WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:10.560 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. 00:00:11.220 --> 00:00:22.820 A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:22.820 --> 00:00:37.880 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good, they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word. 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:47.019 We're continuing our series in the Gospel of Mark. You'll remember that the Gospels tell the story of Jesus and His life and His death and His resurrection, 00:00:47.020 --> 00:00:53.020 and we're continuing in chapter 4, where Jesus has been teaching us about the kingdom of God. 00:00:53.320 --> 00:01:01.440 He's been using this agricultural image, the image of the seed that is sown. Last week, we saw the power of the seed, the resilience of the seed. 00:01:01.859 --> 00:01:06.520 This week, we're going to look at the seed from a different angle. We're going to see its initial smallness. 00:01:07.219 --> 00:01:12.060 And so we'll look at the growth of the seed, the ultimate size of the seed. 00:01:12.060 --> 00:01:18.320 Last week, we were encouraged by the reminder that the kingdom is working, even when we don't see it. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:26.320 This week, we're encouraged that the kingdom is powerful, even when it doesn't meet up to worldly standards, 00:01:26.439 --> 00:01:30.200 even when it would appear to be small and insignificant. 00:01:31.579 --> 00:01:34.620 And in fact, my guess is if you're a Christian, you feel that at times. 00:01:34.620 --> 00:01:43.260 If Jesus is the king, why isn't the church more effective, better funded, more powerful? 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:48.340 If the kingdom is so powerful, why are we still here 2,000 years later? 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:52.200 Why don't we see more of a victory over evil? 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:58.280 Why is there such a big difference, a big gap between what we've been promised is to come 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:00.820 and what we see right now in this world? 00:02:00.819 --> 00:02:09.519 There may be times where we're discouraged or confused by the smallness of God's kingdom. 00:02:10.739 --> 00:02:14.539 It's with that challenge that we come to God's word. 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:16.219 And so I invite you to turn with me. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:17.620 You can turn in your Bible. 00:02:18.180 --> 00:02:21.979 You can turn in your worship guide to the sermon passage. 00:02:22.079 --> 00:02:23.060 You can turn on your phone. 00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:26.099 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's word. 00:02:26.099 --> 00:02:31.019 And God tells us that his word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:34.919 which means that God has not left us to stumble alone in the dark, 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:38.879 but instead he's given us his word to show us the way to go. 00:02:38.959 --> 00:02:43.500 And so that's why we read now Mark chapter 4, starting at verse 13. 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:45.419 And he said, 00:02:45.419 --> 00:03:15.399 With many such parables, he spoke the word to them as they were able to hear. 00:03:15.419 --> 00:03:21.280 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples, 00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:23.239 he explained everything. 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:28.179 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:03:31.299 --> 00:03:35.659 Father in heaven, we thank you that your word is powerful and effective. 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:40.219 It's your word that brings something out of nothing. 00:03:40.219 --> 00:03:44.400 And it's your word that brings dead things to life. 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:49.060 And we confess this morning that without the help of your spirit, 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:52.419 the power of your word, we are dead on arrival. 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:56.340 So we simply ask for those things this morning, 00:03:56.379 --> 00:04:01.159 that you would give us your spirit to use your word in a powerful way, 00:04:01.639 --> 00:04:05.840 that we would be challenged by it, encouraged by it, 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:07.719 and that we would see Jesus. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:10.640 We ask that you do these simple things 00:04:10.640 --> 00:04:15.020 as we look at what you have to say to us here in the gospel of Mark. 00:04:15.539 --> 00:04:18.360 We ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:19.180 Amen. 00:04:23.100 --> 00:04:25.819 It's common knowledge, I think, or at least I hope, 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:31.800 that we now know that redwood trees are the tallest of all trees in the world, 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:34.360 and you'll find many of them on the coast of California. 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:39.420 You may also know that National Geographic ran a documentary series 00:04:39.420 --> 00:04:42.939 for about 25 years called National Geographic Explorer. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:48.019 And in 2009, they ran one episode called Climbing Redwood Giants, 00:04:48.180 --> 00:04:52.000 which tracks a variety of people who interact with these redwoods in California. 00:04:52.220 --> 00:04:54.699 One of them is a man named Michael Nichols, 00:04:54.860 --> 00:04:57.620 who was a photographer for National Geographic, 00:04:57.620 --> 00:05:03.000 and he was frustrated by the fact that none of the photos of these redwood trees did them justice. 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:05.519 People would come to the redwood forest, 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:09.540 and they would be overwhelmed with this sense of awe and transcendence. 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:11.899 But when they looked at a picture, they would just think, 00:05:12.019 --> 00:05:13.459 ah, that's a nice tall tree. 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:18.939 And so he wanted to fill that gap between the in-person experience 00:05:18.939 --> 00:05:20.420 and the viewing of a picture. 00:05:20.660 --> 00:05:25.379 The problem is that these trees are typically over 300 feet tall. 00:05:25.379 --> 00:05:31.060 And he wanted to take a picture that showed the tree all the way from the top down to the bottom. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:34.519 Turns out this is more challenging than you might expect. 00:05:34.740 --> 00:05:38.560 He spent 21 days camped out in the forest trying to get one picture. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:41.879 They would set up every morning with his crew before dawn, 00:05:41.939 --> 00:05:43.600 and he'd have someone at the top of the tree 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:46.680 who would give them the go signal as soon as he saw the sun. 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:50.600 They had a camera that they had to back up 50 feet away from the tree 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:54.360 because the crown of the tree at the very top was 100 feet wide. 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:59.879 And this robotic camera essentially had many different lenses on it, 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:02.259 and it would drop from the top all the way to the bottom. 00:06:02.379 --> 00:06:04.620 And so they would try day after day after day 00:06:04.620 --> 00:06:09.240 trying to get the right picture with the right sunlight at the right time. 00:06:10.340 --> 00:06:11.240 He said this, 00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:16.780 his goal is to capture the grandeur of a giant redwood tree in one image. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:22.139 Day 14, they finally got the picture they wanted, 00:06:22.139 --> 00:06:24.419 except it wasn't just one picture. 00:06:24.979 --> 00:06:29.139 They took 84 different pictures and pieced them all together. 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:34.139 These 84 pictures that were pieced together into one image 00:06:34.139 --> 00:06:37.159 formed a five-page foldout 00:06:37.159 --> 00:06:41.539 in the National Geographic issue that came out in October of 2009. 00:06:41.540 --> 00:06:44.819 At the beginning of this documentary, 00:06:44.960 --> 00:06:46.379 the narrator tells us, 00:06:46.860 --> 00:06:49.060 even giants start small 00:06:49.060 --> 00:06:55.060 with modest cones packed with seeds no bigger than tomatoes. 00:06:56.760 --> 00:06:58.379 And so this giant redwood tree, 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:00.020 the tallest of all trees in the world, 00:07:00.140 --> 00:07:01.580 over 300 feet tall, 00:07:02.100 --> 00:07:05.259 some of the tallest ones much larger than that, 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:07.560 starts with a seed no larger than a tomato. 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:12.339 He is comparing for us the beginning and the end. 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:17.480 And that's the same thing Jesus does for us in this passage. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:19.560 He wants us to feel the difference, 00:07:19.660 --> 00:07:23.340 the contrast between the beginning and the end of the kingdom of God. 00:07:23.420 --> 00:07:24.840 We see here, verse 30, 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:28.439 there's something difficult about understanding the kingdom. 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:30.220 It doesn't meet our expectations. 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:31.399 It's counterintuitive, 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:33.279 which is why he asks this question, 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:36.259 with what can we compare the kingdom of God 00:07:36.259 --> 00:07:38.479 or what parable shall we use for it? 00:07:38.719 --> 00:07:39.379 In other words, 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:41.699 it's hard to find the right example 00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:44.619 because this is such a strange, unusual thing. 00:07:44.859 --> 00:07:46.919 The kingdom operates in such a way 00:07:46.919 --> 00:07:49.419 that's different from our expectations and our experience. 00:07:49.699 --> 00:07:51.500 So what in the world are we going to have 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:52.899 that would actually help us 00:07:52.899 --> 00:07:55.619 begin to wrap our minds around it? 00:07:56.500 --> 00:07:57.279 And he tells us, 00:07:57.379 --> 00:07:59.239 well, it has to be something, 00:07:59.379 --> 00:07:59.919 verse 31, 00:08:00.119 --> 00:08:01.559 that starts out as the smallest. 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:05.280 Verse 32 ends up as the largest. 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:07.300 Whatever our parable is, 00:08:07.339 --> 00:08:09.579 it has to be something that starts out as the smallest, 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:11.839 ends up as the largest. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:14.519 Before we dive deep into that, by the way, 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:16.220 our points this morning are very simple. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:17.360 One, the smallest. 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:18.560 Two, the largest. 00:08:19.399 --> 00:08:21.379 I want to make sure we review and understand 00:08:21.379 --> 00:08:23.040 what it is that we're talking about 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:24.199 when we use the phrase, 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:25.120 the kingdom of God. 