WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.259 I came across this week a series of photographs, striking images of two worlds divided. 00:00:15.480 --> 00:00:22.900 I think we might have them on our screen. Pictures from Mexico, pictures from South Africa, 00:00:22.899 --> 00:00:33.079 where rich and poor live side by side, divided only by a corrugated fence or a concrete wall. 00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:40.700 So living shoulder to shoulder, but their worlds could not be any more different. 00:00:42.379 --> 00:00:50.679 It helped me to picture this story that Jesus paints for us, a story of extreme wealth and extreme poverty. 00:00:50.679 --> 00:00:58.920 Two men living side by side, divided only by a gate, but their worlds could not be any more different. 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:07.620 Jesus, quoting from the Old Testament, once said, you will always have the poor with you. 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:13.859 There will always be societies made up of the haves and the have-nots. 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:26.379 And too often, as Jesus recognized, the haves, those who have money, turn a blind eye and even show contempt towards the poor. 00:01:27.180 --> 00:01:29.359 And Jesus tells a story to challenge that. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:35.519 I suspect I'm not alone in loving stories like that of Robin Hood. 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:43.480 Maybe you grew up listening to the Robin Hood story or watching some of the many film and TV variants. 00:01:43.480 --> 00:01:49.579 You have the cold-hearted sheriff of Nottingham imposing taxation after taxation, 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:53.120 you know, stealing from the poor. 00:01:53.180 --> 00:01:56.099 But then Robin Hood comes, the hero of the people. 00:01:56.099 --> 00:02:01.939 He steals from the rich and gives to the poor, and there's a sense of justice done, and we celebrate. 00:02:04.059 --> 00:02:09.000 We come to Jesus' story, and we find that same quality. 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:13.740 There's a final judgment that falls on the rich man, 00:02:14.699 --> 00:02:16.799 the one who chose to love money, not mercy, 00:02:17.139 --> 00:02:21.039 the one who put his own pleasure over the people around him, 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:27.759 the voice that he listened to was the call of money rather than the call of God's Word and God's will. 00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:33.299 And as I said at the beginning, this story is part of a sequence, 00:02:33.299 --> 00:02:38.280 and within that sequence there's a danger that Jesus keeps pointing towards. 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:43.599 And the danger is that of not listening to Jesus, 00:02:44.180 --> 00:02:50.139 not listening to him as King, as Lord, as Son of God. 00:02:50.139 --> 00:02:58.839 It's the danger of not listening to his message that we are saved by God's grace and not by our efforts. 00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:05.359 And now, as he closes this series of stories, he gives us another note of urgency. 00:03:06.239 --> 00:03:11.439 If we will not listen to Jesus, there is the prospect of future judgment. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:16.020 And so we have a really important story to consider, 00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:19.879 and we have three important themes to consider, 00:03:20.419 --> 00:03:24.479 as Jesus asks us also to listen up and listen in. 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:29.000 The first theme is that of reversal. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:33.000 One of the things, remarkable things about Jesus, 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:35.900 is the way he is able to paint a picture for us, 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:38.620 a story for us in so few words. 00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:44.539 In just a few short sentences, we are given a picture of extremes in this life. 00:03:44.640 --> 00:03:46.379 Verse 19, we meet the rich man, 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:50.360 dressed in purple fine linen, luxury every day, 00:03:50.920 --> 00:03:54.500 and then the extreme poverty of the poor man, 00:03:55.700 --> 00:03:57.159 begging for just a scrap, 00:03:58.080 --> 00:03:59.099 out on the street, 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:01.319 covered in sores. 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:04.919 Before we go any further, 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:07.159 it's important to note that in Jesus' day, 00:04:08.019 --> 00:04:09.099 as people were listening, 00:04:09.659 --> 00:04:11.939 they had the belief that if you had wealth, 00:04:12.459 --> 00:04:13.979 then you had God's blessing, 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:15.579 that you were in. 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:17.699 So it's really striking, 00:04:17.819 --> 00:04:18.659 in a couple of chapters, 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:20.379 Luke chapter 18, 00:04:21.019 --> 00:04:23.680 Jesus speaks of a rich man, 00:04:24.159 --> 00:04:25.759 and he says, 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:26.719 verse 25, 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:29.520 it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle 00:04:29.520 --> 00:04:31.720 than for someone who's rich to enter the kingdom of God, 00:04:31.840 --> 00:04:33.240 and the people around him are surprised. 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:34.780 Who then can be saved? 00:04:35.640 --> 00:04:37.420 Their automatic assumption, 00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:39.640 wealth and possessions, 00:04:39.820 --> 00:04:41.160 equals God's blessing. 00:04:43.260 --> 00:04:44.460 And so imagine, 00:04:45.220 --> 00:04:45.440 you know, 00:04:45.460 --> 00:04:46.960 you're tuned to think that way, 00:04:47.320 --> 00:04:49.660 imagine how they hear this next scene, 00:04:49.840 --> 00:04:51.720 which takes us to the next life. 00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:53.620 Because what happens 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:55.460 is a complete reversal, 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:56.060 isn't there? 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:58.860 There's a reversal of position, 00:04:59.420 --> 00:05:00.920 and a reversal of expectations. 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:03.280 Because now it's the poor man, 00:05:03.780 --> 00:05:05.120 who's living in comfort, 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:07.840 and it's the rich man, 00:05:08.700 --> 00:05:09.820 who's living in agony. 00:05:11.440 --> 00:05:12.680 What's happening here, 00:05:13.640 --> 00:05:14.420 what's happening, 00:05:14.980 --> 00:05:16.460 is that Jesus is reminding us 00:05:16.460 --> 00:05:17.900 that his kingdom doesn't work 00:05:17.900 --> 00:05:19.040 the way the world works. 00:05:19.260 --> 00:05:20.500 In the kingdom of God, 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:22.899 because it operates on the basis of grace, 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:24.180 there is reversal. 00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:26.100 And it's really interesting, 00:05:26.199 --> 00:05:27.540 if you read Luke's gospel, 00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:30.000 and if you look for that theme of reversal, 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:32.839 you'll find it in almost every chapter 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:33.879 up until this one. 00:05:34.339 --> 00:05:36.259 He really wants us to hear this. 00:05:36.339 --> 00:05:37.720 So we have Mary, 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:39.160 the mother of Jesus, 00:05:39.160 --> 00:05:40.899 when she hears that she's going to 00:05:40.899 --> 00:05:42.800 give birth to the Savior. 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:44.920 She says in, 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:46.060 she sings, I suppose, 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:47.920 chapter 1, verse 52. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:49.819 Speaking of God, 00:05:49.819 --> 00:05:51.199 he has brought down rulers 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:52.219 from their thrones, 00:05:52.540 --> 00:05:54.680 but has lifted up the humble. 00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:56.899 He has filled the hungry 00:05:56.899 --> 00:05:57.980 with good things, 00:05:58.779 --> 00:06:00.399 but has sent the rich away empty. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:03.480 That's the way God's kingdom operates. 00:06:04.379 --> 00:06:06.240 We can think about chapter 5, 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:08.259 where there is Levi, 00:06:08.439 --> 00:06:09.379 the tax collector. 00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:11.300 Everybody despised the tax collector, 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:13.379 but Jesus welcomed him. 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:15.539 Jesus shared food with him. 00:06:15.620 --> 00:06:17.219 Indeed, Jesus shared a feast 00:06:17.220 --> 00:06:19.140 with Levi and all his tax collector 00:06:19.140 --> 00:06:20.100 and sinner friends, 00:06:20.100 --> 00:06:22.180 and he was glad to be known 00:06:22.180 --> 00:06:23.140 as a friend of sinners, 00:06:23.220 --> 00:06:25.300 even if others were muttering. 00:06:26.340 --> 00:06:27.880 Luke chapter 6. 00:06:28.300 --> 00:06:29.860 Jesus delivers some teaching 00:06:29.860 --> 00:06:31.340 that clearly connects 00:06:31.340 --> 00:06:33.240 with this parable we just read. 00:06:33.740 --> 00:06:35.520 Luke chapter 6, verse 20. 00:06:36.200 --> 00:06:36.560 He says, 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:37.680 looking at his disciples, 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:38.220 he said, 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:40.300 blessed are you who are poor, 00:06:40.980 --> 00:06:42.959 for yours is the kingdom of God. 00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:44.720 And then verse 24, 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:47.519 but woe to you who are rich, 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:49.399 for you have already received 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:50.000 your comfort. 