WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.279 Now, I'm going to read together from Luke's gospel, Luke chapter 11, and we're reading verses 00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:21.240 ! Luke chapter 11, I think in the church Bibles, if you're following there, it's page 870. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:29.719 Luke chapter 11, reading from verse 29. Let's hear and read together in God's Word. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.420 Luke chapter 11, when the crowds were increasing, he began to say, 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:43.439 this generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:50.519 the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be 00:00:50.519 --> 00:00:56.920 to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this 00:00:56.920 --> 00:01:03.160 generation and condemn them. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. 00:01:04.040 --> 00:01:11.740 And behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with 00:01:11.740 --> 00:01:19.140 this generation and condemn it. For they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And behold, something 00:01:19.140 --> 00:01:27.159 greater than Jonah is here. No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, 00:01:27.159 --> 00:01:35.060 but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your 00:01:35.060 --> 00:01:41.060 eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light. But when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 00:01:41.060 --> 00:01:51.060 Therefore, be careful, lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, 00:01:51.140 --> 00:02:00.540 having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light. 00:02:00.900 --> 00:02:06.439 It says, the Word of God, and to His name be the praise and the glory. 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:15.759 There's a particular kind of conversation that most of us have probably had at some point in our lives, 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:20.639 maybe with a skeptical friend, or maybe with a member of our family who used to go to church, 00:02:21.259 --> 00:02:26.379 and who's kind of fallen away. Or maybe it's a conversation that you've had by yourself, 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:33.259 on a dark night, inside your head, a conversation that you've relayed maybe several times. And it 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:40.859 goes something like this, God, if you would only give me a sign, something big and undeniable, 00:02:41.379 --> 00:02:48.819 and then I'd believe, then I'd follow you, then I could be your disciple. But you're not, God. You're 00:02:48.819 --> 00:02:56.219 not being obvious enough. Well, in some ways, maybe that sounds a little bit like a reasonable request. 00:02:56.219 --> 00:03:03.639 It kind of sounds humble. I'm not asking for much, just for evidence so that I can believe God. 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:12.039 Show me something real, and I'm all in. Well, Jesus has a lot to say in response to a question 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:20.840 like that, and it's maybe not what we might first expect. So in our passage that David read for us in 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:26.379 Luke 11, the people are pressing in around Jesus, and they're looking for that very thing, 00:03:26.759 --> 00:03:34.460 shows a sign, they're saying. And Jesus doesn't say, okay, fair enough, here goes, here's something big. 00:03:35.860 --> 00:03:40.259 He says something much more searching, something much more uncomfortable, 00:03:41.659 --> 00:03:47.180 something that turns the question around on these people, and asks them, 00:03:47.180 --> 00:03:56.800 is a lack of a sign actually the issue here? Well, tonight, if you or somebody that you know 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:04.200 is considering the claims of the Bible, if you're thinking, God, if only you would give me a clear sign, 00:04:04.480 --> 00:04:12.840 clear, big, undeniable, that's all it would take for me to believe. Well, then this passage is for you. 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:17.180 And we're going to look through this passage together. We're going to do it in three parts. 00:04:18.019 --> 00:04:25.180 The sign seekers, the unlikely responders, and the light bearer. Okay, so first, the sign seekers. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:32.579 So what's really going on when we demand a clearer sign, when we demand more evidence? Well, the crowds 00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:38.240 have been coming to see Jesus as we've been going through Luke, and they're getting bigger and bigger. 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:44.900 They're getting more and more pressed in on him. And the people want to hear what Jesus has to say. 00:04:46.300 --> 00:04:52.259 But Jesus tells them not what they want to hear, but what they need to hear. Because the first thing 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:59.939 he says in verses 28 and 30 is, this generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign 00:04:59.939 --> 00:05:06.860 will be given to it except for the sign of Jonah. So that pretty blunt opening gambit, this is an evil 00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:16.460 generation. And this is a generation that hasn't simply made a mistake or missed the truth. The word 00:05:16.460 --> 00:05:25.319 that he uses for evil in the original language is an intentional, deliberate wickedness, knowing 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:34.120 and doing it anyway. It's a word for when something's actively corrupt. So these people are not just weak 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:41.860 or misguided. And the evidence that Jesus gives for his claim that these people are actively, intentionally 00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:47.500 choosing evil. That's not what we might expect either, because he doesn't point to their moral 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:54.040 failures, the things that they do or the things that they fail to do. He points to their sign seeking 00:05:54.040 --> 00:06:05.879 itself. So why is looking for a sign evil? Well, these people have seen plenty of signs. By now, Jesus has 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:11.600 healed a man with a withered hand. He's raised a widow's son from the dead. He's healed 10 lepers. He's 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:17.900 given sight to the blind. And then just before this exchange, he's cast out a demon and has left the man 00:06:17.899 --> 00:06:24.939 unable to speak. And the crowds have responded with absolute wonder. The religious leaders even accused him 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:34.419 of being of Beelzebub, of being of the devil, in order to cast out demons. In fact, if we just jump back a 00:06:34.419 --> 00:06:41.979 little bit, in verses 14 and 15 of this chapter, Jesus casts out a demon. And then in the very next verse, some 00:06:41.980 --> 00:06:48.080 people, to test him, were seeking from him a sign from heaven. So these people are always looking 00:06:48.080 --> 00:06:54.220 for something more. This is really important, because these people aren't asking for a sign 00:06:54.220 --> 00:07:01.160 because they haven't had one. They're asking for a sign because they haven't seen yet the particular 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:11.759 sign that they themselves want. You see, they want the conditions. They want to decide 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:19.300 what is a good sign and what isn't. What is a sign that Jesus is bringing in the kingdom of God? 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:25.800 Well, the sign that they want is one that would take faith out of their hands, that would force them 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:32.480 to believe on their own terms. They want the kind of evidence that they can control because they want 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:41.620 something spectacular and undeniable so that belief becomes unavoidable. They want a sign that's 00:07:41.620 --> 00:07:49.620 so irrepressible that it takes away the need for repentance and for faith. They want to be 00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:58.079 compelled to come to Jesus. But Jesus says, the only sign you're going to get is the sign of Jonah. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:06.780 So as we may well know, Jonah is a prophet in the Old Testament. He's called by God to go and preach 00:08:06.779 --> 00:08:17.000 to people who are in trouble. Those people are evil and Jonah doesn't want to go. And so he takes off 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:23.059 as far as he can in the opposite direction until he finds himself inside a giant fish. 