WEBVTT

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 Thank you, Mrs. Johnson. Appreciate that.

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 Take your Bibles over to Mark chapter 11.

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 And whenever I hear that song, I always think of Brother Dart

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 and just being able to spend time with him.

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 And it's good memories, as the Dart used to come and sing here.

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 And it was just always a blessing to be able to have them here with us.

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 But they're now singing in a much better place. Amen.

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 And so we're thankful for that and just the things there.

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 But in Mark chapter 11 here this morning,

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 as we're going to continue in our series through the book of Mark,

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 we find now it is Tuesday morning and the religious leaders in Jerusalem,

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 at this point, we're probably hoping that Jesus would not return to the temple.

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 You know, after the previous two events of the previous two days,

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 I'm pretty sure that all the leaders within the temple in the area were saying,

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 we don't want him to show up again today because we don't know what's going to happen.

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 But you know what?

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 We're going to find here that Jesus did return.

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 And we're going to find out what took place because in his previous visits,

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 I mean, they were still causing a stir among the people.

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 Stir amongst the leaders in his previous visits.

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 When you think about as he entered into Jerusalem on that Sunday morning,

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 as the people had put down their clothes and he rode upon the donkey all the way through town there

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 and people were proclaiming and crying out just as Zechariah the prophet foretold,

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 saying,

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 Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

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 You know, when we understand that they were honoring him as the one that God had sent

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 as the Savior, the one that was going to deliver them.

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 And Jesus accepted that praise to him.

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 And we find the following day after he goes back to Bethany,

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 he comes back and he comes back to the temple and he disrupts everything going on in the temple on Monday.

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 You know, if you remember, he overturned the tables.

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 He changed out the money changers.

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 And he taught in the temple that day and all the things that took place.

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 And it caused quite an uproar.

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 I mean, it's pretty obvious.

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 It was probably causing much people to talk.

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 I mean, if there were social media in that day, that would have been what lit everything up.

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 You know, everybody would be talking about Jesus, what he did in the temple.

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 You know, and they'd be making the newsreel and the TikTok and everything else.

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 Everybody would be talking about it, about what was happening.

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 I mean, it was that type of event that Jesus did in the temple.

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 That it would have stirred people up, if nothing else, to ask a question.

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 They would end wondering, who is Jesus?

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 Who is the one that did this?

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 Who is the one that came in and caused this uproar?

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 So we find here is Jesus.

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 We're going to look here as Jesus returns to the temple on Tuesday morning.

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 I can just imagine, as I was reading this and thinking about it, you know, oftentimes I try to think about, you know, how are people responding?

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 And I was just thinking, you know, I just imagine the chief priests and the scribes and the elders that are going to come and confront Jesus when they see Jesus come in.

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 They're thinking, not again.

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 Just that element of, okay, here we go, you know.

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 They're trying to put together, how are we going to deal with this?

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 Because he had disrupted everything about what they were doing.

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 Because we have to keep in mind, this was Passover week.

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 It was the week of Passover and they had certain things that they would do throughout the week in preparation for Passover.

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 And Jesus had disrupted the normal.

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 Now the thing was, we need to remember, there was a problem with normal.

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 What they were doing is not what they ought to be doing.

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 But we need to understand that it is.

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 It's just like us.

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 When our normal gets shaken out, it kind of disrupts everything, doesn't it?

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 Kind of gets us on edge and we find that dynamic.

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 But this is where we find is the chief priests and scribes and elders see Jesus coming into the temple and taking his place out there in the promenade in the outer perimeter there.

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 And I can just imagine Jesus sitting down and the crowd see him.

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 And they begin to gather and they come together.

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 And this is where we're going to pick up here in chapter 11 here this morning in verse 27.

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 And so if you found that in your Bible, let's go ahead and stand together for the honor of reading of God's word.

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 And we'll pick up here in verse 27 and read down through the end of the chapter.

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 And we're going to have everybody read responsibly here this morning.

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 And so I'll read verse 27 and you guys will read verse 28.

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 Okay, so we'll just go back and forth, okay?

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 And so let's try this together here this morning.

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 And it says,

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 And as he was walking in the temple, there came to him the chief priests and scribes and the elders and say unto him,

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 By what authority doest thou these things?

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 And who gave thee this authority to do these things?

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 And Jesus answered and said unto them,

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 I will also ask of you one question and answer me,

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 And I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

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 The baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men?

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 Answer me.

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 And they reasoned with themselves, saying,

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 If we shall say from heaven,

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 He will say,

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 Why then did ye not believe him?

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 But if we shall say of men,

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 They feared the people,

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 For all men counted John,

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 That he was a prophet indeed.

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 And they answered and said unto Jesus,

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 We cannot tell.

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 And Jesus answered and saith unto them,

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 Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

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 Let's pray.

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 Heavenly Father, as we come before you this morning,

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 Lord, we're just thankful for your word.

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 We're thankful for all that you provide for us.

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 Lord, we're thankful that you are the one in authority.

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 And you came with authority.

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 Lord, we pray just to help us understand how we respond to that authority.

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 Lord, especially your word and with you.

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 Lord, as we see here this morning,

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 The need that something must be done.

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 That needs to be addressed of your authority in our life,

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 Of what you're doing.

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 And Lord, we pray we might not deny or delay.

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 Lord, we might just accept who you are and what you've done.

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 And Lord, we pray just to have your hand upon each heart here today,

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 Lord, that we might consider that place of your authority in our lives here today.

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 And Lord, we just ask all these things in your precious name.

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 Amen.

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 May be seated.

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 You know, I think the scene here would have been something to behold.

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 As you see, Jesus was walking in the temple, getting ready to teach.

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 And people would have been following him.

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 And all of a sudden, you begin to hear a rumble in the background.

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 The rumble of many little feet coming across the temple there.

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 And we find that this group that was coming to meet Jesus,

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 We see here where the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people.

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 And we find as these inquisitors drew closer,

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 This would have been quite a crowd of individuals that came to meet Jesus.

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 It wasn't just one or two.

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 It was like a whole crowd that would have been there that day to meet Jesus and to confront him.

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 There would have been many there.

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 So they would have made a noise coming across the temple area there.

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 You know, I don't think it was carpeted like we have here.

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 You know, it was a stone building.

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 So you would have heard people coming in the ruckus that was about to happen.

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 And these three groups of Jewish leaders converge here to confront Jesus about what they had,

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 all that had taken place.

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 And we're going to look at their demand because they had a demand about his authority.

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 You know, and oftentimes we look at this,

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 but I want you to understand as the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came that day,

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 they were the ones that if there was a problem,

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 they were the ones that had a position of authority within the temple to deal with different things.

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 So in other words, it wasn't like a wrong crowd confronting Jesus in that sense,

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 but why they were confronting him was a problem.

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 And we're going to look here because the chief priests,

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 just to kind of give you a little layout here of who these were,

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 you know, the chief priests,

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 the administrative staff over the priests of the temple,

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 you know, they kind of oversaw all that,

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 the temple things,

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 the things the priests were to do with the sacrifices

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 and to take care of the showbread

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 and to take care of all the lamps

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 and all the things that were necessary.

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 That was their responsibility.

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 They had oversight of that.

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 And so they were,

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 Jesus was, you might say,

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 was in their quote-unquote territory of responsibility.

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 You know, and so when Jesus would come,

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 then you had the scribes.

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 Now the scribes,

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 those were those responsible for studying the Hebrew scriptures

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 and they served as those who would copy the scriptures

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 and they were editors and teachers and jurists.

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 They were ones who would look at the law

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 and try to keep track of it

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 and understand those things.

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 And then you have this other group,

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 the elders.

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 Now we don't know for sure how many came

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 in the chief priests group

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 or the scribe group,

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 but we do have a pretty good idea

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 how many showed up with the elders.

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 Because we know from the Old Testament

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 some things about this group

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 and where they got it.

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 You know, we find here the elders,

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 this group was also known as the Sanhedrin.

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 It was comprised of 70 men

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 from among the people.

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 And now these men,

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 their responsibility is they would take care

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 of the moral and ethical questions of the day.

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 You know, we think today we just,

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 we're the only generation sometimes

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 that have moral or ethical questions that come up,

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 but how do we deal with it?

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 But you know,

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 as human beings throughout time

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 and as you grow and mature

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 and as cultures change

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 and different things impact it,

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 we have different moral and ethical questions

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 we have to answer.

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 And that was the saying,

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 this elder's job was to kind of look through

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 and kind of come to a consensus.

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 Okay, this is where we're going to be.

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 This is where we're going to land on this.

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 And we find they get that from Numbers 11

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 when Moses put together the 70

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 to help rule Israel.

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 And that was kind of their pattern.

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 So we know already there was probably

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 between 80 and 100 people came to meet Jesus.

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 That's the reason I'm saying

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 you could hear him coming.

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 I mean, when 80 people are moving across the room together,

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 you can hear him.

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 I mean, that's a pretty sizable group of individuals.

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 I can see them coming here

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 and we're going to find here

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 as they come and confront Jesus

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 and these questioners demand

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 that the Lord answer them

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 regarding the authority to do these things.

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 Now notice here in verse 28 in our text,

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 it says,

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 And say unto him,

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 By what authority doest thou these things?

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 And the follow-up to that,

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 and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

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 You know, those are two pretty good questions they asked.

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 There was nothing wrong with the question itself

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 that they were asking.

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 Because remember,

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 they were responsible

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 for what took place in the temple.

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 So them asking the question itself

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 was not the issue.

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 The question itself isn't the problem.

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 But we're going to look here this morning.

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 The problem was their attitude

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 and their perception that led to the question.

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 Because we can ask a question for the wrong reason.

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 You know, sometimes we can ask questions

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 and say,

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 You know, this is important.

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 I need to know more about it.

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 I need more information.

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 I need more substance of what's going on here.

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 But I want you to understand,

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 as we look at this,

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 we're going to find that these men

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 that confronted Jesus this day

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 were not there to get more information.

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 They were there to try to discredit Him.

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 They were there to try to say,

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 He's going to say something

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 that's going to give us ammunition

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 against Him.

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 You know,

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 we're going to catch Him in a question here

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 on this question of authority.

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 And so they asked Him,

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 And who, you know,

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 why do you do these things?

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 And who gave you authority to do it?

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 Because you think about,

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 Jesus took a lot of authority

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 when He came into the temple

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 and He began driving out

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 all the those that bought and sold

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 and overturning the tables in the temple.

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 That was something somebody

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 had to have some authority to do.

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 It wasn't just something you throw in.

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 You know, if you think about,

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 if you go in some place

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 you're not supposed to be

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 and you start doing that,

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 you're going to get kicked out pretty quick.

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 You know?

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 I want you to understand

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 that they had a question

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 about His authority

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 because the way people were gathering

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 and looking and honoring Jesus,

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 and we're going to look at what was going on,

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 here this morning.

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 Because Jesus here,

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 by accepting the claim,

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 when they said,

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 Hosanna,

00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:43.480
 and that He came in the name of the Lord,

00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:45.420
 and He was the one,

00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.360
 they're basically saying,

00:13:46.660 --> 00:13:48.720
 He's the one that came to save us.