00:06:50.620 --> 00:06:51.720 There's that warning 00:06:51.720 --> 00:06:53.620 in teaching form we now hear 00:06:53.620 --> 00:06:54.199 in a parable. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:55.500 If all you want is comfort 00:06:55.500 --> 00:06:56.439 in this life, 00:06:57.199 --> 00:06:59.959 then you're looking for too little. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:02.500 So as we listen in 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:04.199 to Jesus and to this parable, 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:05.959 he helps us to discover 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:09.259 that grace turns things upside down. 00:07:10.219 --> 00:07:11.459 Because God's kingdom 00:07:11.459 --> 00:07:13.240 does not run along the lines 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:14.759 that we would humanly expect. 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:19.120 We would expect the basis of merit. 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:21.199 You know, you earn it. 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:22.579 You prove yourself. 00:07:22.699 --> 00:07:24.560 You come with your right track record 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:25.560 and CV and say, 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:27.439 here's why you should accept me. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:30.000 But that's not how Jesus operates. 00:07:31.019 --> 00:07:32.579 And that's profoundly good news. 00:07:32.579 --> 00:07:36.199 Rather, if we enter into this story, 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:38.379 we are invited by Jesus 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:40.500 to come like Lazarus, 00:07:41.339 --> 00:07:42.180 the poor man, 00:07:42.919 --> 00:07:45.860 in our sense of need and despair, 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:48.060 in a dreadful state 00:07:48.060 --> 00:07:50.219 because of our sin. 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:53.139 We come empty-handed. 00:07:54.419 --> 00:07:56.599 We gladly confess 00:07:56.599 --> 00:07:58.879 Jesus has paid it all. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:01.399 Jesus has done everything 00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:02.800 for salvation. 00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:05.100 Jesus declared on the cross, 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:07.019 it is finished. 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:10.659 God's work of salvation, 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:13.439 complete by Jesus, 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:14.600 God's Savior, 00:08:15.339 --> 00:08:16.600 so that we enter the kingdom, 00:08:16.740 --> 00:08:18.120 it's now by grace. 00:08:18.219 --> 00:08:19.899 It's a gift that we receive 00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:21.899 by faith. 00:08:21.899 --> 00:08:26.539 And another thing, 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.620 as we listen into this story, 00:08:29.139 --> 00:08:30.139 it reminds us, 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:31.500 and Jesus is always pushing 00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:32.879 His disciples and His followers 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:33.419 in this way, 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:35.199 we need to learn to put on 00:08:35.199 --> 00:08:37.059 the glasses of the gospel. 00:08:39.579 --> 00:08:41.919 Because we will typically also 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:43.500 divide people 00:08:43.500 --> 00:08:44.819 and imagine perhaps, 00:08:45.139 --> 00:08:46.779 oh, these are the kind of people 00:08:46.779 --> 00:08:48.740 that God will naturally accept, 00:08:48.740 --> 00:08:50.360 or these are the kind of people 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:51.159 that will listen 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:52.680 to the message 00:08:52.680 --> 00:08:54.220 of good news. 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:56.539 And Jesus would have us 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:57.919 to avoid that trap 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:59.919 of limiting God's grace 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:00.620 in any way 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:01.860 to say that this person 00:09:01.860 --> 00:09:03.039 is a likely candidate, 00:09:03.180 --> 00:09:04.200 this person is unlikely. 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:05.220 No, it's all gift. 00:09:05.560 --> 00:09:07.259 It's all grace. 00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:08.659 So when we put on 00:09:08.659 --> 00:09:09.720 the gospel glasses, 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:10.740 we don't limit 00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:14.560 who we share good news with. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:17.659 We learn to celebrate 00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:20.239 as we see God's grace 00:09:20.239 --> 00:09:21.959 and kindness being extended 00:09:21.959 --> 00:09:23.579 in surprising places, 00:09:23.579 --> 00:09:26.299 and we learn to welcome people 00:09:26.299 --> 00:09:28.439 that they might come 00:09:28.439 --> 00:09:29.779 to know the grace 00:09:29.779 --> 00:09:31.059 that we have come to discover. 00:09:32.259 --> 00:09:33.739 So that's one theme, 00:09:33.779 --> 00:09:35.179 and it's a repeating theme, 00:09:35.199 --> 00:09:37.259 and it's here in our story. 00:09:38.739 --> 00:09:40.019 A second theme, 00:09:40.779 --> 00:09:43.479 one that Jesus deliberately addresses 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:44.720 because of his audience 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:46.920 is the theme of riches. 00:09:48.139 --> 00:09:48.960 Another feature 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:50.680 of Jesus' storytelling, 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:52.940 and we get this recorded 00:09:52.940 --> 00:09:53.720 in the Gospels, 00:09:54.060 --> 00:09:55.899 is that as he tells stories, 00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:57.639 he intends to provoke 00:09:57.639 --> 00:09:59.019 a response 00:09:59.019 --> 00:10:00.860 from his audience. 00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:02.600 He's constantly looking 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:03.740 to draw people 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:05.000 into the story, 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:06.100 to think about 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:08.080 where am I in the story, 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:10.019 to challenge wrong beliefs 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:10.879 and behaviors 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:12.560 through story. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:14.019 So perhaps even 00:10:14.019 --> 00:10:15.019 as we read 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:16.699 this parable, 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:18.299 we felt sympathy 00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:19.579 towards the poor. 00:10:19.659 --> 00:10:20.419 We perhaps felt 00:10:20.419 --> 00:10:21.459 a sense of anger 00:10:21.459 --> 00:10:23.019 towards the rich 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:24.939 who was so callous. 00:10:28.139 --> 00:10:29.500 Another storyteller, 00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:30.519 Charles Dickens, 00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:32.579 wrote the novel 00:10:32.579 --> 00:10:34.039 A Tale of Two Cities. 00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:36.699 And in The Tale of Two Cities, 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:38.799 which in part focuses 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:39.779 on the French Revolution, 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:40.339 we're introduced 00:10:40.340 --> 00:10:41.420 to a character 00:10:41.420 --> 00:10:42.580 called Monseigneur. 00:10:43.500 --> 00:10:44.519 The Monseigneur, 00:10:44.580 --> 00:10:46.560 who is just a horrible character. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:48.480 Dickens had this great phrase 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:49.100 to describe him. 00:10:49.139 --> 00:10:49.700 He said he was 00:10:49.700 --> 00:10:50.920 deformed 00:10:50.920 --> 00:10:52.740 by the leprosy 00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:53.960 of unreality, 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:55.240 which is a great phrase. 00:10:55.660 --> 00:10:55.980 Basically, 00:10:56.040 --> 00:10:56.580 he was living 00:10:56.580 --> 00:10:57.320 in the lap 00:10:57.320 --> 00:10:58.840 of absolute luxury 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:00.940 while all of France 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:02.080 was starving 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:03.620 and suffering. 00:11:04.420 --> 00:11:05.320 And having only, 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:06.340 I'm rereading 00:11:06.340 --> 00:11:07.600 A Tale of Two Cities, 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:08.440 and having only been 00:11:08.440 --> 00:11:09.519 introduced to Monseigneur, 00:11:09.580 --> 00:11:10.440 already I've decided 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:11.500 I want justice to fall. 00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:13.139 It's our heart response, 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:13.399 isn't it? 00:11:13.420 --> 00:11:14.800 We see the body, 00:11:14.920 --> 00:11:15.680 we see injustice, 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:16.620 and we want justice 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:17.220 to be done. 00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:21.100 There is a clear audience 00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:22.100 for Jesus 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:24.019 as he tells this parable, 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:26.100 and it's the Pharisees. 