WEBVTT

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 We are in Matthew chapter 3 this morning.

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 We have been going through a sermon series in the Gospel of Matthew.

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 We started it in Advent, and we're going to go straight,

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 go right through the rest of the book now that Christmas is past.

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 So we're in Matthew chapter 3.

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 And my name is Sean, for those of you who don't know me.

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 It's my privilege and joy to preach God's word to you this morning.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word.

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 Heavenly Father,

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 your word in Matthew 3 has a sobering message for us.

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 Won't you help us to be alert physically, spiritually,

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 to the urgency of repentance and faith in Jesus.

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 Won't you cast down any fleshly confidence

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 and false assurances that we presume upon and cling to.

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 And fix our eyes and all of our hopes

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 solely on Jesus Christ, your son, our king, Allah.

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 Speak to us.

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 You promise the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire

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 for those who repent and believe.

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 So, Lord,

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 fill us more and more with your Holy Spirit

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 and make those who are not yet born again,

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 born again,

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 baptize in your spirit.

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 Even this morning.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 If you are able, please stand

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 so that we can honor God as we read his word.

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 I will be reading out loud from Matthew 3, verses 1 to 12.

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 In those days,

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 John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea.

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 Repent,

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 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah

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 when he said,

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 the voice of one crying in the wilderness,

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 prepare the way of the Lord,

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 make his path straight.

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 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair

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 and a leather belt around his waist,

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 and his food was locusts and wild honey.

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 Then Jerusalem and all Judea

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 and all the region about the Jordan

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 were going out to him,

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 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan,

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 confessing their sins.

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 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees

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 coming to his baptism,

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 he said to them,

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 you brood of vipers,

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 who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

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 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance,

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 and do not presume to say to yourselves,

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 we have Abraham as our father.

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 For I tell you,

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 God is able from these stones

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 to raise up children for Abraham.

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 Even now,

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 the axe is laid to the root of the trees.

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 Every tree, therefore,

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 that does not bear good fruit

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 is cut down and thrown into the fire.

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 I baptize you with water for repentance,

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 but he who is coming after me

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 is mightier than I,

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 whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.

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 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

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 His winnowing fork is in his hand,

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 and he will clear his threshing floor

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 and gather his wheat into the barn,

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 but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 You may be seated.

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 Earlier this month,

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 Bashar al-Assad,

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 the Syrian dictator,

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 was overthrown in a military coup

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 and fled to Moscow.

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 Some of you may have read that in the news.

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 He and his father,

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 who preceded him,

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 ruled Syria under a brutal dictatorship

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 for five decades.

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 And when the victorious rebel group

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 took over Damascus,

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 thousands of Syrians

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 stormed the capital to celebrate

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 while also dismantling various statues

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 of those former dictators

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 and defacing their posters.

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 However, not everyone celebrated

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 when that happened.

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 The Alawites,

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 which is a Muslim minority sect

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 that makes up about 10% of Syria,

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 supported Bashar al-Assad

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 because Assad was himself an Alawite.

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 The majority of Syria's military

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 and political elites,

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 including their intelligence agencies

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 and their paramilitaries,

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 were all made up of Alawites.

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 But now that there has been a regime change,

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 these Alawites are fearing for their safety.

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 They fear retribution,

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 and they're calling for amnesty,

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 for a general pardon and forgiveness

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 of all political offenses

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 that took place in the previous regime.

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 Because one's fortunes can change overnight

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 when there is a regime change,

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 and it matters which side you're on.

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 Matthew 3, 1-12 is a warning

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 about a regime change that is underway.

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 2 Corinthians 4-4 describes Satan

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 as the God of this world,

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 and we can see why in this next chapter

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 in the Gospel of Matthew,

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 when the devil offers Jesus

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 all the kingdoms of the world

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 and their glory.

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 Because under God's sovereign rule,

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 Satan for a time has been allowed

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 this authority on earth.

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 As Matthew 12, 26 makes clear,

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 Satan too has a kingdom,

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 and this world is ruled,

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 as Ephesians 2, 2 says,

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 by this prince of the power of the air,

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 the spirit that is now at work

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 in the sons of disobedience.

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 But Satan and his kingdom

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 will eventually be destroyed

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 and give way to the kingdom of God,

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 to the consummation of the kingdom of God.

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 And John the Baptist announces

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 in this passage

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 that that regime change,

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 which will in the future be consummated,

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 is already afoot,

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 has already begun,

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 because Christ the King has come.

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 And so that's the main point

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 of my message this morning,

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 is repent,

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 for Christ the King has come.

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 Repent means turn.

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 It says in Acts 26, 20,

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 repent and turn to God,

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 performing deeds

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 in keeping with repentance.

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 It means you do a U-turn

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 from living for yourself

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 to living for God,

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 from living under the dominion of Satan

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 to living under the dominion

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 of Jesus Christ.

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 It means you do a turn

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 from living for your selfish,

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 sinful desires

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 to obeying God from the heart.

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 And this message is urgent.

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 This message is urgent

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 because regime change

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 is already afoot.

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 Repent for Christ the King has come.

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 And there are two reasons

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 that Matthew gives us in this passage,

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 because the kingdom is at hand,

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 and secondly,

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 because judgment is at hand,

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 both brought by,

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 ultimately,

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 the Messiah.

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 We were told at the end of chapter two

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 that Jesus grew up in Nazareth,

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 which is why he's called the Nazarene.

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 Some time has now elapsed since that time,

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 and Jesus is an adult,

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 as you will see later in this chapter.

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 He says in verse one,

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 in those days,

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 John the Baptist came preaching

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 in the wilderness of Judea.

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 Matthew includes the detail

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 that John's preaching ministry

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 took place in the wilderness of Judea,

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 and this is not an incidental detail.

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 Matthew is making the theological claim

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 that John is the voice of one

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 crying in the wilderness,

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 as prophesied in Isaiah 40, verse three,

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 which he quotes later in verse three.

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 The wilderness has marked

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 very important transitional seasons

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 in the history of God's people.

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 If you remember,

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 it was in the wilderness

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 that God first appeared to Moses

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 and appeared to his people

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 on Mount Sinai.

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 It was in the wilderness,

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 to the wilderness,

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 that God led his people

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 out of the exodus in Egypt.

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 It was in the wilderness

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 that people journeyed

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 until they arrived

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 and conquered the promised land

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 that God had promised to give them.

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 And so many of the prophets

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 employed the imagery

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 of God turning the wilderness

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 into paradise

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 because that's what God

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 time and time again did

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 in redemptive history.

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 Isaiah 43, verse 19 says,

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 Behold, I am doing a new thing.

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 Now it springs forth.

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 Do you not perceive it?

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 I will make in the wilderness

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 and rivers in,

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 I will make a way in the wilderness

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 and rivers in the desert.

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 Isaiah 44, verse three,

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 For I will pour water

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 on the thirsty land

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 and streams on the dry ground.

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 I will pour out my spirit

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 upon your offspring

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 and my blessing

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 on your descendants.

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 So when you see wilderness,

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 in short,

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 it's already,

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 it's a place of transition,

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 a place of promise,

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 a place of anticipation.

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 So when you hear wilderness,

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 regime change,

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 the smell of regime change

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 is in the air.

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 God is about to break in

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 and establish his rule

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 among his people.

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 That there is a new prophet in town

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 is already newsworthy.

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 That he is preaching

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 in the wilderness

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 is already newsworthy.

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 But what takes center stage

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 here in this passage

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 is not who John is

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 or where he is,

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 but what he says.

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 He is preaching,

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 which is even more important

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 than his baptizing.

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 He says in verse one,

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 John the Baptist came

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 preaching in the wilderness

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 of Judea.

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 And this is what he preached.

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 Repent,

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 for the kingdom of heaven

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 is at hand.

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 And this is not just

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 the message

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 of the previous era

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 because it's the exact same message

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 that Jesus preaches

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 later in the gospel of Matthew

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 in Matthew 4, 17.

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 Repent,

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 for the kingdom of heaven

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 is at hand.

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 We need to turn away from sin

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 and turn toward Jesus

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 in faith.

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 Why?

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 For,

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 because,

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 the kingdom of heaven

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 is at hand.

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 As the regime changes,

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 you must pledge allegiance

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 to the right king.

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 The word kingdom

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 in the Bible

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 doesn't primarily refer

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 to a place

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 or a territory

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 or a realm

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 like when we speak

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 of the kingdom

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 of Saudi Arabia,

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 which is I think

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 the official name

00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:43.800
 of the country.

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 It rather refers

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 to a dominion,

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 to the kingship

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 and the rulership

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 of someone

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 when it speaks

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 of kingdom.

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 And so,

00:11:53.780 --> 00:11:54.340
 when it says

00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:55.100
 that the kingdom

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 of heaven

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 is at hand,

00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:57.980
 what it means

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 is the king

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 of heaven

00:11:59.660 --> 00:12:00.640
 has begun

00:12:00.640 --> 00:12:01.480
 his rule.

00:12:02.300 --> 00:12:02.920
 The king

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 of heaven

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 is taking charge.

00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:06.759
 Of course,

00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:07.440
 there is a sense

00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:07.960
 in which God

00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:09.160
 has always reigned

00:12:09.160 --> 00:12:10.500
 over all the earth.

00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:11.800
 He is the sole creator

00:12:11.800 --> 00:12:12.259
 and Lord

00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:13.300
 of all the heavens

00:12:13.300 --> 00:12:13.800
 and the earth.

00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:15.120
 However,

00:12:15.220 --> 00:12:15.540
 the Bible

00:12:15.540 --> 00:12:16.680
 always acknowledges

00:12:16.680 --> 00:12:18.300
 that the world

00:12:18.300 --> 00:12:19.440
 is not the way

00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:20.640
 it's supposed to be.

00:12:21.520 --> 00:12:22.259
 Ever since

00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:23.240
 the fall of humanity,

00:12:23.680 --> 00:12:24.700
 there has been

00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:26.100
 rebel forces

00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:26.740
 at work

00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.740
 in this world

00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:28.840
 who resist

00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:29.560
 God's rule.

00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:30.860
 That's why

00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:31.920
 in Zechariah 14,

00:12:32.019 --> 00:12:32.600
 5-9,

00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:33.480
 it prophesied

00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:34.120
 of the day

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:34.620
 of the Lord

00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:35.000
 saying,

00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:36.320
 then the Lord

00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.060
 my God

00:12:37.060 --> 00:12:37.720
 will come

00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:39.440
 and all the holy

00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:40.259
 ones with him.

00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:41.580
 On that day,

00:12:41.680 --> 00:12:42.320
 living water

00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:43.100
 shall flow

00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:44.259
 out from Jerusalem

00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:45.040
 and the Lord

00:12:45.040 --> 00:12:46.180
 will be king

00:12:46.180 --> 00:12:47.100
 over all the earth.

00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.399
 On that day,

00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:48.920
 the Lord

00:12:48.920 --> 00:12:49.960
 will be one

00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:50.840
 and his name

00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:51.460
 one.

00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:54.200
 What does it mean

00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:54.879
 that the Lord

00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:55.879
 will be king

00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:56.500
 over all the earth?

00:12:56.560 --> 00:12:57.500
 He already is king

00:12:57.500 --> 00:12:58.220
 over all the earth,

00:12:58.700 --> 00:13:00.040
 but he will be king

00:13:00.040 --> 00:13:00.620
 over all the earth

00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:01.200
 in the sense

00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:02.700
 that he will subdue

00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:03.960
 all the rebel forces

00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:05.320
 and bring all

00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:06.440
 under his submission

00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:07.280
 and rule.

00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:08.480
 What does it mean

00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:09.180
 that on that day,

00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:10.320
 the Lord will be one

00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:11.220
 and his name one?

00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:11.960
 The Lord God

00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:12.879
 is already one,

00:13:13.280 --> 00:13:14.360
 but on that day,

00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:15.340
 all peoples

00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:15.840
 will be brought

00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:17.259
 under the one name

00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:17.960
 of God

00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:19.320
 and every knee

00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:19.640
 will bow

00:13:19.640 --> 00:13:20.340
 and every tongue

00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:20.759
 will confess.

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.379
 And so that's

00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:22.059
 what it means

00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:22.639
 here,

00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:23.580
 that the kingdom

00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:24.879
 of heaven

00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:25.340
 is at hand,

00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:25.860
 that the king

00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:26.360
 of heaven

00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:27.559
 has come.

00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:30.559
 But Matthew

00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:31.439
 is also unique

00:13:31.439 --> 00:13:32.179
 in speaking

00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:32.740
 of the kingdom

00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:33.360
 of heaven

00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.799
 rather than

00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:36.039
 the more typical

00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:37.220
 kingdom of God,

00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:38.939
 which is the expression

00:13:38.939 --> 00:13:39.740
 that Mark,

00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:40.159
 Luke,

00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:40.720
 and John

00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.840
 prefer to use.

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:43.340
 Matthew,

00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.039
 however,

00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:45.100
 prefers to use

00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:45.799
 kingdom of heaven

00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:46.600
 even though he does

00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:47.319
 on occasion

00:13:47.319 --> 00:13:48.100
 use the expression

00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:48.899
 kingdom of God

00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:49.819
 and I think that's

00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:50.720
 because he wants

00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:51.520
 to emphasize

00:13:51.520 --> 00:13:53.080
 that the kingdom

00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:54.760
 that God brings about

00:13:54.760 --> 00:13:56.460
 is not an earthly kingdom

00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:57.800
 in contrast

00:13:57.800 --> 00:13:58.760
 to the expectations

00:13:58.760 --> 00:14:00.240
 of many of his fellow Jews,

00:14:00.540 --> 00:14:01.340
 but rather it's

00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:02.740
 a heavenly kingdom.

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:05.220
 And God is the one

00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:06.160
 who rules in heaven.

00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:07.040
 God is described

00:14:07.040 --> 00:14:08.240
 as the God in heaven

00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:09.240
 throughout the Old Testament

00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:11.740
 and so it's Matthew

00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:12.960
 saying that God

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.220
 for heaven himself

00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:15.740
 will reign as king

00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:17.080
 over his people.

00:14:18.260 --> 00:14:18.920
 This expression

00:14:18.920 --> 00:14:19.660
 kingdom of heaven

00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:20.279
 is related

00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:21.779
 also to another

00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:23.120
 peculiar Matthew

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.240
 expression.

00:14:24.819 --> 00:14:25.719
 It's the father

00:14:25.719 --> 00:14:26.240
 in heaven,

00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:27.659
 which is a common

00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:28.419
 phrase for us.

00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:30.659
 God is never called

00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:31.519
 the father in heaven

00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:32.339
 in the gospels

00:14:32.339 --> 00:14:33.259
 of Luke and John.

00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:34.639
 He is only called

00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.360
 the father in heaven

00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:36.639
 once in the gospel

00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:37.079
 of Mark,

00:14:37.339 --> 00:14:38.120
 but in Matthew

00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:38.779
 he's called

00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:39.679
 father in heaven

00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:40.759
 14 times.

00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:42.860
 And how were we

00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:43.779
 taught to pray

00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:44.279
 to God

00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:45.220
 in Matthew 6

00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:45.740
 by Jesus?

00:14:46.439 --> 00:14:48.159
 Our father in heaven,

00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.639
 hallowed be your name,

00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:51.179
 your kingdom come

00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:52.919
 and your will be done

00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:53.919
 on earth

00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:55.419
 as it is in heaven.

00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:57.419
 In short,

00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:59.759
 when God's rule

00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:00.939
 and kingship

00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:02.639
 begin to take effect

00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:03.379
 on earth

00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:04.179
 as it is in heaven,

00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:05.360
 that's when the kingdom

00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.319
 of heaven

00:15:06.319 --> 00:15:07.319
 has come.

00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.559
 And when exactly

00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:12.319
 is that going to happen?

00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:14.379
 In the distant future.

00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.139
 No,

00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:16.480
 it says,

00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:17.539
 the kingdom of heaven

00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:19.340
 is at hand.

00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:21.039
 That's a translation

00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:22.139
 of a word

00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:23.799
 that means to draw near,

00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:26.340
 but it's in the perfect tense.

00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:28.399
 If the word were in

00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.379
 the present tense,

00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.399
 we translate as

00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:31.299
 the kingdom of heaven

00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:32.679
 is drawing near,

00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:33.679
 that it's approaching,

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.399
 but that it's still

00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:34.879
 in the future.

00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:35.899
 That's how we would

00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:36.519
 translate it.

00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:38.340
 But if it's in the perfect tense,

00:15:38.439 --> 00:15:39.279
 we translate it as

00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:40.539
 the kingdom of heaven

00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:42.919
 has drawn near,

00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:45.000
 meaning it has already

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.919
 come.

00:15:46.299 --> 00:15:48.199
 It's not consummated yet.

00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:49.799
 It's not completed yet,

00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:51.500
 but it has already begun.

00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.459
 God's reign

00:15:52.459 --> 00:15:53.559
 has already begun.

