WEBVTT

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 19 verses 28 through 40. That's page 878 and 879 in the Pew Bible.

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 Let me invite you to go ahead and turn there with me.

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 And before we read this, let me pray for us.

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 Lord, indeed how great you are.

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 Lord, we ask now that as we come before you in your word,

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 that you would display your greatness once again to us.

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 Jesus, you indeed are the lion and the lamb.

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 We ask that we'd be able to see you and behold you

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 in that perfect glory that is yours alone.

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 Lord, help us as we draw near to you in this text.

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 Lord, that we would hear these words as not just an ancient and faithful account of events that happened long ago,

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 but as a living word for us today.

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 We ask this in Christ's name and by your spirit.

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 Amen.

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 Luke 19 verse 28.

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 And when Jesus had said these things, he went on ahead going up to Jerusalem.

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 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the mount that is called Olivet,

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 he sent two of his disciples saying,

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 Go into the village in front of you where on entering you will find a colt tied on which no one has ever sat.

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 Untie it and bring it here.

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 If anyone asks you why are you untying it, you shall say this,

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 The Lord has need of it.

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 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them.

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 And as they were untying the colt, its owner said to them,

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 Why are you untying the colt?

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 And they said, The Lord has need of it.

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 And they brought it to Jesus and throwing their cloaks on the colt,

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 they set Jesus on it and as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.

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 As he was drawing near, already on the way down the Mount of Olives,

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 the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice

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 for all the mighty works that they had seen,

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 saying, Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.

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 Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

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 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,

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 Teacher, rebuke your disciples.

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 He answered, I tell you, if these were silent,

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 the very stones would cry out.

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 So, as we've been saying, today is Palm Sunday.

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 This is the day when we remember Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago.

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 And as John mentioned at the beginning of our service,

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 this Sunday marks the beginning of what is sometimes called Holy Week.

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 Traditionally, this week is the high point of the year for Christians

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 when we remember Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday

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 and we celebrate his resurrection on Easter Sunday just one week from today.

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 And the account of the triumphal entry that we just read is from Luke's gospel.

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 In fact, this is one of the handful of events that every single gospel writer mentions.

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 The triumphal entry.

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 But the way that Luke has structured his gospel here,

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 his account of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem,

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 comes at the end of a long middle section of his gospel,

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 chapters 9 through 19,

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 where Jesus in that section is concerned above all

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 to teach his disciples what it means to follow him.

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 In that middle section, discipleship is the primary focus.

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 And as a sidebar, to give a little advertisement,

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 in a couple of weeks,

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 we're going to be studying that section in the gospel of Luke

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 in the evening service.

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 So, if you want to get a first-hand look at what following Jesus is really all about,

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 then you can come along to the evening service starting April 3rd

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 and we'll dive into that together.

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 But, here, in our text, at the end of chapter 19,

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 now Luke's emphasis shifts.

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 No longer is he primarily focusing on discipleship,

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 but now Luke wants to draw our hearts back

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 to the one who is the center of it all.

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 He wants to draw us back to the person and work of Jesus himself.

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 And he's coming back to some of the core questions

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 that really drove all of the gospel writers, really.

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 Who is this Jesus?

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 What did he come to do?

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 And how are we supposed to respond?

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 And what we see is that this is a passage filled with all sorts of misunderstanding

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 in relationship to those questions.

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 As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, some people seem to get it right,

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 but maybe not completely right.

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 And some people certainly get it wrong.

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 And everyone, it seems, is caught up in their own expectations and desires and wishes,

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 their own agendas, their own kingdoms.

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 And we wonder, reading a passage like this

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 and maybe looking at our own lives today,

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 does anyone really get it?

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 Does anyone understand who this Jesus is

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 and what he's come to do and how we ought to respond?

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 Now, maybe this isn't your first Palm Sunday.

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 It comes every year, after all.

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 Maybe you've sat through a lot of Palm Sunday services.

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 Maybe you've even been to a Palm Sunday service

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 where they actually hand out palm branches for you to celebrate with.

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 That's fun.

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 You know, sometimes as Protestants,

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 we can be really sort of hard on those sorts of things.

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 But you know what's funny?

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 Every youth ministry seminar I go to,

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 this is what they tell you.

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 They say, here's how you reach people in teaching.

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 Try to appeal to more than one of their senses.

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 Don't just hit them in the ears.

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 Hit them with their hands.

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 Hit them with their nose.

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 Do whatever you can.

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 Show them neat pictures on the overhead.

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 So it seems like the church for many, many ages

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 has sort of gotten really good teaching methods.

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 They give you a Palm on Palm Sunday.

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 And there it is.

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 You can taste it.

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 You can look at it.

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 You can touch it.

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 Whatever you want to do with it.

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 Palm Sunday.

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 But you know, could it be after all these years

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 that perhaps you and I are missing something critical about Jesus?

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 Perhaps we've let our own agendas and our own expectations cloud our thinking.

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 And maybe we've been missing something crucial all these years.

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 Now maybe for you, this is your first Palm Sunday.

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 Maybe you're not sure if you've ever been to a church service on Palm Sunday before.

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 Maybe Christianity is all quite new to you.

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 And my guess is that you too have some sort of notion about Jesus.

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 But this morning, along with Luke, let's focus our gaze back on who Jesus is

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 and what he's come to do and how we ought to be responding to him once again.

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 Let's come back to these basic questions

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 so that we won't settle for vague notions or popular misconceptions.

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 Because as we'll see, by the time we come to the end of this passage,

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 this is no question of sort of mere historical interest.

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 The stakes are high and the claim is great.

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 Jesus, in essence, will say that our whole life and our whole being

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 only finds its proper meaning in him.

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 So let's look at these three questions together then.

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 Who is Jesus?

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 What's he come to do?

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 And how ought we respond?

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 So first, who is this Jesus?

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 As Luke sort of directs his camera right on the person of Christ,

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 he focuses in, in this passage, on something that seems to us

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 maybe sort of insignificant.

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 What sort of dominates the opening verses of our paragraph?

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 This cult, this animal, right?

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 Right?

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 Verses 29 through 35 seem to be all about this simple animal.

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 Did you notice that Luke doesn't mention which disciples Jesus sends?

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 He could care less about that.

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 Nor does Luke mention which village they go to.

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 Is it Bethany?

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 Is it Bethphage?

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 We don't really know.

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 Luke doesn't seem to care.

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 But rather, this unsuspecting cult seems to take center stage.

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 Why is this animal so significant?

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 Well, it's significant for Luke

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 because as we see here, it's very significant for Jesus.

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 Jesus commands that it be brought to him.

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 And the disciples, we find in verse 32,

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 found it just as he had told them.

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 And of course, many a reader of the gospel has looked at this

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 and said, perhaps quite rightly,

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 that here we see a glimpse of Jesus' divine knowledge of all things.

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 Perhaps in his divine nature,

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 Jesus knew that they'd find the cult just as he described,

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 ready to be borrowed.

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 And according to the cultural custom of the day,

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 important dignitaries and even rabbis

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 could often procure use of property for personal reasons.

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 This would have been a sort of strange request.

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 That's why when the disciples come

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 and say to the owners of this animal,

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 the Lord has need of it,

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 they're glad to let him borrow it.

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 But in fact, surely these owners had heard of Jesus.

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 So they were more than willing to let him have use of the cult.

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 But you know, whether this instance is a glimpse

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 of Jesus' divine foreknowledge

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 or whether simply Jesus had arranged for the cult ahead of time,

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 you know, this wasn't the first time

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 that Jesus had traveled through Bethany and Bethphage after all.

