WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.540 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.620 Join us. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:14.320 Turn with me to Luke chapter 9. 00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:19.379 It's on page 867 of the Bible in the pew in front of you. 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:21.260 Luke chapter 9. 00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:28.080 As we continue to follow the storyline of Luke's gospel, we've been watching Jesus engage 00:00:28.080 --> 00:00:29.140 with his disciples. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.520 That continues this morning as they leave where we were last week. 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.420 They're with crowds of 5,000 plus, right? 00:00:37.179 --> 00:00:40.480 And they withdraw away privately. 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:46.500 We find Jesus praying with his disciples and probably for them as well. 00:00:47.640 --> 00:00:54.799 We see that habit again of Jesus making prayer, fellowship with his father a priority, getting 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:56.980 alone away from the crowds to pray. 00:00:56.979 --> 00:01:03.559 And we've seen more than once already in Luke that when Jesus prays, significant things 00:01:03.559 --> 00:01:04.299 happen. 00:01:05.099 --> 00:01:10.620 Over and over, we see Jesus in prayer and then something really important happens. 00:01:10.859 --> 00:01:12.939 And this morning is no exception. 00:01:13.579 --> 00:01:18.780 As we read the next few verses, get ready to see a particularly important conversations 00:01:18.780 --> 00:01:21.340 between Jesus and his disciples. 00:01:21.340 --> 00:01:25.320 Just five verses this morning, but full of significance. 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:31.159 Let's give our attention to God's word in Luke 9 at verse 18. 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:38.259 Now it happened that as he, Jesus, was praying alone, the disciples were with him. 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:42.899 And he asked them, who do the crowds say that I am? 00:01:43.739 --> 00:01:45.879 And they answered, John the Baptist. 00:01:46.679 --> 00:01:51.599 But others say Elijah, and others that one of the prophets of old has arisen. 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:56.640 Then he said to them, but who do you say that I am? 00:01:57.640 --> 00:02:00.659 And Peter answered, the Christ of God. 00:02:02.099 --> 00:02:08.019 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, the Son of 00:02:08.019 --> 00:02:13.599 man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:17.280 and be killed and on the third day be raised. 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:19.680 Christ, this is God's word. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:23.680 Will you join me as we pray and ask for his help as we look to it this morning? 00:02:27.460 --> 00:02:31.240 Father, we have rejoiced in the cross of Jesus. 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:39.420 We have spoken of our need of the cross of Jesus. 00:02:39.920 --> 00:02:43.719 And now we learn from your word more about it. 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:46.979 Would you show us Jesus clearly? 00:02:47.819 --> 00:02:50.520 Would you show us Jesus in a fresh way? 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:57.060 Would you show us Jesus in a way that is so compelling that we would fall down in worship, 00:02:57.259 --> 00:03:02.139 that we would cling to him, that we would trust him in new ways? 00:03:02.500 --> 00:03:06.319 Would you do that by your word and by your spirit? 00:03:07.060 --> 00:03:08.580 We ask it in Jesus' name. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:09.840 Amen. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:10.000 Amen. 00:03:12.379 --> 00:03:16.240 Imagine with me this morning that over the next couple of years, 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:22.439 a new political figure begins to rise through the ranks in this country. 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:29.180 He has real solutions to some of our gravest ills and people are loving him. 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:33.800 He begins to demonstrate that he has a workable solution to the healthcare crisis. 00:03:35.160 --> 00:03:38.379 He's got real ideas on dealing with poverty. 00:03:38.379 --> 00:03:42.359 And there are noticeable results as he takes it on. 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:47.479 Hunger and homelessness are really dropping everywhere he serves. 00:03:47.479 --> 00:03:52.919 And on top of that, he's got defense plans that will handle ISIS and North Korea 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:56.639 and the strongest enemies that we might encounter. 00:03:58.179 --> 00:04:03.859 Imagine with me this morning that this is not just a guy who's in his basement 00:04:03.859 --> 00:04:06.560 coming up with really smart and creative ideas, 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:11.580 but that he himself is the solution to these problems. 00:04:11.920 --> 00:04:17.540 He's personally the best doctor, the wealthiest and most generous philanthropist. 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:23.120 He himself is the bravest and strongest soldier we've ever known. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:25.300 He's our hope. 00:04:25.399 --> 00:04:29.399 Can you imagine what hopes would begin to be pinned on this guy? 00:04:30.139 --> 00:04:30.860 Maybe you can. 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:34.520 Can you imagine what it would feel like to say, 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:37.540 yes, here's the hope for the future of our country? 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:39.180 I want you to think of it this way. 00:04:39.280 --> 00:04:40.500 Imagine he's from Huntsville. 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:44.520 I mean, you're not close friends with him, but you know his parents. 00:04:46.080 --> 00:04:49.460 You know, you cheered for him when he won a swim meet a few years ago. 00:04:50.420 --> 00:04:54.759 He's kind of a guy that you'd like to think you know. 00:04:56.060 --> 00:04:57.199 What are you thinking now? 00:04:58.040 --> 00:04:59.720 Hey, this is going to be great, right? 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:02.480 I see great things coming for us. 