00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:54.479
 We know that

00:15:54.479 --> 00:15:55.879
 from the parallel expression

00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:57.019
 in Matthew 26,

00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.059
 when Jesus says

00:15:58.059 --> 00:15:58.819
 that the hour

00:15:58.819 --> 00:15:59.599
 of his betrayal

00:15:59.599 --> 00:16:01.039
 is at hand,

00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:02.039
 that the hour

00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:02.639
 of his betrayal

00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:04.240
 has drawn near,

00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.399
 and immediately

00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:06.279
 in the following verse,

00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:07.139
 Judas approaches

00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:08.759
 and betrays Jesus.

00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:10.559
 What Jesus is saying here

00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:11.000
 is that the kingdom

00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:11.480
 of heaven

00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.519
 is at hand,

00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:14.620
 meaning it's already here,

00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:15.539
 and that's such

00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:16.440
 an amazing thing

00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:17.100
 to think about.

00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:19.340
 Because God's people

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.240
 have been waiting

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:22.180
 for hundreds of years

00:16:22.180 --> 00:16:23.840
 through exile

00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:24.659
 and through pain

00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:25.480
 and through oppression

00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:26.500
 and through sin,

00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.120
 waiting for the Messiah,

00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:29.659
 the king,

00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:30.840
 to come and deliver them.

00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:32.639
 And John comes on the scene

00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.519
 and starts saying,

00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:35.259
 the kingdom of heaven

00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:37.879
 has drawn near.

00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:38.940
 It is at hand.

00:16:38.940 --> 00:16:41.800
 I wanted to try

00:16:41.800 --> 00:16:42.960
 to capture this excitement

00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:43.480
 for you guys,

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:43.860
 and I was trying

00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.420
 to think about

00:16:44.420 --> 00:16:44.800
 what would be

00:16:44.800 --> 00:16:45.640
 the best way to do that.

00:16:45.700 --> 00:16:45.960
 I was thinking

00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:46.920
 of a modern analogy,

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.180
 and the only thing

00:16:48.180 --> 00:16:48.800
 I could think of

00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:50.280
 was these trailer

00:16:50.280 --> 00:16:51.260
 reaction videos

00:16:51.260 --> 00:16:51.980
 that I saw

00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:54.780
 of when the Star Wars

00:16:54.780 --> 00:16:56.120
 rise of Skywalker

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:56.780
 came out.

00:16:57.900 --> 00:16:58.320
 Have you guys

00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:58.820
 seen this movie

00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.300
 or have seen

00:16:59.300 --> 00:16:59.960
 any of these trailers?

00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:01.500
 I have not seen

00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:01.880
 the movie,

00:17:02.420 --> 00:17:03.060
 but I have seen

00:17:03.060 --> 00:17:04.220
 the trailer reaction video.

00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:07.259
 and this is a,

00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.779
 I've learned recently,

00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:11.039
 thanks to John's

00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:11.579
 in particular,

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.920
 that Star Wars,

00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:14.120
 not John the Baptist,

00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:14.720
 John Buckley,

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.920
 that Star Wars

00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:19.240
 has a rabid fan base.

00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:21.940
 And in 2019,

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.160
 so every year,

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.819
 they have a Star Wars celebration.

00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.500
 Do you guys know this?

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:26.460
 Every year.

00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.400
 And in 2009,

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.360
 the Star Wars celebration

00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:29.660
 was held in 2019

00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:30.680
 in Chicago,

00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:32.279
 and this gathered

00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:32.980
 an estimated

00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:35.300
 65,000 fans.

00:17:36.060 --> 00:17:37.759
 65,000 fans

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.440
 gathered just

00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.960
 to celebrate Star Wars.

00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:42.880
 And when they showed

00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.860
 the teaser trailer

00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:45.000
 for the Rise of Skywalker

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.840
 for the first time,

00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:47.200
 you can see on camera

00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.080
 the reactions

00:17:48.080 --> 00:17:49.259
 of tens of thousands

00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:50.660
 of people there,

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:52.000
 and especially honing in,

00:17:52.120 --> 00:17:53.140
 focusing in on people

00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:54.759
 who were particularly expressive.

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:57.160
 And it's really

00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.160
 something to watch.

00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:00.759
 They are rubbing

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:02.180
 their hands in excitement.

00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:04.180
 They're bobbing up and down.

00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:08.400
 And there's collective gasps

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.519
 throughout the stadium.

00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:11.740
 They're covering their mouths

00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:12.920
 with their hands

00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:14.100
 in amazed disbelief.

00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:15.519
 Their eyes are wide

00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:16.180
 with wonder.

00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:18.560
 And there's spontaneous cheers.

00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:19.860
 And then at the end of it,

00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:20.380
 they celebrate

00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:22.080
 by jumping up and down

00:18:22.080 --> 00:18:23.160
 at the end.

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.860
 And in that reaction video,

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:27.200
 grown men with beards

00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:29.600
 hyperventilate

00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:31.620
 and cry.

00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.980
 I'm not trying to mock you

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.799
 if you're one of those people.

00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:47.000
 Because they've spent years

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:49.019
 waiting for that movie

00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.620
 to come out,

00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:52.019
 longing to satisfy

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:53.140
 their nostalgia

00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:54.520
 and to fulfill

00:18:54.520 --> 00:18:56.960
 their epic fantasies.

00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:01.500
 And it's finally here.

00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.900
 And they can't help

00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:03.740
 but cry.

00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.860
 Isn't it sad

00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:09.800
 that people get

00:19:09.800 --> 00:19:10.380
 more excited

00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.240
 about the coming

00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.440
 of the Rise of Skywalker,

00:19:12.600 --> 00:19:12.980
 the movie,

00:19:13.100 --> 00:19:14.560
 than the second coming

00:19:14.560 --> 00:19:15.460
 of Jesus sometimes?

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:20.140
 If people can get

00:19:20.140 --> 00:19:20.980
 that excited

00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:21.539
 about the movie,

00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:23.319
 think about the palpable

00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:25.120
 excitement in the air

00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:26.680
 and the anticipation

00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:29.240
 of this momentous announcement

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:31.340
 that the kingdom of heaven

00:19:31.340 --> 00:19:33.019
 is not in some distant future.

00:19:33.100 --> 00:19:33.940
 It is here.

00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:35.539
 It's at hand.

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:37.360
 It has drawn near.

00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:38.539
 The long-awaited king

00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.400
 has come.

00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:41.620
 And Matthew tells us

00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:42.579
 that we can trust

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.799
 John's announcement

00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:45.579
 because he quotes

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.740
 Isaiah 40,

00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:47.639
 verse 3,

00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.599
 in verse 3

00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:49.419
 of this passage.

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.899
 For this is he

00:19:50.899 --> 00:19:51.879
 who was spoken of

00:19:51.879 --> 00:19:52.899
 by the prophet Isaiah

00:19:52.899 --> 00:19:53.539
 when he said,

00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:54.779
 the voice of one

00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:56.059
 crying in the wilderness,

00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:57.500
 prepare the way

00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.019
 of the Lord,

00:19:58.439 --> 00:20:00.099
 make his paths straight.

00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.799
 Isaiah had prophesied

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.519
 that there would be

00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.220
 a herald

00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:05.639
 that precedes

00:20:05.639 --> 00:20:06.619
 the coming of the Lord.

00:20:06.939 --> 00:20:08.159
 And he will cry out

00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:09.259
 in the wilderness.

00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.559
 That's why John's there.

00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:11.919
 Prepare the way

00:20:11.919 --> 00:20:12.299
 of the Lord,

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.919
 make straight his paths.

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:17.339
 When a king of old

00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:18.619
 marched out anywhere,

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:20.359
 there would always be

00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:21.339
 heralds and guards

00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:22.059
 that precede.

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:24.319
 And they would go out

00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:24.879
 before him.

00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.480
 They would open

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.200
 all the gates

00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:27.159
 and open all the doors

00:20:27.159 --> 00:20:28.200
 and they would clear

00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:28.980
 out the streets

00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.680
 and make people

00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:30.379
 move out of the way,

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.839
 move things that are

00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:32.200
 in the way,

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:32.659
 out of the way,

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.539
 clear the streets,

00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:33.859
 say,

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.799
 make way for the king

00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:38.079
 because it does not

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.440
 befit the dignity

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.460
 of a king

00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:42.299
 to jostle through

00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:42.799
 a crowd

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.700
 and to be pushed

00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.680
 to and fro.

00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.860
 So the herald

00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:47.759
 goes before him

00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.519
 to announce

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.440
 the coming of the king

00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.279
 to prepare

00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:51.220
 the way

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:52.000
 of the Lord.

00:20:53.340 --> 00:20:54.240
 And that's how

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.860
 John views himself

00:20:55.860 --> 00:20:56.940
 in relation to Jesus

00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:58.120
 as a servant

00:20:58.120 --> 00:20:58.880
 and a herald

00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.519
 of the king,

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:02.019
 as a stagehand

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:03.140
 who works backstage

00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:05.120
 to get the set ready

00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:06.200
 so that the lead actor

00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:07.720
 can come to the scene.

00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.240
 Matthew concurs

00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.360
 with John's assessment

00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:13.660
 because even though

00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:15.180
 John was prophesied

00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:15.779
 of in scripture,

00:21:17.080 --> 00:21:18.380
 as verse 3 makes clear,

00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.880
 Matthew intentionally

00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.799
 does not use

00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:22.259
 the fulfillment formula

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.500
 that he always uses

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.059
 when speaking

00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:24.799
 of how Jesus

00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:25.880
 fulfilled the scriptures.

00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:28.259
 The word fulfill

00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.819
 and its variation

00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:31.059
 is used 15 times

00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:32.319
 to speak of the scriptures

00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:33.180
 being fulfilled

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:34.400
 in the gospel of Matthew

00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:36.540
 and every single time

00:21:36.540 --> 00:21:37.940
 it refers to Jesus

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:39.220
 and no one else.

00:21:40.540 --> 00:21:41.400
 This confirms

00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:42.240
 what Ed said

00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:42.740
 in his sermon

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.340
 last week

00:21:43.340 --> 00:21:43.920
 that Jesus

00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:45.259
 is the only

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:47.280
 expected person.

00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:48.840
 Jesus,

00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:50.580
 not John,

00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:50.880
 even though

00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.900
 he was prophesied of.

00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:54.120
 Jesus, not John,

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:55.160
 is the promised one.

00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.740
 Jesus, not John,

00:21:56.780 --> 00:21:58.019
 is the expected one.

00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.900
 Jesus, not John,

00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:01.400
 is the coming one

00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:02.320
 who fulfills

00:22:02.320 --> 00:22:02.960
 the scriptures.

00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.360
 Jesus.

00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:07.180
 But we must not

00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:08.100
 be fooled into thinking

00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:09.779
 that John was a nobody.

00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:12.340
 He's actually

00:22:12.340 --> 00:22:13.019
 quite important.

00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:14.960
 Look at verse 4.

00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:16.120
 Now John wore

00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:17.480
 a garment of camel's hair

00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.720
 and a leather belt

00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.600
 around his waist

00:22:19.600 --> 00:22:20.779
 and his food

00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.620
 was locusts

00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:22.720
 and wild honey.

00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:25.500
 Why does Matthew

00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:27.039
 take a sudden interest

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:29.340
 in John's clothing

00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:30.019
 preferences

00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:31.240
 and diet?

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:34.240
 The Bible seldom

00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:35.400
 notes what people

00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:36.059
 are wearing

00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:37.519
 so this detail

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.440
 is important.

00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:39.920
 There was another

00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:40.799
 prophet in history

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.460
 who dressed

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.740
 just like John.

00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:44.400
 2 Kings 1.8

00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:45.539
 says that Elijah

00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:47.140
 wore a garment

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:47.779
 of hair

00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.740
 with a belt

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.380
 of leather

00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:50.680
 about his waist.

00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:52.400
 And Elijah, too,

00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:53.220
 was associated

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:54.319
 with the wilderness

00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:56.039
 and with the Jordan

00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:57.019
 where John

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.599
 is baptizing.

00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.720
 Elijah is arguably

00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.920
 the greatest prophet

00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:02.279
 of the Old Testament.

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.960
 That's why

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:05.079
 as the fountainhead

00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:05.960
 of the prophets,

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.299
 I guess he appears

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:08.460
 alongside Moses

00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:09.539
 representing the prophets

00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:10.140
 and the law

00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:12.140
 at Jesus' transfiguration

00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:13.019
 later in the gospel.

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.960
 And moreover,

00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:17.019
 it was prophesied

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:18.400
 in Malachi 4.5,

00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:19.420
 Behold,

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.600
 I will send you

00:23:20.600 --> 00:23:22.059
 Elijah the prophet

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:23.799
 before the great

00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.940
 and awesome day

00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.740
 of the Lord.

00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:27.779
 So the messenger

00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:29.099
 that comes

00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:29.759
 to prepare

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.700
 the way for the Lord

00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:31.500
 was expected

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.200
 to be

00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:34.019
 a second Elijah.

00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:35.599
 In fact,

00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:37.319
 later in Matthew 17,

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.259
 Jesus himself

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:38.819
 confirms

00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:39.700
 that John the Baptist

00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:41.759
 is that prophesied

00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.460
 Elijah.

00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:44.660
 And Jesus says this

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:46.240
 about John the Baptist

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.240
 in Matthew 11.11,

00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:48.640
 that among those

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.460
 born of woman,

00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:51.279
 there has arisen

00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:53.140
 no one greater

00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.599
 than John the Baptist.

00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:56.559
 Isn't that something

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.819
 to hear from Jesus?

00:23:59.899 --> 00:24:00.819
 In other words,

00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:02.419
 under the old covenant,

00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:04.919
 before Jesus established

00:24:04.919 --> 00:24:05.859
 the new covenant

00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:07.139
 and poured out his spirit

00:24:07.139 --> 00:24:08.039
 among his people,

00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:09.539
 John the Baptist

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:11.179
 is the greatest

00:24:11.179 --> 00:24:13.459
 of all human beings

00:24:13.459 --> 00:24:15.000
 who ever lived

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.759
 in God's estimation.

00:24:19.919 --> 00:24:21.039
 He's the goat.

00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.079
 He's the goat.

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:26.539
 And he was popular.

00:24:28.199 --> 00:24:29.500
 He says in verses 5-6,

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.139
 Then Jerusalem

00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:30.939
 and all Judea

00:24:30.939 --> 00:24:31.779
 and all the region

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.480
 about the Jordan

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.699
 were going out to him

00:24:33.699 --> 00:24:34.659
 and they were baptized

00:24:34.659 --> 00:24:35.459
 by him in the river

00:24:35.459 --> 00:24:35.740
 of Jordan,

00:24:35.859 --> 00:24:36.759
 confessing their sins.

00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:38.599
 People are thronging

00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:39.039
 to him

00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.559
 from Jerusalem

00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:41.799
 and all Judea

00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.899
 and all the region

00:24:42.899 --> 00:24:43.459
 about the Jordan

00:24:43.459 --> 00:24:44.679
 and they're listening,

00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:45.899
 paying attention to him

00:24:45.899 --> 00:24:46.939
 and they're getting

00:24:46.939 --> 00:24:48.219
 baptized by him.

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.420
 Josephus,

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.519
 who was a first century

00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:52.100
 Roman Jewish historian,

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.480
 independently says this

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.019
 about John

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.799
 in one of his books.

00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.539
 Now when many others

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.299
 came in crowds

00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:58.220
 about John,

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.339
 for they were very

00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:00.259
 greatly moved

00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:01.319
 by hearing his words,

00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.100
 Herod,

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.100
 who feared lest

00:25:03.100 --> 00:25:04.000
 the great influence

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:05.059
 John had over the people

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.720
 might put it

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.680
 into his power

00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.620
 and inclination

00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:08.819
 to raise a rebellion,

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.279
 for they seemed ready

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:10.920
 to do anything

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.680
 he should advise,

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.819
 thought it best

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:14.259
 by putting him to death

00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:15.940
 to prevent any mischief

00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.640
 he might cause

00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.700
 and not bring himself

00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:18.680
 into difficulties.

00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:21.540
 John was so popular

00:25:21.540 --> 00:25:22.400
 and so influential

00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.860
 that he put King Herod

00:25:23.860 --> 00:25:24.520
 on notice.

00:25:26.600 --> 00:25:27.180
 His crowds

00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.000
 were flocking to him

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.980
 and hanging on his

00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.720
 every word.

00:25:31.300 --> 00:25:32.580
 People openly wondered,

00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:33.280
 as you see in the

00:25:33.280 --> 00:25:33.840
 Gospel of John,

00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:34.940
 whether he might be

00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.620
 the Christ,

00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:36.420
 the Messiah.

00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:38.540
 He is the greatest

00:25:38.540 --> 00:25:41.580
 of all prophets

00:25:41.580 --> 00:25:43.880
 in the Old Covenant.

