WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.620 Grab your Bibles and turn to Matthew 24. 00:00:15.939 --> 00:00:18.719 It's a passage that Sam read out to us right at the beginning. 00:00:19.580 --> 00:00:25.640 It would be really good to have it in front of you if it's not in a Bible, an iPad or iPhone or whatever it is that you use nowadays. 00:00:27.080 --> 00:00:28.199 And I'm going to pray. 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:36.640 Father God, we thank you for what we've been learning and engaging within your word in the last three weeks of mission month. 00:00:37.740 --> 00:00:49.379 We pray that tonight as we wrestle with a difficult passage, Lord, I pray that you would speak regardless of my inadequacy. 00:00:49.380 --> 00:01:04.320 And I pray, Father, that we would see something of your global agenda and the end of all time and how your purposes exist and ours are to surrender to it. 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:10.979 So, Lord, I pray that you would move us in a way that we need to be moved, whether it be encouraged, whether it is repentance. 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:15.879 Father, we ask for your spirit to be working through your word. 00:01:15.879 --> 00:01:28.420 Give us such a vision of how great you are, that we would give our lives to your agenda, for your gospel to go to the nations, for people to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus. 00:01:29.019 --> 00:01:30.179 And we ask it for your sake. 00:01:30.459 --> 00:01:30.679 Amen. 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:30.760 Amen. 00:01:32.600 --> 00:01:37.280 A few weeks ago, Chris used an illustration. 00:01:38.540 --> 00:01:43.980 It was an illustration about a life-saving station. 00:01:45.220 --> 00:01:48.460 And I wish he hadn't have used it because I want to use it. 00:01:48.459 --> 00:01:50.699 It's a great illustration. 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:52.780 And I wrestled over this for a while. 00:01:52.859 --> 00:01:54.299 I thought, well, who cares? 00:01:54.379 --> 00:01:55.419 You probably don't remember anyway. 00:01:55.719 --> 00:01:57.699 And so, well, you might not have been here. 00:01:57.759 --> 00:01:58.839 And so I'm going to tell it anyway. 00:01:58.919 --> 00:02:06.859 And I'm going to do it in a shortened version because it just fits so well with what we're doing tonight, the passage we're looking at. 00:02:07.659 --> 00:02:10.259 It's called The Parable of the Life-Saving Station. 00:02:10.939 --> 00:02:13.780 It was written back in the 1950s by a pastor. 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:43.759 It goes, 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:48.340 They gave their time and their money and their effort to support the work of this life-saving station. 00:02:49.060 --> 00:02:50.020 New boats were bought. 00:02:50.340 --> 00:02:51.800 New crews were trained. 00:02:52.680 --> 00:03:01.319 Some of the new members felt that a more comfortable place should ought to be provided as the first refuge for those who are safe from the sea. 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:07.379 And so they replaced the emergency stretchers with some beds and put some furniture in the enlarged building. 00:03:07.379 --> 00:03:14.180 And now the life-saving station became a comfortable and popular gathering place for the members. 00:03:14.180 --> 00:03:17.219 And they kind of furnished it like a club. 00:03:17.219 --> 00:03:25.159 Less of the members, however, were now interested in going out to sea on life-saving missions. 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:29.719 And so they hired lifeboat crews to do the work for them. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:36.599 Most were too busy or lacked the necessary commitment to take part in the life-saving activities personally. 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:44.759 As time went by and a meeting came around, there was a split in the club membership. 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:53.819 Some members insisted that life-saving was their primary purpose and pointed out that they still were called a life-saving station. 00:03:53.819 --> 00:04:03.299 But they were voted down and told that if they wanted to save the life of all various kinds of people who were shipwrecked on the shores, 00:04:03.819 --> 00:04:08.199 then they would need to begin their own life-saving station just down the coast. 00:04:08.959 --> 00:04:09.739 And so they did. 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:17.980 And then as years went by, the new life-saving station experienced the same changes and difficulties as the old one. 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:23.300 They evolved into a club and yet another life-saving station was founded. 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:30.319 And so if you visit the seacoast today, you'll find a number of exclusive clubs along the shore. 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:37.439 Shipwrecks are frequent in the waters, but most people drown. 00:04:39.219 --> 00:04:46.339 It's a great parable, I think, as we come to Mission Pledge Sunday today. 00:04:46.899 --> 00:04:51.139 It's also a great parable about ancient Israel. 00:04:51.139 --> 00:05:02.479 You see, the temple, the center of their worship, was meant to be the center of their activity in God's bringing blessing to the world. 00:05:04.699 --> 00:05:06.360 Israel was God's people. 00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:07.919 Jerusalem was his city. 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:09.579 In the middle of the city was the temple. 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:14.180 And from there, the presence of God would go out and bring blessing to the nations. 00:05:14.180 --> 00:05:25.560 And so it's been a tense couple of days for Jesus and his mates as they have come into Jerusalem, Matthew 21 through to 23. 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:28.839 It's a fairly tense time. 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:38.740 During these days, after the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, Jesus prophesied destruction on Israel by cursing the fig tree. 00:05:39.100 --> 00:05:46.120 He has cleansed out the temple by a weapon changing over tables, turning over money-changing tables. 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:52.560 And he has entered into debates with the religious establishment, which is what we looked at a few weeks ago. 00:05:53.620 --> 00:05:55.600 Debates which he consistently won. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:06.019 And in chapter 23 of Matthew, Jesus passes judgment on the religious leadership of Israel. 00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:11.579 Curse after curse after curse upon them and does away with them. 00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:22.219 And see, for the disciples of Jesus, they've sort of heard Jesus engage in all this conflict in the temple courts. 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:24.500 They all think it's a little bit tough. 00:06:25.159 --> 00:06:30.979 You see, for the disciples of Jesus up to this point, his mission isn't clear to them. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:36.699 They really have potentially not understood the first thing of it yet. 00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:42.360 You see, for them, the temple was still very important. 00:06:44.860 --> 00:06:50.699 You see, when the disciples look at the temple, they see coming glory. 00:06:51.860 --> 00:06:54.539 Have a look at it there in chapter 24, verse 2. 00:06:56.539 --> 00:06:59.459 Jesus left the temple and was walking away. 00:06:59.579 --> 00:07:00.699 This is his final... 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:03.199 He's rejected the temple. 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:04.959 He's rejected the old Israel system. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:07.199 He's walking away from it now for the final time. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:08.979 And as he's walking away, it says, 00:07:09.259 --> 00:07:13.459 His disciples came up to him to call his attention to the buildings. 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:20.439 The equivalent passage in Mark 13 has the disciples saying to Jesus, 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:25.699 Look, teacher, what magnificent stones, what magnificent buildings. 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:30.419 Luke 21 says a very similar thing. 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:35.180 The disciples are saying, basically here at this moment, 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:36.240 Oh, come on, Jesus. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:38.140 Lighten up a little bit. 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:40.900 Have a look at it. 00:07:41.860 --> 00:07:43.460 It's not that bad. 00:07:44.840 --> 00:07:46.439 It's a pretty spectacular building. 00:07:47.580 --> 00:07:48.900 And in actual fact, it was. 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:50.259 The temple was magnificent. 00:07:50.259 --> 00:07:57.899 It was built on a half an acre of marble slab with an imposing dominance over ancient Israel. 00:07:58.219 --> 00:08:04.439 It was considered one of the great wonders of the Roman world until the Romans themselves smashed it. 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:10.519 But unlike the disciples, when Jesus saw the temple, he didn't see coming glory. 00:08:10.939 --> 00:08:12.180 He saw judgment. 00:08:12.180 --> 00:08:20.120 And so Jesus says something really unexpected to the disciples. 00:08:20.340 --> 00:08:23.959 In fact, something that would have potentially chilled their blood. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:25.540 Verse 2. 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:29.000 Do you see all these things? 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:32.419 I tell you the truth. 00:08:33.060 --> 00:08:36.039 Not one stone here will be left on another. 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:38.639 Everyone will be thrown down. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:56.580 So you can imagine the stunned silence at that point as they wander out the gate, if it had one, out the gate and down the pathway, down the slope, up the other side of the slope and camp themselves on the Mount of Olives. 00:08:57.399 --> 00:09:00.480 You see, from there, they were 50 meters higher than Jerusalem. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:08.159 And they have a dramatic view of the temple with the massive stones and the marble and the ivory and the gold. 00:09:09.800 --> 00:09:12.019 And then the question comes, verse 3. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:16.360 Tell us, they said, when will this happen? 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:21.080 And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:26.800 Let me just give you a heads up here. 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:41.359 From the rest of Matthew 24, the rest of these verses, Jesus' reply to that question is by far the most difficult passage in Matthew. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:57.320 And along with its parallels in Mark 13 and Luke 21, most commentators agree that they are the most difficult texts of the New Testament to understand. 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:03.700 So I'm not pretending here in any sense that we're going to nail it tonight. 00:10:04.539 --> 00:10:07.460 What we're going to do is we're going to take a bit of a big picture look. 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:15.940 So what is particularly difficult is the rich nature of the language and the intertwining of multiple ideas. 00:10:17.280 --> 00:10:24.300 You see, in this Jesus' answer, he is looking to the future, answering the question, when's it going to happen? 00:10:25.019 --> 00:10:27.120 But to what future is he looking? 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:33.160 The verses could refer to the destruction of the temple and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:35.439 They could refer to the end of history. 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:37.559 They could refer to the second coming of Jesus. 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:40.120 They could refer to the death and resurrection of Jesus. 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:43.159 What is Jesus looking to? 00:10:45.419 --> 00:10:46.839 My answer is this. 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:49.939 I think it's referring to all those things. 00:10:50.959 --> 00:10:52.740 Now that's just not having a safe bet. 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:55.459 I think it is referring to all those things. 00:10:56.319 --> 00:10:59.379 The question is, which bit's referring to which bit? 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:01.200 That's the hard bit. 00:11:01.620 --> 00:11:03.120 Trying to work out that stuff. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:08.600 You see, often one section will have multiple fulfillments. 00:11:09.139 --> 00:11:11.600 But the context for us is verses 1 to 3. 00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:16.500 The disciples were concerned about the physical temple as they saw it. 00:11:17.320 --> 00:11:24.700 And they pointed out the buildings to Jesus, most likely for them, hoping that Jesus will cut the leadership some slack. 00:11:24.700 --> 00:11:26.360 And say, hey, it's a good building. 00:11:28.460 --> 00:11:30.320 But he says it's going to be destroyed. 00:11:31.300 --> 00:11:34.860 And so the disciples side up beside Jesus on the Mount of Olives. 00:11:35.080 --> 00:11:40.680 And they want the inside goss on when the physical building of the temple is going to be destroyed. 00:11:40.920 --> 00:11:41.600 When's it going to happen? 00:11:42.900 --> 00:11:48.040 And Jesus' answer is that this terrible thing will happen within a generation. 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:48.879 Verse 34. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:55.919 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 00:11:57.960 --> 00:11:59.000 And it did. 00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:01.379 It happened in 70 AD. 00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:10.799 After a four-year siege where the Romans came in to squash a rebellion, which had happened. 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:17.419 And it was a terrible siege that involved unimaginable hardships. 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:23.519 The Romans made a sustained attempt to starve out the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:28.979 Parents were reduced to cannibalism as they ate their own children. 00:12:29.979 --> 00:12:33.099 The city and the temple were eventually reduced to rubble. 00:12:33.579 --> 00:12:37.799 So much so that not one stone lay on top of another stone. 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:42.799 The carnage and the slaughter were terrible. 00:12:43.719 --> 00:12:46.719 More than one million Jews died in the operation. 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:50.959 And that is why Jesus mentions here, flee to the hills. 00:12:51.319 --> 00:12:53.559 Don't even come down and grab your coat. 00:12:53.719 --> 00:12:54.179 Get out. 00:12:54.719 --> 00:12:57.120 You just want to hope that you're not pregnant on that day. 00:12:57.539 --> 00:13:00.979 You don't want to be in the city at all when this happens. 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:07.399 It's going to be an unimaginable catastrophe. 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:15.620 But why were the disciples keen to know when it was all going to take place? 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:19.659 Did they actually care about the building? 00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:25.620 I think they actually cared more about what the building stood for. 00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:30.839 You might remember a number of weeks ago when we did our series on the kingdom of God. 00:13:31.579 --> 00:13:36.600 And the connection between the destruction of the temple and the judgment of God on Israel. 00:13:37.319 --> 00:13:39.699 You see it particularly in Ezekiel. 00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:43.839 The destruction of the temple was linked to God departing. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:50.680 Remember, God's presence was left the temple and the temple was nothing more than a bunch of stones. 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:53.940 And the temple was going to be smashed as a result. 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:54.800 And it did happen. 00:13:56.700 --> 00:14:02.660 And what also happened was that when God's presence departed, the temple was smashed. 00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:04.680 The people were exiled. 00:14:05.940 --> 00:14:07.860 It meant judgment for them. 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:16.379 And so when Jesus says here that the temple is going to be destroyed, they go, oh no, not again. 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:21.379 Not another trip to Babylon. 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:28.060 Not the spiritual wilderness that we're being in. 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:30.120 Not again in our history. 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:30.720 Not again in our history. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:30.740 Not again in our history. 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:36.100 And so Jesus answers their question about the temple destruction. 00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:46.560 But he also goes far beyond them into instructing the church about his kingdom, his return, and what his people are meant to do in the between times. 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:54.220 The bottom line is the destruction of the temple in 70 AD will not be the end of the presence of God. 00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:56.440 It will not be the end of the kingdom of God. 00:14:56.440 --> 00:15:09.140 Likewise, he says, earthquakes, famines, wars, and persecution, all those sort of things that you experienced in the previous exiles, it will not be a signal that the kingdom of God has ended. 00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:12.880 It will not be a signal that Jesus is not on the throne. 00:15:13.640 --> 00:15:19.460 On the surface, it will look like there is no hope and there is no future, but Jesus is the king. 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.760 He is the Messiah. 00:15:20.920 --> 00:15:21.900 He is the Christ. 00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:26.360 Don't be confused what you see, what you hear, and what you experience in the world. 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:32.540 The key for us is there in verse 4 and 5. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:36.160 Watch out that no one deceives you. 00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:41.740 For many will come in my name claiming I am the Christ and will deceive many. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:50.300 In other words, Jesus says here, don't chase after other messiahs who appear to promise safety and salvation. 