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:05.160 No more worries about the federal budget each year. 00:05:05.420 --> 00:05:08.460 This guy's going to be in charge and Huntsville is set. 00:05:09.160 --> 00:05:11.160 They're going to give us everything we need. 00:05:11.400 --> 00:05:15.360 No more Alabama being near the bottom of state education rankings. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:17.500 Alabama's going to get everything we need. 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:19.100 This guy's going to take care of us. 00:05:19.140 --> 00:05:20.140 He's one of us. 00:05:20.700 --> 00:05:22.000 And I'm starting to see it. 00:05:22.060 --> 00:05:23.300 We're just on the way up. 00:05:23.760 --> 00:05:29.060 The guy who everyone is looking to for hope is someone that I know. 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:30.699 He's the brightest and the best. 00:05:31.819 --> 00:05:34.740 We're going to turn things around domestically and globally. 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:38.639 And he's one of us, so we're on the way up with him. 00:05:38.780 --> 00:05:40.100 This is going to be great, right? 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:43.860 If you can imagine any of those feelings, 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:49.620 then you'll know a little bit of what it might have felt like to be a Jew in Jesus' day. 00:05:49.620 --> 00:05:52.259 They weren't thriving. 00:05:52.860 --> 00:05:55.160 They were under the thumb of Rome. 00:05:55.379 --> 00:05:58.240 Things didn't seem to be getting much better. 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:02.300 But you want to talk about someone who can defeat our enemies? 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:05.199 Look at the way this guy casts out demons, right? 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:09.019 From what we hear multiple times with just a word. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:12.800 Surely this is the one with the power to overthrow Rome. 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:19.579 Maybe crisis has hit your family or your village. 00:06:20.400 --> 00:06:22.680 Maybe you're frightened and worried. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:24.620 What are you hearing? 00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:26.920 He's healing everyone he touches. 00:06:27.660 --> 00:06:29.000 From town to town. 00:06:29.460 --> 00:06:32.560 You just touch a piece of his cloak and you're healed. 00:06:32.819 --> 00:06:35.080 We just got to keep this guy nearby and we're set. 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:39.199 In the meantime, if we have a bad farming year, 00:06:39.359 --> 00:06:42.199 if the economy takes a hit, if things are getting tight, 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:43.439 he can feed how many? 00:06:43.579 --> 00:06:46.859 5,000 plus with five loaves and two fish. 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:48.360 That's it. 00:06:48.479 --> 00:06:49.620 He's got us covered. 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:51.860 We've got nothing to worry about. 00:06:52.299 --> 00:06:53.019 We're set. 00:06:53.620 --> 00:06:56.199 God's people are on the way up again. 00:06:56.699 --> 00:07:00.019 After all these years, it's going to be like we heard it once was 00:07:00.019 --> 00:07:01.939 and were promised it was going to be again. 00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:07.879 And you can imagine certainly people were whispering these things about Jesus, right? 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:12.980 Just from the stories we've read over the last several weeks in the Gospel of Luke. 00:07:15.300 --> 00:07:20.240 Except that Jesus sees the way forward quite differently from this. 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:27.399 He's not as obsessed and caught up with earthly solutions and political power 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:29.779 as they maybe hoped he was. 00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:33.079 He does, however, like many politicians, 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:37.899 want their help with a public opinion poll in this passage. 00:07:38.899 --> 00:07:40.639 Jesus comes out of prayer 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:45.239 and he immediately initiates a conversation about his identity. 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:46.919 Verse 18, what does he say? 00:07:47.739 --> 00:07:50.039 He turns to his disciples and says, 00:07:51.019 --> 00:07:54.479 Who do the crowds say that I am? 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:57.439 Who are they saying I am? 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:01.400 And they get their heads together and they think of the results they've heard 00:08:01.400 --> 00:08:04.379 from the conversations they've had with these crowds they've just been around 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:07.220 and all of a sudden on the top of the poll comes out, 00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:08.800 John the Baptist. 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:10.759 That's what they're saying. 00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:12.379 You're John the Baptist. 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:14.980 That's the going opinion. 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:16.700 It makes sense, right? 00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:19.920 He's this great messenger of the kingdom. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:27.379 A social revolutionary who didn't really fit in with the social or religious elite. 00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:30.439 But he represents God and he talks of God's promises 00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:32.580 and that's what they're hearing about you. 00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:33.740 You must be John the Baptist. 00:08:36.060 --> 00:08:38.519 Other people are saying Elijah. 00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:40.720 Further back, certainly. 00:08:41.379 --> 00:08:42.800 But still reasonable. 00:08:43.539 --> 00:08:46.920 These are the kinds of miracles we've heard Elijah did. 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:52.019 It sounds like the stories of the guy who heals sicknesses and raises the dead 00:08:52.019 --> 00:08:54.799 and provides food in amazing quantities. 00:08:55.199 --> 00:08:57.639 This must be Elijah comeback. 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:03.659 Or in third place, some other prophet of old. 00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:05.979 Many are saying, I'll take the field. 