WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.040
 To be here this morning with my church family and to have the privilege and honor to be able to share his word with you this morning.

00:00:07.780 --> 00:00:18.280
! I have to thank you all for just for being willing to support me and my family and allowing us to have our child in the service.

00:00:18.280 --> 00:00:20.460
 That means so much to us here.

00:00:21.019 --> 00:00:23.620
 The Webb family really appreciates this church.

00:00:23.620 --> 00:00:30.359
 And we don't really know that we could be in another place other than here to be able to keep our child in the service.

00:00:30.520 --> 00:00:31.620
 And we appreciate that.

00:00:31.980 --> 00:00:35.439
 I know other families appreciate that about Christ's family as well.

00:00:36.039 --> 00:00:38.380
 If you would, turn with me to Mark chapter 11.

00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:43.079
 Mark chapter 11.

00:00:44.299 --> 00:00:47.600
 And while you're turning there, I have to commend some of our CFC students.

00:00:48.040 --> 00:00:52.299
 I talked to a couple of them this morning just to get the full story of what was going on.

00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:58.899
 But we have several of our students here that are involved with a campus organization called Students for Life.

00:01:00.019 --> 00:01:05.819
 And among other things, they raise awareness about abortion, the number of deaths that occur each year.

00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:09.719
 They stand up for their conviction that abortion is indeed murder.

00:01:09.719 --> 00:01:17.599
 And this week they stirred things up a bit with some sidewalk chalk on campus where they wrote out some statistics.

00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:19.439
 Staggering statistics, by the way.

00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:25.579
 3,500 deaths caused by abortion each day.

00:01:27.039 --> 00:01:28.239
 Every single day.

00:01:28.939 --> 00:01:35.560
 And along with that, they included, confirmed 3,500 hearts on the sidewalk.

00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:39.280
 To represent each of these lives that died.

00:01:39.379 --> 00:01:42.560
 That died every single day as a result of abortion.

00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:47.859
 And even though the rain on Friday washed it away, I assure you it didn't go unnoticed.

00:01:48.460 --> 00:01:50.020
 It was very, very much noticed.

00:01:50.140 --> 00:01:52.599
 Their reaction on social media was remarkable.

00:01:52.800 --> 00:01:55.280
 I don't know if any of you follow any of that.

00:01:55.500 --> 00:01:57.620
 But the reaction on social media was remarkable.

00:01:57.840 --> 00:01:58.560
 There was some positive.

00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:02.400
 But the backlash was noticeable as well.

00:02:03.799 --> 00:02:07.480
 And I think the entire situation was really a stark reminder of two things for me.

00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:13.699
 The first is that the moral deterioration of our country is growing at a rapid pace.

00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:17.060
 And people are becoming more and more bold about their immorality.

00:02:17.659 --> 00:02:20.460
 And about voicing immorality in our culture.

00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:24.520
 Number two is that if you stand up for biblical truth,

00:02:25.099 --> 00:02:27.699
 you are going to receive backlash.

00:02:27.699 --> 00:02:30.859
 You're going to see conflict with our culture.

00:02:31.359 --> 00:02:32.959
 That's the way that it's going to be.

00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:36.699
 And I'm proud of our students for standing up for what they believe in.

00:02:36.759 --> 00:02:38.359
 For standing up for biblical truth.

00:02:40.280 --> 00:02:43.659
 In fact, Jesus told us that it would be this way in Mark 13, 13, saying,

00:02:44.099 --> 00:02:46.639
 You will be hated by all because of my name.

00:02:47.139 --> 00:02:51.519
 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

00:02:52.799 --> 00:02:56.199
 There's no mistake that these words are recorded in all four Gospels.

00:02:56.199 --> 00:03:01.299
 These words of Jesus telling us that we will be hated because of his name.

00:03:01.859 --> 00:03:04.019
 Because Jesus knew that we would encounter conflict.

00:03:04.179 --> 00:03:07.439
 And Jesus was the one who was familiar with this conflict.

00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:11.280
 Coming into conflict constantly with the culture that he was teaching in.

00:03:12.579 --> 00:03:15.000
 And Jesus knew that we would encounter these things.

00:03:15.500 --> 00:03:16.519
 He was familiar with it.

00:03:16.579 --> 00:03:20.280
 And it happened to him over and over again throughout the Gospels.

00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:23.219
 And in the passage that we find ourselves in this morning.

00:03:23.580 --> 00:03:25.300
 It's happening to Jesus.

00:03:26.020 --> 00:03:28.819
 We're going to see the beginning of the final conflict.

00:03:29.139 --> 00:03:30.599
 Not the beginning of the conflict.

00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:34.500
 But the beginning of the final conflict that would lead up to the death of Jesus.

00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:36.400
 It would lead us up to the cross.

00:03:37.060 --> 00:03:40.240
 A couple of weeks ago we saw Jesus confront the money changers in the temple.

00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:47.500
 And this week we want to see Jesus being confronted by the Pharisees on account of what he did.

00:03:48.860 --> 00:03:54.980
 The confrontation in our text this morning was caused by Jesus' reaction to the money changers in the temple.

00:03:56.360 --> 00:04:02.780
 So Jesus overturns the tables as best as we can tell on Tuesday of what we have termed as Passion Week.

00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:07.319
 This week that were the final days of Jesus that would lead him to the cross.

00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:09.500
 Lead him ultimately to his death.

00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:13.780
 And we've come to Wednesday here in our passage in verse 27 of Mark 11.

00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:17.560
 Read along with me if you have a copy of God's Word in your hands.

00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:20.639
 And they came again to Jerusalem.

00:04:21.339 --> 00:04:25.639
 And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him.

00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:27.060
 And they said to him,

00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:30.079
 By what authority do you do these things?

00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:32.819
 Or who gave you the authority to do them?

00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:34.759
 And Jesus said to them,

00:04:35.539 --> 00:04:36.939
 I'll ask you one question.

00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:37.680
 Answer me.

00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:40.680
 And I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:44.539
 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?

00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:45.519
 Answer me.

00:04:47.159 --> 00:04:49.139
 And they discussed it with one another saying,

00:04:49.219 --> 00:04:50.120
 If we say from heaven,

00:04:50.719 --> 00:04:51.099
 He will say,

00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:52.599
 Why then do you not believe him?

00:04:53.599 --> 00:04:55.079
 But shall we say from man?

00:04:55.819 --> 00:04:57.060
 They were afraid of the people.

00:04:57.399 --> 00:04:59.680
 For they held that John was really a prophet.

00:05:01.039 --> 00:05:02.000
 And so they answered Jesus,

00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:02.859
 We do not know.

00:05:03.579 --> 00:05:04.639
 And Jesus said to them,

00:05:05.259 --> 00:05:08.279
 Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

00:05:09.379 --> 00:05:10.240
 Let's pray together.

00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:18.259
 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Word that was written for us,

00:05:19.419 --> 00:05:20.860
 for our ears to hear,

00:05:21.939 --> 00:05:24.839
 for our hearts to be compelled into action.

00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:31.699
 So, Father, this morning I do not pretend to stand up here alone to do these things on my own authority.

00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:36.519
 But I stand up here being only on the authority of the Word of God.

00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:41.599
 We thank you, Father, for your Word that it pierces as far as joint and marrow,

00:05:43.159 --> 00:05:45.139
 as far as the division of soul and spirit.

00:05:45.359 --> 00:05:48.459
 And we pray, Father, this morning that you would pierce us deeply

00:05:48.459 --> 00:05:51.519
 and convict our hearts through your Spirit.

00:05:52.699 --> 00:05:54.419
 My words are not convicting,

00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:59.019
 but your Spirit can convict our hearts for your glory and in your name.

00:05:59.019 --> 00:06:01.899
 We pray these things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.

00:06:02.539 --> 00:06:02.819
 Amen.

00:06:04.479 --> 00:06:06.959
 So what's the key word in this passage here?

00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:08.339
 It's authority.

00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:09.839
 Exousia.

00:06:10.299 --> 00:06:14.439
 It literally means freedom to act or liberty to act.

00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:18.959
 To have authority is essentially to have the right to act,

00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:20.279
 to exercise your will,

00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:21.959
 to exercise force,

00:06:22.060 --> 00:06:22.680
 to determine,

00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:23.959
 or to decide.

00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:26.180
 That's what authority is.

00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:30.779
 And no person has ever had such authority as Jesus Christ did.

00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:33.579
 He had ultimate authority,

00:06:33.819 --> 00:06:34.839
 absolute authority,

00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:36.480
 divine authority.

00:06:36.860 --> 00:06:38.339
 And He exercised it.

00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:40.759
 In Matthew 28, 18, He put it this way,

00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:44.399
 All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:46.360
 That's why Paul says,

00:06:46.459 --> 00:06:50.279
 He is far above all authority in Ephesians 6, chapter 1.

00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:52.740
 In Mark 1, 22, it says,

00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:54.160
 They were amazed,

00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:57.120
 for He was teaching as one having authority,

00:06:58.060 --> 00:06:59.399
 not as the scribes.

00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:01.439
 So what we're seeing here is

00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:04.199
 the same thing that we've really been seeing

00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:05.860
 throughout the entire Gospel of Mark

00:07:05.860 --> 00:07:07.019
 as we've been walking through,

00:07:07.480 --> 00:07:09.040
 chapter by chapter through Mark.

00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:12.159
 We've been seeing that Jesus' teaching is different.

00:07:12.300 --> 00:07:13.620
 There's something about this man.

00:07:13.620 --> 00:07:14.980
 And it's very noticeable.

00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:17.660
 Jesus teaches unlike anyone else.

00:07:18.280 --> 00:07:18.899
 When I teach,

00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:19.680
 or when Nathan teaches,

00:07:19.780 --> 00:07:20.420
 or when Clay teaches,

00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:22.399
 or when anybody teaches here at CFC,

00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:25.160
 we don't stand on our own authority.

00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:29.399
 There's nothing that gives us that authority.

00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:32.399
 We stand on the authority of the Word of God.

00:07:32.980 --> 00:07:35.480
 But Jesus is the spoken Word of God.

00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:37.439
 He is the authority.

00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:41.519
 And no less than 75 times in the Gospels,

00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:42.079
 Jesus said,

00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:43.920
 Truly I say unto you,

00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:46.040
 and then you can include the dot, dot, dot,

00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:48.279
 because He gives an incredible truth

00:07:48.279 --> 00:07:50.639
 after each time that He says these things.

00:07:51.420 --> 00:07:52.779
 He wasn't quoting anyone.

00:07:53.300 --> 00:07:54.680
 And the rabbis didn't talk this way.

