WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:09.519 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.280 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:22.080 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:34.579 The Lord's word for us this morning comes from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 20, 17 through 28. 00:00:36.339 --> 00:00:39.140 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. 00:00:40.060 --> 00:00:43.239 On the way, he took the twelve aside and said to them, 00:00:43.659 --> 00:00:51.619 We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. 00:00:52.659 --> 00:01:00.000 They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. 00:01:01.219 --> 00:01:04.140 On the third day, he will be raised to life. 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:11.819 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:14.840 What is it you want? he asked. 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:21.539 She said, Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom. 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:25.280 You don't know what you are asking, Jesus said to them. 00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:28.439 Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:30.959 We can, they answered. 00:01:32.060 --> 00:01:33.079 Jesus said to them, 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:39.500 You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:44.659 These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father. 00:01:44.659 --> 00:01:49.539 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 00:01:50.539 --> 00:01:52.679 Jesus called them together and said, 00:01:52.680 --> 00:02:00.480 You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:02.420 Not so with you. 00:02:03.420 --> 00:02:12.219 Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave. 00:02:12.219 --> 00:02:20.199 Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:02:21.099 --> 00:02:23.180 This is the gospel of the Lord. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:25.599 Praise to you, O Christ. 00:02:26.900 --> 00:02:27.719 Thank you, Brian. 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:28.240 Good morning. 00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:29.240 My name is Andrew. 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:30.800 I'm one of the pastors here at Christ Church. 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:33.340 And it's great to be with you. 00:02:33.500 --> 00:02:35.280 I'm sharing God's word with you this morning. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:36.819 Will you pray with me? 00:02:36.819 --> 00:02:54.680 Lord God, we have not come to witness a powerful preacher, but to encounter your powerful word spoken to us from the lips of Jesus. 00:02:54.680 --> 00:03:02.939 And I just ask that we would so experience the Spirit, so encounter your Son, 00:03:02.939 --> 00:03:08.240 that we'd be changed by the ordinary preaching of your word. 00:03:09.780 --> 00:03:11.740 So make much of our little. 00:03:12.079 --> 00:03:14.979 Do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:17.439 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:18.319 Amen. 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:25.719 All right, so I'm not sure if Cody and Stevie Texan are tuning in, but I did want to give them a shout out. 00:03:25.819 --> 00:03:29.719 They just had their newborns this week safely. 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:31.219 We're super happy about that. 00:03:31.219 --> 00:03:35.159 Yeah, I'm super excited for them. 00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:39.379 First-time parents, beautiful little boys, twins, Samuel and Luke Texan. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:41.180 We'll call them the Texan twins, all right? 00:03:41.259 --> 00:03:42.079 The Texan twins. 00:03:42.900 --> 00:03:47.960 And, you know, this really got me reminiscing about my first time as a parent. 00:03:48.139 --> 00:03:48.960 That was four years ago. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:50.020 Kami is four now. 00:03:50.500 --> 00:03:55.639 And I just remember four years ago holding that little baby girl in my arms, fresh out of the womb. 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:59.020 And I was like, man, I want this girl to be great. 00:03:59.659 --> 00:04:00.579 I want her to be great. 00:04:00.580 --> 00:04:02.540 And so I did all the things, right? 00:04:02.640 --> 00:04:05.120 Skin on skin time with mommy and daddy. 00:04:05.340 --> 00:04:06.400 I read to her. 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:07.400 I sang to her. 00:04:07.600 --> 00:04:09.480 I smothered her with affection. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:12.140 I even tried to enhance her physical capabilities. 00:04:12.640 --> 00:04:17.920 Just one day old, I was like having her bounce up on my lap trying to make her do baby squats. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:26.400 I would touch her fingers to increase her tactile senses and let her touch a bunch of different things to increase her dexterity. 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:30.219 I put a basketball next to her to familiarize her with the game. 00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:33.939 I just, I really wanted her to be great. 00:04:34.439 --> 00:04:39.319 An absolutely great human being according to all the metrics of greatness, at least in my mind. 00:04:40.099 --> 00:04:42.299 And imagine that's what Cody and Stevie want for their boys. 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:47.579 It's what all of the parents in this room probably want for their kids, what all of our parents probably wanted for us. 00:04:47.780 --> 00:04:49.120 We all want to be great. 00:04:49.420 --> 00:04:51.939 And we all want those we love to be great. 00:04:52.579 --> 00:04:59.220 And it was no different in the days of Jesus than it is today when a mother, not unlike any other parent in this room, 00:04:59.220 --> 00:05:08.500 approached her Messiah King, seeking the greatness of her beloved boys, two of Jesus' innermost disciples, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. 00:05:09.440 --> 00:05:15.700 And yet what we see here is that in typical Jesus fashion, he neither denies nor grants this short-sighted request, 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:23.040 but instead he points them beyond themselves, beyond their present understandings of who he is and what true greatness is. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:28.840 And he points them to a far more profound understanding of himself and of true greatness. 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:35.119 He points them to the fact that when we miss the crux of the cross, we miss the greatness of greatness. 00:05:35.219 --> 00:05:36.259 And that's God's word to us today. 00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:41.099 When we miss the crux of the cross, we miss the greatness of greatness. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:44.039 Now let's set the scene here first. 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:45.979 Look with me at verse 17. 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:48.719 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. 00:05:48.719 --> 00:05:51.559 So this is his final journey, his journey to the cross. 00:05:51.719 --> 00:05:55.659 And you just can imagine the things that he's feeling on his way there, right? 00:05:56.100 --> 00:06:00.820 And so it's not surprising that he wants to talk about what's heaviest upon his heart with his crew. 00:06:01.400 --> 00:06:01.980 So it says, 00:06:02.320 --> 00:06:10.040 Like remember, he's got quite an entourage, but it says he takes his closest friends aside, 00:06:10.140 --> 00:06:13.379 wanting to share with them what's on his heart, what's on his mind. 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:18.600 And even though he's shared this at least twice with them already in Matthew's gospel account, 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:21.700 and even though they typically seem to not really understand what he's talking about 00:06:21.700 --> 00:06:24.020 or just kind of seem to brush it off normally, 00:06:24.520 --> 00:06:26.600 he tries to be vulnerable with them again. 00:06:27.080 --> 00:06:28.420 And he wants them to know. 00:06:28.520 --> 00:06:30.400 He wants to prepare them for what's going to happen. 00:06:31.080 --> 00:06:32.500 So he says to them in verse 18, 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:45.920 And what he does is he gives them even more information than he'd previously given them. 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:52.060 In verse 19, he says that he's going to be delivered to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. 00:06:52.259 --> 00:06:54.399 And he says on the third day he will be raised to life. 00:06:55.220 --> 00:06:57.040 So imagine you're his close friends, 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:00.879 and he pulls you aside and he spills his guts to you like this. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:02.560 And he's not only your close friend, 00:07:02.640 --> 00:07:04.360 he's the one you believe to be the Messiah, 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:07.100 the one who you believe is sent from God, right? 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:11.100 The authoritative voice of God, the prophetic voice right there with you. 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:14.740 How might you respond to all these things that Jesus just said 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:16.960 about his crucifixion and his resurrection? 00:07:17.840 --> 00:07:21.060 You would think that his closest friends would be distressed, right? 00:07:21.180 --> 00:07:22.939 Or if they didn't understand, they'd be like, 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:24.700 you know, tell me more, please. 00:07:24.699 --> 00:07:28.240 I mean, Jesus was saying some pretty wild things, right? 00:07:28.339 --> 00:07:30.319 Condemned by the chief priests in the temple, 00:07:30.979 --> 00:07:36.539 flogged and mocked by both the Jewish establishment and Gentile Romans, 00:07:37.039 --> 00:07:40.360 crucified, and then like raised from the dead? 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:41.159 What are you talking about? 