00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:50.000
 He's from God.

00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:52.500
 That's a big claim.

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.160
 The next day,

00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:58.460
 He comes in and cleans out the temple

00:13:58.460 --> 00:13:59.940
 and wouldn't let anybody pass.

00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:03.779
 That's a big claim of authority.

00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:07.820
 Why can you do this?

00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:09.279
 Or why are you doing this?

00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:14.420
 The leaders were upset

00:14:14.420 --> 00:14:16.860
 because He accepted the praise

00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:17.620
 and the honor,

00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:19.060
 and He took authority

00:14:19.060 --> 00:14:20.360
 to cleanse the temple

00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:22.740
 and to prepare the place

00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:25.080
 for the Passover that week.

00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:27.480
 You know,

00:14:27.520 --> 00:14:28.360
 they did not come

00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:29.580
 with an honest inquiry,

00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:31.540
 but their question

00:14:31.540 --> 00:14:33.440
 was in the basis of

00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:35.139
 who gave you the authority

00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.000
 that we have?

00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.940
 Why are you questioning

00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:41.060
 my authority?

00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:45.400
 That's really what they were asking Jesus.

00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:46.060
 They're saying,

00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:47.520
 hey, listen up,

00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:48.520
 we have the authority.

00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:49.700
 Who do you think you are?

00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:54.940
 Now, this is an important reality

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:57.120
 because these two questions

00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:58.520
 still impact us today.

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:01.580
 Because when the gospel is proclaimed,

00:15:01.780 --> 00:15:02.660
 there's a question,

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.879
 by what authority

00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:05.259
 do you declare

00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.920
 what the gospel is to people?

00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:10.280
 Because the gospel contains authority.

00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:13.559
 Because the authority is

00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:14.659
 God's assessment

00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:15.579
 of an individual.

00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:18.740
 You know,

00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:20.379
 you can accurately assess

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.039
 an individual

00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:21.980
 by God's Word.

00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:24.379
 God says His Word

00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:24.919
 is a mirror.

00:15:25.079 --> 00:15:26.100
 It reflects directly.

00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:27.919
 And God reveals to us

00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:28.480
 very clearly

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:30.519
 that we are all sinners

00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:31.799
 and have all come short

00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:32.720
 of the glory of God.

00:15:35.199 --> 00:15:36.480
 I want you to understand,

00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:37.419
 we understand that

00:15:37.419 --> 00:15:38.279
 I'm a sinner

00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:39.059
 and you're a sinner.

00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:41.299
 How do we know that?

00:15:41.599 --> 00:15:43.079
 I don't have to see what you do.

00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:45.039
 God already declares it to be so.

00:15:47.099 --> 00:15:49.079
 And when we understand the gospel,

00:15:49.199 --> 00:15:49.959
 when somebody's confronted

00:15:49.959 --> 00:15:50.639
 with the gospel,

00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:51.319
 they're confronted

00:15:51.319 --> 00:15:52.179
 with the question,

00:15:52.599 --> 00:15:53.759
 who gave you authority

00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.879
 to assess me?

00:15:58.099 --> 00:15:59.379
 We don't assess them,

00:15:59.459 --> 00:16:00.500
 but God's Word does.

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:03.679
 By God's authority,

00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:05.159
 it's a declaration.

00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:07.259
 You know,

00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:08.239
 when we understand

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.539
 the big picture here,

00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:11.539
 because the problem is

00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:12.200
 most of the time

00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:12.799
 people think

00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:13.680
 they're a good person.

00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:15.299
 You know?

00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:17.019
 Most people look at themselves

00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:18.320
 and look at their own righteousness

00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:18.840
 and say,

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:21.159
 I'm not as bad as.

00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:24.259
 The problem is there

00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.720
 we often look at the wrong thing.

00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:27.539
 You know?

00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:30.220
 We look at the wrong assessment

00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:33.160
 because our measurement

00:16:33.160 --> 00:16:34.259
 isn't your neighbor.

00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:37.680
 Your assessment

00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:38.820
 isn't against the person

00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:39.660
 you don't like.

00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:41.360
 We're being measured

00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:42.240
 by God Himself.

00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:45.340
 He is the standard.

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.320
 Jesus Christ

00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.320
 is the standard

00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:48.440
 by which we're measured.

00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.519
 It doesn't take long

00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:52.080
 to figure out

00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:52.840
 you fall short.

00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.480
 You don't measure up.

00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:01.539
 It's a question

00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:02.480
 of authority.

00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:03.800
 My authority

00:17:03.800 --> 00:17:05.019
 or God's authority.

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:06.420
 You know,

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:07.700
 Isaiah 5.21

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:08.579
 tells us this.

00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:08.880
 It says,

00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:09.579
 Woe unto them

00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.299
 that are wise

00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:11.180
 in their own eyes

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:12.240
 and prudent

00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.259
 in their own sight.

00:17:14.860 --> 00:17:15.400
 You know,

00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:16.579
 it's really easy

00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:18.900
 to think highly

00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:19.620
 of ourselves.

00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:22.679
 and we understand

00:17:22.679 --> 00:17:23.879
 that when the gospel

00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:24.759
 is presented,

00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:25.959
 when the demand

00:17:25.959 --> 00:17:27.379
 is made of authority,

00:17:27.919 --> 00:17:29.259
 we have some questions

00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:30.459
 that need to be answered.

00:17:31.159 --> 00:17:31.899
 Now notice,

00:17:31.979 --> 00:17:33.539
 they demanded an answer

00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:35.619
 already assuming

00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:37.039
 they could discredit it.

00:17:37.979 --> 00:17:39.500
 Notice what they tell him here.

00:17:39.959 --> 00:17:40.199
 And they,

00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:41.139
 and he says,

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.639
 they tell him this

00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:44.319
 and ask in verse 28,

00:17:44.419 --> 00:17:45.139
 By what authority

00:17:45.139 --> 00:17:46.699
 doest thou these things?

00:17:46.699 --> 00:17:47.779
 And who gave thee

00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:49.079
 this authority to do?

00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.559
 These things.

00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:54.839
 So Jesus responds here

00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:56.059
 in the next verse.

00:17:56.159 --> 00:17:57.439
 His response to them

00:17:57.439 --> 00:18:00.679
 is not a direct answer

00:18:00.679 --> 00:18:03.459
 in a sense,

00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.719
 but an indirect answer.

00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:08.959
 And there's a reason for that

00:18:08.959 --> 00:18:09.559
 because remember,

00:18:09.659 --> 00:18:10.159
 they were looking

00:18:10.159 --> 00:18:10.859
 for ammunition.

00:18:11.699 --> 00:18:12.579
 They were looking

00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:13.059
 for something

00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:14.099
 to discredit him.

00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:16.659
 You know,

00:18:16.679 --> 00:18:17.419
 we can learn a lot

00:18:17.419 --> 00:18:18.079
 from Jesus

00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:19.239
 about a little tact.

00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:23.399
 because Jesus

00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:24.679
 could have openly declared,

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:26.339
 I do it by my own authority

00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:27.439
 because I and the Father

00:18:27.439 --> 00:18:28.019
 are one.

00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:30.319
 But that would have created

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.139
 a problem

00:18:31.139 --> 00:18:32.239
 at the moment

00:18:32.239 --> 00:18:33.299
 because the timing

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:35.939
 was not yet right.

00:18:39.199 --> 00:18:40.819
 Because the scribes

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.259
 and elders

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:41.639
 could have said,

00:18:41.679 --> 00:18:42.639
 he assessed himself

00:18:42.639 --> 00:18:43.239
 to God.

00:18:43.399 --> 00:18:44.259
 By our law,

00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:45.239
 we can stone him.

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:49.019
 Now we know

00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.900
 that Jesus is

00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:50.640
 and Jesus didn't

00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.779
 deny that he wasn't.

00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:53.400
 But notice how he

00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.579
 deals with the situation.

00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.359
 He looks at them

00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:57.359
 and asks them a question.

00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:57.720
 He says,

00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:59.559
 you answer this first

00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:00.920
 and then I will tell you

00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:01.779
 by what authority.

00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:04.240
 And we'll look a little later

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.079
 in the weeks to come,

00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:05.579
 we're going to see

00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:07.299
 that Jesus gives them

00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:07.880
 an answer

00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:08.640
 through parable.

00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:12.440
 and when you finish

00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:13.680
 reading in chapter 12,

00:19:13.780 --> 00:19:14.620
 you'll find out

00:19:14.620 --> 00:19:15.500
 that they understood

00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.120
 the answer.

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:19.000
 Jesus didn't give them

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:20.440
 ammunition,

00:19:21.080 --> 00:19:22.120
 he gave them an answer

00:19:22.120 --> 00:19:23.100
 that they didn't like.

00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:26.160
 But it was an accurate answer.

00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.940
 And they didn't doubt

00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:30.080
 what he said.

00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:33.519
 But we find here

00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:33.960
 that Jesus,

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.259
 look at Jesus' question.

00:19:35.399 --> 00:19:35.759
 He said,

00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:36.740
 verse 29,

00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:38.279
 I will also ask of you

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.039
 one question

00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:41.019
 and answer me

00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:42.079
 and I will tell you

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:42.879
 by what authority

00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:44.119
 I do these things.

00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:45.740
 And he asked him

00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:47.000
 a very simple question.

00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:49.000
 He looks at him

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:49.519
 and says,

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:52.480
 the baptism of John,

00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:55.139
 was it from heaven

00:19:55.139 --> 00:19:57.059
 or of man?

00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:02.599
 simple question.

00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:06.119
 But it was a question

00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:07.279
 also of authority.

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:11.279
 Because by what authority

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.199
 did John come?

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.740
 These men

00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.220
 that were there

00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:17.000
 before Jesus

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.639
 were struggling

00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:18.799
 with that same question.

00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:21.639
 They struggled

00:20:21.639 --> 00:20:22.720
 with John.

00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:23.819
 John was a problem

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:24.240
 to them.

00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:28.199
 They sent people out

00:20:28.199 --> 00:20:29.919
 to investigate John.

00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.440
 They went out

00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:31.680
 to try to catch John

00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:33.279
 in something

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:33.820
 that they could

00:20:33.820 --> 00:20:34.800
 hold against him.

00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.100
 These are individuals

00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:37.820
 who looked at

00:20:37.820 --> 00:20:38.920
 John's ministry

00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:40.360
 and to say,

00:20:40.560 --> 00:20:41.759
 what was going on?

00:20:41.800 --> 00:20:43.380
 The baptism of John.

00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:44.700
 And Jesus says,

00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.519
 was it from heaven

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.140
 or of man?

00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:50.180
 Jesus gives them

00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:51.180
 a reverse question

00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:51.820
 of authority.

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:52.180
 He says,

00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:53.400
 what authority

00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:54.500
 did John come by?

00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:57.380
 Now,

00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:57.920
 we're going to see

00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:58.539
 the dilemma

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.779
 that Jesus put him in.

00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:01.039
 Because Jesus

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:02.399
 didn't ask this question

00:21:02.399 --> 00:21:03.139
 just to get out

00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:03.639
 of answering.

