WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:04.060 Well, amen. If you have your Bible, it's Luke chapter number 13. Luke chapter number 13. 00:00:04.139 --> 00:00:07.620 ! If you're able to stand for the reading of God's Word, I ask that you would. Luke chapter 13. 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:09.620 Follow along on the screen there as well. 00:00:10.099 --> 00:00:11.740 It's good to be here in the Lord's house today. 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:14.960 Thank you for coming on a holiday weekend, being here. 00:00:15.179 --> 00:00:16.019 Hope you plan on staying. 00:00:16.100 --> 00:00:17.059 We have plenty of food. 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:18.300 We're going to have a great time. 00:00:18.580 --> 00:00:25.620 Right after the service, we'll just head out over to the pavilion where there's a jousting thing. 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:28.699 Like old school American gladiators, you know, you stand on the pedestal 00:00:28.699 --> 00:00:30.140 and you try to hit each other off. 00:00:31.599 --> 00:00:32.320 That's awesome. 00:00:32.859 --> 00:00:33.240 Yeah. 00:00:33.519 --> 00:00:34.780 So we're going to do that. 00:00:34.899 --> 00:00:36.899 And then we're going to have a cornhole tournament. 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:40.299 And a winning team gets a $50 gift card per person. 00:00:40.659 --> 00:00:42.340 And I'm here to win. 00:00:44.259 --> 00:00:47.039 But I'm also telling myself that I have to behave. 00:00:47.159 --> 00:00:47.799 I'm the pastor. 00:00:48.859 --> 00:00:50.859 I have to have a good attitude if I lose. 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:52.840 And so help me on that. 00:00:53.179 --> 00:00:54.739 And so that goes for you too, Brother Garrett. 00:00:55.100 --> 00:00:56.299 And on that stuff. 00:00:56.379 --> 00:00:57.260 But we're going to have a great time. 00:00:57.260 --> 00:00:58.179 Hope you plan on staying. 00:00:58.700 --> 00:00:59.700 And enjoying that. 00:00:59.760 --> 00:01:03.580 But I'm glad we can open up the Word of God and see what it has to say for us. 00:01:03.620 --> 00:01:05.840 We're walking through the Gospel of Luke. 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:07.680 And we're coming to the end of chapter number 13. 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:12.920 Really, chapter 12 and 13, Jesus is kind of reminding us that we must be ready. 00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:14.760 That He is coming back. 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:18.260 And even in His earthly ministry here, He's moving towards the cross. 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:23.100 So as time is running out, He is reminding us of some deep truths here. 00:01:23.140 --> 00:01:25.120 And that's what we're going to see here in verse 31. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.740 We'll read these few verses down to verse 35. 00:01:27.939 --> 00:01:29.359 Have a word of prayer and we'll jump right in. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:30.760 The Bible says this. 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:34.040 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees saying unto him, 00:01:34.540 --> 00:01:37.180 Get thee out and depart hence, for Herod will kill thee. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:40.859 And he said unto them, Go ye and tell that fox. 00:01:41.060 --> 00:01:42.140 I love this. 00:01:42.240 --> 00:01:44.640 I mean, Jesus is not playing around. 00:01:44.740 --> 00:01:46.320 Everybody's like, oh, Jesus is all love. 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:47.100 And He is love. 00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:48.900 But Jesus was on a mission. 00:01:49.660 --> 00:01:51.820 And Herod's trying to get him off that mission. 00:01:51.819 --> 00:02:21.799 And He said, 00:02:21.819 --> 00:02:39.159 Really, the whole idea of the book of Luke is found in chapter 19 where He says this. 00:02:39.519 --> 00:02:43.599 The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. 00:02:44.139 --> 00:02:50.780 And we see miracles and we see Jesus doing things and miraculous feedings and people being healed. 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:52.520 But that's not why Jesus came. 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:57.479 Jesus came and from before creation He was marching towards the cross. 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:02.020 In moments like this and in this interaction here with the Pharisees, 00:03:02.259 --> 00:03:04.719 He reminds us, I'm still on mission. 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:07.840 Nothing is going to change why He came. 00:03:08.039 --> 00:03:12.360 And it shows us not just the mission, but it shows us the compassion of Jesus. 00:03:13.060 --> 00:03:16.120 I'm thankful we serve a compassionate, loving Savior. 00:03:16.699 --> 00:03:17.500 He had a backbone. 00:03:17.639 --> 00:03:18.240 We see that. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:20.460 He's not afraid to stand up for the truth. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:21.280 He is truth. 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:25.460 But He also loved people even when they rejected Him. 00:03:25.540 --> 00:03:26.420 So let's go to the Lord in prayer. 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:28.800 Ask Him to help us this morning as we open His Word. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:30.040 Father, thank You for this time together. 00:03:30.180 --> 00:03:34.400 Thank You for the songs that have reminded us of the wonderful grace that You show us every single day. 