WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.960 My name's Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:07.799 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. 00:00:08.660 --> 00:00:11.160 A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:11.200 --> 00:00:15.640 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:16.059 --> 00:00:19.100 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:23.780 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced there's no one so good, 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:27.039 they don't need God's grace, and no one's so bad that they can't have it, 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:32.479 which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word. 00:00:33.859 --> 00:00:36.240 We're continuing our series on the Gospel of Mark, 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:38.719 although what I'm about to say has nothing to do with the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:44.679 One of my favorite things over the last couple years, I think maybe it was two or three years ago, 00:00:44.759 --> 00:00:48.920 we started saying the Lord's Prayer together as a congregation every Sunday. 00:00:49.980 --> 00:00:55.799 And one of my favorite things is when we do that, hearing small little voices join in. 00:00:55.799 --> 00:01:05.679 And I say that just as a reminder to us of what a great privilege it is to be in a church where we have squirming kids. 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:11.739 And some of you have been in churches that don't have young children. 00:01:11.939 --> 00:01:12.979 That's a very sad thing. 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:17.539 You may remember earlier in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus rebukes His disciples 00:01:17.539 --> 00:01:20.439 because they find children to be an inconvenience. 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:25.500 So I say all that to say, you know, when we have young children who are screaming with us, 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:27.159 our response is, you know, praise God. 00:01:28.900 --> 00:01:32.239 Praise God that He's blessed our congregation with the next generation. 00:01:32.859 --> 00:01:35.799 And praise God that we have the privilege of having them with us in worship. 00:01:36.759 --> 00:01:39.439 So that's just one of my favorite things about this church. 00:01:40.539 --> 00:01:42.739 Of many, right? Of many. 00:01:42.739 --> 00:01:48.399 We're grateful that God's allowed us to be part of raising up the next generation. 00:01:50.099 --> 00:01:55.359 We are continuing our series in the Gospel of Mark, which will be our series for not so long. 00:01:55.500 --> 00:01:56.619 So we're coming to the very end. 00:01:57.500 --> 00:02:01.579 And as we're coming to the end, as we're wrapping things up, 00:02:01.619 --> 00:02:06.959 you may remember earlier in the Gospel, I told you, you know, as we come near the end, 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:08.919 we're going to see things close in. 00:02:08.959 --> 00:02:11.400 At the beginning, we're going to see three different types of people. 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:15.319 We're going to see people who love Jesus, people who hate Jesus, and people who don't care. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:20.700 And as we get near the end of the Gospel, that middle category is going to disappear. 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:26.680 We're going to see people who either embrace Jesus or they reject Him. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:28.920 And of course, that's what we're seeing here at the very end. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:33.439 And so this passage here with Joseph of Arimathea asks us this question, really, 00:02:33.580 --> 00:02:37.200 of what are you going to do with the Gospel of Mark? 00:02:38.640 --> 00:02:41.319 We've been in the Gospel of Mark for two years now. 00:02:41.400 --> 00:02:47.420 And I think maybe one of the saddest things would be if we moved on and we just sort of forgot about it. 00:02:47.480 --> 00:02:52.379 That was a series, you know, that we did at some point and glad to move on to another series, 00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:54.680 but it didn't make a difference for us. 00:02:55.659 --> 00:03:02.439 I told you at the very beginning, Mark doesn't mean for his Gospel to be an intellectual exercise. 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:12.020 Mark doesn't want his readers to get away with just hearing about Jesus and then to walk off and do something else. 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:16.000 Mark means for his Gospel to change us. 00:03:17.579 --> 00:03:18.939 He means for it to make us different. 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:23.180 He means for us to see Jesus and be transformed. 00:03:23.180 --> 00:03:29.520 And so as we are at really the very end of the Gospel, the question is this, 00:03:29.700 --> 00:03:31.540 what are you going to do now? 00:03:33.939 --> 00:03:38.200 What are you going to do with everything that we've looked at the past two years? 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:45.240 What are you going to do with the vision of Jesus that we've had over and over again? 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:49.020 That's the question this passage asks. 00:03:49.140 --> 00:03:52.219 That's what Joseph of Arimathea challenges us with. 00:03:52.340 --> 00:03:55.200 And so I'm going to invite you to turn with me in your Bible. 00:03:55.340 --> 00:03:57.040 You can turn in your worship guide. 00:03:57.120 --> 00:03:58.080 You can turn on your phone. 00:03:59.420 --> 00:04:01.840 You can turn in your Bible itself. 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:04.620 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's Word. 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:09.360 And God tells us that His Word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold. 00:04:09.920 --> 00:04:13.360 And it's sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:15.500 And so that's why we read now. 00:04:15.980 --> 00:04:18.639 Mark chapter 15, starting at verse 42. 00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:23.040 And when evening had come, since it was the day of preparation, 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:25.360 that is, the day before the Sabbath, 00:04:26.340 --> 00:04:29.280 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:32.759 who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, 00:04:33.420 --> 00:04:37.340 took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 00:04:38.620 --> 00:04:41.580 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. 00:04:41.579 --> 00:04:45.899 And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 00:04:46.899 --> 00:04:47.800 Verse 45. 00:04:49.139 --> 00:04:51.419 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, 00:04:51.479 --> 00:04:53.079 he granted the corpse to Joseph. 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:57.479 And Joseph bought a linen shroud and, taking him down, 00:04:57.979 --> 00:05:00.779 wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb 00:05:00.779 --> 00:05:02.759 that had been cut out of the rock. 00:05:03.699 --> 00:05:06.439 And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:11.519 Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joseph, saw where he was laid. 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:16.519 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:05:18.019 --> 00:05:23.639 Our Father in heaven, we praise you again for your mercy to us, 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:29.120 that you have caused these stories, these true stories, to be written down, 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:33.160 that we could hear them, that we could meditate on them, 00:05:33.180 --> 00:05:35.860 that we could know them 2,000 years later. 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:41.819 We ask that they wouldn't be merely an intellectual exercise for us, 00:05:41.819 --> 00:05:43.399 but that you would show us Jesus. 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:47.699 And as we see Jesus, that we would be transformed, 00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:50.620 that we would change to look more and more like him. 00:05:51.019 --> 00:05:53.360 We ask that you would do that this morning by your word, 00:05:53.899 --> 00:05:55.199 by the power of your spirit, 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:59.759 that you would make us people who are transformed in our hearts, 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:01.300 in our minds, in our lives. 