WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.880 Well, please do have a seat. 00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:06.480 It sounded like the strangest chant I think I've ever been involved with. 00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:07.100 It was beautiful. 00:00:08.019 --> 00:00:12.540 But Jesus is the Son of God, and we come to his word this morning expectant. 00:00:12.620 --> 00:00:15.939 So can I invite you now to turn to Luke chapter 4, 00:00:16.679 --> 00:00:19.900 and let's finish our reading for this morning, 00:00:19.900 --> 00:00:24.420 reading from verse 1 of chapter 4 down to verse 13. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.740 Verse 1 of chapter 4, Luke writes this, 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:41.920 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 00:00:42.859 --> 00:00:45.560 where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil. 00:00:46.299 --> 00:00:50.539 He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 00:00:50.539 --> 00:00:52.719 And the devil said to him, 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:56.000 If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:58.020 Jesus answered, 00:00:58.219 --> 00:00:59.200 It is written, 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:02.579 Man shall not live on bread alone. 00:01:03.740 --> 00:01:05.859 The devil led him up to a high place, 00:01:06.140 --> 00:01:09.340 and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 00:01:09.799 --> 00:01:10.799 And he said to him, 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:13.799 I will give you all their authority and splendor. 00:01:14.299 --> 00:01:15.579 It has been given to me, 00:01:15.740 --> 00:01:18.060 and I can give it to anyone I want. 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:20.280 If you worship me, 00:01:20.620 --> 00:01:21.819 it will all be yours. 00:01:23.039 --> 00:01:24.140 Jesus answered, 00:01:24.140 --> 00:01:25.540 It is written, 00:01:26.260 --> 00:01:29.180 Worship the Lord your God and serve him only. 00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:35.280 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 00:01:35.620 --> 00:01:37.359 If you are the Son of God, he said, 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:39.519 throw yourself down from here, 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:41.039 for it is written, 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:44.819 He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully. 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:48.079 They will lift you up in their hands, 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:50.560 so that you will not strike your foot against the stone. 00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:52.659 Jesus answered, 00:01:52.659 --> 00:01:53.879 It is said, 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:57.239 Do not put the Lord your God to the test. 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:00.619 When the devil had finished all this tempting, 00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:03.799 he left him until an opportune time. 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:04.920 Amen. 00:02:05.019 --> 00:02:06.439 This is God's word to us this morning. 00:02:06.539 --> 00:02:08.359 Let's just pause for a brief moment, 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:09.340 and let's pray together. 00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:15.519 Father, we thank you so much for this morning. 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:20.600 Lord, thank you for the gift of being able to sing your praises, 00:02:20.920 --> 00:02:22.900 that you are the incomparable, 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:24.860 you are the indescribable God. 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:27.439 And our prayer, Father, 00:02:27.540 --> 00:02:29.439 now as we come to your words, 00:02:29.860 --> 00:02:31.939 is that you would blow our minds 00:02:31.939 --> 00:02:34.040 with the greatness, 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:36.340 the incomparable greatness, 00:02:36.900 --> 00:02:38.520 of your Son, Jesus Christ. 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:40.360 And it's in his name 00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:41.820 that we make this prayer. 00:02:42.420 --> 00:02:42.840 Amen. 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:47.060 Well, it's fantastic to see so many new faces this morning, 00:02:47.500 --> 00:02:49.300 and so many returning faces as well, 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:50.560 and so many familiar faces. 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:52.840 It's wonderful to be here together as a church family. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:55.580 If you are joining us this morning for the first time, 00:02:55.620 --> 00:02:56.300 as John said, 00:02:56.379 --> 00:02:58.500 you're joining us one sermon in. 00:02:58.580 --> 00:03:01.620 This is the second sermon of this new series we're on in Luke's Gospel. 00:03:02.379 --> 00:03:04.539 We're just going to be spending the next while as a church, 00:03:04.580 --> 00:03:07.460 and our morning service is just hanging out in Luke's Gospel, 00:03:07.460 --> 00:03:11.580 spending time getting to know this man, Jesus Christ. 00:03:12.420 --> 00:03:13.379 Dr. Luke, 00:03:14.379 --> 00:03:15.780 Dr. Luke, the good doctor, 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:18.939 he's taking the time to write this Gospel 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:21.960 so that Theophilus would have, 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:25.319 and so that we would have as his readers, 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:29.280 certainty about this man, Jesus Christ. 00:03:29.740 --> 00:03:31.100 This is why he's written this thing, 00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:31.780 certainty. 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:33.580 His generation, 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:34.659 he wants certainty. 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:36.840 Every generation following it, 00:03:37.140 --> 00:03:38.039 we are included in that. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:40.280 He wants them to have certainty about Jesus Christ, 00:03:40.379 --> 00:03:41.039 who he is, 00:03:41.639 --> 00:03:42.340 what he did, 00:03:42.860 --> 00:03:43.840 what he's all about, 00:03:44.020 --> 00:03:46.960 and why that infinitely matters for your life, 00:03:47.340 --> 00:03:48.180 and my life. 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:50.659 This is the story of Jesus Christ. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:53.780 And we began last week by looking at John the Baptist. 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:57.180 We met him in the first half of Luke chapter 3, 00:03:57.180 --> 00:04:00.120 and we saw that John the Baptist was the great preparer, 00:04:00.860 --> 00:04:03.420 the great forerunner, if you like, 00:04:03.480 --> 00:04:04.640 the voice in the wilderness, 00:04:04.920 --> 00:04:07.140 whom God had sent as God had promised 00:04:07.140 --> 00:04:10.800 to get people ready for the coming of the Messiah. 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:15.100 And we thought about the fact that John was kind of like a best man. 00:04:15.939 --> 00:04:17.660 He didn't want the spotlight to shine on him, 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:19.259 he wanted the spotlight to go over him 00:04:19.259 --> 00:04:20.579 to the one who was to come. 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:21.399 That's John the Baptist. 00:04:22.780 --> 00:04:23.759 And if John the Baptist, 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:24.420 we thought, 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:26.100 was a bit like a best man, 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:27.620 well here, 00:04:28.660 --> 00:04:29.520 verse 21, 00:04:29.960 --> 00:04:30.840 Jesus the groom, 00:04:31.560 --> 00:04:32.840 steps into the limelight. 00:04:33.840 --> 00:04:34.540 Question is, 00:04:34.640 --> 00:04:36.939 what will Jesus be like as we meet him here 00:04:36.939 --> 00:04:39.420 at the outset of his public ministry? 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:42.060 Well, a few months ago, 00:04:42.280 --> 00:04:42.920 I had, 00:04:43.320 --> 00:04:45.020 or we had the pleasure rather, 00:04:45.220 --> 00:04:47.280 of taking a family holiday down in Cornwall. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:48.100 Anyone meet to Cornwall? 00:04:49.300 --> 00:04:50.080 Keep your hands up. 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:51.780 Have you driven from Edinburgh to Cornwall? 00:04:53.260 --> 00:04:53.840 Nan has. 00:04:54.379 --> 00:04:54.840 Deb has. 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:56.239 A few of us have. 00:04:56.599 --> 00:05:00.099 Okay, can you join with me in telling everybody that it's a long way? 00:05:01.159 --> 00:05:01.339 Yeah? 00:05:01.659 --> 00:05:03.579 The road, it just keeps on going. 00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:09.399 Now, I would love to stand here and tell you that I had 10 hours of sparkling conversation in me on that road trip. 00:05:09.799 --> 00:05:10.419 But I don't. 00:05:11.159 --> 00:05:14.339 So what do you do when you don't have conversation on a car journey? 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:15.659 You stick on the radio, don't you? 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:17.059 You stick on the radio, 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:19.620 and you listen to what's on there. 00:05:20.280 --> 00:05:22.939 My wife, Alex, she's determined to make a cultured man of me. 00:05:23.420 --> 00:05:27.519 So now and again, we ditch the football phone in on 5 Live and we head to Radio 4. 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:34.399 So we're listening to Radio 4 on this car journey and we're tuning in to what I think was the Today program on Radio 4. 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:38.099 And it's two days after the Brexit referendum. 00:05:39.060 --> 00:05:40.259 And they're having a phone in. 00:05:41.299 --> 00:05:42.000 They're having a phone in. 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:42.539 I love phone in. 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:43.379 So they're having a phone in. 00:05:43.379 --> 00:05:49.860 And they're inviting callers to phone up and tell the whole listening audience how they are feeling, 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:53.899 their concerns, their thoughts, their doubts. 00:05:54.540 --> 00:05:56.120 And we're listening to this phone in. 00:05:56.800 --> 00:05:59.180 And we're listening to this one caller who phones in. 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:02.579 The presenter says, what's your concern, caller? 00:06:03.100 --> 00:06:09.100 And the caller, as he perceives the world around about him that's changed so much, 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:13.279 not just Brexit, the whole thing, the whole world that he doesn't understand, 00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:15.800 his comment is, we're in a mess. 00:06:16.779 --> 00:06:17.759 We're in a mess. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:21.500 The presenter says back to him, what are we going to do about the mess? 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:23.779 And he says, we need a leader. 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:27.759 We need a leader who's going to take us out of our mess. 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:31.159 Now think about that sentence for a minute. 