00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.300
 But look at what he says

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:46.919
 in verse 11.

00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.839
 I baptize you

00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.359
 with water

00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:52.019
 for repentance,

00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.960
 but he who is coming

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.599
 after me

00:25:54.599 --> 00:25:55.839
 is mightier than I,

00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:57.159
 whose sandals

00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:58.599
 I am not worthy

00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.119
 to carry.

00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:01.200
 He will baptize you

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.339
 with Holy Spirit

00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:03.159
 and fire.

00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:06.599
 This is an amazing,

00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:08.519
 shocking statement.

00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:12.359
 Shoes are filthy things

00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:14.139
 in general, right?

00:26:14.140 --> 00:26:16.400
 If you walk around

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.040
 Cambridge enough,

00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:17.740
 you've stepped on

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.540
 all kinds of dirt

00:26:18.540 --> 00:26:19.480
 and pigeon poop

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:20.540
 and dog poop, right?

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.640
 But in the ancient Near East,

00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.960
 shoes are even filthier

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:27.300
 because it's a desert climate,

00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:27.840
 it's hot,

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:29.100
 people's feet get sweaty,

00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:30.280
 and it's old streets

00:26:30.280 --> 00:26:31.340
 where not just people

00:26:31.340 --> 00:26:31.940
 and vehicles,

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:33.600
 but all kinds of animals

00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:34.700
 are roaming the streets

00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:36.220
 and dropping their excrements.

00:26:40.020 --> 00:26:40.580
 Sandals,

00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:41.800
 open-toed sandals,

00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:42.960
 caked in dirt

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:45.180
 that require daily

00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.099
 feet washing.

00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.700
 So imagine

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:49.279
 these filthy sandals,

00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:50.399
 they're so dirty

00:26:50.399 --> 00:26:52.180
 that Jewish rabbinical teaching

00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:52.799
 says this,

00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:54.139
 every service

00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:55.919
 which a slave performs

00:26:55.919 --> 00:26:56.940
 for his master,

00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:59.079
 every service

00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:00.220
 which a slave performs

00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.720
 for his master

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:03.119
 shall a disciple do

00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:04.079
 for his teacher

00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:05.579
 except the losing

00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.899
 of sandal thongs.

00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.279
 So everything

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:09.299
 that a slave does

00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:10.059
 for his master,

00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:11.619
 a student should do

00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:12.720
 to his teacher

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.899
 is what the Jews

00:27:13.899 --> 00:27:14.419
 are saying.

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:16.240
 You should bring him water,

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.079
 you should serve him,

00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:17.859
 you should attend to him,

00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:18.480
 you should listen to him,

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.399
 you should do everything

00:27:19.399 --> 00:27:20.419
 like a slave

00:27:20.419 --> 00:27:21.059
 to his master

00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:21.740
 except

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:25.200
 taking their sandals.

00:27:26.659 --> 00:27:27.819
 That's too lowly

00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:29.839
 even for the teacher

00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:31.119
 and even for the student.

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:33.500
 Only a slave

00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:34.159
 should do that.

00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:38.240
 And yet John singles out

00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.279
 that particular

00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.900
 humiliating act

00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:41.880
 and says that

00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:43.800
 he is not worthy

00:27:43.800 --> 00:27:45.279
 to do that

00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:46.680
 for the coming Messiah.

00:27:49.900 --> 00:27:50.620
 Imagine

00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:52.680
 a guest coming

00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:53.560
 into your house,

00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:55.840
 plopping down

00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:57.220
 on a seat

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:59.019
 and then sticking

00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:00.259
 one of his foot out

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.740
 expecting you

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:03.039
 to remove

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:04.299
 the shoes

00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.440
 and carry it off

00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:05.740
 somewhere.

00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:08.480
 What would you do?

00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.579
 You'd probably

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:12.940
 stare them down

00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:14.359
 and say,

00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.299
 go take your own

00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.000
 shoes off.

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:20.799
 And then in your mind

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.720
 you're probably

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:23.299
 cursing their

00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:24.200
 insolence

00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:24.960
 and arrogance.

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:30.200
 but imagine

00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:31.279
 when that

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.340
 happened

00:28:32.340 --> 00:28:34.200
 instead of

00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:36.360
 responding

00:28:36.360 --> 00:28:36.840
 that way

00:28:36.840 --> 00:28:38.319
 you knelt down

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:40.079
 with your head

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.840
 bowed in shame

00:28:40.840 --> 00:28:42.460
 and said

00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.340
 I'm not worthy

00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:46.920
 to remove

00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.579
 those sandals.

00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:53.740
 that's

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:55.659
 what John

00:28:55.659 --> 00:28:57.059
 is doing here.

00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.799
 John is a

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.439
 humble man

00:29:01.439 --> 00:29:04.339
 but if all we do

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.079
 is marvel

00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:05.819
 at John's

00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:06.639
 humility here

00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.059
 then we're

00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:08.220
 missing the point

00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:10.059
 of this passage.

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.379
 If I make

00:29:12.379 --> 00:29:13.119
 John the focus

00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:13.659
 of my sermon

00:29:13.659 --> 00:29:14.659
 then John himself

00:29:14.659 --> 00:29:15.460
 would be unhappy

00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.119
 because that's

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.740
 precisely

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:18.180
 the opposite

00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:18.799
 of what

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.519
 John does

00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:19.880
 here.

00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:21.900
 The point

00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:22.720
 of this passage

00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.299
 is not

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:24.160
 John's

00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:24.620
 humility

00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:25.839
 it is

00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:26.339
 Jesus'

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.259
 glory.

00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:29.799
 John's

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.339
 saying that

00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:30.900
 he's not

00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:31.480
 worthy to

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:31.839
 carry

00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:32.319
 Jesus'

00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:33.160
 soiled

00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:33.759
 sandals

00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:35.559
 that's not

00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.440
 exaggerated

00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:36.940
 false

00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.440
 humility

00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:38.140
 that's

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:38.920
 the cold

00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.720
 hard

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.839
 fact

00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:42.620
 because he

00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:43.599
 is not

00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:44.180
 worthy

00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:45.380
 to carry

00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:45.740
 Jesus'

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.539
 sandals.

00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:48.599
 But how

00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:49.259
 can someone

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:50.019
 be unworthy

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.500
 to carry

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.160
 someone's

00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:51.559
 dirty

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.259
 sandals?

00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:53.500
 If you

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.059
 actually turn

00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:54.480
 to Isaiah

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.220
 40 verse

00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:55.700
 3 which

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.420
 Matthew quotes

00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.039
 in verse

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:57.559
 3 I think

00:29:57.559 --> 00:29:58.480
 I have that

00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:58.940
 to show

00:29:58.940 --> 00:30:00.120
 and you

00:30:00.120 --> 00:30:00.440
 look at

00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.120
 the full

00:30:01.120 --> 00:30:02.240
 context

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.779
 and it

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.279
 is original

00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:03.779
 setting

00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.700
 he says

00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:05.019
 this

00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:05.599
 in the

00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:06.079
 wilderness

00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:06.579
 prepare

00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.420
 the way

00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:07.740
 of the

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.000
 Lord

00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:08.740
 make

00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.200
 straight

00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:09.620
 in the

00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:09.940
 desert

00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:10.640
 a highway

00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:11.400
 for our

00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:11.740
 God.

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:13.140
 Who is

00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:13.599
 John

00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.319
 making the

00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:14.859
 way for?

00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:18.299
 it's

00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:18.679
 God.

00:30:21.479 --> 00:30:22.039
 You'll

00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:22.439
 notice that

00:30:22.439 --> 00:30:22.719
 the word

00:30:22.719 --> 00:30:23.379
 Lord is

00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:24.359
 in all

00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:24.879
 caps

00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:25.619
 which means

00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:26.099
 it's not

00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:27.000
 the word

00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.819
 for Lord

00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.199
 that means

00:30:28.199 --> 00:30:28.799
 master

00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.759
 but rather

00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:31.059
 the proper

00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:31.539
 noun

00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:32.399
 the name

00:30:32.399 --> 00:30:33.139
 for God

00:30:33.139 --> 00:30:33.439
 in the

00:30:33.439 --> 00:30:34.500
 Old Testament

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.539
 Yahweh.

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:39.339
 Isaiah

00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:40.819
 prophesied

00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:41.379
 that John

00:30:41.379 --> 00:30:42.139
 would prepare

00:30:42.139 --> 00:30:42.819
 the way

00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:43.799
 not for

00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.759
 some

00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.879
 mere

00:30:45.879 --> 00:30:46.359
 mortal

00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:46.920
 only

00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:48.180
 but for

00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:48.839
 God

00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:49.519
 himself.

00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:54.200
 This is a

00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:54.740
 remarkable

00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.519
 Christological

00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.339
 claim because

00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:57.339
 Matthew is

00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:58.519
 saying that

00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:59.399
 that God

00:30:59.399 --> 00:31:01.139
 is Jesus

00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:03.299
 God in

00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:04.299
 human flesh

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:06.279
 the divine

00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:06.879
 king.

00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:08.659
 John calls

00:31:08.659 --> 00:31:09.220
 Jesus the

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:09.899
 one who is

00:31:09.899 --> 00:31:11.180
 coming after

00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:11.519
 me.

00:31:12.099 --> 00:31:12.500
 In verse

00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.180
 11 later in

00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:13.599
 Matthew 11

00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:14.019
 through John

00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:14.599
 calls Jesus

00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:15.399
 the one who

00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:16.680
 is to

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.240
 come.

00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:17.819
 You might

00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.480
 recognize that

00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.319
 phrase from

00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:20.039
 the book of

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.700
 Revelation which

00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:21.159
 we were in

00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:22.119
 not that long

00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:22.359
 ago.

00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:24.019
 This expression

00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:24.819
 the one who

00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.559
 is to come

00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:26.259
 is laden

00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:26.879
 with theological

00:31:26.879 --> 00:31:27.319
 meaning.

00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:28.379
 20th century

00:31:28.379 --> 00:31:28.960
 theologian

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.460
 G.R.

00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:30.139
 Beasley Murray

00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:30.879
 entitled one of

00:31:30.879 --> 00:31:31.299
 his books

00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:31.940
 The Coming

00:31:31.940 --> 00:31:32.599
 of God

00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:33.419
 because the

00:31:33.419 --> 00:31:34.039
 coming of

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:34.480
 God to

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:34.939
 save his

00:31:34.939 --> 00:31:35.759
 people is

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.159
 one of the

00:31:36.159 --> 00:31:37.099
 major themes

00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:37.659
 of the

00:31:37.659 --> 00:31:38.240
 Bible and

00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:39.099
 his coming

00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:39.799
 to his

00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:40.319
 people is

00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:40.980
 always

00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:41.679
 associated

00:31:41.679 --> 00:31:42.079
 with his

00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:42.819
 kingship.

00:31:43.659 --> 00:31:44.059
 He says in

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:44.480
 Deuteronomy

00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.379
 33 verses

00:31:45.379 --> 00:31:45.879
 2-5

00:31:45.879 --> 00:31:46.399
 The Lord

00:31:46.399 --> 00:31:47.779
 came from

00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.379
 Sinai and

00:31:48.379 --> 00:31:48.959
 dawned from

00:31:48.959 --> 00:31:49.559
 Seir upon

00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:49.839
 us.

00:31:50.199 --> 00:31:50.659
 Thus the

00:31:50.659 --> 00:31:51.339
 Lord became

00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.240
 king in

00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:53.359
 Jeshurun when

00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:53.879
 the heads of

00:31:53.879 --> 00:31:54.379
 the people were

00:31:54.379 --> 00:31:55.240
 gathered all the

00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:55.939
 tribes of Israel

00:31:55.939 --> 00:31:56.359
 together.

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.439
 It's because

00:31:57.439 --> 00:31:58.719
 God came to

00:31:58.719 --> 00:31:59.259
 rule over his

00:31:59.259 --> 00:31:59.959
 people that he

00:31:59.959 --> 00:32:00.959
 became king

00:32:00.959 --> 00:32:01.839
 over them.

00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:02.579
 Similarly he

00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:02.899
 says in

00:32:02.899 --> 00:32:03.980
 Psalm 96

00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.980
 verses 10-13

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.500
 Say among

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.019
 the nations

00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:06.819
 the Lord

00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:07.799
 reigns.

00:32:07.919 --> 00:32:08.579
 Why do we

00:32:08.579 --> 00:32:09.039
 say that the

00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:10.480
 Lord reigns?

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.240
 For he

00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:11.939
 comes.

00:32:12.419 --> 00:32:13.199
 For he

00:32:13.199 --> 00:32:14.019
 comes to

00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:14.500
 judge the

00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:14.740
 earth.

00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:15.079
 He will

00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:15.539
 judge the

00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:15.959
 world in

00:32:15.959 --> 00:32:16.399
 righteousness

00:32:16.399 --> 00:32:16.799
 and the

00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.279
 people in

00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:17.459
 his

00:32:17.459 --> 00:32:18.679
 faithfulness.

00:32:19.179 --> 00:32:20.039
 Isaiah 40

00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.579
 verse 10

00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.659
 Behold the

00:32:21.659 --> 00:32:22.339
 Lord God

00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:23.459
 comes with

00:32:23.459 --> 00:32:24.579
 might and

00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:25.240
 his arm

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:26.319
 rules for

00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:26.720
 him.

00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:28.019
 Malachi 3

00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.299
 1

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:28.980
 Behold I

00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:29.519
 send my

00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:30.119
 messenger and

00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:30.459
 he will

00:32:30.459 --> 00:32:31.159
 prepare the

00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:31.779
 way before

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:33.180
 me and

00:32:33.180 --> 00:32:33.600
 the Lord

00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:34.019
 whom you

00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:34.660
 seek will

00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:35.960
 suddenly come

00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:36.700
 to his

00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:37.580
 temple and

00:32:37.580 --> 00:32:38.180
 the messenger

00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:38.560
 of the

00:32:38.560 --> 00:32:39.060
 covenant in

00:32:39.060 --> 00:32:39.500
 whom you

00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:39.880
 delight.

00:32:40.340 --> 00:32:41.440
 Behold he

00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:42.640
 is coming.

00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:44.980
 Over and

00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:45.880
 over and

00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:46.580
 over again

00:32:46.580 --> 00:32:47.160
 God is

00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:47.920
 described in

00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:48.360
 the scriptures

00:32:48.360 --> 00:32:49.240
 as the one

00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:49.880
 who comes

00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:50.420
 because our

00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:51.480
 God is not

00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:52.060
 a God who

00:32:52.060 --> 00:32:53.100
 stays at a

00:32:53.100 --> 00:32:53.740
 distance

00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:55.820
 spectating

00:32:55.819 --> 00:32:56.980
 with his

00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:58.720
 arms crossed

00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:01.799
 but God

00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:03.039
 who intervenes

00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:04.500
 the God

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.639
 who comes

00:33:05.639 --> 00:33:07.319
 to save

00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:10.339
 to judge

00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:11.879
 to deliver

00:33:11.879 --> 00:33:14.000
 to reign

00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:14.619
 among his

00:33:14.619 --> 00:33:14.939
 people.

00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:16.759
 That's why

00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.700
 Jesus is

00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:18.319
 Emmanuel

00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:19.279
 God with

00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:19.679
 us.

00:33:20.839 --> 00:33:21.599
 And because

00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:22.839
 Jesus is the

00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:23.839
 one who is

00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:24.279
 and who

00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:25.279
 was and

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:25.740
 is to

00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:26.659
 come because

00:33:26.659 --> 00:33:27.799
 Jesus is the

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.779
 king of the

00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:29.579
 kingdom of

00:33:29.579 --> 00:33:30.659
 heaven, John

00:33:30.659 --> 00:33:32.599
 is right to

00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:33.740
 herald Jesus'

00:33:33.959 --> 00:33:34.959
 coming and

00:33:34.959 --> 00:33:35.480
 then get out

00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:35.879
 of the way.

00:33:35.880 --> 00:33:40.640
 Do you

00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:42.580
 know that

00:33:42.580 --> 00:33:43.260
 Christ the

00:33:43.260 --> 00:33:43.680
 king has

00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:43.940
 come?

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:48.460
 Do you

00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:49.260
 relate to

00:33:49.260 --> 00:33:50.040
 Christ the

00:33:50.040 --> 00:33:50.720
 king rightly

00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:51.580
 as John

00:33:51.580 --> 00:33:52.600
 does?

00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:54.620
 Have you

00:33:54.620 --> 00:33:55.440
 pledged your

00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:56.780
 allegiance to

00:33:56.780 --> 00:33:58.120
 Jesus as his

00:33:58.120 --> 00:33:58.820
 loyal subject?

00:33:59.220 --> 00:33:59.600
 Have you

00:33:59.600 --> 00:34:00.900
 submitted every

00:34:00.900 --> 00:34:01.880
 aspect of your

00:34:01.880 --> 00:34:02.940
 life to him?

