WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:01.040 Amen. 00:00:03.280 --> 00:00:08.120 Please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to the Gospel according to John. 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:15.900 And again, we'll be in John chapter 11, verses 55 through 12, 19. 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:21.179 If you didn't bring your own Bibles and you'd like to use the Bible in the pew back in front of you, 00:00:21.219 --> 00:00:23.660 you can find that on page 844. 00:00:23.660 --> 00:00:31.039 And if you're really using the Bible that I like, it's on page 1394. 00:00:31.260 --> 00:00:33.899 We'll see who the overachievers are in the room this morning. 00:00:35.539 --> 00:00:39.000 John 11, 55 through 12, 19. 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:44.980 When you found that in any Bible that you brought, if you would stand and follow along with me as I read the Word of God. 00:00:44.979 --> 00:01:00.339 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 00:01:01.099 --> 00:01:04.679 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, 00:01:05.039 --> 00:01:07.879 What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all? 00:01:07.879 --> 00:01:13.019 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:16.199 he should let them know so that they might arrest him. 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:24.419 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 00:01:24.899 --> 00:01:26.719 So they gave a dinner for him there. 00:01:27.299 --> 00:01:31.379 Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 00:01:31.379 --> 00:01:36.179 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, 00:01:36.479 --> 00:01:40.219 and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:43.759 The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:50.019 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, he who was about to betray him, said, 00:01:50.659 --> 00:01:54.439 Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? 00:01:55.179 --> 00:01:59.979 He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:04.219 And having charge of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:05.760 Jesus said, 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:09.300 Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 00:02:09.920 --> 00:02:13.740 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me. 00:02:14.980 --> 00:02:18.060 When the large crowd of the Jews had learned that Jesus was there, 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:23.539 they came not only on account of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 00:02:24.140 --> 00:02:27.640 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 00:02:27.639 --> 00:02:32.239 because on account of him, many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. 00:02:33.359 --> 00:02:38.819 The next day, the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:43.019 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, 00:02:43.099 --> 00:02:48.219 Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel. 00:02:48.219 --> 00:02:52.740 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:54.979 Fear not, daughter of Zion. 00:02:55.659 --> 00:02:59.439 Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt. 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:03.300 His disciples did not understand these things at first, 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:08.079 but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him 00:03:08.079 --> 00:03:09.379 and had been done to him. 00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:15.000 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:17.599 continued to bear witness. 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:24.199 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they had heard he had done this sign. 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:26.460 So the Pharisees said to one another, 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:28.599 You see that you are gaining nothing. 00:03:28.780 --> 00:03:31.960 Look, the world has gone after him. 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:34.079 This is the word of God. 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:35.699 And please be seated. 00:03:35.699 --> 00:03:40.859 Lord, we thank you again for your word. 00:03:41.519 --> 00:03:45.060 It is unbelievably good. 00:03:46.299 --> 00:03:50.019 And we pray now that you would speak through me, a weak servant. 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:53.899 Let your word go forth in power to accomplish your purposes. 00:03:54.060 --> 00:03:55.060 We pray in Christ's name. 00:03:55.939 --> 00:03:56.179 Amen. 00:03:57.979 --> 00:03:59.500 How do you welcome a king? 00:04:01.219 --> 00:04:04.299 Five months ago, May 6, 2023, 00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:10.219 apparently was the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey. 00:04:10.320 --> 00:04:11.460 And to be completely honest with you, 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:16.400 I was completely unaware and totally uninterested in the entire thing. 00:04:16.500 --> 00:04:20.620 But I know that many people apparently get really into this stuff. 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:24.699 And so they were eagerly anticipating and preparing for this moment. 00:04:25.379 --> 00:04:30.480 This was the first coronation of a king in 70 years. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:33.220 So you can imagine the preparation. 00:04:33.420 --> 00:04:34.600 They pulled out all the stops. 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:39.439 The planning for this coronation began a year ago this month, October 2022. 00:04:40.540 --> 00:04:42.200 Invitations were sent out. 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:46.140 Some 2,200 guests would attend the ceremony 00:04:46.140 --> 00:04:50.680 with over 20 million Brits and over 10 million Americans 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:52.580 watching the festivities online. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:55.360 Maybe some of you were included in some of those numbers. 00:04:55.360 --> 00:05:02.160 Every detail was laid out and planned out to honor and to praise 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:06.740 and to welcome in the new king and his queen. 00:05:07.480 --> 00:05:11.780 The Archbishop of Canterbury planned out a service, a coronation liturgy. 00:05:11.939 --> 00:05:13.080 And if you watched the event, 00:05:13.220 --> 00:05:16.780 then you saw one of the main features was the king's procession 00:05:16.779 --> 00:05:20.799 where the king and the queen traveled from Buckingham Palace 00:05:20.799 --> 00:05:25.659 into Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach. 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:30.719 It's this golden coach ornately decorated on all sides. 00:05:30.719 --> 00:05:37.879 It's led by six white horses surrounded on all sides by the king's guard. 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:41.759 They entered into the cheers and the celebration of the crowds 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:44.179 and then they took their place and the moment came 00:05:44.180 --> 00:05:48.459 and the crown was officially placed on King Charles' head. 00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:51.379 But of course, that wasn't the end of the celebration. 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:53.720 There was a concert to attend that evening. 00:05:53.840 --> 00:05:55.139 There was a big feast, a dinner. 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:58.000 They celebrated all weekend long. 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:04.660 Everyone, all of this, celebrating all of it to welcome in a new king. 00:06:04.660 --> 00:06:13.800 Our passage this morning, it details the welcoming and the reception of a king. 00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:20.380 It's the entrance of King Jesus both into the home of his friends and into his city. 00:06:21.320 --> 00:06:22.280 The time has come. 00:06:22.400 --> 00:06:25.680 All the grand entrance has been planned long in advance. 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:26.940 The hour has arrived. 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:31.040 And here we get to see how is this king received? 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:34.040 How is the king welcomed? 00:06:35.080 --> 00:06:38.140 And as we walk through this passage together, I want to ask us, 00:06:38.180 --> 00:06:41.540 I want us to ask ourselves, how do we receive the king? 00:06:42.280 --> 00:06:44.200 How do I welcome the king? 00:06:44.260 --> 00:06:46.180 How do I receive him even now? 00:06:46.280 --> 00:06:49.040 How do I, how should I prepare for his arrival? 00:06:49.180 --> 00:06:54.240 What honor, what praise, what celebration is owed to King Jesus? 00:06:55.420 --> 00:06:57.220 And the truth is, we know this, don't we? 00:06:57.220 --> 00:07:00.840 The king Jesus is worthy of everything that we have to offer. 00:07:01.300 --> 00:07:01.480 Amen? 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:08.280 He is worthy of all of our honor, all of the praise, all of the glory, all of our energy, 00:07:08.460 --> 00:07:11.300 everything that we have to give him, all of ourselves. 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:19.100 We're called to love the Lord your God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, all our strength. 00:07:19.180 --> 00:07:21.020 He's worthy of it all. 00:07:21.019 --> 00:07:25.680 So this morning, I want to ask the question, how should we receive the king? 00:07:25.799 --> 00:07:30.000 And we'll see two ways to receive the coming king this morning. 00:07:30.500 --> 00:07:32.019 This is our outline if you're taking notes. 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:35.859 Two ways to receive the coming king. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:41.199 Receive him with honor and receive him with adoration. 00:07:42.799 --> 00:07:48.099 First, we see we are to receive the king with honor. 00:07:48.100 --> 00:07:51.900 At the end of chapter 11, it sets the stage for us. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.680 Verse 55 tells us the Passover was at hand. 00:07:54.780 --> 00:07:57.640 This was the third Passover in the Gospel of John. 00:07:57.720 --> 00:07:59.540 This is Jesus' final Passover. 00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:05.320 We know that Jews came from all over into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. 