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:30.399 We're in Luke, but in Matthew's account, Matthew makes it really clear that the meaning of the sign of 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:36.279 Jonah is, as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, so will the son of man 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:42.000 be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Well, Jesus is calling himself the son of man. 00:08:42.079 --> 00:08:48.799 That's himself he's referring to. And so the sign of Jonah, Jesus is saying, is the resurrection. 00:08:49.980 --> 00:08:57.779 Jesus is going to die and he's going to be in the grave, dead for three days, and he's going to rise 00:08:57.779 --> 00:09:07.100 again, similar to what happened to Jonah inside the fish. The one great, unrepeatable history-splitting 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:14.339 event that took place vindicates everything that Jesus said about himself, and it's coming. 00:09:16.079 --> 00:09:23.240 But notice what kind of sign it is, because it's not a fireworks display and it's not a spectacle. 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:32.779 It's a dead man walking out of a tomb, visible only to those who had eyes to see, and dismissed 00:09:32.779 --> 00:09:40.879 by those who were determined not to. The resurrection is not the kind of evidence that compels belief, 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:49.460 regardless of what your heart is like. It's exactly the kind of sign that requires a response of faith. 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:57.180 These people know the scripture. They know their traditions. They know the story of Jonah. 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:05.360 They know that Jesus is saying Jonah is a sign, a shadow of another resurrection that's going to come. 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:13.680 And this is where it lands, I think, with a jolt for us, because we live on the other side 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:21.500 of that other resurrection. The sign of Jonah has been given, and the tomb is also empty. 00:10:22.339 --> 00:10:28.579 The evidence has been laid out. We've got the testimony of the eyewitnesses who saw Jesus after 00:10:28.579 --> 00:10:35.239 he was risen. We've got the transformation of the disciples. We've got the explosion of the early church 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:43.799 from being a handful of people locked up in a room to a movement that turned the entire Roman Empire 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:50.100 upside down. And the question that Jesus is really pressing in verse 29 is not, 00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:57.620 why haven't I given you more evidence? But what is it in you that keeps refusing the evidence that's 00:10:57.620 --> 00:11:04.019 already been given? That's the question that Jesus is asking them. And if we're here tonight and 00:11:04.019 --> 00:11:08.819 our faith is not in Jesus, well, we've been asked exactly the same question. 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:15.039 What is it that's keeping you from believing? Because the signs are all there. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:23.000 So Jesus goes on to develop this idea a little bit further in the next two paragraphs, which takes us 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:30.639 to our second point tonight, the unlikely responders. Jesus calls on two witnesses to show us what a genuine 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:35.960 response looks like. So this is in verses 31-32. He says, 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:39.259 the queen of the south will rise up at the judgment and the men of this generation 00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:45.039 with the men of this generation and condemn them. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:47.679 and this generation and condemn it. 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:51.779 So these are two deliberately dramatic 00:11:51.779 --> 00:11:53.939 verses from Jesus. 00:11:53.940 --> 00:11:57.680 Deliberately dramatic in the ears of these first century 00:11:57.680 --> 00:11:59.660 hearers because he reaches into 00:11:59.660 --> 00:12:01.280 history and he pulls out 00:12:01.280 --> 00:12:03.260 two highly unlikely 00:12:03.260 --> 00:12:04.260 witnesses. 00:12:05.300 --> 00:12:07.140 And he holds them up to the people 00:12:07.140 --> 00:12:09.180 and he says, 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:11.460 he's called these people an 00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:13.440 evil generation and he 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:14.620 says, they got it. 00:12:15.560 --> 00:12:17.520 These people far from 00:12:17.520 --> 00:12:19.240 us, far from God, they got it. 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:20.960 But you don't. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:24.180 So the first witness, the queen of the south. 00:12:25.019 --> 00:12:26.780 So we can read about that in the Old Testament 00:12:26.780 --> 00:12:28.860 in 1 Kings chapter 10. 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:31.120 She hears about this man in Jerusalem 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:32.620 who's incredibly wise 00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:35.480 and she travels over a thousand miles 00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:36.639 to hear Solomon's 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:37.580 wisdom. 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:41.040 And Jesus says she came from the ends of the earth. 00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:42.500 She actually came from 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:44.780 southern Arabia. I think that's 00:12:44.780 --> 00:12:46.480 roughly where Yemen is today. 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:48.960 But that phrase, the ends of the 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:50.240 earth, is a reference to 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:52.820 Gentile foreigners, people 00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:54.299 outside of the 00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:56.200 religious tradition, people who are 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:58.399 firmly outside of Israel. 00:12:58.980 --> 00:13:00.100 She's no Jewish heritage. 00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:02.399 She's no covenant background. 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:04.600 She's no long-standing 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:06.340 theological tradition 00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:07.519 to rely on. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:09.600 She heard a rumor. 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:12.399 She heard about this man 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:14.480 and she came to find out more. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.500 And when she arrived and she 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:18.299 heard Solomon speak, she responded 00:13:18.299 --> 00:13:19.740 with wonder and worship 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:21.939 and outpouring of generosity. 00:13:22.939 --> 00:13:24.479 She came, she heard, 00:13:24.719 --> 00:13:25.500 she believed. 00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:28.299 And then the punchline 00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:29.019 Jesus delivers 00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:30.419 is devastating. 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:31.899 He says, 00:13:32.719 --> 00:13:34.019 something greater than Solomon 00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:34.419 is here. 00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:37.439 The one standing in front of the crowd 00:13:37.439 --> 00:13:39.479 isn't just a wise teacher. 00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:41.840 He's the eternal 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:42.800 son of God. 00:13:43.560 --> 00:13:44.940 Wisdom incarnate. 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:47.759 1 Corinthians 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:49.100 1.24 00:13:49.100 --> 00:13:49.759 says that Jesus 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:50.980 is the power of God 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:52.180 and the wisdom 00:13:52.180 --> 00:13:52.800 of God. 00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:54.940 Solomon was given 00:13:54.940 --> 00:13:55.379 wisdom, 00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:56.740 but Jesus 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.639 is wisdom. 