WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:09.200 Good morning. So we're going to be reading from Hebrews chapter 4, starting at verse 14 and going through to chapter 5, verse 10. 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:16.580 Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. 00:00:17.179 --> 00:00:19.260 Let us hold fast our confession. 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:24.640 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:30.580 but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 00:00:32.060 --> 00:00:40.539 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:52.179 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 00:00:52.179 --> 00:00:58.579 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:06.400 Because of this, he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins, just as he does for those of the people. 00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:13.099 And no one takes this honour for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 00:01:13.099 --> 00:01:21.619 So also, Christ did not exhort himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:25.439 You are my Son, today I have begotten you. 00:01:26.179 --> 00:01:28.119 As he says also in another place, 00:01:28.759 --> 00:01:32.079 You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:37.840 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:42.679 with loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death, 00:01:43.219 --> 00:01:45.439 and he was heard because of his reverence. 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:50.400 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 00:01:51.459 --> 00:01:57.840 And being made perfect, he became the source of all eternal salvation to all who obey him, 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:02.760 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:09.140 Thank you, everyone. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:11.000 There we go, I'm on. 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:16.539 We couldn't have actually, I don't think we could have actually matched a better song with this passage today, 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:18.240 so thanks, Musos. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:29.020 Well, two years ago, a remarkable survival story took place in the depths of the Amazon jungle. 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:38.340 A light aircraft travelling with three adults and four kids just nosedived into the dense jungle in Colombia. 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:44.840 All three adults died, sadly died pretty quickly, 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:52.280 leaving four kids behind, all under 13 years of age, alone and fighting the odds to survive. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:58.060 The Colombian government mobilised a rescue force of elite commandos, 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:01.240 indigenous trackers and sniffer dogs as well. 00:03:01.980 --> 00:03:05.659 And the search team looked everywhere for them, but they couldn't find them initially. 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:09.860 In fact, it took them two weeks just to find the plane, 00:03:10.340 --> 00:03:12.520 only to realise the kids might still be alive. 00:03:12.520 --> 00:03:17.400 Then they used helicopters to fly over a vast area, 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:20.980 and they had these mega speakers on the helicopters to broadcast a message 00:03:20.980 --> 00:03:22.580 from the children's grandmother, 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:26.900 trying to encourage the kids to stay close to water, to stay safe. 00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:31.420 Forty days, 40 days after the plane crash, 00:03:31.980 --> 00:03:36.439 an indigenous tracker found all four kids barely alive, 00:03:36.740 --> 00:03:38.460 only five kilometres from the plane. 00:03:38.460 --> 00:03:43.280 After they received medical treatment, following the rescue, 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:47.400 they uncovered why it had taken so long for the rescuers to find the kids. 00:03:47.920 --> 00:03:52.500 Even though they found clues along the way, like clothing items and footprints, 00:03:53.340 --> 00:03:55.420 it took them so long to find them. 00:03:56.500 --> 00:03:59.520 What they found out was they discovered before the accident, 00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:05.260 events had happened in their home life that meant the children were scared to go back home. 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:09.219 So instead of running to the comfort and the safety of rescuers, 00:04:09.859 --> 00:04:12.560 they chose to hide the fear of their own life, 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:16.099 because they thought things would get worse, not better, being found. 00:04:17.899 --> 00:04:21.039 Well, we've been digging into the book of Hebrews in recent weeks, 00:04:21.139 --> 00:04:25.819 and we've heard about the temptation present for Jewish believers at the time 00:04:25.819 --> 00:04:30.300 to turn and run from their faith as they experienced hardship and trial. 00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:33.340 Just like the four kids hiding from the rescue team, 00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:37.980 the Jewish believers were tempted to give up on the safety that they could find in Jesus. 00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:42.620 And, you know, I think we find ourselves very much in common 00:04:42.620 --> 00:04:46.580 with the Jewish believers here in Hebrews, and the kids as well in the story. 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:50.340 In fact, we don't actually get a lot of detail in Hebrews 00:04:50.340 --> 00:04:53.420 on what this difficult situation was about. 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:57.400 It looks like God's actually deliberately left it that way for us. 00:04:57.399 --> 00:05:02.819 But those Jews in Hebrews, these kids, they're not so different to us, are they? 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:04.439 They're not so different to us. 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:07.299 They got anxious and scared about their future, 00:05:07.739 --> 00:05:11.259 and they could get down about their present trials and temptations. 00:05:11.919 --> 00:05:13.339 Don't we do just the same thing? 00:05:14.939 --> 00:05:17.879 Perhaps you might think, and some people might argue, 00:05:18.419 --> 00:05:20.299 look, life's pretty good here in Australia. 00:05:20.479 --> 00:05:24.139 Like, you know, we can just whinge and complain about life. 00:05:24.259 --> 00:05:25.899 It's an Australian thing to do. 00:05:25.899 --> 00:05:29.439 Well, in many ways, we've got a great country. 00:05:29.659 --> 00:05:31.419 Like, you know, we can worship with freedom. 00:05:31.859 --> 00:05:33.879 We have some incredible tools and devices. 00:05:34.179 --> 00:05:37.259 Who doesn't have an Android or an iPhone or something like that? 00:05:37.719 --> 00:05:40.739 And we've got this super easy access nearly to whatever we want. 00:05:40.839 --> 00:05:42.459 Like, you can go online and watch a movie. 00:05:42.599 --> 00:05:44.139 You can online shop. 00:05:44.459 --> 00:05:48.759 You can go into the shops and get just about any food that you'd like these days. 00:05:48.759 --> 00:05:54.300 Yet, for all that, this generation is now being called the anxious generation. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:58.060 And family relationships and separations are in free fall. 00:05:58.199 --> 00:05:59.899 It's the worst it's ever been in our country. 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:04.560 And we're living in a very individualistic and modern... 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:07.219 ..a very individualistic society in our modern era. 00:06:07.220 --> 00:06:10.400 We have more ways to be connected than ever before, 00:06:10.760 --> 00:06:14.520 yet so many people are feeling so disconnected and lonely. 00:06:15.760 --> 00:06:19.920 So today, what we're doing is we're looking at why Jesus is better, 00:06:20.500 --> 00:06:21.940 why he's always worth running to, 00:06:22.420 --> 00:06:27.580 and why we can run to Jesus even when we think life is a total mess. 00:06:28.460 --> 00:06:31.680 Because even when we think life is a total mess, Jesus still gets it. 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:36.920 He understands and he can deal with us gently because of who he is. 00:06:37.780 --> 00:06:40.620 And we're going to go through four reasons today that that's the case. 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:41.920 Those four points are, 00:06:42.400 --> 00:06:45.240 Jesus was sinless and resisted all temptation. 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:48.900 He's gentle and he can sympathise with our weakness. 00:06:49.640 --> 00:06:52.620 He was raised to life and appointed to rescue us. 00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:56.939 And he has modelled to us how to run to the Father 00:06:57.319 --> 00:07:00.740 even when it comes to life or death. 