00:08:05.640 --> 00:08:09.960 And they often came early to purify themselves for the feast. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:13.040 But this time, something was a little bit different, wasn't it? 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:16.560 This time, they came looking for Jesus. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:21.379 We saw last week that a decision has been made. 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:34.419 An infinitely, eternally foolish decision was made by Caiaphas and the chief priests and the Pharisees and the council to find Jesus and put him to death. 00:08:35.259 --> 00:08:38.299 So this time, at the Passover, they're wondering, well, where is he? 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:39.779 Where can we find him? 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:49.240 They gave out orders that if anybody had seen Jesus, if anybody knew where he was, they might speak up so they might arrest him and ultimately so they might kill him. 00:08:50.360 --> 00:09:00.139 But John tells us that while they are in Jerusalem preparing for Jesus' death, Jesus is in Bethany also preparing for his death. 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:03.319 Bethany was about two miles away from Jerusalem. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:13.240 And Jesus made a stop there to visit his friends, Mary and Martha and Lazarus, who John just casually mentions again that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:16.039 He's still not giving us any information we want to know about Lazarus. 00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:22.299 We want to know what his experience was, what he's thinking, what his time was like in the grave. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:24.179 He doesn't focus on that at all, does he? 00:09:24.179 --> 00:09:29.579 Instead, the focus is on King Jesus and on how he is received. 00:09:30.839 --> 00:09:37.159 This is ancient history now, but I'll remind you that the Atlanta Braves won the World Series two, maybe three years ago. 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:41.859 And they didn't win it in Atlanta, they won it in Houston. 00:09:42.019 --> 00:09:43.539 They celebrated there in Houston. 00:09:44.059 --> 00:09:45.079 They had a big celebration. 00:09:45.239 --> 00:09:48.799 But do you remember how they were received when they arrived back home in Atlanta? 00:09:49.819 --> 00:09:50.599 There was a celebration. 00:09:50.719 --> 00:09:51.539 They got off the plane. 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:52.359 It was crowded. 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:55.519 There were photographers, journalists, fans all over the place. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:10:02.100 They planned the celebration parade where they marched through the city of Atlanta as kings of the baseball world. 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:04.480 All of this for being the best team in baseball. 00:10:05.800 --> 00:10:09.360 Now imagine the honor that's owed to King Jesus. 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:14.360 Place yourself in Martha's shoes or in Mary's shoes. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:17.139 This man just raised your brother from the dead. 00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:18.379 How would you receive him? 00:10:19.180 --> 00:10:20.519 How would you honor him? 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:23.019 Place yourself in Lazarus' shoes. 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:26.299 This man just brought you out of the grave. 00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:28.379 How would you respond to him? 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:31.980 We see like good Baptists, they fed him. 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:34.480 I don't know what they ate. 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:38.360 I imagine probably something like what we ate last week at the campsite. 00:10:39.079 --> 00:10:40.159 They fed him. 00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:41.539 Martha served. 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:44.679 Lazarus, he just wanted to spend his time with Jesus. 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:46.639 He reclined there at the table with him. 00:10:46.699 --> 00:10:54.779 But the focus here, John's focus is on Mary and the way that she anointed and honored her king. 00:10:54.859 --> 00:10:55.659 Look there to verse 3. 00:10:56.899 --> 00:10:57.539 John tells us, 00:10:57.539 --> 00:11:24.219 This is extravagant, sacrificial, self-debasing honor and love for the king. 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:27.960 Now we hear that term, pure nard. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:30.259 That really doesn't do anything for us, does it? 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:35.259 But we need to understand that this was expensive. 00:11:36.540 --> 00:11:41.160 And when John says that this was expensive ointment, he's kind of underselling it a little bit. 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:43.600 This was incredibly expensive. 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:47.019 Judas knows exactly how expensive it was, doesn't he? 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:48.560 And we'll deal with him in a moment. 00:11:48.800 --> 00:11:54.480 But he tells us that they could have sold this ointment for 300 denarii. 00:11:55.259 --> 00:12:00.820 Now an average worker in this time might have earned one denarius per day. 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:08.060 So 300 denarii, not including Sabbaths and the weekends when you're not working. 00:12:08.059 --> 00:12:13.659 300 denarii would have been a year's worth of labor for an average worker. 00:12:13.859 --> 00:12:15.539 A full year's income. 00:12:16.479 --> 00:12:23.359 And here, Mary, she takes this valuable treasure off of the shelf, probably her most valuable possession. 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:30.079 She takes it down, breaks it at the neck, and pours it out all over Jesus. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:37.679 This is extravagant, sacrificial love and honor. 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:44.139 But not only this, John tells us he draws our attention to the fact that she anointed the feet of Jesus. 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:47.059 And she wiped his feet with her hair. 00:12:47.199 --> 00:12:53.359 This is humble, self-debasing, undignified honor. 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:55.500 This is servant's work. 00:12:56.439 --> 00:12:58.699 Do you remember what John the Baptist said in chapter 1? 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:06.239 He said, I'm not even worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of this man's sandals. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:07.359 Do you remember that? 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:11.240 This man, Jesus, is so much greater than I am. 00:13:11.300 --> 00:13:11.940 I'm nothing. 00:13:12.039 --> 00:13:18.639 I'm not even worthy to stoop down, to be the lowest servant, to serve this king, to do the lowest task imaginable. 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:20.259 I'm not worthy of him. 00:13:20.680 --> 00:13:22.379 He's worthy of everything I've got. 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:26.799 But it's an honor to stoop down and be a servant for the king. 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:28.980 That's Mary's posture here, isn't it? 00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:30.919 She lets her hair down. 00:13:31.059 --> 00:13:32.700 She stoops down as low as she can. 00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:37.039 She doesn't care at all what anyone else in the room might think of her and what she's doing. 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:43.319 And she gives her greatest treasure to honor her lord and king. 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:48.060 What an example this is for us, church. 00:13:49.260 --> 00:13:52.740 What an example Mary gives to us. 00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:54.180 Yes, this is extravagant. 00:13:54.260 --> 00:13:55.580 Yes, this is expensive. 00:13:55.820 --> 00:13:57.040 Yes, this is sacrificial. 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:59.800 But isn't Jesus worthy of this? 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:02.059 And so much more. 00:14:03.319 --> 00:14:04.120 Of course he is. 00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:06.799 He's worthy of our very best. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:10.179 But Judas, excuse me, Judas. 00:14:10.699 --> 00:14:12.439 Judas didn't seem to think so, did he? 00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:13.939 Look there to verse 4. 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:15.919 John tells us, 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:20.620 Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, he who was about to betray him, said, 00:14:21.319 --> 00:14:25.919 Why was this ointment not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor? 00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:30.740 John tells us he said this not because he even cared about the poor, but why did he say it? 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:32.099 He was greedy. 00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:33.039 He was a thief. 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:37.599 He used to stick his hand in the money bag and pull out what he wanted for himself. 00:14:37.719 --> 00:14:41.299 He had charge of the money and he used that for his own personal gain. 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:46.439 Judas was outraged because this expensive ointment, in his view, 00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:52.339 was being wasted by being poured out on Jesus instead of stuck in his pocketbook. 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:58.280 His money was being poured out all over somebody else's dirty feet. 00:14:58.420 --> 00:15:01.160 In his view, this was a waste. 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:04.200 And Jesus said, no, no, no, no, no. 00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:05.100 Leave her alone. 