00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:06.480
 If we think

00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:07.000
 about it, we

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:08.619
 give mere

00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:10.760
 mortals, sinful

00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:11.640
 human beings

00:34:11.640 --> 00:34:14.180
 more respect

00:34:14.180 --> 00:34:15.180
 than we give

00:34:15.180 --> 00:34:15.599
 to God

00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.140
 sometimes.

00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:21.260
 The quality

00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:22.360
 of attention

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:23.579
 we commit

00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:24.079
 to God,

00:34:24.860 --> 00:34:25.599
 the amount

00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.200
 of space

00:34:26.200 --> 00:34:26.940
 we devote

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.400
 to God

00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:27.660
 in our

00:34:27.660 --> 00:34:28.079
 thoughts

00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:28.660
 and in

00:34:28.660 --> 00:34:29.180
 our hearts

00:34:29.180 --> 00:34:29.480
 and our

00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:30.039
 affections,

00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:31.000
 the degree

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:32.019
 of reverence

00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:33.019
 that we pay

00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:33.440
 to God,

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.400
 the extent

00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:35.240
 of obedience

00:34:35.239 --> 00:34:35.779
 that we

00:34:35.779 --> 00:34:36.419
 give to

00:34:36.419 --> 00:34:36.759
 God,

00:34:37.319 --> 00:34:37.819
 make a

00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:39.479
 sad mockery

00:34:39.479 --> 00:34:39.879
 of the

00:34:39.879 --> 00:34:40.799
 surpassing

00:34:40.799 --> 00:34:41.879
 glory and

00:34:41.879 --> 00:34:42.979
 worth of

00:34:42.979 --> 00:34:43.679
 God the

00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:44.000
 king.

00:34:47.779 --> 00:34:48.159
 How

00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:49.339
 different our

00:34:49.339 --> 00:34:49.879
 lives would

00:34:49.879 --> 00:34:51.039
 be if we

00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:52.339
 just grasped

00:34:52.339 --> 00:34:53.539
 this truth of

00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:55.179
 how transcendent

00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:55.779
 and how

00:34:55.779 --> 00:34:57.179
 glorious our

00:34:57.179 --> 00:34:58.419
 king really

00:34:58.419 --> 00:34:59.159
 is.

00:35:01.199 --> 00:35:02.359
 How much

00:35:02.359 --> 00:35:03.219
 more grateful

00:35:03.219 --> 00:35:03.699
 we would

00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:03.919
 be.

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:05.480
 How much

00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:06.500
 less grumbling

00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:06.980
 there would

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:07.199
 be.

00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:09.179
 Consider the

00:35:09.179 --> 00:35:09.779
 examples of

00:35:09.779 --> 00:35:10.299
 the apostles

00:35:10.299 --> 00:35:10.899
 in the book

00:35:10.899 --> 00:35:11.319
 of Acts,

00:35:11.419 --> 00:35:12.179
 in Acts 5

00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:12.879
 41, they

00:35:12.879 --> 00:35:13.719
 are unfairly

00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:15.719
 arrested and

00:35:15.719 --> 00:35:16.519
 then unfairly

00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:17.199
 tried and

00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:17.859
 then beaten

00:35:17.859 --> 00:35:19.719
 for proclaiming

00:35:19.719 --> 00:35:22.099
 Jesus, but

00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:22.500
 they don't

00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.059
 complain to

00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:23.639
 God saying,

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.799
 you know,

00:35:25.899 --> 00:35:27.179
 God, I've

00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:27.539
 been so

00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:28.039
 faithful to

00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:29.379
 you, I

00:35:29.379 --> 00:35:29.739
 think I

00:35:29.739 --> 00:35:30.339
 deserve a

00:35:30.339 --> 00:35:30.819
 little better

00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:31.519
 than that.

00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:36.019
 No, it

00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:36.640
 says that

00:35:36.640 --> 00:35:36.960
 when they

00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:37.640
 were released,

00:35:38.100 --> 00:35:38.519
 they left

00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:39.019
 the presence

00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:39.480
 of the

00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:41.320
 council rejoicing

00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:42.820
 that they

00:35:42.820 --> 00:35:43.440
 were counted

00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.559
 worthy to

00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:45.519
 suffer this

00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:46.300
 honor for

00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:47.039
 this name

00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:47.900
 of Jesus.

00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:50.280
 How do you

00:35:50.280 --> 00:35:51.019
 respond like

00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:51.960
 that to

00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:52.620
 suffering and

00:35:52.620 --> 00:35:53.100
 persecution?

00:35:54.100 --> 00:35:55.200
 Because they

00:35:55.200 --> 00:35:56.620
 knew the

00:35:56.620 --> 00:35:57.500
 surpassing

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:58.820
 worth of

00:35:58.820 --> 00:35:59.160
 Jesus.

00:36:00.980 --> 00:36:01.940
 They knew

00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:02.340
 that they

00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:02.920
 were not

00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:03.680
 worthy to

00:36:03.680 --> 00:36:04.420
 carry Jesus'

00:36:04.720 --> 00:36:06.140
 sandals, so

00:36:06.140 --> 00:36:07.039
 they rejoiced

00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:08.160
 to get to

00:36:08.160 --> 00:36:09.140
 do anything

00:36:09.140 --> 00:36:09.800
 for Jesus.

00:36:10.360 --> 00:36:11.180
 They rejoiced

00:36:11.180 --> 00:36:11.720
 to suffer

00:36:11.720 --> 00:36:12.600
 this honor

00:36:12.600 --> 00:36:13.140
 for the

00:36:13.140 --> 00:36:13.500
 name of

00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:13.800
 Jesus.

00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:18.140
 What about

00:36:18.140 --> 00:36:18.400
 you?

00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:23.220
 Of course,

00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:24.039
 everybody wants

00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:24.519
 to do

00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.900
 glorious and

00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:27.200
 spectacular and

00:36:27.200 --> 00:36:28.460
 honorable and

00:36:28.460 --> 00:36:29.179
 great things

00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:29.679
 for God.

00:36:36.820 --> 00:36:37.340
 Even

00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:37.980
 unbelievers

00:36:37.980 --> 00:36:38.480
 do that.

00:36:39.059 --> 00:36:39.460
 Some of

00:36:39.460 --> 00:36:39.599
 them.

00:36:40.539 --> 00:36:41.019
 Paul said

00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:41.240
 there are

00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:41.579
 some who

00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:42.099
 preach the

00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:42.659
 gospel for

00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:43.320
 selfish gain.

00:36:51.740 --> 00:36:52.400
 But are

00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:52.800
 you willing

00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:54.079
 to suffer

00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:55.019
 this honor

00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:56.480
 for Jesus'

00:36:56.699 --> 00:36:56.940
 sake?

00:36:58.460 --> 00:36:59.579
 are you

00:36:59.579 --> 00:37:00.079
 willing to

00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:00.960
 be ridiculed

00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:03.519
 and ostracized

00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:04.000
 for him?

00:37:05.059 --> 00:37:06.079
 To be

00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:07.400
 marked in

00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:08.179
 your workspace

00:37:08.179 --> 00:37:09.199
 and your

00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:09.960
 school as

00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:12.800
 that crazy

00:37:12.800 --> 00:37:13.340
 evangelical?

00:37:13.340 --> 00:37:18.180
 are you willing

00:37:18.180 --> 00:37:18.920
 to associate

00:37:18.920 --> 00:37:19.760
 with difficult

00:37:19.760 --> 00:37:20.780
 hard to love

00:37:20.780 --> 00:37:21.519
 people for

00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:22.039
 his sake?

00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.140
 Are you

00:37:23.140 --> 00:37:23.640
 willing to be

00:37:23.640 --> 00:37:24.620
 the least and

00:37:24.620 --> 00:37:25.579
 the last for

00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:26.780
 Jesus' name's sake?

00:37:26.860 --> 00:37:27.700
 Are you willing to

00:37:27.700 --> 00:37:28.519
 take backstage

00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:30.320
 instead of center

00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:30.960
 stage for

00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:31.559
 Jesus' sake?

00:37:31.640 --> 00:37:32.400
 Are you willing to

00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.960
 be forgotten for

00:37:33.960 --> 00:37:34.900
 his name's sake?

00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:35.480
 Are you willing to

00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:36.260
 be misunderstood

00:37:36.260 --> 00:37:38.040
 and disliked

00:37:38.040 --> 00:37:39.160
 for Jesus'

00:37:39.420 --> 00:37:39.600
 sake?

00:37:39.660 --> 00:37:40.040
 Are you willing

00:37:40.040 --> 00:37:40.840
 to be poor

00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:41.420
 for Jesus'

00:37:41.640 --> 00:37:41.860
 sake?

00:37:42.140 --> 00:37:42.800
 Are you willing

00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:43.600
 to do what

00:37:43.600 --> 00:37:44.400
 he wants you

00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:44.840
 to do

00:37:44.840 --> 00:37:45.520
 rather than

00:37:45.520 --> 00:37:46.040
 do what

00:37:46.040 --> 00:37:46.680
 you want

00:37:46.680 --> 00:37:47.080
 to do?

00:37:47.680 --> 00:37:48.060
 Are you

00:37:48.060 --> 00:37:48.420
 willing

00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:52.000
 if he gives

00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:53.140
 you the

00:37:53.140 --> 00:37:53.760
 honor to do

00:37:53.760 --> 00:37:54.040
 so,

00:37:54.500 --> 00:37:55.640
 to carry

00:37:55.640 --> 00:37:56.400
 his sandals?

00:37:56.400 --> 00:38:05.740
 if that's

00:38:05.740 --> 00:38:06.019
 all you

00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:06.320
 got to

00:38:06.320 --> 00:38:06.579
 do

00:38:06.579 --> 00:38:07.579
 in life?

00:38:13.180 --> 00:38:13.740
 I'm a

00:38:13.740 --> 00:38:15.160
 small man,

00:38:15.539 --> 00:38:16.180
 might not

00:38:16.180 --> 00:38:16.599
 get to do

00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:17.400
 much for

00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:18.619
 God in

00:38:18.619 --> 00:38:19.180
 this life,

00:38:19.280 --> 00:38:19.619
 but if I

00:38:19.619 --> 00:38:20.079
 can carry

00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:20.940
 his sandals

00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:22.240
 for the rest

00:38:22.240 --> 00:38:22.880
 of my life.

00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:39.180
 we must

00:38:39.180 --> 00:38:39.700
 repent

00:38:39.700 --> 00:38:41.300
 because the

00:38:41.300 --> 00:38:42.079
 kingdom is at

00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:42.720
 hand, but also

00:38:42.720 --> 00:38:43.860
 because judgment

00:38:43.860 --> 00:38:45.380
 is at hand.

00:38:46.079 --> 00:38:46.840
 He says in

00:38:46.840 --> 00:38:47.480
 verse 7,

00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:51.840
 but when he

00:38:51.840 --> 00:38:52.539
 saw many of

00:38:52.539 --> 00:38:53.160
 the Pharisees

00:38:53.160 --> 00:38:53.820
 and Sadducees

00:38:53.820 --> 00:38:54.480
 coming to his

00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:55.000
 baptism, he

00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:55.700
 said to them,

00:38:55.699 --> 00:38:56.739
 you brood

00:38:56.739 --> 00:38:57.399
 of vipers,

00:38:57.679 --> 00:38:58.539
 who warned

00:38:58.539 --> 00:38:59.259
 you to flee

00:38:59.259 --> 00:38:59.799
 from the

00:38:59.799 --> 00:39:00.359
 wrath to

00:39:00.359 --> 00:39:00.579
 come.

00:39:02.059 --> 00:39:02.879
 The Pharisees

00:39:02.879 --> 00:39:03.139
 and the

00:39:03.139 --> 00:39:03.639
 Sadducees

00:39:03.639 --> 00:39:03.939
 were the

00:39:03.939 --> 00:39:04.579
 two dominant

00:39:04.579 --> 00:39:05.039
 Jewish

00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:05.980
 religious sects

00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:06.319
 at that

00:39:06.319 --> 00:39:06.619
 time.

00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:07.339
 They

00:39:07.339 --> 00:39:07.699
 together

00:39:07.699 --> 00:39:08.119
 made up

00:39:08.119 --> 00:39:08.299
 the

00:39:08.299 --> 00:39:09.039
 Sanhedrin,

00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:09.480
 which is

00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:10.019
 the highest

00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:11.239
 ruling

00:39:11.239 --> 00:39:11.739
 class,

00:39:11.899 --> 00:39:12.259
 basically

00:39:12.259 --> 00:39:13.000
 the legal

00:39:13.000 --> 00:39:13.579
 and political

00:39:13.579 --> 00:39:14.039
 authority,

00:39:14.179 --> 00:39:14.399
 religious

00:39:14.399 --> 00:39:14.859
 authorities

00:39:14.859 --> 00:39:15.299
 among the

00:39:15.299 --> 00:39:15.519
 Jews.

00:39:16.419 --> 00:39:16.980
 But these

00:39:16.980 --> 00:39:17.579
 Sadducees

00:39:17.579 --> 00:39:17.859
 and the

00:39:17.859 --> 00:39:18.379
 Pharisees,

00:39:18.599 --> 00:39:20.039
 they were

00:39:20.039 --> 00:39:20.739
 at loggerheads

00:39:20.739 --> 00:39:21.460
 with each

00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:21.699
 other.

00:39:22.559 --> 00:39:22.980
 They didn't

00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:23.460
 really like

00:39:23.460 --> 00:39:23.839
 each other.

00:39:24.039 --> 00:39:25.039
 They disagreed

00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:25.380
 on many

00:39:25.380 --> 00:39:25.900
 theological

00:39:25.900 --> 00:39:26.759
 issues to

00:39:26.759 --> 00:39:27.480
 paint them

00:39:27.480 --> 00:39:27.940
 in very

00:39:27.940 --> 00:39:28.300
 broad

00:39:28.300 --> 00:39:28.779
 strokes.

00:39:29.340 --> 00:39:29.480
 The

00:39:29.480 --> 00:39:30.119
 Sadducees

00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:30.579
 were the

00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:31.019
 religious

00:39:31.019 --> 00:39:32.139
 liberals of

00:39:32.139 --> 00:39:32.559
 their day.

00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:33.539
 They were

00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:34.219
 the academic

00:39:34.219 --> 00:39:35.000
 and political

00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:35.579
 elites.

00:39:36.199 --> 00:39:36.900
 They were

00:39:36.900 --> 00:39:37.539
 in cahoots

00:39:37.539 --> 00:39:37.900
 with the

00:39:37.900 --> 00:39:38.139
 Roman

00:39:38.139 --> 00:39:38.679
 government.

00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:40.019
 They argued

00:39:40.019 --> 00:39:40.420
 that there

00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:40.759
 is no

00:39:40.759 --> 00:39:41.279
 resurrection

00:39:41.279 --> 00:39:41.980
 and no

00:39:41.980 --> 00:39:42.460
 angels,

00:39:42.599 --> 00:39:43.219
 no spirits.

00:39:44.019 --> 00:39:44.659
 But the

00:39:44.659 --> 00:39:45.300
 Pharisees,

00:39:45.380 --> 00:39:45.759
 who were the

00:39:45.759 --> 00:39:46.139
 religious

00:39:46.139 --> 00:39:46.820
 conservatives

00:39:46.820 --> 00:39:47.300
 of the day,

00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:47.739
 believed in

00:39:47.739 --> 00:39:48.139
 all those

00:39:48.139 --> 00:39:48.480
 things.

00:39:49.099 --> 00:39:49.579
 And they

00:39:49.579 --> 00:39:50.480
 preached strict

00:39:50.480 --> 00:39:51.259
 adherence to

00:39:51.259 --> 00:39:51.619
 the Old

00:39:51.619 --> 00:39:52.480
 Testament law.

00:39:53.079 --> 00:39:53.339
 They were

00:39:53.339 --> 00:39:53.519
 the

00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:54.199
 constitutional

00:39:54.199 --> 00:39:55.259
 originalists

00:39:55.259 --> 00:39:55.679
 of their

00:39:55.679 --> 00:39:55.940
 day.

00:39:56.099 --> 00:39:56.599
 They sought

00:39:56.599 --> 00:39:57.380
 to purge

00:39:57.380 --> 00:39:58.039
 and to

00:39:58.039 --> 00:39:58.900
 purify

00:39:58.900 --> 00:39:59.940
 the Jewish

00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:00.299
 people.

00:40:02.940 --> 00:40:03.679
 All that to

00:40:03.679 --> 00:40:03.940
 say they

00:40:03.940 --> 00:40:04.319
 didn't get

00:40:04.319 --> 00:40:04.639
 along.

00:40:05.019 --> 00:40:05.199
 And you

00:40:05.199 --> 00:40:05.460
 can see

00:40:05.460 --> 00:40:05.920
 that throughout

00:40:05.920 --> 00:40:06.659
 the Gospels

00:40:06.659 --> 00:40:07.000
 and the

00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:07.239
 book of

00:40:07.239 --> 00:40:07.519
 Acts.