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:42.279 Raised from the dead. 00:07:43.300 --> 00:07:44.019 But what verse? 00:07:44.259 --> 00:07:45.519 But what does verse 20 say? 00:07:46.159 --> 00:07:46.939 What does verse 20 say? 00:07:47.459 --> 00:07:51.019 Right after Jesus speaks about his crucifixion and his resurrection, 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:52.599 there is no consolation. 00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:54.520 There are no questions. 00:07:54.840 --> 00:07:56.400 It's like he hasn't said anything at all. 00:07:56.660 --> 00:07:57.220 Verse 20, 00:07:57.760 --> 00:08:02.320 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons 00:08:02.320 --> 00:08:05.980 and kneeling down asked something from him. 00:08:06.700 --> 00:08:09.480 And you know the NIV says asked a favor of him, 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:11.680 but I think that's actually too generous in my opinion. 00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:15.480 In the Greek, it actually says she asked something from him. 00:08:15.540 --> 00:08:17.740 Like she's out to just get something from him. 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:19.900 And so he asked her in verse 21, 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:21.600 what do you want? 00:08:21.720 --> 00:08:22.980 What do you desire? 00:08:23.699 --> 00:08:24.720 And she commands him. 00:08:24.840 --> 00:08:25.819 She gives an imperative. 00:08:25.939 --> 00:08:28.980 In the Greek, it's not actually grant, but it says say. 00:08:29.100 --> 00:08:29.439 She says, 00:08:29.980 --> 00:08:30.720 Say, Jesus, 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:34.379 Say that these two sons of mine may sit at your right and left. 00:08:34.500 --> 00:08:39.200 Effectively, make them your prime minister and your chief of staff in your kingdom. 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:45.120 And if that seems like an incredibly awkward transition from verse 19 to 20, 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:46.840 it is. 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:48.680 It is an awkward transition. 00:08:49.640 --> 00:08:52.320 But you know, I think that this gospel writer knew exactly what he was doing 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:54.759 by recording this major non sequitur. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:57.400 And I spent a lot of time this week trying to figure out, 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:00.560 puzzling as to why this chapter was written the way that it is. 00:09:00.660 --> 00:09:04.220 Like what was the logical flow between verse 19 and verse 20? 00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:07.759 Like why would anyone think it was cool or okay or natural 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:11.100 to so abruptly change the topic of conversation 00:09:11.100 --> 00:09:14.019 and the flow of thought to demand something of Jesus 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:16.100 after he'd just gotten vulnerable with them, 00:09:16.180 --> 00:09:18.340 sharing what was on his heart with his dearest friends 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:21.759 about some really deep stuff like being mocked and flogged and crucified. 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:24.060 But then it hit me. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:27.920 This transition from verse 19 to verse 20 00:09:27.920 --> 00:09:32.300 was probably supposed to strike me as odd and discordant. 00:09:32.299 --> 00:09:37.559 And not only was this inappropriate and awkward of James and John and their mom, 00:09:37.659 --> 00:09:39.279 but I think God was trying to show me this week 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:42.099 that this wasn't just a reflection of the Zebedee family, 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:45.120 but it was also a mirror reflecting me. 00:09:46.099 --> 00:09:50.299 And how I too so often approach the Lord, my King, my Messiah, 00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:52.759 not as the King of Kings crucified in my place, 00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:56.479 but more as a genie than a sacrificial master. 00:09:57.479 --> 00:10:01.599 It's a reflection of how I so often ignore the main thing that Jesus is about, 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:03.800 the main thing that's on his heart, 00:10:04.340 --> 00:10:08.920 and instead bring to him the things on my own self-centered agenda list. 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:10.899 And we all do this. 00:10:10.980 --> 00:10:12.320 We do this all the time, don't we? 00:10:12.700 --> 00:10:13.820 Like if someone asks us, 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:15.060 how can I pray for you? 00:10:15.580 --> 00:10:16.220 What do we say? 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:18.860 We ask people to pray that God would help us 00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:21.740 achieve our own self-determined goals 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:23.500 toward our own greatness, right? 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:25.420 That God would help me do well in my test. 00:10:25.820 --> 00:10:27.379 That he would help me do well in my performance. 00:10:27.379 --> 00:10:30.620 That he would grant me favorable outcomes at work, right? 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:33.279 Better circumstances to make me great. 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:35.480 To make me great at whatever it is I'm pursuing. 00:10:35.559 --> 00:10:36.120 We all do this. 00:10:36.179 --> 00:10:37.000 I'm preaching right now, 00:10:37.019 --> 00:10:38.139 and I probably asked someone this week, 00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:41.080 can you just pray that God would give me a good sermon to preach? 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:42.700 Make me a good preacher? 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:45.080 Give me good pastoral counsel? 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:46.899 But you know, 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:48.799 if we only ever approach Jesus 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:50.919 as an all-powerful king, 00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:53.120 and not as a crucified king, 00:10:53.980 --> 00:10:56.919 we will only ever approach him wrongly. 00:10:57.500 --> 00:11:01.019 We will only ever pray the wrong kinds of prayers, 00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:03.299 and missing the crux of the cross, 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:06.019 we will miss the greatness of true greatness, 00:11:06.439 --> 00:11:07.079 his greatness. 00:11:08.319 --> 00:11:08.579 Now look, 00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:10.459 I'm not saying that these kinds of prayers 00:11:10.459 --> 00:11:11.860 should never come upon our lips, 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:14.139 or that God doesn't care about our lives, 00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:15.419 or the things that we ask for. 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:16.939 In fact, he does. 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:18.399 He cares more than we do about our lives, 00:11:18.599 --> 00:11:20.279 and he wants us to bring every little thing 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:20.919 on our minds, 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:21.539 on our hearts, 00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:22.419 to him. 00:11:22.459 --> 00:11:25.059 I would even say that God wants us to be great. 00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:26.120 Notice, 00:11:26.219 --> 00:11:28.740 Jesus doesn't rebuke or reproach the Zebedee family here. 00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:30.639 He doesn't scold them for being arrogant, 00:11:30.860 --> 00:11:31.419 or prideful, 00:11:31.479 --> 00:11:31.919 or selfish, 00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:32.639 or worldly. 00:11:32.699 --> 00:11:32.860 Like, 00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:33.799 who do you think you are? 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:35.360 How dare you pursue greatness? 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:35.620 No, 00:11:35.719 --> 00:11:38.240 Jesus doesn't have anything against greatness, 00:11:38.539 --> 00:11:39.240 or ambition, 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:40.339 in and of itself. 00:11:41.219 --> 00:11:41.679 In fact, 00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:42.259 in the scriptures, 00:11:43.179 --> 00:11:45.399 the scriptures teach that we are wired, 00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:46.519 to pursue greatness. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:48.379 It's part of what it means to be human, 00:11:48.459 --> 00:11:49.539 to be made in the great, 00:11:49.719 --> 00:11:51.539 and glorious image of God, 00:11:51.599 --> 00:11:53.639 to fulfill God's first words to humanity, 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:54.759 to be fruitful, 00:11:55.199 --> 00:11:56.500 and to multiply those fruit, 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:58.319 and to expand over the earth, 00:11:58.379 --> 00:11:59.699 and to rule the earth, 00:11:59.959 --> 00:12:01.620 and to exercise dominion, 00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:04.019 as children of our kingly creator. 00:12:04.099 --> 00:12:05.579 We should all want to be great, 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:07.719 because God made us to be great. 00:12:08.299 --> 00:12:09.079 In our classrooms, 00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:09.939 in our workplaces, 00:12:10.059 --> 00:12:10.620 in our families, 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:11.419 our relationships, 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:12.620 in our hobbies, 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:13.779 as students, 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:14.340 employees, 00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:14.940 employers, 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:16.220 as parents, 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:16.740 siblings, 00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:17.259 spouses, 00:12:17.700 --> 00:12:18.139 athletes, 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:18.679 artists, 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:19.159 scientists, 00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:19.600 professionals, 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:21.539 to use and develop the gifts 00:12:21.539 --> 00:12:23.360 he's given to each of us 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.000 to be a blessing to the world. 