WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.460 Father, it is very easy, far easier for us to see sin in somebody else's life than it 00:00:14.460 --> 00:00:16.780 is to see sin in our own life. 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:22.379 And Father, we confess before you that most of the time we are not aware of the fact that 00:00:22.379 --> 00:00:23.240 we are doing this. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:30.320 We ask, Lord, that as part of your grace to us, as you make Jesus and what he did for 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:35.359 us on the cross and who he is more real to our hearts, that you would, Father, help us 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:40.980 to change this, that you would help us to see the sin in our own lives and deal with 00:00:40.980 --> 00:00:46.119 it rather than fretting and being angry and resentful over the sin in others' lives. 00:00:46.659 --> 00:00:49.780 So we ask, Lord, that you would do this work in our lives this morning. 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:53.259 And we ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Saviour. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:53.939 Amen. 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:55.560 Please be seated. 00:00:59.400 --> 00:01:07.819 So, this text that I had to read this week convicted me of sin. 00:01:07.819 --> 00:01:13.679 I don't know if it will convict you of sin, but it convicted me of a sin in my life that 00:01:13.679 --> 00:01:17.119 was unrecognized, and it's been unrecognized for about a year and a half. 00:01:17.979 --> 00:01:24.679 And it was a bit of a shock to realize that I was guilty of this sin. 00:01:24.979 --> 00:01:29.560 And I'm not going to go into all of the details of the sin, but the text is going to, we'll 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:32.339 see what it does when we have a look at it together. 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:34.759 But I want to begin by that word of testimony. 00:01:34.760 --> 00:01:39.680 And I thank you for those of you who pray for me throughout the week that I can preach 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:40.780 God's word well. 00:01:41.100 --> 00:01:45.880 Part of that, preaching it well, is that I also will be convicted by the scriptures. 00:01:46.100 --> 00:01:47.660 So thank you for praying for me. 00:01:48.359 --> 00:01:49.180 So let's look. 00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:53.320 What sin was it that God convicted me of this week? 00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:57.780 Well, we're reading, we're preaching through the whole book of Mark, and we're getting towards 00:01:57.780 --> 00:01:58.240 the end. 00:01:58.340 --> 00:01:59.700 We're at Mark chapter 15. 00:01:59.700 --> 00:02:04.579 And if you would turn to that, Mark chapter 15, verse 1, if you're using these little 00:02:04.579 --> 00:02:06.280 booklets, it's on page 96. 00:02:06.960 --> 00:02:12.300 And Mark is an ancient eyewitness biography of Jesus written while many eyewitnesses were 00:02:12.300 --> 00:02:12.699 alive. 00:02:13.379 --> 00:02:20.439 And what's just happened before this in the story is that we're still part of the 24 hours 00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:26.900 that changed the world because Jewish days begin on sundown, not midnight or not when we 00:02:26.900 --> 00:02:28.260 wake up, but it's sundown. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:32.319 And so the very first day of Passover began. 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:35.280 And this is now just before dawn. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:38.540 And we're still in the first day of the Passover celebrations. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:45.920 And what's just happened two episodes before this is the Jewish leaders have brought Jesus 00:02:45.920 --> 00:02:47.460 to the high priest's house. 00:02:48.300 --> 00:02:54.280 And one of the most profound statements of who Jesus is is made by Jesus's enemy, where 00:02:54.280 --> 00:03:01.360 the enemy says to Jesus, aren't you the Messiah, the God, the Son of God. 00:03:02.060 --> 00:03:08.840 And that's the most profound, precise description of Jesus in the Gospels made by his enemy. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:11.099 And Jesus says that's true. 00:03:11.240 --> 00:03:12.460 And that's just happened. 00:03:12.580 --> 00:03:14.860 And now we've moved to a slightly different part of this. 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:18.139 Then after that, we have Peter's denial of Jesus three times. 00:03:18.139 --> 00:03:20.339 And now we come to this story before us. 00:03:20.819 --> 00:03:22.500 And here is how it goes. 00:03:24.059 --> 00:03:29.679 And as soon, verse one, and as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation 00:03:29.679 --> 00:03:32.599 with the elders and scribes and the whole council. 00:03:33.079 --> 00:03:38.500 And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 00:03:39.279 --> 00:03:41.079 Now, just sort of pause here. 00:03:41.239 --> 00:03:45.759 If you're not that familiar with the Bible, Pilate is the Roman governor of this region. 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:47.459 He has the power of life and death. 00:03:48.060 --> 00:03:54.699 He has the, he in a sense rules as the emperor's representative and is in charge of the armies 00:03:54.699 --> 00:03:57.519 as well that subjugate the Jewish people. 00:03:58.179 --> 00:04:01.299 And this is not an unusual time for this to happen. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:07.199 Just to give you fair warning, my wife and kids will tell you I am not an early riser. 00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:12.319 I aspire to be an early riser, but I rarely reach what I aspire. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:18.759 And if you came around an hour before sunrise to have me talk to you, I would be grumpy. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:25.000 I would try to cover it, but it would make me grumpy because I wish I was still in bed. 00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:32.279 But for Roman men of this rank in those days, you began the day just as it's during the skies 00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:33.319 getting a little bit light. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:34.519 That's when you begin your day. 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:35.939 You get everything done by noon. 00:04:35.939 --> 00:04:43.699 And then you, I don't know, you read poetry, you drink wine, you feast, you, I don't know, 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:45.719 you do whatever a Roman gentleman can do. 00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:47.660 That's how your days were structured. 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:50.480 So this is not an unusual time. 00:04:51.100 --> 00:04:58.779 And the Jewish leaders needed and wanted Pilate to sentence Jesus to death. 00:04:58.779 --> 00:05:02.099 And so that's why they brought him there. 00:05:03.159 --> 00:05:07.259 Because, and so what the charge is actually is very, very interesting. 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:11.779 And some of you might have heard his odd answer and I'll explain it to it. 00:05:11.899 --> 00:05:13.879 Let's look what happens next, verse 2. 00:05:14.579 --> 00:05:17.959 And Pilate asked Jesus, are you the king of the Jews? 00:05:18.139 --> 00:05:21.879 So the Jewish people, the Jewish leaders have given the charge. 00:05:22.139 --> 00:05:24.219 They said, Pilate, you need to condemn this man. 00:05:24.819 --> 00:05:26.879 He claims to be the king of the Jews. 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:31.480 And Pilate then in verse 2 asked Jesus, are you the king of the Jews? 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:34.360 And Jesus answered him, you have said so. 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:41.639 And so what's happened here is the Roman authorities don't give a, don't give, 00:05:41.899 --> 00:05:47.800 they don't care the least whether or not, I mean, Jewish religion is just a superstitious fable 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:50.740 that for some odd reason is tolerated by the Roman Empire. 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:54.219 In fact, it's only tolerated by the Roman Empire because it's ancient. 00:05:54.220 --> 00:05:56.940 And Romans loved old things. 00:05:57.220 --> 00:06:02.840 And so because the Jewish people could say their faith goes way back, over a thousand years, 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:07.680 1400, 2000 years, the Romans gave it lots of space because they respected that. 00:06:08.080 --> 00:06:11.040 But they wouldn't believe for a moment their odd superstitions. 00:06:11.220 --> 00:06:15.060 And if they were said, you know, by the way, just Jesus claims to be the Messiah, God, 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:16.900 the Son of God, Pilate would have yawned. 00:06:16.899 --> 00:06:23.439 So what happened is they translate the Messiah part into a different title that will have to get Pilate's attention, 00:06:23.699 --> 00:06:25.659 which is the king of the Jewish people. 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:29.219 And so Pilate hears the charge. 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:30.979 He asked Jesus, are you the king of the Jews? 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:36.299 And Jesus' answer, it's literally translated. 00:06:36.620 --> 00:06:38.859 But what it functionally means is this. 00:06:38.860 --> 00:06:44.340 It's really like Jesus saying, well, I wouldn't put it in those terms, but yes. 00:06:44.840 --> 00:06:45.980 That's what Jesus says. 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:47.900 I wouldn't put it in those terms, but yes. 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:49.879 He's not going to get into a bit of a quibble. 00:06:49.939 --> 00:06:53.819 He's not going to take out his Old Testament and show Pilate from the Bible, 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:57.520 all the Bible texts and all of the theology of what it means to be the Messiah. 00:06:57.660 --> 00:07:01.680 He says, well, I wouldn't use that descriptive term, but yes. 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:04.800 Yes, that's what, in effect, Jesus does. 00:07:05.840 --> 00:07:10.780 Now, the next bit seems a bit odd to us, 00:07:11.280 --> 00:07:17.139 and that's because of the great cultural distance between Canada and this time period. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:21.379 Although it's not a great cultural distance in many, many, many parts of the world, 00:07:21.460 --> 00:07:22.340 in fact, most of the world. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:25.420 I think a couple of weeks ago I was sharing how, 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:27.420 when I was still part of the Diocese of Ottawa, 00:07:27.420 --> 00:07:33.439 I got called into the bishop to see the Bishop of Ottawa on a Saturday afternoon to be fired. 00:07:34.900 --> 00:07:40.400 And I was needlessly, not needlessly, I was obviously very worried about this, 00:07:40.660 --> 00:07:42.860 and I'd asked lots of people to pray about it. 00:07:43.520 --> 00:07:46.800 And one of the people who gave me some last-second advice was a lawyer. 00:07:47.840 --> 00:07:49.819 And she said to me, when you go into this meeting, 00:07:49.900 --> 00:07:52.800 first of all, she said, you know, foil them by not going alone, 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:55.000 but bring in a couple of people, and I did. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:58.579 But the main piece of advice, she said, George, just remember, 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:01.500 they have to prove you're guilty. 00:08:02.699 --> 00:08:04.500 You don't have to prove you're innocent. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:07.019 So what you do, if you're in there, 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:09.579 you just say the same thing over and over and over again. 00:08:09.899 --> 00:08:12.779 They make this, say, George, you've done blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:08:12.839 --> 00:08:13.860 You just answer, 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:18.699 I am a priest of the Anglican Church of Canada 00:08:18.699 --> 00:08:20.879 who is faithful to his ordination vows. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:24.779 And then they could say, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, 00:08:24.899 --> 00:08:26.480 you know, why you're a terrible, evil person. 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:30.240 And my response is, I am a priest of the Anglican Church of Canada 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:31.899 who is faithful to my ordination vows. 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:35.320 And they have to prove that what you've just said isn't true. 00:08:36.659 --> 00:08:39.580 You don't have to prove that you're not guilty of those offenses. 00:08:40.259 --> 00:08:41.700 And, of course, in Canadian law, 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:44.080 you don't have to testify at your own trial. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:48.440 The crown has to give sufficient evidence of your guilt. 00:08:48.560 --> 00:08:50.139 And you don't have to prove your innocence. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:51.320 They have to prove your guilt. 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:54.180 But it's the complete opposite here at this time period, 00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:57.820 just as it is for most of the world in the world today. 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:01.000 And so that explains what happens next, 00:09:01.060 --> 00:09:03.820 which is very odd and Pilate's amazement. 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:05.540 Look at what happens next, verse 3. 00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:09.300 And the chief priest accused Jesus of many things. 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:11.680 And Pilate again asked him, 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:13.620 Have you no answer to make? 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:16.160 See how many charges they bring against you. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:18.700 But Jesus made no further answer, 00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:21.680 so that Pilate was amazed. 00:09:22.900 --> 00:09:24.960 You see, in those days, he had to prove his innocence. 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:27.540 And they're successful. 00:09:28.520 --> 00:09:31.020 What you see between verses 5 and 6, 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:32.620 in a sense it leaves a bit out, 00:09:33.300 --> 00:09:35.460 but it's obvious from the context, 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:36.980 is that they're successful. 00:09:37.580 --> 00:09:39.120 Between verses 5 and 6, 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:40.660 Pilate has come to the conclusion 00:09:40.660 --> 00:09:43.820 that there's grounds for the capital offense, 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:45.500 against Jesus, 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:47.600 that he is king of the Jews. 00:09:47.660 --> 00:09:49.440 At least there is until there's more evidence, 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:51.440 or something else happens, 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:52.100 but he's guilty. 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:54.960 And now it's going to be a matter of having 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:56.860 some type of sentence. 00:09:57.900 --> 00:09:59.820 But here we come to something in the story 00:09:59.820 --> 00:10:00.940 which is deeply human, 00:10:01.460 --> 00:10:03.360 but maybe just for a couple of us. 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:07.899 How many of us occasionally like to do something 00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:09.960 just to piss a person off? 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:12.879 I might be the only person in the room 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:13.919 who's like that. 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:15.820 But you all might know somebody 00:10:15.820 --> 00:10:19.379 who just occasionally does something, 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:20.820 or maybe, you know the phrase, 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:22.120 yank someone's chain? 00:10:22.560 --> 00:10:24.580 You do something to yank their chain, 00:10:24.659 --> 00:10:26.139 to get a reaction, right? 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:27.799 To get them all hot and bothered. 00:10:28.299 --> 00:10:31.659 And that's what happens next in the story. 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:35.580 Pilate yanks the chief priest's chain. 00:10:36.319 --> 00:10:39.980 Look what happens in verse 6. 00:10:41.439 --> 00:10:42.759 Now at the feast, 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:44.100 that's the Passover feast, 00:10:44.199 --> 00:10:46.100 they're still in the first day of the Passover feast. 00:10:46.220 --> 00:10:46.919 At the feast, 00:10:47.439 --> 00:10:49.759 Pilate used to release for them one prisoner 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:51.360 for whom they asked. 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:54.259 And among the rebels in prison 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:57.519 who had committed murder in the insurrection, 00:10:58.019 --> 00:10:59.899 there was a man called Barabbas. 00:11:00.740 --> 00:11:03.419 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate 00:11:03.419 --> 00:11:05.200 to do as he usually did for them. 00:11:05.800 --> 00:11:07.139 And he answered them saying, 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:10.340 do you want me to release for you 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:11.440 the king of the Jews? 00:11:12.300 --> 00:11:13.600 So just a couple of things. 00:11:13.779 --> 00:11:14.840 So here's the thing. 00:11:14.980 --> 00:11:15.659 First of all, 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:16.080 some of you, 00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:17.820 if you're using different Bible translations, 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.840 you see a different word there than rebel. 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:22.240 You might see the word robber. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:24.580 And as I've explained before at different times, 00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:26.899 and those of you who speak multiple languages, 00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:28.800 when you speak multiple languages, 00:11:28.800 --> 00:11:29.740 you know that sometimes 00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:31.220 there's no perfect translation 00:11:31.220 --> 00:11:32.139 from one word, 00:11:32.420 --> 00:11:34.060 from one language to another. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:36.080 And in a book like this, 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:38.200 they can't put all of the different options. 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:41.740 Like if you were translating for somebody on the fly, 00:11:42.040 --> 00:11:43.120 you could do that. 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:44.860 But when you're just writing, 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:45.519 you can't. 00:11:45.680 --> 00:11:47.980 And so it could be robber, 00:11:48.040 --> 00:11:48.800 it could be rebel. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:51.259 But the point is this. 00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:54.379 The chief priest would have hated 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:55.659 both robbers and rebels. 00:11:57.179 --> 00:11:57.659 Why? 00:11:58.500 --> 00:12:01.139 Well, it's a little bit like Robin Hood. 00:12:01.819 --> 00:12:03.779 And Robin Hood, the story, 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:05.599 you know, he robs from the rich 00:12:05.599 --> 00:12:06.959 to give to the poor. 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:08.839 Now, unlike Robin Hood, 00:12:08.979 --> 00:12:10.659 Barabbas would have robbed from the rich, 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:12.659 kept most of it himself, 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:14.179 and given some to the poor. 00:12:14.179 --> 00:12:15.839 Now, who are rich? 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:18.299 All the people who've accused Jesus. 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:22.219 They loathed guys like Barabbas. 00:12:22.939 --> 00:12:25.399 They were all probably throwing a party, 00:12:25.599 --> 00:12:27.899 saying, good, I'm so glad Barabbas 00:12:27.899 --> 00:12:28.919 and a couple of his buddies, 00:12:29.079 --> 00:12:29.759 they're going to be, 00:12:29.839 --> 00:12:31.079 they're getting executed. 00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:33.139 They won't be robbing us anymore. 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:34.819 And so then, 00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:36.240 what does Pilate do? 00:12:36.699 --> 00:12:37.340 Pilate says, 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:39.139 well, I'm going to give you guys two options. 00:12:39.819 --> 00:12:40.779 And the options are, 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:42.299 you can let Barabbas free, 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:43.279 and you can let Jesus free, 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:45.240 but the chief priest hated both of them. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:47.779 See, Pilate has a bit of a smirk. 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:49.480 He's pulling their chain. 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:54.600 He's trying to both piss off, 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:56.840 am I allowed to say that in church? 00:12:57.939 --> 00:12:58.919 I just did. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:12:59.939 Anyway, it's an English phrase, 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:00.860 you all know what it means. 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:02.800 It's a metaphor. 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:06.600 And he wants to do that. 00:13:06.659 --> 00:13:07.019 And he also, 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:08.080 as we're going to see in the story, 00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:10.000 he wants to curry favor with the crowd. 00:13:10.680 --> 00:13:11.180 And in fact, 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:12.060 that's the whole thing 00:13:12.060 --> 00:13:13.300 about why he's going to release 00:13:13.300 --> 00:13:16.460 somebody like Jesus to the crowd. 00:13:16.560 --> 00:13:17.820 Now, some of you might be familiar 00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:18.340 with the fact 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:20.620 that there's this big controversy around this, 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:23.580 because lots of skeptics say 00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:24.800 that there's no record 00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:28.220 that Pilate ever did something like that. 00:13:28.220 --> 00:13:29.960 Now, just, 00:13:30.060 --> 00:13:31.540 I want to translate that for you. 00:13:31.660 --> 00:13:33.019 If I was to say 00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:34.540 that something happened 00:13:34.540 --> 00:13:36.540 10 years ago on Parliament Hill, 00:13:37.540 --> 00:13:42.340 I have people here in the room 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:43.740 who were working on Parliament Hill 00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:44.580 10 years ago. 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:48.259 And lots of people here 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:49.660 know how Parliament Hill works. 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:51.379 And if I was to say something like that, 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:52.940 there's literally hundreds and hundreds 00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:54.860 and probably thousands of people 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:55.920 who could tell you 00:13:55.920 --> 00:13:57.020 how Parliament Hill works 00:13:57.020 --> 00:13:58.360 and what I just said was nonsense. 