WEBVTT

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 We're going to seek to understand how we can move from being near the kingdom to actually being in the kingdom.

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 We're going to talk about all those things.

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 But we'll waste our time if we view this text as mostly a distant event that has no real bearing on our lives today.

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 And it will do us no good to treat this passage as just another intellectual exercise.

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 Because the truth is that you too might be near the kingdom without actually being in it.

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 And my prayer is that by the end of this study together, you'll either be encouraged by the grace of Jesus that you have already received,

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 or else you will be prepared to receive him by faith just now.

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 And so I'm going to lay all my cards out for you right there from the beginning.

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 If you're here today and you're somewhat of a skeptic, not necessarily against Jesus,

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 just not really sure exactly what to do with him,

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 my goal is to persuade you today to follow Christ.

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 And I hope that you will do that today.

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 First thing I want you to see is the scribe's inquiry.

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 The scribe's inquiry in verse 28 or the scribe's question.

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 Look with me at verse 28.

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 One of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another and seeing that he answered them well,

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 asked him,

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 which commandment is the most important of all?

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 Now this interaction between Jesus and the scribe comes at the end,

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 as you well know, of a series of confrontations

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 through which the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem

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 were attempting to destroy the Lord and his influence.

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 The Pharisees,

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 the Herodians,

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 the Sadducees had all taken their turns to trap Jesus,

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 but each of them have,

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 in Mark's gospel,

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 failed to do so.

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 And what turns out to be their final attempt

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 at getting to Jesus,

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 the ruling body of the Jews,

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 we know them as the Sanhedrin,

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 sent this scribe to Jesus.

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 Matthew 22 tells us that he was a Pharisee

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 and that they sent him to trap Jesus

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 in some kind of issue relating to the law.

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 Well,

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 scribes were lawyers,

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 so it's not very surprising

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 that that would be the thing that they sent him to Jesus to discuss.

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 However,

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 what's interesting about this particular interaction

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 is that as the man got close enough

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 to hear the way that Jesus was responding

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 to these other groups that were challenging him,

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 he discovered very quickly

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 that he actually appreciated,

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 even agreed with the Lord.

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 And that surely must have come as such a surprise to him.

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 He has been sent by his buddies to go and trap the Lord,

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 but as he gets close enough to actually hear

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 the things that he was saying

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 and the way that he was saying them,

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 he actually found himself inwardly applauding Jesus,

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 not actually wanting to destroy him.

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 So though he belonged to a group

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 that outright rejected Jesus,

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 he seems to be somewhat personally conflicted about him.

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 And I think this man is similar to the people

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 that we often refer to as searching.

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 Maybe you've used that term before

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 and referring to people who aren't yet Christians,

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 but aren't necessarily closed off to it,

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 at least in their minds.

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 They don't yet believe and follow Jesus,

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 but they aren't exactly sure what to do with him either.

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 Do you find that to be a fair description

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 of where you are in relation to Christ?

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 You wouldn't say that you're against Christ.

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 You think it's pretty amazing,

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 the things that he did,

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 and especially the example that he laid forth.

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 And you're not prepared at least to outright deny

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 who he is and what he might can do,

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 but you're just not really sure

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 exactly what you're supposed to do with him either.

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 How you're supposed to take him.

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 And I want to tell you, if that's you today,

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 you're close.

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 You're close.

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 You're close.

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 You're not in, though.

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 Salvation doesn't come to those

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 who are friendly toward Jesus,

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 but those who wholeheartedly follow him.

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 There's a difference.

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 It's no real surprise that a scribe would ask Jesus

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 a question concerning the law, really.

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 Pharisees in particular remained in constant debate

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 over the various nuances of God's law,

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 but then also this enormous list of regulations

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 and traditions that they had added to it.

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 And just as when we're kids,

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 we divide our thoughts of wrongdoing

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 into categories of big sins and little sins.

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 Did you do that when you were a kid?

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 We used to do that.

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 We'd say, well, the big sins are things like murder,

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 and the little sin is just the thing that I do.

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 Right?

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 That's how we weigh them out.

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 Well, the Pharisees weren't really actually very different than that.

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 They had divided the law and their traditions

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 into two different categories.

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 They had the things that they felt were weightier laws,

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 and they had things that they felt were less laws,

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 lesser laws,

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 things that they felt were strictly binding

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 that they would not waver on,

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 and then they had things that they felt like were less binding.

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 Maybe there's a little gray area.

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 Maybe we can find some ways to get around it.

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 And Jesus did that too.

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 Jesus had times where he weighed out the weightiness.

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 He told the Pharisees,

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 at one point you tithe with dill and cumin,

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 but you ignore the weightier things of the law.

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 Now, Jesus wasn't saying that some sins

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 are less important than other sins.

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 He's just categorizing the backwardness

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 in the Pharisees' thinking in that moment.

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 But the Pharisees took that a little different.

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 They were trying to find these lesser things,

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 and the problem is that the debate was so subjective

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 because they would often point to the weightier things

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 as the things that they felt easier to follow,

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 and then the lesser things, of course,

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 would be the things that maybe they struggled with personally.

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 So this is a common question.

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 The one that the man asked Jesus

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 is a common question among the scribes,

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 but what's really behind the question

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 is what lies at the heart of every system

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 of works-based salvation and religion.

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 In asking Jesus to summarize the entire law

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 in one single command,

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 here's what the scribe was asking the Lord.

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 Sincerely granted, I really truly believe

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 that he was asking this sincerely at this point.

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 He's asking Jesus,

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 Lord, what is one great command that I can follow

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 and that in obedience to that command,

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 I can satisfy God?

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 That's really what he's asking here.

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 Jesus, rabbi, teacher,

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 if you could just summarize it

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 into one thing that I can do,

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 just one thing that I can do,

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 and if in doing that thing,

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 I will be able to satisfy the wrath of God

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 against my sin.

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 So knowing that he couldn't possibly achieve perfection,

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 the perfection that's required by God's standards,

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 he was determined to get as close as he possibly could,

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 hoping that God would then reward his effort.

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 Now let's go back and revisit our opening illustration.

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 Here's what this scribe was trying to do.

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 He was aiming for the one yard line.

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 He's not aiming for the end zone here.

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 He's aiming for the one yard line,

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 hoping that if he can at least make it that far,

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 that God will just help him out

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 and just kind of carry him the rest of the way.

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 He's close.

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 He's close.

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 But he's not there.

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 And of course, we all know people

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 who live with that same mindset.

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 I'm not perfect, they may say,

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 but I'm sure God will give me some credit

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 for trying my best.

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 I mean, what else can I do

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 but my best?

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 And for these people,

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 Jesus is a moral example to be followed,

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 but he's not a savior

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 to which they must cast all their faith and hope.

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 They become their own savior.

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 Jesus is the example,

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 but if I can just do my best to be like him,

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 then God will accept me.

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 And they've missed the whole point.

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 They're close.

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 They're not in.

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 But Jesus can be your savior today

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 because he did indeed perfectly fulfill the law of God

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 that each and every one of us continually violate.

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 So salvation does not come to those who do their best,

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 but to those who trust only

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 in the righteousness of Christ on their behalf.