00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:26.960 Because our greatness reflects 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:28.000 God's greatness. 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:30.740 It's like what Eric Liddell said, 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:31.379 the Olympians, 00:12:31.560 --> 00:12:32.759 in that movie, 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:33.659 The Chariots of Fire, 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.279 said this to his sister, 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:37.919 I believe that God made me for a purpose. 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:39.579 He made me fast. 00:12:40.179 --> 00:12:40.839 And when I run, 00:12:40.959 --> 00:12:42.019 I feel his pleasure. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:45.059 To give it up would be to hold him in contempt. 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:46.539 It's not just fun. 00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:49.039 To win is to honor him. 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:52.059 So the Zebedee family's desire for greatness 00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:53.199 wasn't wrong. 00:12:53.959 --> 00:12:55.079 But what was wrong 00:12:55.079 --> 00:12:57.179 was their understanding of greatness. 00:12:58.059 --> 00:12:59.579 That's what went wrong. 00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:01.360 See, what went wrong 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.679 with their understanding of greatness 00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:04.239 is that they only understood 00:13:04.239 --> 00:13:05.620 half the gospel. 00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:07.939 They only understood half the gospel. 00:13:08.079 --> 00:13:09.259 Yes, James and John 00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:10.199 and their mother 00:13:10.199 --> 00:13:11.139 rightly believed 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:12.000 Jesus is king. 00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:13.319 Jesus is Messiah. 00:13:13.859 --> 00:13:14.579 It even says she 00:13:14.579 --> 00:13:15.719 knelt before him. 00:13:15.819 --> 00:13:16.779 They clearly understood 00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:18.879 something of Jesus' greatness. 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:21.079 And they sought their own greatness 00:13:21.079 --> 00:13:22.699 by proximity to his. 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:23.299 That's right. 00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:24.099 That's good. 00:13:25.179 --> 00:13:26.779 But what they failed to understand 00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:28.519 was the other half of the gospel. 00:13:29.339 --> 00:13:30.359 That Jesus would be 00:13:30.359 --> 00:13:32.179 a crucified king. 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:34.120 And that his true greatness 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:35.199 didn't just come from some 00:13:35.199 --> 00:13:37.159 generic crown upon his head 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:38.099 but specifically 00:13:38.099 --> 00:13:40.179 from his crown of thorns. 00:13:41.299 --> 00:13:42.399 See, by ignoring Jesus' 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:44.099 vulnerable discussion 00:13:44.099 --> 00:13:45.239 about the suffering 00:13:45.239 --> 00:13:46.259 he was about to face, 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:48.199 by missing the crux of the cross, 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:48.939 they were missing 00:13:48.939 --> 00:13:49.799 the greatness 00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:50.939 of his greatness. 00:13:52.219 --> 00:13:53.439 And so what Jesus does 00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:55.099 is he gently and patiently 00:13:55.099 --> 00:13:56.779 tries to redirect them 00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:57.839 to his cross 00:13:57.839 --> 00:13:59.299 and to the truth 00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:00.459 about what real greatness 00:14:00.459 --> 00:14:00.839 is about. 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:02.000 So I want to have us 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:02.700 turn our attention now 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:03.639 to Jesus' teaching 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:04.700 on true greatness. 00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:05.899 Look with me at verse 22. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:08.139 In verse 22, 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:10.100 it's clear to Jesus 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:11.560 that they have no idea 00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:12.860 what true greatness is. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.040 You don't know 00:14:14.040 --> 00:14:14.899 what you are asking, 00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:15.500 he says. 00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:17.580 And so the first thing he does 00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:18.720 is he tries to help 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:21.480 them connect the dots 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:22.540 between his cross 00:14:22.540 --> 00:14:23.620 and his greatness. 00:14:24.300 --> 00:14:25.160 And so he asks them, 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:26.719 can you drink the cup 00:14:26.719 --> 00:14:28.319 I am going to drink? 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:30.100 I'm going to explain more 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:31.000 about that cup in a minute, 00:14:31.079 --> 00:14:31.839 but what you at least 00:14:31.839 --> 00:14:32.620 need to know 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.279 is that it's not 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:34.240 a desirable thing 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.480 to drink this cup. 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:36.279 It's the same cup 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:37.559 that Jesus desperately 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:38.659 pleads with his Father 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:39.919 about in the garden. 00:14:40.079 --> 00:14:40.339 Father, 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:41.459 if it is possible, 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:42.740 may this cup 00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:44.600 be taken away from me. 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:46.360 Yet not what I will, 00:14:46.439 --> 00:14:47.279 but yours be done. 00:14:48.319 --> 00:14:49.600 And it's a cup of suffering 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.699 and sorrow 00:14:50.699 --> 00:14:51.279 and anguish 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:51.819 and loneliness 00:14:51.820 --> 00:14:53.160 and forsakenness. 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:54.460 And so by asking 00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:55.000 this question, 00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:55.980 Jesus is indicating 00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:57.180 that the way to greatness 00:14:57.180 --> 00:14:58.860 involves drinking 00:14:58.860 --> 00:14:59.840 a bitter cup, 00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.400 a bitter cup of suffering 00:15:01.400 --> 00:15:02.180 and hardship. 00:15:02.300 --> 00:15:03.320 He's saying that the road 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:04.020 to greatness 00:15:04.020 --> 00:15:05.260 isn't a walk in the park. 00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:06.320 It's costly. 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.500 It's hard to swallow. 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:08.240 It's not just a matter 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:09.280 of asking your mom 00:15:09.280 --> 00:15:10.740 to get you a nice seat 00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.560 next to the king. 00:15:12.140 --> 00:15:12.480 No. 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:14.100 It's like Dr. King said, 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:14.760 nothing worthwhile 00:15:14.760 --> 00:15:16.100 is gained without sacrifice. 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:16.960 It's costly. 00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:19.000 Jesus says to the sons 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:19.440 of Zebedee, 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:20.360 do you really know 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:20.980 what it takes, 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:22.259 what it costs? 00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:23.500 Are you really able 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.519 to drink this cup 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:25.360 all the way down 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.139 to the last, 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:27.879 most bitter dregs? 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:29.580 And it's not quite clear 00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:30.980 that they do understand 00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:32.060 what Jesus is communicating 00:15:32.060 --> 00:15:32.560 to them 00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:34.440 about the bitter cost 00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:35.320 of greatness 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:36.000 in his kingdom. 