WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning. It's good to see you all. I did want to follow up on Nick's announcement

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 about our upcoming sabbatical. One of the things I've become aware of is that I will be on

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 sabbatical in the season where Trinity says goodbye to a lot of people. And so I want to

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 invite those of you, if you are moving on at the end of this spring or this summer,

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 whether for work or for school, would love to just say goodbye to you before I disappear

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 and before then you disappear, and we don't have a chance to do that. So I did want to just

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 acknowledge that. We'll be at the potluck all day. So I would love to see you if you're here and are

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 able to do that. And then I will be here for the next two Sundays as well, just so you know.

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 Well, as Pastor Nick has said, today is Palm Sunday, the day that we remember back in the

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 first century when Jesus entered into Jerusalem to great acclaim where the crowds lay down their

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 cloaks before him and palm branches on the road in a royal welcome and cried out,

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 Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. They welcomed him with great joy

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 because they saw a king.

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 Because they saw someone who could bring them hope. And they needed that king because they didn't have

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 one. You see, in the first century in the people of Israel, they knew because they had heard the stories

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 what the kingdom of David looked like and its greatness. And they had read the prophets and the

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 promises of a kingdom that would still come, a kingdom of righteousness and justice, a kingdom of peace,

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 a kingdom where the righteousness, the goodness of God would be exalted through a kingdom in the world.

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 But instead of that, they were experiencing almost the opposite.

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 They were not a sovereign nation state. They were oppressed in a vassal state to Rome.

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 They didn't experience righteousness and spiritual fervor, but instead had division and frailty.

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 And they longed for a king who would come to make things right and bring the kingdom that their hearts longed for.

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 And friends, we have a similar longing in our hearts, if we're honest, I believe.

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 Because we want that kingdom to come too.

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 We want a kingdom to come so that the world will be a place of righteousness and justice,

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 a place of prosperity and abundance.

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 And we want a place of peace and goodness and beauty.

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 And we struggle, don't we?

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 Because we feel hopeless with that longing.

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 We see the brokenness of politics and of social movements to actually right the ship and make it a better world.

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 We see the ongoing effects of sin and death and the ravages of war.

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 And we despair.

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 And not just globally and structurally, but personally.

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 Our own lives don't have the kingdom that we long for.

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 Our relationships are broken and strained and fraught.

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 And they fail.

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 Our souls are prone to wander from the things that we know are good and right.

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 And to love things that bring us destruction.

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 All for the sake of a momentary hit of pleasure.

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 We know as we gather here on Sunday that our worship is not as single-minded,

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 is not as wholehearted, is not as joyful as it could be.

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 And we want a king to come and to make it better.

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 We want a king to come to make it right.

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 This leads us to our passage this morning.

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 We're going to be looking in the Old Testament.

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 We're going to be looking in the prophet Zechariah.

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 If you're using a pew Bible, it's page 748.

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 And I'm telling you now, because Zechariah is one of the minor prophets,

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 it's not always easy to find in your Bible.

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 So you have a few minutes to look for it while we talk about it a little bit.

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 Zechariah was a prophet who prophesied after the Babylonian exile.

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 If you remember, King David, the pinnacle of the kingdom,

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 and then it all went downhill from there.

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 Divided kingdom.

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 The northern kingdom fell.

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 The southern kingdom fell into exile.

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 Seventy years of exile.

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 And then beyond that, then through God's miraculous work,

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 the Jews were able to return to Palestine and reestablish Jerusalem

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 and begin to build its walls and begin to build the temple.

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 But in that time, just like in the first century,

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 and maybe just like today, there was a longing

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 because it wasn't the fullness of the restoration of the kingdom

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 that they longed for.

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 Remember, the ESV Study Bible, which, by the way, is a great resource,

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 just a recommendation, that's a freebie.

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 But the ESV Study Bible gives this in its introduction to Zechariah.

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 It says, there was little evidence in 520 BC

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 of the kind of transformation of the state of things

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 that earlier prophets had anticipated,

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 whether externally in a restoration of Jewish sovereignty

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 or internally in a moral reformation of the people.

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 Instead of returning to Palestine gloriously,

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 they returned.

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 And if you remember, when they built the temple,

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 they wept because it was small and puny

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 compared to the glory of what they had seen before.

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 And they longed for the king to come

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 and to bring his kingdom.

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 And in the midst of that longing,

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 Zechariah, well, Zechariah, this is a big book.

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 There's lots there I'm not going to talk about.

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 But in this passage today, Zechariah gives us a promise

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 that king is coming.

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 And he gives us a picture of what kind of king

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 God is going to bring to bring about his kingdom.

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 So that's what we're going to look at today.

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 Let's read Zechariah.

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 Zechariah chapter 9.

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 We're looking at 9 verses 9 through 17.

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 All right.

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 Here's our passage for this morning.

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 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.

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 Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem.

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 Behold, your king is coming to you.

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 Righteous and having salvation is he.

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 Humble and mounted on a donkey,

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 on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

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 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim

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 and the war horse from Jerusalem.

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 And the battle bow shall be cut off

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 and he shall speak peace to the nations.

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 His rule shall be from sea to sea

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 and from the river to the ends of the earth.

