WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.219 Father, we confess before you that we're not always aware of what's going on inside of us. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:07.740 We don't always recognize when we're anxious. 00:00:08.419 --> 00:00:10.779 We don't always recognize when we're afraid. 00:00:11.700 --> 00:00:17.219 Father, we confess before you that some of our fears and some of our anxieties are just 00:00:17.219 --> 00:00:22.300 almost like part of who we are, and we don't even recognize it at all about us. 00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:23.800 We're just blind about it. 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:28.879 Father, we're so glad that we have this opportunity to be in your presence, 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:35.719 together as your people and your children, those who are Christians and choirs and all sorts and 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:39.960 conditions, but that we get to be together in your presence, in the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:00:40.739 --> 00:00:46.899 to hear your word, and we give you thanks and praise, Father, that your word is a gentle mirror 00:00:46.899 --> 00:00:52.820 that you hold up to us so that we can begin to understand who we really are, who we really are 00:00:52.820 --> 00:00:57.759 in the real world where you're God, and that you provide a means by which we have a bit of a window 00:00:57.759 --> 00:00:58.719 to know you better. 00:00:59.699 --> 00:01:04.859 And so, Father, we ask that you would be very continuously kind and gentle with us and pour 00:01:04.859 --> 00:01:09.039 out the Holy Spirit upon us, that we might be in your presence and receive from your word 00:01:09.039 --> 00:01:10.640 and respond in a worthy manner. 00:01:11.299 --> 00:01:15.099 And, Father, we are so grateful that you desire for us to be free in Christ. 00:01:15.700 --> 00:01:19.180 And these things we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. 00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:19.939 Amen. 00:01:20.739 --> 00:01:21.599 Please be seated. 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:31.039 So, I don't want to freak people out or weird people out, but I'm going to ask for your special 00:01:31.039 --> 00:01:32.519 prayers for me this week. 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:39.599 Bishop Charlie, who's with us, he can clearly bear testimony or witness to this, is that often 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:45.899 when a person's going to preach on a particular Bible text, it's not unusual for aspects connected 00:01:45.899 --> 00:01:49.000 to that text to sort of affect you during the week. 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:53.420 Probably in heaven, one of the things that God will do, and we'll all have a great laugh 00:01:53.420 --> 00:01:57.500 over it, is he'll point out all those different things that he put on in your week that you 00:01:57.500 --> 00:01:58.900 just missed. 00:01:59.140 --> 00:02:02.760 You know, it was an opportunity to reflect upon the word in a deeper and better way. 00:02:03.420 --> 00:02:04.739 But sometimes it's very obvious. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:08.120 So, I'm asking you all of this because next week I'm going to speak about demons. 00:02:09.180 --> 00:02:15.159 I'm going to speak about the very famous text of Jesus casting out a legion of demons from 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:16.180 the Gadarene demoniac. 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:21.780 And in times before when I've spoken on demonic things, I've had a bit of extra trouble throughout 00:02:21.780 --> 00:02:24.819 the week because demons don't like to be unveiled. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:27.139 They don't like to be outed. 00:02:27.579 --> 00:02:31.680 So, if you could just pray for me a little bit this coming week as I'm preparing, that 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:32.240 would be very good. 00:02:32.259 --> 00:02:35.680 I'm not afraid of them or anything, but I just know that they're going to probably mess with 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:36.519 me more than usual. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:38.960 And so, I'd appreciate your prayer. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:42.240 And it also fits into what we're going to look at today. 00:02:42.980 --> 00:02:46.600 And I'm not the sharpest tack in the... 00:02:46.600 --> 00:02:48.439 I'm not the sharpest pin in the pin cushion. 00:02:48.920 --> 00:02:51.500 And I'm not the sharpest tack on the bulletin board. 00:02:52.100 --> 00:02:54.680 And probably there were a lot of various things that happened. 00:02:54.820 --> 00:02:55.420 But I... 00:02:55.420 --> 00:02:56.319 This week I had a... 00:02:56.319 --> 00:02:57.200 I had a... 00:02:57.200 --> 00:02:59.800 I had a phone call that I had to do. 00:03:00.420 --> 00:03:02.020 And I started... 00:03:02.020 --> 00:03:03.319 I was anxious about it. 00:03:03.340 --> 00:03:05.500 I was a bit afraid about the phone call that I had to do. 00:03:06.060 --> 00:03:06.580 And it... 00:03:06.580 --> 00:03:07.920 I'm so clueless. 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:11.319 Here I am looking at a text about fear. 00:03:11.979 --> 00:03:12.579 And it sort of... 00:03:12.579 --> 00:03:14.019 It took me a while before I... 00:03:14.019 --> 00:03:15.639 And all of a sudden it was as if the Holy Spirit said, 00:03:15.859 --> 00:03:18.519 George, you're talking about fear. 00:03:18.779 --> 00:03:21.060 And you have fear about this phone call. 00:03:21.139 --> 00:03:25.759 Like maybe there's supposed to be something going along connected to these two things. 00:03:26.179 --> 00:03:30.299 And then I realized just how profoundly helpful the text of Scripture was. 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:34.299 And so we're going to look at fear today. 00:03:34.519 --> 00:03:35.399 Being afraid. 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:37.400 And... 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:39.200 You know, we're human beings. 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:40.460 All human beings have fears. 00:03:40.640 --> 00:03:42.879 But we live in an age of fear right now. 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:45.780 The newspapers and the media are stoking fears. 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:47.680 Fear sells. 00:03:49.040 --> 00:03:50.099 They don't want to have a thing. 00:03:50.180 --> 00:03:52.860 By the way, this is all going to be normal in about a month. 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:53.280 No. 00:03:53.420 --> 00:03:58.120 They want to make it look like there's going to be 23 more viruses and 56 more interventions. 00:03:58.280 --> 00:03:58.680 Or who knows. 00:03:58.740 --> 00:03:59.500 Maybe there will be. 00:03:59.520 --> 00:03:59.879 I don't know. 00:03:59.879 --> 00:04:02.560 But we live in an era that stokes fear. 00:04:03.139 --> 00:04:05.819 We live in an era that stokes political fear. 00:04:06.359 --> 00:04:11.919 That if you vote for this other party, basically the entire world will come to an end almost. 00:04:12.539 --> 00:04:13.939 And that's just on one level. 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:18.420 This overarching fear which is part of our world and that many people have. 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:22.839 And many of us have been in context where you can cut the anxiety or the fear with a knife. 00:04:22.839 --> 00:04:26.139 But that's separate from just the other fears that we all have. 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:30.259 We get worried about having to have that conversation with our boss. 00:04:30.339 --> 00:04:32.299 Or the conversation with our spouse. 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:34.079 Or the conversation with our neighbor. 00:04:34.539 --> 00:04:37.639 We're worried about looking at our bank statement when it comes in. 00:04:37.699 --> 00:04:40.500 Because we're very concerned and fearful about our finances. 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:43.259 We're concerned about going to see the doctor. 00:04:43.379 --> 00:04:46.839 Or waiting to hear what the doctor is going to say about the medical prognosis. 00:04:47.099 --> 00:04:50.000 Where we're living in fear because we heard the prognosis. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:52.519 And it struck us in a very, very powerful way. 00:04:52.680 --> 00:04:53.699 And we are filled with fear. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:58.980 And so given that fear is such a common part of the human experience. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:04.660 The Bible here today, the text that we have is a very profound and deep reflection upon fear. 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:08.019 And for Christians it's a profound reminder. 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:10.519 And for those outside the faith. 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:17.839 It will give you a bit of a window into why it is that the gospel is so emotionally satisfying and important. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:20.459 So if you would turn with me in your Bibles. 00:05:20.679 --> 00:05:23.879 It's Mark chapter 4 verses 35 to 41. 00:05:24.719 --> 00:05:27.119 And we're preaching through the book of Mark. 00:05:27.639 --> 00:05:29.719 And this is the story that we come to today. 00:05:30.179 --> 00:05:31.739 And so it's just whatever that is. 00:05:31.799 --> 00:05:32.439 Seven verses. 00:05:32.739 --> 00:05:35.919 But it's a very compact story. 00:05:36.239 --> 00:05:38.479 With lots of details that are very important. 