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.660
 He asked this

00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:07.519
 pointed question

00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.519
 back to them

00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.539
 to make them

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:10.299
 process

00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:13.039
 the thought

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.839
 of authority.

00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.920
 Let them consider

00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:18.000
 how were they thinking?

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.379
 Were they perceiving

00:21:20.379 --> 00:21:21.379
 things correctly?

00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:23.039
 Because the answer

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:23.720
 of authority

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.960
 rested in the answer

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.059
 to Jesus' question

00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:26.839
 about John.

00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:26.899
 John.

00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.519
 Because, you know,

00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.359
 John, like I said,

00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:30.859
 had made quite a stir.

00:21:31.659 --> 00:21:32.720
 And his ministry

00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.500
 had stirred up

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.339
 many things.

00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:35.799
 And we hear now

00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:36.980
 and understand

00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:37.899
 that John,

00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.740
 those that heard him

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.339
 personally

00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:41.259
 were many among

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:41.959
 this group.

00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.539
 And they had heard

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.319
 his message.

00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:51.439
 because John came

00:21:51.439 --> 00:21:52.559
 proclaiming the one

00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:53.359
 that was going to come.

00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.399
 But I want you

00:21:55.399 --> 00:21:56.000
 to understand

00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.399
 there's no separation

00:21:57.399 --> 00:21:58.859
 between John's message

00:21:58.859 --> 00:21:59.439
 to the people

00:21:59.439 --> 00:22:00.519
 and Jesus' message

00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.099
 to the people.

00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.740
 The two are

00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:05.240
 perfectly aligned.

00:22:06.419 --> 00:22:07.299
 Consider Matthew

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.059
 chapter 2,

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.419
 or Matthew chapter 3

00:22:09.419 --> 00:22:10.139
 and verse 2.

00:22:10.679 --> 00:22:11.659
 John the Baptist

00:22:11.659 --> 00:22:12.099
 here,

00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:13.599
 this was his message,

00:22:13.719 --> 00:22:14.419
 Repent ye

00:22:14.419 --> 00:22:15.000
 for the kingdom

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.539
 of heaven

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.699
 is at hand.

00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.279
 He said,

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:18.980
 Repent ye

00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.500
 for the kingdom

00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:19.939
 of heaven

00:22:19.939 --> 00:22:20.559
 is at hand.

00:22:20.959 --> 00:22:21.579
 Then you have

00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:22.539
 Jesus' statement

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.039
 at the beginning

00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.559
 of his ministry

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.980
 when he began

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:27.659
 his ministry here.

00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.539
 We find over there

00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.480
 in Mark chapter 1

00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.399
 and verse 15.

00:22:30.919 --> 00:22:31.519
 And Jesus

00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:33.179
 and saying,

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.959
 The time is fulfilled,

00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:35.879
 the kingdom of God

00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:36.480
 is at hand.

00:22:36.879 --> 00:22:37.599
 Repent ye

00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.879
 and believe the gospel.

00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:42.340
 the messages

00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:43.380
 were the same.

00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.480
 The problem

00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.100
 with the people

00:22:45.100 --> 00:22:45.640
 that came,

00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.440
 they had rejected

00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:47.460
 John's message

00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.180
 and they didn't like

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:49.120
 Jesus' version

00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:49.920
 of it any better.

00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:53.400
 Because it gave

00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:54.400
 the same assessment

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:57.380
 when they had rejected

00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:57.980
 the message

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:59.020
 of John the Baptist

00:22:59.020 --> 00:23:00.200
 and now they had rejected

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:01.360
 that same message

00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:02.720
 of Jesus.

00:23:03.780 --> 00:23:04.960
 Because notice here

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.800
 in verse 31

00:23:05.800 --> 00:23:07.000
 it brings to light

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.020
 the gravity

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:09.119
 of the situation

00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:10.900
 because this reveals

00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:11.400
 the heart

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.240
 of these individuals.

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:13.740
 Because they really

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.379
 weren't seeking

00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:15.279
 for an answer,

00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:16.579
 they were seeking

00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.379
 on how they could

00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:17.819
 maneuver.

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.039
 How they could

00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:21.039
 protect themselves,

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:21.759
 how they could

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:23.180
 keep themselves

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:24.119
 in a good light.

00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:27.319
 You know,

00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:27.879
 it's no different

00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.539
 from us today.

00:23:28.639 --> 00:23:29.079
 Have you ever noticed

00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:29.799
 how we're masters

00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.819
 at trying to maneuver

00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.400
 to make sure

00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:31.960
 we look good?

00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:36.579
 I mean,

00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:37.059
 it's just something

00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.680
 that comes

00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:39.779
 part of our nature

00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:40.279
 to say,

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.319
 I want to prop

00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.259
 myself up

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:42.960
 to look good.

00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.259
 I don't want to

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:45.779
 have to deal

00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:46.480
 with uncomfortable

00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:47.640
 things about myself.

00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.319
 It's much easier

00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:48.840
 to point out

00:23:48.840 --> 00:23:49.500
 other people's

00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.180
 uncomfortableness.

00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.799
 Things that they did.

00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:53.059
 You know,

00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:53.660
 it's always easier

00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:54.400
 to point the finger

00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:54.880
 than it is

00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:55.840
 to look back at us.

00:23:55.839 --> 00:24:00.619
 But we find here

00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.779
 that they begin

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.500
 to analyze

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.519
 the question,

00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:05.019
 the dilemma

00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.559
 that we're in.

00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:06.619
 Look here in verse 31,

00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.159
 it says,

00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.099
 and they reasoned

00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:08.939
 with themselves,

00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:10.659
 saying,

00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.619
 now notice

00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:12.579
 what they were saying,

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:14.399
 because it's the question

00:24:14.399 --> 00:24:15.079
 that got them

00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:15.799
 caught up.

00:24:17.179 --> 00:24:18.779
 Because this decision

00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:21.519
 put them in a dilemma

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.359
 of what they were

00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:22.899
 going to do.

00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:25.159
 Because they were

00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:25.900
 caught between

00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.620
 two places

00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.259
 of authority.

00:24:30.320 --> 00:24:31.259
 Because what they

00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:32.220
 said here

00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:34.800
 revealed a lot.

00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.580
 Now notice

00:24:38.580 --> 00:24:39.320
 that it was not

00:24:39.320 --> 00:24:40.340
 just a personal

00:24:40.340 --> 00:24:41.480
 debate,

00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:42.840
 but it was

00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:43.860
 something they did

00:24:43.860 --> 00:24:44.340
 together.

00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.580
 It says they reasoned

00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:46.080
 with themselves.

00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:47.320
 So you kind of

00:24:47.320 --> 00:24:47.940
 look at the scripture

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:48.200
 there,

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:48.820
 and this is kind of

00:24:48.820 --> 00:24:49.380
 what I picture

00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:50.080
 in my mind,

00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:51.259
 that Jesus confronts

00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:51.820
 them with this,

00:24:52.060 --> 00:24:53.200
 and they look at Jesus

00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:53.620
 and say,

00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.160
 just a minute.

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:56.880
 And they turn around

00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:57.880
 and they all huddle up,

00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:58.160
 you know,

00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:58.519
 and going,

00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.019
 okay,

00:24:59.080 --> 00:24:59.420
 what are we going

00:24:59.420 --> 00:24:59.779
 to do here?

00:24:59.800 --> 00:25:00.320
 How do we answer

00:25:00.320 --> 00:25:00.620
 this?

00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:06.279
 They reasoned

00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:06.980
 with themselves,

00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:07.380
 saying,

00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.100
 how do I deal

00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:08.480
 with it?

00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:10.779
 How are we going

00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.400
 to deal with

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.519
 this question?

00:25:12.620 --> 00:25:13.200
 This is a good,

00:25:13.300 --> 00:25:13.940
 tricky question

00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:14.660
 Jesus posed

00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:15.120
 to us here,

00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:16.620
 because it has

00:25:16.620 --> 00:25:17.340
 implications.

00:25:20.580 --> 00:25:21.220
 There's a lot

00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:22.200
 of things implied

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.299
 by how we say

00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.160
 something here,

00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:26.140
 because notice

00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:27.340
 what they do

00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:27.640
 here.

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:31.480
 Verse 31,

00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:31.940
 saying,

00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.539
 if we shall

00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:34.580
 say from heaven,

00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:35.860
 he will say,

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.420
 why then

00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:36.900
 did you not

00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.460
 believe him?

00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:39.360
 But if we say

00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:39.960
 of men,

00:25:40.100 --> 00:25:40.860
 they feared the

00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:41.200
 people,

00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:41.860
 for all men

00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:42.640
 counted John,

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.200
 that he was a

00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:44.000
 prophet indeed.

00:25:45.120 --> 00:25:45.920
 So the first

00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.640
 two parts of

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.220
 their dilemma

00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:48.840
 here were very

00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:49.259
 clear.

00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.599
 they had a

00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.279
 real dilemma

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:51.879
 on their hands.

00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:52.259
 They're like,

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:52.539
 well,

00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:54.400
 John's a hard

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.019
 one to answer

00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.259
 here,

00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:55.900
 because if we

00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:56.359
 say from

00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:56.839
 heaven,

00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:59.299
 Jesus can

00:25:59.299 --> 00:25:59.920
 look at us

00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:00.240
 and say,

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.379
 well,

00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:00.740
 why didn't

00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:01.140
 you believe

00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:01.299
 him?

00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:02.960
 You're the

00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:03.319
 ones that

00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:03.660
 are supposed

00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:05.099
 to be looking

00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:05.720
 for the things

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.079
 from heaven.

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:06.500
 You're the

00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:06.879
 ones that

00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:07.180
 are supposed

00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:08.160
 to be guiding

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:09.240
 people to

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.460
 heaven.

00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:09.839
 You're the

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.180
 ones that

00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:10.519
 are supposed

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:12.299
 to be overseeing

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.379
 all that God

00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:14.000
 is doing here.

00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:14.359
 You have a

00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:15.119
 responsibility

00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:16.039
 from heaven.

00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.220
 You have a

00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:18.000
 responsibility

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:19.400
 to respond

00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:20.000
 correctly.

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.539
 I can just

00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:24.900
 see their

00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.279
 minds

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:25.859
 strolling,

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.140
 you know,

00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:27.940
 spinning around

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.440
 in there going,

00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:28.660
 okay,

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.000
 how do we

00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.359
 get out of

00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:29.759
 this one?

00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.440
 Because they

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.119
 say if it's

00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:33.660
 from heaven,

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.119
 we have a

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.720
 big problem

00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.299
 because we

00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:37.240
 rejected John.

00:26:38.339 --> 00:26:38.779
 Because you

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.200
 have to keep

00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.619
 in mind,

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.220
 John had

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:40.799
 been beheaded

00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.220
 at this

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:41.539
 point.

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:43.940
 So his

00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.740
 ministry was

00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.119
 passed.

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:45.420
 In other words,

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:45.799
 they couldn't

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.180
 do anything

00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:46.960
 different about

00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.400
 it now.

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:48.779
 But they

00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.240
 did have to

00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:49.500
 make a

00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.200
 decision about

00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:50.579
 it.

