WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.860 I'm going to read from Matthew 12, verse 38 to 50. 00:00:09.540 --> 00:00:12.720 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, 00:00:13.300 --> 00:00:16.080 Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you. 00:00:17.100 --> 00:00:17.940 But he answered them, 00:00:18.580 --> 00:00:21.679 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:27.039 but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:32.939 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:38.920 so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 00:00:40.060 --> 00:00:45.219 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, 00:00:45.739 --> 00:00:48.640 for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, 00:00:49.060 --> 00:00:53.480 and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 00:00:53.479 --> 00:01:00.079 The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, 00:01:00.439 --> 00:01:04.780 for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:09.719 and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:15.599 When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, 00:01:16.099 --> 00:01:21.400 it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:22.980 Then it says, 00:01:23.540 --> 00:01:25.540 I'll return to my house from which I came. 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:31.360 And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 00:01:32.580 --> 00:01:37.000 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, 00:01:37.219 --> 00:01:39.080 and they enter and dwell there. 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:43.060 And the last state of that person is worse than the first. 00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:48.140 So also will it be with this evil generation. 00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:52.200 While he was still speaking to the people, 00:01:52.420 --> 00:01:56.859 behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside asking to speak to him. 00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:59.540 But he replied to the man who told him, 00:02:00.500 --> 00:02:02.120 Who's my mother and who are my brothers? 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:06.180 And stretching out his hands towards his disciples, he said, 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:08.819 Here are my mother and my brothers, 00:02:09.379 --> 00:02:12.539 for whoever does the will of my Father in heaven 00:02:12.539 --> 00:02:16.500 is my brother and sister and mother. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:29.299 Well, sometimes I put my wife, Emma, to the test. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:33.199 Not a memory test or an academic test, 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:34.379 because I know how that would end. 00:02:34.379 --> 00:02:38.139 And I've got her permission, by the way, to tell you this, 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:39.319 just in case you're wondering. 00:02:40.419 --> 00:02:45.359 I sometimes set up a test for Emma to prove that she loves me. 00:02:46.099 --> 00:02:50.000 But I don't ruin it by telling her that I'm testing her. 00:02:50.979 --> 00:02:52.060 She doesn't need to know that. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:53.719 Here's how it works. 00:02:54.079 --> 00:02:56.300 I decide it's time for another test. 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:00.460 She needs to prove she cares about me, she loves me. 00:03:00.460 --> 00:03:04.060 Then in my mind I set up the expectation, 00:03:04.200 --> 00:03:08.500 the particular expectation, to see if she passes or fails. 00:03:09.200 --> 00:03:10.780 It might be something as simple as this. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:14.640 If Emma cared how busy and stressed I am today, 00:03:15.300 --> 00:03:19.620 as we both smell that unpleasant smell coming from Sam's nappy, 00:03:20.900 --> 00:03:26.580 she would volunteer to take pressure off my day to change that nappy. 00:03:26.740 --> 00:03:28.140 She would do that. 00:03:28.139 --> 00:03:31.979 And if she does it, well, she loves me. 00:03:32.059 --> 00:03:32.939 She cares about me. 00:03:33.099 --> 00:03:36.179 I can get on happily with my day until the next test. 00:03:37.099 --> 00:03:40.639 But if she fails, then she doesn't care about me, obviously, 00:03:40.799 --> 00:03:42.679 and I can be just annoyed and bitter. 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:50.159 Do you see what's wrong with creating these little tests? 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:55.020 It's not only unfair, like it's completely unfair. 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:58.300 I'm setting up all the parameters of this test, 00:03:58.359 --> 00:04:00.120 not even telling her what's at stake. 00:04:02.180 --> 00:04:06.979 It's not only self-centred and inconsiderate of what's going on for Emma 00:04:06.979 --> 00:04:07.740 in that moment. 00:04:08.359 --> 00:04:09.740 Like I'm not even thinking about her. 00:04:09.979 --> 00:04:11.340 It's just totally about me. 00:04:11.340 --> 00:04:17.019 I think the worst thing about it is that I'm being willfully blind 00:04:17.019 --> 00:04:20.439 to everything else she's done. 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:26.199 It's dismissing out of the equation the years, 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:30.459 the mountains of evidence that Emma does indeed care for me. 00:04:30.459 --> 00:04:37.099 It's ignoring all that and demanding that she proves it in this particular way 00:04:37.099 --> 00:04:40.019 right now that I've come up with. 00:04:42.919 --> 00:04:44.159 It's so ridiculous. 00:04:45.019 --> 00:04:50.060 And I have a feeling I'm not alone in setting up these kind of little tests 00:04:50.060 --> 00:04:52.519 in our relationships, our friendships. 