WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.960 And if you have a Bible, can I invite you to turn to that passage that we read earlier, Luke chapter 14. 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:08.000 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:39.280 It turns out that in this passage in Luke 14, Jesus Christ has a lot to say about parties and banquets, doesn't he? 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:53.920 Jesus Christ gets to the heart of a great function, of a great get-together, of brilliant hosting and of superb guest etiquette. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:01:00.579 The Telegraph have done a list of do's and don'ts, things to not do at a party. 00:01:01.939 --> 00:01:06.560 They say do bring a bottle, but don't spend less than a tenner. 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:12.599 Do send a postcard to say thank you to the host, don't send an email. 00:01:13.939 --> 00:01:21.700 Do have a playlist, now this is my favourite, do have a playlist ready for early hours in the morning dancing in the kitchen, 00:01:21.700 --> 00:01:25.060 but don't turf your neighbours out at midnight. 00:01:25.960 --> 00:01:31.420 It's safe to say that I've failed on every single one of the Telegraph's do's and don'ts list. 00:01:32.200 --> 00:01:35.680 But the question is not as trivial as it sounds. 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:40.100 What really is at the heart of a great party? 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:44.560 Does your answer match Jesus' answer? 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:54.320 This question matters because if you notice where this passage is heading, look at verse 24 of Luke 14. 00:01:55.000 --> 00:02:00.379 Jesus breaks off from telling a parable here and he speaks to a group. 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:03.320 The U is plural here. 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:09.659 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:16.560 This whole section is teaching us something about Jesus Christ who is the host. 00:02:17.579 --> 00:02:18.939 The host of a banquet. 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:23.979 An eternal banquet to be held at the end of time. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:30.639 And so does your idea of a great banquet match with his idea of a great banquet? 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:34.519 You might be invited to his banquet. 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:39.300 But actually deep down you might not even want to be there. 00:02:39.659 --> 00:02:44.240 What he has for us I think this morning is quite cutting. 00:02:45.419 --> 00:02:55.460 He exposes our hearts when it comes to service and giving and sharing with one another in banquets. 00:02:56.460 --> 00:03:04.519 Because there is a way of serving one another that lies in the darkness of the Pharisees' hearts. 00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:14.000 Where serving and being served at a banquet for them has a distinctly unheavenly agenda. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:23.260 And to do service like the Pharisees will mean never wanting to enjoy a banquet like Jesus enjoys it. 00:03:23.259 --> 00:03:31.519 So he asks us in these three parables or stories some searching questions. 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:37.580 So the first thing, at the party, what makes a great party when you're a guest? 00:03:38.540 --> 00:03:40.879 What makes a great party when you're a guest? 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:46.579 Now if you look at the beginning of chapter 14, we're told the setting, aren't we? 00:03:47.419 --> 00:03:53.219 One Sabbath he went to dine, Jesus to dine at the house of the ruler of the Pharisees. 00:03:53.299 --> 00:03:55.120 They were watching him carefully. 00:03:55.240 --> 00:03:59.979 It's a banquet laid on by a Pharisee, one of the religious elite. 00:03:59.979 --> 00:04:04.899 Now guests love different things about parties, don't they? 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:09.939 Conversation, some will love that, some will just hate that. 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:15.339 Loud music, some will hate that and some will absolutely love that. 00:04:16.579 --> 00:04:21.740 And in the first parable, Jesus tells the group at this party in verse 7 to 11, 00:04:22.539 --> 00:04:28.019 Jesus puts his finger on what the Pharisees love about being guests at their party, doesn't he? 00:04:28.019 --> 00:04:31.799 What makes a great party for them? 00:04:33.139 --> 00:04:37.399 Well it's not particularly the food, is it, or the conversation. 00:04:38.479 --> 00:04:41.839 Really it's the status of it all. 00:04:43.579 --> 00:04:49.000 The first parable describes the social conventions of the day, 00:04:49.500 --> 00:04:53.560 where the banquet was an opportunity to climb the social ladder. 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:57.939 Guests finding the seats of honour, 00:04:58.519 --> 00:05:01.439 the sort of thing you might see on Pride and Prejudice. 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:10.160 And the enjoyment of the banquet is purely in the pride of being in the highest seats of honour at the banquet. 00:05:11.980 --> 00:05:15.980 Now what you'd have at these kind of first century banquets would be 00:05:16.579 --> 00:05:21.759 ranked seats, couches with different status attached to them. 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:25.519 And where you sat would send a message about who you were. 00:05:26.539 --> 00:05:29.839 Sitting in the high-ranked couches would say to people, 00:05:30.039 --> 00:05:30.800 I'm important. 00:05:32.180 --> 00:05:32.899 I matter. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:34.259 I'm special. 00:05:34.420 --> 00:05:34.959 Love me. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:35.719 Honour me. 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:40.079 That's what they love about the banquet, isn't it? 00:05:40.860 --> 00:05:43.339 Notice they won't wait, will they? 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:47.620 They won't wait for the host to give them honour. 00:05:47.620 --> 00:05:55.560 Jesus says there is great honour from God for those who wait for it, in verse 11. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:59.120 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, 00:05:59.879 --> 00:06:04.300 but those who humble themselves will be exalted in the end. 00:06:04.300 --> 00:06:09.980 But they assume that that honour is theirs already. 00:06:10.980 --> 00:06:15.180 And they must sit themselves down in the places of honour now. 00:06:16.139 --> 00:06:19.280 Or the feast really isn't up to much at all. 00:06:20.139 --> 00:06:23.780 They won't wait for God to exalt them. 00:06:23.779 --> 00:06:29.059 The enjoyment for them is in the pride of it. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:32.899 Blaise Pascal, the French philosopher, 00:06:33.059 --> 00:06:37.199 describes the heart of a man who cannot enjoy anything in life 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:41.239 unless he is esteemed in the enjoyment of it. 00:06:41.240 --> 00:07:06.500 Blaise Pascal is maybe not the kind of guy you'd want to hang around with. 00:07:06.660 --> 00:07:08.980 He's quite a cynical fella, really. 00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:11.900 I don't know if you agree with what he's saying there. 00:07:11.980 --> 00:07:16.420 He's saying, in other words, that the enjoyment of anything is in the pride of it. 00:07:17.480 --> 00:07:20.520 And that pride runs so deeply in us 00:07:20.520 --> 00:07:24.960 that some people can be joyful even with a hard life 00:07:24.960 --> 00:07:28.400 provided that people talk about them. 00:07:29.500 --> 00:07:33.379 Provided that they are distinguished for that suffering. 00:07:34.840 --> 00:07:38.879 Paul warns the Colossians about Christians who do that. 00:07:38.980 --> 00:07:42.740 who insist on something called asceticism. 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.620 A kind of brutal self-imposed lifestyle. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:48.379 Denying the body pleasure. 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:51.020 Bringing suffering on yourselves. 00:07:51.960 --> 00:07:54.160 Making yourself look miserable. 00:07:54.360 --> 00:07:55.420 Living a hard life. 00:07:55.780 --> 00:07:58.020 Purely for the admiration of others. 00:07:59.100 --> 00:08:02.879 The enjoyment was the pride of it for them. 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:08.600 And it's what Jesus says lies at the heart of the scribes and the Pharisees, isn't it? 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:10.719 It's just not so subtle with them. 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:15.719 Later in Luke, he says that they love greetings in the marketplaces 00:08:15.719 --> 00:08:20.019 and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at feasts. 00:08:20.019 --> 00:08:26.560 They enjoy their religion because of the pride of it. 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:31.479 They enjoy their feasts because of the pride of it. 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:36.879 And perhaps we can feel Jesus speaking to us here 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:39.860 in the dark places in our own hearts. 00:08:39.860 --> 00:08:45.340 Where the enjoyment of anything in life is just in the pride of it. 00:08:46.300 --> 00:08:49.620 The enjoyment of good grades is in the pride of it. 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:55.840 The enjoyment of my car or my house is what other people think of me and say about me. 00:08:57.300 --> 00:09:02.919 Everything is enjoyed with the proviso that we can get someone else to admire what we're enjoying. 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:07.519 I wonder where that's the whole selfie thing comes from. 00:09:07.719 --> 00:09:08.240 I don't know. 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:12.699 The enjoyment of being at the party is in being admired 00:09:12.699 --> 00:09:16.559 and we won't wait for God's exaltation at the end of time. 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:21.039 We need it now in this life to enjoy this life. 00:09:22.699 --> 00:09:28.099 And dare we say it, the enjoyment of Christianity itself is in the pride of it too. 00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:37.379 The church is a taste of that heavenly banquet that Jesus is preparing for his people, isn't it? 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:39.540 It's like the kind of warm-up do. 00:09:39.659 --> 00:09:41.960 It's like the hors d'oeuvres, isn't it? 