00:09:06.620 --> 00:09:08.199 He's one of the other guys. 00:09:08.979 --> 00:09:12.919 They've heard him teach with power and call people back to God and say, 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:14.159 Yes, definitely. 00:09:14.339 --> 00:09:15.959 This guy is a prophet. 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:17.639 That's who he is. 00:09:18.820 --> 00:09:25.259 And it's not so much that the crowds have wrong ideas entirely of who Jesus is, 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:31.360 but that their understanding of his identity is limited and incomplete. 00:09:32.700 --> 00:09:38.680 So Jesus, still searching for a fuller, better answer, says, 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:40.720 What about you? 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:42.639 Verse 20. 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:44.160 He says, 00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:45.460 What about you? 00:09:45.580 --> 00:09:48.540 Who do you say that I am? 00:09:49.700 --> 00:09:51.340 Who do you say I am? 00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:52.820 He asks his disciples. 00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:54.420 He wants to know what they think. 00:09:55.560 --> 00:09:56.740 They've been with him, right? 00:09:57.399 --> 00:09:58.320 They've seen him. 00:09:58.860 --> 00:09:59.720 They've heard him. 00:09:59.920 --> 00:10:01.200 More than anyone else. 00:10:01.540 --> 00:10:02.700 What do you think? 00:10:02.700 --> 00:10:03.980 Disciples. 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:10.400 And sometimes wrong but never silent Peter pipes up. 00:10:11.400 --> 00:10:13.000 You're the Christ of God. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:19.500 Christ is the Greek word for the Hebrew word Messiah. 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:19.580 Messiah. 00:10:20.379 --> 00:10:21.940 The anointed one. 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:27.559 The one long promised and often promised to come and deliver God's people. 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:35.820 To be a king in the line of David who will do what no other prophet or priest or king had ever been able to do. 00:10:35.820 --> 00:10:38.040 And Peter nailed it. 00:10:38.520 --> 00:10:40.020 You're the Christ of God. 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:43.440 Perhaps it's shocking that Peter nailed it. 00:10:43.920 --> 00:10:49.080 This is the first time that a human has called Jesus Christ. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:52.840 Has identified him as the Messiah. 00:10:53.640 --> 00:11:01.900 In our recent stories the disciples have seemed confused and sometimes wondering about his identity. 00:11:02.020 --> 00:11:02.680 Who is Jesus? 00:11:02.679 --> 00:11:07.339 Even just the last episode they're not sure he can feed 5,000 people. 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:10.000 They don't seem to know who he is. 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:13.439 But here all of a sudden Peter gets it. 00:11:14.779 --> 00:11:19.559 We learn elsewhere that this was revealed to him by God. 00:11:20.339 --> 00:11:24.059 Jesus' identity revealed to Peter by God. 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:28.259 It's hard not to connect that with Jesus praying, isn't it? 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:32.620 Stop and think for a minute about this. 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:36.179 Maybe all the amazing deeds that Jesus had done. 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:41.120 All the wonderful sermons that he had preached that they had listened to. 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:56.500 Maybe all of those things that they'd been a part of watching and hearing were not as much what was used to help them know who Jesus was as Jesus praying for them. 00:11:56.500 --> 00:11:59.340 Is that possible? 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:03.720 Think on that. 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:10.700 Jesus praying for them and all of a sudden Peter sees who Jesus truly is. 00:12:11.059 --> 00:12:16.259 Regardless of how it happened, Peter gets it. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:17.779 He nails it. 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.559 You're the Christ of God. 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:25.059 And we see here in this the necessity of knowing Jesus' identity. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:28.179 It's absolutely essential. 00:12:28.599 --> 00:12:30.539 Who do you say that he is? 00:12:30.779 --> 00:12:31.619 Jesus is asking. 00:12:31.739 --> 00:12:32.639 He asks the crowds. 00:12:32.819 --> 00:12:34.179 He asks his disciples. 00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:35.500 He asks us. 00:12:35.739 --> 00:12:38.299 Who do you say that he is? 00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:47.859 And that's vitally important because if he's merely a kingdom preacher with radical social ideas, then some of them may be helpful to you. 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:53.379 But the ones that don't advance your agenda, just ignore them. 00:12:54.319 --> 00:12:55.679 Others have great ideas too. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:57.620 There's lots of ways to help people. 00:12:57.620 --> 00:13:04.440 If he's merely a miracle worker, then when you need something big, go to him, right? 00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:07.060 Maybe he'll pull something off that you don't expect. 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:10.080 But most of the time, you're fine on your own. 00:13:11.179 --> 00:13:11.740 You're okay. 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:13.980 You don't really need him most days. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:20.460 If he's merely a teacher calling people back to God, there have been many of those. 00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:35.019 And he may be a good one and may have some good things to say, but so do many other religious leaders, many other celebrities, many other politicians, many other bloggers. 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:39.700 There's lots of people with good things to say about God. 00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:57.379 But if he is, in fact, the Christ of God, the divine deliverer, the unique promised king, then you have to take him or leave him, all of him, and every word that he says. 00:13:58.540 --> 00:14:06.140 You have to listen to what he says over what anyone else would say or even the things that you think and feel and would like to believe. 