00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:54.180
 Because it

00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:54.859
 carried with

00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:55.160
 it, the

00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:56.140
 first was

00:26:56.140 --> 00:26:56.980
 to agree

00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:58.000
 that John

00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.500
 was sent

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.259
 by God.

00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:00.119
 In other

00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:00.400
 words, that

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:00.980
 he was from

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.339
 heaven.

00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:02.619
 The

00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:03.380
 implications

00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:03.980
 here, if

00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.519
 John was

00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:04.980
 sent by

00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:06.099
 God, then

00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.720
 his religious

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.920
 leaders, why

00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:08.440
 did they not

00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:09.059
 believe him?

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.019
 And his

00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.539
 call to

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.619
 repent and

00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:12.240
 to believe

00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:12.779
 the gospel,

00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:13.460
 to believe

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.440
 in the

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.180
 Messiah that

00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:15.700
 was coming.

00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:16.900
 And

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.779
 God

00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:27.640
 was the

00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:27.900
 same.

00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:31.680
 There was a

00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:31.940
 direct

00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.900
 parallel here.

00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:36.680
 to say, if

00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:37.320
 I accept

00:27:37.320 --> 00:27:38.080
 that, then

00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:38.519
 I have to

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.480
 accept Christ

00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.000
 also.

00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:41.340
 That at

00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:41.680
 least he

00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:42.080
 was from

00:27:42.080 --> 00:27:42.400
 heaven.

00:27:42.580 --> 00:27:43.100
 They had to

00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:43.940
 recognize who

00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.519
 he is.

00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.560
 You say, why

00:27:46.560 --> 00:27:47.060
 is that?

00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:47.740
 Well, John

00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.380
 had openly

00:27:48.380 --> 00:27:49.380
 endorsed Jesus

00:27:49.380 --> 00:27:50.400
 saying, all

00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:51.259
 my message is

00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:51.780
 the one I'm

00:27:51.780 --> 00:27:52.280
 pointing to.

00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.400
 That's him.

00:27:55.900 --> 00:27:56.680
 So if you

00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.680
 accepted John

00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.080
 as from

00:27:58.080 --> 00:27:58.660
 heaven, it

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.280
 was the same

00:27:59.280 --> 00:28:00.400
 as saying, I

00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.340
 acknowledge that

00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.099
 John was the

00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:03.119
 forerunner that

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:04.059
 was prophesied

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.599
 that pointed

00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:05.159
 to Jesus.

00:28:08.959 --> 00:28:09.819
 You know, John

00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.419
 made it very

00:28:10.419 --> 00:28:10.899
 clear.

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.139
 The gospel of

00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:13.659
 John in

00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:14.279
 chapter 1,

00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:14.939
 verse 29,

00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.000
 tells us this.

00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:16.419
 It says, the

00:28:16.419 --> 00:28:17.279
 next day John

00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:17.959
 seeth Jesus

00:28:17.959 --> 00:28:18.559
 coming unto

00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.480
 him, and

00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.339
 saith, behold,

00:28:20.459 --> 00:28:21.099
 the Lamb of

00:28:21.099 --> 00:28:21.699
 God, which

00:28:21.699 --> 00:28:22.599
 taketh away the

00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:22.959
 sin of the

00:28:22.959 --> 00:28:23.240
 world.

00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.179
 That's a

00:28:25.179 --> 00:28:25.659
 pretty bold

00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:26.099
 statement.

00:28:28.199 --> 00:28:29.319
 For John to

00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.220
 point at Jesus

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.920
 and make that

00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.579
 statement, that's

00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.660
 a big proclamation.

00:28:34.360 --> 00:28:35.079
 A big

00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:35.740
 acknowledgement

00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.480
 saying, hey

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.240
 guys, the one

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:37.839
 I've been telling

00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.839
 you about, that's

00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.100
 him.

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.120
 The one that

00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:43.600
 God sent me to

00:28:43.600 --> 00:28:44.600
 proclaim and to

00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:45.339
 tell you he was

00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.600
 on his way, he

00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:47.380
 has arrived.

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.200
 But considering

00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:51.759
 they'd already

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.960
 rejected him as

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:55.680
 savior, and

00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:57.039
 rejected John as

00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:58.140
 being from God,

00:28:58.140 --> 00:29:00.520
 there was a

00:29:00.520 --> 00:29:00.940
 problem.

00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:03.840
 They had a

00:29:03.840 --> 00:29:04.380
 dilemma on

00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:04.900
 their hands.

00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.160
 You say, well,

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.580
 what was the

00:29:07.580 --> 00:29:08.140
 dilemma there?

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:08.420
 Well, the

00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:09.160
 dilemma was the

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:09.720
 other side.

00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.160
 Because notice

00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:13.040
 the other side of

00:29:13.040 --> 00:29:13.620
 their dilemma.

00:29:14.320 --> 00:29:15.080
 The second, if

00:29:15.080 --> 00:29:15.840
 they rejected,

00:29:16.080 --> 00:29:16.920
 John was sent

00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:18.420
 by God, but

00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:20.160
 what is we say

00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:20.720
 of men?

00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.160
 Notice what he

00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:22.980
 tells us here

00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:25.640
 in verse 32.

00:29:26.280 --> 00:29:27.140
 It says, but if

00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:28.140
 we shall say

00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:32.620
 of men, they

00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:33.100
 feared the

00:29:33.100 --> 00:29:33.500
 people.

00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:36.640
 Because what

00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:37.500
 their desire was

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.220
 to say, John

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:39.640
 was just somebody

00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.259
 doing something

00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.860
 on his own.

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.200
 In other

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.000
 words, men

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.780
 endorsed him

00:29:42.780 --> 00:29:43.400
 which gave him

00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:43.880
 authority.

00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:48.880
 But that was a

00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:49.759
 problem because

00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:52.120
 the people, the

00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:53.100
 very same people

00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:54.040
 that recognized

00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:55.099
 their authority

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:58.559
 as priests

00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:59.619
 and scribes

00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:00.519
 and the

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:02.279
 elders, those

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.359
 same people

00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:06.019
 recognized John

00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:07.099
 as not just

00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.859
 somebody sent

00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:09.440
 by man or

00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.119
 somebody that

00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:10.899
 they promoted.

00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:11.960
 The people

00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.940
 looked at John

00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:13.680
 and said, he

00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:15.420
 is a prophet.

00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:15.480
 prophet.

00:30:18.100 --> 00:30:19.380
 Now by saying

00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:19.900
 that, I want

00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:20.560
 you to understand

00:30:20.560 --> 00:30:21.200
 that basically

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:21.920
 it's telling us

00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:23.980
 this, the

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.960
 prophets of old

00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.640
 that are recorded

00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:26.160
 in the Old

00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:29.039
 Testament, in

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.820
 the people's

00:30:29.820 --> 00:30:30.800
 mindset, they

00:30:30.800 --> 00:30:32.000
 looked at John

00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.340
 and the

00:30:33.340 --> 00:30:33.920
 prophet

00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:38.060
 he is equal

00:30:38.060 --> 00:30:38.720
 to them.

00:30:40.560 --> 00:30:41.500
 He was a

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.259
 prophet sent

00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:43.060
 by God to

00:30:43.060 --> 00:30:43.620
 our day.

00:30:43.619 --> 00:30:46.479
 that's a

00:30:46.479 --> 00:30:47.099
 pretty powerful

00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:47.819
 thing amongst

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.739
 a quarter.

00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:50.239
 To understand

00:30:50.239 --> 00:30:50.699
 the word of

00:30:50.699 --> 00:30:51.399
 God, a prophet

00:30:51.399 --> 00:30:51.919
 in the Old

00:30:51.919 --> 00:30:53.259
 Testament carried

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.699
 a lot of

00:30:53.699 --> 00:30:54.059
 clout.

00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.219
 To the

00:30:57.219 --> 00:30:58.119
 people, John

00:30:58.119 --> 00:30:58.859
 was a prophet

00:30:58.859 --> 00:30:59.559
 and John was

00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:00.219
 a prophet sent

00:31:00.219 --> 00:31:00.819
 by God.

00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:03.019
 The people

00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.699
 were accurate

00:31:03.699 --> 00:31:04.459
 in understanding

00:31:04.459 --> 00:31:05.119
 who John

00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:06.739
 is, but

00:31:06.739 --> 00:31:07.519
 these leaders

00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:08.299
 didn't like it

00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:09.159
 because John

00:31:09.159 --> 00:31:10.779
 challenged their

00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.379
 authority.

00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:13.099
 You know, if

00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:13.559
 you read through

00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.039
 the scripture

00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:14.659
 you'll find

00:31:14.659 --> 00:31:15.179
 that John

00:31:15.179 --> 00:31:15.799
 wasn't very

00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.500
 kind to them

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:16.899
 a lot of

00:31:16.899 --> 00:31:17.859
 times when

00:31:17.859 --> 00:31:18.179
 they would

00:31:18.179 --> 00:31:18.740
 come out

00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.279
 and he

00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:20.099
 would expose

00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:20.559
 them for

00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:20.859
 who they

00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:21.240
 were.

00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:25.619
 Now you've

00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:25.819
 got to

00:31:25.819 --> 00:31:26.159
 remember

00:31:26.159 --> 00:31:26.839
 something very

00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:27.539
 important here.

00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.240
 We talk about

00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:29.679
 this today.

00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.399
 You know,

00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:30.980
 today we talk

00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.839
 about insiders.

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.079
 You've got to

00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:35.720
 remember what

00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.539
 was John's

00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.500
 father's job.

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.519
 He was a

00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:41.879
 priest.

00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:41.940
 priest.

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.100
 In other

00:31:45.100 --> 00:31:45.860
 words, John

00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:46.620
 knew all

00:31:46.620 --> 00:31:47.200
 about the

00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:47.820
 inner workings

00:31:47.820 --> 00:31:48.260
 of what was

00:31:48.260 --> 00:31:48.680
 going on

00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.100
 behind the

00:31:49.100 --> 00:31:49.320
 scene.

00:31:51.040 --> 00:31:51.560
 You know?

00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:52.860
 And I don't

00:31:52.860 --> 00:31:53.320
 think it made

00:31:53.320 --> 00:31:53.620
 him very

00:31:53.620 --> 00:31:54.260
 comfortable when

00:31:54.260 --> 00:31:54.580
 he called

00:31:54.580 --> 00:31:54.960
 them out.

00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:56.740
 Because the

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.260
 problem is if

00:31:57.260 --> 00:31:57.920
 somebody calls

00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:58.440
 you out and

00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:59.140
 you know they

00:31:59.140 --> 00:31:59.700
 don't really

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.220
 have a clue,

00:32:00.300 --> 00:32:00.580
 it doesn't

00:32:00.580 --> 00:32:01.140
 bother you that

00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:01.440
 much.

00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:02.740
 But when somebody

00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.460
 calls you out

00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:03.800
 and you know

00:32:03.800 --> 00:32:04.320
 they're accurate,

00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:04.680
 that's a

00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:05.000
 problem.

