WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.780 The scripture reading comes from Romans chapter 12. 00:00:03.439 --> 00:00:07.120 Please follow along on the screen, the bulletin, or your own Bible. 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:10.859 Starting in verse 1, we read, 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:15.240 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, 00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:19.960 to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, 00:00:20.400 --> 00:00:21.879 which is your spiritual worship. 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:27.980 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, 00:00:27.980 --> 00:00:31.420 that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, 00:00:31.719 --> 00:00:34.280 what is good and acceptable and perfect. 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:37.820 Then in verse 14, we read, 00:00:39.259 --> 00:00:41.000 Bless those who persecute you. 00:00:41.659 --> 00:00:43.240 Bless and do not curse them. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:45.840 Rejoice with those who rejoice. 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:48.159 Weep with those who weep. 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:50.719 Live in harmony with one another. 00:00:51.700 --> 00:00:55.079 Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. 00:00:55.780 --> 00:00:57.880 Never be wise in your own sight. 00:00:58.379 --> 00:01:03.819 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 00:01:04.620 --> 00:01:09.659 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 00:01:10.859 --> 00:01:14.519 Beloved, never avenge yourself, but leave it to the wrath of God, 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:15.560 for it is written, 00:01:16.420 --> 00:01:17.479 Vengeance is mine. 00:01:18.039 --> 00:01:19.739 I will repay, says the Lord. 00:01:20.299 --> 00:01:24.179 To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. 00:01:24.180 --> 00:01:27.520 If he is thirsty, give him something to drink, 00:01:27.860 --> 00:01:31.140 for by doing so you will heap burning coals on his head. 00:01:32.020 --> 00:01:35.760 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 00:01:36.160 --> 00:01:37.320 This is the word of God. 00:01:37.319 --> 00:01:40.579 Thank you, Celeste. 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:42.659 Well, good morning once again. 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:46.159 It was good to meet some of you, maybe for the first time, 00:01:46.219 --> 00:01:48.799 and some that haven't been back at Watermark for a while. 00:01:48.899 --> 00:01:52.079 It's great to have you with us again this morning. 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:57.579 Now, we've been working through Romans chapter 12 for the last six weeks or so, 00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:00.379 and today is the last sermon in the series. 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:05.560 And next week we start a series called Gender, Sex, Relationships, and God. 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:10.000 And we're going to be looking at all things in that category for four or five weeks. 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:13.280 But today is our last series in Romans chapter 12. 00:02:13.280 --> 00:02:19.259 And one of the things that Romans 12 has been teaching us and showing us 00:02:19.259 --> 00:02:23.979 is that the gospel is not just something that should be theoretical. 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:27.680 It actually has real implications for our lives. 00:02:28.259 --> 00:02:34.039 One of the charges that I constantly hear and we constantly hear against Christianity 00:02:34.039 --> 00:02:39.800 is that sometimes people feel like Christianity, for all that it says and promises, 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:43.760 doesn't seem to make that much difference in people's lives. 00:02:43.880 --> 00:02:46.660 I mean, what difference does Jesus really make? 00:02:47.500 --> 00:02:49.980 Maybe you're here this morning and you're not a Christian. 00:02:50.100 --> 00:02:51.439 Maybe you're still on a spiritual journey. 00:02:51.600 --> 00:02:52.800 Maybe that's one of your questions. 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:55.980 You think you look at those that claim to be followers of Jesus, 00:02:56.100 --> 00:02:57.580 you look at those that aren't Christians, 00:02:57.680 --> 00:02:59.740 and you say, I don't see any difference in their lives. 00:02:59.760 --> 00:03:00.720 Their lives look the same. 00:03:00.720 --> 00:03:04.660 What difference does Jesus and the gospel actually make 00:03:04.660 --> 00:03:07.540 to the nitty-gritty realities of our lives? 00:03:07.539 --> 00:03:11.219 And one of the things that Romans 12 has been showing us 00:03:11.219 --> 00:03:16.959 is that the gospel has radical implications for the way that we live our lives. 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:23.180 And today, the passage is going to talk to us about how the central thesis of Christianity, 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:28.019 that Jesus Christ came to earth in order to die for people like us, 00:03:28.599 --> 00:03:32.799 how that central thesis has real traction and relevance 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:38.939 to some of the most painful and intimate and nitty-gritty areas of our lives. 00:03:39.160 --> 00:03:44.380 And that is how the gospel speaks to the areas of our lives 00:03:44.380 --> 00:03:47.840 when people treat us less than we'd want to be treated, 00:03:48.300 --> 00:03:51.400 when people are cruel or mean towards us, 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:54.680 when people use and abuse us or sin against us. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:59.939 And so the question that this passage asks us today is, 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:03.960 how do we respond in these situations? 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:07.520 All of us have encountered difficult people from time to time. 00:04:08.140 --> 00:04:14.240 It could be a colleague that sabotages your deal in order to steal your client, right? 00:04:14.740 --> 00:04:20.100 It could be your boss that just shouts vitriolic things at you 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:24.760 and tells you you're rubbish and you're useless and they threaten to fire you all the time. 00:04:25.379 --> 00:04:31.160 It could be a neighbor or family member, a sibling, a parent that belittles you. 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:33.020 It could be a spouse. 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:38.700 But all of us have had these encounters, and how do we respond to such situations? 00:04:39.840 --> 00:04:42.240 Well, I think there's a couple of natural responses, right? 00:04:42.700 --> 00:04:46.280 The one way that we can respond is we respond like for like. 00:04:46.400 --> 00:04:47.420 We respond in kind. 00:04:47.420 --> 00:04:52.540 So someone slanders you and you think, you just wait, I'm going to get back at you, right? 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:55.480 Somebody curses you and you curse them back. 00:04:55.980 --> 00:04:58.540 I remember a few years ago, I was reminded of this this week, 00:04:58.980 --> 00:05:03.700 when I lived in South Africa, I'm ashamed to say I was a pastor at this stage, 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:09.300 and I had a colleague who I felt like he was pressurizing me into a corner, 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:12.600 kind of forcing my hand, and I was getting a bit agitated. 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:18.080 And remember, he sent me an email, and I can still picture where I was on Seapoint Main Road. 00:05:18.180 --> 00:05:19.560 I wrote this email back. 00:05:19.640 --> 00:05:25.540 I said, if you're going to play hardball with me, buddy, I'm going to play just as hard back to you. 00:05:26.280 --> 00:05:30.460 And that's how our hearts often want to respond, right? 00:05:30.520 --> 00:05:31.560 You like that to me? 00:05:31.660 --> 00:05:33.460 Just wait until I get back at you. 00:05:34.100 --> 00:05:36.360 That's a kind of very Western way of handling things. 00:05:36.939 --> 00:05:40.140 Another way of handling things is we like to save face, right? 00:05:40.139 --> 00:05:42.919 So we nod our heads and say, yes, yes, it's all okay, it's all okay. 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:45.819 But inside, we're seething with anger, right? 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:49.899 So we nod our heads, but inside, we're thinking, stuff you. 00:05:50.039 --> 00:05:53.060 I'm going to find a way to let you know who's boss. 00:05:53.699 --> 00:05:56.839 Well, I guess the third way is the way of passive-aggressive, right? 00:05:57.419 --> 00:06:04.180 We just become experts in just that look or dropping that comment or just in the boardroom setting. 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:12.079 We just drop that very witty little line that lets everybody know how you feel without really attacking the person directly. 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:14.780 And so all these ways of responding. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.800 Well, our passage today tells us that there's another way. 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:27.019 And it actually reveals to us the problem with all of these, and it shows us the beauty of another way. 00:06:27.840 --> 00:06:28.840 And so look at what Paul says. 00:06:28.899 --> 00:06:30.480 Let's read it again together. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:34.759 Paul starts off, and remember, all this is under Romans 12, verse 1, where he says, 00:06:35.140 --> 00:06:40.020 Appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, by the kindness of God, 00:06:40.080 --> 00:06:45.740 to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, in other words, all of life, holy and acceptable, pleasing to God. 00:06:45.780 --> 00:06:47.319 This is your spiritual act of worship. 00:06:48.020 --> 00:06:51.600 And then he says, remember, don't be conformed to the ways of this world, 00:06:51.780 --> 00:06:57.040 but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, by thinking new thoughts along the lines of the gospel. 00:06:57.540 --> 00:06:58.420 Be transformed. 00:06:58.420 --> 00:07:01.220 And then look at what he says in verse 14. 00:07:02.020 --> 00:07:04.819 He says, bless those that persecute you. 00:07:04.960 --> 00:07:06.600 Bless them and do not curse them. 00:07:07.180 --> 00:07:13.220 Verse 17, repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all men. 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:20.560 Verse 19, beloved, never avenge yourselves, but on the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. 00:07:20.620 --> 00:07:23.020 If he's thirsty, give him something to drink. 00:07:23.019 --> 00:07:38.180 Paul hits us in the face, in the solar plexus, with this radical, shocking, counter-cultural, counter-intuitive idea. 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:44.340 Paul's saying that contrary to the way we want to handle these kind of situations, there's another way. 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:50.220 And it's not what comes to any of us naturally, but it is the way of Christ and it's the way of the gospel. 00:07:50.220 --> 00:08:00.220 Now, in the Bible, to bless somebody doesn't just mean to pat them on the back and say, bless you, brother, or say good morning to someone. 00:08:00.220 --> 00:08:06.620 In the scripture, to bless somebody is to invoke God's favor and blessing upon them. 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:10.980 It's to go before God in prayer on behalf of that person. 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:15.280 To pray for God to rain down his favor and his blessing upon them. 00:08:15.860 --> 00:08:17.240 And that's what Paul says we should do. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:21.220 Which is exactly, actually, if you remember, what Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:08:21.760 --> 00:08:23.100 Matthew 5, Jesus says, 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:35.720 And that's what Paul says here. 00:08:35.800 --> 00:08:35.980 He says, 00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:43.100 And in verse 15, he actually goes further. 00:08:43.540 --> 00:08:45.040 And look at what he says in verse 15. 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:45.500 He says, 00:08:45.500 --> 00:08:52.120 Martin O'Jones points out, 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:55.019 It's easy to weep with those who weep. 00:08:55.059 --> 00:08:57.379 Anyone that's got an ounce of compassion in their hearts. 