WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.580 These days, when we hear the word insurrection, most of us probably think back to the events 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:18.480 of January 6th, the attack on the U.S. Capitol, certainly a low point in our country's history, 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:19.820 we can probably all agree. 00:00:21.240 --> 00:00:25.740 But when we hear the word insurrection, probably most of us don't think of Jesus. 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:29.260 At least that's not one of the first thoughts that springs to mind. 00:00:30.280 --> 00:00:36.899 But in fact, the legal reason that Jesus was crucified is that he was charged with leading 00:00:36.899 --> 00:00:37.859 an insurrection. 00:00:39.340 --> 00:00:40.960 That's how they got him legally. 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:47.560 When Jesus made his triumphal entry, what we're celebrating today, when he made his triumphal 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:54.460 entry into Jerusalem a few days prior to the events of Mark 15, people in power saw him 00:00:54.460 --> 00:00:55.980 as a political threat. 00:00:55.979 --> 00:01:02.359 They saw him as a man riding into Jerusalem who seemed to be signifying his intention 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:08.679 to become king, to become king of the Jews, which meant he would be leading an insurrection 00:01:08.679 --> 00:01:10.719 against the Roman government. 00:01:11.340 --> 00:01:15.959 And the religious leaders recognized this, and they saw this as their best chance to get 00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:16.819 rid of Jesus. 00:01:16.819 --> 00:01:22.739 So they hauled Jesus before the Roman governor Pilate, where they accused him of leading 00:01:22.739 --> 00:01:23.399 an insurrection. 00:01:24.619 --> 00:01:30.119 But Jesus wasn't the only one accused of insurrection that day. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:34.719 There's another man in custody who is also accused of insurrection. 00:01:35.219 --> 00:01:39.759 And the gospel writer, Mark, refers to this other man as Barabbas. 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:43.400 But Barabbas is not his full name. 00:01:44.580 --> 00:01:51.580 The early Greek manuscripts actually record his given name, Jesus. 00:01:53.520 --> 00:02:00.840 His name, his full name is Jesus Barabbas, which is fascinating because you have to picture 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:01.500 the scene here. 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:05.060 Pilate brings two men out in front of the crowds. 00:02:05.060 --> 00:02:09.539 Both men are named Jesus, right? 00:02:09.580 --> 00:02:13.939 You have Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, and then you have Jesus Barabbas. 00:02:15.659 --> 00:02:19.960 And both men are accused of being a part of an insurrection. 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:24.259 Barabbas is leading a worldly insurrection. 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:28.740 Christ came to lead a kingdom insurrection. 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:33.340 Same charge, but two completely different kinds of insurrection. 00:02:33.340 --> 00:02:35.300 And the choice is given to the crowds. 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:39.920 One of these Jesuses will be set free, turned over to you. 00:02:40.020 --> 00:02:41.159 You can have that Jesus. 00:02:41.819 --> 00:02:46.759 The other Jesus is going to be taken away and put to death in a horrible way. 00:02:47.140 --> 00:02:50.800 And the question comes out, which Jesus will you choose? 00:02:52.180 --> 00:02:56.780 And while most of us would never, ever want to be part of an insurrection, at least I don't 00:02:56.780 --> 00:03:00.680 think so, the deeper question here is actually this. 00:03:00.680 --> 00:03:05.200 How can we fix all that is broken in the world? 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:07.980 What does the world need most? 00:03:08.099 --> 00:03:13.020 See, people who lead an insurrection do it because things are very wrong with the world 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:13.920 as they perceive it. 00:03:14.219 --> 00:03:16.879 And they think that by doing this, they can make things right. 00:03:17.659 --> 00:03:21.180 So what is wrong with the world and what does it take to fix it? 00:03:21.300 --> 00:03:23.980 Each insurrection has a way of answering that question. 00:03:25.020 --> 00:03:27.420 Jesus Barabbas has a way of answering that question. 00:03:27.600 --> 00:03:29.000 And Jesus Christ has another way. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:33.060 So what we're going to do is look at Mark 15 and we're going to see three of the key 00:03:33.060 --> 00:03:37.759 differences between these two approaches to fixing what is wrong in the world. 00:03:38.300 --> 00:03:39.000 Let's pray. 00:03:40.840 --> 00:03:43.520 Lord, we thank you for this morning for Palm Sunday. 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:53.139 And we thank you for this, as we enter into this week of walking with Jesus in his passion. 00:03:53.139 --> 00:03:58.199 Lord, give us a deep understanding of the meaning of these events for us. 00:03:58.519 --> 00:04:04.379 Lord, help us to enter into these stories, but also help these stories to enter into us, 00:04:05.059 --> 00:04:06.919 to change us from the inside out. 00:04:07.179 --> 00:04:09.239 Lord, we pray this in your holy name. 00:04:09.479 --> 00:04:09.699 Amen. 00:04:09.699 --> 00:04:09.819 Amen. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:17.819 So what are the differences between the kind of insurrection that a Jesus Barabbas would lead 00:04:17.819 --> 00:04:21.479 and the kind of insurrection that Jesus Christ leads? 