00:04:52.519 --> 00:05:04.879 Do you create tests for God to prove himself and his love for you? 00:05:07.740 --> 00:05:13.279 If God loves me, he will enable me to be successful in my work. 00:05:13.419 --> 00:05:14.680 People will appreciate me. 00:05:15.339 --> 00:05:18.180 If that happens, he's obviously blessing me. 00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:20.779 If that doesn't happen, he's not behind me. 00:05:20.779 --> 00:05:21.599 He's not for me. 00:05:22.859 --> 00:05:26.180 If I raise my children to go to church and be good Christians, 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:29.620 then God will bless my kids with success in their studies, 00:05:29.740 --> 00:05:32.819 a good, stable job, a family, grandkids. 00:05:34.379 --> 00:05:38.699 If God really wants me to thrive, he will take away that illness 00:05:38.699 --> 00:05:42.839 from my body, from my mind, if he really loves me. 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:47.719 If I really belong at church, God will give me a few close friends 00:05:47.719 --> 00:05:48.839 I enjoy being with. 00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:52.859 I'm just plucking a few examples from the air. 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:58.639 I suspect we do a lot more of these particular tests of God, 00:05:58.719 --> 00:06:00.699 whether he actually cares for us or not. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:06.879 But in setting up these tests for God to prove himself to us, 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:13.099 we dismiss the mountains of evidence that he loves us all in Jesus, 00:06:13.100 --> 00:06:14.820 what he's given us in Jesus. 00:06:16.260 --> 00:06:21.660 So we pick up the story today with the religious experts asking Jesus 00:06:21.660 --> 00:06:22.620 for a sign. 00:06:23.660 --> 00:06:25.340 So it sounds respectful. 00:06:25.520 --> 00:06:28.460 Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you. 00:06:28.459 --> 00:06:37.239 So why the response from Jesus, an evil, an evil and adulterous generation 00:06:37.239 --> 00:06:38.459 seeks for a sign? 00:06:40.039 --> 00:06:42.939 And that's a pretty harsh response. 00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:47.240 Well, first, let's make sure we understand what a sign is. 00:06:48.139 --> 00:06:52.439 There's plenty of occasions in the Old Testament of a sign. 00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:55.879 Signs are fine if the Lord initiates a sign. 00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:59.980 There's a few occasions where God provides a sign. 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:02.779 They're not inherently wrong. 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:07.920 Or the Lord can be really patient and gracious with people. 00:07:08.719 --> 00:07:10.600 They should just take him at his word, 00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:15.219 but sometimes he provides a sign to back up the word, 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:16.899 like in the case of Gideon. 00:07:16.899 --> 00:07:20.239 I think Gideon is probably one of the most well-known examples, 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:24.319 where Gideon is told, defend my people. 00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:25.239 Go out. 00:07:25.339 --> 00:07:26.239 I'll give you victory. 00:07:26.779 --> 00:07:27.519 Defend my people. 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:31.839 And Gideon's like, oh, I'm not sure. 00:07:32.599 --> 00:07:33.979 Is this really from God? 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:35.219 Am I assured of victory? 00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:37.979 And so he puts out the wool fleece outside. 00:07:38.779 --> 00:07:40.599 With the condensation in the morning, 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:45.460 if the wool fleece is dry, then that would be impossible. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:47.760 Like, that must be God doing that. 00:07:47.820 --> 00:07:49.120 Therefore, I can trust his word. 00:07:50.080 --> 00:07:52.640 Then God does it, and then he flips the sign around. 00:07:52.900 --> 00:07:55.060 He needs it three times, I think. 00:07:56.040 --> 00:07:58.780 Now, God graciously provided that sign. 00:07:59.020 --> 00:08:00.760 He should have just taken him at his word, 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:04.439 but he did graciously reassure Gideon. 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:08.819 Now, I think we take a wrong step as Christians today 00:08:08.819 --> 00:08:12.420 to try and treat our decisions in life like Gideon. 00:08:12.779 --> 00:08:17.199 Please understand, that was an expression of lack of faith, 00:08:17.540 --> 00:08:18.699 to ask for that sign. 00:08:19.339 --> 00:08:20.720 He should have taken him at his word. 00:08:22.259 --> 00:08:24.959 But anyway, talking about guidance is a topic for another day. 00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:29.159 Where am I? 00:08:29.160 --> 00:08:34.980 I had an experience of someone asking for a blatant sign 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:37.700 when I was a scripture teacher, 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:40.700 teaching scripture to high school students. 00:08:41.220 --> 00:08:44.220 So I was teaching a lesson on how God had created the world, 00:08:45.779 --> 00:08:49.860 and this little boy wasn't, he was about the same height as me, 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:54.639 but this 12-year-old boy hiked up and said, 00:08:55.540 --> 00:08:56.440 yeah, we'll prove it. 00:08:57.160 --> 00:08:59.820 If God is real, then he can make a bird come 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:01.100 and land on that branch. 00:09:01.460 --> 00:09:04.300 We were in the second story of the school 00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:05.520 and there was a tree just outside. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:08.580 He can make a bird come and land on that branch. 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:09.160 Prove it. 00:09:10.540 --> 00:09:11.640 And I was really conflicted. 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:13.820 I'm like, oh, I know God could easily do that. 00:09:13.920 --> 00:09:15.800 I just want to shut this boy down. 00:09:17.920 --> 00:09:20.820 I was like, no, he's putting God to the test. 00:09:21.920 --> 00:09:25.520 And so I decided instead, I scrapped the rest of the lesson plan. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:28.899 And I go, I'm just going to read Mark's gospel, the early chapters, 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:30.399 see how far we get. 00:09:30.539 --> 00:09:31.740 That's the proof you need. 00:09:32.419 --> 00:09:34.120 Look at Jesus and what he's done. 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:35.600 And so I start reading. 00:09:36.199 --> 00:09:38.579 I think we get four chapters in, and I kid you not, 00:09:38.699 --> 00:09:41.360 at the end of the lesson, a bird landed on that branch. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:43.659 And, yeah, I didn't ask for that to happen, 00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:46.039 but God was gracious there. 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:51.079 But a sign is something observable. 00:09:52.199 --> 00:09:54.139 It is unusual. 00:09:55.819 --> 00:10:01.639 And it's told ahead of time so that only God could tell the future 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:02.879 and make that happen. 00:10:03.659 --> 00:10:08.259 So that it's trying to work out, is the source of this message 00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:12.519 really from God, is to back up whatever message or the messenger 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:16.439 that it's attached to. 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:20.919 So asking for a sign presumes that you have a sincere doubt 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:22.519 that you want clarified. 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:25.480 And it presumes you'll go where the evidence takes you. 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:30.360 If the sign succeeds, you'll believe, fails, 00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:33.220 then obviously it's not from God. 00:10:33.220 --> 00:10:35.820 That doesn't sound so bad. 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:39.720 Like, it even appears godly on the surface for the Pharisees 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:40.740 to ask for a sign. 00:10:41.779 --> 00:10:43.360 Jesus, show that you're from God. 00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:47.700 But let's not forget the setting here. 00:10:48.779 --> 00:10:55.759 They had just witnessed with their own eyes a man who is blind and mute 00:10:55.759 --> 00:11:01.960 suddenly, immediately open his eyes and speak. 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:04.320 Glorifying God, no doubt. 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:07.040 They had just witnessed that. 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:11.259 And remember their accusation against him. 00:11:12.400 --> 00:11:17.940 They are already convinced that he is an agent of evil to deceive people. 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:22.240 This request for a sign, they are expecting a negative result. 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:24.960 They want Jesus to fail the test. 00:11:26.420 --> 00:11:29.500 And look, he doesn't produce a sign. 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:31.879 They might be saying. 00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:41.940 Jesus caused their request evil because it is so unbelieving. 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:48.419 It totally dismisses all of his ministry and even the testimony 00:11:48.419 --> 00:11:49.700 of the Old Testament as well. 00:11:49.700 --> 00:11:55.900 I think we see five things that the Pharisees are totally dismissing 00:11:55.900 --> 00:11:56.780 from the equation. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:03.460 The first thing, they have witnessed and they have heard many reports 00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:06.420 of the miracles Jesus has done. 00:12:06.660 --> 00:12:10.680 The full restoration he is bringing to people's lives. 00:12:11.280 --> 00:12:13.500 Like the cleansing of the leper. 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:15.480 The calming of the storm. 00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:16.919 The casting out of demons. 00:12:17.059 --> 00:12:20.779 The healing of the paralytic to show that he's got authority to forgive sins. 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:23.500 The woman bleeding for 12 years. 00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:28.320 The 12-year-old girl who was dead brought back to life and restored to her family. 00:12:28.779 --> 00:12:32.480 The healing of the blind and the mute and the man with the withered hand. 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:35.379 The vast amounts of healing wherever he went. 00:12:35.379 --> 00:13:03.419 The second thing they're dismissing is Jesus offering the ultimate sign 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:07.799 that he has the full backing of God to bring in this kingdom. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:12.659 So that's what I think the sign of Jonah is about. 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:19.699 No sign will be given to this generation except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 00:13:19.699 --> 00:13:23.519 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, 00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:28.860 so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:35.639 If you want rock solid, observable proof told ahead of time, 00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:42.360 completely unusual event to know that Jesus has authority of God to give you the kingdom, 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:49.200 then look at him going into death and on the third day rising again. 00:13:50.060 --> 00:13:51.519 That's the only proof you need. 00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:54.779 It is the ultimate sign. 00:13:54.779 --> 00:14:01.279 The resurrection is all you need to be sure Jesus is worthy of all your trust. 