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:27.980 I talked last week about this temptation 00:08:27.980 --> 00:08:29.899 to use what's called God talk, 00:08:29.899 --> 00:08:32.600 which is when we throw all these phrases around 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:33.740 that sound spiritual 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:35.919 and we have no idea what we're talking about. 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:38.600 Kingdom of God can fall into this category. 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:40.220 People throw it around and use it. 00:08:40.459 --> 00:08:41.779 If you ask them to define it, 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:43.379 would they actually be able to tell you 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:45.039 what in the world they're talking about? 00:08:45.439 --> 00:08:47.360 There's all sorts of books and articles 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:48.879 written trying to define this, 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:51.340 and I'm going to give you this very simple definition 00:08:51.340 --> 00:08:52.620 that I gave you last week. 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:54.679 When we talk about the kingdom of God, 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:57.679 we are simply talking about the place 00:08:57.679 --> 00:08:58.739 where Jesus is king. 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:02.339 When we are talking about the kingdom of God, 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:04.699 we're talking about the place where Jesus is king. 00:09:04.939 --> 00:09:07.000 This is the place where Jesus is loved 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:09.159 and worshiped and obeyed. 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:13.839 We see the kingdom only in part right now 00:09:13.839 --> 00:09:16.159 because not everyone loves, obeys, 00:09:16.199 --> 00:09:17.079 or worships the king. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:21.240 We will one day see the kingdom in full 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:23.800 because one day everyone will worship 00:09:23.800 --> 00:09:25.480 and recognize Jesus as king. 00:09:25.580 --> 00:09:27.139 In fact, this is what Paul tells us 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:28.440 in Philippians chapter two. 00:09:29.040 --> 00:09:29.360 He says, 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:30.280 at the name of Jesus, 00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:32.780 every knee should bow in heaven and on earth 00:09:32.780 --> 00:09:33.820 and under the earth, 00:09:34.060 --> 00:09:37.520 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord 00:09:37.520 --> 00:09:39.200 to the glory of God the Father. 00:09:39.740 --> 00:09:41.780 We will see the kingdom in full 00:09:41.780 --> 00:09:44.759 when every tongue confesses Jesus as Lord. 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:46.360 We don't see that yet. 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:49.040 And so now what we see, 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:51.340 and this is the quote I gave you last week 00:09:51.340 --> 00:09:52.400 from Martin Lloyd-Jones, 00:09:52.520 --> 00:09:54.680 is the kingdom shows up in the hearts 00:09:54.680 --> 00:09:56.900 and lives of his people. 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:00.000 Jesus' kingdom shows up in the hearts 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:01.520 and lives of his people. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:04.300 In fact, if you look on page five of your worship guide, 00:10:04.460 --> 00:10:07.100 you'll see I gave you that same quote all over again. 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:09.139 It's the best quote that I've ever found 00:10:09.139 --> 00:10:10.000 on the kingdom of God. 00:10:10.040 --> 00:10:11.160 And he uses that phrase, 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:12.420 the very last sentence, 00:10:12.860 --> 00:10:14.800 he is certainly ruling in that way, 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:17.620 in the hearts and lives of all his people. 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:20.379 And so we prayed this morning in the Lord's prayer 00:10:20.379 --> 00:10:22.059 that God's kingdom would come on earth 00:10:22.059 --> 00:10:23.199 as it is in heaven. 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:25.139 And what we are praying when we pray that 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:28.699 is that you and other people would worship and love 00:10:28.699 --> 00:10:31.679 and obey Jesus as king more and more. 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:35.259 We don't have to give in to God talk. 00:10:35.339 --> 00:10:36.740 We can clarify our terms. 00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:39.600 That is what we mean when we talk about the kingdom of God, 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:41.360 the place where Jesus is king. 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:44.120 And so jumping right back in, 00:10:44.180 --> 00:10:46.240 remember our two points are very simple, 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:48.259 the smallest and the biggest. 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:51.120 First of all, this kingdom, 00:10:51.299 --> 00:10:53.840 this place where Jesus is king is the smallest. 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:54.560 Verse 31, 00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:56.940 it is like a grain of mustard seed, 00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:58.539 which when sown on the ground 00:10:58.539 --> 00:11:01.560 is the smallest of all the seeds on earth. 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:05.940 The kingdom of God is small in many different ways. 00:11:05.940 --> 00:11:07.200 I'll give you guys some ideas, 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:09.180 but it's small from a worldly perspective. 00:11:09.540 --> 00:11:11.400 The things that this world expects 00:11:11.400 --> 00:11:12.660 and demands of a kingdom, 00:11:13.160 --> 00:11:16.340 the kingdom of God does not meet up to those expectations. 00:11:16.580 --> 00:11:18.300 It does not rise to the height 00:11:18.300 --> 00:11:19.780 that one would think it would. 00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:21.920 And it doesn't do this in a variety of ways. 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:26.900 First of all, the logic of the cross is the smallest. 00:11:28.040 --> 00:11:32.500 The cross is weak and foolish from a worldly perspective. 00:11:33.060 --> 00:11:34.500 In fact, Paul, the apostle, 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:37.279 says this explicitly in 1 Corinthians 1. 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:38.100 He says, 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:40.340 the cross is foolishness to the world. 00:11:40.700 --> 00:11:43.179 And here is the sense in which it's foolish. 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:47.419 It is foolish, as is often said, 00:11:47.879 --> 00:11:50.279 because it is an instrument of torture 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:53.080 that's used as an instrument of salvation. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:57.919 It is foolish because it's an instrument of torture 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:01.059 used as an instrument of salvation. 00:12:01.539 --> 00:12:03.259 It is scandalous. 00:12:03.839 --> 00:12:07.139 The cross does not make sense to the world. 00:12:07.219 --> 00:12:11.079 It does not make sense that strength would come through weakness. 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:13.719 The image of the cross that we have now 00:12:13.719 --> 00:12:15.939 has been domesticated over time. 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:19.479 Initially, it was extremely shocking. 00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:22.579 In fact, there's this book called Dominion, 00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:24.599 How the Christian Revolution Remade the World 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:26.019 by a man named Tom Holland, 00:12:26.560 --> 00:12:29.120 and he notes that artists were not willing 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:32.600 to use the cross as an image until AD 400. 00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:36.080 It took 400 years for people 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:38.560 to even be willing to use the image. 00:12:38.680 --> 00:12:39.940 That's how scandalous it was. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:41.000 In fact, he says this, 00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:43.920 divinity was for the very greatest of the great, 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:46.060 for victors and heroes and kings. 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:50.340 Its measure was the power to torture one's enemies, 00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:53.180 not to suffer it oneself. 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:56.300 That a man who had himself been crucified 00:12:56.300 --> 00:12:57.759 might be hailed as a god 00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.860 could not help but be seen by people 00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:01.980 everywhere across the Roman world 00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:06.120 as scandalous, obscene, and grotesque. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:10.759 That such a god of all gods might have had a son 00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:13.440 and that this son, suffering the fate of a slave, 00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:16.019 might have been tortured to death on a cross 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:19.059 were claims as stupefying as they were 00:13:19.059 --> 00:13:20.600 to most Jews' repellent. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.379 No more shocking a reversal 00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:25.799 of their most avoutly held assumptions 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:28.000 could possibly have been imagined. 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:30.379 Not merely blasphemy, 00:13:31.059 --> 00:13:32.720 it was madness. 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:37.480 The cross is the smallest. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:42.120 It is small and weak from a worldly perspective. 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:45.220 It makes no sense whatsoever 00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:47.060 to use an instrument of torture 00:13:47.060 --> 00:13:49.320 as an instrument of salvation. 00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:52.500 It's not just the logic of the cross, though, 00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:53.240 that it's the smallest. 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:55.259 It's also the people of the cross 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.060 who are the smallest. 00:13:56.580 --> 00:13:57.580 And by the people of the cross, 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:58.679 I mean you and me. 00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:01.899 Paul does not pay us any compliments 00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:03.259 in 1 Corinthians 1 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:04.759 because he doesn't just say 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:06.159 that the cross is foolish. 