WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.800 Well, morning, folks. It is so lovely to see you. 00:00:03.180 --> 00:00:05.940 My name is Graeme. I'm the pastor here, and it's great to meet 00:00:05.940 --> 00:00:09.439 ! Particularly some new people this morning for whom this is your first time. 00:00:09.540 --> 00:00:11.960 We just want you to know how welcome you are. 00:00:12.580 --> 00:00:14.740 Now, friends, have you got Matthew 3 open in front of you? 00:00:15.339 --> 00:00:15.519 Yeah? 00:00:16.460 --> 00:00:16.859 Right. 00:00:16.980 --> 00:00:19.199 Do you remember what Shrek said about ogres? 00:00:21.379 --> 00:00:22.480 What did he say about ogres? 00:00:22.539 --> 00:00:23.219 What are they like? 00:00:24.379 --> 00:00:24.740 Onions. 00:00:24.859 --> 00:00:25.879 Why are they like onions? 00:00:27.820 --> 00:00:28.179 Layers. 00:00:28.179 --> 00:00:31.780 Oh, my goodness, guys. Matthew 3, the layers in this. 00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:34.679 It's unbelievable. 00:00:34.859 --> 00:00:40.500 I've had the week of my dreams this week in this text because of the depth 00:00:40.500 --> 00:00:44.500 and the God that we meet in this four verses of Scripture. 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:47.640 So just in case you're thinking we're shortchanging you this morning 00:00:47.640 --> 00:00:52.460 by looking at four verses, layers, depths to this. 00:00:52.539 --> 00:00:53.760 Can I get us into it this morning? 00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:59.539 Here is a T-shirt that you'll find that you can buy at the minute on Etsy. 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:02.159 It's a T-shirt. 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:06.319 Apparently, they market it as the perfect one for a parent to wear when they're out 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:07.500 and about with their children. 00:01:09.039 --> 00:01:09.900 So picture the scene. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:11.459 You're in the 24-7 Asda. 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:12.579 You're a parent. 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:16.439 The kids are running mental around the place looking for the sweet cereal aisle. 00:01:16.579 --> 00:01:17.819 Promise you it's a hypothetical. 00:01:18.099 --> 00:01:18.939 I've never lived it. 00:01:19.340 --> 00:01:19.480 Okay? 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:21.060 They're running around causing chaos. 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:25.959 Somebody from the other aisle, another customer, looks on at these kids disapprovingly 00:01:25.959 --> 00:01:27.159 and you can tell what they're thinking. 00:01:27.299 --> 00:01:28.599 Whose kids are these? 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:33.679 Only for you to look at mom or dad wearing this T-shirt. 00:01:35.839 --> 00:01:37.979 Yeah, I'm with them. 00:01:39.199 --> 00:01:41.259 You know the kind of novelty T-shirts that you get? 00:01:42.399 --> 00:01:44.780 I'm with her, arrow. 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:47.759 I'm with him, arrow. 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:49.179 You got that phrase in your mind? 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:53.719 Yeah, I'm with them. 00:01:53.719 --> 00:01:59.079 That's the phrase that you've got to keep in your mind if you're going to get the enormity 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:03.299 of the truth at the heart of this passage. 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:08.939 So if you're a note taker today, and I love that so many of you are, if you're a note taker 00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:14.360 or if you're like me, you like to scribble things in your Bible, then that is what to write 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:17.439 above verses 13 to 17 of Matthew chapter 3. 00:02:17.539 --> 00:02:18.340 Go ahead and do it. 00:02:18.439 --> 00:02:20.439 Yeah, I'm with them. 00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:27.840 And it's the answer to the million dollar question that's right at the heart of this passage. 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:28.740 Are you thinking it? 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:36.219 If you were here last week, maybe it's already in your mind, the million dollar question. 00:02:36.379 --> 00:02:37.979 And I'm going to try and get us there. 00:02:38.379 --> 00:02:43.819 We'll get to that question in about 10 minutes time, but see if you can work it out as we go. 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:52.739 What we need to appreciate as we head there is that there is a rough 28 year time gap between 00:02:52.739 --> 00:02:56.620 the end of chapter 2, do you see it there, and the beginning of chapter 3. 00:02:57.959 --> 00:02:59.500 Now blinking, you might miss that. 00:02:59.579 --> 00:03:03.959 You might not get that in the plain reading, but that's what's happening in the chronology 00:03:03.959 --> 00:03:04.319 of this. 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:09.340 There's a 28 year time gap between the end of chapter 2 and the beginning of chapter 3. 00:03:09.340 --> 00:03:16.400 So that means that Matthew has given us in his account of Jesus' life, he has given us 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:22.980 two detailed chapters, 1 and 2, on the first two years of Jesus' life. 00:03:24.180 --> 00:03:32.640 And then he's proceeded to write another 26 chapters on the last three years of Jesus' life. 00:03:33.159 --> 00:03:34.420 And that's with a purpose. 00:03:34.419 --> 00:03:39.780 It tells you that Matthew, according to Matthew, if you and I want to understand who Jesus is, 00:03:40.119 --> 00:03:47.699 his person, his significance, we need to get the beginning and the end of his life. 00:03:48.219 --> 00:03:50.359 Now if you're like me, you've got a curious mind. 00:03:50.500 --> 00:03:53.439 You're thinking, what on earth happened in between those years, right? 00:03:54.379 --> 00:03:57.299 What happened in that gap? 00:03:57.300 --> 00:04:02.020 Well, we don't know a huge amount about what did happen in those in-between years. 00:04:03.240 --> 00:04:08.080 But we do know one thing for certain that didn't happen. 00:04:10.980 --> 00:04:15.100 Jesus never sinned. 00:04:17.259 --> 00:04:17.819 Yeah? 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:21.100 Jesus never sinned. 00:04:22.040 --> 00:04:23.460 So imagine that. 00:04:23.459 --> 00:04:27.479 No cheat to his parents. 00:04:29.159 --> 00:04:31.239 No fallout with his siblings. 00:04:31.479 --> 00:04:33.799 No teenage pushing of boundaries. 00:04:34.019 --> 00:04:41.079 No expletives when he hits his thumb with the hammer on the carpentry work site. 00:04:41.419 --> 00:04:46.519 And that's the reason I imagine that none of the other Nazarene mums wanted to go for a coffee catch-up with Mary. 00:04:47.859 --> 00:04:52.740 And they're telling her about their child but refusing to tidy their room. 00:04:52.740 --> 00:04:53.960 How's it going for you, Mary? 00:04:55.980 --> 00:04:57.079 He's perfect. 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:00.939 No sin. 00:05:02.780 --> 00:05:06.639 And just in case we think his life is about not doing things, 00:05:07.060 --> 00:05:09.180 what he is doing this whole time 00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:15.360 is he is giving his life totally over to pursuing obedience to God 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:18.620 and with that knowing joy. 00:05:18.620 --> 00:05:26.220 Sometimes you'll hear theologians call those two sides of the perfection coin 00:05:26.220 --> 00:05:31.840 Jesus' passive and his active obedience. 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:33.160 It's really important. 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:35.939 One of the foundation things of the Christian faith. 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:39.000 His active and his passive obedience. 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:44.600 And I think instinctively we struggle to get our heads around that. 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:46.379 I was thinking that this week. 00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:52.660 Because we don't know anything other than living our lives in this world that is broken. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:54.959 I struggle with this. 00:05:55.019 --> 00:06:00.019 I've got no framework for understanding what a perfect life would look like. 00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:03.719 I mean, how easy is it at the minute to turn on the news 00:06:03.719 --> 00:06:07.819 and see what's happening to people in Iran? 00:06:09.719 --> 00:06:11.399 And to watch something like that. 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:15.560 And honestly, your heart is just completely unmoved. 00:06:17.819 --> 00:06:20.019 Or Ukraine or Gaza. 00:06:20.899 --> 00:06:22.159 Or you take your pick at the minute. 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:24.680 And you feel like because we're bombarded with it 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:28.360 that we can become almost emotionally numb to it. 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:32.020 I've listened to enough Jeremy Vine phone-ins on Radio 2 00:06:32.020 --> 00:06:34.460 doing a long drive down south in my time 00:06:34.460 --> 00:06:36.780 to know that one of the bingo phrases from callers 00:06:36.780 --> 00:06:38.200 when he asked people to ring in 00:06:38.200 --> 00:06:42.540 and comment on the latest big political scandal, 00:06:42.980 --> 00:06:45.360 one of the bingo phrases you hear from people is this. 00:06:45.700 --> 00:06:47.140 It doesn't surprise me anymore. 00:06:47.139 --> 00:06:53.159 We're just so used to living in this world. 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:56.279 But what we need to see is that when Jesus comes on the scene, 00:06:57.479 --> 00:07:01.979 he is something both radically different and wonderfully attractive. 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:07.300 And Matthew wants us to look at him and conclude, 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:14.279 here is humanity as it was always meant to be. 00:07:14.279 --> 00:07:18.699 He is perfect love, 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:23.179 covered over in flesh. 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:27.859 And so with that in mind, 00:07:28.019 --> 00:07:31.019 would you have a look at verse 13? 00:07:33.119 --> 00:07:34.779 Now remember the context 00:07:34.779 --> 00:07:37.379 that we thought about last week. 00:07:37.459 --> 00:07:42.119 John the Baptist is at the River Jordan. 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:44.819 So people are coming to him. 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:45.879 Do you remember we saw that last week? 00:07:45.959 --> 00:07:46.519 Verse 6. 00:07:46.939 --> 00:07:47.800 People are coming to him. 00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:48.620 And what are they doing? 00:07:48.939 --> 00:07:51.019 They are confessing their sins. 00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:56.699 They are publicly declaring that there is dirt on my hands, 00:07:56.840 --> 00:07:59.840 that I am guilty before a holy God. 00:07:59.959 --> 00:08:01.879 And my greatest need in this moment 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:03.259 is not to keep hiding, 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:05.000 is to come and be clean. 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:07.019 That's what they're coming to John and saying. 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:08.920 And what are they doing? 00:08:08.980 --> 00:08:10.259 They are being baptized. 00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:11.680 Again, to see it in the text, 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:12.439 they're being baptized. 00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:14.000 So they're going under the water. 00:08:14.279 --> 00:08:15.639 They're coming up again. 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:20.120 And then one day, 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:22.399 John is out in the middle of the river doing his thing. 00:08:22.539 --> 00:08:23.519 You're in the text. 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:24.000 Yeah? 00:08:24.139 --> 00:08:26.159 He's out in the middle of the river doing his thing. 