WEBVTT

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 That's good to see you this morning. Our sermon text is Luke chapter 18 verses 15 through 34.

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 That's page 824 in the Pew Bible. Go ahead and turn there with me.

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 Luke chapter 18 verses 15 through 34.

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 Let me read this text for us.

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 And a ruler asked him,

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 Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

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 And Jesus said to him,

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 Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

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 You know the commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not murder.

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 Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother.

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 And he said,

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 All these I have kept for my youth.

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 When Jesus heard this, he said to him,

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 One thing you still lack.

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 Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor,

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 and you will have treasure in heaven.

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 And come, follow me.

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 And when he heard these things, he became very sad,

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 for he was extremely rich.

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 Jesus, seeing that he becomes sad, said,

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 How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.

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 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle

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 than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.

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 Those who heard it said,

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 Then who can be saved?

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 But he said,

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 What is impossible with man is possible with God.

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 And Peter said,

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 See, we have left our homes and followed you.

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 And he said to them,

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 Truly, I say to you,

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 There is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children

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 for the sake of the kingdom of God

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 who will not receive many times more in this time

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 and in the age to come,

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 eternal life.

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 And taking the twelve, he said to them,

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 See, we're going up to Jerusalem,

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 and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.

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 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles

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 and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon.

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 And after flogging him, they will kill him.

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 And on the third day, he will rise.

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 But they understood none of these things.

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 The saying was hidden from them,

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 and they did not grasp what was said.

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 Let's pray.

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 Oh, Father, how often the things in your word seem hidden to us.

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 We pray now in these moments this morning

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 that you would send your Spirit

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 that we might have the illumination we need,

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 not just in mind but in heart,

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 to really understand and grasp and receive

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 what you are speaking to us, your church, this morning.

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 Oh, Father, help us to understand more and more of who you are

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 through Christ, your Son,

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 by your Holy Spirit.

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 We pray.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So this passage from Luke 18

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 is about entering the kingdom of God.

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 In verses 17 and 24 and 25,

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 in verse 29,

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 we see that phrase mentioned again and again.

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 And in fact, the idea of inheriting eternal life

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 in verses 18 and 30

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 and of being saved in verse 26

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 are more or less synonyms for the same thing,

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 entering the kingdom of God.

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 But what did that mean for Jesus

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 and His audience of first century Jews?

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 Well, unlike a lot of spirituality today,

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 the biblical picture of redemption

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 is not about escaping this material world.

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 Rather, it's about healing and restoring the material world.

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 For the Bible, when God's kingdom,

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 that is when His sovereign, saving reign

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 arrives in fullness,

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 it would mean the joining of heaven and earth,

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 the end of evil, corruption, decay, and death,

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 and the unleashing of life and joy indescribable.

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 God would at last dwell with His people

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 and creation would be healed.

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 That's what the kingdom of God,

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 eternal life, meant to Jesus and His listeners.

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 And on top of that,

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 what Jesus has been teaching throughout Luke's gospel

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 is that this life of the age to come,

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 though it would come fully and finally one day,

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 Jesus was teaching that it had already begun.

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 It had already been launched in the present

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 in His own person and ministry.

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 God's kingdom, God's saving power

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 had arrived and was on the move.

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 So for us, the question of entering the kingdom of God

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 that Luke 18 puts before us

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 isn't some sort of pie-in-the-sky idea.

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 No, it actually touches down

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 to what we're all really longing for,

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 which is a world made right one day.

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 And we humans made right within it,

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 right with one another,

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 and most of all,

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 most of all,

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 made right with God,

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 our Creator.

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 So this passage has a lot to say

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 about entering the kingdom of God.

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 And I think we can sum it up like this.

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 Jesus tells us

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 that entering the kingdom of God

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 is easier than you think.

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 And it's harder than you think.

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 It's more costly than you think.

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 And it's more worth it than you think.

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 So first,

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 entering the kingdom of God

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 is easier than you think.

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 We see this in verses 15 through 17.

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 People are bringing their children.

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 Luke says they're even bringing

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 their infants to Jesus

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 so that He can lay His hands on them

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 and bless them.

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 That's what it means by touch them.

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 It was a sort of ancient Jewish practice

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 to sort of gently lay your hands

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 on a younger generation

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 and speak a blessing over them,

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 to speak a word of favor

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 and blessing.

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 Now, children in the ancient world

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 were not viewed

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 with all the sentimentality

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 that we have

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 for children today,

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 right?

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 Children are innocent and pure,

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 and if only we could just

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 get them away from the corrupting

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 influences of civilization,

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 life would be perfectly fine.

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 No one believed that

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 in the ancient world.

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 In fact,

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 the disciples think

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 that children are a bit

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 of a waste of time

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 for Jesus

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 and for His kingdom movement.

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 After all,

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 aren't they on their way,

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 Jesus and His disciples,

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 to Jerusalem?

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 In the minds of the disciples,

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 the kingdom of God is near.

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 Tensions are rising

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 on top of that

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 with the religious

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 and civil authorities.

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 This conflict is brewing

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 as Jesus and His kingdom movement

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 approach the capital.

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 These are momentous days.

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 God's business is at hand.

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 This is no time

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 to be wasting

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 on children.

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 They're a distraction at best,

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 a burden at worst.

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 But Jesus interrupts

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 the disciples,

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 and He calls the parents

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 and their children back.

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 And He shows a kind

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 of favor and openness

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 to children

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 that's almost unparalleled

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 in the ancient world.

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 You won't find it

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 in any other

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 religious leaders

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 or movements of the day.

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 And Jesus says,

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 the kingdom of God

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 belongs to such as these.

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 And then in verse 17,

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 Jesus utters this

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 authoritative pronouncement,

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 truly I say to you,

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 if you don't receive

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 the kingdom of God

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 like a child,

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 you won't enter it

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 at all.

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 You see,

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 entering the kingdom

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 isn't something

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 only for the qualified

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 and for the experienced,

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 for the grown-up,

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 for the important.

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 Even a child

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 can enter the kingdom.

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 It belongs

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 to such as these,

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 Jesus says.

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 It's easier

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 than you think

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 at first.

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 But if even a child

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 can enter the kingdom

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 of God,

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 Jesus goes one step

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 further in verse 17

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 to say,

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 only the childlike

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 can enter.

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 And here's where

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 things get interesting.

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 Now again,

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 we tend to

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 sentimentalize

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 children,

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 don't we?

