WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.219 So I want you to imagine with me today that you invite me to lunch. 00:00:06.299 --> 00:00:11.240 Now I know that might be difficult for some of you probably thinking I would never invite a South African for lunch. 00:00:11.540 --> 00:00:14.980 But I want you just to imagine it, that you invite me for lunch. 00:00:15.259 --> 00:00:19.719 But that you are a very strict vegetarian on principle. 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:25.440 That means you don't believe in the killing of animals for meat or for any other products. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:35.320 Yes. And I arrive, you've invited a few other guests and you've taken out the carrots and the lettuce and all the other rabbit food and it's all sitting on the table. 00:00:35.480 --> 00:00:44.100 And then I arrive and the first thing I do is I produce this big massive pork chop and I put it on the table. 00:00:44.200 --> 00:00:53.180 And while you're looking at me horrified with big eyes, I look at you and point at you and I say, you are a hypocrite because you're wearing leather shoes. 00:00:53.179 --> 00:00:57.859 And clearly an animal had to be killed in order for you to wear those leather shoes. 00:00:58.659 --> 00:01:06.879 And while you're looking a little bit stunned, I then turn around and I look at your guests and I say, well, it's a very interesting lot of people you've invited. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:09.939 They're all likely to help you get on in life. 00:01:10.460 --> 00:01:13.599 I see you've invited your boss. That's always a good move. 00:01:14.180 --> 00:01:16.539 And, well, there's your rich neighbor. 00:01:16.540 --> 00:01:19.580 And, oh, I see there's old Aunt Sally. 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:25.000 You definitely want to invite her because she's going to die soon and you want to make sure you're part of that world. 00:01:26.100 --> 00:01:31.000 And I just want to, at that point, what would you think of me? 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:34.620 Just let it sink in a little bit. 00:01:34.660 --> 00:01:35.580 What would you think of me? 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:40.400 I then turn around and I look at your guests that you've invited and say, I've been watching YouTube. 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:47.000 I noticed you took the biggest sandwich and I've been counting how many cream donuts you've eaten. 00:01:47.420 --> 00:01:48.359 And it's now five. 00:01:49.620 --> 00:01:52.300 Just by the way, that would probably be Milen. 00:01:54.540 --> 00:01:56.780 Milen's like here today, so I can say that. 00:01:58.240 --> 00:02:00.060 But what would you think of me? 00:02:01.240 --> 00:02:02.560 I'm guessing two things. 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:07.800 I'm guessing you think that I was incredibly rude and you're wishing I had never invited a South African. 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:12.039 And the second thing is you're probably not likely to invite me back. 00:02:13.060 --> 00:02:17.840 But the truth is, this is exactly how Jesus behaved at this meal. 00:02:18.740 --> 00:02:22.599 This is exactly how his hosts would have thought and reacted to him. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:26.859 And I must be honest, this kind of shattered my view of Jesus. 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:32.579 Because when I was a little kid, my family are not Christians. 00:02:32.699 --> 00:02:33.300 They're not believers. 00:02:33.519 --> 00:02:35.039 They're still not yet. 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:37.979 But we never went to church. 00:02:38.060 --> 00:02:40.639 But I did sleep over at some friend's house quite often. 00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:41.959 And they did go to church. 00:02:42.019 --> 00:02:45.039 So I went with them to Sunday school quite a few times. 00:02:45.219 --> 00:02:50.759 And I remember walking into Sunday school and there was this massive mural of Jesus. 00:02:51.180 --> 00:02:52.419 This was my picture of Jesus. 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:55.219 He was sitting in this beautiful green grass. 00:02:55.399 --> 00:02:58.659 And there was a lovely blue stream of water flowing by. 00:02:58.659 --> 00:03:02.159 And he was sitting down in this beautiful white clothes. 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:05.280 And there was a little lamb, which was perfect, sitting on his lap. 00:03:05.379 --> 00:03:07.659 And he had blonde hair and blue eyes. 00:03:08.500 --> 00:03:12.000 And to me, I just thought Jesus was always charming. 00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:14.340 He was always tactful. 00:03:14.579 --> 00:03:17.099 And he was always nice. 00:03:17.099 --> 00:03:22.180 But the truth is, and this is one thing that we have to confront ourselves with today, 00:03:22.239 --> 00:03:26.539 is that Jesus deliberately provoked certain people. 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:29.419 And the question we have to ask ourselves is why? 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:32.400 Why would Jesus do this kind of thing? 00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:34.959 So let's look at this conversation. 00:03:35.139 --> 00:03:35.959 Let's look at this meal. 00:03:36.099 --> 00:03:36.879 It's held on a Sabbath. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:43.079 And it's the party, the banquet is thrown by a leading Pharisee. 00:03:43.740 --> 00:03:46.099 A leader that looks like he's got it all together. 00:03:46.519 --> 00:03:48.319 He's respected in the community. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:54.539 But as we will find out, Jesus was more concerned about his heart. 00:03:56.460 --> 00:04:00.300 And the first subject that comes up is that of healing. 00:04:00.300 --> 00:04:05.259 Now we must understand that our host had a certain idea about healing. 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:12.340 And he got it from the law of God, which said he were to do no work on the Sabbath. 00:04:13.459 --> 00:04:16.860 And therefore, I know that the meal that they were having was cold, 00:04:17.019 --> 00:04:18.579 because no one cooked on the Sabbath. 00:04:19.219 --> 00:04:22.719 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law got together, 00:04:22.819 --> 00:04:26.019 and they kind of made this list of what was work and what wasn't work. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:30.019 And together, they decided that healing was work. 00:04:30.180 --> 00:04:32.939 So you couldn't do it on the Sabbath. 00:04:32.939 --> 00:04:35.099 So put that into modern context. 00:04:35.259 --> 00:04:40.860 If you're a child or you are sick on a Sunday, you have to wait until Monday to go and see the doctor. 00:04:42.219 --> 00:04:44.399 And so there's Jesus. 00:04:44.579 --> 00:04:45.199 He's sitting at this. 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:53.039 And he knows, he knows that if he brings up the subject, he's going to horrify the host. 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:58.879 But we have to ask ourselves, at this dinner, there is a man with dropsy. 00:04:59.520 --> 00:05:04.220 Now how does a man with dropsy get invited to a lunch like this? 00:05:04.260 --> 00:05:08.420 Now dropsy means that he had kidney failure and possibly heart failure. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:12.259 So he was retaining massive amounts of water. 00:05:12.400 --> 00:05:13.060 He was swollen. 00:05:13.280 --> 00:05:14.780 He just looked sick. 00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:19.319 It was obvious to all that this was a man who was sick and suffering. 00:05:20.379 --> 00:05:22.419 And yet, he's invited to this meal. 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:24.359 A meal hosted by a Pharisee. 00:05:24.719 --> 00:05:27.899 And according to Jewish culture, he was unclean. 00:05:28.759 --> 00:05:29.919 They wouldn't even go near him. 00:05:30.419 --> 00:05:33.379 And certainly no one would ever think of touching him. 00:05:33.379 --> 00:05:38.040 So the only thing we can work out is that he has been planted there. 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:43.699 He's been deliberately invited because it says that they were watching Jesus to see what he would do. 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:45.920 And Jesus knows what's in their hearts. 00:05:46.939 --> 00:05:48.540 And he asks them this question. 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:56.040 He said, is there anywhere in the word of God that says I cannot heal him on the Sabbath? 00:05:56.980 --> 00:05:57.579 And you know what? 00:05:58.019 --> 00:05:58.959 They remained silent. 00:05:59.740 --> 00:06:00.300 They couldn't answer. 00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:01.459 You know why they couldn't answer? 00:06:01.459 --> 00:06:04.019 Because the answer is no. 00:06:04.439 --> 00:06:09.799 There is nowhere in the law, the word of God, that says you cannot heal on the Sabbath. 00:06:11.479 --> 00:06:14.019 So Jesus heals him. 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:21.139 And, you know, I just, this is a moment for us, right? 00:06:21.219 --> 00:06:27.079 I think the first lesson we learn from the scripture today is that of tradition versus truth. 00:06:27.620 --> 00:06:30.639 The tradition was you weren't allowed to heal on the Sabbath. 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:33.539 But the truth was that you could. 00:06:34.819 --> 00:06:36.259 And let's just see. 00:06:36.419 --> 00:06:39.599 And we might think that only happened then, but it happens to us today. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:41.519 Let me give you some examples. 00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:47.699 There was a tradition that Eve gave Adam an apple. 00:06:47.699 --> 00:06:51.839 But actually, the word of God doesn't say that. 00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:55.500 It says Eve gave Adam a fruit. 00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:57.860 Now, I don't know why someone picked on the apple. 00:06:58.180 --> 00:06:59.379 I like apples, right? 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:01.740 I don't think it's a particularly evil fruit. 00:07:02.420 --> 00:07:04.500 Personally, I think it had to have been a durian. 00:07:05.159 --> 00:07:06.379 Let's be honest. 00:07:07.159 --> 00:07:09.180 Durians can be pretty evil at times. 00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:14.000 But another one is Jonah. 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:18.340 Like, tradition tells us that Jonah was swatted by a whale. 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:22.920 And I was very surprised to find that it doesn't say that. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:26.639 It says Jonah was swatted by a big fish. 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:30.180 These are not serious, right? 00:07:30.599 --> 00:07:32.300 But they are traditions. 00:07:32.659 --> 00:07:35.659 And maybe we should look at something a little bit more serious. 00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:43.539 There's a tradition that Christians don't go to certain places. 00:07:43.540 --> 00:07:48.200 And I was 21 years old when I became a Christian. 00:07:49.060 --> 00:07:51.360 And I was at university. 00:07:51.939 --> 00:07:53.340 And I was happy in my sin. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:56.840 And at that moment, God stepped into my life. 00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:57.740 He had mercy. 00:07:58.060 --> 00:07:59.280 And He had grace upon me. 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:00.180 He cornered me. 00:08:00.280 --> 00:08:01.520 And I couldn't get away from Him. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:03.400 And He just grabbed hold of me. 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:05.259 And ever since that day, He hasn't let me go. 00:08:05.980 --> 00:08:07.240 But I was 21. 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:10.780 And I was still struggling with a whole lot of things as a new believer. 00:08:10.779 --> 00:08:18.039 And one day, I went for a run with a friend of mine who was discipling me. 00:08:18.579 --> 00:08:21.419 And for me, that's a great place to talk about the things of God. 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:25.839 I know some people, they like to sit down and have a cup of coffee and talk about the things of God. 00:08:25.919 --> 00:08:27.139 For me, let's go for a run. 00:08:27.379 --> 00:08:28.159 Let's get sweaty. 00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:30.399 Let's get the blood pumping through your veins. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:32.279 And let's talk about the deep things of God. 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:34.579 So there we are at about the five kilometer mark. 00:08:34.620 --> 00:08:35.759 I can't hold it in anymore. 00:08:35.860 --> 00:08:37.019 I have to ask him this question. 00:08:37.339 --> 00:08:37.779 I turned to him. 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:38.379 His name was Michael. 00:08:38.379 --> 00:08:41.500 I said, Michael, can Christians go to nightclubs? 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:46.580 And I really wanted him to say yes or no, right? 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:50.039 Because there's kind of a tradition that we just don't go to places like that. 00:08:50.059 --> 00:08:50.860 We don't do parties. 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:52.039 And we don't do discos. 00:08:52.620 --> 00:08:56.759 And in his absolute wisdom, he turned to me and said, 00:08:56.820 --> 00:09:03.379 You know, Graham, it actually doesn't say anywhere in the Bible that you can or can't go to a nightclub. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:03.940 Does it? 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:04.620 No. 00:09:06.260 --> 00:09:09.300 I always thought that's kind of what you guys do, right? 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:11.080 And he said, well, it's not there. 00:09:11.760 --> 00:09:13.840 And he said, but I'll tell you what, Graham. 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:21.080 Next time you go, just before you go and ask Jesus, do you want me in this place? 00:09:21.900 --> 00:09:24.320 So this was an answer I wasn't even thinking about, right? 00:09:24.420 --> 00:09:25.460 Just yes or no. 00:09:25.540 --> 00:09:27.400 But now I've got to speak to Jesus as well. 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:30.799 And so it was all new to me. 00:09:30.919 --> 00:09:33.879 And anyway, I'm going out with a group of friends. 00:09:34.579 --> 00:09:37.139 And we all get out the car and say, I'll be with you guys in a second. 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:38.220 And I let them get out. 00:09:38.360 --> 00:09:41.860 And he closed my eyes and said, Jesus, do you want me to go to this place? 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:45.299 And I got out of the car and I walked in. 00:09:45.579 --> 00:09:47.299 And I still paid the money, right? 00:09:47.439 --> 00:09:48.399 And I paid the money. 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:51.539 And within two minutes, he had given me his answer. 00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:56.599 And I turned around and I walked out the door and I never went back. 00:09:56.819 --> 00:09:59.259 And I had no desire ever to go back. 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:01.059 It just wasn't where Jesus wanted me. 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:03.240 Now, that might be very different for other people. 00:10:03.339 --> 00:10:09.620 But you see how tradition is often the exact opposite to what's truth. 00:10:09.719 --> 00:10:14.860 And we need to make sure what we think is in the Word of God is actually in the Word of God. 00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:20.059 Because the problem is we can make big things small and the small things big. 00:10:20.059 --> 00:10:24.479 And the danger is that when we do that, we get it all wrong, right? 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:28.979 We get upset about the little things, which actually don't really matter so much to God. 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:35.639 And so what Jesus does is he just smashes tradition with truth. 00:10:38.239 --> 00:10:38.719 Okay. 00:10:39.599 --> 00:10:45.339 So, the Pharisee did what you and I have all done. 00:10:45.339 --> 00:10:49.839 We've made our own list of what is wrong and what is right. 00:10:50.059 --> 00:10:51.739 And we've pushed it on other people. 00:10:54.219 --> 00:11:01.439 And I think it's very important that we look at how Jesus reacted to the situation, right? 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:05.119 Tradition just offended him and he dealt with it straight away. 00:11:05.939 --> 00:11:09.179 But then he looks at the host and he gives him this other argument. 00:11:09.179 --> 00:11:15.839 He says, if your son fell in a well, would you not pull him out? 00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:21.379 He said, this man has fallen into dropsy and I want to pull him out. 00:11:21.479 --> 00:11:23.699 He is suffering and I want to help him. 00:11:24.099 --> 00:11:24.939 And you know what? 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:26.620 They couldn't answer. 00:11:27.099 --> 00:11:29.719 So, Jesus asked them a question that they couldn't answer. 00:11:29.939 --> 00:11:32.299 And he asked them a question that they wouldn't answer. 00:11:32.479 --> 00:11:35.059 Now, when you do that, it kills conversation. 00:11:35.839 --> 00:11:36.019 Right? 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:37.299 No one was talking after that. 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:39.120 So, Jesus changed the conversation. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:43.039 And he said, let's talk about hospitality. 00:11:44.579 --> 00:11:47.500 He said, I'm looking around at the people you've invited. 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:51.379 Why did you invite them? 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:57.220 Now, it's obvious that he invited them to get something from them. 00:11:57.779 --> 00:12:00.879 Maybe it was to enhance his reputation. 00:12:01.059 --> 00:12:03.960 Did you see that I can get Jesus to my dinner? 00:12:04.700 --> 00:12:07.299 And all the other people that were there, same thing. 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:11.120 He even tried to get something by inviting the sick man there. 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:14.399 Try to use him as a trap for Jesus. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:14.840 Okay. 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:29.360 There is a phrase in the New Testament that says, we are to be given in hospitality. 00:12:29.939 --> 00:12:32.579 Now, the key word there is given. 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:33.439 Right? 