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:45.159 On earth before the eternal banquet in heaven. 00:09:46.680 --> 00:09:50.440 So what makes this party good for you? 00:09:50.440 --> 00:10:00.000 Does your enjoyment of church and of the Christian life depend on the pride you get from it? 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:06.200 Where my enjoyment of the Christian life is in some honour that I get from others. 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:14.740 When it brings me dishonour and when I have to sit in the lowest seat in society, 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:20.360 actually all the value of my faith is suddenly empty and lost. 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:24.980 It's not worth being at the party unless I can be honoured. 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:33.200 And our earthly expectations of banquets and things like this spill out into our heavenly expectations. 00:10:34.540 --> 00:10:39.700 We will come to the gates of heaven in the same way that we come to the church. 00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:46.160 Coming perhaps with a strange sense of entitlement that God owes me honour. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:54.480 Where the enjoyment of being a Christian is in the pride of being a Presbyterian church. 00:10:55.439 --> 00:10:58.699 You owe us honour for this, Lord. 00:10:59.980 --> 00:11:03.639 We're a reformed church, doctrinally. 00:11:04.339 --> 00:11:06.639 Give us the honour, Lord. 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:12.220 We're not like those other churches who don't have two services on a Sunday. 00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:16.960 Let us sit in the high seats of honour, Lord. 00:11:18.620 --> 00:11:21.879 We assume, Lord, that the honour is for us. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:25.799 And the enjoyment of it all is simply in the pride of it. 00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:34.240 The enjoyment maybe of even being elect, of being one of God's chosen people, 00:11:35.319 --> 00:11:37.919 is actually in the feeling of being elite. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:43.259 You wonder sometimes with some conservative Christians, 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:48.899 that the enjoyment of it is purely in being more conservative than everyone else. 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:56.219 The enjoyment is in the honour we get from others that we confer on ourselves, 00:11:56.379 --> 00:11:57.579 sitting in the seats of honour. 00:11:58.959 --> 00:12:01.439 The enjoyment is in winning the argument. 00:12:02.599 --> 00:12:05.240 The enjoyment is in being more orthodox. 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:09.580 The enjoyment is in having the theological upper hand. 00:12:10.940 --> 00:12:14.399 And the question is, if we didn't have any of that, 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:17.840 when people dishonour us, 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:21.539 would we enjoy this party less? 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:25.899 If the enjoyment of it is just in the pride of it. 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:29.700 Would we be willing, with Jesus, 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:33.139 in our Christianity, to do verse 10? 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:34.159 Just look there. 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:38.159 When you're invited, go and sit in the lowest place, 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:41.319 so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:43.079 friend, move up higher. 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:47.779 If the one condition of our Christianity, 00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:50.679 of this party, was dishonour, 00:12:51.779 --> 00:12:53.379 being hated by others, 00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:56.799 sitting in the lowest places in society, 00:12:57.899 --> 00:13:00.899 associating with the lowest people in society, 00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:04.179 would we still enjoy the party? 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:09.720 If we had to gather up the crumbs under God's table, 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:12.699 would we enjoy it less? 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:17.179 To have to wait for God to say to me, 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:19.240 friend, move up higher. 00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:24.459 A good guest, it turns out, as Jesus says in his banquet, 00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:26.700 knows how to wait. 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:28.840 He knows how to wait for God to say, 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:30.200 friend, move up higher. 00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:34.600 But can we wait for that in this life? 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:37.720 Or is the enjoyment of all of this, 00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:39.720 just in the pride we get from it? 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:42.960 What makes a great party for the guests? 00:13:44.820 --> 00:13:47.659 Second, what makes a great party for the host? 00:13:49.300 --> 00:13:53.600 We've got a copy of Nigella Lawson's domestic goddess. 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:56.940 In fact, we've got a whole bookshelf of Nigella Lawson. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:58.620 If you don't know who Nigella Lawson is, 00:13:58.680 --> 00:14:00.300 she is like the, I don't know, 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:03.040 she's like the one who tells you 00:14:03.040 --> 00:14:05.420 how to run your dinner parties in the best way. 00:14:06.040 --> 00:14:07.980 And she writes this in her introduction. 00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:12.840 As the host, we don't want to feel stressed and overstretched, 00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:16.100 but like a domestic goddess, 00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:19.440 trailing nutmeggy fumes of baking 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:21.460 in our longuous wake. 00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:23.639 What does longuous even mean? 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:26.300 It's an idealistic vision, isn't it, 00:14:26.300 --> 00:14:27.460 of the perfect host, 00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:29.180 the domestic goddess, 00:14:29.780 --> 00:14:31.300 or the domestic God. 00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:34.440 But as Mary Berry said, 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:37.440 it's easier to impress someone 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:39.600 than to please someone. 00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:40.560 That's so true. 00:14:42.160 --> 00:14:43.660 Verses 12 to 14, 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:45.960 the second story, 00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:49.180 the second section of Jesus' speaking, 00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:51.519 he changes his audience, doesn't he? 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:54.699 Before he was speaking to the guests 00:14:54.699 --> 00:14:56.539 who chose the places of honour, 00:14:57.359 --> 00:14:59.539 but now he speaks to the host 00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:02.419 who chooses the guests of honour. 00:15:03.599 --> 00:15:06.659 It's the host's turn to answer that question, 00:15:07.219 --> 00:15:09.419 what makes a great party for you? 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:13.139 And the clue to his enjoyment 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:16.399 is there in verses 12 and 13, isn't it? 00:15:16.479 --> 00:15:17.979 You just flick over the page. 00:15:21.099 --> 00:15:23.339 He said to the man who'd invited him, 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:25.559 when you give a dinner or a banquet, 00:15:25.719 --> 00:15:27.839 do not invite your friends or your brothers 00:15:27.839 --> 00:15:29.659 or your relatives or rich neighbours, 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:32.159 lest they also invite you in return 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.279 and you be repaid. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:35.299 But when you give a feast, 00:15:35.439 --> 00:15:37.019 invite the poor, the crippled, 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:39.000 the lame and the blind. 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:41.600 Now just realise how shocking 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:43.819 what Jesus is saying there at this party. 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:48.319 In Greco-Roman culture at this time, 00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:51.159 banquets were not just the excuse 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.139 for a bit of fun. 00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:55.500 They were a way of getting on in life. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.480 The guest list was a sign 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:00.539 of your status in society. 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:03.659 It was a way of plugging you in 00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:04.899 to society. 00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:08.500 The position that you have 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:11.159 is to do with the people 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:12.860 that you have in your parties. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:16.659 So to get on in this life, 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:18.379 to get on in this world, 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:20.199 to get on in this time, 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:22.319 you must choose your guests carefully 00:16:22.319 --> 00:16:24.819 and you must serve selectively. 