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 As for you also,

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 because of the blood of my covenant with you,

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 I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

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 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope.

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 Today declare that I will restore to you double.

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 For I have bent Judah as my bow.

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 I have made Ephraim its arrow.

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 I will stir up your sons, O Zion,

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 against your sons, O Greece,

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 and wield you like a warrior's sword.

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 Then the Lord will appear over them

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 and his arrow will go forth like lightning.

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 And the Lord God will sound the trumpet

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 and will march forth in the whirlwinds of the south.

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 The Lord of hosts will protect them

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 and they shall devour and tread down the sling stones.

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 And they shall drink and roar as if drunk with wine

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 and be full like a bowl,

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 drenched like the corners of the altar.

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 On that day,

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 the Lord their God will save them

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 as the flock of his people.

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 For like the jewels of a crown,

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 they shall shine on his land.

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 For how great is his goodness

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 and how great is his beauty.

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 Grain shall make the young men flourish

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 and new wine the young women.

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 Let's pray together and ask for God's help.

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 Lord, we thank you for this word.

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 Lord, we thank you for the encouragement

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 and the hope that it brings us.

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 Lord, we pray that as we look into it,

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 this morning and consider what it means for us, Lord,

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 that you would open our minds

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 to understand your word,

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 that you would open our wills

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 so that we might submit to your word

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 and open our hearts

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 that we might delight in your word this morning.

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 We pray these things in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 What kind of king will God send

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 to bring his kingdom?

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 Well, first, he is a king

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 who will come in humility.

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 In this first section,

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 we see in verses 9 through 9 and 10,

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 we see how Jesus comes.

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 And, you know, remarkably,

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 when you look through it,

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 particularly as you look at verses,

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 verse 10,

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 you think this is the king

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 that everyone wants, right?

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 This is a king.

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 He says,

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 this is your king.

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 He's coming for you.

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 He is a king

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 who will bring righteousness.

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 That means that everything he does

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 is going to be evidently true

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 and good and right.

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 It will be righteous

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 in the sense of just.

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 It will be righteous

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 in the sense of morally correct.

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 It will be righteous

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 in the sense of bringing order

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 in a good and life-giving way.

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 Not only does he have righteousness,

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 but he has salvation.

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 He will break the powers of oppression

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 and bring freedom.

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 He is a warrior king

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 who will come and make victory.

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 This is what verse 11 is telling us.

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 When you look at verse 11,

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 I'm sorry, verse 10.

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 Verse 10, he's saying,

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 I will cut off the chariot

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 and break the bow.

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 What he's saying is,

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 you, Israel,

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 will no longer need

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 to have your own weapons of warfare.

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 With Ephraim representing

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 the northern part of the nation of Israel

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 and Judah being the south,

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 saying none of you

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 are going to need your weapons anymore

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 because the king will come

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 and he will have all the power he needs

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 to bring the victory all by himself.

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 And so there is this,

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 and it says,

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 and when he comes,

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 he will bring global peace, right?

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 He will speak peace to the nations,

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 all of them,

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 and from one sea to the other,

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 from the river to the,

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 the whole world will be brought

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 under his rule in peace.

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 And this is a pretty awesome kind of king.

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 This is the one that we long for, isn't it?

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 Right?

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 And when you think about what,

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 in the first century,

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 what the hopes were of the people there,

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 they wanted a king

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 who's going to ride into Jerusalem

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 like the emperors of Rome

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 would ride into Rome

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 after a military conquest

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 on a great white steed

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 armed to the hilt

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 with an army at his back

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 bringing the prisoners in tow.

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 And it was a picture of power

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 and might and strength.

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 And yet,

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 this king doesn't come

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 on a great white steed,

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 does he?

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 Verse nine again.

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 Rejoice and shout aloud

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 because your king has come

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 riding on a donkey.

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 A donkey is a symbol of peace.

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 As a steed,

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 someone who would ride a donkey

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 would be a peacemaker.

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 And it's very clear from the text.

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 Humble and mounted on a donkey.

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 The king who comes,

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 the one who's going to conquer,

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 does not come like the kings of this world,

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 wielding a sword,

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 beating down his foes.

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 Now look,

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 let me just give a caveat

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 because we're in the book of Revelation

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 in our series.

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 And there is a day

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 when these victories will happen.

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 There is a time

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 when Jesus will come

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 and he's going to bring that,

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 right?

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 And the imagery in Revelation

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 points us and reminds us

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 that he does have power

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 and he can do those things.

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 And yet,

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 when he comes to do

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 his signature,

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 his key,

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 his most important,

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 the pinnacle of the work of redemption

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 that he's going to do as a king,

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 how does he come?

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 He comes on a donkey.

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 Humble.

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 This is the beauty,

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 my friends,

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 of the Christian gospel

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 is that when Jesus came,

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 he didn't come

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 with great fanfare.

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 He came in humility

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 and in weakness

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 and in obscurity.

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 and he didn't come

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 to the great people

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 and overcome them

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 or win them,

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 but he came to the poor

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 and to the outsiders

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 and he said,

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 you come,

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 follow me.

