WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:07.020 Today's passage is from Matthew chapter 16, starting in verse 21 we read, 00:00:07.980 --> 00:00:14.880 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:19.760 and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:24.219 and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 00:00:24.539 --> 00:00:28.920 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, 00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:33.280 Far be it from you, Lord, this shall never happen to you. 00:00:34.140 --> 00:00:36.679 But he turned and said to Peter, 00:00:38.140 --> 00:00:51.620 Then Jesus told his disciples, 00:00:51.619 --> 00:01:00.219 If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 00:01:00.879 --> 00:01:07.659 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 00:01:08.459 --> 00:01:14.560 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:18.900 Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 00:01:20.100 --> 00:01:25.240 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, 00:01:25.820 --> 00:01:31.040 and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 00:01:31.820 --> 00:01:33.260 This is the Word of God. 00:01:33.260 --> 00:01:36.540 Great. Thank you, Karen. 00:01:39.420 --> 00:01:40.859 Well, good morning once again. 00:01:40.980 --> 00:01:45.640 It's great to be back with you and to continue going through Matthew's Gospel. 00:01:45.880 --> 00:01:51.180 If you were here last week, Alan did such a good job of opening up Matthew chapter 16. 00:01:51.860 --> 00:01:55.360 And we're going to continue with this for a couple of weeks until September, 00:01:55.360 --> 00:01:58.500 and then we're going to go into the book of Ephesians. 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:00.859 Why don't you join me in prayer? 00:02:00.980 --> 00:02:03.299 Let's pray and ask God to speak to us from his Word. 00:02:03.420 --> 00:02:08.240 So, Father God, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, the one true God, 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:12.819 we come before you this morning and we thank you, God, for the songs that we've sung, 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:17.620 that you are God and God alone, that you are God over all things. 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:19.479 You rule, you're God most high. 00:02:19.479 --> 00:02:21.400 You rule and you reign supreme. 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:25.439 And yet at the same time, Jesus, you were a man of sorrows, 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:29.379 not acquainted with grief and suffering because of the cross. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.379 Lord, as we look at this passage, won't you speak to us? 00:02:32.419 --> 00:02:34.500 I pray for every one of us in the room. 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:36.020 God, you know where we're at. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:38.460 You know the joys and the celebrations. 00:02:38.740 --> 00:02:40.780 You know the heartaches and the struggles, God. 00:02:40.840 --> 00:02:42.180 Some of us this morning are mourning. 00:02:43.180 --> 00:02:44.599 Some of us are rejoicing. 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:50.340 God, we pray that you will meet each one of us and you will call us to follow you this morning. 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:54.419 For those of us that are Christians, help us to follow you more closely, more dearly. 00:02:54.419 --> 00:03:00.239 For those of us, God, that are not Christians, I pray you call us to yourself and show us the wonder of the gospel. 00:03:00.799 --> 00:03:03.719 We pray this in your wonderful and your powerful name. 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:04.599 Amen. 00:03:07.299 --> 00:03:16.819 I'm not sure about you, but for me, clarity is one of the greatest gifts that I think God has given. 00:03:17.739 --> 00:03:22.259 Clarity of expectation solves so many problems, right? 00:03:22.259 --> 00:03:31.019 Just think of how many marital conflicts could be avoided if there was clarity of communication, clarity of expectations, right? 00:03:31.500 --> 00:03:39.479 So, guys, your wife, her birthday is coming up and she's dropping hints about something that she really wants. 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:42.219 And you completely misread all the signs. 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:44.280 And you think she's hinting about something else. 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:47.319 And you completely miss each other. 00:03:48.180 --> 00:03:52.620 And on the birthday morning, she opens up the present, very excited. 00:03:52.920 --> 00:03:54.960 And suddenly her excitement levels drop. 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:57.139 And she says, wow, thank you. 00:03:57.900 --> 00:04:03.139 I've always wanted another vacuum cleaner or something like that, right? 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:07.939 Mixed expectations, lack of clarity can be confusing. 00:04:08.099 --> 00:04:10.319 Or think about an exam sitting. 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:11.920 I once had this at university. 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:15.759 I sat down my first year to sit down to my exam. 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:21.219 I opened the exam booklet and I didn't have a clue what the question was asking me to do. 00:04:21.579 --> 00:04:22.319 I didn't have a clue. 00:04:22.579 --> 00:04:23.659 No clarity at all. 00:04:23.919 --> 00:04:25.659 I thought they were going to ask about this. 00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:26.899 I'd studied this section. 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:28.539 And they asked about that. 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:30.839 Or think about maybe at work, right? 00:04:30.899 --> 00:04:33.399 Your boss gives you an assignment or a project. 00:04:33.620 --> 00:04:35.639 Maybe a client gives you a project. 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:39.719 And there's no clarity about what's actually expected. 00:04:39.860 --> 00:04:42.379 You don't know what are they really asking you to do. 00:04:43.259 --> 00:04:48.539 Lack of clarity, lack of clear communication can be very frustrating. 00:04:49.339 --> 00:04:51.159 It can actually be life-threatening at times. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:56.519 Well, in our passage today, Jesus doesn't want us to experience that. 00:04:56.579 --> 00:05:03.699 He wants us to have crystal clear understanding about who he is and what it means to be his follower. 00:05:03.699 --> 00:05:08.939 However, Jesus in our passage this morning kind of clears away all the fog and the white noise. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:11.639 And he says, come and listen to me. 00:05:11.719 --> 00:05:20.579 And he's going to give us two things that will give us clarity on who he is, what the gospel is, and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:21.539 Okay? 00:05:22.139 --> 00:05:23.919 So, let's dive straight in. 00:05:23.980 --> 00:05:27.699 The first thing Jesus is going to tell us is that he is the crucified Christ. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:30.000 The crucified Christ. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:35.420 Look at, I think it's verse 21 with me. 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:38.000 Now, the context here is key. 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:42.220 And the context is everything that Alan preached about last week. 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:47.319 Remember, last week Jesus goes to his disciples and he says, who do you say that I am? 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:51.939 And Peter says, step back everyone, I've got this one. 00:05:51.939 --> 00:05:57.399 And he says, you are the Christ, the son of the living God. 00:05:58.420 --> 00:06:00.879 Peter gives the gold standard answer. 00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:03.879 This is like the most amazing thing he has ever said. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.139 Peter, as you know, throughout the gospels always says really dumb things. 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:10.300 But this is one time he's got it spot on. 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:11.579 He's absolutely right. 00:06:11.659 --> 00:06:14.240 You are the Christ, the son of the living God. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:17.280 And Jesus says, blessed are you, Peter. 00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:20.019 This wasn't revealed to you just by natural observation. 00:06:20.220 --> 00:06:21.860 This is by God's revelation. 00:06:22.379 --> 00:06:22.819 Well done. 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:28.519 And so, as Alan explained to us last week, what does it mean that Jesus is the Christ? 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:31.960 It's not that Mr. and Mrs. Christ had a baby called Jesus Christ. 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:34.920 The word Christ is his title, his designation. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:39.860 It means that he is the long-awaited Messiah King. 00:06:39.860 --> 00:06:45.540 The one who hundreds of years ago God has spoken to his people, even thousands of years ago, 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:54.540 saying there will be a king, a Messiah King, who will liberate you and deliver you from all that is broken and frustrating in the world. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:07:00.639 One who will get rid of the enemies of God's people, who will drive out wickedness and evil. 00:07:01.220 --> 00:07:07.520 There will be a Messiah King who will be seated on the throne, who will restore righteousness and justice. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:09.899 And your enemies will be vanquished. 00:07:10.339 --> 00:07:11.899 And infidels will be driven out. 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:16.659 And those who pretend to worship God but don't really will be destroyed. 00:07:16.799 --> 00:07:20.579 I will bring my Messiah King who will reign on the throne. 00:07:21.919 --> 00:07:25.659 Much of the Old Testament looks forward to this king who will be like David. 00:07:26.599 --> 00:07:29.339 The true king who will be seated on the throne. 00:07:29.339 --> 00:07:37.539 In some ways the king that the Old Testament spoke about was meant to bring a measure of heaven on earth. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:40.399 Take God's people back to Eden. 00:07:40.859 --> 00:07:42.959 The place of peace and prosperity. 00:07:44.500 --> 00:07:48.339 And so the disciples now find they found the Messiah. 00:07:48.599 --> 00:07:49.359 Here he is. 00:07:49.859 --> 00:07:51.159 You are the Christ. 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:52.579 The long-awaited Messiah King. 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:54.439 The son of the living God. 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:55.839 And so the question is this. 00:07:56.199 --> 00:08:00.699 Now that we've got the king, Jesus, when are we going to establish the kingdom? 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:03.000 Let's get on with this kingdom work, right? 00:08:03.219 --> 00:08:05.699 Let's destroy those horrible Romans. 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:07.660 Let's drive out the Pharisees. 00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:09.579 Let's get the kingdom going. 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:12.000 But look at what Jesus does. 00:08:12.779 --> 00:08:17.560 He takes all their hope-filled expectations and he turns it on his head. 00:08:17.980 --> 00:08:18.779 Verse 21. 00:08:18.779 --> 00:08:25.359 From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples just what kind of Messiah King he was. 00:08:26.059 --> 00:08:31.839 That he would go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, 00:08:32.019 --> 00:08:35.339 and be killed and on the third day be raised. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:43.419 This is the first of three times in Matthew's Gospel where Jesus tells his disciples that he's the Messiah, 00:08:43.419 --> 00:08:49.679 but he's the Messiah that's going to go to Jerusalem and die on a cross, be crucified. 00:08:50.599 --> 00:08:57.819 The disciples wanted and expected a conquering king, a vanquishing king, a victorious king, one who will crush their enemies. 00:08:58.519 --> 00:09:01.939 And Jesus says, I've come to be a crucified king. 00:09:03.059 --> 00:09:07.919 Now when Jesus foretells his appointment with Calvary and with the cross, 00:09:08.319 --> 00:09:12.179 he's not foretelling events like we predict the weather, right? 00:09:12.179 --> 00:09:18.819 We look at existing patterns and conditions and say, oh, it's a bit cloudy, it's a bit foggy, it's red at night. 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:20.579 I guess it's going to rain later today. 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:23.419 Or we pull out our iPhones and we predict the weather. 00:09:24.179 --> 00:09:27.039 When Jesus talks about his appointment with Calvary, 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:36.519 he's talking about his predetermined definitive plan that God, Father, Son, and Spirit had established before the world began. 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:42.699 I don't know if you remember in the book of Isaiah, written 700 years before Jesus was ever born, 00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:49.799 it talks about the suffering servant and the suffering servant who would be pierced for our transgressions, 00:09:50.439 --> 00:09:52.100 crushed for our iniquities. 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:56.879 And it goes on to say, it was the will of the Lord to crush him. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:03.899 Jesus' appointment with Calvary is not just the unfortunate end of a political conspiracy. 00:10:04.419 --> 00:10:09.000 It was the definitive plan of God before the world began. 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:16.820 Jesus says, I must go to Jerusalem not to gather followers to my side, but to be pierced in my side. 00:10:17.379 --> 00:10:19.939 Yes, I will go and wear a crown, says Jesus. 00:10:19.940 --> 00:10:21.940 But it's a crown of thorns. 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:23.120 It's a crown of nails. 00:10:23.280 --> 00:10:28.780 It's a crown of bits of bone that have been shoved in there to inflict my suffering. 00:10:30.760 --> 00:10:34.680 Friends, you know why Jesus is the Messiah King, the crucified King? 00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:41.540 Jesus came to show his disciples, to show us, that yes, he will vanquish his enemies. 00:10:41.800 --> 00:10:45.400 Yes, he will destroy all those that oppose God's rule. 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:49.459 But the enemies that Jesus has in mind is not the political enemies. 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:50.879 It's not Rome or Caesar. 00:10:51.299 --> 00:10:53.720 It's not those that are in office. 00:10:54.199 --> 00:10:57.759 It's not only the Pharisees and the corrupt ones out there. 00:10:58.659 --> 00:11:02.679 Jesus says that the enemies that we face, the greatest enemies that we face, 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:10.220 is not the government or COVID or my parents or the economy that's all over the place. 00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:12.519 It's a far more sinister enemy. 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:15.419 It's the enemy that resides in my heart. 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:19.939 It's the self-centeredness, the selfishness of my own heart. 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:25.600 It's the enemy that wants me to be king and sets myself opposed to God and say, 00:11:25.779 --> 00:11:27.519 I will be on the throne of my life. 00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:30.600 You step back and wait there. 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:35.639 And so Jesus comes to displace that enemy. 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:41.100 The evil and the injustice that's not up there on the streets that's in here. 00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:43.639 Jesus says, I have come to destroy that. 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:49.899 See, friends, a conquering, vanquishing, raw, raw king that comes on his white horse, 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:55.279 going to smash all the enemies, we can sometimes get caught up in the euphoria of that, the hype of that. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:57.540 Yes, Jesus, you go and get them, right? 