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:37.500 Lord, we're thankful for how You love us. 00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:39.640 Lord, I pray You'd be with us now as we open up the Word. 00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:42.399 Lord, I pray that You would just help calm our hearts and our minds. 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:46.539 Lord, as we are excited about just hanging out and fellowshipping together. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:49.719 But Lord, help us to remember that we're here to hear from You. 00:03:49.819 --> 00:03:51.779 And not just to hear, but to respond. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:52.719 Lord, I pray You'd be with me. 00:03:52.819 --> 00:03:54.779 You would empty me of self, cleanse me of sin. 00:03:54.859 --> 00:03:55.979 Lord, fill me with Your Spirit. 00:03:56.459 --> 00:03:57.799 Give me the words You would have me to say. 00:03:57.839 --> 00:03:59.000 And we ask it in Christ's name. 00:03:59.579 --> 00:03:59.899 Amen. 00:04:00.079 --> 00:04:00.759 Thank you so much for standing. 00:04:00.819 --> 00:04:01.239 You may be seated. 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:06.439 Listen, some people love confrontation. 00:04:07.320 --> 00:04:08.480 They love conflict. 00:04:08.659 --> 00:04:10.260 They thrive off of it. 00:04:10.760 --> 00:04:14.080 You know, you ever heard of somebody that would fight at a drop of a hat? 00:04:14.920 --> 00:04:16.000 And they bring their own hat? 00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:18.860 You know, those kind of people that are just willing to go. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:20.639 And then conflict kind of gets them going. 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:21.680 That's not me. 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:25.980 I would imagine the majority of us in here are probably the opposite. 00:04:26.860 --> 00:04:27.560 Conflict's coming. 00:04:28.019 --> 00:04:28.620 Rejection's coming. 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:30.639 We're going to run the other direction. 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:32.339 We don't want anything to do with it. 00:04:32.459 --> 00:04:33.740 And I would imagine that's most of us. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:36.639 We avoid places where we know there might be conflict. 00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:40.819 We avoid conversations where there might end up being rejection. 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:47.620 Because if we know conflict is waiting, if we understand that criticism is coming, pain is waiting, 00:04:47.819 --> 00:04:51.099 our natural instinct is run the other direction. 00:04:51.699 --> 00:04:52.939 And that's kind of where we are. 00:04:53.599 --> 00:04:55.560 I mean, we avoid hard conversations. 00:04:56.159 --> 00:04:58.959 I mean, sometimes, let's just be honest, when you know a hard conversation is coming, 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:00.879 you're going to talk about anything and everything. 00:05:02.139 --> 00:05:03.500 Okay, maybe I'm the only one. 00:05:03.799 --> 00:05:05.479 You know, I know my wife wants to talk. 00:05:05.579 --> 00:05:07.120 I mean, I'm like, hey, did you hear about this? 00:05:07.159 --> 00:05:07.739 Did you hear about that? 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:09.839 She's like, stop avoiding the conversation. 00:05:09.939 --> 00:05:10.919 I'm like, I don't know what you're talking about. 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:14.579 Man, am I the only person that does that in this room? 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:16.379 Y'all are so spiritual. 00:05:17.959 --> 00:05:18.279 Whatever. 00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:18.399 Whatever. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:21.439 I mean, we avoid difficult people. 00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:27.479 You know, when you see them in Walmart and you need to be on that aisle, you're thinking, 00:05:27.799 --> 00:05:30.179 actually, the Lord just told me, I don't need to be on this aisle anymore. 00:05:31.299 --> 00:05:32.339 I don't even think they have it. 00:05:32.359 --> 00:05:34.319 I'm going to go to Tom Thumb and we'll get it from there. 00:05:34.779 --> 00:05:36.299 I mean, we just avoid it like the plague. 00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:40.000 We avoid places sometimes in our life that are just connected to hurt. 00:05:40.799 --> 00:05:42.359 I mean, think about real life scenarios. 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:47.879 If you know somebody in the office is upset with you, suddenly you're taking the long route to the break room. 00:05:48.860 --> 00:05:51.160 You're not going to walk by their desk. 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:53.040 You're not going to walk by their office. 00:05:54.020 --> 00:05:57.740 I mean, if you get that dreaded text maybe from your boss or from your wife when you get off work, 00:05:57.840 --> 00:05:59.040 we need to talk. 00:05:59.840 --> 00:06:00.800 Don't you love that? 00:06:01.960 --> 00:06:07.199 And then you start praying, Lord, whatever I did in the last seven months, please forgive me. 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:08.800 I mean, it kind of changes our outlook. 00:06:08.900 --> 00:06:10.560 It kind of changes our whole day. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:12.300 And sometimes you feel that tension. 00:06:12.459 --> 00:06:17.620 Maybe you get in a family gathering and all of a sudden you become deeply committed to helping in every way possible 00:06:17.620 --> 00:06:19.079 just to avoid the situation. 00:06:19.319 --> 00:06:20.240 You're cleaning dishes. 00:06:20.379 --> 00:06:21.620 You've never cleaned in your life. 