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:37.100 Because James and John 00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:37.379 are like, 00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:37.580 yeah, 00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:38.279 we can drink it. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.300 We got this. 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:40.240 Yeah, Jesus, 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:41.300 we'll be your cup bearers, 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:42.000 whatever it takes 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:42.879 to share your greatness. 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:43.659 We can pay it. 00:15:43.800 --> 00:15:44.680 We can pay the cost. 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:45.779 But really, 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:46.620 they have no idea. 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:48.480 So Jesus continues 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:49.300 in verse 23. 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:50.279 He says, 00:15:50.279 --> 00:15:50.579 well, 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:51.980 you say you can 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:52.879 and I can even tell you now 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.659 that you will indeed 00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:55.019 drink from my cup, 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:55.959 but regardless, 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:57.720 to sit at my right 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.419 or left, 00:15:58.559 --> 00:15:59.600 it's not for me to grant. 00:16:00.439 --> 00:16:01.500 These places belong 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.399 to those for whom 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:03.199 they have been prepared 00:16:03.199 --> 00:16:04.220 by my Father, 00:16:04.339 --> 00:16:04.939 Jesus says. 00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:06.519 And this is the next thing 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.519 that we learn about greatness. 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.439 It not only involves 00:16:08.439 --> 00:16:09.419 a bitter cup, 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:10.799 but ultimately, 00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:12.019 greatness is judged 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:12.679 and decided 00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:13.659 by the Father. 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:14.779 Jesus, 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:16.000 their great Messiah 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:16.419 and King 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:17.100 is setting for them 00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:18.039 an example of greatness. 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:18.860 And it's not about 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:20.039 seizing authority, 00:16:20.219 --> 00:16:21.219 but rather submitting 00:16:21.219 --> 00:16:22.240 to authority. 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:23.339 The authority 00:16:23.339 --> 00:16:24.259 of our Father 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:24.980 in heaven. 00:16:25.819 --> 00:16:26.539 Jesus is saying, 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:27.919 look guys, 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:28.719 honestly, 00:16:28.939 --> 00:16:29.500 I myself, 00:16:29.719 --> 00:16:30.159 the Messiah, 00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.500 I don't even have 00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:31.879 the authority 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:32.799 to grant who will be 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.419 at my right 00:16:33.419 --> 00:16:34.240 or my left 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.459 because even I am 00:16:35.459 --> 00:16:36.120 under the authority 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:36.799 of my Father. 00:16:37.459 --> 00:16:38.599 And He decides, 00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:39.639 not me. 00:16:40.339 --> 00:16:41.339 You guys want to be 00:16:41.339 --> 00:16:41.879 at my left 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:43.079 and right in the kingdom, 00:16:43.199 --> 00:16:43.620 but don't forget 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.740 whose kingdom this is. 00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.740 How did I teach you 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.180 to pray? 00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:47.980 Our Father in heaven, 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:49.299 hallowed be your name. 00:16:49.560 --> 00:16:50.580 Your kingdom come. 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:52.259 Your will be done. 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:54.039 And Jesus consistently 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:54.960 points them back 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:56.480 to not my will be done, 00:16:56.820 --> 00:16:57.899 but my Father's. 00:16:58.600 --> 00:16:58.820 You know, 00:16:58.879 --> 00:16:59.879 in Mark's gospel account 00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:00.680 of this story, 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.639 the two sons are recorded 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.220 saying to Jesus, 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:02.799 they say, 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:03.340 teacher, 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:05.220 we want you to do 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:05.859 for us 00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:07.120 whatever we ask. 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:08.859 And I think this is, 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:10.480 this really betrays, 00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:10.900 I think, 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:11.880 their understanding 00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:12.620 of greatness 00:17:12.620 --> 00:17:13.940 in the kingdom of God. 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.840 They think that greatness 00:17:15.840 --> 00:17:17.259 is about getting 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.600 whatever you want, 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.840 having that much authority. 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:21.620 And that's what so many of us 00:17:21.620 --> 00:17:22.700 think when we think 00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.420 of greatness as well, 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:23.779 don't we? 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.480 We think of power. 00:17:24.840 --> 00:17:25.680 We think of authority. 00:17:25.820 --> 00:17:27.940 We think of self-determination. 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:31.600 When I put my basketball, 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:31.940 right, 00:17:32.340 --> 00:17:34.220 into my newborn Cammie's hands, 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:34.960 what was I thinking? 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:36.660 I want her to dominate, 00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:37.500 all right? 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:38.640 I want her to dominate 00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.140 on the court. 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:40.299 I want her to have her way 00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:41.120 with her opponents. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:43.120 When I read to her, 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:43.979 what was I thinking? 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.599 I want her to be great 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:45.979 at school. 00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:47.079 I want her to be able 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:48.839 to get into whatever school 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:50.299 she wants, 00:17:50.679 --> 00:17:50.919 right? 00:17:51.939 --> 00:17:52.879 But what if greatness 00:17:52.879 --> 00:17:54.239 isn't about ascending 00:17:54.239 --> 00:17:54.979 to some status 00:17:54.979 --> 00:17:55.699 where we can always 00:17:55.699 --> 00:17:56.799 have our way, 00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:58.359 where we can always 00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:59.779 impose our will? 00:18:00.179 --> 00:18:01.000 What if greatness 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.079 is submission 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:03.059 to the Father's way? 00:18:04.139 --> 00:18:04.779 What if the best 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.479 and greatest way 00:18:05.479 --> 00:18:06.559 to be human 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.479 is not freedom 00:18:07.479 --> 00:18:08.459 from the Father, 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:09.979 but following the Father? 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:11.719 Like, think about that 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:12.200 for a second. 00:18:13.100 --> 00:18:13.720 If greatness 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.460 is about getting 00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:15.120 our own way 00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:16.420 and it's not about 00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:17.519 going God's way, 00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:18.519 what kind of a world 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:20.019 would that lead to? 