00:08:57.460 --> 00:09:01.279 You hear of somebody that's suffering and you can extend some compassion to them. 00:09:01.580 --> 00:09:06.559 But to rejoice at somebody else's success, that takes a unique kind of humility. 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:09.039 But remember the context here. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:10.360 The verse before says, 00:09:11.139 --> 00:09:12.259 Bless those that curse you. 00:09:12.779 --> 00:09:15.139 Paul's not just talking about your family member or your friend. 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:18.039 He's talking about the colleague that's out to get you. 00:09:18.419 --> 00:09:24.799 When hardship falls upon them, find some way to sympathize with the person that's out to curse you. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:29.899 When the colleague that's out to sabotage your deal, when they get promotion, 00:09:30.379 --> 00:09:34.919 find some way in your hearts to even be glad and rejoice with them. 00:09:36.019 --> 00:09:37.179 Oh my goodness. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:39.799 Are you serious, Paul? 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:44.340 Well, look at the final verse with me. 00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:45.500 Look at verse 21. 00:09:45.820 --> 00:09:49.660 Verse 21 gives us a kind of summary statement of Paul's thinking. 00:09:51.019 --> 00:09:51.680 He says, 00:09:51.740 --> 00:09:53.500 Do not be overcome by evil, 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:58.259 but rather overcome evil with good. 00:09:59.040 --> 00:10:00.560 When all this is going on, 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:02.720 when you're being cursed and persecuted, 00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:05.240 when you're being sidelined and maligned, 00:10:05.660 --> 00:10:07.259 when others are fighting with you, 00:10:07.340 --> 00:10:09.700 when you're being unfairly treated and belittled, 00:10:09.700 --> 00:10:12.580 don't be overcome by evil, 00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:16.600 but find a way to overcome evil with good. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:21.600 Now, the word overcome here is actually a military word. 00:10:21.680 --> 00:10:23.040 It's a word that's used for the army, 00:10:23.180 --> 00:10:25.800 and it's in the context of when a battle is raging, 00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:28.520 the one that overcomes is obviously the victim, 00:10:28.640 --> 00:10:29.740 the one that wins the battle. 00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:34.840 And what Paul is saying here is that much of the Christian life is actually a battle. 00:10:35.460 --> 00:10:37.860 There's a battle that's going on in the Christian life. 00:10:38.340 --> 00:10:40.360 But the battle, Paul says, 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:43.279 is not between myself and my colleague, 00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:45.379 or myself and my family member. 00:10:45.820 --> 00:10:48.139 There's another kind of battle that's going on. 00:10:48.659 --> 00:10:50.720 The battle that Paul is talking about 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:54.720 is not played out in the corridors of the workplace or the boardroom. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:58.060 It's played out in the contours of my own heart. 00:10:58.860 --> 00:10:59.460 You see that? 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:01.500 And he's saying there's this battle, 00:11:01.680 --> 00:11:02.879 and whatever happens, 00:11:03.060 --> 00:11:05.660 make sure that you win this battle. 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:09.060 In Genesis 4, God says the same thing. 00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:10.139 You might remember, 00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:12.080 it's a beautiful poetic language. 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:14.200 Cain and Abel, 00:11:14.300 --> 00:11:16.500 the two sons of Adam and Eve, 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:18.700 and Cain is angry with his brother. 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:19.800 He's jealous of his brother, 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:20.620 and he's angry with him. 00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:22.660 And he's seething in his heart. 00:11:22.659 --> 00:11:24.419 And God comes to him and says, 00:11:24.579 --> 00:11:24.959 Cain, 00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:28.019 sin is crouching at the door, 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:31.839 and its desire is to overcome you, 00:11:31.959 --> 00:11:33.019 is for you. 00:11:33.539 --> 00:11:35.799 But you must rule over it. 00:11:36.459 --> 00:11:40.059 He talks about sin as being this kind of crouching tiger 00:11:40.059 --> 00:11:41.559 that's just outside the door, 00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:44.259 and it's waiting for you to drop your guard. 00:11:44.579 --> 00:11:45.819 It's licking its lips, 00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:47.600 and it's waiting to eat your life. 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:48.639 But he says, 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:49.360 but Cain, 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:51.620 there's a way for you to be victorious 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:53.340 over this thing. 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:55.419 Don't let it rule over you. 00:11:55.560 --> 00:11:56.700 You must rule over it. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:58.580 And that's the same thing that Paul says here. 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:00.720 Don't be overcome by evil. 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:03.399 Make sure that you overcome evil. 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:06.960 What Paul is telling us here 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:08.120 is that it's possible 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:10.220 to win the argument, 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:13.560 or to win the kind of tussle with your colleague, 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:15.399 and yet lose the battle. 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:19.480 It's possible that you think you've won the battle 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:20.699 because you get back at them, 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:22.620 and then you put that person in their place, 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:24.059 but actually, 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:25.980 you've lost the battle for your soul 00:12:25.980 --> 00:12:29.319 because you've become overcome by evil in the process. 00:12:30.100 --> 00:12:31.000 It's kind of like, 00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:33.220 I'm sure many of us know this, 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:36.459 if you have a disagreement with your spouse, right, 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:38.639 and you and your spouse are, 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:40.539 there's some argument that's going on, 00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:43.000 and let's say you are a lawyer, 00:12:43.339 --> 00:12:45.120 and you've got the gift of the gab, 00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:46.139 and you know how to argue, 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:48.439 and you can argue your case, 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:50.339 and you can out-argue your spouse, 00:12:50.699 --> 00:12:52.559 and you argue them into a corner, 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:54.339 and you put them in their place, 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:56.819 and you make them feel like it's all their fault, 00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:58.360 and you're the innocent victim, 00:12:58.819 --> 00:13:01.219 and you get them to pretty much, 00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:02.360 you argue them into a corner. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:04.120 What's happened? 00:13:05.299 --> 00:13:06.419 You've won the argument, 00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:09.919 but you've lost the relationship, right? 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:11.919 You might have won the argument, 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:14.000 but actually, you've lost. 00:13:14.679 --> 00:13:16.740 The way to win marital conflict 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:18.719 is when you both come to the place 00:13:18.719 --> 00:13:19.299 where you say, 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:20.719 hey, this sucks. 00:13:21.319 --> 00:13:22.039 I'm sorry. 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:23.719 No, no, I'm sorry. 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:25.079 Hey, let's reconcile. 00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:27.240 That's what winning looks like, 00:13:27.479 --> 00:13:29.639 and that's the problem 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:31.839 with the whole victim mentality of our day. 00:13:32.319 --> 00:13:33.919 When we feel victimized, 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:36.719 when we feel like somebody else's evil 00:13:36.719 --> 00:13:39.839 entitles me to either act evilly, 00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:41.919 or to think evil thoughts in my mind, 00:13:42.079 --> 00:13:44.740 and think I'm justified because of their evil. 00:13:45.579 --> 00:13:46.879 But what happens is that 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:49.139 we let evil win in the end. 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.539 And as we all know, 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:52.559 evil only begets more evil. 00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:55.339 Wickedness only gives birth to more wickedness. 00:13:56.699 --> 00:13:58.039 And so Paul's contention here 00:13:58.039 --> 00:14:00.360 is that the gospel gives us another way. 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:03.759 It's a way that not only allows us 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:05.639 to not be overcome by evil, 00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:07.440 but actually to overcome it. 00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:09.840 And that is, he says, 00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:11.180 to pray for, 00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:12.639 to bless, 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:14.259 to serve, 00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:16.080 to find a way 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:17.860 to extend good 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:19.560 to those that do wrong to us. 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:23.759 Now, there are hundreds of stories of this, 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:25.480 and I heard one story this week, 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:26.800 and it's a very old story, 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:28.820 but it captures it so well. 00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:30.240 One of my heroes 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:32.820 is a man by the name of Charles Spurgeon. 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:34.660 He lived 150 years ago. 00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:36.120 He was this preacher in London 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:38.300 in the late 19th century. 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.080 And he tells a story of, 00:14:40.300 --> 00:14:42.400 he led this wonderful church, 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:43.820 but he also oversaw many organizations, 00:14:44.760 --> 00:14:45.320 orphanages, 00:14:45.520 --> 00:14:47.180 and many, many charities. 00:14:47.980 --> 00:14:48.360 And there was, 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:50.500 one of the organizations he was leading, 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:52.200 there was a decision that he made, 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:53.820 and there was another person 00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:55.660 that was convinced 00:14:55.660 --> 00:14:56.820 it was the wrong decision. 00:14:57.700 --> 00:14:58.780 And Spurgeon said, 00:14:58.860 --> 00:14:59.800 okay, I hear you out, 00:14:59.940 --> 00:15:01.660 but I'm still going to go with my decision. 00:15:02.020 --> 00:15:04.740 And this man was angry and furious. 