Reverend David McLeod. And it's my pleasure to welcome David to the pulpit this evening and over this weekend.
! It's good to have him with us. We look forward to his ministry and his fellowship with us over these days.
And we do pray the Lord's blessing on him now as he comes to minister to us.
So I'll hand over to David to lead us in worship.
Thank you, Callum. It's good to be with you over this weekend.
We're going to begin this time of worship as we hear the words that we will come back to a number of times over the course of this weekend from Matthew chapter 11.
The words of Jesus. He says,
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
We'll worship God and we'll sing together to his praise from Psalm 95, the Scottish Psalter, page 357 of the books.
357 in the book, and we sing Psalm 95 from verses 1 to verse 6 of the psalm.
O come, let us sing to the Lord.
Come, let us, everyone, a joyful noise make to the rock of our salvation.
We'll sing down to the end of verse 6 to God's praise.
O come, let us sing to the Lord.
Come, let us, everyone, a joyful noise make to the rock of our salvation.
Let us sing to the Lord.
A joyful noise.
For God, a great God and great King, above all gods he is.
There's love, the earth, and in his hand, the strength of hell's distance.
To him the spacious seat belongs.
For he the same did make.
The cry of God, the cry of God, so from his hand, his form and first did take.
O come, let us worship him.
Let us bow down with all.
And on our knees before the Lord, our maker, let us fall.
Let us unite our hearts in prayer together.
Let's pray.
Our heavenly Father, we thank you that we are able to gather together in this place this evening.
And we are able to call you our Father because we come in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior.
And we thank you that it's through his name and through his finished work that we have a way through into the presence of the God who is almighty.
We praise you for who you are, even as you have revealed yourself to us in the psalm that we have sang.
We thank you that as we reflect on the words that we have taken upon our lips, we are reminded of the fact that you are the God who is the Lord, the God who is over all.
You are our creator, the one who has brought everything that we see in this world and everything that we are in our being.
You have brought that into being with a word from nothing.
Such is the power of your creative word.
And we thank you, Lord, for the majesty of your creation.
Even as we look around in the place that we come from, we see the vastness and the beauty of creation, which points us to the wonder and the majesty of who you are.
And we ask, Lord, that as we lift our eyes to see the hills, as we are aware of the power of the sea, as we look up and see the stars which you have placed in space, we pray that our eyes would be opened to see that you are the God who has brought everything into being.
And we pray that day by day, we would worship you for who you are as our creator.
We thank you that you are our sustainer.
We have breath in our lungs.
We have the measure of health and strength that enables us to be here because you are the God who sustains us.
And we praise you, Lord, for your sustaining grace.
We thank you that morning by morning, you grant to us new mercies.
Even the food that we eat and the water that we drink.
The health and strength that we enjoy.
We confess that often we take it for granted.
But we pray that you would forgive us for doing so.
Help us to remember with every day that you give to us that this is the day that the Lord has made.
Enable us to rejoice and to be glad in it and to redeem the time.
To remember that our days in this world are short.
So help us, we pray, whilst we have opportunity in this world to look to you, to trust you.
And as your people, we pray that we would serve you.
That we would live not for self.
But that we would remember, as the catechum says to us, that man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
We thank you also, Lord, as we think about the words that we have sang that you are our Savior.
We hear the phrase, the rock of our salvation.
And we are pointed to Jesus.
And we ask, Lord, that over this weekend, we would have our eyes fixed upon Jesus.
We thank you, Father, for the vastness of your love.
That you would send your only begotten Son into this world to be our Savior, to be the Good Shepherd.
The one who would lay down his life for the sheep.
We thank you for the cross that we are called to gather around over these days.
We thank you for the institution of the Sacrament of Communion.
Where we gather around the Lord's table to remember his death until he comes.
We pray, Lord, you've forgiven us that we would be so distracted by the things of this world that we would forget.
And yet we confess that often our minds drift.
Often our lives are so taken up with the things of this world that we lose focus on the cross.
But as we drift from the cross, we are in all manner of danger.
And so we pray, Lord, that over these days that we would remember the death of Jesus.
And as we do so, we would do so with great reverence.
Remembering the greatness of who you are.
We pray that we would do so with that sense of contrition.
That we would be confessing our sin.
That we would have that posture of continual repentance.
Turning away from sin.
Confessing our falls and failures.
And seeking fresh cleansing in the blood of Jesus.