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:01.260 How many sources do we have 00:14:01.260 --> 00:14:02.680 for what happened 00:14:02.680 --> 00:14:03.640 at this time period 00:14:03.640 --> 00:14:05.520 with Pilate outside of the Gospels? 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:07.300 Well, it's actually not zero, 00:14:07.400 --> 00:14:08.240 but it's just one, 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:09.740 Josephus. 00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:11.840 There's another small, 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:13.940 a little bit by a Roman historian 00:14:13.940 --> 00:14:15.180 that talks about 00:14:15.180 --> 00:14:16.400 some of these types of things. 00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:18.100 But the fact of the matter is, 00:14:18.140 --> 00:14:19.420 is that Josephus didn't write 00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:21.479 about every single thing 00:14:21.479 --> 00:14:22.439 that Pilate did. 00:14:22.959 --> 00:14:25.659 Like, it's a foolish type of charge 00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:26.860 to say that unless Pilate, 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:28.399 unless Josephus talked about it, 00:14:28.439 --> 00:14:28.939 it didn't happen. 00:14:29.079 --> 00:14:30.819 Well, that's like a ridiculous thing to say. 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:33.360 And the other thing about it is, 00:14:33.699 --> 00:14:35.099 what Pilate does here 00:14:35.099 --> 00:14:36.879 is as ancient as the hills 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.679 and as contemporary to today. 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:40.979 Would any of us be surprised 00:14:40.979 --> 00:14:42.139 if we heard that Putin 00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:43.939 had pardoned one of his allies? 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:45.039 No. 00:14:46.959 --> 00:14:48.719 And I'm not being political here. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:49.840 What do we all know 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:50.879 Biden is going to do 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:52.120 in the last week in office? 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:55.440 He is going to pardon his cronies. 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.600 And I'm not being political. 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:01.420 If Ron DeSantis 00:15:01.420 --> 00:15:03.000 becomes president afterwards, 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:04.519 he's going to do it 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.519 when he comes to an end 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.519 of his office as well. 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:09.000 If AOC becomes the next president, 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:10.279 she'll do it. 00:15:10.899 --> 00:15:11.879 It's as modern 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:13.180 as the contemporary world 00:15:13.180 --> 00:15:14.019 and it's as ancient 00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:14.720 as the hills 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:16.259 that people in power 00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:17.700 do things like this. 00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:20.080 And it's a very simple type of thing. 00:15:20.160 --> 00:15:21.940 It's no skin off of Pilate's nose 00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:24.320 and it makes him look generous 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:27.040 and full of, yeah, 00:15:27.140 --> 00:15:28.000 just generosity. 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:29.940 The city of Jerusalem 00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:30.600 has, you know what, 00:15:30.660 --> 00:15:32.180 five, eight, ten times more people 00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:32.660 than usual. 00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:33.879 He does it at this time 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:35.600 and he can sort of feel good 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.220 about himself. 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:37.100 It's good PR 00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:38.259 and it's just, 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.139 it's a completely 00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:40.500 and utterly believable 00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:41.519 type of thing 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:44.960 that Pilate says, 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.440 he foils 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:47.860 what the Jewish leaders want. 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:48.700 He gives them 00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:49.980 heart palpitations. 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.519 They're now sweating 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:52.700 from their armpits 00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:53.740 and all those other parts 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.440 that can sweat. 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:55.840 First of all, 00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:57.100 they are really bothered 00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:58.620 that Pilate's made that offer, 00:15:59.040 --> 00:15:59.759 those two people, 00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:00.340 and they're worried 00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:01.639 that Jesus is going to go free. 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.740 But the fact of the matter is 00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:04.160 they want Barabbas dead 00:16:04.160 --> 00:16:06.100 more than they want Jesus dead. 00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:06.659 And by the way, 00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:07.139 there's one other 00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:07.980 very important thing, 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.600 just not important, 00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:09.440 but it's an important thing 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:10.080 for you to know about. 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.879 Barabbas literally means 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.740 son of the father. 00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:15.340 That's what it means literally, 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.600 son of the father. 00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:19.820 And it is, 00:16:19.920 --> 00:16:22.820 it is one of those ironies 00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:23.620 of history 00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:26.560 that the choice 00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:27.480 between the crowd 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:28.779 is between two sons 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.420 of the father. 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:31.019 One son of the father 00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:31.700 who is a murderer 00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:33.580 and the other son of the father 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:34.340 who is the creator 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:35.200 of all things, 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:37.000 who is the source of life. 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:42.680 Now, 00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:45.740 so there's another thing 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.560 if you're familiar 00:16:46.560 --> 00:16:47.520 with the literature 00:16:47.520 --> 00:16:48.420 on these texts. 00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:49.140 On one hand, 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:50.440 there's lots of controversy 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:51.780 about from skeptics 00:16:51.780 --> 00:16:52.980 that this is just invented, 00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:54.840 which I think is sort of 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:56.420 a ridiculous comment. 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:59.959 And then the next thing 00:16:59.959 --> 00:17:02.039 is that people spend pages 00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:03.199 and pages and pages 00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:04.299 in commentaries 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:06.759 arguing over who's responsible 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.940 for the death of Jesus. 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:10.619 And one of the reasons 00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:11.839 there is this controversy 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:13.899 is because there is a, 00:17:14.139 --> 00:17:17.119 an evil stain 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.240 on much of the history 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.000 of Christendom. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.480 And that evil stain, 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.599 not on Christianity, 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:25.059 but on Christendom, 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:26.180 that ugly stain 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.480 is anti-Semitism. 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.220 Throughout the history 00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:30.539 of Christendom, 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.240 there have been people 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.279 who've called themselves 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:33.839 Christians 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:35.960 who hate Jewish people 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:38.700 and want to see Jewish people 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:39.599 hurt and killed 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:40.359 and robbed. 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:42.639 and it is a terrible stain 00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:44.339 on Christendom's history. 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:47.339 And so because of this profound, 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:50.019 because of this legacy 00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:51.899 for parts of Christendom, 00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:54.059 there's a big debate 00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:55.299 about whether or not 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:56.759 the Jews are responsible 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:58.799 for the death of Jesus. 00:18:00.219 --> 00:18:03.139 Now, the text is going to show us 00:18:03.139 --> 00:18:04.339 that that is false. 00:18:04.959 --> 00:18:06.199 I'm not saying that it's false 00:18:06.199 --> 00:18:07.279 just because I don't want 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.339 to have anti-Semitism. 00:18:08.699 --> 00:18:09.559 The Bible itself 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:10.539 actually shows 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:12.639 that it's not anti-Semitism. 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:15.480 And just a bit of a time out, 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.299 those of us 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.879 who've experienced prejudice, 00:18:18.919 --> 00:18:19.779 those of us 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:22.039 who've experienced prejudice 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:23.000 in any form, 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:24.220 what we know, 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:25.460 or what we should know, 00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:28.419 is that when a person 00:18:28.419 --> 00:18:30.019 is prejudiced against you, 00:18:30.639 --> 00:18:32.359 they look for evidence 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:34.179 to justify 00:18:34.179 --> 00:18:36.819 their prejudice and hatred. 