WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.279 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:10.279 --> 00:00:13.259 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:17.539 We do welcome you. If you're new with us and you're joining us virtually, 00:00:17.699 --> 00:00:20.900 we invite you to connect with us through our digital visitor card, 00:00:20.980 --> 00:00:24.300 which you'll find if you go to our homepage at cmpca.net. 00:00:24.400 --> 00:00:28.539 There will be a pop-up with immediately a link to go and fill out one of those cards, 00:00:28.539 --> 00:00:32.759 and that will help us to connect with you and connect you with our community. 00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:40.259 For those of us who are old-timers, of course, I invite you to make comments as they're relevant to what we're discussing this morning 00:00:40.259 --> 00:00:43.240 and to greet one another if you missed us at the very beginning, 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:47.259 so that we have a sense of our fellowship with one another even as we're separated, 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:50.519 and also that we have a record that you are here with us. 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:56.159 We're continuing our study in the book of Zechariah, and we're going to be in Zechariah chapter 11 this morning 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:58.679 as we continue through the season of Advent. 00:00:58.859 --> 00:01:03.719 You'll remember that Advent comes from a Latin word that means to come or to arrive, 00:01:04.219 --> 00:01:09.879 and during the season of Advent, we take a special focus on Jesus coming or arriving to Earth. 00:01:09.939 --> 00:01:11.359 And there's two things that we do. 00:01:11.500 --> 00:01:13.959 We celebrate what God's done in the past, 00:01:14.439 --> 00:01:17.039 and so that's why we sing Christmas songs like Joy to the World, 00:01:17.219 --> 00:01:20.920 and we also long and look forward to what He'll do in the future, 00:01:21.079 --> 00:01:24.140 and so that's why we sing songs like O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. 00:01:24.140 --> 00:01:27.840 And that is a summary of what we do in all of the Christian life, 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:31.519 because in all of the Christian life, we celebrate what God's done in the past, 00:01:31.739 --> 00:01:34.260 we look forward to what He's going to do in the future, 00:01:34.260 --> 00:01:38.960 and we live faithfully now in the present in light of both of those things. 00:01:39.620 --> 00:01:42.500 And so it's with that that we are turning again to the book of Zechariah. 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:43.819 We're going to be in chapter 11. 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:46.180 You can track with me in your worship guide. 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:49.260 Those of you who are here are also in your Bible or on your phone. 00:01:49.260 --> 00:01:54.640 And you'll remember that Ezekiel was a prophet to the nation of Israel during the 6th century. 00:01:55.520 --> 00:01:59.820 And he prophesied to them after they had returned from exile in Babylon. 00:02:00.500 --> 00:02:01.960 Persia had defeated Babylon. 00:02:02.780 --> 00:02:06.060 And just like a collection of sermons would cover a variety of topics, 00:02:06.240 --> 00:02:10.000 so this collection of prophecies covers a variety of topics as well. 00:02:10.379 --> 00:02:12.840 The chapters that we are in, chapters 9 through 13, 00:02:13.040 --> 00:02:16.980 talk about the coming or future kingdom of God. 00:02:16.979 --> 00:02:22.199 And you'll remember also that we're asking this question that came to us in chapter 9. 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:25.000 How can we rejoice when it comes to Advent? 00:02:25.799 --> 00:02:29.679 How can Advent be for us not like a commercial that's played over and over, 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:31.259 that becomes old and stale, 00:02:31.719 --> 00:02:35.359 but how can it be like a cup of water that we desperately need, 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:38.479 something that refreshes us over and over? 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:43.159 We saw in chapter 9 that Jesus is our coming King, 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:47.400 and as our coming King he causes us to rejoice because he's a king on a donkey, 00:02:47.539 --> 00:02:51.020 which means that he is a humble king and he's a peaceful king. 00:02:51.780 --> 00:02:58.840 Last week we saw that Jesus was not just our humble king but also our shepherd. 00:02:59.500 --> 00:03:03.680 And in being our shepherd we realize that we live in a world filled with bad shepherds 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:06.260 and we live in a world that hates good shepherds. 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:11.180 But Jesus is actually the great shepherd and he's a better leader than we deserve. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:18.280 And he was a shepherd who was rejected by his sheep and he dies for those very same sheep. 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:21.140 This morning as we come to chapter 11, 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:25.420 we are going to focus on the cleansing that Jesus brings. 00:03:25.540 --> 00:03:28.060 If you've been in the church for a while, you have heard the phrase, 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:29.800 Jesus washing us clean. 00:03:29.800 --> 00:03:33.540 And we're going to take a look at that this morning because that concept is going to come up 00:03:33.540 --> 00:03:38.740 in chapter 13, or excuse me, in chapter 13, verse 1. 00:03:39.200 --> 00:03:42.860 We're going to see that there will be a fountain open for the house of David 00:03:42.860 --> 00:03:47.840 and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. 00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:52.080 Now I'm going to warn you as we get started that there is a lot here in this passage. 00:03:52.200 --> 00:03:53.800 We're not going to focus on all of it equally. 00:03:53.939 --> 00:03:57.580 So there's a lot of things going on with the relationship between Israel and Judah, 00:03:57.580 --> 00:03:59.200 specifically in verses 1 through 9. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:00.700 We're not going to focus on that. 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:03.420 We're going to talk a little bit about verses 1 through 9. 00:04:03.540 --> 00:04:10.800 We're especially going to focus on verses 10 through 14 of chapter 12 and then verse 1 of chapter 13. 00:04:11.460 --> 00:04:15.200 And we're going to simply see this morning some simple but profound truths. 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:18.939 We're going to look at the gospel, simple, full, and free. 00:04:19.280 --> 00:04:23.480 And so it's with that that we turn to Zechariah chapter 12, verse 1. 00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:25.920 And remember as we read this that this is God's word. 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:31.620 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold. 00:04:31.960 --> 00:04:36.240 And it is sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:04:36.840 --> 00:04:39.280 And so that's why we read it now, starting at verse 1. 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:43.759 The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel. 00:04:44.559 --> 00:04:48.879 Thus declares the Lord who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:51.819 and formed the spirit of man within him. 00:04:52.679 --> 00:04:58.159 Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. 00:04:58.839 --> 00:05:01.899 The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. 00:05:02.559 --> 00:05:06.279 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:09.519 All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:13.019 And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:19.719 On that day, declares the Lord, I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness. 00:05:20.199 --> 00:05:23.439 But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:27.079 when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:30.399 Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:35.419 The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the Lord of hosts, their God. 00:05:36.279 --> 00:05:36.859 Verse 6. 00:05:37.799 --> 00:05:42.039 On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, 00:05:42.339 --> 00:05:44.879 like a flaming torch among sheaths. 00:05:45.139 --> 00:05:49.299 And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, 00:05:49.779 --> 00:05:54.199 while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place in Jerusalem. 00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:58.579 And the Lord will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, 00:05:58.579 --> 00:06:05.219 that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:09.439 On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:13.199 so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:15.740 and the house of David shall be like God, 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:18.659 like the angel of the Lord going before them. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:24.659 And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 00:06:24.660 --> 00:06:26.200 Verse 10. 00:06:26.200 --> 00:06:31.060 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem 00:06:31.060 --> 00:06:33.880 a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, 00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:37.920 so that when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, 00:06:38.220 --> 00:06:41.740 they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:45.760 and weep bitterly over him as one weeps over a firstborn. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:51.160 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-Rimen 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:52.540 in the plain of Megiddo. 00:06:52.540 --> 00:06:56.360 The land shall mourn each family by itself, 00:06:56.960 --> 00:06:59.520 the family of the house of David by itself, 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:01.980 and their wives by themselves, 00:07:02.280 --> 00:07:05.480 the family of the house of Nathan by itself, 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:07.820 and their wives by themselves, 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:11.300 the family of the house of Levi by itself, 00:07:11.780 --> 00:07:13.360 and their wives by themselves, 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:16.660 the family of the Shimaites by itself, 00:07:16.840 --> 00:07:18.780 and their wives by themselves, 00:07:18.779 --> 00:07:25.139 and all the families that are left, each by itself and their wives by themselves. 00:07:26.099 --> 00:07:29.979 On that day there shall be a fountain open for the house of David 00:07:29.979 --> 00:07:36.019 and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. 00:07:36.979 --> 00:07:40.799 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:07:42.559 --> 00:07:46.879 Our Father in heaven, we thank you again that your word is powerful 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:49.259 and it does not return to you empty, 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:54.040 even if it's coming across the internet rather than in person. 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:57.879 We ask that you would send your Holy Spirit now to us, 00:07:58.279 --> 00:08:01.459 no matter where we are hearing and listening to your word, 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:03.560 that you would use it to soften our hearts, 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:06.339 to show us our need for your cleansing, 00:08:06.699 --> 00:08:10.379 and you would also assure us that you are the one who cleanses us. 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:13.560 And we ask that you would use that to give us great joy, 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:15.980 no matter what else is happening in our world, 00:08:15.980 --> 00:08:17.420 and in our lives. 