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 One commentator

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 on Zechariah

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 put it this way,

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 the lowly scene

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 verse 9 creates

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 encapsulates the nature

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 of the kingdom

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 that Christ established.

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 The suffering,

00:15:03.540 --> 00:15:04.019
 humiliation,

00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:04.700
 and death

00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:05.680
 that unfolded

00:15:05.680 --> 00:15:07.820
 on the palm-strewn road

00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:08.480
 he traveled

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:10.180
 would eventuate

00:15:10.180 --> 00:15:11.620
 in the conquest

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:13.840
 of countless human hearts

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:16.360
 and in his ultimate rule

00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:17.420
 over a new heavens

00:15:17.420 --> 00:15:19.300
 and a new earth.

00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:22.320
 Little did the onlookers,

00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:24.460
 the triumphal entry of Christ

00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:25.220
 into Jerusalem

00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:26.440
 that first Palm Sunday

00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:28.860
 understand the full import

00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:30.200
 of what they were witnessing.

00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:32.120
 While many shouted,

00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:32.700
 Hosanna,

00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:34.860
 some must have looked

00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:36.280
 and wondered,

00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:39.340
 why is he riding

00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:40.580
 on a donkey?

00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:45.379
 But it shouldn't be a surprise.

00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:46.400
 Do you remember

00:15:46.400 --> 00:15:47.400
 what Jesus said

00:15:47.400 --> 00:15:48.300
 to his disciples

00:15:48.300 --> 00:15:50.840
 when they were fighting

00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:51.840
 over who gets to sit

00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.560
 at the right hand

00:15:52.560 --> 00:15:53.100
 and the left,

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.600
 who gets the positions

00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.740
 of power with him,

00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:56.860
 who gets to ride

00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:57.639
 his coattails

00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:58.620
 into the White House?

00:16:00.940 --> 00:16:02.019
 Jesus called to them

00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:02.379
 and said,

00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.340
 you know that the rulers

00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:04.279
 of the Gentiles

00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.580
 lord it over them

00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:06.600
 and the great ones

00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:07.820
 exercise authority

00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:08.519
 over them.

00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:10.180
 It shall not be so

00:16:10.180 --> 00:16:11.040
 among you,

00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:13.220
 but whoever would be great

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:13.720
 among you

00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:14.759
 must be your servant

00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:16.920
 and whoever would be first

00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:18.340
 among you

00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:19.740
 must be your slave

00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:21.960
 even as the Son of Man

00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:22.519
 came.

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:24.419
 not to be served,

00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:25.779
 but to serve

00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:27.899
 and to give his life

00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:29.059
 a ransom for many.

00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:32.980
 So this is the first thing

00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:34.319
 that Zechariah points out.

00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.480
 What kind of king is he?

00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:37.299
 He is a humble king

00:16:37.299 --> 00:16:40.519
 who comes not in greatness,

00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:41.759
 but in weakness.

00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:45.720
 Of course,

00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:46.720
 we know that there's more

00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.120
 than this.

00:16:47.220 --> 00:16:48.179
 We know that he's able

00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:48.840
 to save.

00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:50.340
 We know that he's able

00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:50.960
 to deliver.

00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:52.100
 We've already seen it

00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:53.280
 mentioned in verse 9.

00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:55.100
 Verses 11 through 13

00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:56.600
 help us see more

00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:57.580
 of how he's going

00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:58.360
 to do that.

00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:00.379
 Verse 11, 13

00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.379
 tell us that he's going

00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:02.800
 to come to save us

00:17:02.800 --> 00:17:04.180
 through sacrifice.

00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:07.039
 Verse 11 gives us

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.740
 the context

00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:09.940
 of our salvation.

00:17:10.120 --> 00:17:11.100
 He talks to us

00:17:11.100 --> 00:17:12.200
 as prisoners, right?

00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:12.660
 He says,

00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.740
 I will set your prisoners

00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:15.960
 free from the waterless pit.

00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:16.560
 Now,

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.620
 if you've ever been

00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:19.019
 in the Middle East,

00:17:19.080 --> 00:17:19.980
 which I haven't,

00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:21.200
 but as I've been told,

00:17:21.620 --> 00:17:24.019
 they have these cisterns,

00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:24.400
 right?

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.440
 They're big pits

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.100
 that they do,

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.060
 and they often

00:17:27.060 --> 00:17:28.140
 are filled with water

00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:29.220
 during the rainy season.

00:17:29.320 --> 00:17:29.880
 It's one of the ways

00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:31.300
 they keep the water,

00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:32.220
 and then they preserve it

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:32.700
 and use it

00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:35.140
 as long as it's wet,

00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:36.060
 right?

00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.779
 But then in the dry season,

00:17:37.919 --> 00:17:38.559
 it's dry,

00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:39.299
 and it becomes

00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:41.119
 this earthen pit

00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:42.240
 in the ground,

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:44.419
 and it turns out

00:17:44.419 --> 00:17:45.839
 it's a very useful place

00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.720
 to keep prisoners

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.279
 when you don't have a jail.

00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.419
 And so,

00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.879
 the picture here

00:17:50.879 --> 00:17:51.839
 is people

00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.720
 who've been thrown

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:54.339
 into an earthen pit

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.139
 that they can't

00:17:55.139 --> 00:17:55.899
 climb out of.