00:07:54.779 --> 00:07:56.019
 Rabbis during this day typically

00:07:56.019 --> 00:07:57.600
 would quote other Scriptures

00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:00.040
 or other particularly well-versed rabbis.

00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:02.280
 But Jesus didn't have to.

00:08:02.980 --> 00:08:03.400
 Why?

00:08:03.840 --> 00:08:05.660
 Because He was the ultimate authority.

00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:07.860
 He was God's spoken Word.

00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:09.819
 Along with this,

00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:10.980
 just to make the point even stronger,

00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:13.740
 Jesus never asked for permission

00:08:13.740 --> 00:08:16.140
 from anyone to do anything.

00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:18.800
 You'll notice throughout the Gospels

00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:19.920
 and throughout the life of Christ,

00:08:20.020 --> 00:08:21.180
 He never asked permission.

00:08:22.280 --> 00:08:24.259
 He was not under any earthly authority.

00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:27.300
 He possessed all authority in Himself

00:08:27.300 --> 00:08:30.099
 as the divine Son of God.

00:08:32.299 --> 00:08:34.039
 The only authority in His life

00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:35.120
 was that perfect harmony

00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:37.019
 with the Father and the Spirit.

00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:39.460
 That He completed the Father's will

00:08:39.460 --> 00:08:40.759
 and the Spirit's power.

00:08:42.539 --> 00:08:45.019
 Jesus makes it clear to us in John 5, 19,

00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:45.600
 saying,

00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:47.179
 Truly I say to you,

00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:47.960
 and there it is again,

00:08:48.419 --> 00:08:51.100
 Him speaking on His own authority for Himself,

00:08:51.220 --> 00:08:52.220
 not quoting anyone.

00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:53.059
 He says,

00:08:53.059 --> 00:08:54.479
 Truly I say to you,

00:08:54.859 --> 00:08:56.959
 the Son can do nothing of Himself

00:08:56.959 --> 00:08:59.579
 unless it is something He sees the Father doing.

00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:01.439
 For whatever the Father does,

00:09:01.739 --> 00:09:04.739
 these things the Son also does in like manner.

00:09:06.079 --> 00:09:06.939
 So in other words,

00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:08.979
 He does what the Father does

00:09:08.979 --> 00:09:11.079
 in the same way that the Father does it.

00:09:12.679 --> 00:09:14.779
 He is under the submission to the Father.

00:09:15.179 --> 00:09:16.439
 And we also see in Scripture

00:09:16.439 --> 00:09:18.719
 that the Spirit is in submission to the Son.

00:09:20.679 --> 00:09:21.319
 This, by the way,

00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:24.740
 is one of the many theological truths

00:09:24.740 --> 00:09:26.840
 that author William Young gets simply wrong.

00:09:27.280 --> 00:09:28.700
 And it's a wildly popular book,

00:09:28.800 --> 00:09:29.120
 The Shack.

00:09:29.180 --> 00:09:30.420
 Anybody read The Shack?

00:09:31.160 --> 00:09:31.920
 Anybody want to?

00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:33.960
 Yeah, we have some Shack readers.

00:09:34.780 --> 00:09:37.440
 It was wildly popular about seven years ago.

00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:39.580
 Now that it was released,

00:09:39.800 --> 00:09:42.580
 it's still maintained some popularity.

00:09:43.300 --> 00:09:44.400
 And I have to warn you about it.

00:09:44.440 --> 00:09:45.220
 Read it with some.

00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:45.960
 If you ever read it,

00:09:46.019 --> 00:09:49.480
 read it with great reservations,

00:09:49.800 --> 00:09:52.840
 knowing that it has a lot of theological problems in it.

00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:54.620
 It is a fictional piece of work

00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:58.240
 that is intended to have theological implications.

00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:01.379
 And when you're writing a piece of work like that,

00:10:01.420 --> 00:10:02.480
 you have to be very careful.

00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:05.680
 And I don't believe that he was very careful.

00:10:05.860 --> 00:10:08.680
 It didn't handle the theological implications very well.

00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:09.800
 And this is one of the many things.

00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:12.799
 On page 124 of his book,

00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:15.000
 he writes from the perspective of God.

00:10:15.079 --> 00:10:17.779
 He has characters that are supposed to explain the Trinity.

00:10:17.979 --> 00:10:19.519
 And one of his characters is God the Father.

00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:21.079
 He has a character for God the Son.

00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:23.019
 He has a character for God the Holy Spirit.

00:10:23.959 --> 00:10:25.799
 And from the perspective of God the Father,

00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:26.779
 this is what he writes.

00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:31.719
 So you think that God must relate inside a hierarchy like you do.

00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:34.179
 But we do not.

00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:36.719
 And this is simply untrue.

00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:40.100
 We see the Trinity.

00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:41.560
 Even inside the Trinity,

00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:45.460
 there is a hierarchy of the persons of God acting.

00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:47.740
 All over the Gospels,

00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:49.200
 Jesus submits to the Father.

00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:52.100
 And we see the Spirit falling in submission to the Son.

00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:55.860
 And so Jesus answered to only one authority in his life.

00:10:55.920 --> 00:10:57.360
 And he never consulted the Pharisees.

00:10:57.440 --> 00:10:58.800
 He never consulted the scribes.

00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:01.700
 He never consulted the rabbis

00:11:01.700 --> 00:11:03.399
 to get permission to do anything.

00:11:03.560 --> 00:11:05.980
 He acted solely on his own authority.

00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:07.980
 Everything he did,

00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:08.860
 everything he said,

00:11:08.980 --> 00:11:10.220
 every action that he took,

00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:12.340
 it came from his own authority.

00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:15.279
 He wielded ultimate power.

00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:18.580
 He rejected the Jewish authorities.

00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:21.139
 He never consulted them because they were apostate.

00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:25.779
 They had defected from the true faith in God.

00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:28.139
 They didn't know him,

00:11:28.180 --> 00:11:29.120
 and they were illegitimate,

00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:32.879
 and it was as if they didn't even exist to him at times.

00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:37.080
 Sure, they were the earthly purveyors of a corrupt Judaism.

00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:39.399
 They ran the temple,

00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:41.259
 and they turned it into a robber's den.

00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:46.759
 But they had no real power and no real authority in their lives.

00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:49.259
 They were enemies of God,

00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:49.980
 enemies of truth,

00:11:50.059 --> 00:11:51.580
 and enemies of the Gospel.

00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:54.519
 So you can see why there was some conflict here.

00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:56.620
 You can see why there's some dissension

00:11:56.620 --> 00:11:58.759
 between Jesus and these people.

00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:00.319
 When you read through the Gospels,

00:12:00.419 --> 00:12:02.879
 you kind of want to cheer Jesus on through these conflicts

00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.159
 because on the one hand,

00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:06.799
 you have a prideful group of people,

00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:08.080
 the Pharisees and the Sadducees,

00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:10.139
 who think that they are God's gift to creation.

00:12:10.580 --> 00:12:11.279
 They really do.

00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:13.340
 They believe in their minds

00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:16.039
 that they know better than anybody else,

00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:18.759
 and they have this spiritual pride that's unparalleled.

00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:21.039
 On the other hand,

00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:22.860
 you have the Son of God

00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:24.940
 who is holy,

00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:26.000
 who is righteous,

00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:28.580
 who is indeed God's gift to mankind.

00:12:29.940 --> 00:12:31.779
 And they begin to clash.

00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:35.659
 They begin to see these reactions that Jesus has,

00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:37.220
 and it's amazing

00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:40.240
 because He just keeps kindly telling them off

00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:41.379
 and sending them on their way

00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:44.000
 because He is just and holy,

00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:45.419
 and He is all-wise,

00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:47.740
 and He knows how to handle their arguments.

00:12:48.460 --> 00:12:49.340
 But in their perspective,

00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:52.300
 Jesus is just teaching away without their permission,

00:12:52.299 --> 00:12:53.319
 without their authority,

00:12:54.099 --> 00:12:55.219
 without their approval.

00:12:55.819 --> 00:12:57.899
 And this just struck a massive blow

00:12:57.899 --> 00:12:59.059
 to their spiritual pride

00:12:59.059 --> 00:13:02.599
 for a man to walk into their temple

00:13:02.599 --> 00:13:03.919
 and to begin to teach

00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:06.740
 as if He knew everything in their minds.

00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:09.740
 And it continually infuriated them.

00:13:11.059 --> 00:13:13.579
 They had developed a vicious hatred for Jesus

00:13:13.579 --> 00:13:16.899
 because He demonstrated such scorn

00:13:16.899 --> 00:13:18.139
 toward their religious positions.

00:13:18.959 --> 00:13:21.059
 And this is what ultimately led them

00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:22.779
 to hand Him over to the Romans

00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:23.679
 to die on the cross.

00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:26.959
 So the key issue here in this passage

00:13:26.959 --> 00:13:27.719
 is authority.

00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:30.659
 Who in the world gave you permission

00:13:30.659 --> 00:13:32.819
 to overturn the money tables, Jesus?

00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:35.619
 Where do you get off?

00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:37.959
 They could have asked,

00:13:38.339 --> 00:13:40.299
 where did you get the authority

00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:41.299
 to teach what you teach?

00:13:41.319 --> 00:13:42.559
 But that's not what they said, is it?

00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:45.639
 Because it was going deeper at this point,

00:13:45.979 --> 00:13:48.399
 further past what He actually said.

00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:50.620
 It was what He was doing.

00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:55.019
 I mean, it was tough enough for them

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:56.539
 to swallow that He came into town

00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:59.399
 on Monday with massive crowds,

00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:01.360
 by the way, arriving into Jerusalem

00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.759
 for the Passover.

00:14:04.199 --> 00:14:06.740
 And they are bowing down to Him

00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:08.559
 and singing praises at Him.

00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:11.139
 Hosanna, Son of David.

00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:13.779
 Blessed is He who comes

00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:15.399
 in the name of the Lord.

00:14:17.059 --> 00:14:18.339
 Hosanna in the highest.

00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:21.199
 And throwing messianic titles

00:14:21.199 --> 00:14:21.979
 and names at Him.

00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:23.199
 And He never refused them.

00:14:23.239 --> 00:14:24.119
 In fact, He took them.

00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:28.239
 Even well into Tuesday and Wednesday,

00:14:28.339 --> 00:14:29.899
 He received praises from the people.

00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:33.399
 So as if that wasn't infuriating enough,

00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:35.719
 Jesus walks into the temple on Tuesday

00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:37.519
 and begins to disrupt everything

00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.360
 they've got going on,

00:14:38.420 --> 00:14:39.879
 begins to disrupt the money changers,

00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:41.180
 overturns the tables,

00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.639
 and kicks the merchandisers out.