00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:28.099 As usual, 00:08:28.219 --> 00:08:29.620 a queue of people is forming. 00:08:30.019 --> 00:08:30.139 Right? 00:08:30.259 --> 00:08:31.180 Again, we're British. 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:32.299 It probably wasn't a queue. 00:08:32.819 --> 00:08:34.600 Probably just gathering around the river. 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:35.039 Right? 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:36.980 But looking up, 00:08:37.199 --> 00:08:38.939 what does John see? 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:39.679 Or rather, 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:40.860 who does John see? 00:08:42.839 --> 00:08:44.480 He clocks Jesus. 00:08:44.740 --> 00:08:46.399 Do you remember Jesus as the one, 00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:47.259 verse 11, 00:08:47.459 --> 00:08:50.099 whose sandals John has just said 00:08:50.099 --> 00:08:52.519 that he is not worthy to untie? 00:08:53.980 --> 00:08:56.759 And Jesus has come all the way 00:08:56.759 --> 00:08:59.259 from Galilee in the north 00:08:59.259 --> 00:09:00.439 down to the Jordan. 00:09:01.579 --> 00:09:02.719 Now, depending on where the starting 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:03.680 and the ending point is 00:09:03.680 --> 00:09:04.920 that is somewhere between 00:09:04.920 --> 00:09:07.139 a 40 to 80 mile trip. 00:09:08.700 --> 00:09:10.680 Think of it roughly Glasgow to Edinburgh 00:09:10.680 --> 00:09:11.600 or Edinburgh to Glasgow, 00:09:11.700 --> 00:09:13.040 depending on your preference. 00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:16.139 And he's not doing an Uber. 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:19.220 He's doing it on foot. 00:09:19.420 --> 00:09:21.500 Now, just remember what we thought about last week 00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:22.800 with all these details. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:23.980 None of it is filler. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.300 All of this is with a purpose. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:28.180 What is the purpose? 00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:29.639 What does Matthew want us to see? 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:33.039 He wants us to see that this has a purpose. 00:09:36.500 --> 00:09:37.819 And now we're getting warmer 00:09:37.819 --> 00:09:39.139 to our million dollar question. 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:40.100 Are you thinking it yet? 00:09:41.319 --> 00:09:42.379 Are you thinking it yet? 00:09:42.539 --> 00:09:44.860 John, he clocks Jesus in line. 00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:50.139 And he effectively says, 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:53.960 Jesus, 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:56.600 what are you doing here? 00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:56.860 What are you doing here? 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:02.840 You're here wanting to be baptized by me? 00:10:05.799 --> 00:10:08.059 Surely it's me that needs to be baptized 00:10:08.059 --> 00:10:10.740 by you. 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:13.299 Do you see what he's saying? 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:17.480 Surely this should be the other way around. 00:10:18.939 --> 00:10:21.480 I guess this is a bit like Magnus Carlsen 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:23.379 enrolling in a beginner's chess class. 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:27.080 Or maybe it's Adele auditioning 00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:28.779 in the early rounds of the X Factor. 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:30.019 Do you get it? 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:33.740 Surely it's the other way around. 00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:37.240 And you've got to say that John's right, isn't he? 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:42.259 And I was thinking about it this week, friends. 00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:43.720 I can get my head around 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:45.259 why the people in this day 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:46.419 are confessing their sins 00:10:46.419 --> 00:10:47.139 and getting baptized. 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:48.960 I get that. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:51.040 I can get 00:10:51.040 --> 00:10:53.680 and most definitely understand 00:10:53.680 --> 00:10:56.220 why I needed to repent of my sins 00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:58.600 and come to Christ to forgiveness. 00:11:01.620 --> 00:11:02.920 And so we've arrived 00:11:02.920 --> 00:11:04.259 at the million dollar question. 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:05.040 Are you thinking it? 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:11.540 Why is Jesus getting baptized? 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:16.500 Because he's not repenting 00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:17.740 of any sins that he committed. 00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:18.340 Right? 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:19.139 You guys, perfect. 00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:24.919 Friends, this is where we need to remember 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:27.700 the T-shirt. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:33.399 He's not repenting of any sins. 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:34.580 What is he doing in this moment? 00:11:34.659 --> 00:11:35.320 And this is glorious. 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:39.519 He is identifying himself 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:42.100 with the very people 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:43.180 that he's come to save. 00:11:43.179 --> 00:11:48.039 And see, as we try 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:49.319 and get our heads into this, 00:11:50.099 --> 00:11:52.859 to the answer to that question, 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:54.599 I was reminded of a famous old quote 00:11:54.599 --> 00:11:55.219 about the Bible. 00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:57.859 And it's been attributed 00:11:57.859 --> 00:11:59.439 to many people over the years. 00:11:59.579 --> 00:12:00.199 And to be honest, 00:12:00.459 --> 00:12:01.919 it's been repeated so often, 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:03.319 I don't think anyone knows 00:12:03.319 --> 00:12:04.219 who said it anymore. 00:12:05.179 --> 00:12:06.199 But that's no problem 00:12:06.199 --> 00:12:07.039 because it's not about 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:08.319 who has copyright to it. 00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:09.359 It's about the insight 00:12:09.359 --> 00:12:10.120 that it contains 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:11.319 and it's absolutely golden. 00:12:11.959 --> 00:12:12.740 You ready for this? 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:17.460 The Bible 00:12:17.460 --> 00:12:20.879 is like a river 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:21.779 shallow enough 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:23.100 for a lamb to go wading, 00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:26.799 but deep enough 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:28.259 for the elephant 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:30.600 to go swimming. 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:33.519 And what Matthew is doing 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:35.000 in verses 16 and 17 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:38.639 is inviting us out 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:39.580 to the deep waters 00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:39.799 and 00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:39.740 to the deep waters 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:39.740 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:46.120 and to get our elephant on. 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:51.360 Friends, this is, 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:54.919 this is deep 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:57.539 and it is profound 00:12:57.539 --> 00:12:58.799 and it is wonderful. 00:12:59.039 --> 00:12:59.680 And maybe you're here 00:12:59.680 --> 00:13:00.100 this morning, 00:13:00.180 --> 00:13:00.399 you think, 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:01.379 all this Jesus stuff 00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:02.539 is still new to me. 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:03.560 I don't really get it. 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:06.139 Come wait in this. 00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:09.539 This is who our God is. 00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:11.399 What we get in these four verses, 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:12.899 we get a profound glimpse 00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:13.819 into the heart 00:13:13.819 --> 00:13:14.639 and the mission 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:16.419 of the God of the Bible. 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:18.139 You ready to be stretched 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:19.299 a little bit by this text? 00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:20.000 You up for it? 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:22.799 The God of the Bible 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:23.919 is triune. 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:27.199 We've already been singing 00:13:27.199 --> 00:13:27.699 about that, 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:29.460 meaning that he is one God 00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:32.259 in three persons. 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:34.420 He is Father, 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:35.639 he is Son, 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:36.879 he is Spirit, 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:39.100 and that puts him 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:41.000 in a league of his own. 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:43.420 There is nothing else 00:13:43.420 --> 00:13:44.139 like him 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:44.940 out there 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:46.200 on the market. 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:49.000 He is radically different 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.740 from any 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:51.420 so-called competitors 00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:52.860 in this world. 00:13:53.180 --> 00:13:54.320 He is so radically 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:55.519 different from 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.879 what our Muslim friends 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:57.480 would understand 00:13:57.480 --> 00:13:58.700 Allah to be like. 00:13:58.700 --> 00:14:01.500 or our Buddhist friends 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:02.840 who worship many gods. 00:14:03.140 --> 00:14:04.240 The God of the Bible 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:05.720 is radically different. 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.080 He is the reality 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:08.259 of all realities. 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:10.460 He is the beauty 00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:12.640 of all beauties. 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.980 Before anything was, 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:16.340 he was. 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:19.800 And with perfect wisdom 00:14:19.800 --> 00:14:20.440 and power, 00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:22.640 this God spoke creation 00:14:22.640 --> 00:14:24.460 into existence. 