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:04.620 So can I pause for a moment? 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:08.819 If you were genuinely searching Christianity at the moment, 00:14:10.679 --> 00:14:13.720 I would encourage you, keep reading the story of Jesus. 00:14:14.579 --> 00:14:18.319 I would encourage you, keep asking hard and scrutinising questions. 00:14:18.459 --> 00:14:19.019 That's fine. 00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:21.620 But most of all, look into the resurrection. 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:26.259 Christianity stands or falls on the resurrection. 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:35.500 It is the sign, the proof we need that Jesus has all authority to give us the kingdom, 00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:37.480 to give us eternal life. 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:48.700 The third thing this demand for a sign dismisses is that it's they who have the problem 00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:50.560 and need to repent. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:53.820 So Jesus says, 00:14:53.900 --> 00:14:59.020 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:01.180 for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, 00:15:02.040 --> 00:15:04.680 and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:10.300 Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, 00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:13.139 and they were known for their violence and brutality. 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:22.579 And Jonah came preaching, I think in 40 days, God's going to demolish this city. 00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:25.219 He's going to judge this city. 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:28.539 And it's possible that they heard what happened to Jonah himself, 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:32.639 that he was cast overboard into the sea, but God delivered him. 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:35.220 So maybe he was a walking sign. 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:36.159 That's possible. 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:42.899 Either way, these very violent people, they stop eating and drinking. 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:44.100 They pray. 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:48.720 They beg God for mercy. 00:15:50.439 --> 00:15:51.939 And God has compassion on them. 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:55.000 He doesn't judge them. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.460 He saves them. 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:01.580 They listened to the message of Jonah. 00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:02.559 Jonah. 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:03.360 They repented. 00:16:05.439 --> 00:16:07.980 Likewise with Solomon, you've got the Queen of Sheba, 00:16:08.539 --> 00:16:11.980 which is somewhere kind of Saudi Arabia, Yemen way. 00:16:12.980 --> 00:16:16.319 Again, a non-Israelite example here. 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:19.980 She heard of the kingdom that Solomon was establishing by his wisdom. 00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:28.799 If you read those chapters, it is the pinnacle of the Jewish kingdom being established, 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:32.699 the promised kingdom in the Old Testament. 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:35.159 The temple in all its glory is set up. 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:37.539 You've got enormous prosperity. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:41.319 You've got joy and peace among the people. 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:43.519 You've got peace from enemies around. 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:46.860 It is the pinnacle. 00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:53.620 We're told that when the queen comes and sees it and listens to Solomon's wisdom, she's without breath. 00:16:53.620 --> 00:17:02.700 She's just flabbergasted by how amazing this kingdom is, this wisdom of Solomon is. 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:06.079 It was the preaching of Jonah. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:15.500 It was the wisdom of Solomon that caused these people who were outside the kingdom to come to acknowledge that God is God. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.400 That's all they needed. 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:20.039 It was the message that they responded to. 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:28.640 By dismissing that the problem was with them and not with Jesus, 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:37.700 the Pharisees are forfeiting the forgiveness and the peace that is on offer in Jesus' message. 00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:46.460 If only they listened, they could have had, they could be part of Jesus' kingdom. 00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:50.559 The fourth thing they're dismissing is Jesus' teaching. 00:17:52.360 --> 00:17:56.279 They're dismissing the life-giving words of his teaching. 00:17:59.120 --> 00:18:04.759 So I suppose I just want to remind us of the Sermon on the Mount. 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:07.160 We spent a few weeks in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:14.200 Could you imagine how it would change your life if we believed and lived the Sermon on the Mount? 00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:17.920 It would make a radical difference to our lives. 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:24.539 Blessed are the meek, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:29.860 It's yours now by being meek. 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:36.980 Instead of external laws, Jesus goes, no, the kingdom is an inside reality. 