00:16:27.059 --> 00:16:28.980 So to be known as the host 00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:31.759 of a banquet full of blind people 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:34.600 or of people who are lower down 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.700 on the social scale, 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:38.039 it would just be suicide socially. 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:41.139 Jesus' command here 00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:43.139 to invite the crippled, 00:16:43.319 --> 00:16:44.319 the blind and the lame, 00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:46.659 it's just a bad life choice, 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.360 the host is thinking. 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:50.939 Don't you know, Jesus, 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:52.419 that if you want to make it 00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:53.500 in this life, 00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:55.379 you need to know the good 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:56.100 and the great. 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:58.379 You need to be respected 00:16:58.379 --> 00:16:59.180 and regarded. 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:02.159 But again, 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:03.700 notice the motivation 00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:05.460 for this outlandish 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:07.120 hosting advice from Jesus. 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:08.200 Verse 14. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:10.900 And you will be blessed 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:12.880 because they cannot repay you, 00:17:13.620 --> 00:17:15.339 for you will be repaid 00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.980 at the resurrection of the just. 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:19.980 Like the wise guest, 00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:21.240 the wise host 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:22.740 also needs to learn 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.480 to wait. 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.779 To wait for the honour 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:27.980 that God will confer on him. 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.539 But when we choose 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.940 our guests carefully, 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:34.140 when we start doing 00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:35.759 selective serving 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:36.900 of one another, 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.839 when we serve 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:39.680 the moneyed 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:40.599 or the smart 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:41.839 or the low maintenance 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.200 or the socially able, 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.839 that actually is a sign 00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:48.440 that we cannot wait. 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:50.900 that we won't wait 00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:52.360 for God's rewards. 00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:54.680 But we are like this host. 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.559 When the honour 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.660 must be now. 00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:00.180 Of that urge 00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:01.320 to serve those 00:18:01.320 --> 00:18:01.900 who we know 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:03.240 can love us back. 00:18:04.820 --> 00:18:06.440 We need rewards 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:07.519 from others now 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.519 when we do that. 00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:10.620 And when there is 00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:11.680 no prospect 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:13.640 of rewards 00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:14.420 and blessing 00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.140 from God 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:15.820 in the future, 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:16.900 if that's just not 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:17.860 on our radar, 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:19.880 then things 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:21.299 become very tight 00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:22.360 and stunted, 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:22.940 don't they, 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:24.360 in our service now. 00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:27.620 We start to do 00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:29.000 selective serving 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:31.259 and selective hosting. 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:33.860 And I think 00:18:33.860 --> 00:18:34.420 this is why 00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.180 many of us 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:36.759 refuse to accept 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:38.220 help from one another 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:40.100 and service 00:18:40.100 --> 00:18:41.059 from one another. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.600 Maybe some of us 00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:44.340 need to learn 00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:45.140 to just take 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:46.059 more responsibility 00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:47.180 for ourselves. 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:47.320 ourselves. 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:49.460 But I suspect 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.240 many of us 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.080 are shamed 00:18:51.080 --> 00:18:51.900 by having to 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:52.900 ask somebody, 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.920 I need you. 00:18:56.060 --> 00:18:57.580 I can't cope. 00:18:58.940 --> 00:19:00.180 Because we think 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:01.340 in the same mindset 00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:02.200 of the host 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:02.940 and the guests 00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:04.000 in these stories, 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.799 that if we ask 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:06.120 for that, 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:06.920 it puts us 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:08.060 in somebody else's 00:19:08.060 --> 00:19:08.519 debt 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:10.080 and I will have 00:19:10.080 --> 00:19:11.160 to repay them. 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:13.279 and our earthly 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.279 expectations 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:15.820 and our earthly 00:19:15.820 --> 00:19:16.600 ways of doing 00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:17.519 things expose 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.400 our heavenly 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.320 expectations 00:19:19.320 --> 00:19:21.759 where we start 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.519 to think of the 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.700 Lord Jesus Christ 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.720 in the same way 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.180 too. 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:27.680 We're not 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:28.600 actually sure 00:19:28.600 --> 00:19:29.440 whether God 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.440 is a giver 00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:31.320 at all. 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:33.439 we see him 00:19:33.439 --> 00:19:34.139 rather as a 00:19:34.139 --> 00:19:34.740 taker. 00:19:36.879 --> 00:19:37.679 Imagine the 00:19:37.679 --> 00:19:38.539 story of a 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.159 little girl 00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:39.939 who wakes up 00:19:39.939 --> 00:19:40.579 on Christmas 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:41.039 Day 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:42.939 and it should 00:19:42.939 --> 00:19:43.639 be a really 00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.659 exciting day, 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.259 shouldn't it? 00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:47.700 But she is 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:48.619 dreading it 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:50.659 because she 00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:51.240 knows her 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:51.939 parents are 00:19:51.939 --> 00:19:52.419 going to give 00:19:52.419 --> 00:19:53.419 her at least 00:19:53.419 --> 00:19:54.399 one present 00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:55.519 for Christmas. 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:55.759 Christmas. 00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:57.660 She goes 00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:58.339 downstairs, 00:19:58.700 --> 00:19:59.000 there's a 00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.839 Christmas cake, 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.779 there are piles 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.559 of presents, 00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:02.799 many of them 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.660 with her name 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:04.119 on them. 