WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.580 Hey everyone, good to see you all here. 00:00:02.680 --> 00:00:03.820 Good evening, I should say, actually. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:06.600 I'm super excited to be here today. 00:00:07.140 --> 00:00:10.560 Yes, because it is my now second sermon, because of this morning. 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:15.439 But more because I get to talk to you about God's word, from God's word. 00:00:15.480 --> 00:00:16.679 And that's a very exciting thing. 00:00:16.980 --> 00:00:20.300 So Sam gave me this passage a few weeks ago. 00:00:20.300 --> 00:00:22.000 And it's a great passage. 00:00:22.240 --> 00:00:23.280 And so I prepared eagerly. 00:00:23.379 --> 00:00:25.660 So let's pray before we get into it, shall we? 00:00:25.660 --> 00:00:31.339 So, Heavenly Father, we thank you for the great things that you've given us, 00:00:31.480 --> 00:00:33.399 including your son, Jesus, Lord. 00:00:33.899 --> 00:00:38.259 I ask that tonight you would open our ears so that we can hear your message, Lord, 00:00:38.299 --> 00:00:41.019 and give us hearts that are willing to change for you. 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:41.780 Amen. 00:00:42.620 --> 00:00:43.019 Amen. 00:00:46.620 --> 00:00:50.939 I'm not sure if you've ever had that moment of clarity in your life, 00:00:51.120 --> 00:00:54.799 where you realize that after this point in time or in this situation, 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:57.379 things have to change. 00:00:57.459 --> 00:00:58.799 They can't be the same anymore. 00:00:59.599 --> 00:01:01.780 There are some pretty famous examples of this, 00:01:01.839 --> 00:01:05.079 such as getting married or having children. 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:08.420 But I haven't experienced either of those yet. 00:01:08.479 --> 00:01:11.500 So I'll give you one that I do remember and that I have experienced. 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:14.679 I can tell you without any shame that I was an adorable child. 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:18.060 It's a fact. 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:24.140 And at year four, they presented us with an option of joining the music program at my school, 00:01:25.140 --> 00:01:29.040 Trafalgar Elementary, or if you're in the French immersion class, Trafalgar Elementary. 00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:32.620 And I desperately wanted to be a part of the music program. 00:01:32.960 --> 00:01:37.040 I wasn't great at any or many courses at school. 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:39.200 And music just seemed like so much fun. 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:40.760 You could make noise. 00:01:40.859 --> 00:01:41.540 It was joyous. 00:01:41.540 --> 00:01:43.520 And so I wanted to be a part of it so bad. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:44.520 And so I applied. 00:01:45.700 --> 00:01:49.860 I auditioned, rather, and successfully became a part of the music program at my school. 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:51.660 And I was over the moon about it. 00:01:52.360 --> 00:01:55.460 I was the only trombone player in the whole school. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:56.920 How much fun is that? 00:01:57.780 --> 00:02:00.060 But all my joy came to a sudden halt one day. 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:01.980 Let me set the scene for you. 00:02:02.520 --> 00:02:03.480 We're in the gym. 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:06.380 You know, kind of the same wood paneling, actually, as we have in the church. 00:02:06.379 --> 00:02:12.039 About 50 kids, all tiny, lots of dark-haired clarinet and flute players, 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:16.340 and one small blonde kid with freckles in the back of the room, 00:02:16.799 --> 00:02:22.259 making a sound like a baby elephant being strangled to death, just loud as anything. 00:02:22.460 --> 00:02:25.579 And I had no idea what I was doing was incorrect in any way. 00:02:26.419 --> 00:02:27.939 I was happy to make noise. 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:30.840 But after class, my teacher came to me and said, 00:02:31.379 --> 00:02:33.599 if I could play specific notes for her. 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:39.039 I had no idea that there were such things as notes, 00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:41.319 or any idea how to play them. 00:02:43.019 --> 00:02:46.299 I knew I either had to learn how to play notes, as she said, 00:02:46.340 --> 00:02:47.579 or stop playing altogether. 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:50.799 Fortunately enough, I learned my instrument just well enough 00:02:50.799 --> 00:02:52.359 to leave it behind when I came here. 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:56.859 But the reason for that story is that in the passage today, 00:02:56.959 --> 00:03:02.519 we have the biggest kind of moment of clarity in all of history on display to us. 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:04.560 The greatest truth being revealed of all time. 00:03:06.300 --> 00:03:07.740 And we need to get to the heart of that, 00:03:07.820 --> 00:03:12.439 because it has an infinite amount of implications for us as followers of Jesus. 00:03:14.620 --> 00:03:18.060 Now, like always, there are three questions that I have in my head 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:20.900 when I read the book of Mark, which I inherited from my older brother, 00:03:21.260 --> 00:03:22.160 because he's very wise. 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:30.419 Again, who is Jesus? 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:31.859 What has he done? 00:03:32.259 --> 00:03:33.840 And what does that mean for us? 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:36.099 So first, who is Jesus? 00:03:37.259 --> 00:03:40.139 Again, the importance of this question cannot be stated enough. 00:03:41.259 --> 00:03:43.840 It is central to the gospel of Mark. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:49.240 It's so important that Jesus asks it himself, unprompted, in the passage today, 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:51.420 which is such a rare occurrence for Jesus to do. 00:03:53.080 --> 00:03:55.360 And I think a little context would help us understand more. 00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:59.000 Does anyone other than Tashi know the first sentence of the book of Mark? 00:03:59.180 --> 00:03:59.640 Or Liz? 00:04:00.620 --> 00:04:01.280 Anyone else? 