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:35.799 Not to expect anything in return. 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:42.139 And we have to ask ourselves, do we invite people that will honor our table? 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:46.399 That will maybe give us a little bit of a reputation boost? 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:50.579 Maybe we'll open a door to a great business deal? 00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:59.720 Well, the question is, are we wanting to get something from people or are we wanting to give? 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:02.420 Let me put it to you another way. 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:07.639 Are we using people or are we loving them? 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:12.759 It's a question I have to ask myself. 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:15.200 And here's the real question. 00:13:15.680 --> 00:13:20.400 The real question is, do you want to be repaid by men or do you want to be repaid by God? 00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:26.160 And the most amazing thing to me about this passage is it actually tells us that God repays people. 00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:30.720 He's going to repay you for every meal that you've given that He knows about. 00:13:30.800 --> 00:13:33.980 That it was truly out of a sense of wanting to offer something. 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:35.960 Not expecting something in return. 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:41.259 So if you've done it for yourself, you will be repaid. 00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:44.660 But you're going to be repaid by men in this life. 00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:51.279 And if you've done it for others, you're going to be repaid by God at the resurrection. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:55.839 I tell you, God is probably the one you want to go for on this one. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:14:02.000 You know, this is very, very difficult for us. 00:14:02.060 --> 00:14:03.660 Because we live in Hong Kong. 00:14:03.780 --> 00:14:07.960 Such a fast-paced, such an instant gratification society. 00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:09.259 Everything is instant, right? 00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:14.639 This week I had one of those little, I tried for the first time those instant capsule coffees. 00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:16.300 And it was, this is it. 00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:17.420 This is better than Starbucks. 00:14:17.560 --> 00:14:18.519 Right there, instant. 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:21.299 And we just have everything so instant. 00:14:21.419 --> 00:14:22.759 We want it straight away. 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:24.039 We don't want to wait for anything. 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:27.720 Jesus is saying, get an eternal perspective on things. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:29.500 I haven't forgotten about you. 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:30.460 I know what I'm doing. 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:34.159 And I will be the one who's going to repay you. 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:37.399 Because you see, the future is more important than the present. 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:40.659 We put so much emphasis on the here and now. 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:42.419 And Jesus is saying, think about the future. 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:44.039 Think about the future. 00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:50.099 All right, at this point, things have gone very quiet around the table. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.980 And he said, right, we're going to talk about humility. 00:14:54.339 --> 00:14:55.740 And he looks at the guests. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:56.639 They're turned now. 00:14:57.659 --> 00:15:01.759 And I've been to quite a few Chinese wedding banquets. 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:05.740 And whenever you arrive, there's lots of flowers and everything is pink. 00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:07.219 They just seem to love pink. 00:15:07.219 --> 00:15:10.120 There's lots of pink at a Chinese banquet wedding. 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:15.399 And there's a list usually outside of all the people's names, right? 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:18.460 And you've got to look at the list and find out where you've got to sit. 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:24.539 And obviously, the closer you are to the bridal table, that's more important people. 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:28.360 And the further back you sit, that's obviously you're not that important. 00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:31.360 For some reason, I always find myself sitting far away. 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:33.220 I haven't worked there or not yet. 00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:37.460 But in those days, there wasn't a list, right? 00:15:37.540 --> 00:15:38.759 You didn't have a list. 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:42.899 You just walked in and they told you where to sit. 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:49.139 Now, it could have been that as Jesus walked in, he was the VIP guest at this lunch. 00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:52.920 And someone was sitting in his place. 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:57.879 And it wasn't just a case of, excuse me, move over one seat. 00:15:58.279 --> 00:15:59.879 Because they were all taken. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:04.319 And it could have been that someone had to be sent right to the bottom. 00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:07.519 Because every other place was now full. 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:15.299 But Jesus says something so important right now that he says it on at least five other occasions. 