00:14:43.540 --> 00:14:45.000
 So naturally, they're asking the question,

00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:47.860
 Who do you think you are, Jesus?

00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:51.680
 You see, these men truly believed

00:14:51.680 --> 00:14:53.700
 in their hearts that they had everything right.

00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:56.560
 They believed they had everything right

00:14:56.560 --> 00:14:57.220
 in their lives,

00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:58.779
 that they were the holy ones,

00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.920
 they were the ones who were supposed

00:14:59.920 --> 00:15:01.680
 to be the spiritual leaders of this time.

00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:04.120
 And they had placed all faith

00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:05.839
 in their religious rituals

00:15:05.839 --> 00:15:07.859
 and believed that their obedience

00:15:07.859 --> 00:15:09.919
 to the law had earned them righteousness

00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:11.319
 on their own.

00:15:12.739 --> 00:15:14.319
 It's a very dangerous place to be.

00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:16.539
 They were so focused on earning

00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:17.299
 their own righteousness

00:15:17.299 --> 00:15:18.179
 that they couldn't see

00:15:18.179 --> 00:15:19.419
 that the Son of God

00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:21.939
 was staring them right in the face.

00:15:24.339 --> 00:15:25.319
 And we, by the way,

00:15:25.359 --> 00:15:26.099
 have people like that

00:15:26.099 --> 00:15:27.359
 in every church across this country,

00:15:27.479 --> 00:15:29.099
 including this one this morning.

00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:31.879
 I'm here to tell you today,

00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:34.399
 stop trying to earn righteousness

00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:35.480
 on your own.

00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:38.320
 You can't do it.

00:15:38.820 --> 00:15:39.740
 It's impossible.

00:15:40.180 --> 00:15:42.399
 You can't live life good enough

00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:44.519
 to earn God's grace.

00:15:46.420 --> 00:15:47.620
 There are some of you in this room,

00:15:47.680 --> 00:15:49.220
 if you would just let go of your pride

00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:50.460
 and stop looking at the issues

00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:51.600
 in everyone else's life

00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:52.700
 and begin to work

00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:54.019
 on your own sanctification

00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:55.139
 in Christ Jesus,

00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:56.460
 you would begin to see the world

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:57.540
 in a whole different way.

00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:59.860
 And you'd begin to see church

00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:00.620
 in a whole different way.

00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:02.159
 You'd begin to see your life

00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:02.719
 in a whole different way.

00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.699
 You'd begin to see God

00:16:03.699 --> 00:16:04.740
 in a different way.

00:16:07.219 --> 00:16:08.799
 And you'd become more like Christ

00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:09.819
 in your own life.

00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:12.519
 The Pharisees and scribes and elders,

00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:13.199
 they didn't get it

00:16:13.199 --> 00:16:14.480
 because they were lost in their pride.

00:16:16.339 --> 00:16:17.439
 And while this is certainly

00:16:17.439 --> 00:16:18.539
 not the first confrontation

00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:20.120
 that Jesus had with the Sanhedrin,

00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.199
 it was the beginning

00:16:21.199 --> 00:16:22.759
 of the final series of confrontations

00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:24.159
 that Jesus was going to have.

00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.860
 As we move into chapter 12,

00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.879
 we're going to begin to see,

00:16:27.680 --> 00:16:29.100
 all the way through the 40th verse

00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:30.360
 of chapter 12,

00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.960
 that Jesus is in conflict

00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:32.600
 with these people.

00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:35.340
 And this is the beginning of it.

00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:38.139
 We're going to see a series of stories

00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:38.919
 in chapter 12

00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:40.019
 where the events

00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:42.019
 that will focus on

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:42.960
 these religious leaders,

00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:43.860
 and Jesus is going to tell

00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.860
 a series of stories

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:46.700
 and events that's going to

00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:47.779
 pronounce judgment

00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:48.560
 on these people.

00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.240
 So if you're like me

00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.399
 and you don't really like conflict,

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.320
 you better buckle up

00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:54.420
 over the next couple of weeks.

00:16:55.140 --> 00:16:56.280
 There's going to be conflict.

00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:58.220
 Isn't it true that

00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:58.879
 in general,

00:16:59.020 --> 00:17:01.000
 we generally try to avoid conflict?

00:17:02.260 --> 00:17:03.260
 I know in my life,

00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:05.059
 I generally try to avoid conflict.

00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:06.580
 Sometimes it's unavoidable though.

00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:08.380
 Sometimes people will ask you

00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:09.779
 a question that relates

00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:10.580
 to biblical truth

00:17:10.580 --> 00:17:11.200
 and they're not going to

00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:11.840
 like your answer

00:17:11.840 --> 00:17:13.279
 because you know for sure

00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.840
 this is what the Bible says.

00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:17.299
 This is what God has told us.

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.059
 There's times we have to tell them

00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:20.720
 the hard truth,

00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:21.559
 the hard reality

00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:23.799
 of what Scripture tells us.

00:17:24.179 --> 00:17:24.899
 And it may not be

00:17:24.899 --> 00:17:26.519
 what they want to hear,

00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:27.500
 what they want us to say.

00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:28.960
 But nonetheless,

00:17:29.139 --> 00:17:30.379
 we have to stand up for truth.

00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:31.659
 We have to stand up

00:17:31.659 --> 00:17:32.259
 for what's right.

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.000
 We have to stand up

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.599
 for righteousness.

00:17:34.919 --> 00:17:36.259
 We have to teach truth

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:36.759
 to a culture

00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:39.079
 that's lost any sense of truth.

00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:42.539
 We generally don't like conflict,

00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:43.220
 but there's going to be

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.519
 conflict sometimes in our lives

00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.220
 and that's what we're seeing

00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:46.440
 going on here

00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:47.799
 in our passage this morning

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:49.899
 as we move into chapter 12.

00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:50.759
 as well.

00:17:55.639 --> 00:17:57.259
 So after three years of conflict,

00:17:57.399 --> 00:17:58.419
 Jesus comes to the temple.

00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:00.339
 He disrupts everything

00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:01.039
 that they're doing.

00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.519
 And don't miss this.

00:18:03.379 --> 00:18:04.559
 These Pharisees,

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:07.539
 they believe in their hearts

00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:10.299
 that Jesus is the blasphemer.

00:18:11.679 --> 00:18:12.839
 In their hearts,

00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:13.559
 in their minds,

00:18:13.659 --> 00:18:14.639
 they believe that Jesus

00:18:14.639 --> 00:18:16.079
 is the blasphemer.

00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:17.859
 This is how far removed

00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:18.779
 they are from truth.

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.440
 This is how deep

00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:22.200
 they've delved in their pride.

00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:23.980
 They believe that

00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:25.359
 Jesus' actions in the temple

00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:27.099
 were an act of blasphemy

00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:29.000
 to epic proportions.

00:18:30.899 --> 00:18:31.859
 So with all of that

00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:32.359
 as background,

00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:33.940
 let's take a look at this story.

00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:35.000
 It will unfold easily

00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:35.839
 for us this morning.

00:18:36.399 --> 00:18:38.059
 The first thing

00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:38.619
 that we're going to see

00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:39.440
 is the confrontation.

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.299
 The confrontation.

00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:44.519
 As he is walking in the temple,

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.859
 you've got to get the picture here.

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.660
 This temple is massive.

00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.460
 One of the walls

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.379
 for this temple,

00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:51.359
 just to give you an idea,

00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:53.180
 stretches four football fields long.

00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:55.359
 It's a big area

00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:56.559
 and that's just the outer wall.

00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.740
 You have the inner part.

00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:58.160
 In between,

00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:58.900
 you have a courtyard.

00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:00.039
 So Jesus is likely

00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.779
 walking around

00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:02.139
 through this massive courtyard,

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.359
 acres upon acres

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.680
 of massive courtyard.

00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:06.240
 And he's teaching them

00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.639
 as he's moving through

00:19:07.639 --> 00:19:08.539
 the temple.

00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:10.039
 This is really a very

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:11.119
 rabbinic way of teaching.

00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:13.559
 They taught as they walked around.

00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:15.339
 And Jesus is sharing truth

00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:16.500
 as he moves about the temple.

00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:17.359
 The parallel passage

00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:18.339
 in Luke chapter 20,

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.279
 by the way,

00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.379
 Luke tells us

00:19:20.379 --> 00:19:21.599
 that he was teaching the people

00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:22.859
 and preaching the gospel.

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.700
 So for one day,

00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:27.139
 just to get this imagery,

00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:28.460
 for one day,

00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:31.339
 the temple is his

00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:32.279
 and his alone.

00:19:33.659 --> 00:19:36.200
 The truth began to ring out

00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:37.119
 in a place

00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:38.139
 where it hadn't rung out

00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:40.019
 for hundreds of years.

00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:43.659
 So for one day,

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.700
 the temple is his.

00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.139
 And no doubt,

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:48.319
 he was using his time wisely,

00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:51.059
 teaching a gospel of repentance

00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:53.099
 and turning away from the sin

00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:54.839
 and the consequences of sin

00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:55.940
 being death.

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.740
 And then,

00:19:58.119 --> 00:19:59.299
 the free gift of God,

00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:00.940
 which was him,

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.700
 himself.

00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:03.740
 Luke 19.47 records

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.680
 that he was teaching daily

00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.159
 in the temple.

00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:05.980
 The chief priests

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:07.019
 and the scribes

00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.940
 and the principal men

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.720
 of the people

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.960
 were seeking to destroy

00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:10.340
 him,

00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:11.819
 but they did not find

00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:13.380
 anything that they could do

00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:14.480
 for the people

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.180
 were hanging

00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:16.759
 on his words.

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.559
 If there is ever

00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:20.420
 a teacher on whom

00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:21.620
 to hang every word,

00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:22.440
 it is him.

00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:23.740
 It is Jesus.

00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:25.799
 Compelling teachers

00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:26.680
 captivate me.

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.799
 I don't know about you guys.

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:29.940
 I love to listen to a compelling teacher.

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.559
 I would just get captivated.

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:33.039
 But imagine

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.099
 the Son of God

00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:34.559
 teaching.

00:20:35.139 --> 00:20:36.159
 How captivating

00:20:36.159 --> 00:20:36.980
 he was.

00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:38.619
 These people are

00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:39.919
 captivated by his teaching

00:20:39.919 --> 00:20:40.279
 here.

00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.799
 Back to verse 27.

00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:43.859
 And he was walking

00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:44.399
 in the temple

00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:45.279
 and the chief priests

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:46.019
 and the scribes

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:47.119
 and elders came to him.

00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:48.680
 Those are the three groups,

00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.079
 by the way,

00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:50.200
 that make up the Sanhedrin.