00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:57.079
 Remember Joseph

00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:57.980
 when his brothers

00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:58.720
 threw him in a pit?

00:17:58.919 --> 00:17:59.740
 I think it's the same

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.379
 kind of pit here.

00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:01.119
 So,

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.559
 so,

00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:05.279
 so it's talking

00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:05.940
 about those

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:07.019
 who are stuck

00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:09.779
 in a huge dry well,

00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:11.140
 left there

00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:11.920
 to suffer

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:13.279
 and to die.

00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.620
 It would be

00:18:16.620 --> 00:18:18.360
 a terrifying place

00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:19.019
 to be.

00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.620
 I was reading

00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:23.559
 earlier this year

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.080
 an account

00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:25.460
 of a man

00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:26.299
 who survived

00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:28.000
 the death camps

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:29.920
 as a Jewish man

00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:30.600
 in the,

00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:33.279
 during World War II

00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.320
 in Germany.

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:36.939
 and when he describes

00:18:36.939 --> 00:18:38.039
 the despair

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:40.000
 and the hopelessness

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.859
 of the prisoners

00:18:41.859 --> 00:18:42.819
 and many of them

00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:43.119
 who,

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.559
 who literally died

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.720
 from lack of hope

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:49.639
 as much as abuse

00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:50.679
 or anything else.

00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:53.620
 I think this is what

00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:54.700
 Zechariah is speaking

00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.860
 to as he talks

00:18:55.860 --> 00:18:57.259
 about the prisoners

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:57.920
 who were thrown

00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:00.539
 into the waterless pit,

00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:03.420
 longing for freedom

00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:04.060
 and wondering

00:19:04.060 --> 00:19:04.519
 how,

00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:05.380
 how are we going

00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:05.900
 to be freed?

00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.460
 How do we,

00:19:06.560 --> 00:19:07.299
 how do we get out

00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:07.880
 of this pit?

00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:08.720
 How do we get out

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.420
 of this prison?

00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:11.519
 We can't save ourselves.

00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:13.600
 And friends,

00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:14.460
 before we go on

00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:15.039
 and talk about

00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:16.100
 how this passage

00:19:16.100 --> 00:19:17.560
 describes how the king

00:19:17.560 --> 00:19:18.279
 saves us,

00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:19.700
 let us recognize

00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.480
 that the Bible

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.279
 talks about

00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.359
 a greater slavery

00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:24.359
 and a greater prison

00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:26.180
 that we all live in.

00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.960
 And this is the prison

00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.480
 of sin.

00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:32.039
 Since Adam and Eve

00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:33.000
 fell in the garden,

00:19:33.139 --> 00:19:34.920
 we have all been stained

00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:35.980
 and infused

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:37.779
 with sin.

00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:42.539
 and it leaves us

00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:43.039
 helpless

00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:45.539
 to experience

00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.460
 and to know

00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.660
 the kingdom of God

00:19:47.660 --> 00:19:48.759
 as he intended it

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:50.899
 in its fullness.

00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:52.980
 Sin robs us

00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:54.079
 in so many ways.

00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:54.680
 Our ego

00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.960
 and our self-protection,

00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:56.599
 our lust

00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:57.819
 for our own power

00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:58.879
 and glory,

00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:00.139
 our self-centeredness

00:20:00.139 --> 00:20:01.200
 and our selfishness

00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:02.940
 that exclude God,

00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:05.680
 our desire

00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.420
 to make God

00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:07.440
 serve us

00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:08.460
 and our agendas

00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:10.100
 rather than serving him.

00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:12.000
 This sin holds us

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.180
 like a death grip

00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:14.600
 and our souls

00:20:14.600 --> 00:20:15.460
 are dead

00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:16.360
 because of it.

00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:16.940
 This is what

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:18.180
 the Bible tells us.

00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.320
 And like prisoners

00:20:19.320 --> 00:20:20.180
 in the dry well,

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.500
 we can't make ourselves

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:22.160
 alive.

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:27.320
 But Jesus is your king

00:20:27.320 --> 00:20:28.200
 to set us free.

00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:30.519
 And we see in verse 11

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.340
 the means of it.

00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:33.179
 Because of the blood

00:20:33.179 --> 00:20:34.339
 of my covenant

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:35.319
 with you.

00:20:37.139 --> 00:20:38.699
 This is how God does it.

00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:38.980
 Now,

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.159
 we need to stop

00:20:40.159 --> 00:20:40.579
 for a minute

00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:42.059
 and think about covenants.

00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:43.599
 Covenants are promises.

00:20:43.939 --> 00:20:45.519
 They're typically agreements.

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.619
 They have different

00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:47.619
 kinds of forms.

00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:49.000
 Some covenants

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.000
 in the Bible

00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.359
 seem to be conditional.

00:20:51.659 --> 00:20:52.139
 Something like

00:20:52.139 --> 00:20:52.980
 the Mosaic law.

00:20:53.399 --> 00:20:54.899
 If you obey my law,

00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:55.919
 then I will bring

00:20:55.919 --> 00:20:56.279
 blessing.