00:06:31.159 --> 00:06:35.879 Brexit aside, is that sentence our sentence? 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:40.800 This morning, is that sentence your sentence? 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:47.100 As you look out on the world out there, as you think about the contours of your life, 00:06:47.139 --> 00:06:50.620 as you look out on the world, as we see it in our TV screens every day, 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:56.379 the conflict, poverty, famine, the mess of this world. 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:58.360 And then you look at your own heart, 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:02.100 and you don't even know where to begin with the mess that's going on in your own heart 00:07:02.100 --> 00:07:02.960 and in your own life. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:06.579 The thoughts, the words, the deeds. 00:07:07.739 --> 00:07:10.599 It's not true that we live in a messy, messy world. 00:07:12.159 --> 00:07:14.939 I wonder if you are like me. 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:16.599 Every time I see the mess, 00:07:17.459 --> 00:07:19.459 every time I experience the mess, 00:07:20.179 --> 00:07:21.639 there's a bit inside me that thinks, 00:07:21.819 --> 00:07:26.539 where is the leader who is going to take us out of this mess? 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:28.040 Where is he coming from? 00:07:29.379 --> 00:07:31.879 Now what do we need in a leader? 00:07:32.700 --> 00:07:33.860 What do we need in a leader? 00:07:34.140 --> 00:07:36.200 We need a leader who is not like us. 00:07:37.520 --> 00:07:39.400 He's not of the mess. 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:40.939 He is outside the mess. 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:43.660 And he will come in and deliver us from the mess 00:07:43.660 --> 00:07:45.680 because he's not tainted by the mess. 00:07:46.620 --> 00:07:50.820 And we need a leader who will not just look on at a distance to the mess, 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:55.019 but will come and be involved in our mess. 00:07:55.899 --> 00:07:59.279 And we need a leader who will succeed in the mess 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:02.240 where you and I fail every day in the mess. 00:08:02.339 --> 00:08:03.659 That's the kind of leader that we need. 00:08:04.980 --> 00:08:06.839 So where are we going to find such a leader? 00:08:07.899 --> 00:08:08.719 Great question. 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:13.459 I'd argue it's humanity's question ever since the fall in Genesis chapter 3. 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:15.539 Where is that king coming from? 00:08:16.740 --> 00:08:18.519 Well, here's what we need to understand this morning. 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:20.799 And here's what Luke is doing in these verses. 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:23.839 He is showing us that Jesus is that leader. 00:08:24.979 --> 00:08:25.959 Jesus is that leader. 00:08:26.219 --> 00:08:27.519 In fact, he's more than a leader. 00:08:28.339 --> 00:08:29.019 He's a king. 00:08:29.799 --> 00:08:32.279 He's a king who has come down from above, 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:33.679 not to lord it over us, 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:38.639 but to step into our mess and rescue us. 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:40.220 That's what Jesus has come to do. 00:08:41.579 --> 00:08:44.340 It's what the angels told the shepherds at Jesus' birth. 00:08:44.439 --> 00:08:46.419 Chapter 2, verse 11, if you've got it there. 00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:47.740 What do they say? 00:08:47.819 --> 00:08:51.620 Today in the town of David, a saviour has been born to you. 00:08:53.939 --> 00:08:58.779 It's what Simeon, this devout man that we meet in chapter 2, 00:08:59.099 --> 00:09:00.860 waiting on God's Messiah to come. 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:04.759 He meets the baby Jesus and he holds him in his hands 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:05.879 and he exclaims, 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:08.079 I have seen your salvation, God. 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:11.200 Jesus is the saviour of the world. 00:09:11.300 --> 00:09:12.220 This is what Luke's trying to be. 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:14.860 He's been dropping the breadcrumbs up to this point of the gospel. 00:09:15.020 --> 00:09:17.360 Jesus is the saviour of the world. 00:09:20.160 --> 00:09:21.840 So when it comes to finding that leader, 00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:24.660 this is what we need to understand this morning. 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:25.400 What is Luke doing? 00:09:26.300 --> 00:09:29.460 He's showing us that Jesus fits the bill. 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:32.540 Jesus fits the bill. 00:09:32.539 --> 00:09:36.679 Come with me to verse 21 of chapter 3. 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:43.120 And see that Luke shows us that verses 21 and 22, 00:09:43.299 --> 00:09:44.360 with Jesus' baptism, 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:48.399 that Jesus has a name that we don't have. 00:09:49.899 --> 00:09:52.559 So in these verses, Luke tells us about Jesus' baptism. 00:09:53.639 --> 00:09:55.899 John is baptising in the wilderness 00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:59.299 and as the crowds of people respond to his message, 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:01.100 as they repent of their sins, 00:10:01.139 --> 00:10:03.220 as they turn to God, they are baptised. 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:06.600 And Jesus also is baptised. 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:08.519 Now, let's just pause there for a minute. 00:10:09.939 --> 00:10:11.639 Why is Jesus being baptised? 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:13.779 Is he repenting of sins? 00:10:14.419 --> 00:10:15.199 Of course he's not. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:17.919 Jesus is the perfect one. 00:10:18.379 --> 00:10:20.100 There's no sins that he needs to repent of. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:21.399 He's not repenting of sins. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:23.379 So what is he doing getting baptised? 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:29.019 Well, here is our Saviour Jesus Christ 00:10:29.019 --> 00:10:32.500 identifying with sinful men and women. 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:36.259 You see, here is a leader who is getting involved, 00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:38.720 who is stepping right into the heart of the mess 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:41.000 of the very people that he came to save. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:43.259 And as he is baptised, 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:45.600 what does Luke record for us at verse 22? 00:10:46.919 --> 00:10:48.899 That the heavens opened 00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:52.980 and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus 00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:56.639 and the voice comes from heaven, 00:10:56.800 --> 00:10:58.420 you are my son. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:00.259 Who is this man? 00:11:00.379 --> 00:11:04.639 He is none other than God's eternal son. 00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:09.600 Now, one of my hobbies is reading. 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:11.560 I know it was something you always put in your CV 00:11:11.560 --> 00:11:12.180 when you were young 00:11:12.180 --> 00:11:13.340 and you never actually were into reading, 00:11:13.420 --> 00:11:15.019 but you wanted the employer to know you were into reading. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.440 But I am actually into reading. 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:20.040 So every time I go to a bookshop 00:11:20.040 --> 00:11:22.620 and I pick up a book that I want to buy 00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:23.500 or I go into Amazon 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:26.260 and I click the thing that lets you see the first few pages, 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:29.700 do you know the thing that I'm looking for every time is? 00:11:30.160 --> 00:11:31.520 Is the endorsements page. 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:34.940 I want to see this book. 00:11:35.020 --> 00:11:37.040 I want to see who's putting their name to this book. 00:11:37.580 --> 00:11:39.340 I want to see who has read this book 00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:41.480 and is recommending that I read this book 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:42.620 and purchase this book. 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:44.779 Because if it's a name that I trust 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:46.879 and I know and I respect 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:48.000 and I'm buying that book, 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:50.080 but if it's a name that I don't recognize, 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:52.159 if it's a name that doesn't really mean anything to me, 00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:54.019 then I probably will put it back on the shelf. 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:55.639 I'm a guy who's into endorsements 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:56.940 when it comes to buying books. 00:11:58.659 --> 00:12:00.539 What is going on in Luke chapter 3? 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:02.759 Who is endorsing to me the son? 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:04.840 Answer, God is. 00:12:05.580 --> 00:12:06.200 This is, 00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:08.139 my son is the voice from heaven, 00:12:08.220 --> 00:12:09.120 is the cry from heaven. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:13.360 It's a deliberate echo of the language of Psalm 2, 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:15.779 the great psalm about God's chosen king. 00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:18.519 And with that backdrop, 00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:20.720 do you see that this baptism here 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.679 is less like a kind of religious service? 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:25.200 And actually, 00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:27.659 it's a lot more like a king's coronation. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.320 Here is heaven's king, 00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:31.519 says the voice from above. 00:12:31.940 --> 00:12:33.779 And how does God feel about his son? 00:12:34.299 --> 00:12:35.539 He loves his son. 00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:38.720 And he is well pleased with his son. 00:12:39.040 --> 00:12:41.300 Jesus Christ gets heaven's affection 00:12:41.300 --> 00:12:43.220 and heaven's commendation. 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:45.800 Luke is showing us that Jesus, 00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:46.660 as we meet him here, 00:12:46.700 --> 00:12:48.259 is coming with heaven's endorsement. 00:12:49.300 --> 00:12:50.300 And would you notice that 00:12:50.300 --> 00:12:52.200 all three members of the Trinity, 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:53.180 of the Godhead, 00:12:53.300 --> 00:12:55.420 are involved in this section of Luke's gospel? 