00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.960
 These are the three groups

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.659
 also that

00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:53.379
 we're going to see

00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:54.280
 the primary conflict

00:20:54.280 --> 00:20:55.100
 in chapter 12,

00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:55.800
 in the next chapter.

00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:58.000
 They came to him

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.220
 not as ones

00:20:59.220 --> 00:20:59.980
 who are captivated

00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.740
 by his teaching,

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.100
 but as ones

00:21:02.100 --> 00:21:02.560
 who are trying

00:21:02.560 --> 00:21:03.600
 to incite him.

00:21:04.080 --> 00:21:04.640
 They're trying

00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.480
 to trip him up.

00:21:05.580 --> 00:21:06.320
 They're trying to

00:21:06.320 --> 00:21:08.340
 create a conflict

00:21:08.340 --> 00:21:09.200
 that's going to make him

00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:09.820
 look bad.

00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:12.180
 Not a good idea,

00:21:12.280 --> 00:21:12.600
 by the way,

00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:13.180
 because they were

00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:15.200
 no match for Jesus.

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:17.500
 He was smarter than them.

00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:19.640
 He has better rhetoric

00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.320
 than them.

00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:21.680
 And they said to him

00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.400
 in verse 28,

00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:23.620
 by what authority

00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:25.180
 are you doing these things?

00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:26.500
 Or who gave you

00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.600
 authority to do them?

00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:30.480
 So this is the primary issue

00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.060
 that they're having,

00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:31.700
 is authority.

00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:33.780
 It's authority.

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:34.860
 By the way,

00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:35.960
 this is the primary issue

00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:37.440
 that all unbelievers have

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.440
 with Christianity

00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.600
 and with the Gospel.

00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:40.880
 It's authority.

00:21:41.280 --> 00:21:41.820
 They don't want to

00:21:41.820 --> 00:21:42.820
 submit their lives

00:21:42.820 --> 00:21:43.940
 to any type of authority

00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:44.840
 other than themselves.

00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:46.560
 And really,

00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:47.220
 they might give you

00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:48.920
 a hundred reasons why.

00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:49.720
 They might say

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.280
 that they were burnt

00:21:50.280 --> 00:21:50.800
 by church.

00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:51.400
 They might say

00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.480
 many, many

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.460
 various different reasons,

00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:54.200
 but ultimately,

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.920
 it's about authority

00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:57.019
 in their lives.

00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.259
 Somehow they can't,

00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:00.480
 they're not willing to

00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.519
 or they cannot somehow

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.400
 in their hearts

00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:03.720
 submit to his authority.

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.320
 And so these people

00:22:06.320 --> 00:22:07.200
 were having trouble

00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:07.720
 with his authority.

00:22:07.820 --> 00:22:08.120
 They're saying,

00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:09.000
 you can't just walk

00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.440
 into the temple

00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:10.259
 and do what you did

00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:12.720
 because they don't believe

00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.840
 that he is the authority.

00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:15.759
 And by the way,

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.720
 they knew what his answer

00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.019
 would be

00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:17.740
 if he had answered them

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.180
 directly.

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:19.960
 In fact,

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.799
 they may even hope

00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.380
 that he would answer

00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:21.980
 them directly.

00:22:22.820 --> 00:22:23.799
 They may even hope

00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.380
 that he would say

00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:26.200
 that my authority

00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:26.900
 comes from me

00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:27.460
 and me alone

00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:28.519
 or from God the Father

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.560
 and him alone.

00:22:30.560 --> 00:22:31.600
 Because then they can say,

00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.019
 aha,

00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:33.140
 we've got you.

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.700
 You're committing blasphemy.

00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:38.019
 And they could convince

00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:38.480
 the people

00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.560
 that he was a blasphemer.

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.940
 That wasn't going to happen.

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:43.940
 They didn't want him

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:44.620
 to gain followers.

00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.160
 They didn't want him

00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:46.680
 to be teaching

00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.160
 in the temple

00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:47.740
 and they certainly

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.440
 didn't want them

00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.560
 to dismantle

00:22:49.560 --> 00:22:50.519
 their entire system.

00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:52.960
 See, the truth is

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:53.700
 that Jesus wasn't

00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.320
 the blasphemer.

00:22:55.560 --> 00:22:57.000
 They were the blasphemers.

00:22:57.040 --> 00:22:58.420
 This is a classic example

00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.820
 of literary irony.

00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:01.860
 See, some of you in here,

00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.779
 you think that the Scripture

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.540
 is boring, right?

00:23:04.040 --> 00:23:05.080
 I know some of us

00:23:05.080 --> 00:23:05.700
 probably don't.

00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.460
 I see some smiles

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.180
 on some people's faces

00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:09.420
 probably bringing up

00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.000
 some thoughts

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.600
 in your mind.

00:23:11.300 --> 00:23:12.160
 A lot of us

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.040
 probably really love

00:23:13.040 --> 00:23:13.560
 the Word of God,

00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.200
 but there's probably

00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.220
 a fraction of us

00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:15.579
 in here

00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:17.259
 that think it's

00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:18.059
 just kind of mundane

00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.599
 and boring.

00:23:18.679 --> 00:23:19.799
 This is so far

00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.440
 from the truth.

00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:21.240
 Because Scripture

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:23.039
 contains literary elements

00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:24.480
 of the best novels

00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:25.200
 that we read,

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.279
 of everything that we read.

00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.639
 It's got deep plot structure,

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.879
 rich character development.

00:23:29.419 --> 00:23:30.819
 We see epic battles,

00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.720
 romance, conflict,

00:23:32.879 --> 00:23:34.359
 protagonist, antagonist.

00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:36.679
 There's lots of symbolism

00:23:36.679 --> 00:23:37.139
 in there.

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.279
 There's even monsters

00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:38.819
 and dragons

00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:39.679
 and angels and demons

00:23:39.679 --> 00:23:41.359
 for the sci-fi fans, right?

00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.879
 And so,

00:23:43.179 --> 00:23:45.159
 we see that this is

00:23:45.159 --> 00:23:46.559
 not just based

00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.179
 on a true story.

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:49.199
 It is the true story.

00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:51.379
 And God,

00:23:51.479 --> 00:23:52.000
 our God,

00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:53.019
 is right in the middle

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.519
 of it all,

00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:55.019
 guiding history.

00:23:55.419 --> 00:23:56.359
 Because that

00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:57.339
 is what it is.

00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:58.959
 It is His story.

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:01.439
 He was there

00:24:01.439 --> 00:24:01.879
 in the beginning.

00:24:01.959 --> 00:24:02.599
 He will see it

00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:03.259
 through to the end.

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.119
 He is the Alpha

00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:05.179
 and the Omega.

00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:07.359
 And in the end,

00:24:07.419 --> 00:24:08.359
 He will be glorified

00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:09.099
 into eternity.

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:10.939
 But there's things

00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:11.579
 that must happen

00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:13.000
 before the end

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.519
 is to come.

00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.299
 And this conflict

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.179
 where we find Jesus

00:24:15.179 --> 00:24:15.819
 must happen

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.899
 before God's plan

00:24:16.899 --> 00:24:17.740
 of redemption

00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:19.139
 is to play its full course.

00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.959
 And we see here

00:24:21.959 --> 00:24:22.619
 that the Pharisees

00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:23.319
 had no chance.

00:24:23.439 --> 00:24:25.959
 Jesus is so much wiser

00:24:25.959 --> 00:24:26.980
 than they are.

00:24:27.899 --> 00:24:28.659
 Here's this counter

00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:29.719
 in verse 29.

00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:31.419
 Jesus said to them,

00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:33.579
 I'll ask you one question.

00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.219
 Jesus knew what

00:24:35.219 --> 00:24:35.659
 they were doing,

00:24:35.719 --> 00:24:36.119
 by the way.

00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:38.839
 He was wise enough

00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.179
 to know.

00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:39.939
 He puts the burden

00:24:39.939 --> 00:24:40.899
 of answering back

00:24:40.899 --> 00:24:41.359
 on them.

00:24:41.459 --> 00:24:41.839
 He says,

00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.299
 Answer me

00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:45.559
 and I will tell you

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.339
 by what authority

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.439
 I do these things.

00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.259
 And this is really

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.299
 an honest response.

00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:53.239
 His offer is to

00:24:53.239 --> 00:24:54.159
 answer their question

00:24:54.159 --> 00:24:54.939
 if they're willing

00:24:54.939 --> 00:24:56.259
 to answer his question.

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:58.099
 And by doing so,

00:24:58.139 --> 00:24:58.719
 he's leveling

00:24:58.719 --> 00:24:59.519
 the playing ground.

00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:00.919
 They may have asked him

00:25:00.919 --> 00:25:01.579
 an unfair,

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.659
 trapping question.

00:25:03.439 --> 00:25:03.819
 But he says,

00:25:03.899 --> 00:25:04.099
 Okay,

00:25:04.159 --> 00:25:04.719
 if you're willing

00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.660
 to answer this question,

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.660
 I'll answer yours.

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.799
 So here's the question

00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.319
 in verse 30.

00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.120
 Was the baptism

00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:12.100
 of John

00:25:12.100 --> 00:25:13.539
 from heaven

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.539
 or from man?

00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:16.259
 Answer me.

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:19.299
 And in no uncertain terms,

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.700
 Jesus puts the ball

00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:22.079
 back in the Pharisees' court.

00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.980
 He's doing the same thing

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.880
 that they did to him.

00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:27.680
 And it's what we might call

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.779
 being put between

00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:30.319
 a rock and a hard place.

00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.440
 He didn't resent

00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:32.960
 their question.

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:33.600
 He just knew

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.639
 their ill intentions.

00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.639
 And I love the command here

00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:38.399
 because he's demonstrating

00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:39.359
 his authority over them.

00:25:39.379 --> 00:25:40.399
 He demands for them

00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:41.199
 to answer him.

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:41.799
 Isn't that great?

00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:43.439
 They didn't demand

00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:44.159
 an answer from him,

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:45.019
 but he's demanding

00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.819
 an answer back.

00:25:47.419 --> 00:25:48.419
 I just want to pause here

00:25:48.419 --> 00:25:49.139
 for a second

00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:49.740
 to talk about

00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.500
 Jesus' question

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.240
 because you may be thinking,

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.799
 Why in the world,

00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.799
 out of all the questions

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:55.399
 that Jesus could have asked,

00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:57.699
 why is this question

00:25:57.699 --> 00:25:59.159
 about John the baptizer?

00:26:00.159 --> 00:26:01.279
 Why would he choose

00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.099
 John the baptizer

00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:02.839
 to ask a question?

00:26:02.899 --> 00:26:03.759
 And I thought the same thing.