00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:11.120 You have to trust what he says if he's the Christ of God. 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:22.080 You have to admit the true level of your need that it's not just small and occasional, but you have to embrace the reality of the holistic rescue that you need from him. 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:25.919 Not just a little tweak here and there. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:37.559 Not just a little bit of help in a pinch, but a holistic, life-altering rescue from your utter helplessness if he's the Christ of God. 00:14:38.699 --> 00:14:40.699 Who do you say that Jesus is? 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:48.339 Many have called that the most important question that we all have to answer. 00:14:48.599 --> 00:14:50.279 Who do you say that Jesus is? 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:52.219 I can't disagree with that. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:57.659 But then something strange happens. 00:14:58.659 --> 00:15:09.539 Right after this really piercing question and Peter's great answer, that this reality of Jesus' unique messianic identity, that he's the long-awaited... 00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:13.000 Y'all think, thousands of years they've been waiting. 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:16.139 When will the Messiah come? 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:18.019 Generation after generation. 00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:20.620 When is God's people going to be delivered? 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:23.799 And it's just been revealed that this is the one. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:30.700 This is the unique identity of Jesus that's going to turn the world upside down in the days and decades ahead. 00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:32.620 We know that now looking back. 00:15:32.820 --> 00:15:35.560 And it's stated for the first time by a person. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:40.899 And Jesus says not congratulations, but shh. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:43.360 Don't you dare tell anyone that. 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:46.100 Keep it quiet. 00:15:47.100 --> 00:15:48.220 Don't let anybody know. 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:48.279 Don't let anybody know. 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:51.740 Look at verse 21. 00:15:53.500 --> 00:16:02.279 Jesus strictly charged and commanded them to tell this, this identity that he's the Christ of God to no one. 00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:07.839 This is often referred to as the messianic secret. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:15.939 We'll see throughout the gospels, Jesus repeatedly urging people not to talk about him being the Messiah. 00:16:15.940 --> 00:16:17.680 There are exceptions. 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:24.340 We've seen one already in Luke where he sends someone off to the Gentiles to tell them about who he is. 00:16:25.380 --> 00:16:29.640 But it seems strange to us that he would tell someone not to share this. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:32.640 It's good news of great joy for all people, right? 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:35.980 This is what they all need to hear. 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:38.240 Everyone needs to know. 00:16:38.640 --> 00:16:40.100 Is Jesus just being difficult? 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:41.740 What's his problem? 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:49.060 This is not the only answer for every one of those particular situations that comes up. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:55.299 But I think the most common explanation given and the one that Jesus gives certainly in this passage 00:16:55.299 --> 00:17:07.000 is that merely knowing his identity as the Messiah can actually be very misleading if you don't know what it means to be the Messiah. 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:14.399 If you don't understand the mission of the Messiah and what it means that someone would be the Messiah, 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:20.560 then finding out who the Messiah is can be wildly unhelpful to you, can be very misleading, 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:23.160 can get you going in all sorts of unhelpful directions. 00:17:23.580 --> 00:17:26.019 And Jesus does not want to see that. 00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:32.480 Jesus is zealous for people to understand not just who he is, but his God-given mission, 00:17:33.080 --> 00:17:37.660 the path God has laid out for him that everyone else seems to reject. 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:48.640 So he gives his explanation in verse 22 for his seemingly strange command of silence in verse 21. 00:17:48.820 --> 00:17:51.380 Look what he says in verse 22. 00:17:54.120 --> 00:18:02.920 The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:06.740 and be killed and on the third day be raised. 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:13.019 Jesus connects that to why you're not supposed to tell anyone he's the Messiah. 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:17.859 He says there is glory coming, the kind you may be hoping for, 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:23.640 the glory you've been looking forward to, but there's suffering first. 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:27.039 It must be this way. 00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:35.200 And getting people worked up about any other mission distracts from the priority of the one my Father has given me. 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:38.860 We're going to start seeing this idea of necessity. 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:42.340 What must happen for Jesus. 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:44.420 It's going to show up a lot more in Luke. 00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:46.180 It's a theme that he develops. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:48.140 Jesus will tell us what is necessary. 00:18:48.580 --> 00:18:50.400 What must happen. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:54.460 And here it's clarifying the focus of his mission. 