00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:57.379 They're all involved here 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:58.620 in the plan of salvation. 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:00.920 You see, the truth is here 00:13:00.920 --> 00:13:03.360 that God hasn't just advised 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.040 about the plan to save men and women 00:13:05.040 --> 00:13:05.840 from their mess. 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:07.980 He hasn't just got the ball rolling. 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:09.639 He's not just financing this gig 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:10.600 to save men and women 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:11.340 from their mess. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:13.320 He's not just an interested party, 00:13:13.420 --> 00:13:14.039 an investor, 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:16.120 in the plan to save people 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:16.840 from the mess. 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:19.240 God is the plan 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:20.200 to save people 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:21.340 from their mess. 00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:24.039 That is what's going on here 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:24.920 in this section. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:26.779 Charles Spurgeon said this, 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:28.000 from the depths 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.460 of divine compassion 00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:30.680 come the gift 00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:32.180 of the only begotten son. 00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:34.480 That's what's going on here. 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:36.960 God is stepping in. 00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:38.080 Here is God's son. 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:39.899 Here is God's eternal king. 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:42.960 You see, our mess, 00:13:43.420 --> 00:13:44.740 to solve it, 00:13:45.340 --> 00:13:45.800 the leader, 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.139 we need a leader 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:48.399 who is not like us. 00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:50.960 Here is one who is 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:52.600 God's eternal son, 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:53.120 says Luke. 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:54.980 Here's one who is fully divine. 00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:56.860 See, Jesus Christ, 00:13:56.920 --> 00:13:57.580 as we meet him here, 00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:58.279 he's got a name 00:13:58.279 --> 00:13:59.539 that we don't have. 00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:01.240 And secondly, 00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:04.000 verses 23 to 37 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.199 of chapter 3, 00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:06.759 the genealogy, 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:07.879 that I'm sure 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:08.639 we've never read 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:09.459 like that before, 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:10.339 Luke shows us 00:14:10.339 --> 00:14:11.500 that Jesus has 00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:12.399 a lineage 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.959 that we do have. 00:14:15.319 --> 00:14:16.259 And to help us see that, 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:17.379 Luke tells us 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.699 Jesus' family tree. 00:14:18.819 --> 00:14:19.899 That's what was going on there 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:20.620 in these verses. 00:14:21.579 --> 00:14:22.319 Luke tells us 00:14:22.319 --> 00:14:23.839 about Jesus' family tree. 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.360 Now why 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.919 has Luke 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:27.799 included 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:29.299 a family tree 00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:30.079 at this section? 00:14:30.339 --> 00:14:31.120 Great question. 00:14:31.719 --> 00:14:32.599 Full of great questions 00:14:32.599 --> 00:14:33.039 this morning. 00:14:33.859 --> 00:14:34.599 Great question. 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:36.479 Why is it there? 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:38.359 Well, I was speaking 00:14:38.359 --> 00:14:39.000 to a pastor 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:39.639 the other day 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:41.539 and he was telling me 00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:42.559 a wonderful story 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:43.099 about a group 00:14:43.099 --> 00:14:44.439 of Bible translators 00:14:44.439 --> 00:14:45.399 who were working 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:46.159 in the Philippines. 00:14:48.059 --> 00:14:49.059 And these Bible translators 00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:49.699 were working 00:14:49.699 --> 00:14:50.479 to translate 00:14:50.479 --> 00:14:51.240 Luke's gospel 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:52.139 from English 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:53.179 into the native tongue 00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:53.620 of the people 00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:54.399 who they were amongst. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:55.979 Days passed, 00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:57.259 months passed, 00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:58.159 they were slogging 00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:58.860 away at this, 00:14:59.080 --> 00:14:59.740 translating it 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:00.240 and reading it 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:01.319 every day to the people. 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:03.039 And if truth be told, 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:04.059 they had not seen 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:05.480 one single ounce 00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:08.279 of inspiration 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:09.000 from the people. 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:09.600 They weren't that 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.000 interested in Luke's gospel. 00:15:11.939 --> 00:15:12.879 They'd almost translated 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.539 the whole thing 00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:14.519 except they hadn't 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:15.519 translated this part 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:16.200 of Luke's gospel. 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.779 They hadn't translated it 00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:20.100 because why would people 00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:20.659 need to know 00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:21.580 about a bunch of names? 00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:22.519 It's probably what we thought 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:22.939 this morning 00:15:22.939 --> 00:15:24.059 as we came to this passage. 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:24.759 Why do people 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:25.399 need to know? 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:27.100 And so they thought 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:27.480 to themselves, 00:15:27.579 --> 00:15:28.480 we've got nothing to lose, 00:15:28.579 --> 00:15:28.959 we may as well 00:15:28.959 --> 00:15:30.259 translate the genealogy. 00:15:31.059 --> 00:15:32.120 And would you know it, 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.299 as they read this out 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:33.779 to the people, 00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:34.639 as they translated it 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:35.480 and read it out, 00:15:35.699 --> 00:15:36.699 the people applauded, 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.939 they clapped 00:15:37.939 --> 00:15:38.519 and they cheered. 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:40.519 Fascinating. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:43.360 Why did they do that? 00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:44.519 Well, people were hearing 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.519 for the first time 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.699 in their native language, 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.679 in their native tongue, 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:48.840 that Jesus Christ 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:50.120 was not a mythical figure. 00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:51.439 He was one 00:15:51.439 --> 00:15:52.539 who had a family tree 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.439 and was one 00:15:53.439 --> 00:15:54.000 who was truly 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:55.000 one of us. 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:57.559 Maybe that's a word 00:15:57.559 --> 00:15:58.139 for some of us 00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:58.700 this morning. 00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:01.879 But here is one 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:02.759 who can sympathize 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.080 with us 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:04.240 in every single weakness. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.500 He is God 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.679 in the flesh. 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:11.279 He is one 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:12.080 who is unstained 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:12.740 by the mess, 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:12.980 yes, 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:14.200 but what a glorious truth 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:14.779 that he is one 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:15.879 who can sympathize 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.259 with those 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:16.679 who are living 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:17.299 in the mess 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:17.980 because he knows 00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:18.460 what it means 00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:20.000 to be in the mess. 00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:20.639 You see, 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.500 Luke is telling us 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:22.299 that Jesus Christ 00:16:22.299 --> 00:16:23.279 is not just a savior 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:24.679 for a certain demographic, 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:26.179 for a certain group 00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:26.620 of people. 