00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:58.480
 If you disobey my law,

00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.779
 I will bring cursing.

00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:01.960
 But we also see

00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:03.240
 other kinds of covenants

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:03.940
 like the covenant

00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.579
 that God made

00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.259
 with Abraham

00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.420
 in Genesis 15.

00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:07.259
 I don't know

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:07.680
 if you guys

00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.660
 know this story,

00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:09.899
 but God comes

00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:10.420
 and he says,

00:21:10.639 --> 00:21:10.940
 Abraham,

00:21:11.139 --> 00:21:11.960
 I'm going to make you

00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.519
 the father

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.619
 of great nations.

00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:15.799
 And I'm going to bless you

00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:16.579
 and I'm going to bless

00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:17.779
 the world through you.

00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:20.779
 And then he does

00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.639
 this ritual.

00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:22.960
 Do you remember

00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:23.440
 this ritual?

00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:23.839
 It says,

00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:25.160
 take three animals,

00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.639
 cut them in half

00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:27.619
 as a sacrifice.

00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:29.219
 And then Abraham

00:21:29.219 --> 00:21:30.039
 falls asleep

00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:30.979
 and he has this vision

00:21:30.979 --> 00:21:31.699
 of a pot

00:21:31.699 --> 00:21:33.659
 that goes back and forth.

00:21:34.139 --> 00:21:35.719
 Because in the old days,

00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.479
 these covenants

00:21:36.479 --> 00:21:37.000
 would be made

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.599
 where there would be

00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.179
 agreement.

00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.339
 You do this,

00:21:39.399 --> 00:21:40.099
 I will do this,

00:21:40.139 --> 00:21:40.339
 right?

00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:41.319
 And in this case,

00:21:41.699 --> 00:21:43.000
 God was commanding Abraham

00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.739
 to be circumcised

00:21:44.739 --> 00:21:46.939
 as a part of the covenant

00:21:46.939 --> 00:21:47.439
 agreement.

00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:49.519
 But it wasn't

00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.579
 a conditional one

00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:51.839
 because typically

00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:52.859
 the two parties

00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:54.319
 would cut animals

00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.459
 and then they'd come together

00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:57.140
 and walk through it together

00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:58.319
 and they would say,

00:21:58.860 --> 00:22:00.019
 may this and more

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.840
 be done to me

00:22:00.840 --> 00:22:02.200
 if I break the conditions

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.880
 of this covenant.

00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:05.200
 Right?

00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:07.299
 But what happened

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.240
 in Genesis 15

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.500
 is Abraham didn't walk

00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.440
 between the animals.

00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:11.860
 Only God did.

00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:16.620
 God said,

00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:17.720
 I will make a covenant

00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.380
 with you.

00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:20.200
 I will do this

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.319
 and I will do everything

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.259
 that's necessary

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.680
 for you to fulfill

00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.380
 this covenant

00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:25.519
 so that it cannot

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.240
 be broken.

00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.980
 And I believe

00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:34.220
 this is part

00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.880
 of what God,

00:22:35.580 --> 00:22:36.759
 I'm not sure

00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:37.560
 whether Zechariah

00:22:37.560 --> 00:22:38.100
 is referring

00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:39.320
 to the Abrahamic covenant

00:22:39.320 --> 00:22:40.759
 or to the Mosaic covenant

00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:42.140
 or to the Davidic covenant.

00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:43.180
 I actually think

00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:44.620
 he may be weaving a rope

00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.180
 and saying,

00:22:45.360 --> 00:22:46.320
 it's not one of those,

00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.259
 it's all of those.

00:22:47.620 --> 00:22:48.680
 I'm building towards

00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:50.519
 a new covenant.

00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:52.900
 I'm building towards

00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:53.980
 a greater covenant

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.880
 that will fulfill

00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:56.600
 all of these promises

00:22:56.600 --> 00:22:58.220
 and I will do

00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.259
 what is necessary.

00:23:00.340 --> 00:23:01.660
 And this is what we see.

00:23:03.100 --> 00:23:03.580
 Jesus,

00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:05.280
 who walked into Jerusalem

00:23:05.280 --> 00:23:06.820
 on Palm Sunday,

00:23:07.280 --> 00:23:08.340
 four days later,

00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.700
 sat with his disciples

00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:13.320
 in the Passover meal

00:23:13.320 --> 00:23:13.740
 and said,

00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:14.540
 this covenant

00:23:14.540 --> 00:23:16.240
 is a new covenant

00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:18.460
 in my blood.

00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.579
 Shed for you

00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.380
 for the forgiveness

00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:22.359
 of your sins.

00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:23.640
 Do this

00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:24.400
 in remembrance

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:25.299
 of me.

00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:28.599
 Like a Passover lamb,

00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:30.000
 Jesus goes

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.500
 and says,

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.900
 I will be the substitute.

00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.259
 I will die

00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:34.359
 for the firstborn.

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.680
 I will die

00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.299
 for you

00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:37.559
 because of your sin

00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:38.420
 so that you

00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:39.380
 don't have to.