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:41.639 if you have a prejudice 00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:43.440 against a particular people group 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:44.480 and you see them 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.579 doing something odd, 00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:47.000 you say to your friends 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.019 who share your prejudice, 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:49.619 look at that person. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:51.519 That's what they all do. 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:55.399 But if one of your friends does it, 00:18:55.919 --> 00:18:56.259 you say, 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.139 oh, that's just Joe. 00:18:57.140 --> 00:19:00.440 Well, we look for evidence 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:01.580 for our prejudices, 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:04.020 to feed our prejudices. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.660 And so those who have 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:10.640 an evil hatred of Jewish people 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:13.040 look for reasons in the text. 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:14.560 They don't want to listen 00:19:14.560 --> 00:19:15.280 to the text. 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:17.460 They want superficial reasons. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.560 And so they look at this 00:19:18.560 --> 00:19:19.660 and so now even today 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:20.560 there's lots of writing 00:19:20.560 --> 00:19:21.400 about whether or not 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:22.980 who's responsible. 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.079 But the Bible itself 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:25.180 says who's responsible 00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:26.519 and this is actually 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:28.220 where I was convicted of sin. 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:29.860 In a sense, 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:30.500 the text says 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.440 I was responsible 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.620 for the death of Jesus. 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.519 Look at it in verse 10. 00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.559 It's a verse, 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.380 if you're going to memorize 00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:40.740 something from this text, 00:19:40.860 --> 00:19:41.559 verse 10 would be 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.339 the verse to memorize. 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:46.380 For Pilate perceived 00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:48.400 that it was out of envy 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:50.299 that the chief priest 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:52.440 had delivered Jesus up. 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:54.259 I'll say it again. 00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:58.900 For Pilate perceived 00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:00.579 that it was out of envy 00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:02.180 that the chief priest 00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:04.519 had delivered Jesus up. 00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:07.339 So it doesn't say 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:09.420 for Pilate perceived 00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:11.700 that it was because 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:12.660 they were Jewish 00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:15.180 that they delivered them up. 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:18.400 If that was the case, 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:20.920 then maybe there'd be 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:21.700 something to it. 00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.840 But it says for envy. 00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:24.120 Now, 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:26.019 if you could put up 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:28.200 the first point 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.180 and leave it up 00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:29.720 for a moment. 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:33.240 Envy is sorrow 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:34.539 or sadness 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:36.160 or resentment 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:38.940 at seeing someone else 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:40.000 enjoying a good 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.000 or some other 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:41.940 enjoying a good. 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:44.920 Envy is experiencing 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:46.980 sorrow or sadness 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.400 or resentment 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:48.420 or resentment 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:51.160 at seeing someone 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:52.440 enjoying something 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:53.140 which is good. 00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:55.360 Now, the older Christians, 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.039 if you go back 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.000 in Christian history, 00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:58.860 there's been a long 00:20:58.860 --> 00:20:59.660 established 00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:02.059 series of books 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.900 and meditations 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:04.839 around something called 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:06.140 the seven deadly sins. 00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:07.140 Christians. 00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:08.040 And they've been developed 00:21:08.040 --> 00:21:09.060 to help Christians 00:21:09.060 --> 00:21:11.020 examine their conscience, 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.200 to look at their lives, 00:21:12.300 --> 00:21:12.920 to try to see 00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:13.660 whether there's things 00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:14.300 in their lives 00:21:14.300 --> 00:21:15.320 that are wrong. 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.920 And the ancients 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:19.220 usually ranked 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:20.620 the seven deadly sins 00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:21.480 in order from 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:22.180 the most deadly 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:23.140 to the least deadly. 00:21:23.560 --> 00:21:24.500 And the most deadly 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.080 is pride 00:21:25.080 --> 00:21:26.060 and the least deadly 00:21:26.060 --> 00:21:26.640 is lust. 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.440 Now, if 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.360 some of you say, 00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:29.920 oh, lust 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:31.140 is the least deadly 00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:31.880 of the sins, 00:21:32.280 --> 00:21:33.520 well, the word least 00:21:33.520 --> 00:21:33.920 is there, 00:21:34.040 --> 00:21:34.840 but the word deadly 00:21:34.840 --> 00:21:35.580 is still there. 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:39.160 You might say 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:41.500 this snake 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.100 will kill you 00:21:42.100 --> 00:21:42.980 within one second 00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.620 when it bites you 00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:44.040 and this one 00:21:44.040 --> 00:21:44.580 will kill you 00:21:44.580 --> 00:21:45.200 five minutes 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:47.600 after it bites you. 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:48.300 But both of the 00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:49.120 different snakes 00:21:49.120 --> 00:21:49.960 will both kill you. 00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:51.320 But one will just 00:21:51.320 --> 00:21:52.100 kill you in a second 00:21:52.100 --> 00:21:53.240 one in five minutes. 00:21:53.340 --> 00:21:53.740 Actually, I don't know 00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.460 if there's any snakes 00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.240 that do either of that, 00:21:55.360 --> 00:21:56.620 but that's a whole other... 00:21:56.620 --> 00:21:57.380 This isn't a lesson 00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:57.940 on snakes. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.900 It's a lesson on envy. 00:21:59.800 --> 00:22:00.940 But believe it or not, 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.940 envy is the second 00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:02.519 most deadly 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.960 of the seven deadly sins. 00:22:06.080 --> 00:22:07.240 This experiencing 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.059 of sorrow 00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:08.940 or sadness 00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:10.360 or resentment 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:11.440 at seeing someone 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.200 other enjoying 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:12.840 a good. 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:13.980 Part of the reason 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.940 the sins are 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.980 deadly 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:17.220 is because 00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:18.720 they're unrecognized. 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:22.640 So one of the things 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.400 that I was convicted 00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:24.160 of this week 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:25.019 is that for at least 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.799 a year and a half 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.600 I've been guilty 00:22:26.600 --> 00:22:27.460 of the sin of envy. 00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:29.840 And I was very 00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:30.700 self-righteous 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.519 about my sin, 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.460 which is often 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.180 how we deal 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:34.019 with the sin of envy. 00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:36.480 I wouldn't have said 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.500 that what I was doing 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:39.019 was the sin of envy. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.920 I would have said 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:40.660 that I was giving 00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:41.460 insight 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:43.120 into the situation. 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.299 That I had 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.720 the right explanation 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:48.319 for the situation. 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:50.779 But the fact of the matter 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:52.039 is it was the sin of envy. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.759 There was another 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.660 or a group 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:57.319 having a good thing 00:22:57.319 --> 00:23:00.140 and seeing that good thing 00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:02.079 made me resent them. 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:04.779 Made me sad. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:07.279 Made me unhappy. 00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:12.140 Envy is unrecognized 00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:14.440 and part of envy 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:16.039 is that it leads you 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:17.119 to want the others 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:20.660 to know disaster. 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.619 That you're actually 00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:24.660 going to be really happy. 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:27.119 if it all blows up 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:27.519 on them. 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.920 If you discover 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.279 that it's revealed 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:34.720 that there's something 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:35.539 really bad, 00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:37.420 it causes joy. 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:40.079 Those of you 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:41.440 who follow controversies 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.500 in the church world, 00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:45.519 when either properly 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.519 or improperly, 00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:47.500 somebody who's 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:48.839 a high-ranking 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.700 Christian falls 00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:51.579 and the Twitter verse 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:53.059 and the Facebook verse 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.879 goes crazy, 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:54.880 that's the sin of envy. 00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:56.380 Look at that 00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:57.220 Matt Chandler. 00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.860 That's what they're saying. 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.700 We always knew 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.460 he was bad. 00:24:02.580 --> 00:24:03.180 We always knew 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:03.940 that whatever, 00:24:04.120 --> 00:24:05.240 pick your person. 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.480 We want others 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.020 to fall. 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:10.300 It leads to hatred. 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.880 It leads you 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:16.160 to feel dissatisfied 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.440 with your own life. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:19.820 It leads you to say 00:24:19.820 --> 00:24:20.400 things like, 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.200 I'm just as good 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.000 as that person. 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:22.960 But nobody 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:24.080 who ever says that 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:24.900 feels pleasure 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.900 from that statement. 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.660 It's fueled 00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:31.039 by your envy 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.539 of them. 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:36.139 And I'm going to suggest, 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:37.639 I mean, 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.759 I made a bit of a, 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:40.480 not a risky thing, 00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:42.440 but before the service 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:42.899 began, 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.740 almost every single 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.220 one of us 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.960 in this room 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.099 is regularly 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:49.359 guilty of envy 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:51.299 because you look 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:52.200 at social media. 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:56.720 And how many 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.160 of you look 00:24:57.160 --> 00:24:58.039 at social media 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.940 and after looking 00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.660 at it for a while 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.779 feel discontented 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.400 and unhappy? 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.539 And if you do, 00:25:03.860 --> 00:25:04.500 it's because 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.519 you're experiencing 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.319 the sin of envy. 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.480 And you don't 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.299 recognize it. 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:17.140 And you come away 00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:17.819 from watching 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.940 Facebook or Instagram 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:20.640 and your own wife 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.180 or husband 00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:22.180 seems inadequate 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:23.700 your family 00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:24.820 isn't as good 00:25:24.820 --> 00:25:25.660 as it should be. 00:25:27.560 --> 00:25:29.000 Your life sucks. 00:25:32.060 --> 00:25:32.980 And whether you're 00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:33.740 completely aware 00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:34.420 of it or not, 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.940 you also don't really, 00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:37.299 you sort of wouldn't mind 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:37.940 if you end up 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.420 hearing through 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.299 the gossip thing 00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:40.299 that that other person, 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.080 their life got 00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:42.440 turned into a big mess. 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:46.759 And even to make it worse, 00:25:47.080 --> 00:25:47.920 we engage 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.779 in Instagram 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.600 and Facebook 00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:51.259 to create envy 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:51.779 in others. 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:54.240 to cause them 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.640 to sin. 00:26:00.820 --> 00:26:01.200 Now, 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:02.200 not everything 00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:03.640 exactly is done 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.120 that way. 00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.420 I don't want to make it 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.620 that all Christians 00:26:06.620 --> 00:26:08.000 should flee social media, 00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:08.440 but, 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.600 and not every single thing 00:26:10.600 --> 00:26:11.500 you do is like that. 00:26:11.560 --> 00:26:12.700 I'm not saying that. 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:15.740 I think we need to take it 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.220 seriously 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.360 that it creates 00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:17.960 within us 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.759 discontentment 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.559 with our lives. 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:21.319 And not in a way 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:23.340 that helps us, 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.799 but only in a way 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.559 that makes us, 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.460 that hurts us. 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.880 So it's envy, 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.779 not Jewishness, 00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:32.660 that led to the death 00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.140 of Jesus. 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:34.720 You know, 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.440 in a sense, 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:38.779 envy is the great 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.640 human sin 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.799 along with pride. 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.920 It wasn't just 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:44.100 that human beings, 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:44.740 Adam and Eve, 00:26:44.820 --> 00:26:46.039 wanted to be like God, 00:26:46.840 --> 00:26:47.600 but they, 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.019 in a sense, 00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:48.840 envied God, 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.580 his position. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.700 And they would like 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.360 his position. 00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:53.259 They didn't mind 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:53.820 if he fell. 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:55.900 You know, 00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.820 I didn't put it up 00:26:56.820 --> 00:26:57.340 as a point, 00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:59.920 but most Canadians 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.539 will say, 00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.059 most very, 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:01.900 very good Canadians 00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:02.320 will say, 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:02.880 you've got to look out 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:03.500 for number one. 