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:27.580 Jesus Christ 00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:28.279 is the savior 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:30.080 of the entire human race. 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:31.480 For all those men 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.440 and women around the globe, 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.019 boys and girls, 00:16:33.059 --> 00:16:33.440 who would come 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:34.139 and put their faith 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:34.879 and trust in him 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.519 as their savior, 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.960 he is their savior. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.559 That's what Luke 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:39.340 is telling us there. 00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:41.500 But if that's all 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.100 we take away 00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.080 from that genealogy, 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:43.620 then I think 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.080 we're probably 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:44.580 just falling 00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:45.539 a little bit short 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.820 of the entirety 00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:48.259 of doing Luke's, 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.340 of what Luke 00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:50.159 is trying to do there. 00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.580 Look at the last name 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:52.080 on the list 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:53.000 at verse 38. 00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:56.800 The son of Adam. 00:16:57.740 --> 00:16:58.740 Now why is Adam 00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.139 in there? 00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:01.080 Well, of course, 00:17:01.160 --> 00:17:02.400 it's with Adam's rebellion, 00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:03.440 Adam's failure 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.600 in the Garden of Eden 00:17:04.600 --> 00:17:06.140 to worship God fully, 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:09.000 Adam's failure 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:10.120 to resist the lure 00:17:10.120 --> 00:17:10.660 of Satan 00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:11.920 that sin enters 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:13.380 the creation equation, 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.000 and what God 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:15.559 had made 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:16.299 as good, 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:17.920 as perfect, 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.180 is now marred 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:20.299 with brokenness, 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:21.019 frustration, 00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:22.279 and mess. 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.080 And we read it 00:17:24.080 --> 00:17:25.660 in Genesis 3.15 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:27.340 that God addresses 00:17:27.340 --> 00:17:27.880 Satan, 00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.460 and what does he promise? 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:30.960 He promises 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.000 that one of Adam's 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.620 descendants 00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:34.080 is going to come 00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:35.340 and end 00:17:35.340 --> 00:17:36.560 the reign of sin. 00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:37.660 He's going to defeat 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.799 Satan 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.980 and defeat 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:41.640 his power. 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.560 Genesis 3.15, 00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:44.200 what do we see? 00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:45.240 That God promises 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.720 the serpent crusher 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.440 who will come 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:48.920 from Adam's line, 00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:50.140 and God says 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:50.680 to the serpent, 00:17:50.840 --> 00:17:51.860 he will crush 00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:53.299 your heads, 00:17:53.900 --> 00:17:54.500 and you will 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:56.140 bruise his heel. 00:17:57.900 --> 00:17:58.960 So from that point 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.160 on in the Bible story, 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.039 we're asking ourselves 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:01.539 the question, 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:02.380 where is this 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:03.220 serpent crusher? 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.340 And in passing, 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.340 notice just one other 00:18:06.340 --> 00:18:07.180 name on this list. 00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:08.100 Notice David 00:18:08.100 --> 00:18:09.000 at verse 31, 00:18:10.580 --> 00:18:12.100 Israel's greatest 00:18:12.100 --> 00:18:13.480 and most celebrated 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:13.920 king, 00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:15.299 and God had promised 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:17.060 David in 2 Samuel 7, 00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:18.259 it's recorded for us, 00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:19.539 where David is thinking 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.779 about building a temple 00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:21.500 for God, 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:23.079 and what does God say? 00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:23.700 No, David, 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.460 I'm going to build 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.339 a temple for you. 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:27.319 I'm going to build 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:28.339 my temple, 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.259 and I will ensure 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:30.000 that one of your 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.539 descendants 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:31.379 will establish 00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:32.539 the kingly throne, 00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:33.980 and will sit on that 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:34.879 throne and rule 00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:35.559 forever. 00:18:37.420 --> 00:18:38.740 And David dies, 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:40.879 and his son Solomon 00:18:40.879 --> 00:18:41.500 dies, 00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:42.960 and as the kingdom 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:44.099 of Israel crumbles, 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:44.960 we're left thinking 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.579 to ourselves 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.359 as the readers, 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:47.439 where is this 00:18:47.439 --> 00:18:48.099 promised king? 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.839 Where is this king 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:50.399 who will come 00:18:50.399 --> 00:18:51.319 from David's line 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.079 and who will sit 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:52.659 on the throne 00:18:52.659 --> 00:18:54.139 of David as a king, 00:18:54.439 --> 00:18:54.959 God's king, 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:56.179 and do that forever? 00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:59.000 So let's pull Adam 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.019 and David together. 00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:01.919 What is Luke telling us? 00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:03.500 That Jesus 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:05.859 is in that line. 00:19:06.699 --> 00:19:07.299 That Jesus 00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:08.639 is that promised 00:19:08.639 --> 00:19:09.459 serpent crusher. 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:10.000 That Jesus 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.979 is the descendant 00:19:10.979 --> 00:19:11.419 of David 00:19:11.419 --> 00:19:12.099 who will rule 00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:13.240 as a king forever. 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:15.039 Jesus Christ 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:15.880 is God's 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:17.339 promised king. 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.359 When God 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:20.640 promises something, 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:21.859 God delivers. 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.500 See, 00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:25.120 we need a leader 00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:25.700 who is 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:27.140 not like us, 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.079 but we need 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:29.380 a leader 00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:30.079 who is 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:31.039 like us. 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.539 Here is one 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:33.960 who is 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:35.000 fully divine, 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:35.720 says Luke, 00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:36.579 and here is one 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.680 who is fully human. 00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:39.120 Jesus 00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:39.940 fits 00:19:39.940 --> 00:19:40.940 the bill. 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:42.460 He is a name 00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.319 that we don't have 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:44.380 and he has 00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:44.860 a lineage 00:19:44.860 --> 00:19:45.799 that we do have. 