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 So when we hear

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 Jesus say,

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 you have to receive

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 the kingdom of God

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 like a child,

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 we tend to think

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 of some virtue

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 that's inherent

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 in children

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 that Jesus is commending.

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 Children are so humble.

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 Children are so innocent.

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 Children are so trusting.

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 But I think

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 Jesus' point

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 is much more

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 penetrating than that.

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 Jesus is not commending

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 childlikeness

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 because of some

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 supposed virtue

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 that a child has,

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 but because of what

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 children don't have.

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 In other words,

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 children are weak

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 and vulnerable

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 and completely

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 dependent.

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 they can't survive

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 on their own.

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 They are utterly

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 helpless.

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 Even

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 infants,

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 Luke says.

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 And that means

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 those who enter

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 the kingdom

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 must likewise

00:10:50.740 --> 00:10:52.139
 receive the kingdom

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 as those who are

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 weak,

00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:55.259
 vulnerable,

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 needy,

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 and dependent

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 as those who have

00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:01.299
 nothing to bring.

00:11:03.979 --> 00:11:05.319
 Imagine a king

00:11:05.319 --> 00:11:06.819
 gathering an army

00:11:06.819 --> 00:11:07.979
 to retake

00:11:07.979 --> 00:11:09.439
 his rightful throne.

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 Imagine one

00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:12.839
 strong warrior

00:11:12.839 --> 00:11:13.779
 after another

00:11:13.779 --> 00:11:15.120
 coming before the king

00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.799
 touting their strength

00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:17.679
 and experience

00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:18.959
 hoping that they

00:11:18.959 --> 00:11:19.879
 might get the honor

00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:20.559
 of fighting

00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:21.459
 with their king.

00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:24.379
 And then as this

00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:25.419
 procession comes

00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:26.479
 through the hall,

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 imagine

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 a child,

00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:31.079
 even an infant

00:11:31.079 --> 00:11:31.959
 being brought in.

00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:34.459
 Now what might

00:11:34.459 --> 00:11:35.439
 this child have

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 to offer to the king

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 on his way to war?

00:11:40.419 --> 00:11:40.939
 Nothing.

00:11:42.599 --> 00:11:43.799
 Nothing but need.

00:11:45.179 --> 00:11:46.259
 The child will have

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 to be fed,

00:11:47.459 --> 00:11:47.899
 protected,

00:11:48.119 --> 00:11:49.279
 and probably carried

00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:50.519
 for most of the journey.

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 Children don't bring

00:11:52.339 --> 00:11:53.659
 anything to the table.

00:11:54.459 --> 00:11:55.079
 They're weak

00:11:55.079 --> 00:11:55.819
 and vulnerable

00:11:55.819 --> 00:11:56.500
 and needy

00:11:56.500 --> 00:11:57.080
 and dependent.

00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:57.899
 And Jesus says

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 that's how you have

00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:00.100
 to receive the kingdom

00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:00.620
 of God

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 if you're going

00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:02.000
 to enter it

00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:03.080
 at all

00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:04.740
 as one who is

00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:05.139
 weak

00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:06.440
 and needy

00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:07.440
 and dependent.

00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:12.679
 And that means

00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:14.919
 at a deeper level

00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:17.159
 entering the kingdom

00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:17.720
 of God

00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:18.840
 is harder

00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:19.460
 than you think.

00:12:21.299 --> 00:12:22.559
 This is our second point

00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:23.320
 and we find it

00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:24.000
 in verses 18

00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:24.860
 through 25.

00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:28.060
 enter into the story

00:12:28.060 --> 00:12:30.000
 a certain ruler.

00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:32.800
 Now Luke doesn't say

00:12:32.800 --> 00:12:34.019
 whether he's a religious ruler

00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:34.960
 like the ruler

00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:35.480
 of a synagogue

00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:36.800
 or whether he's a local

00:12:36.800 --> 00:12:37.879
 political official

00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:39.360
 but we see

00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.659
 as the story unfolds

00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:41.700
 that this ruler

00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:44.220
 kind of has everything.

00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:45.800
 Wealth,

00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:47.360
 position,

00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:50.560
 and according to Matthew's gospel

00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:52.080
 youth,

00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:53.779
 a rich

00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:54.940
 young

00:12:54.940 --> 00:12:56.120
 ruler

00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.759
 isn't that

00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.639
 what we dream of

00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:01.419
 to be young

00:13:01.419 --> 00:13:02.860
 and wealthy

00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:04.240
 and important.

00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:08.139
 And on top

00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:08.879
 of all that

00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:11.200
 he's seemingly

00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:11.919
 good.

00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:14.340
 I've kept the commandments

00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.240
 from my youth.

00:13:16.060 --> 00:13:17.080
 So he's not just young

00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:17.519
 and wealthy

00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:18.259
 and powerful

00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:19.700
 but he's morally upright.

00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:20.960
 He has integrity.

00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:23.200
 This is definitely

00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:23.919
 the guy

00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.519
 that you want

00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:25.340
 dating your daughter,

00:13:25.560 --> 00:13:25.820
 right?

00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:27.580
 He's the one.

00:13:27.580 --> 00:13:33.560
 But then again,

00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:37.060
 what does it mean

00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:38.080
 to be good?

00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:42.080
 That's Jesus'

00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:42.820
 first

00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:44.220
 gentle challenge

00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:45.580
 to this rich

00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.700
 young ruler.

00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:48.180
 Why do you call me good?

00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.440
 Is anyone good

00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:52.140
 but God alone?

00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:54.400
 So easily

00:13:54.400 --> 00:13:54.860
 the ruler

00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:55.840
 has used this word

00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:56.160
 good,

00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:56.700
 hasn't he?

00:13:56.700 --> 00:13:57.860
 What,

00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:59.020
 Jesus asks,

00:13:59.640 --> 00:14:00.520
 is your standard

00:14:00.520 --> 00:14:00.960
 of good?

00:14:02.660 --> 00:14:03.180
 Yes,

00:14:03.280 --> 00:14:04.200
 goodness may be

00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:04.980
 attainable

00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:05.980
 on a horizontal

00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:06.720
 axis,

00:14:06.900 --> 00:14:07.580
 comparing yourself

00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:08.140
 to others,

00:14:08.920 --> 00:14:09.759
 measuring yourself

00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:10.640
 against the external

00:14:10.640 --> 00:14:11.680
 requirements of the

00:14:11.680 --> 00:14:12.160
 commands,

00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.340
 but what happens

00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:15.120
 when you put

00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:15.900
 goodness on its

00:14:15.900 --> 00:14:17.000
 proper vertical

00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:17.560
 axis,

00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:19.440
 when you realize

00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:20.080
 that goodness

00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:21.300
 must be considered

00:14:21.300 --> 00:14:22.440
 ultimately in

00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:23.580
 relation to God?