00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:07.200 She has kept it. 00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:09.300 She has kept it for the day of my burial. 00:15:09.420 --> 00:15:11.480 The poor you will always have with you. 00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:13.680 There will always be an opportunity to serve the poor. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:17.159 But I have but one week left here with you. 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:19.399 One week left. 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:25.079 She has saved this ointment for this purpose, to anoint me for my burial. 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:30.160 I got an email from my seminary this past week, 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:32.940 actually saying that they were honoring one of my former professors, 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:37.000 honoring him with a festschrift. 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:39.820 Does anybody know what a festschrift is? 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.960 I had no idea either. 00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:43.780 If they covered that in class, I missed that day. 00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:46.300 I had to look it up and see what a festschrift was. 00:15:46.400 --> 00:15:49.920 Apparently, it's German for a celebration writing. 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:54.500 Now, most of the time when a famous scholar, somebody influential, passes away, 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:57.799 you'll see a lot of books come out honoring their work, 00:15:58.100 --> 00:16:02.360 giving honor to who they are, remembering the work and the influence that they had. 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:06.879 Well, a festschrift is a celebration writing while the person is still living. 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:12.019 They want to show honor to them while they're around and can receive the honor. 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:17.080 So they wrote this book in honor of this still living professor. 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:20.179 Mary's doing the very same thing here. 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:21.379 She says, well, why wait? 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:26.200 She has an opportunity in front of her right now to honor the king of kings, 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.620 and so she takes it. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:33.500 It's so interesting to me as I read through this section of John's gospel here 00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:40.179 that this story of Mary is sandwiched between Caiaphas in chapter 11 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:43.840 and Judas here in chapter 12. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:49.039 Caiaphas, who wouldn't give up his status, wouldn't give up his prestige, 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:50.500 wouldn't give up his influence. 00:16:50.500 --> 00:16:55.240 Instead, he plotted to take the life of Jesus and Judas, 00:16:55.459 --> 00:16:57.179 who didn't want to give up his greed, 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:59.120 wouldn't give up his money, 00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:01.219 wouldn't give up his secret sin, 00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:02.919 and ultimately betrayed the Lord. 00:17:03.939 --> 00:17:06.059 And Mary honored the king. 00:17:06.159 --> 00:17:07.339 She poured it all out, 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:13.200 but Judas and Caiaphas held on to what was more precious to them instead. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:19.720 Mary would give 300 days worth of income to honor the Lord. 00:17:19.840 --> 00:17:23.380 Judas would sell him off for 30 pieces of silver. 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:27.340 I think we're meant to ask, 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:31.740 are we honoring Jesus like Mary, 00:17:32.120 --> 00:17:37.120 or are we withholding honor from Jesus like Judas? 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.519 I'll ask that again. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:42.819 Are we honoring Jesus like Mary, 00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:49.139 or are we withholding the honor that he's due like Judas? 00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:52.839 Are we giving Jesus our very best? 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:56.500 The best of our time, 00:17:56.619 --> 00:17:58.160 the best of our money, 00:17:58.819 --> 00:18:00.440 the best of our ability, 00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:02.519 the best of our possessions, 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:05.319 because he is the most precious, 00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:07.200 the most worthy, 00:18:07.379 --> 00:18:08.680 he is the king, 00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:13.759 or are we holding back what is due to him 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:17.519 because we find something else more precious than him? 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:20.480 Our prayer needs to be, 00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:21.840 God help us be like Mary. 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.240 God help us, 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:26.160 help us not be like Judas. 00:18:26.320 --> 00:18:27.860 The temptation for all of us, 00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.220 churches, 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:31.200 is to hold back what's due to Christ 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:33.860 because we want some sort of gain 00:18:33.860 --> 00:18:37.279 when in reality it all belongs to him. 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:43.019 I want people to look at us as a church family, 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:45.500 people who don't know the Lord, 00:18:46.060 --> 00:18:47.920 to look at us the way we live, 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:48.840 the way we serve, 00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:50.400 the way we give of ourselves, 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:53.740 the way we give sacrificially and generously, 00:18:54.100 --> 00:18:57.580 and have no idea what in the world is going on. 00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:01.019 And not understand it at all, 00:19:01.100 --> 00:19:02.240 because the truth is, 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:04.519 when you give your best to Jesus, 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:07.339 there will always be someone around 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:09.539 who's going to think you're absolutely out of your mind. 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.599 And that's okay. 00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.319 Honoring Jesus, 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.819 it often means giving generously 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:20.319 in ways that don't make sense to the watching world. 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:23.779 But what the world views as waste, 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:27.119 God views as worship. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:30.899 And we had an Operation Christmas Child meeting 00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:31.819 a couple weeks ago, 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.559 and this couple, 00:19:32.639 --> 00:19:33.980 we shared this last week, 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:35.099 this couple was here, 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.399 a man and his wife, 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:38.379 pastor and his wife from Wild Peach, Texas, 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:41.599 and they serve a small church there in Texas. 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:43.440 And they started off, 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:46.899 the Lord led them to give the shoeboxes 00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:47.980 to Operation Christmas Child. 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:50.920 I think they maybe had 12, 15 boxes the first go around, 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:52.800 maybe 30, 35 a second go around, 00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:54.120 as they shared, 00:19:54.560 --> 00:19:58.720 their generosity and sacrifice blossomed 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.039 to the point where this past year 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:03.480 they gave over 5,000 shoeboxes. 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:07.240 And not just to provide supplies to these kids, 00:20:07.320 --> 00:20:09.980 but to provide the gospel to these kids. 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:11.380 Because the Lord, 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:13.380 the King of all the heaven and earth, 00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:17.380 is worthy of this sort of outrageous generosity, 00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:18.560 is He not? 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:22.960 This church, you should know, 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:26.620 is the fruit of extravagant, 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:29.320 over-the-top, unreasonable generosity. 