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:05.120 It says, 00:04:05.860 --> 00:04:09.639 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:16.680 The first sentence in the book identifies Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. 00:04:17.300 --> 00:04:18.139 Lays it out plain. 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:23.139 But there isn't a clear occasion of anyone identifying him as that 00:04:23.139 --> 00:04:24.899 until this point in the book. 00:04:25.620 --> 00:04:26.180 It's a mystery. 00:04:26.180 --> 00:04:32.439 So for a while now, Jesus and his disciples have been traveling around the area of ancient Palestine, 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:39.100 teaching, preaching, healing, exercising, and possibly exercising. 00:04:39.540 --> 00:04:43.500 But this whole time, Jesus has been doing miraculous things, 00:04:44.019 --> 00:04:47.620 with our expectation being that people would see him for who he really is. 00:04:48.540 --> 00:04:49.980 But it hasn't happened. 00:04:50.460 --> 00:04:51.300 People don't see it. 00:04:51.300 --> 00:04:56.639 Earlier in this chapter, the disciples are worried about their lack of food, 00:04:56.759 --> 00:04:57.680 specifically bread, 00:04:58.300 --> 00:05:04.000 immediately after Jesus has just finished feeding a humongous group of people 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:05.819 for the second time in front of them. 00:05:06.520 --> 00:05:09.639 And you can see by his reaction in verse 21 of chapter 8 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:14.639 that he expects them to see what's really going on, 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:16.180 and he's frustrated that they aren't. 00:05:16.180 --> 00:05:22.180 So we come back to the question asked by Jesus himself in the chapter. 00:05:23.139 --> 00:05:24.740 Who do people say that I am? 00:05:26.259 --> 00:05:28.240 Meaning, what have the people put together 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:31.960 after seeing my miracles, or hearing my teaching, 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:33.899 or even just hearing about me? 00:05:34.660 --> 00:05:35.600 What have they put together? 00:05:35.740 --> 00:05:37.899 What is the fruit of my labors, Jesus is wondering? 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:41.259 And the answers the disciples give him, 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:45.040 that the people are saying, aren't bad answers. 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:46.939 They're in an appropriate direction. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:50.040 But they're still wrong. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:51.300 We have John the Baptist, 00:05:52.220 --> 00:05:54.500 who died a few months ago before this story. 00:05:54.900 --> 00:05:58.060 We have Elijah, who died a few hundred years ago before this story. 00:05:58.439 --> 00:06:02.600 And we have generally the great prophets, 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:04.439 who are in the back half of the Old Testament, 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:07.900 none of whom have appeared to Israel for also another 800 years. 00:06:07.899 --> 00:06:13.939 But these are all people that are great. 00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:17.859 The heroes of Israel, the paragons of the nation, 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:20.079 the people who they think, 00:06:20.579 --> 00:06:23.779 he must be great, he must be like one of these men. 00:06:25.819 --> 00:06:27.500 The best they can think of. 00:06:28.459 --> 00:06:29.939 But like I said, these answers are incorrect. 00:06:30.179 --> 00:06:31.519 Jesus asks the question again, 00:06:31.939 --> 00:06:33.379 but to his disciples this time, 00:06:33.379 --> 00:06:34.759 specifically to them, 00:06:35.219 --> 00:06:37.240 the people who he's taught the most. 00:06:37.699 --> 00:06:39.339 He's handpicked them to follow him. 00:06:39.659 --> 00:06:41.300 They have seen more and done more 00:06:41.300 --> 00:06:44.279 than we could ever imagine from the Bible that we have. 00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:46.939 So they must have the right answer. 00:06:47.579 --> 00:06:47.680 Yeah? 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:50.800 Well, thankfully, Peter, 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:52.579 who's known for putting his foot in his mouth 00:06:52.579 --> 00:06:53.339 at every opportunity, 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:56.600 actually gets it right in verse 29. 00:06:56.819 --> 00:06:57.759 It's an amazing moment. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:02.079 It's as simple as an answer can be to that question 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:04.740 while also being as truthful 00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:07.180 as any possible response that could be given. 00:07:08.459 --> 00:07:09.920 You are the Christ, he says. 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:12.560 And there we have it. 00:07:12.920 --> 00:07:14.759 That moment of clarity, 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:17.120 that thing that changes everything. 00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:18.420 It changes everything. 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:20.639 Jesus isn't like John the Baptist 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:22.939 or Elijah or the prophets. 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:25.560 He's on an entirely different playing field. 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:29.480 He is astronomically more powerful and important 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:31.579 than any of those men are. 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:34.339 They aren't good enough to be like him. 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:36.639 They aren't anywhere near who Jesus is. 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:39.439 Jesus is the Christ. 00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:41.399 It's not just another title of his. 00:07:41.540 --> 00:07:42.720 It has weight. 00:07:42.819 --> 00:07:43.500 It has meaning. 00:07:44.779 --> 00:07:46.180 And it shouldn't be a mystery to us 00:07:46.180 --> 00:07:47.579 how important this title is. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:52.000 It conveys the entirety of God's plan 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:53.340 throughout time and history. 00:07:53.339 --> 00:07:57.479 You know, promises to Adam and Eve 00:07:57.479 --> 00:07:58.719 in Genesis chapter 3 00:07:58.719 --> 00:08:01.199 or to Abraham in Genesis 12 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:03.639 or to Moses and the people of Israel 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:04.679 in Exodus 19 00:08:04.679 --> 00:08:06.459 or to David in 2 Samuel 7. 