18:13.260 --> 00:18:14.400 back in Luke chapter 6 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:15.440 if you want to turn there later. 00:18:16.520 --> 00:18:17.560 And there we find 00:18:17.560 --> 00:18:18.320 and here we find 00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:19.480 that it's mercy 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:22.520 that discipleship demands. 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:24.420 Jesus is patient 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:25.480 and long-suffering 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:25.960 with those 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:26.839 who would refuse him. 00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:29.259 In his first coming, 00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.279 Jesus didn't come 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.539 to judge his enemies 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:34.240 but to save them. 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.720 Jesus didn't come 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:38.680 to call down fire 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.440 upon them. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.599 Why did he come? 00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:44.240 He came to bear 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.240 the fire for them. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:48.259 Remember that Jesus 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:48.920 is on his way 00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:50.059 to Jerusalem after all. 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:52.399 And what awaits Jesus there? 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:55.159 Not what the disciples 00:18:55.159 --> 00:18:55.679 are thinking. 00:18:56.639 --> 00:18:57.639 Military conquest, 00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:58.519 political victory, 00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:00.720 none of those things. 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:02.879 Rather, 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.679 it's the cross. 00:19:07.179 --> 00:19:07.700 Consider, 00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:10.480 here are James and John 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:12.940 angry and judgmental 00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:14.059 because the Samaritans 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:14.859 have refused 00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:16.299 to welcome their king. 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.579 And yet, 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:20.759 in a few short weeks 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.919 when they get to Jerusalem, 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:24.019 are they going to end up 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.480 any better? 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:27.299 As the authorities 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:27.799 in Jerusalem 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:28.740 drag Jesus away 00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.319 to be condemned 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:29.919 and crucified, 00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:30.879 the disciples too 00:19:30.879 --> 00:19:31.960 are going to deny him 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:33.579 and refuse him 00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:34.740 and want nothing 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.460 to do with him. 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:38.799 Friends, 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:39.480 we are all 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:41.759 like this Samaritan village, 00:19:42.439 --> 00:19:43.179 aren't we? 00:19:44.679 --> 00:19:46.139 We see Jesus coming 00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:48.580 and we push him away 00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:49.759 and want nothing 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.460 to do with him. 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.920 But instead of calling down 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:55.180 rightful judgment upon us, 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.060 what does Christ do? 00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:59.160 He undergoes 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:00.240 the just judgment 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.900 for us. 00:20:03.300 --> 00:20:04.160 And when you see 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:04.920 what Jesus has done 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.340 for us, 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.540 that's what produces 00:20:06.540 --> 00:20:07.740 mercy in us 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.820 as his disciples. 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:11.360 After Jesus' 00:20:11.540 --> 00:20:12.360 death and resurrection, 00:20:12.840 --> 00:20:13.580 the church is going 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.799 to take the gospel 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:16.559 not just to Jerusalem 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.199 and Judea, 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:17.919 but where? 00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.240 To Samaria 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:20.399 and to the ends 00:20:20.399 --> 00:20:20.899 of the earth. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.179 It's as if the cross 00:20:24.179 --> 00:20:24.639 and resurrection 00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:25.159 of Jesus, 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:26.099 that great act 00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:27.339 of mercy for them, 00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.579 is going to utterly 00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:31.079 break their self-righteousness 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:33.939 and their racial pride. 00:20:34.939 --> 00:20:36.000 And James and John 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.460 will each, 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.519 in their own way, 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:39.399 lay down their lives 00:20:39.399 --> 00:20:40.399 for the sake of Jesus 00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:41.159 and the gospel. 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:43.380 No longer calling down 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:44.600 fire on their enemies, 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.900 but loving them 00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:46.600 sacrificially, 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.320 just as Jesus 00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:48.120 had done for them. 00:20:51.060 --> 00:20:51.700 And friends, 00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:51.960 today, 00:20:52.100 --> 00:20:53.600 mercy is still 00:20:53.600 --> 00:20:54.160 the shape 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:55.600 of true discipleship. 00:20:58.340 --> 00:20:59.360 In light of this passage, 00:20:59.440 --> 00:20:59.880 I think it's good 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:00.560 to ask ourselves, 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.460 how do we respond 00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:03.360 when we hear of people 00:21:03.360 --> 00:21:04.380 rejecting or refusing 00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:04.900 Christ? 00:21:06.320 --> 00:21:07.200 What emotions 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.080 run through our heart? 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:11.339 Is it anger? 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.059 Pride? 00:21:13.679 --> 00:21:14.939 A desire for judgment? 