00:08:17.640 --> 00:08:20.740 And we ask these things grateful that we do not have to earn them, 00:08:20.960 --> 00:08:23.360 but we ask them instead in the name of Jesus. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:24.259 Amen. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:31.319 We just finished an election season, 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:34.779 and no matter which candidate you were cheering for, 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:36.240 candidates, I guess, multiple, 00:08:36.800 --> 00:08:39.300 we all know this, that if you're going to have power, 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:40.720 it takes a battle. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:45.139 It takes a battle to stay in power if you're the incumbent. 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:50.000 It takes a battle to gain power if you're not the incumbent. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:54.259 And so we saw previously in chapter 9 00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:57.200 that Jesus was going to be a king who brings peace. 00:08:57.200 --> 00:08:59.860 And if he's going to bring peace, 00:08:59.900 --> 00:09:00.920 he's going to be in power. 00:09:01.340 --> 00:09:03.360 You can't have power without a battle. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:06.220 Same thing is true of this kingdom, 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:07.879 and we see it again in this passage. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:10.120 Verses 1 through 9 are telling us 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:13.100 that the battle that has to happen for Jesus to rule. 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:17.480 Now, we often think of Jesus as this gentle and kind man, 00:09:17.540 --> 00:09:18.180 and he is. 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:20.660 He's also a fierce and ferocious warrior. 00:09:21.060 --> 00:09:23.560 He is coming to make all things right. 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:25.519 That means he has to destroy his enemies. 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:28.419 We talked about this two summers ago 00:09:28.419 --> 00:09:29.699 when we were in the book of Psalms. 00:09:29.839 --> 00:09:31.139 We looked at Psalm 5, 00:09:31.239 --> 00:09:33.339 which is what we called an imprecatory psalm, 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:35.199 or a psalm that prays for justice. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:37.500 And I told you then that every time 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:39.059 we say the Lord's Prayer together, 00:09:39.219 --> 00:09:41.739 we are praying for God to destroy his enemies 00:09:41.739 --> 00:09:45.019 because how else could his kingdom come on earth 00:09:45.019 --> 00:09:45.779 as it is in heaven? 00:09:46.599 --> 00:09:48.359 And so it's that battle that we see 00:09:48.359 --> 00:09:50.639 at the very beginning of this passage. 00:09:50.779 --> 00:09:52.659 I'm just going to go over it for you very quickly. 00:09:52.659 --> 00:09:56.579 First, verse 2, there's going to be a siege against Jerusalem. 00:09:57.539 --> 00:10:01.639 Verse 3, this siege is going to involve all the nations. 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:03.959 So we see at the end of the verse, 00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:06.559 all the nations of the earth will gather against it. 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:07.259 That is Jerusalem. 00:10:07.839 --> 00:10:10.139 Okay, verses 3 and 5, battle against Jerusalem, 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:11.019 all the nations. 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:13.500 God is going to crush all the nations. 00:10:14.699 --> 00:10:16.379 And in crushing all the nations, 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:17.439 the end of verse 5, 00:10:17.539 --> 00:10:19.740 we see he's giving his people strength. 00:10:19.939 --> 00:10:22.240 The clans of Judah shall say to themselves, 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:24.500 the inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:27.120 through the Lord of hosts, their God. 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:28.740 And then in verse 9, 00:10:28.860 --> 00:10:31.899 we're given a summary statement of this entire section. 00:10:32.060 --> 00:10:34.159 So 9 sums up verses 1 through 9 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:35.680 when it tells us, 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:38.039 and on that day I will seek to destroy 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:41.259 all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 00:10:41.259 --> 00:10:42.759 And the point is this. 00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:46.399 Ultimately, the Lord will establish his kingdom. 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:50.960 Ultimately, the Lord will establish his kingdom. 00:10:51.539 --> 00:10:53.980 Christ secures victory for his people 00:10:53.980 --> 00:10:56.059 and therefore for the church. 00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:59.340 That's what we take from this battle against Jerusalem. 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:01.399 It's an image to show us, 00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:03.580 it's an illustration to show us 00:11:03.580 --> 00:11:05.100 ultimately what's going to happen 00:11:05.100 --> 00:11:06.580 in the battle between God 00:11:06.580 --> 00:11:08.159 and his enemies in the world. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:11.379 Moving from that battle then, 00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:14.559 we see this idea of cleansing 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:16.519 and we also find out something very surprising. 00:11:16.659 --> 00:11:18.740 Remember last week we had a little bit of a twist. 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:19.839 We of course agreed 00:11:19.839 --> 00:11:22.179 that the world is filled with bad shepherds. 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:24.259 The counterintuitive twist 00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:26.399 was that people also hate good shepherds. 00:11:27.459 --> 00:11:30.500 We see here that the Lord defeats his enemies. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:33.000 Counterintuitive twist. 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:34.100 Verse 10, 00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:38.480 The Lord who defeats his enemies also dies. 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:41.980 He dies in this battle 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:43.960 and that's what we see here in verse 10. 00:11:44.139 --> 00:11:45.379 When they look on me, 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:48.120 on him who they have pierced. 00:11:48.420 --> 00:11:50.639 So these are the people who have won the battle. 00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:52.480 This is Jerusalem being victorious 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.920 and suddenly they're looking on me. 00:11:55.019 --> 00:11:56.019 That's God speaking 00:11:56.019 --> 00:11:57.879 as one they have pierced. 00:11:58.040 --> 00:11:59.639 Somehow as they win the battle, 00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:01.540 they've actually injured their own leader. 00:12:01.539 --> 00:12:04.120 And we learn, 00:12:04.199 --> 00:12:05.299 remember these passages 00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:06.620 that we're going through in Zechariah 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:08.759 are the ones that are quoted in the New Testament. 00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:11.839 We learn in John chapter 19, verse 37, 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:14.480 that this one who has been pierced 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:15.559 is referring to Jesus 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:17.199 because John tells us 00:12:17.199 --> 00:12:18.959 that this is a fulfillment. 00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:20.079 When Jesus dies, 00:12:20.179 --> 00:12:22.059 it's a fulfillment of this verse. 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:23.939 And this word pierced, 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:25.719 when it's often used in the Old Testament, 00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:28.360 refers to someone who is dying 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:29.899 because of the wound that they receive. 00:12:29.899 --> 00:12:31.699 And we know, of course, 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:34.000 that Jesus was pierced in his side 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:35.079 as he died on the cross. 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:38.319 And so we now understand this passage 00:12:38.319 --> 00:12:41.139 in a way that the original hearers would not. 00:12:42.579 --> 00:12:44.139 They have killed God. 00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:47.459 The victory of God's people 00:12:47.459 --> 00:12:49.459 comes through the death of God. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:52.019 And we see even more echoes of that 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:53.559 in verses 10 and 11 00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:55.259 because how are they going to mourn? 00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:56.939 They shall mourn for him 00:12:56.939 --> 00:12:59.840 as one mourns for an only child 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.860 and weep bitterly over him 00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:03.740 as one weeps over a firstborn. 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:06.899 And of course, we know that Jesus is referred to 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:08.759 as God's only beloved son, 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:10.200 his only begotten son. 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:12.860 And so we know now 00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:14.960 that this battle is telling us 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:16.779 about the battle that Jesus wins 00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:17.819 through his death. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:20.019 The one who is pierced 00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:21.700 is Jesus. 00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:23.640 The one who dies from this battle 00:13:23.640 --> 00:13:25.220 is God. 00:13:26.800 --> 00:13:27.879 He cleanses us. 00:13:28.560 --> 00:13:29.440 In Jesus' death, 00:13:29.520 --> 00:13:30.240 winning this battle, 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:31.620 we'll see that he changes us 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:34.340 and he also cleanses us. 00:13:35.020 --> 00:13:38.020 First, we see that he changes us. 00:13:38.680 --> 00:13:39.240 Verse 10, 00:13:39.420 --> 00:13:41.460 I will pour out on the house of David 00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:42.960 and the inhabitants of Jerusalem 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:44.300 a spirit of grace 00:13:44.300 --> 00:13:45.840 and pleas for mercy. 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:46.780 Pleas for mercy, 00:13:46.900 --> 00:13:47.980 meaning these people 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:49.460 are going to repent. 00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:51.040 They're going to cry out 00:13:51.040 --> 00:13:52.340 for God to forgive them, 00:13:52.680 --> 00:13:53.780 but notice the order. 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:56.400 They cry out for God 00:13:56.400 --> 00:13:57.320 to forgive them 00:13:57.320 --> 00:14:00.759 after he pours out his spirit, 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:01.800 not before. 