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:08.859
 And John

00:32:08.859 --> 00:32:09.599
 had dealt

00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:10.180
 with them and

00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:10.920
 so we see this

00:32:10.920 --> 00:32:12.839
 consideration of

00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:13.200
 what they,

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.640
 if John was

00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:17.240
 from heaven,

00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:18.140
 then we ought

00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:18.740
 to have believed

00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.240
 him, but we

00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:20.000
 can't say we

00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.539
 didn't believe

00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.240
 John was from

00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:22.039
 heaven because

00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:22.799
 then the people

00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.319
 would be a

00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:24.039
 problem and

00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:24.700
 we're scared of

00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.420
 the people too.

00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:28.200
 Because you've

00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:28.819
 got to understand

00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:29.420
 they were in

00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:30.259
 authority because

00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:30.740
 the people

00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.559
 accepted it.

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.559
 And they

00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.039
 were in

00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.440
 authority because

00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:34.039
 the people

00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:34.980
 accepted it.

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:38.319
 they feared

00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:38.960
 the people.

00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:42.099
 Fear of

00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:43.099
 people directed

00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:44.000
 their decision

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:45.539
 regarding John

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:48.700
 and Jesus.

00:32:49.660 --> 00:32:50.079
 That's the

00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:50.619
 other reason

00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:51.259
 you'll find

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.579
 that they

00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:52.079
 didn't just,

00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.440
 we'll read here

00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:53.960
 a little later,

00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:54.680
 they didn't just

00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:55.339
 come and take

00:32:55.339 --> 00:32:56.279
 Jesus right where

00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:56.819
 he was.

00:32:57.380 --> 00:32:58.279
 They waited to

00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:59.160
 take Jesus in

00:32:59.160 --> 00:32:59.559
 the middle of

00:32:59.559 --> 00:32:59.940
 the night.

00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:03.039
 Why was

00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:03.279
 that?

00:33:03.339 --> 00:33:03.799
 Well the Bible

00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:04.460
 says because

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:05.059
 they feared

00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:05.640
 the people.

00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:10.880
 They didn't

00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:11.319
 want the

00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:11.840
 uproar.

00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:14.720
 So here they

00:33:14.720 --> 00:33:15.200
 have, they

00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:15.559
 can either

00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:17.079
 accept or

00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:17.460
 they can

00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:17.860
 reject.

00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:21.100
 And so they

00:33:21.100 --> 00:33:21.519
 picked the

00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.079
 third route.

00:33:24.620 --> 00:33:25.360
 Now it's kind

00:33:25.360 --> 00:33:25.900
 of funny that

00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:26.319
 they picked

00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:28.220
 this because

00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:29.039
 in everything

00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:29.680
 else they

00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:30.279
 always had the

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:30.600
 answer.

00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:33.259
 because remember

00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:33.759
 what crew

00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:34.279
 are we talking

00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:34.579
 about?

00:33:34.659 --> 00:33:34.919
 We're talking

00:33:34.919 --> 00:33:35.219
 about the

00:33:35.219 --> 00:33:35.899
 chief priests,

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.379
 the scribes,

00:33:38.399 --> 00:33:38.740
 and the

00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:39.059
 elders.

00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:41.379
 They were

00:33:41.379 --> 00:33:42.059
 basically the

00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:42.980
 oversight of

00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:43.459
 everything that

00:33:43.459 --> 00:33:43.899
 went on.

00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:45.419
 They were

00:33:45.419 --> 00:33:45.819
 supposed to be

00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:46.639
 the smart ones

00:33:46.639 --> 00:33:46.939
 that could

00:33:46.939 --> 00:33:47.619
 determine, you

00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:47.919
 know, what

00:33:47.919 --> 00:33:48.679
 was right and

00:33:48.679 --> 00:33:49.399
 what was wrong.

00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:54.080
 they were

00:33:54.080 --> 00:33:54.580
 looking at

00:33:54.580 --> 00:33:55.300
 Jesus and

00:33:55.300 --> 00:33:57.560
 say, well, we

00:33:57.560 --> 00:33:58.380
 cannot tell.

00:33:58.380 --> 00:34:05.020
 now I want

00:34:05.020 --> 00:34:05.140
 you to

00:34:05.140 --> 00:34:05.780
 understand it

00:34:05.780 --> 00:34:06.140
 was kind

00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:07.300
 of a cop

00:34:07.300 --> 00:34:07.740
 out but it

00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.579
 was also

00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:11.940
 a problem

00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:14.440
 because their

00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:15.340
 third response

00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:16.240
 was indifference.

00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:19.220
 They didn't

00:34:19.220 --> 00:34:19.720
 want to be

00:34:19.720 --> 00:34:20.519
 embarrassed by

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.360
 the situation

00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:23.420
 because no

00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:23.920
 matter what

00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.440
 they did,

00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:24.740
 they were

00:34:24.740 --> 00:34:25.039
 going to, you

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:25.519
 might say they

00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:25.760
 were going to

00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:26.260
 have egg on

00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:26.740
 their face.

00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:30.480
 because publicly

00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:31.000
 they were either

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.420
 going to be,

00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.740
 have to admit

00:34:32.740 --> 00:34:33.519
 they were wrong

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.440
 about that John

00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:35.079
 was sent by

00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:35.680
 heaven or

00:34:35.680 --> 00:34:36.019
 they're going to

00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:36.460
 have egg on

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:36.980
 their face from

00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:37.460
 the people

00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:38.400
 declaring he

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:38.780
 was from

00:34:38.780 --> 00:34:39.119
 men.

00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:42.260
 Indifference is

00:34:42.260 --> 00:34:42.960
 often a way

00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.920
 just to prevent

00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:44.840
 embarrassment.

00:34:47.680 --> 00:34:48.579
 To prevent

00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:49.340
 having to make

00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:50.180
 a decision that

00:34:50.180 --> 00:34:50.740
 needs to be

00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:51.160
 made.

00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:55.760
 You know, we

00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:56.460
 see here that

00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:57.660
 they use this as

00:34:57.659 --> 00:34:58.539
 an expedient

00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:59.179
 answer.

00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:00.619
 Not a

00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:01.199
 principled

00:35:01.199 --> 00:35:01.940
 answer but an

00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:02.940
 expedient answer.

00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:03.559
 It was playing

00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:05.139
 it safe rather

00:35:05.139 --> 00:35:06.219
 than standing up

00:35:06.219 --> 00:35:06.920
 for truth.

00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:09.299
 Because the

00:35:09.299 --> 00:35:10.359
 reality is just

00:35:10.359 --> 00:35:11.219
 like these men

00:35:11.219 --> 00:35:12.079
 that day had to

00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:12.759
 make a decision

00:35:12.759 --> 00:35:13.559
 about Jesus,

00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:16.799
 when it comes to

00:35:16.799 --> 00:35:17.679
 the authority of

00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:18.440
 Jesus in your

00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:19.039
 life you have to

00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:19.619
 make a decision.

00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:22.659
 You have to make

00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:23.739
 a decision about

00:35:23.739 --> 00:35:25.079
 where you are and

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:26.279
 where Jesus is in

00:35:26.280 --> 00:35:26.820
 your life.

00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:28.940
 Because a choice

00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.800
 has to be made

00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:30.620
 regarding his

00:35:30.620 --> 00:35:31.860
 authority and

00:35:31.860 --> 00:35:32.700
 regarding his

00:35:32.700 --> 00:35:33.220
 person.

00:35:34.200 --> 00:35:35.100
 Because he is

00:35:35.100 --> 00:35:36.200
 either the son of

00:35:36.200 --> 00:35:37.320
 God sent to

00:35:37.320 --> 00:35:38.280
 take away your

00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:39.440
 sin that you

00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:40.220
 might be dressed

00:35:40.220 --> 00:35:41.320
 in his righteousness

00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:42.960
 and holiness to be

00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.580
 able to stand

00:35:43.580 --> 00:35:46.440
 before God or

00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:46.920
 he's not.

00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:53.300
 to be indifferent

00:35:53.300 --> 00:35:54.460
 towards Christ

00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:55.539
 doesn't gain you

00:35:55.539 --> 00:35:55.940
 anything.

00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:59.380
 It might save

00:35:59.380 --> 00:36:00.260
 you face with

00:36:00.260 --> 00:36:02.240
 men and

00:36:02.240 --> 00:36:03.119
 people but it

00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:04.260
 will not save

00:36:04.260 --> 00:36:05.780
 your soul.

00:36:07.980 --> 00:36:08.960
 They had to make

00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:09.539
 a decision.

00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:16.099
 Notice here in

00:36:16.099 --> 00:36:17.139
 verse 33 when

00:36:17.139 --> 00:36:17.719
 he says and

00:36:17.719 --> 00:36:18.219
 they answered

00:36:18.219 --> 00:36:18.799
 and said unto

00:36:18.799 --> 00:36:20.259
 Jesus we

00:36:20.259 --> 00:36:21.159
 cannot tell.

00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.299
 And Jesus

00:36:23.299 --> 00:36:24.400
 answering saith unto

00:36:24.400 --> 00:36:25.139
 them neither do

00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:25.839
 I tell you by

00:36:25.839 --> 00:36:26.679
 what authority I

00:36:26.679 --> 00:36:29.179
 do these things.

00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:31.059
 You know that

00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:31.940
 response of

00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:33.000
 indifference led

00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:33.880
 to basically the

00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:34.779
 reality of it was

00:36:34.779 --> 00:36:35.239
 denial.

00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:38.259
 They wanted to

00:36:38.259 --> 00:36:38.839
 be able to

00:36:38.839 --> 00:36:40.519
 deny that Jesus

00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:41.400
 is who he said

00:36:41.400 --> 00:36:41.819
 he is.

00:36:42.539 --> 00:36:43.219
 They wanted to

00:36:43.219 --> 00:36:43.639
 be able to

00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:44.659
 deny that he

00:36:44.659 --> 00:36:45.360
 was the one

00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:45.940
 that was sent

00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:46.640
 by God.

00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:47.579
 He was the

00:36:47.579 --> 00:36:48.140
 one that was

00:36:48.140 --> 00:36:49.320
 foretold that

00:36:49.320 --> 00:36:49.800
 was going to

00:36:49.800 --> 00:36:50.900
 come all the

00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:51.500
 way through the

00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:51.920
 scripture.

00:36:52.380 --> 00:36:52.880
 The one who

00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:53.320
 was going to

00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:54.300
 come and he

00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:54.760
 was going to

00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:55.880
 die for our

00:36:55.880 --> 00:36:57.120
 sin upon the

00:36:57.120 --> 00:36:57.880
 cross to shed

00:36:57.880 --> 00:36:59.140
 his blood for

00:36:59.140 --> 00:36:59.840
 you and me.

00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:02.840
 That our sin

00:37:02.840 --> 00:37:03.620
 might be covered.

00:37:03.720 --> 00:37:04.200
 He came to

00:37:04.200 --> 00:37:05.300
 pay the price

00:37:05.300 --> 00:37:05.820
 that we could

00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:06.460
 not pay.

00:37:10.740 --> 00:37:11.559
 Each one

00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:12.320
 must decide

00:37:12.320 --> 00:37:13.079
 for themselves

00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:13.960
 about Jesus

00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:14.440
 and his

00:37:14.440 --> 00:37:14.980
 authority

00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:16.819
 and his

00:37:16.819 --> 00:37:17.460
 authority in

00:37:17.460 --> 00:37:17.960
 your life.