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.379 There are 00:20:05.379 --> 00:20:06.019 decorations, 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:06.660 there's the 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:07.139 smell of 00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:07.940 mulled wine 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.559 and turkey 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.059 in the oven 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:09.539 and her 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.039 family are 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:10.539 waiting in 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.059 the kitchen 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:12.400 with smoked 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:12.839 salmon, 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:14.319 scrambled eggs 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.960 and crispy 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:16.400 bacon. 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.559 She looks 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.379 sad though 00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:20.980 and finally 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:21.619 she breaks 00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:22.139 the awkward 00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:22.920 silence. 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:24.500 Mum, 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:25.000 Dad, 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:25.660 thank you 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:26.059 for the 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:26.539 presents, 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:27.859 thank you 00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:28.180 for the 00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:28.559 breakfast, 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:29.539 thank you 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:30.119 for Christmas 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:30.700 Day, 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:33.019 so how 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.519 much do 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:33.940 I owe 00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:34.200 you? 00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:37.160 It's often 00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:37.859 how we think 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.279 of God, 00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:38.799 isn't it? 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:40.480 We think 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.019 of him 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:41.519 as the 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.599 taking God 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:43.599 and not 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.059 the giving 00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:44.579 God. 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.579 We haven't 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.440 realised how 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.259 much he has 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:49.259 given to us 00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:50.700 today and 00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.440 we have not 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.160 learnt to 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:53.380 wait for all 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:54.200 that he will 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:54.940 give us. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:57.680 in the end. 00:20:58.640 --> 00:20:59.640 We ask 00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:00.200 God, 00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:00.880 how much 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:01.440 do I owe 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:01.779 you? 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.579 And when we 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:04.359 think God 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:05.279 runs his 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:06.160 church like 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:06.680 that, 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.079 we will 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.819 return the 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:10.140 favour to 00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:10.940 him and to 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.500 each other. 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:13.579 When serving 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.640 Jesus is 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:15.539 done just 00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.460 to be good 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.099 enough for 00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:17.500 him, 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:19.720 and serving 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.539 one another 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.359 is about 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:22.279 impressing 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.039 one another. 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.299 Serving 00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.759 Jesus is 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.599 about getting 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.619 something from 00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:29.019 him. 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:30.879 And serving 00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.559 one another 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.200 is about 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:33.539 putting people 00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:34.099 in our 00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:34.500 debt, 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.200 building up 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:36.960 favours for 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:37.680 ourselves. 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.819 When serving 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.819 Jesus is a 00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:42.660 case of I'll 00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:43.559 scratch your 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.200 back if you 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:44.899 scratch mine, 00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:45.279 Lord. 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:45.660 And we 00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:46.399 express that 00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:46.920 in different 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:47.359 ways, 00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:47.819 don't we? 00:21:48.139 --> 00:21:48.819 We express 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.680 that hopefully, 00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:51.720 Lord, I've 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.700 done so much 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.259 for you, 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.339 so surely 00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:56.059 you are going 00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.639 to give me 00:21:56.639 --> 00:21:57.319 this thing 00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:58.200 that I want. 00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:58.200 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:00.200 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:00.740 We express 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.700 it fearfully, 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:03.680 I should have 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.259 done those 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.019 things for you, 00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:07.039 Lord, and so 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.980 I'm expecting 00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:09.200 an awful 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:09.720 time. 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:12.340 We express 00:22:12.340 --> 00:22:13.660 that bitterly, 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:15.759 I did all 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.180 of those 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:16.980 things for you, 00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:17.799 Lord, and you 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.860 have not done 00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:19.720 this for me 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:21.039 that I wanted. 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.600 We think he 00:22:23.600 --> 00:22:24.340 is like us, 00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:24.860 don't we? 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.220 That he is a 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:27.220 host who serves 00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:28.059 selectively, 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.680 a host who 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.400 chooses his 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.380 guests carefully 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:32.059 so that he 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:32.920 can climb up 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.559 some kind of 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.600 pride ladder, 00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:37.200 associating only 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.880 with the great 00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:38.559 and the good. 