00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:19.179 Or do our hearts break 00:21:19.179 --> 00:21:20.159 because they're refusing 00:21:20.159 --> 00:21:21.240 the author of life? 00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:25.439 And do we remind ourselves 00:21:25.439 --> 00:21:26.559 that apart from God's grace, 00:21:26.679 --> 00:21:27.179 we too 00:21:27.179 --> 00:21:29.039 would still be rejecting 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.939 and refusing Him? 00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:34.319 Following Jesus 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:35.059 means responding 00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.919 with mercy, 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.939 even and especially 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:38.019 to those who reject 00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.059 and despise us. 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:41.360 Responding with mercy 00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:42.900 because we've received mercy. 00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.440 That's the first lesson, 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.200 a lesson in mercy. 00:21:47.320 --> 00:21:48.019 The second lesson 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:48.840 in our text tonight 00:21:48.840 --> 00:21:50.500 is a lesson 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.460 about priorities. 00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:54.779 In verses 57 through 62, 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.920 three would-be disciples 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:58.100 approach Jesus. 00:21:59.140 --> 00:21:59.900 And to each one, 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:00.640 Jesus makes 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.940 this startling claim 00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:03.299 that following Him 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:05.000 has to take priority 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.500 over every other commitment 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:08.099 and every other desire. 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.480 Look at this first 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.200 would-be disciple. 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:11.019 He says, 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:11.579 Jesus, 00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.200 I'll follow you 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:13.079 wherever you go. 00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:14.940 You can almost hear 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:16.400 His sort of overconfidence. 00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.799 Wherever you go, 00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:18.059 Jesus, 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:18.940 I'm there. 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:22.200 But Jesus 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:23.420 perhaps senses 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.500 how sure 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.799 this man is of himself 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.660 and challenges him. 00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:27.660 The road ahead 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.200 isn't going to be 00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:29.059 one of comfort and ease, 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:29.519 Jesus says, 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.200 but one of hardship 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:30.779 and rejection. 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.400 The Son of Man 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.559 has nowhere to lay His head. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:35.599 Is this would-be follower 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.519 willing to put Jesus 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:38.119 ahead of His desire 00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:39.700 for creature comforts? 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.899 Is He willing 00:22:41.899 --> 00:22:43.679 to truly make Jesus first? 00:22:45.679 --> 00:22:46.980 The second of these three guys 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.599 is also willing 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.240 to follow Jesus, 00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:48.579 we learned, 00:22:48.639 --> 00:22:49.159 but first He wants 00:22:49.159 --> 00:22:50.039 to go bury His father. 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.240 Now, 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.000 in first century culture, 00:22:52.159 --> 00:22:53.399 that was an incredibly 00:22:53.399 --> 00:22:54.159 important duty. 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.960 It was almost unthinkable 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.839 to leave undone. 00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.480 But Jesus says 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:01.039 that even this most important 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:02.059 filial duty, 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:03.859 burying your own father 00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:05.039 must come second 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:05.859 to following Him. 00:23:08.159 --> 00:23:08.859 And finally, 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.599 this third would-be 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:10.500 disciple promises 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.240 to follow Jesus. 00:23:11.399 --> 00:23:12.079 If only first 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.919 He can say farewell 00:23:12.919 --> 00:23:13.619 to His friends 00:23:13.619 --> 00:23:14.519 and family at home. 00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:16.599 Which seems like 00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:17.539 a reasonable request. 00:23:19.179 --> 00:23:19.879 And there's actually 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:20.679 another echo here 00:23:20.679 --> 00:23:21.379 of the Old Testament 00:23:21.379 --> 00:23:22.259 stories of Elijah. 00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:24.440 When Elijah goes 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:26.619 and he calls Elisha 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:28.279 to be his follower, 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.179 to be his assistant, 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:31.039 Elisha turns and says, 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:32.180 okay, Elijah, 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:33.279 let me first go home 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:34.279 and say farewell first. 00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:34.839 Then I'll come 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.519 and follow you. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.920 And what does Elijah say? 00:23:38.139 --> 00:23:38.500 Okay, 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.599 go ahead. 00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.579 Sounds like a reasonable 00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:41.119 thing to do. 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:45.220 But you see how different 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:46.420 Jesus' response is? 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:48.960 This time, 00:23:49.819 --> 00:23:50.740 things have changed. 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.759 God's plan 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.639 at this point 00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:54.319 is unfolding 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.440 with such importance 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:57.200 and with such urgency. 00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:58.740 And Jesus Himself 00:23:58.740 --> 00:24:00.259 is so much greater 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.340 than Elijah 00:24:01.340 --> 00:24:03.180 that not even 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:04.559 the close bonds 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.640 of family affection 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:07.120 can override the call 00:24:07.120 --> 00:24:08.340 to come follow Him 00:24:08.340 --> 00:24:09.279 right now. 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.240 And of course, 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.259 the overarching point 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.320 in these three interactions 00:24:16.320 --> 00:24:16.920 is clear. 