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:38.819 It convicts us of sin. 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:47.900 Murder isn't only judgeable, but when you hate your brother, that would convict us of sin and make us meek 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:50.400 and look to Jesus for a better righteousness. 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:56.839 It motivates us from the heart to obey, not because we have to obey some external rules. 00:18:56.839 --> 00:19:05.819 Imagine if we practice our prayers to God and our giving in secret, only for God's eyes only, 00:19:05.939 --> 00:19:08.779 not so that others see us to get the glory from them. 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:12.259 Imagine we had that kind of integrity in our religion. 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:22.319 Imagine if we trusted Jesus when he said that we don't have to chase after what the world chases with food and clothing. 00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:24.879 That's what the world chases after. 00:19:25.879 --> 00:19:27.480 But God is a good father. 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:29.099 He'll give you what you need. 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:30.759 Seek first the kingdom. 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:34.240 Imagine the peace we would have if we believed that. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:40.059 And then we told him, don't condemn one another. 00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:45.720 Take the plank out of your own eye so that then you can deal with the speck in your brother's eye. 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:47.579 Imagine if we practiced that. 00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:55.079 If we built our house on Jesus' teaching, our life would be solid. 00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:57.200 It would be on firm foundation. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:01.960 Now, that's just a few examples of his teaching to remind us. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.740 They are life-giving words. 00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:09.319 He is the ultimate prophet. 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:13.819 He is speaking a greater revelation. 00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:20.259 He is the ultimate wisdom from God, setting up the kingdom of God. 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:28.339 His teaching is self-authenticating because it is so good and rich. 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:35.200 But this isn't the kind of kingdom that the Pharisees want, and so they dismiss it. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.500 They're dismissing his teaching. 00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:39.559 It's not life-giving. 00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:41.720 That's not the kind of kingdom they are looking for. 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:50.960 The last thing that they're dismissing is that they claim to be experts in the Old Testament 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:57.720 when they're actually dismissing the fact that the Old Testament was preparing for Jesus. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:03.220 Jesus has already said, something greater than King David is here. 00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:09.740 A faithful king who won't use his people but lay down his life for his people. 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:12.559 Something greater than the temple is here. 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:17.539 Not a building but a person to be the meeting place with God. 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:21.980 Something greater than the prophet Jonah is here. 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:28.779 A greater revelation of what God is like and what belonging to him is like. 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:32.000 Something greater than the wisdom of Solomon is here. 00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:35.779 A better wisdom to establish a better kingdom. 00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:43.279 A dismissing the Old Testament and how it helps us understand Jesus. 00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:50.519 So his miracles give us a glimpse of the full restoration to come. 00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:57.599 His resurrection is all the proof we need that he does have authority to give us eternal life. 00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:05.959 We know that he has authority to forgive sins and to give us peace with the Father if only we repent. 00:22:06.879 --> 00:22:10.139 And his teaching and his wisdom are life-giving. 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:12.439 They're self-authenticating. 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:16.659 And the Old Testament helps us understand all the riches we have in Jesus. 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:21.420 They're dismissing all of that. 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:26.160 The religious experts should have been the first to say, here he is. 00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.420 Here it is. 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:28.779 Everyone, come. 00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:30.200 This is it. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:32.740 This is where life is found. 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:38.140 But by demanding a sign, they're really showing that they're willfully blind. 00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:45.160 So the asking for a sign is just plain evil. 00:22:46.780 --> 00:22:55.520 It is coming from a place of rejecting the kingdom of heaven that Jesus is clearly ushering in. 00:22:57.920 --> 00:23:02.600 Although it sounds pious, it is just blatant unbelief. 