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.120 And we imagine 00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:41.160 him like that. 00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:43.059 And when we 00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:43.819 imagine him 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:44.279 like that, 00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:45.240 we become like 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:45.900 that too. 00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:46.519 We become 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.200 tight, we 00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:48.160 become selective 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:48.759 servers. 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.880 But the question 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:51.539 we've got to 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.480 ask is, is he 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.660 really like that? 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.539 Is that true 00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:56.240 about him? 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:58.339 So thirdly 00:22:58.339 --> 00:22:58.859 and lastly, 00:22:59.120 --> 00:22:59.799 what makes a 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:00.519 great party 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.099 for Jesus 00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:01.660 Christ? 00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:03.519 What makes a 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.079 great party 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:04.640 for Jesus 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.579 Christ? 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.620 Jesus tells a 00:23:08.620 --> 00:23:09.180 parable in 00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:10.019 verses 15 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.799 to 24. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:11.000 24. 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:13.720 And we're not 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.159 going to go 00:23:14.159 --> 00:23:14.659 through it in 00:23:14.659 --> 00:23:15.440 great detail 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:15.960 now. 00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.220 But it's a 00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:17.819 parable that 00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.539 brings some 00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:19.099 of the themes 00:23:19.099 --> 00:23:19.819 of the first 00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:20.759 two sections 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.339 together. 00:23:22.659 --> 00:23:23.819 It's the story, 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.659 isn't it, of a 00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:26.319 host who invites 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.720 some guests of 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.359 honour to his 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:30.119 party, but in 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:30.839 the end he has 00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.480 to fill his 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:33.000 banquet hall to 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.879 invite the lowest 00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.940 of society, the 00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:35.399 poor, the 00:23:35.399 --> 00:23:36.000 crippled, the 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.519 lame and the 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:36.879 blind. 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:39.440 And the key 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.220 thing to notice 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:40.760 about this 00:23:40.760 --> 00:23:41.560 parable is that 00:23:41.560 --> 00:23:42.120 those who 00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:43.000 refuse the 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:45.260 invite, refuse 00:23:45.260 --> 00:23:46.200 the invitation 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.280 simply because 00:23:47.280 --> 00:23:48.620 they don't 00:23:48.620 --> 00:23:49.300 want it. 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:51.580 It's just not 00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:52.780 their idea of a 00:23:52.780 --> 00:23:53.540 great party. 00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.720 So they come up 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.380 with excuses, 00:23:56.580 --> 00:23:56.940 don't they? 00:23:57.020 --> 00:23:57.980 One, something 00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:58.740 about property, 00:23:59.040 --> 00:23:59.660 the other one, 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:02.100 oxen, the 00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:02.600 other one's 00:24:02.600 --> 00:24:03.280 sorting his 00:24:03.280 --> 00:24:04.040 wedding out. 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:06.180 thanks but 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:07.039 no thanks, 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:07.539 Jesus. 00:24:09.399 --> 00:24:10.059 They are 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:11.099 effectively saying 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:11.779 to the host, 00:24:11.879 --> 00:24:12.180 aren't they, 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.559 that I've got 00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.440 the invitation but 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.559 the party just 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.579 wouldn't be worth 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.339 my while. 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.279 I've got better 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.240 things to do. 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:22.220 On the social 00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:23.220 calendar, the way 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:23.899 that we do 00:24:23.899 --> 00:24:25.519 parties, Mr. 00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:27.639 Host, is that 00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.420 we need to get 00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:29.180 something out of 00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:29.779 it now. 00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:32.819 And on the 00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.639 social calendar, 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.840 this party is 00:24:34.840 --> 00:24:35.920 not important to 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.560 me now. 00:24:37.520 --> 00:24:38.259 And all three 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:38.920 of them vote 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.740 with their feet, 00:24:39.840 --> 00:24:40.300 don't they? 00:24:40.540 --> 00:24:41.259 It seems like 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.340 this host is no 00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:43.160 longer socially 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.860 acceptable. 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:46.180 His seats of 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:46.980 honour are not 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:48.100 good enough for 00:24:48.100 --> 00:24:48.740 them now. 00:24:49.780 --> 00:24:50.620 They've got better 00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:51.220 things to do 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:51.620 now. 00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:54.880 Associating with 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:55.740 this host will 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:57.300 mean dishonour 00:24:57.300 --> 00:24:57.940 rather than 00:24:57.940 --> 00:24:58.840 honour now. 00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:00.800 Because the 00:25:00.800 --> 00:25:01.660 enjoyment of it 00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:02.380 maybe is in the 00:25:02.380 --> 00:25:03.060 pride of it and 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.759 nothing more. 00:25:05.659 --> 00:25:06.259 And this is the 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.139 problem for so 00:25:07.139 --> 00:25:08.159 many who get an 00:25:08.159 --> 00:25:09.079 invitation to 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:10.179 Jesus' banquet 00:25:10.179 --> 00:25:12.839 that our ideas 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:13.779 of a great party 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:15.019 don't match his. 00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:17.679 They have decided 00:25:17.679 --> 00:25:18.899 to receive Jesus' 00:25:19.159 --> 00:25:19.940 gifts in this 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:21.399 life but think of 00:25:21.399 --> 00:25:22.359 him as a bore. 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.339 They see him as 00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:25.659 socially unacceptable, 00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:27.079 as an oddball in 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:27.720 this world. 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:27.860 world. 00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:30.180 He is no way to 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:31.019 climb the ladder 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:32.240 in this world 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.799 now. 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.759 He is no way to 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:36.000 find honour now. 00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.039 And they won't 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:40.059 wait for honour 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:40.559 that is going to 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:41.200 come later. 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.559 And so life on 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:45.019 earth as they see 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:46.420 it, although it is 00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:48.180 not perfect, is 00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:48.759 enough. 