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 In either case, the important point to see here, I think,

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 is that Jesus is in complete control of the situation.

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 He is the one directing all the events here.

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 Now, why did Jesus take and make such intentional plans for this cult?

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 Did he think that he'd be tired

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 after the long journey toward Jerusalem?

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 It was a pretty steep hill up the Mount of Olives.

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 Was it a common custom for people to ride into Jerusalem

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 for the Passover festival?

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 No, actually.

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 In fact, from what we can tell historically,

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 it seems that pilgrims always walked into Jerusalem

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 as a sign of reverence.

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 So what does it mean?

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 Well, for most first century Jews,

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 the meaning would have been shocking but clear.

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 By riding the cult into Jerusalem,

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 Jesus is intentionally making a public,

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 dramatic demonstration

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 of his identity as the promised Messiah,

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 as the long-awaited king.

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 You see, nearly all of the Hebrew prophets

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 looked forward to the day of their coming king.

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 And in one particular book,

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 the book of Zechariah,

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 he actually gives a description

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 of what this arrival would look like.

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 In Zechariah chapter nine, verse nine,

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 we find this,

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 rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.

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 Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem.

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 Behold, your king is coming to you,

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 righteous and having salvation is he,

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 humble and mounted on a donkey,

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 on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

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 So it's unmistakable.

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 Jesus is taking on himself,

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 Zechariah's prophecy about the coming king.

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 In fact, that's probably why Jesus emphasizes

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 the fact in verse 30

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 that the colt is one on which

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 no one has ever yet sat,

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 which is to say that it's a young creature.

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 It's a foal,

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 just like Zechariah had foreseen.

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 So what's going on here

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 is this unmistakable sign act

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 on Jesus' part.

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 By riding the colt,

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 it's as if Jesus is saying,

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 the king that you've been waiting for,

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 I'm the one.

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 Do you see what an utterly astounding claim that is?

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 Imagine I showed up where you work,

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 wearing a nice suit,

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 maybe driving a nice car,

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 which I borrowed from somebody.

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 Parked right in,

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 and I drove up and I parked right

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 in the CEO's parking spot,

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 reserved for such and such.

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 I parked right there.

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 And then I confidently marched

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 right into the building,

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 went up the elevator,

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 walked into the corner office,

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 as if I owned the place,

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 as if I ran the place.

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 Well, depending on the level of security

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 where you work,

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 that charade is going to last

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 maybe about three seconds, right?

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 No one is going to be convinced.

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 And certainly the people who know me well

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 will be the first ones to say,

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 not a chance.

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 And yet for Jesus,

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 it's very different.

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 He makes this utterly stunning,

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 bold, public proclamation

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 of his kingship.

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 And those who know him best

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 think it's completely appropriate.

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 In verse 37,

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 we're told that they praise God

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 with a loud voice

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 for all the mighty works

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 they had seen.

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 And what were those mighty works?

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 Well, Luke's gospel

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 has been recounting them

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 again and again and again.

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 Here was the one

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 that they had seen

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 heal the sick

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 and cure the lepers.

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 Here was the one

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 who restored sight

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 to the blind

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 and drove out demons

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 from the oppressed.

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 Here was the one

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 they had seen

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 take a handful of loaves

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 and a couple of fish

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 and feed thousands

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 in one sitting.

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 Here was the one

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 they had seen

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 speak to a raging storm

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 and immediately

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 it became calm.

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 Here was the one

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 they had seen

00:13:53.420 --> 00:13:55.320
 speak into a dead man's tomb

00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:56.680
 and the man

00:13:56.680 --> 00:13:57.600
 came to life again.

00:14:00.040 --> 00:14:01.180
 When the Christ appears

00:14:01.180 --> 00:14:01.860
 some had said

00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:03.020
 will he do more signs

00:14:03.020 --> 00:14:04.220
 than this man has done?

00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:08.840
 Go get the cult

00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:09.680
 Jesus says.

00:14:10.040 --> 00:14:11.379
 The time is now.

00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.379
 And they found it

00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:16.020
 just as he had told them.

00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:17.240
 Friends,

00:14:17.300 --> 00:14:17.720
 I wonder if you're starting

00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:18.399
 to get a glimpse

00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:19.519
 of this king.

00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:22.460
 How utterly in control

00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:23.300
 he is.

00:14:24.160 --> 00:14:24.960
 How fearless.

00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.740
 How unrelenting.

00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:28.180
 How bold.

00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:30.300
 At this point in the story

00:14:30.300 --> 00:14:30.820
 the authorities

00:14:30.820 --> 00:14:32.060
 are already seeking

00:14:32.060 --> 00:14:32.700
 his life.

00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:33.519
 The opposition

00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:35.220
 is already mounting.

00:14:35.800 --> 00:14:36.100
 But,

00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.680
 he gets the cult.

00:14:38.420 --> 00:14:39.180
 He declares

00:14:39.180 --> 00:14:40.019
 his true identity.

00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:41.920
 He rides into Jerusalem.

00:14:42.800 --> 00:14:43.420
 Fearless,

00:14:44.060 --> 00:14:44.940
 powerful,

00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:46.620
 bold.

00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:52.540
 And yet,

00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.899
 at one and the same time,

00:14:55.040 --> 00:14:56.420
 in the exact moment

00:14:56.420 --> 00:14:57.660
 that Jesus demonstrates

00:14:57.660 --> 00:14:58.300
 his authority

00:14:58.300 --> 00:14:59.540
 and power,

00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:02.200
 he also displays

00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:02.960
 his humility.

00:15:05.660 --> 00:15:07.019
 Humble and mounted

00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:08.440
 on a donkey,

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.920
 Zacharias says.

00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.540
 Not a war horse,

00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:14.460
 not a chariot,

00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:16.660
 but a cult

00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:17.339
 the foal

00:15:17.339 --> 00:15:18.120
 of a donkey.

00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:20.860
 Can you imagine

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.719
 the Roman soldiers

00:15:21.719 --> 00:15:24.000
 who occupied Jerusalem

00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.519
 looking out

00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.379
 at this band

00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:27.620
 of pilgrims

00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.219
 coming down

00:15:28.219 --> 00:15:29.120
 the Mount of Olives

00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:29.799
 like so many

00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:30.919
 groups of pilgrims

00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:31.480
 had come down

00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.360
 the Mount of Olives

00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:34.399
 coming towards the city?

00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:36.639
 And this one's

00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.019
 shouting

00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:38.439
 and waving

00:15:38.439 --> 00:15:39.579
 and throwing

00:15:39.579 --> 00:15:40.139
 their cloaks

00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:40.659
 in the road

00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.419
 which was a sign

00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:42.299
 of homage.

00:15:42.299 --> 00:15:44.439
 and at the center

00:15:44.439 --> 00:15:44.939
 of this

00:15:44.939 --> 00:15:45.919
 excitement

00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:48.439
 is a man

00:15:48.439 --> 00:15:50.139
 riding

00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:52.740
 on a donkey.

00:15:55.459 --> 00:15:57.120
 What a ridiculous sight

00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.279
 it must have seemed

00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:00.019
 to the Roman authorities.

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.719
 Some king

00:16:02.719 --> 00:16:04.099
 they must have mocked.

00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.079
 Which is probably

00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:08.099
 why the Roman authorities

00:16:08.099 --> 00:16:09.179
 didn't march right out there

00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:10.019
 and squelch it

00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:10.659
 to begin with.