00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:06.000 He said, you can't do that. 00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:07.060 That's wrong of you, 00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:08.360 and was very angry with him. 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:09.920 And so this man said, 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:11.600 if you go ahead with your decision, 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.620 I'm going to write a pamphlet, 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:14.960 I'm going to get it printed, 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:16.300 and I'm going to expose you. 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:18.460 I'm going to distribute it all over London 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:20.640 so that everyone will know what you're like. 00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:22.659 That's like the ancient version 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.879 of writing a blog post. 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:25.500 They didn't have blogs in those days. 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:26.139 So he said, 00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:26.980 I'm going to write this thing, 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.980 I'm going to expose you, 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:29.480 and everyone's going to know about it. 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:31.319 And Spurgeon says, 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.139 really? 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:32.960 He says, 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:34.360 that's going to cost you a lot of money. 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:37.460 You really want to pay for the printing 00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:39.299 and then pay for someone to distribute it? 00:15:39.939 --> 00:15:40.240 And then he said, 00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:41.179 I don't care what it costs, 00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:42.000 I'm going to do it. 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:43.639 So Spurgeon said, 00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:44.379 I'll tell you what, 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:46.480 I'll pay for the printing. 00:15:50.439 --> 00:15:51.519 And then he said, 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:54.480 and if the story becomes a sensation 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:56.100 and you're able to sell it, 00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:57.240 sell it to newspapers 00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:58.279 and make some money from it, 00:15:58.679 --> 00:15:59.799 you keep all the profit. 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:03.539 And Spurgeon ends the story saying like this, 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:03.960 he says, 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:06.539 I never heard any more about that pamphlet, 00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:08.179 and that man is now 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:10.019 an exceedingly good friend of mine, 00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:12.740 and I hope he always will remain so. 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:15.159 You see what happened? 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:17.039 It wasn't just that he got his way 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.080 and the pamphlet died, 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:18.759 you know, 00:16:18.779 --> 00:16:19.620 fell in the wayside. 00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:21.060 That's one part of the story. 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:22.299 But actually, 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:24.820 it wasn't just that he wasn't overcome. 00:16:25.060 --> 00:16:26.560 He overcame this 00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:29.419 and was able to establish reconciliation. 00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:32.600 The man who was once his enemy 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:34.899 actually became his friend. 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:37.240 To repay evil with evil, 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.860 whether in thought or in action, 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:41.659 is actually to be overcome by evil. 00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:43.019 But on the other hand, 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.439 to repay evil with good 00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:45.740 is to overcome it 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.839 and to defeat it. 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:48.919 Now, 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:50.480 in this passage, 00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.199 Paul's going to give us 00:16:51.199 --> 00:16:52.240 a couple of other reasons 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:54.299 why this is good. 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.579 And so let's look at those reasons. 00:16:55.659 --> 00:16:57.299 I want to give us three reasons, 00:16:57.959 --> 00:16:59.299 extra motivations, 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.779 for why this is the way 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.500 of the Christian. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:03.240 If you follow Jesus this morning, 00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:05.019 why God calls us 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.899 this radical, 00:17:06.139 --> 00:17:06.960 counterintuitive, 00:17:07.139 --> 00:17:08.700 countercultural way of life. 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:10.440 And the first reason is this. 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:12.480 Because God alone 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:14.460 is supremely faithful 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:16.700 and perfectly just. 00:17:17.360 --> 00:17:19.240 God alone is supremely faithful 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.460 and perfectly just. 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:22.860 One of the reasons 00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:24.340 why I think we are so tempted 00:17:24.340 --> 00:17:26.160 when somebody belittles us 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:27.100 or maligns us 00:17:27.100 --> 00:17:28.360 or treats us wrongly, 00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:29.500 one of the reasons 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.539 why I think we're so tempted 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:32.080 to hit back at them 00:17:32.080 --> 00:17:33.920 or to repay kind for kind 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:35.720 is because often we think 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:36.880 if I don't do it, 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:38.000 who's going to do it? 00:17:38.560 --> 00:17:38.759 Right? 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.460 It's not like you can 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.340 call the police 00:17:40.340 --> 00:17:41.640 when your colleague 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:42.940 sends you a nasty email. 00:17:43.100 --> 00:17:43.320 Right? 00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:43.860 It's like, 00:17:44.100 --> 00:17:46.820 if I don't do something about it, 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.380 I'm just going to be trampled on. 00:17:48.560 --> 00:17:49.560 Who's going to ever 00:17:49.560 --> 00:17:50.800 put this thing right? 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:52.460 There's a sense of injustice 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.120 in our hearts 00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:53.720 that feels like 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:55.259 this thing is not right 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.220 and somebody's got to 00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:57.140 stand up for this. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:59.080 But look at what Paul says 00:17:59.080 --> 00:18:00.039 in verse 19 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:00.840 in our passage. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.519 Paul says, 00:18:02.060 --> 00:18:02.880 let's read it together. 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:03.260 He says, 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:03.940 beloved, 00:18:04.280 --> 00:18:05.980 never avenge yourselves 00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:07.440 but leave it 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.560 to the wrath of God 00:18:08.560 --> 00:18:09.380 for it is written, 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:10.980 vengeance is mine. 00:18:11.100 --> 00:18:11.980 I will repay, 00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:12.780 says the Lord. 00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:14.080 Now, 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:15.880 what does Paul mean here? 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:16.860 What's he saying? 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.620 Is Paul saying, 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:18.880 listen, 00:18:19.020 --> 00:18:19.820 don't take matters 00:18:19.820 --> 00:18:20.620 into your own hands 00:18:20.620 --> 00:18:21.380 because you're just 00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:22.400 small potato, right? 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.080 Leave it to God. 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.740 He'll bring in the big guns 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:26.720 and then he'll really 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:27.480 nuke the guy. 00:18:28.260 --> 00:18:28.700 You know, right? 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.480 Is that what he's saying? 00:18:30.260 --> 00:18:30.560 No, 00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:31.560 that's not really 00:18:31.560 --> 00:18:32.200 what Paul's saying. 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.840 What Paul is saying here 00:18:33.840 --> 00:18:35.039 is he's saying 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:36.840 that when we take matters 00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:38.039 into our own hands, 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:40.000 because we ourselves 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:40.620 are fallen 00:18:40.620 --> 00:18:42.319 and we are finite, 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.100 we don't have 00:18:44.100 --> 00:18:45.059 perfect perspective, 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:46.980 the chances are 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:48.080 we're going to just 00:18:48.080 --> 00:18:49.559 perpetuate evil 00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.819 as much as evil 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:51.819 has been done to us. 00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.360 Because we don't have 00:18:53.360 --> 00:18:54.319 perfect perspective, 00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:55.259 we don't know 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.120 the whole story, 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.799 we're not perfectly just, 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.660 our own hearts 00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:59.299 are deceptive 00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:00.180 and broken and crooked, 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:01.580 chances are 00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:02.660 that we're going to 00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:03.880 do evil back 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:04.920 and then the cycle 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:05.640 just continues. 00:19:06.560 --> 00:19:07.340 And Paul is saying 00:19:07.340 --> 00:19:08.960 that we tend to 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:09.860 perpetuate evil 00:19:09.860 --> 00:19:10.440 rather than 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:11.440 bringing about justice. 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:13.080 I think that's the point 00:19:13.080 --> 00:19:14.420 of verse 16 and 17. 