00:20:30.620 --> 00:20:32.880 This is our first year together 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:34.340 as an autonomous church, 00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:35.100 but you should know 00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:38.660 that we're not yet financially self-sustaining, 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:41.640 meaning, right now we are held up, 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.700 we are propped up, 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:44.500 we're supported by the generosity 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:46.519 of other Christians 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:48.660 who are using their money, 00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:51.360 the money that they could use to buy groceries, 00:20:51.620 --> 00:20:52.740 to pad their retirement, 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:55.680 to do a thousand other reasonable things, 00:20:55.820 --> 00:20:59.220 but instead they see the work of God in you, 00:20:59.560 --> 00:21:01.660 the work of God in this church, 00:21:02.100 --> 00:21:04.300 who desire to see a healthy gospel witness 00:21:04.300 --> 00:21:05.920 established in this community, 00:21:06.080 --> 00:21:08.820 and have said the name and the honor of Jesus 00:21:08.820 --> 00:21:10.160 is worth it. 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.980 So they give. 00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:14.700 We're indebted to their generosity. 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:17.880 But our prayer, of course, 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:19.880 our aim is that our dependence 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:21.960 on that outside generosity 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:24.299 would become less and less 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.900 as our own hearts are stirred, 00:21:26.100 --> 00:21:27.360 our own membership grows 00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:29.120 to the point where we're no longer 00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:31.519 dependent on outside help, 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.259 but rather, 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:34.279 each one of us 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:36.480 is giving in ways 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:38.740 that might seem strange to the world, 00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:42.240 but that honor the Lord Jesus. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:47.200 I love the quote from Jim Elliott. 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.559 Jim Elliott was a missionary, 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:51.620 one of five missionaries 00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:53.299 who went to an unreached people group 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:55.099 in the rainforest of Ecuador, 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:57.599 went to bring them the message of the gospel. 00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.920 Every single one of them 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:02.400 was speared to death. 00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.640 Here's what he said. 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:06.599 He is no fool 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:09.920 who gives what he cannot keep 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:13.080 to gain what he cannot lose. 00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:15.180 I'll say that again. 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:16.200 Make sure you heard it. 00:22:17.120 --> 00:22:18.300 He is no fool 00:22:18.300 --> 00:22:21.680 who gives what he cannot keep 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:25.259 to gain what he cannot lose. 00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:27.759 Jim Elliott gave his life. 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:28.759 Why? 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:31.740 Because he treasured 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:33.279 and valued the honor 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:35.160 and the glory of King Jesus 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:37.660 more than his own life. 00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:39.960 That's wasteful to the eyes of the world, 00:22:40.060 --> 00:22:40.880 but not to Christ. 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:45.540 I hope the point is clear. 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:49.560 This is not primarily about our money. 00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:53.800 This is primarily about our heart. 00:22:54.840 --> 00:22:58.779 This is about uprooting the idols of our heart, 00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.620 seeking out, 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:01.900 asking the Lord to seek out areas 00:23:01.900 --> 00:23:04.000 where we are gripping tightly 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:06.000 and by the grace of God, 00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:07.720 letting them go 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:09.920 so we can honor King Jesus 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:12.220 with everything we have. 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:14.299 Don't you want to do that 00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:15.660 for the Lord? 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:19.480 Would you ask the Lord with me 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:22.099 how he might have you, 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.460 how he might have me, 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:26.299 how he might have us together 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:26.940 as a church 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:29.400 to honor him extravagantly, 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:31.000 sacrificially, 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:32.259 generously, 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:33.680 unexpectedly, 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:35.180 and humbly 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:37.559 in ways that you never thought possible 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:39.519 for our good and his glory. 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.960 Receive the King with honor, 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:44.359 but not just this. 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:44.819 Second, 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.059 how do we receive the King? 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:49.420 Receive the King with adoration. 00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:51.180 Look there with me 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:52.900 to verse 12. 00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.500 John says, 00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:55.599 The next day, 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.380 the large crowds 00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:57.299 that had come to the feast 00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:58.359 heard that Jesus was coming 00:23:58.359 --> 00:23:59.019 to Jerusalem, 00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:00.759 so they took branches 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.680 of palm trees 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.960 and went out to meet him, 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.599 crying out, 00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:04.359 Hosanna! 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:06.119 Blessed is he who comes 00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:07.119 in the name of the Lord, 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:09.180 even the King of Israel. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:12.279 This is the arrival 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:13.619 of the King. 00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:15.720 This is what's often called 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:17.339 the triumphal procession. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:17.680 Typically, 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.819 you hear this text preached 00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:20.400 on Palm Sunday. 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:23.460 We're six months late 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:26.400 or maybe five-ish months early, 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.519 depending on how you're counting. 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:29.279 And this is the Sunday 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.779 that begins the beginning 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:32.099 of Holy Week 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:34.460 and Jesus' road to the cross. 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:36.319 You just imagine the scene. 00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:37.879 Place yourself there. 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.779 Millions of Jews 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:42.480 are gathered here together 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.180 for the Passover. 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:45.559 They hear that Jesus is coming. 00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:46.680 I have no idea 00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:48.539 how many came out to meet him, 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:50.339 but they came out of the city 00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:51.680 to usher in someone 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:53.339 who they believed at this point 00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:54.940 not to just be a man, 00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:57.539 not to just be a teacher, 00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:59.340 not even just a miracle worker, 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.660 but they came out 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.519 to usher in 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.500 who they believed 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:04.180 to be their king. 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:05.799 Now, get this image 00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.440 in your mind. 