00:05:38.559 --> 00:05:39.500 And here's how it goes. 00:05:39.500 --> 00:05:43.220 On that day when evening had come. 00:05:43.339 --> 00:05:44.240 He said to them. 00:05:44.420 --> 00:05:46.240 Let us go across to the other side. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:48.500 Now just pause there for a second. 00:05:48.779 --> 00:05:51.660 This is going to become more important as the story progresses. 00:05:51.660 --> 00:05:55.839 But what you want to notice here is that Jesus is driving the action. 00:05:56.699 --> 00:05:59.839 We don't know whether or not he knew that there was going to be a big storm. 00:05:59.980 --> 00:06:01.899 We don't know some of those details. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:04.100 But he's driving the action. 00:06:04.100 --> 00:06:09.439 It wasn't as if the apostles all said let's go out for a boat trip and catch a few fish. 00:06:09.520 --> 00:06:10.379 And then a storm happens. 00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:11.660 Jesus drives the action. 00:06:11.740 --> 00:06:13.520 They probably would have just stayed on the shore. 00:06:14.220 --> 00:06:15.000 And we'll find out a little. 00:06:15.080 --> 00:06:17.600 I mentioned a little bit in the sermon partly why he wants to go across. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:18.980 But he's driving the action. 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:21.660 And then in verse 36 it says this. 00:06:22.540 --> 00:06:26.560 And leaving the crowd they took him with them in the boat. 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:29.160 Sorry I moved my hand and I lost my place. 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:35.320 And leaving the crowd they took him with them in the boat just as he was. 00:06:35.900 --> 00:06:37.280 And the other boats were with him. 00:06:38.080 --> 00:06:39.320 And I want to pause on this as well. 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:42.420 This is actually another very important little detail in the story. 00:06:46.060 --> 00:06:49.620 What's happening here is that Jesus is... 00:06:49.620 --> 00:06:52.700 Mark is saying that there's witnesses to the miracle. 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:57.580 Now just back up a little bit about something else as well. 00:06:57.579 --> 00:06:59.839 When I was in the Anglican Church of Canada, 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:05.800 very, very many people and many clergy loved this story. 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:08.579 I would often hear clergy talk about it. 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:15.860 And they loved it because of this very, very basic image of how you can be afraid and Jesus is with you. 00:07:16.299 --> 00:07:17.360 You just got to wake him up. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:18.759 That would often be a little bit of a joke. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:20.079 Jesus is already with you. 00:07:20.099 --> 00:07:21.120 You just got to wake him up. 00:07:21.819 --> 00:07:26.579 But the interesting thing is that most of the clergy probably didn't believe it actually happened. 00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:30.219 They saw it just as a very, very powerful story. 00:07:30.339 --> 00:07:31.459 Very powerful image. 00:07:31.539 --> 00:07:32.680 And it is a powerful story. 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:33.859 And it is a powerful image. 00:07:34.539 --> 00:07:36.579 However, if it didn't happen... 00:07:37.219 --> 00:07:41.479 Well, then it sort of doesn't make any sense actually. 00:07:42.539 --> 00:07:44.019 They treat it like a parable. 00:07:44.339 --> 00:07:48.299 But the thing is that what Mark is trying to communicate to you is that this really happened. 00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:54.060 Mark understands the difference between a parable and telling you about something that really happened. 00:07:54.060 --> 00:08:00.379 In fact, if you go back later on and look, you'll see that just before this, Mark is told a variety of parables. 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:04.220 But now he switches and he uses a different type of language. 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:08.459 He's using the language of reporting something that actually took place in time. 00:08:09.019 --> 00:08:15.100 And even though the other boats won't necessarily have heard Jesus say his words, peace be still, 00:08:15.100 --> 00:08:20.280 they all are going to be out in the water when they see something which just gobsmacks them. 00:08:21.400 --> 00:08:23.960 Something that is completely and utterly impossible. 00:08:25.080 --> 00:08:29.580 They're all going to experience very directly going, what on earth happened? 00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:31.220 Like that's completely impossible. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:37.279 And so what Mark is signaling here when he tells us is that when he writes his gospel, this biography of Jesus, 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:41.720 he's writing at a time when there's still many, many eyewitnesses and earwitnesses to Jesus. 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:47.660 And he's actually in a sense providing you, for those who are inquirers, those who are skeptics, those who have questions, 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:52.440 he's saying to you, travel back to this region of Galilee, go to this region. 00:08:52.540 --> 00:08:57.019 There were lots of other people out in boats on this particular night and they all experienced it. 00:08:57.379 --> 00:08:59.100 Check it out. It really happened. 00:08:59.720 --> 00:09:02.060 He's trying to communicate that this happened. 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:04.940 Let's continue on in the story. 00:09:05.220 --> 00:09:05.940 Verse 37. 00:09:05.940 --> 00:09:24.960 Now just a couple of things about this. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:33.980 Back in my previous church, I had a fellow in the congregation. 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:36.740 I'll call him Bob because I call all the men Bob and all the women Sue. 00:09:37.180 --> 00:09:40.480 We'll call him Bob, but he'd been in the Navy for 30 years. 00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:44.740 And after he'd been in the Navy, he'd just been retired for a few years, 00:09:44.820 --> 00:09:46.180 but he'd been in the Navy for 30 years. 00:09:46.300 --> 00:09:48.400 And he was an adult convert to the Christian faith. 00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:50.759 I think he was in his early 50s when he became a Christian. 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:53.940 He ends up coming into our church and I'm doing a Bible study with him. 00:09:53.940 --> 00:09:56.700 And this was one of the texts that we looked at. 00:09:56.940 --> 00:09:58.700 And I'll never forget what he said. 00:09:59.160 --> 00:10:02.220 He said, George, when I first heard this story as a Christian, 00:10:02.880 --> 00:10:06.540 it was a bit of a crisis of faith for me because I didn't believe that it was true. 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:08.980 That sort of took me a bit back. 00:10:09.780 --> 00:10:12.740 He said, nobody could be in a big storm and stay asleep like that. 00:10:14.680 --> 00:10:17.160 Anybody who thinks you could has never been in a big storm. 00:10:18.540 --> 00:10:20.380 Like, George, have you ever been in a big storm? 00:10:20.920 --> 00:10:21.920 Well, no, I hadn't. 00:10:21.920 --> 00:10:23.480 He said, I've been in big storms. 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:25.260 Nobody could stay asleep. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:28.240 And he said it really troubled him for a while. 00:10:28.300 --> 00:10:30.260 And then he was reflecting upon it and praying about it. 00:10:30.280 --> 00:10:33.660 And he realized, this is, I'm just telling you what he said because I've never been in a big storm. 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:36.540 He said, George, there's a miracle within the miracle. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:39.780 And the miracle is that he was asleep. 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:42.160 And he was not saying that to dismiss it. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:47.100 But he said, I just, that's what I started to come to after having been in many storms. 00:10:47.539 --> 00:10:57.459 And looking at this text, I realized God gave him the gift of sleep to help set up this greater miracle that's about to happen. 00:10:57.460 --> 00:11:00.420 Now, I'll just give you that for what you can just think about it. 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:01.740 Some of you have maybe been in big storms. 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:03.860 Others, I'm not going to swear to it. 00:11:03.900 --> 00:11:07.460 But it's always struck me ever since I heard him say that. 00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:14.160 And so here, if you go back in the text, look at verse, so the storm's coming, verse 36, 38. 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:15.980 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:19.539 And they woke him up and said to him, teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? 00:11:20.059 --> 00:11:22.199 And in the original language, they're rebuking him. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.360 It's a bit of a rebuke. 00:11:23.439 --> 00:11:24.259 They're telling him off. 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:28.559 In fact, actually, if you're curious about this afterwards, go back. 00:11:28.620 --> 00:11:32.339 And there's lots of elements in this story that are very similar to Jonah 1. 