00:19:14.620 --> 00:19:15.660 Look at what he says here. 00:19:16.060 --> 00:19:16.519 He says, 00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.920 don't be haughty. 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:18.299 In other words, 00:19:18.360 --> 00:19:19.220 don't think of yourself 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:21.019 more highly than you ought to. 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:23.360 Never be wise 00:19:23.360 --> 00:19:24.700 in your own sight. 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:26.680 The problem with pride 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:28.180 is that it blinds us 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:29.420 to who we really are. 00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.920 It blinds us to reality 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:32.140 and it blinds us 00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:33.279 to handling things well. 00:19:34.100 --> 00:19:35.740 Miroslav Wulf says this. 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:36.420 He says, 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.420 forgiveness flounders, 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:38.600 in other words, 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:40.660 it doesn't flourish 00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:42.840 because when I exclude 00:19:42.840 --> 00:19:43.500 my enemy 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.480 from the community 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.200 of humans 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.420 and I exclude myself 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.860 from the community 00:19:47.860 --> 00:19:48.519 of sinners. 00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:50.220 See what he's saying there? 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.300 When there's somebody 00:19:51.300 --> 00:19:53.140 that's out to get me, 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:54.580 I think of this person 00:19:54.580 --> 00:19:55.580 as less than human 00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.579 and I somehow 00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:57.339 think of myself 00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:58.779 as more than 00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.819 everyone else. 00:19:59.899 --> 00:20:01.240 I've got perfect perspective. 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:02.899 They're all sinners 00:20:02.899 --> 00:20:04.259 but I know how to handle 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.179 the situation. 00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:07.399 And Paul's contention here 00:20:07.399 --> 00:20:09.139 is that there is one 00:20:09.139 --> 00:20:10.879 who has perfect perspective. 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.399 There is one 00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:13.799 who sees down deep 00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:14.579 into the reality 00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:15.679 of the human heart 00:20:15.679 --> 00:20:17.439 and he sees perfectly. 00:20:17.939 --> 00:20:18.919 And there is one 00:20:18.919 --> 00:20:20.859 who is perfectly just. 00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.399 And he is faithful. 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:24.560 And you can leave it 00:20:24.560 --> 00:20:25.660 in his hands 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:26.700 and you can trust 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.620 that he will handle 00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.440 it perfectly. 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.820 His justice 00:20:29.820 --> 00:20:31.200 is never thwarted. 00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.420 His justice 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:34.000 is never too harsh 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.840 or too soft. 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.380 God's justice 00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:37.500 and God's mercy 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.980 are not mutually exclusive 00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:40.460 but they are perfectly 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:41.400 married together. 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:43.180 When we take things 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:44.040 into our own hands, 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:44.940 we are sometimes 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.720 too harsh, 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:47.240 other times too soft. 00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.560 But God knows 00:20:48.560 --> 00:20:49.480 how to handle things 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.100 perfectly. 00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:52.159 Friends, 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.219 when humanity 00:20:53.219 --> 00:20:54.399 has tried to 00:20:54.399 --> 00:20:55.500 play God, 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.639 it always ends 00:20:56.639 --> 00:20:57.459 disastrously. 00:20:58.119 --> 00:20:59.299 Let God be God. 00:20:59.399 --> 00:21:00.179 Let you be you 00:21:00.179 --> 00:21:01.119 and leave matters 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:01.879 in his hands. 00:21:02.439 --> 00:21:03.279 Your life, friends, 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.779 is not in your hands. 00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:06.439 Do you know that your life 00:21:06.439 --> 00:21:07.419 is in God's hands? 00:21:08.439 --> 00:21:08.919 Do you know, friends, 00:21:08.959 --> 00:21:09.799 that there is not 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.719 a single door 00:21:10.719 --> 00:21:12.159 that God wants to open 00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:13.659 that anyone can shut. 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:15.159 And if God wants 00:21:15.159 --> 00:21:15.919 to shut the door, 00:21:15.919 --> 00:21:17.179 there is no one 00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:18.179 that can open it. 00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:20.079 Your life is in his hands. 00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:20.879 Commit your ways 00:21:20.879 --> 00:21:21.359 to the Lord. 00:21:21.459 --> 00:21:22.240 He will look after 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:22.819 your steps. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.740 And the problem is 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.539 when we try and take 00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.519 things in our own hands, 00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:28.039 we tend to mess it up. 00:21:29.639 --> 00:21:30.039 Friends, 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:30.519 for those of us 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.159 that are parents, 00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:31.939 can I urge us, 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:33.019 let's teach our children 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.339 this, 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.619 that their life 00:21:34.619 --> 00:21:35.819 is not in their hands. 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:36.779 They don't need 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.759 to hustle their way 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.259 through life 00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:39.039 to get to the top. 00:21:39.179 --> 00:21:40.319 Those who get to the top 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.740 still don't necessarily win. 00:21:42.439 --> 00:21:43.059 Jesus said, 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:44.799 you can own the whole world 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:46.059 and yet still lose 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:46.740 your soul. 00:21:47.939 --> 00:21:48.240 So friends, 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.240 let's teach our children, 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.299 let's teach our own hearts. 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.880 There is a God in heaven. 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:53.380 He really does hear 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:55.000 the cry of every broken heart. 00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:57.539 He really is supremely faithful. 00:21:58.019 --> 00:22:01.180 He really is sovereignly majestic. 00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:04.500 He really is perfectly just. 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:05.700 Okay? 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.099 So first reason, 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.779 God is supremely faithful 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.700 and he's perfectly just. 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.900 Second reason is this, 00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:13.660 because blessing those who curse 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:15.140 is always, 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.640 or did not say always, 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:18.480 is usually redemptive. 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.220 Redemptive. 00:22:21.100 --> 00:22:23.420 Look at verse 20 with me. 00:22:24.300 --> 00:22:24.900 Verse 19, 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.420 Paul says, 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:25.740 beloved, 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:27.000 never avenge yourselves, 00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:27.940 leave it to God. 00:22:28.060 --> 00:22:28.680 Verse 20, 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:29.940 to the contrary, 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:31.820 if your enemy is hungry, 00:22:32.080 --> 00:22:32.580 feed him. 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.759 If he's thirsty, 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:34.960 give him something to drink. 00:22:35.280 --> 00:22:36.500 For by doing so, 00:22:36.580 --> 00:22:38.300 you will heap burning coals 00:22:38.300 --> 00:22:39.440 on his head. 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.559 Now here again, 00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:41.559 we have the same situation. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.539 What's going on here? 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:43.940 Is Paul saying, 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:44.720 listen, 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:45.380 you know, 00:22:46.360 --> 00:22:47.440 when someone's unkind to you, 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.600 you be kind back to them 00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:51.039 and you'll cause fire and brimstone 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.640 to fall out on them, right? 00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:53.160 Fire, 00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:54.160 thunder and lightning 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.960 to fall on the head 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:56.120 and to smite them dead. 00:22:56.860 --> 00:22:57.140 No, 00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:58.840 that's not what Paul is saying at all. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:01.000 What he's saying here is that 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:04.680 when we respond with kindness to cruelty, 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:07.140 there should be some kind of, 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:08.620 the hope is that 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:11.799 that arrests the person 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:13.239 and causes them to sit up 00:23:13.239 --> 00:23:13.619 and think, 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.559 what's going on here? 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.379 It should arrest their action 00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:17.659 and cause them to stop doing 00:23:17.659 --> 00:23:18.359 what they're doing 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:20.199 and to give thought to their actions. 