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:08.099 But Jesus also suggests that there's a deeper cause of their unbelief. 00:23:08.439 --> 00:23:10.359 Did you notice the word adulterous? 00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:17.019 An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign. 00:23:18.459 --> 00:23:19.519 Why adulterous? 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:23.059 It can't be talking about sexual adultery. 00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:25.599 There's nothing in the context that fits that. 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:30.159 It must be talking about spiritual adultery. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:41.180 In the Old Testament, this picture is used a lot, where Israel again and again and again go after the gods of the other nations. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:53.360 They're meant to be in covenant with Yahweh that Yahweh will give them life, but they always turn to other gods as if those gods will protect them and nourish them and give them the good life. 00:23:53.359 --> 00:24:00.399 They keep giving their loyalty, their devotion, their trust to other things other than Yahweh. 00:24:01.659 --> 00:24:06.119 These scribes and Pharisees claim they love God. 00:24:07.179 --> 00:24:12.059 And yet, if Jesus is clearly bringing in the kingdom, here is the kingdom. 00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:15.639 And they say, that's not enough. 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:22.319 The only reason they could come to that is if their love is for other things. 00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:26.259 Their devotion isn't directed towards God. 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:34.099 I think we get a hint of what they're really in love with in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:36.440 And we hear this a lot in John's Gospel as well. 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:40.700 What the Pharisees are really, what they really love is their own glory. 00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:44.220 They love the praise of people. 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:47.779 That's the hindrance to belief. 00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:49.099 They're not willing to give that up. 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.759 They're not willing to be meek. 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:55.220 Or consider the crowds. 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:57.420 Think of John chapter 6. 00:24:57.799 --> 00:25:00.700 Jesus has just fed the 5,000 people with bread and fish. 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:04.980 And the crowd's like, free bread, make him king. 00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:07.480 Let's make him king right now. 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:14.819 But as soon as Jesus starts talking, well, that's just a picture of me being the source of life. 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:16.039 I am the bread of heaven. 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:19.299 By the end of the chapter, most people have given up on him. 00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:20.319 They don't want it. 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:21.879 Why? 00:25:24.399 --> 00:25:26.700 Because they love their comfort. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:28.599 They want the food that spoils. 00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:33.759 They don't want the bread of eternal life. 00:25:34.919 --> 00:25:39.980 It's their spiritual adultery for other things that causes their unbelief. 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:58.220 When we put God to the test for him to prove his love for us, it dismisses everything he's given us in Jesus, every spiritual blessing. 00:25:58.220 --> 00:26:07.519 To demand what God hasn't promised reveals that some other idol is causing us to place this test on God. 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:13.319 It's actually an opportunity to test our own hearts. 00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:17.639 What we are in love with. 00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:23.680 And then to come to Christ and find the real satisfaction for the craving. 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:32.860 In the final two paragraphs, they're kind of odd paragraphs in this section. 00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:45.379 I think what's happening here is we're presented with what it looks like to either not embrace Jesus as all sufficient, all you need for all the eternal blessings God has to offer. 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:51.980 If you want everything God has to offer in Jesus, what does it look like to not embrace him? 00:26:52.520 --> 00:26:54.740 And what does it look like to embrace him? 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:57.700 I think that's what is going on here. 00:26:57.799 --> 00:27:04.740 So we get this parable of the unclean spirit going out, returning to find the house empty. 00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:14.539 And then he gets the gang together, all seven spirits, which seven maybe it's completion, like it's just full occupation. 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:19.279 And the final condition of the person is worse than the first. 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:24.980 It would be strange for Jesus to suddenly be talking about how spirit possession works. 00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:33.680 And his conclusion ties it back with, so also will it be with this evil generation. 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:36.960 So I think it's better to take this as a parable. 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:44.420 Instead of farming metaphors to create some greater, so we get some greater point. 