00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:18.360 He says those who exalt themselves will be humbled. 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:22.240 And those who humble themselves will be exalted. 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:31.479 After I had graduated from university, I worked for a German electrical engineering company. 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:32.419 So there you go, Mark. 00:16:32.479 --> 00:16:33.259 One for the Germans. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:37.339 And I was an intern. 00:16:37.699 --> 00:16:41.500 And I was being walked around the office by my mentor. 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:45.099 And she was introducing me to the different people in the department. 00:16:45.459 --> 00:16:47.620 And also the different business units. 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:51.659 And as we were walking along, she was chatting to me, telling me about the company. 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:55.719 And she said, oh, there comes the CFO of the company. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:59.279 And she said to me, this is genuinely, she whispered in my mind. 00:16:59.339 --> 00:17:01.719 She said, he's not very good at his job. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:04.480 But he sells himself very well. 00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:06.099 You can learn from him. 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:09.759 So, I don't know. 00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:11.139 I don't know why she said that to me. 00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:14.759 But anyway, so we walked up and we met him. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:19.320 And within the two minutes interaction, he was very friendly. 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:22.200 But within the two minutes, I chatted with him. 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:27.140 He told me that he had just been to a meeting where obviously the colleagues were pretty useless 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.840 and didn't really know what to do. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:31.420 But he had been the savior and put it right. 00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:36.920 And if I could please excuse him, because he was on the way to another meeting of people who were also incompetent 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.740 to put that situation right. 00:17:39.340 --> 00:17:40.420 And then he left. 00:17:42.060 --> 00:17:46.500 And about, and he did. 00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:48.440 He exalted himself and it worked for him. 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:49.759 He was the CFO of the company. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:57.700 But about four years after that, the CFO was arrested for fraud. 00:17:57.819 --> 00:18:03.339 He had been ciphering money off the company accounts into his own personal bank account. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:12.319 And he was led off the premises of this company with handcuffs and escorted out by the police in front of all the employees. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:15.539 Those who exalt themselves will be humbled. 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:18.339 And those who humble themselves will be exalted. 00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:21.899 And you see, we tend to exalt ourselves in one of two ways. 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:25.099 One way is we push ourselves up. 00:18:25.459 --> 00:18:27.199 We talk ourselves up. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:31.179 We say and do the right things and make sure that we see him doing them. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:35.899 But another way that we exalt ourselves is to push people down. 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:40.539 If we can make other people look bad, it makes us look good. 00:18:41.659 --> 00:18:45.220 Just as I was going through this, I was thinking about my office, right? 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:51.480 And just where I'm working this week and in every little conversation we're having, this is happening, right? 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:55.079 This exalting of ourselves and humbling others. 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:59.740 But God says, let me take care of it. 00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:03.339 How about you take the bottom seat and let me exalt you? 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.700 Let me look after you. 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:09.100 My grandfather died before I was born. 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:11.180 But my mom always told me this story about him. 00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:17.660 She said that whenever there was a bowl of fruit on the table, by the way, South Africans have good fruit. 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:20.059 There was a big bowl of fruit. 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:26.240 My grandfather would always take the worst piece, the piece that was bruised, a little bit rotting. 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:29.279 And everyone asked him, why do you take the worst piece? 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:31.099 Everyone else takes the best piece first. 00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:31.680 Why are you taking it? 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:36.339 He said, if I don't have this one, someone else will have to have it. 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:42.920 And he was expressing humility through choosing a piece of fruit. 00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:49.500 See, because humility can involve sacrificing something in order that others might have. 00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:52.859 My grandfather did it with a piece of fruit. 00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:57.159 Maybe we need to think about the way we express humility. 