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 That's what Paul was on about in Romans chapter three.

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 Many of you have read this

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 in preparation for our Lakeside Connect.

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 Here's what he says,

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 And he continues,

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 for there's no distinction.

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 All have sinned.

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 All fall short of the glory of God.

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 But anyone who is justified

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 is justified by his grace as a gift

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 through the redemption that's in Christ Jesus,

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 whom God put forth as a propitiation

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 by his blood to be received by faith.

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 Substitute.

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 A satisfaction for God's wrath

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 does not come by any righteousness that we have

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 because as Isaiah said,

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 our righteousness compared to God's

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 is like a filthy rag,

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 but not Jesus

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 because Jesus perfectly fulfilled that law.

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 He perfectly fulfilled the law.

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 So he is truly righteous.

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 And by faith in him,

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 God then grants us the righteousness of Christ.

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 Number two,

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 the Lord's insight.

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 The Lord's insight.

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 So the scribe asked the Lord for one great law.

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 Jesus gave him two.

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 Now Jesus didn't provide this answer

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 just to teach that,

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 or to agree in any way

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 that it's possible to earn salvation.

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 He gives this answer here

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 to actually expose the impossibility

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 of earning salvation.

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 We read it a moment ago.

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 Who could ever keep these demands?

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 No one.

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 There are two parts to it.

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 The first one is this.

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 Jesus says you got to love God.

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 You got to love God.

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 Verse 29.

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 Jesus answered,

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 the most important is,

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 hear, O Israel,

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 the Lord our God,

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 the Lord is one,

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 and you shall love the Lord your God

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 with all your heart,

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 with all your soul,

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 with all your mind,

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 and with all your strength.

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 This first part of Jesus's answer

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 is a direct quote

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 from Deuteronomy chapter six,

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 verses four and five.

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 It is known as the Shema.

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 The Hebrew word to hear

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 is what that means,

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 which begins the statement,

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 hear, O Israel.

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 Devout Jews,

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 recite the Shema

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 in the morning

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 and in the evening

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 of every day.

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 Hear, O Israel,

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 the Lord our God,

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 the Lord is one.

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 You shall love him

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 with all your heart,

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 soul, mind,

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 and strength.

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 And of course,

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 in Deuteronomy six,

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 this is what they were commanded

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 by Moses to teach

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 to their children

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 and to talk about all day.

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 This was an important command.

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 Everybody knew it.

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 And the command begins

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 with the affirmation

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 that there is only one God

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 to love and worship

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 and it rejects

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 any form of idolatry

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 that might be present

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 in our lives.

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 So think about this.

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 To fulfill this command

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 is to live a life

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 that never

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 seeks personal will

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 over the will of God.

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 Now let me ask you something.

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 Have you ever pursued

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 your will

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 with a complete disregard

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 to whatever God

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 might desire instead?

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 Because if you've ever

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 done that,

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 you've broken this command.

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 You've already fallen short.

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 It is to wholly pursue

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 the Creator

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 and His purpose

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 in creating you

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 rather than pursuing

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 self-identity

00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:24.379
 or self-glory

00:13:24.379 --> 00:13:25.759
 or self-pleasure.

00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:27.939
 this is the demand

00:13:27.939 --> 00:13:28.600
 of God's law.

00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:30.259
 We love

00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:31.720
 and glorify Him

00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:32.960
 as our only

00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:33.879
 one

00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:34.860
 and Savior

00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:35.939
 God.

00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:37.679
 Even

00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:38.980
 when it comes

00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:39.919
 to denying ourselves

00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:40.659
 to do so.

00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:42.220
 Now we don't really

00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:42.960
 have to go any further.

00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:44.080
 We already know

00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:44.700
 we broke that.

00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:46.500
 Who could keep

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.019
 that law?

00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:48.919
 Who could keep

00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:49.500
 that command?

00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:51.659
 But Jesus continues

00:13:51.659 --> 00:13:52.959
 and He gives

00:13:52.959 --> 00:13:53.919
 four categories

00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:55.600
 of our being

00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:56.839
 in which God

00:13:56.839 --> 00:13:57.919
 is to be the object

00:13:57.919 --> 00:13:59.480
 of our total love

00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:00.339
 and devotion.

00:14:01.059 --> 00:14:02.159
 He says we're to love

00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:02.439
 the Lord

00:14:02.439 --> 00:14:03.480
 with all our heart

00:14:03.480 --> 00:14:04.360
 which is setting

00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:05.879
 all of our affection

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.039
 on Him

00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:08.219
 and tuning

00:14:08.219 --> 00:14:09.419
 our emotions

00:14:09.419 --> 00:14:10.819
 to His person

00:14:10.819 --> 00:14:11.519
 and His will.

00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:13.500
 He says we're to love

00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:13.980
 the Lord

00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:15.519
 with all of our soul.

00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:16.319
 That is to

00:14:16.319 --> 00:14:17.439
 place God

00:14:17.439 --> 00:14:18.179
 and His glory

00:14:18.179 --> 00:14:19.259
 at the center

00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:21.100
 of your whole being.

00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:23.019
 That when you think

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:24.100
 who am I

00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:25.679
 you have no other thought

00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:26.700
 than a creature

00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:28.340
 of the living God

00:14:28.340 --> 00:14:29.960
 for whom I live

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:31.220
 in everything that I do.

00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.480
 That is to love

00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:32.840
 the Lord

00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:33.779
 with all your soul.

00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:35.500
 It is to put Him

00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:36.899
 first in all your ambition.

00:14:37.819 --> 00:14:38.919
 It is to live your life

00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:40.220
 in total service to Him.

00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.159
 And then He says

00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:42.000
 even beyond that

00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.139
 that's hard enough, right?

00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:43.720
 All your heart

00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.319
 and all your soul.

00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:44.799
 Then He says

00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:45.580
 you gotta do it

00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.819
 with all your mind as well.

00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:49.379
 You have to think

00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:50.480
 with pure thoughts.

00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:52.980
 Discipline

00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:54.879
 and surrender

00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:56.320
 your thoughts

00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.600
 to align with

00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.280
 the truths of God

00:14:59.280 --> 00:15:01.020
 as He has given them

00:15:01.020 --> 00:15:01.600
 in the Scriptures.

00:15:01.900 --> 00:15:03.160
 Not as you wish

00:15:03.160 --> 00:15:04.080
 He had given them

00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:04.580
 in the Scriptures

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:06.420
 but as He has given them.

00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:09.460
 It is to trust

00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.260
 His ways

00:15:10.260 --> 00:15:11.300
 are best

00:15:11.300 --> 00:15:12.500
 even when you don't

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:14.260
 understand them.

00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:16.759
 And then He says

00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.639
 you love the Lord

00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:19.539
 with all your strength.

00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:21.819
 That's to put

00:15:21.819 --> 00:15:23.159
 all of your work

00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:23.860
 and energy

00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.939
 toward obeying

00:15:24.939 --> 00:15:26.360
 and following Him.

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:28.419
 When it comes

00:15:28.419 --> 00:15:29.319
 to loving the Lord

00:15:29.319 --> 00:15:29.939
 in this way

00:15:29.939 --> 00:15:31.000
 there's no such thing

00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:31.759
 as retirement.