00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:27.700
 good.

00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:28.780
 Then,

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.379
 as Jesus says

00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:30.100
 in verse 22,

00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:30.660
 we see that

00:14:30.660 --> 00:14:31.180
 something

00:14:31.180 --> 00:14:32.720
 is lacking.

00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:36.320
 Jesus tells

00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:36.759
 this rich

00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:37.259
 young ruler

00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:37.940
 that he must

00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:38.540
 part

00:14:38.540 --> 00:14:39.720
 with the

00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:40.860
 primary source

00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:41.660
 of his

00:14:41.660 --> 00:14:42.300
 privilege

00:14:42.300 --> 00:14:43.759
 and status

00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:45.000
 and security.

00:14:45.180 --> 00:14:45.540
 That is,

00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.100
 in other words,

00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:47.460
 he must part

00:14:47.460 --> 00:14:49.040
 with his money.

00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:52.280
 Sell everything,

00:14:53.280 --> 00:14:53.800
 give it to the

00:14:53.800 --> 00:14:54.080
 poor,

00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:55.080
 then you'll

00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:55.520
 have treasure

00:14:55.520 --> 00:14:55.940
 in heaven

00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:56.840
 and you can

00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:57.400
 come follow

00:14:57.400 --> 00:14:57.720
 me.

00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:00.940
 You see,

00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.660
 Jesus perceived

00:15:01.660 --> 00:15:02.259
 the heart

00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:03.540
 of this rich

00:15:03.540 --> 00:15:04.020
 young ruler

00:15:04.020 --> 00:15:05.639
 and what Jesus

00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:06.620
 could see

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.820
 is that his

00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:09.060
 functional Savior,

00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.040
 his functional

00:15:10.040 --> 00:15:10.660
 Lord,

00:15:11.040 --> 00:15:11.960
 the one thing

00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:12.680
 he couldn't do

00:15:12.680 --> 00:15:12.960
 without,

00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:13.639
 the one thing

00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:14.340
 he couldn't

00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:15.180
 part with

00:15:15.180 --> 00:15:16.940
 was his wealth.

00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:18.100
 So,

00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:18.960
 Jesus puts

00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:19.580
 his finger

00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:21.300
 right there.

00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:24.879
 Now,

00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:25.160
 of course,

00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:26.000
 Jesus doesn't

00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:26.580
 tell every

00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:27.060
 disciple

00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:28.420
 to sell off

00:15:28.420 --> 00:15:28.840
 all of their

00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:29.379
 belongings,

00:15:30.160 --> 00:15:31.320
 but for this

00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:32.100
 rich young

00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:32.580
 ruler,

00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.139
 entering the

00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:34.360
 kingdom

00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:35.420
 wasn't possible

00:15:35.420 --> 00:15:36.420
 any other

00:15:36.420 --> 00:15:36.879
 way.

00:15:39.540 --> 00:15:40.300
 You see,

00:15:40.420 --> 00:15:41.480
 though externally

00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:42.460
 he had kept

00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:43.200
 the commands,

00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:44.759
 no sex

00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.560
 outside of marriage,

00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:46.240
 no killing,

00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:46.900
 no stealing,

00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:47.840
 no lying against

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:48.259
 your neighbor,

00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:49.000
 honoring your

00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:49.460
 parents,

00:15:49.920 --> 00:15:50.860
 though externally

00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:51.540
 he had kept

00:15:51.540 --> 00:15:52.140
 the commands

00:15:52.140 --> 00:15:53.259
 internally,

00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:56.059
 he was guilty

00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.559
 of breaking

00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:57.700
 the first

00:15:57.700 --> 00:15:58.319
 and the

00:15:58.319 --> 00:15:58.600
 greatest

00:15:58.600 --> 00:15:59.259
 commandment.

00:16:00.939 --> 00:16:01.840
 You shall

00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.439
 have no

00:16:02.439 --> 00:16:03.319
 other gods

00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:04.360
 before me.

00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:07.639
 His money

00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:08.740
 was his

00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:09.139
 God.

00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:10.519
 That is,

00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:10.980
 it was his

00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:11.439
 source,

00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:13.100
 his ground

00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:13.879
 of security

00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:15.159
 and identity

00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:16.340
 and hope

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.379
 and purpose.

00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.259
 It was the

00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:19.500
 thing that

00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:20.360
 made himself

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.399
 sufficient.

00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:25.620
 and hearing

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.139
 that he must

00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:27.139
 part with

00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:27.679
 his money

00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:28.980
 in order to

00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:29.340
 enter the

00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:29.639
 kingdom,

00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.340
 he becomes

00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:32.179
 very sad.

00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:34.860
 Very sad,

00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:36.559
 Luke says,

00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:37.159
 because he is

00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:37.980
 very wealthy.

00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:40.740
 But note,

00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:41.700
 friends,

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:42.580
 sadness

00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:44.080
 does not

00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:44.500
 equal

00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:45.899
 real repentance.

00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:46.120
 repentance.

00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:50.240
 So you see,

00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:50.600
 it's harder

00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:50.919
 than you

00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:52.279
 think to

00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:52.759
 become like

00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.240
 a child,

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:53.980
 to become

00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.500
 weak and

00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.179
 vulnerable and

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.740
 dependent and

00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:57.199
 enter the

00:16:57.199 --> 00:16:57.600
 kingdom of

00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:57.899
 God.

00:16:59.019 --> 00:16:59.679
 It means

00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:00.439
 having no

00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:01.019
 other gods,

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:01.740
 no other

00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.340
 idols above

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:02.679
 the one

00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:03.120
 true God,

00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:03.500
 to have

00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:05.059
 no self-

00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:05.720
 grounded

00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.440
 source of

00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:06.799
 your own

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.359
 sufficiency.

00:17:07.639 --> 00:17:07.879
 It means

00:17:07.879 --> 00:17:08.779
 opening your

00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:09.879
 hands from

00:17:09.879 --> 00:17:11.240
 everything else

00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:11.960
 that might be

00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:12.579
 your identity

00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:12.940
 and your

00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.420
 trust.