00:04:21.659 --> 00:04:26.000 Well, number one, they have opposite understandings of power. 00:04:26.159 --> 00:04:29.459 They have opposite understandings of the purpose of power. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:32.360 Insurrection really is about power. 00:04:32.539 --> 00:04:35.120 It's about who has it, who doesn't, who wants it. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:37.959 But how should we use power? 00:04:39.340 --> 00:04:42.740 And Barabbas represents the worldly view of power. 00:04:42.899 --> 00:04:46.180 This is the default way of thinking, and we see it not only in Barabbas, 00:04:46.439 --> 00:04:49.639 but in this story we see it in Pilate, and we see it in the religious leaders. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:52.000 And the worldly view of power says this. 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:55.439 Power is about building myself up. 00:04:56.360 --> 00:05:00.600 Power is about protecting my self-interests. 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:05.439 Power is the ability to promote my agenda. 00:05:05.840 --> 00:05:10.020 In Barabbas' case, it's a kind of perverted form of nationalism. 00:05:11.760 --> 00:05:17.060 And this view says that the way to make the world a better place is for me to be in power 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:19.560 or for me to get my people into power. 00:05:20.700 --> 00:05:24.500 And the worldly view of power is what sits behind much of the injustice, 00:05:25.320 --> 00:05:28.180 the violence, the oppression in the world. 00:05:28.180 --> 00:05:31.199 And this is exactly what we see in Mark chapter 15. 00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:35.139 Barabbas wants power so badly that he's willing to kill for it. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:40.660 And as we look around at all of the conflict that's happening in the world today, 00:05:41.280 --> 00:05:45.720 if we look at all of the conflict that has happened throughout history, 00:05:45.840 --> 00:05:47.579 how many lives have been lost? 00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:49.639 Because people said, 00:05:49.939 --> 00:05:55.220 it is worth shedding blood to get myself or my people into power. 00:05:55.220 --> 00:06:02.100 And Pilate has power and his agenda is that he wants to keep his political power. 00:06:02.320 --> 00:06:06.200 He's clinging to his political power all through this encounter. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:07.800 And what does that do to him? 00:06:09.380 --> 00:06:12.700 It turns him into a people-pleasing coward. 00:06:14.280 --> 00:06:18.460 His investigation is filled with indecision. 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:23.320 He practically begs the crowds to tell him what to do. 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:25.240 You know, tell me what to do. 00:06:25.339 --> 00:06:26.560 What will keep you happy? 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:29.319 What will keep me in office? 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:35.099 And ultimately, even though he clearly doesn't want to put Jesus Christ to death, 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:37.839 he multiple times tries to say, 00:06:38.180 --> 00:06:40.079 what has he done wrong? 00:06:40.259 --> 00:06:42.719 Are you sure you don't want me to release him to you? 00:06:43.420 --> 00:06:45.360 Multiple times he tries to get out of it, 00:06:45.420 --> 00:06:47.819 but ultimately he caves to moral cowardice, 00:06:48.139 --> 00:06:50.639 to please the crowds. 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:56.300 And, you know, how many times, how often do we see leaders or institutions 00:06:56.300 --> 00:07:02.759 or governments who are so concerned with keeping their power 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:06.800 that they're willing to overlook or even sanction injustice 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:09.800 in order to stay in power? 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:12.019 That's Pilate. 00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:16.699 And then we have the religious leaders who want to keep their social and cultural power. 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:18.259 They don't have a lot of political power. 00:07:18.259 --> 00:07:22.420 They're not Roman officials, but they do have a lot of social and cultural power. 00:07:23.139 --> 00:07:27.379 And they want to hold on to it, and they see Jesus Christ as a threat to that. 00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:31.259 And so they're willing to sacrifice their integrity. 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:34.959 They arrest Jesus in the middle of the night. 00:07:35.159 --> 00:07:39.860 They condemn him in a kangaroo court of the Sanhedrin. 00:07:40.899 --> 00:07:44.579 And, you know, the church has faced this temptation all throughout history. 00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:50.599 The temptation to sacrifice our integrity, the temptation to sacrifice our faithfulness 00:07:50.599 --> 00:07:54.359 for the sake of power and relevance. 00:07:55.319 --> 00:07:57.659 We see this on the right and the left. 00:07:57.919 --> 00:08:00.899 When vast numbers of evangelicals and church leaders, 00:08:01.959 --> 00:08:07.399 when you see them not merely voting for Republican candidates because of their policies, 00:08:07.599 --> 00:08:13.579 but enthusiastically endorsing Donald Trump as God's champion for Christians in our country, 00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:15.719 that's all about holding on to power. 00:08:17.099 --> 00:08:23.180 When you see vast numbers of mainline and progressive churches on the left abandoning historic Christian doctrine 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:27.519 in a desperate attempt to stay relevant, that's all about holding on to power. 