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:26.920 Remember, 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:27.580 we met them 00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:28.540 in verse 14. 00:11:28.539 --> 00:11:29.860 They are those 00:11:29.860 --> 00:11:31.059 who love money 00:11:31.059 --> 00:11:32.919 and were sneering 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:33.639 at Jesus. 00:11:35.219 --> 00:11:36.799 They've rejected Jesus 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:37.779 as God's Savior 00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:38.379 and King. 00:11:38.779 --> 00:11:39.719 They're rejecting 00:11:39.719 --> 00:11:40.599 his message 00:11:40.599 --> 00:11:41.579 of grace. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:42.919 They're rejecting 00:11:42.919 --> 00:11:43.639 that warning 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:44.299 to put away 00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:45.319 the idol of money 00:11:45.319 --> 00:11:46.379 and to trust 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:47.839 and give their heart 00:11:47.839 --> 00:11:49.099 fully to God. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:51.659 We find them also 00:11:51.659 --> 00:11:53.240 in chapter 15 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:53.939 in verse 2 00:11:53.939 --> 00:11:55.620 before the trio 00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:56.459 of lost 00:11:56.459 --> 00:11:57.919 and found stories, 00:11:58.659 --> 00:11:59.740 muttering again, 00:12:00.439 --> 00:12:01.860 this man welcomes 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:02.399 sinners 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:05.159 and eats with them. 00:12:06.059 --> 00:12:07.219 They love money, 00:12:07.339 --> 00:12:08.199 they despise 00:12:08.199 --> 00:12:08.959 other people, 00:12:09.319 --> 00:12:10.279 and they despise 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:11.579 and reject Jesus. 00:12:12.099 --> 00:12:12.519 And so, 00:12:12.599 --> 00:12:13.519 they become 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:15.319 in part 00:12:15.319 --> 00:12:15.860 the target 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:16.519 of the story. 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:17.099 Jesus says, 00:12:17.199 --> 00:12:18.539 if you will not listen, 00:12:19.979 --> 00:12:20.899 if you will not use 00:12:20.899 --> 00:12:21.299 your money 00:12:21.299 --> 00:12:21.959 for the sake 00:12:21.959 --> 00:12:22.740 of others, 00:12:22.939 --> 00:12:24.059 which is God's will, 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:26.120 if you'll not 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:27.399 show mercy 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:28.759 with your resources, 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:31.459 be warned. 00:12:32.459 --> 00:12:33.600 Jesus sounds 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:34.459 a warning 00:12:34.459 --> 00:12:35.480 to them. 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:37.620 This rich man 00:12:37.620 --> 00:12:38.439 is pictured 00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:39.620 as having it all, 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:41.379 living in the height 00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:42.620 of luxury, 00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:44.879 but he doesn't know 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:45.919 how to use it, 00:12:46.699 --> 00:12:48.299 using God's good things 00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:49.500 apart from 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:51.259 a right relationship 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:51.899 with God. 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:51.980 God. 00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:54.100 Those gifts 00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:54.980 that we receive 00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:55.720 from God, 00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:57.679 our money, 00:12:58.059 --> 00:12:58.959 whatever our resources, 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:00.120 possessions are, 00:13:00.699 --> 00:13:01.819 they are to be used 00:13:01.819 --> 00:13:02.639 for the sake 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:03.740 of others. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:05.740 For the rich man 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:06.399 in the story 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:07.220 to do that, 00:13:08.179 --> 00:13:09.059 all he needs 00:13:09.059 --> 00:13:09.559 to do 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:11.620 is open his eyes 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:13.600 and open the gate, 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.539 but he refuses. 00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:17.620 And so we have 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:19.339 this awful scene 00:13:19.339 --> 00:13:21.879 in verse 21 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:24.219 of poor Lazarus, 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:24.740 the beggar, 00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:25.659 longing to eat 00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:26.139 what fell 00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:27.539 from the rich man's table, 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:29.319 and even the dogs 00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:29.959 came and licked 00:13:29.959 --> 00:13:30.659 his sores. 00:13:30.939 --> 00:13:31.620 He's getting more 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:32.379 sympathy from 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:33.679 the street dogs 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:35.059 than he is 00:13:35.059 --> 00:13:36.019 for the rich man. 00:13:37.099 --> 00:13:38.259 But there's another 00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:39.419 awful portrait 00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:40.879 that Jesus paints, 00:13:40.939 --> 00:13:41.899 far worse 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:43.799 than that 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:44.859 of Lazarus. 00:13:45.599 --> 00:13:46.399 It's the portrait 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:47.259 of a person 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.599 who is gripped 00:13:48.599 --> 00:13:49.500 and held 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:51.359 a slave 00:13:51.359 --> 00:13:52.740 by money, 00:13:53.699 --> 00:13:54.479 a person 00:13:54.479 --> 00:13:55.219 whose heart 00:13:55.219 --> 00:13:56.839 has shriveled up, 00:13:57.979 --> 00:13:59.539 become too small, 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:01.859 become so focused 00:14:01.859 --> 00:14:02.679 on self, 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:06.120 only serving themselves 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:06.879 with money, 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:09.479 ignoring the way 00:14:09.479 --> 00:14:10.740 that God wants us 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:11.599 to show love, 00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:13.319 the love that God seeks 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:14.400 is a love 00:14:14.400 --> 00:14:15.520 that sacrifices 00:14:15.520 --> 00:14:16.520 for other people. 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.320 That's so far 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:19.560 from the rich man's 00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:20.220 thoughts. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:22.379 Before we hit 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:23.100 the judgment scene, 00:14:23.180 --> 00:14:24.200 let's skip to the end, 00:14:24.260 --> 00:14:25.120 verse 27. 00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:27.180 So we find 00:14:27.180 --> 00:14:27.879 the rich man 00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:28.440 in torment, 00:14:28.580 --> 00:14:29.280 and he's begging 00:14:29.280 --> 00:14:30.560 that Lazarus 00:14:30.560 --> 00:14:31.520 be sent 00:14:31.520 --> 00:14:33.260 to sound a warning. 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:35.180 And notice, 00:14:35.780 --> 00:14:36.080 remember, 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:36.940 Jesus is telling 00:14:36.940 --> 00:14:37.500 the story, 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:37.960 but he puts 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:38.660 these words 00:14:38.660 --> 00:14:39.800 in the mouth 00:14:39.800 --> 00:14:40.620 of Abraham, 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:41.919 they have 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:42.460 Moses 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:43.940 and the prophets. 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:45.279 Let them 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:46.159 listen to them. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:48.500 What's Jesus 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:49.299 saying there? 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:51.179 He's saying 00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:52.100 that it's really 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:53.000 clear 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:54.379 when you read 00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:55.620 the Old Testament 00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:57.440 how we should 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:58.779 treat others 00:14:58.779 --> 00:15:00.000 and how we should 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:01.340 use our resources. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:03.039 It is really 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:03.700 clear 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:04.620 that God 00:15:04.620 --> 00:15:05.299 cares 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.419 for the poor, 00:15:06.419 --> 00:15:08.339 and that how 00:15:08.339 --> 00:15:09.120 he wants us 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:09.759 to worship 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:10.599 is to show 00:15:10.599 --> 00:15:12.120 care to those 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:13.159 in poverty 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:14.799 and in need. 00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:16.099 Let me give you 00:15:16.099 --> 00:15:16.899 a couple of examples 00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:17.740 from the writings 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:18.559 of Moses. 00:15:18.719 --> 00:15:19.839 Deuteronomy 10, 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:20.979 this is speaking 00:15:20.979 --> 00:15:21.419 of God. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:22.019 First of all, 00:15:22.099 --> 00:15:22.939 he, that's God, 00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:24.079 defends the cause 00:15:24.079 --> 00:15:25.019 of the fatherless 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.740 and the widow 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:27.240 and loves the 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:28.259 foreigner residing 00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:28.939 among you, 00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:30.259 giving them food 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:31.159 and clothing, 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:33.000 and in response, 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:35.600 you are to love 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.679 those who are 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:37.139 foreigners. 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:39.039 Now, Deuteronomy 15, 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:40.879 there will always 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:41.759 be poor people 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.379 in the land. 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.519 So, should we just 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.480 fold our hands 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.039 and arms 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:45.500 and just say, 00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:46.620 well, nothing 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.419 we can do about it? 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:48.120 No, God says, 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:49.340 therefore, I command 00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:51.399 you to be 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:52.039 open-handed 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:53.720 towards your fellow 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:54.559 Israelites who are 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:55.259 poor and needy 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:55.840 in your land. 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:57.480 To hear the same 00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:58.539 truth in story form, 00:15:58.600 --> 00:15:59.679 that's why Keith 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:00.700 read from 00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:02.139 Jeremiah 22, 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:04.299 we have the 00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:05.480 obscure king 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.740 Shalom there, 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.720 who is growing 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:09.159 richer and richer 00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:10.039 as king 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:11.620 by injustice. 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:13.580 Rather than 00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:14.600 using his position 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:15.379 and his wealth 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:16.519 to bless others, 00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:17.519 he is taking 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:18.399 advantage, 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:19.539 and so judgment 00:16:19.539 --> 00:16:20.000 falls. 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:20.559 So, the clear 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:22.320 message of the 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:22.980 Old Testament 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:24.620 is that riches 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.320 are to be used 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:26.200 to express love 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:26.779 for God 00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:28.399 through the way 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:29.120 that we love 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:31.019 others who are 00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:31.799 in need. 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.259 So, as Jesus 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:34.879 has invited 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.639 the Pharisees 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.360 into the story, 00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:36.840 so he would 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:37.399 invite us 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:38.200 into the story 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:38.820 as well, 00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:40.100 and he invites 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:40.980 us to listen 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:42.940 with urgency 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:44.220 to his teaching, 00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:46.820 which calls us 00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:48.340 to seek wisdom 00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:49.200 to look inside 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:49.799 of ourselves 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:50.940 in the first place. 00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:53.080 As John Calvin 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:53.980 who famously said, 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:54.559 our hearts 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.980 are idol-making 00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:56.879 factories. 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:58.419 we can turn 00:16:58.419 --> 00:16:59.179 anything into 00:16:59.179 --> 00:17:00.000 an object of 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.679 worship that we 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:01.600 look to for hope 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:02.080 and security 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:02.700 rather than 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.679 the one true God. 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.079 Jesus, in his 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:06.680 teaching, 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.259 saw money as 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.460 the idol 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:10.740 to warn against 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.500 most often, 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.480 the one with 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.099 the greatest 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:14.839 capacity to rob 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:16.000 God of glory, 00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:16.900 to steal our 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:17.779 hearts away from 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.059 him. 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:21.679 So, as wisdom 00:17:21.679 --> 00:17:22.720 looks inside, 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:25.579 do we see 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:26.259 are there areas 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:26.679 where money 00:17:26.679 --> 00:17:27.440 has taken a hold 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:28.179 in our life, 00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:30.319 where the priorities 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.179 that we place, 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.159 the hopes that we 00:17:32.159 --> 00:17:33.299 have, 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.539 are they rooted 00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.659 in money or Christ? 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:37.039 How does the love 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.079 of money show itself 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:39.419 in our lives? 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.000 Where are those 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.619 tendencies? 