00:40:09.460 --> 00:40:10.199
 But when

00:40:10.199 --> 00:40:10.799
 you find

00:40:10.799 --> 00:40:11.400
 the Sadducees

00:40:11.400 --> 00:40:11.679
 and the

00:40:11.679 --> 00:40:12.059
 Pharisees

00:40:12.059 --> 00:40:12.980
 making common

00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:13.719
 cause to

00:40:13.719 --> 00:40:14.359
 oppose

00:40:14.359 --> 00:40:15.000
 someone,

00:40:15.639 --> 00:40:16.460
 that's bad

00:40:16.460 --> 00:40:16.779
 news.

00:40:16.780 --> 00:40:21.360
 And that's

00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:21.600
 what you

00:40:21.600 --> 00:40:22.000
 see here.

00:40:23.220 --> 00:40:23.920
 And that's

00:40:23.920 --> 00:40:24.160
 what you

00:40:24.160 --> 00:40:24.680
 see again

00:40:24.680 --> 00:40:25.160
 later in

00:40:25.160 --> 00:40:25.820
 chapter 16

00:40:25.820 --> 00:40:26.360
 when they

00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:27.080
 come together

00:40:27.080 --> 00:40:27.700
 to test

00:40:27.700 --> 00:40:28.100
 Jesus.

00:40:29.660 --> 00:40:30.800
 So notice

00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:31.220
 it doesn't

00:40:31.220 --> 00:40:31.560
 say that

00:40:31.560 --> 00:40:32.019
 they came

00:40:32.019 --> 00:40:32.600
 to John

00:40:32.600 --> 00:40:33.080
 to get

00:40:33.080 --> 00:40:33.519
 baptized.

00:40:34.680 --> 00:40:35.720
 They came

00:40:35.720 --> 00:40:36.500
 to his

00:40:36.500 --> 00:40:37.240
 baptism.

00:40:38.100 --> 00:40:38.680
 They're on

00:40:38.680 --> 00:40:39.340
 a surveillance

00:40:39.340 --> 00:40:39.960
 mission.

00:40:41.060 --> 00:40:42.060
 They're watching

00:40:42.060 --> 00:40:42.380
 him,

00:40:42.700 --> 00:40:43.300
 assessing

00:40:43.300 --> 00:40:43.720
 him.

00:40:44.100 --> 00:40:44.560
 Maybe they're

00:40:44.560 --> 00:40:45.300
 curious to

00:40:45.300 --> 00:40:45.660
 see what

00:40:45.660 --> 00:40:46.200
 John has

00:40:46.200 --> 00:40:46.680
 to say.

00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:48.019
 His message

00:40:48.019 --> 00:40:48.460
 about

00:40:48.460 --> 00:40:50.640
 repentance,

00:40:53.540 --> 00:40:54.140
 purification

00:40:54.140 --> 00:40:55.200
 may have

00:40:55.200 --> 00:40:55.740
 resonated with

00:40:55.740 --> 00:40:56.260
 the Pharisees

00:40:56.260 --> 00:40:56.580
 somewhat.

00:40:58.019 --> 00:40:58.880
 But we

00:40:58.880 --> 00:40:59.300
 know that

00:40:59.300 --> 00:40:59.600
 they were

00:40:59.600 --> 00:41:00.260
 unrepentant

00:41:00.260 --> 00:41:01.080
 from John's

00:41:01.080 --> 00:41:01.780
 response.

00:41:03.040 --> 00:41:03.580
 And John

00:41:03.580 --> 00:41:04.720
 chastises them

00:41:04.720 --> 00:41:05.240
 severely.

00:41:05.980 --> 00:41:06.280
 He says,

00:41:06.540 --> 00:41:07.180
 you brood

00:41:07.180 --> 00:41:07.940
 of vipers

00:41:07.940 --> 00:41:08.640
 who warned

00:41:08.640 --> 00:41:09.280
 you to flee

00:41:09.280 --> 00:41:09.720
 from the

00:41:09.720 --> 00:41:10.160
 wrath to

00:41:10.160 --> 00:41:10.380
 come.

00:41:12.060 --> 00:41:12.840
 Vipers are

00:41:12.840 --> 00:41:13.400
 venomous

00:41:13.400 --> 00:41:13.700
 snakes.

00:41:14.080 --> 00:41:14.360
 And the

00:41:14.360 --> 00:41:15.000
 point of

00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:15.600
 this comparison

00:41:15.600 --> 00:41:16.060
 is that

00:41:16.060 --> 00:41:16.600
 these Jewish

00:41:16.599 --> 00:41:17.299
 religious leaders

00:41:17.299 --> 00:41:18.039
 are full

00:41:18.039 --> 00:41:18.819
 of deadly

00:41:18.819 --> 00:41:19.339
 poison.

00:41:22.659 --> 00:41:23.059
 Snakes

00:41:23.059 --> 00:41:23.639
 are scary,

00:41:23.920 --> 00:41:24.079
 right?

00:41:24.219 --> 00:41:24.480
 I mean,

00:41:24.799 --> 00:41:25.420
 most of us

00:41:25.420 --> 00:41:26.099
 are afraid

00:41:26.099 --> 00:41:26.679
 of snakes.

00:41:28.259 --> 00:41:28.779
 There's

00:41:28.779 --> 00:41:29.219
 good reason

00:41:29.219 --> 00:41:29.579
 for that.

00:41:29.659 --> 00:41:29.900
 If you

00:41:29.900 --> 00:41:30.360
 don't count

00:41:30.360 --> 00:41:30.900
 mosquitoes

00:41:30.900 --> 00:41:32.659
 who spread

00:41:32.659 --> 00:41:33.759
 diseases that

00:41:33.759 --> 00:41:34.319
 kill humans

00:41:34.319 --> 00:41:34.699
 but don't

00:41:34.699 --> 00:41:35.319
 actually kill

00:41:35.319 --> 00:41:35.639
 humans

00:41:35.639 --> 00:41:36.279
 themselves,

00:41:36.579 --> 00:41:37.319
 snakes are

00:41:37.319 --> 00:41:38.039
 still to this

00:41:38.039 --> 00:41:38.759
 day the

00:41:38.759 --> 00:41:39.679
 animal that

00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:40.119
 kills the

00:41:40.119 --> 00:41:40.579
 most human

00:41:40.579 --> 00:41:40.880
 beings.

00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:41.800
 it's the

00:41:41.800 --> 00:41:42.220
 deadliest

00:41:42.220 --> 00:41:42.940
 animal to

00:41:42.940 --> 00:41:43.240
 humans.

00:41:49.019 --> 00:41:49.500
 These

00:41:49.500 --> 00:41:49.820
 religious

00:41:49.820 --> 00:41:50.140
 leaders

00:41:50.140 --> 00:41:50.480
 were like

00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:50.660
 them.

00:41:50.840 --> 00:41:51.099
 Jesus

00:41:51.099 --> 00:41:51.740
 also will

00:41:51.740 --> 00:41:51.960
 later

00:41:51.960 --> 00:41:52.400
 call them

00:41:52.400 --> 00:41:52.960
 twice in

00:41:52.960 --> 00:41:53.240
 the gospel

00:41:53.240 --> 00:41:53.559
 of Matthew

00:41:53.559 --> 00:41:54.099
 brood of

00:41:54.099 --> 00:41:54.820
 vipers because

00:41:54.820 --> 00:41:55.260
 they were

00:41:55.260 --> 00:41:56.660
 hypocrites and

00:41:56.660 --> 00:41:57.400
 they shut

00:41:57.400 --> 00:41:58.280
 the kingdom of

00:41:58.280 --> 00:41:58.680
 heaven in

00:41:58.680 --> 00:41:59.519
 people's faces.

00:41:59.519 --> 00:42:00.559
 they spewed

00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:00.920
 out their

00:42:00.920 --> 00:42:01.599
 poison with

00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:02.300
 their deadly

00:42:02.300 --> 00:42:03.199
 deceptive

00:42:03.199 --> 00:42:04.039
 words and

00:42:04.039 --> 00:42:04.699
 they plotted

00:42:04.699 --> 00:42:05.239
 to kill

00:42:05.239 --> 00:42:05.639
 Jesus.

00:42:06.619 --> 00:42:06.820
 And so

00:42:06.820 --> 00:42:07.659
 John describes

00:42:07.659 --> 00:42:08.199
 them as a

00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:08.759
 brood of

00:42:08.759 --> 00:42:10.380
 poisonous snake

00:42:10.380 --> 00:42:11.159
 hatchlings that

00:42:11.159 --> 00:42:12.199
 are slithering

00:42:12.199 --> 00:42:13.039
 away at the

00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:13.860
 coming disaster.

00:42:14.400 --> 00:42:14.960
 Maybe when

00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:16.340
 you fell a

00:42:16.340 --> 00:42:16.840
 tree with an

00:42:16.840 --> 00:42:17.400
 axe and it

00:42:17.400 --> 00:42:18.079
 falls to their

00:42:18.079 --> 00:42:19.039
 habitat, they

00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:20.000
 slither away or

00:42:20.000 --> 00:42:20.900
 maybe there's a

00:42:20.900 --> 00:42:21.759
 fire that breaks

00:42:21.759 --> 00:42:22.340
 out and then

00:42:22.340 --> 00:42:22.840
 these snakes

00:42:22.840 --> 00:42:23.940
 slither away and

00:42:23.940 --> 00:42:24.739
 that's how John

00:42:24.739 --> 00:42:25.840
 describes these

00:42:25.840 --> 00:42:28.199
 Sadducees and

00:42:28.199 --> 00:42:28.860
 the Pharisees.

00:42:29.519 --> 00:42:31.780
 he warns them

00:42:31.780 --> 00:42:32.460
 in verses 8 and

00:42:32.460 --> 00:42:34.820
 9, bear fruit in

00:42:34.820 --> 00:42:35.579
 keeping with

00:42:35.579 --> 00:42:36.759
 repentance and

00:42:36.759 --> 00:42:37.820
 do not presume to

00:42:37.820 --> 00:42:38.639
 say to yourselves

00:42:38.639 --> 00:42:39.820
 we have Abraham as

00:42:39.820 --> 00:42:41.460
 our father for I

00:42:41.460 --> 00:42:42.559
 tell you God is

00:42:42.559 --> 00:42:43.539
 able from these

00:42:43.539 --> 00:42:44.880
 stones to raise

00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:45.840
 up children for

00:42:45.840 --> 00:42:46.280
 Abraham.

00:42:48.960 --> 00:42:50.280
 The Pharisees and

00:42:50.280 --> 00:42:52.199
 the Sadducees were

00:42:52.199 --> 00:42:53.079
 not repentant

00:42:53.079 --> 00:42:54.059
 because and we

00:42:54.059 --> 00:42:54.639
 know that because

00:42:54.639 --> 00:42:55.820
 they bore no

00:42:55.820 --> 00:42:57.380
 fruit in keeping

00:42:57.380 --> 00:42:58.239
 with repentance.

00:42:58.239 --> 00:43:00.039
 they had not

00:43:00.039 --> 00:43:00.879
 turned back from

00:43:00.879 --> 00:43:01.259
 their sins.

00:43:01.359 --> 00:43:01.839
 They did not

00:43:01.839 --> 00:43:03.519
 have deeds that

00:43:03.519 --> 00:43:04.439
 showed that they

00:43:04.439 --> 00:43:05.000
 were truly

00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:05.959
 repentant.

00:43:07.299 --> 00:43:08.399
 I often use this

00:43:08.399 --> 00:43:09.119
 analogy when I

00:43:09.119 --> 00:43:10.119
 speak of repentance.

00:43:10.259 --> 00:43:11.299
 Imagine that your

00:43:11.299 --> 00:43:12.500
 friend is giving

00:43:12.500 --> 00:43:14.000
 you a ride and

00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:16.439
 you are using the

00:43:16.439 --> 00:43:17.759
 GPS to navigate for

00:43:17.759 --> 00:43:18.119
 him and you're

00:43:18.119 --> 00:43:18.479
 giving him

00:43:18.479 --> 00:43:19.919
 directions and then

00:43:19.919 --> 00:43:20.619
 he takes a wrong

00:43:20.619 --> 00:43:22.539
 turn and so he

00:43:22.539 --> 00:43:23.119
 needs to do you

00:43:23.119 --> 00:43:23.739
 turn and so you

00:43:23.739 --> 00:43:24.579
 tell your friend hey

00:43:24.579 --> 00:43:25.399
 you gotta turn

00:43:25.399 --> 00:43:25.699
 around.

00:43:25.899 --> 00:43:26.459
 There's no way to

00:43:26.460 --> 00:43:27.340
 get there another

00:43:27.340 --> 00:43:27.539
 way.

00:43:27.619 --> 00:43:28.340
 You need to do a

00:43:28.340 --> 00:43:29.559
 U-turn and then

00:43:29.559 --> 00:43:30.199
 your friend says

00:43:30.199 --> 00:43:31.980
 oh okay thanks and

00:43:31.980 --> 00:43:32.380
 then he keeps

00:43:32.380 --> 00:43:34.480
 driving the same

00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:34.740
 way.

00:43:36.240 --> 00:43:37.079
 What would you do?

00:43:39.720 --> 00:43:40.579
 You would be

00:43:40.579 --> 00:43:41.760
 totally justified in

00:43:41.760 --> 00:43:43.599
 wondering whether

00:43:43.599 --> 00:43:44.340
 your friend heard

00:43:44.340 --> 00:43:44.960
 you or not.

00:43:46.639 --> 00:43:47.480
 Hey did you hear

00:43:47.480 --> 00:43:48.019
 what I said?

00:43:48.639 --> 00:43:49.760
 You have to turn

00:43:49.760 --> 00:43:51.400
 around or you will

00:43:51.400 --> 00:43:52.099
 never get there.

00:43:52.099 --> 00:43:55.940
 because if he

00:43:55.940 --> 00:43:58.539
 really heard and

00:43:58.539 --> 00:43:59.219
 if he really

00:43:59.219 --> 00:44:00.119
 believed what you

00:44:00.119 --> 00:44:02.440
 said he would

00:44:02.440 --> 00:44:02.719
 have turned

00:44:02.719 --> 00:44:03.019
 around.

00:44:08.639 --> 00:44:10.360
 Similarly someone

00:44:10.360 --> 00:44:12.599
 who turns back

00:44:12.599 --> 00:44:13.619
 from their sins

00:44:13.619 --> 00:44:14.579
 and turns toward

00:44:14.579 --> 00:44:17.480
 God will start

00:44:17.480 --> 00:44:18.440
 walking in a

00:44:18.440 --> 00:44:19.159
 different direction.

00:44:19.159 --> 00:44:22.199
 by this I don't

00:44:22.199 --> 00:44:23.000
 mean that you

00:44:23.000 --> 00:44:23.920
 never sin again.

00:44:25.079 --> 00:44:26.099
 Sure we take

00:44:26.099 --> 00:44:27.279
 wrong turns here

00:44:27.279 --> 00:44:29.079
 and there but

00:44:29.079 --> 00:44:30.000
 the fundamental

00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:31.719
 direction of the

00:44:31.719 --> 00:44:32.960
 person's life has

00:44:32.960 --> 00:44:33.819
 been reoriented.

00:44:35.599 --> 00:44:36.559
 They're not going

00:44:36.559 --> 00:44:37.119
 the same way

00:44:37.119 --> 00:44:37.480
 anymore.

00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:39.920
 That's repentance.

00:44:42.500 --> 00:44:43.480
 The Pharisees and

00:44:43.480 --> 00:44:44.139
 the Sadducees did

00:44:44.139 --> 00:44:44.659
 not repent.

00:44:45.440 --> 00:44:46.480
 Their confidence

00:44:46.480 --> 00:44:49.139
 lay instead on

00:44:49.139 --> 00:44:50.119
 a presumption.

00:44:51.119 --> 00:44:52.039
 We have Abraham

00:44:52.039 --> 00:44:53.099
 as our father.

00:44:54.320 --> 00:44:55.260
 Because of their

00:44:55.260 --> 00:44:56.360
 Jewish ethnic

00:44:56.360 --> 00:44:57.059
 heritage they

00:44:57.059 --> 00:44:58.039
 presumed that they

00:44:58.039 --> 00:44:58.480
 were safe.

00:44:58.980 --> 00:44:59.880
 We are the chosen

00:44:59.880 --> 00:45:00.639
 people of God.

00:45:01.519 --> 00:45:02.740
 We are the people

00:45:02.740 --> 00:45:03.659
 of the promise.

00:45:04.219 --> 00:45:04.940
 God will never

00:45:04.940 --> 00:45:05.659
 abandon us.

00:45:05.740 --> 00:45:06.260
 Don't you know?

00:45:06.420 --> 00:45:07.340
 God always keeps

00:45:07.340 --> 00:45:07.880
 his promises.