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:23.259 You're willing to go to the store to get ice. 00:06:23.340 --> 00:06:24.699 You're like, hey, anybody need anything? 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:28.720 I'm going to run an errand for everybody just to avoid it. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:33.319 I mean, I think naturally we just move away from rejection. 00:06:33.819 --> 00:06:36.939 We move away from conflict, from confrontation. 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:44.459 But as we come here into our text in chapter 13, we see that Jesus does the exact opposite. 00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:52.259 Really, since Luke chapter 9 and Jesus' ministry, the Bible says that his eyes were set towards Jerusalem. 00:06:53.180 --> 00:07:02.819 And what we find here is Jesus is knowingly moving toward this very city and the very people that claim to love him but will reject him. 00:07:02.819 --> 00:07:08.319 And not that long, they're going to be crying, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:11.019 And just a few days later, they're going to say, crucify him. 00:07:11.599 --> 00:07:12.819 And he knows that. 00:07:13.159 --> 00:07:14.599 He knows that's coming. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:16.639 He knows what that's going to entail. 00:07:16.779 --> 00:07:19.459 And he continually walked the road. 00:07:19.459 --> 00:07:27.159 And as we walk through this passage this morning, we're going to see not just the courage of Jesus, but we're going to see his heart. 00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:33.099 Because even while moving towards the cross, he's still loving people. 00:07:34.159 --> 00:07:34.819 I mean, think about it. 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:39.159 Think if you knew the worst thing in your life was going to happen, you would not walk towards it. 00:07:39.819 --> 00:07:41.319 And yet he knew all things. 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:48.899 He knew exactly how it was going to go down, and yet he still was loving people and still calling people and still pleading with sinners, 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:55.839 still pleading with people that were completely rejecting him and saying, listen, this is not what you're looking for. 00:07:56.040 --> 00:07:58.100 I know what you need. 00:07:59.139 --> 00:08:04.079 See, that's what makes this passage so powerful is because Jesus is not running from danger. 00:08:04.339 --> 00:08:05.879 He's walking straight towards it. 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:07.500 Why? 00:08:08.219 --> 00:08:08.800 Here's why. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:10.740 Because he loves us. 00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:13.219 Because he loves sinners. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:14.959 I love that song, Miss Timothy. 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:16.659 He's like, thank you, Jesus, for the blood. 00:08:16.899 --> 00:08:18.659 He knew the sacrifice had to be made. 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:20.800 And he was willing to lay down his life. 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:27.019 And he loved us so much that he was willing to stay faithful to the mission, come what may. 00:08:27.659 --> 00:08:29.459 And that's what's taking place here in this text. 00:08:29.579 --> 00:08:32.679 And he's kind of reminding his disciples because they're watching this interaction. 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:36.059 The crowd is seeing how he's moving forward. 00:08:36.179 --> 00:08:40.340 And really in these verses, what Luke is going to do is he's going to kind of pull back the curtain. 00:08:40.340 --> 00:08:44.759 He's going to pull back the curtain so we can see the heart of Jesus. 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:52.059 And many times in our life, if we're honest, rejection and confrontation and conflict, it hardens us. 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:55.700 We say, hey, I'm not going around those people again. 00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:57.559 I'm not going to put myself out there. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:08:59.000 That's the last time I'm going to do that. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:01.379 And we kind of get hardened by the situation. 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:04.039 No, but what we notice about Jesus, it didn't do that to him. 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:06.600 In fact, it just revealed his courage. 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:08.840 But it also revealed his compassion. 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:11.440 So if you're taking notes, we're going to answer this question this morning. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:16.600 What do we learn about the heart of Jesus in the face of rejection? 00:09:17.220 --> 00:09:18.300 What do we learn from Jesus? 00:09:18.379 --> 00:09:19.440 What do we learn about his heart? 00:09:20.139 --> 00:09:26.220 Number one, in the first 31 through 33, we see this, that Jesus was unwavering in his mission. 00:09:27.300 --> 00:09:30.080 The Bible says this in verse number 31, the same day. 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:34.620 See, this interaction that's taking place between the Pharisees and Jesus, 00:09:34.780 --> 00:09:37.600 it happened on the very same day of the text that we looked at last week. 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:42.240 Jesus was preaching to this crowd, and he's calling them, and he's reminding them that, 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:45.879 hey, salvation is for everyone, but there is one door you must go through. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:47.440 There's not a lot of doors. 00:09:47.560 --> 00:09:48.500 There's not a lot of ways. 00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:49.800 There's not a lot of roads to heaven. 00:09:50.060 --> 00:09:53.360 No, Jesus is the way, and he's the truth, and he's the life. 00:09:53.920 --> 00:09:55.420 Jesus says, I am the door. 00:09:55.740 --> 00:10:00.399 It's the door we must go through, and he's preaching that message so people can get a hold of that truth 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:01.480 because here's the truth. 00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:03.860 Jesus wants everybody to come through that door. 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:07.259 Jesus is not choosing who comes in and who doesn't. 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:12.060 No, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever. 00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:14.159 That's who Jesus is looking for. 00:10:14.940 --> 00:10:23.340 But immediately after warning the people about eternity, Luke shows us this growing hostility surrounding Jesus. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:26.300 Because here's the problem that a lot of people have with Jesus. 00:10:26.299 --> 00:10:32.959 He was kind of creeping into their circles, especially with Herod, this king, and the Pharisees. 00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:36.919 They didn't like the fact that Jesus was kind of taking some of their notoriety. 00:10:37.539 --> 00:10:39.919 He was taking a little bit of their authority away. 00:10:40.719 --> 00:10:43.879 So he's there the same day this is all taking place, and the Bible says, 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:46.179 There came certain Pharisees saying unto him, 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:50.600 Get thee out, and depart hence, for Herod will kill thee. 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:55.399 See, the Pharisees come here, and if you think that sounds weird, then you're right. 00:10:55.439 --> 00:10:56.179 It does sound weird. 00:10:56.659 --> 00:10:58.879 Because if you've been with us in this journey in the Gospel of Luke, 00:10:59.139 --> 00:11:02.659 the Pharisees do not like Jesus. 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:07.039 Every time Jesus shows up somewhere, the Pharisees are there. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:08.100 They're trying to catch him. 00:11:08.459 --> 00:11:09.799 They're trying to get him to say something. 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:12.039 They're trying to find some reason to point and say, 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:13.939 Hey, see, we told you, he's a liar. 00:11:14.419 --> 00:11:15.199 He's crazy. 00:11:15.299 --> 00:11:16.740 He's not the Messiah. 00:11:17.219 --> 00:11:18.639 Look at him breaking all the laws. 00:11:18.719 --> 00:11:20.879 Look at him doing all of these different things. 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:25.899 But when you read this verse, it seems almost compassionate. 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:28.579 It seems somewhat helpful. 00:11:28.579 --> 00:11:31.919 I mean, they seem like they are concerned. 00:11:32.579 --> 00:11:35.879 They show up and say, Jesus, listen, you know, we love you. 00:11:36.719 --> 00:11:38.559 They don't, but that's what they're saying. 00:11:39.099 --> 00:11:40.839 Jesus, you know we really care about you, 00:11:40.939 --> 00:11:43.959 and we just want to let you know Herod's trying to kill you. 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:47.699 So we would never want anything bad to happen to you. 00:11:48.099 --> 00:11:50.299 So we just suggest get out of town. 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.559 You think, what's going on here? 00:11:53.099 --> 00:11:55.879 Because the deeper context in our study through the Gospel of Luke 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:59.839 has shown us how repeatedly the Pharisees despised Jesus. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:04.560 Right before Jesus kind of started this whole sermon in chapter 12 and chapter 13, 00:12:04.920 --> 00:12:10.100 they said at the end of chapter 11, they looked for every single opportunity to trap him. 00:12:10.800 --> 00:12:12.780 I mean, that's what they lived for. 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:17.480 And Jesus didn't necessarily help his case in chapter number 12, verse number 1, 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.340 where he said this. 00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:24.160 He reminded them, hey, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:30.139 So as the Pharisees were there, he says, hey, guys, disciples, I want you to know the Pharisees are hypocrites. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:33.019 Don't you love when somebody calls you a hypocrite to your face? 00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:36.879 It just makes you feel warm and fuzzy, like, oh, man, I really love these people. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:39.500 No, I mean, those are fighting words. 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:42.700 And when Jesus said that, the Pharisees said, you can't say that. 00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:46.759 And so we have this tension that we've seen between these two groups. 00:12:47.940 --> 00:12:52.180 So when the Pharisees suddenly arrive with what sounds like friendly advice, 00:12:52.640 --> 00:12:53.900 Jesus is not fooled. 