00:06:01.560 --> 00:06:04.620 And we would grow in our love and our affection for Christ. 00:06:05.479 --> 00:06:07.920 We'd grow in our reverence and our awe for him. 00:06:08.599 --> 00:06:10.319 And we'd grow in our obedience to him. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:12.699 We ask these things in Jesus' name. 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:13.659 Amen. 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:21.959 Many of you know, if you've been in the world for any length of time, 00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:25.739 that if you make the wrong move or say the wrong thing 00:06:25.739 --> 00:06:28.959 or make an alliance with the wrong person, 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:31.579 you might face the end of your career. 00:06:33.299 --> 00:06:36.180 You might face the end of a social circle 00:06:36.180 --> 00:06:39.479 if you support the wrong person or voice the wrong opinion. 00:06:40.099 --> 00:06:42.539 Of course, it's easy to think of times in history this has happened. 00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:44.620 We might think of the 1940s and 50s 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:48.839 when Hollywood stars were blacklisted for their potential ties 00:06:48.839 --> 00:06:49.939 with the Communist Party. 00:06:49.939 --> 00:06:52.899 But Hollywood's not the only industry 00:06:52.899 --> 00:06:54.339 where someone might get blacklisted. 00:06:56.060 --> 00:06:59.699 Today, you face the risk of being what's called canceled 00:06:59.699 --> 00:07:04.040 if you say the wrong thing or support the wrong person. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:06.959 Of course, the opposite can also be true. 00:07:07.100 --> 00:07:09.019 Courage has its own attractiveness to it. 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:12.180 Sometimes people have become famous over the last few years 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:14.339 for their willingness to say unpopular things. 00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:18.939 But today, as we look at the end of this chapter, Mark 15, 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:23.860 we're going to see a man, Joseph, who is willing to risk it all. 00:07:25.259 --> 00:07:26.959 He's willing to risk being canceled. 00:07:27.980 --> 00:07:33.399 He's willing to risk losing his status and his wealth. 00:07:33.899 --> 00:07:38.180 We see him for the first time in verse 43, this new character, 00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:41.120 and we find out he's a respected member of the council. 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:43.939 And that means that Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin. 00:07:43.939 --> 00:07:48.279 And so you just have to think back to the last chapter. 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:49.779 Remember, Jesus had two trials. 00:07:49.899 --> 00:07:53.459 He had his religious trial, and he also had his civil trial. 00:07:53.540 --> 00:07:54.920 And you remember the religious trial. 00:07:55.100 --> 00:07:59.500 It was the Sanhedrin, which sort of functioned as the supreme court of the Jews 00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:01.040 that actually tried him. 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:06.279 In other words, Joseph was a member of the court 00:08:06.279 --> 00:08:11.399 that referred Jesus to Herod and ultimately resulted in his death. 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:16.019 Okay, so just let that sit with you for a minute. 00:08:17.179 --> 00:08:19.919 Joseph was part of the court that condemned Jesus. 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:23.379 That in and of itself is a bit of a bombshell. 00:08:23.559 --> 00:08:26.339 Now, we're told about Joseph in the other Gospels as well. 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:29.500 Mark does not tell us this, but Luke says this, 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:33.539 that Joseph had not consented to their decision and action, 00:08:34.220 --> 00:08:35.799 and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:40.000 So apparently, Joseph actually disagreed with what the Sanhedrin did. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:43.299 We're not told whether Joseph was there in person, 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:45.019 whether he happened to miss the event. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:51.620 Wherever he was, Joseph was not there to stand up for Jesus. 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:54.200 Okay, so we learn something about Joseph here. 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:57.360 Joseph is a member of the power elite among the Jews. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:02.379 And that causes it to be even more surprising 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:05.060 that he does what he does. 00:09:05.340 --> 00:09:07.500 Now, what he does here, we can know that he's in a rush. 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:09.840 Verse 42, when evening had come, 00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:10.899 since it was the day of preparation, 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:12.460 that is the day before the Sabbath. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:16.460 In other words, Joseph is on a tight schedule. 00:09:17.419 --> 00:09:19.180 The Jewish holy day is coming up. 00:09:19.560 --> 00:09:21.759 He's not supposed to be doing any work on the Sabbath. 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:24.779 He probably should not be touching dead bodies. 00:09:24.779 --> 00:09:28.879 And so he has just a short amount of time to work with 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:31.159 to get Jesus off of the cross. 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:33.399 And so we see him then in verse 43. 00:09:34.199 --> 00:09:36.600 He goes, he takes courage, went to Pilate, 00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:38.279 and asked for the body of Jesus. 00:09:39.319 --> 00:09:42.639 Now, you might wonder why it is that Joseph has to ask for the body here. 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:45.519 And the reason is that if someone was crucified, 00:09:45.939 --> 00:09:49.519 the expectation was that they would be dishonored in every way. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:53.980 So there was no guarantee that this person would have a normal burial. 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:59.240 Part of how you honor someone is by taking good care of their body 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:00.019 after they're gone. 00:10:00.419 --> 00:10:04.059 If someone's crucified, the worst death the Romans can offer, 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:07.220 that's a way of saying this person deserves no honor. 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:12.539 And so for someone's body to be released after they've been crucified, 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:15.840 a special request has to be made to the magistrate, 00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:17.679 and the request has to be granted. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:24.639 Now, this request is supposed to be made by the family of the person that's killed. 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:29.500 Joseph, to state the obvious, is not Jesus' family. 00:10:30.979 --> 00:10:36.199 Joseph is not a member of Jesus' inner circle. 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:44.439 And so that reminds us of how unusual this request is. 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:49.580 It also reminds us again of what we saw when Jesus was abandoned in the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:52.020 He dies all alone. 00:10:52.640 --> 00:10:57.860 He dies without his family and his closest friends there to support him. 00:10:59.260 --> 00:11:03.000 And it reminds us of what a courageous act this is by Joseph. 00:11:03.880 --> 00:11:05.400 Now, you'll notice verse 44, 00:11:05.540 --> 00:11:08.080 Pilate's surprised that here that she should have already died. 00:11:08.180 --> 00:11:10.080 Remember, we talked about this last week. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:15.520 Jesus, as a crucified man, should have died sort of like a dimmer switch going out slowly. 