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.720 And thirdly, 00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:47.940 Luke wants us 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.380 to know 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:48.980 that Jesus 00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:49.900 is the king 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.680 who has 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:51.380 the victory 00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:53.240 that we need, 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:54.720 that we must have. 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:55.960 Chapter 4, 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:57.299 verses 1 to 13. 00:19:58.840 --> 00:19:59.920 And it's no coincidence 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:01.000 that Luke takes us 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:01.799 from thinking about 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:02.319 Adam, 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:03.519 in verse 38 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.360 of chapter 3, 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:06.160 straight into 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:06.920 the temptation 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:07.940 in chapter 4. 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:09.860 Adam, 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.160 in the garden 00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:11.600 of Eden, 00:20:11.860 --> 00:20:12.540 he lost 00:20:12.540 --> 00:20:13.180 his battle 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:13.779 with Satan. 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:15.220 He succumbed 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.200 to the lure 00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:16.700 of sin 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:17.540 and as a result 00:20:17.540 --> 00:20:18.580 he is banished 00:20:18.580 --> 00:20:19.279 from the garden 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:20.860 and he's sent 00:20:20.860 --> 00:20:21.980 into the wilderness 00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.700 as it were. 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.380 That's where 00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:25.380 mankind's been 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:26.019 ever since, 00:20:26.560 --> 00:20:27.320 in the wilderness. 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.019 And so where 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:30.240 is Jesus here? 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:32.500 He's not in a garden. 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.180 Actually, 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:35.060 he's in the wilderness. 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.300 And he's there 00:20:37.300 --> 00:20:37.940 by choice, 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:38.540 will you notice, 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:39.180 in passing. 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:39.680 He's there 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.640 by the Spirit's 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:40.920 leading. 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.960 He's not there 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:43.779 by accident. 00:20:44.600 --> 00:20:45.380 He's not there 00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:46.100 hitting his faulty 00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:46.960 sat-nav saying, 00:20:47.100 --> 00:20:47.600 I knew I should have 00:20:47.600 --> 00:20:48.519 updated the software 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.140 before I left 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:49.680 this morning. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:50.380 He's there 00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:51.220 by choice. 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:52.660 You see, 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:52.940 yes, 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.580 we see Jesus 00:20:53.580 --> 00:20:54.519 on the defensive 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:54.940 here, 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:55.900 but that defensive 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:56.880 is in the context 00:20:56.880 --> 00:20:57.600 of him being 00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:58.400 on the offensive. 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.420 Jesus is there 00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:01.240 by choice. 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.700 And what is he doing? 00:21:02.860 --> 00:21:02.980 Well, 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:03.620 there's a purpose 00:21:03.620 --> 00:21:04.440 to what he's doing. 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:05.840 Luke wants us 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:06.299 to see that 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:08.200 Jesus goes 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:08.919 to the wilderness 00:21:08.919 --> 00:21:09.759 to defeat 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.500 the enemy, 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:12.579 to win the battle, 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:14.659 to undo the effects 00:21:14.659 --> 00:21:15.980 of the battle 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.299 that Adam lost. 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.619 And the battle 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:20.799 that all humanity 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:22.220 ever since, 00:21:22.399 --> 00:21:22.960 and the battle 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:23.700 that you 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.759 and I 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.359 lose 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:26.639 every moment 00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:27.740 of every day. 00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:30.460 and Jesus 00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.039 goes there 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:31.779 to take on 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.240 the greatest 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:32.700 enemy 00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:34.079 and to defeat 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:34.440 him 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.960 by defeating 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.259 him, 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.640 rescuing people 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:38.539 from the position 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:39.759 and the mess 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.620 that sin 00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:41.559 has left us 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.079 in. 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:45.059 And this battle 00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:45.839 sees the devil 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:46.480 tempt Jesus. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.279 We get three 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.299 little accounts 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:48.660 of it. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:49.920 Firstly, 00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:50.759 verse 3, 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.500 to a hungry 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.559 entire Jesus. 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.380 Look with me. 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.480 What is the devil? 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.420 What does he go for? 00:21:56.120 --> 00:21:56.839 If you are 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.700 the son of God, 00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:58.640 let's turn 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.400 these stones 00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:00.620 into bread. 00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.660 Now what's the devil 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:03.200 up to there? 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:04.859 Well, he's questioning 00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.900 Jesus' identity, 00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:06.380 isn't he? 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:07.660 Has anyone ever 00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.660 questioned your identity 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:09.259 of something that 00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:10.039 you know is true 00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:10.519 about you 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.079 and your first 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.920 reaction is, 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:12.519 yes I am? 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:14.599 We don't see Jesus 00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.339 doing that here. 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.160 What's the devil 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:18.460 doing? 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.120 He's trying to get 00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:20.059 Jesus to doubt 00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:21.000 God's provision 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.759 and doubt 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.559 God's goodness. 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:25.980 You see, 00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:26.799 Adam in the garden, 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.720 he had absolutely 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.759 everything going 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.120 for him. 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:30.120 He had absolutely 00:22:30.120 --> 00:22:30.880 everything that he 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:31.799 could ever want 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:33.380 and yet he 00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.120 and Eve, 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.980 they doubted 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:35.440 the goodness 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.140 of God. 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:37.019 What did the devil 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.660 say then? 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.220 Did God really say? 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:40.660 As if to say, 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:41.279 can you really 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.140 trust God? 