00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:12.079
 What was the threat?

00:16:12.539 --> 00:16:13.240
 A man riding

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:13.719
 a donkey

00:16:13.719 --> 00:16:15.299
 followed by a band

00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:15.959
 of disciples

00:16:15.959 --> 00:16:17.019
 throwing their clothing

00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:17.459
 in the road?

00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:22.759
 And yet,

00:16:22.839 --> 00:16:22.980
 friends,

00:16:23.059 --> 00:16:24.339
 Jesus is no ordinary king.

00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:27.679
 I don't need to tell you

00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:28.740
 that many of the rulers

00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:29.339
 of this world

00:16:29.339 --> 00:16:30.219
 are intoxicated

00:16:30.219 --> 00:16:31.100
 with brute power,

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.719
 with control,

00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:34.079
 and with utter subjugation.

00:16:35.439 --> 00:16:36.000
 And yet,

00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:36.839
 here is a king,

00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:37.579
 indeed the true king,

00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.399
 with all the authority

00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.519
 of God himself

00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:41.000
 because he is God himself

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:42.679
 and he's exercising

00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:44.059
 that power

00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:46.000
 in humility

00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.279
 and in gentleness

00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:48.179
 and in service.

00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:50.039
 Here's the one

00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:50.620
 who not only

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:52.059
 calmed the raging sea

00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:53.000
 but who welcomed

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.220
 children to his side

00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:54.840
 and blessed them

00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:55.840
 as we saw last week.

00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:58.159
 Here's the one

00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:58.840
 who not only called

00:16:58.840 --> 00:16:59.980
 Lazarus forth from the grave

00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.879
 with a loud voice

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.899
 but raised

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:03.079
 Jairus' daughter

00:17:03.079 --> 00:17:04.240
 back to life

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.660
 with gentle words

00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:07.400
 saying,

00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:07.800
 in essence,

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.320
 little girl,

00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.320
 it's time to get up.

00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:12.780
 Here's the one

00:17:12.780 --> 00:17:13.180
 who said,

00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:14.500
 all authority

00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.080
 in heaven

00:17:15.080 --> 00:17:15.780
 and on earth

00:17:15.780 --> 00:17:17.140
 is given to me.

00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:20.640
 But who also said,

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.240
 come to me

00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:21.960
 all who labor

00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.300
 and are heavy laden

00:17:23.300 --> 00:17:24.780
 and I will give you rest.

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.720
 Take my yoke upon you

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.420
 and learn from me

00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:28.280
 for I am gentle

00:17:28.280 --> 00:17:29.320
 and lowly in heart

00:17:29.320 --> 00:17:30.340
 and you will find rest

00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.019
 for your souls.

00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:34.980
 Who else

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:37.019
 is like this king?

00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.860
 Show me someone

00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:41.920
 who is as fearless

00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.799
 and yet as kind,

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:46.700
 as authoritative

00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:47.740
 and yet as humble,

00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:50.539
 a calmer of storms

00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.900
 and yet a friend of sinners.

00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:55.360
 Friend,

00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:56.000
 you might not think

00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:56.860
 you want a king.

00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:58.680
 You probably don't think

00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.420
 you need a king.

00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:01.819
 But don't you want

00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:02.620
 someone like that?

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:07.579
 Unfathomable glory

00:18:07.579 --> 00:18:08.880
 and perfect humility.

00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:10.360
 Infinite justice

00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:11.319
 and infinite grace.

00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.420
 You see this unfold.

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.380
 You see his character unfold

00:18:13.380 --> 00:18:14.680
 in the rest of Luke 19.

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.799
 If you just scan your eyes

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.680
 over the rest of the chapter,

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.839
 if you were to read further,

00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:19.579
 then you would see Jesus weep

00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:21.000
 broken hearted

00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.299
 over hard hearted Jerusalem,

00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:23.819
 rejecting their king.

00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:25.660
 And in the next moment,

00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:27.240
 you'd see Christ's zeal

00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:28.759
 as he cleanses the temple.

00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:30.920
 Fury

00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:32.779
 and tears.

00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.860
 Lion

00:18:35.860 --> 00:18:37.440
 and lamb.

00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:40.460
 The king mounted

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.099
 on a donkey.

00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:45.819
 You know,

00:18:45.860 --> 00:18:46.299
 from one angle,

00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:47.440
 you can read the entire story

00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:48.079
 of the Old Testament

00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:48.860
 as a story

00:18:48.860 --> 00:18:49.740
 of waiting

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:52.000
 for the rightful king

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.400
 to come.

00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.759
 In the book of Judges,

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:56.039
 a refrain goes up

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.620
 again and again.

00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.200
 In those days,

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.279
 there was no king in Israel

00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:58.880
 and everyone did

00:18:58.880 --> 00:18:59.440
 what was right

00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.259
 in their own eyes

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:02.200
 and the nation unravels

00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:02.759
 socially,

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.299
 spiritually,

00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:03.700
 morally,

00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:04.160
 politically.

00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.220
 And then when Israel

00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:06.320
 finally gets a king

00:19:06.320 --> 00:19:07.140
 in the opening chapters

00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:07.840
 of 1 Samuel,

00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:09.220
 he sort of looks the part.

00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:11.640
 Saul is tall and strong,

00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:12.980
 but ultimately he fails.

00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.680
 And then David,

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.460
 with David,

00:19:15.540 --> 00:19:16.580
 Israel gets as close

00:19:16.580 --> 00:19:17.560
 as they ever do

00:19:17.560 --> 00:19:18.960
 to having their ideal king.

00:19:19.040 --> 00:19:20.460
 He's a man after God's own heart

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.720
 and even David fails

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:23.540
 and falls short

00:19:23.540 --> 00:19:24.300
 as we've been seeing

00:19:24.300 --> 00:19:25.140
 in the evening service

00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:26.140
 these many weeks.

00:19:28.840 --> 00:19:29.640
 And Solomon,

00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:30.240
 David's son,

00:19:30.320 --> 00:19:30.860
 likewise,

00:19:31.080 --> 00:19:32.300
 turns out not to be the king

00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.500
 that Israel or the world

00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.220
 really needs.

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.819
 After Solomon's death,

00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:38.559
 the narrative of 1 and 2 Samuel

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.519
 sort of functions

00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:40.240
 like a spotlight,

00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:42.079
 just going back and forth again

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.419
 from north to south

00:19:43.419 --> 00:19:44.399
 and back again,

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.799
 seeing whether one of these kings

00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:49.000
 will bring righteousness

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:50.059
 and stability

00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:50.980
 and hope.

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.180
 And of course,

00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:54.259
 if you've read those stories,

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:55.339
 you know that none of them do.

00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:59.939
 But the great prophets

00:19:59.939 --> 00:20:00.720
 foresee a day

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:02.819
 when God's promise

00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:03.819
 to his people

00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:05.439
 will be fulfilled.

00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:07.039
 That one day,

00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:08.019
 one of David's offspring

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:09.359
 will sit on the throne

00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:10.399
 forever and ever.

00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:12.720
 And this king,

00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.539
 Isaiah tells us,

00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.199
 will be called

00:20:14.199 --> 00:20:15.480
 nothing less than

00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.439
 wonderful counselor,

00:20:17.439 --> 00:20:18.119
 mighty God,

00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:20.079
 everlasting father,

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.139
 prince of peace.

00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.119
 Of the increase

00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:23.740
 of his government

00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:24.339
 and of peace,

00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:25.079
 there will be no end.