00:45:09.199 --> 00:45:10.039
 But they did not

00:45:10.039 --> 00:45:10.920
 remember that in

00:45:10.920 --> 00:45:12.059
 all of biblical

00:45:12.059 --> 00:45:13.639
 history God always

00:45:13.639 --> 00:45:15.179
 saves a faithful

00:45:15.179 --> 00:45:16.139
 remnant.

00:45:16.480 --> 00:45:20.179
 only the remnant

00:45:20.179 --> 00:45:21.500
 of Noah's family

00:45:21.500 --> 00:45:22.360
 was saved from

00:45:22.360 --> 00:45:23.039
 the flood judgment.

00:45:24.019 --> 00:45:25.179
 Not all of the

00:45:25.179 --> 00:45:26.240
 offspring of Abraham

00:45:26.240 --> 00:45:27.240
 but only the line

00:45:27.240 --> 00:45:28.840
 of Isaac inherited

00:45:28.840 --> 00:45:29.760
 the promise.

00:45:30.619 --> 00:45:31.679
 Only the remnant

00:45:31.679 --> 00:45:32.960
 of Caleb and

00:45:32.960 --> 00:45:34.019
 Joshua entered

00:45:34.019 --> 00:45:34.940
 the promised land.

00:45:35.440 --> 00:45:36.300
 After God's people

00:45:36.300 --> 00:45:36.960
 were exiled

00:45:36.960 --> 00:45:38.300
 Isaiah named

00:45:38.300 --> 00:45:39.500
 one of his sons

00:45:39.500 --> 00:45:41.039
 Shir Jashub which

00:45:41.039 --> 00:45:42.340
 means a remnant

00:45:42.340 --> 00:45:43.559
 shall return.

00:45:44.440 --> 00:45:45.360
 He prophesied that

00:45:45.360 --> 00:45:46.380
 while the tree of

00:45:46.380 --> 00:45:47.220
 faithless Israel

00:45:47.220 --> 00:45:48.680
 has fallen that

00:45:48.680 --> 00:45:49.780
 there still remains

00:45:49.780 --> 00:45:50.980
 a trunk of the

00:45:50.980 --> 00:45:51.519
 tree that is

00:45:51.519 --> 00:45:52.920
 faithful a remnant.

00:45:54.380 --> 00:45:55.400
 Micah referred to

00:45:55.400 --> 00:45:56.260
 God's people as the

00:45:56.260 --> 00:45:57.320
 remnant of Jacob.

00:45:57.640 --> 00:45:58.700
 Jeremiah prophesied

00:45:58.700 --> 00:45:59.400
 that when the Messiah

00:45:59.400 --> 00:46:00.160
 comes he will gather

00:46:00.160 --> 00:46:01.240
 the remnant of his

00:46:01.240 --> 00:46:01.680
 flock.

00:46:03.039 --> 00:46:04.120
 It is for all these

00:46:04.120 --> 00:46:05.160
 reasons that Paul

00:46:05.160 --> 00:46:06.300
 concludes in Romans

00:46:06.300 --> 00:46:07.860
 9.8 it is not

00:46:07.860 --> 00:46:09.120
 the children of the

00:46:09.120 --> 00:46:10.200
 flesh who are

00:46:10.200 --> 00:46:11.099
 children of God

00:46:11.099 --> 00:46:12.319
 but the children

00:46:12.319 --> 00:46:13.559
 of the promise

00:46:13.559 --> 00:46:14.279
 that are counted

00:46:14.279 --> 00:46:15.019
 as offspring.

00:46:16.059 --> 00:46:16.719
 The physical

00:46:16.719 --> 00:46:18.000
 national identity

00:46:18.000 --> 00:46:19.019
 of the Jews

00:46:19.019 --> 00:46:20.860
 has always been

00:46:20.860 --> 00:46:22.480
 subordinated to

00:46:22.480 --> 00:46:23.239
 their spiritual

00:46:23.239 --> 00:46:23.739
 identity.

00:46:24.739 --> 00:46:25.599
 It is the

00:46:25.599 --> 00:46:26.739
 spiritual children

00:46:26.739 --> 00:46:27.500
 of God who are

00:46:27.500 --> 00:46:28.420
 the remnant

00:46:28.420 --> 00:46:29.880
 true Israel.

00:46:31.380 --> 00:46:32.500
 That is why Jesus

00:46:32.500 --> 00:46:33.400
 warns the Jews

00:46:33.400 --> 00:46:34.139
 later in Matthew

00:46:34.139 --> 00:46:35.239
 21.43

00:46:35.239 --> 00:46:47.159
 John's warning

00:46:47.159 --> 00:46:48.079
 here in verse 10

00:46:48.079 --> 00:46:48.919
 is urgent.

00:46:49.500 --> 00:46:52.339
 Even now the axe

00:46:52.339 --> 00:46:53.119
 is laid at the

00:46:53.119 --> 00:46:53.899
 root of the trees.

00:46:54.339 --> 00:46:55.299
 Every tree therefore

00:46:55.299 --> 00:46:56.219
 that does not bear

00:46:56.219 --> 00:46:57.299
 good fruit is cut

00:46:57.299 --> 00:46:57.859
 down and thrown

00:46:57.859 --> 00:46:58.599
 into the fire.

00:46:58.899 --> 00:46:59.779
 Do you hear that

00:46:59.779 --> 00:47:01.059
 axe at the root

00:47:01.059 --> 00:47:01.599
 of the tree?

00:47:02.799 --> 00:47:03.579
 If you have not

00:47:03.579 --> 00:47:04.779
 repented it is

00:47:04.780 --> 00:47:05.720
 urgent that you

00:47:05.720 --> 00:47:07.540
 hear that sound

00:47:07.540 --> 00:47:08.340
 of the axe at

00:47:08.340 --> 00:47:08.900
 the root of the

00:47:08.900 --> 00:47:09.860
 tree, thud.

00:47:11.560 --> 00:47:12.080
 Thud.

00:47:14.340 --> 00:47:14.840
 Thud.

00:47:18.560 --> 00:47:19.380
 Judgment is at

00:47:19.380 --> 00:47:19.660
 hand.

00:47:21.800 --> 00:47:22.700
 Don't ever

00:47:22.700 --> 00:47:23.960
 presume that you

00:47:23.960 --> 00:47:24.900
 are safe just

00:47:24.900 --> 00:47:25.820
 because of your

00:47:25.820 --> 00:47:26.900
 spiritual pedigree

00:47:26.900 --> 00:47:27.600
 or your family

00:47:27.600 --> 00:47:28.040
 background.

00:47:30.320 --> 00:47:31.160
 Such false

00:47:31.160 --> 00:47:32.220
 assurances abound

00:47:32.220 --> 00:47:32.700
 today among

00:47:32.700 --> 00:47:33.519
 Christians also.

00:47:33.519 --> 00:47:35.059
 How many times

00:47:35.059 --> 00:47:35.519
 have you heard

00:47:35.519 --> 00:47:36.360
 words like this?

00:47:36.619 --> 00:47:37.079
 I've been going

00:47:37.079 --> 00:47:37.480
 to church all

00:47:37.480 --> 00:47:37.980
 my life.

00:47:40.679 --> 00:47:41.679
 My parents

00:47:41.679 --> 00:47:42.780
 and great

00:47:42.780 --> 00:47:43.320
 parents,

00:47:43.480 --> 00:47:43.800
 grandparents

00:47:43.800 --> 00:47:44.739
 are Christians.

00:47:46.900 --> 00:47:47.880
 My dad's

00:47:47.880 --> 00:47:48.599
 a pastor.

00:47:50.139 --> 00:47:50.960
 I lead worship

00:47:50.960 --> 00:47:51.719
 at my church.

00:47:53.239 --> 00:47:54.079
 I'm baptized.

00:47:56.139 --> 00:47:56.860
 Everyone who

00:47:56.860 --> 00:47:57.460
 knows me thinks

00:47:57.460 --> 00:47:57.960
 I'm a mature

00:47:57.960 --> 00:47:58.380
 Christian.

00:47:58.380 --> 00:48:00.039
 I don't

00:48:00.039 --> 00:48:00.539
 remember a

00:48:00.539 --> 00:48:01.280
 time when I

00:48:01.280 --> 00:48:01.700
 wasn't a

00:48:01.700 --> 00:48:02.019
 Christian.

00:48:03.440 --> 00:48:04.660
 None of

00:48:04.660 --> 00:48:06.140
 that matters.

00:48:09.880 --> 00:48:10.940
 What matters

00:48:10.940 --> 00:48:11.500
 is that you

00:48:11.500 --> 00:48:12.200
 have truly

00:48:12.200 --> 00:48:13.420
 repented of

00:48:13.420 --> 00:48:13.960
 your sins

00:48:13.960 --> 00:48:14.920
 and trusted

00:48:14.920 --> 00:48:15.480
 in Jesus

00:48:15.480 --> 00:48:16.360
 Christ for

00:48:16.360 --> 00:48:17.019
 your salvation.

00:48:17.160 --> 00:48:17.460
 Have you

00:48:17.460 --> 00:48:18.200
 done that?

00:48:19.960 --> 00:48:20.700
 Are you

00:48:20.700 --> 00:48:21.920
 bearing fruit

00:48:21.920 --> 00:48:22.500
 in keeping

00:48:22.500 --> 00:48:23.240
 with repentance

00:48:23.239 --> 00:48:24.379
 or is there

00:48:24.379 --> 00:48:25.219
 unrepentant

00:48:25.219 --> 00:48:25.959
 sin in your

00:48:25.959 --> 00:48:26.319
 life?

00:48:26.979 --> 00:48:27.459
 Verse 6

00:48:27.459 --> 00:48:27.959
 teaches us

00:48:27.959 --> 00:48:28.239
 that the

00:48:28.239 --> 00:48:28.819
 people coming

00:48:28.819 --> 00:48:29.239
 to be baptized

00:48:29.239 --> 00:48:29.819
 by John

00:48:29.819 --> 00:48:30.899
 were confessing

00:48:30.899 --> 00:48:31.639
 their sins.

00:48:31.919 --> 00:48:32.379
 That's an

00:48:32.379 --> 00:48:34.279
 essential aspect

00:48:34.279 --> 00:48:35.239
 of repentance.

00:48:36.019 --> 00:48:36.500
 Is there

00:48:36.500 --> 00:48:37.619
 unconfessed

00:48:37.619 --> 00:48:38.879
 sin in your

00:48:38.879 --> 00:48:39.199
 life?

00:48:39.299 --> 00:48:39.539
 Have you

00:48:39.539 --> 00:48:40.479
 taken steps

00:48:40.479 --> 00:48:41.279
 to turn

00:48:41.279 --> 00:48:42.459
 away from

00:48:42.459 --> 00:48:43.279
 that sin

00:48:43.279 --> 00:48:44.339
 or are you

00:48:44.339 --> 00:48:45.059
 still hiding

00:48:45.059 --> 00:48:46.139
 and abetting

00:48:46.139 --> 00:48:46.639
 that sin?

00:48:47.839 --> 00:48:48.279
 Locking,

00:48:48.579 --> 00:48:49.079
 marching,

00:48:49.199 --> 00:48:49.779
 and lockstep

00:48:49.780 --> 00:48:50.220
 with that

00:48:50.220 --> 00:48:50.780
 sin still.

00:48:59.140 --> 00:48:59.540
 Guys,

00:48:59.620 --> 00:49:00.019
 I might not

00:49:00.019 --> 00:49:00.380
 know it,

00:49:00.420 --> 00:49:00.840
 but in every

00:49:00.840 --> 00:49:01.240
 church there

00:49:01.240 --> 00:49:01.519
 are people

00:49:01.519 --> 00:49:01.760
 who are

00:49:01.760 --> 00:49:02.280
 doing that.

00:49:03.740 --> 00:49:04.240
 That's why

00:49:04.240 --> 00:49:04.820
 this is so

00:49:04.820 --> 00:49:05.260
 urgent.

00:49:07.500 --> 00:49:07.900
 Judgment

00:49:07.900 --> 00:49:08.340
 is at

00:49:08.340 --> 00:49:08.720
 hand.

00:49:12.080 --> 00:49:12.620
 And the

00:49:12.620 --> 00:49:13.080
 unrighteous

00:49:13.080 --> 00:49:13.440
 will not

00:49:13.440 --> 00:49:13.920
 inherit the

00:49:13.920 --> 00:49:14.300
 kingdom of

00:49:14.300 --> 00:49:14.540
 God.

00:49:17.140 --> 00:49:17.780
 This is the

00:49:17.780 --> 00:49:18.300
 reason why

00:49:18.300 --> 00:49:18.680
 we are

00:49:18.680 --> 00:49:19.400
 a credo

00:49:19.400 --> 00:49:19.720
 Baptist

00:49:19.720 --> 00:49:20.440
 church.

00:49:21.320 --> 00:49:21.619
 I'm going

00:49:21.619 --> 00:49:22.019
 to a little

00:49:22.019 --> 00:49:22.300
 bit of

00:49:22.300 --> 00:49:22.900
 theology and

00:49:22.900 --> 00:49:23.480
 baptism here,

00:49:23.660 --> 00:49:24.019
 so stay

00:49:24.019 --> 00:49:24.360
 with me.

00:49:26.720 --> 00:49:27.220
 Credo

00:49:27.220 --> 00:49:27.800
 baptism means

00:49:27.800 --> 00:49:28.400
 believer's

00:49:28.400 --> 00:49:29.039
 baptism as

00:49:29.039 --> 00:49:29.579
 opposed to

00:49:29.579 --> 00:49:30.320
 paedo-baptism,

00:49:30.440 --> 00:49:30.960
 which is

00:49:30.960 --> 00:49:32.119
 infant baptism.

00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.300
 Because

00:49:33.300 --> 00:49:35.139
 Colossians 2

00:49:35.139 --> 00:49:36.000
 makes the

00:49:36.000 --> 00:49:37.039
 connection between

00:49:37.039 --> 00:49:38.059
 the circumcision

00:49:38.059 --> 00:49:39.700
 of Christ and

00:49:39.700 --> 00:49:40.400
 being buried

00:49:40.400 --> 00:49:41.440
 with Christ in

00:49:41.440 --> 00:49:42.019
 baptism,

00:49:43.619 --> 00:49:44.559
 some sincere

00:49:44.559 --> 00:49:45.019
 Christians,

00:49:45.139 --> 00:49:45.500
 many of whom

00:49:45.500 --> 00:49:46.099
 I respect,

00:49:46.660 --> 00:49:47.380
 argue that we

00:49:47.380 --> 00:49:48.119
 should baptize

00:49:48.119 --> 00:49:49.380
 infants in a

00:49:49.380 --> 00:49:50.260
 same way that

00:49:50.260 --> 00:49:51.000
 the Israelites

00:49:51.000 --> 00:49:52.140
 circumcised their

00:49:52.140 --> 00:49:52.960
 male infants.

00:49:53.880 --> 00:49:54.400
 They see

00:49:54.400 --> 00:49:55.440
 baptism as a

00:49:55.440 --> 00:49:56.579
 sign of the

00:49:56.579 --> 00:49:57.579
 covenant community

00:49:57.579 --> 00:49:58.619
 and that babies

00:49:58.619 --> 00:49:59.340
 too can be a

00:49:59.340 --> 00:49:59.840
 part of that.

00:50:01.240 --> 00:50:02.280
 However, in that

00:50:02.280 --> 00:50:02.900
 passage in

00:50:02.900 --> 00:50:03.579
 Colossians 2,

00:50:03.760 --> 00:50:04.539
 Paul does not

00:50:04.539 --> 00:50:05.400
 connect Christian

00:50:05.400 --> 00:50:06.500
 baptism to

00:50:06.500 --> 00:50:07.079
 Jewish

00:50:07.079 --> 00:50:07.780
 circumcision.

00:50:08.599 --> 00:50:09.740
 He connects

00:50:09.740 --> 00:50:10.720
 Christian baptism

00:50:10.720 --> 00:50:11.340
 to the

00:50:11.340 --> 00:50:12.420
 circumcision of

00:50:12.420 --> 00:50:13.079
 Christ,

00:50:13.500 --> 00:50:14.059
 which he

00:50:14.059 --> 00:50:15.280
 explicitly says

00:50:15.280 --> 00:50:16.619
 is not made

00:50:16.619 --> 00:50:17.500
 with hands.

00:50:20.500 --> 00:50:21.839
 In Ephesians 2,

00:50:21.900 --> 00:50:22.420
 11-12,

00:50:22.500 --> 00:50:23.139
 Paul explicitly

00:50:23.139 --> 00:50:23.759
 says that

00:50:23.759 --> 00:50:25.500
 circumcision in

00:50:25.500 --> 00:50:26.460
 the flesh made

00:50:26.460 --> 00:50:27.319
 by hands is

00:50:27.319 --> 00:50:27.839
 obsolete.