00:11:57.720 --> 00:11:59.460 You sort out those guys. 00:12:00.680 --> 00:12:05.379 But actually, that kind of king can leave the enemy of my heart still intact. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.519 It can leave the idols of my heart still in place. 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:14.799 And Jesus says, no, that's the enemy I've come to destroy, the enemy that rules in your heart. 00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:22.000 Friends, Jesus says that you and I are so sinful, so depraved, that Jesus had to die for us. 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:27.639 He had to drink the poison, the toxicity of our sin that our sin deserves. 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:37.559 And yet Jesus says that we are so loved, so unbelievably loved, that even if you were the only person in all the world, 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:39.039 he would have gone to the cross for you. 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:41.059 Jesus went to the cross. 00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:42.699 Yes, our sin demands it. 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:45.139 But yes, his love compelled him to get there. 00:12:45.939 --> 00:12:50.980 As Sally Lloyd-Jones famously says, it wasn't the nails that held him to the cross. 00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:53.100 It was his love for us. 00:12:54.060 --> 00:12:55.700 Jesus, the crucified king. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:57.300 Yes, Jesus is the Christ. 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:58.759 But what kind of Christ is he? 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:03.519 He is the suffering Christ, the cross-bearing Christ. 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:07.259 Friends, this is who Jesus is. 00:13:08.420 --> 00:13:13.060 In the previous chapter, Jesus says, I am the Christ, the son of the living God. 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.440 But what kind of Christ is he? 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:16.960 He is the crucified Christ. 00:13:17.060 --> 00:13:18.460 He is the sin-bearing Christ. 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:21.540 He is the love pouring out Christ. 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.960 This is Christianity. 00:13:24.379 --> 00:13:25.940 This is the gospel. 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:27.639 And so friends, let me ask you this morning. 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:30.180 It's great that you have been coming to church. 00:13:30.280 --> 00:13:32.340 It's great that you know Jesus is the Christ. 00:13:32.800 --> 00:13:38.460 Maybe you, 18 months ago, searched on YouTube and you worked out, is God really real? 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.340 What proof is there? 00:13:39.400 --> 00:13:40.300 And you've been convinced. 00:13:40.800 --> 00:13:41.660 He is the Christ. 00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:44.540 But do you know he is the crucified Christ? 00:13:44.660 --> 00:13:46.400 Do you know that he went to the cross for you? 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:50.399 Do you know that he loves you so much that he went to the cross for you? 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:54.939 That Jesus took your sin and your shame that we sang about this morning? 00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:59.340 Friends, you can't truly be Christ-centered without being cross-centered. 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:04.419 Now, let me quickly deal with two implications of this. 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:06.159 What does this actually mean for us? 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:08.899 Well, it means many things, but one of them is this. 00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:15.240 For those of us that are parents, if you're a parent here this morning, one of your responsibilities 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:19.719 is to raise your kids in the ways of Christ, okay? 00:14:19.719 --> 00:14:21.620 To know Christ and to love Christ. 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:27.740 As a parent, our job is not just to give them a good education or provide food on the table 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:29.100 or a roof over the head. 00:14:29.179 --> 00:14:29.879 That's good. 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:33.399 But as a parent, your job is to help your kids know Christ. 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:36.879 But don't just tell them that Jesus is God. 00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:39.259 Teach your kids about the cross. 00:14:39.939 --> 00:14:42.960 Teach your kids about the wonder of Jesus and what he did for us. 00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:45.399 Teach our kids about the problem of sin. 00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:50.919 But teach our kids about the wonder of Christ's love that Jesus went to the cross for us. 00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:53.700 Friends, those of us that are parents, 00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:58.320 let's help our kids to know the wonder of Jesus the crucified Christ, 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:00.320 not just Jesus the Christ. 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:02.680 Here's a second implication. 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:11.220 Unfortunately, we are in a season where many people are moving cities and countries. 00:15:11.700 --> 00:15:14.660 In fact, later today, we're going to say goodbye to a couple of people 00:15:14.660 --> 00:15:17.759 that are going to be moving from Hong Kong in the next few months. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:23.819 And over the next couple of months, many others are going to move and relocate for work or various reasons. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:28.879 Friends, when you move to a new city and you look for a church, 00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:32.299 don't just look for a church that says on their website, 00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:34.039 we are a Bible-believing church. 00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:35.939 It's good to be Bible-believing. 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:38.860 In fact, if they say they're not Bible-believing, that's a problem. 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:41.460 You might want to steer away of that. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.639 It's good to believe the Bible. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:48.120 But you can be Bible-believing and teach the Bible in a very moralistic way. 00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:51.819 You can say, the Bible says this, therefore do this. 00:15:52.179 --> 00:15:53.000 Sort yourself out. 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:53.980 Be a better Christian. 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:57.799 You can teach the Bible and not teach the wonder of God's love. 00:15:58.819 --> 00:16:01.480 Friends, you can even find a church that says we are Christ-centered. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:02.539 That's good. 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.699 It's good to be Christ-centered. 00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:08.220 But you can teach Jesus the Christ as just a good example to follow 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:10.879 and miss the wonder of the cross. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:14.580 Friends, as you move overseas and you look for a new church, 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:18.860 find a church that is not just going to teach the Bible, tell you about Jesus, 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:21.299 but it's going to preach Christ and Christ crucified. 00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:25.360 That Jesus went to the cross for your sin because He loves you. 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:29.439 Find a church that's going to drive the gospel deep into your heart 00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:33.379 and proclaim to you the glory of Christ and Christ crucified. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:36.399 This is the heart of Christianity. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:44.759 Jesus says, I came not to be served, but to serve and to lay down my life as a ransom for many. 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:51.500 Do you remember the words of the apostle in 1 Corinthians 2? 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.899 He writes about his ministry and says, 00:16:53.899 --> 00:17:08.019 This is the apostle in 1 Corinthians 2. 00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:10.819 This is the message of the Bible. 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:34.980 Well, if that was shocking to his disciples, they're in for another surprise. 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:37.160 Because look at what happens in verse 22. 00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:42.900 Jesus tells his disciples, I'm going to Jerusalem to die on the cross. 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:49.019 And Peter, having just 30 seconds before, nailed it with saying, 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.700 You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:56.559 Peter now reckons that he is the chief prosecuting officer for the theology department. 00:17:57.299 --> 00:18:02.660 And so he decides it's up to him to sort Jesus out. 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:04.920 Jesus' theology has obviously got a bit wonky. 00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:06.900 And so he needs to correct Jesus. 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:09.340 So he says, Hey, Jesus, come aside. 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:12.040 Let me just help you here with your theology. 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:14.700 And he says to him, Far be from it, Lord. 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:16.980 In other words, over my dead body. 00:18:17.340 --> 00:18:17.500 Right? 00:18:18.540 --> 00:18:20.100 Modern paraphrases. 00:18:20.320 --> 00:18:23.360 Jesus, God loves you, and he's got a plan for your life. 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:25.720 And it doesn't involve suffering or death. 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:26.200 Right? 00:18:27.080 --> 00:18:28.100 Far be from it. 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:29.660 Far be it from you, Lord. 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:32.200 This will never happen, says Peter. 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:36.000 Well, what does Jesus think of Peter's theology? 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.380 Look at what Jesus says. 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:42.620 He very gently turns to him and he says, Get behind me, Satan. 00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:45.200 You are a hindrance to me. 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:49.540 For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man. 00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:51.600 Now what's going on here? 00:18:51.620 --> 00:18:58.460 What does Jesus mean when he tells his most loyal disciple, Get behind me, Satan? 00:18:58.460 --> 00:19:08.340 Well, remember, when Jesus starts out his ministry, before, actually just before he starts out, he goes into wilderness to fast. 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.380 The Spirit leads him there. 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:13.440 And while he's there, Satan comes and tempts him. 00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:15.259 And he gives him a number of temptations. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:18.440 And do you remember what the temptations were about? 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:25.480 What Satan was tempting Jesus to do was to grab glory without the cross. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:28.420 Remember, he comes and he takes him to a high mountain. 00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:31.019 He says, Jesus, look at all the kingdoms of the world. 00:19:31.840 --> 00:19:35.380 I will back off and you can have all these kingdoms. 00:19:35.820 --> 00:19:37.539 And you don't even need to go to the cross. 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:41.200 You can have all your glory and you can avoid the cross. 00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:42.940 Just honor me. 00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:49.660 He takes him up to a high building and he says, why don't you throw yourself down? 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:53.440 Because God has said in his word that angels will fall down and rescue you. 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:55.360 You'll perform this great miracle. 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:59.080 All the people down there will be stunned by your brilliance. 00:19:59.420 --> 00:20:04.160 You'll draw a crowd and you can establish your kingdom and you don't even need to go to the cross. 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:09.140 Just do this simple miracle and you will get the following that you want and you can avoid the cross. 00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:14.820 Satan is tempting Jesus to grab glory and avoid the cross. 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:16.960 And what does Jesus say? 00:20:17.660 --> 00:20:19.080 He says, Satan, be gone. 00:20:20.560 --> 00:20:21.880 Now, do you see what Peter's doing here? 00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:24.340 Now, Peter's got the best of intentions, right? 00:20:25.020 --> 00:20:28.020 He's doing the exact same thing as what Satan did in the wilderness. 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:35.840 He's saying, Jesus, why don't you just grab glory, establish your kingdom, vanquish your enemies and avoid the cross. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:40.599 Jesus, far be it from you that you should suffer and go through difficulty. 00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.859 You are the Christ. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.319 Life should all be rosy now. 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:45.559 Life should just be easy and comfortable. 00:20:46.659 --> 00:20:50.179 And Jesus says, get that thinking away from me. 00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:52.879 That is from the pit of hell. 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.879 Do you know what that means? 00:20:55.880 --> 00:21:08.680 Friends, when our hearts are set on self-preservation and the glory of our own kingdoms, it may just be that we're acting and thinking more like Satan than Jesus. 00:21:11.020 --> 00:21:14.820 Now, here's another implication from this passage. 00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:17.660 I got this from my friend, Douglas O'Donnell. 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:19.000 He's not actually my friend. 00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:20.440 He writes these brilliant commentaries. 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:25.920 I wish he was my friend, but anyway, he says this. 00:21:26.580 --> 00:21:28.240 One of the implications of this is this. 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:30.680 Don't try and pastor Jesus. 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.180 Follow him. 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:39.259 Peter's pretty sure that Jesus has got his theology all very confused and muddled up. 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.920 And he decides to help him out. 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:43.759 He says, listen, Jesus, listen, just come and take a seat here. 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:47.100 I know that, you know, your childhood was difficulty. 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:49.320 Herod was trying to kill you and you had to flee. 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:54.700 I know there's some stuff, some baggage from there, but just take a seat and let's talk about this. 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:57.720 Jesus, haven't you read Jeremiah 29? 00:21:57.879 --> 00:22:00.519 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:02.419 Plans to make you prosper. 00:22:02.919 --> 00:22:06.460 Plans for your good, to not harm you or encounter any difficulty. 