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:08.180 He says, you are foolish. 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:10.500 He says this, verse 26, 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:12.019 for consider your calling, brothers. 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:13.279 Not many of you were wise 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:14.919 according to worldly standards. 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:16.519 Not many were powerful. 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:18.320 Not many were of noble birth. 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:21.700 But God chose what is foolish in the world 00:14:21.700 --> 00:14:23.100 to shame the wise. 00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:25.539 God chose what is weak in the world 00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:26.960 to shame the strong. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:29.940 God chose what is low and despised in the world, 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:31.200 even things that are not, 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:34.120 to bring to nothing things that are. 00:14:36.820 --> 00:14:39.500 So when Jesus came to set up his kingdom, 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:43.159 he decided to pick a brain trust 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:45.580 of the smartest possible people he could find 00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:47.580 with the greatest gifts that he had seen in advance. 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:49.019 And he picked them for that reason, 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:52.080 leaving out people who didn't meet up to his standards. 00:14:52.820 --> 00:14:53.259 No. 00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:55.879 The complete opposite. 00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:57.460 Jesus comes in his kingdom 00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:59.480 and he picks those who are not wise, 00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:00.419 those who are not powerful, 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:02.000 those who are not noble birth, 00:15:02.299 --> 00:15:03.220 those who are foolish, 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:04.399 those who are weak, 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:05.919 those who are not strong, 00:15:06.059 --> 00:15:07.879 those who are low and despised. 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:12.159 The kingdom is the smallest. 00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:13.539 The foolishness, 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:15.399 the smallness of the kingdom is this then. 00:15:15.700 --> 00:15:18.080 There are many from Harvard that will reject it 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:20.159 and high school dropouts who will embrace it. 00:15:20.419 --> 00:15:22.860 There are many who are rich who will reject it 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:25.000 and those who are poor who will embrace it. 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:26.879 There are those who are virtuous 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:29.460 who will reject it. 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:31.700 Those who are obnoxious 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:33.759 who will enter the kingdom of God. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:37.620 Now having educated 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:39.120 of the kingdom doesn't shock us 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:40.519 as much as it does the Roman world. 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.700 Our values are different. 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.080 What's shocking for us 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:45.080 is that obnoxious people would get into the kingdom 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:47.360 and virtuous people would not. 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:51.100 Jesus chooses the smallest. 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:53.340 It's foolish and small 00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:54.700 and weak in the sense 00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:56.379 that Jesus presents to his followers 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:57.500 a way of suffering 00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:59.279 rather than luxury. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:04.480 The gospel does not fit into the expectations 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:06.579 and standards of this world. 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:09.539 It's not just the logic of the cross. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:12.100 It's not just the people of the cross 00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:13.559 who are small and foolish though. 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:16.360 It's also the king of the cross. 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:20.000 Jesus did not come as a beautiful person. 00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:24.439 He came as small compared to the kings of this world. 00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:26.259 Jesus shows up in a stable 00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.639 rather than a palace. 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:30.919 Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:32.220 rather than a war horse. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:34.799 Jesus has a crown of thorns 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:36.319 rather than a crown of gold. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:38.279 Isaiah tells us, in fact, 00:16:38.319 --> 00:16:40.220 that there was nothing attractive about Jesus 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.580 that would draw people to him. 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:43.299 Isaiah 53 too. 00:16:43.819 --> 00:16:45.699 He had no form or majesty 00:16:45.699 --> 00:16:46.860 that we should look at him 00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:49.939 and no beauty that we should desire him. 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:55.779 If Christianity was a blind taste test, 00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:58.259 remember you see these from time to time, right? 00:16:58.319 --> 00:17:00.120 People will have Pepsi and Coke 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:01.620 but they won't tell you which is which 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:03.079 and you're supposed to taste it 00:17:03.079 --> 00:17:05.200 and recognize what's correct and good. 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.980 Maybe you have a new product 00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:08.899 compared to a name brand product 00:17:08.899 --> 00:17:10.680 and without knowing what it is you're tasting, 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:12.500 you're able to pick up on certain things. 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:15.740 If there was a blind taste test of Christianity, 00:17:16.139 --> 00:17:19.059 the normal flavor outside of God's spirit 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:19.980 would be this. 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:22.500 Obscure, weak, insignificant, 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:24.400 powerless, foolish, shameful. 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:30.039 That's what the cross tastes like to this world. 00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:32.980 That's what Paul is telling us 00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:34.200 in 1 Corinthians 1. 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:36.420 Others, on the other hand, 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.680 taste it and say this, 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:40.799 it tastes like the power of God. 00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:46.680 God uses the small and foolish things 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:48.160 of this world. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:51.740 Jesus teaches this parable 00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:53.680 because it is something that's relevant 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:55.160 and real for these people 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.300 and for us as well. 00:17:56.380 --> 00:17:58.660 It's hitting at something perhaps you feel. 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:00.000 Perhaps you feel at times 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:02.040 that the kingdom is in fact small 00:18:02.040 --> 00:18:03.500 and little and insignificant. 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:05.320 It is corporations and governments 00:18:05.320 --> 00:18:07.259 that have money and power. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.340 If God is the king, 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.880 if his kingdom is the greatest, 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:13.480 why is it that Apple and Facebook and Amazon 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:15.880 have such great levels of influence and power? 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:17.920 If God's kingdom is the greatest 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:18.720 and he's the king, 00:18:18.820 --> 00:18:20.040 why is it that Elon Musk 00:18:20.040 --> 00:18:21.380 and Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates 00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:23.540 are the ones with all the money? 00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:26.680 Why isn't it the church? 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:30.440 Because the kingdom is small 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:32.340 and weak and foolish. 00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:36.000 We saw the parable of the soils 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.280 a while back. 00:18:37.520 --> 00:18:39.000 Chapter 4, verses 1 through 20. 00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:40.840 Why is it that the world is so alluring? 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:42.200 Why is it that these thorns 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:43.740 are able to come in 00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:46.319 and crush the seed of the kingdom? 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:48.319 Well, it's because the kingdom 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:50.220 is weak and insignificant 00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:51.759 by the numbers. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:55.420 It is not what is most alluring 00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:56.500 and beautiful. 00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:00.559 Jesus needs to teach this 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:02.039 to his disciples and to us 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.799 because the kingdom 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:04.559 is not what they expected. 00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:06.539 Jesus' followers wanted 00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:08.080 a rapid onset kingdom. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:10.299 They wanted an immediate kingdom. 00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:12.759 They wanted a powerful earthly kingdom. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.539 And Jesus here instead 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:17.220 resets their expectations. 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:19.460 It is not going to be what you want. 00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.319 It is going to be 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.740 the smallest kingdom. 00:19:23.919 --> 00:19:24.980 The question, though, 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:26.099 that's still unanswered is, 00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:26.859 why? 00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:29.899 Why is it that the kingdom 00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:32.339 comes in such smallness? 00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:34.939 Why didn't Jesus come 00:19:34.939 --> 00:19:36.720 with a royal train? 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:37.619 Why didn't he come 00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:38.500 with a real crown? 00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:39.839 Why didn't he ride in Jerusalem 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:41.559 on a war horse? 00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:43.579 Well, Paul answers 00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:44.980 that question for us as well 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.779 near the end of 1 Corinthians 1. 00:19:47.659 --> 00:19:48.159 He says, 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.379 God chose what is low 00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:50.779 and despised in the world, 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:52.619 even things that are not, 00:19:52.699 --> 00:19:53.839 to bring to nothing 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:55.019 things that are, 00:19:55.419 --> 00:19:56.139 verse 29, 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:56.899 here's the answer, 00:19:57.459 --> 00:19:58.980 so that no human being 00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.819 might boast in the presence of God. 00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:05.639 God chose a small 00:20:05.639 --> 00:20:07.559 and foolish kingdom 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:09.740 to highlight his grace 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:13.339 so that no one 00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:15.059 could congratulate themselves 00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:16.220 for being a part of it, 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:17.259 so that no one 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.299 could pat themselves 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:18.859 on the back 00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:19.980 that they were smart enough, 00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:21.199 powerful, and rich enough 00:20:21.199 --> 00:20:22.759 to be part of the kingdom of God. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.799 The kingdom starts 00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:27.240 and looks small 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:30.019 to show God's glory. 00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:33.379 It's meant to highlight 00:20:33.379 --> 00:20:34.179 God's grace. 00:20:34.899 --> 00:20:36.279 It's meant to show God's glory. 00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:37.279 In fact, 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:38.759 we know this intuitively, right? 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:39.819 There is something 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:41.899 beautiful and marvelous 00:20:41.899 --> 00:20:43.119 about small things 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:45.059 turning into great things. 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.799 The smallness of the seed 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:50.379 is part of what makes 00:20:50.379 --> 00:20:51.139 the redwood 00:20:51.139 --> 00:20:53.500 so majestic and impressive. 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.179 You think to yourself, 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:56.399 that large tree 00:20:56.399 --> 00:20:57.659 came from that small seed? 00:20:57.660 --> 00:21:00.060 It would make sense, right, 00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:01.940 if it came from a big seed. 00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:04.400 And yet, 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.700 that's not how it works, right? 00:21:06.360 --> 00:21:07.380 That's why the narrator 00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:08.080 of the documentary 00:21:08.080 --> 00:21:08.940 mentions it. 00:21:09.060 --> 00:21:09.380 He says, 00:21:09.620 --> 00:21:10.920 even giants start small 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:12.420 with modest cones 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.279 packed with seeds 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:15.140 no bigger than tomatoes. 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:17.480 The redwood tree, 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.180 in other words, 00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:19.060 is not large 00:21:19.060 --> 00:21:20.440 because it started large. 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.600 It's large 00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:23.519 because of the power 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.160 of the seed. 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:26.680 The kingdom of God 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:27.440 is not large 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:28.640 because it started large. 00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:29.480 It is large 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.680 because of the power 00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:31.900 of the gospel. 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.960 The smallness of the kingdom 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.800 shows us 00:21:35.800 --> 00:21:37.000 the power 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.060 of God. 00:21:39.560 --> 00:21:40.100 The gospel 00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:40.800 is beautiful 00:21:40.800 --> 00:21:41.660 and powerful, 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.440 just not 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.660 the way we expect it. 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.320 And so that's why 00:21:46.320 --> 00:21:47.320 Paul also tells us 00:21:47.320 --> 00:21:48.460 in 1 Corinthians 1, 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.820 the word of the cross 00:21:49.820 --> 00:21:50.580 is folly 00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:51.779 to those who are perishing, 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:52.860 but to us 00:21:52.860 --> 00:21:53.779 who are being saved, 00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.779 it is the power 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.420 of God. 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.359 It's smallness, 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.940 the fact that it's 00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:03.319 insignificant and weak 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:04.339 is a feature, 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:06.420 not a bug. 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:11.759 Thankfully, 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.279 it's not just 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:12.920 the smallness 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.660 of the kingdom 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.559 that we see here, 00:22:14.619 --> 00:22:14.839 though. 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.980 That was verse 31. 00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:17.319 We also have 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.200 verse 32, 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.740 the greatest kingdom. 00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:21.440 Yet when it is sown, 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.099 it grows up 00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:23.059 and becomes larger 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.799 than all 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:25.039 the garden plants. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:26.519 Yes, 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.299 it's a small 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:28.240 and foolish kingdom 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.720 and it will not 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.460 be like that 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:31.119 forever. 00:22:31.899 --> 00:22:33.119 That's how it starts. 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.679 It's not how it ends. 00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:37.139 We have the small 00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:38.519 seed of the redwood tree 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.919 and then we have 00:22:39.919 --> 00:22:40.940 the tallest tree 00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.899 in the entire world, 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.559 well over 300 feet tall. 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:45.159 same thing is here 00:22:45.159 --> 00:22:46.019 is true in the Bible. 00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:47.440 We have what we see 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:47.879 of the kingdom 00:22:47.879 --> 00:22:48.879 in the gospel of Mark 00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:49.980 and we fast forward 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.440 in the Bible 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.539 to the very last book, 00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:52.659 the book of Revelation 00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:54.220 and we see the comeuppance 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.779 of the kingdom. 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:56.440 We see the final victory 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.019 of the kingdom. 00:22:57.179 --> 00:22:58.059 There's this progression 00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:59.500 between what is true 00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:00.659 in Jesus' first coming 00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:01.480 when Jesus came 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:01.919 as a baby 00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:02.740 into this world 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.859 and what's true 00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:05.419 in Jesus' second coming. 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.220 The coming 00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:07.259 that we look forward to 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:08.359 when Jesus returns 00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:09.419 to this world 00:23:09.419 --> 00:23:11.159 as the victorious king 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:12.900 taking his kingdom. 