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:22.959 If you ever have a burning coal on you 00:23:22.959 --> 00:23:24.719 or an ember from a fire on you, 00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:25.719 let's say you're barbecuing 00:23:25.719 --> 00:23:26.819 and you stoke the fire 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:28.219 and the sparks fly 00:23:28.219 --> 00:23:29.279 and embers fly out 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:30.439 and an ember lands on you, 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.959 you don't just carry on doing 00:23:31.959 --> 00:23:32.459 what you're doing, 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.579 talking to your mate, right? 00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.839 You quickly stop 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:36.579 and you stop doing what you're doing. 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:38.179 Paul is saying the same thing. 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:39.819 When we respond with kindness 00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:40.759 to cruelty, 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:43.740 that should cause like a knife wound, 00:23:43.919 --> 00:23:44.740 a stabbing, 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:44.980 to say, 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:45.119 hey, 00:23:45.159 --> 00:23:46.019 what's going on here? 00:23:46.399 --> 00:23:47.579 And to cause the person 00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:48.579 to stop and reflect 00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:51.759 and possibly to redeem the situation 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:53.079 or the relationship. 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.759 One of the greatest stories, 00:23:56.699 --> 00:23:57.619 examples of this 00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.699 is a fictional story, 00:23:58.859 --> 00:23:59.759 but it's awesome. 00:24:00.899 --> 00:24:01.779 I don't know if you guys know 00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:03.439 the story of Les Miserables. 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:05.039 Anyone know that story? 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:07.180 If you don't know the story, 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:09.039 it's one of the greatest stories 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:10.839 in Western literature 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:12.220 the last 500 years, 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:13.659 written by Victor Hugo, 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.399 this French guy, 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.500 and set in, 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.000 I think, 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:19.240 17th or 18th century France. 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.619 And so the story of this guy 00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:22.639 called Jean Valjean, 00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:25.980 and he doesn't have 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.720 a whole lot of money, 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.619 and one day he steals 00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:29.420 a loaf of bread, 00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.299 and he's caught, 00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:30.899 and he's sentenced 00:24:30.899 --> 00:24:32.460 to 12 years in prison. 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:35.000 And he tries to escape 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.799 a few times, 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:37.160 so he delays it, 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.579 delays it, 00:24:37.620 --> 00:24:39.680 eventually 19 years in prison 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.940 for stealing a loaf of bread. 00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:42.600 And he's eventually 00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.680 released from prison, 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:45.120 but he's branded 00:24:45.120 --> 00:24:46.200 a criminal forever, 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:48.240 he's got to report 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:49.299 to his parole officer 00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.259 all the time, 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.579 he can't get a job, 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:52.900 there's no jobs in France, 00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:55.900 he can't find anything to eat, 00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:57.579 and the whole system 00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:58.759 is stacked against him. 00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.240 And so life just goes 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.700 from bad to worse, 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.519 and eventually one day 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:05.500 he's sleeping on the street 00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:06.740 outside of a church, 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:08.440 and he hasn't had 00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:09.599 anything to eat in days, 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.859 his clothes are torn, 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:13.019 and the vicar of the church, 00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:13.539 the priest, 00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:14.859 sees him outside there, 00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:15.640 and he says, 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:15.879 listen, 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.720 you can't sleep here, 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.599 come on inside. 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.759 And he gives him 00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.460 some new clothes, 00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.000 and he gives him 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:21.279 a hot warm meal, 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:22.140 first good meal 00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:22.879 he's had in days, 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:23.920 and he gives him 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.980 a bed to sleep on, 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.259 and he says, 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:25.500 listen, 00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.400 sleep here tonight, 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.000 and tomorrow 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:28.500 we'll fix you up 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:28.920 on your way. 00:25:29.780 --> 00:25:31.420 And so he comes in, 00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.540 and he's tatty, 00:25:32.580 --> 00:25:33.380 and he's ragged, 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.780 but while he's eating 00:25:34.780 --> 00:25:35.440 this meal, 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:37.360 his eyes fall 00:25:37.360 --> 00:25:38.720 upon all the silverware 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.580 in the dining room 00:25:39.580 --> 00:25:40.580 of the church house, 00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:40.920 right? 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.420 And all the cutlery 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.320 is this amazing 00:25:43.320 --> 00:25:44.180 polished silver, 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:45.580 and he's thinking 00:25:45.580 --> 00:25:46.019 to himself, 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.120 these guys have got 00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:48.080 more money than I've 00:25:48.080 --> 00:25:49.400 seen in my entire lifetime. 00:25:50.320 --> 00:25:51.259 And so later that night, 00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:52.720 the priest goes to bed, 00:25:52.780 --> 00:25:53.640 the house is quiet, 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.440 and Jean Valjean, 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:55.340 and he gets up, 00:25:55.580 --> 00:25:56.600 and he goes downstairs, 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.559 and he steals 00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.880 all the silverware, 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.380 puts in his bag, 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.400 and he flees 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.039 into the night, 00:26:02.100 --> 00:26:02.860 and he runs away. 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.480 But he doesn't get 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.080 very far 00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:06.759 before he's found. 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.759 And some police officers 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.600 catch him, 00:26:09.620 --> 00:26:10.640 and they see he's looking 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.759 a bit scraggy, 00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:12.480 and they look inside 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:12.920 his bag, 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.279 and there's all 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:13.920 the silverware, 00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:14.860 and I don't know 00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:15.519 if it's stamped 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.120 with the church, 00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:16.720 you know, 00:26:16.840 --> 00:26:17.559 emblem or something, 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.420 and they realize 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:18.940 what's happened, 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.000 and so they take him 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.759 back to the church. 00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:21.460 And so in the early 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:22.100 hours of the morning, 00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:23.019 they knock on the church 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:23.299 door, 00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.159 and they say, 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:24.559 Vicar, 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:26.099 look what we found, 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:27.500 this man with all 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.279 your silverware, 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.419 and he claims 00:26:29.419 --> 00:26:30.259 that you gave it to him 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:30.839 as a gift, 00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:32.519 but we've returned him 00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:33.339 to you along 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:34.059 with your silver. 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:37.019 And the priest looks 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.039 at Jean Valjean, 00:26:38.159 --> 00:26:38.779 and he says, 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:39.960 Jean Valjean, 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:41.819 what have you done? 00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:44.079 He says, 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.960 you left these behind, 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.720 and he goes back 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.419 into the church, 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.079 and he gets these 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.879 two massive 00:26:49.879 --> 00:26:51.319 silver candlesticks, 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:52.379 and he says, 00:26:52.439 --> 00:26:53.019 here you are, 00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:54.220 you left in such a hurry, 00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:55.179 you must have forgotten, 00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.319 I gave these to you 00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:56.720 as well. 