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:04.160 In other words, 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:05.440 outside of God 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:06.740 pouring out his spirit, 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:08.060 they are unable 00:14:08.060 --> 00:14:09.120 to cry out for mercy. 00:14:09.280 --> 00:14:11.100 They are unable to repent. 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:12.639 It is God's spirit 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:13.860 that comes first 00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:14.960 and softens 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:16.040 and changes their heart. 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:17.360 It is God's spirit 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.460 that makes it possible 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.420 for them to actually 00:14:19.420 --> 00:14:20.379 see their sin 00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:22.019 and confess that they're wrong. 00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:22.300 In fact, 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.139 this is foretold 00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:24.300 throughout the Old Testament. 00:14:24.820 --> 00:14:26.040 Prophets like Ezekiel 00:14:26.040 --> 00:14:27.360 and Joel and Isaiah 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:28.280 talked about a day 00:14:28.280 --> 00:14:29.100 when God's spirit 00:14:29.100 --> 00:14:30.080 would be poured out 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:31.440 and it would change his people. 00:14:31.540 --> 00:14:32.740 They would have new hearts, 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:33.980 hearts of flesh 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:35.080 rather than hearts of stone. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:36.019 Of course, 00:14:36.040 --> 00:14:36.900 it's no accident here 00:14:36.900 --> 00:14:37.840 that the pouring out 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:38.960 is the image of water 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:39.580 being poured out. 00:14:39.660 --> 00:14:40.879 It's a cleansing image. 00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:42.480 Now, 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:43.120 I won't go off 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:43.759 on a bunny trail, 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.900 but that's part of the reason 00:14:44.900 --> 00:14:46.820 that we pour out water 00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:47.220 on someone 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:48.220 when we baptize them. 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.440 We believe that's a continuation 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:50.600 of this imagery, 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:51.899 that it's water 00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:52.600 that cleanses 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:53.500 coming from above. 00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:55.700 And it brings repentance, 00:14:55.920 --> 00:14:57.639 repentance that can only come 00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:58.620 from God's spirit. 00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:00.399 And so we see here, 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:00.879 first, 00:15:01.060 --> 00:15:01.800 remember we saw 00:15:01.800 --> 00:15:02.660 a couple weeks ago, 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:04.720 only God can bring peace 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:05.580 to the nations, right? 00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:08.700 We actually are not capable 00:15:08.700 --> 00:15:09.840 of fixing this world. 00:15:11.180 --> 00:15:12.680 The accompanying truth 00:15:12.680 --> 00:15:13.300 is this, 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:15.860 only God can bring change 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.440 to us. 00:15:17.659 --> 00:15:18.100 Yes, 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.779 only God can bring peace 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:20.460 to the nations. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:23.000 Only God can bring change 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:23.500 to us. 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.580 It is only 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:26.580 when we are touched 00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:27.259 and affected 00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:28.320 by God's spirit 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.759 that we are able 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.779 to change. 00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:32.980 And that's what we see 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:33.639 in this passage. 00:15:33.800 --> 00:15:34.960 We see people 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:37.120 who are moved deeply 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.159 by true repentance 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:39.320 of their sin. 00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:40.240 You probably noticed 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:40.800 near the end 00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:41.860 we had this phrase 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:42.840 repeated over 00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:43.899 and over again. 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:45.439 We heard itself 00:15:45.439 --> 00:15:46.539 and themselves 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:48.240 in verses 12-14. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:49.699 Each family, 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:50.279 verse 12, 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:51.059 by itself. 00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:52.360 The family of David, 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:53.299 by itself. 00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:54.220 Their wives, 00:15:54.319 --> 00:15:54.939 by themselves. 00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:56.039 The family of Nathan, 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:56.759 by itself. 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:57.059 Wives, 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:57.659 by themselves. 00:15:57.779 --> 00:15:57.959 Levi, 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:58.579 by itself. 00:15:58.699 --> 00:15:58.899 Wives, 00:15:58.980 --> 00:15:59.500 by themselves. 00:15:59.639 --> 00:15:59.860 Shimei, 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:00.500 it's by itself. 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:00.759 Wives, 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.319 by themselves. 00:16:02.199 --> 00:16:02.759 You get the point. 00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:03.980 The question is this, 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:05.220 why is that repeated 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:06.240 over and over? 00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:07.139 Remember, 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:08.000 I've told you before, 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:09.559 repetition matters a lot, 00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:10.500 especially when we are 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:12.299 reading the Old Testament. 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:15.519 They are telling us here, 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.939 when they're repenting 00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:17.819 by themselves, 00:16:18.179 --> 00:16:19.779 that this is not for show. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:23.219 It is easy, 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:24.719 tempting at times, 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:25.759 to repent in public 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.419 because you know 00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:26.939 that's what you're 00:16:26.939 --> 00:16:27.620 supposed to do. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:29.559 It's tempting at times 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:30.620 maybe to apologize 00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.199 for something 00:16:31.199 --> 00:16:32.519 that you're not sorry for 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.479 because you know 00:16:33.479 --> 00:16:34.120 you need to do that 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:35.199 to fix the situation 00:16:35.199 --> 00:16:35.839 and to make people 00:16:35.839 --> 00:16:36.719 feel good about it. 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:38.059 Maybe you're holding 00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:38.539 your hand, 00:16:38.599 --> 00:16:39.139 you know your fingers 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:40.039 crossed behind you. 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:40.879 I'm sorry, 00:16:40.979 --> 00:16:41.319 but you know 00:16:41.319 --> 00:16:41.939 you're really not. 00:16:41.940 --> 00:16:43.960 These people 00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:45.000 are actually sorry 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:46.080 because they are not 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:46.960 gaining anything 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:47.980 publicly from it. 00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:49.760 They are doing it 00:16:49.760 --> 00:16:50.500 by themselves 00:16:50.500 --> 00:16:51.360 in private. 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.800 It is real repentance 00:16:52.800 --> 00:16:54.100 that's not gaining them 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:54.960 anything in the eyes 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.580 of other people. 00:16:55.880 --> 00:16:56.920 They're not using it 00:16:56.920 --> 00:16:58.240 as a manipulative strategy. 00:16:58.580 --> 00:16:59.580 They're not doing it 00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:00.220 because that's what 00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:01.040 their teacher told them 00:17:01.040 --> 00:17:01.560 they had to say 00:17:01.560 --> 00:17:02.280 to a classmate. 00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.560 They're not doing that 00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:04.180 because they know 00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:05.240 what they have to do 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:05.960 to keep their job 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.820 or keep moving forward. 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.740 These people actually 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.900 have a real 00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:10.519 and true 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.799 and deep sorrow 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.619 over their sin. 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:14.879 And so, 00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:16.160 they're able to repent 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:17.339 not just in public 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:18.420 but in private. 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:19.819 Now, 00:17:19.879 --> 00:17:20.680 you might also ask 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.400 why the husbands 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:22.079 and the wives 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:22.700 are separated. 00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.440 Why are the wives 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.299 repenting by themselves? 