00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:53.979 Why does Jesus say that? 00:15:53.979 --> 00:16:02.219 Because when times are really tough, it will be hard to see that Jesus is still the king. 00:16:03.479 --> 00:16:07.939 And others will come along and you will put your faith in those others. 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.939 And Jesus says, don't do that. 00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:15.100 It happened in 70 AD with the destruction of the temple. 00:16:15.900 --> 00:16:21.560 In that time, a prophet rose up in Jerusalem and said, I'm your leader. 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:28.220 Come follow me into the temple and you'll have safety and security from the siege. 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:37.779 And 6,000 men and women, sorry, women and children went with him into the temple for safety. 00:16:41.060 --> 00:16:45.060 Romans came in and burned it to the ground while they were in there. 00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:50.719 I think that's what Jesus is referring to in verses 23 to 26. 00:16:52.859 --> 00:16:54.939 In Matthew 24. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:17:01.959 He says, watch out for false messiahs who promise safety and security and ease. 00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:05.899 And they especially rise in times of calamity and hardship. 00:17:05.899 --> 00:17:14.099 Verse 6, you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. 00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:19.959 In other words, he's saying, don't be alarmed when the world is crashing down around you. 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:23.759 Don't think that God's not off the throne. 00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:28.159 Continuing on in verse 6, such things must happen, but the end is still yet to come. 00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:31.719 Verse 7, nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:34.159 There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:38.480 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:50.839 You see, Jesus' basic advice here to his disciples, who are clearly distressed about the destruction of the temple and what it means for them as the people of God, is to stay calm. 00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:59.519 Calamity and hardships will come, and they will go, but they will come, and they will be there until the end. 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:03.319 Watch out, he says, that no one deceives you. 00:18:03.619 --> 00:18:10.099 Watch out that you were not led astray into thinking that Jesus isn't the Christ, that he isn't king, that he isn't in control, that he's not the savior of the world. 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:17.039 Catastrophes will call it all into question, especially the closer those catastrophes come to home. 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:30.819 You see, I think the siege of Jerusalem would have caused the people of Christ to question everything because of the nature of that calamity, 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:36.399 as I suspect it would for our brothers and sisters, as we just heard a moment ago. 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:39.000 13 baptized, 11 dead in a week. 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:41.099 What are you doing, God? 00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:47.839 But don't be alarmed. 00:18:50.959 --> 00:18:53.099 Don't let your faith be rocked. 00:18:55.919 --> 00:19:06.059 Let me say that I think that this little chap on the side of Mount Olives, the Mount of Olives, is so timely and so pastoral of Jesus. 00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:12.720 Because the destruction of the temple was actually going to happen within days. 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:16.500 The actual building would stand until 70 AD. 00:19:17.419 --> 00:19:20.720 But the end would be determined within a couple of days. 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:25.059 John chapter 2 records the encounter where Jesus clears the temple. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.799 And it says this, 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.500 Then the Jews demanded of him, 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:37.480 In other words, 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.480 Show us, 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:45.640 Show us your authority that you're in charge of this place and you can do what you like at the temple. 00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:49.599 And Jesus answered them, 00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:53.960 Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days. 00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:56.039 And the Jews replied, 00:19:56.700 --> 00:20:03.960 It's taken 46 years to build this thing and you think you can raise it in three days? 00:20:04.840 --> 00:20:06.000 Then verse 21 says, 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:10.500 But the temple he spoke of was his body. 00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:18.940 What happens here is Jesus links the destruction of his body and the destruction of the temple. 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:24.180 These words of Jesus are going to be thrown back to him within a couple of days. 00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:26.340 And so in Matthew 26 verse 62, 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:28.940 This is what he said just after his arrest. 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.500 Finally, 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:32.580 Two came forward and declared, 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.840 This fellow said, 00:20:34.100 --> 00:20:37.259 I'm able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. 00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:39.500 And again, 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:43.460 After Jesus has been nailed to the cross and he's there bleeding and dying, 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:45.500 Matthew 27 says, 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:49.779 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:51.460 Shaking their heads and saying, 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:55.259 You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.599 Save yourself. 