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.060 And while this 00:14:00.060 --> 00:14:01.180 queen was humble enough 00:14:01.180 --> 00:14:02.500 to travel all this way, 00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:03.680 to hear Solomon, 00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:05.360 to hear Solomon speak, 00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:06.159 to hear his wisdom, 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:08.500 this evil generation 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:09.559 that Jesus is addressing, 00:14:09.939 --> 00:14:10.480 they can't make 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:11.219 the short journey 00:14:11.219 --> 00:14:13.219 from unbelief 00:14:13.219 --> 00:14:14.000 to faith. 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:16.659 The second witness 00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:17.639 or group 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:18.179 of witnesses 00:14:18.179 --> 00:14:19.699 are probably even 00:14:19.699 --> 00:14:20.319 more striking 00:14:20.319 --> 00:14:21.199 than the queen 00:14:21.199 --> 00:14:21.779 of Sheba. 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:24.139 Nineveh 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:24.759 was the capital 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:25.759 of the Assyrian 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.199 empire. 00:14:28.199 --> 00:14:28.439 Nineveh 00:14:28.439 --> 00:14:28.879 is where 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:30.419 God sends Jonah, 00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:31.919 which is mentioned. 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:34.000 It's also mentioned, 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:34.480 Nineveh 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:35.279 is also mentioned 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:35.639 in the book 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:36.600 of Nahum, 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:38.539 who's another prophet. 00:14:39.560 --> 00:14:40.300 And the city's 00:14:40.300 --> 00:14:41.720 called the bloody city. 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.460 They were cruel 00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:44.480 and bloodthirsty 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:45.379 and they were an enemy 00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:46.080 to Israel. 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:48.039 When God told Jonah 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:48.600 to go and preach 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.039 to them, 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:50.259 Jonah ran 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:51.300 in the opposite direction 00:14:51.300 --> 00:14:52.680 precisely because 00:14:52.680 --> 00:14:53.200 he knew 00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:54.740 they were Israel's enemies. 00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:57.360 He wasn't just afraid 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:58.200 of what they might do, 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:58.840 but he didn't want 00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.659 them to be saved. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:02.659 Jonah didn't want 00:15:02.659 --> 00:15:02.980 to go, 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:04.060 didn't want to preach, 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:06.500 but he did 00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:09.139 via a great fish 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:09.840 and he delivered 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.840 what's probably 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:11.980 the most reluctant 00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:13.259 sermon in the whole 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:13.879 of the Bible. 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:15.259 Five words 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:16.100 in the original Hebrew, 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.700 40 days 00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:18.639 and Nineveh 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.539 will be overthrown. 00:15:21.180 --> 00:15:22.259 But what happened? 00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:24.560 The whole city 00:15:24.560 --> 00:15:25.340 repented 00:15:25.340 --> 00:15:26.500 from the king 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:26.940 on the throne 00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:27.639 to the cattle 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:28.720 in the field. 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:30.340 They fasted, 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:31.279 they mourned, 00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:31.700 they put on 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:32.620 mourning clothes, 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:34.179 they responded 00:15:34.179 --> 00:15:34.899 to a half-hearted 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.580 message 00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:36.779 from a reluctant 00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:37.259 preacher 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.960 with complete, 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.220 immediate, 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:41.120 and total 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:41.759 repentance. 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:44.560 And Jesus says, 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:45.679 something greater 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:46.139 than Jonah 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:46.600 is here. 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:47.960 Jesus is not 00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:48.759 a reluctant prophet. 00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:50.299 He's not been 00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:51.139 dragged into this 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.440 mission. 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.299 The son of God 00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:53.759 who dwelt 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.600 in glorious 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.220 perfection 00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:56.460 came willingly 00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:57.419 into the world 00:15:57.419 --> 00:15:58.639 to preach 00:15:58.639 --> 00:15:59.360 with perfect 00:15:59.360 --> 00:15:59.960 authority 00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:01.480 and compassion 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:03.439 to perform 00:16:03.439 --> 00:16:04.620 many miraculous 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:05.319 signs 00:16:05.319 --> 00:16:05.980 in front of 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:06.519 their eyes. 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:08.120 And the generation 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.139 that's seen this, 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:10.580 all of this, 00:16:11.199 --> 00:16:12.240 stands unmoved 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:14.319 while the evil 00:16:14.319 --> 00:16:15.179 Ninevites 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:16.399 repented 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:17.019 at the message 00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:17.939 that barely got out 00:16:17.939 --> 00:16:18.519 of the preacher's 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:19.220 reluctant mouth. 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:21.159 I mean, 00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:21.679 can you feel 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:22.159 the weight 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:22.879 of what Jesus 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.299 is saying 00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:23.879 to these people? 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:25.480 He's not 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:26.279 mocking them. 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:28.179 He's being urgent. 