00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:25.980
 He will sit on the throne

00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.399
 of David

00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:27.199
 and over his kingdom

00:20:27.199 --> 00:20:28.019
 to establish it

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.500
 and to uphold it

00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.099
 with justice

00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:29.919
 and with righteousness

00:20:29.919 --> 00:20:31.619
 from this time forth

00:20:31.619 --> 00:20:32.980
 and forevermore.

00:20:35.639 --> 00:20:36.279
 And you see,

00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:38.379
 the unrelenting witness

00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:39.919
 of the New Testament

00:20:39.919 --> 00:20:42.539
 is that in Jesus,

00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:45.779
 this king has at last come.

00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:48.419
 That in Jesus,

00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:48.740
 indeed,

00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:49.879
 God has come

00:20:49.879 --> 00:20:51.699
 to shepherd

00:20:51.699 --> 00:20:53.419
 and to rule his people

00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:56.580
 and to renew all things.

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.060
 So friends,

00:21:01.100 --> 00:21:01.500
 let me ask,

00:21:01.560 --> 00:21:03.560
 if this is who Jesus is,

00:21:03.820 --> 00:21:05.460
 the lion and the lamb,

00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.380
 the one with all authority

00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:07.320
 and all humility,

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.920
 the calmer of storms

00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:11.060
 and the friend of sinners,

00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:14.100
 what is it that keeps you

00:21:14.100 --> 00:21:15.740
 from entrusting your life to him?

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:21.339
 what is there

00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:22.720
 that you desire

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.960
 in a savior,

00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:24.819
 in a king,

00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:25.920
 in a God

00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:28.200
 that is not

00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:29.539
 in the Lord Jesus Christ?

00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:36.120
 And maybe you're asking yourself,

00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:36.240
 well,

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:37.039
 what did it look like?

00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.740
 What if I actually took

00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:39.960
 Christ as my king?

00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.680
 As crazy as that sounds,

00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:44.580
 what if I were to center

00:21:44.580 --> 00:21:45.320
 my life on him?

00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:46.299
 What would I expect?

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:48.320
 What kind of relationship

00:21:48.320 --> 00:21:49.000
 would that be?

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:54.019
 In the 18th century,

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:55.299
 a pastor and theologian

00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:56.060
 named Jonathan Edwards

00:21:56.060 --> 00:21:56.820
 put it this way.

00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.299
 He said,

00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:01.240
 Christ will give himself

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:01.960
 to you

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:04.539
 with all those

00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:06.440
 various excellencies

00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:07.060
 that meet,

00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:08.480
 that come together in him

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:11.380
 to your full

00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:12.160
 and everlasting

00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.059
 enjoyment.

00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:15.940
 He will ever after

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.519
 treat you

00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.480
 as his dear friend

00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.960
 and you shall

00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.539
 ere long

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.500
 be where he is

00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.799
 and shall behold

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.380
 his glory

00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:24.039
 and dwell with him

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:26.079
 in the most free

00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:27.160
 and intimate

00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:28.000
 communion

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.579
 and enjoyment.

00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:34.180
 Luke is writing

00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:34.759
 his gospel

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.660
 because he wants us

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.500
 to know Christ

00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.420
 like that.

00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:40.079
 he wants us

00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:40.660
 to really see

00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:41.339
 who he is

00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:42.740
 and to know him.

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.279
 But it's not just

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:47.019
 who Christ is

00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.759
 that's on display here.

00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:49.299
 We're actually also shown

00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:50.160
 a glimpse

00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:51.240
 of what he's come to do.

00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:53.500
 And that's the second point

00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.360
 I want us to look at.

00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:56.759
 What's Jesus come to do?

00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:57.539
 Now the disciples,

00:22:58.120 --> 00:22:58.799
 again as we mentioned

00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.680
 a little early in the service,

00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.940
 are most certainly

00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.620
 expecting Jesus

00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:02.500
 to do one thing.

00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:03.740
 Come in

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.960
 and topple the Romans.

00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:05.880
 It is Passover

00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.880
 after all

00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:07.500
 at this point.

00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:09.039
 in the year.

00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:11.319
 It's the national festival

00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.099
 celebrating

00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:13.319
 Israel's liberation

00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:14.799
 when God extended

00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:16.220
 his mighty right arm

00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:18.160
 and completely unraveled

00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:19.019
 the nation of Egypt

00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.599
 with plagues

00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.559
 and set the people free.

00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:22.660
 And that's what

00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:23.339
 the disciples think

00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:24.180
 Jesus has come to do.

00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.640
 Military victory.

00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:26.900
 Political liberation

00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:28.380
 from their Roman overlords.

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.359
 In fact,

00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:30.140
 in the first century

00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:31.359
 waving palm branches,

00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.319
 which as it turns out

00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.079
 Luke doesn't mention

00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.619
 in his account

00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:35.279
 of the triumphal entry

00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.660
 but the other gospel writers do,

00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:37.779
 this idea of waving

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.440
 palm branches

00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:39.720
 was actually a symbol

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:41.060
 of Jewish nationalism

00:23:41.060 --> 00:23:42.779
 and military victory.

00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.180
 It wasn't sort of

00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:44.800
 a cute thing

00:23:44.800 --> 00:23:45.160
 that they did

00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:45.860
 in the synagogues

00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:46.340
 once a year.

00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:52.120
 And as they would have

00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:53.400
 waved those palm branches,

00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:55.080
 they would have been

00:23:55.080 --> 00:23:56.300
 hailing Jesus as king

00:23:56.300 --> 00:23:57.840
 and expecting

00:23:57.840 --> 00:23:58.700
 a great victory

00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.940
 over political oppression.

00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:04.080
 And yet this isn't

00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:04.900
 what Jesus does.

00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.580
 If you read Luke's gospel,

00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:09.720
 you'll find that

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:12.580
 Jerusalem is mentioned

00:24:12.580 --> 00:24:13.600
 a number of times

00:24:13.600 --> 00:24:14.840
 in chapters 9 through 19.

00:24:15.600 --> 00:24:17.680
 And as that narrative progresses,

00:24:17.820 --> 00:24:18.880
 the momentum builds

00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.440
 and builds

00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.559
 as Jesus gets closer

00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.539
 and closer to the city.

00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:23.160
 But at the beginning

00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:24.120
 of that section

00:24:24.120 --> 00:24:25.140
 in chapter 9,

00:24:25.600 --> 00:24:26.299
 in Luke's account

00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.340
 of the transfiguration,

00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:28.839
 we're told there

00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:29.980
 that Moses and Elijah

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:31.439
 come and speak to Jesus

00:24:31.439 --> 00:24:32.139
 about what?

00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.259
 About his departure

00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.639
 that he was about

00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:35.740
 to accomplish in Jerusalem.

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.699
 And very interestingly,

00:24:37.899 --> 00:24:39.199
 that word departure there

00:24:39.199 --> 00:24:39.959
 is literally

00:24:39.959 --> 00:24:41.459
 his exodus.

00:24:42.959 --> 00:24:44.059
 That's chapter 9,

00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:44.659
 verse 31.

00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:48.180
 So when Luke says

00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:49.180
 in verse 28

00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:50.300
 in our text here

00:24:50.300 --> 00:24:51.400
 that Jesus

00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.500
 went on ahead

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:54.279
 going up to Jerusalem,

00:24:55.320 --> 00:24:57.140
 finally the story

00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:58.120
 is starting to reach

00:24:58.120 --> 00:24:58.700
 its peak.