00:14:24.780 --> 00:14:25.580 What do we do 00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:26.220 when we speak? 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:27.440 Why does anyone speak? 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:28.500 They speak to make 00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:30.080 themselves known. 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:30.760 And this God 00:14:30.760 --> 00:14:32.080 has made himself 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:32.700 known 00:14:32.700 --> 00:14:34.200 in creation. 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:36.320 And why did he 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:37.080 create the world? 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:37.920 Have you ever wondered that? 00:14:38.060 --> 00:14:39.400 Why did he create the world? 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:40.560 Well, because he is 00:14:40.560 --> 00:14:41.680 Father, Son, and Spirit. 00:14:41.780 --> 00:14:42.440 Because he is 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:43.500 a community of love. 00:14:43.780 --> 00:14:45.000 The answer cannot be 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:45.880 that he was lonely 00:14:45.880 --> 00:14:48.260 or that he is needy. 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:50.280 He doesn't need anything. 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:51.420 He's not sure 00:14:51.420 --> 00:14:52.200 of enjoyment 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:53.020 and satisfaction. 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:55.539 He created the world 00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:57.679 to showcase his glory 00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:58.860 and invite us 00:14:58.860 --> 00:15:01.559 into knowing him. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:01.960 Friends, 00:15:02.019 --> 00:15:02.960 have you ever wondered 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:03.819 why human beings 00:15:03.819 --> 00:15:04.899 long for relationships? 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:10.000 The answer is 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:10.860 that we are made 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:12.220 in the image of God 00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:14.919 who has eternally existed 00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:16.519 as a fully satisfied 00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:17.740 community of love. 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:18.840 We're made in his image. 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:20.519 No longer there's longings 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:21.419 for relationships. 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:24.699 This God, 00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:25.519 he knows the end 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.279 from the beginning. 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.600 He's never reacting 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:28.559 to anything. 00:15:29.819 --> 00:15:30.559 When Adam and Eve 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:31.759 rebelled against God 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.939 in the Garden of Eden, 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:33.879 it was tragic, 00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:35.220 but it did not take him 00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:36.319 by surprise. 00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.840 No, this God 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:39.539 has eternally had 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:40.299 a plan 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:42.460 to redeem the world 00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:43.879 and showcase 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:45.360 the glory of his love 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.059 to the world. 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:48.379 You feeling stretched? 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:53.860 And in Matthew, 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:54.840 what do we get here? 00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:57.879 Who's in the photo, 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.399 if you like? 00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:59.179 Who's in the photo? 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.379 The Father, 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.580 the Son, 00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:05.419 and the Spirit. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.240 You feeling stretched? 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:09.700 And I think we're meant 00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:10.080 to ask, 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:10.919 if we know 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:11.779 the Bible story, 00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:12.879 I think we're meant 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:14.620 to ask ourselves, 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:16.259 when was the last time 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:18.000 that we saw all three 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:20.500 mentioned together 00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:22.860 in the Bible story? 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:26.519 And the answer, 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:27.139 I think, 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:30.319 is Genesis 1. 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:33.379 With the Spirit 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:35.179 hovering over the waters, 00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:37.740 let us make man 00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:39.460 in our image. 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:41.340 And what is Matthew doing 00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:43.019 but creating that sense 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:44.920 of wonderful anticipation 00:16:44.920 --> 00:16:46.900 as to what God 00:16:46.900 --> 00:16:48.180 is about to do 00:16:48.180 --> 00:16:49.500 that's kicking off 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.460 in this moment 00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:52.200 as he is acting 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:53.300 to bring about 00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:56.200 the start of 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:59.240 a new creation. 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:03.440 You see, 00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.079 as far as 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.920 the earth is concerned, 00:17:06.360 --> 00:17:07.460 the baptism of Jesus, 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:08.279 I don't imagine 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:10.039 it looks anything special 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:12.360 as far as 00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:13.100 earth looking on 00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:13.740 is concerned. 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:15.019 But it's almost 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.960 as if heaven 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.019 at the kickoff 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.480 of Jesus' 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:18.539 public ministry 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:19.900 cannot contain 00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:22.019 its excitement. 00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:26.380 And so, 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:26.700 friends, 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.519 let's just think 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.980 about three things 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:29.860 that we can savor 00:17:29.860 --> 00:17:30.460 as we think about 00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:30.779 the Father, 00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:31.019 the Son, 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:31.400 and the Spirit 00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:32.259 from these verses. 00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:33.400 Here's the first thing 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.299 we need to savor here. 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:36.059 It's the willing Son 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:37.879 to fulfill 00:17:37.879 --> 00:17:38.200 all righteousness. 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:39.359 See verse 15, 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:39.619 right? 00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:41.980 Jesus tells John 00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.500 why he's come 00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.179 to get baptized. 00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:43.779 Do you see it? 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:45.679 What does he say? 00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:46.919 To fulfill 00:17:46.919 --> 00:17:47.659 all 00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:49.299 righteousness. 00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:49.679 Now, 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:50.559 we're thinking a bit more 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.039 about that word 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:51.639 fulfill 00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:52.799 and the law 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.819 in a few chapters 00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:54.359 time. 00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:57.339 But for the purposes 00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:58.319 of this today, 00:17:59.059 --> 00:17:59.819 in the back 00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:00.659 of Jesus' 00:18:00.919 --> 00:18:01.460 mind 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:04.660 is this thing 00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:05.299 that Isaiah 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:06.240 had spoken about. 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:06.720 And this is where 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.799 Isaiah 42 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:08.440 and 52 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:08.840 and 53 00:18:08.840 --> 00:18:09.299 come in. 00:18:09.340 --> 00:18:09.779 So if you've got it 00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:09.900 there, 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:10.740 you can flick there. 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:12.660 And the book of Isaiah, 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.259 you've got these two 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:13.920 big things that are 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:15.019 happening in Isaiah. 00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.819 These two big themes 00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:18.319 that you think, 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:19.620 how is this puzzle 00:18:19.620 --> 00:18:20.620 going to be solved? 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:22.079 So on the one hand, 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:22.720 you've got God 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:23.920 promising that he's 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:24.559 going to rightly 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.700 punish his people 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:27.319 for their blatant 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:28.860 idolatry and sin 00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:29.860 against him 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:31.279 and for dragging 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:31.939 his name 00:18:31.939 --> 00:18:32.679 through the mud 00:18:32.679 --> 00:18:34.299 via their lives 00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:35.199 in front of the nations. 