00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:18.740 And instead, Jesus dies like this on and off switch, 00:11:18.800 --> 00:11:21.900 which is why he's able to cry out right before he dies. 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:24.280 Remember, that's why the Roman soldier said, 00:11:24.540 --> 00:11:26.620 oh, this must be the Son of God, 00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:30.660 because Jesus dies in a way that is not supposed to happen on a cross. 00:11:31.180 --> 00:11:32.860 Jesus is able to give up his life, 00:11:33.300 --> 00:11:35.340 still having the strength to cry out, 00:11:35.340 --> 00:11:38.080 rather than just slowly fading away. 00:11:39.019 --> 00:11:40.639 And so that's why Pilate here is surprised. 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:43.660 Like, wait, it doesn't make any sense that Jesus has already died. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:46.100 We need to go send some people to certify. 00:11:46.920 --> 00:11:47.920 Now, as an aside, 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:53.019 this is Mark's way of telling us how reliable the gospel accounts are. 00:11:54.040 --> 00:11:55.019 He is saying, look, 00:11:55.060 --> 00:11:58.019 if you think that Jesus didn't rise from the dead 00:11:58.019 --> 00:12:00.019 because he actually didn't die, 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:02.120 well, you need to take that up with Pilate, 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:05.000 because Pilate certified that he died. 00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:06.220 Okay? 00:12:06.560 --> 00:12:08.720 So Mark's throwing in this aside here just to say, 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:10.100 hey, this is a true account, 00:12:10.259 --> 00:12:11.340 and if you don't believe me, 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:13.060 you can go talk to other people about it. 00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:16.120 By the way, he's doing the same thing in verse 47, 00:12:16.340 --> 00:12:17.120 when he says, 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:19.060 Mary Magdalene and Mary and the mother of Joseph 00:12:19.060 --> 00:12:20.000 saw where he was laid. 00:12:20.060 --> 00:12:22.860 He's saying, hey, there's some witnesses you can go talk to 00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:25.940 if you don't really think Jesus died and was buried. 00:12:26.560 --> 00:12:28.399 Same thing, I didn't talk about this last week, 00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:30.000 but same thing going on in verse 40. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.679 Mark is listing these names over and over, 00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:35.100 and I put this in your worship guide under that doubt sidebar. 00:12:35.179 --> 00:12:37.179 He's listing these names over and over to say, 00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:39.259 hey, I'm not making this stuff up, okay? 00:12:39.659 --> 00:12:41.899 There's a lot of other people who saw this happen. 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:44.299 If you doubt me, you can go talk to them. 00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:48.340 Regardless, Pilate's surprised, right? 00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:50.980 Joseph is asking for the body, 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:53.639 and Pilate grants it. 00:12:53.639 --> 00:13:08.779 Joseph has just come out of the closet as a Jesus supporter. 00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:12.419 It is possible to say here 00:13:12.419 --> 00:13:16.220 that it is an understatement in verse 43 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:18.340 that he took courage. 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:22.940 Yeah, of course he took courage. 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:26.100 In fact, he probably had to take a lot more than courage. 00:13:26.800 --> 00:13:29.019 Here is someone who is a member 00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:32.000 of the team that contend Jesus. 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:33.860 So he had to take courage in the sense 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:36.320 that he's standing against his own social group, 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:38.019 his own team. 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:41.399 As you know, you can quickly lose your place 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:43.379 among the elites of a society 00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:45.360 by siding with the wrong people. 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:48.680 And here, Joseph is an elite. 00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:51.779 Joseph is in the inner circle 00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:53.300 of the inner circles of the Jews. 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:55.659 We're told in the other Gospels 00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:59.039 that Joseph is actually very wealthy. 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:02.759 He has quite the place in society. 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:05.940 He has quite the wealth to work with. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:07.139 In fact, this is part of the reason 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:08.159 he's got an empty tomb 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:09.480 that he can just offer to Jesus. 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:13.600 Joseph has done very well in life. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:17.379 In fact, Matthew tells us this in his Gospel. 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:17.960 He says, 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:21.420 there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph. 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:23.100 He doesn't even tell us his name first. 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:25.240 He says, look, this guy had a lot of money. 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:28.480 So it shouldn't surprise us, right, 00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:29.779 that he also has a large tomb 00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:31.220 to go along with it. 00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:33.000 Not everyone in the ancient world 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:34.879 just had a spare tomb lying around 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.320 that they could hand off 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:37.379 to someone who had been crucified. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:40.600 Joseph, who happened to have a lot of money, 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:41.360 did have that. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:46.120 And so that raises the question for us 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:48.860 of why did Joseph take the risk? 00:14:50.680 --> 00:14:52.840 Why did Joseph take courage 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:56.279 and go to Pilate and ask for the body of Jesus? 00:14:57.320 --> 00:14:59.480 In fact, everything would point against him doing that. 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:02.019 Upton Sinclair has famously said, 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:04.620 it is difficult to get a man to understand something 00:15:04.620 --> 00:15:08.039 when his salary depends on his not understanding it. 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:14.059 Joseph's standing in society 00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:16.719 depends on him not understanding 00:15:16.719 --> 00:15:17.899 what's going on with Jesus. 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:22.059 And yet, against all odds, 00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:23.759 he comes out here 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:27.219 and publicly expresses his support for Jesus. 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:30.740 It is not a secret anymore. 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:33.080 Why? 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:41.399 Joseph certainly knows he has a lot to lose. 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:48.600 And Joseph somehow has become convinced 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:50.200 he has a lot more to gain. 