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:03.439 Well, if you've got your Bibles there, 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:05.920 let's start by turning to verse 14. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:07.080 Let's jump straight in. 00:07:08.060 --> 00:07:08.939 It says this, 00:07:09.220 --> 00:07:12.920 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:15.520 Jesus, the Son of God. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:17.920 Let us hold fast our confession. 00:07:19.200 --> 00:07:21.920 You'll notice, firstly, we have this powerful term. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:25.840 Jesus references himself as the great high priest. 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:28.560 Now, I'm not sure for you, 00:07:29.099 --> 00:07:35.019 but I actually struggled in preparing for this to engage with this concept of priest. 00:07:35.819 --> 00:07:38.439 Yet, the further into this passage I went, 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:40.339 it just became more and more clear. 00:07:40.419 --> 00:07:41.019 It's critical. 00:07:41.579 --> 00:07:42.979 For our understanding of Jesus, 00:07:43.099 --> 00:07:44.500 we need to know what that means. 00:07:45.059 --> 00:07:46.899 It's another dimension to who he is. 00:07:47.159 --> 00:07:48.859 And he's not just a high priest. 00:07:48.939 --> 00:07:50.699 He is the great high priest. 00:07:50.699 --> 00:07:54.139 So, what's so hard about getting the idea of a high priest? 00:07:55.500 --> 00:07:58.060 Firstly, it's a bit like a foreign language to us. 00:07:58.579 --> 00:07:59.879 You know, when we think of priest, 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:02.459 we tend to think orthodoxy, institution, 00:08:02.659 --> 00:08:04.839 like the Catholic Church or the High Anglican Church. 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:08.459 And, look, let's just call it, 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:10.959 if we said priest bot or priest Calderwood, 00:08:11.039 --> 00:08:12.899 you'd probably have a laugh, right? 00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:14.279 You'd probably think, that's a bit weird. 00:08:14.899 --> 00:08:17.139 Dave Calderwood wouldn't be too impressed by that either. 00:08:17.139 --> 00:08:18.539 I think people have tried that on him. 00:08:20.019 --> 00:08:21.959 But, look, when we think of these institutions, 00:08:22.159 --> 00:08:24.279 like the Catholic Church or that High Anglican Church, 00:08:24.339 --> 00:08:26.719 it's hard not to consider recent history, isn't it? 00:08:27.039 --> 00:08:27.819 It's really hard. 00:08:28.139 --> 00:08:30.180 The spotlight has been put on priests 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:32.720 for their abuse of their power and positions, 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:35.159 most recently the sex abuse scandal 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:38.139 that the Royal Commission brought into light. 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:40.879 And it's done real damage to the view of clergy. 00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:42.779 And might I even say, 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:44.819 the use of the name priest 00:08:44.820 --> 00:08:47.440 might even feel a little bit repulsive to us. 00:08:48.540 --> 00:08:50.280 So to try and get a clear picture 00:08:50.280 --> 00:08:51.960 and try and understand what we talk about 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:53.160 with Old Testament priests 00:08:53.160 --> 00:08:55.160 and Jesus being the great high priest, 00:08:55.800 --> 00:08:58.920 we are talking about an extremely unique role, 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:02.080 a holy calling at a time and place 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:03.560 that God chose in history. 00:09:04.340 --> 00:09:05.980 And it was this time in history, 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.280 the Israelite people in the Old Testament, 00:09:08.280 --> 00:09:11.960 he showed his grace in a unique way towards his people 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:17.080 by having a selected person to represent the people to him. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:21.080 It was all about God's grace and mercy. 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:24.240 And that's why the priests were installed as mediators. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:28.519 Yet for all the priests that came and went in Israel, 00:09:29.040 --> 00:09:30.100 the good and the bad, 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:33.460 there was a common problem that plagued them all. 00:09:33.920 --> 00:09:36.780 And you see it as we touch down in 4 verse 15 00:09:36.779 --> 00:09:38.459 and 5 verse 3. 00:09:39.379 --> 00:09:43.039 They understood the weakness of the people stuck in sin, 00:09:43.659 --> 00:09:46.279 but they couldn't escape that same weakness themselves. 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:49.720 Even they had to sacrifice for their own sins 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:51.139 every single year. 00:09:52.019 --> 00:09:54.860 And Jesus, he was like these priests, 00:09:54.899 --> 00:09:55.819 but he was different. 00:09:56.539 --> 00:09:57.480 He is the ultimate, 00:09:57.480 --> 00:09:58.980 the great high priest 00:09:58.980 --> 00:10:02.559 because he is totally sinless. 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:05.699 So we can run to Jesus 00:10:05.699 --> 00:10:07.759 because he is sinless 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:10.659 and he resisted all temptation. 00:10:12.239 --> 00:10:14.919 Follow me with this in Hebrews 4.15 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:17.679 where it says he is genuinely able 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:19.459 to sympathise with our weakness. 00:10:20.359 --> 00:10:21.879 Now there is a real emphasis here 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:23.579 and it picks up along these lines. 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:25.279 It's basically saying that 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:27.939 because Jesus resisted all temptation, 00:10:28.719 --> 00:10:30.000 he can sympathise with us 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:31.319 like no other priest could 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:32.720 have ever done before him. 00:10:32.800 --> 00:10:34.680 In fact, like no other person ever has. 00:10:35.640 --> 00:10:38.120 Because in every respect, 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:40.140 Jesus has been tempted. 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:42.020 Meaning in every single way, 00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:43.620 he has known temptation, 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:45.200 but he's never given in. 00:10:45.940 --> 00:10:47.440 So he's in the perfect position 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:49.100 to understand exactly 00:10:49.100 --> 00:10:52.100 what you and I are going through today. 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:54.860 Well, someone might argue, 00:10:55.020 --> 00:10:56.840 well, look, Jesus never gave in to sin. 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:58.480 So how does he really 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:00.160 actually know what it felt like? 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:03.740 Well, in the story I told you earlier 00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:05.420 about the kids surviving in the Amazon, 00:11:06.140 --> 00:11:07.140 the oldest child, 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:08.740 a 13-year-old girl, 00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:10.920 is credited with keeping alive 00:11:10.920 --> 00:11:12.020 her younger siblings. 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:14.220 They were nine, four, 00:11:14.820 --> 00:11:15.760 and 11 months. 00:11:16.300 --> 00:11:16.640 Look at that, 00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:17.540 an 11-month-year-old 00:11:17.540 --> 00:11:18.840 survived 40 days. 00:11:19.640 --> 00:11:20.860 So when she was interviewed 00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:21.600 after the event, 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:22.680 she said at one point 00:11:22.680 --> 00:11:24.940 she was tempted to walk out 00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:27.400 and leave the three of them. 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:28.920 And she did. 00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:31.560 She left briefly for 20 minutes, 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:33.060 but then she came back. 00:11:34.520 --> 00:11:36.060 Now, for the sake of her own survival, 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:37.160 she would have known 00:11:37.160 --> 00:11:38.020 it would have been easier 00:11:38.020 --> 00:11:39.260 to make it alive without them. 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:40.760 She was having to share the food. 00:11:41.020 --> 00:11:42.440 They had to split it between them. 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:45.960 But she never would have known. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:46.720 If she walked away, 00:11:46.820 --> 00:11:47.760 she never would have known 00:11:47.760 --> 00:11:48.740 what it would have been like 00:11:48.740 --> 00:11:49.740 10 minutes later, 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:51.000 an hour later, 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:52.279 or a day later. 00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:54.639 So to this day, 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:55.980 probably better than anyone 00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:56.720 here in this room, 00:11:56.820 --> 00:11:57.639 she would understand 00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:59.659 how great the temptation can be 00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:02.100 to sacrifice your own family 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:03.279 for yourself. 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:05.379 She would know that better 00:12:05.379 --> 00:12:06.019 than all of us. 00:12:06.940 --> 00:12:10.000 It's just like this with Jesus, right? 00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:12.659 He never laid down or walked away. 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:15.100 He endured without giving up. 00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:15.980 So therefore, 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.639 he knows the strength of temptation 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:18.840 better than any of us. 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:21.340 And it's only because 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:23.379 he can better understand temptation 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:25.759 that he can sympathise with us 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:26.920 like no one else ever could. 00:12:28.060 --> 00:12:30.180 Now, the word sympathise here is key. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:31.960 We need to understand it. 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:33.440 It's the basic idea. 00:12:33.780 --> 00:12:35.160 It's the joining of two words, 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:37.399 and that is with and to suffer. 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:39.860 So it's not just a feeling. 00:12:40.920 --> 00:12:42.379 Sympathise is not just a feeling. 00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:43.519 It often gets thought of that way. 00:12:43.800 --> 00:12:44.960 It's actually a depth 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:46.540 of togetherness in pain. 00:12:47.060 --> 00:12:48.340 It's saying in our pain, 00:12:48.940 --> 00:12:50.000 Jesus is pained. 00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:54.280 Not that he is threatened by it. 00:12:54.680 --> 00:12:55.840 He's not threatened by it. 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:56.620 He's God. 00:12:57.040 --> 00:12:57.879 But in the sense that 00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:59.560 he can't help but be drawn to it. 00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:00.700 In fact, 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:02.060 because he's been on the journey 00:13:02.060 --> 00:13:02.820 before himself 00:13:02.820 --> 00:13:04.060 with temptation and pain, 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:04.940 in his love, 00:13:05.040 --> 00:13:06.180 he cannot be held back 00:13:06.180 --> 00:13:07.340 when he sees us there. 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:11.860 I think this just absolutely 00:13:11.860 --> 00:13:13.200 blows out of the water, 00:13:13.560 --> 00:13:15.000 the idea that only 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:16.740 when life is going well, 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:18.220 God is there with me 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:19.940 or his favour is on me. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.100 Ever heard anyone say that before? 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:23.919 No. 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:24.720 In fact, 00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:25.879 when you are in a mess, 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:27.740 Jesus is drawn to help you. 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:29.740 He knows what it's like 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:30.940 to be thirsty, 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:31.899 to be hungry, 00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:32.840 to be homeless, 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:33.840 rejected, 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:34.899 misunderstood, 00:13:35.540 --> 00:13:36.000 embarrassed, 00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:36.860 shamed, 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:37.580 tortured 00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:39.820 and ultimately killed. 00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:41.460 So, 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:42.840 we can run to Jesus 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:44.360 because he is gentle 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:46.040 and he can sympathise 00:13:46.040 --> 00:13:46.680 with our weakness. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:47.840 Jesus knows 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:49.519 we get tunnel vision. 00:13:49.660 --> 00:13:50.580 We get tunnel vision 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:51.060 big time 00:13:51.060 --> 00:13:51.879 when life's a mess. 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:54.399 He gets it. 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:55.600 We can start to question 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:56.120 and doubt 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:57.820 that what he says is true 00:13:57.820 --> 00:13:58.860 and who he is 00:13:58.860 --> 00:13:59.320 is good. 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.480 Jesus was just like us 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.720 except instead of being 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:03.600 sinfully weak, 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:05.440 he was sinlessly weak. 00:14:06.280 --> 00:14:07.340 Hebrews 5 verse 2 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:08.280 says these words, 00:14:09.800 --> 00:14:10.940 he can deal gently 00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:11.920 with the ignorant 00:14:11.920 --> 00:14:12.940 and wayward 00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:14.320 since he himself 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:15.300 is beset 00:14:15.300 --> 00:14:16.100 with weakness. 00:14:17.420 --> 00:14:17.920 Now, 00:14:18.040 --> 00:14:18.700 I really like 00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:19.900 Dan Ortland's take on this. 00:14:20.020 --> 00:14:20.920 A few of you might have read 00:14:20.920 --> 00:14:22.080 the book Gentle and Lowly 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:23.700 but this is what he says. 00:14:24.700 --> 00:14:26.020 The point is 00:14:26.020 --> 00:14:27.660 that Jesus deals gently 00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:29.360 and only gently 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:30.579 with all sinners 00:14:30.579 --> 00:14:31.519 who come to him 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:32.819 irrespective of their 00:14:32.819 --> 00:14:33.799 particular offence 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:35.439 and just how heinous it is. 00:14:36.059 --> 00:14:37.339 What elicits tenderness 00:14:37.339 --> 00:14:37.980 from Jesus 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:39.259 is not the severity 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:39.980 of the sin 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:41.719 but whether the sinner 00:14:41.719 --> 00:14:42.740 comes to him. 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:44.959 The key 00:14:44.959 --> 00:14:45.939 is coming 00:14:45.939 --> 00:14:47.179 and drawing near 00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:47.559 to him 00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:49.139 and the language 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:50.019 of drawing near 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:51.019 is reminiscent 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:52.399 of the worship 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:53.679 of Old Testament Israel 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:54.480 where people 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:55.439 would draw near 00:14:55.439 --> 00:14:56.039 to God. 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:57.959 at the tabernacle 00:14:57.959 --> 00:14:58.719 or the temple 00:14:58.719 --> 00:14:59.919 and the priests 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:01.019 that had even more 00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:01.659 intimate access. 