00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:59.740 The Messiah must suffer many things. 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:02.440 Must be rejected. 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.860 Must be killed. 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:08.940 And only then be raised to life. 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:11.680 The glory you're hoping for. 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:14.519 You see, Jesus has a task. 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:20.279 And it involves not a royal crown, but a crown of thorns. 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:25.440 Jesus has a mission that's given to him. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:31.839 And it doesn't involve people thronging to him for him to lead them in battle against the Romans. 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:40.579 It involves actually people thronging to him to kill him as he does battle against Satan. 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:51.740 He simply has not come to make a political power play, but rather to humble himself and to reach down to the utterly powerless. 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:56.519 It's very different from what they had in mind. 00:19:56.639 --> 00:20:04.079 Way too many in the crowds, even in his band of 12 disciples, would have a linear approach to this Messiahship. 00:20:04.139 --> 00:20:05.359 Straight up to glory. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:11.699 Matthew tells us in his gospel that Peter himself, who gets the identity right, misses the mission, doesn't he? 00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:15.959 Jesus says this is what has to happen, and Peter says, no, no, no, no, no, no. 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:17.399 That's not a good idea. 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:19.099 I don't like that. 00:20:19.159 --> 00:20:21.839 This is never going to happen, Peter says. 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:27.439 This part about suffering and death, no, we're going to skip that. 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:37.759 Jesus knows how many people then and now, even those close to him, even those who have spent time among him and his people, 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:41.200 have different ideas of what he will do. 00:20:41.840 --> 00:20:45.900 Ideas that involve a linear path to his power and glory. 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:49.240 A Jesus to be worshipped as a great teacher. 00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:51.779 As a social revolutionary. 00:20:52.580 --> 00:20:55.740 As a moral paradigm of excellence. 00:20:55.740 --> 00:21:02.900 But where the cross becomes dispensable or incidental. 00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:09.460 Where it's not the main focus and it's actually okay if you leave it out. 00:21:09.620 --> 00:21:11.980 Because it's not that exciting anyway. 00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:18.960 But Jesus says those paths that go straight up to glory, no way. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:21.099 I will have none of that. 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:23.140 That's not the way this works. 00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:26.840 I must go down first. 00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:31.020 I must go down before the glory. 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:35.680 I'm going to use an illustration from mathematics right now. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:39.579 That if you don't like it at all and you don't like math, just ignore it. 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.379 That's fine. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.960 This is for the engineers. 00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:46.599 I heard there were some around who spend all day working with these things. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:51.720 As well as for the high school students who have sat in Algebra 2 this year. 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:55.940 And thought there will never be a use for any of this ever in my life. 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:57.299 See, I've been there. 00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:58.180 I've been in that class. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:00.360 That's what this is for. 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:01.440 This is a parabola. 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:03.680 Yep. 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:05.240 And that's graph paper. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:07.220 Some of you remember using graph paper, right? 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.500 It's still really important. 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:15.740 This is a parabola and it's actually a beautiful picture of the path that Jesus has to take. 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:20.359 So if you can't think of anything else during math class, just remember Philippians chapter 2. 00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:22.960 That's what the parabola is illustrating. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:27.759 Just remember at the top left, how does Philippians 2 start? 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:29.559 We used it for our call to worship this morning. 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:37.619 Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be held on to. 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:40.440 You see that arrow, the blue arrow in the top left? 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:43.960 That means infinitely high is where this parabola begins. 00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:48.700 Jesus starts with equality with God and decides I'm not holding on to it. 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.659 He comes down. 00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:51.339 Jesus comes down. 00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:52.139 How far down? 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.960 A long way down. 00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:59.240 All the way down to nothing. 00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:01.480 He made himself nothing. 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:05.079 And humbled himself to the point of death. 