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:31.139 The comparison 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:31.740 with the Queen 00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:32.279 of Sheba 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:33.459 and the Ninevites 00:16:33.459 --> 00:16:34.339 is not primarily 00:16:34.339 --> 00:16:35.419 condemnation. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.600 It's a wake-up call. 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:38.319 He's saying, 00:16:39.179 --> 00:16:39.679 look how little 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:40.399 it took for them 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:41.039 to respond. 00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.159 Look how much 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:43.819 it's taken 00:16:43.819 --> 00:16:45.299 for you. 00:16:45.439 --> 00:16:45.919 Look how much 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:46.679 you have got 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:47.819 and how little 00:16:47.819 --> 00:16:48.360 you've moved. 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:50.740 So, 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.600 how is that? 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:52.419 What's going on? 00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:53.839 How can these 00:16:53.839 --> 00:16:54.740 ignorant outsiders 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:56.259 go from 00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.399 a place of 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:57.980 unbelief 00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:59.120 to faith 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.080 and the people 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:00.500 right in front 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:00.879 of Jesus 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.620 aren't? 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:03.600 Well, 00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.640 God says in Jonah 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.460 that the Ninevites 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:06.500 didn't know 00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.099 their left hand 00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:07.980 from their right hand. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:08.740 They were ignorant 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:10.700 but they accepted 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.379 the message. 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:13.500 The people 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.240 he's speaking to 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.079 have had generations 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:16.839 of benefits, 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:17.920 teaching, 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:18.599 tradition 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:20.619 and they failed 00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:20.940 to hear 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.799 an even clearer 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.319 message. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:25.099 in the 18th 00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:25.439 century, 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:26.980 the philosopher 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.599 David Hume, 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.240 Edinburgh boy, 00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:30.139 he wrote a paper 00:17:30.139 --> 00:17:31.720 called On Miracles 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:33.259 and in that 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:33.819 he mounted 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:35.019 what he considered 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.779 to be a decisive 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:36.879 argument against 00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:37.700 the possibility 00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:38.740 of miracles 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.519 taking place. 00:17:40.659 --> 00:17:41.039 Essentially, 00:17:41.179 --> 00:17:41.639 he argued 00:17:41.639 --> 00:17:42.919 that it's never 00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:43.799 rational to believe 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:44.279 in miracles 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:45.819 because the evidence 00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:47.039 for violation 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:48.200 of natural law 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:49.000 can never 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.700 outweigh the 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:50.860 uniform experience 00:17:50.860 --> 00:17:51.819 against it. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.100 So Hume 00:17:53.100 --> 00:17:54.799 always maintained 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:56.620 that it's more 00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:57.500 probable that 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:58.740 witnesses are 00:17:58.740 --> 00:18:00.600 mistaken or lying 00:18:00.600 --> 00:18:01.940 than it is 00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.920 for a miracle 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:04.100 to take place. 00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:05.819 But here's the thing, 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.019 his objection 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.819 isn't about 00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.400 evidence, 00:18:09.860 --> 00:18:11.400 it's about 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.039 his prior 00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:12.539 commitment. 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:14.640 He's already 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:15.500 decided before 00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.299 looking at any 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.220 miraculous claim 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.819 that no evidence 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.639 can be good 00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:20.059 enough. 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.240 The conclusion 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:22.740 that he comes 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.159 to is already 00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:23.679 built into 00:18:23.679 --> 00:18:24.139 his premise. 00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:26.679 He wasn't 00:18:26.679 --> 00:18:27.299 engaged in 00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:28.139 open-minded 00:18:28.139 --> 00:18:29.059 inquiry. 00:18:29.899 --> 00:18:30.480 He wasn't 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:31.279 letting the 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:31.980 evidence fall 00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:32.460 where it might 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:32.839 lie. 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.139 He was 00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:34.779 protecting a 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.679 predetermined 00:18:35.679 --> 00:18:36.599 verdict that he 00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.859 decided in his 00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:38.159 head. 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.480 And Jesus is 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:39.839 saying, 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:41.500 this is what's 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.159 happening with 00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:42.799 this generation. 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.379 Jesus is saying 00:18:45.379 --> 00:18:46.099 that the signs 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:46.500 he can, 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:47.619 it's not 00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:48.220 genuine 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:48.839 openness, 00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.680 it's a request 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:52.180 for the kind 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:53.160 of overwhelming 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:55.039 resistance 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.640 bypassing 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:57.200 proof 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.440 that would 00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.120 make faith 00:18:59.120 --> 00:18:59.920 unnecessary 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:01.640 and repentance 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:02.539 unnecessary as 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:02.819 well. 