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:54.519 Joseph has a tremendous amount to lose. 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:57.960 And somehow, in his following of Jesus, 00:15:58.199 --> 00:15:59.419 he has become convinced 00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:02.319 he has even more to gain. 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:06.960 Christian, 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:10.439 are you willing 00:16:10.439 --> 00:16:13.019 to lose your kingdom 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:15.799 for the sake of God's kingdom? 00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:21.859 Joseph 00:16:21.859 --> 00:16:23.819 gave up 00:16:23.819 --> 00:16:25.559 one of the spaces in his tomb 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:27.659 and he went 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.779 and he bought new linens 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.679 to put Jesus in. 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:34.039 Are you willing 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:36.399 to sacrifice your resources 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:38.120 for the kingdom of God? 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:41.859 Joseph 00:16:41.859 --> 00:16:43.799 was willing 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:45.919 to make a bold 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:47.639 and unpopular stand. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:52.479 Joseph 00:16:52.479 --> 00:16:53.139 was willing 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:56.159 to come out of the closet 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:57.439 as someone who supports 00:16:57.439 --> 00:16:58.179 Jesus. 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.459 Are you willing 00:17:02.459 --> 00:17:03.939 to stand against your team? 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:07.099 Against your friends? 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.519 Against your people? 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.480 By letting them know 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:14.480 that you stand with Jesus. 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:21.620 Are you willing 00:17:21.620 --> 00:17:22.779 to lose your reputation? 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:25.779 Are you willing 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:26.559 for people to think 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.220 that you're stupid 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.000 or even worse, 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:28.759 dangerous 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:31.079 because you follow Christ? 00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:34.299 Are you willing 00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:35.120 to jeopardize 00:17:35.120 --> 00:17:36.160 your vocation 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:38.279 to miss 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:40.920 an opportunity 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:41.819 to advance 00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:44.079 because people know 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.740 that you stand 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:47.039 with Jesus? 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:51.240 Are you willing 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.279 to lose relationally? 00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:55.639 Do you believe 00:17:55.639 --> 00:17:56.639 that it is better 00:17:56.639 --> 00:17:58.179 to be single 00:17:58.179 --> 00:18:00.500 than to be with someone 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:01.599 who doesn't share 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:02.759 your beliefs about God? 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:03.440 do you know 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:07.319 that you have 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:08.119 a lot to lose? 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.379 Do you know 00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:13.619 that you have 00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:14.379 even more to gain? 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:18.539 That's what happened 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:20.619 to Joseph here. 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:22.680 Although, 00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:23.119 we know 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:23.799 it didn't happen 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.299 right away. 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:26.859 Now, 00:18:26.919 --> 00:18:27.799 the other Gospels 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:28.740 tell us, 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:29.240 in fact, 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.480 John 19 says this, 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:31.519 Joseph was a disciple 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.119 of Jesus 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:33.619 but secretly 00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:34.879 for fear 00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:35.440 of the Jews. 00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:38.000 Joseph 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.559 kept his love 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.079 of Jesus 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:41.419 under wraps. 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:43.680 And so, 00:18:43.859 --> 00:18:44.940 what changed 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.440 for Joseph? 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:45.539 Joseph. 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:48.019 How do you 00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:48.900 become a Joseph 00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:49.779 of Arimathea 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.539 type person? 00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:51.180 How do you 00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:52.440 change 00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:52.980 that you're 00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.320 willing 00:18:53.320 --> 00:18:54.019 to give up 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.600 your kingdom 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:55.259 for the kingdom 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:55.799 of God? 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:57.860 Well, 00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.680 you have to believe 00:18:58.680 --> 00:19:00.840 that there's 00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:01.120 something 00:19:01.120 --> 00:19:02.019 in the future 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.900 that's better 00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:04.480 than what you have 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:04.900 in the present. 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:08.140 You have to believe 00:19:08.140 --> 00:19:08.700 there's something 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.840 you don't have 00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:11.539 that's better 00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:12.820 than what you do have. 00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:15.599 There's a basic 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.639 principle in life 00:19:16.639 --> 00:19:17.220 which is that 00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:17.679 the greater 00:19:17.679 --> 00:19:18.279 the vision, 00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.500 the greater 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:20.139 the sacrifice. 00:19:21.919 --> 00:19:22.179 And so, 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.619 somehow, 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:23.240 somewhere, 00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:24.980 Joseph had 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:26.179 caught a vision 00:19:26.179 --> 00:19:27.619 for what the 00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.220 kingdom of God 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.939 actually was. 