00:50:31.579 --> 00:50:32.559
 And John the

00:50:32.559 --> 00:50:33.319
 Baptist here makes

00:50:33.319 --> 00:50:34.199
 it very clear to

00:50:34.199 --> 00:50:34.799
 the Pharisees and

00:50:34.799 --> 00:50:35.779
 the Sadducees that

00:50:35.779 --> 00:50:37.179
 they cannot presume

00:50:37.179 --> 00:50:38.279
 to enter the

00:50:38.279 --> 00:50:39.039
 kingdom of heaven

00:50:39.039 --> 00:50:40.380
 just because they

00:50:40.380 --> 00:50:41.400
 were born a

00:50:41.400 --> 00:50:41.619
 Jew.

00:50:41.619 --> 00:50:47.199
 just because

00:50:47.199 --> 00:50:47.880
 you had Abraham

00:50:47.880 --> 00:50:48.799
 as their father.

00:50:50.139 --> 00:50:51.159
 He says God is

00:50:51.159 --> 00:50:52.639
 able from stones,

00:50:52.799 --> 00:50:53.619
 from inanimate

00:50:53.619 --> 00:50:55.719
 dead stones to

00:50:55.719 --> 00:50:56.639
 raise up children

00:50:56.639 --> 00:50:57.319
 for Abraham.

00:50:58.759 --> 00:50:59.779
 How much more

00:50:59.779 --> 00:51:00.519
 than can God

00:51:00.519 --> 00:51:01.519
 make children of

00:51:01.519 --> 00:51:02.199
 Abraham out of

00:51:02.199 --> 00:51:03.000
 Gentiles and out

00:51:03.000 --> 00:51:03.339
 of all the

00:51:03.339 --> 00:51:03.679
 nations?

00:51:07.539 --> 00:51:08.400
 I think the

00:51:08.400 --> 00:51:09.239
 argument here is

00:51:09.239 --> 00:51:09.940
 compelling.

00:51:11.619 --> 00:51:13.000
 that your

00:51:13.000 --> 00:51:15.359
 ethnic or

00:51:15.359 --> 00:51:16.960
 biological,

00:51:17.299 --> 00:51:18.319
 physical heritage,

00:51:18.480 --> 00:51:19.859
 inheritance is

00:51:19.859 --> 00:51:20.699
 no credit or

00:51:20.699 --> 00:51:21.619
 merit to anybody

00:51:21.619 --> 00:51:22.420
 for salvation.

00:51:23.519 --> 00:51:25.339
 Everyone needs

00:51:25.339 --> 00:51:25.980
 to be converted.

00:51:27.299 --> 00:51:27.960
 Even all the

00:51:27.960 --> 00:51:28.880
 Jews need to

00:51:28.880 --> 00:51:29.599
 repent of their

00:51:29.599 --> 00:51:29.920
 sins.

00:51:30.539 --> 00:51:31.119
 This is

00:51:31.119 --> 00:51:32.059
 demonstrated in

00:51:32.059 --> 00:51:32.759
 a remarkable way

00:51:32.759 --> 00:51:33.799
 by John here

00:51:33.799 --> 00:51:34.859
 baptizing Jews.

00:51:35.500 --> 00:51:36.059
 He says in

00:51:36.059 --> 00:51:36.880
 verse 5 that

00:51:36.880 --> 00:51:37.739
 people came from

00:51:37.739 --> 00:51:38.199
 Jerusalem and

00:51:38.199 --> 00:51:39.359
 all the region

00:51:39.359 --> 00:51:39.900
 around the

00:51:39.900 --> 00:51:40.159
 Jordan.

00:51:40.159 --> 00:51:41.159
 these are all

00:51:41.159 --> 00:51:42.319
 Jewish regions.

00:51:42.960 --> 00:51:43.859
 The people who

00:51:43.859 --> 00:51:44.379
 are coming to

00:51:44.379 --> 00:51:45.299
 him are Jewish,

00:51:45.899 --> 00:51:46.319
 at least the

00:51:46.319 --> 00:51:47.059
 vast majority of

00:51:47.059 --> 00:51:47.239
 them.

00:51:48.539 --> 00:51:49.199
 Now, and some

00:51:49.199 --> 00:51:50.019
 historians, this

00:51:50.019 --> 00:51:50.839
 is not certain,

00:51:50.940 --> 00:51:51.279
 but some

00:51:51.279 --> 00:51:52.099
 historians think

00:51:52.099 --> 00:51:52.940
 that John's

00:51:52.940 --> 00:51:53.539
 practice of

00:51:53.539 --> 00:51:54.359
 baptizing people

00:51:54.359 --> 00:51:55.539
 like this once

00:51:55.539 --> 00:51:58.480
 is related to

00:51:58.480 --> 00:51:59.059
 the Jewish

00:51:59.059 --> 00:51:59.759
 practice of

00:51:59.759 --> 00:52:00.420
 proselyte

00:52:00.420 --> 00:52:02.139
 baptism, where

00:52:02.139 --> 00:52:02.799
 they take

00:52:02.799 --> 00:52:04.879
 Gentiles who

00:52:04.879 --> 00:52:05.440
 come and say,

00:52:05.699 --> 00:52:06.319
 I want to be a

00:52:06.319 --> 00:52:07.460
 Jew, and they

00:52:07.460 --> 00:52:08.759
 baptize them as

00:52:08.759 --> 00:52:09.639
 they convert to

00:52:09.639 --> 00:52:10.299
 Judaism.

00:52:11.819 --> 00:52:12.699
 It's possible

00:52:12.699 --> 00:52:13.699
 that John's

00:52:13.699 --> 00:52:14.440
 baptism preceded

00:52:14.440 --> 00:52:14.559
 it.

00:52:14.639 --> 00:52:14.980
 I don't think

00:52:14.980 --> 00:52:15.519
 anybody knows

00:52:15.519 --> 00:52:15.960
 for sure.

00:52:17.079 --> 00:52:18.339
 But even if it

00:52:18.339 --> 00:52:19.019
 is related to

00:52:19.019 --> 00:52:19.799
 Jewish proselyte

00:52:19.799 --> 00:52:20.719
 baptism, what

00:52:20.719 --> 00:52:21.339
 he is doing

00:52:21.339 --> 00:52:21.859
 here is a

00:52:21.859 --> 00:52:22.779
 radical departure

00:52:22.779 --> 00:52:23.460
 from that

00:52:23.460 --> 00:52:24.579
 practice because

00:52:24.579 --> 00:52:26.719
 in Jewish

00:52:26.719 --> 00:52:27.319
 proselyte

00:52:27.319 --> 00:52:28.059
 baptism, you

00:52:28.059 --> 00:52:29.339
 never baptize

00:52:29.339 --> 00:52:29.900
 Jews.

00:52:31.879 --> 00:52:32.460
 Jews don't

00:52:32.460 --> 00:52:32.879
 need to be

00:52:32.879 --> 00:52:33.319
 baptized.

00:52:34.019 --> 00:52:34.379
 It's the

00:52:34.379 --> 00:52:35.179
 Gentiles that

00:52:35.179 --> 00:52:35.420
 need to be

00:52:35.420 --> 00:52:35.679
 baptized.

00:52:35.859 --> 00:52:36.400
 But here is

00:52:36.400 --> 00:52:38.279
 John baptizing

00:52:38.280 --> 00:52:39.180
 throngs after

00:52:39.180 --> 00:52:39.940
 throngs of

00:52:39.940 --> 00:52:45.220
 Jews to

00:52:45.220 --> 00:52:45.660
 make the

00:52:45.660 --> 00:52:46.300
 provocative

00:52:46.300 --> 00:52:47.519
 point that

00:52:47.519 --> 00:52:48.400
 all people,

00:52:48.660 --> 00:52:49.300
 Jews or

00:52:49.300 --> 00:52:50.440
 Gentiles, must

00:52:50.440 --> 00:52:51.320
 repent for

00:52:51.320 --> 00:52:52.100
 Christ the

00:52:52.100 --> 00:52:52.900
 King has

00:52:52.900 --> 00:52:53.220
 come.

00:52:54.660 --> 00:52:55.420
 This is why

00:52:55.420 --> 00:52:56.500
 repentance is

00:52:56.500 --> 00:52:57.440
 always tied with

00:52:57.440 --> 00:52:58.420
 baptism in the

00:52:58.420 --> 00:52:58.720
 Bible.

00:52:59.080 --> 00:53:00.100
 Acts 2.38, when

00:53:00.100 --> 00:53:00.840
 Peter is preaching

00:53:00.840 --> 00:53:01.560
 at Pentecost, he

00:53:01.560 --> 00:53:03.180
 said, repent and

00:53:03.180 --> 00:53:04.760
 be baptized, every

00:53:04.760 --> 00:53:05.420
 one of you in the

00:53:05.420 --> 00:53:05.900
 name of Jesus

00:53:05.900 --> 00:53:06.800
 Christ for the

00:53:06.800 --> 00:53:07.420
 forgiveness of

00:53:07.420 --> 00:53:08.559
 your sins, and

00:53:08.559 --> 00:53:09.119
 you will receive

00:53:09.119 --> 00:53:10.139
 the gift of the

00:53:10.139 --> 00:53:10.800
 Holy Spirit.

00:53:11.960 --> 00:53:12.760
 You cannot have

00:53:12.760 --> 00:53:13.440
 true, genuine

00:53:13.440 --> 00:53:14.500
 baptism apart from

00:53:14.500 --> 00:53:14.900
 repentance.

00:53:17.900 --> 00:53:18.840
 So John also

00:53:18.840 --> 00:53:19.800
 says in verse 11,

00:53:20.280 --> 00:53:21.460
 I baptize you with

00:53:21.460 --> 00:53:22.500
 water for repentance,

00:53:22.619 --> 00:53:23.200
 but he who is

00:53:23.200 --> 00:53:24.320
 coming after me is

00:53:24.320 --> 00:53:25.160
 mightier than I,

00:53:25.240 --> 00:53:26.059
 whose sandals I am

00:53:26.059 --> 00:53:27.000
 not worthy to carry.

00:53:27.440 --> 00:53:28.559
 He will baptize you

00:53:28.559 --> 00:53:29.440
 with the Holy Spirit

00:53:29.440 --> 00:53:30.240
 and fire.

00:53:30.960 --> 00:53:31.619
 For those who

00:53:31.619 --> 00:53:32.320
 truly repent of

00:53:32.320 --> 00:53:32.860
 their sins and

00:53:32.860 --> 00:53:33.519
 believe in Jesus,

00:53:33.940 --> 00:53:34.680
 and for those who

00:53:34.680 --> 00:53:35.680
 are baptized as an

00:53:35.679 --> 00:53:36.539
 outward profession

00:53:36.539 --> 00:53:37.399
 of their inward

00:53:37.399 --> 00:53:39.099
 faith, God promises

00:53:39.099 --> 00:53:40.440
 this wonderful gift

00:53:40.440 --> 00:53:41.359
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:53:42.399 --> 00:53:43.179
 This is not

00:53:43.179 --> 00:53:44.059
 something that John

00:53:44.059 --> 00:53:45.079
 the Baptist can

00:53:45.079 --> 00:53:46.960
 give, or a

00:53:46.960 --> 00:53:47.859
 pastor or any

00:53:47.859 --> 00:53:48.759
 other church leader

00:53:48.759 --> 00:53:50.159
 can give anyone.

00:53:52.000 --> 00:53:53.519
 It is God's

00:53:53.519 --> 00:53:54.379
 prerogative alone.

00:53:55.739 --> 00:53:56.639
 That is why John

00:53:56.639 --> 00:53:57.919
 says that only the

00:53:57.919 --> 00:53:59.059
 coming one who is

00:53:59.059 --> 00:54:00.159
 mightier than he

00:54:00.159 --> 00:54:01.639
 can baptize you in

00:54:01.639 --> 00:54:02.839
 the Holy Spirit and

00:54:02.839 --> 00:54:03.259
 fire.

00:54:04.219 --> 00:54:04.739
 It is the

00:54:04.739 --> 00:54:05.739
 individual's

00:54:05.739 --> 00:54:06.719
 responsibility to

00:54:06.719 --> 00:54:07.939
 repent of sin and

00:54:07.939 --> 00:54:08.739
 believe in Jesus.

00:54:09.139 --> 00:54:10.239
 It is the church's

00:54:10.239 --> 00:54:11.159
 communal responsibility

00:54:11.159 --> 00:54:12.500
 to then to assess

00:54:12.500 --> 00:54:13.159
 their credible

00:54:13.159 --> 00:54:13.979
 profession of faith

00:54:13.979 --> 00:54:15.359
 and baptize them in

00:54:15.359 --> 00:54:15.779
 the name of the

00:54:15.779 --> 00:54:16.319
 Father and Son and

00:54:16.319 --> 00:54:16.799
 the Holy Spirit.

00:54:17.079 --> 00:54:18.139
 And it is the

00:54:18.139 --> 00:54:19.219
 responsibility and

00:54:19.219 --> 00:54:20.039
 the prerogative of

00:54:20.039 --> 00:54:22.099
 God alone to impart

00:54:22.099 --> 00:54:24.279
 the living spirit of

00:54:24.279 --> 00:54:24.599
 God.

00:54:24.599 --> 00:54:24.639
 God.

00:54:31.480 --> 00:54:33.480
 This is why spirit

00:54:33.480 --> 00:54:35.239
 baptism is the

00:54:35.239 --> 00:54:36.159
 privilege of every

00:54:36.159 --> 00:54:37.019
 single believer.

00:54:39.500 --> 00:54:40.819
 This doesn't mean that

00:54:40.819 --> 00:54:41.880
 you can't be more

00:54:41.880 --> 00:54:42.759
 filled with the

00:54:42.759 --> 00:54:42.980
 Spirit.

00:54:43.179 --> 00:54:43.819
 We can be.

00:54:43.900 --> 00:54:44.380
 We are in fact

00:54:44.380 --> 00:54:45.659
 commanded to be filled

00:54:45.659 --> 00:54:46.819
 with the Spirit more

00:54:46.819 --> 00:54:47.199
 and more.

00:54:48.239 --> 00:54:50.099
 However, every

00:54:50.099 --> 00:54:50.960
 Christian, true

00:54:50.960 --> 00:54:51.779
 Christian, born in

00:54:51.780 --> 00:54:52.880
 Christian, is baptized

00:54:52.880 --> 00:54:53.660
 in the Holy Spirit

00:54:53.660 --> 00:54:54.180
 because that's what

00:54:54.180 --> 00:54:55.260
 1 Corinthians 12, 13

00:54:55.260 --> 00:54:55.640
 says.

00:54:55.780 --> 00:54:56.760
 For in one spirit we

00:54:56.760 --> 00:54:58.400
 are all baptized into

00:54:58.400 --> 00:54:59.120
 one body.

00:54:59.420 --> 00:55:00.460
 Jews or Greeks, slaves

00:55:00.460 --> 00:55:01.880
 or free, and all were

00:55:01.880 --> 00:55:03.120
 made to drink of one

00:55:03.120 --> 00:55:03.920
 spirit.

00:55:06.320 --> 00:55:07.860
 But if you refuse to

00:55:07.860 --> 00:55:09.440
 repent, instead of

00:55:09.440 --> 00:55:11.200
 being sanctified by the

00:55:11.200 --> 00:55:12.860
 Holy Spirit, instead of

00:55:12.860 --> 00:55:14.320
 being consecrated by the

00:55:14.320 --> 00:55:15.160
 Holy Spirit, you will be

00:55:15.160 --> 00:55:16.380
 consumed by the Holy

00:55:16.380 --> 00:55:16.700
 Spirit.

00:55:17.780 --> 00:55:18.500
 And that's what verse

00:55:18.500 --> 00:55:19.080
 12 means.

00:55:19.079 --> 00:55:20.199
 His winnowing fork is

00:55:20.199 --> 00:55:21.239
 in his hand, and he

00:55:21.239 --> 00:55:21.900
 will clear his

00:55:21.900 --> 00:55:22.679
 threshing floor and

00:55:22.679 --> 00:55:23.539
 gather his wheat into

00:55:23.539 --> 00:55:24.500
 the barn, but the

00:55:24.500 --> 00:55:25.440
 chaff he will burn

00:55:25.440 --> 00:55:27.259
 with unquenchable fire.

00:55:28.019 --> 00:55:29.059
 The farmers in those

00:55:29.059 --> 00:55:30.179
 days, when they harvest

00:55:30.179 --> 00:55:31.079
 the wheat, they will

00:55:31.079 --> 00:55:32.239
 gather them all in the

00:55:32.239 --> 00:55:33.279
 threshing floor, and

00:55:33.279 --> 00:55:34.099
 they will use a big

00:55:34.099 --> 00:55:35.500
 winnowing fork to scoop

00:55:35.500 --> 00:55:36.860
 up bunches of the wheat,

00:55:37.239 --> 00:55:38.319
 and they will fling it

00:55:38.319 --> 00:55:39.719
 up into the air, and

00:55:39.719 --> 00:55:40.500
 while the heavy

00:55:40.500 --> 00:55:42.559
 kernels of wheat fall to

00:55:42.559 --> 00:55:43.599
 the ground, the light

00:55:43.599 --> 00:55:44.840
 chaff and all the husks

00:55:44.840 --> 00:55:45.679
 and the gunk that you

00:55:45.679 --> 00:55:46.960
 don't need will be blown

00:55:46.960 --> 00:55:48.159
 off by the wind because

00:55:48.159 --> 00:55:48.679
 they're light.