00:12:54.420 --> 00:12:57.940 Obviously he knows everything, but the disciples are like, hey, man, you know, 00:12:58.020 --> 00:12:59.900 maybe they aren't as bad as we thought they were. 00:13:01.140 --> 00:13:07.980 Because the Pharisees, the religious establishment of Israel and Herod, had zero in common. 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:10.200 In fact, they hated each other. 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:12.580 But actually they had one thing in common. 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:14.279 They both hated Jesus. 00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:20.159 They said, listen, hey, you know, enemies make strange bedfellows, and that's kind of where they are. 00:13:20.220 --> 00:13:23.019 They're kind of in this situation where we don't like each other and we don't like each other, 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:25.580 but at least we can agree on this, we've got to get rid of Jesus. 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:30.039 You think, well, why, if Herod's so powerful and Herod's the king, 00:13:30.139 --> 00:13:31.899 then why didn't he just bring the message? 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:35.159 Because Herod loved himself. 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:39.240 If you didn't know anything about any of the Herods in the Bible, they're very conceited. 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:42.299 They don't want to look bad in front of the crowd. 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:47.219 And this particular Herod, he had a little blunder with a man named John the Baptist. 00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:49.500 He chopped his head off. 00:13:50.419 --> 00:13:53.879 And wasn't real good for the political climate of the day. 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:59.139 And so really what's happening here is he's realizing Jesus is kind of like this John the Baptist. 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.220 He's drawing crowds. 00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:01.879 He's calling people to himself. 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:05.740 And we need to get rid of him, but the last time I did that, it didn't work out too well for me. 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:07.860 So I'm going to hire these Pharisees. 00:14:07.939 --> 00:14:10.320 I'm going to send a message by them. 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:17.000 And so Herod employed them to pass along the threat, hoping Jesus would become frightened and leave. 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:20.299 The Pharisees are like, man, this is right in our wheelhouse. 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:23.679 This is super exciting because here's what they knew. 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:32.239 If we could get Jesus to move a little further south, more into Jerusalem, there was a big group of men called the Sanhedrin. 00:14:32.819 --> 00:14:36.419 A very powerful, basically high court of Israel. 00:14:36.979 --> 00:14:42.399 These were the men that are ultimately going to be responsible for holding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. 00:14:42.939 --> 00:14:44.620 So they thought, hey, this is a win-win for us. 00:14:44.939 --> 00:14:47.179 We're just going to push them along down the road. 00:14:47.979 --> 00:14:51.500 But Jesus saw right through their malicious intentions. 00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:55.940 And I just want to stop right here and just remind us that it's important to understand. 00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:59.539 Not everybody who sounds spiritual has pure motives. 00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:02.059 It sounds like a good thing. 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:04.159 It sounds like they really do care. 00:15:04.620 --> 00:15:10.259 And not every voice that offers guidance in our world today is actually trying to help you follow God. 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:12.700 That's why God gives us discernment. 00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:15.259 That we need to understand what is going on. 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:17.379 And Jesus, obviously, is very discerning. 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:19.100 And he realizes what's taking place. 00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:23.540 And instead of backing down, he answers with some fearless confidence. 00:15:23.680 --> 00:15:24.740 I love this phrase. 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:25.860 Verse 32. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:29.779 And he said unto them, go ye and tell that fox. 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:32.440 I mean, this is trash talk. 00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:33.980 You think, I didn't know there was trash talk in the Bible. 00:15:34.680 --> 00:15:35.720 But there is. 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:40.240 And as you can tell, this is not a compliment. 00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:44.460 Foxes were viewed as crafty and sneaky. 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:46.100 And they were destructive pests. 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:52.600 And what Jesus is doing here is he's really kind of putting Herod in his place. 00:15:53.420 --> 00:15:54.840 Because here's who Herod thought he was. 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.460 He thought he was some mighty lion. 00:15:57.200 --> 00:16:01.940 He thought he was the king over all the things that nobody told Herod what to do. 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.580 Nobody stood up to Herod. 