00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:43.400
 so that you

00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:44.000
 can come

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.600
 and simply

00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:46.100
 receive by faith

00:23:46.100 --> 00:23:47.900
 the blessings

00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:49.100
 of the promise

00:23:49.100 --> 00:23:50.860
 and entrance

00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:51.740
 into the kingdom

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:53.220
 that I've established

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:55.440
 through my sacrifice.

00:23:58.620 --> 00:23:59.720
 So this is

00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.780
 what Jesus does.

00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:02.720
 He comes

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.320
 to establish

00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:03.940
 his kingdom

00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:06.640
 through his death

00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.020
 and through

00:24:07.020 --> 00:24:07.780
 his resurrection.

00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:10.220
 through his blood

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.200
 sacrifice

00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.720
 for us.

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:15.119
 And friends,

00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:15.960
 we look around

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.559
 and we think,

00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.359
 but that happened

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:18.619
 2,000 years ago.

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.559
 Where is

00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.440
 kingdom today?

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:23.220
 Well,

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.799
 the good news

00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:25.200
 is

00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:26.879
 that the new covenant

00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:28.079
 that was established

00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:29.099
 through Jesus

00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:30.279
 will one day

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:31.279
 bring a new heavens

00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:32.119
 and a new earth.

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.819
 We know this,

00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:37.679
 that Jesus

00:24:37.679 --> 00:24:38.319
 will come.

00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:39.119
 We know

00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.419
 that when he comes

00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:41.460
 again,

00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:43.339
 he will bring

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:45.339
 all of these things

00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.099
 to fullness

00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:46.899
 and fruition

00:24:46.899 --> 00:24:47.679
 and we will

00:24:47.679 --> 00:24:48.599
 experience

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.659
 the greatness

00:24:49.659 --> 00:24:51.279
 and the excellence

00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.500
 and the completion

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:54.119
 of his kingdom.

00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.559
 For those of you

00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.559
 who want to stick around

00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.179
 for the rest

00:24:59.179 --> 00:24:59.779
 of the spring

00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:01.000
 as we preach

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.579
 through the rest

00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.679
 of Revelation,

00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:04.099
 we're almost there.

00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:05.399
 We're in chapter 19.

00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:07.379
 Chapter 19 and 20

00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:07.980
 is all about

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:09.159
 the victory over evil

00:25:09.159 --> 00:25:10.399
 and chapter 21,

00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.299
 oh my gosh,

00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.899
 it's such a beautiful vision.

00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:15.939
 It's such a compelling

00:25:15.939 --> 00:25:16.599
 hope

00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:17.939
 that we know

00:25:17.939 --> 00:25:19.139
 that Jesus the king

00:25:19.139 --> 00:25:20.659
 has already

00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:22.099
 fundamentally won

00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:24.019
 and he will

00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:25.679
 one day

00:25:25.679 --> 00:25:26.939
 bring it to fruition.

00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:28.000
 And this is

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.799
 our great hope,

00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:28.859
 hope,

00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:31.879
 that the lamb

00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:32.740
 who is slain

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:34.480
 will be the one

00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.379
 who will be worshipped

00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:35.839
 as king.

00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:40.039
 So Zechariah

00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.799
 tells us

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.960
 that the kind

00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:42.379
 of king

00:25:42.379 --> 00:25:42.779
 that God

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.419
 is going to send

00:25:43.419 --> 00:25:44.480
 will be a humble king

00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.480
 and he will be

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:45.879
 a king

00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:47.000
 who will give himself

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:48.099
 up in sacrifice

00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:50.039
 to save his people

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:51.579
 and finally

00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.519
 he will be a king

00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.220
 who will come

00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:55.099
 to help us

00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:55.700
 flourish

00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:57.579
 in his beauty.

00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:59.039
 This is what we see

00:25:59.039 --> 00:26:00.099
 in verses 14

00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:01.379
 through 17.

00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:03.199
 And we need to acknowledge

00:26:03.199 --> 00:26:04.500
 that there is a picture

00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.319
 here of

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.919
 the military victory,

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:07.179
 right?

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.659
 14, 15, 16.

00:26:08.919 --> 00:26:09.839
 It's remarkable,

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.439
 isn't it?

00:26:11.139 --> 00:26:12.159
 This king comes

00:26:12.159 --> 00:26:13.099
 and he has an arrow

00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:14.119
 that's like lightning,

00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.579
 right?

00:26:16.179 --> 00:26:17.279
 And he will sound

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:17.879
 his trumpet.

00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:19.139
 Remember the trumpets

00:26:19.139 --> 00:26:20.319
 that sounded in Jericho

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.659
 and the walls fell down?

00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:23.079
 Trumpets have this great,

00:26:23.199 --> 00:26:24.220
 we actually talked about

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.220
 trumpets in Revelation.

00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.379
 Trumpets are signs

00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:28.540
 of military force

00:26:28.540 --> 00:26:29.900
 coming to victory.

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:32.080
 He will blow his trumpet

00:26:32.080 --> 00:26:33.140
 and he will march forth

00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:33.980
 with the whirlwinds

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.560
 of the south.

00:26:35.060 --> 00:26:35.400
 There's a,

00:26:36.840 --> 00:26:39.140
 south of Israel,

00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.840
 there are commonly

00:26:40.840 --> 00:26:42.520
 these extremely strong

00:26:42.520 --> 00:26:43.900
 windstorms.