00:18:35.899 --> 00:18:36.359 So God's going, 00:18:36.419 --> 00:18:36.719 on one hand, 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.119 he's going to say, 00:18:37.159 --> 00:18:38.119 I'm going to punish sin. 00:18:40.379 --> 00:18:41.479 But on the other hand, 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.299 God is promising 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:42.979 that he's going to 00:18:42.979 --> 00:18:43.559 make a way 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:44.319 for his people 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:45.240 to be forgiven 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:47.019 and set free 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:48.659 and to be transformed. 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:49.319 God is going to 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.299 create this city 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:51.099 of righteousness 00:18:51.099 --> 00:18:53.079 and he's going to 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.879 create a people 00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:55.139 who long 00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:55.779 to live 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.839 for him. 00:18:57.179 --> 00:18:57.659 And you think, 00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.859 how is God 00:18:58.859 --> 00:18:59.240 going to do 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:00.079 both of these things? 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:04.019 We're standing 00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:04.519 at the center 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.599 of that Venn diagram. 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.579 How God 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.279 is going to be faithful 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.240 to both of those things? 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.220 It's this figure 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:11.960 that you get 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:13.200 in Isaiah 42, 00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:14.420 get it in 49, 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:15.819 52, 53, 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:16.819 called 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:18.799 my servant. 00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:23.000 This figure 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.980 who will act 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:24.859 wisely, 00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:25.819 who will have 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:26.620 no deceit 00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:27.519 in his mouth, 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:28.279 who will be 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:29.839 despised 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.779 and rejected 00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.619 by men, 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.099 who will be 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:33.039 a man of 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.559 sorrows 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.819 and he will 00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:36.940 carry all 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.339 our infirmities 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:40.619 on himself 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:42.359 and he will be 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.180 pierced for 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:43.819 our 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:45.619 transgressions. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:48.359 And what else 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:49.019 will he do? 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:52.619 He will 00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:53.299 number 00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:54.139 himself 00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:56.140 with the 00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:57.200 transgressors. 00:19:59.520 --> 00:20:00.259 So he will say, 00:20:00.340 --> 00:20:01.220 I'm one of them. 00:20:02.040 --> 00:20:02.520 Are you beginning 00:20:02.520 --> 00:20:03.140 to get this? 00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:03.960 He's going to say, 00:20:04.020 --> 00:20:04.980 I'm one of them. 00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.700 And Christians 00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.420 down the ages 00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.000 have rightly, 00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:09.759 absolutely 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.600 cherished 00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:11.860 Isaiah 52 00:20:11.860 --> 00:20:12.420 and 53 00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:13.120 in particular 00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:14.040 because we read 00:20:14.040 --> 00:20:14.880 this and we think 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:15.380 to ourselves, 00:20:15.540 --> 00:20:16.440 cannot wait 00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:17.400 to meet this guy. 00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:19.180 Where is he coming? 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:19.279 sin? 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.720 We read it 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.660 alongside Matthew 00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:24.580 chapter 3. 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:28.660 And so here 00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:29.220 we have 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:29.660 Jesus 00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.580 in this 00:20:30.580 --> 00:20:31.220 the most 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:31.860 wonderful 00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:32.680 of moments 00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:34.799 who having 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.220 read the 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:35.539 scriptures 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.220 since he 00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:36.759 was a boy, 00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:37.460 he declares 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:37.960 in this 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.360 moment 00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:40.420 as he gets 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:40.840 baptized, 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:41.980 as he stands 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.480 in the place 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:42.920 of sinners, 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.740 as he identifies 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.360 with them, 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:45.779 with this 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.779 my servant 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.440 in the back 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.059 of his mind. 00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:49.460 He is declaring, 00:20:49.840 --> 00:20:51.600 I am willing. 00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:56.740 He's uniting 00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.820 himself with 00:20:57.820 --> 00:20:58.400 the people 00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.039 that he's come 00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.620 to save, 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.000 saying, 00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:00.380 Father, 00:21:00.580 --> 00:21:01.860 I will live 00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:02.480 for them. 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.220 For them, 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:03.740 I'll do it. 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:04.660 I will live 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:04.960 for them 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.500 the perfect 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.019 life that 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.440 they could 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.320 never live. 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.580 And I will 00:21:09.580 --> 00:21:10.380 die the death 00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:10.740 that they 00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.519 deserve to die 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.500 because of 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.259 their sin. 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.380 I'm up for it. 00:21:15.080 --> 00:21:15.539 I'm going to 00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.500 be the servant. 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.140 And it's 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:18.700 well worth 00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:18.960 seeing, 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:19.460 folks, 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:20.680 that Jesus 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.320 saves us 00:21:21.320 --> 00:21:21.860 by both 00:21:21.860 --> 00:21:22.559 his doing 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:23.320 and his 00:21:23.320 --> 00:21:23.700 dying. 00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:27.019 Jesus 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.640 is stepping 00:21:27.640 --> 00:21:28.380 right into 00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:28.920 the shoes 00:21:28.920 --> 00:21:29.460 of Isaiah 00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.259 52 and 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:31.180 53 of 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:31.980 this servant 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:33.299 job description 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:33.799 and he's 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.519 declaring in 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.080 this moment, 00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:38.340 I am 00:21:38.340 --> 00:21:38.680 willing. 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:43.759 oh, 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.000 is this 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:44.580 not great 00:21:44.580 --> 00:21:46.960 that he's 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.320 come to 00:21:47.320 --> 00:21:47.620 do the 00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:48.180 very thing 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:48.420 that I 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:48.840 could never 00:21:48.840 --> 00:21:49.240 do for 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:49.700 myself 00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:52.420 and that 00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:52.779 you could 00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:53.140 never do 00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:53.820 for yourself. 