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:51.779 Eternal life at 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.740 Jesus' banquet, 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.799 they know, without 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:55.299 even tasting it, 00:25:55.659 --> 00:25:56.440 wouldn't please 00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:56.819 them. 00:25:58.619 --> 00:25:59.319 And this is the 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.119 whole point of the 00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:01.259 three banquets, that 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.319 those who should be 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:03.200 at the banquet are 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.500 those who enter in 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.819 simply because they 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:07.019 want it. 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:09.379 They want to. 00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:11.900 And this is how 00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:13.040 Jesus runs his 00:26:13.040 --> 00:26:15.000 banquet, with 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.580 guests who want 00:26:16.580 --> 00:26:19.180 him and the 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.000 honour that he 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:21.140 will give to his 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.060 guests in the 00:26:22.060 --> 00:26:22.440 end. 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.700 To sit in the 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:28.160 low seats now 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:28.940 is not a 00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:29.460 problem. 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.980 With a host who 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:33.860 invites those who 00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:34.840 have nothing to 00:26:34.840 --> 00:26:35.500 give him in 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.060 return. 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.560 It's not an 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:39.659 I'll scratch you 00:26:39.659 --> 00:26:40.299 back and I'll 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:42.079 scratch your back 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:42.720 and I'll scratch 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:44.599 my back, I'll 00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:45.319 scratch your back 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:45.679 thing. 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:48.460 But a great party 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.319 for Jesus is 00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:50.200 filled with people 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:51.259 who love it simply 00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:52.019 because they're 00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:52.859 there. 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.279 And they would be 00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:55.119 happy to eat the 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:55.859 crumbs under the 00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:56.240 table. 00:26:57.899 --> 00:26:58.720 And he is a 00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.759 great host. 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.899 And his parties 00:27:01.899 --> 00:27:02.960 are so great 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.240 because he expects 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.159 no payment. 00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:08.860 The story goes 00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:09.500 of Captain 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.759 Jerry Lind and 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.840 navigator Major 00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:13.040 David Maguire 00:27:13.040 --> 00:27:14.820 who'd been on a 00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:15.820 routine training 00:27:15.820 --> 00:27:16.800 flight near a 00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:17.259 base in 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:18.060 Oxfordshire. 00:27:19.060 --> 00:27:20.240 As they came 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.060 back to base 00:27:21.060 --> 00:27:21.880 though, their 00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:23.180 plane suffered a 00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:24.279 massive hydraulics 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:24.700 failure. 00:27:26.040 --> 00:27:26.600 And they had 00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:27.300 very little 00:27:27.300 --> 00:27:27.900 control. 00:27:28.840 --> 00:27:29.700 The operations 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.900 tower was telling 00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:31.500 them over the 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.720 radio to eject. 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:34.900 But they knew 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.880 that ejecting 00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:36.460 would mean 00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:37.299 crashing the 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:38.259 plane into a 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:39.220 nearby village. 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.400 So Captain 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:42.319 Lind and Major 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:43.200 Maguire chose 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:43.920 to stay at the 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:45.500 controls to 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.299 steer the plane 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:47.240 clear of the 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:47.660 village. 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.079 They just 00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:49.640 managed to 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:50.220 avoid it. 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.759 But by that 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.360 point it was 00:27:52.360 --> 00:27:53.160 too late to 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:53.620 eject. 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.000 And they were 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.779 both killed in 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.339 the crash. 00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.920 Now it wasn't 00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:00.140 their fault that 00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:00.779 the plane had 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:01.740 broken, was it? 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.539 And they 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.519 didn't owe 00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:05.279 those people 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.819 anything. 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:06.880 They could have 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:07.460 ejected. 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:10.240 They paid 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.079 with their 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:11.880 lives without 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:13.000 expecting any 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.759 payment in 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.240 return. 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.740 And this is 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.440 what Jesus 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.299 loves about 00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:19.039 hosting at 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.720 his banquet. 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.600 The joy he 00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:23.200 gets from 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:24.140 serving the 00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:26.460 lowest, from 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.519 serving sinners 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.200 who cannot 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:30.400 repay him, and 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.339 who wait for 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:32.539 God's reward. 00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:34.799 Of being able 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:35.599 to invite the 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.720 worst of 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.419 sinners to 00:28:37.419 --> 00:28:38.179 his banquet, 00:28:39.179 --> 00:28:40.099 despite the 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:40.959 dishonour they 00:28:40.959 --> 00:28:41.759 might bring to 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:43.259 him, and the 00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:44.439 associations he 00:28:44.439 --> 00:28:45.459 has with them, 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:47.099 and of being 00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:47.919 willing to call 00:28:47.919 --> 00:28:49.099 people like that 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:50.199 my brothers and 00:28:50.199 --> 00:28:50.859 my sisters. 00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:54.699 Because he 00:28:54.699 --> 00:28:56.679 says, I can 00:28:56.679 --> 00:28:58.779 wait for the 00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.599 honour that is 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.359 due to me. 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.799 I can wait for 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:04.199 God's exaltation, 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:04.819 for God's 00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:05.399 reward. 