00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:00.640
 Jerusalem,

00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:01.360
 this city

00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.460
 that we've been anticipating

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.420
 as we followed

00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:04.100
 Luke's gospel

00:25:04.100 --> 00:25:04.900
 along the way.

00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:06.320
 And it's weighted,

00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.460
 it's freighted

00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.460
 with all sorts of meaning

00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:09.080
 at this point.

00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.120
 In particular,

00:25:10.340 --> 00:25:11.120
 it means that Jesus

00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:12.360
 is now finally

00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:13.620
 going to accomplish

00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:14.779
 his exodus,

00:25:14.879 --> 00:25:15.719
 whatever that means.

00:25:16.699 --> 00:25:18.639
 A whole new Passover

00:25:18.639 --> 00:25:20.079
 is going to be achieved.

00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:22.919
 But it wouldn't be

00:25:22.919 --> 00:25:23.819
 what anyone expected.

00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:29.039
 But you know,

00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:30.279
 knowing what we know now,

00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:33.279
 can't you almost see it

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.799
 in this scene

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:37.639
 as the one

00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:39.039
 who tamed the raging seas

00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:40.379
 and rose the dead to life?

00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:43.360
 God's true king

00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:46.820
 as he comes riding in

00:25:46.820 --> 00:25:47.800
 on a lowly donkey.

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.500
 There he is!

00:25:52.260 --> 00:25:52.740
 Humble.

00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:55.240
 Almost foolish.

00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.800
 Perhaps even to some

00:25:57.800 --> 00:25:58.500
 a scandal.

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.600
 But you see, friends,

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.560
 this greater exodus

00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:05.260
 would be won

00:26:05.260 --> 00:26:05.780
 through an even

00:26:05.780 --> 00:26:06.660
 greater humility

00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:07.580
 and through

00:26:07.580 --> 00:26:08.860
 an even greater scandal.

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.960
 The king would enter

00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:13.400
 on a donkey,

00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:16.100
 but the king

00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:17.300
 would win his victory

00:26:17.300 --> 00:26:19.480
 going even lower still.

00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:22.440
 Mounting a cross

00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.660
 and being crucified.

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.160
 Again and again,

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:28.279
 Jesus told his disciples

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:28.940
 what will happen

00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:29.920
 when they reach Jerusalem.

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.940
 He'll be handed over

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.580
 to the authorities

00:26:31.580 --> 00:26:32.180
 and crucified,

00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:33.000
 but in three days

00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.680
 he will rise.

00:26:34.040 --> 00:26:35.580
 The king is entering Zion

00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:36.500
 to win a great battle,

00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:36.980
 yes,

00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:38.639
 but this even greater exodus,

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:40.500
 this even greater liberation

00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.599
 is going to be won

00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:44.179
 through a cross

00:26:44.179 --> 00:26:47.039
 and through a resurrection.

00:26:48.939 --> 00:26:50.779
 The people wanted a victor

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.500
 who would eliminate

00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.559
 their political enemies,

00:26:52.679 --> 00:26:53.599
 but Jesus comes

00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:55.619
 and does one better.

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:59.099
 He has a greater enemy

00:26:59.099 --> 00:26:59.579
 in view

00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:01.980
 and he's come to liberate us

00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:03.079
 from our greatest enemy

00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:04.119
 and our greatest fear,

00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.220
 the enemy of sin

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:07.100
 and the fear of death.

00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:11.400
 And in praising Jesus

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:12.240
 in this moment,

00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:14.360
 as the disciples sort of

00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:15.839
 take up these verses

00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:16.880
 from this psalm

00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:17.640
 that had been sung

00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.559
 so many times,

00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:21.299
 in taking up these words,

00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:22.259
 the disciples speak

00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:23.140
 better than they knew.

00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.460
 What do they say here?

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.600
 Almost unconsciously

00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:27.579
 echoing the angels

00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.380
 at Jesus' birth.

00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:29.940
 Peace in heaven!

00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.400
 They exclaim.

00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:34.860
 And friends,

00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.800
 isn't that exactly

00:27:35.800 --> 00:27:37.519
 what the king

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.220
 has accomplished?

00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.460
 Peace

00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.600
 in heaven.

00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.780
 Jesus would be

00:27:44.780 --> 00:27:46.060
 the true Passover lamb

00:27:46.060 --> 00:27:47.320
 dying in the place

00:27:47.320 --> 00:27:48.360
 of his sinful people

00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:50.380
 so that the rightful wrath

00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:50.759
 of God

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:52.480
 could pass over our sins

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:54.280
 and we could be saved.

00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.480
 Friend,

00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.360
 do you know peace

00:27:58.360 --> 00:27:59.080
 this morning?

00:27:59.079 --> 00:28:03.960
 Not the peace

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:05.319
 of having a good-paying job,

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.599
 although that is a good thing.

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.339
 Not the peace

00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.599
 of having a healthy family,

00:28:11.139 --> 00:28:11.899
 although that is something

00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.980
 to be thankful for.

00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:15.919
 Not the peace

00:28:15.919 --> 00:28:16.539
 of having little

00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.339
 or no conflicts

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.379
 with your coworkers

00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:19.079
 and neighbors,

00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:20.980
 although that is good too.

00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:23.720
 I'm talking about

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.720
 the kind of peace

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.899
 that even if all

00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:26.439
 those things

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.660
 were stripped away,

00:28:28.340 --> 00:28:28.920
 your work,

00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.660
 your health,

00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:30.480
 your family,

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.360
 your friends,

00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:34.580
 even if all those things

00:28:34.580 --> 00:28:35.480
 were stripped away,

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:37.180
 you could still

00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:38.279
 wake up in the morning

00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:41.059
 and know joy.

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:46.440
 That's the kind of peace

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.519
 Jesus has come

00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.480
 to win for you.

00:28:49.580 --> 00:28:50.100
 Peace

00:28:50.100 --> 00:28:51.120
 with

00:28:51.120 --> 00:28:52.299
 God.

00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:57.039
 So you see,

00:28:57.099 --> 00:28:57.659
 when Jesus told

00:28:57.659 --> 00:28:58.220
 his disciples

00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:59.299
 to get the cult,

00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:01.519
 he knew exactly

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.180
 where it was all

00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:02.919
 going to end up.

00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:04.180
 He would ride

00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:04.859
 into Jerusalem,

00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.319
 he would be betrayed,

00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.159
 arrested,

00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.099
 condemned

00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:08.639
 at the hands

00:29:08.639 --> 00:29:09.399
 of his own friends

00:29:09.399 --> 00:29:10.220
 and his own people,

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:12.000
 and at the hand

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.539
 of the Romans,

00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:12.960
 the Romans,

00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:13.619
 everyone thought

00:29:13.619 --> 00:29:14.099
 he was coming

00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:14.680
 to overthrow.

00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:16.039
 Jesus himself

00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.960
 would be overthrown.

00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.519
 But three days later,

00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.119
 he would rise.

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:24.019
 So don't you see,

00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:25.079
 his decision

00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:26.240
 to mount

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:27.019
 the cult

00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.859
 was his decision

00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:28.879
 to mount the cross.

00:29:29.139 --> 00:29:30.259
 And he knew exactly

00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:31.220
 where it all would lead.

00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.139
 And in so doing,

00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:32.899
 he would fulfill

00:29:32.899 --> 00:29:34.319
 even more words

00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.460
 of the prophets.

00:29:36.919 --> 00:29:38.220
 Like these from Isaiah,

00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:38.919
 he was wounded

00:29:38.919 --> 00:29:40.779
 for our transgressions.