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:32.220 Joseph had seen 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.099 how beautiful 00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:34.740 Jesus actually was. 00:19:36.919 --> 00:19:37.759 I told you guys 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.159 before, 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:39.679 you don't get 00:19:39.679 --> 00:19:40.359 over that old 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:40.759 crush 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:42.720 until you get 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.440 that new crush. 00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.259 Joseph 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:48.100 finally got 00:19:48.100 --> 00:19:48.579 over 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.440 wealth 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.299 and power 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:51.259 and status. 00:19:52.860 --> 00:19:53.839 Jesus finally 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:55.160 became 00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:56.380 his new crush. 00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:58.720 Jesus was 00:19:58.720 --> 00:19:59.160 the one 00:19:59.160 --> 00:19:59.940 who was worth 00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:00.680 more 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:01.579 than everything 00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:01.980 else. 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:04.400 And so, 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:04.680 that's why 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.360 things are 00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:06.220 interesting here 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:06.819 in this passage 00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:07.339 with Joseph. 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.819 It's not just 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.559 that he's taking 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.279 courage like 00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:10.960 verse 43 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:11.680 tells us. 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:14.160 but that he's 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.120 taking a new 00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:15.759 courage. 00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:18.000 Joseph is 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:18.799 taking courage 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.519 he never had 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:19.900 before. 00:20:21.320 --> 00:20:21.820 Joseph is 00:20:21.820 --> 00:20:22.620 taking risks 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:23.500 he wasn't 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:23.860 willing to 00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:24.519 take before. 00:20:25.600 --> 00:20:26.259 Joseph is 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:27.060 putting everything 00:20:27.060 --> 00:20:27.920 on the line 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:30.560 after Jesus' 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.039 death 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:32.700 that he wasn't 00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:33.220 willing to do 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:33.700 before 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:35.160 his death. 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.779 John 19, 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.360 I mentioned, 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.160 tells us that 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:39.860 it was a secret 00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:40.699 that he followed 00:20:40.699 --> 00:20:41.079 Jesus 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:42.819 and now 00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:43.459 Joseph 00:20:43.459 --> 00:20:45.279 decides it's 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:45.879 not a secret. 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.319 Joseph 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:52.059 has seen 00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.879 the beauty 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:53.839 of Christ. 00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:57.259 Joseph has 00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:58.359 finally realized 00:20:58.359 --> 00:21:00.459 how valuable 00:21:00.459 --> 00:21:00.919 the kingdom 00:21:00.919 --> 00:21:01.639 of God is. 00:21:03.719 --> 00:21:04.219 Joseph has 00:21:04.219 --> 00:21:04.579 come to 00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.119 understand 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:05.919 that there 00:21:05.919 --> 00:21:06.639 is nothing 00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:08.719 that is 00:21:08.719 --> 00:21:09.899 worth keeping 00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:11.479 if it means 00:21:11.479 --> 00:21:11.979 giving up 00:21:11.979 --> 00:21:12.319 Jesus. 00:21:15.139 --> 00:21:15.939 Before it 00:21:15.939 --> 00:21:16.559 was a secret 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:18.139 now Joseph 00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:18.819 is willing 00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.419 to take 00:21:19.419 --> 00:21:20.399 the risk. 00:21:22.399 --> 00:21:23.159 He knows 00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:23.539 the kingdom 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:23.959 of God 00:21:23.959 --> 00:21:24.519 is worth it. 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.079 He knows 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:26.519 it is more 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.019 valuable 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:28.039 than money 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.199 and status 00:21:29.199 --> 00:21:30.259 and power 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:31.259 and comfort 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:32.299 and pleasure. 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.740 Now, 00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:37.180 this passage 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.920 doesn't tell us 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:38.400 what the tipping 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:38.940 point was 00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:39.259 for him. 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:41.759 Potentially, 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:42.640 it was Jesus' 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:43.539 religious trial. 00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.240 Maybe he was 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.940 actually there. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.940 Maybe he saw 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.440 that Jesus' 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:49.259 love for his 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:50.000 people was so 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.640 great that he 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:51.180 was willing 00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.059 to suffer 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.519 for them. 00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:54.299 Maybe the 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.180 false accusations 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:56.140 woke him up 00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:56.900 finally to 00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.379 the dead 00:21:57.379 --> 00:21:58.059 religion of 00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:58.640 his colleagues 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:58.960 in the 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.539 Sanhedrin. 