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:11.100 So why 00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:15.079 can Jesus 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:17.259 make this 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:17.539 claim? 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:20.720 Why are 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:21.119 these people 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:21.579 looking for 00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:21.919 a sign 00:19:21.919 --> 00:19:22.319 when so 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:22.720 many signs 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:22.939 have been 00:19:22.939 --> 00:19:23.179 given? 00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.159 Jesus is 00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:27.579 connecting 00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:28.740 sign-seeking 00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:30.519 to an inner 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.419 condition. 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:35.019 And he's 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.279 going to go 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.720 on to say 00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:36.839 that in 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:37.439 point three. 00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:39.679 Jesus says 00:19:39.679 --> 00:19:41.480 in point three, 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:41.940 sorry, 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:42.259 I've lost 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:42.759 my place. 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.120 That the 00:19:50.120 --> 00:19:50.559 reason that 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.099 this generation 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:52.380 can't see the 00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:52.839 signs that are 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:53.319 right in front 00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:53.599 of them is 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:55.059 not due to 00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:55.599 a lack of 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.039 light. 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.160 It's not 00:19:57.160 --> 00:19:57.819 because there's 00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:58.860 not sufficient 00:19:58.860 --> 00:19:59.400 evidence, 00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:00.120 but it's 00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:01.059 because their 00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:01.759 capacity to 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.400 receive that 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:03.640 evidence is 00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:04.019 broken. 00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:05.420 Well, 00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.000 Jesus says, 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.620 your eye is 00:20:06.620 --> 00:20:07.240 the lamp of 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:07.660 the body. 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.940 So in the 00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:09.740 ancient world, 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:12.040 the eye was 00:20:12.040 --> 00:20:13.080 understood not 00:20:13.080 --> 00:20:13.600 just to be the 00:20:13.600 --> 00:20:14.360 receiver of 00:20:14.360 --> 00:20:15.560 light, but a 00:20:15.560 --> 00:20:16.360 transmitter of 00:20:16.360 --> 00:20:16.620 light. 00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:18.240 So through 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:18.860 your eye you 00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:19.460 see, but 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:19.800 through your 00:20:19.800 --> 00:20:20.400 eye you also 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.200 receive light, 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:21.620 which then 00:20:21.620 --> 00:20:22.140 lights your 00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:23.279 whole body. 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.620 And in the 00:20:25.620 --> 00:20:26.480 original language, 00:20:27.080 --> 00:20:28.400 the words that 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:28.880 are used to 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.740 describe the 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:32.440 eye in our 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:34.380 passage, we've 00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:35.220 got bad in 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:35.680 English. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:37.560 but actually 00:20:37.560 --> 00:20:38.400 it's the same 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:38.960 word that he 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.420 uses to 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:40.019 describe the 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.860 evil generation. 00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:41.400 He's talking 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:41.720 about an 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.460 evil eye. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:45.500 This evil 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:47.460 generation has 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:48.200 an evil eye. 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:48.740 It seeks a 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.240 sign because 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:49.940 its eye is 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:51.460 evil, clouded, 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:54.000 distorted, aimed 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.920 at something 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:57.160 wrong, serving 00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:58.340 divided masters, 00:20:59.100 --> 00:20:59.779 not seeing 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:00.400 clearly. 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.240 Jesus uses an 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:03.840 interesting word 00:21:03.840 --> 00:21:04.279 for a healthy 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:04.700 eye too. 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.019 Because the 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.380 word that he 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:06.940 uses for the 00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:08.500 healthy eye is 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.820 single or 00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:10.960 undivided. 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:12.900 So Jesus is 00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:14.240 connecting, sign 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.140 seeking, looking 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:15.880 for more and 00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:16.660 more evidence, 00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:17.900 when plenty 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.980 evidence exists, 00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.380 to an inner 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:20.920 condition. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.680 It's not really 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:23.360 about the eye, 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:24.779 but it's about 00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:25.279 the heart. 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.880 The light's on. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:29.060 It's their 00:21:29.060 --> 00:21:29.840 capacity to 00:21:29.840 --> 00:21:31.680 receive it that's 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.019 broken. 