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:05.620 And in a sense, 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.440 what the Bible says 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:07.120 is that's actually 00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:07.720 really true. 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:09.060 You've got to look out 00:27:09.060 --> 00:27:09.740 for number one. 00:27:10.340 --> 00:27:11.640 But the bad news is, 00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:12.940 you're not number one. 00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:17.240 The bad news is, 00:27:17.320 --> 00:27:17.980 the triune God 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.680 is number one. 00:27:19.600 --> 00:27:20.700 And for most Canadians, 00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:21.120 they'd say, 00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:21.260 well, 00:27:21.280 --> 00:27:22.740 that sucks big time. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.400 And they'd resent it. 00:27:27.780 --> 00:27:28.900 The fact of the matter is, 00:27:29.280 --> 00:27:29.520 you know, 00:27:29.600 --> 00:27:30.580 there's a very profound 00:27:30.580 --> 00:27:31.940 statement by Augustine 00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.960 that says, 00:27:33.080 --> 00:27:33.779 God has made us 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.440 for himself 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.539 and our hearts 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.140 are restless 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:37.340 till they rest in him. 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.279 And that's, 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.640 that is the most, 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.559 one of the most profound 00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.340 statements made 00:27:42.340 --> 00:27:43.279 outside of the Bible 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.100 that explains 00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:45.120 human psychology. 00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:47.059 God has made us 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:47.720 for himself 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.400 and our hearts 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:48.960 are restless 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.140 till we rest in him. 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:54.059 And that means 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.799 that God has made 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.460 human beings 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.140 so that there's 00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.680 a throne 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:58.100 in each of our lives. 00:27:58.779 --> 00:27:59.660 And when we 00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.920 cast off God, 00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:01.820 we thought we would 00:28:01.820 --> 00:28:02.759 step onto the throne 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.680 of our own lives. 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:04.880 But the fact of the matter 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:05.160 is, 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:06.060 is that God did not 00:28:06.060 --> 00:28:07.680 design human beings 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.740 to sit on the throne 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.539 of their own life. 00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.640 And so what happened 00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.680 is we cast God 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:13.320 from the throne, 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.640 but instead what happens 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:16.420 is idols sit on the throne, 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:18.279 sin that sits on the throne. 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:19.519 In some cases, 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.860 demons sit on the throne. 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.279 And they all push 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:23.060 and pull each other, 00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:24.160 one sin after another, 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.500 one idol after another, 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.019 and our hearts 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:27.279 are unbelievably restless. 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.259 And we keep thinking 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.039 that we can climb 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.599 onto the throne 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.400 of our own lives. 00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:31.440 But all we do 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.519 is replace one idol 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.019 with another 00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:33.819 or try to put 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:35.160 six different idols 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:35.980 all on the throne 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.420 of our life 00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.200 at the same time 00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:38.359 in four different sins. 00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.700 And then we wonder 00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.680 why our lives 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.859 have periods 00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:43.240 of great discontent. 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:56.220 So what can be done 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:57.359 and does the Bible 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.880 have any type of remedy 00:28:58.880 --> 00:28:59.539 for this? 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.859 Well, actually it does. 00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:02.180 And it does in the guise 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:02.680 of something 00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:04.480 that at first seems 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.339 to illustrate 00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:06.980 why the gospel is foolish. 00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:09.519 Look at what happens 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.519 immediately after 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.279 in verse 11. 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:14.220 So Pilate has found 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.259 Jesus guilty 00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:16.059 even though he knows 00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.700 he's innocent. 00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.839 His statements here, 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:18.940 no, he knows he's innocent 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:22.660 but Pilate isn't motivated 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.480 by justice 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.980 and he's not motivated 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.779 by love. 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.220 Pilate is motivated 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:29.399 by making himself 00:29:29.399 --> 00:29:30.079 look good 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:31.619 and furthering his power. 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:34.799 It's a very profoundly 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:36.339 human situation 00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:39.079 that we might say 00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:39.660 that we're looking 00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:40.279 for justice 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.480 but really what we're doing 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.399 is looking to 00:29:42.399 --> 00:29:44.539 further and cement 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:46.139 our own position. 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:49.319 And so in verse 11 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:50.379 but the chief priest 00:29:50.379 --> 00:29:51.299 stirred up the crowd 00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:52.819 to have Pilate 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.579 released for them 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:54.960 Barabbas instead of Jesus. 00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:56.379 Verse 12 00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.200 and Pilate again 00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:57.700 said to them 00:29:57.700 --> 00:29:58.539 then what shall I do 00:29:58.539 --> 00:29:59.119 with the man 00:29:59.119 --> 00:30:00.019 you call the king 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.519 of the Jews? 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.420 And they cried out 00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:02.579 again crucify him. 00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:04.259 And Pilate said to them 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.139 why what evil 00:30:05.139 --> 00:30:06.319 has Jesus done? 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:07.599 But they shouted 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:08.160 all the more 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:09.079 crucify him. 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:10.919 And so Pilate 00:30:10.919 --> 00:30:12.279 said well Jesus 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:12.720 is innocent 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.259 I'm going to let 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.240 Barabbas get killed. 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.299 No that's not what happens. 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:18.879 Pilate wishing 00:30:18.879 --> 00:30:20.179 to satisfy the crowd 00:30:20.179 --> 00:30:22.460 released for them 00:30:22.460 --> 00:30:23.059 Barabbas 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:25.000 and having scourged 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.679 Jesus 00:30:25.679 --> 00:30:27.480 that's 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.699 you have 00:30:28.699 --> 00:30:29.639 leather whips 00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:30.639 and embedded 00:30:30.639 --> 00:30:31.119 in the end 00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:31.679 of the whips 00:30:31.679 --> 00:30:32.980 are pieces of bone 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.740 or pieces of 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.480 lead 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:35.879 or pieces of glass. 00:30:35.880 --> 00:30:38.320 and Josephus 00:30:38.320 --> 00:30:39.360 records that 00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:40.760 cases of people 00:30:40.760 --> 00:30:41.820 being scourged 00:30:41.820 --> 00:30:42.280 and they 00:30:42.280 --> 00:30:43.420 often people 00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:45.100 die from being 00:30:45.100 --> 00:30:45.620 scourged. 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:47.000 They can't be crucified 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.020 because they die 00:30:48.020 --> 00:30:49.260 and it wasn't 00:30:49.260 --> 00:30:50.520 unusual for the Romans 00:30:50.520 --> 00:30:51.780 to scourge a person. 