And we pray that as we remember the Lord Jesus over this weekend, we would do so with joy in our hearts.
Remembering that because he died, we are forgiven if we are trusting in him.
And remembering that on the third day, just as he promised, he rose from the dead.
He reigns, he lives.
And he has promised that one day he will return.
And until that day, we remember his death until he comes.
And we pray that these days would be a time for us where we wait upon the Lord.
And we know renewed strength.
And we know the blessing of meeting together as your people and your presence.
We pray that we would have fresh perspective.
That we would see with even more wonder the depths of your grace.
The wonder of all that you have done for us to make us your children.
And we pray that we would respond in worship.
Not just as we gather here in the building for an hour or two each day.
We pray that over these days, as we go about the different things that we have to do,
our minds would come back to remember all that you have done for us.
That we would be in the spirit of worship over these days.
We ask, Lord, that you would be with those who are absent tonight from this place who would desire to be here.
We are conscious always of those who are struggling with ill health.
And as we think of them, Lord, whether they are in hospital or at home,
we pray that you would draw near to them.
That you would lay your hands of healing upon them where that is your will.
And that they would know your grace, which is sufficient for each day that you give to them in time.
We pray for those who are sorrowing.
Those who struggle with grief.
Those who may be bewildered even at the perplexing things that often happen in this world.
And as we think of them, we pray for your comfort.
We pray that you, the God of all comfort, would draw near to them.
And give to them that peace that comes not from this world, but that comes from heaven.
We pray for any who may be struggling in grief and who may feel distant from you at this time.
And we ask, Father, that they would know your loving touch upon them.
That they would know the comfort of God, the Holy Spirit drawing near to them.
We think especially of the Mitchell family in Braggar.
And with the tragedy of all that we have heard of, we pray that they would know your peace.
That they would know your presence.
That you would uphold them.
That you would strengthen them.
That you would be in that community in a special way over these days.
We pray for those who may struggle with darkness that affects their minds.
Those who may feel cast down in their souls.
Who may battle with depression.
And we ask, Lord, that you would minister to them where often we cannot get through with words.
We thank you that you are able to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit.
And as we think of those who may feel that darkness engulfing them.
We pray that the light of Christ would break through.
And that they would know that you are God and that you are with them.
We pray for those who battle with addictions.
Those who may come here week by week for road to recovery.
And many others who may not.
And as our minds go to such, we ask, Lord, that you would help them.
And that they would desire the help, the strength that comes from calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus.
And we pray for those who may be healthy and who may be comfortable.
And who may be at ease in their minds.
And may have everything that they need in this world.
But have no sense of a need of Christ.
We pray for those who do not realize the danger that there is in remaining in sin.
We can think of family members and friends and people we work with.
Who may be interested in many things, but have no desire for the things of God.
And we know that without the moving of your spirit, there is nothing that we can do to change that.
And so we know that we can carry them to you in prayer.
And as we think of names and as we think of faces.
And we ask, Lord, that you would awaken souls in the power of the Holy Spirit.
That they may feel the weight of sin.
And that they may look to Jesus, who is the Savior.
The one who is able to give rest.
True rest and eternal rest.
To all who will come to him.
So hear our prayers.
Bless our time together.
Help us, we pray.
As we read your word.
As we meditate upon your word.
As we sing.
We know, Lord, that we can do nothing apart from you.
And so we ask that you would draw near to us.
And as we sing, we would sing from our hearts.
As we read, we would recognize that this is the word of God.
And not the word of man.
And as we meditate upon the word, we pray, Lord.
That you would illuminate our minds.
That you would help us in speaking and listening and responding.
So that all we do would be to the glory of God.
Hear our prayers.
Cleanse us from our sin as we confess it.
And lead us in the power of the Holy Spirit.
And we pray these things in Jesus' name.
Amen.
We'll sing again to God's praise.
We'll sing this time from Psalm 42.
Sing Psalms 42.
Found on page 53.
Sing Psalms 42.
And we sing from verse 1 to verse 5.
As pants the deer for flowing streams, so longs my soul, O God, for you.
I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I meet with God and you?
And we'll sing down to verse 5 to God's praise.
And we sing down to verse 5 to God's praise.
singing voyque
For God, the living God, when can I meet with God anew?
My tears have been my constant hurt, both in the night and in the day.
While all day long insistently, where is this God of new to sing?
As I pour out my soul in grief, these things I do remember still.