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:31.360 So this temptation runs through the church. 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:37.759 It always has among traditional and progressive Christians all throughout history. 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:38.939 Now look at Jesus Christ. 00:08:38.940 --> 00:08:43.780 In this story, there is so much irony when it comes to power. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:46.580 Barabbas wants power. 00:08:47.320 --> 00:08:50.620 Pilate and the religious leaders are desperate to keep power. 00:08:51.560 --> 00:08:54.920 Jesus is the only one who has any real power at all. 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:56.280 And what does Jesus do with it? 00:08:57.300 --> 00:08:58.760 He lays it down. 00:08:59.560 --> 00:09:02.180 Everybody around him is clinging for power. 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:03.200 He has it. 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:05.720 And he willingly lays it down. 00:09:07.160 --> 00:09:10.440 And this begins to show us something very important. 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:15.680 The kingdom of God turns our view of power upside down. 00:09:16.680 --> 00:09:24.800 Jesus shows us that the greatness of our lives is measured by our degree of lowly service. 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:31.340 Jesus shows us that you have to die in order to be able to truly live. 00:09:31.340 --> 00:09:36.280 Jesus shows us that the first will be last and the last will be first. 00:09:36.680 --> 00:09:42.800 Jesus teaches that the meek, not the powerful, are the ones who will inherit the earth. 00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:45.440 It's a completely upside down view of power. 00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:52.280 The world and worldly insurrection says power is about building myself up. 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:58.839 But Jesus shows us that power is about lifting other people up. 00:10:00.220 --> 00:10:02.939 That power is about lifting other people up. 00:10:04.459 --> 00:10:06.220 All power comes from God. 00:10:06.319 --> 00:10:12.659 And God gives us power so that we can use it in ways that reflect his character and his purposes. 00:10:12.839 --> 00:10:13.919 And we say, what does that mean? 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:15.860 Seek justice. 00:10:16.959 --> 00:10:18.740 Help the poor and the vulnerable. 00:10:18.740 --> 00:10:21.159 Seek the common good. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:27.100 Work together to build a society that reflects God's vision for human flourishing. 00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:33.940 The world says the way to make things better, the way to make the world a better place, 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:38.899 is for me to be in power or for me to get my people into power. 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:40.899 That's Barabbas' insurrection. 00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:47.600 But the kingdom says the way to make the world a better place is for the people who have power, 00:10:48.199 --> 00:10:54.059 whether it's social power or economic power or political power, to follow Jesus' example. 00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:58.500 Don't use your power to keep others down. 00:10:59.459 --> 00:11:01.919 Use your power to lift others up. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:04.899 Use your power sacrificially. 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:08.939 Be willing to lay down your power if necessary. 00:11:08.940 --> 00:11:12.040 Use your power to serve. 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:14.280 Don't seek to be served. 00:11:15.160 --> 00:11:18.200 It's an upside-down view of power. 00:11:18.520 --> 00:11:19.620 That's the first difference. 00:11:19.780 --> 00:11:26.380 Number two, the second way that these two visions of insurrection are opposite from one another is this. 00:11:26.660 --> 00:11:29.320 They have opposite ways of advancing their interests. 00:11:30.680 --> 00:11:33.620 They have opposite ways of advancing their interests. 00:11:34.400 --> 00:11:38.760 Barabbas, as we said earlier, is willing to kill for his insurrection. 00:11:38.940 --> 00:11:44.660 The worldly view says if we want change, we have to fight for it. 00:11:45.560 --> 00:11:48.120 One way of fighting is through physical violence, 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:55.200 but there are a lot of people who these days do combat in public discourse or online. 00:11:56.280 --> 00:11:58.380 You know, people don't actually murder each other. 00:11:58.460 --> 00:12:00.260 They just murder one another's reputation. 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:04.100 They demonize their opponents. 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:06.419 They dehumanize their opponents. 00:12:07.439 --> 00:12:14.000 The crowds in Mark 15 really want an end to the subjugation that they experience under Roman rule, 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:17.319 and they want their own land, and they want respect, 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:20.720 and they want someone to lead them in a violent uprising. 00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:21.559 Right? 00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:24.559 And these are all justifiable things for them to desire. 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:29.099 But they are furious that Jesus doesn't do this for them. 00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:35.779 They're furious that Jesus isn't who they want him to be, Jesus of Nazareth. 00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:38.379 And it's in the text. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:42.360 It's sort of behind, if you read between the lines, there's this question. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:49.819 Maybe one of the reasons they chose Barabbas is because they knew Barabbas was an insurrectionary 00:12:49.819 --> 00:12:51.279 who had already murdered. 00:12:51.459 --> 00:12:54.919 He had already shown that he's willing to do whatever necessary. 00:12:54.919 --> 00:13:00.659 So it's very possible that the crowds are looking at Jesus Christ and looking at Jesus Barabbas, 00:13:00.819 --> 00:13:08.339 and they're saying, well, Barabbas has the kind of grit, the kind of real-world grit that we need to get the job done. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:15.039 If we really want to get rid of Rome, he's the kind of person that we need to lead us to accomplish that goal. 00:13:16.839 --> 00:13:21.279 But again, the kingdom of God turns things completely upside down. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:25.939 On the previous night when Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:28.779 his disciples are prepared to fight and defend him. 00:13:28.839 --> 00:13:29.759 They draw their swords. 00:13:30.079 --> 00:13:35.039 One of them cuts off Malchus' ear, one of the soldiers who comes to arrest him. 00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:42.519 And in all of the accounts where this happened, Jesus rebukes them. 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:45.000 And Jesus says, no, put your swords away. 00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:49.360 In Matthew's account, he says this, put your sword back in its place. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:54.480 For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 00:13:55.500 --> 00:14:02.000 He's showing us that Barabbas' way of insurrection, do whatever's necessary, the path of violence, 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:04.419 it only leads to more violence. 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:11.580 He says, do you think that I cannot appeal to my father and he will at once send more than 12 legions of angels? 00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:16.720 But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so? 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:19.540 He's saying, that road leads to death. 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:22.740 Violence only begets violence which begets more violence. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:26.180 The scriptures must be fulfilled. 00:14:26.300 --> 00:14:27.860 I've come to offer another way. 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:33.820 Pilate practically begs Jesus to defend himself. 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:35.540 He's like, aren't you going to say something? 00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:42.939 You know, he's like, it's almost like he's saying, I'm going to ask you one more time and you should say no. 00:14:43.339 --> 00:14:45.379 You know, are you the king of the Jews? 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:48.299 And Jesus is like, you say that I am. 00:14:48.319 --> 00:14:50.500 And he's like, oh, you know, he just can't. 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:52.799 He's like, you don't get how this works, do you? 00:14:52.819 --> 00:14:54.059 He wants to let him go. 00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:58.179 And it says that he's amazed that Jesus does nothing to defend himself. 00:14:58.179 --> 00:15:04.559 Like, it's natural that if you know that your neck is on the line, you will try to save it. 00:15:04.739 --> 00:15:05.459 Jesus doesn't. 00:15:06.479 --> 00:15:09.339 And the question arises, why doesn't Jesus defend himself? 00:15:09.699 --> 00:15:14.259 And the answer is because the kind of insurrection that Jesus leads is not political. 00:15:14.579 --> 00:15:15.739 It's not military. 00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:18.000 It's not even a religious insurrection. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:29.580 Jesus advances his interests, the interests of the kingdom, in a way that is completely foreign to our most basic instincts. 00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:31.700 Jesus didn't come to shed blood. 00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:35.899 Jesus came in order to allow his own blood to be shed. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:37.419 Right? 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:41.620 To suffer ultimate violence, to bring an end to all violence. 00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:50.980 When you wield the sword against someone else, that is guaranteeing that down the road there will be more and more and more of the same. 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:54.480 But Jesus allows the sword to be turned on him. 00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:59.360 He suffers the ultimate violence to bring an end to all violence. 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:01.399 It's an upside down agenda. 00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:07.519 And what we see here is that the kingdom of God does not advance through military might, through political prowess. 00:16:08.340 --> 00:16:11.799 The kingdom of God advances through people who are willing to love their enemies. 00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:17.720 The kingdom of God advances through people who are willing to suffer for the sake of the world. 00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:21.220 Through people who are willing to suffer for the sake of the people who hate them. 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:26.860 The kingdom of God advances through people who give their lives away for the sake of the world. 