00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:34.460
 There's never a time

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:35.139
 in your life

00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:36.259
 where you set aside

00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:37.100
 all of your energy

00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:38.080
 and all of your ambition

00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:39.120
 and all of your things

00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:40.139
 and you direct them

00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:41.059
 away from what

00:15:41.059 --> 00:15:41.799
 God's desire is

00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:42.259
 for your life

00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.580
 in order to pursue

00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:44.899
 self-identity

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.659
 and self-glory

00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:46.340
 and self-pleasure.

00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.620
 It just isn't.

00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:48.899
 You can't love God

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:50.259
 and self.

00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:51.340
 It doesn't work.

00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:52.919
 It doesn't work.

00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:54.700
 Kent Hughes said

00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:55.740
 heart, soul, mind

00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:56.299
 and strength

00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:57.399
 were not intended

00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:58.200
 as a breakdown

00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:00.600
 or a psychological analysis

00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:02.000
 of human personality.

00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:03.740
 They simply meant

00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.840
 that everything

00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:05.980
 was to be devoted

00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:08.139
 to loving God.

00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.220
 Everything.

00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:11.100
 I'm all yours, Lord.

00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:11.200
 Lord.

00:16:12.560 --> 00:16:13.320
 Have you ever

00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:14.120
 done that perfectly?

00:16:15.800 --> 00:16:16.700
 I haven't.

00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:17.639
 I don't know

00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:18.000
 that I've done

00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:18.540
 that perfectly

00:16:18.540 --> 00:16:19.220
 even today.

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.120
 So we've already

00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:22.740
 fallen short.

00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:24.960
 So this man's

00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:25.540
 looking for one

00:16:25.540 --> 00:16:26.120
 great command

00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:26.860
 he can follow

00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:27.980
 that would satisfy God

00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:28.500
 and the first thing

00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.379
 that Jesus leads off

00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:30.460
 with is an impossibility.

00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:32.480
 But he doesn't

00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:33.000
 stop there.

00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:34.159
 He also says

00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:35.080
 we're to love others.

00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.300
 Verse 31.

00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.139
 The second is this,

00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:38.820
 Jesus said,

00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:39.820
 you shall love

00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:40.360
 your neighbor

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.740
 as yourself.

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:44.480
 This is a quote

00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.840
 from Leviticus 19

00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:46.640
 verse 18.

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.040
 And it makes

00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:50.140
 perfect sense,

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:50.420
 right?

00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:51.120
 That Jesus

00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:51.780
 would attach

00:16:51.780 --> 00:16:52.480
 this command

00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.300
 directly to the

00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:54.000
 command to love

00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:54.340
 God

00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:57.160
 because love

00:16:57.160 --> 00:16:57.800
 for others

00:16:57.800 --> 00:16:59.200
 flows directly

00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.120
 out of our love

00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:01.280
 for God.

00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:03.160
 Right?

00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:04.879
 Listen,

00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:06.920
 to love God

00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:08.339
 is to love

00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:09.139
 what he loves.

00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.559
 What does he love?

00:17:14.740 --> 00:17:15.339
 Us.

00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:19.539
 To truly love God

00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:20.279
 means that the

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.279
 natural reflex

00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.240
 of our hearts

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.879
 is going to be

00:17:22.879 --> 00:17:23.639
 to extend

00:17:23.639 --> 00:17:24.279
 our love

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:25.119
 and affection

00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:26.220
 and kindness

00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:27.099
 to the others

00:17:27.099 --> 00:17:27.779
 in which God

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.579
 has created

00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.740
 not because

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.379
 we line up

00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:30.700
 with him

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.180
 and everything

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:31.740
 and that our

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.320
 personalities

00:17:32.320 --> 00:17:33.299
 perfectly mesh

00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:33.680
 and that we

00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:34.220
 necessarily

00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:35.000
 want to be

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:35.259
 kind

00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:35.860
 but because

00:17:35.860 --> 00:17:36.320
 we love

00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:36.660
 him

00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:37.299
 we will

00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:37.880
 by nature

00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:38.440
 love

00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.480
 them.

00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:41.820
 Think about

00:17:41.820 --> 00:17:42.240
 this.

00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:44.519
 His grace

00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.980
 in some measure

00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:47.080
 is extended

00:17:47.080 --> 00:17:48.140
 to every human

00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:48.539
 being

00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:49.620
 every single

00:17:49.620 --> 00:17:49.960
 day.

00:17:50.120 --> 00:17:51.200
 Even the ones

00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:51.840
 who utterly

00:17:51.840 --> 00:17:52.840
 reject him

00:17:52.840 --> 00:17:53.620
 and hate him.

00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:55.440
 They still

00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:55.960
 enjoy the

00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:56.600
 rising of the

00:17:56.600 --> 00:17:56.940
 sun.

00:17:57.320 --> 00:17:58.060
 They enjoy

00:17:58.060 --> 00:17:58.799
 the blessings

00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:00.039
 of the food

00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:00.879
 that he provides

00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:01.460
 in the earth

00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.059
 that he's given.

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.039
 He provides

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.700
 them with air

00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:04.299
 to breathe

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:04.920
 and life

00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:05.460
 to live

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:06.039
 and beauty

00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:06.980
 to behold.

00:18:07.139 --> 00:18:08.039
 All of that

00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:08.619
 to the very

00:18:08.619 --> 00:18:09.200
 people who

00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:09.839
 reject and

00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.240
 hate him.

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.119
 Is that

00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:11.980
 not the way

00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.579
 that the

00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:12.899
 scripture

00:18:12.899 --> 00:18:13.539
 continually

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.480
 teaches us

00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.000
 that we're

00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:15.440
 to love

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:15.980
 our enemies?

00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:18.379
 Not because

00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:18.879
 we're just

00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:19.579
 good at it

00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:20.220
 but because

00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:20.879
 that's exactly

00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:21.460
 what God

00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:22.279
 does and

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:22.980
 as we love

00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:23.779
 God it makes

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:24.339
 sense that

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:25.159
 Jesus would say

00:18:25.159 --> 00:18:25.799
 then the next

00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:26.519
 thing right behind

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.200
 that is that

00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:27.500
 you're going to

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:27.960
 love others

00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:28.759
 the same way.

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:30.099
 first because

00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:30.660
 of God's

00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:30.960
 love.

00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:33.579
 The inerrant

00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.539
 dignity of

00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:35.599
 human life

00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.140
 is wrapped

00:18:36.140 --> 00:18:36.839
 up in this

00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:37.180
 command.

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.240
 Because God

00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:40.039
 has imprinted

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.920
 his very image

00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:41.319
 on every

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:41.920
 human we

00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.259
 are to

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.180
 treat one

00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:43.819
 another with

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.519
 love and

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.200
 respect.

00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:46.920
 But notice

00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:47.480
 how Jesus

00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.319
 commanded for

00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.079
 us to love.

00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:51.359
 Love others

00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:52.960
 the way you

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:54.940
 love yourself.

00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:55.940
 love others

00:18:55.940 --> 00:19:00.279
 the way you

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:00.820
 love yourself.