00:15:01.819 --> 00:15:02.399 They drew near 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:03.099 to the altar. 00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:04.259 The high priest 00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:05.120 having the greatest 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:06.219 access of all 00:15:06.219 --> 00:15:06.860 drawing near 00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:07.500 to the ark, 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.319 the holy place, 00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:09.360 the holy of holies, 00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:11.439 symbolically God's throne. 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:13.259 So the wonder 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:14.459 of 4 verse 16 00:15:14.459 --> 00:15:15.579 is that we 00:15:15.579 --> 00:15:17.539 can all approach. 00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:18.819 That we can all 00:15:18.819 --> 00:15:19.319 approach 00:15:19.319 --> 00:15:20.039 all the way 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:20.980 and we can do so 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:21.679 with confidence 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:22.740 and that the throne 00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:23.439 we approach 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:24.620 is not a throne 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:25.080 of judgment 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:26.060 and condemnation 00:15:26.060 --> 00:15:27.520 but one of grace 00:15:27.520 --> 00:15:28.400 and mercy 00:15:28.400 --> 00:15:29.020 with Jesus 00:15:29.020 --> 00:15:30.340 as the high priest. 00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:32.820 On the other hand, 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:34.660 if we don't 00:15:34.660 --> 00:15:35.580 come to Jesus 00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:36.780 because we don't 00:15:36.780 --> 00:15:37.740 know Jesus, 00:15:38.660 --> 00:15:39.900 just like if the priest 00:15:39.900 --> 00:15:41.060 didn't bring the sacrifice 00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:41.900 for the people, 00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:43.380 we have a very 00:15:43.380 --> 00:15:44.560 different result. 00:15:45.640 --> 00:15:45.940 Jesus' 00:15:46.180 --> 00:15:47.300 lamb-like tenderness 00:15:47.300 --> 00:15:48.420 cannot be extended 00:15:48.420 --> 00:15:48.980 to us. 00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:50.300 Instead, 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.920 we would only know 00:15:51.920 --> 00:15:53.200 the fierceness 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:54.920 of a lion-like judgment. 00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:00.800 A few years ago, 00:16:01.180 --> 00:16:02.139 I spent some time 00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:02.720 working at the 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.379 Mater Hospital 00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:04.399 in the drug 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:05.240 and alcohol team 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:07.200 and a rare opportunity 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:07.879 came up for me 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:08.420 to sit in on 00:16:08.420 --> 00:16:09.440 a two-week program 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:10.360 to help people 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:12.960 recover from 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:13.980 drug and alcohol 00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:14.420 addiction. 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:15.759 And in this 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.620 two-week program, 00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:17.659 people recovering 00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:18.240 from addiction, 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.560 they watched videos, 00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:20.620 they listened to speakers 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:22.460 and generally shared ideas 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:23.159 how they could be 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:24.120 motivated towards 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:25.659 long-lasting change. 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.759 They'd seen 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:28.480 the wreck and ruin 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:29.879 that drugs and alcohol 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:31.100 had brought to their lives, 00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:32.080 an addiction to drugs 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:32.519 and alcohol. 00:16:33.560 --> 00:16:34.440 One of those days, 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.700 there was an unforgettable 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:36.759 speaker who introduced 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.860 himself and he told 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.519 the group this. 00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:38.940 He said, 00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:40.659 I'm a recovering 00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.220 alcoholic. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:43.419 I haven't touched 00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.320 a drop of alcohol 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.419 in over two decades. 00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:47.979 When he said that, 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:49.620 it was like you could 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.419 hear a pin drop 00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:50.899 in the room. 00:16:51.719 --> 00:16:52.439 Everyone was listening. 00:16:53.579 --> 00:16:54.259 He went on to say, 00:16:54.339 --> 00:16:55.139 I'm still a recovering 00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:56.500 alcoholic because I know 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.620 if I go back to it, 00:16:57.799 --> 00:16:58.779 it will own me. 00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.199 And he made 00:17:00.199 --> 00:17:01.579 this observation. 00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:03.579 He made this observation. 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.139 He realised, 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:04.879 and he said, 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:05.500 he told us 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.819 about this constant 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:07.299 anchor 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.480 for a few people 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:08.920 like him 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:09.299 that had been 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:09.680 addicted 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.339 but had now stopped. 00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:13.000 he told us 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:13.859 it was the relationship 00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:14.439 with Jesus 00:17:14.439 --> 00:17:14.899 that made 00:17:14.899 --> 00:17:16.059 all the difference. 00:17:17.939 --> 00:17:18.819 That's what Jesus 00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.959 is like in his tenderness. 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:21.819 Even those battling 00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.759 the worst addictions 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.799 and hidden scars 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:24.819 can look to him 00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:25.799 for all they need. 00:17:27.199 --> 00:17:27.959 Isn't that the kind 00:17:27.959 --> 00:17:28.419 of gentleness 00:17:28.419 --> 00:17:29.220 we all look for 00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:29.839 in a relationship? 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:31.720 Someone who can 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:33.059 see all our flaws 00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:33.980 yet love us anyway? 00:17:35.159 --> 00:17:35.959 It's one of the 00:17:35.959 --> 00:17:36.679 deepest longings 00:17:36.679 --> 00:17:37.359 we all have 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:38.439 to be fully known 00:17:38.439 --> 00:17:39.439 with all our failures 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:40.120 and mistakes 00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:41.600 and yet fully loved. 