00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:21.299
 Because Jesus

00:37:21.299 --> 00:37:22.199
 has authority.

00:37:24.579 --> 00:37:25.279
 The question

00:37:25.279 --> 00:37:25.679
 is what are

00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:25.840
 you going to

00:37:25.840 --> 00:37:26.239
 do with it?

00:37:28.039 --> 00:37:28.579
 How's that

00:37:28.579 --> 00:37:29.699
 authority impacting

00:37:29.699 --> 00:37:30.119
 you?

00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:35.139
 You know

00:37:35.139 --> 00:37:35.840
 some follow

00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:36.559
 the crowd.

00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:39.019
 You know

00:37:39.019 --> 00:37:39.880
 we find some

00:37:39.880 --> 00:37:40.400
 these men

00:37:40.400 --> 00:37:40.799
 were like

00:37:40.799 --> 00:37:41.719
 well we don't

00:37:41.719 --> 00:37:42.340
 want to upset

00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:43.039
 the crowd.

00:37:43.180 --> 00:37:43.579
 The men

00:37:43.579 --> 00:37:43.940
 that were

00:37:43.940 --> 00:37:44.559
 around that

00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:45.160
 thought John

00:37:45.160 --> 00:37:45.840
 was a prophet

00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:46.600
 and if we

00:37:46.600 --> 00:37:47.320
 say not then

00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:47.620
 we're going to

00:37:47.620 --> 00:37:48.100
 upset the

00:37:48.100 --> 00:37:48.460
 crowd.

00:37:51.620 --> 00:37:52.140
 You know

00:37:52.140 --> 00:37:52.760
 sometimes we

00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:53.420
 fail to make

00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:54.240
 a decision for

00:37:54.240 --> 00:37:54.900
 Christ because

00:37:54.900 --> 00:37:55.380
 we're worried

00:37:55.380 --> 00:37:55.760
 about the

00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:56.079
 crowd.

00:37:58.200 --> 00:37:58.840
 Where is it

00:37:58.840 --> 00:37:59.200
 going to make

00:37:59.200 --> 00:37:59.740
 others think

00:37:59.740 --> 00:38:00.260
 about us?

00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:04.960
 We need to

00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:05.860
 understand very

00:38:05.860 --> 00:38:06.519
 clearly this

00:38:06.519 --> 00:38:07.120
 morning that

00:38:07.120 --> 00:38:08.680
 if you allow

00:38:08.680 --> 00:38:09.360
 others to

00:38:09.360 --> 00:38:10.039
 influence your

00:38:10.039 --> 00:38:10.840
 decision about

00:38:10.840 --> 00:38:11.700
 Jesus you're in

00:38:11.700 --> 00:38:11.940
 trouble.

00:38:12.340 --> 00:38:16.079
 because we

00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:16.680
 cannot let

00:38:16.680 --> 00:38:18.039
 others impact

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:18.420
 that.

00:38:20.820 --> 00:38:21.360
 They were

00:38:21.360 --> 00:38:21.880
 not willing

00:38:21.880 --> 00:38:22.400
 to face

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:23.420
 being rejected

00:38:23.420 --> 00:38:24.260
 by others.

00:38:25.800 --> 00:38:25.980
 You know

00:38:25.980 --> 00:38:26.420
 both the

00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:27.460
 religious crowd

00:38:27.460 --> 00:38:27.800
 and the

00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:28.660
 worldly crowd

00:38:28.660 --> 00:38:29.180
 will keep

00:38:29.180 --> 00:38:29.539
 you from

00:38:29.539 --> 00:38:30.559
 following Jesus

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.579
 and the

00:38:31.579 --> 00:38:32.280
 authority of

00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:32.740
 his words.

00:38:32.860 --> 00:38:33.000
 You know

00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:33.400
 today we

00:38:33.400 --> 00:38:33.740
 have many

00:38:33.740 --> 00:38:34.220
 religious

00:38:34.220 --> 00:38:36.500
 people who

00:38:36.500 --> 00:38:37.220
 their authority

00:38:37.220 --> 00:38:37.680
 is in

00:38:37.680 --> 00:38:38.100
 religion.

00:38:38.099 --> 00:38:38.159
 religion.

00:38:40.039 --> 00:38:40.920
 I want you

00:38:40.920 --> 00:38:41.500
 to understand

00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:42.339
 our authority

00:38:42.339 --> 00:38:42.920
 is in the

00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.619
 word of God.

00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:46.380
 It's not in

00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:47.019
 a religion.

00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:48.839
 It's in

00:38:48.839 --> 00:38:49.920
 understanding our

00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:51.079
 relationship to

00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:51.500
 God.

00:38:52.839 --> 00:38:53.599
 And our

00:38:53.599 --> 00:38:54.440
 responsibility

00:38:54.440 --> 00:38:56.119
 because of

00:38:56.119 --> 00:38:56.920
 that opportunity

00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:57.920
 of relationship.

00:38:57.920 --> 00:38:58.180
 relationship.

00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:01.780
 We need to

00:39:01.780 --> 00:39:02.099
 make a

00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:02.619
 decision.

00:39:05.220 --> 00:39:05.980
 We can't

00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:06.579
 stand in

00:39:06.579 --> 00:39:06.960
 the middle.

00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:09.820
 You know

00:39:09.820 --> 00:39:10.340
 even this

00:39:10.340 --> 00:39:11.480
 morning in

00:39:11.480 --> 00:39:12.400
 people's minds

00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:13.019
 I guarantee

00:39:13.019 --> 00:39:13.619
 you there's a

00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:14.320
 fear of men

00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:15.139
 and others is a

00:39:15.139 --> 00:39:15.680
 real thing.

00:39:18.619 --> 00:39:19.079
 You know

00:39:19.079 --> 00:39:19.340
 have you ever

00:39:19.340 --> 00:39:19.840
 heard somebody

00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:20.380
 say I don't

00:39:20.380 --> 00:39:20.760
 care what

00:39:20.760 --> 00:39:21.320
 others think?

00:39:21.320 --> 00:39:24.700
 they might put

00:39:24.700 --> 00:39:25.100
 on a good

00:39:25.100 --> 00:39:25.720
 show but I

00:39:25.720 --> 00:39:26.200
 guarantee you

00:39:26.200 --> 00:39:26.559
 they still

00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:27.160
 consider what

00:39:27.160 --> 00:39:27.519
 other people

00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:27.860
 think.

00:39:31.160 --> 00:39:31.820
 What other

00:39:31.820 --> 00:39:32.460
 people think

00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.180
 impacts them.

00:39:37.820 --> 00:39:38.780
 It's part of

00:39:38.780 --> 00:39:40.420
 being around

00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:40.820
 people.

00:39:43.220 --> 00:39:43.960
 The question

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:44.300
 is what

00:39:44.300 --> 00:39:44.880
 impact are

00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:45.260
 they going

00:39:45.260 --> 00:39:45.760
 to have?

00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:47.860
 What impact

00:39:47.860 --> 00:39:48.420
 do you allow

00:39:48.420 --> 00:39:49.120
 them to have?

00:39:51.320 --> 00:39:53.640
 You know

00:39:53.640 --> 00:39:54.019
 we make

00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:55.160
 decisions based

00:39:55.160 --> 00:39:55.559
 on how

00:39:55.559 --> 00:39:56.080
 others will

00:39:56.080 --> 00:39:56.880
 respond.

00:39:57.680 --> 00:39:58.160
 Fear of

00:39:58.160 --> 00:39:58.760
 man and

00:39:58.760 --> 00:39:59.260
 not by

00:39:59.260 --> 00:39:59.860
 faith in

00:39:59.860 --> 00:40:00.180
 the word

00:40:00.180 --> 00:40:00.760
 of God.

00:40:01.420 --> 00:40:01.800
 Revealing

00:40:01.800 --> 00:40:02.440
 a respect

00:40:02.440 --> 00:40:03.140
 for God

00:40:03.140 --> 00:40:03.880
 above all

00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:04.460
 else is

00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:04.860
 critical.

00:40:05.920 --> 00:40:06.340
 Think about

00:40:06.340 --> 00:40:06.940
 what Jesus

00:40:06.940 --> 00:40:07.440
 tells us

00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:07.740
 over in

00:40:07.740 --> 00:40:08.039
 Matthew

00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:08.840
 chapter 10.

00:40:09.260 --> 00:40:09.780
 Matthew

00:40:09.780 --> 00:40:10.460
 chapter 10

00:40:10.460 --> 00:40:10.760
 in verse

00:40:10.760 --> 00:40:11.539
 28 he

00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:12.059
 says this

00:40:12.059 --> 00:40:12.460
 and fear

00:40:12.460 --> 00:40:12.940
 not them

00:40:12.940 --> 00:40:13.380
 which kill

00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:13.900
 the body

00:40:13.900 --> 00:40:14.720
 but are

00:40:14.720 --> 00:40:15.600
 not able

00:40:15.600 --> 00:40:16.420
 to kill

00:40:16.420 --> 00:40:16.920
 the soul

00:40:16.920 --> 00:40:17.420
 but rather

00:40:17.420 --> 00:40:18.059
 fear him

00:40:18.059 --> 00:40:18.600
 that is able

00:40:18.600 --> 00:40:19.200
 to destroy

00:40:19.200 --> 00:40:19.960
 both soul

00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:20.620
 and body

00:40:20.619 --> 00:40:21.799
 in hell.

00:40:22.119 --> 00:40:22.440
 In other

00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:22.819
 words he's

00:40:22.819 --> 00:40:23.139
 telling them

00:40:23.139 --> 00:40:23.719
 very clearly

00:40:23.719 --> 00:40:25.000
 they might

00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:25.339
 be able

00:40:25.339 --> 00:40:25.779
 to take

00:40:25.779 --> 00:40:26.380
 your physical

00:40:26.380 --> 00:40:27.259
 life but

00:40:27.259 --> 00:40:27.719
 eternity

00:40:27.719 --> 00:40:28.420
 is much

00:40:28.420 --> 00:40:29.079
 more critical.

00:40:31.819 --> 00:40:32.579
 One day

00:40:32.579 --> 00:40:33.059
 your life

00:40:33.059 --> 00:40:33.319
 here is

00:40:33.319 --> 00:40:33.539
 going to

00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:33.779
 end.

00:40:37.539 --> 00:40:37.980
 You know

00:40:37.980 --> 00:40:38.279
 the Bible

00:40:38.279 --> 00:40:38.759
 tells us

00:40:38.759 --> 00:40:39.059
 we all

00:40:39.059 --> 00:40:39.339
 have an

00:40:39.339 --> 00:40:39.659
 appointment

00:40:39.659 --> 00:40:42.279
 and you

00:40:42.279 --> 00:40:42.659
 might look

00:40:42.659 --> 00:40:43.079
 and say

00:40:43.079 --> 00:40:43.420
 if you're

00:40:43.420 --> 00:40:43.839
 young well

00:40:43.839 --> 00:40:44.339
 that appointment

00:40:44.339 --> 00:40:44.779
 is far

00:40:44.779 --> 00:40:45.139
 off.