00:19:00.820 --> 00:19:01.779
 I don't know

00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.320
 about you but I'm

00:19:02.320 --> 00:19:02.900
 pretty good at

00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:02.820
 loving myself.

00:19:02.820 --> 00:19:03.480
 It's pretty easy

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.220
 for me to tell

00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:06.039
 Jared yes even

00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:06.940
 when Jared hasn't

00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.640
 been real good to

00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:09.340
 Jared because I

00:19:09.340 --> 00:19:09.880
 love Jared.

00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.680
 He's my favorite.

00:19:14.860 --> 00:19:15.860
 Jesus says love

00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:16.480
 others the way

00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.320
 you love yourself.

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:19.900
 Love others the

00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:20.340
 way you love

00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:20.640
 yourself.

00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:21.600
 It's interesting he

00:19:21.600 --> 00:19:22.259
 doesn't say love

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.940
 others the way you

00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:24.220
 love God because he

00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:24.740
 knows we love

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:25.460
 ourselves more than

00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.039
 we love God.

00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:28.819
 He says you need

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:29.380
 to love others

00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:29.920
 that way.

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.620
 In every

00:19:31.620 --> 00:19:33.799
 situation we're

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.339
 to treat other

00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:35.200
 people the way we

00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:35.880
 would hope to be

00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:37.700
 treated given that

00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:38.480
 the circumstances

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.339
 were in reverse.

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.460
 James Edwards

00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.519
 said love for God

00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.620
 releases the love

00:19:46.620 --> 00:19:47.380
 of God.

00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:50.059
 Love for God

00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:51.539
 releases the love

00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:52.600
 of God.

00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:54.059
 You love him

00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:55.179
 you won't be able

00:19:55.179 --> 00:19:55.779
 to help it

00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:57.200
 but show his love

00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:57.740
 for others.

00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.859
 This is what John

00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:00.700
 was on about in

00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:01.779
 1 John chapter 4.

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.679
 Beloved let us not

00:20:03.679 --> 00:20:04.419
 love one another

00:20:04.419 --> 00:20:05.440
 or let us love one

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:07.359
 another for love is

00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:09.460
 from God and whoever

00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.779
 loves has been born

00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:12.339
 of God and knows

00:20:12.339 --> 00:20:12.659
 God.

00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:15.079
 Anyone who does not

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:17.299
 love does not know

00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:19.599
 God because God is

00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.659
 love.

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.920
 but notice how Jesus

00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.759
 ends the statement

00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.740
 verse 31.

00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.060
 He says love God

00:20:26.060 --> 00:20:26.680
 love others.

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.740
 There is no other

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.800
 commandment greater

00:20:29.800 --> 00:20:30.660
 than these.

00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.820
 No other commandment

00:20:32.820 --> 00:20:33.480
 greater than these

00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:34.160
 Jesus says.

00:20:35.320 --> 00:20:36.340
 And this is so

00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:36.820
 important.

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.360
 This statement might

00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:40.160
 be the most important

00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:40.759
 of all of them

00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.700
 because it it

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.940
 corrects the errant

00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:44.000
 perspective of the

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.840
 scribe's question.

00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:47.519
 In Matthew 22

00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.500
 Matthew writes that

00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.579
 Jesus added this

00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:49.919
 statement.

00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:51.799
 He says that all of

00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.459
 the law and the

00:20:52.459 --> 00:20:53.879
 prophets that's a

00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:56.359
 single title for the

00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:56.899
 Old Testament.

00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:58.379
 All of the law and

00:20:58.379 --> 00:21:00.000
 the prophets depend

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:02.799
 on these two

00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:03.599
 commandments.

00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:05.240
 What does that

00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:05.539
 mean?

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:07.980
 He meant that all

00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.059
 the lesser quote

00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:10.899
 lesser commands are

00:21:10.899 --> 00:21:12.839
 subsumed or absorbed

00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:14.859
 into these two

00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:16.019
 summary statements.

00:21:16.459 --> 00:21:17.619
 Now an example of

00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:18.199
 that is the Ten

00:21:18.199 --> 00:21:18.839
 Commandments.

00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:20.579
 The first four

00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:22.459
 commandments are all

00:21:22.459 --> 00:21:23.879
 under and underneath

00:21:23.879 --> 00:21:25.179
 and subsumed in this

00:21:25.179 --> 00:21:26.519
 command to love God.

00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:28.179
 Love God.

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.879
 No graven image.

00:21:30.379 --> 00:21:31.139
 Don't take his name

00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:31.599
 in vain.

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.039
 Remember the Sabbath.

00:21:33.199 --> 00:21:33.759
 Keep it holy.

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:34.919
 All of that is about

00:21:34.919 --> 00:21:35.939
 our love for God.

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:36.959
 Subsumed in the one

00:21:36.959 --> 00:21:37.220
 command.

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:39.019
 The final six subsumed

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.980
 in that second command.

00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.019
 Love others as

00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.459
 yourself.

00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:42.359
 Don't kill them.

00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:43.119
 Love them.

00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.399
 Don't steal from them.

00:21:44.699 --> 00:21:45.119
 Love them.

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.240
 Don't commit adultery

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.139
 with them or against

00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:47.379
 them.

00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:48.339
 Love them.

00:21:48.659 --> 00:21:49.819
 Don't covet against

00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.039
 them.

00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:50.939
 Love them.

00:21:51.899 --> 00:21:53.159
 Don't lie about them.

00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.579
 Love them.

00:21:55.719 --> 00:21:56.519
 In other words,

00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:59.099
 to violate a lesser

00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:02.099
 command is the same

00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:04.000
 as violating the

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.359
 greatest commands.

00:22:05.899 --> 00:22:06.859
 Do you see that?

00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:09.719
 Jesus says all of the

00:22:09.719 --> 00:22:11.219
 law, all the law and

00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:11.660
 the prophets.

00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:13.620
 They depend on these

00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:14.980
 two summary statements.

00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:15.600
 Love God.

00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.220
 Love others.

00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:17.380
 And if you kill

00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:19.339
 somebody, you have also

00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:20.740
 broken the law of love.

00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:23.039
 If you worship someone

00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.680
 else, you have also

00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:25.980
 broken the command of

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.700
 loving God.

00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:27.740
 In other words, to

00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:29.180
 break a lesser command

00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:31.140
 is to break all of the

00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:32.259
 law, which is exactly

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:33.440
 what James told us.

00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:34.640
 James chapter 2 and

00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:35.200
 verse 10.

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:44.759
 So the scribe comes to

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.620
 Jesus and he says,

00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:46.920
 just give me one thing,

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.360
 one thing I can do.

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.299
 And Jesus says, that's

00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:49.900
 not possible.

00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:51.539
 It's not possible.

00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:53.360
 You can't separate the

00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:54.039
 law of God.

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.840
 It is one.

00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:56.080
 To violate in one point

00:22:56.080 --> 00:22:58.299
 is to violate in all

00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:58.900
 points.

00:22:58.900 --> 00:23:01.759
 So Jesus wasn't giving

00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.900
 this man a path to

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:04.460
 follow to earn God's

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:04.780
 favor.

00:23:05.780 --> 00:23:06.800
 What was he doing?