00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:04.639
 I wondered the same thing

00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:05.379
 as I was doing

00:26:05.379 --> 00:26:06.419
 my preliminary studying

00:26:06.419 --> 00:26:07.179
 for this passage.

00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:08.159
 But what do we know

00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:09.079
 about John the baptizer?

00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:10.719
 We know that he was

00:26:10.719 --> 00:26:11.939
 a forerunner to the Messiah.

00:26:12.959 --> 00:26:14.059
 He was possibly

00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.759
 the greatest prophet

00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.599
 that ever lived

00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.439
 up until this time.

00:26:17.199 --> 00:26:18.299
 He was foretold

00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.539
 in the Old Testament prophets.

00:26:19.659 --> 00:26:20.419
 And this is key

00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:21.419
 because these people

00:26:21.419 --> 00:26:22.539
 that Jesus is talking to

00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:23.619
 would have known

00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:25.059
 these documents very well.

00:26:27.139 --> 00:26:28.000
 He was conceived

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.659
 miraculously

00:26:28.659 --> 00:26:29.759
 by an aging couple,

00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:31.179
 Elizabeth and Zacharias.

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:33.220
 because of the plan of God.

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.400
 And he preached

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:35.960
 in the wilderness

00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:37.519
 a message of repentance

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:39.380
 in preparation

00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:40.519
 for the coming Messiah.

00:26:41.360 --> 00:26:41.880
 And one day,

00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.680
 Jesus shows up

00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.460
 and John says,

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.460
 Behold,

00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:46.940
 the Lamb of God

00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:48.620
 who takes away

00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:50.480
 the sin of the world.

00:26:52.560 --> 00:26:54.279
 It's a bold statement.

00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:57.599
 everything that John did

00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:59.960
 pointed back to Jesus.

00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:02.339
 And everyone in the temple

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:02.980
 knew it.

00:27:06.599 --> 00:27:07.899
 So was the ministry

00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:09.940
 of John the baptizer,

00:27:10.399 --> 00:27:12.099
 the prophetic ministry

00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:13.119
 of John the baptizer,

00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.299
 was it from God

00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:16.240
 or was it from man?

00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:17.740
 Answer me.

00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.599
 Strong challenge.

00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.839
 And Jesus was brilliant

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.539
 when confronted.

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:24.099
 He was brilliant.

00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:25.039
 He never lost

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.539
 in a debate

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.180
 or an argument.

00:27:26.899 --> 00:27:28.259
 He put them

00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.180
 in the hot seat.

00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.460
 If they say that

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:32.279
 the ministry of John

00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:33.339
 is not from God,

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.700
 then they've got a problem

00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.559
 because all the people

00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.379
 knew that John

00:27:36.379 --> 00:27:37.159
 was a real prophet.

00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:38.579
 All the people there

00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:39.500
 believed that he was

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.099
 a real prophet.

00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:40.960
 If they say that

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.039
 his ministry is from God,

00:27:42.159 --> 00:27:42.680
 they have to affirm

00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:44.019
 that Jesus is the Messiah.

00:27:45.139 --> 00:27:45.599
 Something that

00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:46.460
 their pride and ignorance

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.259
 couldn't let them do.

00:27:47.899 --> 00:27:48.960
 You can't take John

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.559
 without Jesus

00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.119
 and you can't

00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:50.980
 throw away Jesus

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:52.599
 without throwing away John.

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.539
 So they have

00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.460
 a serious problem.

00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.240
 So serious

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.559
 in the fact

00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:56.919
 that they have

00:27:56.919 --> 00:27:58.099
 to have a side conversation.

00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.559
 So they begin

00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:02.419
 dialogosumai.

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:02.879
 There we go.

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:05.019
 Greek there for you.

00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:06.059
 Dialogosumai.

00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:07.139
 They begin to dialogue

00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:08.559
 among themselves.

00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:09.819
 They begin to talk

00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.399
 and discuss

00:28:10.399 --> 00:28:11.200
 among themselves.

00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.000
 And I have no idea

00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.759
 what this looked like.

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.599
 I can only picture it

00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:14.039
 in my head

00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:15.099
 as them being like,

00:28:15.139 --> 00:28:15.759
 okay, we need to think

00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.019
 about this.

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:17.119
 Come on, let's go over here.

00:28:17.379 --> 00:28:18.200
 Let's get in the huddle.

00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:19.420
 But apparently

00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:20.100
 they're not talking

00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:21.120
 quietly enough

00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:23.500
 for people to not hear them

00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.080
 because we have

00:28:24.080 --> 00:28:25.100
 the recorded words

00:28:25.100 --> 00:28:26.340
 here in Scripture, right?

00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.140
 So apparently

00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:28.100
 somebody must have

00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:28.620
 overheard them

00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:29.200
 or maybe they're just

00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.840
 guessing what they

00:28:29.840 --> 00:28:30.460
 were talking about.

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.299
 I don't know

00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:32.900
 how this went down

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:33.940
 but imagine them

00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:34.779
 kind of getting together

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:36.059
 and talking about this

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.660
 among themselves

00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.299
 and they're saying,

00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:40.220
 if we say from heaven,

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.420
 he will say,

00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:43.500
 why did you not believe him?

00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:43.840
 Meaning,

00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:45.120
 why did they not believe

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:47.440
 John when he says Jesus

00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.740
 or when he affirms Jesus

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:50.000
 as the Messiah?

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.480
 But shall we say

00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.019
 for man,

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.860
 it's their only other option.

00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.220
 It's the only

00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:58.600
 an either or type

00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:59.120
 of question.

00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:01.420
 But they're realizing,

00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.160
 well, we can't say

00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:02.940
 for man either.

00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:03.420
 Why?

00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.259
 The text tells us

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.120
 they were afraid

00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:06.840
 of the people

00:29:06.840 --> 00:29:08.240
 for they all held

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.580
 that John was really

00:29:09.580 --> 00:29:10.220
 a prophet.

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.680
 There's a minor detail

00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.660
 that Mark leaves out here

00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:15.759
 that Luke includes.

00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:18.040
 They weren't just

00:29:18.040 --> 00:29:18.920
 afraid of the people

00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:19.480
 because of what

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.000
 they would say

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:22.380
 or how they would

00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:22.900
 view them.

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:24.360
 Luke 20,

00:29:24.560 --> 00:29:25.460
 verse 6 tells us

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.420
 that all the people,

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.160
 and get this one,

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.840
 all the people

00:29:27.840 --> 00:29:29.200
 will stone us

00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.960
 to death.

00:29:33.040 --> 00:29:33.920
 So now we're getting

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:34.620
 the full picture

00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:35.460
 of what's going on.

00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.540
 They didn't want to be

00:29:37.540 --> 00:29:38.640
 the blasphemers.

00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:39.660
 They wanted Jesus

00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:40.860
 to look like the blasphemer.

00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:43.019
 And they're realizing

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.799
 that Jesus has turned

00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.679
 the tables on them

00:29:44.679 --> 00:29:45.719
 and he's put them

00:29:45.719 --> 00:29:46.279
 in a position

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.839
 where no matter

00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.879
 what they say,

00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.199
 they're going to have

00:29:49.199 --> 00:29:50.219
 a tough time answering.

00:29:51.719 --> 00:29:52.559
 So now you understand

00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:53.019
 the dilemma.

00:29:53.439 --> 00:29:54.359
 What are they going to do?

00:29:54.439 --> 00:29:55.339
 The praise of men

00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:56.159
 was everything

00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:56.939
 to these people.

00:29:58.199 --> 00:29:59.119
 It was absolutely

00:29:59.119 --> 00:29:59.740
 everything.

00:29:59.879 --> 00:30:00.679
 Power, prestige,

00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:01.719
 privilege, honors.

00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.419
 They would pray

00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:03.519
 long prayers

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.119
 in the streets

00:30:04.119 --> 00:30:04.839
 in public

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.879
 just to look like

00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:06.959
 they were highly spiritual.

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.100
 spiritual.

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:10.100
 They wanted man

00:30:10.100 --> 00:30:10.940
 to see them

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:12.160
 in a good light.

00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.600
 They wanted everyone

00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:14.600
 to know they were right,

00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.600
 that they had a special

00:30:15.600 --> 00:30:16.799
 connection to God.

00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:18.200
 And they wanted to be

00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:19.340
 recognized in public

00:30:19.340 --> 00:30:20.299
 as the holy ones.

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.740
 So if John's ministry

00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:23.340
 is from God,

00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:24.079
 they have to embrace

00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:25.019
 that they've been wrong

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:26.400
 for three years.

00:30:27.120 --> 00:30:28.180
 For three years

00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:28.600
 that they've been

00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:29.559
 in conflict with Jesus.

00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:30.519
 That they were

00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:31.279
 somehow wrong.

00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.620
 What's more

00:30:32.620 --> 00:30:33.360
 is that they would

00:30:33.360 --> 00:30:34.059
 have to accept

00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:35.279
 the fact that this man

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:35.740
 that they've been

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:37.019
 opposing for three years

00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:38.140
 has been right.

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.700
 And how could the

00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:40.900
 spiritual authorities

00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:41.660
 in this time

00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:43.220
 be so wrong

00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:44.099
 for so long?

00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:45.940
 It's something

00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.420
 they just weren't

00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:47.519
 prepared to accept.

00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:50.500
 If they say it's for men,

00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.059
 they're liable

00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.779
 to get stoned.

00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.920
 And that's not just death,

00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:54.700
 that is a shameful death.

00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:57.000
 A disgraceful death.

00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:58.700
 So they reduced

00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.859
 the worst possible thing

00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.440
 that could happen

00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:01.200
 to someone

00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:02.319
 with intellectual pride.

00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:04.420
 And that's to say,

00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:05.820
 I don't know.

00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:10.180
 There you have it.

00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:11.120
 The religious leaders

00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:11.920
 of the day.

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.980
 That must have been hard

00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:13.960
 for that to spill

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.759
 out of their mouths

00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:16.800
 that we do not know.

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.840
 So much for their

00:31:18.840 --> 00:31:19.680
 omniscience, right?

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:22.259
 It's their duty to know.

00:31:22.360 --> 00:31:23.420
 It's their duty to observe.

00:31:23.580 --> 00:31:25.100
 It's their duty to evaluate.

00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:26.800
 But never,

00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:28.700
 never in their dealings

00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.160
 with Jesus

00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:30.500
 did they ever come to him

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.580
 seeking truth.

00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:33.779
 They were always

00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:35.139
 seeking to entrap him.

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.460
 They were always

00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:38.539
 seeking to trip him up.

00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:39.359
 And this is the way

00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.179
 of false religion.