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:08.039 Thousands and thousands 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:09.580 of Jews lining the street, 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:11.180 picking up palm branches, 00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:12.559 waving them in the air. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.880 And this is a symbol 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:16.420 of Jewish national pride 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:18.200 and military victory. 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:20.340 It was a callback for them 00:25:20.340 --> 00:25:21.720 to the times of the Maccabees, 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.759 restoring the temple 00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:24.700 and chasing out, 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.920 driving out the Seleucids 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:27.240 who ruled over them. 00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:29.039 It signaled for them 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:31.360 a strong sense of hope 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.240 and expectation 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:33.940 that at last, 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:35.400 finally, 00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:37.380 the moment has come. 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:40.799 The king has arrived. 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:43.519 The Messiah is here. 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:46.039 And as they see him 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.920 entering the streets, 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:49.039 they quote the Psalms. 00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:50.539 They shout out 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:52.019 this roar of praise 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.759 and adoration. 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.460 Hosanna! 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.200 Which means, 00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:55.800 save us now. 00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:57.560 Save us now. 00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.180 Hosanna! 00:25:58.340 --> 00:25:59.039 Blessed is he 00:25:59.039 --> 00:25:59.700 who comes 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:01.820 in the name of the Lord. 00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:04.120 Even the king of Israel. 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.860 They are adoring 00:26:06.860 --> 00:26:08.360 their king. 00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:10.400 They're welcoming him in 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.380 with praise 00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:12.340 and with adoration. 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.240 They are claiming 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.420 that this man, 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:14.740 Jesus, 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.980 is the Messiah. 00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:16.840 He's the king. 00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:17.559 That's been promised 00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:18.679 to the people. 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.959 He's the one who will come 00:26:19.959 --> 00:26:21.019 and will reign 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.980 and will rule. 00:26:22.379 --> 00:26:23.919 They believe that Jesus 00:26:23.919 --> 00:26:25.240 was their king. 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:27.000 The king had arrived. 00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.399 And he had. 00:26:29.379 --> 00:26:29.679 But, 00:26:30.679 --> 00:26:31.819 but, 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:34.399 not as they might 00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:35.799 have expected. 00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:37.859 see, 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.119 they, 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:39.319 they were looking 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:39.859 for a king 00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:40.419 who would come 00:26:40.419 --> 00:26:41.339 and rule 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.799 right now. 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:44.359 Save us now, 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.079 they said. 00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:46.460 They were, 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:47.220 they were looking 00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:48.119 for a great, 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.740 mighty king 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.220 to come in 00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:50.419 on a war horse, 00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:51.399 fully loaded, 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:51.899 ready to, 00:26:51.899 --> 00:26:53.139 to take over, 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.259 take down the Romans. 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.700 But instead, 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:58.180 here comes Jesus, 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:00.099 seated on 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:01.319 a meager, 00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:02.899 young donkey. 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:05.420 This is an interesting 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.280 choice for a king, 00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:06.720 isn't it? 00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:09.160 This is what our king 00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:09.900 arrives in. 00:27:10.040 --> 00:27:10.160 This, 00:27:10.340 --> 00:27:11.680 this is how our Messiah 00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.140 is going to come 00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:12.700 into the city. 00:27:12.820 --> 00:27:13.140 This is, 00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:14.120 this is the one 00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:14.940 who's supposed to come 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.980 and kick out the Romans 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.860 and set us free. 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.540 This is our king. 00:27:19.540 --> 00:27:20.660 Thousands and thousands 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.560 of years of waiting 00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:23.440 and this is how he rolls 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:24.240 up into the city. 00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:26.700 This is like the king 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.259 of England 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:29.099 coming down the streets 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:30.879 in some old minivan 00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:32.019 instead of this 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:33.519 golden chariot. 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:34.200 You can imagine 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.839 the confusion. 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.960 What in the world 00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.720 is going on? 00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:40.399 John tells us 00:27:40.399 --> 00:27:42.099 he did these things 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:44.299 fully self-aware. 00:27:45.179 --> 00:27:46.200 And what he's doing 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:47.500 is in fulfillment 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:49.179 of prophecy, 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.619 just as it is written 00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:52.179 in Zechariah's prophecy, 00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:52.799 he says, 00:27:52.879 --> 00:27:54.179 Zechariah chapter 9, 00:27:54.639 --> 00:27:55.819 verses 9 and 10, 00:27:55.939 --> 00:27:57.339 Rejoice greatly, 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.379 O daughter of Zion. 00:27:59.139 --> 00:27:59.539 Shout, 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.939 O daughter of Jerusalem. 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:01.739 Behold, 00:28:01.939 --> 00:28:03.759 your king is coming to you. 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.419 He is just 00:28:05.419 --> 00:28:06.659 and having salvation, 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.659 lowly 00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:08.639 and riding 00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.459 on a donkey. 00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:10.439 A colt, 00:28:10.899 --> 00:28:11.500 the foal 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.719 of a donkey. 00:28:14.139 --> 00:28:14.839 Now the people 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:16.859 wanted a king. 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:18.359 They wanted military 00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:19.019 might 00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:20.400 strength, 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:21.480 but this 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:23.299 wasn't quite 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:24.339 the king 00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:25.420 they expected. 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.940 This king 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:29.660 is gentle 00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:31.700 and humble 00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:33.740 and lowly. 