00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.800
 He was leading this

00:23:08.800 --> 00:23:11.180
 man to the truth and

00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:12.940
 the understanding that

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:16.180
 our best obedience can

00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:18.940
 never gain eternal life.

00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:22.280
 Who has ever loved God

00:23:22.280 --> 00:23:23.380
 and others this way?

00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:25.980
 No one but Christ.

00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:29.740
 We've all violated God's

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.120
 demands.

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:33.360
 And it's not possible for

00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:35.260
 us to make it up through

00:23:35.260 --> 00:23:36.460
 our efforts and morality

00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.100
 and religion.

00:23:38.620 --> 00:23:40.220
 The law is not there to

00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.160
 save us.

00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:45.300
 God gave it to show us

00:23:45.300 --> 00:23:46.820
 that we need saving.

00:23:48.780 --> 00:23:50.680
 That we need a Savior.

00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:54.240
 And all we can do in

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.759
 responding to this answer

00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.960
 that Jesus gave so

00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:58.340
 profoundly is to say,

00:23:58.840 --> 00:24:01.180
 have mercy on me.

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:03.080
 I can't do that.

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:05.940
 I've never done that.

00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.940
 I'll never be able to do

00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.600
 that perfectly.

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:12.519
 Lord, have mercy on me.

00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:16.140
 And fortunately for us,

00:24:17.080 --> 00:24:19.860
 God is full of grace.

00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:21.240
 And mercy.

00:24:22.860 --> 00:24:24.500
 Micah chapter 7 and verse

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:26.320
 18, the prophet writes,

00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:28.039
 Who is a God like you?

00:24:29.060 --> 00:24:30.799
 Pardoning iniquity and

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:32.519
 passing over transgression

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.660
 for the remnant of his

00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:34.180
 inheritance.

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:36.320
 He does not retain his

00:24:36.320 --> 00:24:38.539
 anger forever because he

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:41.759
 delights in steadfast love.

00:24:41.840 --> 00:24:45.600
 He delights in mercy and

00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:46.000
 grace.

00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:49.019
 Finally, we see the final

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.759
 assessments.

00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.879
 The final assessments.

00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:56.019
 This exchange concludes

00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.660
 with two of them.

00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.379
 The first is from the

00:24:59.379 --> 00:24:59.839
 scribe.

00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:01.500
 The second is from the

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:01.740
 Lord.

00:25:02.879 --> 00:25:04.420
 So the scribe assessed

00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.259
 the answer.

00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:06.019
 That's what he did.

00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.680
 The scribe assessed the

00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:07.980
 answer.

00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:09.240
 Look with me at verse 32.

00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:12.379
 And the scribe said to

00:25:12.379 --> 00:25:13.819
 him, You are right,

00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:14.200
 teacher.

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:16.900
 You have truly said that

00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:18.600
 he is one and there is no

00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.840
 other besides him.

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.640
 And to love him with all

00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:22.720
 the heart and with all the

00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.819
 understanding and with all

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:25.240
 the strength and to love

00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:27.220
 one's neighbor as oneself is

00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:29.640
 much more than all whole

00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:31.600
 burnt offerings and

00:25:31.600 --> 00:25:32.340
 sacrifices.

00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:34.279
 That's a pretty incredible

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:34.720
 answer.

00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:38.400
 It's nearly a perfect answer,

00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:38.779
 actually.

00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:41.539
 This is the only place in

00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.700
 Mark's gospel that we ever

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:44.120
 find a friendly exchange

00:25:44.120 --> 00:25:45.319
 between Jesus and a

00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:45.799
 scribe.

00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.799
 And this man was not only

00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:49.559
 kind to Jesus in this

00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:51.100
 answer, but he gave a

00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:52.519
 glowing review of the

00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.160
 Lord's answer.

00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:58.319
 He's clearly impressed by

00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:59.640
 Jesus's intellect and

00:25:59.640 --> 00:25:59.960
 wisdom.

00:26:00.340 --> 00:26:02.100
 And I want you to notice how

00:26:02.100 --> 00:26:04.680
 truly close he is.

00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:07.420
 He affirmed the

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:08.740
 truthfulness of Jesus's

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.140
 teaching.

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:11.640
 He literally said, You're

00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:11.980
 right.

00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.880
 You're right, teacher.

00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.880
 That's the right answer.

00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:17.400
 He's affirming that Jesus

00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:19.039
 is true and that his

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.980
 teaching is as well.

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.960
 Secondly, he agreed with

00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:23.539
 Jesus's theology.

00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:27.640
 You have truly said he is

00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:28.180
 one.

00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:29.660
 Now, there were probably

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:31.240
 certainly things that they

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.180
 didn't line up with.

00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:33.460
 But as far as this text is

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.140
 concerned in this

00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:35.700
 conversation, this man's

00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:36.860
 theology and Jesus's

00:26:36.860 --> 00:26:37.880
 theology are one in the

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.120
 same.

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.559
 They both believe that the

00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:40.279
 Lord is one.

00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:44.500
 He even viewed the law as

00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:47.079
 primarily spiritual, not

00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:47.680
 external.

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.819
 Notice what he says at the

00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.119
 end.

00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:52.119
 That all of these things,

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.059
 loving God, loving others,

00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:55.920
 is much more than all whole

00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:58.139
 burnt offerings and

00:26:58.139 --> 00:26:58.960
 sacrifices.

00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:01.860
 There's a lot of Christians

00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:03.140
 that don't understand that.

00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:05.259
 And here is this scribe

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.819
 saying what God said

00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:07.600
 through Isaiah.

00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.779
 That I don't care about

00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:11.000
 your following the law.

00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:11.980
 I don't care about all the

00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:13.319
 sacrifices and all the

00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:15.079
 rituals if I don't have

00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.700
 your heart.

00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:18.680
 And this man recognizes all

00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:19.400
 of those things.

00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:22.660
 Do you see how close he is?

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:24.720
 So what's the problem?

00:27:26.040 --> 00:27:27.580
 The problem is not what he

00:27:27.580 --> 00:27:27.980
 said.

00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.620
 The problem is that he

00:27:29.620 --> 00:27:30.960
 didn't take it far enough.

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:34.380
 He assessed only Jesus's

00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:35.620
 answer when he should have

00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:37.460
 assessed the Lord himself.

00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:41.460
 He was only intellectually

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:43.360
 concerned about this

00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:44.040
 conversation.

00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:45.500
 What he should have done is

00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:47.640
 considered the identity of

00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:50.220
 Jesus and its implications

00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.440
 on his faith.

00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:54.440
 He saw Jesus's answer.

00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:56.059
 He saw Jesus's actions.

00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:57.180
 And he thought,

00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:59.980
 wonderful, fantastic.

00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:01.759
 But he never saw Jesus.

00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:05.039
 He saw all the things Jesus

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:07.059
 taught, all the things Jesus

00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:08.640
 did, but he looked right

00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.940
 past the Lord himself.

00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:12.279
 So he assesses the answers,

00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:13.960
 but he doesn't assess the

00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:14.339
 Lord.

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:17.420
 So he never understood.

00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:20.660
 James tells us again in

00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:23.420
 chapter 2 and verse 19, he

00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:24.700
 says, you believe that God

00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.220
 is one.