00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:43.459 How to break 00:17:43.459 --> 00:17:44.059 that spell, 00:17:44.159 --> 00:17:44.879 how to break 00:17:44.879 --> 00:17:46.439 the stranglehold 00:17:46.439 --> 00:17:47.139 becomes such a 00:17:47.139 --> 00:17:48.259 significant question 00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:49.019 to ask. 00:17:50.699 --> 00:17:51.459 And when we're 00:17:51.459 --> 00:17:51.919 thinking about 00:17:51.919 --> 00:17:52.399 wisdom, 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:53.559 God's wisdom, 00:17:53.979 --> 00:17:54.599 if we want to 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:55.819 break the stranglehold 00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:56.500 of money, 00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:57.079 then we need to 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:58.239 practice generosity 00:17:58.239 --> 00:18:00.219 and to practice it 00:18:00.219 --> 00:18:01.119 as an act of 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:01.579 worship, 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.259 not out of duty, 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.119 but out of joy. 00:18:05.719 --> 00:18:07.099 And to do that, 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.219 we need first to 00:18:08.219 --> 00:18:08.659 receive, 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.159 don't we? 00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:10.119 We need to 00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:11.059 receive God's 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:12.239 generosity towards 00:18:12.239 --> 00:18:12.639 us, 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:14.059 God's grace to 00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:15.419 us in the Lord 00:18:15.419 --> 00:18:15.859 Jesus. 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:17.539 Because it's only 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:18.399 as that love 00:18:18.399 --> 00:18:19.579 melts and captures 00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:20.539 our hearts that we 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:21.239 then have the 00:18:21.239 --> 00:18:23.699 capacity to love 00:18:23.699 --> 00:18:27.119 others for God. 00:18:27.979 --> 00:18:28.839 So wisdom looks 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.259 inside, 00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.679 but wisdom also 00:18:30.679 --> 00:18:32.659 looks outside. 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:35.619 So that we ask 00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:36.619 ourselves the 00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:37.699 question the rich 00:18:37.699 --> 00:18:38.479 man should have 00:18:38.479 --> 00:18:39.000 asked, 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:41.480 where is the 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:42.299 Lazarus at my 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:42.640 gate? 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:44.759 Who is the 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.619 Lazarus at your 00:18:45.619 --> 00:18:45.940 gate? 00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.799 Who is it that 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:50.039 God has placed 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:51.000 into our lives? 00:18:51.099 --> 00:18:51.519 Where are the 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.539 opportunities that 00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:54.099 we have to 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:55.079 bless and to 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:56.079 serve others 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:56.980 with our 00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:57.519 resources? 00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:58.980 How can we do 00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:00.019 God's will and 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.200 show God's love 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.819 to the people 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:04.859 around us? 00:19:04.859 --> 00:19:06.639 So that's the 00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:07.279 second theme, 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:07.839 the theme of 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.219 riches. 00:19:08.459 --> 00:19:09.099 And the third 00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:11.859 theme is that 00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:13.479 of reward and 00:19:13.479 --> 00:19:14.579 punishment. 00:19:15.699 --> 00:19:16.859 As we listen 00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.779 in to Jesus, 00:19:17.959 --> 00:19:19.339 the storyteller, 00:19:20.399 --> 00:19:21.039 there is that 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:22.439 repeating note in 00:19:22.439 --> 00:19:23.099 his stories, 00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:24.099 that note of 00:19:24.099 --> 00:19:24.819 urgency. 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.339 So remember the 00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:27.299 story of the two 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.019 sons? 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:29.719 The younger son 00:19:29.719 --> 00:19:30.959 gets to such a 00:19:30.959 --> 00:19:32.319 dreadful point in 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.039 his life that he 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.359 realizes his 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:35.099 desperation, he 00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:35.759 comes to his 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:37.119 senses and he 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:37.819 repents and he 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.759 goes back home. 00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.259 Then the older 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:41.319 brother needs, 00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.899 Jesus wants the 00:19:42.899 --> 00:19:43.700 Pharisees to listen, 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:44.659 they need to see 00:19:44.659 --> 00:19:45.439 the urgency of 00:19:45.439 --> 00:19:46.439 their situation, 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.119 to not stand on 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:49.019 the outside thinking 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.859 they don't need 00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.799 Jesus to save 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.079 them. 00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.539 Rather they would 00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.539 urgently turn and 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.179 receive the 00:19:54.179 --> 00:19:55.000 father's welcome. 00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:57.099 Then last week in 00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:57.799 the beginning of 00:19:57.799 --> 00:19:59.319 chapter 16, we 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:00.059 heard the story of 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:02.319 a manager who 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:02.980 knew that his 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.960 end was coming, 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.599 his job was 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:05.159 coming to an 00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:05.679 end and there 00:20:05.679 --> 00:20:06.460 was an urgency 00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:07.700 there, an urgency 00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:09.019 to prepare for 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:10.079 future welcome. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.839 Jesus is moving 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.639 us closer and 00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:15.039 closer towards the 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.220 climax here. 00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:17.960 This parable speaks 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:19.099 about urgency in 00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:21.019 the context of 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:24.179 the afterlife, the 00:20:24.179 --> 00:20:25.480 life after this 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:25.899 life. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.399 There is an 00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:28.359 urgent need to 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:29.539 listen to Jesus, 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:32.000 to hear and to 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.000 respond to the 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.720 good news of 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.019 saving grace before 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:37.079 it's too late. 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.259 And so Jesus 00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:39.379 introduces these 00:20:39.379 --> 00:20:41.039 two destinations 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.039 and two 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:45.000 destinies, and 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.559 what becomes 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:46.399 clear is that 00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:47.839 listening or not 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.639 listening to 00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:50.579 Jesus, the 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.220 King, the 00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:51.980 Savior, the 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:53.059 Son of God, will 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:54.599 determine our 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:55.659 destiny. 00:20:55.660 --> 00:21:00.180 verse 22, the 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:01.860 time came when 00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:02.759 the beggar died 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.580 and the angels 00:21:03.580 --> 00:21:04.400 carried him to 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:05.620 Abraham's side. 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.720 The rich man also 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.440 died and was 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:08.800 buried. 