00:21:55.600 --> 00:21:56.340 He left 00:21:56.340 --> 00:21:58.200 the 00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:58.560 eternity 00:21:58.560 --> 00:21:58.980 with his 00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.500 father and 00:21:59.500 --> 00:21:59.880 you all 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:00.160 go and 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.840 he stepped 00:22:00.840 --> 00:22:01.420 into the 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:03.680 water for 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.080 you and 00:22:04.080 --> 00:22:04.340 I. 00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:06.820 See the 00:22:06.820 --> 00:22:07.460 willing son, 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.079 but secondly, 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:08.420 we need to 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:08.840 go quicker 00:22:08.840 --> 00:22:09.059 here, 00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:09.420 I promise. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.340 See the 00:22:10.340 --> 00:22:10.799 equipping 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:11.319 spirit. 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.079 Verse 16, 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:15.640 he descends 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.200 on Jesus 00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:16.840 in the form 00:22:16.840 --> 00:22:17.259 of a dove. 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:17.539 Now don't 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.299 get sidetracked 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:18.779 by the dove 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.059 there. 00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:21.220 I'm going to 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:21.420 give you 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:21.740 your theories 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.240 afterwards. 00:22:22.600 --> 00:22:23.019 The answer is 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.279 we're not 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:23.660 sure. 00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.220 I think it's 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:25.600 just another 00:22:25.600 --> 00:22:26.620 symbol for 00:22:26.620 --> 00:22:27.019 the Holy 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.400 Spirit. 00:22:27.600 --> 00:22:27.799 You get 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:28.259 fire, 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:28.840 you get 00:22:28.840 --> 00:22:29.400 lots of 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:29.660 symbols 00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:29.880 throughout 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:30.240 scripture. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:30.460 It's 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:30.859 just another 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.180 one of 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:31.380 these 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:32.620 indicating 00:22:32.620 --> 00:22:32.880 the 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:33.220 presence 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.440 of 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:33.620 the 00:22:33.620 --> 00:22:33.920 Spirit. 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.620 But what's 00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:35.500 important to 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.319 see is 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:36.900 that the 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:37.519 falling of 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.039 the Spirit 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.980 connects Jesus 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.500 with the 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.500 servant of 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.799 Isaiah 42. 00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.880 The one on 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.400 whom God 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:45.839 will put 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.519 his Spirit. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:46.839 And what 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:47.140 will that 00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:48.019 Spirit do? 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:48.460 What will 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.099 he do? 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.299 He will 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:51.059 empower 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.839 Jesus to 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.240 accomplish 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:52.839 his mission. 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.140 And he 00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:55.660 will bring 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:56.120 home the 00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:56.579 truth that 00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.279 the Father 00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:57.559 is just 00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:57.920 about to 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.700 declare of 00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:58.880 him. 00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.200 I take 00:22:59.200 --> 00:22:59.420 it he 00:22:59.420 --> 00:22:59.960 will bring 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.360 it home 00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:00.600 in a 00:23:00.600 --> 00:23:00.819 really 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.360 personal 00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:01.779 way. 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.180 But the 00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:03.519 big thing 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.039 to see is 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.620 the Spirit 00:23:04.620 --> 00:23:05.360 is given 00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:07.360 to the 00:23:07.360 --> 00:23:09.400 Son and 00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.920 sends him 00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:11.920 out to 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:12.360 accomplish 00:23:12.360 --> 00:23:13.039 this 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.880 mission. 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:14.660 And this 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:15.319 is Ian's 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.100 verses next 00:23:16.100 --> 00:23:16.519 week and I 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:16.799 don't want to 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.360 verse creep but 00:23:17.360 --> 00:23:17.660 I'll do it 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.059 for five 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.460 seconds. 00:23:18.620 --> 00:23:18.799 Okay. 00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:19.539 Look at 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:19.880 verse one 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:20.299 of chapter 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:20.779 four. 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.819 It is the 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:24.380 Spirit that 00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:25.400 leads Jesus 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:25.900 into the 00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:26.220 wilderness. 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:30.019 Friends, 00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:30.480 the equipping 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:30.799 Spirit, 00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:31.080 we're going 00:23:31.080 --> 00:23:31.700 quicker here. 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:32.580 Thirdly, 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.019 see the 00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:33.559 adoring 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.640 Father. 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.920 Verse 17. 00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:38.779 Look at 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.200 this. 00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:44.700 With 00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:45.200 him 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:47.080 I am 00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:47.700 well 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:49.100 pleased. 00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:51.420 Oh, 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:51.700 the 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:52.059 Father, 00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:52.720 his heart 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.779 is positively 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:55.160 bursting with 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:56.539 pride and 00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.500 brimming with 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.380 love as he 00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:59.480 looks on the 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.759 faithful obedience 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:02.440 of his 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:02.920 Son. 00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:06.519 And there 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.579 are overtones 00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.299 in that word 00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:08.960 Son there. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:09.319 We don't have 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:09.779 time to do 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.140 this but you 00:24:10.140 --> 00:24:10.480 can check out 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.099 your own time 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.420 of Psalm 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.180 chapter 2 00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:14.119 and 2 Samuel 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:14.759 7 there. 00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:15.380 We thought 00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:15.759 about Psalm 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.200 2 a few 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.740 weeks ago 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.160 in the 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:18.500 first sermon 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:18.960 of this 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.279 year. 00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.440 But when 00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:20.940 God talks 00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:21.339 about his 00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:21.980 Son there, 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:23.019 he's also 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.680 talking about 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:24.339 his King. 00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:27.259 And the 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:27.720 way that 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.119 Matthew's 00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:28.639 written this 00:24:28.639 --> 00:24:28.939 is he 00:24:28.939 --> 00:24:29.619 emphasizes 00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.759 verse 16 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:33.339 in Matthew. 