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:26.900
 You do well.

00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.620
 This man, that's the whole

00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:29.180
 conversation.

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.680
 We agree, Jesus.

00:28:31.100 --> 00:28:32.240
 God is one.

00:28:32.620 --> 00:28:33.580
 James says, you believe God

00:28:33.580 --> 00:28:33.880
 is one.

00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.320
 Great.

00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.180
 You do well.

00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.580
 But think about this.

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:38.380
 James says, even the demons

00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:38.940
 believe.

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:41.140
 And they shudder.

00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:43.480
 They tremble.

00:28:44.580 --> 00:28:45.920
 So what's the difference

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:47.360
 between the theology of the

00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:49.119
 demons and a theology of

00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:50.399
 someone in the kingdom, a

00:28:50.399 --> 00:28:51.099
 true believer?

00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:54.699
 Demons intellectually assent

00:28:54.699 --> 00:28:55.699
 to the truths of God.

00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:57.379
 They recognize that they are

00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:57.779
 true.

00:28:57.899 --> 00:28:59.799
 They do not deny the factual

00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:01.719
 existence of Jesus's identity

00:29:01.719 --> 00:29:02.919
 and his purpose and all that

00:29:02.919 --> 00:29:03.659
 he was going to do.

00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:05.199
 The difference is theirs is

00:29:05.199 --> 00:29:06.339
 purely intellectual.

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:09.459
 Disciples surrender

00:29:09.459 --> 00:29:10.779
 themselves in faith and

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:12.679
 obedience to Jesus Christ.

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:12.779
 Jesus.

00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:16.700
 And just like this scribe, there

00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:18.000
 are many people who will be

00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:18.940
 friendly to Jesus.

00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:21.160
 They'll even intellectually agree

00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:22.660
 with his general theology.

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:25.019
 Yet they will fail to receive

00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:27.600
 him as Lord and Savior.

00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.620
 And that's where the scribe is.

00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.519
 He's close.

00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:31.779
 Real close.

00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:33.460
 Close enough to think that he's

00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:33.640
 in.

00:29:34.060 --> 00:29:34.799
 But he's not.

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:37.919
 Well, that gets to Jesus's

00:29:37.919 --> 00:29:38.399
 assessment.

00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:41.220
 Jesus assessed the scribe.

00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:43.279
 He assesses the scribe.

00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:44.180
 Look at verse 34.

00:29:45.639 --> 00:29:46.940
 And when Jesus saw that he

00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:49.039
 answered wisely, he said to

00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:52.139
 him, you are not far from the

00:29:52.139 --> 00:29:53.779
 kingdom of God.

00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:59.200
 This must have come as a

00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:00.500
 stunning statement to this

00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:00.799
 man.

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.680
 Because they haven't been

00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.700
 talking about the kingdom of

00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:03.940
 God.

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:07.200
 Surely he thinks this is coming

00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.039
 out of left field a little

00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:08.420
 bit, right?

00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:10.819
 They were in this debate about

00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.279
 the law.

00:30:12.379 --> 00:30:14.099
 Why all of a sudden this

00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:14.960
 statement about the kingdom

00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:16.180
 of God and eternal life?

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:17.160
 Where is that coming from?

00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.279
 And why in the world is he

00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:19.460
 saying that I'm close to it?

00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.899
 Because by saying that he's

00:30:20.899 --> 00:30:21.819
 close to it, he's basically

00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.799
 saying you're not in it.

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.960
 You're on the outside.

00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:29.700
 Again, we see Jesus making

00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.980
 this distinction in Mark's

00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:32.399
 gospel between insiders and

00:30:32.399 --> 00:30:32.899
 outsiders.

00:30:35.159 --> 00:30:38.039
 His assessment, you're close

00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:40.259
 to the kingdom, but you're not

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.799
 in the kingdom.

00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:43.500
 And by the way, this statement,

00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:45.619
 I believe, comes from the

00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:47.259
 depths of Jesus's compassion

00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:47.960
 for that man.

00:30:50.399 --> 00:30:52.000
 His heart was not as hard as

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.740
 the Pharisees.

00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:54.180
 And Herodians and Sadducees

00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:54.819
 before him.

00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:58.019
 Jesus left them in their

00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.379
 darkness.

00:30:59.839 --> 00:31:01.039
 He doesn't do that with this

00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:01.399
 scribe.

00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:05.500
 He compassionately leads this

00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.700
 man to truth.

00:31:06.839 --> 00:31:07.899
 And some would look at this

00:31:07.899 --> 00:31:09.440
 passage and say, Jesus was

00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:10.319
 being really rude.

00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:14.099
 They would think Jesus was

00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:15.639
 kind of mean to this man.

00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.379
 Here's this man doing

00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:17.240
 everything that he can.

00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:18.299
 And it seems like he's really,

00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:19.859
 he seems like he's on Jesus's

00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:20.400
 side here.

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:22.599
 And yet Jesus doesn't actually

00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.819
 give him the peace of knowing

00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.900
 that he has eternal life.

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.240
 He actually tells him that he's

00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.160
 not quite there yet.

00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:28.740
 That's actually kind of rude and

00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.440
 judgmental.

00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:32.400
 But that's not what Jesus is

00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:32.640
 doing.

00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:35.500
 We actually find that Jesus's

00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:37.960
 true love is seen here for this

00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.279
 man.

00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:40.879
 And it's seen in the fact that he

00:31:40.879 --> 00:31:42.660
 told the man the truth.

00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:48.059
 How much must you hate someone

00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:52.220
 to let them continue thinking that

00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:54.099
 they know Christ when they don't?

00:31:56.099 --> 00:32:00.660
 How much must you hate them to let

00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:02.379
 them claim to be a Christian when

00:32:02.379 --> 00:32:03.940
 you know that they're not a

00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:04.420
 Christian?

00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:08.860
 How much must you hate them to let

00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:11.039
 them continue in error and even

00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:13.580
 capitulate to that error knowing

00:32:13.580 --> 00:32:16.800
 full well that they do not know the

00:32:16.800 --> 00:32:17.660
 Lord Jesus?

00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:20.980
 This wasn't Jesus being rude.

00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:23.660
 This is Jesus showing his love.

00:32:24.860 --> 00:32:26.060
 He's loving this man.

00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:31.640
 And this passage reveals so many

00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:33.320
 things that can get you close to

00:32:33.319 --> 00:32:36.439
 salvation without ever receiving it.

00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:40.939
 This man was fervently religious.

00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:44.480
 His whole life, his whole career

00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:46.480
 was wrapped up in studying and

00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:48.000
 interpreting the Old Testament.

00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.500
 That's what he did for his life.

00:32:49.939 --> 00:32:52.460
 He's fervently religious, but his

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:54.000
 religion could only get him close.

00:32:55.919 --> 00:32:57.659
 He's zealous of good works.

00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:00.099
 That was the point of his question.

00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:02.719
 What's one thing I can do?

00:33:03.719 --> 00:33:06.579
 How can I be better so that I can be

00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.119
 accepted?

00:33:07.219 --> 00:33:08.019
 That's his question.