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.500 Adam who had 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.240 everything going 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:45.779 for him, 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.240 Jesus here has 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.220 quite literally 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:49.140 absolutely nothing 00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:50.059 going for him. 00:22:51.100 --> 00:22:52.000 And what does he do? 00:22:52.360 --> 00:22:53.279 He trusts 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:54.379 in the goodness 00:22:54.379 --> 00:22:55.740 and he trusts 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.599 in the provision 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.579 of God. 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:57.960 You see, 00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:58.940 Jesus will not 00:22:58.940 --> 00:23:00.539 fail where Adam 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.660 failed and where 00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.779 you fail and where 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.460 I fail. 00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:04.440 What does he say? 00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.319 God is good 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:07.039 and his word 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:07.720 is good 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:09.440 and man shall 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.740 not live by bread 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.500 alone. 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.599 And the second 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:14.180 temptation, 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.460 verses 6 to 7, 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.259 what does the devil 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:16.500 say? 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.519 If you worship me, 00:23:17.639 --> 00:23:18.779 all authority and 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.519 splendor will be 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.039 yours. 00:23:20.659 --> 00:23:21.500 All authority 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.039 and splendor. 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.579 And I'll be honest, 00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:24.440 I found it quite 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.460 difficult this week 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:26.779 understanding what's 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.460 going on here. 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:29.740 I'm indebted to a 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.059 guy called 00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:30.759 Sinclair Ferguson 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.559 for helping me to 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.519 see what's going 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.059 on here. 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.259 Because the devil, 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.259 as he offers Jesus 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:37.159 all authority and 00:23:37.159 --> 00:23:37.440 splendor, 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.099 not only does the 00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:38.799 devil not have 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.639 all authority and 00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.119 splendor, 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.200 but that's already 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:42.339 all authority and 00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:42.940 splendor is already 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.799 coming to Jesus 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.559 later on. 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:45.700 He knows it's 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:45.920 coming, 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:46.819 he knows it's his, 00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:48.000 so what's the devil 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:48.859 trying to do here? 00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:51.119 Well, he's trying 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:51.980 to offer Jesus a 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:53.559 shortcut to all 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:54.200 authority and 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:54.740 splendor. 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.460 You see, that road 00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.659 to all authority 00:23:57.659 --> 00:23:58.359 and splendor, 00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.220 it is a road that 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.720 goes via the cross, 00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:01.859 not around the 00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:02.339 cross. 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:05.059 Devil offers Jesus 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:06.159 a shortcut to that 00:24:06.159 --> 00:24:06.759 authority and 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.099 splendor. 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.579 Jesus says, 00:24:07.659 --> 00:24:09.440 no, I know what 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.240 I've come to do. 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.399 Jesus will not 00:24:12.399 --> 00:24:13.940 fail where Adam 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:15.079 failed and where 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:16.059 you fail and where 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.720 I fail. 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:17.740 Worship the Lord, 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.420 your God, 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:19.860 and serve him 00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:20.560 only, says 00:24:20.560 --> 00:24:21.039 Jesus. 00:24:22.620 --> 00:24:23.500 Third temptation 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.100 at verse 9, 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:24.700 if you are the 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.160 Son of God, 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.220 throw yourself down 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:26.759 from here. 00:24:27.060 --> 00:24:27.759 After all, is that 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.420 not what God's 00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:30.259 promised in the 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.060 scriptures that you 00:24:31.060 --> 00:24:31.779 love to quote to 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.019 me? 00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:34.660 But no, Jesus will 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:36.039 not fail where 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.000 Adam failed and 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.820 where you fail and 00:24:37.820 --> 00:24:38.400 where I fail. 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.000 What does he say? 00:24:39.080 --> 00:24:39.880 Do not put the 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:40.500 Lord, your God, 00:24:40.560 --> 00:24:41.279 to the test. 00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:44.220 Jesus wins in the 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:44.539 wilderness. 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.560 He wins in the 00:24:47.560 --> 00:24:47.960 wilderness. 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:49.000 Praise God that he 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.600 wins in the 00:24:49.600 --> 00:24:50.400 wilderness because it 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.100 is massively 00:24:51.100 --> 00:24:52.140 significant, as we'll 00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:52.799 come on to see in 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.480 just a second. 00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:55.600 But incidentally, 00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:56.460 notice in passing 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:58.180 how Jesus wins in 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:58.640 the wilderness. 00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.860 I don't think that's 00:25:00.860 --> 00:25:01.880 the immediate purpose 00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:02.600 of why Luke is 00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.940 recording this for us 00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.620 here, but we can't 00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:05.460 help but notice it 00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.160 as we read it. 00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:08.539 What does Jesus arm 00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.440 himself with? 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.380 How does Jesus 00:25:10.380 --> 00:25:11.420 defend himself? 00:25:12.120 --> 00:25:13.559 Every time he gives 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:14.620 an answer, what does 00:25:14.620 --> 00:25:15.059 he say? 00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:15.860 Verse 4, 00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:17.359 it is written. 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.939 Verse 8, it is 00:25:19.939 --> 00:25:20.619 written. 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:23.139 Verse 12, it is 00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:24.199 said or it is 00:25:24.199 --> 00:25:24.659 written. 00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.539 Jesus defends 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.979 himself with 00:25:27.979 --> 00:25:28.459 scripture. 00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:30.240 Or more 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:31.139 particularly in this 00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:32.000 case, he defends 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.699 himself with 00:25:32.699 --> 00:25:33.599 Deuteronomy. 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:37.379 Jesus knows what 00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:38.240 God has said. 00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.919 And Jesus knows 00:25:39.919 --> 00:25:40.879 what God has not 00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:41.619 said. 00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:43.539 Jesus knows the 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:45.059 real deal and 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.879 Jesus knows the 00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:46.379 fake. 00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:49.579 I was here this 00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.339 week about the 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:50.679 U.S. 00:25:50.739 --> 00:25:51.439 Secret Service. 