00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:38.079 But the big difference is, is in Jonah chapter 1, Jonah is running away from God. 00:11:38.199 --> 00:11:42.000 And he goes out in the ocean to try to get away from God and away from God's will. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.059 And the storm comes. 00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:47.839 And if you go back and you look at the story later and you look at Jonah 1 and you compare them, 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:51.459 and it's more obvious in the original language, but it's almost word for word. 00:11:51.959 --> 00:11:59.159 What the disciples say to rebuke Jesus is the words that the captain says to rebuke Jonah in Jonah 1. 00:11:59.439 --> 00:12:00.559 Because Jonah's asleep. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:03.779 And the guy says to Jonah, what are you doing? 00:12:03.859 --> 00:12:05.159 Don't you care that we're going to perish? 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:05.500 Get up. 00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:08.699 And then, of course, he goes on and says, get up and pray to your gods because we're all about to die. 00:12:09.179 --> 00:12:12.099 But it's sort of a connection to that story in Jonah. 00:12:12.100 --> 00:12:15.779 And the apostles are rebuking Jesus. 00:12:16.580 --> 00:12:18.460 And then we come to verse 39. 00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:25.399 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, peace, be still. 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:28.720 And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:37.840 Now, I didn't know this until I was doing the research for the sermon in the academic commentaries. 00:12:38.680 --> 00:12:43.920 But the word rebuke, the language here is actually the language of an exorcism. 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:52.000 Now, it's not, what's going on is this. 00:12:52.479 --> 00:13:00.759 And those of you who are big fans of the Lord of the Rings and also maybe some more of the Lord of the Rings because of the different worldview than some other fantasy novels. 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:10.019 But if you've watched the movies or if you've read the book, even better if you've read the book, there's this time early on when they're all traveling and they have to sort of go around a mountain. 00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:15.480 And there's this big snowstorm and rocks and everything like that. 00:13:15.659 --> 00:13:20.679 And the characters say that it's almost as if the mountain itself is trying to stop their journey. 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:24.919 And in fact, they actually do have to stop and they end up having to go through the mountain. 00:13:25.079 --> 00:13:30.419 And I won't tell you what happens by going through the mountain because it would be a big spoiler if you've never seen the movies or never read the book. 00:13:30.479 --> 00:13:32.079 But there's a huge thing that happens in there. 00:13:32.479 --> 00:13:33.779 But they have this language. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:36.039 And it's a similar type of thing. 00:13:36.099 --> 00:13:43.719 What you're really seeing here is something a little bit similar to what you see in John when it tells you the story of Jesus raising Lazarus. 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:51.259 And there's a time in that story where Jesus just expresses his great sorrow, his great anguish at death in the fallen world. 00:13:51.680 --> 00:13:54.139 And there's something a little bit similar going on here. 00:13:54.660 --> 00:14:00.440 What Jesus is doing is he's going across the Sea of Galilee to go to where the pagans are. 00:14:01.060 --> 00:14:07.420 Because he wants to start to have this brief time where he proclaims the glory of God in the gospel to the pagans. 00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:12.060 And he's going to be met by a legion of demons, so to speak, on the other side. 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:26.459 And what we're in a sense seeing here is that it's as if neither demons nor nature or storms itself is going to stop me from coming to the pagans, to going to the nations, to reveal myself to them. 00:14:27.099 --> 00:14:31.599 And we all have a little bit of an experience of this, especially during times like COVID. 00:14:31.699 --> 00:14:36.039 When we say to ourselves, oh, if I could only be with my family at this particular time. 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:42.299 If I could only go and be with that person across the street or down the road and give them a hug at this time of their great distress. 00:14:42.579 --> 00:14:52.539 But it's as if the virus and nature and all sorts of things are working against the good, compassionate, gracious desires of our bodies and frustrating it from happening. 00:14:53.459 --> 00:14:58.539 If I only didn't have this problem with my knees, I would so go over and help that person with their problem. 00:14:58.539 --> 00:15:04.839 And nature seems to foil our desires to do things which are compassionate and good and just and merciful. 00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:08.779 So we all on one level experience this. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:12.620 And so here we have the storm apparently trying to frustrate it. 00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:14.480 So it's not just that Jesus stops it. 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:18.719 It's almost in this original language, which the hearers would have understood, 00:15:18.959 --> 00:15:22.699 that it's almost the language of exorcism, that he is rebuking this. 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:26.400 It's all part of the great tragedy of the fall. 00:15:28.460 --> 00:15:30.520 Falling God's good designs and purposes. 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:35.460 And you'll look at it again and see what it says. 00:15:35.520 --> 00:15:41.040 And it says, he says to the sea, peace, be still. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:44.300 And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:50.160 Now, I am not going to give you an argument for miracles in this particular sermon. 00:15:50.280 --> 00:15:52.160 I've given lots before in the past. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:55.719 I'll give you lots before this series and mark is over and in the years to come. 00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:59.339 I just want to really draw this particular thing out to your attention. 00:16:00.199 --> 00:16:01.379 This is not a parable. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:04.740 It's not an allegory. 00:16:05.779 --> 00:16:11.879 This is told as if you're reading a historical account of what actually happened. 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:15.759 And what we've just seen here is a very profound miracle. 00:16:17.059 --> 00:16:19.199 It's not completely surprising to us. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:23.180 Some of us have been in situations where it seems as if the wind just stops like that. 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:27.160 Although usually it might take a couple of minutes or whatever for it to stop. 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:29.620 But some of us have seen that that's not as big a thing. 00:16:29.660 --> 00:16:31.620 Although it is obviously a miracle. 00:16:32.140 --> 00:16:33.300 The profound miracle. 00:16:33.420 --> 00:16:36.240 The one that would have had all of the people in boats talking. 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:39.100 In fact, it would be one of those things. 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:41.039 What happened to the guys in the boats? 00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:46.480 People would be buying them beer for years to tell the story about what happened. 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:48.060 That's what I'm talking about. 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:49.279 Just to be crass. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.180 Beer for years. 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:55.159 They'd say the waves were higher than that. 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:58.120 And all of a sudden, flat. 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:01.519 Flat. 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:03.559 All across the sea. 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:07.700 Not waves that high. 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:08.740 The wind stops. 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:10.059 It's a centimeter smaller. 00:17:10.379 --> 00:17:12.639 And then a centimeter smaller ten minutes later. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.480 And then a centimeter smaller ten minutes later. 00:17:14.659 --> 00:17:16.920 And then five or six hours later it's flat. 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:17.619 Flat. 00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:20.759 What went on? 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:23.519 So I mean by when he says that there's other boats. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:26.160 He's saying, you're a skeptic. 00:17:26.639 --> 00:17:27.480 Go to the region. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:29.720 There's still lots of people alive who've heard about this. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.660 You can go ahead and ask them. 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:33.960 Jesus did this very, very, very, very, very profound miracle. 