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.960 Even death on a cross. 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:08.879 See where the X and Y axis cross? 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:10.139 That has nothing to do with Jesus. 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.399 But it's a really nice picture. 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:16.299 He humbles himself to the point of death on a cross. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:19.220 All the way down. 00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:25.460 Jesus says you may prefer a linear approach to glory where it just keeps going up all the time. 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:29.900 But that's not the path that he takes. 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:33.160 The way of the Messiah must be parabolic. 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.440 Down first. 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:38.259 And then, yes, God does indeed exalt him to the highest place. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.500 The blue arrow on the right side. 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.860 Going up infinitely. 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.779 God exalts him to the highest place. 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:43.819 Gives him the name above. 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.880 Every name. 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:47.860 And we bow in worship to him. 00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:48.859 Okay. 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.139 End of math class. 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.279 You can forget about that. 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:55.019 But I want you to remember the path. 00:23:56.279 --> 00:24:00.859 The parabolic path is the one that Jesus must follow. 00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:03.879 It's been laid out for him by his father. 00:24:04.479 --> 00:24:04.759 Right? 00:24:04.939 --> 00:24:06.740 This is the way it's going to work. 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:10.159 It's been prophesied by the prophet Isaiah, among others, 00:24:10.199 --> 00:24:13.199 who says the Messiah will be the suffering servant. 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:19.400 The man of sorrows that Logan and James were just singing about. 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:22.900 Not maybe what they'd expected in the Messiah, 00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:26.860 but exactly what it had to be. 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:34.120 We're going to see next week what Jesus says this means for the shape of our path 00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:36.259 as those called to follow him. 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:41.519 But for now, just notice that Jesus says the suffering, 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:48.139 the rejection, and ultimately death on the cross must be my path. 00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:52.639 And I'm passionate about people understanding that reality. 00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:54.099 He doesn't want anybody to miss it. 00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:58.059 He doesn't want them to be confused and think he's a Messiah who's going a different way. 00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:01.220 Don't be confused about the Messiah's mission. 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:04.359 He has come for the cross. 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.660 And don't get me wrong. 00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:11.660 Jesus did come to teach the way of the kingdom, 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:15.140 to heal the sick, to feed the crowds, 00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:17.980 to demonstrate the authority of his kingdom 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:21.320 and begin the bringing of blessing in the place of curse. 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:27.920 It's not an either-or situation where we now have to deny all of those things. 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:34.680 But listen, he does none of those things in isolation from his primary mission 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:40.519 to suffer and die and rise for the redemption of his people and the world. 00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:43.259 None of those things happen apart from that. 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:46.880 There's no other mission he's on that doesn't involve a cross, 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:49.259 an empty tomb after it. 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:54.460 His new teaching is worth listening to only if he backs it up with action. 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:58.740 His new community that he's been talking about creating 00:25:58.740 --> 00:26:02.000 is only worth being a part of if his death and resurrection 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:04.500 actually make a community like that a reality. 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:09.039 Only together with his suffering and death 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:15.019 do those things proclaim the true glory of the king and of his kingdom. 00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:21.700 And so now, Jesus is frustrating, if not you, some of his friends. 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:25.539 Because his mission is not the vision they've had 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:29.480 of the steadily growing power and influence they were going to have. 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:34.600 Just imagine it would be like our rising political star from Huntsville 00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:37.259 who's set to be president of the United States 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:39.039 and he's a shoo-in and all the polls show 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:41.819 he's going to win in a landslide and he refuses to run. 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:46.100 Instead, he says, I'm going to be marginalized. 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:48.420 I want to be pushed aside. 