00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:17.560
 In fact,

00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:18.240
 Jesus doesn't

00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:18.820
 just say

00:17:18.820 --> 00:17:19.640
 it's difficult.

00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.420
 He says

00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:22.060
 for humans,

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.440
 it's

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.039
 impossible.

00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:27.480
 It's

00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:27.880
 easier for

00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:28.340
 a camel

00:17:28.340 --> 00:17:29.640
 to go

00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:29.940
 through the

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.440
 eye of a

00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:32.100
 needle than

00:17:32.100 --> 00:17:32.640
 for a rich

00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:34.060
 person to

00:17:34.060 --> 00:17:34.500
 enter the

00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:34.960
 kingdom of

00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.320
 God.

00:17:37.560 --> 00:17:38.200
 I was

00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:38.640
 thinking about

00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.380
 actually bringing

00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:40.060
 a needle from

00:17:40.060 --> 00:17:40.860
 home and

00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:41.279
 holding it

00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:41.519
 up.

00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:43.940
 If I had

00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:44.440
 done that,

00:17:44.580 --> 00:17:45.060
 you probably

00:17:45.060 --> 00:17:45.519
 wouldn't even

00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.039
 be able to

00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:47.600
 see the

00:17:47.600 --> 00:17:48.080
 eye of the

00:17:48.080 --> 00:17:48.480
 needle from

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:48.759
 where you're

00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.039
 sitting,

00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:49.460
 would you?

00:17:49.620 --> 00:17:50.100
 You might

00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:50.360
 not even

00:17:50.360 --> 00:17:50.779
 see the

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.039
 needle.

00:17:54.120 --> 00:17:54.640
 But you

00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:55.160
 wouldn't miss

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:55.660
 the camel,

00:17:55.840 --> 00:17:56.980
 no matter

00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.480
 where it was

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:57.920
 in the room,

00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.440
 right?

00:17:59.200 --> 00:17:59.759
 Maybe you'd

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.340
 smell it before

00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:00.880
 you saw it,

00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:01.140
 but you

00:18:01.140 --> 00:18:01.560
 wouldn't miss

00:18:01.560 --> 00:18:01.759
 it.

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.539
 Now imagine

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.320
 that camel

00:18:05.320 --> 00:18:06.700
 squeezing

00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:07.960
 through the

00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:08.620
 needle's eye.

00:18:10.300 --> 00:18:10.860
 It would

00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:11.279
 be

00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:12.380
 impossible.

00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:16.820
 Now of

00:18:16.820 --> 00:18:17.240
 course Jesus'

00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:18.279
 words apply

00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:19.120
 to more

00:18:19.120 --> 00:18:20.039
 than just

00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:20.600
 the idol

00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:21.240
 of material

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:21.600
 wealth.

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:21.940
 Anything

00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:23.440
 can take

00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:23.920
 that place

00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:24.180
 in our

00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:24.480
 hearts,

00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:24.820
 can it?

00:18:24.860 --> 00:18:25.480
 That source

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.600
 of self-sufficiency

00:18:26.600 --> 00:18:27.320
 and trust

00:18:27.320 --> 00:18:28.060
 and security,

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.240
 that thing

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:30.900
 we use

00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:31.519
 to battle

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.060
 back

00:18:32.060 --> 00:18:33.080
 our need.

00:18:36.080 --> 00:18:36.860
 But wealth

00:18:36.860 --> 00:18:37.279
 can be

00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:37.840
 particularly

00:18:37.840 --> 00:18:38.519
 deceptive,

00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:38.940
 can't it?

00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:40.880
 Wealth

00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:41.420
 fools us

00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:41.940
 into thinking

00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:42.440
 that we are

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.039
 self-sufficient

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:43.660
 apart from

00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:43.920
 God.

00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:45.340
 It promises

00:18:45.340 --> 00:18:46.000
 security,

00:18:46.840 --> 00:18:48.660
 we'll be

00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:48.960
 okay.

00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:49.820
 We've got

00:18:49.820 --> 00:18:50.220
 enough in

00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:50.500
 the bank

00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:50.840
 account.

00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.340
 It promises

00:18:52.340 --> 00:18:53.059
 status,

00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:55.500
 people start

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:55.900
 to actually

00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:56.720
 listen to

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:56.980
 you.

00:18:58.980 --> 00:18:59.799
 It promises

00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:00.480
 influence,

00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:02.440
 people might

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:02.920
 actually do

00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:03.160
 what you

00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:03.440
 say.

00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:03.500
 Okay.

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:06.460
 how many

00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:06.779
 of us

00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.359
 honestly

00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:09.440
 would have

00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:09.799
 actually

00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.339
 obeyed

00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:10.640
 Jesus

00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:11.220
 and sold

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:11.640
 everything

00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:12.119
 if we

00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:12.480
 were in

00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:12.940
 this rich

00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:13.500
 young man's

00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:13.779
 shoes?

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.480
 Imagine if

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.000
 that were

00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.599
 the requirement

00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:19.240
 Jesus laid

00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:19.880
 upon you.

00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:24.559
 And so

00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:24.940
 the crowd

00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:25.319
 say,

00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:26.880
 who can

00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:27.460
 be saved?

00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:30.480
 in the

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:30.960
 first century

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.480
 wealth was

00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.220
 popularly

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:32.640
 viewed as

00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.140
 a sign of

00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:33.440
 God's

00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:33.740
 favor.

00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:34.779
 So they're

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.160
 essentially

00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:35.819
 asking if

00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:36.440
 the successful

00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:36.980
 can't be

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.279
 saved,

00:19:37.360 --> 00:19:37.819
 who can?

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.059
 If the

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.460
 people who

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:40.740
 have it

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.160
 together

00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:41.700
 can't be

00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:42.000
 saved,

00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:42.640
 who can?

00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:46.019
 And notice

00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.360
 what Jesus

00:19:46.360 --> 00:19:46.759
 says in

00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:47.420
 verse 27.

00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.360
 He doesn't

00:19:48.360 --> 00:19:48.660
 say,

00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:49.079
 well,

00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:51.759
 the really

00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.679
 spiritual

00:19:52.679 --> 00:19:53.659
 and committed

00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:55.399
 after much

00:19:55.399 --> 00:19:56.139
 practice

00:19:56.139 --> 00:19:56.679
 and years

00:19:56.679 --> 00:19:57.299
 of teaching

00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.619
 are able

00:19:58.619 --> 00:19:59.199
 to become

00:19:59.199 --> 00:19:59.939
 childlike,

00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:00.960
 forego their

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:01.339
 idols,

00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.240
 and turn to

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.599
 God.