00:31:40.599 --> 00:31:41.299
 Not necessarily

00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:42.539
 the victims of false religion,

00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:43.559
 but the purveyors

00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:44.579
 of false religion.

00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:46.199
 And so this leads us

00:31:46.199 --> 00:31:47.039
 to Jesus' answer.

00:31:47.639 --> 00:31:48.299
 They were confronted,

00:31:49.179 --> 00:31:50.799
 they went to the counter,

00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:51.779
 and now

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:53.319
 we see the condemnation.

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.639
 Jesus said to them,

00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:57.879
 neither will I tell you

00:31:57.879 --> 00:31:58.819
 by what authority

00:31:58.819 --> 00:32:00.819
 I do these things.

00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:00.939
 false.

00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:04.779
 So Jesus refused

00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:05.799
 to answer their question,

00:32:05.899 --> 00:32:06.559
 and this is important

00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:06.980
 this morning

00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.439
 because we're about

00:32:07.439 --> 00:32:08.299
 to turn a corner.

00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:11.859
 You don't ever

00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:13.039
 want to be

00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:14.099
 in the position

00:32:14.099 --> 00:32:16.220
 where Jesus says to you

00:32:16.220 --> 00:32:17.720
 that I am through

00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:19.000
 talking with you.

00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.759
 Because that

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:24.119
 is what's going on here.

00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:25.559
 Jesus is saying,

00:32:25.679 --> 00:32:26.460
 I am done.

00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.559
 I've said

00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:28.500
 all that I have

00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:29.319
 to say to you.

00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:31.079
 you are not entitled

00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:32.480
 to any further information.

00:32:35.899 --> 00:32:36.919
 And when you continue

00:32:36.919 --> 00:32:37.720
 to reject the light,

00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:38.539
 eventually the light's

00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:39.200
 going to go out.

00:32:39.899 --> 00:32:41.019
 It's the reality of it.

00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.980
 Jesus had already

00:32:42.980 --> 00:32:43.659
 given them

00:32:43.659 --> 00:32:45.099
 a stark warning,

00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:45.879
 a grave warning

00:32:45.879 --> 00:32:46.519
 in Luke 13,

00:32:46.619 --> 00:32:46.839
 saying,

00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:47.859
 Oh Jerusalem,

00:32:48.139 --> 00:32:48.619
 Jerusalem,

00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.339
 the city

00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:50.759
 that kills the prophets

00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.779
 and stones those

00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:52.799
 who are sent to it.

00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:54.059
 How often

00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:54.899
 I would have gathered

00:32:54.899 --> 00:32:55.759
 your children together

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.579
 as him gathers

00:32:56.579 --> 00:32:57.720
 her brood

00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.720
 under her wings.

00:32:59.419 --> 00:32:59.980
 But you

00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:00.919
 were not

00:33:00.919 --> 00:33:01.559
 willing.

00:33:02.939 --> 00:33:03.439
 Behold,

00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:04.259
 your house

00:33:04.259 --> 00:33:05.319
 is forsaken.

00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:06.559
 The words

00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.859
 of the Son of God

00:33:07.859 --> 00:33:09.059
 cast out

00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:09.960
 upon the city.

00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:12.159
 You see,

00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:12.879
 God's grace

00:33:12.879 --> 00:33:14.099
 does have limits.

00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:16.079
 You say,

00:33:16.159 --> 00:33:17.179
 well how can a loving God

00:33:17.179 --> 00:33:18.599
 allow a well-meaning

00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:19.579
 person to suffer

00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.559
 eternity in hell?

00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:21.799
 And it's true

00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.539
 that our God

00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:24.279
 is infinitely loving,

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.240
 infinitely kind,

00:33:25.240 --> 00:33:26.220
 and infinitely good.

00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:30.000
 But as a good

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.559
 and holy

00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:31.380
 and righteous God,

00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:32.000
 He is also

00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:33.539
 necessarily just.

00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:34.779
 And justice

00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:35.980
 must prevail

00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.660
 for Him

00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.420
 to maintain

00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:37.980
 holiness

00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:39.440
 in His life

00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:40.960
 or in His being.

00:33:42.620 --> 00:33:43.400
 And even the best,

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.180
 most well-meaning

00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:45.180
 people on this earth

00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:46.279
 are guilty of sin.

00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:47.460
 Romans 3.23

00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:48.019
 tells us,

00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:49.099
 for all have sinned

00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:50.039
 and fallen short

00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:50.819
 of the glory of God.

00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:51.559
 There is not

00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:52.660
 one person

00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:53.620
 in this room

00:33:53.619 --> 00:33:55.759
 that is free

00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.239
 of sin.

00:33:57.159 --> 00:33:58.199
 We are all,

00:33:58.439 --> 00:33:59.559
 we are all sinners.

00:33:59.919 --> 00:34:00.519
 We've all fallen

00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:01.299
 short of His glory.

00:34:02.459 --> 00:34:03.179
 And that's why

00:34:03.179 --> 00:34:04.339
 Jesus is so important.

00:34:04.899 --> 00:34:05.779
 That's why His life

00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.339
 is so important.

00:34:06.439 --> 00:34:07.259
 That's why His death

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:08.159
 is so important.

00:34:08.279 --> 00:34:08.880
 He lived

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.960
 a perfect life

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:11.639
 and gives His life

00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:13.039
 up as a perfect sacrifice

00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:14.599
 for our benefit,

00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:15.960
 for our behalf.

00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:17.420
 And ultimately

00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:18.679
 so that He would be glorified.

00:34:18.799 --> 00:34:19.599
 He hung

00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.839
 a gruesome death

00:34:20.839 --> 00:34:21.539
 on the cross.

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:23.840
 and provided

00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.820
 payment for the sins

00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:25.340
 of those who would

00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:26.259
 give their lives to Him.

00:34:27.079 --> 00:34:27.759
 The Pharisees

00:34:27.759 --> 00:34:28.119
 and elders

00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:28.739
 and scribes,

00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.639
 they were all looking

00:34:29.639 --> 00:34:30.460
 for some evidence.

00:34:31.239 --> 00:34:32.000
 They were all looking

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:33.239
 for a source of authority.

00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:34.779
 I'm telling you,

00:34:34.779 --> 00:34:36.099
 you might not ever find

00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:37.699
 a scientific source

00:34:37.699 --> 00:34:38.300
 of authority

00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.779
 or a scientific evidence

00:34:39.779 --> 00:34:40.360
 of God

00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:41.940
 in your life.

00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:43.940
 There might be

00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:45.119
 difficult to come by

00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:45.940
 for you

00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:47.639
 to come by

00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:48.699
 scientific evidence

00:34:48.699 --> 00:34:50.360
 because it's all

00:34:50.360 --> 00:34:51.300
 about faith,

00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:52.579
 placing faith

00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:53.420
 in Christ Jesus.

00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.120
 And I'm confident

00:34:54.120 --> 00:34:55.740
 this morning

00:34:55.740 --> 00:34:56.300
 that there are people

00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:56.820
 in this room

00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:57.680
 that have been struggling

00:34:57.680 --> 00:34:58.720
 and struggling

00:34:58.720 --> 00:34:59.480
 with the authority

00:34:59.480 --> 00:35:00.000
 of Christ

00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:00.680
 in your lives.

00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:03.800
 Some of us in here

00:35:03.800 --> 00:35:05.660
 may even be

00:35:05.660 --> 00:35:06.840
 among the redeemed

00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:08.160
 and saying,

00:35:08.380 --> 00:35:09.900
 I know that I believe

00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.820
 Christ is the authority

00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:12.180
 of this area

00:35:12.180 --> 00:35:13.039
 of my life

00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:14.140
 and I'm happy with that.

00:35:14.660 --> 00:35:15.460
 But there's some stuff

00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:16.140
 over here

00:35:16.140 --> 00:35:17.380
 that I'm hanging on to.

00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:18.180
 I'm not going to let Christ

00:35:18.180 --> 00:35:18.680
 have authority

00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.139
 in my life

00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:19.859
 in this area

00:35:19.859 --> 00:35:22.619
 because this is

00:35:22.619 --> 00:35:23.460
 making me feel good.

00:35:23.559 --> 00:35:24.239
 This is making me

00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:26.139
 have some temporary

00:35:26.139 --> 00:35:26.879
 happiness

00:35:26.879 --> 00:35:28.019
 in the short term.

00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:31.179
 But this area

00:35:31.179 --> 00:35:31.419
 over here

00:35:31.419 --> 00:35:31.980
 I'm happy about.

00:35:32.059 --> 00:35:32.460
 This area

00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:33.339
 I'm going to keep

00:35:33.339 --> 00:35:33.819
 for myself

00:35:33.819 --> 00:35:34.480
 for a little while.

00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:37.219
 It's all or nothing.

00:35:38.419 --> 00:35:39.239
 You either give Him

00:35:39.239 --> 00:35:40.139
 all the authority

00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:40.819
 in your life

00:35:40.819 --> 00:35:42.839
 or nothing.

00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:45.699
 There's some people

00:35:45.699 --> 00:35:45.940
 in here

00:35:45.940 --> 00:35:46.379
 who have never

00:35:46.379 --> 00:35:47.039
 been able to submit,

00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:47.559
 you've never been able

00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:48.980
 to find the gumption

00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:50.019
 or the will

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:51.679
 to submit your whole life

00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:52.519
 over to Him ever.

00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:53.940
 And if that's you

00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:54.340
 this morning

00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.639
 and I just want

00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:56.480
 to plead with you,

00:35:57.799 --> 00:35:58.699
 plead with you,

00:35:58.900 --> 00:35:59.739
 don't let it go

00:35:59.739 --> 00:36:01.019
 another day

00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:02.940
 without taking action

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:03.960
 in your life

00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:04.559
 on this.

00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:05.500
 If you still have

00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:06.039
 questions,

00:36:06.299 --> 00:36:07.000
 come talk to me,

00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:07.679
 come talk to Nathan,

00:36:07.779 --> 00:36:08.719
 come talk to somebody

00:36:08.719 --> 00:36:10.279
 who's an elder here

00:36:10.279 --> 00:36:10.719
 or somebody

00:36:10.719 --> 00:36:11.759
 who understands

00:36:11.759 --> 00:36:12.559
 the Scriptures,

00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:13.579
 understands

00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:14.719
 God's plan

00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:15.340
 of salvation.

00:36:15.340 --> 00:36:16.660
 will be happy

00:36:16.660 --> 00:36:18.000
 more than overjoyed

00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:18.700
 to talk with you

00:36:18.700 --> 00:36:19.740
 about this.

00:36:21.220 --> 00:36:22.079
 But God is calling

00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:22.660
 you to Himself.