00:26:44.780 --> 00:26:46.600
 And Zechariah's pulling

00:26:46.600 --> 00:26:47.540
 on that imagery

00:26:47.540 --> 00:26:48.080
 to say,

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.160
 he's going to come

00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:50.020
 like a hurricane.

00:26:51.040 --> 00:26:52.120
 He's going to come

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.900
 and he's going to

00:26:52.900 --> 00:26:54.060
 blow you away.

00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:56.879
 And in the midst of it,

00:26:56.899 --> 00:26:57.679
 he's going to protect

00:26:57.679 --> 00:26:58.299
 his people,

00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.299
 right?

00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.440
 And his people

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:03.240
 will overcome,

00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:04.139
 right?

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.419
 And they will devour

00:27:05.419 --> 00:27:06.359
 and they will tread

00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:07.339
 down the sling stones,

00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:08.059
 which means that

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:09.639
 even though the trebuchets

00:27:09.639 --> 00:27:10.399
 may be throwing

00:27:10.399 --> 00:27:11.419
 big rocks at them,

00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:12.779
 it won't hurt them.

00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.879
 They will tremble

00:27:13.879 --> 00:27:15.440
 over them like pebbles.

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:19.940
 And they will roar

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.640
 in victory.

00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.600
 Verse 16,

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.279
 On that day,

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.420
 the Lord their God

00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:28.240
 will save them

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:29.640
 and the flock

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.320
 of his people.

00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:32.100
 For like jewels

00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:32.779
 of a crown,

00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:33.580
 they shall shine

00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:34.320
 on his land.

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.720
 For how great

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.519
 is his goodness

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:39.100
 and how great

00:27:39.100 --> 00:27:40.019
 is his beauty.

00:27:41.100 --> 00:27:41.980
 Grain shall make

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:43.160
 the young men flourish

00:27:43.160 --> 00:27:44.360
 and new wine,

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.660
 the young women.

00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.620
 This vision

00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:48.279
 of this king

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:48.940
 who comes

00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:50.440
 ends in this picture

00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:51.519
 of flourishing,

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:53.580
 of abundance,

00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.940
 of richness,

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.900
 of joy.

00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:57.019
 The kingdom

00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:58.380
 that the king comes,

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.120
 and again,

00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.500
 there are images here,

00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:00.740
 right?

00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:01.300
 The images

00:28:01.300 --> 00:28:02.340
 of the grain

00:28:02.340 --> 00:28:03.160
 and the wine

00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:04.120
 are images

00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:06.160
 of a healthy harvest,

00:28:06.580 --> 00:28:07.080
 a kingdom

00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:07.920
 that's flourishing,

00:28:08.080 --> 00:28:08.700
 a land

00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:10.000
 that is producing

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:11.040
 abundantly

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:12.059
 for those

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.579
 who are young

00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:13.119
 so that they

00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:14.200
 would have joy

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:15.339
 in the land

00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:16.299
 that they live in.

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:21.200
 And what he's saying

00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:22.440
 here is the goodness

00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:23.220
 of God

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.460
 and the beauty

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.139
 of God

00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:27.539
 will feed our souls

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:29.180
 better than wine

00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:29.940
 and grain

00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:31.879
 and we will flourish

00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.940
 as we gaze

00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:33.960
 upon the beauty

00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.799
 of this king

00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:36.220
 who came

00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.440
 humbly,

00:28:38.399 --> 00:28:39.200
 who came

00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:40.039
 in sacrifice,

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.579
 sacrifice.

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.139
 This is where

00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:42.839
 his beauty

00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:45.079
 is most fully seen.

00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:46.960
 I know,

00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:47.700
 Isaiah says

00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.460
 he had no beauty.

00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:49.920
 He had no human beauty,

00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:51.039
 but the beauty

00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:52.379
 of his sacrifice,

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.579
 the beauty

00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:55.019
 of his love,

00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.139
 the riches

00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:57.339
 of his grace,

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.039
 the depths

00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:59.019
 of his mercy,

00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:02.279
 this is

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.259
 the goodness

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.740
 and the beauty

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.720
 of the king

00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.680
 who has come.

00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:10.720
 And friends,

00:29:10.820 --> 00:29:11.779
 we have the privilege

00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:12.759
 now to taste

00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.160
 of it

00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:15.220
 because Jesus

00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:15.940
 is risen

00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.660
 from the dead

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.799
 and he is calling

00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.299
 his people

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:19.600
 and even now

00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:21.299
 we can take hold

00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:23.019
 of the foretaste

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:23.740
 of the fullness

00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:24.480
 of the kingdom.

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:24.620
 them.