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:01.799 It can be giving up your seat for someone else. 00:20:02.159 --> 00:20:09.199 But it can also mean how we spend our time with people and who we choose to spend our time with. 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:12.839 We can express our humility in many ways. 00:20:14.099 --> 00:20:21.059 But in this story, I kind of look at it and I pick out four characteristics of Jesus 00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:22.940 that just seem to shine through. 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:25.259 Because Jesus is the hero of the story. 00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:27.139 And I know he's the hero of every story. 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:29.440 But he really is the hero of the story. 00:20:29.899 --> 00:20:33.240 Because there's four characteristics of his that come out. 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:35.419 And actually they come out through the whole New Testament. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.879 But here they are. 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:41.200 Number one, his knowledge of people. 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:46.379 Jesus knew what was in people's hearts. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:49.639 He knew what they needed long before they even told him. 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:51.259 And he walked into that meal. 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:55.400 And he knew that one person was suffering physically. 00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:59.000 But he also knew one person was sick in his heart. 00:20:59.560 --> 00:21:05.820 And he also knew that there were a whole lot of guests there that were just filled with selfish ambition and selfish thoughts. 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.600 His knowledge of people. 00:21:09.540 --> 00:21:13.759 The second thing I see about Jesus is his concern for people. 00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:17.400 You know, some people know, but they don't care. 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:21.100 Jesus knows and he cares. 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:28.800 From the moment he walked into that dinner, he dealt with the suffering he saw. 00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:30.720 He dealt with a sick man's suffering. 00:21:30.820 --> 00:21:34.400 He dealt with spiritual pride and tradition because he was concerned. 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:45.500 The third thing I see about Jesus is his generosity towards people. 00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:47.860 Isn't Jesus generous? 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:50.720 You know, the word is give. 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:51.700 Give. 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:53.580 Jesus gives. 00:21:53.580 --> 00:21:53.640 Jesus gives. 00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:54.519 Healing. 00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:56.640 Jesus gives. 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:57.920 Correction. 00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:59.700 Jesus gives. 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:00.720 Rebuke. 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:08.080 And you know, we can be, me, this includes me, we can be very grateful for Jesus' generosity, for his healing in our lives. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:11.039 But maybe we're not so grateful when he corrects us. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:12.039 Jesus gives. 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:24.079 Another thing we need to think about is this Pharisee invited people to a dinner. 00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:31.700 And they could possibly, he would give them food that could sustain them for, could sustain life for a couple of hours. 00:22:32.379 --> 00:22:34.539 But Jesus is so much more generous than that. 00:22:34.639 --> 00:22:38.420 He's offering a meal, not just to a select few, but to everyone. 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:42.340 And he's just not offering something that will sustain you for a few hours. 00:22:42.560 --> 00:22:48.820 He's offering himself, which will sustain you for life, welling up to eternal life. 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.880 That's generosity. 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:54.820 Jesus is offering himself. 00:22:57.580 --> 00:23:03.660 And the fourth thing I see about Jesus in the story is his freedom from people. 00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:10.400 You know, just as I read the story, I wonder if I could resist that offer of popularity. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:17.160 You see, all Jesus had to do to be popular, he just had to go to that meal, sit down, enjoy it. 00:23:17.580 --> 00:23:20.100 And he could have healed the man with droxy the next day. 00:23:21.060 --> 00:23:23.519 Jesus would have had a whole new group of friends. 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:27.600 Jesus would have been extremely popular amongst the religious leaders. 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:33.480 But you see, Jesus is not bound to what man's expectation of his enemies. 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:39.419 He's not, he's completely independent of what we think of how he should behave. 00:23:40.179 --> 00:23:41.419 He deals with it. 00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:43.079 Totally free. 00:23:43.159 --> 00:23:45.339 And just thinking about these four things, 00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:48.819 in it, I see the cross. 00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:54.399 Because God knew his knowledge of people. 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:57.720 God knew the state that man would get himself into. 00:23:57.980 --> 00:24:01.899 God knew that we would mess up and totally defy him. 00:24:04.179 --> 00:24:06.319 But God was also concerned about it. 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:09.480 He was so concerned that he did something about it. 00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:15.579 God is so generous that he gave his only son. 