00:21:09.800 --> 00:21:10.740 In Hades, where he 00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.700 was in torment, he 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:13.060 looked up and saw 00:21:13.060 --> 00:21:14.340 Abraham far away with 00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:15.279 Lazarus by his 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:15.560 side. 00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:16.440 So he called to 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.040 him, Father 00:21:17.040 --> 00:21:17.980 Abraham, have pity 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:19.340 on me and send 00:21:19.340 --> 00:21:20.360 Lazarus to dip the 00:21:20.360 --> 00:21:21.320 tip of his finger in 00:21:21.320 --> 00:21:22.259 water and cool my 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.220 tongue because I am 00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:25.660 in agony in this 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:26.559 fire. 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:29.539 Abraham replied, 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.519 Son, remember that 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.420 in your lifetime you 00:21:31.420 --> 00:21:32.140 received your good 00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:34.279 things, while Lazarus 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.180 received bad things, 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:35.819 but now he is 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:37.220 comforted here, and 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:39.259 you are in agony. 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:41.200 Two destinations 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.019 described. 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:44.900 Heaven pictured as 00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:46.140 being at Abraham's 00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:46.860 side, or literally 00:21:46.860 --> 00:21:50.079 in Abraham's bosom. 00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:52.140 It's the place where 00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:53.980 God's angels are. 00:21:54.780 --> 00:21:56.240 It's the place of 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.560 comfort. 00:21:58.540 --> 00:21:59.800 It's the place of 00:21:59.800 --> 00:22:02.000 loving relationship. 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.920 It's the place where 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:06.160 we are truly human. 00:22:06.580 --> 00:22:07.640 Notice that Lazarus 00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.560 is given a name the 00:22:08.560 --> 00:22:09.520 rich man is not. 00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.780 It's a place where 00:22:11.780 --> 00:22:13.220 the bad things of 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:15.080 this life have now 00:22:15.080 --> 00:22:16.820 become a distant 00:22:16.820 --> 00:22:18.580 memory, and he is 00:22:18.580 --> 00:22:20.380 enjoying good things 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.480 in the presence of 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:23.540 God at Abraham's 00:22:23.540 --> 00:22:24.120 side. 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:26.220 It's a wonderful 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:27.380 place of comfort. 00:22:29.080 --> 00:22:30.140 But there's another 00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:31.640 destination and 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:33.020 destiny to describe. 00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:36.040 Jesus is talking to us 00:22:36.040 --> 00:22:36.620 of hell. 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.740 He is spoken of as 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:40.080 Hades, the place of 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:41.880 death, the place of 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:45.000 torment, the place of 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:45.540 agony. 00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:47.520 So, remember this is 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.160 parable, so it's a 00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:49.680 story. 00:22:50.139 --> 00:22:51.079 But remember, Jesus' 00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:53.240 stories always map onto 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:54.539 reality. 00:22:56.619 --> 00:22:58.200 It is a place where 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:59.319 the rich man finds 00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:01.639 himself separated from 00:23:01.639 --> 00:23:04.039 all that is good and 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:05.339 can do nothing about it. 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:07.279 It is a place of 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:09.240 conscious punishment. 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:12.000 It is a place where 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.740 there is no prospect of 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.359 escape. 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:16.979 where the good things 00:23:16.979 --> 00:23:17.939 that he enjoyed in this 00:23:17.939 --> 00:23:19.199 life have no ability to 00:23:19.199 --> 00:23:20.240 help him in the next. 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:25.659 Jesus wants this 00:23:25.659 --> 00:23:26.959 loving warning to be 00:23:26.959 --> 00:23:28.859 sounded loud and clear to 00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:30.179 the Pharisees of his day 00:23:30.179 --> 00:23:31.779 and to people in every 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:33.839 day, that to love money 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:35.019 or indeed to love any 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:36.859 idol over loving God, to 00:23:36.859 --> 00:23:37.599 choose the way of 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:39.479 self-righteousness over 00:23:39.479 --> 00:23:41.519 the way of being saved by 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:43.059 Jesus is the road to 00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:44.420 destruction and 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:45.740 punishment. 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:49.160 This story helps answer 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.420 the striking question 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:52.400 Jesus asked in chapter 9, 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.279 verse 25. 00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:55.940 What good is it for 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:57.819 someone to gain the 00:23:57.819 --> 00:24:00.079 whole world and yet 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:01.539 lose or forfeit their 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.440 very self? 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.200 This rich man gains 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.759 nothing. 00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:08.240 No reward, only 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:08.740 punishment. 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:10.759 Misses salvation, misses 00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:13.039 true life. 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:15.779 There is an urgent need 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:17.720 to respond to the 00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:18.640 message of Jesus. 00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:21.799 Now let's stop for a 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:24.180 moment to ask a hard 00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:24.720 question. 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.500 Perhaps it's something 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.460 that you've wrestled with 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.420 and many of us have. 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.319 Perhaps it's a question 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.099 you've been asked. 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:31.880 How could, how can a 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:33.880 loving God send people 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:34.460 to hell? 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.759 This is Jesus, Son of 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:38.240 God, clearly teaching 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.480 heaven and hell. 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:43.319 Bertrand Russell, famous 00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:45.019 British philosopher of a 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:46.059 previous century, said 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:47.519 that Jesus' belief and 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.920 Jesus' teaching on hell 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:51.359 was his great moral 00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:52.339 defect. 00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:54.779 Jesus is defective, 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:56.759 morally bad, because he 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.620 believed and taught about 00:24:57.620 --> 00:24:57.940 hell. 00:24:59.099 --> 00:25:00.859 That's one voice, and 00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:02.160 we'll hear that in many 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:02.880 different forms. 