00:20:02.699 --> 00:20:03.299
 You can do

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:03.500
 it.

00:20:04.179 --> 00:20:04.599
 It just

00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:05.079
 takes some

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.480
 practice

00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:05.919
 and some

00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:06.299
 time.

00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.500
 That's not

00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:09.839
 what Jesus

00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.259
 says.

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.019
 Nor does

00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:12.539
 Jesus say,

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.039
 well,

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.899
 once you

00:20:14.899 --> 00:20:15.339
 really hit

00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:15.699
 bottom,

00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:17.359
 then you'll

00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:17.819
 be able to

00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.279
 become

00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:18.919
 childlike.

00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:21.799
 that's not

00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:22.199
 what Jesus

00:20:22.199 --> 00:20:22.659
 says.

00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.279
 He says,

00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:25.159
 with man,

00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.699
 it's

00:20:26.699 --> 00:20:27.379
 impossible.

00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.139
 In your

00:20:31.139 --> 00:20:31.859
 own strength,

00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:32.599
 in your

00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:33.299
 own spirituality,

00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.899
 you can't

00:20:34.899 --> 00:20:35.460
 get rid of

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:35.899
 your idols.

00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.259
 It's

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:36.939
 impossible.

00:20:37.679 --> 00:20:38.199
 It's not

00:20:38.199 --> 00:20:38.899
 just harder

00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:39.319
 than you

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:39.599
 think.

00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:40.399
 It's

00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:40.899
 infinitely

00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:41.539
 harder than

00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:42.000
 you think.

00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:50.220
 But what is

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:51.099
 impossible with

00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:52.819
 man is

00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:54.599
 possible with

00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:54.980
 God.

00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:57.460
 God and

00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:58.079
 God alone

00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:58.899
 can do

00:20:58.899 --> 00:20:59.740
 what we

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.519
 cannot do.

00:21:00.879 --> 00:21:01.599
 If left to

00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:02.139
 ourselves,

00:21:02.139 --> 00:21:03.099
 we would never

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.579
 be able to

00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:03.919
 enter the

00:21:03.919 --> 00:21:04.299
 kingdom of

00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:04.500
 God.

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:04.939
 But that's

00:21:04.939 --> 00:21:05.859
 not where

00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:06.519
 God leaves

00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:06.899
 us.

00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.439
 And yet,

00:21:09.699 --> 00:21:11.879
 this work

00:21:11.879 --> 00:21:12.519
 of God,

00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:14.299
 this work

00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:14.779
 of God's

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.960
 possibility in

00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.400
 the face of

00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:16.900
 our human

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.840
 impossibility,

00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.519
 is not

00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.140
 something that

00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:20.220
 God just can

00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:20.640
 do with a

00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.400
 mere snap of

00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:21.960
 his fingers.

00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.420
 It doesn't

00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:24.819
 work that

00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.100
 way.

00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:27.620
 Entering the

00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:28.019
 kingdom of

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:29.360
 God is

00:21:29.360 --> 00:21:29.980
 more costly

00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.340
 than you

00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:30.680
 think.

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.059
 And that

00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:33.460
 brings us to

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:33.819
 our third

00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:34.360
 point, which

00:21:34.360 --> 00:21:34.799
 we see in

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.819
 verses 31

00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.440
 through 34

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.120
 at the end

00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:37.380
 of our

00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:37.819
 passage.

00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:38.559
 In verse

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.220
 31, Jesus

00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.740
 takes the

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:39.980
 twelve

00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:40.799
 apostles aside

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.220
 and tells

00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:41.579
 them what's

00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:41.779
 going to

00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.680
 happen when

00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:43.420
 they go and

00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:43.779
 get up to

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.200
 Jerusalem.

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.100
 Remember,

00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:45.680
 this whole

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:47.400
 section of

00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.000
 Luke's

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.740
 gospel from

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.340
 chapter 9

00:21:49.340 --> 00:21:49.720
 through chapter

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.880
 19 recounts

00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.680
 Jesus' final

00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.200
 journey to

00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:52.720
 the capital,

00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:53.920
 to Jerusalem,

00:21:54.320 --> 00:21:55.140
 that throbbing

00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:55.880
 center of

00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:56.720
 Jewish life and

00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.279
 religion, the

00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:57.759
 place where

00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.360
 King David

00:21:58.360 --> 00:21:59.480
 sat a thousand

00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.180
 years before,

00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:00.980
 ruling as

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:01.480
 God's anointed

00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:02.220
 king, the

00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:02.539
 place where

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.100
 the temple

00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:04.240
 stood and

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:04.680
 where God's

00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:05.200
 presence

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.840
 dwelled,

00:22:06.820 --> 00:22:07.539
 the place

00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:07.920
 where it was

00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.740
 popularly

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.220
 thought the

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:09.820
 Messiah would

00:22:09.820 --> 00:22:10.299
 show up in

00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:11.320
 glory and

00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:12.400
 overthrow idolatry

00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:12.960
 and evil,

00:22:13.320 --> 00:22:14.120
 renew the people

00:22:14.120 --> 00:22:14.740
 of God and

00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.600
 heal creation,

00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:19.820
 but Jesus

00:22:19.820 --> 00:22:20.299
 is teaching

00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:20.799
 us here that

00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.140
 it's more

00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:22.060
 costly than

00:22:22.060 --> 00:22:22.640
 you think.

00:22:24.340 --> 00:22:24.980
 Jesus refers

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.580
 to himself as

00:22:25.580 --> 00:22:26.140
 the son of

00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:27.279
 man, which

00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:28.120
 is a messianic

00:22:28.120 --> 00:22:28.920
 title from the

00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.360
 Old Testament

00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:30.220
 book of Daniel,

00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.320
 and he says

00:22:31.320 --> 00:22:32.100
 that he will

00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:32.720
 be delivered

00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.500
 over to the

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:35.220
 Gentiles, the

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.580
 Romans, and

00:22:36.580 --> 00:22:37.120
 they'll mock

00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:37.740
 him and

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.060
 they'll make

00:22:38.060 --> 00:22:38.779
 fun of him

00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:40.460
 and they'll

00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.240
 shame him and

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.860
 they'll spit

00:22:41.860 --> 00:22:42.340
 on him and

00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:43.060
 they'll flog

00:22:43.060 --> 00:22:43.740
 him and

00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.299
 they'll kill

00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:44.600
 him.