00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:32.720 The kingdom of God advances through people who recognize that our battle is not against flesh and blood. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:38.300 Our battle is against the spiritual forces that hold sway in this world. 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:40.800 Right? 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:46.680 And the kingdom of God advances through people who recognize that our weapons are not the weapons of the world. 00:16:47.800 --> 00:16:55.500 Our weapons are truth and righteousness and prayer and the word of God and suffering. 00:16:55.500 --> 00:17:09.660 One of the great things that Christians are called to do is to participate in the sufferings of Christ as we seek together the redemption of the world. 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:11.579 To suffer for the sake of the world. 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:17.640 To suffer for the sake of those who most disagree with us, most hate us. 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:22.579 To absorb that as Jesus suffered for us. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:25.119 Right? 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:43.439 So when there are people we perceive to be our enemies, whether in our personal lives, among our family, friends, in the church, in our workplaces, or in the culture, our kind of cultural enemies, or in politics, our political opponents, there's always the temptation to demonize them. 00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:45.779 There's always the temptation to dehumanize them. 00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:54.719 There's always the temptation to reduce a three-dimensional person down to a one-dimensional cardboard cutout and project all of our worst assumptions onto them. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:18:25.099 There's always the temptation to be. 00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:28.139 It's important for Christians to be speaking in public conversations. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.959 I'm not saying don't engage. 00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:32.299 We need Christians engaging in the public square. 00:18:32.679 --> 00:18:37.259 We need more Christians engaging in the public, more thoughtful Christians engaging in the public square. 00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:40.599 But when we do that, we don't belittle the people that we're arguing with. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:45.959 We don't oversimplify their arguments or turn them into straw men that we can demolish. 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:50.120 We treat our opponents with dignity and respect. 00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:58.460 We make sure that we're able to articulate the strongest arguments against us better than our opponents can do themselves. 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:02.140 We treat them with dignity and respect. 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:06.240 We treat their arguments with dignity and respect, even if they fail to do so with us. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:11.559 In those ways, the kingdom of God is advanced the way Christ shows us. 00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:18.799 Now, doing this almost guarantees that we will suffer more if we do these kinds of things. 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:21.579 But that, my friends, is the call of Christ. 00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:25.159 So that's the second difference. 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:28.079 So they're opposite in how they view power. 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:30.740 They're opposite in how they advance their interests. 00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:36.599 The third difference between the insurrection of Jesus Barabbas and the insurrection of Jesus Christ 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:40.579 is that they have completely opposite definitions of victory. 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:44.859 The worldly definition of victory is conquest. 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:47.919 We need to displace those in power. 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:50.980 We need to get into power, wash, rinse, repeat. 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:52.799 And what happens throughout history? 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.880 In the words of Albert Camus, 00:19:55.420 --> 00:20:00.240 every revolutionary ends by becoming either an oppressor or a heretic. 00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:04.720 Most worldly insurrections start out with the best of intentions, 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:09.360 but in time, those revolutionaries, they either lose their way, 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:13.059 they forget the original ideals that motivated the insurrection, 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:19.400 or they become tyrants who then need to be displaced by yet more insurrectionists. 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:22.640 And this is the problem in the world. 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:24.560 It's the source of everything that's wrong. 00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:31.600 The reason this is true, the reason that you can almost be guaranteed that today's revolutionary 00:20:31.600 --> 00:20:33.220 will become tomorrow's tyrant, 00:20:33.780 --> 00:20:36.720 is that the core problem in the world isn't political, 00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:38.880 and it isn't cultural, and it isn't social. 