00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:43.600 How could we not 00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:44.059 feel drawn 00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:45.120 to that kind of love? 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:48.180 What's so extraordinary 00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:49.120 about this passage 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:50.840 is it's not just 00:17:50.840 --> 00:17:51.840 in Jesus' humanity 00:17:51.840 --> 00:17:52.680 he reaches us 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:53.299 in this way. 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:55.019 In Hebrews 5 verse 5 00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:56.059 we hear these words. 00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:58.100 So also Christ 00:17:58.100 --> 00:17:58.759 did not 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:00.259 sorry I'll start again. 00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:02.100 So also Christ 00:18:02.100 --> 00:18:03.400 did not exalt himself 00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:04.100 to be made 00:18:04.100 --> 00:18:04.900 a high priest 00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:06.259 but was appointed 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:06.920 by him 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:08.059 who said to him 00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:09.340 you are my son 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:09.759 today 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:10.899 I have 00:18:10.899 --> 00:18:12.079 forgotten you. 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.480 So he says also 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.319 in another place 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:15.240 you are a priest 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.299 forever after the 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.480 order of Melchizedek. 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:19.879 So again we hear 00:18:19.879 --> 00:18:20.679 what totally set 00:18:20.679 --> 00:18:21.519 Jesus apart 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:22.059 as unique 00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:22.779 to any other 00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.699 priest before him. 00:18:24.679 --> 00:18:25.759 This kind of love 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:27.439 and gentleness 00:18:27.439 --> 00:18:28.199 began in the 00:18:28.199 --> 00:18:28.879 halls of heaven. 00:18:29.879 --> 00:18:31.059 In 5 verse 5 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:32.220 we hear Jesus 00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:32.919 is appointed 00:18:32.919 --> 00:18:34.159 by God the Father. 00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:35.639 Jesus was 00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:36.720 hand selected 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:37.819 by the Father 00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:38.619 to become 00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:39.599 human like us 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:40.819 and in total 00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.960 humility 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:43.000 Jesus went 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.980 before the cross 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:45.000 knowing the 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.500 will of the 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:45.839 Father 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:46.599 that special 00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:47.179 selection 00:18:47.179 --> 00:18:47.779 would mean 00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:48.899 he would be 00:18:48.899 --> 00:18:50.419 begotten for us. 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:52.119 What does 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:53.099 begotten actually 00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:53.480 mean? 00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:54.879 Well the word 00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:55.460 begotten 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:56.359 is actually 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:57.319 first mentioned 00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:57.980 as a promise 00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.879 in Psalm 2 00:18:58.879 --> 00:18:59.899 verse 7 00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:00.639 so you can look 00:19:00.639 --> 00:19:01.299 there if you like 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.299 but the answer 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.299 for what it means 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:04.339 actually comes 00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:05.379 from Acts 13 00:19:05.379 --> 00:19:06.419 verse 32 00:19:06.419 --> 00:19:07.419 to 34 00:19:07.419 --> 00:19:08.519 and it's 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:09.879 where Paul 00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:10.419 is speaking 00:19:10.419 --> 00:19:10.899 to fellow 00:19:10.899 --> 00:19:11.379 believers 00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:12.559 and he speaks 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.740 to the promise 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:14.559 being fulfilled 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.579 that Jesus 00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:16.240 would be 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.599 raised to life 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.480 or resurrected 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.059 for us 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:19.879 so forgiveness 00:19:19.879 --> 00:19:20.460 of sins 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.159 could be preached 00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:21.659 to us. 00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:24.059 So we can run 00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:24.639 to Jesus 00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:25.619 because he was 00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:26.559 raised to life 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.539 and appointed 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.279 by God 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:29.379 for that very 00:19:29.379 --> 00:19:29.960 purpose 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:30.639 for us 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:32.680 and his 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:33.640 ultimate 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:34.220 tenderness 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:34.820 and mercy 00:19:34.820 --> 00:19:35.700 came to us 00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.520 only because 00:19:36.520 --> 00:19:37.340 he was appointed 00:19:37.340 --> 00:19:37.900 to be 00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:39.340 forgotten for us. 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:40.520 At the 00:19:40.520 --> 00:19:41.640 ultimate cost 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:42.200 to Jesus 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:43.420 with his 00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:43.860 life 00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:45.000 he set 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.640 in motion 00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:46.360 a change 00:19:46.360 --> 00:19:47.120 that forever 00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:48.560 put sin 00:19:48.560 --> 00:19:49.759 to the sword 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.840 that forever 00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:51.980 made Jesus 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.980 the great 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.740 high priest. 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:55.940 Hebrews 1 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.460 verse 3 00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:56.920 says 00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:57.900 after the 00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:59.020 purification 00:19:59.020 --> 00:19:59.520 of sins 00:19:59.520 --> 00:20:00.280 he sat down 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:00.859 at the right 00:20:00.859 --> 00:20:01.660 hand of majesty 00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.259 on high. 00:20:03.639 --> 00:20:04.240 This is the 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:04.899 throne of grace 00:20:04.899 --> 00:20:05.960 in verse 16 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:07.359 the very one 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:07.980 we can now 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.000 approach boldly 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.819 because of 00:20:09.819 --> 00:20:10.759 God's appointment 00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.539 for Jesus 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.720 to give us 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.279 a grace 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.539 and tenderness 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.079 we never 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.700 deserved. 