00:40:46.579 --> 00:40:47.119
 I want

00:40:47.119 --> 00:40:47.339
 to let

00:40:47.339 --> 00:40:47.719
 you know

00:40:47.719 --> 00:40:48.039
 that you

00:40:48.039 --> 00:40:48.380
 might be

00:40:48.380 --> 00:40:48.859
 young but

00:40:48.859 --> 00:40:49.159
 it doesn't

00:40:49.159 --> 00:40:49.460
 make it

00:40:49.460 --> 00:40:50.039
 far off.

00:40:50.619 --> 00:40:53.799
 You might

00:40:53.799 --> 00:40:54.420
 be old but

00:40:54.420 --> 00:40:54.699
 it doesn't

00:40:54.699 --> 00:40:55.059
 mean it's

00:40:55.059 --> 00:40:55.380
 tomorrow

00:40:55.380 --> 00:40:55.719
 either.

00:41:00.719 --> 00:41:01.199
 The

00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:02.019
 situation is

00:41:02.019 --> 00:41:02.199
 you have

00:41:02.199 --> 00:41:02.480
 to deal

00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:02.759
 with it

00:41:02.759 --> 00:41:03.480
 now because

00:41:03.480 --> 00:41:03.920
 you don't

00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:04.359
 know what

00:41:04.359 --> 00:41:04.679
 tomorrow

00:41:04.679 --> 00:41:05.179
 brings.

00:41:07.539 --> 00:41:08.359
 To deal

00:41:08.359 --> 00:41:08.619
 and to

00:41:08.619 --> 00:41:08.920
 make a

00:41:08.920 --> 00:41:09.440
 decision

00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:10.960
 I don't

00:41:10.960 --> 00:41:11.579
 know

00:41:11.579 --> 00:41:13.819
 is not

00:41:13.819 --> 00:41:14.400
 a decision.

00:41:16.759 --> 00:41:17.579
 I don't

00:41:17.579 --> 00:41:18.139
 know

00:41:18.139 --> 00:41:18.759
 says

00:41:18.759 --> 00:41:20.039
 I'm

00:41:20.039 --> 00:41:20.519
 indifferent

00:41:20.519 --> 00:41:21.059
 or too

00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:21.579
 scared

00:41:21.579 --> 00:41:22.099
 to do

00:41:22.099 --> 00:41:22.440
 what I

00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:22.599
 need

00:41:22.599 --> 00:41:23.000
 to do.

00:41:24.879 --> 00:41:25.559
 It's a

00:41:25.559 --> 00:41:26.079
 denial

00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:26.639
 of what's

00:41:26.639 --> 00:41:27.359
 before us.

00:41:28.219 --> 00:41:28.940
 When you

00:41:28.940 --> 00:41:29.500
 trust the

00:41:29.500 --> 00:41:29.920
 Lord you

00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:30.500
 have something

00:41:30.500 --> 00:41:31.039
 more.

00:41:31.599 --> 00:41:31.739
 You know

00:41:31.739 --> 00:41:32.159
 the Bible

00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:32.559
 tells you

00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:32.859
 I want to

00:41:32.859 --> 00:41:33.500
 encourage you

00:41:33.500 --> 00:41:34.179
 on the

00:41:34.179 --> 00:41:35.039
 reality of

00:41:35.039 --> 00:41:35.659
 who Jesus

00:41:35.659 --> 00:41:36.400
 is because

00:41:36.400 --> 00:41:37.239
 I want you

00:41:37.239 --> 00:41:38.239
 to understand

00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:39.000
 what he

00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:39.519
 tells us.

00:41:39.639 --> 00:41:40.420
 Isaiah 51

00:41:40.420 --> 00:41:40.900
 in verse

00:41:40.900 --> 00:41:41.599
 7 says

00:41:41.599 --> 00:41:41.879
 this

00:41:41.880 --> 00:41:42.240
 hearken

00:41:42.240 --> 00:41:42.780
 unto me

00:41:42.780 --> 00:41:43.579
 ye that

00:41:43.579 --> 00:41:43.800
 know

00:41:43.800 --> 00:41:44.400
 righteousness

00:41:44.400 --> 00:41:45.059
 the people

00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:45.380
 of whose

00:41:45.380 --> 00:41:45.720
 heart

00:41:45.720 --> 00:41:46.099
 is my

00:41:46.099 --> 00:41:46.519
 law.

00:41:47.099 --> 00:41:47.320
 Fear

00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:47.780
 ye not

00:41:47.780 --> 00:41:48.559
 the reproach

00:41:48.559 --> 00:41:48.920
 of men

00:41:48.920 --> 00:41:49.320
 neither be

00:41:49.320 --> 00:41:49.840
 afraid

00:41:49.840 --> 00:41:50.500
 of their

00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:51.039
 revelings.

00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:51.720
 And so

00:41:51.720 --> 00:41:52.119
 I want you

00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:52.579
 to understand

00:41:52.579 --> 00:41:53.260
 God says

00:41:53.260 --> 00:41:53.599
 if we

00:41:53.599 --> 00:41:54.340
 have him

00:41:54.340 --> 00:41:55.440
 we have

00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:56.079
 what we

00:41:56.079 --> 00:41:56.559
 need

00:41:56.559 --> 00:41:57.320
 to stand.

00:41:58.240 --> 00:41:58.519
 Matter of

00:41:58.519 --> 00:41:59.059
 fact Hebrews

00:41:59.059 --> 00:41:59.920
 chapter 13

00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:00.640
 and verse 6

00:42:00.640 --> 00:42:01.119
 tells us

00:42:01.119 --> 00:42:01.480
 so that we

00:42:01.480 --> 00:42:02.320
 may boldly

00:42:02.320 --> 00:42:03.280
 say the

00:42:03.280 --> 00:42:03.880
 Lord is

00:42:03.880 --> 00:42:04.640
 my helper

00:42:04.640 --> 00:42:05.559
 and I

00:42:05.559 --> 00:42:05.960
 will not

00:42:05.960 --> 00:42:06.539
 fear what

00:42:06.539 --> 00:42:07.500
 man will

00:42:07.500 --> 00:42:07.960
 do

00:42:07.960 --> 00:42:08.780
 shall do

00:42:08.780 --> 00:42:09.340
 unto me.

00:42:09.340 --> 00:42:11.900
 I want you

00:42:11.900 --> 00:42:12.320
 to understand

00:42:12.320 --> 00:42:13.120
 God gives

00:42:13.120 --> 00:42:13.440
 us the

00:42:13.440 --> 00:42:13.760
 ability

00:42:13.760 --> 00:42:14.039
 he is

00:42:14.039 --> 00:42:14.220
 our

00:42:14.220 --> 00:42:14.620
 helper

00:42:14.620 --> 00:42:15.500
 to do

00:42:15.500 --> 00:42:15.820
 what we

00:42:15.820 --> 00:42:16.100
 need to

00:42:16.100 --> 00:42:16.440
 do.

00:42:17.320 --> 00:42:18.160
 To stand

00:42:18.160 --> 00:42:18.600
 for him

00:42:18.600 --> 00:42:19.019
 and today

00:42:19.019 --> 00:42:19.620
 we need

00:42:19.620 --> 00:42:20.039
 people that

00:42:20.039 --> 00:42:20.220
 are going

00:42:20.220 --> 00:42:20.780
 to stand

00:42:20.780 --> 00:42:21.079
 in the

00:42:21.079 --> 00:42:21.559
 authority

00:42:21.559 --> 00:42:22.200
 of God.

00:42:24.059 --> 00:42:24.760
 Not to

00:42:24.760 --> 00:42:25.160
 stand in

00:42:25.160 --> 00:42:25.519
 your own

00:42:25.519 --> 00:42:26.000
 authority

00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:26.559
 or somebody

00:42:26.559 --> 00:42:27.000
 else's

00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:27.380
 authority

00:42:27.380 --> 00:42:27.780
 but to

00:42:27.780 --> 00:42:28.160
 stand in

00:42:28.160 --> 00:42:28.660
 the authority

00:42:28.660 --> 00:42:28.900
 of the

00:42:28.900 --> 00:42:29.220
 word of

00:42:29.220 --> 00:42:29.559
 God.

00:42:30.420 --> 00:42:31.180
 To stand

00:42:31.180 --> 00:42:31.700
 upon the

00:42:31.700 --> 00:42:32.140
 truth.

00:42:34.340 --> 00:42:34.519
 You know

00:42:34.519 --> 00:42:35.140
 this morning

00:42:35.140 --> 00:42:35.519
 you have

00:42:35.519 --> 00:42:36.440
 an opportunity

00:42:36.440 --> 00:42:37.079
 to make

00:42:37.079 --> 00:42:37.700
 a decision

00:42:37.700 --> 00:42:38.360
 regarding

00:42:38.360 --> 00:42:38.900
 the Savior.

00:42:39.340 --> 00:42:42.000
 I want

00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:42.440
 to encourage

00:42:42.440 --> 00:42:42.920
 you today

00:42:42.920 --> 00:42:43.180
 if you

00:42:43.180 --> 00:42:43.559
 don't know

00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:43.860
 him as

00:42:43.860 --> 00:42:44.280
 Savior

00:42:44.280 --> 00:42:46.039
 I want

00:42:46.039 --> 00:42:46.360
 to ask

00:42:46.360 --> 00:42:46.559
 you a

00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:46.680
 little

00:42:46.680 --> 00:42:47.120
 question

00:42:47.120 --> 00:42:48.200
 what's

00:42:48.200 --> 00:42:48.480
 hindering

00:42:48.480 --> 00:42:48.780
 you?

00:42:52.019 --> 00:42:52.579
 What's

00:42:52.579 --> 00:42:52.900
 keeping

00:42:52.900 --> 00:42:53.480
 you from

00:42:53.480 --> 00:42:54.180
 recognizing

00:42:54.180 --> 00:42:54.740
 and calling

00:42:54.740 --> 00:42:55.460
 upon Jesus

00:42:55.460 --> 00:42:55.880
 as your

00:42:55.880 --> 00:42:56.160
 Savior?

00:42:58.500 --> 00:42:59.180
 Is it

00:42:59.180 --> 00:42:59.640
 fear of

00:42:59.640 --> 00:42:59.960
 others?

00:43:01.960 --> 00:43:02.539
 Is it

00:43:02.539 --> 00:43:02.880
 fear of

00:43:02.880 --> 00:43:03.320
 what somebody

00:43:03.320 --> 00:43:03.820
 else might

00:43:03.820 --> 00:43:04.400
 say or

00:43:04.400 --> 00:43:04.940
 do or

00:43:04.940 --> 00:43:05.840
 fear of

00:43:05.840 --> 00:43:06.039
 being

00:43:06.039 --> 00:43:06.720
 embarrassed?

00:43:08.519 --> 00:43:08.920
 You know

00:43:08.920 --> 00:43:09.240
 the devil

00:43:09.240 --> 00:43:09.659
 uses

00:43:09.659 --> 00:43:10.300
 embarrassment

00:43:10.300 --> 00:43:10.820
 to keep

00:43:10.820 --> 00:43:11.119
 us

00:43:11.119 --> 00:43:12.240
 locked

00:43:12.240 --> 00:43:12.619
 in a

00:43:12.619 --> 00:43:12.780
 lot

00:43:12.780 --> 00:43:12.880
 of

00:43:12.880 --> 00:43:13.240
 things.