00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:50.799 My whole life I'm going to be that way. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:52.200 I'm going to live among the poor. 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:54.720 I'm going to die without winning a single election. 00:26:56.440 --> 00:27:00.899 And all those hopes you had of how well it was going to go for everyone, 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:02.440 but I mean especially for you. 00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:07.299 Disconcerting, isn't it? 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.279 Disappointing at a minimum. 00:27:12.339 --> 00:27:18.759 But that reality is the essence of the good news of Jesus. 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:21.900 Be very clear on this. 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:27.180 Jesus' gospel is not the prosperity gospel of earthly health and wealth. 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:33.920 Jesus' gospel is not the social gospel of local community change. 00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:39.579 Jesus' gospel is not the American gospel of safety and security. 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.619 It's not. 00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:46.279 Jesus' gospel is the cruciform gospel. 00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:53.299 The cross-centered gospel marked by suffering and death. 00:27:53.899 --> 00:27:57.500 And that's the gospel that saves and, by the way, 00:27:57.599 --> 00:28:01.359 transforms you and your society and everyone around you too. 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:05.439 We preach Christ crucified. 00:28:05.919 --> 00:28:09.039 The gospel that saves and transforms. 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.779 But there's not another one. 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:15.119 May we never boast except in the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:20.559 It's the word of the cross that is the power of God, 1 Corinthians 1. 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:25.719 May we know among the world nothing but Jesus Christ 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:29.360 and no other Jesus than the one who was crucified. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:35.779 The cruciform gospel, the gospel of the cross of Jesus Christ 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:37.660 is the one that saves. 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:37.980 Amen? 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:42.100 And then it transforms everything it touches. 00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:47.000 But it's only that gospel and only that Jesus 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:52.319 who goes to the cross and suffers and dies that saves. 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:55.119 Y'all, how easily do we forget that? 00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:57.139 You don't think you do. 00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:59.879 You think I came to church again and, of course, he said that. 00:28:59.899 --> 00:29:01.059 I didn't forget that. 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:07.480 How quickly do we come up with other priorities for Jesus 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:10.119 and other paths to accomplish his mission 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:14.259 that don't feature the cross, his suffering and death? 00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:21.099 How often do we offer our kids hope in moral reformation 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:24.659 and being better than they were yesterday? 00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:30.639 How often do we offer our friends hope in social change 00:29:30.639 --> 00:29:34.179 and do-goodism and living a little better? 00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:39.619 But Jesus is at pains for his disciples, 00:29:40.159 --> 00:29:41.740 for you and for me, 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:44.539 to be very clear on what he came for. 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:47.399 He wants us not to miss that. 00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:50.540 He didn't come for your prosperity. 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:53.320 He didn't come for your equality. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:55.780 He didn't come for your safety. 00:29:56.340 --> 00:29:58.240 He came for you. 00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:01.019 For your redemption, 00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:05.100 the restoration of your relationship with God 00:30:05.100 --> 00:30:06.840 that is so valuable, 00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:09.440 that you're so precious in his sight. 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.980 He came for you. 00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:15.460 For you to have that relationship restored forever 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:19.120 and in that relationship is endless prosperity, 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:22.480 is radical equality, 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:24.960 is ultimate safety, 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:28.339 but he came for you. 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:31.599 He came all the way down to you. 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:33.099 He became nothing. 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.819 What we deserved. 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:41.700 He was rejected as we should have been 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:44.279 and he suffered death. 00:30:45.179 --> 00:30:46.439 Our punishment. 00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:48.919 He came to us. 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:51.259 He came for us. 00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:57.019 That's the glory of King Jesus being the king already. 00:30:57.859 --> 00:31:00.139 Of him being the Messiah, 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.839 the anointed one. 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:04.039 Of him already reigning as king 00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:07.220 is that he doesn't come seeking to win an election. 00:31:08.159 --> 00:31:09.680 He's not running for office. 