00:29:28.620 --> 00:29:30.039
 And this is why

00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:32.960
 Zechariah begins

00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.799
 with rejoice

00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:35.700
 because friends,

00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.759
 we are to have joy,

00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.960
 joy on this Palm Sunday

00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.660
 that our king

00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:40.200
 has come,

00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:43.920
 joy on this day

00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:45.099
 that our king

00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:45.980
 will come again

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:47.220
 and that the promises

00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:48.059
 are secure

00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:49.680
 and that his work

00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:50.440
 is finished

00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:51.860
 and that he is

00:29:51.860 --> 00:29:52.380
 a savior

00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:53.240
 who is unlike

00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.120
 any other

00:29:54.120 --> 00:29:55.400
 who has come

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:56.120
 to save

00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:57.160
 not the way

00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:57.839
 we think

00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.480
 we would want

00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.059
 to be saved

00:29:59.059 --> 00:29:59.559
 but the way

00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:01.819
 he in the riches

00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:02.920
 of his mercy

00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:03.559
 and grace

00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:04.859
 and his unfathomable

00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:05.279
 wisdom

00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:07.420
 the way that

00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:07.960
 he has come

00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:08.680
 for us

00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:11.740
 on that day

00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.440
 when the Lord

00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:13.099
 returns.

00:30:14.359 --> 00:30:15.539
 Revelation 21

00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:16.460
 says this,

00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:18.599
 and he who is

00:30:18.599 --> 00:30:19.500
 seated on the throne

00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:20.460
 said behold

00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.259
 I am making

00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:22.359
 all things new

00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:25.079
 also he said

00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.859
 write this down

00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.619
 for these words

00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:27.139
 are trustworthy

00:30:27.139 --> 00:30:27.899
 and true

00:30:27.899 --> 00:30:29.959
 and he said

00:30:29.959 --> 00:30:30.319
 to me

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:30.959
 it is done

00:30:30.959 --> 00:30:32.039
 I am the alpha

00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:32.799
 and the omega

00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.299
 the beginning

00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:33.899
 and the end

00:30:33.899 --> 00:30:34.719
 to the thirsty

00:30:34.719 --> 00:30:36.039
 I will give

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.879
 from the springs

00:30:36.879 --> 00:30:38.059
 of water of life

00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:38.979
 without payment

00:30:38.979 --> 00:30:41.099
 the one who conquers

00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.219
 will have this heritage

00:30:42.219 --> 00:30:43.299
 and I will be

00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:43.979
 his God

00:30:43.979 --> 00:30:46.119
 and he will be

00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:47.240
 my son.

00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:52.660
 oh friends

00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:54.819
 this Palm Sunday

00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.559
 let us rejoice

00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:57.920
 we have a great king

00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:00.400
 a king above all kings

00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:02.859
 let us worship him

00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:04.680
 let's pray together

00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:21.799
 Lord we do confess

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:23.140
 that there are times

00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:23.960
 when it's hard

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.560
 for us

00:31:24.560 --> 00:31:26.580
 to rejoice

00:31:26.580 --> 00:31:29.080
 in the midst

00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:30.160
 of the trials

00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:31.740
 and the brokenness

00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.580
 of this world

00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:34.519
 Lord when we see

00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:35.379
 that the darkness

00:31:35.379 --> 00:31:37.460
 seems to prevail

00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:39.419
 when we think

00:31:39.419 --> 00:31:40.199
 that

00:31:40.199 --> 00:31:41.960
 the rulers

00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.859
 of this world

00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:44.259
 will continue forever

00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:47.179
 Lord when we struggle

00:31:47.179 --> 00:31:48.179
 in our own hearts

00:31:48.179 --> 00:31:48.879
 and souls

00:31:48.879 --> 00:31:50.899
 against our sin

00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:52.159
 and the darkness

00:31:52.159 --> 00:31:53.819
 that creeps in

00:31:53.819 --> 00:31:59.279
 Lord help us

00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:00.019
 to see you

00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:01.460
 in all of your beauty

00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:03.399
 help us

00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:04.379
 to see you

00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:04.700
 who

00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:07.160
 didn't count

00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:07.779
 equality

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.899
 with God

00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:09.799
 something to be grasped

00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:10.859
 but humbled himself

00:32:10.859 --> 00:32:11.619
 made himself

00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:12.139
 a servant

00:32:12.139 --> 00:32:13.440
 took on human flesh

00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:15.420
 and became obedient

00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:15.980
 even

00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:16.960
 even

00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.940
 unto the

00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.559
 death

00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.420
 on a cross

00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:22.700
 Lord help us

00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.700
 to see you

00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:25.759
 exalted

00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:28.039
 exalted

00:32:28.039 --> 00:32:28.059
 exalted

00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:28.920
 as the

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:30.619
 one who died

00:32:30.619 --> 00:32:31.319
 and who lives

00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:31.720
 again

00:32:31.720 --> 00:32:33.879
 who now

00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:34.940
 is exalted

00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:35.799
 to the right hand

00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:36.480
 of the Father

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.819
 the one who reigns

00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:39.099
 the one whom

00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:39.879
 one day

00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:41.180
 every knee will bow

00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:42.879
 heaven and earth

00:32:42.879 --> 00:32:45.460
 and confess

00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:46.519
 that you are Lord

00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:49.599
 Lord

00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:50.099
 restore

00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:51.180
 our hope

00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:52.480
 and renew

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.079
 our joy

00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:53.799
 this day

00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:57.339
 we pray

00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:58.519
 in Jesus name

00:32:58.519 --> 00:32:59.379
 Amen