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:19.740 Following Jesus' discipleship 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:21.320 means making Him 00:24:21.320 --> 00:24:23.340 the uncontested priority 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:24.019 in your life. 00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:26.579 And notice that 00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.079 all these things 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.699 that Jesus says 00:24:27.699 --> 00:24:28.559 must take second place 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:28.740 to Him 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.319 in these interactions 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:29.879 are in themselves 00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:30.839 good things, right? 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:33.339 A safe and comfortable home 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:34.480 fulfilling your sort of 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:36.379 traditional filial duties, 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.639 family affection, 00:24:38.399 --> 00:24:39.379 and bonds. 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.599 These are good things. 00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:44.339 And even good things 00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:46.599 cannot and must not 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:47.179 detract 00:24:47.179 --> 00:24:48.740 from putting Christ's 00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.339 uppermost 00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.500 uncontested 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.339 in your allegiance. 00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:56.299 Let me first, 00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.919 the second and third 00:24:57.919 --> 00:24:58.659 would-be disciples 00:24:58.659 --> 00:24:59.199 say here, 00:24:59.919 --> 00:25:00.779 let me first 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.679 go bury my father. 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.579 Let me first 00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.679 go home 00:25:03.679 --> 00:25:04.379 and say goodbye 00:25:04.379 --> 00:25:05.039 to my family 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:05.679 and friends. 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.199 Friends, 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.779 I wonder how would you 00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:08.679 finish that sentence? 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.319 Let me first. 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:13.579 Maybe for you 00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:14.439 it's also a family 00:25:14.439 --> 00:25:15.480 obligation or bond. 00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:17.419 Maybe you're afraid 00:25:17.419 --> 00:25:18.240 of offending your family 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.220 by becoming a Christian 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:19.779 or maybe there's 00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.879 some duty that you feel 00:25:20.879 --> 00:25:21.579 you have to fulfill 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.439 to them that keeps you 00:25:22.439 --> 00:25:23.299 from serving Christ 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.119 as you ought to. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:26.299 Maybe your spouse 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:26.879 isn't a believer 00:25:26.879 --> 00:25:27.700 and you're not sure 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:28.539 how he or she would 00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.879 respond if you started 00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:31.379 genuinely following Jesus. 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.720 Let me first, 00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.440 you might say. 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.960 Let me first 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.940 figure things out 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:36.700 with my family 00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:38.000 and then I'll come 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.500 follow you, 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:38.819 Jesus. 00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.720 But maybe you'd 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.319 fill in the blank 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:43.919 another way. 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.440 I'll follow you, 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:46.659 Jesus, 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.619 but let me first, 00:25:48.139 --> 00:25:49.159 let me first get back 00:25:49.159 --> 00:25:49.659 on my feet. 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.500 Let me get my life 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:50.839 together. 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.680 Let me get my act 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:52.960 together and then 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.920 I'll follow you. 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:58.000 Let me first 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:59.180 see where this 00:25:59.180 --> 00:26:00.240 relationship is going 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.279 with my boyfriend 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.820 or girlfriend. 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.279 Let me first 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:05.680 get that into a good 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.240 place and then 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.000 I'll come follow you. 00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:09.700 Let me first 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.680 finish up my degree 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:11.340 and get settled 00:26:11.340 --> 00:26:11.920 into a career 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.000 and then I'll really 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.480 follow you, 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:13.720 Jesus. 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.880 Let me first 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.759 get some airtight 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.680 answers to all 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:19.220 my doubts 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.860 and questions 00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:20.519 and really 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:20.960 make sure 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.579 that this thing 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.079 is certain 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:23.539 and then 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.279 I'll follow you. 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:29.220 And in this text 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:29.980 Jesus is saying 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:32.000 you can't do it 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.460 that way. 00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:36.380 You can't have 00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:37.180 a let me first 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:39.000 and truly be 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.579 his disciple. 00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.720 He has to be 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.240 your first. 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.019 But why? 00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:48.299 Why is Jesus 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.599 so demanding 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.639 at this point? 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:52.879 I mean when you 00:26:52.879 --> 00:26:53.879 compare these two 00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:54.779 episodes in this 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.200 text, 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.400 isn't it a wild 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.079 juxtaposition? 