00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:41.119 See, this is all at peace with a variety of other things that go on in the text. 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:49.700 By the end of the gospel, you're going to see that it's going to give you an eyewitness account of Jesus dying on a cross. 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:54.420 And it's going to tell you of the eyewitnesses that the tomb is empty. 00:17:54.420 --> 00:18:01.000 And it's all part of the other biographies and the other things and the preaching of the disciples and the apostles have been going on. 00:18:01.140 --> 00:18:04.779 That the reason that the grave is empty is that Jesus had risen from the dead. 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:07.140 And let me tell you this. 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:14.500 If Jesus didn't rise from the dead and if this story didn't happen, if they're just stories, he's a loser. 00:18:16.060 --> 00:18:17.840 And we should all leave the room right now. 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:20.320 We should all leave the room right now. 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:26.539 To think that this is a comforting parable and he ended up still, he's just, he wrought in a grave somewhere else, 00:18:26.659 --> 00:18:29.399 is to not understand anything at all about the Christian faith. 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:32.359 And I don't really care if I've just offended a lot of people in a lot of churches. 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.059 That's just the case. 00:18:34.899 --> 00:18:36.759 A lot better things to do with your time. 00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:40.639 And there's a lot more inspiring stories to read. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:46.759 If at the end of this, this was just invented and made up and Jesus died after his crucifixion. 00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:49.159 Because if that's what happened, he's just a loser. 00:18:50.919 --> 00:18:54.720 And we are losers to believe him and trust in him. 00:18:55.639 --> 00:18:57.960 But the message of the gospel is this actually happened. 00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:58.659 This happened. 00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:00.899 It's a profound miracle. 00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:05.220 And then notice what happens right next in verse 41. 00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:06.679 And they were filled with fear. 00:19:07.679 --> 00:19:09.439 Filled with great fear and said to one another, 00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:12.179 Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him? 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:18.659 In the original language, what's going on is that they're very afraid because of the storm. 00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:21.840 They're so afraid of the storm that they tell Jesus off. 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:28.940 But after Jesus, by a word of command, has stopped the wind and stopped the waves and calmed the sea, 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:33.640 before they were very afraid, now they're very, very, very, very afraid. 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:42.140 They stand there shaking and trembling at the majesty and the power of God. 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:47.080 And whether it's just for a moment or whether it was something that lasts for several moments, 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:52.860 but maybe for the first time in their life and something that has never really happened to any of us, 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:53.980 they knew they were dust. 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:59.279 They knew they were dust in the presence of the true and living God. 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:14.259 The way we're preaching through the book of Mark is that on the Sunday before Easter Sunday, 00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:20.380 known as Palm Sunday, we're going to read the story of Jesus predicting for the first time 00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:23.800 that he's going to die on the cross, and when he's dying on the cross, 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:24.960 and he's going to die on the cross. 00:20:26.540 --> 00:20:28.800 He's going to rise from the dead, but he's going to die on the cross. 00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:33.300 And in that story, when Jesus says this, Peter tells him off and says, 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:34.780 there's no way this is going to happen. 00:20:36.060 --> 00:20:38.500 If you could put up the first point, that would be very helpful. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:43.380 How could a man who can stop the wind and the waves with a mere command 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:45.780 be captured and die upon the cross? 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:54.160 You see, Peter's response is completely and utterly, 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:58.519 it's completely brilliant. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.339 It's completely natural. 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:03.160 I mean, you just think about it for a second. 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:07.519 He can just say a word in all the wind. 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:11.940 With just one word, he can make waves that high go down to as flat as this floor. 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:17.340 Charlie, he can do that, and he can raise the dead, and he can heal men born blind, 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:23.140 and he can heal the sick and cast out a whole legion of demons, 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.259 and he can do all of this stuff. 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:26.000 You're not going to die on a cross. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:31.920 Because you think about it, if Bishop Charlie told us, by the way, 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:34.580 that he knows he's going to die in a year and a half in a car accident, 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.420 well, I don't know. 00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:39.900 I mean, I think it would be a bit weird if he told me that, 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:42.700 just between the two of us and all of us, actually. 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:44.360 But, I mean, he could die. 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:47.500 I'd probably tell him, well, if you think that, then don't drive your car. 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:51.500 Just stay in your house in the basement for four months and avoid it, 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:52.340 or something like that. 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:53.519 But I don't know, things like that happen. 00:21:53.800 --> 00:21:56.160 But he's just a mere mortal, just like me. 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.920 But Jesus has just done this. 00:21:57.940 --> 00:22:00.160 So how on earth can he possibly die upon the cross? 00:22:01.040 --> 00:22:05.060 And this gives you a profound window, if you think about it for a second, 00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:08.720 it gives you a very great window into the heart of the Christian faith 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:11.800 and how the Christian faith is very, very different 00:22:11.800 --> 00:22:13.960 than the religions and spiritualities of the world. 00:22:14.820 --> 00:22:17.840 You see, if the Christian faith, if the story of Jesus was just, 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:20.759 he did this exorcism, he did a miracle, he did an exorcism, 00:22:20.840 --> 00:22:22.500 he did a miracle, he gives some good teaching, 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:25.680 some other teaching, another miracle, another miracle, another miracle, 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:27.960 and the end of the story, he just ascends into heaven, 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:32.480 you would have a very, very different religion than the Christian faith. 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:36.319 A very, very different religion than the Christian faith. 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:40.860 In fact, actually what you'd have is what most people expect 00:22:40.860 --> 00:22:42.259 of religion and spirituality. 00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:47.380 That religion and spirituality will give us some type of power. 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:49.100 It will give us some type of power. 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:50.600 It will either put the gods in our dead, 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:54.620 it will give us some power to master the situations around us, 00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:57.319 it will give us some wisdom to master the situations around us, 00:22:57.319 --> 00:23:00.240 but it will give us insight or it will give us power. 00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:02.339 And the idea of the Christian faith would then be, 00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:05.159 well, if you hang out with this guy or you call on this guy, 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:07.359 maybe some of that power will rub off on you 00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:10.319 and it's all about power and it's all about wisdom and insight. 