00:30:52.040 --> 00:30:53.000 They would tie 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.840 your hands up 00:30:53.840 --> 00:30:54.540 above your head 00:30:54.540 --> 00:30:55.160 so your body 00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:55.760 is completely 00:30:55.760 --> 00:30:56.460 defenseless 00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:57.700 and 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:59.100 they would 00:30:59.100 --> 00:30:59.940 scourge you 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:01.100 until the bone 00:31:01.100 --> 00:31:01.980 could be seen 00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:03.079 through the skin 00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:04.039 and through the muscle 00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:04.660 and through the 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.319 everything 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:06.180 until your bones 00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:06.920 could be seen. 00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.700 And they scourged 00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.940 and having scourged 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.220 Jesus 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:11.940 he delivered 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:12.840 Jesus to be 00:31:12.840 --> 00:31:13.319 crucified. 00:31:14.900 --> 00:31:15.840 Now some people 00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:16.279 would say 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:16.680 George 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.039 this 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:19.220 this shows 00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:19.819 the problem 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:20.640 with the gospel 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:21.059 right 00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.660 because you know 00:31:21.660 --> 00:31:22.220 on one hand 00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:23.160 if you look at this 00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:23.920 there is something 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.700 of the gospel 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.580 in this text. 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:27.800 Jesus 00:31:27.800 --> 00:31:28.860 dies 00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:30.300 in Pilate's 00:31:30.300 --> 00:31:31.340 in Barabbas' 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:31.980 place 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:33.960 and Barabbas 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.660 goes free. 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:35.680 In fact 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:36.220 you could even 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:36.680 imagine 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.500 a dialogue 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.940 an internal dialogue 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.740 with Pilate 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.940 as he's 00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:42.400 walking outside 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:42.940 he's talked 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:43.940 privately inside 00:31:43.940 --> 00:31:45.360 with the chief priest 00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:46.039 he's heard the 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:46.680 accusations 00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:47.640 Jesus has been 00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:48.039 silent 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.800 and he's thinking 00:31:48.800 --> 00:31:49.180 through 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:50.279 and maybe even 00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:50.820 one of the things 00:31:50.820 --> 00:31:51.340 he's thinking 00:31:51.340 --> 00:31:51.660 through 00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:52.460 is he's thinking 00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:53.900 you know 00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:54.480 dang it all 00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:55.080 I got 00:31:55.080 --> 00:31:55.720 I went to the 00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.420 bother of having 00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:56.980 the lads 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:58.019 make three crosses 00:31:58.019 --> 00:32:01.200 and it would be 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:01.660 a shame 00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:02.300 to have to try 00:32:02.300 --> 00:32:03.220 to find a fourth 00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:05.720 and it would be 00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.080 a shame 00:32:06.080 --> 00:32:06.880 to put one of them 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:07.500 to waste 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:08.460 the lads 00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:09.120 might be a bit 00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:09.580 upset 00:32:09.580 --> 00:32:10.340 that I had them 00:32:10.340 --> 00:32:11.180 do some work 00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:13.040 and I let 00:32:13.040 --> 00:32:14.160 and it all 00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:14.780 just had to 00:32:14.780 --> 00:32:15.660 go for naught 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.600 it was a hot day 00:32:16.600 --> 00:32:18.120 I had lots of bother 00:32:18.120 --> 00:32:20.060 so I'm going to 00:32:20.060 --> 00:32:21.160 pick one guy 00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:22.640 and another guy 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:23.640 and the result 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:24.720 of my thing 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.180 which I'm going 00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:25.700 to do in a few 00:32:25.700 --> 00:32:26.060 moments 00:32:26.060 --> 00:32:26.940 is that cross 00:32:26.940 --> 00:32:27.720 will not go to 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.100 waste 00:32:28.100 --> 00:32:29.640 somebody will 00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:30.360 die on that 00:32:30.360 --> 00:32:30.860 cross 00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:32.780 I don't want 00:32:32.780 --> 00:32:33.100 to have the 00:32:33.100 --> 00:32:33.740 bother of making 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.220 a fourth 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.259 and I don't 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:35.720 want to waste 00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.240 the third 00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:38.440 so in some 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:39.140 ways the story 00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:40.140 is you know 00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:40.740 people would say 00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.400 George I mean 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:41.960 aren't you saying 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.660 the story of 00:32:42.660 --> 00:32:43.620 Pilate and Jesus 00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.460 is unjust 00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:46.000 so how is it 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:46.540 just that you 00:32:46.540 --> 00:32:47.200 say that Jesus 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:47.960 died for our 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:48.220 sins 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:49.819 and George 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.700 doesn't it just 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.240 seem unjust 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:51.920 even if you 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:52.420 say that 00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.259 well Jesus 00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:54.380 dies on the 00:32:54.380 --> 00:32:55.039 cross instead 00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:56.799 of Barabbas 00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:57.460 but Barabbas 00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:57.960 goes free 00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:58.480 and just does 00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:59.100 more evil 00:32:59.100 --> 00:33:01.380 and those are 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:01.880 the reasons 00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:02.620 why the cross 00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:03.400 makes absolutely 00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:03.980 no sense 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:04.600 whatsoever 00:33:04.600 --> 00:33:09.360 and we as 00:33:09.360 --> 00:33:09.940 Christians would 00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:10.500 have to say 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.220 yeah but that's 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:11.860 not what's going 00:33:11.860 --> 00:33:12.579 on here in the 00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:13.000 story 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:14.180 you do get a 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:14.839 pointer to the 00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:15.579 cross but the 00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:16.079 differences 00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:17.960 are matter 00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:18.939 a lot 00:33:18.939 --> 00:33:20.899 if you could 00:33:20.899 --> 00:33:21.299 put up the 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.119 second point 00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:23.139 Claire that 00:33:23.139 --> 00:33:23.619 would be very 00:33:23.619 --> 00:33:24.079 handy 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:24.819 I see what 00:33:24.819 --> 00:33:25.480 Christians would 00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:26.019 say is that 00:33:26.019 --> 00:33:26.859 love triumphs 00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:27.699 over justice 00:33:27.699 --> 00:33:29.339 not by 00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:29.939 cancelling 00:33:29.939 --> 00:33:30.559 justice 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:32.159 but by 00:33:32.159 --> 00:33:32.740 satisfying 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.619 justice and 00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:34.279 going beyond 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:34.579 it 00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:36.480 so the 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.359 death of 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:38.000 Jesus is 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:38.839 unjust but 00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:39.480 what happens 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:39.740 in the 00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.019 death 00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:41.259 and in a 00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:41.919 sense all 00:33:41.919 --> 00:33:42.359 of the human 00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:43.240 beings and 00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:44.699 they desired 00:33:44.699 --> 00:33:45.419 harm to 00:33:45.419 --> 00:33:45.759 come to 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:46.420 Jesus but 00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:47.440 God used 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:48.319 our desire 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:48.900 to harm 00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:49.700 Jesus to 00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:50.460 bring good 00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:51.460 good