00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.420 Didn't we just see 00:26:58.420 --> 00:26:59.139 how Jesus is so 00:26:59.139 --> 00:27:00.279 merciful and patient 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:01.139 and long-suffering 00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:01.879 in verse 51 00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:02.379 through 56? 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.819 Now he seems like 00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:04.259 a complete 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.279 megalomaniac 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.519 demanding nothing 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.460 less than total 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.639 commitment right now. 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:12.259 Why is this a 00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:13.079 legitimate claim 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:13.920 for him to make? 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.000 Why? 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:16.920 Three things. 00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:17.779 First, 00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:20.539 notice the urgency. 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:22.059 Isn't there an 00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:23.000 overriding sense 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.680 of urgency 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:25.279 in this paragraph? 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:26.960 At this point 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.640 in Jesus' earthly 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:27.940 ministry, 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:28.519 things are headed 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.359 to their climax. 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.440 Now is the time 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:31.880 to decide. 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.700 The kingdom of God 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.720 is at hand, 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:34.579 Jesus kept telling 00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:34.960 those who were 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.380 around him. 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:36.859 And friends, 00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:37.500 the same is true 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.059 of us today. 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.880 There is urgency 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:41.819 in the call 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:43.039 of God's kingdom. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:46.180 at a very simple 00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:46.440 level, 00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.019 none of us 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.640 knows how many 00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:48.359 days that we 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:49.099 have left to live. 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.400 Preachers, 00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:51.900 for some reason, 00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:52.700 love to talk about 00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:54.039 getting hit by buses 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:55.000 when you leave church. 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:55.859 I don't know why 00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.380 that is. 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:58.019 You never know. 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.819 It could happen 00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.299 to you. 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.240 But friends, 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:03.000 on a serious note, 00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:03.700 you never know. 00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.240 You don't know 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.700 how many days 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.200 you have left. 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:10.720 this could be 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.240 the moment 00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:11.559 that God 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.420 is giving you 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:13.480 to come 00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:14.779 and follow him. 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.640 The time 00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:17.100 to decide 00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:17.759 is now. 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.519 But notice 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.000 second 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:24.960 why Jesus 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.620 says this. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.420 Notice 00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.100 what we see 00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:28.539 of Jesus' 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.200 identity 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:30.440 in this passage. 00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.660 On the one hand, 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.220 he calls himself 00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:33.960 the son of man, 00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:34.880 which on the surface, 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:36.260 on the surface anyway, 00:28:36.360 --> 00:28:37.060 seems like a title 00:28:37.060 --> 00:28:37.540 of humility, 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:38.320 but maybe we'll get 00:28:38.320 --> 00:28:39.080 a chance to come back 00:28:39.080 --> 00:28:39.620 to that title 00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:40.840 when we explore 00:28:40.840 --> 00:28:41.720 this series 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.300 a little more. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:43.500 But you know, 00:28:43.560 --> 00:28:43.920 then, 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.840 even if he sort of 00:28:44.840 --> 00:28:46.460 begins to present himself 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.280 as one of humility 00:28:47.280 --> 00:28:47.900 without a place 00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.620 to lay his head, 00:28:48.820 --> 00:28:50.000 then look at his response 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.620 to the second 00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:51.340 would-be disciple. 00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:52.660 Let the dead 00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:54.080 bury their own dead. 00:28:55.540 --> 00:28:56.660 Which is to say, 00:28:57.080 --> 00:28:58.900 let the spiritually dead, 00:28:59.040 --> 00:28:59.920 all those people 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.580 back home, 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.060 bury the physically dead, 00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:02.720 your father. 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:04.839 Okay, 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:05.420 now that's a harsh 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:06.000 thing to say, 00:29:06.100 --> 00:29:07.779 but do you see 00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.720 the claim that Jesus 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.640 is making there? 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.279 He's saying that 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:13.779 everyone who refuses 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:15.000 to come follow him 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:17.079 is still living 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.620 in the realm 00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:18.579 of spiritual death. 