00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:00.559 You see, 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:06.079 Within days of instructing his disciples about the destruction of the temple, 00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:08.619 Jesus' body will be destroyed. 00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:15.839 He is preparing his disciples for the destruction of his body by crucifixion, 00:21:16.219 --> 00:21:23.539 Which coincides with the destruction of the temple as the way that you have access to God. 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:28.899 And it will look like a calamity. 00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:33.960 It will feel like a calamity. 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.880 For the disciples of Jesus, 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.259 Their king, 00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:38.040 Their Messiah, 00:21:38.580 --> 00:21:39.240 Their teacher, 00:21:39.820 --> 00:21:40.500 Their leader, 00:21:41.100 --> 00:21:46.980 As he hangs on a cross and he's bleeding in a painful death, 00:21:47.300 --> 00:21:49.800 And as the sky goes dark, 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:50.900 Read on the rest of Matthew, 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:51.960 You'll see the links here. 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:55.500 The sky goes dark and the earth shakes, 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:59.660 And as the disciples disperse and run to the hills, 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:03.160 It will look like a failure. 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:09.299 His disciples will see him and it will appear that all is lost. 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.160 They've lost. 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.460 Jesus is lost. 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:14.000 The kingdom is lost. 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:20.319 And the temptation in that moment will be to abandon Jesus and go, 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.279 Well, that one's dead. 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:22.420 Where's our next Messiah? 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:22.460 Where's our next Messiah? 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:29.859 And Jesus is here getting them ready for it. 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:32.119 Hang in there. 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:35.440 Because three days later in his resurrection, 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:37.539 A brand new way to God will be opened up, 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.119 A new hope, 00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:38.819 A new life. 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:39.619 You see, 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:44.720 What looks like a failure in this moment will be turned around for success. 00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:47.680 And this is the gospel of the kingdom. 00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:50.099 The gospel means good news. 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:56.299 It is the good news that the death of Jesus on the cross was not lost, 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.079 But in fact, 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:57.639 Gain. 00:23:01.159 --> 00:23:04.679 The death and resurrection are the victory of the king, 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:06.639 Not the defeat of the king. 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:09.779 The good news is for all people, 00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:10.679 For all nations. 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:11.839 And this, 00:23:11.959 --> 00:23:12.399 My friends, 00:23:12.459 --> 00:23:13.839 Is Jesus' mission. 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:16.799 The disciples have not yet picked it up. 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:21.899 The gospel of the kingdom is the good news that at the coming of Jesus, 00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:25.859 God moved into this world in an unprecedented way. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:29.980 And he dealt with sin in a new way on the cross. 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:32.059 He is gathering a people in a new way. 00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:36.220 He's empowering his representatives in a new way. 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:39.900 And in all this, 00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:42.039 He reigns as king. 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:45.360 This is the coming and the advancement of his kingdom. 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:47.240 And so they are not to be afraid. 00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:51.640 They are not to be rocked by the circumstances that look like failure and loss. 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:53.740 The destruction of the temple, 00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:55.279 And the death of Jesus, 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:58.519 Are all part of God's eternal plan. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:02.860 And they will be part of it too. 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:05.579 They will be scared. 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:09.199 They will be frightened. 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.379 They will be weak. 00:24:11.219 --> 00:24:14.699 But they are not to give up on Jesus' mission. 00:24:14.899 --> 00:24:19.879 God's plan and purposes surround this gospel advancing to the ends of the world. 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.119 Verse 14, 00:24:21.179 --> 00:24:22.240 In this gospel of the kingdom, 00:24:22.399 --> 00:24:26.599 We preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations. 00:24:26.979 --> 00:24:29.419 And then the end will come. 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:32.660 Notice here, 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:37.279 The end of history is linked to the advancement of the gospel. 