00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:46.839
 And on

00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:47.179
 the third

00:22:47.179 --> 00:22:48.359
 day, he

00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:49.019
 will rise.

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:51.859
 And the

00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:54.359
 apostles, they

00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:54.919
 don't get it.

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.279
 You see, the

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:57.819
 work of the

00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:58.419
 Messiah, the

00:22:58.419 --> 00:22:59.439
 inauguration, the

00:22:59.439 --> 00:23:00.359
 start, the

00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:01.359
 founding, the

00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:02.179
 beginning of the

00:23:02.179 --> 00:23:03.019
 kingdom of God, the

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:04.299
 throwing opening, the

00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.119
 throwing open of the

00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:07.639
 doors, and what it

00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:08.859
 will take for us to

00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:09.679
 enter the kingdom of

00:23:09.679 --> 00:23:12.059
 God, it's more

00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:12.959
 costly than they

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.519
 could imagine

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:13.920
 too.

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:17.700
 They wanted a

00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:19.420
 simple triumph.

00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:21.819
 But Jesus says

00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:22.700
 the only way to

00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:24.480
 get there is

00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:25.039
 through his own

00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:26.279
 humiliation and

00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.059
 defeat through the

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.519
 cross.

00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.640
 You see, friends, it

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:33.340
 takes nothing less

00:23:33.340 --> 00:23:34.600
 than the death and

00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:35.480
 resurrection of the

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.740
 incarnate Son of God

00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.880
 to enable us to

00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:38.600
 enter the kingdom.

00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:38.699
 him.

00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:42.819
 Just as ancient

00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.539
 Israel, do you

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:43.939
 remember the

00:23:43.939 --> 00:23:45.199
 stories in the

00:23:45.199 --> 00:23:45.619
 Old Testament?

00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.399
 Just as ancient

00:23:46.399 --> 00:23:47.359
 Israel was delivered

00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.740
 over to the Gentile

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.619
 nations because of

00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.879
 their sin and sent

00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:53.199
 into exile, so Jesus

00:23:53.199 --> 00:23:54.099
 says right here that

00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:55.039
 he, as Israel's

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.579
 Messiah, would have to

00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:57.519
 be delivered over the

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.139
 Gentiles.

00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:00.859
 But not for his own

00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:03.139
 sin, rather for the

00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:03.899
 sin of his people.

00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:03.960
 people.

00:24:05.800 --> 00:24:07.480
 As the king, he

00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.560
 represents his people

00:24:08.560 --> 00:24:10.360
 and he stands in our

00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:11.259
 place taking the

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.380
 punishment our sins

00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:13.440
 deserve and exhausting

00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.560
 the wrath our sins

00:24:14.560 --> 00:24:15.920
 deserve and going into

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.880
 the exile that we

00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.400
 deserve.

00:24:20.060 --> 00:24:21.019
 And that means to

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:22.259
 cleanse us, to give us

00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:23.519
 new hearts so that we

00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.400
 might become like

00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:25.380
 children and enter the

00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:25.680
 kingdom.

00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:27.160
 It takes more than just

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:28.580
 good teaching and more

00:24:28.580 --> 00:24:29.680
 than just good examples.

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:32.539
 It takes the complete

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:35.799
 self-emptying of God

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:36.279
 the Son.

00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.779
 You know, the other

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:43.340
 place in Luke's

00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:45.180
 gospel where this idea

00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.620
 of human impossibility

00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:47.820
 and God's possibility

00:24:47.820 --> 00:24:49.480
 comes up, do you

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:49.740
 remember?

00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:51.580
 I think it's in the

00:24:51.580 --> 00:24:53.320
 very beginning with

00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:53.660
 Mary.

00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.660
 How will these things

00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:55.980
 be?

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:59.079
 What's impossible

00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:00.900
 with humans is

00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:02.000
 possible with God.

00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.680
 How does our

00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.640
 redemption begin,

00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.120
 friends?

00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.440
 The Lord of the

00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:09.539
 universe becoming a

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.200
 child in the

00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:12.480
 incarnation, living a

00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.319
 life of complete

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:14.400
 trust in his heavenly

00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:15.779
 father and at the

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.680
 end of his ministry

00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.900
 becoming more weak

00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:19.240
 and vulnerable and

00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:20.599
 helpless than we

00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:21.599
 can ever imagine,

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:24.039
 all for our sins.

00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:29.279
 And then he had to

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.420
 break the bonds of

00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:32.379
 death and rise again.

00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:34.859
 Not just go through

00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:35.859
 death to sort of some

00:25:35.859 --> 00:25:36.899
 other sphere but go

00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:38.299
 down into death and

00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:40.180
 back into life again,

00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.819
 taking our sin with

00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:43.180
 him into the grave but

00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:45.099
 rising again to give

00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:46.180
 us new life.

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.500
 And friends, now

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:50.000
 because the king has

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:51.059
 accomplished the work

00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:52.980
 of redemption, he's

00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:53.859
 ascended to the

00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:54.219
 father.

00:25:54.939 --> 00:25:55.939
 He's poured out the

00:25:55.939 --> 00:25:57.359
 spirit and right now

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:59.059
 he calls us through the

00:25:59.059 --> 00:26:00.079
 proclamation of the

00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:01.319
 gospel to trust in

00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:01.639
 him.

00:26:03.459 --> 00:26:05.279
 Now we can become like

00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:05.679
 children.

00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:07.939
 No longer do we need

00:26:07.939 --> 00:26:09.659
 the false security or

00:26:09.659 --> 00:26:11.000
 the status or the

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.399
 supposed influence of

00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:13.539
 money or any other

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.639
 idol we might erect.

00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:15.899
 The price has been

00:26:15.899 --> 00:26:17.759
 paid and our sins are

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.179
 forgiven.

00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.819
 And genuine repentance

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.939
 and faith are being

00:26:21.939 --> 00:26:23.759
 poured out as a gift.

00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:25.559
 by the spirit through

00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.439
 the preaching of the

00:26:26.439 --> 00:26:26.799
 word.

00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:31.819
 What was hidden is now

00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:32.319
 revealed.

00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:35.799
 What was impossible with

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:37.799
 man is now possible with

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.139
 God.

00:26:38.219 --> 00:26:39.240
 And now we can open up

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:40.959
 our hands to the things

00:26:40.959 --> 00:26:42.299
 we thought we couldn't

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:42.959
 live without.