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:08.039 The list keeps on going. 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:09.019 It goes on and on and on. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:12.479 And each one builds upon the idea 00:08:12.479 --> 00:08:13.879 of who this Christ is, 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:14.879 how important he is, 00:08:14.919 --> 00:08:16.139 how powerful he is. 00:08:16.799 --> 00:08:19.239 They just add weight to the person of Jesus. 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:20.319 When Peter says to him, 00:08:20.379 --> 00:08:20.959 you are the Christ, 00:08:21.019 --> 00:08:22.419 all the things go boom. 00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:24.199 This is who he is. 00:08:24.300 --> 00:08:26.560 It means all of these things. 00:08:29.460 --> 00:08:32.159 I love how amazing this part of Mark actually is. 00:08:32.259 --> 00:08:33.659 Something I learned a while ago 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:35.460 and was reminded in class this term 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:39.180 is the structure of Mark chapter 8. 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:41.820 Jesus has just finished healing a blind man 00:08:41.820 --> 00:08:43.420 of his physical blindness. 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:45.360 It's kind of a weird story. 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:46.440 He spits in his face 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:48.460 and the guy kind of sees trees 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:49.380 and then sees people again. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:50.080 It's kind of strange. 00:08:51.460 --> 00:08:52.900 But then he moves down 00:08:52.900 --> 00:08:56.080 and he heals the disciples and us 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:57.700 of our spiritual blindness. 00:08:59.460 --> 00:09:01.140 The answers that the disciples give 00:09:01.140 --> 00:09:03.360 about the people when he asks them 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:06.420 shows that they can't see who he really is. 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:08.400 They haven't put it together. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:12.139 And it wouldn't be possible 00:09:12.139 --> 00:09:14.720 without his teaching and miracles 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:18.100 and allowing us to see who he really is. 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:19.879 It's a miracle. 00:09:20.419 --> 00:09:23.100 Jesus' display of himself to us. 00:09:24.500 --> 00:09:26.120 And he's chosen this part 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:27.759 in chapter 8 of the book of Mark 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:29.419 to change that, 00:09:29.500 --> 00:09:30.639 to reveal it to us. 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:32.539 And so who he is 00:09:32.539 --> 00:09:35.460 directly affects what he has come to do. 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:37.960 in verse 31. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:40.480 That is what the Christ has come to do. 00:09:40.560 --> 00:09:41.280 Take a look at it. 00:09:42.680 --> 00:09:45.680 The all-powerful promised one of God 00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:47.900 who has come to save the world 00:09:47.900 --> 00:09:50.780 comes to do it through pain, 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:52.540 through suffering, 00:09:53.280 --> 00:09:54.259 through rejection, 00:09:54.820 --> 00:09:55.759 and through death. 00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:59.060 And I think this idea 00:09:59.060 --> 00:10:02.200 has lost a bit of its impact on us. 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:04.220 We take the concept 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:05.600 that Jesus can actually die 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:06.600 on face value. 00:10:08.820 --> 00:10:09.779 But it's a miracle. 00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:11.460 It's a miracle of God. 00:10:11.540 --> 00:10:12.480 It's a tragic one. 00:10:12.540 --> 00:10:13.300 It's a sad one. 00:10:13.300 --> 00:10:14.040 But it is, 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:14.920 nonetheless, 00:10:15.180 --> 00:10:15.639 miraculous. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:16.840 Mark has just spent 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:18.740 the first half of the gospel 00:10:18.740 --> 00:10:20.259 showing how powerful 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:21.620 Jesus actually is. 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:23.480 If you read chapter 5, 00:10:23.560 --> 00:10:24.700 you see that Jesus has the power 00:10:24.700 --> 00:10:25.899 to exercise demons, 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:28.440 to heal the sick in masses, 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:30.480 and to raise a little girl 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:31.580 back from the dead. 00:10:31.580 --> 00:10:33.720 So how can a man 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:35.360 who has the power over death 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:36.740 actually die? 00:10:37.139 --> 00:10:38.620 It doesn't make sense. 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:39.840 It just doesn't. 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:41.379 And that's what Peter is thinking. 00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:44.620 Jesus talks about himself dying, 00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:45.340 and Peter says, 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:47.220 that's not how the plan works. 00:10:48.040 --> 00:10:49.920 The Savior is not supposed to die. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:55.139 He sees it as like a misfortune 00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:56.879 or tragedy that needs to be avoided. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:57.259 He's saying, 00:10:57.339 --> 00:10:58.860 you're talking smack, Jesus. 00:10:58.919 --> 00:10:59.839 That's not how it works. 00:11:01.479 --> 00:11:03.139 The idea that Christ has to die 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:04.019 is so contrary 00:11:04.019 --> 00:11:05.240 to the human way of thinking. 00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:07.939 You can see it in our culture 00:11:07.939 --> 00:11:08.759 all over the place, 00:11:08.839 --> 00:11:09.019 you know, 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:09.659 in our movies, 00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:10.959 in our books, 00:11:11.079 --> 00:11:11.740 our TV. 