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:15.040 And so we can compare 00:23:15.040 --> 00:23:16.860 not just the smallest seed 00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:17.860 to the greatest tree, 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:19.340 we can also compare 00:23:19.340 --> 00:23:20.460 the smallness of the kingdom 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.440 in the gospel of Mark 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.640 to the greatest kingdom 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.240 that we see 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:24.660 in the book of Revelation. 00:23:25.540 --> 00:23:26.000 We can have 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.480 a side-by-side picture. 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:29.300 Yes, Jesus has a crown 00:23:29.300 --> 00:23:29.880 of thorns 00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:31.000 in his earthly ministry. 00:23:31.360 --> 00:23:32.360 In the book of Revelation, 00:23:32.580 --> 00:23:34.060 he comes not just 00:23:34.060 --> 00:23:34.960 with one crown 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.320 but with multiple crowns. 00:23:36.540 --> 00:23:37.820 Revelation chapter 19, 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.460 verse 12. 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.680 His eyes are like 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.519 a flame of fire 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:41.299 and on his head 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.839 are many diadems. 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:44.480 Diadem being a fancy word 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:44.980 for crown. 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.599 And he has a name written 00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:47.480 that no one knows 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:48.099 but himself. 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:50.279 Yes, in his earthly ministry, 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.400 Jesus comes in 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.059 on a donkey 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:53.480 and in the book of Revelation 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.279 when he returns 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:55.200 in his second coming, 00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:57.279 we see Jesus riding in 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.859 on a war horse. 00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.519 Revelation 19, 11. 00:24:00.879 --> 00:24:02.059 Then I saw heaven open 00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:03.639 to behold a white horse. 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:05.339 The one sitting on it 00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:06.960 is called Faithful and True 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:08.180 and in righteousness 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.779 he judges and makes wars. 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.460 Yes, it's true 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:13.079 that Jesus in his earthly ministry 00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:14.420 comes and appears 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.099 in a stable 00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:16.220 and when we find him 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.200 after his second coming 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.200 in the book of Revelation, 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.440 he is not sitting 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.099 in a stable 00:24:20.099 --> 00:24:22.099 but he is on a throne. 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.759 Revelation chapter 22, 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.379 verse 3. 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.700 The throne of God 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.940 and of the Lamb 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:28.839 will be in it. 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:33.279 Yes, the kingdom is small now. 00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:35.720 It will not be small forever. 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:37.980 Yes, we struggle 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.779 with these doubts 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.420 in this world 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:40.700 just like these other disciples 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.600 wondering if Jesus 00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:42.579 is truly the king 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.640 that he says that he is 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:45.059 coming to bring the kingdom 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:45.860 that's been promised. 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.200 Why does it seem 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.559 so underwhelming 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.240 and powerless? 00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:51.160 And Jesus comes 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:51.900 with this parable 00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.500 and encouragement 00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:53.180 to his people 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.880 to remind them, 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:55.539 yes, it may seem small 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:56.180 and insignificant 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:57.140 and weak and foolish 00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:58.180 and shameful now 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:59.519 but we are looking forward 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.019 to the day 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.940 when it will be great 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:02.360 and powerful and majestic. 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:03.599 Not just great 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.479 but the greatest 00:25:04.479 --> 00:25:05.599 of all the nations 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.199 and kingdoms. 00:25:07.199 --> 00:25:08.319 It starts 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:10.019 as the smallest of seeds. 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:10.659 It will be 00:25:10.659 --> 00:25:12.919 the greatest of trees. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.839 Jesus then 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:15.779 is giving us 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.559 his followers 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.639 the critical assurance 00:25:17.639 --> 00:25:18.479 that we need 00:25:18.479 --> 00:25:19.599 as we follow him 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:20.379 as our king 00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:21.399 into his kingdom 00:25:21.399 --> 00:25:22.519 in this world 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.259 which is this 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.579 that ultimate victory 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.500 is guaranteed 00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:27.019 and it is coming. 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:29.240 God's power 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:31.019 is going to show up 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.819 in an even greater 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.899 and more majestic way 00:25:32.899 --> 00:25:34.299 than we can imagine now. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.419 It's the reminder 00:25:35.419 --> 00:25:36.460 that we saw together 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:37.359 week after week 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:38.399 in the book of Daniel 00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:39.139 that no matter 00:25:39.139 --> 00:25:40.599 how bad things get 00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:42.659 God is still in control. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:45.200 No matter how bad things get 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.839 no matter how small 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.359 and weak 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:49.019 and insignificant things are 00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:49.819 we can know 00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:50.319 and trust 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:51.200 that God's kingdom 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:52.159 is still coming 00:25:52.159 --> 00:25:53.799 and it will come 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.960 in full. 00:25:56.419 --> 00:25:57.419 Jesus here 00:25:57.419 --> 00:25:58.339 is giving us 00:25:58.339 --> 00:25:59.139 a vision 00:25:59.139 --> 00:26:00.639 of future orientation 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:02.140 that we look forward 00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:03.940 to the great tree. 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.460 Brothers and sisters 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.220 as we live 00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:08.160 as Christians 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:09.320 in this world 00:26:09.320 --> 00:26:10.180 at times 00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:10.740 feeling like 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:11.960 we're stumbling along 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:13.940 we also look forward 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:15.280 to the greatest tree. 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.540 We look forward 00:26:16.540 --> 00:26:17.420 to God's kingdom 00:26:17.420 --> 00:26:18.440 knowing that it will come 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.020 in its fullness 00:26:19.020 --> 00:26:20.300 and it will be a place 00:26:20.300 --> 00:26:21.060 of God's holiness 00:26:21.060 --> 00:26:21.680 and justice 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:22.200 and goodness 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:22.820 and mercy 00:26:22.820 --> 00:26:23.400 and love. 00:26:24.100 --> 00:26:25.140 It will be 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:26.120 the great tree 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:26.739 to which 00:26:26.739 --> 00:26:28.319 all the nations 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:28.979 come. 00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:31.299 It will be 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:31.879 the kingdom 00:26:31.879 --> 00:26:32.500 above 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:34.059 every other 00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.839 kingdom. 