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:34.460 God's 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:34.519 trying to 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.319 evaluate Jesus. 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.180 They're looking 00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.740 at Jesus and 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.180 trying to make a 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.900 decision about 00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:38.400 whether he's 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:38.759 telling the 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.220 truth, whether 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.740 he is in 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.460 fact the 00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:40.960 light of the 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.480 world as he 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:41.960 tells us that 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:42.920 he is in 00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:43.279 John. 00:21:44.180 --> 00:21:44.759 But they're 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.119 doing it with 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:45.960 eyes that 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:46.379 can't see 00:21:46.379 --> 00:21:46.740 clearly. 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.000 Their 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:49.500 priorities are 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:50.740 already distorted. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:53.139 Their will is 00:21:53.139 --> 00:21:53.940 already set 00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:55.139 against repentance. 00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:58.480 And here, I 00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:00.460 think, at the 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:00.920 end of this 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:02.420 part, it 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:02.860 becomes the 00:22:02.860 --> 00:22:03.700 most searching 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.200 line in the 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:04.840 entire passage. 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.740 Jesus says, 00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:07.759 therefore be 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.620 careful lest the 00:22:08.620 --> 00:22:09.500 light in you 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.740 be darkness. 00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:13.120 So Jesus 00:22:13.120 --> 00:22:13.520 says it's 00:22:13.520 --> 00:22:14.120 possible not 00:22:14.120 --> 00:22:15.420 just to be 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:16.759 in darkness, 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.259 but to 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.420 mistake your 00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:21.140 darkness for 00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:21.580 light. 00:22:22.580 --> 00:22:23.300 So to have a 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.180 religious framework, 00:22:24.919 --> 00:22:25.659 a set of 00:22:25.659 --> 00:22:26.079 confident 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:27.700 convictions, a 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.419 well-developed 00:22:28.419 --> 00:22:30.159 theology, and 00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:30.680 to be so 00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:31.480 thoroughly in the 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.000 dark that you 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.559 think you're 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:32.859 fine. 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.159 The Pharisees 00:22:35.159 --> 00:22:35.720 thought that they 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.039 were the 00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:37.419 custodians of 00:22:37.419 --> 00:22:37.839 light. 00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:39.259 They thought 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.240 they knew what 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.500 light was and 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.019 wasn't. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:44.059 They were, by 00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.879 every external 00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:46.139 measure, the 00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:47.319 most serious 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.059 religious people 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:48.599 in Israel. 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:49.839 And Jesus 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:50.419 says to them, 00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:51.559 check whether 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.200 what you think 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.859 is light. 00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:54.339 is actually 00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:55.519 darkness. 00:22:57.159 --> 00:22:57.960 Because if your 00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.299 fundamental 00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:59.619 orientation towards 00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:01.399 God is wrong, 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:03.000 if your heart's 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:04.259 closed, if your 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.200 will's set against 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:06.480 him, if your 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.200 religious practice 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.059 is about being 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.759 seen by other 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:11.200 people, or to 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:11.960 make yourself feel 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:13.079 satisfied in your 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.859 own performance, 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.599 then your most 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:17.339 confident religious 00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:19.259 light might be 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.139 darkness through 00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:20.519 and through. 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.519 sin. 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.700 Since Adam and 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.960 Eve, in the 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:25.200 garden, since 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.440 they fell, our 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.139 capacity to 00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:27.799 receive and to 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.619 respond to 00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:30.039 truth, it's not 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:31.079 just intellectually 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:31.680 limited. 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.519 It's morally 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.500 compromised as 00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:34.720 well. 00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.839 So sin in us 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:37.480 means that we 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.319 are not 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.099 detached, 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.220 neutral, 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.940 neutral observers 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:43.460 of the evidence 00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.039 about Jesus. 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.839 we're not 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:46.480 looking at it 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:47.619 all from 00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:47.980 behind the 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.720 glass screen. 