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:21.559 That apart from him, 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:24.400 they have not 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.059 and will not 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:26.200 come alive to God. 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:28.299 That he's the source 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:28.960 of real life. 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:33.360 And then the last 00:29:33.360 --> 00:29:34.160 verse of our passage, 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.019 Jesus implies 00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:36.039 that to follow him 00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:38.960 is to pursue 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.620 God's kingdom. 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:41.500 To come after him 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.279 with wholehearted 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:42.740 devotion 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:44.319 is the same thing 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:45.299 as being a part 00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:46.019 of God's healing, 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:46.840 righteous reign 00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:47.420 in the world. 00:29:50.819 --> 00:29:51.480 And when you 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:52.299 take a step back, 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:54.940 when Jesus says 00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:55.579 all this about 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.880 following him, 00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:57.640 you must have 00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.300 given him 00:29:58.300 --> 00:29:58.740 complete, 00:29:58.900 --> 00:29:59.720 absolute priority 00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:00.700 over everything else, 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.240 when Jesus says 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.980 you've got to make 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.640 me first 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.740 and nothing else, 00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:06.460 he's making 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.260 a claim 00:30:07.260 --> 00:30:09.920 that in the context 00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:10.540 for a faithful 00:30:10.540 --> 00:30:11.420 first century Jew 00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:12.540 belonged to no one 00:30:12.540 --> 00:30:14.240 else but God alone. 00:30:16.820 --> 00:30:18.380 There was only one 00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:19.500 who could claim 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:20.560 that sort of devotion 00:30:20.560 --> 00:30:22.480 over all else 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.960 and it was 00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:24.800 the Lord himself. 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:29.040 And Jesus is saying 00:30:29.040 --> 00:30:30.180 you must put 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:31.420 me first. 00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:35.260 Jesus is pointing us 00:30:35.260 --> 00:30:36.280 to his identity here. 00:30:37.780 --> 00:30:38.600 He's pointing us 00:30:38.600 --> 00:30:39.040 to the fact 00:30:39.040 --> 00:30:39.740 that a relationship 00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.320 with him 00:30:40.320 --> 00:30:42.160 is a relationship 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:42.980 with the God 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:44.000 who made us. 00:30:45.780 --> 00:30:46.800 He must 00:30:46.800 --> 00:30:47.920 take first place. 00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:49.840 Otherwise, 00:30:50.080 --> 00:30:51.480 you are out of joint 00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:52.740 with the one 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.420 who made you 00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:54.400 and sustains you 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:55.140 and the only one 00:30:55.140 --> 00:30:55.980 who can save you. 00:30:55.980 --> 00:31:00.779 But third, 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:01.799 why does Jesus 00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:02.440 make such an 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.759 uncompromising demand? 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:04.740 Third, 00:31:04.860 --> 00:31:05.400 consider 00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:07.460 that what Jesus 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.339 is calling us 00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:09.000 to do here 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:09.960 to make him 00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.640 our complete 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:12.019 and utter priority 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:14.299 is actually 00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:15.099 easier 00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:16.099 in a sense 00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:17.779 than what these 00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:18.380 men are trying 00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:18.759 to do. 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.519 No one puts 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:21.880 his hand 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:22.420 to the plow 00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:23.779 and looks back 00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.720 is fit 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.200 for the kingdom 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.700 of God. 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:26.940 What happens 00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:27.620 if you're plowing 00:31:27.620 --> 00:31:28.120 a field 00:31:28.120 --> 00:31:29.039 and constantly 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:29.740 looking back? 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:32.220 I can only guess 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:32.700 because I've never 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:33.380 plowed a field. 00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:36.319 But look, 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:38.140 if you've got 00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:38.620 your hands 00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:39.319 on that plow 00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:40.299 and you're looking 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.360 over your shoulder, 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.400 you're not going 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:42.799 to be digging 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:43.700 nice straight rows 00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.319 in the field. 00:31:44.660 --> 00:31:45.120 They're going to be 00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:45.940 going all over 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:46.460 the place. 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:49.279 and not only 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:50.059 are your rows 00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.500 going to be 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.100 curved 00:31:51.100 --> 00:31:52.039 and ugly, 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.860 you might even 00:31:53.860 --> 00:31:54.740 strike a rock 00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:56.220 destroying not 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:57.319 just your harvest 00:31:57.319 --> 00:31:57.880 but the very 00:31:57.880 --> 00:31:58.620 plow itself. 00:32:01.420 --> 00:32:02.620 It's impractical 00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:03.160 and it's maybe 00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.039 even dangerous 00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:05.140 to plow 00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:06.539 when your attention 00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:07.240 is divided. 