00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:45.399
 We can be spiritually

00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:47.579
 helpless, weak, and

00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.759
 vulnerable because our

00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.919
 Lord Jesus has gone

00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.700
 before us.

00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:53.940
 He's gone down into

00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:55.900
 weakness and been raised

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.500
 in glory.

00:26:57.300 --> 00:26:58.960
 And he promises us that

00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:01.240
 entering the kingdom, no

00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.860
 matter what we may lose

00:27:02.860 --> 00:27:05.640
 now because of him, is

00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:07.039
 more worth it than we

00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.759
 could ever think.

00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:11.700
 And that's the fourth and

00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.880
 last point of our passage.

00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:15.460
 Let's circle back around to

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.840
 verses 28 through 30.

00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:20.500
 In verse 28, hearing Jesus

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.880
 say that God can do what

00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:23.300
 man cannot do, Peter says,

00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:25.400
 see, we've left our homes

00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:26.100
 and followed you.

00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:29.660
 It's hard to know what Peter

00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:30.940
 actually means in saying

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.200
 this.

00:27:31.320 --> 00:27:32.320
 The commentators go all

00:27:32.320 --> 00:27:32.920
 over the place.

00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.420
 Who knows?

00:27:33.540 --> 00:27:34.380
 Peter's probably just saying

00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:35.160
 the first thing that came

00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:35.740
 out of his mouth.

00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:37.859
 Oh, I said that.

00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:43.220
 And this prompts Jesus to

00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:45.519
 say a second time, truly I

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:47.720
 say to you, another

00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:50.000
 authoritative pronouncement

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:51.140
 from the words of our Lord,

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:52.599
 just like back in verse 17.

00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:54.740
 But this time, it's not a

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:57.160
 requirement, it's a

00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:57.579
 promise.

00:27:58.500 --> 00:28:00.819
 Truly I say to you, there's

00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:02.539
 no one who has left house

00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.960
 or wife or brothers or

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:05.059
 parents or children for the

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:06.159
 sake of the kingdom of God

00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:08.200
 who will not receive many

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:10.659
 times more in this time

00:28:10.659 --> 00:28:12.960
 and in the age to come

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:14.259
 eternal life.

00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:17.139
 Is entering the kingdom of

00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:18.039
 God worth it?

00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:20.359
 Is it worth potentially

00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:22.480
 losing everything to come

00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:24.139
 follow Jesus, to be weak,

00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:25.079
 to be vulnerable, to be

00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.500
 dependent?

00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:29.879
 Jesus says it's more worth

00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:30.839
 it than you think.

00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.960
 But this isn't to say there

00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:36.700
 won't be real losses.

00:28:38.360 --> 00:28:39.880
 Jesus lists a whole range

00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:42.360
 of relational losses

00:28:42.360 --> 00:28:44.299
 related to the home here.

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:47.600
 Wife, brothers, parents,

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:48.600
 children.

00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:54.160
 Now Jesus is not encouraging

00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:55.640
 his disciples to abandon

00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:57.299
 their family responsibilities.

00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:00.740
 What he means is that there's

00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.980
 going to be real rejection

00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:04.539
 for those who follow him,

00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:06.120
 that there will be real loss

00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:07.940
 for those who follow him.

00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:09.779
 Some will have family members

00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:12.019
 disown them for becoming a

00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:12.819
 follower of Christ.

00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:15.579
 Others will have friends who

00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.799
 grow distant over time.

00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:20.079
 Some, in obedience to Jesus'

00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:22.900
 command to only marry, a

00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:24.200
 fellow believer will have to

00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:26.339
 delay getting married or forgo

00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:27.039
 it altogether.

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:31.899
 So the losses are real.

00:29:34.599 --> 00:29:36.279
 But Jesus goes on to say in

00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:38.539
 verse 30, that whatever

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:40.159
 sacrifices we make for the

00:29:40.159 --> 00:29:42.759
 kingdom, they won't compare

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:44.200
 to what we gain.

00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:47.599
 And it's a two-fold promise,

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.000
 isn't it?

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:50.599
 First, Jesus says, you'll receive

00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:52.379
 many times more in this time,

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.799
 in this age.

00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:56.619
 Now in what sense will those

00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.879
 who have lost their home and

00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:59.519
 lost their family gain many

00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:01.639
 times more in this age?

00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:05.419
 Jesus isn't saying that we're

00:30:05.419 --> 00:30:06.839
 all guaranteed spouses and

00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:07.059
 children.

00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:08.599
 He's certainly not promising

00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:11.039
 oodles of material wealth.

00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:14.440
 No, he's pointing here

00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:17.339
 to the new family.

00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:20.119
 He's pointing here to the

00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:22.000
 hospitality and the

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:24.160
 generosity of our new

00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:25.960
 family in the church.

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:30.460
 Though your road may be hard,

00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:32.019
 you won't be alone, Jesus

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.359
 says.

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.680
 And of course, the church won't

00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:34.819
 do this perfectly.

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:40.619
 But imagine, what if we as a

00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:42.400
 church all opened up our hands,

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:46.099
 not just on our money, but also

00:30:46.099 --> 00:30:46.859
 on our time?

00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:50.419
 What if we opened up our homes

00:30:50.419 --> 00:30:53.419
 and our schedules for one

00:30:53.419 --> 00:30:53.799
 another?

00:30:56.479 --> 00:30:58.240
 Would there not be more than

00:30:58.240 --> 00:31:00.519
 enough to meet the needs of one

00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:03.199
 another materially and relationally?

00:31:04.199 --> 00:31:05.879
 I mean, imagine a church where

00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:08.500
 married couples and single people

00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:10.059
 mutually loved and served and spent

00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.979
 time with one another.

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:15.299
 Or where old and young.

00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:20.299
 Or where, well, you pick the

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.339
 dichotomy you want.

00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:26.259
 Where we loved and served and

00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.660
 spent time with one another.

00:31:29.319 --> 00:31:31.440
 Where loneliness was regularly,

00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:34.299
 not perfectly, but regularly met

00:31:34.299 --> 00:31:37.779
 with the warmth and friendship of a

00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:39.339
 new family of the church.

00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:42.180
 Would that not be a tremendous

00:31:42.180 --> 00:31:44.759
 sign of God's kingdom?

00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:49.240
 Of God bringing down the barriers

00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:50.879
 that divide us, not just from Him,

00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:52.220
 but from one another in creating

00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:54.619
 one new humanity in Christ.