00:36:22.780 --> 00:36:23.480
 He is calling you

00:36:23.480 --> 00:36:24.579
 to salvation

00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:25.480
 that can only come

00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:26.700
 through His authority

00:36:26.700 --> 00:36:27.820
 in your life

00:36:27.820 --> 00:36:28.380
 over sin.

00:36:30.680 --> 00:36:31.880
 There's one final truth

00:36:31.880 --> 00:36:32.440
 this morning

00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:34.079
 and that's that

00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:34.920
 this unique authority

00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:35.840
 that Jesus wielded

00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:36.360
 to say

00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:37.820
 whatever He wanted

00:36:37.820 --> 00:36:38.240
 and to do

00:36:38.240 --> 00:36:38.840
 whatever He wanted

00:36:38.840 --> 00:36:39.100
 to do

00:36:39.100 --> 00:36:39.800
 was amazingly

00:36:39.800 --> 00:36:40.740
 delegated to

00:36:40.740 --> 00:36:41.420
 the apostles.

00:36:41.420 --> 00:36:41.579
 apostles.

00:36:43.180 --> 00:36:44.659
 It's truly amazing

00:36:44.659 --> 00:36:45.659
 what happened.

00:36:45.740 --> 00:36:46.220
 In Luke 9,

00:36:46.300 --> 00:36:46.860
 Jesus gave them

00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:47.780
 authority over demons,

00:36:47.880 --> 00:36:48.380
 over disease

00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:48.900
 and to proclaim

00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:49.420
 the kingdom.

00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:53.099
 How could they do

00:36:53.099 --> 00:36:53.579
 these things

00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.320
 with the same authority?

00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:55.519
 Because they spoke

00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:56.240
 the same truth

00:36:56.240 --> 00:36:57.119
 and they wielded

00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:57.980
 the same power.

00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:01.280
 So did it end

00:37:01.280 --> 00:37:01.920
 with the apostles?

00:37:02.099 --> 00:37:02.599
 Well, a portion

00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:03.159
 of it did.

00:37:03.680 --> 00:37:04.440
 A portion of it

00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:05.159
 did end with them.

00:37:05.220 --> 00:37:05.860
 There were signs

00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:06.659
 and wonders

00:37:06.659 --> 00:37:07.220
 and miracles

00:37:07.220 --> 00:37:07.760
 they were able

00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:08.180
 to do

00:37:08.180 --> 00:37:09.119
 during this time.

00:37:09.240 --> 00:37:10.039
 There was a gift

00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:10.559
 of the Spirit

00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:11.000
 that Jesus

00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:11.639
 had imparted

00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:12.019
 on them.

00:37:12.299 --> 00:37:12.960
 But don't miss

00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:13.440
 this brothers

00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:13.940
 and sisters

00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:14.539
 in the room

00:37:14.539 --> 00:37:15.380
 this morning.

00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:16.820
 The authority

00:37:16.820 --> 00:37:17.739
 to proclaim

00:37:17.739 --> 00:37:18.239
 the truth

00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:19.059
 has been passed

00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:20.239
 down to us.

00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:22.940
 We are designed

00:37:22.940 --> 00:37:24.880
 to be proclaimers

00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:25.860
 of God's Word

00:37:25.860 --> 00:37:26.799
 and God's truth.

00:37:28.119 --> 00:37:28.460
 Jesus'

00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:30.259
 final recorded

00:37:30.259 --> 00:37:31.139
 words in Acts 1,

00:37:31.239 --> 00:37:31.759
 you will receive

00:37:31.759 --> 00:37:33.179
 power when the

00:37:33.179 --> 00:37:33.759
 Holy Spirit

00:37:33.759 --> 00:37:34.639
 comes upon you

00:37:34.639 --> 00:37:35.360
 and you will be

00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:35.940
 my witnesses

00:37:35.940 --> 00:37:36.820
 in Judea,

00:37:37.299 --> 00:37:37.860
 Samaria

00:37:37.860 --> 00:37:38.920
 and to the ends

00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:39.639
 of the earth.

00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:43.659
 Paul writes

00:37:43.659 --> 00:37:44.219
 to Titus

00:37:44.219 --> 00:37:44.900
 in chapter 2,

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:45.559
 young church

00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:45.799
 leader,

00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:46.400
 Titus,

00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:47.719
 chapter 2,

00:37:47.779 --> 00:37:48.440
 verse 15,

00:37:49.139 --> 00:37:49.799
 these things

00:37:49.799 --> 00:37:50.559
 speak with all

00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:51.019
 authority

00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:52.259
 and let no one

00:37:52.259 --> 00:37:53.139
 disregard you.

00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:55.960
 Let no one

00:37:55.960 --> 00:37:56.699
 disregard you.

00:37:57.539 --> 00:37:58.279
 I feel a special

00:37:58.279 --> 00:37:58.960
 burden this morning

00:37:58.960 --> 00:38:00.559
 to speak to the

00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:01.179
 young people

00:38:01.179 --> 00:38:01.779
 in the room.

00:38:02.679 --> 00:38:03.159
 Teenagers,

00:38:03.320 --> 00:38:03.920
 college students,

00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:04.960
 young professionals

00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:06.920
 in the room here.

00:38:07.420 --> 00:38:08.299
 Do not think

00:38:08.299 --> 00:38:08.940
 for a second

00:38:08.940 --> 00:38:09.440
 that you are

00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:10.139
 too young

00:38:10.139 --> 00:38:10.840
 for God

00:38:10.840 --> 00:38:11.519
 to use you.

00:38:12.599 --> 00:38:13.059
 And do not

00:38:13.059 --> 00:38:13.599
 let people

00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.460
 discourage you

00:38:14.460 --> 00:38:14.960
 because you

00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:15.380
 are young.

00:38:17.320 --> 00:38:17.840
 God has

00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:18.480
 historically

00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:19.179
 used young

00:38:19.179 --> 00:38:19.720
 people to

00:38:19.720 --> 00:38:20.139
 start

00:38:20.139 --> 00:38:20.920
 incredible

00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:21.500
 movements.

00:38:22.340 --> 00:38:22.920
 Martin Luther

00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:23.720
 nailed the

00:38:23.720 --> 00:38:24.579
 95 Theses

00:38:24.579 --> 00:38:25.099
 to the door

00:38:25.099 --> 00:38:25.679
 of Wittenberg

00:38:25.679 --> 00:38:27.260
 in 1517,

00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:28.039
 starting a

00:38:28.039 --> 00:38:28.700
 reformation.

00:38:29.480 --> 00:38:29.880
 He was only

00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:30.420
 34.

00:38:32.760 --> 00:38:33.159
 Nicholas

00:38:33.159 --> 00:38:33.800
 Zinzendorf

00:38:33.800 --> 00:38:34.720
 witnessed the

00:38:34.720 --> 00:38:35.360
 birth of the

00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:36.000
 100-year

00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:36.800
 Moravian prayer

00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:38.300
 revival in 1727,

00:38:38.300 --> 00:38:39.000
 when he was

00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:40.180
 only 27 years

00:38:40.180 --> 00:38:40.440
 old.

00:38:41.680 --> 00:38:42.100
 Jonathan

00:38:42.100 --> 00:38:42.600
 Edwards was

00:38:42.600 --> 00:38:43.100
 only at the

00:38:43.100 --> 00:38:44.060
 age of 31

00:38:44.060 --> 00:38:45.060
 in 1734,

00:38:45.180 --> 00:38:46.940
 when his church

00:38:46.940 --> 00:38:47.620
 experienced a

00:38:47.620 --> 00:38:48.180
 revival that

00:38:48.180 --> 00:38:48.640
 led to the

00:38:48.640 --> 00:38:49.440
 conversion of

00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:50.120
 half their

00:38:50.120 --> 00:38:50.519
 town.

00:38:52.380 --> 00:38:52.620
 George

00:38:52.620 --> 00:38:52.980
 Whitfield

00:38:52.980 --> 00:38:53.700
 launched what

00:38:53.700 --> 00:38:54.560
 some call

00:38:54.560 --> 00:38:55.000
 the greatest

00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:57.519
 single evangelistic

00:38:57.519 --> 00:38:58.740
 tour in New

00:38:58.740 --> 00:38:59.860
 England in the

00:38:59.860 --> 00:39:00.280
 first Great

00:39:00.280 --> 00:39:00.900
 Awakening when

00:39:00.900 --> 00:39:01.320
 he was only

00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:01.840
 25.

00:39:03.140 --> 00:39:03.620
 Some of you

00:39:03.620 --> 00:39:04.500
 are coming up

00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:04.960
 to that age.

00:39:05.019 --> 00:39:05.320
 Some of you

00:39:05.320 --> 00:39:05.980
 are already at

00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:06.700
 that age.

00:39:06.699 --> 00:39:08.419
 At the

00:39:08.419 --> 00:39:08.759
 age of

00:39:08.759 --> 00:39:09.339
 23,

00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:09.839
 Samuel

00:39:09.839 --> 00:39:10.339
 Mills led

00:39:10.339 --> 00:39:10.699
 a group

00:39:10.699 --> 00:39:11.179
 of peers

00:39:11.179 --> 00:39:11.480
 to what

00:39:11.480 --> 00:39:11.759
 would be

00:39:11.759 --> 00:39:12.879
 the birth

00:39:12.879 --> 00:39:13.500
 of foreign

00:39:13.500 --> 00:39:14.079
 missions

00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:15.139
 in America.

00:39:17.239 --> 00:39:17.719
 God

00:39:17.719 --> 00:39:18.980
 uses people

00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:19.799
 young and

00:39:19.799 --> 00:39:20.159
 old.

00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:20.819
 I don't

00:39:20.819 --> 00:39:21.099
 mean to be

00:39:21.099 --> 00:39:21.480
 discouraging

00:39:21.480 --> 00:39:21.899
 old people.

00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:22.319
 God uses

00:39:22.319 --> 00:39:22.759
 old people

00:39:22.759 --> 00:39:23.000
 too.

00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:25.399
 God uses

00:39:25.399 --> 00:39:26.199
 people young

00:39:26.199 --> 00:39:26.799
 and old,

00:39:26.879 --> 00:39:27.480
 but do not

00:39:27.480 --> 00:39:28.059
 think that

00:39:28.059 --> 00:39:29.359
 you are

00:39:29.359 --> 00:39:30.059
 too young

00:39:30.059 --> 00:39:30.739
 to do

00:39:30.739 --> 00:39:31.019
 something

00:39:31.019 --> 00:39:32.059
 great for

00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:32.399
 the glory

00:39:32.399 --> 00:39:32.819
 of God.