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.099 Probably, 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:26.200 most likely, 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.160 for the same reason. 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:28.900 They are not just 00:17:28.900 --> 00:17:29.759 sending the heads 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.440 of households, 00:17:30.580 --> 00:17:31.160 these men, 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.000 to repent 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.720 on behalf 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.720 of the family. 00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:34.740 But again, 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:35.460 it's emphasizing 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:35.960 for us 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.740 how much 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.779 each individual 00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:38.620 is repenting. 00:17:39.300 --> 00:17:40.060 Each individual 00:17:40.060 --> 00:17:40.680 is moved 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.380 by their sin. 00:17:41.540 --> 00:17:42.220 Each individual 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:43.920 sees the part 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:44.540 they play 00:17:44.540 --> 00:17:45.040 in the death 00:17:45.040 --> 00:17:45.640 of this king. 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:47.500 And so, 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.660 when God's spirit 00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:49.800 is poured out 00:17:49.800 --> 00:17:50.720 in this way, 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.960 it leads to true 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:52.620 and real, 00:17:52.840 --> 00:17:53.259 personal, 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:54.800 individual repentance. 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:57.200 These people 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:58.119 understand 00:17:58.119 --> 00:17:59.000 how much 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:00.220 they have offended God 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.519 and they are able 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.819 to grieve over it. 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.839 You'll remember 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.720 if you were here 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.099 with us 00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:07.740 when we went through 00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:08.799 the book of Nehemiah, 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:09.759 when I preached 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:11.220 on Nehemiah chapter 1, 00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:11.899 I shared with you 00:18:11.899 --> 00:18:12.480 the story 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.919 about the English writer 00:18:13.919 --> 00:18:14.859 G.K. Chesterton. 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:15.399 You'll remember 00:18:15.399 --> 00:18:16.059 he read 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:17.279 a question 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:17.980 in the newspaper 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.220 asking for a response 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:19.779 and the question 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:20.319 was this. 00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.399 Write in 00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:22.099 to the editors 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:23.220 and answer the question, 00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:24.000 what is wrong 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:24.659 with the world? 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:27.139 And you'll remember 00:18:27.139 --> 00:18:28.039 Chesterton wrote 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:28.819 in a famous 00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:30.720 one-sentence answer. 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:32.180 He said, 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:32.960 Dear sirs, 00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:34.740 I am. 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:37.919 I am what 00:18:37.919 --> 00:18:38.460 is wrong 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.180 with the world. 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.639 I'm not going 00:18:40.639 --> 00:18:41.680 to point my finger 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:42.359 at everyone else. 00:18:42.399 --> 00:18:42.680 I'm not going 00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:43.019 to point it 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.639 at institutions 00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:44.019 and say, 00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:44.879 if we could fix those, 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.779 everything would be right. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:46.379 I'm not going 00:18:46.379 --> 00:18:46.819 to point it 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.419 at politicians 00:18:47.419 --> 00:18:47.799 and say, 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:48.839 if we could fix them, 00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:49.799 suddenly everything 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:50.339 would be right. 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:50.680 I'm not going 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.200 to point it 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.019 at government 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.559 or rulers 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.200 or pastors 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.759 or elders. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.579 I'm going 00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:55.119 to say 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:55.900 at the end 00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:56.359 of the day, 00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.220 what is wrong 00:18:57.220 --> 00:18:57.799 with the world 00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:58.859 includes me. 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:00.039 I cannot 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:01.079 just point my finger 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:01.720 at other people. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.839 That is what's 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:03.359 happening with 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:03.960 these people. 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:05.359 They are experiencing 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:06.359 repentance. 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:07.539 They have just won, 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.059 by the way. 00:19:08.140 --> 00:19:08.420 Remember, 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.579 verses 1-9 00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:10.200 is a victory. 00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:11.480 These people 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.220 are on the right 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:13.019 side of history. 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.339 They have every 00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:15.579 reason to be proud, 00:19:15.859 --> 00:19:16.660 every reason 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:17.339 to believe 00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:18.180 that they have 00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:18.980 done nothing wrong. 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.359 And yet, 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.200 their response 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.140 after their victory 00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:23.280 is to repent. 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.240 They're on 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:25.680 the right 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.400 side of history 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.440 and it doesn't 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:27.900 cause them 00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:28.460 to gloat. 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.160 Instead, 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.080 being on the 00:19:31.080 --> 00:19:31.560 right side 00:19:31.560 --> 00:19:32.060 of history 00:19:32.060 --> 00:19:33.180 here causes 00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:33.780 them to have 00:19:33.780 --> 00:19:34.320 a sense 00:19:34.320 --> 00:19:34.900 personally 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:35.800 of their sin. 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.140 It causes 00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:37.620 them to be 00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:38.280 moved in 00:19:38.280 --> 00:19:38.700 repentance 00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:39.960 towards God. 00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:42.000 And so for us, 00:19:42.020 --> 00:19:42.520 as we talk 00:19:42.520 --> 00:19:43.360 about rejoicing, 00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:44.660 many people 00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:45.560 want joy. 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.720 Few people 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.160 are willing 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:48.680 to do 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:49.500 what it 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:49.900 takes. 00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:51.779 You want 00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.279 to sing 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:52.840 joy to the 00:19:52.840 --> 00:19:53.140 world? 00:19:54.840 --> 00:19:55.220 Joy 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:55.940 comes 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.259 from 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:56.759 repentance. 00:19:58.900 --> 00:19:59.420 Joy 00:19:59.420 --> 00:20:00.279 comes 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:00.500 from 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:00.880 repentance. 00:20:02.080 --> 00:20:02.340 There 00:20:02.340 --> 00:20:03.180 are all 00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:03.680 sorts of 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:04.180 things we 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:04.560 can try 00:20:04.560 --> 00:20:04.880 to do, 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.420 all sorts 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:05.759 of money 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.060 we can 00:20:06.060 --> 00:20:06.360 spend, 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:06.720 and things 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.019 we can 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:08.040 buy to 00:20:08.040 --> 00:20:08.400 try to 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:08.960 make ourselves 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.779 feel whole. 