00:24:34.459 --> 00:24:34.679 Do you 00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:34.980 see how 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.299 Jesus 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:35.959 seeing and 00:24:35.959 --> 00:24:36.299 presumably 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:36.879 hearing 00:24:36.879 --> 00:24:39.099 is to 00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:39.720 show us 00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:40.199 that although 00:24:40.199 --> 00:24:40.579 this 00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:41.119 declaration 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:42.179 is for 00:24:42.179 --> 00:24:42.879 the world, 00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:45.720 these words 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.220 are aimed 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:47.019 personally 00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:48.679 at Jesus. 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:52.819 Now 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:53.179 why does 00:24:53.179 --> 00:24:53.659 that matter? 00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:57.779 here's 00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:58.000 what we're 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.160 going to 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:58.580 see next 00:24:58.580 --> 00:24:58.880 week. 00:24:59.060 --> 00:24:59.740 It matters 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.440 next week 00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:02.300 because in 00:25:02.300 --> 00:25:02.820 the very 00:25:02.820 --> 00:25:03.960 next few 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.400 verses, 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.560 the devil 00:25:05.560 --> 00:25:05.960 is going 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.320 to be in 00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:06.600 Jesus' 00:25:06.820 --> 00:25:09.040 ear saying, 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.900 are you 00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:11.279 sure? 00:25:14.040 --> 00:25:14.560 You 00:25:14.560 --> 00:25:15.060 sure you're 00:25:15.060 --> 00:25:15.460 the Son? 00:25:16.620 --> 00:25:17.420 You sure 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:17.800 you heard 00:25:17.800 --> 00:25:18.279 that right? 00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:18.640 I mean, 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:19.420 the distance 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.300 between heaven 00:25:20.300 --> 00:25:20.759 and earth 00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.279 is big 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:21.840 and phone 00:25:21.840 --> 00:25:22.480 reception is 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:22.900 not great 00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:23.380 these days. 00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:23.580 You've 00:25:23.580 --> 00:25:23.720 just 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.020 switched 00:25:24.020 --> 00:25:24.160 to 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:24.560 O2. 00:25:24.800 --> 00:25:25.360 You sure 00:25:25.360 --> 00:25:25.700 it didn't 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.340 fall out? 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:26.940 You sure 00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.280 it didn't 00:25:27.280 --> 00:25:27.660 drop? 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.600 Or is it 00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:30.440 a contract? 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:31.740 You didn't 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.060 read the 00:25:32.060 --> 00:25:32.440 terms and 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:32.840 conditions? 00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:33.660 There's an 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:34.280 asterisk there 00:25:34.280 --> 00:25:34.640 that you 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.040 missed. 00:25:36.360 --> 00:25:37.020 You sure? 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.500 I mean, 00:25:40.540 --> 00:25:40.780 would you 00:25:40.780 --> 00:25:41.340 really be out 00:25:41.340 --> 00:25:42.060 here starving 00:25:42.060 --> 00:25:42.340 in the 00:25:42.340 --> 00:25:42.620 wilderness 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:43.219 if that 00:25:43.219 --> 00:25:43.759 was true? 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:43.839 I mean, 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:48.979 it's as if 00:25:48.979 --> 00:25:49.839 here God 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:50.419 the Father 00:25:50.419 --> 00:25:51.959 is saying 00:25:51.959 --> 00:25:52.459 to his 00:25:52.459 --> 00:25:52.819 son at 00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:53.299 the outset 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:53.779 of his 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.119 public 00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:54.599 ministry, 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.199 no matter 00:25:55.199 --> 00:25:55.939 what happens, 00:25:57.639 --> 00:25:57.899 he sees 00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:58.419 you step 00:25:58.419 --> 00:25:59.099 into being 00:25:59.099 --> 00:25:59.899 that servant. 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:01.879 Don't you 00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.519 believe anything 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:02.919 else? 00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:04.919 And is 00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:05.219 that not a 00:26:05.219 --> 00:26:05.500 wonderful 00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:07.479 lesson for 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:07.940 the Christian 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:08.339 life? 00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:12.700 When the 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.440 devil so 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:14.259 often whispers 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:14.920 in our 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.400 ears, 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:16.920 you sure? 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:19.799 Again, 00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:20.259 think back to 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:20.480 the beginning 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:20.620 of the 00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:20.980 Bible story, 00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:21.779 Genesis 3, 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:22.539 the devil's 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:23.099 only got one 00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.420 play. 00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.299 You sure? 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:25.000 Did God 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.660 really say? 00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.599 Did he 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:28.480 really say 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.400 that you 00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:29.700 can be 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.200 forgiven of 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.960 all your 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.299 sins? 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:33.559 Did he 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:34.059 really say 00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.579 his love 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:36.579 is unconditional? 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.240 Nothing's 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.420 going to 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:37.960 separate you 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:38.279 from it. 00:26:38.320 --> 00:26:38.580 Are you 00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:38.860 sure? 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.140 Have you 00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:39.640 seen your 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.120 week last 00:26:40.120 --> 00:26:40.400 week? 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.620 If he did 00:26:44.620 --> 00:26:44.940 love you, 00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.220 do you not 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:45.500 think your 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:45.820 life would 00:26:45.820 --> 00:26:46.120 be a little 00:26:46.120 --> 00:26:46.740 bit easier? 00:26:47.360 --> 00:26:48.120 A cancer 00:26:48.120 --> 00:26:48.980 free life? 00:26:49.060 --> 00:26:49.320 Do you not 00:26:49.320 --> 00:26:49.800 think that you 00:26:49.800 --> 00:26:50.440 would sail 00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:51.080 through your 00:26:51.080 --> 00:26:51.600 exams? 00:26:51.820 --> 00:26:52.019 Do you not 00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:52.259 think you 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:52.740 would have 00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:53.340 no mental 00:26:53.340 --> 00:26:53.779 health 00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.140 worries? 00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:54.980 Do you not 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:55.360 think there 00:26:55.360 --> 00:26:55.880 would be no 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.420 relational 00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:57.880 difficulties in 00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:58.279 your life? 00:26:58.340 --> 00:26:58.560 Are you 00:26:58.560 --> 00:26:59.100 sure that you 00:26:59.100 --> 00:26:59.519 picked that 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:00.019 up right? 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:03.880 That's when 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:04.340 we need to 00:27:04.340 --> 00:27:07.220 remember that 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:07.839 united to 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.279 Christ, 00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.000 the Father 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:09.860 feels the 00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:10.579 exact same 00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:11.160 way about 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:13.059 us as he 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:13.420 does his 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:13.660 son. 00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:16.079 Nothing's 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:16.299 going to 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.940 separate us 00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:17.299 from his 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:17.579 love. 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:17.960 Why? 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:18.539 Because he's 00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:18.940 willing to 00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:19.480 be this 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.500 servant. 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.759 What did 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.059 he do? 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:25.980 He steps 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:26.759 into the 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:28.880 water for 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:29.220 us. 