00:25:52.439 --> 00:25:53.419 I've never been 00:25:53.419 --> 00:25:54.039 part of the U.S. 00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:54.759 Secret Service, but 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.559 I heard a story this 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.579 week that I didn't 00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:56.879 know. 00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:57.719 U.S. 00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.559 Secret Service, I've 00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.459 got two jobs. 00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:01.659 Firstly, defend the 00:26:01.659 --> 00:26:02.079 president. 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:04.579 Secondly, defend the 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.179 currency. 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.079 Did anybody actually 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:06.519 know that? 00:26:07.419 --> 00:26:08.099 Nope, we didn't know 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:08.439 that either. 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.139 Great, we're learning 00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:09.779 stuff this morning. 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:11.180 Defend the 00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:11.980 president, defend 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.519 the currency. 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.220 How do you 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:14.200 recognize fake 00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:14.500 money? 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.519 How do you 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.720 recognize a faulty 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.379 transaction? 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:19.220 By being so in 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.920 touch with the 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:21.079 real deal that you 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:21.960 spot the fake a 00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:22.599 mile off. 00:26:23.399 --> 00:26:24.299 Same for us as 00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:24.980 Christians, is it 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.180 not? 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:25.740 As we take our 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.839 stand against the 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:27.440 schemes of the 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:28.899 devil who would 00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:29.940 seek to steer us 00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:31.079 off course and away 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.940 from worshiping our 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:32.319 God. 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:33.420 How do we know 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.379 what God has said? 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:36.200 By immersing 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.980 ourselves in the 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:37.319 scriptures. 00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:39.119 By getting our 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:40.619 noses in the 00:26:40.619 --> 00:26:41.019 Bibles. 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:42.879 Because it's not 00:26:42.879 --> 00:26:43.559 going to go in by 00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.379 osmosis, is it? 00:26:44.379 --> 00:26:45.019 It's not like if I 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:46.059 hold it there and I 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:46.759 just stare at it 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.339 funny that it's 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:47.979 going to go in. 00:26:48.199 --> 00:26:49.059 We need to work at 00:26:49.059 --> 00:26:49.519 this. 00:26:49.939 --> 00:26:50.859 Because Jesus worked 00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:51.119 at this. 00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:52.099 We need to get this 00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:53.419 into our minds. 00:26:53.899 --> 00:26:54.859 We read God's 00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:55.139 words. 00:26:55.679 --> 00:26:56.819 We meditate on 00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.399 God's word. 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.459 We devote ourselves 00:26:58.459 --> 00:27:00.099 to learning God's 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:00.539 words. 00:27:00.899 --> 00:27:02.500 And we find times in 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:04.039 our massively busy 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:05.439 schedules to make 00:27:05.439 --> 00:27:06.139 that happen. 00:27:07.459 --> 00:27:08.299 Pull out all the 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.220 stops to make that 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:09.639 happen. 00:27:11.139 --> 00:27:11.680 Read it with 00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.319 friends. 00:27:12.859 --> 00:27:13.399 That's why home 00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:13.960 groups, small 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.659 groups are such a 00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:15.639 vital part of what 00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:16.500 we do here is we 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.500 encourage each other 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:19.180 with God's words. 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:22.279 Find ways of getting 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:23.720 God's word into your 00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:24.519 bloodstream. 00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:26.419 It was said of the 00:27:26.419 --> 00:27:27.539 old Puritan John 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:29.220 Bunyan, most famous 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:30.180 for writing Pilgrim's 00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:31.419 Progress, that his 00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:32.319 peers used to joke 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:33.319 that if you pricked 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.559 him, he would bleed 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:34.980 the Bible. 00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:37.200 That's what they 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:38.019 used to say of that 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.240 man. 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:38.880 Would that not be a 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.740 wonderful thing to 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:41.339 someone to say about 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:41.640 you? 00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:44.319 But more than that, I 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:45.160 think that's exactly 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:46.420 what we can see and 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:47.980 say about Jesus here. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:50.480 That he breathed 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:50.900 scripture. 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.519 That he lived it. 00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:53.480 He breathed it. 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.400 He trusted it. 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.720 And when trial came, he 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:57.420 wielded it and used it. 00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.759 And where Adam was 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:02.400 faithless, and where you 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.519 and I are faithless, 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:05.340 Jesus was faithful. 00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:08.259 Where Adam failed, Jesus 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:09.259 succeeded. 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.340 You see, that is what 00:28:10.340 --> 00:28:11.500 Jesus has come to do. 00:28:12.080 --> 00:28:13.160 To live a life of 00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:14.640 worship to God, to 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.620 defeat the schemes of 00:28:15.620 --> 00:28:16.820 the devil, to defeat the 00:28:16.820 --> 00:28:17.620 power of sin. 00:28:18.100 --> 00:28:19.380 And by doing that, to 00:28:19.380 --> 00:28:20.519 deliver his people from 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.420 the rain of darkness. 00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:23.980 You see, Jesus, by his 00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:26.360 perfect obedience, he 00:28:26.360 --> 00:28:28.100 wins the victory that his 00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:28.920 people needs. 00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:31.360 And when I trust in him, 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.679 when we trust in him as 00:28:32.679 --> 00:28:35.199 our king, living for us, 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.699 pleading for us before 00:28:36.699 --> 00:28:38.179 the Father, his victory 00:28:38.179 --> 00:28:39.839 becomes our victory. 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:42.099 This is the king that we 00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:42.319 need. 00:28:42.439 --> 00:28:44.419 This is the leader that we 00:28:44.419 --> 00:28:44.679 need. 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:47.359 Here is Jesus, not like us 00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:50.179 of the mess, but one with 00:28:50.179 --> 00:28:51.759 us in the mess. 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.819 And one who has come to 00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:55.279 win the victory that you 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:57.419 and I couldn't win for 00:28:57.419 --> 00:28:58.039 ourselves. 00:28:58.039 --> 00:29:00.159 Here is God's king, says 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.820 Luke, as he introduces 00:29:01.820 --> 00:29:02.440 them here. 00:29:04.560 --> 00:29:05.380 You know, I was telling 00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:07.820 you just about Radio 4. 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:09.019 Let's go back to Radio 4. 00:29:10.060 --> 00:29:11.019 I love Radio 4 now. 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.580 Radio 4 caller. 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.840 He called up and he said, 00:29:16.080 --> 00:29:17.360 there's a mess. 00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.220 We need a leader who's 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:19.000 going to take us out of 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:19.519 the mess. 00:29:20.360 --> 00:29:21.440 Well, the presenter turns 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:22.180 around the very next 00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:23.400 question and says, who is 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:23.860 that leader? 