00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.180 So the crowds, 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:37.920 they praised him 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:38.619 and adored him, 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.339 but we need to see 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:40.799 they praised him 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.579 for who they 00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:43.220 thought he was, 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:44.079 not who he 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:45.279 actually was. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:48.180 They adored him, 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.039 they praised him 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:50.279 for who they 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.559 wanted him to be, 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.819 what they wanted him 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.279 to do, 00:28:53.379 --> 00:28:54.460 what their hopes, 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:55.539 their expectations, 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.480 their agenda 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:57.339 for King Jesus 00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:57.779 was, 00:28:57.859 --> 00:28:59.240 not for what 00:28:59.240 --> 00:28:59.899 he had actually 00:28:59.899 --> 00:29:01.399 come to do. 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.559 Church, 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.079 we ought to let this 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.599 be a warning 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.680 for us. 00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:09.240 We can voice 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:10.839 praise and adoration 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.660 for Jesus 00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:13.200 selfishly, 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:13.879 can't we? 00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:15.600 And we can 00:29:15.600 --> 00:29:16.540 serve him 00:29:16.540 --> 00:29:17.320 and adore him 00:29:17.320 --> 00:29:17.940 and shout out 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.720 our Bible verses 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.500 and honor him 00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.920 on our terms. 00:29:21.040 --> 00:29:22.160 He can be our king 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:23.460 so long as he 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.220 gives us what 00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:24.780 we want. 00:29:26.280 --> 00:29:26.960 But if we want 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.980 to receive 00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:29.520 the king 00:29:29.520 --> 00:29:30.400 truly 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:31.940 in ways 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:32.740 that honor him 00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:34.000 and please him 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:35.280 and glorify the king, 00:29:35.840 --> 00:29:36.760 receive him 00:29:36.760 --> 00:29:38.420 for who he is. 00:29:39.540 --> 00:29:40.260 Honor him, 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:40.840 adore him 00:29:40.840 --> 00:29:42.380 for who he 00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:43.320 is. 00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:44.040 Let go of 00:29:44.040 --> 00:29:44.720 every other 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.920 selfish agenda 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:47.320 and receive the king 00:29:47.320 --> 00:29:48.260 with genuine 00:29:48.260 --> 00:29:50.100 heart adoration. 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:53.000 This is the king 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:54.600 we've been waiting for. 00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.340 King Jesus, 00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.160 this is the one 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:58.000 who's been promised 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.920 to save us 00:29:58.920 --> 00:30:00.280 from our sins. 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.140 This is the one 00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:02.280 promised to reign 00:30:02.280 --> 00:30:03.640 and to rule over us. 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.600 The king of the Jews 00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:06.540 but not only the Jews. 00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.480 The king of any 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:08.940 who trust him, 00:30:09.260 --> 00:30:09.760 love him, 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.559 and come to him 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.259 truly. 00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:13.940 How are we 00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:15.319 responding to Jesus? 00:30:18.339 --> 00:30:18.819 See, 00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:19.319 these crowds, 00:30:19.420 --> 00:30:20.559 they didn't quite 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.359 understand, 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.079 did they? 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.599 That this king 00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:25.680 had come to fight 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:27.140 a much bigger 00:30:27.140 --> 00:30:27.740 battle 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:29.019 than just a 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:29.779 political battle. 00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:31.700 This king 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.420 had come to 00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.460 perform a much 00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:35.279 greater liberation 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.339 than just to 00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:37.779 liberate the Jews 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.559 from their enemies. 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:40.180 He had come 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.599 to conquer 00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:41.879 a much greater 00:30:41.879 --> 00:30:43.240 enemy than the Romans. 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.059 He'd come to meet 00:30:44.059 --> 00:30:45.399 much greater needs 00:30:45.399 --> 00:30:46.139 than they even knew 00:30:46.139 --> 00:30:46.799 that they had. 00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:48.519 This king 00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:49.180 had come 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:50.160 to defeat 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:51.180 the powers 00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:51.960 of sin 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.579 and darkness. 00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:54.500 He had come 00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.399 to crush 00:30:55.399 --> 00:30:56.019 the head 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:57.000 of the serpent, 00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:57.799 Satan. 00:30:58.819 --> 00:30:59.420 He'd come 00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:00.420 to liberate 00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:01.460 all his people 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:02.299 from the chains 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:03.019 of sin. 00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:03.720 And in order 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.799 to do this, 00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:06.339 he must come 00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:07.279 humbly 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:08.399 to lay 00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:09.579 down his life 00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:10.899 to suffer 00:31:10.899 --> 00:31:12.839 and to die. 00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:15.459 Church, 00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:16.139 are you amazed 00:31:16.139 --> 00:31:16.699 by this? 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.199 Well, 00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:19.559 this is why 00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:19.879 John, 00:31:19.939 --> 00:31:20.220 he says, 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:20.699 the disciples 00:31:20.699 --> 00:31:21.339 didn't understand 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:22.079 this at first. 00:31:22.159 --> 00:31:22.599 Only when 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.439 Jesus had been 00:31:23.439 --> 00:31:24.139 glorified, 00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:24.839 only when he was 00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:25.459 resurrected, 00:31:25.699 --> 00:31:26.559 then they got it. 00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:27.279 Then they saw 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:29.220 this is who he was. 00:31:29.299 --> 00:31:30.419 This is why he came 00:31:30.419 --> 00:31:31.399 the way he did. 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.819 Are you amazed 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:33.559 by this? 