And with the multitude I went up to God's hands on Zion Hill.
In their procession I would lead, as we approach with cheerful song.
And shouts of joy and thankfulness, rejoicing with the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why are you so disturbed in me?
Just thought, for I will praise him yet.
My Saviour and my God is he.
If you could turn with me now in your Bibles, please, to Matthew chapter 11.
Matthew chapter 11, it's on page 983 of the Bible in the pulpit.
I don't know if that corresponds with Bibles in the pew.
Matthew chapter 11, and we'll read from verse 1 to verse 24.
This is God's Word.
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him,
Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?
And Jesus answered them, Go and tell John what you hear and see.
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk.
Lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear.
And the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John.
What did you go out into the wilderness to see?
A reed shaken by the wind?
What then did you go out to see?
A man dressed in soft clothing?
Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses.
What then did you go out to see?
A prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is he of whom it is written,
Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.
Truly I say to you, among those born of woman,
there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.
Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
From the days of John the Baptist until now,
the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,
and the violent take it by force.
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
But to what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children sitting in marketplaces and calling to their playmates.
We played the flute for you, and you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.
For John came neither eating nor drinking,
and they say he is a demon.
The Son of Man came eating and drinking,
and they say, look at him, a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.
Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done,
because they did not repent.
Woe to you, Kerasim!
Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?
You will be brought down to Hades.
For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained until this day.
But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.
And I'm going to read on just to the end of the chapter.
At that time, Jesus declared,
Come to me,
All who labor and are heavy laden,
And I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you,
And learn from me,
For I am gentle and lowly in heart,
And you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy,
And my burden is light.
Amen.
And may God bless that reading of his word to us.
We're going to sing again now to God's praise
From Psalm 43,
The Scottish Psalter,
Page 264.
Psalm 43,
And we'll sing from verses 3
To verse 5 of the psalm.
O send thy light forth,
And thy truth,
Let them be guides to me,
And bring me to thine holy hill,
Even where thy dwellings be.
Then will I to God's altar go,
To God my chiefest joy,
Yea,
God my God,
Thy name to praise,
My harp I will employ.
Down to the end of the psalm,
To God's praise.
O send thy light,
For time thy truth,
Let them be guides to me,
And bring me to thy holy hill,
In where thy dwellings be.
Then will I to God's altar go,
To God my chiefest joy,
In where thy dwellings be.
My heart I will employ.
Why art thou then,
Hast thou my soul,
What should discourage thee,
And why with vexing thoughts,
Are thou disquieted in me,
Still trust in God,
For him to praise,
Good thoughts I yet shall bow,
Be all my voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy
chapter 11.
And as we do so, let's pray again.
Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word, and we thank you for the opportunity
and for the desire that you've given us to come to this place in worship.
We pray once more that you would help us, that we would know the help of the Holy Spirit
in all that we do at this time.
We ask that you would open blind eyes, that you would unblock our ears, that you would
stir our hearts, that we would be like those on the road to Emmaus, whose hearts burned
within them, because we know that we have the promise that you are here with us.
So we ask, Lord, for your help at this time.
And we're conscious also, as we meet together, that there are many other congregations, different
denominations in this time, who meet, as we do, around your word.
And what we pray for ourselves, we pray for them.
We ask that whatever Christ crucified is preached, that you would be working, Lord God, in the
power of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus would be lifted up.
And over this weekend, many would be drawn in worship to him, perhaps some for the first
time.
We have heard of stories, and some may have even tasted something of the experience of
awakening and revivals in the past.
And we ask, Lord, that once more you would move in the power of the Holy Spirit, that
we would know showers of refreshing at this time.
Hear our prayers.
Help us, we ask.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Matthew chapter 11, and we're looking this evening at verses 1 to verse 24.
When Callum told me that the time of the service was at half past seven, it's later than I'm
usually used to when it comes to preaching.
I was wondering how you would manage to keep everybody awake at that time.
But I see that he's disabled the boiler.
So no one will sleep tonight, but hopefully nobody will get to a state of hypothermia.
We've got a doctor in the front row if that happens.
Just raise your hand.
Matthew chapter 11, and verses 1 to 24.
I don't need to tell any of you that in our lives, in our experience,
we are constantly being given offers.
So we get letters, and we get phone calls, cold calls.
We get text messages.
We get emails from companies who are making us offers.
Cheaper broadband, or new mobile phones, or a new bank account, or a new bank, or a new credit card.