00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:08.159 Jesus, haven't you read the Old Testament? 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:15.879 Friends, sometimes, even as modern 21st century Christians, we can tend to think that we know better than Jesus, 00:22:15.879 --> 00:22:18.919 both for our own lives, but also for Jesus' own kingdom. 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:22.599 Jesus, surely the church should operate like this. 00:22:22.659 --> 00:22:25.379 I mean, welcome to the 21st century, right? 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:27.980 Friends, let's not pastor Jesus. 00:22:28.439 --> 00:22:29.559 Let's follow him. 00:22:29.899 --> 00:22:31.220 Let's listen to him. 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.460 Let's obey him. 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:35.419 The crucified Christ. 00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:37.099 Friends, this is Christianity. 00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:44.699 Whether you're worshipping in a billion dollar cathedral, or you're worshipping under a tree in the sub-Saharan Africa, 00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:50.419 whether you're worshipping in a house church in outer Mongolia or in a school hall in Hong Kong, 00:22:50.959 --> 00:22:53.480 whatever your worship looks like, don't get confused. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:56.759 Don't get overwhelmed by all the Christian things. 00:22:56.959 --> 00:22:59.939 Keep this front and central in your minds. 00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:29.000 Friends, do you know that this is Jesus? 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:33.160 He's not just a man who lived thousands of years ago and gave good advice. 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.900 He's not just a wise man. 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.799 Yes, he is wise. 00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:37.660 He's not just a miracle worker. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:39.039 Yes, he did miracle work. 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:40.960 He did do great miracles. 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:45.119 He is the Son of God who came to die on the cross for you, 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:47.660 to save you, to rescue you, 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:49.079 because he loves you. 00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:51.819 Christ, the crucified one. 00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:56.539 Secondly, the cruciform life. 00:23:58.779 --> 00:24:01.299 Look at the second thing Jesus wants us to see here. 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:05.119 Not only is the cross central to everything Jesus is and does, 00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:08.179 it's the pattern for the Christian life as well. 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:12.500 For Jesus, it was cross and then the crown. 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:14.079 When I mean crown, I mean glory. 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.539 Cross then crown. 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:19.880 And for the Christian, Jesus says it's exactly the same. 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:24.160 In other words, the Christian life is a cruciform life. 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:26.839 It takes the form or the shape of the cross. 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:30.000 Look at how Jesus says this in verse 24. 00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:32.319 Then Jesus told his disciples, 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:42.899 To us, after 2,000 years of Christianity, 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:44.759 that might not sound too wild 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:46.559 because we're very familiar with crosses 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:49.339 and steeples and around our necks and all sorts of things. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:51.779 But in the first century, that was radical. 00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:53.399 That's like Jesus saying, 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.220 if anyone wants to be my disciple, 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:59.000 grab your hangman's noose and come and follow me. 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:01.419 Strap yourself to the electric chair 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:04.240 and come and be my disciple, says Jesus. 00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:07.560 Friends, the cross wasn't a symbol of inconvenience. 00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:09.240 It was a symbol of death. 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:11.440 And after telling his disciples 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:13.080 that he's going to go to the cross, 00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.580 Jesus doesn't say, 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:17.460 kick back, go to church and just be a good person. 00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:20.700 He says, pick up your cross and follow me. 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:25.340 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor and theologian, 00:25:25.340 --> 00:25:27.800 he opposed Adolf Hitler in 1945 00:25:27.800 --> 00:25:29.580 and he paid for it with his life. 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:33.480 He was assassinated on the 9th of April, 1945, 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:36.000 just weeks before the end of World War II. 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:38.099 He writes about this passage and he says, 00:25:38.199 --> 00:25:40.519 when Christ calls a man to follow him, 00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:43.799 he bids him to come and die, 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:48.419 to lay aside his own self-sovereignty, 00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.399 his own autonomy, 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:52.639 his own right to be his own king and master. 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:55.320 If anyone would come after me, 00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.520 let him deny himself, 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:58.960 take up his cross and follow me. 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.900 Now, what does this mean? 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:02.200 What does Jesus mean when he says, 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.800 take up your cross? 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:06.280 You know, all of us live in a broken world, 00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:07.140 in a fallen world, 00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:08.980 and we all endure hardship and difficulty. 00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:10.380 Maybe COVID, 00:26:10.520 --> 00:26:12.320 you haven't been able to travel for three years. 00:26:12.380 --> 00:26:13.940 You haven't been able to see your family. 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:16.740 Maybe you've recently lost a job 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:18.360 or work's really going tough. 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:20.279 We all live in a broken world. 00:26:20.479 --> 00:26:21.819 And sometimes people say, 00:26:21.959 --> 00:26:23.579 we've all got our cross to bear. 00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:25.319 It's part of life. 00:26:25.979 --> 00:26:27.779 But that's not what Jesus is talking about. 00:26:28.439 --> 00:26:30.559 Jesus is talking about the deliberate, 00:26:31.399 --> 00:26:33.039 willful decision 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:35.839 to lay aside the things 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:38.139 that we might feel entitled to 00:26:38.139 --> 00:26:40.599 if Jesus were not real. 