00:43:17.559 --> 00:43:18.000
 The

00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:18.280
 word of

00:43:18.280 --> 00:43:18.539
 God

00:43:18.539 --> 00:43:19.180
 tells us

00:43:19.180 --> 00:43:20.680
 to confess

00:43:20.680 --> 00:43:21.039
 it and

00:43:21.039 --> 00:43:21.500
 forsake

00:43:21.500 --> 00:43:21.780
 it and

00:43:21.780 --> 00:43:22.119
 Jesus

00:43:22.119 --> 00:43:22.380
 will

00:43:22.380 --> 00:43:22.659
 cleanse

00:43:22.659 --> 00:43:22.920
 it.

00:43:30.840 --> 00:43:31.380
 You know

00:43:31.380 --> 00:43:32.079
 today if

00:43:32.079 --> 00:43:32.360
 you're a

00:43:32.360 --> 00:43:32.800
 believer I

00:43:32.800 --> 00:43:33.200
 want you to

00:43:33.200 --> 00:43:33.800
 ask yourself

00:43:33.800 --> 00:43:34.119
 another

00:43:34.119 --> 00:43:34.619
 question.

00:43:35.559 --> 00:43:36.159
 That's the

00:43:36.159 --> 00:43:36.680
 question of

00:43:36.680 --> 00:43:37.220
 authority.

00:43:37.219 --> 00:43:38.219
 authority

00:43:38.219 --> 00:43:41.139
 requires

00:43:41.139 --> 00:43:42.000
 priority.

00:43:45.959 --> 00:43:46.480
 Jesus'

00:43:46.759 --> 00:43:47.559
 authority is

00:43:47.559 --> 00:43:48.019
 present.

00:43:49.019 --> 00:43:49.299
 Jesus'

00:43:49.480 --> 00:43:50.079
 authority is

00:43:50.079 --> 00:43:51.359
 real but

00:43:51.359 --> 00:43:52.159
 what priority

00:43:52.159 --> 00:43:52.739
 will we give

00:43:52.739 --> 00:43:53.099
 to it?

00:43:54.739 --> 00:43:55.500
 We have to

00:43:55.500 --> 00:43:55.919
 give it the

00:43:55.919 --> 00:43:56.339
 priority,

00:43:56.480 --> 00:43:56.779
 make a

00:43:56.779 --> 00:43:57.279
 decision.

00:43:57.699 --> 00:43:58.299
 What has

00:43:58.299 --> 00:43:59.000
 the priority?

00:43:59.219 --> 00:43:59.439
 Is it

00:43:59.439 --> 00:43:59.919
 religion?

00:44:00.419 --> 00:44:00.939
 Is it the

00:44:00.939 --> 00:44:01.359
 fear of

00:44:01.359 --> 00:44:01.619
 others?

00:44:01.739 --> 00:44:02.099
 Is it the

00:44:02.099 --> 00:44:02.459
 fear of

00:44:02.459 --> 00:44:03.019
 embarrassment?

00:44:03.019 --> 00:44:06.219
 I want to

00:44:06.219 --> 00:44:06.719
 encourage you

00:44:06.719 --> 00:44:07.239
 today to

00:44:07.239 --> 00:44:07.639
 don't let

00:44:07.639 --> 00:44:08.259
 those things

00:44:08.259 --> 00:44:08.699
 keep you

00:44:08.699 --> 00:44:09.280
 from trusting

00:44:09.280 --> 00:44:11.639
 Christ and

00:44:11.639 --> 00:44:12.340
 his authority

00:44:12.340 --> 00:44:12.880
 today.

00:44:14.820 --> 00:44:15.420
 As heads

00:44:15.420 --> 00:44:15.800
 are bowed

00:44:15.800 --> 00:44:16.099
 and eyes

00:44:16.099 --> 00:44:16.519
 are closed

00:44:16.519 --> 00:44:17.019
 this morning.

00:44:20.219 --> 00:44:20.699
 You know

00:44:20.699 --> 00:44:20.920
 when it

00:44:20.920 --> 00:44:21.340
 comes to

00:44:21.340 --> 00:44:21.780
 making a

00:44:21.780 --> 00:44:22.239
 decision,

00:44:22.460 --> 00:44:23.320
 Jesus always

00:44:23.320 --> 00:44:23.960
 pointed them

00:44:23.960 --> 00:44:24.900
 to say you

00:44:24.900 --> 00:44:25.340
 need to make

00:44:25.340 --> 00:44:25.880
 a decision.

00:44:25.880 --> 00:44:33.920
 this morning

00:44:33.920 --> 00:44:34.440
 each one of

00:44:34.440 --> 00:44:34.720
 us in

00:44:34.720 --> 00:44:34.960
 here is

00:44:34.960 --> 00:44:35.380
 making a

00:44:35.380 --> 00:44:35.760
 decision.

00:44:38.820 --> 00:44:39.220
 Yes,

00:44:39.260 --> 00:44:39.660
 the reality

00:44:39.660 --> 00:44:40.000
 is you're

00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:40.380
 making a

00:44:40.380 --> 00:44:41.039
 decision right

00:44:41.039 --> 00:44:41.340
 now.

00:44:43.860 --> 00:44:44.380
 Is that

00:44:44.380 --> 00:44:45.000
 decision going

00:44:45.000 --> 00:44:45.320
 to be I'm

00:44:45.320 --> 00:44:45.480
 going to

00:44:45.480 --> 00:44:45.940
 keep my

00:44:45.940 --> 00:44:46.360
 authority?

00:44:48.260 --> 00:44:48.720
 I'm going

00:44:48.720 --> 00:44:48.940
 to give

00:44:48.940 --> 00:44:49.240
 others

00:44:49.240 --> 00:44:49.900
 authority in

00:44:49.900 --> 00:44:50.519
 my life?

00:44:52.980 --> 00:44:53.599
 Or if I'm

00:44:53.599 --> 00:44:53.860
 going to get

00:44:53.860 --> 00:44:54.360
 God and

00:44:54.360 --> 00:44:54.960
 his word

00:44:54.960 --> 00:44:55.860
 authority?

00:44:55.880 --> 00:44:56.280
 authority.

00:44:58.840 --> 00:44:59.280
 You're

00:44:59.280 --> 00:44:59.740
 making that

00:44:59.740 --> 00:45:00.700
 decision today

00:45:00.700 --> 00:45:02.220
 whether you

00:45:02.220 --> 00:45:02.760
 want to or

00:45:02.760 --> 00:45:03.019
 not.

00:45:03.119 --> 00:45:03.420
 That's just

00:45:03.420 --> 00:45:03.920
 the reality

00:45:03.920 --> 00:45:04.400
 of how you

00:45:04.400 --> 00:45:07.079
 respond to

00:45:07.079 --> 00:45:07.460
 the truth

00:45:07.460 --> 00:45:07.980
 of God's

00:45:07.980 --> 00:45:08.220
 word.

00:45:11.200 --> 00:45:11.800
 Don't let

00:45:11.800 --> 00:45:12.300
 other things

00:45:12.300 --> 00:45:12.960
 keep you

00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:14.840
 from coming

00:45:14.840 --> 00:45:15.280
 to him.

00:45:15.880 --> 00:45:16.320
 Heavenly

00:45:16.320 --> 00:45:16.960
 fathers, we

00:45:16.960 --> 00:45:17.420
 come before

00:45:17.420 --> 00:45:17.820
 you today.

00:45:17.920 --> 00:45:18.200
 Lord, we

00:45:18.200 --> 00:45:18.680
 just thank

00:45:18.680 --> 00:45:18.920
 you and

00:45:18.920 --> 00:45:19.340
 praise you

00:45:19.340 --> 00:45:19.619
 for the

00:45:19.619 --> 00:45:19.880
 day.

00:45:20.700 --> 00:45:21.079
 Lord, you

00:45:21.079 --> 00:45:21.460
 know each

00:45:21.460 --> 00:45:21.940
 heart here

00:45:21.940 --> 00:45:22.539
 this morning.

00:45:22.700 --> 00:45:23.019
 Lord, you

00:45:23.019 --> 00:45:23.980
 know the

00:45:23.980 --> 00:45:24.680
 problems that

00:45:24.680 --> 00:45:25.340
 we face

00:45:25.340 --> 00:45:25.579
 that

00:45:25.579 --> 00:45:27.000
 question about

00:45:27.000 --> 00:45:27.440
 who you

00:45:27.440 --> 00:45:27.940
 are and

00:45:27.940 --> 00:45:28.420
 how others

00:45:28.420 --> 00:45:28.799
 think.

00:45:29.500 --> 00:45:29.920
 Lord, the

00:45:29.920 --> 00:45:30.659
 dilemma is

00:45:30.659 --> 00:45:31.739
 real in the

00:45:31.739 --> 00:45:32.259
 lives of

00:45:32.259 --> 00:45:33.019
 individuals, but

00:45:33.019 --> 00:45:33.559
 Lord, help us

00:45:33.559 --> 00:45:33.980
 to make a

00:45:33.980 --> 00:45:36.380
 decision towards

00:45:36.380 --> 00:45:36.679
 you.

00:45:37.679 --> 00:45:38.199
 Lord, you

00:45:38.199 --> 00:45:38.619
 know each

00:45:38.619 --> 00:45:39.219
 heart, each

00:45:39.219 --> 00:45:39.659
 life here

00:45:39.659 --> 00:45:40.019
 today.

00:45:41.019 --> 00:45:41.699
 We might

00:45:41.699 --> 00:45:42.259
 hide from

00:45:42.259 --> 00:45:42.699
 one another,

00:45:42.860 --> 00:45:43.119
 Lord, but

00:45:43.119 --> 00:45:43.460
 there's no

00:45:43.460 --> 00:45:44.019
 hiding from

00:45:44.019 --> 00:45:44.299
 you.

00:45:45.440 --> 00:45:45.980
 Lord, I

00:45:45.980 --> 00:45:46.340
 pray just

00:45:46.340 --> 00:45:47.159
 work mightily

00:45:47.159 --> 00:45:47.980
 in this

00:45:47.980 --> 00:45:48.659
 opportunity,

00:45:48.920 --> 00:45:49.179
 Lord, that

00:45:49.179 --> 00:45:49.799
 we might get

00:45:49.799 --> 00:45:51.539
 serious with

00:45:51.539 --> 00:45:52.159
 who you are

00:45:52.159 --> 00:45:52.599
 today.

00:45:52.599 --> 00:45:54.039
 Lord, we

00:45:54.039 --> 00:45:54.599
 ask it all

00:45:54.599 --> 00:45:54.900
 in your

00:45:54.900 --> 00:45:55.739
 precious name.

00:45:56.860 --> 00:45:57.179
 Amen.

00:45:57.339 --> 00:45:57.579
 As heads

00:45:57.579 --> 00:45:57.900
 are bowed,

00:45:57.960 --> 00:45:58.179
 and eyes

00:45:58.179 --> 00:45:58.259
 are bowed.