00:24:40.840 --> 00:24:42.500 Jesus links the two together. 00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:47.860 The proclamation of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. 00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:51.080 He's linked to the end of all history. 00:24:52.100 --> 00:24:53.420 That is God's agenda. 00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:59.539 This is the great hope of the mission's enterprise. 00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:01.440 This is the great work of mission. 00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.500 Cannot fail. 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:04.460 The gospel will not fail. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:10.279 And so I think Jesus' pastoral encouragement here is very timely for his mates. 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:19.240 Because what they will soon discover is that the price of the mission's enterprise will be very high. 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:24.799 Not so high that it's not worth it, but very high. 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:36.880 The promise of the kingdom not failing will not happen without the price of opposition and suffering and sacrifice. 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:40.980 Did you hear that? 00:25:42.760 --> 00:25:49.760 The promise of the kingdom not failing, the promise of victory, of the gospel going to the ends of the earth, 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:57.060 will not happen without the price of opposition and suffering and sacrifice. 00:25:57.740 --> 00:26:04.580 As Christ suffered, so all will his followers as they get on with his agenda. 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.759 Verse 9, 00:26:06.399 --> 00:26:10.240 Then you'll be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, 00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:13.740 and you'll be hated by all nations because of me. 00:26:14.419 --> 00:26:17.919 The disciples will face persecution at the hands of the local religious groups. 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:23.199 They would also suffer at the secular state and bear witness, powerful witness to Christ. 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:28.059 They would experience intense personal hatred. 00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:39.460 And as that persecution comes, they will be propelled out of Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 00:26:40.419 --> 00:26:42.960 And the gospel will be proclaimed to all nations. 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:48.639 And it will come at the high price of their suffering. 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:56.280 And so these are dangerous times for the disciples because when they suffer and sacrifice, 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:58.840 it will feel like Jesus isn't king. 00:26:58.839 --> 00:27:10.919 How can Jesus be on his throne and ruling all things by his powerful word when I rot in a prison cell? 00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:17.519 And so the warning here is watch out, verse 12, 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:21.059 because the love of most will grow gold. 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:29.579 See, again, in the midst of all this is the gospel advance is the temptation to abandon Jesus. 00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:37.759 Quite literally, it means the lawlessness, the wickedness will lead to the cooling off of love. 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:41.500 And the shock here is it's the majority. 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:45.180 It's the love of most will go cold. 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:48.180 The love of the majority will cool off. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:57.700 And quite noticeably, it is the cooling off towards love for God and love for his purposes to love people. 00:27:57.700 --> 00:28:08.279 It is the picture of gradually moving away from Christ and a lack of compassion for people who are lost. 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:13.299 It is a sad picture of a church in decline. 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:18.259 A church that's no longer engaged in mission. 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:26.420 It is the picture of a life-saving station that's forgetting to save people. 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:33.900 The contrast of those who cool off are those who stay with Christ through thick and thin. 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:37.940 Verse 13, he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:43.100 It's interesting that this verse is the repeat of Matthew 10, 22. 00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:45.900 Again, it says there in Matthew 10, 22, 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:50.279 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:58.379 In chapter 10, Jesus says that in the context of his 12 disciples going out to mission in Israel. 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:02.619 And here the context is again mission. 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:11.000 This time it is on the grandest scale of the mission to the nations and until the end of all time. 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:14.339 Verse 14 again, 00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:22.279 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations and then the end will come. 00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:32.539 So, let me just stand back and tell you what I think this passage is saying for us. 00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:37.639 The basic teaching here is quite pastoral of Jesus, I think. 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:42.519 And the basic teaching is keep watch. 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:46.539 Remember the question of the disciples? 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:50.220 They say, what will be the signs? 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:51.139 What do we need to look for? 00:29:51.659 --> 00:29:54.319 And Jesus says, keep watch. 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:58.139 But, in other words, be vigilant. 00:29:58.359 --> 00:29:58.939 Look hard. 