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.660 I wonder what you would 00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.560 answer to that question. 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:29.659 Who is that leader? 00:29:29.879 --> 00:29:31.240 Caller said, don't know. 00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:33.359 All I know is that we're 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:34.980 in a mess and we need a 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.740 leader who's going to take 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.519 us out of the mess. 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.639 Let me ask you this morning, 00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.700 are you in the hunt for a 00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:39.859 leader? 00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:43.919 Are you aware of your mess? 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:46.839 Do you feel the pain of 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:48.139 living in a messy world? 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.599 Luke says, here is the king 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:53.559 who has come to deliver you 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:55.000 from that mess. 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.960 Trust in him. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:56.860 Come to him. 00:29:58.579 --> 00:29:59.660 I was reading this story 00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:01.900 this week in this book by 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:03.420 Tim Keller called Walking 00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:04.279 with God through pain and 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:04.579 suffering. 00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.420 It's a chunky book. 00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:06.299 It's got a cracking cover. 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.059 Great endorsement. 00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:07.700 It's worth a read. 00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:10.340 Reading this book by Tim 00:30:10.340 --> 00:30:12.140 Keller this week and he's 00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:13.279 got real stories from real 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.120 people at the end of his 00:30:14.120 --> 00:30:15.759 chapters as he teases out 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:17.440 what the Bible is saying 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:18.039 about this stuff. 00:30:18.120 --> 00:30:18.840 You can come and borrow it 00:30:18.840 --> 00:30:20.420 off me when we finish. 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:22.220 Let me read this story to 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:23.200 you from a woman called 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:23.519 Mary. 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:25.980 Mary's life, I'm presuming 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:27.019 she's American, I'm not 00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.200 sure. 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:28.460 Mary's life is a life of 00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:28.920 mess. 00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:31.519 From dysfunctional parents. 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.639 From violent partners. 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.379 You can read it here. 00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:35.359 A string of broken 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:36.119 relationships. 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:38.059 Her own family, her own 00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:39.319 children being arrested. 00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.839 And on top of that, complex 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.639 and terminal health problems. 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.960 Mary's life is a mess. 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:49.059 Some of it are a result of 00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:49.799 our own sin. 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.519 Some of it are a result of 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.920 just experiencing the pain 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:54.180 of living in a messy and 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:54.880 broken world. 00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:57.539 I'd love to sit here, stand 00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:58.380 here and read you this 00:30:58.380 --> 00:30:59.279 Cinderella story. 00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:00.160 Like that's how it's going 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:00.660 to end. 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:02.700 Like she tries on the 00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:03.180 golden stripper. 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:04.480 She meets the guy. 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.380 She goes to the ball and 00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:06.220 everything's happy ever 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:06.519 after. 00:31:06.600 --> 00:31:07.319 But this is what Mary 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:07.759 writes. 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:10.059 Life has not changed. 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:13.539 But God is changing me. 00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:16.379 I have come to believe that 00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:17.899 life will not always be as 00:31:17.899 --> 00:31:18.500 it is now. 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:21.319 I find even more comfort in 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:22.980 being able to stop focusing 00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:24.759 on all the heartache. 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:27.639 And instead focus on the one 00:31:27.639 --> 00:31:29.179 who will someday take that 00:31:29.179 --> 00:31:31.099 heartache away completely and 00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:31.440 forever. 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:34.700 I spent my entire life looking 00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:37.179 for and never finding a 00:31:37.179 --> 00:31:39.679 recipe to go from despair to 00:31:39.679 --> 00:31:40.039 hope. 00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:42.440 It did not come from anything 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.839 I did or didn't do. 00:31:44.599 --> 00:31:44.879 No. 00:31:45.419 --> 00:31:46.819 Hope comes not in the 00:31:46.819 --> 00:31:48.700 solution to the problem but 00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:50.859 on focusing on Christ, the 00:31:50.859 --> 00:31:52.720 one who facilitates the 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.299 change. 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:56.859 You see Mary knows what it's 00:31:56.859 --> 00:31:58.220 like to live in a messy 00:31:58.220 --> 00:31:58.639 world. 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:02.039 And Luke tells us this 00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:05.679 morning that we are messed 00:32:05.679 --> 00:32:06.220 up people. 00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:08.659 We are messed up people living 00:32:08.659 --> 00:32:10.039 messed up lives in a mess 00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:10.859 messed up world. 00:32:10.859 --> 00:32:14.299 But here is Jesus Christ, the 00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:17.079 leader who fits the bill and 00:32:17.079 --> 00:32:19.359 the leader who has come as 00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:21.559 God's king, the savior of the 00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:23.659 world to come and to rescue us 00:32:23.659 --> 00:32:25.279 from our mess. 00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:27.319 And Luke says, come. 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:29.940 Come to Jesus Christ. 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:33.079 Come and see him for who he is. 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:36.480 Come to him as you are and come 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.940 to him and say, Jesus be my king. 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.960 Save me from my mess. 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:43.319 Here is God's leader, says Luke. 00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:47.960 And just before we stand to sing 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:49.500 our final song, let's just have a 00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:50.220 moment of quiet. 00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:54.519 And let's pause and just reflect on 00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:55.940 what we've been hearing this morning 00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:56.860 from God's word. 00:32:56.859 --> 00:33:01.019 Maybe for many of us, your heart's 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:02.719 cry is, thank you, Jesus. 00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:05.799 Thank you, Jesus, for what you've 00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:06.299 done for me. 00:33:06.379 --> 00:33:07.619 Maybe for some of us this morning, 00:33:07.719 --> 00:33:09.759 a cry of our hearts is, I need you, 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:10.079 Jesus. 00:33:11.419 --> 00:33:13.740 But whoever you are, whatever's going 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:15.539 on in your life this now, just take 00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:17.979 this moment of quiet and bring your 00:33:17.979 --> 00:33:19.339 prayers to our great God this 00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:19.639 morning. 00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:28.740 Mercy and grace are mine. 00:33:30.280 --> 00:33:31.980 Forgiven is my sin. 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:36.480 Jesus, my only hope, the savior of 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.000 the world. 00:33:38.040 --> 00:33:39.920 Great is the Lord, we cry. 00:33:40.040 --> 00:33:41.480 God, let your kingdom come. 00:33:42.520 --> 00:33:44.200 Your word has let me see. 00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:47.320 Thank you for saving me. 00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:51.960 Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being the 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:56.079 savior who came to rescue us from our 00:33:56.079 --> 00:33:56.579 mess. 00:33:57.720 --> 00:34:01.079 By your spirit working in us, would you 00:34:01.079 --> 00:34:03.639 this week help us to know you more, 00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:08.099 help us to trust you more, and help us 00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:09.179 to love you more. 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:12.799 Our gracious father, this is our prayer 00:34:12.799 --> 00:34:14.199 in our savior's name. 00:34:14.799 --> 00:34:15.219 Amen. 00:34:15.219 --> 00:34:15.299 Amen.