00:26:36.959 --> 00:26:37.599 In fact 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.059 that's also 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.719 what we see 00:26:38.719 --> 00:26:39.339 in the book 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:40.379 of Revelation 00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:42.079 which includes 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:43.039 in chapter 22 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:43.799 a tree. 00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:45.879 Then the angel 00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:46.279 showed me 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:46.699 the river 00:26:46.699 --> 00:26:47.199 of the water 00:26:47.199 --> 00:26:47.679 of life 00:26:47.679 --> 00:26:48.719 bright as crystal 00:26:48.719 --> 00:26:49.879 flowing from 00:26:49.879 --> 00:26:50.799 the throne of God 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.500 and of the Lamb 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.799 through the middle 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.319 of the street 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:53.859 of the city. 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.419 Also 00:26:55.419 --> 00:26:56.439 on either side 00:26:56.439 --> 00:26:56.980 of the river 00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:58.079 the tree 00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.700 of life 00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.419 with its 12 00:26:59.419 --> 00:27:00.299 kinds of fruit 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:01.720 yielding its fruit 00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.379 each month. 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.179 The leaves 00:27:04.179 --> 00:27:04.839 of the tree 00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:05.839 were for the healing 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:07.220 of the nations. 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.500 I'm going to read 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.139 that last sentence 00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:10.559 again. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.619 The leaves 00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:12.299 of the tree 00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:13.939 were for the healing 00:27:13.939 --> 00:27:15.419 of the nations. 00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:17.379 That's the same 00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:18.559 imagery we saw 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:20.000 in our Old Testament 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.279 reading from Ezekiel 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.200 and the imagery 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:23.279 we see here 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:24.460 verse 32. 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.359 Yet when it is sown 00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:27.000 it grows up 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.899 and becomes larger 00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:28.779 than all the garden 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.220 plants 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:29.839 and puts out 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.879 large branches 00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:32.440 so that the birds 00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:33.240 of the air 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:34.720 can make nests 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.879 in its shade. 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.639 Remember we read 00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.339 from Ezekiel. 00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:41.819 I encourage you 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.420 by the way 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.139 if you look 00:27:43.139 --> 00:27:44.059 in your worship guide 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:46.559 on pages 3 and 4 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:46.940 it's something 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.500 you can do 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:47.980 if you show up 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.539 early to our 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.279 worship service 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.539 and take a minute 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:51.359 to look at our 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:52.240 Old Testament passage 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.079 and how it relates 00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.859 to our New Testament 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.359 passage. 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.339 I'm not going to go 00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.019 into it all now 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.500 but you'll see 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.339 there's an explanation 00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.619 there on pages 3 and 4 00:27:58.619 --> 00:27:59.399 how it is 00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:00.779 that Ezekiel 17 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:01.919 connects here 00:28:01.919 --> 00:28:03.159 to our passage 00:28:03.159 --> 00:28:04.199 and the main point 00:28:04.199 --> 00:28:04.779 is this. 00:28:05.179 --> 00:28:06.179 In Ezekiel 17 00:28:06.179 --> 00:28:07.259 we see all these 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:08.379 different kinds of birds 00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:09.159 finding shelter 00:28:09.159 --> 00:28:09.720 in a tree. 00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:11.039 Those birds represent 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:12.199 the nations of the earth. 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:14.319 In Mark chapter 4 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:15.240 we see all these 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.879 different birds 00:28:15.879 --> 00:28:16.960 coming to take shelter 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:17.539 in a tree. 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:19.259 Those birds represent 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.839 the nations of the earth. 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:22.459 In other words 00:28:22.459 --> 00:28:23.659 the kingdom's greatness 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:25.279 is expressed 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.539 in the fact 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.899 that all different people 00:28:27.899 --> 00:28:28.819 from every type 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:29.439 and nation 00:28:29.439 --> 00:28:30.039 and tongue 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:31.339 will come to be a part 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:32.519 of God's kingdom 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.559 and worship him. 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.480 This is the image 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:36.019 that we're given 00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:37.039 throughout the Old Testament 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:38.000 that Jesus brings 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.839 into reality 00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.799 in the New Testament 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.559 which is that 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.419 the kingdom of God 00:28:41.419 --> 00:28:42.799 is not just for Jews 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:43.759 it is for anyone 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.359 and everyone 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:45.159 in this world 00:28:45.159 --> 00:28:45.679 who comes 00:28:45.679 --> 00:28:46.859 and recognizes 00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:48.179 Jesus as the true 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:49.420 and great king. 00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:52.640 All the nations 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.460 of the earth 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.259 will come 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.220 and be a part of this. 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:57.380 And so we begin 00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:58.000 to see again 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:58.620 the logic 00:28:58.620 --> 00:28:59.539 of why the kingdom 00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.519 must be small 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:01.440 and become great 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:03.180 not just to highlight 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.960 God's greatness 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.840 and his glory 00:29:04.840 --> 00:29:05.539 although yes 00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:06.120 that is true 00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:07.620 but also because 00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:09.060 it is the smallness 00:29:09.060 --> 00:29:09.779 that leads 00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.480 to the greatness. 00:29:11.080 --> 00:29:12.000 In other words 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.039 the only way 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:14.220 that Jesus can bring 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.160 all the nations 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:16.039 to find shelter 00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.899 in his tree 00:29:16.899 --> 00:29:18.460 is if he dies 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:19.379 for their sins. 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:21.500 It is by coming 00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.740 as a suffering savior 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.420 that he's able 00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:24.000 to enable 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.619 and empower 00:29:24.619 --> 00:29:25.980 people from every tribe 00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.879 and nation and tongue 00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:28.019 to come and worship him 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.799 because those 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:29.759 who are finding shelter 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.519 under the tree 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:31.659 are those who have come 00:29:31.659 --> 00:29:32.759 to Jesus Christ 00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:33.960 as their Lord and Savior 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:35.200 recognizing that he 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:36.099 is the one 00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:36.899 and true king 00:29:36.899 --> 00:29:37.539 who they worship 00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.059 and love 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.639 and serve 00:29:38.639 --> 00:29:39.180 and obey. 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:41.639 And it's Jesus' death 00:29:41.639 --> 00:29:42.740 that makes that possible. 00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:45.019 It's the smallness 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.599 of the kingdom 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.299 that enables 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:46.879 the greatness. 