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.500 Jesus says, 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:45.979 lay aside your comforts and your conveniences, 00:26:45.979 --> 00:26:48.059 your safety and your security, 00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:50.199 and follow me. 00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:53.119 Friends, maybe you're here this morning 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:54.099 and you're not a Christian. 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:57.159 Jesus actually says elsewhere in the gospel, 00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:58.519 before you become a Christian, 00:26:58.699 --> 00:27:00.379 sit down and count the cost. 00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:01.919 If you're going to start a business, 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.419 you're going to work out the cost, 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:05.599 can you actually start the business? 00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:06.679 Jesus says, 00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.939 before you become a Christian, 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:09.879 know what it's going to cost you. 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:11.779 It's going to cost you everything. 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:14.699 Pick up your cross and follow me. 00:27:14.939 --> 00:27:16.379 And look at his language here. 00:27:16.439 --> 00:27:16.819 He says, 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:18.059 if anyone, 00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:21.399 not just the pastors or the CG leaders, 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:23.079 not just Amelia, 00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:23.559 you know, 00:27:23.659 --> 00:27:25.939 missionaries to Taiwan or North Korea, 00:27:26.439 --> 00:27:27.240 no, anyone, 00:27:27.659 --> 00:27:28.859 any follower of Jesus, 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:31.559 anyone who would want to follow me, 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:33.240 if anyone would come after me, 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.859 that means make up his mind, 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.599 make a decision to be my disciple, 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.839 to be a Christian. 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.159 What then? 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:39.460 Well, 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:41.599 let him deny himself. 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:44.719 That means lay aside our own kingdom, 00:27:44.879 --> 00:27:46.179 our comforts and our convenience, 00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:48.779 and take up our cross, 00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:52.439 to so identify with Jesus, 00:27:53.159 --> 00:27:54.719 that all that he is, 00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:56.539 shapes our lives, 00:27:56.879 --> 00:27:59.779 to embrace the suffering and the hardship of being a Christian, 00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:02.139 and to follow him. 00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:05.900 The Greek there is the continual present tense. 00:28:06.100 --> 00:28:07.280 In Luke's gospel, 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.000 Jesus says, 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:11.000 let him take up his cross daily and follow me, 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:13.140 every day to follow me. 00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:14.759 Friends, 00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:18.800 Jesus' call to discipleship is not asking us just to give up chocolate for lentil, 00:28:19.020 --> 00:28:20.340 social media on Sundays. 00:28:20.780 --> 00:28:21.340 He says, 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.500 pick up your cross, 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:24.959 die to your own kingdom, 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:27.519 and come and follow me. 00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:31.039 For some of us, 00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:34.919 that may mean giving up a prestigious career, 00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:39.799 in order to do something else with our lives. 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.399 For some of us, 00:28:41.419 --> 00:28:45.059 it may mean letting down those that have expectations of us, 00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:46.039 maybe our parents, 00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:48.019 or those who are a boss, 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:48.919 or a mentor, 00:28:49.179 --> 00:28:51.000 someone who wants us to go in one direction, 00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:52.539 to follow Jesus. 00:28:53.659 --> 00:28:54.439 For some of us, 00:28:54.459 --> 00:28:57.139 it may mean curtailing a certain lifestyle, 00:28:57.819 --> 00:28:59.299 that we're used to, 00:28:59.399 --> 00:29:01.879 because we're all in to follow Jesus. 00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:03.379 Friends, 00:29:03.419 --> 00:29:04.079 for all of us, 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:08.699 it means saying no to the sinful nature of our bodies and our lives, 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:11.399 in order to honor Christ with our bodies and our lives. 00:29:13.699 --> 00:29:14.179 Now, 00:29:14.399 --> 00:29:15.339 to the modern mind, 00:29:15.379 --> 00:29:16.579 that sounds heretical, 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:20.579 because avoiding suffering is our highest priority as moderns. 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:24.379 We tend to think that the pursuit of happiness is a constitutional right. 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.319 So, 00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:27.059 why should we listen to Jesus? 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.460 Well, 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:30.220 look at what Jesus says in verse 25. 00:29:31.179 --> 00:29:31.679 Jesus actually, 00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:33.399 of the next three verses, 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:34.539 gives three reasons. 00:29:34.699 --> 00:29:35.039 He says, 00:29:35.399 --> 00:29:37.059 whoever would save his life, 00:29:37.679 --> 00:29:38.759 will actually lose it. 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:39.559 Jesus said, 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:41.960 if you're trying to manage and control your life, 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:45.059 you're going to see life slipping through your fingers, 00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:47.299 like trying to grab sand on the beach. 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:49.379 But whoever loses his life, 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.899 whoever opens up his hands and says, 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.279 Jesus, 00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:52.099 have your way, 00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:54.519 will actually find that you find it. 00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:56.000 Verse 26, 00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:56.559 Jesus says, 00:29:56.899 --> 00:30:00.700 what will it profit a man if you gain the whole world and forfeit your soul? 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:01.839 Jesus says, 00:30:01.919 --> 00:30:03.259 all the treasures of earth, 00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:04.579 all the pleasures of earth, 00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:08.379 even if all the stars aligned and you get everything you want, 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.180 in a hundred years from now, 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.419 a thousand years from now, 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.619 a million years from now, 00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:16.079 how valuable is that corner office going to be to you? 00:30:17.219 --> 00:30:19.419 How valuable is that entrance into the club, 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:21.719 or that new Maserati going to be to you, 00:30:22.719 --> 00:30:25.399 when you're separated from Christ and hell for all eternity? 