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:10.620 None of 00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:11.000 them will 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.360 work. 00:20:12.580 --> 00:20:13.100 Repentance 00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:13.440 will. 00:20:14.800 --> 00:20:15.380 It's when 00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:15.940 we know 00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.460 that we are 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.160 free of 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:17.720 guilt and 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.220 shame, 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.160 a guilt 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:19.759 and shame 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.579 that relationships 00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:21.600 and experiences 00:20:21.600 --> 00:20:22.440 and products 00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.279 cannot free 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:23.799 us from, 00:20:24.620 --> 00:20:25.079 that we're 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:25.539 able to 00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:26.120 experience 00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:27.299 real and 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:28.539 true joy. 00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.220 And it's 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:30.799 not repentance 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.319 as we've 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:31.660 talked about 00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.000 as a 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.460 performance. 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:33.980 It's not 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:34.279 saying, 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:34.480 okay, 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:34.860 I need to 00:20:34.860 --> 00:20:35.339 say this 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:35.600 to get 00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:36.100 this person 00:20:36.100 --> 00:20:36.460 off my 00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:36.740 back. 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:36.980 No, 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:37.579 when God's 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:37.880 spirit 00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:38.660 is at 00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:39.200 work in 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:39.700 our lives, 00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:40.339 we actually 00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:41.180 want what 00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:41.700 is right 00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.279 and good. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:42.880 There is a 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:43.839 humility that 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.420 comes with 00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:44.700 it, 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.220 rather than a 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.400 smug self-righteousness. 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:47.640 Remember, 00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:48.100 these people 00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:48.840 have won. 00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:50.320 Their king 00:20:50.320 --> 00:20:51.080 is victorious 00:20:51.080 --> 00:20:52.900 and they're 00:20:52.900 --> 00:20:53.400 repenting. 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.759 They want 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.420 what's good 00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:57.080 and right 00:20:57.080 --> 00:20:58.540 and wanting 00:20:58.540 --> 00:20:59.200 what's good 00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.759 and right 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.620 causes them 00:21:00.620 --> 00:21:01.000 to see 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.740 what's not 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.120 good and 00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:02.900 right in 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.519 themselves. 00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:05.140 Their desire 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:05.940 for righteousness 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:06.740 leads them 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.800 to repentance. 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:09.599 Of course, 00:21:09.659 --> 00:21:10.359 Jesus tells 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:10.839 us the 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.379 very same 00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:12.039 thing about 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.399 cleansing. 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:12.879 In John 00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:13.700 chapter 7, 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:14.680 he's at 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:15.159 the Feast 00:21:15.159 --> 00:21:15.720 of Booths 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:17.039 and he 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.680 decides he's 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.039 going to 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.659 stand up 00:21:18.659 --> 00:21:18.960 and give 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.419 a speech 00:21:19.419 --> 00:21:19.680 and he 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.240 says this. 00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:20.579 This is 00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:22.539 verse 37. 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.039 If anyone 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:24.839 thirsts, 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:25.279 let him 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:25.799 come to 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.379 me and 00:21:26.379 --> 00:21:26.779 drink. 00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:27.639 Whoever 00:21:27.639 --> 00:21:28.619 believes in 00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:28.899 me, 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.259 as the 00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:29.539 scripture 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.139 has said, 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:30.740 out of 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.419 his heart 00:21:31.419 --> 00:21:32.440 will flow 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:32.980 rivers of 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.500 living water. 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:33.539 water, 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:35.359 we see 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:36.000 this idea 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.700 of life 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.380 and water, 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.059 of pouring 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:38.880 something out, 00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:39.900 goes not 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.359 just from the 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:40.839 Old Testament 00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:41.480 but to the 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:41.980 New Testament. 00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:42.380 Actually, 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.299 if you fast 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:43.779 forward to 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.319 Zechariah 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.200 chapter 14 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.579 or verse 8, 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.140 you'll hear 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:47.640 about streams 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:47.960 of water 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.759 flowing out 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.420 from Jerusalem. 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.380 Jesus fulfills 00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:52.980 this for us. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.619 He is the 00:21:53.619 --> 00:21:54.180 one who is 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:54.559 pierced. 00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:55.460 He is the 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:55.839 one who 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:56.859 brings life 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.400 to people. 00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.039 He is the 00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.380 one who 00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:59.759 allows living 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.420 waters to 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.099 flow from 00:22:01.099 --> 00:22:01.680 within them 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:02.700 if they 00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.259 believe 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.079 in him. 00:22:06.379 --> 00:22:07.160 I was at 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:07.920 the post 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.440 office on 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:08.819 Friday 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.940 mailing 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.519 something and 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:10.759 the man 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.059 ahead of 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.480 me in 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:11.799 line, 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.240 I'm not 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.759 sure why, 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:13.460 turned around 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:13.839 to me and 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:14.180 he said, 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:14.640 the world 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:15.200 is no 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:16.019 good anymore. 00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:19.339 I'm sure 00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:19.599 he was 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:20.160 referring to 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:20.440 all the 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:20.960 things going 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.819 on in 00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:22.299 our nation 00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:23.059 with politics 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:24.220 and coronavirus 00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:25.160 and the 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:25.480 government 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.680 and whatever 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.079 else. 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:27.480 I didn't 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:27.799 really have 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:28.160 a lot to 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:28.460 say. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:30.779 But this 00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.259 is telling 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:32.920 us we 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.360 are no 00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:33.720 good. 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.380 Yes, 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:35.900 the world 00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:36.500 is broken. 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:37.580 We are 00:22:37.580 --> 00:22:38.380 broken as 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:38.759 well. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:39.740 Jesus and 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.500 only Jesus 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.620 offers streams 00:22:41.620 --> 00:22:42.460 of living 00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:42.779 water. 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.759 He says, 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:45.759 whoever believes 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.800 in me as 00:22:46.800 --> 00:22:47.300 the scripture 00:22:47.300 --> 00:22:47.840 has said, 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:48.400 streams of 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:48.860 living water 00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.400 will flow 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:49.900 from within 00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:50.160 him. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.160 It's the 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:52.680 one who 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.440 is pierced 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.820 that offers 00:22:54.820 --> 00:22:55.460 us that 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.039 and the 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:57.080 joy that 00:22:57.080 --> 00:22:57.519 comes with 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:57.700 it. 00:22:58.860 --> 00:22:59.120 And so 00:22:59.120 --> 00:22:59.460 remember, 00:22:59.600 --> 00:22:59.860 first, 00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:01.059 God changes 00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:01.500 us. 00:23:02.939 --> 00:23:03.519 But repentance 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.839 is a scary 00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:06.000 and dangerous 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.319 thing. 00:23:06.439 --> 00:23:06.619 It's an 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.139 understandable 00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:07.539 that most 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.099 people avoid 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:08.419 it, right? 00:23:09.139 --> 00:23:10.299 It is risky. 00:23:10.439 --> 00:23:10.939 It might even 00:23:10.939 --> 00:23:11.539 be in some 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.539 situations foolish 00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:14.000 to admit you've 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.479 done something 00:23:14.479 --> 00:23:15.079 wrong, that you 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.559 are wrong, 00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:16.240 at least from a 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:16.439 worldly 00:23:16.439 --> 00:23:17.039 perspective. 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:18.619 Repentance 00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:19.919 makes no 00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:21.579 sense unless 00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:22.619 there's also 00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:23.179 forgiveness. 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.259 Repentance 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.919 makes no 00:23:25.919 --> 00:23:26.679 sense unless 00:23:26.679 --> 00:23:27.479 there's also 00:23:27.479 --> 00:23:28.559 forgiveness. 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:29.039 There are 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.720 few things 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.440 more dangerous 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:30.960 than admitting 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.339 that you're 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:31.619 wrong. 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:31.980 And so 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.519 that's why 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.099 it's important 00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:33.539 that God 00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:34.019 not only 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.819 change us, 00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:35.700 but he 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.819 also cleanses 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:37.159 us. 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.339 He doesn't 00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:38.940 just change 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:40.079 us, he 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.899 also cleanses 00:23:40.899 --> 00:23:41.119 us. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:41.480 I've noted 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.099 before in 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:42.740 chapter 10 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.440 this water 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.240 imagery from 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.899 verse 10. 00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:46.259 We see it 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:47.759 more fully in 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.899 chapter 13 00:23:48.899 --> 00:23:49.619 verse 1. 00:23:50.399 --> 00:23:50.899 On that 00:23:50.899 --> 00:23:51.319 day, 00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:51.899 that's the 00:23:51.899 --> 00:23:52.639 day that God 00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:53.339 is victorious 00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:53.819 and these 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.619 people repent, 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:55.700 there shall 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.419 be a fountain 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:57.139 opened for 00:23:57.139 --> 00:23:57.779 the house of 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.079 David. 00:23:58.559 --> 00:23:58.859 And the 00:23:58.859 --> 00:23:59.599 inhabitants of 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:00.980 Jerusalem to 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.740 cleanse them 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.700 from sin and 00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:03.460 uncleanness. 00:24:03.919 --> 00:24:04.319 And so there's 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.059 not just a 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:05.740 pouring out of 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.240 God's spirit, 00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:06.859 there's not just 00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.460 the change, 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.500 there's also the 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:08.819 cleansing, 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.399 there is this 00:24:09.399 --> 00:24:09.899 fountain. 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:10.899 And the idea 00:24:10.899 --> 00:24:11.440 of this fountain 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:11.899 is that this 00:24:11.899 --> 00:24:12.339 is a place 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:12.700 where people 00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.259 would go and 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:13.960 wash and 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:14.399 they would be 00:24:14.399 --> 00:24:15.720 set free from 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.359 the guilt and 00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:17.000 shame and 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:17.879 power of sin. 00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:18.720 That it would 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:20.179 be safe to 00:24:20.179 --> 00:24:21.759 confess because 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.359 it wouldn't 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:23.319 lead to 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.200 condemnation, 00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.339 it would lead 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:25.899 to forgiveness. 00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.100 forgiveness. 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:28.080 That's the joy 00:24:28.080 --> 00:24:28.680 that is coming 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.080 for these 00:24:29.080 --> 00:24:29.400 people. 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:29.920 It does not 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.600 lead in their 00:24:30.600 --> 00:24:31.200 repentance to 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.160 condemnation but 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:33.360 forgiveness because 00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:35.080 this one who is 00:24:35.080 --> 00:24:36.080 pierced will 00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:37.040 wash them and 00:24:37.040 --> 00:24:38.280 cleanse them of 00:24:38.280 --> 00:24:38.820 our sins. 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.820 Now this image in 00:24:40.820 --> 00:24:41.980 chapter 1 or 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:42.820 verse 1 of 00:24:42.820 --> 00:24:43.720 chapter 13 is a 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.240 simple one. 00:24:45.780 --> 00:24:46.759 Simply it's one of 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.440 cleansing in a 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:47.700 fountain. 00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:48.940 And so I'm not 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.660 going to go on 00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:50.560 explaining fountains 00:24:50.560 --> 00:24:50.880 to you. 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.520 You all know 00:24:51.520 --> 00:24:52.860 what it's like 00:24:52.860 --> 00:24:53.540 to take a 00:24:53.540 --> 00:24:54.240 shower and a 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.080 bath to wash 00:24:55.080 --> 00:24:55.840 away the dirt 00:24:55.840 --> 00:24:56.400 that's on you. 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:57.060 It's a simple 00:24:57.060 --> 00:24:58.440 image here for 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:58.780 us. 00:24:58.860 --> 00:24:59.420 The point is 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:00.560 this, because of 00:25:00.560 --> 00:25:01.580 Jesus' death, 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.720 because he is the 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.700 one who is 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.620 pierced, it is 00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:07.200 safe to repent 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.040 and confess our 00:25:08.040 --> 00:25:08.360 sins. 