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:13.219 Our heroes are, 00:11:13.299 --> 00:11:13.559 you know, 00:11:13.779 --> 00:11:15.379 majestic and strong people. 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:17.240 They succeed in their acts 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:17.860 of heroism 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:19.379 by not needing to die 00:11:19.379 --> 00:11:21.559 because dying equals failure. 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:22.059 Right? 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:23.960 As a teenager, 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:25.200 I was a massive fan 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:25.919 of comic books. 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:27.320 I still kind of am, 00:11:27.419 --> 00:11:28.240 only I don't have the money 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:29.240 to spend them anymore. 00:11:30.419 --> 00:11:31.320 But in particular, 00:11:31.439 --> 00:11:32.059 I love the stories 00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:33.299 that were engaging. 00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:34.399 You have a hero 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:35.620 who has a struggle 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:36.519 he has to overcome. 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:38.860 And he has to use 00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:42.240 his powers at his disposal 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:43.399 or his tools or whatever. 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:46.059 And he overcomes them. 00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:46.779 But there was 00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:47.960 an interesting phenomenon 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:48.960 in the comic book world 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:49.699 that I eventually 00:11:49.699 --> 00:11:50.899 got kind of jaded with, 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:52.539 which is the idea 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:53.879 that comic book heroes 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:55.240 never really die. 00:11:56.819 --> 00:11:58.139 It's a thing called retconning, 00:11:58.340 --> 00:11:58.679 which means 00:11:58.679 --> 00:11:59.639 retroactive continuity, 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:01.100 where they come back to life 00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:02.000 in various ways. 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:05.139 But I think it's because 00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:07.059 that human idea of 00:12:07.059 --> 00:12:08.580 he can't be a hero 00:12:08.580 --> 00:12:09.759 if he ever dies. 00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:11.720 That negates 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:12.360 all the work 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:13.059 that they have done 00:12:13.059 --> 00:12:14.159 because it's a failure 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:15.779 as a character of theirs. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:19.779 It's that human idea 00:12:19.779 --> 00:12:21.240 that death is just 00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:24.860 a defeat of heroism. 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:27.220 Thankfully, God doesn't think 00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:28.379 the same way we do. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:30.480 Very thankfully. 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:32.080 The work that Jesus has to do 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:33.740 is perfectly in line 00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:34.659 with God's way of thinking 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:36.240 because it's God's plan. 00:12:37.579 --> 00:12:38.419 And it's so different 00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:39.240 from how we would ever 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:39.980 even imagine 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:41.500 being saved by somebody. 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:43.219 Which is also why 00:12:43.219 --> 00:12:44.740 the completion of his work 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:47.759 is still utterly bewildering to us. 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:49.240 Not only does the guy 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:51.279 who has control over death 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:52.120 have to die, 00:12:52.659 --> 00:12:54.399 he also comes back to life. 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:56.039 It's even more impossible 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:57.620 than the guy 00:12:57.620 --> 00:12:58.259 who has control over death 00:12:58.259 --> 00:12:59.299 dying in the first place. 00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:00.079 It's amazing. 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:03.540 So who Jesus is 00:13:03.540 --> 00:13:04.620 as the Christ 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:07.080 affects what he has to do 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:08.580 and will do. 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:10.139 And both of these 00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:11.400 bear tremendous importance 00:13:11.400 --> 00:13:12.139 for us. 00:13:13.400 --> 00:13:14.080 Which brings us 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:14.740 to the last section 00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:15.240 of the passage, 00:13:15.420 --> 00:13:16.540 verses 34 00:13:16.540 --> 00:13:18.139 to chapter 9, verse 1. 00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:20.200 It's also worth noticing 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:21.420 that these words 00:13:21.420 --> 00:13:22.100 are not spoken 00:13:22.100 --> 00:13:23.580 to his 12 disciples anymore, 00:13:24.040 --> 00:13:24.980 but to the gathering 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:25.840 of people who are 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.660 following him. 00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:27.399 And so they also 00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:28.360 apply to us 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:30.019 if we seek to follow him. 