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.860 It's spiritual. 00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:44.179 The core problem in the world is spiritual. 00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:45.859 So it cannot be solved politically. 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:47.179 It can't be solved culturally. 00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:48.439 It can't be solved socially. 00:20:48.659 --> 00:20:51.679 It can't be solved through education or policy. 00:20:52.459 --> 00:20:53.939 Those things are very important. 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:57.279 But if we want to get down to the root of what's really wrong with the world, 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:59.219 the core problem is spiritual. 00:20:59.419 --> 00:21:00.000 It's sin. 00:21:00.179 --> 00:21:01.000 It's idolatry. 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:04.799 It's the fact that people have rejected God in order to live as we please, 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:11.079 and so we end up worshiping anything and everything except the God who is worthy of our worship. 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:15.539 But God's response to all of this is not conquest. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:18.159 God doesn't look at the world and say, 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:20.419 well, they have massively screwed up, 00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:24.220 and now I'm going to conquer them. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.460 I'm going to take them over. 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.819 I'm going to demolish them. 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:29.299 God doesn't respond that way. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:30.259 It's not conquest. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:33.500 God's response is not to give us what we deserve. 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:36.259 God's response is to give us Jesus Christ. 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:40.940 Jesus did not come to lead another uprising. 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:48.559 When people today try to reframe Jesus as just another social revolutionary or enlightened teacher, 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:57.000 what they're ultimately trying to do is they're trying to fit Jesus into the same category as someone like Barabbas. 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:58.000 They're trying to force Jesus into the same person like Barabbas. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:03.519 They're trying to force Jesus into the same category of human leaders and human revolutionaries. 00:22:04.140 --> 00:22:06.559 But Jesus came to do something radically different. 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:10.880 Jesus came to do what no one else on earth could possibly do, 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:12.539 and we see it right here in this passage. 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:16.039 Here we see a preview of the real reason that Jesus came. 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:21.420 Jesus, right, these two men out on the stage, Barabbas and Christ, 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:27.920 Jesus who is utterly innocent, who's committed no sin, 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:33.480 he is sent to die as a common criminal on the cross, 00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:38.379 while this murderer, this criminal, is set free. 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:46.300 And right here, as Barabbas walks off that platform into the crowd, a free man, 00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:54.560 right here we see the ultimate reason why Jesus came and the key to Jesus' insurrection. 00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:58.020 The kingdom turns everything upside down. 00:22:58.360 --> 00:23:00.440 In every way, this looks like defeat. 00:23:00.540 --> 00:23:04.080 It looks as though Jesus Christ's insurrection is ended for good. 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.200 He's going to the cross. 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:08.400 But this is actually the key to Jesus' victory. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:16.120 Because through this death, Jesus removes everything that stands in the way of our relationship with God. 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:23.059 It removes every excuse, every reason keeping us from being completely and utterly restored to God. 00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:28.980 And what this does is it allows God to extend grace unconditionally to everyone. 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:34.759 From the most noble idealist to the most heinous murderer. 00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:40.119 And so when we see Barabbas walking off that platform, free to go, 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:42.539 and everything in us wants to cry out, 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:46.200 that is not fair, that is unjust, how could such a thing happen? 00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:50.079 It begins to make sense when we recognize, who are we in the story? 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:54.119 Well, we typically think of ourselves as the crowds, but really we're Barabbas. 00:23:54.119 --> 00:24:03.019 We're the ones, we're the ones, unexpectedly at the last moment, set free. 00:24:03.659 --> 00:24:05.819 Even though we know where we deserve to go. 