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:11.200 Because Jesus is 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.140 the one who is 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:13.520 pierced, it is 00:25:13.520 --> 00:25:15.400 safe to confess 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:16.700 our sins. 00:25:16.800 --> 00:25:17.540 Our righteousness, 00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:18.320 our standing 00:25:18.320 --> 00:25:19.180 before God and 00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:20.140 other people does 00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:21.120 not hinge on our 00:25:21.120 --> 00:25:21.580 performance. 00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:24.120 Our standing 00:25:24.120 --> 00:25:24.960 before God and 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:26.060 other people doesn't 00:25:26.060 --> 00:25:27.060 hinge on our 00:25:27.060 --> 00:25:27.500 performance. 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.500 And so admitting 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.940 that we are wrong 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:31.020 is no longer 00:25:31.020 --> 00:25:31.980 dangerous. 00:25:33.520 --> 00:25:34.920 For us, it means 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.580 this, as God 00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:36.960 changes us and 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:38.060 he cleanses us, we 00:25:38.060 --> 00:25:40.000 are finally able to 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.660 admit to ourselves 00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:42.440 and others and to 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:43.200 God the places 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:44.140 where we need help, 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.100 we need to grow. 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:45.980 We are able for 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.880 the first time to 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:48.460 speak with a 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.540 trusted friend about 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.379 our struggle with 00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:50.859 pornography. 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.839 Maybe you're able 00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:54.119 for the first time to 00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:55.599 finally tell someone 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.899 about your abortion. 00:25:58.200 --> 00:26:00.259 You are able to 00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:02.680 recognize what is 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.960 good and right about 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.879 people from the 00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:05.819 political party that 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:06.259 you hate. 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:09.039 You are able to 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.119 know that those who 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:11.279 disagree with you, 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:13.099 while they may be 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:14.099 flawed and corrupt, 00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.940 there's also things 00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:16.579 about them that are 00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:17.000 admirable. 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.059 people. 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.839 While your party, 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.380 you think, has 00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:19.839 things that are 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:20.500 admirable, but there 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.519 are also things about 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.400 it and you that are 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:23.819 flawed and corrupt. 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:25.460 It is safe to 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:26.400 finally admit that. 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.559 Your righteousness 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:30.660 does not stand on 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.500 there being nothing 00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:33.319 wrong with your 00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:34.359 political party. 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:36.640 It is being able to 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:38.480 confess to your kids 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.579 that you're not a 00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:40.220 perfect parent. 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.920 Not as a general 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:44.660 statement, but able to 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:45.880 name specifically the 00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:47.480 ways you failed and 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.140 ask for their 00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:48.500 forgiveness. 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.980 You no longer have 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.900 to hold up the 00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:52.760 image of never 00:26:52.760 --> 00:26:53.720 making a mistake. 00:26:55.040 --> 00:26:56.800 You have a fountain 00:26:56.800 --> 00:26:58.360 opened for you to 00:26:58.360 --> 00:26:59.520 cleanse you from sin 00:26:59.520 --> 00:27:00.860 and in cleanness. 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:02.980 And so we don't have 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:04.580 to just choose anger 00:27:04.580 --> 00:27:05.560 over what's wrong in 00:27:05.560 --> 00:27:06.240 the world, although 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.460 there are plenty of 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.420 things that are wrong 00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:09.720 and a lot to be angry 00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.000 over. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:12.079 We can also choose 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:14.099 grief and sadness 00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:16.519 and recognize the 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.119 ways that we 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:18.180 contribute to it as 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.460 well. 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:21.220 Remember G.K. 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.380 Chesterton's answer, 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:25.480 Dear Sir, I am. 00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:29.640 And so we see here, 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.259 as I mentioned 00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:32.220 earlier, the gospel. 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:35.420 Simple, full, and free. 00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:37.160 We can rejoice because 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:39.560 God changes us and 00:27:39.560 --> 00:27:40.460 he cleanses us. 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:43.080 In his third book, 00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:44.140 I believe it is in 00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:44.820 the Narnia series, 00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.500 The Voyage of the 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:47.100 Dawn Treader, C.S. 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:48.220 Lewis tells the story 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:50.500 of King Caspian, who 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.420 goes on this journey 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.640 at the beginning of 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:54.140 his reign to find the 00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:55.400 seven lost lords of 00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:55.740 Narnia. 00:27:56.320 --> 00:27:57.300 And as he goes on 00:27:57.300 --> 00:27:58.259 this journey to find 00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:59.259 the seven lost lords, 00:27:59.340 --> 00:28:00.060 we meet a character 00:28:00.060 --> 00:28:00.759 named Eustace. 00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:02.320 And Eustace is kind 00:28:02.320 --> 00:28:02.740 of a jerk. 00:28:04.040 --> 00:28:05.120 He's very selfish. 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.600 At one point, there's 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:07.359 a problem because 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:08.279 they have to ration 00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:09.119 out the water and 00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:09.879 Eustace is taking 00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:11.079 water that's not his. 00:28:11.419 --> 00:28:12.299 He's taking rations 00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.000 that aren't his. 00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:13.699 He tries to get out 00:28:13.699 --> 00:28:14.579 of work whenever he 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:14.919 can. 00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:16.619 He is a problem to 00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:17.099 the whole group. 00:28:17.179 --> 00:28:17.719 In fact, he has this 00:28:17.719 --> 00:28:18.919 very tense relationship 00:28:18.919 --> 00:28:19.779 you'll remember with 00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:21.559 Repacheep, the mouse. 00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:23.219 And there comes a 00:28:23.219 --> 00:28:24.319 point at which they 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.519 land on this island 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:27.480 and Eustace decides to 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.039 get out of work. 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:28.799 He's going to go on a 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.699 walk, conveniently, 00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:30.539 right as all the work 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.139 is being done. 00:28:31.679 --> 00:28:32.399 Walks away. 00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.519 He gets lost, 00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:35.319 unfortunately, and he 00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:36.500 finds himself in a 00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.359 dragon's cave. 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.939 Now, he falls asleep 00:28:38.939 --> 00:28:39.659 in this cave. 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:42.099 When he wakes up, he 00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:43.000 has turned into a 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.279 dragon. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.639 Lewis gives us this 00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:46.579 image of him turning 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:47.919 into a dragon as part 00:28:47.919 --> 00:28:49.059 of what it looks like 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:51.059 to have sin as part of 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.460 our world. 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.859 We lose some of our 00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:53.399 humanity. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:55.700 Eustace is unable to 00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.659 communicate now with 00:28:56.659 --> 00:28:57.179 his friends. 