00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:14.700 But the gospel doesn't end with miracle, miracle, miracle, miracle, 00:23:14.919 --> 00:23:18.339 exorcism, exorcism, miracle, teaching, and then he goes to heaven. 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:20.539 It ends with him dying upon the cross. 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:25.359 Well, I mean, that's the almost end because, of course, 00:23:25.399 --> 00:23:26.399 it ends with his resurrection. 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:31.200 And it's miracles like this that it really does, 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:36.059 that old saying that nothing could hold Jesus to the cross but his love. 00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:39.440 The more you meditate upon these miracles, 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:41.779 you realize good grief. 00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:45.940 He wanted to die upon the cross. 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:48.799 He was willing to die upon the cross. 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:57.880 The omnipotent dies for the powerless. 00:23:58.580 --> 00:24:01.559 The eternal dies for the finite. 00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:06.000 The sinless dies for the sinful. 00:24:07.120 --> 00:24:10.900 Light dies for ones who are filled with darkness. 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:18.140 Glory dies for those who are bereft of glory. 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:26.000 Truth dies for those who easily believe the lies. 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:31.640 And he only does it because he loves you 00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:34.420 and wants to reconcile you to the triune God. 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:37.259 There's no other reason other than love. 00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:43.140 And for all of us, it's going to mean that 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:45.660 whatever we come to appreciate about the power, 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:46.759 the wisdom of God, 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:49.039 we know that our walk with Christ 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:50.879 after we are reconciled to God through him 00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:53.700 is going to be something far more different 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:55.799 than mere exercises of power 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:57.859 or eloquence or brilliance. 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.559 Because he died. 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:03.359 He died as a sacrifice 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:06.099 to make you and I right with God. 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:12.740 And so on one hand, 00:25:12.879 --> 00:25:14.339 this text is a bit of a window 00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:17.039 into what the true God is like. 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.839 But it's also a mirror. 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:24.359 Here's where the text becomes very personal and profound. 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:27.339 I said it was a profound meditation upon fear. 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:28.960 Just look. 00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:31.160 I don't know if it'll be up on the screen. 00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:34.880 But after Jesus has calmed the storm in verse 40, 00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:36.580 he says two questions to them. 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.660 And in a sense, 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:39.680 these two are two questions for each one of us 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.779 for the rest of our lives. 00:25:41.320 --> 00:25:42.680 The first question is this. 00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:44.160 Why are you so afraid? 00:25:46.340 --> 00:25:47.480 Why are you so afraid? 00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:51.720 I mean, this is the thing that gobsmacked me. 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:54.180 Here I am, 00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:55.579 sort of afraid 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:58.299 of this phone call that I have to have. 00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:58.759 And of course, 00:25:58.880 --> 00:25:59.839 I'm not going to tell you 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:02.940 all of the different sinful things 00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:04.200 that I do in my mind 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:06.980 when I'm trying to deal with fear. 00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:08.779 I mean, we all know 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:10.259 we do distractions. 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.539 We worry. 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:13.600 We use our imagination in bad ways. 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:15.200 We feel grumpy. 00:26:15.380 --> 00:26:16.140 We feel hard put. 00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:17.059 You know, all those things. 00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:17.940 And you have your own. 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:21.059 And I sort of knew I was afraid, 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:23.140 but I didn't entirely know 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:23.940 how much my fear 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.940 was sort of bending my afternoon 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:28.019 and my day out of shape. 00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:30.000 And I'm reading this text 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.140 and I realize this is Jesus 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:32.559 speaking to me and to you. 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.400 In fact, if you could put 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:34.220 the second point up, 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:35.120 that would be very good. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.720 The Lord Jesus Christ 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.740 asks you a question. 00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.620 Why are you afraid? 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:42.259 Why are you afraid? 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:50.160 And one of the things 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:51.059 which is so powerful 00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:52.080 about this question 00:26:52.080 --> 00:26:54.740 is that the one who asks it of us 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:56.420 is the one who died on the cross for you. 00:26:57.620 --> 00:27:00.580 We talked about this a couple of, 00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:02.700 maybe in fact it was even last week, 00:27:03.080 --> 00:27:04.360 that this doctrine 00:27:04.360 --> 00:27:06.680 that was just before this, 00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:07.600 that God, 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:09.660 that Jesus is the light of the world, 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:11.900 but Jesus sees everything. 00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:14.299 He sees every single thing in your life. 00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:15.539 And so that when he dies for you 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:16.240 on the cross, 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.759 he dies for you, 00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:20.200 he knows everything in you 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:21.160 that needed to be, 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:23.099 that was shameful 00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:24.759 and every single thing in you 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.259 that was sin, 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.380 every sin of commission, 00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.799 every sin of omission 00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:29.000 with nothing left out, 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:30.480 every single thing. 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:33.380 That the sins of our past 00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:35.140 that we become aware of, 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:36.440 maybe as we grow older 00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:37.839 and we start to think back 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.920 to the way we did something 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.759 to our child 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:41.160 or to our spouse, 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.380 that now we just, 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.380 we're horrified. 