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:04.940 There's another voice, a 00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:05.680 chap by the name of 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:08.279 Miroslav Volf, who in the 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:10.100 early 90s was living in 00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:11.500 Croatia, so living through 00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:13.000 the Balkan War, so so many 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:14.840 atrocities between people 00:25:14.840 --> 00:25:15.360 groups. 00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:17.880 He says something very 00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:18.299 different. 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:20.380 He says, if God were not 00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:23.580 angry at injustice and did 00:25:23.580 --> 00:25:25.860 not make a final end of 00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:28.620 violence, that God would not 00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:30.259 be worthy of worship. 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:33.319 Which is it? 00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:35.940 Is it a moral defect or 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:37.299 justice worthy of worship? 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.579 Consider a few things with me 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.039 together. 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.879 First of all, to think about 00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:46.640 the view of God that we have. 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:48.220 So perhaps the popular 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:51.279 belief is that God is love and 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:53.920 God is only love, and 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:55.640 therefore it seems impossible or 00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:58.039 barbaric that a God who is only 00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:59.399 love could send people to hell. 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:01.299 Is that how the Bible is 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:02.680 presented? 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.299 Because that's where we need to 00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:06.299 get our ideas about God, from 00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:08.359 His revelation, His speaking to 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:09.240 us of His character. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:10.859 In the Bible we discover, yes, God 00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:11.879 is love. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:13.279 Absolutely God is love. 00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:15.460 But we also discover God is 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.500 holy. 00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:19.579 That God is just. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:22.159 And it's not the case of there's 00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:24.240 one over and against the 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:27.019 other is both and. 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:31.420 So we need to be guided, first 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:34.160 of all, by who God is, and not 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:36.079 to limit it according to our own 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:39.319 perhaps favorite ideas about 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:39.740 God. 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:43.460 The whole idea about hell takes 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:45.079 us to the idea of justice. 00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:48.220 Think about our view of 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:48.740 justice. 00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:51.700 Humanly speaking, don't we all 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:53.400 want justice to be done? 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:55.940 Whether we're reading Robin Hood 00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:57.500 or A Tale of Two Cities, or 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.779 whether we're reading our 00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:00.380 newspaper and we hear about war 00:27:00.380 --> 00:27:03.220 crimes or abuse or injustice, we 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:06.080 would hate the idea that there 00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:07.980 would be a court where a judge 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:11.539 would fold his arms and ignore 00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:13.480 the demands of justice. 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:16.940 It would just sweep guilt under the 00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:17.360 carpet. 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:20.059 We want justice to be done. 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:24.559 We feel anger rightly when awful 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:26.419 things happen. 00:27:28.139 --> 00:27:31.500 We need to remember that we are 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.940 made in the image of God. 00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:39.059 We care about justice because God 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:40.279 cares about justice. 00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:42.759 We have a sense of right and wrong 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:45.480 because God has established right 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:47.720 and wrong and has placed that 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:49.420 reality in our hearts. 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:54.600 So we must allow for God to be 00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:56.579 angry at injustice. 00:27:57.600 --> 00:28:00.019 We must allow God to be angry at 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:02.759 what destroys and defaces creatures 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:05.140 made in His image. 00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:10.279 Indeed, for many believers around 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:12.120 the world, the reality of final 00:28:12.120 --> 00:28:13.559 justice gives them hope. 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:18.220 If you live in a war zone or if you 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:20.419 live under fear of your life because 00:28:20.419 --> 00:28:22.480 there are hostile enemies all around 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:24.799 you, your longing and your prayer is 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:27.799 that in the end, justice will be done. 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:31.019 That those who oppose God, who 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:33.740 practice horrible deeds, will be 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:36.639 punished so that God and His people 00:28:36.639 --> 00:28:38.579 might live in peace forever. 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:44.399 So it is important to our hope to have 00:28:44.399 --> 00:28:45.439 a God of justice. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:50.639 Perhaps when we ask the question, we 00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:53.019 need to take a think about our view of 00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:56.279 ourself, especially in relation to God. 00:28:56.379 --> 00:29:00.419 I suppose it's easy for us to consider 00:29:00.419 --> 00:29:02.319 ourselves as basically good. 00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:04.619 The people that we speak to are basically 00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:04.919 good. 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:06.600 Most of the time we're dealing with good 00:29:06.600 --> 00:29:09.860 citizens, good parents, family members, 00:29:10.360 --> 00:29:11.759 employees, employers. 00:29:12.580 --> 00:29:15.500 Basically good compared to others. 00:29:17.100 --> 00:29:18.800 But there's another standard. 00:29:19.800 --> 00:29:22.980 It's the perfect standard of God and 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:23.980 His law. 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:28.240 And before that perfect standard, Romans 6 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:31.600 23 confirms what I think we already 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:35.339 know all have sinned and fall short of 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:36.319 the glory of God. 00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:39.579 God's word and God's law exposes to us 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.299 our failures. 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:42.039 We don't love God perfectly. 00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:45.179 We don't love our neighbors perfectly. 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:48.480 We don't use our money perfectly to 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:51.699 show and to satisfy mercy to others. 00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:54.939 We do break the commandments. 00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:58.960 We do turn our back on God. 00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:03.320 Perhaps like Lady Macbeth in 00:30:03.320 --> 00:30:07.360 Shakespeare's play, we too find ourselves 00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:11.059 at times haunted by a sense of guilt, 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:14.100 a guilt that we cannot remove. 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:17.680 Just like Lady Macbeth haunted by 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:19.500 bloodstains having killed the king. 