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:08.179 Now we're 00:29:08.179 --> 00:29:08.759 almost finished, 00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.439 but I just want 00:29:09.439 --> 00:29:10.219 you to see that 00:29:10.219 --> 00:29:11.199 this part of 00:29:11.199 --> 00:29:12.519 Luke's gospel is 00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:13.659 in a big middle 00:29:13.659 --> 00:29:15.279 section where 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.480 Jesus journeys 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:18.079 towards Jerusalem. 00:29:19.199 --> 00:29:20.539 And we call 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.539 this the travel 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:22.779 narrative section 00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.740 of Luke's gospel. 00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:25.039 And the journey 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:26.199 starts back in the 00:29:26.199 --> 00:29:26.799 end of chapter 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.339 nine. 00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:28.240 Please turn 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:28.599 there. 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:29.980 Chapter nine 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:31.000 verse 51. 00:29:32.619 --> 00:29:33.199 And here's the 00:29:33.199 --> 00:29:33.859 beginning of the 00:29:33.859 --> 00:29:34.279 journey. 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:36.539 When the days 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.299 drew near for 00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:37.759 him to be 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.519 taken up, he 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.480 set his face 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:40.299 to go to 00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:40.899 Jerusalem. 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:43.079 So he's on 00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:43.599 his way to 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:44.419 Jerusalem, isn't 00:29:44.419 --> 00:29:44.740 he? 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:47.119 And this is the 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:47.759 journey to 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.259 Jerusalem. 00:29:49.179 --> 00:29:49.839 But I've only 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.639 just seen this 00:29:50.639 --> 00:29:51.459 until recently, 00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:51.939 and I can't 00:29:51.939 --> 00:29:52.379 believe I've 00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:52.879 missed this 00:29:52.879 --> 00:29:53.859 until now. 00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:55.479 the journey 00:29:55.479 --> 00:29:56.619 to Jerusalem, 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.659 Jerusalem is 00:29:57.659 --> 00:29:58.419 actually only 00:29:58.419 --> 00:29:59.979 a stop off. 00:30:00.979 --> 00:30:01.459 It's kind of 00:30:01.459 --> 00:30:02.599 like he's 00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:03.759 visiting Jerusalem, 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.419 but that's not 00:30:05.419 --> 00:30:06.759 the destination 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.339 that he's 00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:08.059 heading for. 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.919 Look at that 00:30:09.919 --> 00:30:10.759 verse again. 00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:13.119 When the days 00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:13.979 drew near for 00:30:13.979 --> 00:30:14.719 him to be 00:30:14.719 --> 00:30:16.079 taken up, 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:18.240 he set his 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.899 face to go 00:30:18.899 --> 00:30:19.839 to Jerusalem. 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:22.939 He goes to 00:30:22.939 --> 00:30:24.339 Jerusalem, and 00:30:24.339 --> 00:30:25.199 yet his 00:30:25.199 --> 00:30:26.539 journey is to 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:28.379 heaven, isn't 00:30:28.379 --> 00:30:29.179 it, in his 00:30:29.179 --> 00:30:29.879 ascension. 00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:32.299 So he goes to 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.559 Jerusalem to be 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.599 killed by those 00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:35.639 who should give 00:30:35.639 --> 00:30:36.299 him honour, 00:30:37.699 --> 00:30:38.759 because he 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.139 knows heaven is 00:30:40.139 --> 00:30:40.519 coming. 00:30:41.679 --> 00:30:42.519 He goes to 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.539 Jerusalem to 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:44.619 associate himself 00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:45.439 with the lowest 00:30:45.439 --> 00:30:46.419 in society, 00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:48.079 upon a cross. 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:50.240 and he says, 00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:51.539 I can wait 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:53.319 for heaven, 00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:54.899 for my 00:30:54.899 --> 00:30:55.899 exaltation 00:30:55.899 --> 00:30:56.399 there. 00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.720 He goes to 00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.379 Jerusalem to 00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:00.419 be spat on, 00:31:01.439 --> 00:31:01.919 saying, 00:31:02.199 --> 00:31:03.359 I can wait. 00:31:04.439 --> 00:31:05.279 He goes to 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:06.019 Jerusalem to 00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:06.899 be slapped, 00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:08.319 saying, 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.399 I can wait. 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.679 He goes there 00:31:11.679 --> 00:31:12.480 to face the 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:12.939 ultimate 00:31:12.939 --> 00:31:13.839 dishonour 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:14.919 upon the 00:31:14.919 --> 00:31:15.299 cross, 00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:17.399 knowing that 00:31:17.399 --> 00:31:18.279 he can wait. 00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:19.419 He takes the 00:31:19.419 --> 00:31:20.399 lowest seat, 00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:22.099 and dies a 00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:22.919 sinner's death, 00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:23.619 looking to 00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:23.960 heaven, 00:31:24.139 --> 00:31:24.919 looking for 00:31:24.919 --> 00:31:25.819 the reward 00:31:25.819 --> 00:31:26.839 that the 00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:27.359 father will 00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:28.039 give him. 00:31:29.139 --> 00:31:30.200 Saying all 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:30.639 along, 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.980 I can wait, 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:33.299 I can wait. 00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:35.899 For any 00:31:35.899 --> 00:31:36.599 true king, 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.319 if Jerusalem 00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:38.079 was his 00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:39.139 final destination, 00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:39.940 his banquet 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:41.359 would have the 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:42.259 great and the 00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:42.899 good there, 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.460 wouldn't it? 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:44.799 it would have 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:45.079 to be 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:45.819 sumptuous, 00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:46.440 it would be 00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:46.860 with the 00:31:46.860 --> 00:31:47.579 elite of 00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:48.180 society, 00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:49.940 his last 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.319 meal, 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:51.240 something really 00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:51.900 special, 00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:53.880 maybe finish 00:31:53.880 --> 00:31:54.400 it off with 00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:54.819 a great 00:31:54.819 --> 00:31:55.480 speech, 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:56.880 and as 00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:57.799 much honour 00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.480 as possible 00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:58.920 in that 00:31:58.920 --> 00:31:59.440 moment, 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:00.079 before he 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:00.579 died, 00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:01.700 with a 00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.079 lavish 00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:02.940 funeral, 00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:04.000 and accolades 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.980 from the 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.640 best in the 00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:06.059 temple. 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.180 But he 00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:08.860 wasn't looking 00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:09.840 to Jerusalem, 00:32:10.100 --> 00:32:10.519 he was 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:11.559 looking beyond 00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:11.920 that, 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.539 wasn't he? 