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.279 It's because Jesus 00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:49.799 came to die 00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:51.119 that he's able 00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:52.099 to provide shelter 00:29:52.099 --> 00:29:54.539 for all the birds. 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:57.019 It's because of his death 00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.639 that he's able 00:29:57.639 --> 00:29:58.259 to come 00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:59.779 and bring people 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.940 from all over the world 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:02.379 to be a part 00:30:02.379 --> 00:30:03.000 of his kingdom. 00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:06.220 The ultimate greatness 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.139 of the kingdom 00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:09.299 is for you. 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:12.079 The ultimate greatness 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.799 of the kingdom 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.700 is that Jesus 00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:15.899 is able to bring you 00:30:15.899 --> 00:30:17.240 to be a part of it. 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.460 The flip side, 00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:21.759 however, 00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:22.480 of the tree 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.680 is this. 00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:24.259 Yes, 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:26.659 Jesus will rule 00:30:26.659 --> 00:30:27.319 over the nations. 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.460 He'll provide shelter 00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:29.519 for the nations. 00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:31.899 And those who choose 00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:33.099 not to find shelter 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:33.519 in him 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.159 will perish. 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:37.180 There are birds 00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:37.960 who choose 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:39.339 to find shelter 00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:40.279 under this tree 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:41.599 and those who do not. 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:42.879 And so, 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:43.819 brothers and sisters, 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.500 the choice 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:45.899 for us 00:30:45.899 --> 00:30:46.539 is clear. 00:30:46.639 --> 00:30:47.940 There are only two ways 00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:49.079 to live in this world. 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.799 We can live 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:50.899 finding shelter 00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:51.539 under the tree 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.519 of the kingdom of God 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.319 or we can 00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:55.099 perish apart from it. 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:56.539 Those are the only 00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.220 two choices 00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.619 God gives us 00:30:58.619 --> 00:30:59.579 in this world. 00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:01.740 We have to embrace 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.759 the smallness 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.480 of the kingdom 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.700 to experience 00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.240 its greatness. 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.160 We have to follow 00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:06.700 the path 00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.740 that Jesus gives us 00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.500 in Mark 1, 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.299 verse 15, 00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:10.079 that we repent 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.039 and believe 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:11.660 the gospel. 00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:12.779 We recognize 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:13.740 that it is not 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.960 a path of victory 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.960 first but of suffering 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:16.880 just like our Lord 00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:18.039 and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:20.339 And that 00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.420 is how 00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.799 he provides 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:24.359 for the nations 00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.599 to find shelter. 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:31.599 In the show 00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:32.940 Climbing the Redwood Giants, 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.799 they don't just cover 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.680 that photographer. 00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:35.779 They also follow 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:37.019 this forest ecologist 00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:38.379 named Steve Sillett. 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.960 And Steve wants 00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:41.019 to be the first person 00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.819 to explore 00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:42.440 the canopy 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.680 of redwood trees. 00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:44.400 Turns out 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:45.019 people had not 00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:45.420 gone up 00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:46.079 into the top 00:31:46.079 --> 00:31:47.279 of these trees 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.500 because the lowest 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:49.200 branches were 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:50.079 200 feet 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.779 off the ground. 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:52.539 And so he wants 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:53.200 to do what's called 00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:54.099 canopy work. 00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:55.139 No one had touched 00:31:55.139 --> 00:31:56.279 it until 1996. 00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.819 What he comes 00:31:58.819 --> 00:31:59.440 and finds 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:00.220 when he climbs 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:01.139 200 feet up 00:32:01.139 --> 00:32:01.680 is something 00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:02.920 incredibly surprising. 00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:05.660 there are limbs 00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:06.400 on this tree 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:07.420 that are themselves 00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:08.560 the size of trees. 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:10.580 And on top 00:32:10.580 --> 00:32:11.380 of those limbs 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:11.860 there are 00:32:11.860 --> 00:32:13.340 three feet 00:32:13.340 --> 00:32:14.840 of soil. 00:32:16.300 --> 00:32:17.259 There is a 00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:18.220 whole world 00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:18.759 living 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.940 200 feet 00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:21.180 off the ground. 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.100 He finds 00:32:22.100 --> 00:32:23.360 huckleberry bushes 00:32:23.360 --> 00:32:23.920 with fruit 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:24.700 that he can eat 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:26.039 and there are 00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.740 salamanders 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.539 that live 00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:28.259 200 feet 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:28.759 off the ground 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.380 in these trees. 00:32:30.380 --> 00:32:31.100 In fact, 00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:31.699 they tell us 00:32:31.699 --> 00:32:32.659 some salamanders 00:32:32.659 --> 00:32:33.779 may live 00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:34.579 and die 00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:36.000 in a single tree 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.599 without ever 00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:37.539 touching the ground. 00:32:39.639 --> 00:32:40.439 There's a 00:32:40.439 --> 00:32:41.119 whole other 00:32:41.119 --> 00:32:41.639 world 00:32:41.639 --> 00:32:42.599 living in the 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:42.959 canopy 00:32:42.959 --> 00:32:43.939 of these trees 00:32:43.939 --> 00:32:45.059 200 feet 00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:46.779 off the ground. 00:32:48.459 --> 00:32:49.539 In other words, 00:32:49.639 --> 00:32:50.159 this tree, 00:32:50.379 --> 00:32:51.000 just like 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.859 the kingdom, 00:32:52.179 --> 00:32:53.500 provides life 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.759 to surprising 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:55.579 candidates. 00:32:58.599 --> 00:32:59.679 This tree, 00:33:00.179 --> 00:33:00.779 just like 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.599 the kingdom, 00:33:03.139 --> 00:33:04.200 provides shelter 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:05.579 and protection 00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:07.039 for all 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:07.759 sorts 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:09.099 of creatures. 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:13.680 Our greatest 00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.539 illustration 00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.259 of all 00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:15.720 of moving 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.240 from 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:17.460 the small 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:19.899 to the great 00:33:19.899 --> 00:33:22.240 is the cross. 