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.819 We might even want to vomit over 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.799 when we think about it. 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:47.259 It's hard for us to believe 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:48.799 that Jesus could love us 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.579 when we think back 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.299 to what we did 00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:51.299 and we almost feel like 00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:52.240 retching over it. 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.279 It was so terrible. 00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:55.859 And it's news to us 00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.539 to have the weight 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.460 of our sin revealed, 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:59.180 but for Jesus, 00:27:59.339 --> 00:28:00.119 he knew that 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:01.519 when he died on the cross for you. 00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.659 He knew that 00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:05.599 when he willingly died for you. 00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:08.000 And so it's that same one, 00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:09.000 the one who's just revealed 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:09.839 that he knows everything 00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:11.299 and the one who they don't yet know 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:13.099 is going to die on the cross for them, 00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:14.899 that it's not just power shows 00:28:14.899 --> 00:28:17.099 and wisdom and insight. 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:18.699 He's going to actually do something 00:28:18.699 --> 00:28:21.619 that affects the whole universe. 00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.079 It affects, 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:25.319 it's this sacrifice 00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.519 that's in history 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.379 that's eternal 00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:28.539 and works in the heavens 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:30.659 and works for all human beings. 00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:32.019 That this profound thing 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.539 he's going to do. 00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:33.500 And it's that same one 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:35.079 who looks you and I in the eye 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:36.579 in the midst of our fear 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:36.899 and says, 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.859 why are you so afraid? 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.699 Why are you afraid? 00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:40.819 And if you could put up 00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:41.380 the next point, 00:28:41.580 --> 00:28:42.779 because he doesn't just ask you 00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.500 why are you afraid? 00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:43.940 He says, 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:44.580 the Lord Jesus, 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.980 and then the next thing 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.500 is he says, 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:48.500 have you still no faith? 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:50.259 The Lord Jesus Christ 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:51.160 asks you a question. 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:52.319 How does your fear 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:53.380 reveal to you 00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:55.200 how the gospel needs 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:57.400 to become more real to you? 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.000 I mean, 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:04.980 the wonderful thing 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:06.000 about this is, 00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:07.380 and this is part 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:08.720 of the profound power 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.380 of the gospel 00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:10.140 is that not only 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:10.760 are you talking 00:29:10.760 --> 00:29:11.960 to the one who died for you, 00:29:12.300 --> 00:29:13.580 who loved you so much, 00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.100 who, 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.380 it isn't as if 00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.480 at the end of, 00:29:16.580 --> 00:29:17.220 after you've lived 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:17.820 your whole life, 00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:18.860 he sort of looks at you 00:29:18.860 --> 00:29:19.160 and says, 00:29:19.300 --> 00:29:19.700 well, 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.240 I think you just got 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:23.180 a basic passing grade. 00:29:24.580 --> 00:29:25.100 No, no, 00:29:25.820 --> 00:29:27.740 he passes the test for you 00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:29.660 long before you've died. 00:29:32.080 --> 00:29:32.820 That's what he does 00:29:32.820 --> 00:29:33.800 for you on the cross. 00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:39.380 And we, 00:29:39.620 --> 00:29:40.520 and as, 00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:42.080 and so, 00:29:42.800 --> 00:29:44.140 he says to you, 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:44.700 okay, 00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:44.920 George, 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.600 why are you afraid? 00:29:48.020 --> 00:29:48.980 And maybe I'll start 00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.440 to say to him, 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:49.560 well, 00:29:49.560 --> 00:29:50.420 I don't know if you have 00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:51.240 the power to do this 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:51.620 or that, 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.420 and he might say, 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:52.540 well, 00:29:52.540 --> 00:29:52.740 George, 00:29:52.800 --> 00:29:53.880 it's not really about power, 00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.220 is it, 00:29:54.300 --> 00:29:54.560 George, 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:54.920 is it? 00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:55.200 Like, 00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:56.100 what's going on? 00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:58.039 And then, 00:29:58.559 --> 00:30:00.500 there's a safe place 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.279 to come to him, 00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:01.879 a person, 00:30:02.099 --> 00:30:03.199 the one who died for me, 00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:04.240 to have this conversation 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.619 with him, 00:30:04.639 --> 00:30:05.199 and it might come out, 00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:05.339 well, 00:30:06.219 --> 00:30:06.459 you know, 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:06.619 my, 00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:08.659 it's really important for me 00:30:08.659 --> 00:30:09.559 that I'm always right. 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:14.159 Don't you believe, 00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:14.679 George, 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.299 that the gospel's 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:17.719 about me making you right? 00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:22.099 Or maybe it's about me 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:22.359 saying, 00:30:22.459 --> 00:30:22.559 well, 00:30:22.899 --> 00:30:23.439 you know, 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.699 I like to have control. 00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:27.319 George, 00:30:27.379 --> 00:30:27.819 don't you know 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.679 that in my arms 00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:29.939 you don't have any control 00:30:29.939 --> 00:30:31.279 and you don't have to worry 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:31.759 about it 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.859 because I'm in control? 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.219 Or maybe it's something 00:30:37.219 --> 00:30:37.839 very obvious. 00:30:37.959 --> 00:30:38.079 Well, 00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:38.339 George, 00:30:38.379 --> 00:30:39.219 if you'd just gotten 00:30:39.219 --> 00:30:40.359 my cancer diagnosis, 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.659 you would be afraid as well. 00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:43.659 Well, 00:30:43.699 --> 00:30:44.659 maybe the gospel 00:30:44.659 --> 00:30:45.579 becoming more real 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:46.119 to our heart 00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:47.119 is that don't you believe 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:48.199 that Jesus is your hope 00:30:48.199 --> 00:30:48.659 of glory? 