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:04.500 But, not vigilant keeping watch for signs of the return of Jesus. 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:10.200 Because Jesus says, as you go through Matthew 24, 00:30:12.159 --> 00:30:15.819 that there will be a number of things which will happen, 00:30:16.159 --> 00:30:18.179 but don't trust any of the signs. 00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:22.179 None of them are conclusive in themselves. 00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:28.180 There is only one, one sure sign that you can trust 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:32.299 in terms of the timing of the coming of the Lord Jesus. 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:34.799 And that is this. 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.980 When he comes. 00:30:38.100 --> 00:30:38.799 That's it. 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:41.920 That's when you know he's come. 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:43.259 It's when he's here. 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:48.799 And he says, don't be sidetracked by all the signs. 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:50.380 Be vigilant, he says. 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.120 Keep watch. 00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:54.100 Be ready for his return. 00:30:55.480 --> 00:31:00.500 What all Christians must be vigilant at and watch for 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:03.240 is their relationship with Christ. 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:08.220 They are always to be ready to meet their maker. 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:14.519 The rest of chapter 24 and end of 25, 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:18.620 I think Jesus outlines what is really important to watch. 00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:22.519 So, read it when you go home, the rest of 24 and 25. 00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:24.660 In the parable of the faithful servant, 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:28.440 Jesus told his disciples to avoid worldly sin 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:33.319 and the threat of being overcome by the attractiveness of living in this world, 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:35.940 the attractiveness of sin in this world. 00:31:36.119 --> 00:31:37.019 End of chapter 24. 00:31:37.379 --> 00:31:39.160 In the parable of the ten virgins, 00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:42.460 some of the virgins are not ready when the day of reckonings come 00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:44.000 and they are shut out of the kingdom. 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.579 The parable of the talents, 00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:48.539 Jesus spoke of himself going away on a journey 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:52.500 and in the meantime, the servants are to be fruitful with the talents 00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:54.279 in which they have been entrusted, 00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:57.619 getting on with the king's business. 00:31:57.619 --> 00:32:04.679 He says, watch out for those things. 00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:11.739 Watch out that your agenda is aligned to my agenda for the world. 00:32:13.639 --> 00:32:15.419 And so the question that I have for us is, 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.659 are you cooling off? 00:32:17.079 --> 00:32:19.019 Have you gone cold? 00:32:20.379 --> 00:32:24.799 It will most likely be reflected in cooling towards people, 00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:28.159 especially reflected in God's global agenda 00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:29.799 for his gospel to go out in the world, 00:32:30.159 --> 00:32:34.159 whether you actually care whether people are actually one. 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:38.119 On one level, 00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:41.399 the apostle Paul could have said 00:32:41.399 --> 00:32:44.460 that his missionary endeavors were fulfilled. 00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:46.399 That is, on one level, you could say 00:32:46.399 --> 00:32:51.000 the apostle Paul filled verse 14 by 70 AD. 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:54.019 That is, he took the nation, 00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:56.519 the gospel as far as Rome. 00:32:57.839 --> 00:33:00.279 The gospel did go out to the nations. 00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:07.279 But how do I know it's not fulfilled? 00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:08.539 Completely? 00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:10.980 Because the end hasn't come. 00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:14.400 And because the end hasn't come, 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:16.039 we're to keep going on with it. 00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:18.400 We are to keep doing it 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:19.980 until the end comes. 00:33:21.339 --> 00:33:22.279 That's the job. 00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:24.119 It doesn't matter whether, 00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:26.500 how we view it or how we interpret it. 00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.200 The reality is, 00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:29.299 until the end comes, 00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:31.759 we're to keep getting on with it. 00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:33.460 God's agenda. 00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:34.880 And how do I know that? 00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:37.500 Because Brian really helpfully pointed me on Saturday 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:39.400 to 2 Peter chapter 3. 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:43.480 It links our mission enterprise again 00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:44.900 with the end of all things. 