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:36.599 the king 00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.460 of kings, 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:40.139 God himself, 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:43.159 humbled himself, 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.859 entered into 00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:47.579 our weakness, 00:31:47.899 --> 00:31:48.539 entered into 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.919 our pain, 00:31:50.099 --> 00:31:50.559 entered into 00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:51.720 our struggle 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.839 to save 00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:53.839 unworthy 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:54.399 sinners 00:31:54.399 --> 00:31:55.259 like us. 00:31:57.419 --> 00:31:58.539 The one 00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.619 who's worthy 00:31:59.619 --> 00:32:00.480 of all praise, 00:32:00.659 --> 00:32:01.500 humbled himself 00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:03.160 to serve you, 00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:03.940 sparing no 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:04.720 expense like 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.099 Mary. 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:06.900 He poured 00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:07.900 out the most 00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.920 precious gift 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:09.779 he possibly 00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:11.079 could for you. 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:12.980 But where 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:14.000 Mary poured 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:14.759 out her treasure 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.839 for the one 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:16.579 who is worthy 00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:17.799 of all praise, 00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.359 the one who is 00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:19.299 worthy of all 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:19.660 honor, 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.579 Jesus poured 00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.359 out his 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.460 greatest gift 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:22.920 for those 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:23.200 who are 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.759 unworthy. 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.680 For sinners 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.980 like me 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:28.360 and like 00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:28.620 you, 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.120 how do 00:32:29.120 --> 00:32:30.019 we respond 00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:30.799 to a king 00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:31.500 like this? 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.500 We honor 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:33.799 him. 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:35.880 We adore 00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.240 him. 00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:38.099 And two 00:32:38.099 --> 00:32:38.680 more as we 00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:39.000 close. 00:32:39.120 --> 00:32:39.360 Bonus. 00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:41.099 We herald 00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:41.960 him and we 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:43.140 anticipate 00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:44.019 him. 00:32:45.500 --> 00:32:45.819 You know 00:32:45.819 --> 00:32:46.420 what drew 00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:46.920 me as I 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.720 studied this 00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.240 passage this 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:48.380 week? 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.220 I've read 00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.720 this passage, 00:32:49.860 --> 00:32:50.740 I've studied 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.019 it, 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.200 who knows 00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:52.519 how many 00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:52.940 times, 00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:53.779 but you 00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.059 know what 00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:54.759 stood out 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:55.400 to me more 00:32:55.400 --> 00:32:55.860 than anything 00:32:55.859 --> 00:32:56.479 this week? 00:32:57.659 --> 00:32:58.259 Do you 00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:58.559 know what 00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.019 drew the 00:32:59.019 --> 00:32:59.519 crowd to 00:32:59.519 --> 00:32:59.919 Jesus? 00:33:01.639 --> 00:33:02.299 Look there 00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:03.099 at verse 17 00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:03.819 and 18. 00:33:04.419 --> 00:33:05.019 What drew 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.539 the crowds 00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:06.179 to Jesus? 00:33:07.179 --> 00:33:07.779 It says, 00:33:07.939 --> 00:33:08.339 the crowd 00:33:08.339 --> 00:33:08.699 that had 00:33:08.699 --> 00:33:09.459 been with 00:33:09.459 --> 00:33:09.899 him when 00:33:09.899 --> 00:33:10.679 he called 00:33:10.679 --> 00:33:11.279 Lazarus 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:11.879 out of 00:33:11.879 --> 00:33:12.319 the tomb 00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:12.879 and raised 00:33:12.879 --> 00:33:13.299 him from 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:13.759 the dead 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.399 continued 00:33:14.399 --> 00:33:15.519 to bear 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:16.519 witness. 00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:17.859 The reason 00:33:17.859 --> 00:33:18.599 why the 00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:19.319 crowd went 00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:19.719 out to 00:33:19.719 --> 00:33:20.219 meet him 00:33:20.219 --> 00:33:20.579 was that 00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.299 they heard 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:21.719 he had 00:33:21.719 --> 00:33:22.359 done this 00:33:22.359 --> 00:33:22.779 sign. 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:24.679 What drew 00:33:24.679 --> 00:33:25.279 the crowd 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.019 to Jesus? 00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.039 What drew 00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:28.759 the honor 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:29.359 to Jesus? 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:29.899 What drew 00:33:29.899 --> 00:33:30.680 the praise 00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:31.519 to Jesus? 00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:32.379 It was 00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:33.099 the witness 00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:33.819 of those 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:34.139 who had 00:33:34.139 --> 00:33:34.980 experienced 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.639 the work 00:33:35.639 --> 00:33:36.279 of Jesus. 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:37.279 That's what 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:37.619 drew the 00:33:37.619 --> 00:33:38.019 crowds. 00:33:38.940 --> 00:33:39.480 It was 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.859 the heralding 00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:41.839 of the glory 00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:42.680 of Jesus 00:33:42.680 --> 00:33:43.720 out of the 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:44.319 mouths of 00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:44.700 those who 00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:45.339 had seen 00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:45.940 it happen. 00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:48.599 Lazarus 00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:49.059 himself, 00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:49.420 the very 00:33:49.420 --> 00:33:49.920 existence 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.960 of Lazarus, 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:52.019 a resurrected 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.579 man, 00:33:52.940 --> 00:33:53.639 brought honor 00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:54.160 and glory 00:33:54.160 --> 00:33:54.540 to King 00:33:54.540 --> 00:33:54.900 Jesus. 00:33:55.080 --> 00:33:55.880 The Pharisees 00:33:55.880 --> 00:33:56.220 heard he 00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:56.580 was still 00:33:56.580 --> 00:33:56.880 around. 00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:57.240 They wanted 00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:57.600 to kill 00:33:57.600 --> 00:33:58.000 him. 00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:00.420 Because 00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:01.060 everywhere he 00:34:01.060 --> 00:34:01.540 went, 00:34:01.640 --> 00:34:01.940 he brought 00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:02.600 a testimony 00:34:02.600 --> 00:34:03.180 of the 00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:04.120 life-giving 00:34:04.120 --> 00:34:05.660 power of 00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:06.500 King Jesus. 00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:07.100 Church, 00:34:08.180 --> 00:34:08.720 have we not 00:34:08.720 --> 00:34:09.119 seen the 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:09.440 work of 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:09.680 Jesus? 00:34:13.180 --> 00:34:13.800 Have we 00:34:13.800 --> 00:34:14.099 not 00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:15.760 experienced 00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:16.920 the 00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:17.780 resurrecting 00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:18.500 life-giving 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.079 power 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:20.059 personally 00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:21.059 of the 00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:21.960 word of 00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:22.340 King 00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.059 Jesus? 