00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:27.159 Jesus says, 00:30:27.399 --> 00:30:30.279 for what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:32.000 44 billion dollars, 00:30:32.399 --> 00:30:33.219 if you buy Twitter, 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:35.299 and you forfeit your soul? 00:30:38.659 --> 00:30:39.099 Friends, 00:30:39.179 --> 00:30:39.759 Jesus says, 00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:40.579 you want to follow him? 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:42.259 Pick up the cross. 00:30:43.239 --> 00:30:43.679 Christ, 00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.719 the crucified one, 00:30:44.939 --> 00:30:45.239 Christ, 00:30:45.659 --> 00:30:47.159 the cruciform life. 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:48.919 Now, 00:30:48.979 --> 00:30:50.059 as we come to close, 00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:52.819 why should we trust Jesus? 00:30:52.959 --> 00:30:55.159 Jesus makes this radical call to us. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.559 Jesus says, 00:30:56.699 --> 00:30:58.539 I ask you of nothing less than everything. 00:30:58.679 --> 00:31:00.359 Come and center your life around me. 00:31:00.439 --> 00:31:01.739 Why should we follow him? 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:02.979 Well, 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.500 there's two very brief reasons. 00:31:04.619 --> 00:31:05.879 The first one is very obvious, 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:08.899 because just in a few weeks after saying this, 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:12.519 Jesus is literally going to pick up his own, 00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:12.960 cross. 00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:18.440 Jesus is going to allow himself to be nailed to the cross for you and I. 00:31:19.299 --> 00:31:19.639 Friends, 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:21.319 has anybody else loved you like that? 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:25.299 Has anybody else proven their faithfulness to you like Jesus? 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:27.399 In the words of that song, 00:31:27.399 --> 00:31:30.460 you could search for all eternity long, 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:34.419 and still you would find no one like Jesus. 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:39.899 Who are you going to bank your life on apart from Jesus? 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:42.379 Who else has gone to the cross for you? 00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:45.399 Jesus has proved his trustworthiness. 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:47.200 He's proved his faithfulness to you. 00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:48.819 When you were his enemy, 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:50.579 he laid down his life for you. 00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:51.359 Friends, 00:31:51.419 --> 00:31:53.440 you can trust him with the decisions you've got to make today. 00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:55.080 You can trust him. 00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:56.880 But here's the second reason. 00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:59.460 Because of God's great patience. 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:01.519 In this passage, 00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:04.000 like in many of the gospel passages, 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:07.220 we see Peter really putting his foot in it, 00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:07.460 right? 00:32:07.840 --> 00:32:08.120 I mean, 00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:08.460 Peter, 00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:09.980 once again, 00:32:10.120 --> 00:32:11.480 says some pretty dumb things. 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.600 And here, 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:15.140 Peter's trying to save Jesus' life, 00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:16.860 as if Jesus really needs saving, 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.160 right? 00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:17.680 He says, 00:32:17.820 --> 00:32:17.840 no, 00:32:17.880 --> 00:32:18.039 no, 00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:18.720 far be it, 00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:19.080 Lord, 00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:20.240 over my dead body, 00:32:20.340 --> 00:32:20.940 you'll never, 00:32:21.080 --> 00:32:22.220 this will never happen to you. 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:25.539 Just a few weeks later, 00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:27.600 Peter's going to try and save his own life, 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:29.500 by denying that he's ever known Jesus. 00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:30.700 Remember, 00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:31.720 somebody comes to him and says, 00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.140 hey, 00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:32.839 aren't you Peter, 00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:34.000 aren't you one of his disciples? 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:34.440 And he says, 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:36.000 I have no idea what you're talking about. 00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:37.220 Never met the man, 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:37.920 right? 00:32:38.600 --> 00:32:40.960 And even a few years later, 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:43.620 you think Peter should have finally got it, 00:32:43.619 --> 00:32:46.079 and Paul rebukes him, 00:32:46.379 --> 00:32:49.599 because Peter is acting hypocritically to one group of people, 00:32:49.679 --> 00:32:50.659 he's acting like this, 00:32:50.959 --> 00:32:52.439 and then some others walk in the room, 00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.919 and he suddenly changes face, 00:32:53.979 --> 00:32:55.539 and he acts completely differently. 00:32:56.239 --> 00:32:57.000 So Peter, 00:32:57.439 --> 00:32:58.399 this great apostle, 00:32:59.179 --> 00:33:00.359 really messes up, 00:33:00.399 --> 00:33:00.659 right? 00:33:01.979 --> 00:33:02.679 But you know what? 00:33:02.739 --> 00:33:04.739 He gets some stern words from Jesus, 00:33:05.399 --> 00:33:07.079 he gets a pretty sharp rebuke, 00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:08.939 but you know what he doesn't get? 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.599 He never, 00:33:10.879 --> 00:33:13.439 ever gets Jesus' rejection. 00:33:15.399 --> 00:33:17.059 Jesus is pretty strong with him, 00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:19.059 but Jesus never says, 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.139 that's it, 00:33:20.399 --> 00:33:21.039 I'm done. 00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:24.379 Do you know how we know that? 00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:26.859 At the end of the New Testament, 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:29.859 the apostle Peter writes two letters 00:33:29.859 --> 00:33:31.539 that are included in the Bible, 00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:34.439 and at the end of his life, 00:33:34.679 --> 00:33:36.119 he eventually gets it, 00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:37.500 and he really gets it. 00:33:38.239 --> 00:33:39.139 And he writes, 00:33:39.319 --> 00:33:42.159 that Jesus is the one who had to die, 00:33:42.439 --> 00:33:44.219 but rather than being like Satan, 00:33:44.459 --> 00:33:46.039 he writes to these Christians, 00:33:46.219 --> 00:33:47.819 who are really suffering, 00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:50.119 they're going through a really difficult time, 00:33:50.679 --> 00:33:52.879 and rather than acting like Satan, 00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.339 and saying, 00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.419 oh you know, 00:33:54.739 --> 00:33:57.159 God just wants you to have a happy and comfortable life, 00:33:57.239 --> 00:33:58.259 he wouldn't want you to suffer, 00:33:58.879 --> 00:33:59.599 he writes to him, 00:33:59.639 --> 00:34:00.619 this is what he says, 00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:01.639 he says, 00:34:01.719 --> 00:34:03.939 for to this suffering you have been called, 00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:06.460 because Christ also suffered for you, 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:08.200 leaving you an example, 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:10.519 so that you might follow in his footsteps. 