There's no shortage of offers.
Fashion garments, new holidays when the weather is bad.
There's a continuous stream of offers that come into our inboxes, and every offer is looking for a response.
Now, the gospel is an offer.
God reaches out to us in the gospel with the most amazing offer that we can ever hear or receive.
Theologians talk about the free offer of the gospel, and the offer of the gospel is the offer of Jesus.
Yes, in the gospel, we are offered forgiveness of sin.
As we feel the weight of our sin, we are offered forgiveness as we hear the good news of the gospel.
We are offered eternal life.
But at the heart of the message of the gospel,
we have the offer of Jesus.
God's Son.
God the Son, our Savior.
John chapter 3, verse 16, probably the most well-known message in all of the Bible.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.
And the question I'd like to think about tonight in the time that we have is,
how are we responding to Jesus?
How are we responding to the offer of Jesus?
How are we responding to all that Jesus has done for us?
All that we are called this weekend to remember.
Now, in the passage that we read,
we can note at least four responses.
And I want to take time to go through each of the four responses to Jesus that we see in the verses.
The first response that we see to Jesus is the response of doubt.
So four points.
Number one is doubt.
We see John the Baptist wrestling with doubts as he speaks with Jesus.
The second response that we see is the response of disbelief.
Those who brazenly do not believe.
The third response we see is in those cities who dismiss Jesus.
They just don't respond to him.
And the final response that we finish with is to look at the disciples and see briefly how they are devoted to Jesus.
Their lives are devoted to Jesus.
So first of all, as we work through the verses, we see doubt on the part of John the Baptist.
Look at verses 1 and 2.
When Jesus had finished instructing his 12 disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Now, when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ,
he sent word by his disciples and said to him,
Are you the one who is to come or shall we look for another?
So what's going on here in these verses?
Well, what's going on is we see John.
That's John the Baptist.
And he's in prison.
Why is John in prison?
Well, John is in prison because he had been uncompromising in his preaching of the truth.
And as John preached the truth, he clashed with Herod.
He was an authority and he clashed with Herod's wife in particular,
who didn't like the message that John was bringing.
And you can read the story of that in Luke chapter 2 at the end of that chapter.
And what we see is that John, having clashed with Herod and his wife,
John ends up in prison.
So life is difficult for John, as we pick up at the beginning of chapter 11.
And if we think ourselves into John's experience,
not so long ago, there were vast crowds.
Whenever John preached, there were vast crowds that gathered to hear him preach.
He was the man of the moment.
And he was a man who was free.
And John the Baptist, we know, was a man who liked to settle out in the wilderness,
in the wide open spaces.
And yet here we see John, and he's isolated.
He's locked away in a prison cell.
And in this dark time, in John's experience,
it seems that he has a crisis of doubt.
One commentator, Green, says,
everything tends to get out of proportion
when you are suffering for a long time in a confined space alone.
Doubts grow in such a soil.
So if we pause there just for a moment
and try to draw some application.
The application is not complicated.
And I think the application that flows from this is,
if John the Baptist can struggle with doubts,
any of us can struggle with doubt.
Especially when we're suffering.
And we can't understand what's going on in life.
Especially when we're isolated.
And we're not much in Christian fellowship.
Doubts can creep in.
And that's what seems to be happening
in John's experience.
John is struggling with doubts.
Some of the commentators, if you read them,
will say, well, John didn't struggle with doubts.
It's his disciples that struggled with doubts.
John's just sending the disciples to Jesus
so that they can have their doubts dealt with.
But I don't see that in the text.
That doesn't seem to me to be an assumption
that we have license to take.
I think the most obvious application here
is that John, in that dark prison cell,
is wrestling with doubts.
But the question to consider as we move on
is how are John's doubts overcome?
John's doubts are overcome
when he takes them to Jesus.
John doesn't do
the thing that lots of people do
when doubts crash in.
He doesn't withdraw
and turn away from Jesus
and turn away from the Lord's people.
John takes the doubts
that are plaguing him
and he takes them directly to Jesus.
And Jesus deals with the doubts
and lifts him from that place.
And how does Jesus do that?
Well, he does that
by reminding John
of what the Bible says
about the Messiah,
about the one who was to come.
Jesus answered them,
that's the disciples
who've been sent as messengers.
Jesus answered them,
go and tell John
what you hear and see.
The blind receive their sight
and the lame walk.