00:34:23.299 --> 00:34:24.079 Every one 00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:24.719 of us 00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:25.360 is living 00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.039 proof of 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.440 the power 00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:26.799 of Jesus 00:34:26.799 --> 00:34:27.279 Christ. 00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:30.059 Do you 00:34:30.059 --> 00:34:30.380 want to 00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:30.900 bring honor 00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:31.480 and praise 00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:31.820 to the 00:34:31.820 --> 00:34:32.079 King? 00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:33.860 Bear 00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:34.480 witness 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.559 to who 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.139 he is. 00:34:37.259 --> 00:34:37.639 Open up 00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:38.219 our mouths 00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:39.219 and proclaim 00:34:39.219 --> 00:34:40.119 the glory 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:40.519 of the 00:34:40.519 --> 00:34:40.799 King. 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:41.259 Open up 00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:41.739 our mouths 00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:42.860 and speak 00:34:42.860 --> 00:34:43.199 of what 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:43.599 he's done 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.079 for you, 00:34:44.179 --> 00:34:44.440 what he's 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:44.840 done for 00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:45.279 us. 00:34:45.759 --> 00:34:45.980 Speak 00:34:45.980 --> 00:34:46.259 of his 00:34:46.259 --> 00:34:46.719 resurrection 00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:47.219 from the 00:34:47.219 --> 00:34:47.699 grave. 00:34:48.219 --> 00:34:48.699 Herald 00:34:48.699 --> 00:34:49.460 the 00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:50.000 King. 00:34:50.779 --> 00:34:51.039 Bring 00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:51.599 glory 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.659 to his 00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:53.000 name. 00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:53.419 And as 00:34:53.419 --> 00:34:53.980 we do, 00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:55.359 as we 00:34:55.359 --> 00:34:55.739 go about 00:34:55.739 --> 00:34:56.319 sharing the 00:34:56.319 --> 00:34:56.819 good news 00:34:56.819 --> 00:34:57.519 of Jesus 00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:58.099 Christ, 00:34:59.219 --> 00:34:59.859 anticipate 00:34:59.859 --> 00:35:01.139 his coming 00:35:01.139 --> 00:35:02.419 again. 00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.359 Jesus 00:35:04.359 --> 00:35:04.879 came the 00:35:04.879 --> 00:35:05.480 first time 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:06.819 humbly 00:35:06.819 --> 00:35:07.559 to die 00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.399 for our 00:35:08.399 --> 00:35:08.679 sin, 00:35:08.779 --> 00:35:09.159 but he 00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:09.739 has promised 00:35:09.739 --> 00:35:10.319 church he 00:35:10.319 --> 00:35:10.839 will come 00:35:10.839 --> 00:35:11.219 again. 00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:12.819 Not to 00:35:12.819 --> 00:35:13.219 deal with 00:35:13.219 --> 00:35:13.480 sin, 00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:13.939 he's already 00:35:13.939 --> 00:35:14.480 done that, 00:35:15.299 --> 00:35:15.679 but to 00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:16.500 save those 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:16.839 who are 00:35:16.839 --> 00:35:17.519 eagerly 00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:18.019 waiting 00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:19.280 for him. 00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:19.820 He will 00:35:19.820 --> 00:35:21.259 come again 00:35:21.259 --> 00:35:22.179 to finally 00:35:22.179 --> 00:35:23.619 defeat the 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.980 enemy. 00:35:24.139 --> 00:35:24.679 Not on a 00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:25.059 donkey, 00:35:25.820 --> 00:35:26.380 but this 00:35:26.380 --> 00:35:27.139 time on a 00:35:27.139 --> 00:35:28.259 white horse. 00:35:28.340 --> 00:35:28.699 The first 00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:29.139 time he 00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:29.659 came to 00:35:29.659 --> 00:35:29.960 die, 00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:30.320 but when 00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:31.119 he returns 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:31.679 he will 00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:32.940 come to 00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:34.019 reign forever 00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:35.559 with all 00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:36.079 those who 00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:36.780 trust in 00:35:36.780 --> 00:35:37.099 him. 00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:38.280 And when 00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:38.940 he does, 00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:40.420 the whole 00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:41.300 world truly 00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:42.000 will go 00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:42.719 after him. 00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:44.460 Every knee 00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:44.980 will bow 00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:45.400 and every 00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:45.780 tongue 00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:46.719 confess that 00:35:46.719 --> 00:35:47.119 Jesus 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:48.359 Christ is 00:35:48.359 --> 00:35:49.299 Lord to 00:35:49.299 --> 00:35:49.920 the glory 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:50.739 of God 00:35:50.739 --> 00:35:51.679 the Father. 00:35:51.819 --> 00:35:52.380 The King 00:35:52.380 --> 00:35:54.519 will return. 00:35:56.039 --> 00:35:56.719 Are we 00:35:56.719 --> 00:35:58.319 ready to 00:35:58.319 --> 00:35:58.920 receive him? 00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:01.199 Are you 00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:02.819 ready to 00:36:02.819 --> 00:36:03.500 receive him? 00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:05.460 Are you 00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:06.619 prepared for 00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:07.079 the coming 00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:07.940 of our 00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:08.159 King? 00:36:09.619 --> 00:36:10.440 Let's pray. 00:36:10.859 --> 00:36:11.139 Lord, 00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:16.339 come quickly 00:36:16.339 --> 00:36:17.039 Lord Jesus 00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:17.539 is our 00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:17.859 prayer. 00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:19.679 We 00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:21.000 long for 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:21.739 the reign 00:36:21.739 --> 00:36:22.339 and rule 00:36:22.339 --> 00:36:23.039 of Christ. 00:36:24.279 --> 00:36:25.059 We look 00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:25.559 around and 00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:25.960 see how 00:36:25.960 --> 00:36:26.920 desperately we 00:36:26.920 --> 00:36:27.639 need you, 00:36:27.759 --> 00:36:28.259 how desperately 00:36:28.259 --> 00:36:28.879 we need 00:36:28.879 --> 00:36:29.619 your reign, 00:36:29.759 --> 00:36:30.519 your kingship, 00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:31.319 your lordship 00:36:31.319 --> 00:36:31.819 here and 00:36:31.819 --> 00:36:32.119 now. 00:36:32.659 --> 00:36:33.039 Father, 00:36:33.159 --> 00:36:33.739 we pray 00:36:33.739 --> 00:36:34.139 that it 00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:34.920 would begin 00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:35.739 here with 00:36:35.739 --> 00:36:36.339 us. 00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:38.559 Reign and 00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:39.239 rule over 00:36:39.239 --> 00:36:39.779 us as 00:36:39.779 --> 00:36:40.419 your bride, 00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:40.779 as your 00:36:40.779 --> 00:36:41.279 church. 00:36:42.479 --> 00:36:43.079 Help us 00:36:43.079 --> 00:36:43.579 to honor 00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:44.039 you and 00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:44.479 to love 00:36:44.479 --> 00:36:44.679 you and 00:36:44.679 --> 00:36:45.119 to serve 00:36:45.119 --> 00:36:45.479 you as 00:36:45.479 --> 00:36:46.559 you deserve. 00:36:47.359 --> 00:36:47.919 Help us 00:36:47.919 --> 00:36:49.079 to give 00:36:49.079 --> 00:36:50.059 generously, 00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:51.239 sacrificially of 00:36:51.239 --> 00:36:51.839 everything we 00:36:51.839 --> 00:36:52.279 have, 00:36:52.419 --> 00:36:52.639 Father, 00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:54.079 that you 00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:54.419 might be 00:36:54.419 --> 00:36:55.599 honored and 00:36:55.599 --> 00:36:55.979 your name 00:36:55.979 --> 00:36:56.739 proclaimed in 00:36:56.739 --> 00:36:57.000 all the 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:57.259 earth. 00:36:57.359 --> 00:36:57.619 We pray 00:36:57.619 --> 00:36:57.899 this in 00:36:57.899 --> 00:36:58.119 Jesus' 00:36:58.319 --> 00:36:58.479 name. 00:36:58.479 --> 00:36:59.799 Amen.