00:33:08.219 --> 00:33:10.099
 He's zealous for good works, but his

00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:12.219
 good works can only get him close.

00:33:14.879 --> 00:33:16.819
 The man agreed with sound doctrine.

00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:20.759
 He might have had more biblical wisdom

00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:23.480
 in this statement about burnt offerings

00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:25.539
 and sacrifices than any other of the

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.940
 scribes that we've read about in the

00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:27.440
 gospels.

00:33:29.159 --> 00:33:31.359
 But his theological positions

00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:33.559
 could only get him close.

00:33:35.899 --> 00:33:37.599
 And maybe you're very much like the

00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:37.980
 scribe.

00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:44.740
 Maybe your fervency in religious things

00:33:44.740 --> 00:33:46.460
 has gotten you close.

00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:49.940
 Or maybe you're just a good guy.

00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:52.840
 And that's gotten you close.

00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:55.900
 And you can tell me who Jesus is.

00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:57.480
 And you can tell me all about asking

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:59.039
 Jesus in your heart and all those kinds

00:33:59.039 --> 00:33:59.360
 of things.

00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:00.860
 You can tell me all the stuff that you

00:34:00.860 --> 00:34:01.460
 want to tell me.

00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.920
 And all those things are only getting you

00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:04.340
 close.

00:34:05.860 --> 00:34:07.900
 And perhaps you're so close that you think

00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:08.619
 you're in and you're not.

00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:11.880
 So we have to ask the question.

00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:16.239
 How do we move from being close to being

00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:16.539
 in?

00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:19.839
 And to get this answer, I think we'll be

00:34:19.839 --> 00:34:21.319
 helped to go back to chapter one.

00:34:21.759 --> 00:34:22.859
 You can turn there if you'd like.

00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.420
 Remember at the very beginning of our

00:34:25.420 --> 00:34:29.199
 study about eight or nine years ago, we

00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:31.179
 began studying the gospel of Mark.

00:34:32.299 --> 00:34:33.400
 Feels that way, doesn't it?

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:41.440
 Remember when Jesus came on the scene?

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.940
 John was arrested.

00:34:44.680 --> 00:34:46.619
 What was it that characterized Jesus'

00:34:46.900 --> 00:34:47.320
 ministry?

00:34:48.220 --> 00:34:49.139
 Was this preaching?

00:34:50.240 --> 00:34:52.039
 What was the message that he preached?

00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:53.119
 Verse 14.

00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:57.680
 After John was arrested, Jesus came into

00:34:57.680 --> 00:35:00.500
 Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God,

00:35:00.860 --> 00:35:01.200
 saying,

00:35:01.199 --> 00:35:03.739
 The time is fulfilled.

00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:06.939
 The kingdom of God is at hand.

00:35:08.139 --> 00:35:10.960
 Repent and believe in the gospel.

00:35:13.859 --> 00:35:16.099
 This question of how can I move from

00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:17.819
 being close to being in?

00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:20.119
 That's the question Jesus had been

00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:21.399
 answering for three years.

00:35:22.399 --> 00:35:24.199
 His preaching about the kingdom.

00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.539
 This was the answer.

00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:29.379
 Jesus himself is the answer.

00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:32.760
 He is the representative of the kingdom

00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:34.340
 of God that he says is near.

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:36.220
 He's not talking about the kingdom is

00:35:36.220 --> 00:35:37.900
 near as far as timing.

00:35:38.200 --> 00:35:39.740
 He's speaking spatially.

00:35:40.220 --> 00:35:42.880
 He himself is the representative of the

00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:43.119
 kingdom.

00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.360
 He is there.

00:35:44.640 --> 00:35:45.519
 He is at hand.

00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:48.059
 His purposes are about to be fulfilled.

00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:50.280
 Jesus is the answer.

00:35:51.420 --> 00:35:54.099
 Because of his identity as the son of God

00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:56.780
 and Messiah, he fulfilled God's demands

00:35:56.780 --> 00:35:57.620
 perfectly.

00:35:58.620 --> 00:36:00.880
 That's why his death on the cross

00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:04.400
 is a sufficient substitute for sinners.

00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:09.440
 If he had sinned, he couldn't die for our sins.

00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.800
 He'd have to die for his own.

00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:14.000
 But because he is the son of God and the Messiah,

00:36:14.380 --> 00:36:16.560
 he fulfilled God's law perfectly.

00:36:17.040 --> 00:36:19.760
 Therefore, his death was not to pay for his own sins,

00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:21.720
 but to pay for the sins of those

00:36:21.719 --> 00:36:24.459
 who would follow and believe him.

00:36:25.299 --> 00:36:27.099
 And in the sacrifice of Christ,

00:36:27.159 --> 00:36:28.319
 as we mentioned last week,

00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:32.179
 God takes, God the Father puts our sin on Jesus

00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:36.299
 in order that he might put Jesus's righteousness on us.

00:36:36.399 --> 00:36:39.279
 And then his resurrection guarantees

00:36:39.279 --> 00:36:43.739
 that his sacrifice on the cross is sufficient.

00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:47.899
 It proves that he has power and authority

00:36:47.899 --> 00:36:49.319
 over life and death.

00:36:49.320 --> 00:36:53.140
 Therefore, he is the one that can either grant us eternal life

00:36:53.140 --> 00:36:56.539
 or judge us to eternal death.

00:36:56.840 --> 00:36:59.500
 And how was it that Jesus said in Mark 1

00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:01.320
 as he preached this gospel of the kingdom?

00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:04.320
 How is it that he said we are to respond to these things?

00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:06.400
 This is the answer to how you get in.

00:37:07.080 --> 00:37:11.740
 Jesus said, repent and believe the good news.

00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:15.000
 What good news?

00:37:15.760 --> 00:37:17.180
 Repent and believe Jesus.

00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:19.139
 Trust him.

00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:20.819
 Turn away from your sin.

00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:22.619
 Turn away from your morality.

00:37:23.480 --> 00:37:26.379
 Turn away from your religious fervency.

00:37:26.719 --> 00:37:29.000
 Turn away from your orthodoxy.

00:37:29.279 --> 00:37:31.679
 Turn away from all these other things you're trusting

00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:34.099
 to gain you some kind of favor with God.

00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:36.639
 And Jesus says, turn away from those things

00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:37.980
 and believe the good news.

00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:40.359
 The good news that you can't get salvation,

00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:42.059
 only I can give it to you.

00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:45.639
 And if you will just come to me and believe and follow me,

00:37:45.799 --> 00:37:48.299
 I will give it to you freely.

00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:52.380
 We forsake all else and we follow him.

00:37:53.460 --> 00:37:55.539
 You cannot earn eternal life.

00:37:56.019 --> 00:38:00.860
 You can only trust that Jesus Christ has secured it on your behalf.

00:38:00.860 --> 00:38:07.140
 And if you can come to a point where you wholeheartedly agree

00:38:07.140 --> 00:38:11.039
 and cast yourself on the mercy and love of Jesus Christ,

00:38:11.140 --> 00:38:14.460
 that is the moment that you move from being near the kingdom

00:38:14.460 --> 00:38:15.720
 to being in the kingdom.

00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:20.579
 And I want to close with the end of verse 34.