00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:10.700 He is the king. 00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:12.480 And so when he comes after you, 00:31:12.639 --> 00:31:14.599 he's not coming to get your vote. 00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:17.799 He's coming to give you life, 00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:19.740 full and free. 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:22.460 He's not coming to get something out of you. 00:31:22.859 --> 00:31:25.779 He comes to give something to you. 00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:29.039 That's how Jesus moves towards us. 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:32.119 The reason the path of the Messiah 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:36.680 must involve suffering and rejection and death 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:39.240 is so that our penalty can be paid 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:41.940 and our relationship with him, 00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:42.819 with our father, 00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:45.279 restored forever. 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:49.659 And Jesus is absolutely committed to that path. 00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:51.259 There is no other for him. 00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.240 He must go. 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.700 It must happen. 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:55.600 And he is committed to it 00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:59.420 even though it costs him his very life. 00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:01.880 Hallelujah. 00:32:03.080 --> 00:32:04.240 What a Savior. 00:32:05.600 --> 00:32:06.120 Let's pray. 00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:15.779 Jesus, we marvel 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:22.039 at your willingness to leave the glories of heaven, 00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:26.919 to be born on earth, 00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:27.579 to suffer, 00:32:29.179 --> 00:32:31.119 to be humiliated, 00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:36.759 and ultimately to suffer 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:40.319 the painful death of the cross 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:43.000 for us. 00:32:45.459 --> 00:32:47.099 It's an awful path 00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:48.379 that we can't imagine 00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:50.279 anyone enduring, 00:32:50.439 --> 00:32:51.779 much less choosing. 00:32:52.719 --> 00:32:54.679 And you've shown us your love 00:32:54.679 --> 00:32:57.259 in a way that goes beyond 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:58.359 what we can comprehend 00:32:58.359 --> 00:33:01.539 and that you would do that for us 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:03.740 because of your love for us. 00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:04.259 That you, 00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:06.259 you knowing there could be 00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:08.539 another way that some would propose, 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.639 refuse 00:33:09.639 --> 00:33:11.859 for the Messiah 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:13.159 to reign 00:33:13.159 --> 00:33:14.299 apart 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:16.139 from his suffering 00:33:16.139 --> 00:33:17.419 and death. 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:20.479 Jesus, you are glorious. 00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:22.039 You are exalted today 00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:22.839 to glory 00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:24.459 at the right hand of the Father. 00:33:24.459 --> 00:33:26.399 But we remember and thank you 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:28.940 for your life 00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:29.880 and your death 00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:31.580 in our place. 00:33:32.280 --> 00:33:33.480 We worship you 00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:35.440 and we ask 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:36.400 that you would even now 00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:38.380 begin teaching us 00:33:38.380 --> 00:33:39.360 what that means 00:33:39.360 --> 00:33:40.780 for us. 00:33:42.120 --> 00:33:43.680 Might you prepare our hearts 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:45.000 even for hearing further 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.940 what that means 00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:47.380 today and tomorrow 00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:48.380 in our lives 00:33:48.380 --> 00:33:50.220 as we continue reading. 00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:51.540 And Jesus, 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:53.240 keep us mindful 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.180 of your cross 00:33:54.180 --> 00:33:54.880 that we would 00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:56.519 see our sins forgiven 00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:58.860 and our hope forever 00:33:58.860 --> 00:34:00.720 laid out so clearly 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:02.080 in our gracious Savior. 00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:04.060 We pray it in his name. 00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:04.940 Amen. 00:34:08.720 --> 00:34:09.940 For more information, 00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:11.260 visit us online 00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:12.539 at southwood.org. 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:16.519 for more information, 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:28.920 visit us onlineXboxxon jeszczeَّ 00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:30.259 with our user 00:34:30.259 --> 00:34:30.719 disability. 00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:31.539 Thank you. 00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:32.259 Thank you. 00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:33.039 So, 00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:34.259 thanks. 00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:37.360 Welcome. 00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:38.079 Bye-bye.