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:48.720 He's talking about spirit possession so that we get a greater point. 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:51.180 So what is the point he's driving at? 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:55.740 I think the key is in the description of the house being empty. 00:27:56.980 --> 00:28:00.319 Totally empty, swept, put in order. 00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:07.599 The reason why they could enter the person is that the place was unoccupied. 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:11.559 It should have been occupied by Jesus himself. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:14.879 Or we might say today by Jesus' Holy Spirit. 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:17.420 It should be occupied by Jesus. 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:28.700 But to reject Jesus and his kingdom, however clean you think your inner landscape is, is actually a very dangerous condition of unbelief. 00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:34.120 The Pharisees considered themselves clean, put in order. 00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:42.539 They were leading the way in returning to the Torah, in preparing for the coming Messiah. 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:46.339 The idolatry of Israel of the past that led to their exile. 00:28:46.459 --> 00:28:47.879 The Pharisees weren't going to be like that. 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:51.139 They're going to be devoted to God's law. 00:28:52.399 --> 00:28:53.799 They thought they were clean. 00:28:53.799 --> 00:29:02.159 That would have been a wonderful preparation for Jesus coming if they had embraced him. 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:04.299 But they haven't. 00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:07.399 They haven't embraced the kingdom when it rocks up. 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:14.240 And so now they are in a much, much worse state of unbelief. 00:29:15.139 --> 00:29:17.240 They're hardened in their unbelief. 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:33.519 To not embrace Jesus as the one who's bringing all heaven's blessings is to be in a very dangerous condition of unbelief. 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:47.940 And it seems to be a particular danger for those who are religious, those who think they're clean, those who think they've got their inner self in order. 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:53.140 I imagine what it could look like today. 00:29:55.220 --> 00:30:09.180 You picture a person who attends church and he tries his best to say and do the right things, gets involved in the church community, volunteering and making friends. 00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:13.000 But slowly things change over time. 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:14.180 Friends move away. 00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:18.380 He doesn't really like the new pastor. 00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:23.120 The ministry he was involved in shuts down for some reason. 00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:27.600 And he's not really making friends anymore, new friends. 00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:32.539 And slowly just his reason for going to church just evaporates. 00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:38.759 And then you bump into him five, ten years later and he's not even identifying as a Christian anymore. 00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.960 He's heard it all before. 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:45.920 All the lines about Jesus, forgiveness and he's heard it all before. 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:48.880 He thinks he knows what Christianity is. 00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:52.120 He thinks he's experienced it by being in the church. 00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:56.299 That's a dangerous condition of being in. 00:30:59.159 --> 00:31:05.919 All because he never embraced Jesus himself for his own sake. 00:31:06.699 --> 00:31:12.859 That the blessings of the kingdom of heaven are found in Jesus for his soul. 00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:19.859 I think there's a particular danger for religious people to become hardened to the gospel. 00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:28.119 So have you embraced Jesus for his own sake? 00:31:29.939 --> 00:31:34.899 He gives your soul every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm. 00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:38.340 Have you embraced him for his own sake? 00:31:43.340 --> 00:31:52.259 So if that's what not embracing him looks like, what does embracing Jesus as all sufficient for your soul look like? 00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:58.920 That's what I think this rather oddly placed paragraph seems to be about. 00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:02.519 Jesus' mother and brothers come to the house wanting to speak to him. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:05.839 And I wonder how this response would go down on Mother's Day. 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:08.500 Who is my mother? 00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:11.019 I don't know what tone he had. 00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:13.619 Who is my mother and who are my brothers? 00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:16.259 I put that on a Mother's Day card. 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:18.000 I'm finding that too funny. 00:32:20.900 --> 00:32:22.640 I didn't write that on your card, Mum. 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.259 It's all right. 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:31.240 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples who are listening to him. 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:35.079 Here are my mother and my brothers. 