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:22.339 Everyone pursuing greatness 00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:22.960 and thus everyone 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:24.220 pursuing the power 00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:24.900 and authority 00:18:24.900 --> 00:18:26.600 to go their own way. 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:27.380 What would ensue? 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:28.660 What would ensue 00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:29.519 but vicious, 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:30.799 cutthroat competition 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.920 and division 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:32.700 and hatred? 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:33.799 And I mean, 00:18:33.860 --> 00:18:34.279 that's exactly 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:34.960 what happens here 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:36.079 with the other ten disciples. 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:36.960 Verse 24 says, 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:37.700 they're indignant. 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:39.120 Yo, bro, 00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.799 you asked your mom, 00:18:40.840 --> 00:18:41.819 you tried to use your mom 00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:42.940 to manipulate Jesus 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:44.240 into one upping us 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.559 in the kingdom of God? 00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:48.120 Their misunderstanding 00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:49.059 of greatness 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:50.640 only turned community 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.480 into competition 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.519 and friendships 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.600 into fighting. 00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:55.180 So Jesus sets 00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:56.079 all of them straight 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:56.860 in verse 25. 00:18:56.860 --> 00:18:58.840 You know that the rulers 00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.700 of the Gentiles 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.799 lord it over them 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:01.960 and their high officials 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.920 or as it says 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:03.340 in the Greek, 00:19:03.600 --> 00:19:04.500 the great ones 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.980 exercise authority 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:06.519 over them. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:07.920 And what he's saying 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:09.200 is that in every other kingdom, 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.620 in every other kingdom, 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:12.460 rulers are overlords 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:13.400 and the great ones 00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:14.140 wield authority. 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:14.980 And to them, 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:16.240 this makes complete sense, 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:16.440 right? 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.539 Because why wouldn't 00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.259 rulers rule 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.579 over those who are under them? 00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.319 And why wouldn't 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.059 the great ones 00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:22.079 exercise authority 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:23.380 over the lesser ones, 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:23.779 right? 00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:26.039 But according to Jesus, 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.019 verse 26, 00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.620 not so with you. 00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.460 Not so in my kingdom, 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:30.839 he says, 00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:31.960 for unlike any other, 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.079 Jesus' kingdom 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:34.980 is an upside-down kingdom. 00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:37.440 With no social hierarchy, 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.880 it's ordered by an economy 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:40.740 of love and service. 00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:41.960 Verse 26, 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:43.160 not so with you, 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:43.660 Jesus says. 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:43.980 Instead, 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:45.460 whoever wants to become 00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.420 great among you 00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.539 must be your servant 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:48.500 and whoever wants 00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.160 to be first 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:50.860 must be your slave. 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:52.799 And you have to understand 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.400 that especially 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.900 in Jesus' ancient 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:56.240 pre-Christian world, 00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:56.960 ruling, 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:57.960 not serving, 00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.779 was the greatest status. 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.980 A servant worked for hire 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:02.599 to maintain 00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:04.200 their master's property. 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.380 And a slave 00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:06.259 was forced 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:07.220 into service, 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:07.460 right? 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.380 As one commentator puts it, 00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.900 a slave was virtually 00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:12.180 a non-person, 00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:13.380 someone with no rights, 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.440 no existence 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:15.400 of their own. 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:15.640 Rather, 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:17.099 they existed solely 00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:18.559 to serve others. 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:19.539 Doesn't that sound awful? 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:21.799 Like, 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.480 these are the lowest, 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.319 the lowest possible positions 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.039 in society 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.460 that Jesus is talking about. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:27.519 And yet, 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.220 what he's doing here 00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:29.059 is he's reversing 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:29.980 their status 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:31.819 to great and first 00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:33.579 in the kingdom economy. 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.980 And not in some, 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.160 like, 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:35.640 abstract, 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:36.420 conceptual, 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:37.920 idealistic way, 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.740 but he makes it personal. 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.900 He holds himself 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:41.500 the king of kings, 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:42.839 the king of the kingdom of God 00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:44.360 to the same standard. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:46.160 And he offers himself 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.360 as the prime example 00:20:47.360 --> 00:20:49.019 of this servant-hearted, 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:51.180 even self-sacrificing 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:51.940 greatness. 00:20:52.120 --> 00:20:52.819 Verse 27. 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.500 And whoever wants 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.279 to be first 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:56.500 must be your slave, 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.940 just as 00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:59.160 the Son of Man 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.160 did not come 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:01.039 to be served, 00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:02.299 but to serve, 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.880 and to give his life 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:04.619 as a ransom 00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:05.299 for many. 00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:06.400 Jesus points them 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:07.240 to true greatness 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.880 by pointing them 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.700 to his cross. 