00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:11.339 C.S. Lewis 00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:12.059 captures this 00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:13.660 well toward the 00:32:13.660 --> 00:32:14.259 end of mere 00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:14.799 Christianity. 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:16.740 He says that how 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.700 so many of us 00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:18.720 approach Christianity 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:19.740 is that on the 00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.380 one hand, 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:22.279 we do what we 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:22.980 think is our 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.700 duty to God. 00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:24.740 We keep our nose 00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.259 out of trouble. 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.019 We show up for 00:32:26.019 --> 00:32:26.460 church. 00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:27.099 We do some good 00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:27.620 deeds for our 00:32:27.620 --> 00:32:27.880 neighbors. 00:32:28.039 --> 00:32:28.880 We do all that 00:32:28.880 --> 00:32:30.059 all the while 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:30.920 on the other hand, 00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:32.220 really hoping that 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:33.220 there's some time 00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:34.039 and some energy 00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:34.720 and some money 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:35.759 sort of left over 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:37.299 that we can kind 00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:37.779 of spend on 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.500 ourselves and our 00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.099 own things. 00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:39.859 We still want to 00:32:39.859 --> 00:32:40.680 have a little bit 00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:41.579 of time left over 00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:42.559 for what he calls 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:43.619 our natural self, 00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.440 the things that we 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:45.259 kind of want to do. 00:32:46.399 --> 00:32:47.420 We're like an honest 00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:48.859 man paying our taxes. 00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:50.619 We'll give what is 00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:52.139 due hoping that we've 00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:52.839 got a little treasure 00:32:52.839 --> 00:32:54.099 left to just kind 00:32:54.099 --> 00:32:55.319 of enjoy on ourselves. 00:32:58.379 --> 00:32:59.200 But that's not 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:01.019 going to work when 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.480 it comes to 00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:02.259 following Jesus. 00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:05.220 The demands of 00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:06.339 discipleship are too 00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:06.700 great. 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:09.359 Jesus' intention for 00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:10.279 his followers is not 00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.359 merely to improve 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.980 this or that aspect 00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:14.339 of your personality, 00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:15.180 to do a little tweak 00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:16.000 here or a little 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.899 nudge there, 00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:17.460 to just give you 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:18.299 kind of a little push. 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.599 His intention is to 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:20.759 remodel you from the 00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.539 inside out, 00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:23.440 to make you a new 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:24.019 creation, 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:26.200 to make us, 00:33:26.519 --> 00:33:27.139 as Lewis will say 00:33:27.139 --> 00:33:27.759 in another place, 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:29.319 not nice people, 00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:31.440 but a new humanity. 00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:35.119 And so if we 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:36.200 approach discipleship 00:33:36.200 --> 00:33:37.059 like these three men 00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:38.019 with one foot in 00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:39.099 and one foot out, 00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:39.940 it's never going to 00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:40.279 work. 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.680 Either we're going to 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.879 end up miserable on 00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:43.819 the road to discipleship 00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:44.819 because we can never 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.859 keep up with the 00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.440 demands and there's 00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:47.420 never anything left 00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:48.019 over, which is what 00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:48.920 we really want. 00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:51.039 We'll either be 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.980 totally miserable or 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:52.619 we'll just give up 00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:53.119 altogether. 00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:58.119 So you see what 00:33:58.119 --> 00:33:59.039 Jesus is calling his 00:33:59.039 --> 00:33:59.859 disciples to do 00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:01.440 is on the one hand 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:01.819 harder. 00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:03.319 Give me all of you. 00:34:03.419 --> 00:34:03.899 Give me, 00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:05.339 make me first 00:34:05.339 --> 00:34:06.599 over everything else. 00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.599 But what Jesus is 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.279 calling us to do 00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:10.799 is easier. 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:13.699 Give me all of you 00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:15.900 and stop trying 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.739 to live 00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:17.860 with divided 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.400 attention 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.500 and divided 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.199 loyalties. 00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:21.759 Give me your 00:34:21.759 --> 00:34:22.440 whole self 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:23.239 and let me take 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:23.980 care of the rest. 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:28.779 This is what 00:34:28.779 --> 00:34:29.840 discipleship means. 