00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.420 Maybe he 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.000 realized 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.680 finally that 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:01.980 they were 00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:02.759 not actually 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.460 interested in 00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:03.799 God and 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.279 his ways, 00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:04.619 but they 00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:05.180 were interested 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:06.140 in power 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:07.140 and status. 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.579 Maybe Joseph 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.440 was changed 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:11.240 when darkness 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:12.140 came over the 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:12.900 land for 00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:13.680 three hours 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.279 while Jesus 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:14.960 hung on the 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.319 cross, 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:15.980 and that 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.779 caused Joseph 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.759 to understand 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.420 that Jesus 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:19.460 was the one 00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.400 who was taking 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:20.960 the penalty 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.880 for his sins. 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:24.000 Maybe he 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:25.900 finally got 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:26.640 home for him 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.079 that Jesus 00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:27.960 was forsaken 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.799 so that he 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.140 could be 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:29.660 accepted. 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.779 Maybe it 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.200 was Jesus 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:34.000 miracles that 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.359 got to 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:34.579 him. 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:39.900 He finally 00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:40.640 realized that 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:41.140 Jesus was 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:41.839 more powerful 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:42.420 than all the 00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:42.859 things that 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.259 he loved. 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:44.740 Maybe it 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.119 was Jesus 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.000 casting out 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.380 demons. 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.920 Maybe Joseph 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.680 realized that 00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:51.339 Jesus could 00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:52.299 heal things 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.720 and fix 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:56.059 things that 00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.640 money and 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.380 medicine would 00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:58.059 never be able 00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:58.480 to fix. 00:23:00.679 --> 00:23:01.299 Maybe it 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:01.679 was Jesus 00:23:01.679 --> 00:23:02.139 teaching. 00:23:02.339 --> 00:23:03.419 Maybe Joseph 00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:04.000 heard Jesus 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.539 say this, 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:04.980 for whoever 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.460 would save 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:05.899 his life 00:23:05.899 --> 00:23:06.339 will lose 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.339 it, but 00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:07.579 whoever 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.200 loses his 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:08.619 life for 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:09.179 my sake 00:23:09.179 --> 00:23:09.440 and the 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:09.859 gospels 00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.319 will save 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:10.500 it. 00:23:12.419 --> 00:23:13.059 And maybe 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.679 Joseph heard 00:23:13.679 --> 00:23:14.139 that and he 00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:14.599 realized the 00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:15.079 future was 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.500 better than 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:15.879 the present. 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:19.019 Maybe he 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.579 heard Jesus 00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.240 say this, 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:20.639 those who 00:23:20.639 --> 00:23:21.079 are well 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:21.480 have no 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:21.899 need of a 00:23:21.899 --> 00:23:22.259 physician, 00:23:22.399 --> 00:23:22.720 but those 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:22.980 who are 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.259 sick. 00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:24.859 I came 00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:25.200 not to 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:25.480 call the 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:25.740 righteous, 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.799 but sinners. 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:29.019 and maybe 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.480 he finally 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:31.299 decided Jesus 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.019 healing was 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.639 worth more 00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:33.159 than anything 00:23:33.159 --> 00:23:33.500 else. 00:23:35.399 --> 00:23:36.139 Maybe he 00:23:36.139 --> 00:23:37.079 heard Jesus 00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:38.279 say this, 00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:38.859 for even the 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:39.460 son of man 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.579 came not to 00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:41.059 be served, 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:41.700 but to serve 00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:43.180 and to give 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:43.960 his life as a 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.940 ransom for 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.200 many. 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.500 Maybe that 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:47.960 captured 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:49.019 Joseph's 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.359 loyalty. 00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:53.299 We're not 00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:55.539 told and we 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:55.980 don't need to 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.220 know. 