Lepers are cleansed
and the deaf hear
and the dead are raised up
and the poor have good news
preached to them
and blessed is the one
who is not offended by me.
So what Jesus does here
is he quotes from
Isaiah chapter 35
and Isaiah chapter 61
and in the quotes
that Jesus lifts,
he reminds John
of what the one,
what the Messiah
would do,
was prophesied to do.
He would heal,
he would preach good news.
And what was Jesus doing?
He was doing exactly
what had been prophesied.
Everything that was found
in Isaiah
that prophesied,
that painted this picture
of who the Messiah would be.
Jesus was doing these things.
So Jesus says to the messengers
who'd come,
go back to John
and tell him Isaiah 35,
tell him Isaiah 61.
And as they marry together
with the accounts
of what Jesus was doing,
he's able to see
with no doubt
but crystal clarity,
this is the Christ.
this is the Savior.
So John's doubts
are overcome
by taking them to Jesus.
John's doubts
are overcome
by being
in the Word of God.
How are our doubts overcome?
exactly the same way.
I don't know
many of you
personally,
I don't know
the congregation here well,
but my,
I would be surprised
if there isn't
at least somebody
whether here
or watching
at a distance
who is wrestling
with some measure
of doubt.
And these doubts
are overcome
as we take them
to Jesus
in prayer
and tell him
what's in our mind,
tell him what's
assaulting us.
And these doubts
are overcome
as we listen
to what God says
by being in the Bible.
So maybe this is a word
for a struggling
Christian tonight.
Maybe doubts
have been crashing in.
Maybe there's someone here
who's saying,
you know,
with all the thoughts
I've been having
and the battles
in my mind,
I wonder if I,
I should even come
to the table
when I feel so,
so low
and unsettled,
do I have warrant
to come?
Now what does
the old hymn say?
Just as I am,
though tossed about
with many a conflict,
many a doubt,
fightings within
and fears without,
O Lamb of God,
I come.
And that's what we see
John doing.
He comes,
he comes to Jesus
even with his doubts.
And Jesus does not
reject him,
Jesus receives him.
And in verses 7
through to verse 15,
which I'm not going to
drill down into,
Jesus speaks
in such a manner
about John
where John
is able to receive
the reassurance
that he needs.
There's such words
of commendation
about John
if we were to step
through these verses.
But this is always
the way.
As we trust Jesus,
as we obey Jesus,
as we come to him,
or as we come back
to him if we've drifted,
he receives us.
He reassures us
as we come.
So the first thing
that we see
in terms of a response
to Jesus
is a doubt.
The second,
and that doubt
is overcome.
The second response
as we move into
verse 16
is disbelief.
So more briefly,
Jesus says
in verse 16,
but to what shall I
compare this generation?
It is like children
sitting in the marketplaces
and calling
to their playmates.
We played the flute
for you
and you did not dance.
We sang a dirge
and you did not mourn.
And what Jesus
is doing here
in these two verses
is he's doing
what he often did.
He would take
an everyday illustration,
the illustration
of the children
as they played,
and he makes
it a teaching point.
So in Jesus' day,
just as in our day,
the children
would play at
being grown-ups.
And the children
would do what they
saw the grown-ups
doing.
And as the grown-ups
came together,
the children
would see them
sometimes dancing
at weddings
and sometimes mourning
as they came together
at funerals.
That's what they saw
in everyday life.
And so that's
what the children,
maybe to us
seems strange,
but that's what
they would play at.
I suppose it's no more
strange than
what we used to play at,
playing housework
and playing schools
when we were
six and seven years old.
You'd be the teacher,
you'd be the mum,
you'd be the dad.
That's the kind of thing
that was going on here.
The children
would play at
being grown-ups.
But
just as it
is with us,
it was back then
that there was
always one
disgruntled child
that didn't want
to play.
We played
the flute for you,
say the children,
and you didn't dance.
We played a dirge
that you didn't mourn.
There's always one
child that could
never be pleased.
I was thinking back
to school days
in Aberdeen.
I remember
a boy
in my class
called Brian.
He always had
the best
of the greatest trainers.
I always wanted them.
He always brought
the leather football
to school.
He had the most money
or his family did.
And so
we would play
with the mitre
leather football
or the umbral leather football
that Brian would bring.
But invariably
we'd be halfway
through a game
and if somebody
tackled Brian hard
or his team
started to lose,
he would take a huff.