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:05.540 That's why John the Baptist got his head cut off. 00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:07.519 Because he did step up to Herod. 00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:08.820 He said, hey, you can't do that. 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:10.560 You can't marry your brother's wife. 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:11.440 And he said, I don't like that. 00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:12.360 I'm going to chop his head off. 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:15.379 And so that's kind of the man that Herod was. 00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:20.019 And he, but what Jesus is doing is he's really exposing him for who he is. 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:22.440 And here's what Jesus is actually doing. 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:26.000 He's not just being mean and throwing kind of this phrase at him. 00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:32.860 He's reminding Herod and he's reminding all of us that earthly threats cannot stop a heavenly mission. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.860 There's nothing that's going to deter Jesus. 00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:40.360 Jesus knows why he came and he is marching towards that end. 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:42.300 And don't miss this. 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:48.840 Herod is the only individual that Jesus specifically addresses with this kind of contempt in all of the New Testament. 00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:52.800 Even the Pharisees that hated him, you know what Jesus did? 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.560 He loved them. 00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:58.720 He knew they were so close to the truth and they were just missing the door. 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:03.580 But men like Herod, why was he so brash with him? 00:17:03.580 --> 00:17:05.799 Here's Herod's problem. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:09.400 He arrogantly imagined that he could interfere with God's plan. 00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.039 He thought, you know what? 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:13.380 Nobody tells me what to do, not even God. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:17.360 And he's trying to change the divine timetable. 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:18.660 And Jesus says, no, no, no, no. 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:20.200 You have no power, Herod. 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:23.900 You think you're in charge, but you have no power. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.120 And we see this. 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:27.039 You're going to see this as we move closer to the cross. 00:17:27.600 --> 00:17:29.299 Remember when Jesus is standing in front of Pilate? 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:31.059 The most powerful man. 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.759 He's the governor of all Judea. 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:35.579 He says, listen, you wouldn't have any power unless somebody gave it to you. 00:17:36.379 --> 00:17:40.339 Jesus has all power, all control, and that's what's taking place here. 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.400 So he says, go tell that fox. 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.660 Here's what I want you to tell him. 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.519 Behold, I cast out devils. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:48.279 I do cures today and tomorrow and the third day. 00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:50.379 I shall be perfected. 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.740 Here's what Jesus is saying. 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.400 The Pharisees come. 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.099 They give him the message. 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:56.839 He said, here, send this message back. 00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:58.900 I'm going to do what I'm going to do. 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:01.019 And that's basically what Jesus is saying. 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:05.579 I've come on a mission and I'm not going to stop until the mission is completed. 00:18:06.379 --> 00:18:08.400 That is exactly what Jesus is saying. 00:18:09.379 --> 00:18:10.879 That no threat could change it. 00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:13.420 No politician could alter his course. 00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:15.960 No enemy could accelerate his death. 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:19.160 The Bible tells us in John chapter 10, Jesus says this. 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:24.039 No man taketh my life, but I lay it down myself. 00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:27.240 Sometimes we look at the cross and you might hear things. 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:28.879 Listen, Jesus was not a martyr. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:32.960 He didn't get swept up in the political wheels of the day. 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:36.720 No, he came at the right time, at the perfect time. 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:43.379 Galatians 4 reminds us that he was born at the appointed time and he died at the appointed time. 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:46.019 I just want to remind us, and that's important. 