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:24.900 And when we allow that there is a God 00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:26.420 who is both loving and just, 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:29.539 when we think about a God who must 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:31.700 deal justly, 00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:34.339 when we think about ourselves and the 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:36.740 reality that we break God's law, 00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:41.039 another question begins to emerge. 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:44.460 Not how does God send anyone to hell, 00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:47.240 but actually how can God receive 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.279 anyone into heaven? 00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:52.259 If we judge ourselves honestly against 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:54.140 God's perfect standard, we're confronted 00:30:54.140 --> 00:30:55.400 with that question. 00:30:56.099 --> 00:30:58.880 And as we allow those realities about 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:00.779 God and about justice and about human 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:02.660 sin to become real to us, 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:06.380 then the gospel becomes wonderful for us. 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:10.299 The gospel becomes the only hope that we 00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:13.900 have because it's a good news of grace. 00:31:14.900 --> 00:31:17.120 God doesn't deal with us on the basis 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:18.899 of how we have performed, 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:20.559 which is great news because we have 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.879 not performed perfectly. 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:25.639 But rather, God, in the good news 00:31:25.639 --> 00:31:26.859 presented in the gospel, 00:31:26.979 --> 00:31:29.699 he sends his son, the Lord Jesus. 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:32.719 The Lord Jesus who became poor for us, 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:34.079 leaving the glory of heaven, 00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:35.979 suffering and dying, 00:31:36.399 --> 00:31:38.579 taking on himself our sin, 00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:40.479 bearing our guilt, 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:42.299 facing punishment for it, 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:44.679 absorbing the wrath of God that should 00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:45.720 fall on us, 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:48.860 it falls on him as our substitute 00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:52.019 before he rises from the dead in victory. 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:56.000 God, out of infinite kindness, 00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:58.660 gives us the Savior that we need. 00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:01.700 He alone secures forgiveness 00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:04.160 and peace with God. 00:32:04.840 --> 00:32:06.680 The Son of God, 00:32:07.140 --> 00:32:08.480 on the cross, 00:32:09.080 --> 00:32:12.100 experienced the realities of hell, 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:15.959 being punished and being cut off 00:32:15.959 --> 00:32:17.000 from his Father. 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.339 Think about that. 00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:22.419 So that we, by his grace, 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:25.299 could experience the joy of a welcome 00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:27.839 from a loving Heavenly Father. 00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:31.019 Salvation is a wonderful gift, 00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:33.939 freely offered to us in the gospel, 00:32:33.939 --> 00:32:36.259 to be received by faith, 00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:37.180 if, 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:39.379 if we will listen 00:32:39.379 --> 00:32:41.720 and if we will respond. 00:32:42.859 --> 00:32:44.859 So as we close, 00:32:46.339 --> 00:32:48.059 let's ask ourselves that question. 00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:49.599 You and I, 00:32:49.660 --> 00:32:51.059 have we listened to Jesus? 00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:54.960 Will we listen to Jesus? 00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:58.500 The story ends, 00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.500 in many ways, 00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.740 on a sad note 00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:03.799 for those Pharisees. 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:06.000 Jesus knows the future. 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:07.839 Verse 31, 00:33:08.919 --> 00:33:09.740 or verse 30, 00:33:09.879 --> 00:33:10.279 they say, 00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:11.079 No, Father Abraham, 00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:12.859 through the words of the rich man, 00:33:12.899 --> 00:33:14.220 if someone from the dead goes to them, 00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:14.839 they'll repent. 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:16.000 He said to him, 00:33:16.819 --> 00:33:18.519 if they do not listen to Moses 00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:19.200 and the prophets, 00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:20.500 they will not be convinced, 00:33:21.659 --> 00:33:23.259 even if someone rises from the dead. 00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:26.720 Jesus anticipates something there, 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.879 that he will die, 00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:31.099 that he will rise 00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:32.460 in glory and victory. 00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:33.420 Yes, 00:33:33.620 --> 00:33:34.340 at the moment, 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:35.220 we follow him 00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:36.740 on the road to the cross, 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:38.600 where he will experience shame, 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:39.259 humiliation, 00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:39.759 and death, 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.680 but that's not the end 00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:41.319 of his journey 00:33:41.319 --> 00:33:41.920 and his story. 00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:43.059 He'll be raised, 00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:44.500 he'll return to heaven 00:33:44.500 --> 00:33:46.140 to be enthroned 00:33:46.140 --> 00:33:47.500 as glorious King and Savior. 00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:51.160 But as he speaks 00:33:51.160 --> 00:33:52.039 to his audience, 00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:54.039 he knows that many of them 00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:55.240 will stay unconvinced. 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:57.259 The Pharisees and Jews 00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:57.720 of the day, 00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:58.360 many of them, 00:33:58.680 --> 00:33:59.640 despite the evidence 00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:00.440 for the resurrection, 00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:01.720 they will say no to Jesus. 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.620 Despite him bringing 00:34:04.620 --> 00:34:05.120 the kingdom 00:34:05.120 --> 00:34:06.580 and announcing God's grace, 00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:07.759 they will reject him, 00:34:08.760 --> 00:34:09.900 choosing their own path. 00:34:12.360 --> 00:34:13.980 Let's not make their mistake. 00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:17.960 Let's not follow their path, 00:34:18.340 --> 00:34:20.079 because we see where it ends. 00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:22.300 We're called today 00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:24.700 to listen and to act, 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:26.679 that we might know comfort 00:34:26.679 --> 00:34:28.659 and joy and hope, 00:34:28.879 --> 00:34:29.759 that we would listen 00:34:29.759 --> 00:34:31.559 to be saved by grace 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:32.980 through faith in Jesus, 00:34:33.699 --> 00:34:35.939 and we would show our love 00:34:35.939 --> 00:34:38.019 for our God and our Savior 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:39.319 by using the things 00:34:39.319 --> 00:34:40.259 that he gives to us 00:34:40.259 --> 00:34:42.239 to help others, 00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:44.179 because he has helped us 00:34:44.179 --> 00:34:45.619 and saved us by his grace. 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:47.639 Let's pray together. 00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:50.659 Lord, our God, 00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:51.519 we thank you 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:53.059 for Jesus, 00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:54.319 our Savior, 00:34:54.879 --> 00:34:55.599 and we thank you 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.500 for the stories 00:34:56.500 --> 00:34:57.579 that he told 00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:59.559 that have so much truth 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:01.179 and power contained 00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:01.900 within them. 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:04.059 We ask that, 00:35:04.259 --> 00:35:05.139 as he called 00:35:05.139 --> 00:35:06.659 his original hearers 00:35:06.659 --> 00:35:08.279 to listen in, 00:35:08.819 --> 00:35:09.299 to listen.