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:49.639 We're 00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:51.519 fallen, and 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.259 our desires are 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.940 distorted, our 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:54.599 egos are 00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:55.119 defensive. 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:57.500 We've got deep 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.539 instinctive 00:23:58.539 --> 00:24:00.240 resistance to 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.359 surrendering control 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:02.119 to anyone, 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:03.899 including to 00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:04.180 God. 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.899 Our eye is bad, 00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:08.200 and a bad eye 00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:09.080 doesn't know 00:24:09.080 --> 00:24:09.980 that it's bad. 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:11.620 Darkness doesn't 00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:12.580 announce itself as 00:24:12.580 --> 00:24:12.920 darkness. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.660 It announces 00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:15.560 itself as 00:24:15.560 --> 00:24:16.820 perfectly reasonable 00:24:16.820 --> 00:24:17.480 skepticism, 00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:20.000 as intellectual 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:21.840 rigor, as 00:24:21.840 --> 00:24:23.300 legitimate, fair 00:24:23.300 --> 00:24:25.740 questions, but 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:28.160 often right down 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:29.160 at root level. 00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:31.620 It's our will 00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:32.220 that's turned 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.000 away from God, 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:35.380 and we're 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:35.880 looking for 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:36.460 reasons to 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.079 stay that way. 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.680 Jesus says, 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:40.279 be careful, 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.200 lest the light 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.279 in you be 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:42.720 darkness. 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.579 It's one of the 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:45.480 most important 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.339 warnings in the 00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:46.880 whole of the 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:47.380 Gospels. 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:49.660 It's a warning 00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:50.200 addressed not 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.619 just to the 00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:51.460 Pharisees, not 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.079 just to the 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.900 21st century 00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.500 crowds that are 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.019 gathered around 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.720 Jesus, but to 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:56.019 everyone who 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:57.579 handles light, 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.279 religious light, 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:00.299 with confidence. 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:01.539 It's a warning 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:02.440 to preachers and 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:02.900 to elders, 00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:03.980 it's a warning 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:04.559 to people who 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.140 have sat in 00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:05.579 free church 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.279 pews their 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:07.039 entire lives, 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:08.200 who could 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:08.619 recite the 00:25:08.619 --> 00:25:09.259 catechism from 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.599 memory. 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:12.099 It's possible to 00:25:12.099 --> 00:25:12.660 know a great 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.539 deal about 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:15.039 light and yet 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:16.559 never be in 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:16.740 it. 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.859 So how can 00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:19.160 we know? 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.839 How do you 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.299 check whether 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:22.880 your eye is 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:23.440 good or your 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.160 eye is bad? 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.079 Well, the 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:27.480 primary test that 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:28.200 Jesus gives us 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:28.660 here in this 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:30.200 passage is 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:30.640 repentance. 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:30.860 repentance. 00:25:32.020 --> 00:25:32.240 So the 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.540 queen of 00:25:32.540 --> 00:25:33.080 Sheba came 00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:33.520 and she was 00:25:33.520 --> 00:25:33.960 changed. 00:25:34.620 --> 00:25:35.080 The Ninevites 00:25:35.080 --> 00:25:36.420 heard and they 00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:37.000 were changed. 00:25:37.860 --> 00:25:38.600 A healthy eye, 00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:39.440 one that's aimed 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:41.060 at Christ, it 00:25:41.060 --> 00:25:41.940 leads to genuine 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.700 transformation. 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.380 Have you been 00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:46.040 sitting under the 00:25:46.040 --> 00:25:47.820 word for years 00:25:47.820 --> 00:25:49.480 and your 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:50.500 fundamental posture 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.500 towards God 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.900 remains unchanged? 00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:54.040 If you're not 00:25:54.040 --> 00:25:54.519 more humble, 00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:56.259 more repentant, 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.680 more dependent 00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.500 on God, more 00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.280 loving towards 00:25:59.280 --> 00:25:59.820 other people, 00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:01.420 more desperate 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:02.660 for God's 00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:04.580 grace, we 00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:05.080 need to stop 00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:05.540 and ask 00:26:05.540 --> 00:26:06.940 ourselves whether 00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:07.680 the light that 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.360 we're pursuing, 00:26:08.780 --> 00:26:09.340 the light that 00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:09.759 we're standing 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.580 in is actually 00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:11.220 darkness. 