00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.440 Now there's 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:18.759 more to be said 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.539 about the role 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.359 of Melchizedek 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:21.000 and I'm glad 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.980 Lockheed touched 00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.440 on it in the 00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.220 kids talk today 00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:25.039 Jesus is compared 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:25.920 to his lineage 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:26.740 and it's an 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.420 important area 00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:28.019 but we're not 00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.720 going there today 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.359 because David 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:29.920 will be talking 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.600 to that in more 00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.160 depth in a 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:31.460 couple of 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:31.640 weeks. 00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.300 It pops up 00:20:32.300 --> 00:20:33.220 again in 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:33.800 Hebrews a 00:20:33.800 --> 00:20:34.100 couple of 00:20:34.100 --> 00:20:34.660 times and 00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.259 much more 00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:35.600 in a couple 00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:35.960 of weeks. 00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.480 Well we 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:40.220 started talking 00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:40.900 today about 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:41.920 how it's easy 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:42.500 for our 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.279 intuition to 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.019 tell us that 00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.600 when things get 00:20:44.600 --> 00:20:45.220 difficult in 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:46.279 life we're 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:46.759 more alone 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:47.160 than ever. 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:48.779 The good 00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:49.420 news we hear 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:49.880 in God's 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.680 word is there 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:51.240 is a different 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.560 story when 00:20:52.560 --> 00:20:53.080 you come to 00:20:53.080 --> 00:20:53.460 Jesus. 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:55.980 And look I 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:56.720 think modern 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.680 psychology 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:59.000 modern psychology 00:20:59.000 --> 00:20:59.720 points out 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:01.019 helpfully that 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.880 we can have a 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:03.180 tendency to 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:04.660 fight, flight 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:06.420 or freeze when 00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:06.940 we get 00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:07.799 overwhelmed. 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.400 You'd notice 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:10.019 that you know 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.600 like if you 00:21:10.600 --> 00:21:11.720 were shocked 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.980 and stood 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.580 next to a 00:21:13.580 --> 00:21:14.980 snake you're 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.420 either going to 00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:15.860 want to kill 00:21:15.860 --> 00:21:16.820 it, run away 00:21:16.820 --> 00:21:17.320 or you'll be 00:21:17.320 --> 00:21:17.960 frozen in the 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:18.200 moment. 00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:20.000 That's what 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:20.420 happens when 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:20.620 you get 00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:21.019 overwhelmed. 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:21.400 It's an 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:22.600 entirely typical 00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:23.460 human instinct 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.680 when trouble 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.820 comes for 00:21:25.820 --> 00:21:26.259 our brain 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:26.640 to like 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:27.160 kick into 00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:27.980 survival mode. 00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:28.580 The alarm 00:21:28.580 --> 00:21:29.400 switches, we 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:29.680 go into 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.340 survival mode. 00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:32.160 But what I 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:32.600 love about 00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:33.160 Hebrews, what 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:33.660 I love about 00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:34.380 this section 00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:34.900 of scripture 00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:35.759 is Jesus 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.740 shows us an 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.500 entirely different 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.480 picture, an 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.180 entirely different 00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:40.120 way of reacting 00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:40.700 to trouble. 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.660 He shows us 00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:44.039 through his own 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:45.640 life how he 00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:46.360 ran to the 00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:47.420 father even 00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:47.840 when it's 00:21:47.840 --> 00:21:48.519 life or death. 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:51.200 Verse 7 to 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:52.100 9 says this, 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:52.960 please follow 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:53.360 with me in 00:21:53.360 --> 00:21:53.759 your Bibles, 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.680 in the days 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:55.039 of his 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.220 flesh, Jesus 00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:56.859 offered up 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.619 prayers and 00:21:57.619 --> 00:21:58.400 supplications 00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.319 with loud 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:00.180 cries and 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:00.680 tears to 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.420 him who 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.220 was able to 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:02.619 save him 00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:03.200 from death. 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.180 And he 00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:04.879 was heard 00:22:04.879 --> 00:22:05.900 because of 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.640 his reverence. 