And he would take
hold of the ball
and go off on a huff
and that was the game
all over.
Acting like a
spoiled child.
And Jesus
is saying to the people
who are listening,
that's like you.
You're like
spoiled children.
You can never
be pleased.
Verse 18,
For John came
neither eating
or drinking
and they say
he has a demon.
They don't want
to listen to John.
The son of man
came eating
and drinking
and they say
look at him
a glutton
and a drunkard
a friend of tax collectors
and sinners
yet wisdom
is justified
by her deeds.
didn't matter
what was done.
They wouldn't believe.
That was the picture
that Jesus was painting.
And it was a word
for that generation
in verse 16.
But it's a word
for every generation.
there are always
people
who will find
reasons
not to believe
in Jesus.
They exist
in Harris.
I expect
they exist
in Lewis
as well.
People who say
I don't feel enough.
If I could just
feel a bit more.
If I had more feelings
a bit more conviction
then I could believe.
or I don't know
enough to believe.
I need to do more study
I need to read more books
and maybe when I get
to a higher
academic
grasp
of the things
of God
then I can believe
but not yet.
Then there's so many
people who say
you know
I'm not good enough.
I'm not good enough
to be a believer.
And the list
can go on.
Every
generation
every congregation
will have
some people
who are
experts
in giving
reason
after reason
for disbelief.
unbelief.
And Jesus
saw it back then
and he called
them out on it
and he sees
it still today.
And I wonder
does he see
any
of that
in you
or in me?
Disbelief
is a
serious thing.
unbelief
is a
serious
thing
because
it leads
to eternal
death
and Jesus
will make
that crystal
clear in the
next section.
That's the
bad news.
But the
good news
is that
whoever
believes
in Jesus
John 3
16
shall
not
perish
but
shall
have
eternal
life.
What do
we come
to the
table
to say?
We come
to the
table
to say
that we
believe
in Jesus.
We're not
coming to
speak about
ourselves.
We're not
coming because
of the
feelings
that we
have.
We're not
coming because
we've reached
a certain
level of
intellectual
stature.
We come
in that
simple
childlike
way
to say
that we
believe
in Jesus.
That he is
our
savior.
That he is
our
Lord.
That we are
trusting
in his
finished
work.
that we
are
remembering
him.
Doubt
that has
overcome
disbelief
that Jesus
identifies
and calls
out.
The third
response that
we see
here is to
dismiss
Jesus.
And we
see that
in verse
20 down
to verse
24.
Jesus
addresses
cities that
were
unrepentant,
cities that
had dismissed
them.
Then he
began to
denounce the
cities where
most of his
mighty works
had been
done,
because they
did not
repent.
Woe to
you,
Chorazin.
This is
verse 21.
Woe to
you,
Bethsaida,
for if the
mighty works
done in you
had been
done in Tyre
and Sidon,
they would
have repented
long ago
in sackcloth
and ashes.
But I tell
you it would
be more
bearable in
the day of
judgment for
Tyre and
Sidon than
for you.
And so
the words
go on.
And I
think that
these words
that Jesus
speaks in
this section
are some of
the strongest
words that
are recorded
anywhere in
the Bible
that we
hear Jesus
speak.
He speaks
words of
woe,
he speaks
words of
judgment,
he speaks
words that
warn of
being brought
down to
Hades,
brought down
to hell.
Jesus talks
about
Sodom
in verse
23.
And we're
not going
there tonight
but you can
take a tour
back to
Genesis 19
in your own
time and
see the
darkness and
the immorality
of that
place Sodom
and we can
read about
the judgment
of God
that fell
upon that
city.
And yet
alarmingly
Jesus says
in verse
24,
it will be
more tolerable
on the
day of
judgment
for the
land of
Sodom
than for
you,
Capernaum.
And for
Chorazin
and Bethsaida,
Jesus warns
them of
incoming woe,
literally grief.
So we have
to ask the
question,
what did
these cities
do?
What is it
that Chorazin
and Bethsaida
and Capernaum
did that
prompted such
serious
words
from Jesus?
How did
they respond
to Jesus
that caused
Jesus to
speak to
them in
such terms?
And the
answer to
that question
is their
response to
Jesus,
what they
did in
terms of
responding to
Jesus is
they did
nothing.
They
dismissed
Jesus.
they just
ignored
him.