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:59.079 because the 00:23:59.079 --> 00:23:59.759 question for 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.619 us is not 00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.440 what changed 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:01.899 Joseph. 00:24:03.879 --> 00:24:04.779 The question 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.759 is, has 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.259 the gospel 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:06.799 of Mark 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.819 changed you? 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:17.039 As we've 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.460 looked at 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.240 Jesus for 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:18.839 two years, 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:22.180 have you 00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:23.799 seen how 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.559 gracious and 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.059 loving he 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.339 is? 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:28.039 as we've 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.339 looked at 00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:28.899 Jesus for 00:24:28.899 --> 00:24:29.519 two years, 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:29.879 have you 00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:30.599 seen his 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.359 power and 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:31.519 his 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:31.960 authority? 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.039 He's more 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:34.700 powerful than 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.139 the rulers 00:24:35.139 --> 00:24:35.639 of this 00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:35.980 world. 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.059 As we've 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:39.399 looked at 00:24:39.399 --> 00:24:40.039 Jesus for 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:40.700 two years, 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.279 and especially 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:41.899 in the last 00:24:41.899 --> 00:24:42.359 week of his 00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:42.700 life, 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.099 have you 00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:44.879 seen that 00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:45.839 Jesus loves 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.940 you more 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.619 than anyone 00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:47.980 else? 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:52.220 as we've 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.720 looked at 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.360 Jesus, 00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:59.240 has he 00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.700 melted your 00:24:59.700 --> 00:24:59.940 heart? 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:02.940 Because if 00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.660 we move on 00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:04.039 to the book 00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:04.620 of Judges, 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.160 which is our 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:05.779 next series, 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:08.099 and we just 00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:08.759 think of the 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.620 gospel of Mark 00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:10.180 as a book 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:10.480 that we 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:10.940 looked at 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.319 for a 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:11.620 while, 00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:14.279 we will 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:14.859 have missed 00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:15.479 out on 00:25:15.479 --> 00:25:15.959 what Joseph 00:25:15.959 --> 00:25:16.339 saw. 00:25:20.139 --> 00:25:20.899 Hast thou 00:25:20.899 --> 00:25:21.419 heard him, 00:25:21.739 --> 00:25:22.219 seen him, 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.019 known him? 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.459 Is not 00:25:24.459 --> 00:25:25.179 thine a 00:25:25.179 --> 00:25:25.619 captured 00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.299 heart? 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:29.119 Mark puts 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:30.299 this here at 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.119 the end for 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:31.759 a purpose, 00:25:32.699 --> 00:25:33.539 which is to 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.319 remind us that 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:35.000 Jesus' death 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.599 demands a 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.119 response. 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:38.539 that we're 00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.319 not meant to 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.099 see Jesus 00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:40.919 walking towards 00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:41.599 the cross and 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.299 dying on it 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:42.799 and then to 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.539 simply walk 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.859 away and 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:45.500 continue with 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:45.939 the rest of 00:25:45.939 --> 00:25:46.479 our lives. 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.239 No, we're 00:25:48.239 --> 00:25:48.859 meant to be 00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.539 like Joseph 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.559 who sees it 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.739 and is finally 00:25:51.739 --> 00:25:52.859 willing to put 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:54.419 everything on 00:25:54.419 --> 00:25:55.239 the line. 00:25:56.219 --> 00:25:57.119 We're meant to 00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:57.959 be like Joseph 00:25:57.959 --> 00:25:59.159 who sees it 00:25:59.159 --> 00:26:00.459 and is willing 00:26:00.459 --> 00:26:01.419 to finally be 00:26:01.419 --> 00:26:02.419 public about 00:26:02.419 --> 00:26:03.000 the fact that 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.719 he loves Jesus. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.000 We're meant to 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.579 be like Joseph 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.319 who sees it 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:07.039 and is willing 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:07.839 to give up 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.819 his resources 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.720 to care for 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.500 Jesus' body. 00:26:12.379 --> 00:26:13.240 We're meant 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.960 to be like 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.480 Joseph, 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:18.419 to be willing 00:26:18.419 --> 00:26:19.159 to lose it all. 00:26:22.439 --> 00:26:23.019 I've been 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:23.559 telling you for 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.299 two years that 00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:24.799 there are two 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.199 camps. 