00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:53.480 It should be super encouraging that nothing in this world happens outside the authority of God. 00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:56.980 That's what this text should really encourage you. 00:18:57.619 --> 00:19:00.619 Jesus is not, anybody here wing things? 00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:02.079 You ever just wing it? 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.639 You're like, yeah, life. 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.639 I'm just winging it. 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:08.599 Jesus has never winged anything. 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:11.779 No, every step was calculated. 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:14.299 Every response is calculated. 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:21.319 And that should bring us great confidence knowing that, listen, it might look like your world's falling apart. 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:24.359 You might be walking through a difficult time, but God knows. 00:19:24.879 --> 00:19:31.180 And we look at our world and we look at our political things and governments rise and fall and culture changes and opposition increases, 00:19:31.399 --> 00:19:33.399 but God is still on the throne. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.819 He's not deterred by it. 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:39.200 And God's purposes have never been, they weren't here, 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:43.839 and they never will be threatened by things that we think are outside of his control. 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:50.399 That Jesus was and always and still is in absolute control of all things. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:54.579 Paul tells us in the book of Colossians, by him all things consist. 00:19:54.859 --> 00:19:58.299 It means this, that all things are just held together. 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:04.139 And see the confidence that, and that confidence that came from knowing exactly why he came, 00:20:04.399 --> 00:20:06.180 he says, here's why I came. 00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:07.080 Look at verse number 34. 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:09.080 I mean 33, excuse me. 00:20:09.600 --> 00:20:12.960 Nevertheless, I must walk today and tomorrow and the following, 00:20:13.560 --> 00:20:18.279 for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. 00:20:19.060 --> 00:20:20.539 Think, what is he saying right there? 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:24.140 Well, here's what you, if you study the Old Testament, you're going to realize this. 00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:32.080 Because Israel, and Jerusalem in particular, had a long history of rejecting and killing God's messengers. 00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:35.860 These same men, these Pharisees say, oh, we love the prophets. 00:20:36.080 --> 00:20:39.400 But you read the Old Testament, every time a prophet shows up, they want to kill him. 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:42.020 They do kill him, or they throw him in jail. 00:20:42.100 --> 00:20:43.759 They try everything they can do to get rid of him. 00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:45.060 You think of men like Daniel. 00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:48.060 You think of men like Elijah and Elisha and Isaiah and Jeremiah. 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:51.419 I mean, you look at the prophets, they didn't have an easy life. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:52.359 Why? 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:55.779 Because Israel, every time they showed up and said, thus saith the word of the Lord, 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:57.279 they said, we don't actually like that. 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:59.379 Go tell the Lord, we're going to do what we want to do. 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:01.200 Go tell the Lord, we're going to live our life. 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:03.679 And we see that cycle in the Old Testament. 00:21:05.139 --> 00:21:09.399 And so now the Son of God himself is walking towards that same fate. 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:12.179 We mentioned it already, but the cross is waiting. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:17.319 He knew the mocking was coming, the scourging, the nails, the wrath, all of it. 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:19.419 And yet he still went. 00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:23.740 Yet he still went there, and he was not trapped by these events. 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:26.639 No, he went because of the joy that was before him. 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:28.579 That's what the Bible tells us in the book of Hebrews. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:34.259 He said, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:40.480 Jesus is saying, listen, I'm going to make it to Jerusalem because we know Jerusalem loves killing prophets, 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.679 and that's what they're going to do. 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:43.299 That's what that verse means. 00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:45.720 I mean, that's pretty courageous. 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:48.299 He's walking towards his own death. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:50.519 He said, listen, I'll be in Jerusalem soon enough. 