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:14.299 And he 00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:15.259 could wait 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:16.740 for the 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.500 rewards and 00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:18.440 the exaltation 00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:18.819 that would 00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.220 come. 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.600 And as we 00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:22.180 come to 00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:23.299 this humble 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:23.779 meal, 00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.500 and as we 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:25.880 are at 00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:26.759 this humble 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:28.680 party of 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:29.519 the church, 00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:31.600 we need to 00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:32.600 align our 00:32:32.600 --> 00:32:33.500 expectations 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:35.240 and our 00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:36.039 desires of 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.460 what a 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:37.319 great party 00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:38.039 is, 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.420 with what 00:32:39.420 --> 00:32:40.340 Jesus says 00:32:40.340 --> 00:32:40.840 a great 00:32:40.840 --> 00:32:41.880 party is. 00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:43.620 to be 00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.440 served by 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:45.060 a man 00:32:45.060 --> 00:32:45.620 who was 00:32:45.620 --> 00:32:46.360 rejected 00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:48.100 and thought 00:32:48.100 --> 00:32:48.580 of a 00:32:48.580 --> 00:32:49.220 bore and 00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.740 is still 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:50.880 hated today, 00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:52.740 and to 00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.400 eat with 00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:53.960 him and 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:54.540 associate 00:32:54.540 --> 00:32:55.420 with him 00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:55.900 in the 00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:56.240 lowest 00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:57.040 places in 00:32:57.040 --> 00:32:57.600 society. 00:32:58.960 --> 00:32:59.800 But if 00:32:59.800 --> 00:33:00.380 we will 00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:02.080 come and 00:33:02.080 --> 00:33:02.720 sit with 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.660 Jesus and 00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:05.700 serve, 00:33:06.040 --> 00:33:07.300 not selectively, 00:33:07.299 --> 00:33:09.099 but serving 00:33:09.099 --> 00:33:09.980 the lowest, 00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:12.839 knowing that 00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:13.879 we can wait 00:33:13.879 --> 00:33:14.419 for the 00:33:14.419 --> 00:33:15.379 exaltation 00:33:15.379 --> 00:33:15.879 that we 00:33:15.879 --> 00:33:16.680 will have 00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:17.839 when Jesus 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:18.539 returns. 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.419 As we 00:33:20.419 --> 00:33:21.000 eat this 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:22.419 meal this 00:33:22.419 --> 00:33:22.980 morning, 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.899 we will 00:33:24.899 --> 00:33:25.740 enjoy this 00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:26.720 banquet and 00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:27.319 we will 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:28.119 hear those 00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:28.779 words, 00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:30.559 Jesus saying 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:31.079 to us, 00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:31.659 friend, 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.319 move up 00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:33.759 higher. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:35.879 As we 00:33:35.879 --> 00:33:36.240 eat this 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.019 meal together 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:37.539 and as we 00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.420 worship God 00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:38.839 in the 00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:39.259 church, 00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:39.799 and as we 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.259 live the 00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:40.619 Christian 00:33:40.619 --> 00:33:41.119 life, 00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:42.039 and as we 00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:42.640 stand for 00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:43.200 the truth 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.220 in our 00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:44.900 workplaces, 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:45.359 in our 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:45.720 homes, 00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:46.140 in our 00:33:46.140 --> 00:33:46.579 families, 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:47.240 no one 00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:47.740 will think 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.079 we are 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:48.480 honoured, 00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:49.879 will they? 00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:50.339 No one 00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:50.759 will think 00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.059 we are 00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:51.579 special. 00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:52.940 A little 00:33:52.940 --> 00:33:53.440 piece of 00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:53.940 bread and 00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:54.660 some wine, 00:33:54.920 --> 00:33:55.379 no one 00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:55.839 will say 00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:56.240 that's what 00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:56.619 I call 00:33:56.619 --> 00:33:56.940 a great 00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:57.379 party. 00:33:58.759 --> 00:33:59.420 But the 00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:00.299 enjoyment of 00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:01.059 this meal 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:01.920 is not in 00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:02.660 the pride of 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:03.259 it now, 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.839 but in 00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:05.740 simply being 00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:06.519 here with 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:06.980 Jesus, 00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:09.000 sitting with 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.400 him, 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:11.079 and waiting 00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.780 for him 00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:12.340 to say, 00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:12.920 friend, 00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:13.780 move up 00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:14.579 higher in 00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:15.159 the end. 00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:17.639 And that 00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:17.960 will be 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.440 hard, 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.079 won't it, 00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.340 in our 00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:20.739 lives, 00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:21.019 in our 00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:21.380 everyday 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.079 lives. 00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:23.960 But taste 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.800 this meal 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:25.699 now and 00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:26.340 know, 00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:27.840 and hear 00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:28.800 our host 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:29.599 saying, 00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:30.800 it is 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:31.559 worth the 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:31.920 wait. 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:34.200 those who 00:34:34.200 --> 00:34:34.680 exalt 00:34:34.680 --> 00:34:35.260 themselves 00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:35.700 will be 00:34:35.700 --> 00:34:36.139 humbled, 00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:37.659 but those 00:34:37.659 --> 00:34:38.340 who humble 00:34:38.340 --> 00:34:39.240 themselves 00:34:39.240 --> 00:34:40.280 following 00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:40.840 Christ 00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:41.300 will be 00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:41.760 exalted. 00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:42.780 Let's 00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.460 pray together.