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:57.960 They're not even sure. 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.679 They don't even know it's 00:28:58.679 --> 00:28:59.659 him for a while until 00:28:59.659 --> 00:29:00.659 they finally guess it. 00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:02.240 But he's trapped in 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.100 this dragon body. 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:06.140 However, Edmund, one 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:07.680 night, sees this person 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.840 approaching him and 00:29:08.840 --> 00:29:10.180 he realizes that it's 00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.480 Eustace. 00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.960 Eustace has lost his 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.880 dragon form and has 00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:14.820 returned to a boy. 00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:16.200 Of course, he wants to 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:16.860 know how this has 00:29:16.860 --> 00:29:17.160 happened. 00:29:17.300 --> 00:29:18.920 And so Eustace tells 00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:20.620 him the story of how 00:29:20.620 --> 00:29:21.779 he stopped being a 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:23.440 dragon and he was able 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:25.080 to become a boy once 00:29:25.080 --> 00:29:25.440 again. 00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:27.279 First of all, a lion 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:27.920 comes to him. 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.460 And if you're familiar 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.180 with the story, you 00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:29.759 know that this is 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.640 Aslan, the great 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.460 lion who's meant to 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.220 represent God. 00:29:33.060 --> 00:29:34.100 Aslan comes to this 00:29:34.100 --> 00:29:35.700 dragon and as Eustace 00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:37.100 tells it, the lion told 00:29:37.100 --> 00:29:38.820 me, I must undress 00:29:38.820 --> 00:29:39.259 first. 00:29:40.040 --> 00:29:41.080 So Eustace tries to 00:29:41.080 --> 00:29:41.759 undress himself. 00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:42.600 He realizes he's 00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:43.259 talking about shedding 00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:44.120 his skin and so he's 00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:45.440 scratching all over 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:46.380 himself to take the 00:29:46.380 --> 00:29:47.480 dragon scales off and 00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.440 he's able to take one 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:49.220 set of skin off. 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.259 He thinks he's good, 00:29:50.320 --> 00:29:51.100 but there's another set 00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:51.759 of dragon skin. 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.940 He tries to take that 00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:53.220 one off. 00:29:53.280 --> 00:29:53.820 He's successful. 00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.660 I believe he takes off 00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:56.020 three different sets of 00:29:56.020 --> 00:29:57.860 dragon skin until the 00:29:57.860 --> 00:29:59.040 lion finally tells him 00:29:59.040 --> 00:29:59.520 the truth. 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.740 The lion says this, 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:02.599 you will have to let 00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:03.420 me undress you. 00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.460 We see this truth here. 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:07.339 We must be cleansed. 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.480 We cannot cleanse 00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.019 ourselves. 00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:12.480 We must be cleansed. 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.960 We cannot cleanse 00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:14.460 ourselves. 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.879 And so the lion begins 00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:17.819 to take the dragon skin 00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:18.299 off him. 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:20.420 The first tear he made 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:22.059 was so deep that I 00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:22.759 thought it had gone 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:24.000 right into my heart. 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:25.700 And when he began 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.940 pulling the skin off, 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.880 it hurt worse than 00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:29.000 anything I've ever 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.440 felt. 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:31.500 The only thing that 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.779 made me able to bear 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.580 it was just the 00:30:33.580 --> 00:30:34.600 pleasure of feeling 00:30:34.600 --> 00:30:36.360 the stuff peel off. 00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:41.039 Then he tells us 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:41.720 after that it's been 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:42.660 peeled, there I was 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.820 smooth and soft as a 00:30:43.820 --> 00:30:44.660 peeled switch and 00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:45.720 smaller than I had been. 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:47.539 Then he caught hold of 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:47.740 me. 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.440 I didn't like that very 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:50.620 much for I was tender 00:30:50.620 --> 00:30:51.580 underneath now that I 00:30:51.580 --> 00:30:52.340 had no skin on. 00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:53.840 And listen to this, 00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:55.380 threw me into the 00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:55.720 water. 00:30:57.360 --> 00:30:57.760 Cleansing. 00:30:58.800 --> 00:30:59.760 It smarted like 00:30:59.760 --> 00:31:01.360 anything but only for 00:31:01.360 --> 00:31:01.720 a moment. 00:31:02.540 --> 00:31:04.340 I turned into a boy 00:31:04.340 --> 00:31:04.900 again. 00:31:06.060 --> 00:31:07.420 After a bit, the lion 00:31:07.420 --> 00:31:08.900 took me out and 00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.420 dressed me. 00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:12.840 After this experience, 00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:14.680 Eustace begins to 00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:15.660 change and the chapter 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:16.560 ends like this. 00:31:17.280 --> 00:31:18.180 It would be nice and 00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:19.580 fairly true to say that 00:31:19.580 --> 00:31:20.640 from that time forth, 00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.880 Eustace was a 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:22.460 different boy. 00:31:23.340 --> 00:31:24.100 To be strictly 00:31:24.099 --> 00:31:26.179 accurate, he began to 00:31:26.179 --> 00:31:27.039 be a different boy. 00:31:27.679 --> 00:31:29.199 He had relapses. 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:31.099 There were still many 00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:32.079 days when he could be 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:33.139 very tiresome. 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.919 But most of those I 00:31:34.919 --> 00:31:35.819 shall not notice. 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:38.719 The cure had begun. 00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:43.399 Eustace needed to be 00:31:43.399 --> 00:31:44.139 cleansed. 00:31:44.919 --> 00:31:46.119 He could not cleanse 00:31:46.119 --> 00:31:46.599 himself. 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:49.119 And so the lion came 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:50.000 and did it for him. 00:31:50.699 --> 00:31:52.339 Eustace needed to be 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:52.819 changed. 00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:54.059 He could not change 00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:54.539 himself. 00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:56.379 And so the lion did it 00:31:56.379 --> 00:31:56.839 for him. 00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.720 He did not become 00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:00.519 perfect, but as Lewis 00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.579 tells us, the cure 00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:02.819 had begun. 00:32:03.939 --> 00:32:05.099 Brothers and sisters, 00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:07.019 how can we rejoice 00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:07.799 at Advent? 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:09.919 We rejoice because God 00:32:09.919 --> 00:32:12.500 cleanses us and he 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:14.439 changes us so that we 00:32:14.439 --> 00:32:16.539 can have true and full 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.259 joy. 00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:19.279 Please pray with me. 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:22.359 Dear Father in heaven, 00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:24.619 we thank you for the 00:32:24.619 --> 00:32:25.619 good news that you 00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:26.539 have given us in your 00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:26.779 word. 00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:27.619 We thank you for the 00:32:27.619 --> 00:32:30.160 gospel, simple, full, 00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:30.899 and free. 00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:32.200 We ask that you would 00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:34.099 use this story and 00:32:34.099 --> 00:32:35.599 these words that you've 00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:36.579 given us in your word 00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:38.000 to encourage us that we 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:39.660 would rejoice in you 00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.819 because you have made it 00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:42.299 safe to repent. 00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:44.220 And you are the one who 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:45.339 has provided a fountain 00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:46.559 for us to wash free from 00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:47.059 our sins. 00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:48.980 We ask these things 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:50.359 grateful that we don't 00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:51.339 have to wash ourselves, 00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:52.579 but instead we can ask 00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.500 them in Jesus' name. 00:32:54.119 --> 00:32:54.419 Amen.