Jesus
performed
mighty
works
in these
cities
and he
preached
the most
amazing
sermons
that have
ever been
preached
and he
pled with
them
to repent
and yet
they would
not repent
they walked
out the
door
unrepentant
unmoved
they'd
heard the
gospel
plea
they'd
heard the
voice of
the
saviour
and they
looked at
their watches
and they
headed home
and they
did
nothing.
And Jesus
mentions Tyre
and Sidon.
Now the
people in
Chorazin
and Bethsaida
and Capernaum
they would
have looked
down their
noses
at Tyre
and Sidon
because they
were Gentiles.
They were
non-Jews.
They hadn't
had the
kind of
background
and the
upbringing
that these
cities had
had.
But Jesus
says if
they in
Tyre and
Sidon
had seen
and heard
what you've
seen and
heard
they would
have taken
notice.
They would
have repented
but not
you.
there were
so many
in these
privileged
cities
who
ignored
Jesus.
They
rejected
Jesus.
Not with
any kind
of violence.
There was
no heat
and violence
in their
rejection.
They just
seemed to
be too
busy.
that they
weren't
that
interested.
Their
lives were
cluttered.
Lots of
conflicting
priorities.
So they
dismissed
Jesus
and his
gospel.
and to
treat
Jesus
that way
causes
woe.
Jesus
teaches
us
that to
treat
Jesus
that way
by
dismissing
him
it
leads
down
to
hell.
Charles
Price
says
the
more
we
know
of
Christ
the
more
responsible
we
become.
So how
much do
we know
of
Jesus?
Jesus
well we
know
significantly
more
than
Chorazin
and
Bethsaida
and
Capernaum
did
because we
have a
New
Testament
and they
didn't.
And we
know about
the cross.
we
remember
that
Jesus
went to
the cross
to die
to pay
for our
sin
and they
didn't have
that knowledge.
They
couldn't yet
see that.
We know
about the
resurrection.
Of course
they didn't.
And we
have had
generations
of our
forefathers
teaching us
the good
news
about
Jesus.
We
have
enjoyed
great
privilege.
The
vast
majority
of us
although
I don't
know many
of you
the vast
majority
of us
here
I assume
we have
known
great
privilege.
So let
me
leave the
application
with one
of the
commentators
leg.
He
says this
great
privilege
brings
great
responsibility.
Hearing the
gospel
week in
week out
knowing
the word
of God
being taught
the truth
from my
youth
or hearing
it regularly
in church
these are
great
privileges
but salvation
cannot be
taken for
granted.
Here is a
warning says
leg to
children brought
up in
Christian
homes to
those who
attend church
and who are
members of the
congregation
they must not
despise their
privileges but
must make sure
that they respond
in repentance
and faith.
Otherwise
there will
simply be a
greater and
more unbearable
punishment on
the day of
judgment.
Let none of
us this
evening walk
out the
door dismissing
Jesus.
Too busy.
Too
distracted.
Too much
going on.
Let none
of us
follow the
example of
these cities
that Jesus
warned
who heard
the gospel
who experienced
great privileges
but failed
to repent
and to
believe.
Maybe
there is
someone here
who knows
so much
who sat
in the
pews for
year after
year
who has
been through
Sunday
school and
YF and
all these
things but
hasn't yet
repented.
Don't
delay another
moment.
do not
dismiss
Jesus.
Repent.
Ask for
forgiveness.
Ask for
him to be
Savior and
Lord of
your life.
Everyone
who calls
on the
name of
the Lord
Jesus
will be
saved.
God
So we
see John
the Baptist
who
wrestles
with
doubts
and
they're
overcome.
We see
those that
Jesus
identifies
almost like
spoiled
children who
have every
reason not
to believe.
They're
disbelievers.
Jesus
challenges
them.
We see
cities who
are warned
of incoming
judgment
because of
the great
privileges that
they've
enjoyed and
yet they
dismiss
Jesus.
They're
too busy.
And the
final thing
we see
here is a
small group
of disciples
who are
devoted
to Jesus.
And just
as we
finish,
this is
what we're
taught
right running
through the
gospel.
This is
how we're
taught
how to
respond to
Jesus.
How are we
to respond
to Jesus?
We're to
respond to
Jesus
by devoting
our lives
to Him.
Not
dismissing
Him,
not doubting
His words,
not disbelieving,
but repenting
and believing
and devoting
our lives
to Him,
to the
one who
paid for
our salvation
with His
blood at
Calvary.
We are to
devote our
lives to
Him.