00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:48.759 But do not forget this one thing, 00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:49.400 dear friends, 00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:50.060 with the Lord, 00:33:50.140 --> 00:33:51.440 a day is like a thousand years 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:53.140 and a thousand years is like a day. 00:33:54.100 --> 00:33:56.300 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promises. 00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:57.860 Some understand slowness. 00:33:58.340 --> 00:33:59.080 So in other words, 00:33:59.160 --> 00:33:59.880 hang in there. 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:02.380 God is still on his throne. 00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.560 He's working out his purposes. 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:04.800 Maybe not in your time, 00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:06.080 not in your pace, 00:34:06.120 --> 00:34:07.140 but he's working it out. 00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:11.320 And why is he so slow? 00:34:12.220 --> 00:34:14.500 He is patient with you, 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:17.059 not wanting anyone to perish, 00:34:17.700 --> 00:34:19.920 but everyone to come to repentance. 00:34:21.140 --> 00:34:21.940 And then verse 10, 00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:23.619 but the day of the Lord will come like a thief 00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:25.139 and the heavens will disappear with a roar. 00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:26.920 The elements will be destroyed by fire 00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:28.320 and the earth and everything in it 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:29.139 will be laid bare. 00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:32.579 It talks about the end of history 00:34:32.579 --> 00:34:34.720 and why is it delayed? 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:38.320 Because God wants people to come to know Christ. 00:34:41.720 --> 00:34:43.000 Massive words of encouragement 00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:44.920 would appear that God isn't doing everything 00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:46.059 he can to save people. 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:47.780 Massive words of encouragement 00:34:47.780 --> 00:34:50.059 when you hear 13 people that get baptized 00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:51.440 and 11 of them are killed. 00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:58.340 Billions of people moving into a crisis of eternity. 00:34:59.320 --> 00:35:00.440 God has all the power 00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.300 and sometimes you wonder, 00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:02.579 what are you doing, God? 00:35:03.320 --> 00:35:05.220 You could do it just like that. 00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:11.519 God doesn't want anyone to perish. 00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:16.980 And he wants us to align our priorities with his. 00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:21.079 That is, the end doesn't come because, 00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:26.179 it's not because he's waiting for me to fulfill my plans. 00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:30.719 He's waiting for me to work towards fulfilling his plans. 00:35:30.719 --> 00:35:34.519 That's really what he wants to see. 00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:36.859 And so I want us to call us as a church. 00:35:36.939 --> 00:35:38.219 This is Mission Pledge Sunday. 00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:40.539 And I want to call us as a church 00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:42.339 to align ourselves with God's agenda, 00:35:42.439 --> 00:35:43.579 to walk towards his goal, 00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:45.099 to make the sacrifices. 00:35:46.899 --> 00:35:49.159 If the gospel is to go to the nations, 00:35:49.279 --> 00:35:52.459 it will be the result of hardship and persecution and sacrifices. 00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:57.340 For some of us, it may be including that number of 11. 00:35:57.340 --> 00:36:00.800 But for all of us who are in Christ, 00:36:00.900 --> 00:36:03.380 it certainly means, at the very least, 00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:05.579 sacrifice of prayer and giving. 00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:11.380 So I want to call you to give today. 00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:16.039 Don't allow the events and the affairs of this world to distract you, 00:36:16.659 --> 00:36:18.599 you know, because the finances aren't reaching 00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:19.900 and the kids aren't compliant 00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:21.259 and things are tough at work 00:36:21.259 --> 00:36:24.380 and the relationship ain't working out so well, 00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:25.559 to distract you 00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:28.860 or cause you to question the kingdom rule of the Lord Jesus. 00:36:28.860 --> 00:36:32.880 Revelation just reveals to me 00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:35.660 that Jesus is sitting on his throne 00:36:35.660 --> 00:36:38.559 and it looks out the scope of history 00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:43.140 and he has never lost control of his world. 00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:45.160 And his plans, 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:47.260 even though they don't look like it to me 00:36:47.260 --> 00:36:49.900 in the minutia of details here in Chatswood, 00:36:50.340 --> 00:36:54.360 his plans are always proceeding and advancing. 00:36:56.140 --> 00:36:58.460 That is the hope of the missions enterprise. 00:36:58.860 --> 00:37:02.039 He sits over all of histories. 00:37:02.700 --> 00:37:04.980 His purposes are coming to fruition. 00:37:05.680 --> 00:37:06.800 And so, my friends, 00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:10.700 join him in global impact 00:37:10.700 --> 00:37:13.260 and speed his coming. 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:16.720 May we all be able to say, 00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:18.480 not just with our mouths, 00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:19.500 but with our lives, 00:37:20.599 --> 00:37:22.039 come Lord Jesus, come. 00:37:22.820 --> 00:37:23.200 Amen.