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:49.199 Like, 00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:49.599 do you believe 00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:50.459 you're going to live forever? 00:30:52.859 --> 00:30:53.219 Well, 00:30:53.219 --> 00:30:53.759 I had so much 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.439 I wanted to do, 00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.399 so much I had to do. 00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:55.639 Well, 00:30:56.099 --> 00:30:58.079 don't all things 00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:58.799 come of me? 00:30:59.679 --> 00:31:00.559 Aren't I going to give you 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.519 my complete kingdom? 00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:02.819 Don't you think 00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:04.299 that even in your sickness 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.099 or diminishment 00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:06.339 that you can do something 00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:07.139 that will bring glory? 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:07.459 I mean, 00:31:07.459 --> 00:31:08.339 I'm not going to go through it all, 00:31:08.419 --> 00:31:08.919 but you see, 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:11.699 this story invites us 00:31:11.699 --> 00:31:12.839 into this conversation 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.699 with our Savior 00:31:13.699 --> 00:31:15.139 and we can ask him 00:31:15.139 --> 00:31:15.899 and we can say, 00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:16.879 he can say to us, 00:31:16.919 --> 00:31:17.059 George, 00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:17.959 why are you so afraid? 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.619 And there's a safe place 00:31:21.619 --> 00:31:22.219 to begin to have 00:31:22.219 --> 00:31:23.359 a conversation with him 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:25.219 and the heart 00:31:25.219 --> 00:31:25.959 of the conversation 00:31:25.959 --> 00:31:27.399 is always going to be 00:31:27.399 --> 00:31:30.599 that every single one of us, 00:31:30.699 --> 00:31:32.099 we do know the gospel, 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.279 we believe the gospel, 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.019 but the gospel 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:34.859 needs to become 00:31:34.859 --> 00:31:36.099 more real to our heart, 00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:37.459 deeper to our heart. 00:31:38.199 --> 00:31:39.500 Who Jesus is, 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.579 what he accomplished 00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:41.579 for us on the cross, 00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:42.459 and his promises. 00:31:43.199 --> 00:31:44.319 And so our fears 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:45.879 reveal those areas 00:31:45.879 --> 00:31:46.939 in our lives 00:31:46.939 --> 00:31:48.799 that either the person 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.259 of Christ 00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:50.159 or the work of Christ 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:51.339 or the promises of Christ 00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.559 have not yet really 00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.879 taken hold as they should. 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.959 And then there's this other 00:31:57.959 --> 00:31:58.959 very profound thing 00:31:58.959 --> 00:31:59.359 at the end, 00:31:59.439 --> 00:32:00.179 just in closing. 00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:01.659 And they were filled 00:32:01.659 --> 00:32:02.359 with great fear 00:32:02.359 --> 00:32:03.199 and said to one another, 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:03.939 who then is this 00:32:03.939 --> 00:32:04.679 that even the wind 00:32:04.679 --> 00:32:05.639 and the sea obey him? 00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:07.619 If you could put up 00:32:07.619 --> 00:32:08.399 the final point. 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.079 In a sense, 00:32:10.159 --> 00:32:11.119 what this is inviting us 00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:12.399 to say is a prayer. 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:12.759 Lord, 00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:13.859 please grow in me 00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:14.980 a deeper trust 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:16.480 in who you are, 00:32:17.159 --> 00:32:17.859 in what you have 00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:19.179 accomplished on the cross, 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.859 in what you have promised 00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:21.599 to your children 00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.259 or to me, 00:32:22.699 --> 00:32:23.839 and grow in me 00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:26.000 a gospel-shaped fear of God. 00:32:27.419 --> 00:32:28.740 If I don't get my blog 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:31.000 written by 4.30 on Friday, 00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:32.519 it'll come out on Monday. 00:32:32.639 --> 00:32:33.639 And so the blog 00:32:33.639 --> 00:32:34.599 that'll come out on Monday 00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:36.500 are 12 Bible passages 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:37.619 for you to contemplate 00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.319 and meditate upon 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.299 upon the fear of God. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:42.579 But that's what's going on here. 00:32:42.659 --> 00:32:43.000 You see, 00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:44.599 that as the gospel 00:32:44.599 --> 00:32:46.159 becomes more real to us, 00:32:46.439 --> 00:32:47.299 and as we have 00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:48.659 a deeper and greater sense 00:32:48.659 --> 00:32:49.559 that God is God 00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:50.279 and that we are not 00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.319 and that this is good. 00:32:52.679 --> 00:32:53.740 Because that's part 00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:54.359 of what's going on 00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:55.259 in the fear of God. 00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:57.500 As that becomes 00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:58.700 more real to our heart, 00:32:58.839 --> 00:32:59.919 anxiety and fears 00:32:59.919 --> 00:33:00.500 decrease. 00:33:01.419 --> 00:33:02.200 Now just be honest, 00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:03.359 fears are like daisies 00:33:03.359 --> 00:33:03.879 in the summer. 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:05.440 They're like weeds 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:06.059 in your garden. 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:07.139 They grow all the time. 00:33:08.159 --> 00:33:09.039 This isn't something 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:10.099 to say when you master this 00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:10.480 you'll never have. 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.220 No, no, no, no, no, no. 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:12.000 Fears are like weeds 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:12.700 and daisies. 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.700 Every day 00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:15.139 there will be fresh ones. 00:33:15.140 --> 00:33:17.600 Every week, 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:18.200 every month, 00:33:18.280 --> 00:33:18.840 every year. 00:33:19.540 --> 00:33:21.020 When you're 107, 00:33:21.300 --> 00:33:22.940 there'll be new fears. 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.759 If you're 18, 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.660 new fears. 00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:28.220 But there's this profound 00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:29.800 invitation from Jesus 00:33:29.800 --> 00:33:33.620 to know who he is, 00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:34.700 to have faith in him, 00:33:34.780 --> 00:33:35.540 to go deeper 00:33:35.540 --> 00:33:36.780 and our fears 00:33:36.780 --> 00:33:37.480 can help us 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:39.620 to understand afresh 00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.940 who he is, 00:33:41.020 --> 00:33:41.720 what he's accomplished 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:43.500 for you on the cross. 00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:45.759 his promises to you. 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:48.759 All in the context 00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:49.920 of really understanding 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.900 that there is a God. 