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:08.039 And we say, well, it's not fair. 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:08.839 Well, it's not fair. 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.959 Grace is, there's nothing fair about grace. 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:18.640 But this is how we know that the kingdom insurrection will ultimately be victorious 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:22.120 in the way that a worldly insurrection can never be victorious. 00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:26.880 Because the greatest victory has already been achieved on the cross. 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:30.600 And what we believe is that because that victory has been achieved, 00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:34.259 all the rest of history is just the outworking of that victory. 00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:37.579 So the victory has already been secured. 00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:43.779 So the, how does this apply to us? 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.779 Simply this. 00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:49.460 May we in our own hearts, in our lives, in our church, 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:54.400 may we always make sure we are choosing the true Jesus. 00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.799 In all that we do. 00:24:57.879 --> 00:25:00.440 Right, in all of our ministry, in all the way we live our lives, 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:03.279 in all the way we engage politically or socially or culturally. 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:07.220 May we make sure that we are choosing the true Jesus 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:11.759 and the kingdom insurrection and not some worldly form of insurrection. 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:15.879 Let us resist the temptation to co-op the true Jesus 00:25:15.879 --> 00:25:17.559 into our worldly insurrection. 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:21.900 Let us instead become a part of the kingdom insurrection. 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.400 And this is the invitation of the gospel. 00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:30.960 Every tribe, tongue, and nation is invited to join in the kingdom insurrection, 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:33.980 to come and accept the free grace of Jesus Christ. 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:36.220 To be reconciled to God. 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:40.079 And then to allow our hearts to be transformed by that grace. 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:42.440 And that begins to turn everything upside down. 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:45.299 It transforms the way we use our power. 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:49.480 Not to build ourselves up, but to lift others up. 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:53.119 Right, not to be served, but to serve. 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:56.000 And it transforms the way we engage the world. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:58.960 We love our enemies. 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.420 We pray for them. 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:03.359 And we give our lives away for the love of the world. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.480 Let's pray. 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:09.059 Our Father, we thank you for your word. 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:15.619 And we thank you that not only do you offer us a new way, 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:20.380 a new vision of how to make this world whole again, 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.519 how to make us whole again. 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:24.379 You not only offer that, but you've accomplished it. 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:30.559 Lord, your finished work on the cross guarantees how the story will end. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:33.819 I pray that in this in-between time, 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:36.779 you would give us a vision of what that means for us, 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:41.480 that you would empower us to courageously take up the call 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:43.220 of the kingdom insurrection. 00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:46.480 That you would give us a willingness to suffer, 00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:47.779 to lay down our lives, 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:51.759 to forgive those who would be our enemies. 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:56.279 Lord, to pray for those who would come against us. 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:59.319 That you would make us into the kind of community 00:26:59.319 --> 00:27:02.839 where the greatest are those who embrace lowly service. 00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:06.039 I pray that you would, through our community, 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:09.539 in some way put on display the upside-down vision 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.900 of kingdom insurrection. 00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:14.320 And we pray that as this is changing us now, 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:16.480 so it would continue to change the world. 00:27:17.280 --> 00:27:19.100 Lord, we pray this in your son's holy name. 00:27:19.300 --> 00:27:19.500 Amen.