00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:13.720 But here's the 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.140 good news, 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.900 and it is 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:17.900 great news. 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:21.160 Jesus doesn't 00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:21.759 just give us a 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.900 warning and 00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:23.320 leave it at 00:26:23.320 --> 00:26:23.580 that. 00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:25.140 He also gives 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.800 us a promise. 00:26:27.060 --> 00:26:27.460 He says in 00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.220 verse 36, 00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:29.440 if your whole 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.200 body is full of 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.960 light, having no 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:32.259 part dark, it 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.040 will be wholly 00:26:33.040 --> 00:26:34.420 bright as when a 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.800 lamp with its 00:26:35.800 --> 00:26:37.040 rays gives you 00:26:37.040 --> 00:26:37.400 light. 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.320 So Jesus talks a 00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:40.600 lot about lamps 00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:41.600 and light in the 00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:42.100 Gospels. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.380 In Matthew 5, 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.140 he says that 00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:45.480 we're to let our 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.360 light shine before 00:26:46.360 --> 00:26:47.060 others so that 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:48.000 they can see by 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:48.839 our good works, 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.619 our Savior, our 00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.240 Father who's in 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:51.500 heaven. 00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.559 Bright people 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:55.279 point others to 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:55.579 Jesus. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.299 But here in 00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.039 Luke, we get a 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:58.839 slightly different 00:26:58.839 --> 00:27:00.759 development, a 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.339 picture of 00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:02.480 ultimate 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:04.259 illumination, a 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.259 whole person, no 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:07.179 dark corners, but 00:27:07.179 --> 00:27:08.099 somebody flooded 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:09.299 with light. 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.859 You see, the 00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.779 passage isn't just 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.379 a warning about 00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:14.359 what we lack, 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.240 it's a promise 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:16.799 about what's 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:17.180 available. 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.059 Jesus is the 00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:19.399 light of the 00:27:19.399 --> 00:27:20.879 world, greater 00:27:20.879 --> 00:27:21.419 than Solomon, 00:27:21.879 --> 00:27:22.500 greater than 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:22.720 Jonah. 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.440 He gave us the 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.039 side of the 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.579 resurrection. 00:27:26.419 --> 00:27:27.339 When he went to 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:28.180 the cross willingly, 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.779 died for our sins 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.899 in our place, took 00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:31.559 the punishment that 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:33.159 we deserved, and 00:27:33.159 --> 00:27:33.839 he's the one that 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:35.819 opens blind eyes so 00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.720 that we can see it. 00:27:38.159 --> 00:27:39.180 We call Jesus the 00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:40.059 great physician. 00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:43.379 Do you know how 00:27:43.379 --> 00:27:44.440 great a physician he 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:44.759 is? 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:46.200 He can perform eye 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.960 surgery and heart 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.079 surgery at the 00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:48.599 same time. 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:51.420 If you ask him, he'll 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.720 take your bad eye and 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.259 make it good. 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:56.079 He'll take your heart 00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:57.700 that's turned away and 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.619 turn it back to him. 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:02.000 And in the end, he 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.379 will flood every 00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:05.140 corner of you with 00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:05.539 light. 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:07.160 Let's pray. 00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:10.920 Father, we confess 00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:11.620 that we are not 00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:13.019 always honest 00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:13.960 inquirers that we 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:14.800 imagine ourselves to 00:28:14.800 --> 00:28:14.980 be. 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.660 We confess that our 00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.480 resistance to you is 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.640 often deeper than our 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:19.140 questions. 00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:21.160 Forgive us for the 00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:22.220 times we've asked for 00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.880 more light when what 00:28:23.880 --> 00:28:25.880 we needed was open 00:28:25.880 --> 00:28:27.140 eyes to see the 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:27.700 light that's already 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.120 been given. 00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:30.300 Lord Jesus, you're 00:28:30.300 --> 00:28:31.340 greater than Solomon, 00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.100 greater than Jonah. 00:28:33.040 --> 00:28:33.759 You're the light of 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.160 the world. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:35.740 God, illuminate the 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.779 corners, the dark 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.340 corners of our 00:28:37.340 --> 00:28:37.700 hearts. 00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:41.980 Defend us from the 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:42.519 evil one. 00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.800 Help us to stand in 00:28:45.800 --> 00:28:46.200 your light. 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.640 Give us eyes that see 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:49.519 hearts willing to 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.940 repent for your glory 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:52.140 and for our good. 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.440 In Jesus' name. 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:54.220 Amen.