00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.279 We've seen 00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:24.920 before that 00:33:24.920 --> 00:33:26.039 the crucifixion 00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:27.920 is the smallest 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:28.240 thing, 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:28.700 the most 00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:29.579 shameful thing, 00:33:29.579 --> 00:33:31.679 and it 00:33:31.679 --> 00:33:32.299 leads to 00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:32.699 Jesus' 00:33:32.939 --> 00:33:33.619 glorification, 00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.159 the greatest 00:33:34.159 --> 00:33:34.519 thing, 00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:34.899 the most 00:33:34.899 --> 00:33:35.279 glorious 00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:35.759 thing. 00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:37.240 Again, 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:38.000 from Philippians 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:38.740 chapter 2. 00:33:40.419 --> 00:33:40.879 At the name 00:33:40.879 --> 00:33:41.299 of Jesus, 00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:41.899 every knee 00:33:41.899 --> 00:33:42.359 should bow 00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:42.839 in heaven 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:43.460 and on earth 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:43.819 and under 00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:44.299 the earth, 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:45.240 and every 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:45.939 tongue confess 00:33:45.939 --> 00:33:46.559 that Jesus 00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:47.259 Christ is 00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:47.779 Lord to 00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.319 the glory 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:49.460 of God 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:49.899 the Father. 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:52.980 Our passage 00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:53.659 tells us 00:33:53.659 --> 00:33:54.299 some simple 00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:54.679 things. 00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:56.660 the kingdom 00:33:56.660 --> 00:33:57.120 of God 00:33:57.120 --> 00:33:57.740 has a 00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.100 beginning 00:33:58.100 --> 00:33:59.620 and it's 00:33:59.620 --> 00:34:00.220 small and 00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:01.080 foolish and 00:34:01.080 --> 00:34:01.539 unexpected. 00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:03.340 The kingdom 00:34:03.340 --> 00:34:03.759 of God 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.140 has an 00:34:04.140 --> 00:34:04.460 end 00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:05.860 and it's 00:34:05.860 --> 00:34:06.440 the greatest 00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:07.380 and the 00:34:07.380 --> 00:34:08.000 most powerful. 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:10.500 And unlike 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:11.400 other great 00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:12.200 and powerful 00:34:12.200 --> 00:34:12.720 kingdoms, 00:34:13.099 --> 00:34:14.380 it is loving 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:15.880 and benevolent. 00:34:16.720 --> 00:34:17.860 It provides 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.760 shelter for 00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:19.320 anyone 00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:20.860 who will come 00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:22.300 and find it. 00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:27.260 the 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:27.740 photographer 00:34:27.740 --> 00:34:28.440 I mentioned 00:34:28.440 --> 00:34:28.700 at the 00:34:28.700 --> 00:34:29.039 beginning, 00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:29.760 Nichols, 00:34:30.080 --> 00:34:30.720 said this 00:34:30.720 --> 00:34:31.100 as he's 00:34:31.100 --> 00:34:31.380 searching 00:34:31.380 --> 00:34:32.480 this most 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:34.140 impressive 00:34:34.140 --> 00:34:34.660 photograph 00:34:34.660 --> 00:34:35.000 that will 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:35.760 finally help 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.160 people to 00:34:36.160 --> 00:34:36.880 understand the 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:37.400 greatness of 00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:37.880 the redwood 00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:38.200 tree. 00:34:39.160 --> 00:34:39.660 At the end 00:34:39.660 --> 00:34:40.180 of the day, 00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:40.960 all I'm 00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:41.519 after is the 00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:42.400 glory of 00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:43.539 this tree. 00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:45.340 And the 00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:46.100 forest ecologist 00:34:46.100 --> 00:34:46.720 Steve Sillett 00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:47.280 says this, 00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:48.280 if you're 00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:48.960 lucky enough 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.440 to get up 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:49.800 into the 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:50.400 crowns of 00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:50.700 one of 00:34:50.700 --> 00:34:51.400 these trees, 00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:52.500 it puts 00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:53.240 your own 00:34:53.240 --> 00:34:54.039 insignificant 00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:54.720 existence 00:34:54.720 --> 00:34:55.579 in perspective. 00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:57.220 It makes 00:34:57.220 --> 00:34:57.860 you realize 00:34:57.860 --> 00:34:58.480 there's something 00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.200 much greater 00:34:59.200 --> 00:35:00.000 than yourself, 00:35:00.680 --> 00:35:01.139 so much 00:35:01.139 --> 00:35:01.579 vaster 00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:02.700 than you. 00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:05.480 Brothers and 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:05.700 sisters, 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:06.280 there is 00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:07.160 something so 00:35:07.160 --> 00:35:07.760 much greater 00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:08.519 and so much 00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:09.240 vaster than 00:35:09.240 --> 00:35:09.660 us. 00:35:09.780 --> 00:35:10.639 It is 00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:11.500 the kingdom 00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:12.579 of God. 00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:13.900 God 00:35:13.900 --> 00:35:14.519 may look 00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:15.519 small now, 00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:18.719 but it 00:35:18.719 --> 00:35:19.739 will prevail 00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:20.279 and be 00:35:20.279 --> 00:35:21.019 the greatest 00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:22.779 one day. 00:35:24.059 --> 00:35:24.759 It is like 00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:25.259 a grain of 00:35:25.259 --> 00:35:25.920 mustard seed, 00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:26.460 which when 00:35:26.460 --> 00:35:26.900 sown on the 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:27.319 ground is 00:35:27.319 --> 00:35:27.799 the smallest 00:35:27.799 --> 00:35:28.460 of all the 00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:28.880 seeds on 00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:29.159 earth. 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.319 Yet when 00:35:30.319 --> 00:35:30.860 it is sown, 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:31.579 it grows up 00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:32.079 and becomes 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.819 larger than 00:35:32.819 --> 00:35:33.299 all the 00:35:33.299 --> 00:35:34.019 garden plants 00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:34.420 and puts 00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:35.079 out large 00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.599 branches, 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:36.819 so that the 00:35:36.819 --> 00:35:37.400 birds of the 00:35:37.400 --> 00:35:38.059 air can make 00:35:38.059 --> 00:35:39.259 nests in 00:35:39.259 --> 00:35:39.699 its shade. 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:41.139 Let's pray. 00:35:41.139 --> 00:35:43.019 Our 00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:43.460 Father in 00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:43.699 heaven, 00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:44.519 we thank 00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:45.079 you for 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:45.539 this 00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:46.079 encouragement 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.639 from your 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:47.000 word, 00:35:47.639 --> 00:35:48.339 this reminder 00:35:48.339 --> 00:35:48.819 of your 00:35:48.819 --> 00:35:49.379 kingdom that 00:35:49.379 --> 00:35:49.960 is to come. 00:35:50.199 --> 00:35:50.699 We ask 00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:51.099 that you 00:35:51.099 --> 00:35:51.559 would be at 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.279 work in 00:35:52.279 --> 00:35:52.719 our hearts, 00:35:52.799 --> 00:35:53.079 that we 00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:53.819 would embrace 00:35:53.819 --> 00:35:54.460 and love 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:56.019 the foolishness, 00:35:56.119 --> 00:35:56.619 the weakness 00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.819 of the gospel, 00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:58.779 that it would 00:35:58.779 --> 00:35:59.500 be our power, 00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:00.799 and you'd give 00:36:00.799 --> 00:36:01.400 us the hope 00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:02.019 that comes 00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.579 from looking 00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:03.719 forward to 00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:04.239 your kingdom 00:36:04.239 --> 00:36:04.839 when it comes 00:36:04.839 --> 00:36:05.239 in fullness. 00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:06.319 We ask all 00:36:06.319 --> 00:36:06.859 these things 00:36:06.859 --> 00:36:07.299 in the mighty 00:36:07.299 --> 00:36:08.359 name of our 00:36:08.359 --> 00:36:09.000 Lord and Savior, 00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:09.819 Jesus Christ. 00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:10.339 Amen. 00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:11.879 Amen. 00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.199 Amen. 00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:20.819 Amen. 00:36:20.819 --> 00:36:20.900 Amen. 00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:20.960 Amen.