00:34:31.820 --> 00:34:32.780 The Samaritans 00:34:32.780 --> 00:34:33.559 who reject Jesus, 00:34:33.680 --> 00:34:34.519 Jesus moves on. 00:34:34.600 --> 00:34:35.280 But to those who 00:34:35.280 --> 00:34:36.400 open the door to him, 00:34:36.740 --> 00:34:37.720 like these three men, 00:34:38.140 --> 00:34:38.960 Jesus wants to come 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:40.019 the whole way in. 00:34:40.380 --> 00:34:41.660 He wants to push in, 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:42.740 take control, 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.820 and be first. 00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:45.059 That's what it means 00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:46.440 to be his disciple, 00:34:46.680 --> 00:34:47.920 to let him displace 00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:48.940 every other thing 00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:49.559 that might compete 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:50.440 for priority in our 00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:50.800 lives. 00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:52.280 And of course, 00:34:52.300 --> 00:34:52.920 that doesn't mean 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:53.980 that we all quit our 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:54.620 jobs and become 00:34:54.620 --> 00:34:55.440 hermits or overseas 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.080 missionaries. 00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:59.500 But it does mean 00:34:59.500 --> 00:35:00.599 that whatever we do, 00:35:00.819 --> 00:35:01.759 it's done through 00:35:01.759 --> 00:35:02.940 the lens of making 00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:04.279 Jesus first, 00:35:04.860 --> 00:35:05.880 of following him 00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:07.199 and obeying him, 00:35:07.279 --> 00:35:08.299 even if it means 00:35:08.299 --> 00:35:09.239 losing comfort and 00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:09.739 security, 00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:11.699 like this first one. 00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:13.420 Even if it means 00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:14.500 offending family 00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:15.159 and tradition, 00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:17.159 like the second one. 00:35:18.259 --> 00:35:19.360 Even if it means 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:21.039 missing our loved 00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:21.340 ones. 00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:30.700 But in order to 00:35:30.700 --> 00:35:32.519 understand this call 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.280 to priority, 00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:36.519 in order to really 00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:37.420 put it in perspective, 00:35:37.600 --> 00:35:38.440 I think we need to 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.579 see two final things. 00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:43.440 First, we need to 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.579 see that what Jesus 00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:46.079 is calling us into, 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:48.100 as we said in the 00:35:48.100 --> 00:35:48.920 very beginning tonight, 00:35:49.500 --> 00:35:50.960 is a life where we 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:51.840 become who we were 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:52.659 created to be. 00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:54.920 In other words, 00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:55.740 what we stand to 00:35:55.740 --> 00:35:56.800 lose in following 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:58.019 Jesus is nothing 00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:59.500 compared to what 00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.079 we gain. 00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:03.099 I remember years 00:36:03.099 --> 00:36:03.740 ago visiting a 00:36:03.740 --> 00:36:04.599 museum in Florence, 00:36:04.740 --> 00:36:04.960 Italy, 00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:06.280 the museum where 00:36:06.280 --> 00:36:07.400 Michelangelo's sculpture 00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.619 of David is on 00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:09.059 display. 00:36:10.579 --> 00:36:11.400 It's kind of a funny 00:36:11.400 --> 00:36:11.920 little museum. 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:12.579 There's like a bunch 00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:13.119 of junk there, 00:36:13.159 --> 00:36:13.599 and then you turn 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:14.019 the corner and 00:36:14.019 --> 00:36:15.139 there's this huge 00:36:15.139 --> 00:36:15.900 statue. 00:36:16.420 --> 00:36:17.059 It's like kind of 00:36:17.059 --> 00:36:17.619 the only thing they 00:36:17.619 --> 00:36:19.019 have, which isn't 00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:20.000 true, but it feels 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:20.619 like it's the only 00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:21.239 thing they have 00:36:21.239 --> 00:36:21.500 there. 00:36:22.920 --> 00:36:24.299 But flanking both 00:36:24.299 --> 00:36:25.739 sides of this 00:36:25.739 --> 00:36:26.759 gallery, as you 00:36:26.759 --> 00:36:27.400 kind of turn the 00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:28.239 corner and look, 00:36:28.299 --> 00:36:28.859 and there's the 00:36:28.859 --> 00:36:30.139 David, flanking 00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:31.259 both sides of this 00:36:31.259 --> 00:36:33.279 gallery are 00:36:33.279 --> 00:36:34.059 sculptures by 00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:35.019 Michelangelo that 00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:35.679 aren't finished. 00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:37.619 They were 00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:38.339 sculptures in 00:36:38.339 --> 00:36:39.980 process, and the 00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:40.639 curators of the 00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:41.199 museum, in a 00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:42.119 brilliant move, put 00:36:42.119 --> 00:36:42.599 them, and they 00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:43.400 just placed them 00:36:43.400 --> 00:36:44.519 along the sides of 00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:45.779 the hall, and 00:36:45.779 --> 00:36:46.400 there was the 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:46.639 David. 00:36:46.639 --> 00:36:46.719 David. 00:36:49.359 --> 00:36:50.199 And you could 00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:51.139 still see the 00:36:51.139 --> 00:36:52.199 chisel marks all 00:36:52.199 --> 00:36:53.639 around each one of 00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:55.299 those figures, and 00:36:55.299 --> 00:36:56.839 it looked as if this 00:36:56.839 --> 00:36:57.879 sort of beautiful 00:36:57.879 --> 00:36:59.000 figure was emerging 00:36:59.000 --> 00:36:59.960 from a block of 00:36:59.960 --> 00:37:00.379 stone. 00:37:05.059 --> 00:37:06.059 And that's often 00:37:06.059 --> 00:37:06.739 what discipleship 00:37:06.739 --> 00:37:07.359 feels like. 00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:09.379 God progressively 00:37:09.379 --> 00:37:10.799 just chiseling away 00:37:10.799 --> 00:37:12.359 at our old life, 00:37:12.699 --> 00:37:14.059 which no doubt can be 00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:15.259 painful and 00:37:15.260 --> 00:37:15.720 challenging. 00:37:16.720 --> 00:37:17.500 Is this a 00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:18.120 priority in your 00:37:18.120 --> 00:37:18.460 life? 00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:19.700 Chisel it away. 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:20.800 Is this competing 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:21.260 with me? 00:37:21.640 --> 00:37:22.440 Chisel it away. 00:37:24.300 --> 00:37:25.700 But the end that 00:37:25.700 --> 00:37:27.920 he has in view in 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:28.720 all of that 00:37:28.720 --> 00:37:32.100 rigorous work is 00:37:32.100 --> 00:37:32.480 glorious. 00:37:33.860 --> 00:37:34.940 I think they call 00:37:34.940 --> 00:37:36.980 those statues the 00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:37.700 prisoners or 00:37:37.700 --> 00:37:38.340 something like that 00:37:38.340 --> 00:37:38.920 because they look 00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:39.480 like they're sort of 00:37:39.480 --> 00:37:40.380 trapped in stone. 