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.359 And he puts them 00:26:58.359 --> 00:26:58.879 in his hands, 00:26:58.899 --> 00:26:59.359 and he says 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:00.259 to the police officer, 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:02.319 release this man, 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:04.099 this is my gift to him. 00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:05.720 And the officers 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:06.500 look at each other, 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:06.980 they don't know 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.700 what's going on, 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.460 they can't believe it, 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.539 they know what's going on, 00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.599 but they can't believe it, 00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:11.639 and they trunnel 00:27:11.639 --> 00:27:12.419 from the dark, 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.519 and the priest 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:15.819 turns to Jean Valjean, 00:27:15.879 --> 00:27:16.599 and he says this, 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:17.119 he says, 00:27:17.179 --> 00:27:18.359 you must use the silver 00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:19.699 to become an honest man. 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:21.500 God has raised you 00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.240 out of darkness, 00:27:22.479 --> 00:27:23.539 I have redeemed 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.439 your soul 00:27:24.439 --> 00:27:25.579 for God. 00:27:26.479 --> 00:27:27.500 And this act 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:28.079 of kindness 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:29.939 releases this firestorm 00:27:29.939 --> 00:27:31.059 of an explosion 00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:32.319 in Jean Valjean's heart. 00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:33.479 He doesn't know 00:27:33.479 --> 00:27:33.959 what to do, 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.619 he's this bitter, 00:27:35.959 --> 00:27:36.459 angry, 00:27:36.719 --> 00:27:37.279 scoundrel, 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.299 thieving man 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:40.359 who's hated the world, 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:42.000 and suddenly 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.979 this act of kindness 00:27:42.979 --> 00:27:44.619 blows his world apart, 00:27:44.939 --> 00:27:45.959 and it completely 00:27:45.959 --> 00:27:46.959 transforms him, 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.299 and revolutionizes 00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:49.019 his life 00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:50.539 into a whole new man. 00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.980 Listen to what he says, 00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:53.240 this is from the play, 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:53.880 he says, 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:55.440 I had come to hate 00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.120 the world, 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.059 this world 00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:58.120 that always hated me, 00:27:58.559 --> 00:27:59.759 take an eye for an eye, 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.720 turn your heart 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.380 into stone, 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:03.200 that's all I've ever lived for, 00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:04.420 that's all I've ever known, 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.220 and one word 00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:07.200 from that man, 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:07.720 the priest, 00:28:07.840 --> 00:28:08.960 and I would have been back, 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:10.539 beneath the lash, 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.980 my hands upon the rack, 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.360 instead, 00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:14.920 he's offered me 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.579 my freedom, 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:18.319 I feel my shame 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.079 inside me 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:20.079 like a knife, 00:28:20.419 --> 00:28:21.000 he's talking about 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:22.579 the coals on his head, 00:28:22.659 --> 00:28:22.879 right, 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:24.759 and he goes on to say, 00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:26.879 Jean Valjean is dead, 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.220 a new life 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:29.079 has been born, 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.480 and if you know 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.319 the rest of the story, 00:28:31.419 --> 00:28:31.980 Jean Valjean 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:32.639 is a new man, 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.720 he spends the rest 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.399 of his life, 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.859 rather than bitter 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.639 and angry 00:28:36.639 --> 00:28:37.839 and hating the world, 00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:39.480 he spends the rest 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:40.119 of his life 00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:41.579 pouring himself out 00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:42.319 for the marginalized 00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:42.939 and the poor 00:28:42.939 --> 00:28:43.639 and the vulnerable 00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:44.880 and those that cannot 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:46.480 look after themselves, 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.960 and that's what 00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.680 Paul's saying here, 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:49.840 Paul's saying that 00:28:49.840 --> 00:28:51.160 if we will allow 00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:51.880 the gospel 00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:53.800 to soak into our hearts 00:28:53.800 --> 00:28:54.759 and to transform us 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.720 and to humble us 00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.380 of our pride 00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:57.560 that wants to get back, 00:28:58.040 --> 00:28:59.200 if we allow the gospel 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.620 to so transform us, 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:02.280 not only will we 00:29:02.280 --> 00:29:03.680 possibly win back 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:04.080 our enemy, 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.160 it'll change us 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:06.020 from the inside out 00:29:06.020 --> 00:29:07.480 and it'll change those 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.820 that malign us 00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:10.179 and belittle us 00:29:10.179 --> 00:29:11.639 and curse us. 00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:13.579 Friends, 00:29:13.619 --> 00:29:14.099 the gospel, 00:29:14.379 --> 00:29:15.539 this gospel power 00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:16.779 is redemptive, 00:29:16.879 --> 00:29:18.500 it changes people's lives. 00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:21.980 But there's another reason, 00:29:22.339 --> 00:29:23.759 a far more profound reason 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.539 why Christians 00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.659 are called to live lives 00:29:25.659 --> 00:29:26.879 of radical generosity 00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:27.500 and grace. 00:29:28.359 --> 00:29:29.000 And if you've been 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.799 part of Watermark, 00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:31.099 I think you'll know why. 00:29:31.919 --> 00:29:32.779 And the reason is 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.799 because this is how 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:35.000 God in Christ 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.720 has treated us. 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:38.860 Friends, 00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.860 remember the night 00:29:39.860 --> 00:29:41.319 before Jesus dies, 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.620 where is he? 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.620 He's celebrating 00:29:44.620 --> 00:29:45.759 the Passover meal 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.900 and the Passover meal 00:29:46.900 --> 00:29:48.500 is the greatest celebration 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.620 in Israel, right? 00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:51.180 It's like the family 00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:52.319 reunion meal 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:54.000 at Lunar New Year. 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.220 People travel 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:56.120 from miles away, 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.240 they come 00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:57.940 and they celebrate 00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:59.319 and they're at 00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:00.600 this Passover meal 00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:01.640 and who's there with him? 00:30:02.140 --> 00:30:02.860 His disciples, 00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:05.660 including Judas Iscariot 00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:07.560 and Jesus knows 00:30:07.560 --> 00:30:08.740 that Judas is there, 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.120 right? 00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:09.700 He says, 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:10.420 one of you is going 00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:11.000 to betray me. 00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:13.019 But Jesus celebrates 00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.900 with his disciples 00:30:13.900 --> 00:30:15.800 and at one point, 00:30:16.080 --> 00:30:17.680 Judas sneaks off 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.220 from the meal 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:20.000 and while Judas is there, 00:30:20.080 --> 00:30:21.000 he's busy plotting 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:21.860 and scheming 00:30:21.860 --> 00:30:23.800 how he can betray Jesus 00:30:23.800 --> 00:30:24.820 and he goes off, 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:26.040 he sneaks off at one point 00:30:26.040 --> 00:30:27.000 and goes down to the temple 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:28.200 and goes to religious leaders 00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:28.560 and he says, 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:28.880 listen, 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.740 I'll sell him to you 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.980 for 30 silver coins. 00:30:32.800 --> 00:30:33.519 They make a deal, 00:30:33.800 --> 00:30:34.580 shake hands on it, 00:30:34.620 --> 00:30:35.120 it's a deal. 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.420 And Judas says, 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:36.700 listen, 00:30:36.800 --> 00:30:37.340 later tonight 00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:37.920 he's going to go 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:38.940 to the Mount of Olives 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.940 and to Gethsemane 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:41.600 and go arrest him there. 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:43.259 So they make this deal, 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:44.380 he hands over the coins. 