00:39:34.279 --> 00:39:34.759
 Mary,

00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:35.659
 mother of

00:39:35.659 --> 00:39:37.599
 Jesus was

00:39:37.599 --> 00:39:38.219
 likely a

00:39:38.219 --> 00:39:38.839
 young teenager

00:39:38.839 --> 00:39:39.199
 when she

00:39:39.199 --> 00:39:39.940
 raised and

00:39:39.940 --> 00:39:41.079
 nurtured the

00:39:41.079 --> 00:39:41.519
 man that

00:39:41.519 --> 00:39:42.059
 would become

00:39:42.059 --> 00:39:43.500
 the cornerstone

00:39:43.500 --> 00:39:44.079
 to every

00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:44.719
 great movement

00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:45.279
 of God

00:39:45.279 --> 00:39:46.019
 for the rest

00:39:46.019 --> 00:39:46.579
 of history.

00:39:48.639 --> 00:39:49.420
 So young

00:39:49.420 --> 00:39:49.739
 people,

00:39:49.839 --> 00:39:50.339
 do not believe

00:39:50.339 --> 00:39:50.859
 for a second

00:39:50.859 --> 00:39:51.359
 you are too

00:39:51.359 --> 00:39:52.059
 young for God

00:39:52.059 --> 00:39:52.739
 to use you

00:39:52.739 --> 00:39:54.239
 as a catalyst

00:39:54.239 --> 00:39:54.960
 for revival.

00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:57.139
 And pray for

00:39:57.139 --> 00:39:57.559
 revival.

00:39:57.699 --> 00:39:58.239
 We need it

00:39:58.239 --> 00:39:59.019
 so desperately.

00:39:59.519 --> 00:40:00.079
 We need it

00:40:00.079 --> 00:40:00.799
 so desperately

00:40:00.799 --> 00:40:01.960
 in our country.

00:40:01.960 --> 00:40:05.179
 So for all

00:40:05.179 --> 00:40:05.500
 of us,

00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:05.820
 young,

00:40:05.940 --> 00:40:06.300
 old,

00:40:07.559 --> 00:40:08.280
 as we go

00:40:08.280 --> 00:40:08.679
 away from

00:40:08.679 --> 00:40:08.980
 here this

00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:09.179
 morning,

00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:09.880
 remember that

00:40:09.880 --> 00:40:10.519
 we live

00:40:10.519 --> 00:40:10.900
 in a

00:40:10.900 --> 00:40:11.639
 fallen and

00:40:11.639 --> 00:40:12.260
 broken world

00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:12.980
 that desperately

00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:14.159
 needs the

00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:14.659
 authority of

00:40:14.659 --> 00:40:15.880
 Christ in

00:40:15.880 --> 00:40:16.460
 their lives.

00:40:17.619 --> 00:40:18.220
 I think about

00:40:18.220 --> 00:40:18.720
 all the terrible

00:40:18.720 --> 00:40:19.220
 things that are

00:40:19.220 --> 00:40:19.679
 happening in

00:40:19.679 --> 00:40:20.039
 this world

00:40:20.039 --> 00:40:20.519
 and my heart

00:40:20.519 --> 00:40:20.880
 breaks.

00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:21.340
 You've got the

00:40:21.340 --> 00:40:22.360
 conflict going

00:40:22.360 --> 00:40:22.800
 on between

00:40:22.800 --> 00:40:23.420
 Syria and

00:40:23.420 --> 00:40:23.720
 Russia,

00:40:24.360 --> 00:40:25.559
 where people

00:40:25.559 --> 00:40:26.119
 are being

00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:26.519
 killed

00:40:26.519 --> 00:40:27.220
 meaninglessly.

00:40:28.420 --> 00:40:29.199
 There's an

00:40:29.199 --> 00:40:29.880
 ever-escalating

00:40:29.880 --> 00:40:30.599
 conflict in

00:40:30.599 --> 00:40:31.139
 Israel and

00:40:31.139 --> 00:40:31.619
 Palestine.

00:40:31.960 --> 00:40:33.960
 there's the

00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:34.780
 Islamic State,

00:40:34.840 --> 00:40:35.099
 or whatever

00:40:35.099 --> 00:40:35.539
 they're calling

00:40:35.539 --> 00:40:36.159
 themselves this

00:40:36.159 --> 00:40:36.460
 week,

00:40:37.300 --> 00:40:38.059
 Islamic State,

00:40:38.159 --> 00:40:38.460
 ISIS,

00:40:38.720 --> 00:40:39.119
 whatever it

00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:39.280
 is,

00:40:39.340 --> 00:40:39.920
 they're killing

00:40:39.920 --> 00:40:40.639
 Christians among

00:40:40.639 --> 00:40:41.340
 other minority

00:40:41.340 --> 00:40:42.220
 religious groups

00:40:42.220 --> 00:40:44.699
 for apparently

00:40:44.699 --> 00:40:45.519
 no good reason.

00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:46.940
 There's the

00:40:46.940 --> 00:40:47.599
 voices of

00:40:47.599 --> 00:40:48.019
 feminism,

00:40:48.220 --> 00:40:49.039
 homosexual rights

00:40:49.039 --> 00:40:49.440
 activists,

00:40:49.599 --> 00:40:50.059
 proponents of

00:40:50.059 --> 00:40:50.760
 abortion that are

00:40:50.760 --> 00:40:51.280
 growing ever

00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:52.380
 louder in our

00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:52.820
 culture.

00:40:53.780 --> 00:40:54.380
 We have all

00:40:54.380 --> 00:40:55.019
 the chaos,

00:40:55.179 --> 00:40:55.720
 all the bad

00:40:55.720 --> 00:40:56.300
 ideas,

00:40:56.880 --> 00:40:57.220
 all the

00:40:57.220 --> 00:40:58.139
 misrepresentations

00:40:58.139 --> 00:40:58.740
 that are floating

00:40:58.740 --> 00:40:59.360
 around our

00:40:59.360 --> 00:40:59.900
 world.

00:41:00.820 --> 00:41:01.440
 And yet God

00:41:01.440 --> 00:41:02.240
 has placed us

00:41:02.240 --> 00:41:04.000
 here in

00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:04.780
 North Georgia

00:41:04.780 --> 00:41:07.179
 to impact a

00:41:07.179 --> 00:41:07.780
 culture for

00:41:07.780 --> 00:41:08.599
 His glory.

00:41:09.720 --> 00:41:10.740
 Let us never

00:41:10.740 --> 00:41:11.539
 forget that.

00:41:12.079 --> 00:41:12.619
 Let us never

00:41:12.619 --> 00:41:13.139
 forget that the

00:41:13.139 --> 00:41:13.720
 most important

00:41:13.720 --> 00:41:14.220
 thing that can

00:41:14.220 --> 00:41:14.860
 happen in this

00:41:14.860 --> 00:41:15.360
 world is for

00:41:15.360 --> 00:41:16.099
 God to be

00:41:16.099 --> 00:41:17.360
 glorified through

00:41:17.360 --> 00:41:18.360
 His truth being

00:41:18.360 --> 00:41:19.119
 made known,

00:41:19.519 --> 00:41:21.159
 both here and

00:41:21.159 --> 00:41:22.000
 abroad, both

00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:23.500
 locally and to

00:41:23.500 --> 00:41:24.139
 the nations.

00:41:24.139 --> 00:41:24.279
 God's.

00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:27.059
 And the only

00:41:27.059 --> 00:41:28.859
 place that

00:41:28.859 --> 00:41:29.139
 they're going

00:41:29.139 --> 00:41:29.519
 to receive

00:41:29.519 --> 00:41:30.159
 this truth is

00:41:30.159 --> 00:41:30.980
 through the

00:41:30.980 --> 00:41:32.440
 instruments in

00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:32.819
 which He has

00:41:32.819 --> 00:41:33.599
 deposited His

00:41:33.599 --> 00:41:34.839
 Word and His

00:41:34.839 --> 00:41:35.259
 Spirit.

00:41:36.359 --> 00:41:36.960
 And that's in

00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:37.379
 us.

00:41:39.099 --> 00:41:39.500
 See, in this

00:41:39.500 --> 00:41:40.460
 passage, Jesus

00:41:40.460 --> 00:41:42.659
 comes up against

00:41:42.659 --> 00:41:43.759
 a great conflict

00:41:43.759 --> 00:41:44.839
 and He's promised

00:41:44.839 --> 00:41:45.779
 us that if we're

00:41:45.779 --> 00:41:46.739
 going to follow

00:41:46.739 --> 00:41:47.980
 Him radically,

00:41:48.139 --> 00:41:48.819
 if we're going to

00:41:48.819 --> 00:41:49.599
 share truth,

00:41:49.839 --> 00:41:50.559
 if we're going to

00:41:50.559 --> 00:41:51.440
 represent Him

00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:52.679
 locally and to

00:41:52.679 --> 00:41:53.280
 the nations,

00:41:53.960 --> 00:41:54.900
 then we're going

00:41:54.900 --> 00:41:55.360
 to come into

00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:55.960
 conflict.

00:41:57.119 --> 00:41:57.760
 There's going to

00:41:57.760 --> 00:41:58.280
 be times of

00:41:58.280 --> 00:41:58.760
 discouragement.

00:41:58.840 --> 00:41:59.039
 There's going to

00:41:59.039 --> 00:41:59.639
 be times of

00:41:59.639 --> 00:42:00.519
 joy.

00:42:01.139 --> 00:42:01.320
 There's going to

00:42:01.320 --> 00:42:01.880
 be times of

00:42:01.880 --> 00:42:03.760
 difficulty and

00:42:03.760 --> 00:42:04.159
 times of

00:42:04.159 --> 00:42:04.559
 happiness.

00:42:05.420 --> 00:42:06.220
 And we can

00:42:06.220 --> 00:42:07.360
 expect confrontation

00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:08.280
 as we carry the

00:42:08.280 --> 00:42:08.740
 light of the

00:42:08.740 --> 00:42:09.500
 gospel truth to

00:42:09.500 --> 00:42:09.880
 the world.

00:42:10.679 --> 00:42:11.179
 But I want to

00:42:11.179 --> 00:42:11.820
 leave you this

00:42:11.820 --> 00:42:14.260
 encouraging passage

00:42:14.260 --> 00:42:15.880
 that this light

00:42:15.880 --> 00:42:17.139
 and momentary

00:42:17.139 --> 00:42:17.880
 affliction is

00:42:17.880 --> 00:42:18.659
 preparing us for

00:42:18.659 --> 00:42:19.139
 an eternal

00:42:19.139 --> 00:42:20.480
 weight of glory

00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:21.659
 that is beyond

00:42:21.659 --> 00:42:22.740
 all comparison.

00:42:23.579 --> 00:42:24.139
 Let's pray

00:42:24.139 --> 00:42:24.420
 together.