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:17.460 God knew that he would have been able to do something about it. 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:22.419 And when we come to the cross, we come and experience real freedom. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.980 That's the story of the cross. 00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:30.819 And so, I'm going to stop now. 00:24:31.379 --> 00:24:33.179 But just to conclude the story, 00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:38.480 I think we might see someone who's aggressive and rude, 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.720 and we just don't know why. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:41.879 And I asked us to think about this question at the beginning. 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:44.960 Why did Jesus behave that way? 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:50.559 And you see, Jesus is actually putting his finger on much more important issues. 00:24:51.620 --> 00:24:54.420 And he's not going to ask us, you know, 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:57.120 if we always said our please and thank yous. 00:24:57.220 --> 00:25:02.140 If we always did what was seemingly the right thing in front of people. 00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:04.500 He's going to ask much deeper questions. 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.799 He's going to ask you, 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:07.799 what is the state of your heart? 00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:11.419 How did you respond to him? 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:14.700 Did you always seek to get? 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:17.240 Or did you want to give? 00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:18.519 Did you use people? 00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:20.500 Or did you love them? 00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:26.200 Here's the big question. 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:27.319 In Sunday school, 00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.940 the curriculum that we have now, 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:31.359 there's always called the big question for the day. 00:25:31.659 --> 00:25:33.539 For me, this is the massive question. 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.879 It comes down to this. 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:35.839 When I look at it, 00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:37.079 I need to ask myself, 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:42.119 who am I at that table? 00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:45.279 Am I the host? 00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:49.519 Who might look like I've got it all together on the outside, 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.579 but the truth is, 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.579 my heart is really sick. 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:54.599 And I need Jesus. 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:57.939 Am I one of the guests? 00:25:58.919 --> 00:26:00.899 I'm only really thinking of myself. 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:01.980 What I can get, 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:03.220 and that I can get it now. 00:26:03.339 --> 00:26:05.119 And I don't really care who I push on, 00:26:05.679 --> 00:26:07.059 but I'm going to get it. 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:09.699 Or am I the sick man, 00:26:10.199 --> 00:26:13.059 who's being used by other people, 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:15.220 who's suffering? 00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:18.439 Or am I Jesus, 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:21.340 who's bringing the kingdom of God 00:26:21.340 --> 00:26:22.960 to those who need it? 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:25.640 And if I'm honest with you, 00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:29.420 sometimes I can be all of those people, 00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:32.140 but I know which one I'm the least of. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:36.799 Who are you at that table? 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:40.759 And I want to leave you with this, 00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.640 because for me, 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:43.380 this is the most encouraging thing, 00:26:44.320 --> 00:26:47.840 is that just a few chapters later, 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:49.859 which would have been a few days later, 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:53.179 Jesus' disciples who would have been there, 00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:54.419 they would have known what was said, 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.779 they would have known how Jesus 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:57.399 interacted with this Pharisee, 00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:59.599 they themselves start arguing 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:01.019 who is the greatest, 00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:02.519 and who should sit next to Jesus, 00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:03.839 just a few days later. 00:27:04.899 --> 00:27:05.579 And you know what? 00:27:05.679 --> 00:27:07.099 The most amazing thing to me 00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:08.159 is that Jesus, 00:27:08.899 --> 00:27:10.059 he doesn't give up on them. 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:12.419 He doesn't throw them out and think, 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:14.519 man, I picked the wrong guys, 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:16.119 I need to start again, 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.839 let's get them out. 00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:18.039 These guys just don't get it. 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:18.959 No, he's not like that. 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:22.299 Jesus is incredibly patient with these guys. 00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:23.759 And you know what? 