00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.099 He's saying, 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.160 I'm the Messiah. 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.660 I'm the king. 00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:14.140 And even I didn't come 00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:15.160 to be served, 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:15.940 but to serve. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.700 And not just to serve, 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.519 but to sacrifice, 00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:19.099 to sacrifice my whole life 00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:20.039 as a ransom. 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.000 So according to Jesus, 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:23.200 greatness doesn't primarily 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.619 consist in getting, 00:21:25.140 --> 00:21:25.740 but in giving. 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:27.519 Not in asserting supremacy, 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.640 but in assuming servanthood. 00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:31.519 And Jesus calls 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.460 every citizen 00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.539 of his kingdom, 00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:34.400 both then 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:35.559 and now today, 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.160 to pursue 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.359 this kind of greatness 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:39.380 through self-denying, 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:41.339 sacrificial service 00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:42.539 after the pattern 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.599 of his cross. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:45.920 Now I wish 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:46.279 I could end 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:46.880 the sermon here, 00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:47.460 right? 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:49.319 But I'm pretty sure 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.339 that for a lot of us, 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:51.079 myself included, 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:52.559 like for those of us 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:53.120 who've grown up 00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:53.779 in the church, 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.220 and honestly, 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:55.100 even for those of us here 00:21:55.100 --> 00:21:56.420 who aren't even Christians, 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.380 a sermon like this 00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:57.940 probably seems 00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.900 pretty standard, 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:00.819 unsurprising, 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.539 and therefore redundant, 00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:04.240 and probably uninspiring, 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:04.700 right? 00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:05.640 No duh, 00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:06.559 Pastor Andrew. 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:08.240 Of course a Christian minister 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.079 is going to get behind 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:09.500 the pulpit 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:11.019 and say something like this. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.259 Yeah, we got it. 00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:13.079 Be more like Jesus. 00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:14.220 Serve more like Jesus. 00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:15.259 Love more like Jesus. 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.720 Sacrifice more like Jesus. 00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:17.880 Okie dokie. 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:20.120 I'll try harder this week. 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.339 I'll try harder 00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:23.220 to wash a few more dishes 00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:23.959 at home, right? 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.539 To give a little bit more 00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.699 effort at work. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.779 To block out 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:29.819 Saturday, June 24th, 00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:30.439 on my calendar 00:22:30.439 --> 00:22:31.500 for the next Project Peace 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:32.519 day of service, right? 00:22:34.679 --> 00:22:35.359 How's that for 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.119 sacrificial service? 00:22:36.679 --> 00:22:37.579 I got this. 00:22:38.159 --> 00:22:39.039 I got this. 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:41.059 And I don't at all mean 00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:41.799 to discourage 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:43.119 or downplay 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:44.099 any such resolutions. 00:22:45.159 --> 00:22:46.399 But if try harder 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:48.220 is all that you've heard 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.600 today, 00:22:49.560 --> 00:22:50.960 then I've totally 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.519 failed you 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:53.019 and you haven't 00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:53.680 heard the gospel. 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.640 Dude, this isn't some 00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:56.620 moralistic, 00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:57.500 love your neighbor better, 00:22:57.780 --> 00:22:58.180 give more, 00:22:58.320 --> 00:22:59.100 serve more sermon. 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.400 If all we heard 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:02.360 from Jesus today 00:23:02.360 --> 00:23:02.880 is a challenge 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:03.400 to make some 00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.840 moderate behavioral 00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:05.880 modifications, 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:06.620 then I'm afraid 00:23:06.620 --> 00:23:08.180 we all have still 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:09.100 missed the crux 00:23:09.100 --> 00:23:09.700 of the cross 00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.340 and the greatness 00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:11.340 of greatness. 00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.340 Like really, 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.740 if our only takeaway 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:16.220 from Jesus' words here 00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:16.960 is to just 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:18.099 moderately try 00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:19.259 a little bit harder 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.480 to love our neighbors 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.160 like Jesus, 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:22.620 then honestly, 00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.079 we're probably 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:25.339 not actually pursuing 00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:25.920 the greatness 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:27.259 that God wants 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:27.839 for us. 00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:29.079 But some other 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:30.359 kind of greatness, 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.680 another kind of greatness 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.339 patterned more 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:33.740 after a conventional crown 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.839 than Jesus' 00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:36.019 crown of thorns. 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:37.900 And if that's the case, 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.819 then we have totally 00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:40.039 missed the crux 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.700 of the cross 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.779 and the greatness 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.920 of Jesus' greatness. 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.100 greatness. 00:23:44.560 --> 00:23:45.460 And we need to be 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.340 honest with ourselves 00:23:46.340 --> 00:23:47.640 if that's the case. 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:49.259 Because if that's the case, 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.720 the good news about Jesus 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.800 isn't actually 00:23:51.800 --> 00:23:53.300 very good news to us. 