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:53.160 There is a God 00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:53.759 who's sovereign 00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:54.819 over all things. 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:57.339 And when I put my faith 00:33:57.339 --> 00:33:58.279 and trust in Jesus, 00:33:58.460 --> 00:33:59.500 there will be bad things 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:00.319 that happen to me 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:01.700 and unless Jesus comes first, 00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.819 there will come a time 00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:04.200 when I will die. 00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:06.140 But at no time 00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:07.140 am I ever 00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:08.739 not in the hollow 00:34:08.739 --> 00:34:09.460 of his hand. 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:11.340 At no time 00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:12.500 am I ever not 00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.380 in the hollow 00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:14.079 of his hand 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:15.539 and the object 00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:16.480 of his affection 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:18.159 and great love 00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:19.239 at no time. 00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:20.699 At no time. 00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:22.320 At no time. 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:24.619 I invite you to stand. 00:34:31.099 --> 00:34:32.059 Let's bow our heads 00:34:32.059 --> 00:34:32.539 to prayer. 00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:39.980 Father, 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:40.659 I ask that 00:34:40.659 --> 00:34:41.820 if there are any here 00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:43.079 or any who are watching 00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:43.920 and entering 00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:45.079 into worship online, 00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.360 Father, 00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:47.380 if there are any here 00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:48.279 who think that this 00:34:48.279 --> 00:34:49.500 is too good to be true 00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.599 or could never be true 00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:51.119 for them 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:52.199 because their life 00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:53.279 has been one of failure 00:34:53.279 --> 00:34:54.539 or abandonment 00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:56.360 or people not keeping 00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:57.059 their promises, 00:34:57.320 --> 00:34:57.519 Father, 00:34:57.639 --> 00:34:58.219 I ask that 00:34:58.219 --> 00:34:59.360 your Holy Spirit 00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:00.059 would just move 00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:00.679 in their lives 00:35:00.679 --> 00:35:02.380 and help them 00:35:02.380 --> 00:35:03.079 to lay down 00:35:03.079 --> 00:35:03.840 their excuses 00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:05.000 and help them, 00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:05.360 Father, 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:06.019 and help us 00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:06.860 to get on our knees 00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:07.239 and say, 00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:07.579 Jesus, 00:35:07.739 --> 00:35:08.440 be my Savior 00:35:08.440 --> 00:35:09.320 and be my Lord 00:35:09.320 --> 00:35:10.179 and I thank you 00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:11.539 that you did it all 00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:12.659 for me in advance 00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:14.179 and that you will 00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:15.000 never leave me 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:15.759 or abandon me 00:35:15.759 --> 00:35:16.559 or forsake me 00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.279 or mock me. 00:35:17.900 --> 00:35:18.039 Father, 00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:18.920 if there are any here 00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:20.059 who think it's too good 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:20.759 or too hard 00:35:20.759 --> 00:35:21.519 or too far 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.259 that they'll fail, 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:22.559 Father, 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:23.119 even now, 00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.500 pour out the Holy Spirit 00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.219 upon them 00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:27.659 that they might call out 00:35:27.659 --> 00:35:28.139 to Jesus 00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:29.599 to be their Savior 00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:30.199 and their Lord. 00:35:31.059 --> 00:35:31.460 And Father, 00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.259 for those of us 00:35:32.259 --> 00:35:32.839 who are here, 00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:33.779 Father, 00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:36.259 it is good to know 00:35:36.259 --> 00:35:37.420 that it's not a sign 00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.819 of lack of faith 00:35:38.819 --> 00:35:40.359 that anxieties 00:35:40.359 --> 00:35:41.199 and fears grow 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:42.539 like daisies and weeds 00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:43.239 and they'll always 00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:43.799 be with us, 00:35:43.879 --> 00:35:44.259 but Father, 00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:45.599 thank you so much 00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:46.299 that your Son 00:35:46.299 --> 00:35:47.699 is so patient 00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:48.899 and kind with us 00:35:48.899 --> 00:35:51.259 that he looks at us 00:35:51.259 --> 00:35:52.619 with the eyes of love, 00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:53.480 the same eyes 00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:54.500 that he looked upon us, 00:35:54.619 --> 00:35:54.819 Father, 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:56.179 as he died upon the cross 00:35:56.179 --> 00:35:57.440 thinking of each one of us 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:58.200 who have put our faith 00:35:58.200 --> 00:35:59.039 and trust in him 00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:00.960 and that he can look at us 00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:02.139 in the midst of our fears 00:36:02.139 --> 00:36:03.400 and worries and anxieties 00:36:03.400 --> 00:36:04.139 and ask us, 00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:04.440 Father, 00:36:04.519 --> 00:36:05.539 with words of love, 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:06.519 not words of threat, 00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:07.420 why are you afraid? 00:36:09.639 --> 00:36:10.440 And help us, 00:36:10.679 --> 00:36:10.740 Father, 00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:11.880 to cling to this story 00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:13.099 and cling to these words 00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:15.519 to hear his invitation 00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:16.240 to reflect 00:36:16.240 --> 00:36:17.280 and pray with him. 00:36:18.800 --> 00:36:19.420 And Father, 00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:20.579 we ask that in your mercy 00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:21.440 your Holy Spirit 00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.500 will reveal to us 00:36:22.500 --> 00:36:23.820 our fears and anxieties 00:36:23.820 --> 00:36:26.760 and bring the gospel 00:36:26.760 --> 00:36:27.700 home more deeply 00:36:27.700 --> 00:36:28.660 to our hearts 00:36:28.660 --> 00:36:31.260 in the presence of us, 00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:32.380 in your presence 00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:33.340 and in the real world 00:36:33.340 --> 00:36:34.940 and grow within us 00:36:34.940 --> 00:36:36.540 as the gospel shapes us, 00:36:37.160 --> 00:36:39.060 a true and proper fear of you. 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:41.040 And we thank you, Father, 00:36:41.180 --> 00:36:42.460 as that our faith deepens 00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.820 and our fear of you grows, 00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:44.820 that our anxieties 00:36:44.820 --> 00:36:46.000 will diminish 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:47.540 and our fears 00:36:47.540 --> 00:36:48.460 will become smaller. 00:36:49.660 --> 00:36:50.320 So, Father, 00:36:50.420 --> 00:36:51.260 thank you for Jesus. 00:36:51.260 --> 00:36:54.220 and we ask 00:36:54.220 --> 00:36:55.500 and thank all these things 00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:56.620 in the name of Jesus 00:36:56.620 --> 00:36:58.200 and all God's people said, 00:36:58.940 --> 00:36:59.220 Amen.