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:25.699 The disciples finally learned, 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:26.879 they finally learned that actually 00:27:26.879 --> 00:27:28.439 the way up in the Christian life 00:27:28.439 --> 00:27:29.459 is the way down. 00:27:29.879 --> 00:27:32.039 The way to life is through death. 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.419 When they got that, 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.119 when they got that, 00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:34.919 when they allowed, 00:27:35.639 --> 00:27:37.779 when they saw Jesus for who he really is, 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:39.639 and they really allowed Jesus 00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.619 to work in their lives, 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:43.000 Jesus managed to turn those men 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.880 into some of the most amazing men 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:46.779 who have ever walked this planet. 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.559 And you know what the most encouraging thing 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.400 for me today is? 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:51.920 Is it's the same Jesus 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:53.720 that was able to change those men 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:55.559 and turn their hearts around 00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:57.059 and turn their priorities around 00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:58.220 and make the men 00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.539 who were prepared to die 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.680 and lay down their lives 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.900 for the king and the kingdom. 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.680 That same Jesus 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:04.619 is the same Jesus 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:05.700 who works in my life 00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:06.579 and it's the same Jesus 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:07.839 who can work in your life. 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:10.039 because like that Pharisee, 00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:11.139 I need him. 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:12.519 Like that sick person, 00:28:12.939 --> 00:28:13.720 I need him. 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:21.579 Thank you so much for listening. 00:28:21.919 --> 00:28:23.439 I think you've all been very patient, 00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:25.419 especially listening to a South African. 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.779 But thank you. 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.939 I'd like to close 00:28:28.939 --> 00:28:30.500 and I'd like to pray for us. 00:28:30.639 --> 00:28:32.059 But just before I do, 00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:33.899 I just want to remind you, 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:36.299 let's look at Jesus, right? 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.240 Just look at him 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.539 and look what he does with people. 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.539 Lord Jesus, 00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:46.519 thank you that you are the God 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:48.599 and the creator of all things. 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.980 Lord, I thank you 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:52.459 that you are a king 00:28:52.459 --> 00:28:53.759 and you are a humble king. 00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:58.359 Lord, I pray for the church of Watermark. 00:28:58.459 --> 00:29:00.059 I pray for the body of Christ 00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:01.959 that we will be a people 00:29:01.959 --> 00:29:03.099 that look to you. 00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:04.439 We will be a people 00:29:04.439 --> 00:29:06.000 that see our need 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:07.240 and our dependence 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.579 on you. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.359 We will be a people 00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:11.160 that love you 00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.460 and by loving you 00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.720 that we will in turn 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:15.400 love other people, Lord. 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:18.180 Father, I pray for us 00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:19.380 that as we go out 00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:20.620 into the weak, Lord God, 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:21.599 that we will realize 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:23.200 that you are for us. 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:24.500 And Lord Jesus, 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:26.460 where we humble ourselves, 00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:27.259 it is you 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.460 who will exalt us, 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.980 you who will lift us up. 00:29:31.099 --> 00:29:32.059 Jesus, we want to say 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:32.859 that we love you 00:29:32.859 --> 00:29:33.640 and we thank you 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:34.920 that you're concerned about us. 00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:35.460 We thank you 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.200 that you know 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:37.060 about everything 00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:37.779 that we are. 00:29:38.840 --> 00:29:39.960 In Jesus' name, 00:29:40.620 --> 00:29:40.920 Amen.