00:37:41.980 --> 00:37:42.940 And yet another way 00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:43.620 of looking at it is 00:37:43.620 --> 00:37:44.180 that they're being 00:37:44.180 --> 00:37:44.680 liberated. 00:37:45.260 --> 00:37:46.960 they're coming 00:37:46.960 --> 00:37:47.420 out. 00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:50.140 And at the head of 00:37:50.140 --> 00:37:51.780 that gallery stands 00:37:51.780 --> 00:37:53.320 the David, one of 00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:53.860 the most stunning 00:37:53.860 --> 00:37:54.460 works of human 00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.020 sculpture ever 00:37:55.020 --> 00:37:55.480 created. 00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:57.060 And through the 00:37:57.060 --> 00:37:58.120 chisel marks, we're 00:37:58.120 --> 00:37:59.180 being liberated from 00:37:59.180 --> 00:37:59.980 stone, friends. 00:38:01.340 --> 00:38:02.520 And we're being made 00:38:02.520 --> 00:38:03.420 into the image of the 00:38:03.420 --> 00:38:04.100 true and better 00:38:04.100 --> 00:38:04.480 David. 00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:07.600 The one who is 00:38:07.600 --> 00:38:08.540 truly human. 00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:10.400 The Lord Jesus 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:10.960 Christ. 00:38:13.180 --> 00:38:14.980 What we stand to lose 00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:15.880 in following Jesus 00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:17.780 is nothing compared 00:38:17.780 --> 00:38:18.639 to what we gain. 00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:20.599 He's setting us 00:38:20.599 --> 00:38:22.500 free with each 00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:24.420 hit of the chisel. 00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:24.480 people. 00:38:28.740 --> 00:38:29.880 But lastly, consider 00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:30.780 what Jesus is calling 00:38:30.780 --> 00:38:31.840 us to do to make 00:38:31.840 --> 00:38:32.500 him our utter 00:38:32.500 --> 00:38:33.400 priority, to let 00:38:33.400 --> 00:38:34.579 nothing distract us 00:38:34.579 --> 00:38:35.440 from following him. 00:38:37.119 --> 00:38:37.780 Friends, that's 00:38:37.780 --> 00:38:38.860 exactly the road 00:38:38.860 --> 00:38:40.059 that he's traveled 00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:40.680 for us. 00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:43.380 Luke opens this 00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:44.240 whole section of 00:38:44.240 --> 00:38:45.539 his gospel in 00:38:45.539 --> 00:38:46.599 verse 51 by saying 00:38:46.599 --> 00:38:47.460 that Jesus set 00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:49.619 his face to go 00:38:49.619 --> 00:38:50.559 to Jerusalem. 00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:53.019 He set his face 00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:55.039 with uncompromising 00:38:55.039 --> 00:38:56.159 priority and 00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:57.779 determination to go 00:38:57.779 --> 00:38:58.539 to Jerusalem. 00:38:59.079 --> 00:38:59.460 Why? 00:39:01.380 --> 00:39:02.320 For you. 00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:06.460 The phrase set his 00:39:06.460 --> 00:39:08.259 face is actually an 00:39:08.259 --> 00:39:09.840 echo of Isaiah. 00:39:10.039 --> 00:39:10.799 It's a brilliant 00:39:10.799 --> 00:39:11.880 little expression by 00:39:11.880 --> 00:39:12.400 Luke there. 00:39:14.179 --> 00:39:15.440 In Isaiah chapter 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:16.480 50 verse 7 00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:18.699 describing the 00:39:18.699 --> 00:39:19.840 redeeming work of 00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:21.079 the suffering servant 00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:22.840 Isaiah says that he 00:39:22.840 --> 00:39:24.140 set his face like 00:39:24.140 --> 00:39:24.640 flint. 00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:28.180 To suffer and die 00:39:28.180 --> 00:39:28.760 in the place of 00:39:28.760 --> 00:39:30.820 God's people so 00:39:30.820 --> 00:39:31.539 that God could bring 00:39:31.539 --> 00:39:32.019 about a new 00:39:32.019 --> 00:39:33.620 exodus and so that 00:39:33.620 --> 00:39:34.300 God could take his 00:39:34.300 --> 00:39:35.039 people into the new 00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:35.539 creation. 00:39:36.500 --> 00:39:37.280 And here Luke with 00:39:37.280 --> 00:39:38.140 one little turn of 00:39:38.140 --> 00:39:39.620 phrase is calling 00:39:39.620 --> 00:39:40.579 forth all of that 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:41.680 Old Testament theology 00:39:41.680 --> 00:39:43.079 and pouring it right 00:39:43.079 --> 00:39:44.600 into Jesus just as 00:39:44.600 --> 00:39:45.360 Jesus had taught his 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:46.280 disciples and saying 00:39:46.280 --> 00:39:48.019 Jesus set his face. 00:39:49.840 --> 00:39:51.740 Jesus put the saving 00:39:51.740 --> 00:39:52.720 plan of the father 00:39:52.720 --> 00:39:53.700 first. 00:39:54.360 --> 00:39:55.579 Jesus made that his 00:39:55.579 --> 00:39:57.000 priority no matter 00:39:57.000 --> 00:39:57.720 the cost 00:39:57.720 --> 00:40:00.019 for you. 00:40:02.180 --> 00:40:03.120 And friends if he did 00:40:03.120 --> 00:40:03.760 that for you 00:40:03.760 --> 00:40:06.400 then you need not fear 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:07.880 to put him first in 00:40:07.880 --> 00:40:08.380 your life. 00:40:10.140 --> 00:40:11.280 He will liberate you 00:40:11.280 --> 00:40:11.900 from the stone 00:40:11.900 --> 00:40:13.680 and he will make you 00:40:13.680 --> 00:40:14.360 fit for the kingdom 00:40:14.360 --> 00:40:14.840 of God. 00:40:14.840 --> 00:40:19.460 So this then is the 00:40:19.460 --> 00:40:20.440 beginning of the 00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:21.860 journey of discipleship. 00:40:23.180 --> 00:40:24.660 To see, to receive, 00:40:24.880 --> 00:40:25.680 and to live his 00:40:25.680 --> 00:40:28.120 mercy and to 00:40:28.120 --> 00:40:29.480 acknowledge, receive, 00:40:29.760 --> 00:40:31.640 and embrace him as 00:40:31.640 --> 00:40:32.320 your priority. 00:40:34.800 --> 00:40:35.519 Friends where are you 00:40:35.519 --> 00:40:36.320 at on this road of 00:40:36.320 --> 00:40:37.039 discipleship? 00:40:39.480 --> 00:40:40.460 The risen Jesus 00:40:40.460 --> 00:40:41.720 continues to say to 00:40:41.720 --> 00:40:43.840 us today follow me. 00:40:43.840 --> 00:40:45.940 follow me. 00:40:48.120 --> 00:40:48.780 Let's pray. 00:40:54.600 --> 00:40:55.640 Lord, we confess that 00:40:55.640 --> 00:40:56.380 when we hear your 00:40:56.380 --> 00:40:58.480 challenge to put all 00:40:58.480 --> 00:40:59.559 things in second place 00:40:59.559 --> 00:41:00.640 to you, Lord, we 00:41:00.640 --> 00:41:03.600 acknowledge that that's 00:41:03.600 --> 00:41:04.840 often a move that we 00:41:04.840 --> 00:41:05.820 can't make in our own 00:41:05.820 --> 00:41:06.200 power. 00:41:07.660 --> 00:41:09.059 Lord, we feel trapped 00:41:09.059 --> 00:41:09.860 by these old 00:41:09.860 --> 00:41:10.920 allegiances and these 00:41:10.920 --> 00:41:11.800 old things that have 00:41:11.800 --> 00:41:12.559 gripped our life. 00:41:12.559 --> 00:41:15.639 So, Lord, we pray 00:41:15.639 --> 00:41:16.719 that by your spirit you 00:41:16.719 --> 00:41:17.559 would do a liberating 00:41:17.559 --> 00:41:17.960 work. 00:41:20.279 --> 00:41:21.259 Lord, we thank you 00:41:21.259 --> 00:41:23.000 that you, in your 00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:23.980 wisdom and inspiring 00:41:23.980 --> 00:41:24.980 scripture, left these 00:41:24.980 --> 00:41:25.759 stories open. 00:41:26.940 --> 00:41:27.679 Lord, that you didn't 00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:28.519 tell us how these men 00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:29.719 responded so that we 00:41:29.719 --> 00:41:31.320 would be set on the 00:41:31.320 --> 00:41:34.759 cusp with them to 00:41:34.759 --> 00:41:35.239 respond. 00:41:35.380 --> 00:41:36.320 So help us, Lord, by 00:41:36.320 --> 00:41:39.400 your spirit to receive 00:41:39.400 --> 00:41:40.360 your mercy and to put 00:41:40.360 --> 00:41:41.880 you first in our lives 00:41:41.880 --> 00:41:44.000 and help us as a 00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:46.700 community to encourage 00:41:46.700 --> 00:41:47.599 one another on this 00:41:47.599 --> 00:41:48.840 road of discipleship, we 00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:49.120 pray. 00:41:49.680 --> 00:41:50.180 Amen.