00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:45.920 Later that night, 00:30:46.040 --> 00:30:47.380 Jesus goes with his disciples 00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:48.640 to the Mount of Olives 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:49.880 and he goes to Gethsemane 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:50.800 and he's praying there. 00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.960 And Jesus' heart 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:53.900 is in agony. 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:55.519 He's in agony 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.340 because he knows 00:30:56.340 --> 00:30:57.480 in a few hours' time 00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:58.259 he's going to be arrested. 00:30:59.120 --> 00:31:00.040 He knows that he's going 00:31:00.040 --> 00:31:00.540 to be put through 00:31:00.540 --> 00:31:01.320 a sham trial. 00:31:02.060 --> 00:31:02.920 He knows he's going 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.500 to be beaten 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.299 and mocked 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.079 and scorned 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:06.079 and spat upon. 00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:07.759 But more than that, 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.759 Jesus knows 00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:10.720 that the entire weight 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:12.039 of God's wrath 00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:12.759 for the sins 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:13.519 of those who will come 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.500 to trust in him 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:16.039 is going to be poured 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:16.839 out upon him. 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:19.500 Jesus is in such agony 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:22.500 that the blood cells 00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:25.119 or whatever it is, 00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:26.079 under his skin, 00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:26.940 burst, 00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:27.880 and he literally 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:29.620 starts to perspire blood. 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:33.120 The agony of his soul 00:31:33.120 --> 00:31:35.160 as he anticipates 00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:36.000 the cross. 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:38.240 And while Jesus is there 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:39.140 and he's on his knees 00:31:39.140 --> 00:31:40.279 and he's crying out 00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:41.080 to his Father 00:31:41.080 --> 00:31:41.779 in prayer, 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.820 over the hill 00:31:43.820 --> 00:31:44.840 he hears 00:31:44.840 --> 00:31:45.920 this sound, 00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:46.880 this clanging 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:47.600 of clubs 00:31:47.600 --> 00:31:48.740 and swords 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.700 and shields. 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:51.000 And he hears 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.940 this rumbling noise 00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.880 and he sees lights 00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:53.900 coming over the hill 00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:55.220 and there's a mob 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.019 coming his way. 00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:57.200 And there at the front 00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:57.879 of the mob 00:31:57.879 --> 00:31:59.119 is Judas. 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:02.019 And Judas walks up 00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.559 to him 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:04.059 and he gives him 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:05.200 a kiss on the cheek 00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:05.759 and he says, 00:32:05.900 --> 00:32:06.839 greetings, Rabbi. 00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:09.019 And the word for greeting 00:32:09.619 --> 00:32:10.359 is the word 00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:11.619 be glad, rejoice. 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.879 It's like Judas is saying, 00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:14.019 it's good to see you, 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:14.460 my Rabbi. 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:17.059 And Jesus looks him 00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.639 in the eye 00:32:17.639 --> 00:32:18.279 and he says, 00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:18.980 friend, 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:22.000 do what you've come to do. 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.680 Friend, 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:25.920 do what you've come to do. 00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:27.879 And Peter 00:32:27.879 --> 00:32:28.960 quickly realizes 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:29.599 what's happening. 00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:30.920 Peter grabs his sword 00:32:30.920 --> 00:32:32.200 and he starts lashing out 00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:33.299 and he cuts off 00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:33.779 the ear 00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:34.779 of one of the soldiers. 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:36.240 And Jesus says, 00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:36.460 Peter, 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.619 put your sword away. 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.400 And he reaches out 00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:40.700 and he puts his hand 00:32:40.700 --> 00:32:41.400 on the ear 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.139 of the man 00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:43.400 who has just been 00:32:43.400 --> 00:32:44.460 slashed with the sword 00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.119 and he instantly 00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:45.839 heals him. 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:48.619 And they drag Jesus 00:32:48.619 --> 00:32:49.519 off down the hill, 00:32:49.639 --> 00:32:50.700 down into Jerusalem 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:52.299 and they take him 00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:54.559 to that house 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:55.319 of the high priest. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.620 And there in his house, 00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:58.480 they are accusing him 00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:58.900 of things 00:32:58.900 --> 00:33:00.220 and bringing up accusations 00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:01.640 and they're spitting on him 00:33:01.640 --> 00:33:02.539 and they're pointing 00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:03.100 their finger 00:33:03.100 --> 00:33:04.740 and they're bringing up 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:05.299 all these things 00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:06.360 and the high priest says, 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:07.400 this man is guilty. 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:08.920 And they say, 00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:09.559 we've got to take him 00:33:09.559 --> 00:33:10.240 to Pilate. 00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:12.220 And so in the morning light, 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:13.279 they take him to Pilate 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:13.660 and they say, 00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:14.140 Pilate, 00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:15.160 this man is causing 00:33:15.160 --> 00:33:15.900 an insurrection. 00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:17.620 He's causing a riot here. 00:33:17.699 --> 00:33:18.859 He says that he is king, 00:33:18.979 --> 00:33:19.619 not you, 00:33:19.719 --> 00:33:20.299 not Caesar. 00:33:20.619 --> 00:33:22.239 He's causing trouble here 00:33:22.239 --> 00:33:24.699 and he's causing insurrection. 00:33:24.939 --> 00:33:25.139 Pilate, 00:33:25.219 --> 00:33:25.859 you've got to deal 00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:26.459 with this man 00:33:26.459 --> 00:33:27.479 and they bring in 00:33:27.479 --> 00:33:28.379 some false witnesses 00:33:28.379 --> 00:33:29.099 and they lie 00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:30.079 and they tell their story. 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:32.379 And Pilate is caught up 00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:32.639 in this 00:33:32.639 --> 00:33:33.399 because he knows 00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:34.339 that Jesus is innocent 00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:35.459 but his job 00:33:35.459 --> 00:33:36.079 is on the line. 00:33:36.459 --> 00:33:38.079 If he lets Jesus go, 00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.479 then Caesar's going 00:33:39.479 --> 00:33:40.500 to come down on him. 00:33:41.219 --> 00:33:41.919 And so Pilate 00:33:41.919 --> 00:33:42.879 wants to let him go 00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:43.579 but he doesn't want 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.299 to lose his job 00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:45.519 and so he says, 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:46.099 Pilate says, 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:46.359 well, 00:33:46.359 --> 00:33:46.719 well, 00:33:46.919 --> 00:33:47.919 what must I do 00:33:47.919 --> 00:33:48.339 with him? 00:33:48.879 --> 00:33:49.079 Well, 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:49.839 what should I do 00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:50.299 with this man 00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:50.879 called Jesus? 00:33:50.979 --> 00:33:51.399 And they say, 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:52.599 crucify him. 00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:53.679 Pilate says, 00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:54.459 crucify him? 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:55.419 What has he done? 00:33:56.139 --> 00:33:56.959 And they don't even 00:33:56.959 --> 00:33:57.719 answer his question. 00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:58.259 They just say, 00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:59.859 crucify him. 00:34:01.179 --> 00:34:02.459 And so Pilate realizes 00:34:02.459 --> 00:34:04.099 it's either my job, 00:34:04.199 --> 00:34:04.579 my head, 00:34:04.619 --> 00:34:05.219 or this man. 00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:06.319 So he washes his hands 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:06.619 and he says, 00:34:06.699 --> 00:34:07.179 okay, fine, 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:07.959 take him away 00:34:07.959 --> 00:34:09.639 and crucify him. 00:34:10.799 --> 00:34:11.839 And they take Jesus 00:34:11.839 --> 00:34:12.539 into barracks 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.500 and they beat him 00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.679 and they whip him 00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:16.079 bits of bone 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:17.059 on the end of the whip. 00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.400 They rip his flesh 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.260 that you cannot even 00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:20.340 recognize. 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.360 It's a human body. 00:34:24.300 --> 00:34:25.300 And all the while 00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:26.400 that this is going on, 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.699 Jesus is thinking, 00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:29.880 I'm doing this for you. 