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:54.840 And we can't even 00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:55.660 call it a gospel. 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.920 Like perhaps the good news 00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.360 of Jesus 00:23:58.360 --> 00:24:00.220 that the way up 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.700 is down, 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.279 that the cross 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:03.100 precedes the crown, 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.940 that it is better 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.039 to give than to receive. 00:24:05.120 --> 00:24:05.880 Perhaps this news 00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:06.539 about God 00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.519 becoming a servant 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:09.180 and humbling himself 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:09.759 unto death 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.400 on a cross 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:11.200 to pay the ransom 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.240 for his beloved people, 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.500 perhaps we find this 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.440 to be more of a threat 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.779 to our pursuit of greatness 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:17.359 than actual good news. 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:19.640 Maybe we prefer 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:21.400 alternate empires 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:22.700 and don't actually 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.400 want to live 00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.079 in a kingdom 00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:25.079 where just anyone 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:25.720 can be great 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:27.299 not through self-assertion 00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:27.740 but through 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.920 self-abandonment. 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:30.720 You see, 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.539 that's what we really 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.200 need to consider 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:32.720 this morning. 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:34.160 Not just whether 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.120 we understand 00:24:35.120 --> 00:24:36.420 Jesus' teaching 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:36.960 about greatness 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.660 with our heads 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:39.460 and not even just 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:39.920 whether we are 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.660 copying Jesus' 00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:41.860 model of greatness 00:24:41.860 --> 00:24:42.820 with our hands, 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.560 we need to consider 00:24:43.560 --> 00:24:44.120 whether we are 00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:45.000 truly convinced 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.779 of Jesus' 00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:47.160 cross-shaped 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:47.720 greatness 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.720 in our hearts. 00:24:49.560 --> 00:24:50.580 Whether we believe 00:24:50.580 --> 00:24:51.279 what he says 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.660 about true greatness 00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:54.180 and greatness' 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.519 inextricable 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.080 link 00:24:56.080 --> 00:24:57.279 to his cross. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:58.519 Or else, 00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.560 all this stuff 00:24:59.560 --> 00:25:00.980 about self-denial 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:01.900 and submission 00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:02.779 and sacrifice 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.599 and service, 00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:04.399 not only will 00:25:04.399 --> 00:25:05.559 we never be able 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.319 to live it out, 00:25:06.899 --> 00:25:07.879 but we won't want to 00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:08.879 because it won't make 00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:10.139 any sense to us. 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:11.420 See, 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.619 if we only read 00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:13.799 this passage of Scripture 00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:15.160 as a word from Jesus 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:16.000 about how we're supposed 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.779 to live and die 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.240 for others 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:18.379 just like he did, 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.680 we've missed 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:21.099 the most important part 00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:22.279 of what he's saying. 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:23.720 Like, 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:23.899 yes, 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:25.279 we ought to live 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.279 and die 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.139 for others like Jesus, 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.879 but it's only when 00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:28.579 we first realize 00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.539 that he is the one 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.799 who has lived 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.579 and died 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.639 for us. 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:34.079 That we will ever 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:35.440 even understand 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.660 how we can do 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.160 the same 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:38.099 for others. 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.559 The crux of the cross 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:41.740 is that the bitter cup 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:43.980 reserved for us. 00:25:44.639 --> 00:25:45.160 The bitter cup 00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:46.259 was reserved for us. 00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.500 The cup, 00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:48.720 the prophets 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.579 and the psalmists 00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.779 spoke about foaming 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:52.000 with bitter wrath 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.799 and judgment 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.940 reserved for all those 00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.420 who neglected 00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:55.759 to do justice 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.960 and love mercy 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.819 and walk humbly 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.839 before their God. 00:25:59.079 --> 00:25:59.899 The poison cup, 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.379 every single one of us 00:26:01.379 --> 00:26:02.299 deserve to drink. 00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:03.079 Jesus, 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.539 though it was 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.779 his worst nightmare 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.659 and though 00:26:06.659 --> 00:26:07.579 he deserved nothing 00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.480 but the sweetest 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.539 overflowing cup 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.119 in the banquet 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:11.159 of banquets in heaven, 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:13.019 he drank our cup 00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:14.680 in our place. 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.879 The creator of the universe 00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:18.599 came into the world, 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:19.980 but his existence 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.599 among us 00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:21.700 was not to be served 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.279 as the creator 00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:22.779 that he is, 00:26:22.859 --> 00:26:23.819 but rather to serve 00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:24.680 his creatures 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:26.099 as the savior 00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:27.099 that he chose 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:27.799 to become 00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:29.279 graciously, 00:26:29.959 --> 00:26:30.480 voluntarily. 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:32.799 And he gave his life 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.879 in the place 00:26:33.879 --> 00:26:34.579 of our lives 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.299 as a ransom 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:36.839 to purchase 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:37.779 our liberation. 