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.859 There are those 00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:27.439 who are in, 00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:28.779 all in on 00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:29.519 Jesus and those 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:29.980 who are out. 00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.279 Christian, 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:34.339 are you all 00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:34.619 in? 00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:38.879 are you 00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.460 willing to 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:40.419 be like 00:26:40.419 --> 00:26:41.439 Joseph of 00:26:41.439 --> 00:26:41.899 Arimathea? 00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:45.159 Is the 00:26:45.159 --> 00:26:45.619 kingdom of 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.159 God worth 00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:46.639 it to you? 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:49.480 Is it 00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:50.859 worth losing 00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:51.679 other 00:26:51.679 --> 00:26:52.539 kingdoms? 00:26:55.699 --> 00:26:56.139 Joseph 00:26:56.139 --> 00:26:56.939 believes that 00:26:56.939 --> 00:26:57.279 the kingdom 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.000 of God is 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.559 better than 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:58.919 the kingdom 00:26:58.919 --> 00:26:59.419 of Joseph. 00:27:00.679 --> 00:27:01.240 And in case 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:01.740 you missed it 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.240 at the beginning, 00:27:03.139 --> 00:27:03.599 the kingdom 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:04.359 of Joseph is 00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:05.119 going really 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:05.399 well. 00:27:09.139 --> 00:27:09.659 Joseph's 00:27:09.659 --> 00:27:10.259 life would 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:10.839 be very 00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:11.639 convenient and 00:27:11.639 --> 00:27:12.659 comfortable if 00:27:12.659 --> 00:27:13.339 he just kept 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:13.739 his mouth 00:27:13.739 --> 00:27:14.079 shut. 00:27:17.739 --> 00:27:18.339 Joseph's 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:18.779 life would 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.159 be very 00:27:19.159 --> 00:27:19.879 convenient and 00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:20.459 comfortable if 00:27:20.459 --> 00:27:21.859 he just let 00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:22.879 alone and 00:27:22.879 --> 00:27:23.679 let Jesus' 00:27:23.919 --> 00:27:24.619 body hang. 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:26.399 God 00:27:26.399 --> 00:27:27.079 will 00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:27.719 but he 00:27:27.719 --> 00:27:28.239 doesn't. 00:27:34.239 --> 00:27:34.759 Christian, 00:27:35.959 --> 00:27:37.939 is that 00:27:37.939 --> 00:27:38.539 true of you? 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:42.799 hast thou 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.279 heard him, 00:27:43.399 --> 00:27:43.779 seen him, 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.240 known him? 00:27:44.899 --> 00:27:45.440 Is not 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.180 thine a 00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:46.539 captured 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:46.940 heart? 00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:48.879 Captivated by 00:27:48.879 --> 00:27:49.460 his beauty, 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.359 worthy tribute, 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:51.139 haste to 00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:51.420 bring. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.119 Let his 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:53.879 peerless worth 00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:54.480 constrain 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:54.700 thee. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:56.720 Crown him 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:57.159 now, 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:59.259 unrivaled 00:27:59.259 --> 00:27:59.619 king. 00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:02.359 let's pray. 00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:05.399 Our 00:28:05.399 --> 00:28:05.879 father in 00:28:05.879 --> 00:28:06.139 heaven, 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:09.039 we praise 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:09.379 you and 00:28:09.379 --> 00:28:09.879 thank you 00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:11.000 for your 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:11.379 son and 00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:11.899 our savior, 00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.719 our Lord 00:28:12.719 --> 00:28:13.059 Jesus. 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:13.240 us. 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:15.639 We ask 00:28:15.639 --> 00:28:15.879 that you 00:28:15.879 --> 00:28:16.279 would not 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:18.139 let the 00:28:18.139 --> 00:28:18.679 gospel of 00:28:18.679 --> 00:28:19.700 Mark wash 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.339 over us. 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.259 You 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:22.619 wouldn't let 00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:22.960 us be 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:24.220 numb to 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:24.460 it, 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:27.019 but you 00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:27.279 would give 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:27.679 us tender 00:28:27.679 --> 00:28:28.099 hearts, 00:28:28.639 --> 00:28:29.519 that we 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:29.879 would be 00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:30.639 like Joseph, 00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:32.759 that it 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.319 would click 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:33.919 for us, 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.599 that we 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.240 would finally 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:38.419 see that 00:28:38.419 --> 00:28:38.879 your kingdom 00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:39.319 is better 00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:39.679 than our 00:28:39.679 --> 00:28:39.940 kingdom, 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:42.019 that your 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.619 future is 00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:42.919 better, 00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:43.919 than our 00:28:43.919 --> 00:28:44.319 present, 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:48.200 that the 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:48.599 vision that 00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:48.899 you have 00:28:48.899 --> 00:28:49.379 for us is 00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:50.359 worth the 00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:50.980 sacrifice, 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.819 and so 00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.059 that we 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.460 would know 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.000 Jesus and 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.399 love him, 00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:56.599 we'd follow 00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.559 him and 00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.059 obey him. 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.000 We ask 00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.500 these things 00:28:59.500 --> 00:28:59.919 in the mighty 00:28:59.919 --> 00:29:00.339 name of 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.019 Jesus Christ. 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:01.740 Amen.