00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:56.779
 Would it not be a great sign that

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:58.559
 His restorative reign was indeed

00:31:58.559 --> 00:32:00.059
 making all things new?

00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:07.119
 Just through this simple act,

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:10.059
 of inviting someone in and

00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:11.379
 inviting someone along.

00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:17.099
 But it's not just for this age.

00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:20.200
 In the age to come, Jesus says,

00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:22.299
 eternal life.

00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:26.519
 You know, the tragedy of the rich

00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:28.980
 young ruler is that his earthly

00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:30.079
 wealth was temporary.

00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:33.420
 None of it was going to last.

00:32:34.619 --> 00:32:36.579
 None of the status, none of the

00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:38.779
 insecurity, none of the influence,

00:32:39.059 --> 00:32:42.220
 all of it would be stolen by death.

00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:47.859
 Do any of the things that we forgo

00:32:47.859 --> 00:32:49.519
 or sacrifice for the sake of the

00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:52.359
 kingdom deliver lasting and eternal joy?

00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:55.240
 Not a single one.

00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:58.519
 Spouses will die.

00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.439
 Children will move away.

00:33:01.199 --> 00:33:03.819
 Houses, no matter how much time I spend

00:33:03.819 --> 00:33:06.000
 fixing it, will decay.

00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:13.179
 But what does Christ offer in exchange?

00:33:15.099 --> 00:33:16.619
 What does He promise us

00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:18.819
 in exchange for these temporary

00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:20.019
 and fleeting things?

00:33:22.419 --> 00:33:23.759
 Now, we have to be careful here

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:25.220
 because the words eternal life

00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:26.839
 might not communicate to us today

00:33:26.839 --> 00:33:28.159
 what they're meant to communicate

00:33:28.159 --> 00:33:28.700
 in the Bible.

00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:31.200
 When the Bible speaks of eternal life,

00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:33.680
 yes, it means heaven

00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:35.819
 and living with God forever.

00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:39.519
 It means that, but it means so much more.

00:33:42.620 --> 00:33:44.539
 It's talking about the resurrection

00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:46.019
 of the body.

00:33:46.860 --> 00:33:49.039
 It's talking about a new creation

00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:51.819
 where all the good pleasures of this life

00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:53.660
 are healed and restored.

00:33:53.840 --> 00:33:55.160
 And this means that there is nothing

00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:56.480
 that you forgo in this life

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.380
 for the sake of the kingdom

00:33:57.380 --> 00:33:59.140
 that will not be restored to you.

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:01.920
 There are even greater joys ahead,

00:34:02.299 --> 00:34:03.000
 greater pleasures,

00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:04.079
 greater delight.

00:34:06.099 --> 00:34:07.900
 Eternal life.

00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:12.940
 But the emphasis on the life

00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:15.440
 is what's ahead of you.

00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:19.380
 And that means even if you lose

00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:20.800
 everything now,

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:24.800
 you've not really

00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:27.079
 lost anything.

00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:33.960
 Christ has swallowed up death

00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:35.099
 in victory,

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:37.139
 and He promises you

00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:39.320
 eternal life.

00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:43.360
 Entering the kingdom,

00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:44.960
 no matter what it costs,

00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:46.519
 is much more worth it

00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:47.539
 than you and I think.

00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:49.820
 I wonder, friend,

00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:50.740
 what is God asking you

00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:51.280
 to give up,

00:34:51.780 --> 00:34:52.639
 to lose,

00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:54.199
 or to leave behind

00:34:54.199 --> 00:34:54.780
 this morning?

00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.559
 There's going to come a day

00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.440
 when you will see

00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:07.000
 that it was no real sacrifice

00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:07.639
 at all

00:35:07.639 --> 00:35:09.519
 compared to what's in store.

00:35:10.659 --> 00:35:11.900
 Eye has not seen

00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:12.780
 nor ear heard

00:35:12.780 --> 00:35:13.820
 what God has prepared

00:35:13.820 --> 00:35:14.640
 for those He loves.

00:35:14.700 --> 00:35:15.280
 Just imagine,

00:35:15.700 --> 00:35:16.900
 if God the Father

00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:18.060
 was willing to give

00:35:18.060 --> 00:35:19.440
 His own Son for us

00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:20.400
 when we were sinners,

00:35:20.600 --> 00:35:21.840
 what must He have

00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:22.760
 in store for us

00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:23.720
 when the Lord Jesus

00:35:23.720 --> 00:35:24.600
 returns in glory?

00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:26.420
 He who did not spare

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:27.280
 His own Son,

00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.519
 but gave Him up

00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.019
 for us all,

00:35:29.100 --> 00:35:30.300
 how will He not also

00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:31.340
 with Him graciously

00:35:31.340 --> 00:35:33.160
 give us all things?

00:35:36.820 --> 00:35:37.880
 This is what it means

00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:39.120
 to enter the kingdom of God.

00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:39.159
 God,

00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:42.059
 we come with nothing

00:35:42.059 --> 00:35:44.839
 and He gives us everything.

00:35:45.819 --> 00:35:47.579
 It's impossible for us,

00:35:48.219 --> 00:35:49.960
 but it is more than possible

00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:51.480
 with God.

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.259
 Let's pray.

00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:58.380
 Oh Lord Jesus,

00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:59.599
 as we come to Your table now,

00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:00.139
 we pray

00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:01.500
 that You would continue

00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:03.839
 to cast every idol

00:36:03.839 --> 00:36:04.779
 from its throne

00:36:04.779 --> 00:36:05.500
 in our hearts

00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:07.059
 as we commune with You

00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:07.719
 at Your table.

00:36:08.900 --> 00:36:09.239
 Lord,

00:36:09.299 --> 00:36:09.860
 help us to see

00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:10.579
 the great promise

00:36:10.579 --> 00:36:11.219
 of Your Word

00:36:11.219 --> 00:36:13.539
 that in the age to come

00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:14.440
 there is eternal life

00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:15.139
 and in this age

00:36:15.139 --> 00:36:16.039
 so much more

00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:18.039
 than we have lost

00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:19.159
 through the loving fellowship

00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:19.860
 of Your church.

00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:20.360
 Lord,

00:36:20.400 --> 00:36:21.199
 help us to live that

00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:22.360
 and be that for one another,

00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:22.840
 we pray.

00:36:23.679 --> 00:36:23.980
 Amen.