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:31.840 The very people 00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:32.679 that are doing this, 00:34:32.760 --> 00:34:33.780 I'm doing this for you. 00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:35.860 And eventually 00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.519 they get him up 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:37.460 to Calvary. 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:38.980 They lay the cross 00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:39.440 on the floor. 00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.320 They lay him down. 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:41.260 They tie his hands. 00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:42.660 They smash these nails 00:34:42.660 --> 00:34:43.420 through his hands. 00:34:44.200 --> 00:34:44.960 He's nailed to the cross. 00:34:45.040 --> 00:34:46.220 They hoist up the cross 00:34:46.220 --> 00:34:47.760 and while they're there, 00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:48.780 they're laughing at him. 00:34:49.260 --> 00:34:50.080 The soldiers are 00:34:50.080 --> 00:34:50.940 bringing out some dice 00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.520 and they gamble 00:34:51.520 --> 00:34:52.280 for his clothing. 00:34:53.060 --> 00:34:53.980 The passers by 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:54.820 are mocking him, 00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:55.020 saying, 00:34:55.120 --> 00:34:55.920 what an idiot, 00:34:56.020 --> 00:34:56.760 what a scumbag. 00:34:56.980 --> 00:34:58.420 He said he could save people. 00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.160 Look at him now. 00:35:00.060 --> 00:35:00.960 And the two criminals 00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:01.960 on either side of him 00:35:01.960 --> 00:35:02.660 are mocking him 00:35:02.660 --> 00:35:03.540 and laughing at him. 00:35:05.260 --> 00:35:06.820 And while this is going on, 00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:08.080 Jesus is suffocating 00:35:08.080 --> 00:35:09.640 because he cannot breathe 00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:12.859 and he finds some air 00:35:12.859 --> 00:35:14.259 and he cries out, 00:35:15.059 --> 00:35:17.059 Father, forgive them. 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:20.219 They know not what they're doing. 00:35:21.859 --> 00:35:23.119 Friends, after all that, 00:35:23.239 --> 00:35:24.239 Jesus cries out, 00:35:24.379 --> 00:35:25.400 Father, forgive them. 00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:29.659 And Romans chapter 5 00:35:29.659 --> 00:35:31.239 says this, 00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:33.739 while we were still weak, 00:35:33.799 --> 00:35:34.159 in other words, 00:35:34.259 --> 00:35:34.980 trapped in sin, 00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:36.740 Christ died for the ungodly. 00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:39.260 Scarcely will anyone 00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:40.800 die for a righteous man, 00:35:40.860 --> 00:35:42.179 perhaps for a very good man, 00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:43.480 someone might be willing to. 00:35:44.219 --> 00:35:46.300 But God shows his love for us 00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:48.059 that while we were still sinners, 00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:49.679 Christ died for us. 00:35:50.300 --> 00:35:52.079 While we were his enemies, 00:35:52.579 --> 00:35:54.619 we were reconciled to God 00:35:54.619 --> 00:35:56.480 through the death of his son. 00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:00.280 Friends, the natural state 00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:01.639 of every human heart, 00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:03.920 no matter what your nationality 00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:04.719 or your culture 00:36:04.719 --> 00:36:05.699 or your background, 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:06.659 the natural state 00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.500 of every human heart 00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:08.699 is that we are self-seeking 00:36:08.699 --> 00:36:09.579 and self-serving. 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:11.579 And that means 00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:12.719 that we always tend 00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:14.599 towards enmity with others, 00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:16.299 but not only that, 00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:17.799 enmity with God. 00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:19.839 The God who made us 00:36:19.839 --> 00:36:20.719 and loved us, 00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:23.159 who breathed his life into us, 00:36:23.500 --> 00:36:24.519 that we might know him, 00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:26.259 our hearts by nature 00:36:26.259 --> 00:36:27.819 are at enmity with him. 00:36:28.219 --> 00:36:29.719 We want to be our own king. 00:36:29.859 --> 00:36:31.339 We want to be our own God. 00:36:32.199 --> 00:36:32.579 And friends, 00:36:32.619 --> 00:36:34.420 if you and I were in the crowd 00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:35.519 on that fateful day, 00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:36.759 the chances are 00:36:36.759 --> 00:36:37.739 we would be shouting, 00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:39.139 crucify him. 00:36:39.900 --> 00:36:41.079 We would be throwing 00:36:41.079 --> 00:36:43.279 our fists of rage as well. 00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:44.980 Say, do away with this man. 00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:49.099 And Jesus doesn't repay us with good 00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:50.400 because we were good to him. 00:36:51.259 --> 00:36:52.619 Jesus doesn't look at our hearts 00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:53.379 and say, oh, you know, 00:36:53.779 --> 00:36:54.679 they love me so much, 00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:55.659 I guess I'll be good to him. 00:36:56.139 --> 00:36:57.940 While we were his enemies, 00:36:58.239 --> 00:36:59.440 while we were sinners, 00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:01.500 while we were throwing our fists 00:37:01.500 --> 00:37:03.500 at Christ and rebelling against him, 00:37:04.200 --> 00:37:05.700 Jesus went to the cross, 00:37:06.460 --> 00:37:07.960 allowed himself to be nailed there 00:37:07.960 --> 00:37:10.119 for you and for me 00:37:10.119 --> 00:37:12.400 and for the brokenness of this world. 00:37:14.460 --> 00:37:16.000 Friends, are you a Christian this morning? 00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:18.800 If you're a follower of Jesus, 00:37:19.260 --> 00:37:21.659 you follow one who died for his enemies. 00:37:22.820 --> 00:37:25.039 Friends, every one of us here this morning 00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:26.219 that are followers of Jesus, 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:27.420 you're only a Christian 00:37:27.420 --> 00:37:29.260 because Christ went to the cross 00:37:29.260 --> 00:37:30.420 for his enemies. 00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:32.119 Jesus laid down his life 00:37:32.119 --> 00:37:33.960 for you and for I. 00:37:34.900 --> 00:37:36.159 None of us would be Christians 00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:38.820 if Christ had not loved his enemies to death. 00:37:39.780 --> 00:37:41.340 Friends, are you not a Christian this morning? 00:37:41.940 --> 00:37:43.360 Are you still on some kind of journey? 00:37:43.360 --> 00:37:45.300 I want to tell you today 00:37:45.300 --> 00:37:47.620 that Jesus literally loved you to death. 00:37:48.460 --> 00:37:50.559 He went to the cross for you 00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:53.620 and he drank to the very bottom 00:37:53.620 --> 00:37:55.280 the cup of God's wrath 00:37:55.280 --> 00:37:56.320 that you wouldn't have to. 00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:58.860 And if you don't ever come to Jesus, 00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:00.320 you will die in your sin 00:38:00.320 --> 00:38:02.039 and you will face judgment. 00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:04.120 But if you come to him 00:38:04.120 --> 00:38:05.019 and surrender your life, 00:38:05.079 --> 00:38:06.420 if you hand over your life to him, 00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:08.480 Jesus takes that judgment 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:10.500 that we deserve upon himself. 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:13.099 Friends, if you come and surrender to him, 00:38:13.099 --> 00:38:15.579 you'll find that Jesus will overcome 00:38:15.579 --> 00:38:16.639 the evil in your heart 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:18.679 and Jesus will transform you. 00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:20.219 And the radical thing is 00:38:20.219 --> 00:38:22.380 he'll make you an agent for good in this world. 00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:24.639 Friends, come to Jesus. 00:38:25.619 --> 00:38:28.539 Don't go another day living your own way. 00:38:28.659 --> 00:38:31.239 Don't go another day being your own king and master. 00:38:31.739 --> 00:38:33.940 Come and surrender and bow down to King Jesus, 00:38:34.339 --> 00:38:36.079 the one who is Lord of all, 00:38:36.739 --> 00:38:38.659 but the one who loved you to death. 00:38:39.739 --> 00:38:41.259 Friends, what difference does Christianity 00:38:41.260 --> 00:38:42.380 and the gospel make? 00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:45.140 What difference does Jesus actually make 00:38:45.140 --> 00:38:45.980 in anyone's life? 00:38:46.700 --> 00:38:48.860 He makes every difference in every way. 00:38:49.260 --> 00:38:50.760 If only we'll come to him 00:38:50.760 --> 00:38:53.300 and allow his gospel to wash our hearts 00:38:53.300 --> 00:38:55.860 and to transform us from the inside out. 00:38:56.300 --> 00:38:57.240 Let's pray together. 00:39:00.740 --> 00:39:03.240 Lord Jesus Christ, sovereign God, 00:39:04.260 --> 00:39:05.720 awesome Father, 00:39:05.719 --> 00:39:08.419 tender and gracious Holy Spirit. 00:39:09.819 --> 00:39:11.899 Father, when we read these words 00:39:11.899 --> 00:39:13.619 throughout the New Testament, 00:39:13.759 --> 00:39:14.659 Jesus, your words, 00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:15.839 and the Apostle Paul's words, 00:39:15.980 --> 00:39:16.919 and others, 00:39:17.699 --> 00:39:19.459 God, our natural inclination is to say, 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:20.699 how can that be? 00:39:21.359 --> 00:39:22.399 It's impossible. 00:39:22.659 --> 00:39:26.239 How can anybody respond to evil with good? 00:39:27.199 --> 00:39:28.659 But Jesus, when we contemplate 00:39:28.659 --> 00:39:30.579 your profound love for us, 00:39:31.179 --> 00:39:32.739 your profound goodness to us, 00:39:32.739 --> 00:39:35.299 God, we see a glimpse of hope. 00:39:35.839 --> 00:39:38.119 We see a glimmer of possibility 00:39:38.119 --> 00:39:40.299 that, God, you really can change us 00:39:40.299 --> 00:39:41.159 from the inside out 00:39:41.159 --> 00:39:43.879 and that we really can experience 00:39:43.879 --> 00:39:44.599 heaven on earth. 00:39:45.479 --> 00:39:46.299 God, I want to pray, 00:39:46.459 --> 00:39:48.000 won't you make us this kind of community, 00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:49.859 won't you make us this kind of church, Lord? 00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:52.399 Won't you so get the gospel in our hearts 00:39:52.399 --> 00:39:53.500 that we become those 00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:54.979 that live like you 00:39:54.979 --> 00:39:55.879 and act like you 00:39:55.879 --> 00:39:56.799 and think like you 00:39:56.799 --> 00:39:58.319 and behave like you. 00:39:59.599 --> 00:40:00.279 And Father, I want to pray, 00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:01.820 especially for those of us maybe that, 00:40:02.660 --> 00:40:03.660 for whom this isn't just 00:40:03.660 --> 00:40:04.600 a theoretical idea, 00:40:04.720 --> 00:40:06.940 that are really in the reality of this, 00:40:07.040 --> 00:40:09.580 that there's relational tension, 00:40:09.700 --> 00:40:10.240 there's hardship, 00:40:10.440 --> 00:40:12.260 there's those that are treating us 00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:13.820 cruelly and wrongly. 00:40:15.380 --> 00:40:16.840 God, won't you help us, I pray. 00:40:17.019 --> 00:40:17.980 Won't you give us grace. 00:40:18.100 --> 00:40:19.019 Won't you help us to take 00:40:19.019 --> 00:40:20.660 the one first step on the journey. 00:40:23.960 --> 00:40:25.320 We pray this in your wonderful 00:40:25.320 --> 00:40:26.580 and your gracious name. 00:40:27.800 --> 00:40:28.120 Amen.