00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.140 Although he 00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:08.779 was a son, 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:09.940 he learned 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.619 obedience 00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:11.579 through what 00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:12.240 he suffered. 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.579 Hear the 00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.640 pain in 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.400 these words 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.759 with loud 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.640 cries and 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.099 tears, 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:19.980 with loud 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:20.640 cries and 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.039 tears. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.859 As Jesus 00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:23.680 prepared in 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.080 the garden 00:22:24.080 --> 00:22:24.279 of 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:24.860 Gethsemane 00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:25.539 for death, 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:26.400 he prayed. 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:27.900 Can you 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:28.480 imagine the 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.299 temptation for 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:29.940 Jesus to 00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:30.860 demand a 00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:31.519 different result? 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:32.580 He could 00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:32.920 have called 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.480 a legion of 00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:34.060 angels to 00:22:34.060 --> 00:22:34.600 his rescue, 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.799 but he 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:36.100 didn't. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.480 With 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.259 meekness and 00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:38.759 gentleness, 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.620 Jesus stood 00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:40.120 before the 00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:40.460 father. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:41.820 In total 00:22:41.820 --> 00:22:43.380 humility, he 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:43.860 went before 00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:44.259 us. 00:22:45.080 --> 00:22:45.519 And he 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.640 did that so 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:47.400 we no longer 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.080 need to fix 00:22:48.080 --> 00:22:48.779 our eyes on 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.299 our sin 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:50.600 anymore, but 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.019 on him. 00:22:53.219 --> 00:22:53.719 We've 00:22:53.719 --> 00:22:54.240 talked about 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.000 temptation in 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.740 Hebrews today. 00:22:56.639 --> 00:22:57.079 Isn't it 00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:57.679 interesting in 00:22:57.679 --> 00:22:58.219 the garden of 00:22:58.219 --> 00:22:58.980 Gethsemane that 00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.779 Jesus told his 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.439 disciples not 00:23:00.439 --> 00:23:01.259 just once but 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.399 twice to 00:23:02.399 --> 00:23:02.819 pray. 00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:04.039 Watch and 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.599 pray that you 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.419 may not enter 00:23:05.419 --> 00:23:06.199 into temptation. 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:08.619 Even when the 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:09.379 disciples did not 00:23:09.379 --> 00:23:10.039 listen to Jesus 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.539 and kept 00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.980 sleeping on the 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.719 very cusp of 00:23:12.719 --> 00:23:13.339 Jesus being 00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:14.579 betrayed, he 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.279 offered mercy to 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:15.839 the disciples. 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:16.879 He said he 00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:17.599 understood the 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.039 spirit was 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.980 willing, but 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.579 the flesh was 00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:19.899 weak. 00:23:21.219 --> 00:23:21.879 How much 00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:22.359 more will he 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:22.899 do for us 00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:23.459 now that he's 00:23:23.459 --> 00:23:24.259 passed into the 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.119 heavens on the 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:25.859 throne of grace 00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:27.079 and calls us to 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:27.659 draw near to 00:23:27.659 --> 00:23:27.899 him? 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.059 There is 00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:30.740 something else to 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:31.139 notice at 00:23:31.139 --> 00:23:31.699 Gethsemane. 00:23:32.199 --> 00:23:32.799 Jesus had 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.439 help from the 00:23:33.439 --> 00:23:34.240 father and he 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.219 had companionship 00:23:35.219 --> 00:23:35.579 from the 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.919 disciples, even 00:23:36.919 --> 00:23:37.399 though they did 00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:38.019 a pretty dodgy 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:38.579 job, right? 00:23:38.719 --> 00:23:39.359 Just when he 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:39.859 needed them the 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:40.939 most, but he 00:23:40.939 --> 00:23:41.480 still had their 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.159 companionship. 00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:43.980 So Jesus drew 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.279 near vertically 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.419 and horizontally. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:49.139 I think this is a 00:23:49.139 --> 00:23:50.359 good application 00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:50.659 point. 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.199 I think we 00:23:51.199 --> 00:23:51.899 should stop and 00:23:51.899 --> 00:23:52.919 ask, are we 00:23:52.919 --> 00:23:54.179 doing the same or 00:23:54.179 --> 00:23:54.740 are we battling 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.759 things alone, 00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:56.419 trying to solve 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:57.139 things ourselves? 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.059 Sometimes during 00:23:59.059 --> 00:23:59.879 difficulties we're 00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.579 tempted to throw 00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:01.199 in the lot and 00:24:01.199 --> 00:24:01.899 look somewhere else 00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:02.459 than Jesus. 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:04.459 So a word of 00:24:04.459 --> 00:24:05.259 encouragement, if 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:05.919 you find yourself 00:24:05.919 --> 00:24:07.559 in the storm, don't 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.899 let your situation, 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.500 your location, 00:24:11.459 --> 00:24:12.379 your relationships, 00:24:12.899 --> 00:24:13.759 tunnel vision you 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.539 into thinking you're 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.759 alone and God 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.599 hasn't showed up. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.500 The devil wants 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.219 us to question 00:24:19.219 --> 00:24:20.899 the presence, the 00:24:20.899 --> 00:24:21.819 goodness, the 00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:23.079 faithfulness and 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:23.639 the grace of 00:24:23.639 --> 00:24:23.959 God. 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:27.219 Howard Hendricks, he 00:24:27.219 --> 00:24:27.919 was a professor 00:24:27.919 --> 00:24:28.859 and a preacher 00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:31.199 yesteryear, last 00:24:31.199 --> 00:24:31.619 century. 00:24:32.219 --> 00:24:32.759 He makes the 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.559 observation, I 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.339 think it's a really 00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:35.219 good observation. 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.980 Every believer, he 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:38.000 says, needs three 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:39.279 types of 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.839 relationships. 00:24:40.939 --> 00:24:41.500 We need a 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.539 pool who can 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.079 mentor and 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:44.000 encourage, a 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.539 pool who can 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.039 mentor and 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.759 challenge us. 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.859 We need a 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:47.519 Barnabas who 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:47.920 can come 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:48.879 alongside and 00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:49.640 encourage us. 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.079 And we need a 00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:52.220 Timothy, someone we 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.180 can pour our life 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.519 into. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.920 So say that again, 00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.379 we need a 00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:56.759 pool who can 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.240 mentor and 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:57.839 challenge us. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:58.579 We need a 00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.319 Barnabas who can 00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.160 come alongside and 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:00.960 encourage us. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.059 And we need a 00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:03.319 Timothy, someone we 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:04.099 can pour our life 00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:04.400 into. 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.379 I like this 00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:07.559 illustration because 00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.379 when we run to 00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:10.140 Jesus and grasp 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:12.240 his gentleness, it 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:13.200 can't help but 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:13.980 change in how we 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.380 think and 00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:15.759 behave and 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:17.200 flow through 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:17.640 what we do. 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.180 And I think it's 00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:19.099 only natural for 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.900 that to flow 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:20.660 through to others 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.579 when we experience 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.160 and know Jesus 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.220 gentleness to us. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.839 Drawing near and 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:27.660 understanding Jesus 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.460 mercy and 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.460 gentleness, it's a 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.400 community project. 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.440 So by extension as 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.700 believers, we need 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.720 mentoring and 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.360 challenging by 00:25:35.360 --> 00:25:35.680 others. 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:37.319 We need those next 00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.200 to us who can come 00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:38.900 alongside and 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:39.660 encourage us. 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.579 And we need 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.200 others we can 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:41.900 mentor and grow, 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.900 who we can share 00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.800 Jesus' 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:45.259 gentleness with. 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:49.940 So if these are 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.820 not marks you find 00:25:50.820 --> 00:25:51.620 in your life as a 00:25:51.620 --> 00:25:52.440 believer today, I 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:52.900 want you to 00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:54.300 encourage not just 00:25:54.300 --> 00:25:55.300 to consider finding 00:25:55.300 --> 00:25:56.240 these relationships, 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:57.900 but make it your 00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:58.240 goal. 00:25:58.540 --> 00:25:59.380 Make it your goal 00:25:59.380 --> 00:26:00.500 to work on that 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:00.820 today. 00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:03.280 And above all, 00:26:04.060 --> 00:26:05.360 keep your eyes on 00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:07.140 his tenderness and 00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:07.680 run to him. 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:09.300 Let's pray 00:26:09.300 --> 00:26:09.600 together. 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:11.759 Father God, we 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.819 thank you for the 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.599 confidence we can 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.599 have to draw near 00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:15.859 to you, knowing 00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:16.859 that you love 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.699 helping us no 00:26:17.699 --> 00:26:18.939 matter what mess or 00:26:18.939 --> 00:26:19.699 trouble we find 00:26:19.699 --> 00:26:20.419 ourselves in. 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:22.539 We stand in awe 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:24.099 that you are the 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:25.059 great high priest, 00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.559 totally sinless, 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:28.319 that resisted all 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.859 temptation so we 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:30.599 might have direct 00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:31.379 access to knowing 00:26:31.379 --> 00:26:32.459 your gentleness and 00:26:32.459 --> 00:26:33.159 mercy today. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.919 We ask you might 00:26:34.919 --> 00:26:35.559 help us find 00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:36.439 believers that can 00:26:36.439 --> 00:26:37.759 mentor, encourage, 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.960 and we can grow 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.680 in understanding 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.359 these wonderful 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:41.019 truths together. 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.400 In Jesus' name, 00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:43.140 Amen.