00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:42.220
 He was crushed

00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:43.599
 for our iniquities.

00:29:44.399 --> 00:29:44.980
 Upon him

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.919
 was the chastisement

00:29:45.919 --> 00:29:46.899
 that brought us

00:29:46.899 --> 00:29:47.879
 peace.

00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.440
 There it is again.

00:29:50.419 --> 00:29:50.899
 Peace.

00:29:50.899 --> 00:29:50.980
 Peace.

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:52.819
 Peace.

00:29:52.919 --> 00:29:53.419
 Friend,

00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:54.319
 you can know

00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:56.200
 peace this morning.

00:29:57.419 --> 00:29:58.599
 The ultimate peace

00:29:58.599 --> 00:29:59.619
 of having your sins

00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:00.139
 forgiven.

00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:04.480
 You have a victor

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.700
 who humbled himself

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:07.460
 and conquered sin

00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:08.220
 and death for you.

00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.720
 And that's what

00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:10.759
 Holy Week is all about.

00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:12.159
 That in Jesus'

00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:13.159
 death and resurrection,

00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:14.619
 all who turn

00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.480
 and believe in him

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:16.399
 are liberated

00:30:16.399 --> 00:30:17.559
 from the guilt

00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:18.399
 and penalty of sin,

00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:18.960
 from the curse

00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:19.539
 of the law,

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.299
 from the fear

00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:20.879
 of death

00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:22.099
 and they have

00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:22.859
 peace with God.

00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:27.539
 Friend,

00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:28.099
 I wonder if we've

00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:28.720
 forgotten what

00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.839
 great news this is.

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:31.579
 I wonder if we're

00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.839
 still trying to squeeze

00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:34.079
 Jesus down

00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:34.720
 into the mold

00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:35.720
 of our expectations

00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.740
 and our desires

00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.339
 and our petty

00:30:37.339 --> 00:30:38.059
 little kingdoms

00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:39.519
 when he's opened up

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.440
 the kingdom of God

00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:41.039
 for us.

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:45.779
 Well, this brings us

00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.159
 to our third

00:30:46.159 --> 00:30:46.859
 and final point

00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:47.440
 briefly.

00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:48.960
 In our text today,

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.700
 we see the division

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.559
 that Jesus inevitably

00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.159
 causes.

00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.379
 Look at the end,

00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:54.279
 those last few verses.

00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:55.379
 The disciples hail

00:30:55.379 --> 00:30:56.519
 Jesus as the king

00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:57.460
 with those words

00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:58.379
 from Psalm 118,

00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:59.279
 blessed is the one

00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:00.039
 who comes in the name

00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:00.500
 of the Lord.

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.480
 But the Pharisees

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:01.960
 say to Jesus,

00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:02.579
 teacher,

00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.599
 rebuke your disciples.

00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.599
 And don't those

00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:09.180
 two responses

00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:09.980
 represent two of

00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.539
 the most fundamental

00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:11.259
 ways that we can

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.000
 still respond

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.639
 to him today.

00:31:13.879 --> 00:31:14.700
 On the one hand,

00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.399
 we can consider

00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:16.440
 Jesus a mere teacher,

00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:18.379
 a teacher whose

00:31:18.379 --> 00:31:19.279
 disciples probably

00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:19.740
 got a little

00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.460
 out of hand,

00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:22.039
 a teacher whose

00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:22.899
 disciples started

00:31:22.899 --> 00:31:23.740
 making claims of

00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.359
 Jesus that he

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:24.940
 himself would

00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:25.899
 never have supported.

00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.740
 Of course,

00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:31.379
 our text this

00:31:31.379 --> 00:31:32.240
 morning shows that

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.740
 Jesus was making

00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.379
 those claims.

00:31:36.119 --> 00:31:36.940
 Jesus' identity

00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:38.480
 wasn't something

00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.420
 that was fabricated

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.180
 by the disciples

00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:40.840
 as they played

00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:41.500
 whisper down the

00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.039
 alley in the

00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:42.660
 decades after

00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:43.200
 his death.

00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:47.820
 But we can see

00:31:47.820 --> 00:31:48.299
 him as a mere

00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:48.680
 teacher,

00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:50.460
 or on the other

00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:50.640
 hand,

00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.360
 we can rejoice

00:31:51.360 --> 00:31:52.259
 before Jesus

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:52.799
 and praise him

00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:53.320
 as the king

00:31:53.320 --> 00:31:53.960
 who comes in

00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.340
 the name of

00:31:54.340 --> 00:31:54.720
 the Lord.

00:31:56.400 --> 00:31:57.019
 And between

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.480
 these two

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.060
 options,

00:31:58.519 --> 00:32:00.039
 what does

00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:00.720
 Jesus himself

00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.060
 say?

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.759
 What's his

00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.620
 verdict on

00:32:04.620 --> 00:32:05.200
 these two

00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:06.640
 responses to

00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.220
 his identity,

00:32:07.220 --> 00:32:07.720
 to his

00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.079
 person,

00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:08.339
 to his

00:32:08.339 --> 00:32:08.680
 work?

00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:11.420
 Verse 40,

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:11.839
 I tell you,

00:32:11.860 --> 00:32:12.279
 Jesus says,

00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:12.740
 if these were

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.180
 silent,

00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:14.779
 the very stones

00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:15.420
 would cry out.

00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.400
 Well,

00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:19.880
 that's about as

00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:20.559
 definitive as you

00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.019
 could make it,

00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:21.339
 isn't it?

00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:23.799
 In this moment,

00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:24.299
 Jesus says,

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:26.039
 I have to be

00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.500
 praised.

00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:28.380
 And if human

00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:28.900
 beings aren't

00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:29.480
 going to do it,

00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.240
 then the

00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:31.240
 inanimate creation

00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:32.200
 itself is going

00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:33.279
 to break forth

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:35.079
 in song and

00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:35.880
 hail me as the

00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.140
 king.

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.500
 That's what

00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:38.980
 humans were

00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:39.480
 meant to do,

00:32:39.520 --> 00:32:39.980
 by the way,

00:32:40.080 --> 00:32:40.640
 created in the

00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:41.280
 image of God,

00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:43.640
 to take the

00:32:43.640 --> 00:32:44.900
 full praises of

00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.560
 creation and

00:32:45.560 --> 00:32:46.400
 reflect them

00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.240
 back to its

00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:47.920
 rightful king

00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:48.480
 and creator.

00:32:49.120 --> 00:32:49.500
 And Jesus

00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:49.720
 says,

00:32:49.780 --> 00:32:49.860
 here,

00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.200
 look,

00:32:50.300 --> 00:32:50.820
 if you're

00:32:50.820 --> 00:32:51.240
 not going

00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:51.780
 to do it,

00:32:51.780 --> 00:32:52.580
 then the

00:32:52.580 --> 00:32:53.180
 praises of

00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:53.800
 creation will

00:32:53.800 --> 00:32:55.080
 crash over

00:32:55.080 --> 00:32:55.860
 your heads

00:32:55.860 --> 00:32:56.540
 and keep

00:32:56.540 --> 00:32:56.960
 coming,

00:32:57.260 --> 00:32:57.680
 whether you

00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.380
 come or not.

00:33:00.340 --> 00:33:01.060
 Even the

00:33:01.060 --> 00:33:01.900
 stones will cry

00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:02.200
 out.

00:33:05.060 --> 00:33:05.580
 Teacher,

00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:06.360
 the Pharisees

00:33:06.360 --> 00:33:06.780
 called him.