We see
at the
beginning of
the chapter
just a
small note.
At the
beginning of
this chapter
we see
the disciples
and we
can see
them in
our mind's
eye.
Jesus,
He's
instructing
these 12
disciples,
they're
gathered
around Him.
And what
were the
disciples
called to?
They were
called to
a life
of being
with
Jesus,
of being
instructed
by Jesus,
of being
devoted
to Jesus.
And that's
what we're
called to.
the gospel
went out
so that
all who
hear and
believe
will be
disciples,
those whose
lives are
devoted to
Jesus.
Mark
chapter 3
verse 14.
It's one of
my favorite
verses and
it's so
simple.
Jesus
appointed
12,
whom He
named also
apostles,
that they
might be
with Him.
And that
is our
calling
tonight.
That's the
calling of a
disciple.
If I was to
ask you,
tell me about a
disciple,
what's a
disciple?
I think the
majority of
us would
probably say,
well,
a disciple
is someone
who does
this and
does that
and does
the next
thing.
They're
called to
serve Jesus
and they're
called to
do this
and all
that,
and all
that's
true.
But the
primary call
for the
disciples back
then,
and the
primary call
for disciples
here and
now,
is a
call to
be with
Jesus.
So are
we with
Him?
That's how
we finish.
Are we
with Him?
Are we
trusting
Jesus as
our Savior?
Are we
following
Jesus as
our Lord
and our
King?
if not,
that's
what He
calls us
to tonight,
to devote
our lives
to Him.
And if
there are
any of us
this evening
who are
Christians but
we are
drifting,
as we
are prone
to,
then as
we approach
the table,
let us
take this
opportunity
once more
to confess
the distance
if there's
drift
and to
devote
our lives
to Christ
afresh.
That we
may be
with Him,
that we
may abide
in Him,
that we
may remain
in Him.
and know
the blessing
and the
fruit that
comes from
being in
that place.
And if
we are
with Him,
then what
does He
call us
to do?
Where does
He call
us to be
this
Lord's
day?
He calls
us to
be at
the table.
Maybe
there's
someone here
tonight who
is a
secret
believer.
You've
asked for
forgiveness.
you've
asked Jesus
to be
Lord.
But
communion
season by
communion
season,
the profession
that you
make from
the place
that you
sit is
that you
are not
with Him.
Hear the
call once
more,
the command
that comes
from Jesus.
if you
are trusting
Him,
if you
are saved
by His
blood.
And hear
His command
to do
this,
to come
to the
table,
to be
with Him
openly,
and to
remember
all that
He has
done for
our salvation.
let's
pray.
Heavenly
Father,
we thank
You for
Your Word.
We pray
that You
would help
us as
we face
the challenge
of it,
as we
take time
to meditate
upon it.
We thank
You for
the encouragement
that there
is as we
hear the
words of
Jesus.
us,
and we
pray that
as You
search our
hearts,
that You
would work
in each
one of our
hearts and
lives,
that we
may hear
the call
of Christ,
and that we
may come
in repentance,
in faith,
in obedience.
We pray this
in Jesus.
From Psalm
63,
sing Psalm
63,
page number
80.
Psalm 63,
verses 1
to verse
8.
O God,
You are
my God
alone.
I seek
Your face
with eagerness.
My soul
and body
thirst for
You in
this dry
weary
wilderness.
Down to
the end
of verse
8 to
God's
praise.
O God,
You are
my God
alone.
I seek
Your grace
with eagerness.
My soul
and body
thirst for
You
in this
Thy
weary
wilderness.
I've seen
you in
your holy
place,
your power
and glory
held my gaze.
Far better
is
your love
and life
and so
my lips
will sing
your praise.
I'll bless
you, Lord,
throughout
my life
and raise
my heart
to You
in prayer.
my joy
to live
with
senior
praise.
My soul
is
fed
with
riches
clear.
upon
my bed
I
lie
awake
and
in
my
thoughts
remember
you.
I
meditate
throughout
the
night
and keep
your
constant
love
in
you.
Because
You
are
my
help
alone,
in
shadow
all
Your
wings
I
sing.
You
hold
me
up
with
Your
right
hand
to
You
O
God
my
soul
will
clean.
And now
may the
grace of
our Lord
Jesus
Christ,
the love
of God
the Father
and the
fellowship
of God
the Holy
Spirit
be with us
all now
and forever
more.
Amen.