00:38:21.379 --> 00:38:24.959
 Look how Jesus finishes the conversation back in chapter 12.

00:38:26.759 --> 00:38:28.819
 Or excuse me, that's how Mark closes the conversation.

00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:31.799
 Mark says, after that,

00:38:32.959 --> 00:38:35.919
 no one dared to ask him any more questions.

00:38:39.619 --> 00:38:41.719
 Now, why do you think they stopped asking him questions?

00:38:41.719 --> 00:38:43.719
 Why do you think they stopped asking him questions?

00:38:45.159 --> 00:38:46.719
 Certainly part of this is

00:38:46.719 --> 00:38:50.199
 that they came to the realization

00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:52.079
 that they weren't going to be able to trap him

00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:53.139
 the way that they thought they could.

00:38:54.239 --> 00:38:55.679
 So they stopped trying perhaps.

00:38:57.059 --> 00:38:58.599
 I think there's another part to it.

00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:02.500
 I actually think this is the dominant reason.

00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:06.459
 I think there was nothing left to ask.

00:39:10.039 --> 00:39:11.279
 There's nothing left to ask.

00:39:11.719 --> 00:39:15.739
 For three years, these men have watched him.

00:39:16.379 --> 00:39:18.359
 They have scrutinized everything that he did.

00:39:19.679 --> 00:39:21.799
 They have witnessed his miracles.

00:39:22.539 --> 00:39:24.079
 They have seen his power.

00:39:25.219 --> 00:39:26.699
 They have heard his teaching.

00:39:27.759 --> 00:39:29.899
 They have asked every question they can ask.

00:39:30.219 --> 00:39:33.779
 They have exhausted every intellectual means

00:39:33.779 --> 00:39:36.919
 of refuting and disproving his identity and message.

00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:38.819
 But they failed every time.

00:39:38.820 --> 00:39:42.380
 There's only one action left for them to take.

00:39:42.539 --> 00:39:43.539
 And it's not a question.

00:39:44.039 --> 00:39:44.920
 It's a decision.

00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:47.700
 The only thing left for them

00:39:47.700 --> 00:39:50.559
 is whether or not they're going to receive him,

00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:53.200
 believe him, and follow him.

00:39:53.960 --> 00:39:55.559
 Or are they going to reject him

00:39:55.559 --> 00:39:56.920
 and deny him outright?

00:39:56.920 --> 00:40:02.000
 And can I ask you, are you in that place today?

00:40:05.340 --> 00:40:09.599
 Have you exhausted every question in your attempt

00:40:09.599 --> 00:40:12.519
 to discern the person and work of Jesus?

00:40:12.519 --> 00:40:14.980
 You've been asking maybe good questions

00:40:14.980 --> 00:40:15.820
 and right questions,

00:40:15.900 --> 00:40:17.739
 and you've asked everything you can ask,

00:40:17.820 --> 00:40:19.840
 and it seems like every time you get in a conversation

00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:21.579
 with somebody about the Bible or Christianity

00:40:21.579 --> 00:40:23.440
 or life or whatever it is,

00:40:23.780 --> 00:40:24.759
 yet now you're at the point

00:40:24.759 --> 00:40:25.739
 where you're just circling around

00:40:25.739 --> 00:40:27.340
 to the same things over and over again.

00:40:27.400 --> 00:40:28.699
 There's really nothing left to ask.

00:40:28.699 --> 00:40:33.439
 Are you friendly toward him,

00:40:33.799 --> 00:40:35.199
 but still unsure?

00:40:37.980 --> 00:40:39.519
 Perhaps what you need to do

00:40:39.519 --> 00:40:43.519
 is stop fiddling around with the questions

00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:45.779
 and just decide

00:40:45.779 --> 00:40:48.679
 whether or not you're going to believe him

00:40:48.679 --> 00:40:51.619
 or you're going to walk away from him.

00:40:51.619 --> 00:40:58.819
 Please don't wait another moment.

00:41:02.859 --> 00:41:04.420
 You can come to him today.

00:41:05.019 --> 00:41:06.319
 There's no perfect time.

00:41:08.259 --> 00:41:09.339
 Now is the time.

00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:14.719
 You're not going to come up with a question

00:41:14.719 --> 00:41:16.079
 to stump him.

00:41:18.099 --> 00:41:19.659
 You're not going to find a way,

00:41:19.739 --> 00:41:21.019
 no matter how hard you try,

00:41:21.019 --> 00:41:22.280
 to disprove him.

00:41:24.119 --> 00:41:25.619
 It's time to just decide,

00:41:25.840 --> 00:41:26.960
 am I going to follow him

00:41:26.960 --> 00:41:28.360
 or am I going to walk away?

00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:33.920
 And I want to leave you with Jesus' words

00:41:33.920 --> 00:41:34.739
 and then we'll close.

00:41:35.880 --> 00:41:36.699
 Matthew 11.

00:41:38.179 --> 00:41:39.460
 Jesus himself said,

00:41:40.460 --> 00:41:42.659
 and I believe he says this to you today,

00:41:43.659 --> 00:41:44.800
 come to me.

00:41:46.239 --> 00:41:47.099
 Come to me,

00:41:47.400 --> 00:41:48.880
 all who labor

00:41:48.880 --> 00:41:51.119
 and are heavy laden

00:41:51.119 --> 00:41:53.280
 and I will give you rest.

00:41:54.820 --> 00:41:56.440
 Take my yoke upon you.

00:41:57.300 --> 00:41:58.260
 Learn from me.

00:41:59.460 --> 00:42:01.380
 For I am gentle and lowly in heart

00:42:01.380 --> 00:42:04.740
 and you will find rest for your soul.

00:42:04.739 --> 00:42:07.739
 For my yoke is easy

00:42:07.739 --> 00:42:09.319
 and my burden

00:42:09.319 --> 00:42:10.379
 is light.

00:42:10.380 --> 00:42:11.079
 for you,

00:42:11.079 --> 00:42:11.079


00:42:11.079 --> 00:42:11.860
 for you,

00:42:11.860 --> 00:42:12.380
 for you,

00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:12.380


00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:12.380


00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:12.380


00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:12.380


00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:12.900
 for you,

00:42:12.900 --> 00:42:13.619
 for you,

00:42:13.619 --> 00:42:14.280
 for you,

00:42:14.280 --> 00:42:14.280


00:42:14.280 --> 00:42:14.980
 for you,

00:42:14.980 --> 00:42:14.980


00:42:14.980 --> 00:42:14.980


00:42:14.980 --> 00:42:15.680
 for you,

00:42:15.680 --> 00:42:15.680


00:42:15.680 --> 00:42:15.680


00:42:15.680 --> 00:42:16.220
 for you,

00:42:16.220 --> 00:42:16.220


00:42:16.220 --> 00:42:16.700
 for you,

00:42:16.700 --> 00:42:16.700


00:42:16.700 --> 00:42:16.700


00:42:16.700 --> 00:42:16.700


00:42:16.700 --> 00:42:16.700


00:42:16.700 --> 00:42:16.900
 for you,

00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900


00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900


00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900


00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900


00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900


00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900


00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900


00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900


00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900


00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900


00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900


00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900


00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:16.900