00:33:08.280 --> 00:33:08.760
 Teacher?

00:33:10.540 --> 00:33:11.340
 What Jesus is

00:33:11.340 --> 00:33:11.820
 saying here is

00:33:11.820 --> 00:33:12.100
 that the

00:33:12.100 --> 00:33:13.380
 universe exists

00:33:13.380 --> 00:33:14.160
 for his

00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.640
 praise.

00:33:15.320 --> 00:33:15.780
 Everything,

00:33:16.060 --> 00:33:16.720
 every rock,

00:33:16.820 --> 00:33:17.380
 every star,

00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.260
 every molecule

00:33:18.260 --> 00:33:19.040
 in your body

00:33:19.040 --> 00:33:19.740
 was fashioned

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:20.800
 by him and

00:33:20.800 --> 00:33:21.240
 through him

00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:22.280
 and for him,

00:33:22.780 --> 00:33:23.420
 as Paul later

00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:23.780
 says in

00:33:23.780 --> 00:33:24.420
 Colossians 1.

00:33:26.120 --> 00:33:26.420
 And do you

00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:26.760
 see what that

00:33:26.760 --> 00:33:27.180
 means?

00:33:28.620 --> 00:33:29.700
 That here is

00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:30.320
 the one

00:33:30.320 --> 00:33:32.500
 who can make

00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.380
 your whole

00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:35.180
 life sing.

00:33:35.880 --> 00:33:38.420
 every stitch

00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:38.740
 and every

00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:39.740
 fabric within

00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.100
 you was

00:33:40.100 --> 00:33:41.860
 made to

00:33:41.860 --> 00:33:42.640
 praise this

00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:43.000
 king.

00:33:45.620 --> 00:33:46.440
 To not

00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:47.280
 acknowledge him

00:33:47.280 --> 00:33:48.060
 as such

00:33:48.060 --> 00:33:48.860
 is to live

00:33:48.860 --> 00:33:49.580
 at a joint

00:33:49.580 --> 00:33:49.900
 with your

00:33:49.900 --> 00:33:51.020
 very essence.

00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:53.240
 Some of you

00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:53.660
 are here this

00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.100
 morning and

00:33:54.100 --> 00:33:54.640
 you're wondering

00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:55.420
 why life

00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:56.080
 just doesn't

00:33:56.080 --> 00:33:56.520
 seem to be

00:33:56.520 --> 00:33:57.160
 adding up.

00:33:57.420 --> 00:33:57.920
 Why on the

00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:58.380
 surface,

00:33:58.620 --> 00:33:59.140
 everything in

00:33:59.140 --> 00:33:59.400
 your life

00:33:59.400 --> 00:33:59.880
 seems to be

00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:00.480
 pretty good,

00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:01.280
 pretty right,

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:02.400
 pretty commendable.

00:34:02.840 --> 00:34:03.560
 But inside,

00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:04.160
 there seems to be

00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:05.700
 nothing but chaos.

00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:09.900
 friends,

00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:10.260
 have you ever

00:34:10.260 --> 00:34:10.860
 asked and

00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:11.119
 have you ever

00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:13.300
 thought that

00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:13.760
 maybe you're

00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:15.200
 praising the

00:34:15.200 --> 00:34:15.940
 wrong thing?

00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:17.880
 Maybe you're

00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:18.660
 centering your

00:34:18.660 --> 00:34:19.200
 life on

00:34:19.200 --> 00:34:19.599
 something that

00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.220
 just can't

00:34:20.220 --> 00:34:20.740
 hold.

00:34:24.180 --> 00:34:24.880
 I often think

00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.420
 of our lives

00:34:25.420 --> 00:34:25.960
 like a wheel

00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:26.640
 on the spokes

00:34:26.640 --> 00:34:27.200
 of the various

00:34:27.200 --> 00:34:27.840
 parts of our

00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:28.240
 life.

00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:29.660
 And in

00:34:29.660 --> 00:34:30.079
 themselves,

00:34:30.200 --> 00:34:30.780
 oftentimes these

00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:31.519
 spokes seem to

00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:31.980
 be okay.

00:34:32.140 --> 00:34:32.559
 Our work,

00:34:32.640 --> 00:34:33.079
 our family,

00:34:33.180 --> 00:34:33.760
 our relationships,

00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:34.240
 they seem to

00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:34.860
 be fine.

00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:36.300
 And yet,

00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:36.800
 no matter what

00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:37.200
 we put in

00:34:37.200 --> 00:34:37.620
 the hub,

00:34:37.680 --> 00:34:38.039
 no matter what

00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:38.380
 we put in

00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:38.940
 the center,

00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:39.920
 nothing keeps

00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:40.400
 them together

00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:40.620
 and they're

00:34:40.620 --> 00:34:41.300
 always flying

00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:41.780
 apart and

00:34:41.780 --> 00:34:42.019
 they're always

00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:43.019
 crashing into

00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.559
 each other.

00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:48.820
 But friend,

00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:49.180
 if there's a

00:34:49.180 --> 00:34:50.019
 God who made

00:34:50.019 --> 00:34:51.960
 you and who

00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.780
 took on flesh

00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:53.579
 to redeem you

00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:53.960
 because he

00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.880
 loves you,

00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:57.460
 then surely

00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:59.480
 he must be

00:34:59.480 --> 00:35:00.440
 the rightful

00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:00.840
 center.

00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:02.500
 Surely he must

00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:02.980
 be the one

00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:03.619
 around whom

00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:04.599
 everything else

00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:05.380
 must and

00:35:05.380 --> 00:35:06.260
 can spin.

00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:09.940
 Surely he must

00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.340
 be the one

00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:11.159
 you've got to

00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:13.000
 praise above

00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:13.679
 all else.

00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:17.240
 And that's the

00:35:17.240 --> 00:35:17.699
 call of the

00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:18.099
 gospel,

00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:20.159
 to hail Jesus

00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:20.900
 not just as a

00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:21.559
 teacher but as

00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:22.119
 a king,

00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.519
 as the king,

00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:26.019
 and to take up

00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:27.320
 your cross and

00:35:27.320 --> 00:35:28.019
 follow him,

00:35:28.820 --> 00:35:29.880
 and in so doing

00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:31.099
 to find peace and

00:35:31.099 --> 00:35:32.240
 joy and true

00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:32.699
 freedom.

00:35:36.979 --> 00:35:37.519
 But there's

00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:37.939
 more in this

00:35:37.939 --> 00:35:38.419
 little comment

00:35:38.419 --> 00:35:38.799
 about the

00:35:38.799 --> 00:35:39.139
 stones,

00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:39.599
 isn't there?

00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:40.459
 Because it

00:35:40.459 --> 00:35:42.059
 points ahead to

00:35:42.059 --> 00:35:42.779
 Jesus' second

00:35:42.779 --> 00:35:43.179
 coming.