for 00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:53.099 us that 00:33:53.099 --> 00:33:53.379 in the 00:33:53.379 --> 00:33:54.000 cross you 00:33:54.000 --> 00:33:54.359 see the 00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:54.960 profound love 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:55.619 of Jesus 00:33:55.619 --> 00:33:57.339 a profound 00:33:57.339 --> 00:33:59.220 particular love 00:33:59.220 --> 00:34:00.079 for human 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:00.720 beings for 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:01.359 each one of 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:01.900 us who puts 00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:02.500 our faith and 00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:02.940 trust in 00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:06.420 him and 00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:07.359 and Pilate 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:07.680 just 00:34:07.680 --> 00:34:11.099 autocratically 00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:12.699 chose this 00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:14.559 up in 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:17.399 Jesus to 00:34:17.399 --> 00:34:17.719 him and 00:34:17.719 --> 00:34:18.099 love 00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:19.039 to 00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:19.439 die on 00:34:19.439 --> 00:34:20.000 the cross 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:20.939 two of 00:34:20.939 --> 00:34:21.159 those 00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:21.659 times he 00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:22.179 prophesied 00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:23.980 two of 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.619 them specifically 00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:24.939 that he 00:34:24.939 --> 00:34:25.279 would die 00:34:25.279 --> 00:34:25.579 on the 00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:25.980 cross 00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:31.440 And so what's happening is that it's only Jesus' love that holds him to the cross. 00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:33.900 And it's a love offer. 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:37.099 Well, it's something like this. 00:34:38.840 --> 00:34:40.159 My wife is present. 00:34:40.300 --> 00:34:42.280 I was going to use this as an analogy about me, 00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:45.340 but then I thought it would make it look like I'm trying to be very virtuous. 00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:49.740 So I'll use my wife as an example, but it's not a bad example, dear. 00:34:49.739 --> 00:34:57.579 Imagine for a moment there's a horrible future that scientists figure out a way 00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:59.399 that they can hook a person up to a machine, 00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:04.659 and there's a transfer of the blood and of the fluids and everything from one body to another. 00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:12.819 But what happens, maybe it's designed in an evil autocratic country like many of them that we know in the world, 00:35:12.899 --> 00:35:14.519 and we hear about it in the West later on. 00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:17.239 And what they do is they take a completely healthy, innocent person, 00:35:17.239 --> 00:35:21.699 and they hook them up to a rich or powerful person who has a terrible disease. 00:35:21.939 --> 00:35:26.639 And when they hook the two people up and they move the fluids and everything through the two of them, 00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:31.519 all of the things which are causing the death of the one, of the rich, powerful person, 00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:34.139 are transferred to the healthy person. 00:35:34.699 --> 00:35:38.719 And the health of the healthy person is transferred to the rich person. 00:35:39.179 --> 00:35:45.039 And at the end of it, the rich person walks away in the full health of the healthy person. 00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:56.019 And the poor one who's forced to do this by an evil government has now the cancer or whatever illness it is, 00:35:56.579 --> 00:35:59.840 the host of illnesses that was killing, that's now in that person. 00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:08.259 But then we realize that maybe that technology could be of use in North America, 00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:12.720 but how could it ever be used without creating huge injustice. 00:36:14.140 --> 00:36:19.260 Well, let's say my granddaughter, one of my granddaughters, let's say Bria or Sophie, 00:36:19.800 --> 00:36:22.060 were the ones who were sick and were going to die. 00:36:26.380 --> 00:36:31.560 And there's the conversation amongst the family as to whether one person who might be a match 00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:38.259 would go in that machine so that the thing which is killing the young six-year-old or the 14-year-old 00:36:38.259 --> 00:36:43.400 would go into the healthy one and the health of the healthy one would go into the sick one. 00:36:45.239 --> 00:36:51.659 And it turns out that maybe Bria's mother or Sophie's mother would be a match. 00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:55.679 But it also turns out that my wife would be a match. 00:36:55.679 --> 00:37:01.279 And I think my wife would take that. 00:37:06.899 --> 00:37:08.119 It would be very sad. 00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:11.839 There would be tears. 00:37:13.739 --> 00:37:16.500 But I think she would hook herself up to that machine 00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:20.079 so her granddaughter would have her health. 00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:27.000 And so whether it's Lizzie or whether it's Victoria, 00:37:27.139 --> 00:37:28.679 they could see their daughter grow up 00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:32.340 and maybe see a granddaughter themselves someday. 00:37:36.500 --> 00:37:38.179 That's what's happening on the cross. 00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:46.360 There is no one a better match for you or closer to you 00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:50.320 than the creator and sustainer of all things than God, the Son of God. 00:37:51.099 --> 00:37:54.620 And God, the Son of God, takes your place on that cross. 00:37:55.920 --> 00:37:57.860 The health in him goes to you. 00:37:58.880 --> 00:38:02.599 And the sickness and death and illness in us go to him. 00:38:04.599 --> 00:38:07.579 And he does it not because it's imposed upon him, 00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:10.760 but he, in a sense, looks you and me in the eye and says, 00:38:10.940 --> 00:38:14.240 I am willing to do that for you because I love you. 00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:23.039 I am willing to do that for you because I love you. 00:38:25.200 --> 00:38:26.840 And you know the thing about love? 00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:29.820 The thing about love, and we all know this, 00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:31.780 is that when we love, whether it's just friendship 00:38:31.780 --> 00:38:35.200 or the love of a mother for her daughter 00:38:35.200 --> 00:38:39.519 or a friend for a friend or a husband and a wife, 00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:42.720 it's as if they come into you in some way. 00:38:42.820 --> 00:38:43.700 There's a place for them. 00:38:43.740 --> 00:38:45.760 That's why we get so sorrowful when they die. 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:47.620 It feels as if part of us is gone. 00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:51.940 And you see, love is the big difference between what happens. 00:38:52.120 --> 00:38:54.060 I mean, on one hand, it does have a bit of an inkling. 00:38:54.260 --> 00:38:56.740 The guilty goes and Jesus dies. 00:38:56.860 --> 00:38:58.460 But it's not that. 00:38:58.680 --> 00:39:01.400 It's love that explains what Jesus is doing. 00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:03.300 It's love that keeps him to the cross. 00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:04.780 It's love looking at you. 00:39:05.140 --> 00:39:08.680 And we feel the other person in our lives in a small way. 00:39:08.760 --> 00:39:10.720 But in Jesus, it actually is a real thing 00:39:10.720 --> 00:39:12.780 because he's the creator and sustainer of all things. 00:39:12.780 --> 00:39:13.820 And he comes within us. 00:39:14.080 --> 00:39:15.540 And we now have his love within us. 00:39:15.600 --> 00:39:18.440 The Bible describes it as being born again, born from above. 00:39:19.600 --> 00:39:24.640 And then what is different is that as what Jesus has done for you grips you, 00:39:25.800 --> 00:39:28.080 as it becomes more present to your heart, 00:39:28.140 --> 00:39:29.380 a deeper parts of who you are, 00:39:29.440 --> 00:39:31.160 that that's what he has done for you, 00:39:31.159 --> 00:39:35.519 that becomes, in a sense, a story, an image of how you are to live. 00:39:35.579 --> 00:39:39.960 And it becomes something that pushes you into looking at new ways of living. 00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:42.859 It pulls you and draws you into new ways of living. 00:39:42.859 --> 00:39:46.719 And it pulls you and draws you to do the opposite of envy. 00:39:47.139 --> 00:39:54.319 Because in envy, we feel sorrow that another person has a good that we desire to have. 00:39:54.320 --> 00:39:59.200 But love is being willing to sacrifice for the other to know true good. 00:40:00.920 --> 00:40:04.820 There is no true solution to envy other than love. 00:40:07.660 --> 00:40:10.380 And that is what we see in the story before us. 00:40:12.039 --> 00:40:13.559 That is what grips us. 00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:21.460 And it's in the security of his love that I can come to realize that I was guilty of the sin of envy. 00:40:21.880 --> 00:40:23.559 And I need to pray against it. 00:40:23.739 --> 00:40:24.900 I need to repent of it. 00:40:26.440 --> 00:40:27.480 Invite you to stand. 00:40:35.679 --> 00:40:37.259 Invite you to bow your heads in prayer. 00:40:37.260 --> 00:40:43.700 Father, for some of us here watching for the first time, 00:40:43.760 --> 00:40:46.440 it's really struck us what Christ has done for us on the cross. 00:40:46.440 --> 00:40:50.080 And Father, I ask that you would bring that truth home to them, 00:40:50.180 --> 00:40:54.820 that they might truly know that Jesus in a way of saving faith. 00:40:54.900 --> 00:40:59.020 And for others, it's just been brought home to us anew in yet another way. 00:40:59.180 --> 00:41:02.900 And we ask, Lord, that you bring the truth of who Jesus is 00:41:02.900 --> 00:41:09.460 and what he has done for us and his great love for us into our hearts more and more, 00:41:09.519 --> 00:41:10.420 more and more deeply. 00:41:11.220 --> 00:41:15.639 That it would become more and more deeply the ground that we stand on. 00:41:15.720 --> 00:41:20.720 That that which pushes us and pulls us and draws us and shapes us and forms us. 00:41:20.780 --> 00:41:26.000 And Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would do that wonderful, gentle, needed work 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:27.220 in each one of our lives. 00:41:27.220 --> 00:41:30.619 And not just us as individuals, but for us as a congregation, Father, 00:41:30.619 --> 00:41:35.279 that we would be marked not by envy, but by love and generosity 00:41:35.279 --> 00:41:40.259 and a love for our city and a love for people groups 00:41:40.259 --> 00:41:43.500 that still need to hear the gospel here in Ottawa and to the ends of the earth. 00:41:43.759 --> 00:41:48.759 That, Father, the gospel would not just shape us as individuals, but us as a church. 00:41:49.460 --> 00:41:54.239 That we would be a gospel-shaped people and a gospel-shaped church for your glory. 00:41:54.539 --> 00:41:57.679 And we ask these things in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. 00:41:58.519 --> 00:41:58.880 Amen. 00:42:00.619 --> 00:42:02.619 Amen. 00:42:02.619 --> 00:42:02.699 Amen. 00:42:03.279 --> 00:42:03.319 Amen. 00:42:03.319 --> 00:42:03.619 Amen. 00:42:03.679 --> 00:42:05.480 Amen.