00:55:48.679 --> 00:55:49.539
 And that's how they

00:55:49.539 --> 00:55:51.159
 separate the chaff from

00:55:51.159 --> 00:55:52.179
 the wheat, and then the

00:55:52.179 --> 00:55:53.319
 wheat is gathered into

00:55:53.319 --> 00:55:54.319
 the barn, and then the

00:55:54.319 --> 00:55:55.899
 chaff is gathered and

00:55:55.899 --> 00:55:56.419
 burned.

00:55:58.759 --> 00:55:59.940
 And that's the imagery

00:55:59.940 --> 00:56:01.460
 that Jesus uses here of

00:56:01.460 --> 00:56:02.480
 divine judgment.

00:56:06.799 --> 00:56:07.919
 I know it's not a

00:56:07.919 --> 00:56:09.279
 comfortable subject, but

00:56:09.279 --> 00:56:10.440
 it says so here in the

00:56:10.440 --> 00:56:11.440
 Bible in verse 7.

00:56:12.480 --> 00:56:13.839
 Who warned you to flee

00:56:13.839 --> 00:56:15.659
 from the wrath to come?

00:56:15.659 --> 00:56:19.519
 divine wrath is a reality.

00:56:21.199 --> 00:56:23.659
 Because God is just, because

00:56:23.659 --> 00:56:27.519
 God is holy, he can't but

00:56:27.519 --> 00:56:30.960
 have wrath towards sinners who

00:56:30.960 --> 00:56:33.119
 have offended his glory and his

00:56:33.119 --> 00:56:35.539
 rule and his holiness.

00:56:35.539 --> 00:56:39.719
 That's why there's such urgency to

00:56:39.719 --> 00:56:39.980
 repent.

00:56:41.340 --> 00:56:42.960
 I can't improve on his words.

00:56:43.059 --> 00:56:46.199
 I want to quote at length part of

00:56:46.199 --> 00:56:48.199
 Jonathan Edwards' sermon from the

00:56:48.199 --> 00:56:49.559
 18th century preached during the

00:56:49.559 --> 00:56:50.239
 Great Awakening.

00:56:51.019 --> 00:56:52.840
 A famous sermon he delivered in

00:56:52.840 --> 00:56:54.039
 Enfield, Connecticut called

00:56:54.039 --> 00:56:55.599
 Sinners in the Hands of an Angry

00:56:55.599 --> 00:56:55.940
 God.

00:56:56.880 --> 00:56:57.920
 And this is what he says.

00:56:57.920 --> 00:57:03.180
 Your wickedness makes you, as it

00:57:03.180 --> 00:57:04.519
 were, heavy as lead.

00:57:05.619 --> 00:57:07.700
 And to tend downwards with great

00:57:07.700 --> 00:57:09.539
 weight and pressure towards hell.

00:57:10.300 --> 00:57:12.500
 And if God should let you go, you

00:57:12.500 --> 00:57:14.659
 would immediately sink and swiftly

00:57:14.659 --> 00:57:16.340
 descend and plunge into the

00:57:16.340 --> 00:57:17.280
 bottomless gulf.

00:57:17.900 --> 00:57:20.139
 And your healthy constitution and

00:57:20.139 --> 00:57:22.200
 your own care and prudence and best

00:57:22.200 --> 00:57:23.500
 contrivance and all your

00:57:23.500 --> 00:57:25.260
 righteousness would have no more

00:57:25.260 --> 00:57:26.980
 influence to uphold you and keep

00:57:26.980 --> 00:57:28.760
 you out of hell than a spider's

00:57:28.760 --> 00:57:30.519
 web would have to stop a falling

00:57:30.519 --> 00:57:30.980
 rock.

00:57:32.980 --> 00:57:34.900
 There are the black clouds of God's

00:57:34.900 --> 00:57:36.619
 wrath now hanging directly over

00:57:36.619 --> 00:57:38.579
 your heads, full of the dreadful

00:57:38.579 --> 00:57:40.559
 storm and big with thunder.

00:57:41.059 --> 00:57:42.740
 And were it not for the restraining

00:57:42.740 --> 00:57:44.760
 hand of God, it would immediately

00:57:44.760 --> 00:57:46.340
 burst forth upon you.

00:57:46.780 --> 00:57:48.679
 The sovereign pleasure of God for

00:57:48.679 --> 00:57:50.539
 the present stays his rough wind.

00:57:50.900 --> 00:57:52.480
 Otherwise it would come with fury

00:57:52.480 --> 00:57:53.900
 and your destruction would come like

00:57:53.900 --> 00:57:55.820
 a whirlwind and you would be like

00:57:55.820 --> 00:57:57.480
 the chaff of the summer threshing

00:57:57.480 --> 00:57:57.880
 floor.

00:57:59.320 --> 00:58:01.820
 The God that holds you over the pit

00:58:01.820 --> 00:58:04.539
 of hell, much as one holds a spider

00:58:04.539 --> 00:58:06.760
 or some loathsome insect over the

00:58:06.760 --> 00:58:10.380
 fire, abhors you and is dreadfully

00:58:10.380 --> 00:58:10.880
 provoked.

00:58:11.400 --> 00:58:14.059
 His wrath towards you burns like fire.

00:58:14.420 --> 00:58:16.680
 He looks upon you as worthy of nothing

00:58:16.680 --> 00:58:19.160
 else but to be cast into the fire.

00:58:19.500 --> 00:58:21.640
 He is of purer eyes than to bear to

00:58:21.640 --> 00:58:22.860
 have you in his sight.

00:58:22.860 --> 00:58:25.500
 You are 10,000 times more abominable

00:58:25.500 --> 00:58:27.559
 in his eyes than the most hateful

00:58:27.559 --> 00:58:29.480
 venomous serpent is in ours.

00:58:29.700 --> 00:58:31.940
 You have offended him infinitely more

00:58:31.940 --> 00:58:33.800
 than ever a stubborn rebel did his

00:58:33.800 --> 00:58:34.160
 prince.

00:58:34.539 --> 00:58:37.140
 And yet it is nothing but his hand

00:58:37.140 --> 00:58:39.260
 that holds you from falling into the

00:58:39.260 --> 00:58:40.920
 fire every moment.

00:58:42.000 --> 00:58:44.280
 It is to be ascribed to nothing else,

00:58:44.460 --> 00:58:46.320
 that you did not go to hell the last

00:58:46.320 --> 00:58:48.320
 night, that you were suffered to awake

00:58:48.320 --> 00:58:50.579
 again in this world after you close your

00:58:50.579 --> 00:58:51.259
 eyes to sleep.

00:58:51.259 --> 00:58:53.259
 And there's no other reason to be

00:58:53.259 --> 00:58:55.420
 given why you have not dropped into

00:58:55.420 --> 00:58:57.619
 hell since you arose in the morning,

00:58:58.019 --> 00:59:01.319
 but that God's hand has held you up.

00:59:07.159 --> 00:59:09.279
 It's a frightening description of God's

00:59:09.279 --> 00:59:09.559
 wrath.

00:59:11.279 --> 00:59:13.739
 And it is true because as Habakkuk 1.3

00:59:13.739 --> 00:59:16.319
 says, God is of purer eyes than to see

00:59:16.319 --> 00:59:16.759
 evil.

00:59:16.760 --> 00:59:19.620
 He cannot even see evil.

00:59:19.720 --> 00:59:22.720
 He cannot condone or tolerate evil.

00:59:23.760 --> 00:59:25.380
 So why does God hold

00:59:25.380 --> 00:59:30.700
 even unrepentant sinners up this very

00:59:30.700 --> 00:59:31.060
 moment?

00:59:33.540 --> 00:59:34.900
 2 Peter 3.9 says,

00:59:34.980 --> 00:59:36.680
 The Lord is patient toward you,

00:59:36.960 --> 00:59:38.560
 not wishing that any should perish,

00:59:38.880 --> 00:59:41.420
 but that all should reach repentance.

00:59:41.420 --> 00:59:45.180
 every hour that you live,

00:59:45.280 --> 00:59:46.960
 every minute of your life,

00:59:47.039 --> 00:59:49.480
 every second of your life is a

00:59:49.480 --> 00:59:52.280
 gracious opportunity from God to

00:59:52.280 --> 00:59:53.440
 repent of your sins.

00:59:58.079 --> 01:00:00.139
 And if you have yet to repent and turn

01:00:00.139 --> 01:00:02.940
 to Jesus, then let me tell you how to

01:00:02.940 --> 01:00:03.480
 do that.

01:00:03.960 --> 01:00:06.480
 Romans 5.8-9, we read from earlier in

01:00:06.480 --> 01:00:07.760
 the assurance of pardon.

01:00:07.900 --> 01:00:09.680
 God shows his love for us in this,

01:00:09.679 --> 01:00:11.159
 that while we were still sinners,

01:00:11.539 --> 01:00:12.819
 Christ died for us.

01:00:12.819 --> 01:00:14.579
 Since therefore we have not been

01:00:14.579 --> 01:00:16.119
 justified by his blood,

01:00:16.319 --> 01:00:18.539
 much more shall we be saved by him

01:00:18.539 --> 01:00:20.419
 from the wrath of God.

01:00:20.819 --> 01:00:24.159
 How are we saved from this fiery wrath

01:00:24.159 --> 01:00:24.699
 of God?

01:00:25.039 --> 01:00:26.539
 It's the blood of Jesus.

01:00:27.299 --> 01:00:30.239
 The death that Jesus died on the cross

01:00:30.239 --> 01:00:32.179
 in our place,

01:00:32.259 --> 01:00:34.139
 in the place of sinners.

01:00:35.759 --> 01:00:38.139
 He was pierced for our transgressions,

01:00:38.139 --> 01:00:40.259
 crushed for our iniquities,

01:00:40.339 --> 01:00:42.159
 and God has laid upon him

01:00:42.159 --> 01:00:43.599
 the chastisement,

01:00:43.739 --> 01:00:46.039
 the punishment that we deserved.

01:00:48.099 --> 01:00:49.759
 This is what it means when the Bible

01:00:49.759 --> 01:00:52.480
 speaks of Jesus as the propitiation

01:00:52.480 --> 01:00:53.839
 that God put forth.

01:00:55.719 --> 01:00:57.299
 Propitiation to propitiate is to

01:00:57.299 --> 01:00:58.579
 satisfy God's wrath.

01:00:59.559 --> 01:01:00.859
 1 John 4.10 says,

01:01:00.860 --> 01:01:01.980
 In this is love,

01:01:02.059 --> 01:01:03.539
 not that we have loved God,

01:01:03.620 --> 01:01:04.960
 but that he loved us

01:01:04.960 --> 01:01:06.820
 and sent his son to be

01:01:06.820 --> 01:01:08.539
 the propitiation for our sins.

01:01:09.680 --> 01:01:11.700
 Why did God send Jesus

01:01:11.700 --> 01:01:13.579
 to be the propitiation for our sins?

01:01:13.820 --> 01:01:15.880
 Because God loved us,

01:01:16.360 --> 01:01:18.120
 because God loved sinners,

01:01:18.480 --> 01:01:20.000
 so that he might provide a way

01:01:20.000 --> 01:01:22.340
 for Jesus to satisfy his just

01:01:22.340 --> 01:01:23.160
 and holy wrath.

01:01:27.320 --> 01:01:29.140
 David Wells, Christian theologian,

01:01:29.139 --> 01:01:30.219
 summarizes it this way.

01:01:30.799 --> 01:01:33.199
 Man is alienated from God by sin,

01:01:33.339 --> 01:01:35.920
 and God is alienated from man by wrath.

01:01:36.420 --> 01:01:38.679
 It is in the substitutionary death of Christ

01:01:38.679 --> 01:01:41.279
 that sin is overcome and wrath averted,

01:01:41.659 --> 01:01:43.339
 so that God can look on man

01:01:43.339 --> 01:01:44.779
 without displeasure,

01:01:45.139 --> 01:01:48.139
 and man can look on God without fear.

01:01:48.759 --> 01:01:50.139
 Sin is expiated,

01:01:50.299 --> 01:01:51.980
 and God is propitiated.

01:01:54.679 --> 01:01:56.159
 This is an amazing reality.

01:01:56.279 --> 01:01:57.480
 Think about that wrath,

01:01:57.480 --> 01:01:58.719
 and fire wrath of God,

01:01:58.860 --> 01:02:00.240
 and then look down a little bit,

01:02:00.420 --> 01:02:01.400
 and I will end with this,

01:02:01.800 --> 01:02:03.000
 and at the end of chapter three,

01:02:03.099 --> 01:02:05.639
 at what God says of his son, Jesus,

01:02:05.760 --> 01:02:06.719
 after he is baptized.

01:02:06.940 --> 01:02:07.760
 In verse 17,

01:02:08.760 --> 01:02:11.000
 this is my beloved son

01:02:11.000 --> 01:02:14.059
 with whom I am well pleased.

01:02:14.059 --> 01:02:20.880
 that's the word that Jesus deserved to hear.

01:02:22.239 --> 01:02:24.619
 That's the word that Jesus should have heard

01:02:24.619 --> 01:02:25.860
 all his life.

01:02:27.059 --> 01:02:29.239
 Instead, on the cross,

01:02:29.860 --> 01:02:34.639
 Jesus faces the unrelenting, fiery wrath

01:02:34.639 --> 01:02:36.279
 of God the Father

01:02:36.280 --> 01:02:38.900
 because he is taking our place

01:02:38.900 --> 01:02:45.340
 so that in his death and resurrection,

01:02:45.900 --> 01:02:48.540
 God can look upon us with pleasure

01:02:48.540 --> 01:02:52.040
 and say,

01:02:53.080 --> 01:02:55.340
 this is my beloved son,

01:02:55.500 --> 01:02:56.720
 because we're all in Jesus.

01:02:56.960 --> 01:02:58.540
 We're called sons sometimes in the Bible.

01:02:58.720 --> 01:03:00.280
 This is my beloved son

01:03:00.280 --> 01:03:04.000
 son in whom I am well pleased.

01:03:06.300 --> 01:03:08.260
 That's what God now says

01:03:08.260 --> 01:03:10.340
 over every single one of his people

01:03:10.340 --> 01:03:11.280
 who have turned,

01:03:11.560 --> 01:03:12.300
 who have repented,

01:03:12.840 --> 01:03:14.120
 and trusted in Jesus.

01:03:14.820 --> 01:03:15.460
 Let's pray.

01:03:21.960 --> 01:03:22.519
 Father,

01:03:22.519 --> 01:03:22.640
 Father,

01:03:22.639 --> 01:03:26.879
 I confess that I am weak.

01:03:28.839 --> 01:03:31.400
 I have preached your gospel,

01:03:31.879 --> 01:03:33.980
 but I cannot make a single person repent.

01:03:36.099 --> 01:03:37.699
 And I cannot make

01:03:37.699 --> 01:03:41.019
 a single person receive the Holy Spirit.

01:03:45.139 --> 01:03:48.079
 But I trust in you,

01:03:48.259 --> 01:03:48.739
 O Lord God,

01:03:49.599 --> 01:03:50.839
 and your son, Jesus,

01:03:51.319 --> 01:03:52.119
 the coming one,

01:03:52.119 --> 01:03:53.519
 who is mightier,

01:03:55.139 --> 01:03:57.239
 who baptizes in the Holy Spirit and fire.

01:03:58.559 --> 01:03:59.819
 Lord, go through this room.

01:04:02.239 --> 01:04:03.659
 Save every single soul.

01:04:03.859 --> 01:04:05.339
 Baptize every single one

01:04:05.339 --> 01:04:06.880
 in the Holy Spirit and fire.

01:04:07.059 --> 01:04:08.480
 And for all those who are already,

01:04:08.799 --> 01:04:10.039
 who are already saved,

01:04:10.119 --> 01:04:11.440
 all those who already belong to you

01:04:11.440 --> 01:04:12.599
 and have repented of their sins,

01:04:12.699 --> 01:04:14.539
 assure them of the great confidence

01:04:14.539 --> 01:04:15.900
 that they now have in Jesus,

01:04:16.239 --> 01:04:18.420
 that they are your beloved child.

01:04:18.420 --> 01:04:22.260
 that Jesus' perfect righteousness

01:04:22.260 --> 01:04:23.539
 covers us.

01:04:29.039 --> 01:04:30.360
 In Jesus' name we pray.

01:04:31.039 --> 01:04:31.320
 Amen.