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:32.980 And in 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:33.460 this minute 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.339 he identifies 00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:35.160 with all 00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:35.460 those who 00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:35.779 would come 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.240 after him 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.500 and put 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:36.980 their faith 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.360 in him 00:27:37.360 --> 00:27:37.779 and say 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.220 I'm 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.480 with them. 00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:41.039 And of 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.420 course what 00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:41.860 is the 00:27:41.860 --> 00:27:42.519 baptism thing 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:42.819 that we 00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:44.819 do other 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.240 than us 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:45.720 declaring 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:47.559 that we 00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.920 are with 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.180 him? 00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:51.400 Yeah? 00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.000 My, 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.380 his life 00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:54.740 is my 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.100 life, 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.720 his death 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.180 is my 00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:56.559 death, 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.400 the old 00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:57.720 me has 00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:57.960 gone, 00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:58.340 the new 00:27:58.340 --> 00:27:58.740 me has 00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.059 risen, 00:27:59.240 --> 00:27:59.759 the son 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.500 has united 00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:01.420 himself to 00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:01.700 me, 00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:03.880 the father 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:04.340 loves me, 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:04.799 the spirit 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.180 is in 00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:05.480 me, 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:07.240 and my 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:08.100 plea to 00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:08.380 you this 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:08.700 morning if 00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:08.840 you've 00:28:08.840 --> 00:28:09.279 never done 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:09.700 that, 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.100 that you're 00:28:12.100 --> 00:28:12.640 missing out 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:13.120 in such a 00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:13.539 wonderful 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.500 blessing and 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.220 also it's 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:15.759 an obedience 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.440 thing that we 00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:16.920 do because 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.720 it reminds us 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.220 of a 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.920 moment when 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:20.360 this is 00:28:20.360 --> 00:28:20.700 true, 00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:22.920 when it 00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:23.400 first became 00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:23.759 true, 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:26.079 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:30.440 he has 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:30.840 totally 00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:31.200 united 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.779 himself to 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.079 us. 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:34.720 And friends, 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:35.740 we need to 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.340 know how 00:28:36.340 --> 00:28:37.000 heaven feels 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.340 in this 00:28:37.340 --> 00:28:37.640 moment. 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.200 Do you 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:39.680 know why? 00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:40.400 We're 00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:40.819 beginning to 00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:41.200 close it 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:41.400 here. 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:41.700 Do you 00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.100 know why? 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.319 Because this 00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:43.880 gospel from 00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:44.380 here on 00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:46.900 out will 00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:48.160 look anything 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:49.799 other than 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.420 victory for 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:50.720 Jesus. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:50.940 is it? 00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.380 Let me 00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:54.640 put it 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:54.980 like this. 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.039 In 2007 00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:56.539 there was 00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:59.940 an experiment 00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:00.299 that the 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:00.680 Washington 00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:01.500 Post did 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:03.360 with 00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:04.100 highly 00:29:04.100 --> 00:29:04.839 acclaimed 00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:05.579 violin 00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:06.579 player called 00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:07.420 Joshua 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:07.839 Bell. 00:29:10.819 --> 00:29:11.500 And this 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:11.980 experiment, 00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:12.339 it went 00:29:12.339 --> 00:29:12.720 something like 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:12.900 this, 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.339 they got 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:13.940 Joshua Bell 00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.380 to dress 00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:14.819 up as a 00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.200 busker. 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:17.700 And they 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.339 asked him 00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:18.799 to go and 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.339 busk at 00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:20.000 Washington, 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:20.579 D.C. 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.299 Subway. 00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.259 And he 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:24.079 busked for 00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:25.379 45 minutes. 00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:27.539 He played 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:27.960 some of the 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.759 finest classical 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.579 pieces ever 00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:30.740 composed on 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:32.059 a Stradivarius 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:33.019 violin worth, 00:29:33.159 --> 00:29:33.559 get this, 00:29:33.659 --> 00:29:34.559 3.5 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:35.599 million dollars. 00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:38.079 And only 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:39.059 a handful 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:39.679 of people 00:29:39.679 --> 00:29:40.539 stopped to 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:41.059 listen in 00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.720 that 45 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.339 minutes. 00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:43.939 A couple 00:29:43.939 --> 00:29:44.799 clapped and 00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:45.419 in the end 00:29:45.419 --> 00:29:46.179 he raised 00:29:46.179 --> 00:29:47.259 just over 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.399 30 dollars. 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:50.500 true 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.280 brilliance, 00:29:52.620 --> 00:29:53.080 utter 00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:54.200 magnificence 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.980 but hidden 00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:56.720 in plain 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.480 sight. 00:29:57.660 --> 00:29:58.120 Why does 00:29:58.120 --> 00:29:58.700 God want 00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:59.019 us to 00:29:59.019 --> 00:29:59.360 know in 00:29:59.360 --> 00:30:00.120 chapter 3? 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.060 Why does 00:30:01.060 --> 00:30:01.660 Matthew want 00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:01.920 us to 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.200 know in 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.820 chapter 3 00:30:02.820 --> 00:30:03.160 about who 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:03.560 the son 00:30:03.560 --> 00:30:04.140 really is? 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:04.860 Because this 00:30:04.860 --> 00:30:05.380 gospel from 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:05.860 here on in 00:30:05.860 --> 00:30:06.440 is not 00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:06.660 going to 00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.120 look like 00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:07.560 victory. 00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:09.880 And of 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:10.259 course the 00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:10.720 shape of 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.519 his baptism, 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:12.599 if you get 00:30:12.599 --> 00:30:14.579 this, is a 00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:15.160 prediction of 00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:15.700 the shape of 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.279 his life. 00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:18.839 From this 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:19.639 point on his 00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:20.599 earthly life 00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:21.240 will be 00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:23.019 downward 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:24.259 shaped. 