00:35:44.059 --> 00:35:44.500
 When the

00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.199
 resurrected Jesus

00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:46.459
 returns to

00:35:46.459 --> 00:35:47.099
 bring his

00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.579
 kingdom to

00:35:47.579 --> 00:35:48.459
 completion and

00:35:48.459 --> 00:35:48.819
 fullness,

00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:50.019
 when he does

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:50.419
 that he's going

00:35:50.419 --> 00:35:51.319
 to renew all

00:35:51.319 --> 00:35:51.679
 things,

00:35:51.799 --> 00:35:51.919
 friends,

00:35:51.979 --> 00:35:52.439
 and then at

00:35:52.439 --> 00:35:52.779
 that moment

00:35:52.779 --> 00:35:53.179
 it's not just

00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:53.619
 going to be the

00:35:53.619 --> 00:35:54.579
 rocks that are

00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:55.219
 crying out,

00:35:55.459 --> 00:35:55.819
 but it's going

00:35:55.819 --> 00:35:56.359
 to be the

00:35:56.359 --> 00:35:57.219
 entire creation

00:35:57.219 --> 00:35:57.979
 that will rejoice

00:35:57.979 --> 00:35:58.659
 in that moment.

00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:00.979
 Here's how

00:36:00.980 --> 00:36:01.860
 Psalm 96 put

00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:02.000
 it.

00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:02.639
 Psalm 96

00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:02.840
 says,

00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:03.380
 let the heavens

00:36:03.380 --> 00:36:04.440
 be glad and

00:36:04.440 --> 00:36:04.880
 let the earth

00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:05.360
 rejoice,

00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:06.179
 let the sea roar

00:36:06.179 --> 00:36:06.619
 and all that

00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:06.960
 fills it,

00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:07.559
 let the field

00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:08.260
 exult and

00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:08.920
 everything in

00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:09.099
 it.

00:36:09.820 --> 00:36:10.500
 Then all the

00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:11.000
 trees of the

00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:12.039
 forest sing for

00:36:12.039 --> 00:36:13.059
 joy before the

00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:13.639
 Lord for he

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:14.199
 comes,

00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:15.139
 for he comes to

00:36:15.139 --> 00:36:16.019
 judge the earth,

00:36:16.059 --> 00:36:16.780
 he will judge the

00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:17.099
 world in

00:36:17.099 --> 00:36:18.119
 righteousness and

00:36:18.119 --> 00:36:18.699
 the peoples in

00:36:18.699 --> 00:36:19.460
 faithfulness.

00:36:20.099 --> 00:36:20.539
 And we see it

00:36:20.539 --> 00:36:21.059
 again in Isaiah

00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:21.460
 55,

00:36:21.719 --> 00:36:22.619
 for you shall go

00:36:22.619 --> 00:36:24.000
 out in joy and

00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:24.780
 be led forth in

00:36:24.780 --> 00:36:25.740
 peace and the

00:36:25.740 --> 00:36:26.380
 mountains and the

00:36:26.380 --> 00:36:27.039
 hills before you

00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:27.840
 shall break forth

00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:28.460
 into singing and

00:36:28.460 --> 00:36:29.079
 all the trees of

00:36:29.079 --> 00:36:30.179
 the field shall

00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:30.739
 clap their

00:36:30.739 --> 00:36:31.199
 hands.

00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:34.679
 And friends,

00:36:34.739 --> 00:36:35.440
 if the trees are

00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:36.019
 going to clap

00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:37.519
 their hands in

00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:38.099
 that moment,

00:36:39.259 --> 00:36:40.259
 what's going to be

00:36:40.259 --> 00:36:40.900
 true of us?

00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:44.920
 One day Jesus is

00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:45.480
 going to make the

00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:46.559
 earth resound with

00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.480
 joy at his coming

00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.759
 through the victory

00:36:48.759 --> 00:36:49.500
 he won through his

00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:50.239
 death and resurrection

00:36:50.239 --> 00:36:51.940
 and even creation

00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:52.960
 itself is going to be

00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:53.880
 set free from its

00:36:53.880 --> 00:36:54.940
 bondage to decay,

00:36:54.940 --> 00:36:55.539
 Paul says.

00:36:58.720 --> 00:36:59.300
 And friends,

00:36:59.340 --> 00:37:00.539
 if one day he

00:37:00.539 --> 00:37:01.159
 will do that,

00:37:01.179 --> 00:37:01.820
 and he will,

00:37:03.220 --> 00:37:04.820
 then surely today

00:37:04.820 --> 00:37:07.059
 he can take your

00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:09.099
 heart of stone

00:37:09.099 --> 00:37:11.039
 and make it cry

00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:11.880
 with life again

00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:12.920
 and with joy

00:37:12.920 --> 00:37:14.200
 and with peace.

00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:17.760
 That's what Holy

00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:18.579
 Week is all about.

00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:22.260
 How will you

00:37:22.260 --> 00:37:23.200
 respond to Jesus?

00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:25.419
 Will you keep him

00:37:25.419 --> 00:37:26.099
 at arm's length

00:37:26.099 --> 00:37:26.679
 as just another

00:37:26.679 --> 00:37:27.079
 teacher?

00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:29.419
 Or will you

00:37:29.419 --> 00:37:29.899
 praise him as

00:37:29.899 --> 00:37:30.619
 your rightful king?

00:37:32.379 --> 00:37:33.099
 Let's pray.

00:37:39.719 --> 00:37:40.199
 Father,

00:37:40.319 --> 00:37:40.480
 indeed,

00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:41.519
 we ask for

00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:42.359
 your Holy Spirit

00:37:42.359 --> 00:37:44.259
 to come

00:37:44.259 --> 00:37:45.179
 and to make us

00:37:45.179 --> 00:37:46.219
 willing and able

00:37:46.219 --> 00:37:48.079
 to receive Jesus

00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:48.799
 as our Lord

00:37:48.799 --> 00:37:49.279
 and King.

00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:52.000
 God,

00:37:52.080 --> 00:37:52.800
 our own flesh

00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:53.860
 pushes against

00:37:53.860 --> 00:37:54.420
 that idea

00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:55.019
 with almost

00:37:55.019 --> 00:37:55.840
 everything within

00:37:55.840 --> 00:37:56.100
 it.

00:37:56.940 --> 00:37:57.700
 We don't want

00:37:57.700 --> 00:37:58.180
 a king.

00:37:58.700 --> 00:37:59.560
 We don't want

00:37:59.560 --> 00:38:00.320
 someone to rule

00:38:00.320 --> 00:38:01.260
 over our lives.

00:38:02.060 --> 00:38:02.680
 We'd rather

00:38:02.680 --> 00:38:03.500
 try to just

00:38:03.500 --> 00:38:05.160
 have a teacher

00:38:05.160 --> 00:38:05.700
 who can give us

00:38:05.700 --> 00:38:06.580
 advice and then

00:38:06.580 --> 00:38:07.400
 we can stay in

00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:08.220
 control and we

00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:08.880
 can try to work

00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:09.460
 things out our

00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:10.120
 own way.

00:38:13.300 --> 00:38:13.700
 Oh,

00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:13.900
 Lord,

00:38:13.940 --> 00:38:14.460
 would you give us

00:38:14.460 --> 00:38:15.000
 your spirit

00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:16.060
 to overcome

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:18.400
 our self-control

00:38:18.400 --> 00:38:19.759
 and our self-love

00:38:19.759 --> 00:38:21.579
 and pull us

00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:22.519
 out of ourselves

00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:23.279
 into where real

00:38:23.279 --> 00:38:24.219
 life is found

00:38:24.219 --> 00:38:27.480
 in the glad

00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:28.179
 embrace

00:38:28.179 --> 00:38:29.960
 of this great

00:38:29.960 --> 00:38:30.299
 king.

00:38:33.460 --> 00:38:33.940
 Lord,

00:38:34.019 --> 00:38:34.539
 make it so,

00:38:34.619 --> 00:38:35.079
 we pray.

00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:38.139
 In Jesus' name,

00:38:38.259 --> 00:38:38.480
 amen.