00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:12.700 When Christ was reviled, 00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:14.380 he didn't revile in return, 00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:15.860 when Christ suffered, 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:17.440 he didn't threaten in return, 00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:20.639 but he continued entrusting himself, 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:23.099 to him who judges justly. 00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:26.079 Jesus himself bore our sins, 00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:27.679 in his body on the cross, 00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:29.960 that we might die to sin, 00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:31.639 and live to righteousness. 00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:33.239 Friends, 00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.879 Peter eventually gets it, 00:34:35.579 --> 00:34:36.339 and later on, 00:34:36.379 --> 00:34:37.759 even later on in his life, 00:34:37.899 --> 00:34:38.539 he writes this, 00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:40.019 and he writes of the patience of God, 00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:40.500 and he says, 00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:43.639 the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promises, 00:34:43.899 --> 00:34:45.399 as some count slowness, 00:34:46.279 --> 00:34:47.659 but the Lord is patient, 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:50.179 not wishing any should perish, 00:34:50.679 --> 00:34:52.359 but that all should reach repentance. 00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:56.000 As Peter sits at that desk, 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:57.940 writing with that scroll, 00:34:58.180 --> 00:34:59.700 the Lord is patient, 00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.700 I'd love to know, 00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:04.160 what his facial expression was like. 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:07.320 As Peter reflected on his own mistakes, 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:08.620 and his own stupidity, 00:35:08.740 --> 00:35:09.880 and his own dumb words, 00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:11.740 and his own faults, 00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:12.700 and failings, 00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:13.420 and foibles, 00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:15.680 and years later writes, 00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:17.180 the Lord is patient. 00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:20.059 I wonder as he reflected, 00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:21.059 on all the times, 00:35:21.059 --> 00:35:22.440 that Jesus was patient with him. 00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:24.440 Friends, 00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:25.239 you know what this means? 00:35:26.759 --> 00:35:28.279 If God is patient with Peter, 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:30.039 he'll be patient with you. 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:32.340 You've messed up this week. 00:35:33.299 --> 00:35:34.599 Have you denied Jesus? 00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:37.000 You haven't wanted to pick up your cross, 00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:38.639 you've just wanted to live the comfortable life? 00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:40.940 God will be patient with you, 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:43.500 but he's still calling you to follow him. 00:35:44.759 --> 00:35:45.199 Friends, 00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:48.840 let the gracious patience of Jesus encourage you. 00:35:48.840 --> 00:35:52.420 Let me encourage you to hold on to Jesus this week, 00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:54.160 to embrace the cross, 00:35:54.240 --> 00:35:56.400 knowing that as you hold on to Jesus, 00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:59.600 there too will be a crown waiting for you, 00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:02.200 on the other side of that cross. 00:36:02.840 --> 00:36:03.940 Let's pray together. 00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:07.519 Lord Jesus Christ, 00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:08.720 we thank you, 00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:10.740 that you are the Christ, 00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:12.460 the glorious one, 00:36:13.240 --> 00:36:14.360 the one who, 00:36:14.920 --> 00:36:16.760 died and rose again, 00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:19.900 the one who is coming back in glory. 00:36:20.740 --> 00:36:21.679 You will come, 00:36:21.800 --> 00:36:22.000 God, 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:23.099 riding on a white horse, 00:36:23.139 --> 00:36:25.280 and you will utterly vanquish your enemies. 00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.099 But Jesus, 00:36:27.200 --> 00:36:28.159 we are so grateful, 00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:29.240 that you didn't do that, 00:36:29.260 --> 00:36:30.240 at your first coming, 00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:32.159 because that would have included, 00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:32.879 all of us. 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:34.440 God, 00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:36.099 rather than destroying your enemies, 00:36:36.259 --> 00:36:37.859 you laid down your life for us. 00:36:38.420 --> 00:36:38.960 And for that, 00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:39.679 we praise you. 00:36:40.619 --> 00:36:40.960 Lord, 00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:42.159 I pray for each one of us, 00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:42.940 here at Watermark, 00:36:43.619 --> 00:36:45.179 or those that have been here for many years, 00:36:45.239 --> 00:36:46.639 those that are visiting for the first time, 00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:47.559 won't you help us, 00:36:47.619 --> 00:36:48.659 to see the wonder, 00:36:48.859 --> 00:36:49.839 of the cross, 00:36:50.299 --> 00:36:51.379 the wonder of the gospel, 00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:52.599 that it was our sin, 00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.279 and our shame, 00:36:53.359 --> 00:36:54.179 that held you there. 00:36:54.899 --> 00:36:57.199 And it was your profound love for us, 00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:58.559 that held you there. 00:36:59.519 --> 00:36:59.820 Jesus, 00:36:59.880 --> 00:37:01.019 I pray that you will help us, 00:37:01.139 --> 00:37:01.239 God, 00:37:01.299 --> 00:37:01.960 this week, 00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:03.579 to live the cross-shaped life, 00:37:03.719 --> 00:37:04.860 the cruciform life, 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:07.099 to center our lives on you, 00:37:07.179 --> 00:37:08.239 to deny ourselves, 00:37:08.340 --> 00:37:09.000 of our comfort, 00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:09.659 and our convenience, 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:11.259 and to pick up our cross, 00:37:11.299 --> 00:37:12.119 and to follow you, 00:37:12.519 --> 00:37:13.860 knowing that as we do so, 00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:14.880 we will find life. 00:37:16.279 --> 00:37:16.619 Jesus, 00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:17.320 come and help us, 00:37:17.460 --> 00:37:17.739 I pray, 00:37:18.840 --> 00:37:20.380 in your wonderful name, 00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:21.880 Amen.