00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.099 Here. 00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:36.219 Here. 00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:42.740 Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:50.019 And I don't think Jesus is downplaying the importance or appreciation of biological family. 00:32:50.139 --> 00:32:51.119 I don't think he's doing that. 00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:55.019 He's establishing a new family. 00:32:55.899 --> 00:32:57.359 A greater family. 00:32:58.359 --> 00:33:01.039 An everlasting family. 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:08.019 As you picture the rather ordinary bunch of disciples sitting around him at this point. 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:11.879 That is doing the will of the Father. 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:16.819 They're not listening to the Pharisees who are dismissing him. 00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:19.359 They are looking to Jesus as the source of life. 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:21.720 That is doing the will of the Father. 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:25.960 To see Jesus as all sufficient to give you the kingdom of heaven. 00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:30.680 Placing your hope in him to fully restore you one day. 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.559 Full restoration. 00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:34.620 Trusting in his resurrection. 00:33:35.360 --> 00:33:38.559 That he has the ability to give you eternal life. 00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:43.559 Rejoicing in the forgiveness and peace that you have with God. 00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:46.980 Because he has authority to forgive sins. 00:33:49.919 --> 00:33:54.879 Trusting that confessing your sin, you have this full forgiveness. 00:33:55.919 --> 00:33:57.839 Soaking in all his teaching. 00:33:58.159 --> 00:34:00.579 That gives you true perspective in life. 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:02.940 It's just life giving. 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:04.240 Soul nourishing. 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:14.719 And increasingly grasping what this kingdom and all the blessings we now have is all about as we understand the Old Testament and how it's fulfilled in Jesus. 00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:21.179 To see Jesus as all sufficient to give you the kingdom of heaven. 00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:24.380 That we have it right now and the best is yet to come. 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:25.380 What happens? 00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:28.519 If you embrace Jesus like that. 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:30.380 He looks at you. 00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:32.039 The king looks at you. 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:36.619 And he fully and permanently embraces you. 00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:38.940 You are my mother. 00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:42.119 You are my sister. 00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:43.980 You are my brother. 00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:53.719 God loves and accepts and treats you and cares for you as family. 00:34:53.719 --> 00:35:02.079 Not that this is something approaching what the biological family is like. 00:35:02.959 --> 00:35:04.899 It's the other way around. 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:08.079 That families, when they're going well, that is a picture. 00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:13.699 That is a taste of the even better family that we have in the kingdom of God. 00:35:14.879 --> 00:35:20.059 The joy of knowing that you are totally embraced by God. 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:25.239 Only Jesus can give you this sort of relationship. 00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:48.019 So if you have embraced Jesus as the source of all heaven's blessings, you already now know that you have, in Jesus and in God the Father, been fully and permanently embraced as family. 00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:51.119 He has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:54.400 Your future is just full of glory. 00:35:56.840 --> 00:36:04.940 So why on earth would we need to put him to the test for him to prove his love when he's embraced us so fully? 00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:08.980 Would you pray with me? 00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:09.539 Let's pray. 00:36:09.539 --> 00:36:09.559 Let's pray. 00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:09.579 Let's pray. 00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:38.199 Father, I pray that you would press deep into each of our hearts that it is in Jesus that you love us fully and permanently. 00:36:38.199 --> 00:36:46.179 Help us to appreciate that you are a good father who has fully embraced us. 00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:53.019 Please help us to look to Jesus as the source of every blessing. 00:36:53.019 --> 00:37:07.159 Forgive us for the times where we just dismiss all that and set up this test of our own creation and we evaluate your love based on that. 00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:08.300 Forgive us for those times. 00:37:08.460 --> 00:37:09.460 Please keep us from that. 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:11.199 Forgive us again when we do it tomorrow. 00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:17.179 Please push us back to Jesus again and again to know that life is found in him. 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:19.179 In his name I pray. 00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:19.679 Amen. 00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:19.759 Amen.