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.859 His family 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.240 won't 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:27.980 understand 00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.200 him. 00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:30.599 The religious 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.220 leaders will 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.960 reject him. 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.480 Everyday 00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:34.240 people won't 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.740 get him. 00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.079 Roman 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:37.279 soldiers will 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:37.859 mock him. 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:38.799 The Roman 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.700 authorities will 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:40.619 sentence him. 00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:41.400 Roman soldiers 00:30:41.400 --> 00:30:42.040 will kill him. 00:30:45.120 --> 00:30:45.660 But as if 00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.019 God is 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.280 saying, 00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:47.480 or Matthew 00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:47.740 is saying, 00:30:47.800 --> 00:30:48.220 as you read 00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:48.759 the rest of 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.160 this, don't 00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:49.580 be fooled. 00:30:51.100 --> 00:30:51.560 What's 00:30:51.560 --> 00:30:52.080 kicking off 00:30:52.080 --> 00:30:52.460 here in 00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:53.200 chapter 3 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:55.680 is the 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:55.920 most 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.960 magnificence 00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:58.180 of rescue 00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:58.780 missions 00:30:58.780 --> 00:31:00.640 from the 00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:01.240 most willing 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:03.120 of saviors. 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:03.580 What is 00:31:03.580 --> 00:31:04.120 this that 00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:04.380 Jesus 00:31:04.380 --> 00:31:04.940 is declaring? 00:31:06.080 --> 00:31:06.460 Yeah, 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.320 I'm with 00:31:08.320 --> 00:31:08.580 them. 00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:11.299 man of 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:11.859 sorrows, 00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:12.439 what a 00:31:12.439 --> 00:31:12.720 name. 00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:14.779 For 00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:15.339 the son 00:31:15.339 --> 00:31:15.799 of God 00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.419 who came 00:31:16.419 --> 00:31:16.939 ruined 00:31:16.939 --> 00:31:17.879 sinners to 00:31:17.879 --> 00:31:18.339 reclaim. 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.019 Hallelujah. 00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:20.539 What a 00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:20.859 saviour. 00:31:20.939 --> 00:31:21.159 Let me 00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:21.439 pray. 00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:24.259 Father, we 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:24.779 just praise 00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:25.220 you for who 00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:25.819 you are here 00:31:25.819 --> 00:31:26.220 today. 00:31:27.579 --> 00:31:28.419 Lord, our 00:31:28.419 --> 00:31:30.679 finite 00:31:30.679 --> 00:31:31.639 minds cannot 00:31:31.639 --> 00:31:32.159 get our 00:31:32.159 --> 00:31:32.759 heads around 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:34.919 your true 00:31:34.919 --> 00:31:35.759 glory and 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.299 splendor. 00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:38.299 God, I 00:31:38.299 --> 00:31:38.899 just 00:31:38.899 --> 00:31:39.299 because we 00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:40.379 can't fully, 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.579 fully comprehend 00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:42.639 does not 00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:43.099 mean there's 00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:44.180 any reason 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:45.119 not to bow 00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:45.720 in reverence 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.119 and worship. 00:31:47.659 --> 00:31:48.299 Father, we 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:49.039 thank you. 00:31:49.339 --> 00:31:49.879 We praise 00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:50.839 you, Father. 00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:51.539 We praise 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.119 you, Son. 00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:52.619 We praise 00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:53.019 you, Spirit. 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:53.579 We thank 00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:53.980 you, Lord, 00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:54.399 that you 00:31:54.399 --> 00:31:54.899 are a 00:31:54.899 --> 00:31:55.460 wonderful 00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:55.879 God. 00:31:56.859 --> 00:31:57.039 And Lord, 00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:57.319 I just 00:31:57.319 --> 00:31:57.899 pray that 00:31:57.899 --> 00:31:59.639 this message 00:31:59.639 --> 00:32:00.139 would come 00:32:00.139 --> 00:32:01.059 home with 00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:02.059 the exact 00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:04.519 application 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:04.619 salvation 00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:06.139 that it 00:32:06.139 --> 00:32:06.480 needs to 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:06.859 have in 00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:07.180 each of 00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:07.639 our lives. 00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.039 Lord, maybe 00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:08.440 for some 00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:08.799 of us here 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:09.259 today, it's 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:09.660 just to 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:10.980 wake up to 00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.359 the wonder 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:11.700 of who 00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:12.200 you are. 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:12.720 There's 00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.279 nothing else 00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:13.940 worth pursuing 00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:14.259 with our 00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:14.759 lives than 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.379 knowing you. 00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:16.680 Maybe for 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.299 others, it's 00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:17.879 to know that 00:32:17.879 --> 00:32:18.700 Jesus is the 00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.220 saviour who 00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:19.980 got down into 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.379 the dirt. 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.039 He is God 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:21.660 with us, and 00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:22.019 this just 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:23.220 means he's 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:23.720 God with 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.319 us in such 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:24.920 a perfect 00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:25.460 and wonderful 00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:26.339 way, that 00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:27.119 he truly is 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:27.539 one who 00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:28.039 knows what 00:32:28.039 --> 00:32:28.539 it is. 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:30.339 And Father, 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:30.940 maybe even for 00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:31.440 some of us 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:32.059 here today, 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:33.980 this would 00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:34.259 be the 00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:35.619 morning where 00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:36.579 we grasp 00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:37.759 your 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:39.440 outrageous 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:40.039 love for 00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:41.579 us, and 00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:41.960 that we 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.460 would turn 00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:43.119 in repentance, 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:45.059 leave that 00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:45.519 old life 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:46.119 behind, say 00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:46.879 sorry for the 00:32:46.879 --> 00:32:47.460 ways that we've 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.200 offended you and 00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:48.659 lived our own 00:32:48.659 --> 00:32:49.339 way, and turn 00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:50.000 to you, the 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:50.720 giver of life. 00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.779 And may today 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:52.500 be the day 00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.639 of salvation. 00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:55.839 So Father, we 00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:56.579 thank you so 00:32:56.579 --> 00:32:57.919 much for your 00:32:57.919 --> 00:32:58.359 goodness. 00:32:59.259 --> 00:32:59.940 Thank you for 00:32:59.940 --> 00:33:00.460 your word that 00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:00.879 we have it in 00:33:00.879 --> 00:33:01.399 our language, 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:01.879 that we can 00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:02.420 pick it up 00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:02.840 and read. 00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:04.060 Lord, be with 00:33:04.060 --> 00:33:04.480 us as we 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:04.940 finish our 00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:05.480 time together, 00:33:05.560 --> 00:33:05.960 we pray. 00:33:06.080 --> 00:33:06.460 In Jesus' 00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:07.420 wonderful name 00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:07.980 we ask. 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.080 Amen.