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:32.039 We have the third 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:32.759 subtle miracle 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.620 of this passage. 00:13:34.899 --> 00:13:35.799 In that we can actually 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:36.779 be saved. 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:38.379 There is hope for us. 00:13:39.179 --> 00:13:39.899 It's a miracle. 00:13:40.579 --> 00:13:41.399 What Jesus' death 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:41.819 and resurrection 00:13:41.819 --> 00:13:42.539 mean for us 00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:43.379 is our salvation. 00:13:44.939 --> 00:13:45.459 And with that, 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.139 the expectation 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:47.000 that we follow him 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:47.539 as the Lord 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:48.699 who has saved us. 00:13:49.059 --> 00:13:50.360 They go hand in hand together. 00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:51.839 The invitation 00:13:51.839 --> 00:13:53.100 for salvation 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:53.939 for us 00:13:53.939 --> 00:13:55.759 isn't just a simple 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.200 contract to sign, though. 00:13:58.299 --> 00:13:59.659 There is fine print, 00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:01.939 only that it's not fine, 00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:03.779 but bold, 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:05.100 double underlined, 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:05.679 highlighted, 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:07.759 and in a gigantic font. 00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:09.439 It's big. 00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:09.980 It's there. 00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:10.819 What is expected 00:14:10.819 --> 00:14:11.639 of us as followers 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:13.319 is an enormous amount, 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:14.799 and Jesus holds 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:15.779 no punches back. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.399 Take another look 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.019 at those verses. 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:19.919 There are about 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:20.879 three things 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:21.819 that are expected 00:14:21.819 --> 00:14:22.679 of us as followers 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:23.659 that are all 00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:25.580 equally as daunting 00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:26.320 to attempt. 00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:27.980 Let's see. 00:14:28.420 --> 00:14:29.879 There is deny yourself, 00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:32.080 take up your cross 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.040 and follow him, 00:14:34.040 --> 00:14:35.200 and lose your life 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:35.980 for the sake of Jesus 00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:36.720 and the gospel. 00:14:38.020 --> 00:14:38.980 All of these are, 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:40.700 again, reversals, 00:14:40.900 --> 00:14:42.320 contrary to 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:44.139 how we humans 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:44.980 think our lives 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:45.780 should be. 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:49.700 It's just 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:51.040 a flipped up world. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.540 It's not the way 00:14:51.540 --> 00:14:52.259 we think like. 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:56.679 It's just the same 00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:57.159 as before. 00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:57.819 Our way of thinking 00:14:57.819 --> 00:14:58.580 isn't the same 00:14:58.580 --> 00:14:59.500 as God's way of thinking 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.179 or the way God 00:15:00.179 --> 00:15:00.919 plans things, 00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:02.059 but it's only through 00:15:02.059 --> 00:15:03.019 God's plan 00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:03.879 and God's way of thinking 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.759 that we can actually 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.659 be saved. 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.659 So if we're going to do this, 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:08.899 what is expected of us? 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:09.840 Because the examples 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.360 given by Jesus 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:11.220 are kind of puzzling, 00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:13.500 but they're not very clear 00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:13.980 exactly. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.659 So first, 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:17.259 the idea of denying yourself, 00:15:17.819 --> 00:15:18.600 taking up your cross 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:19.519 and following him, 00:15:20.800 --> 00:15:22.820 it's not talking about 00:15:22.820 --> 00:15:24.420 living a life 00:15:24.420 --> 00:15:25.399 of austerity, 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:26.980 of being poor, 00:15:27.540 --> 00:15:29.800 that whole Buddhist notion 00:15:29.800 --> 00:15:32.200 of self-denial, 00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:34.340 so the material items 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:34.899 in your life 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.860 don't bring you happiness 00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:36.940 so you have to deny them 00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:37.700 and reject them. 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:39.460 It's not talking about that. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:40.560 What it is talking about 00:15:40.560 --> 00:15:42.480 is a life of humble submission, 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:44.639 a life example 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:45.560 off of what 00:15:45.560 --> 00:15:47.220 Jesus himself has done. 00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:49.300 There is no greater 00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:50.340 denial of self 00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:51.580 in the history of time 00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:52.840 than the creator 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:54.139 and owner of the universe 00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:55.580 coming down 00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.740 and being born as a human, 00:15:57.180 --> 00:15:58.399 living a life of suffering, 00:15:58.580 --> 00:15:59.940 and then dying for us. 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.460 There's no greater 00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:02.320 example of it. 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:05.480 And that is the image 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.620 that we are to follow 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:09.080 in our taking up our cross 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:09.740 and following him 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.259 in our life. 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:12.980 We are to put down 00:16:12.980 --> 00:16:13.940 those things 00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:15.300 that reach up 00:16:15.300 --> 00:16:16.000 and towards us 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:16.820 from following Jesus 00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:17.379 and doing it 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:17.900 them instead. 00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:20.800 It's a path of rejection 00:16:20.800 --> 00:16:22.400 of the world 00:16:22.400 --> 00:16:23.000 and the people 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:24.879 and this is why 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:25.600 Jesus brings up 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:26.400 the idea of being 00:16:26.400 --> 00:16:27.300 ashamed of him. 00:16:29.420 --> 00:16:30.560 It's such a temptation, 00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:31.100 isn't it? 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.520 When you're at work 00:16:33.520 --> 00:16:34.740 and you just want 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:35.879 to get things done 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:37.660 and somebody comes 00:16:37.660 --> 00:16:38.340 and asks you 00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:38.820 what you did 00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:39.500 with your Sunday. 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:41.500 or when you're at uni 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:44.039 and there's that kind 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:46.559 of air of mutual views 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.360 and sharing them 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:47.919 and everyone kind 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:48.879 of appreciates each other 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:50.379 until the topic goes 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:50.960 to something like 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:51.519 gay marriage, 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:52.559 even regular marriage 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:52.899 nowadays, 00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:54.080 and you realize that 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:56.720 their views 00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:58.419 don't really extend 00:16:58.419 --> 00:16:59.019 to you. 00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:01.120 They don't really 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:03.019 accept you 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:04.240 as being valid anymore. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:06.559 or you're in school 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.640 and your friends 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:08.380 ask you why you 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:09.620 haven't partied 00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:10.400 with them on the weekend, 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:10.819 why you're not 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.680 getting drunk with them. 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:13.099 And these questions 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:13.859 come up and you just 00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:15.160 kind of shrink inside. 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:16.620 You don't want 00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:18.039 to talk about them, 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:18.440 you just want to 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:20.640 kind of shrink away 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:22.440 and avoid the question. 00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:24.759 That human reaction, 00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:26.259 that natural reaction 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:26.900 that we have, 00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:28.480 I am a massive culprit 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:30.099 of those many points 00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:30.700 of my life. 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:33.700 But the point 00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.160 of this passage 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:35.519 isn't to despair, 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:36.860 but to have hope 00:17:36.860 --> 00:17:38.319 in who Jesus is instead. 00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:40.000 Because who Jesus is 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.660 and what he has done 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:41.200 for us 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.779 is more than enough 00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:44.080 for us to endure 00:17:44.080 --> 00:17:46.620 a temporary amount 00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:47.279 of discomfort. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:48.400 It even says 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:49.700 in John chapter 15 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:50.900 that if the world 00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:51.660 hates us, 00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:52.600 it's because it 00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:53.840 hated him first. 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.039 And the moment 00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:57.819 of clarity I deal 00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.539 of talking about 00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.019 is here, 00:17:59.100 --> 00:17:59.539 it's right here 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.039 in this passage. 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:00.579 It's the truth 00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.319 that is ultimately 00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:02.099 more valuable 00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:03.399 than anything 00:18:03.399 --> 00:18:04.299 Uriah could ever 00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:05.000 be worth. 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:05.500 As it says 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.460 in verse 37, 00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:08.460 what can we offer 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.899 in exchange for our soul? 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:11.639 What are our lives worth? 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:12.319 You could have 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:13.879 everything in the entire earth 00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:15.319 and your life 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:15.839 would be nothing 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:16.839 compared to the work 00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:18.000 of Jesus and his life 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.759 and a life 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:20.139 following him. 00:18:24.159 --> 00:18:25.440 This passage in Mark 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.500 is so humongous. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.799 It just changes everything. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:30.960 It's like that street 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:33.159 outside from which 00:18:33.159 --> 00:18:33.619 we can reach 00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:34.599 every corner of Sydney. 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:35.339 We can go 00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:37.579 north, south, east, and west. 00:18:38.919 --> 00:18:40.079 This passage 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:41.039 kind of spreads 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:42.079 over every corner 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:42.799 of our lives 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.419 and affects 00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:44.399 every area. 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:51.659 It reaches those places 00:18:51.659 --> 00:18:52.839 and demands 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:55.399 that we follow him. 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:56.519 you see the truth 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:56.840 of Jesus 00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:57.300 on display 00:18:57.300 --> 00:18:57.800 as him being 00:18:57.800 --> 00:18:58.280 the Christ 00:18:58.280 --> 00:18:59.140 and it demands 00:18:59.140 --> 00:18:59.880 that you be changed 00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:00.340 for him. 00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:01.380 It demands 00:19:01.380 --> 00:19:02.080 that we live 00:19:02.080 --> 00:19:02.700 a life 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:04.320 of humble submission 00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:05.240 like he did 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:07.180 in order to be saved. 00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:11.320 and it gets rid 00:19:11.320 --> 00:19:11.720 of those 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:13.460 dark corners 00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.080 of our mind 00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:14.620 that kind of 00:19:14.620 --> 00:19:15.400 distract us 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.240 in those situations 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.640 and helps us 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:18.400 to keep walking 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.060 on that path 00:19:19.060 --> 00:19:19.700 Jesus has already 00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:21.420 trodden out for us. 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:23.960 And so the truth 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.400 of Jesus 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.620 being the Christ 00:19:25.620 --> 00:19:26.220 here in Mark 00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:26.860 chapter 8 00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:28.779 and the work 00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:29.519 he has done 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.700 of coming, 00:19:31.060 --> 00:19:31.340 suffering, 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:31.940 and dying 00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.740 for us 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:34.100 means an infinite 00:19:34.100 --> 00:19:35.100 amount to us 00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:36.779 and it is awesome 00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:37.500 enough for us 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.279 to follow him 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.159 in every area 00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:40.279 of our lives 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.879 and change for him 00:19:41.879 --> 00:19:43.319 and suffer for him 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:44.740 so that we can be 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.740 saved by him. 00:19:46.699 --> 00:19:47.039 Amen.