00:26:39.639 --> 00:26:40.240 And guess what? 00:26:40.899 --> 00:26:41.980 The scriptures tell us 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.719 that therefore, 00:26:43.159 --> 00:26:44.259 precisely because 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.199 he humbled himself 00:26:45.199 --> 00:26:46.799 and became a servant 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.459 unto death 00:26:47.459 --> 00:26:48.199 on a cross, 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:50.139 God exalted him 00:26:50.139 --> 00:26:51.159 to the highest place 00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:52.240 and gave him the name 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.059 above every name 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.019 that every knee 00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:54.759 will bow 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.900 and every tongue 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:57.559 confess that he is Lord. 00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:59.359 The crucified servant 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:00.740 is the great 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:02.099 and exalted one, 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:04.660 risen and seated on high. 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.279 And this, 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.720 this is the gospel. 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.139 Good news 00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:08.940 of a better kingdom. 00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:09.920 Good news 00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:10.759 of a better identity, 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:11.539 a better purpose. 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:12.259 Good news 00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:13.299 of a better way 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:14.039 to live. 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.639 The good news 00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:16.940 that Jesus' greatness 00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:18.460 was not for the purpose 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.339 of serving himself, 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.240 nor our greatness 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.779 for the purpose 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:22.099 of serving ourselves. 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.639 The gospel 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.880 is the only news 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:26.440 that can liberate us 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:27.320 from our slavery 00:27:27.320 --> 00:27:28.340 to ourselves 00:27:28.340 --> 00:27:30.580 and make us cheerful, 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:32.820 sacrificial servants. 00:27:33.600 --> 00:27:35.160 This transformational news 00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:35.920 of the crucified 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:37.860 and exalted Christ. 00:27:39.080 --> 00:27:39.980 Now, can you imagine? 00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:41.460 Can you imagine 00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:43.080 what kind of a spirit-filled people 00:27:43.080 --> 00:27:44.040 the church might be 00:27:44.040 --> 00:27:45.580 if we believed 00:27:45.580 --> 00:27:47.500 this liberating gospel? 00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:49.660 If we inhabited 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:51.660 this upside-down kingdom? 00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:54.400 And if we went forth 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.800 into our schools, 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.060 into our neighborhoods, 00:27:57.840 --> 00:27:59.019 into our workplaces, 00:27:59.120 --> 00:27:59.480 our clubs, 00:27:59.560 --> 00:27:59.880 our homes, 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:01.100 subverting all 00:28:01.100 --> 00:28:02.480 the broken hierarchies 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:04.400 and insisting 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:06.140 upon being servants, 00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:06.700 willing to give 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.720 all of ourselves 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.759 for the sake of others. 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:10.500 What if we were 00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.000 the kind of people 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:11.940 that bore witness 00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:14.240 to a cross-shaped greatness, 00:28:15.300 --> 00:28:16.160 pursuing the liberation 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:16.960 of all those 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:17.660 held captive 00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:19.320 to all these lesser kingdoms 00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:21.359 other than the kingdom of Christ? 00:28:22.659 --> 00:28:23.859 That's what 00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:25.480 the greatest of Christ's 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:26.200 citizens do. 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.759 Because in Christ, 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.799 every obstacle 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:30.119 has already been removed. 00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:32.139 We don't need to worry 00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:33.119 about being served. 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:34.980 We don't need to be worried 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:36.019 about being served anymore. 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:38.179 Because Christ has already 00:28:38.179 --> 00:28:39.519 served us to the full. 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:41.339 No more vying to sit 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.220 at His right or left. 00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:43.659 We are happily seated with Him 00:28:43.659 --> 00:28:45.019 in the heavenly places. 00:28:45.899 --> 00:28:47.319 No more giving begrudgingly 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:48.859 out of our scarcity. 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:50.279 We can give lavishly 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.079 of ourselves, 00:28:51.179 --> 00:28:52.359 even unto death, 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:53.759 giving out of the spring 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.500 of His abundant 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:56.179 resurrection life. 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:57.859 Because Christ Church, 00:28:57.980 --> 00:29:00.480 ours is the greatness 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.200 of Christ. 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.879 The cross-shaped 00:29:02.879 --> 00:29:04.299 greatness of Christ. 00:29:04.419 --> 00:29:05.200 A very existence 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:06.119 on this planet, 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.579 not primarily for ourselves, 00:29:08.419 --> 00:29:09.259 but for the good 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:09.819 of the city. 00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:11.639 For the glory of Christ. 00:29:12.679 --> 00:29:13.339 And that's the kind 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.559 of people He's wanting 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.439 to make us into. 00:29:16.159 --> 00:29:16.919 Will you pray with me? 00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:25.299 Lord, we confess 00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:27.379 that being a servant 00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:28.960 is not attractive to us. 00:29:30.939 --> 00:29:32.519 But as soon as we confess that, 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:33.319 we realize 00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:35.240 that that must mean 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:36.159 that Jesus is not 00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:36.740 that attractive. 00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:40.039 Help us to see the beauty 00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:41.539 of a God 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.460 who became a servant. 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:46.000 and help us to be so ravished 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.740 by that truth 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:50.819 that you make us 00:29:50.819 --> 00:29:52.160 cheerful servants ourselves. 00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:54.340 Pouring ourselves out. 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.960 Not in a legalistic way, 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:00.940 but out of love for Christ. 00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:02.720 The one who loved us, 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.600 gave Himself for us. 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.660 A ransom. 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.460 The one who drank 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:08.100 the cup for us. 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:11.019 We soften our hearts 00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.620 to the gospel, 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.140 we pray. 00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:13.779 In Jesus' name. 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:14.680 Amen.