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:57.400 I'm going to lay down my life there because we wouldn't want Jerusalem to miss an opportunity to kill a prophet. 00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.460 That's what he's saying. 00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:02.720 That's how he knew that was taking place. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:06.400 You think, well, how does this really apply to us, preacher? 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:10.640 Because we notice this, that Jesus obeyed God. 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:14.920 He obeyed his father no matter what was going to come. 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:21.700 You know, sometimes for us, sometimes for me, I'll just say, it's a lot easier to obey God when it feels safe. 00:22:23.320 --> 00:22:24.420 When it's beneficial. 00:22:25.840 --> 00:22:28.840 You know, sometimes my kids start doing things, and they're being real kind and clean. 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:30.459 I was like, what do you want? 00:22:31.899 --> 00:22:32.480 You know what I mean? 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.419 Sometimes that's how we treat God. 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:38.259 We only obey. 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:41.839 We do what we need to as long as it feels safe and we feel like we're going to get something out of it. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:44.179 Well, we'll obey as long as it's convenient. 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:47.539 It doesn't really interfere with our schedule and our life and the things that we want to do. 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:51.220 Hey, we'll obey if it doesn't cost us that much. 00:22:52.159 --> 00:22:53.019 No, Jesus makes clear. 00:22:53.179 --> 00:22:54.799 It's going to cost a lot to follow Christ. 00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:56.460 But it's worth it. 00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:59.799 He was willing to pay the entire cost. 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:02.359 Listen, Jesus didn't go halfway to the cross for us. 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:03.879 He didn't do his mission halfway. 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:05.680 No, Jesus was all in. 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.839 And we're the recipients of that. 00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:13.039 I'm thankful for that, but it reminds us and it teaches us that if Jesus was faithful, 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:16.059 even when it was difficult and he moved forward when suffering was involved, 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:18.099 sometimes that might be the same in our life. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:20.500 You think, Lord, I'm following you. 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.139 I'm doing all these things. 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.339 Why do I have all these problems? 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:26.259 Sometimes, listen, following Jesus doesn't mean your life's going to be problem-free. 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:28.240 But here's what it does mean. 00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:29.240 You're not going to walk alone. 00:23:29.939 --> 00:23:33.319 You're going to walk with somebody that knows, that's been through the difficulties. 00:23:33.619 --> 00:23:36.119 We have a high priest that hasn't been touched. 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.599 No, he understands. 00:23:38.459 --> 00:23:40.599 Sometimes you can go to your friends and say, man, I'm having a hard time. 00:23:40.639 --> 00:23:41.439 They think, what's your problem? 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.399 Get over it, you big baby. 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:44.720 Don't you love those kind of friends? 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:46.220 Like, man, I'm really struggling. 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:47.339 Well, get over it. 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:50.199 Listen, I'm so thankful when I go to the Lord, he understands. 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:52.620 He knows what we're walking through. 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:54.640 He knows what you're walking through here this morning. 00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:54.940 Why? 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:58.240 Because he obeyed and he went even when suffering was involved. 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:02.259 But see, this passage reveals more than just the courage of Jesus. 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.840 It shows us the compassion. 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:07.860 Because these first few verses, I mean, Jesus is not playing around. 00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:09.440 He confronts the hypocrisy. 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:13.360 He said, listen, stop trying to manipulate me. 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.799 I'm here to do the will of my Father. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:20.240 But we come to verse number 34 and we realize this, that the same Savior who confronted hypocrisy 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:22.759 was brokenhearted over the sinner. 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:25.440 That he still loves the sinner. 00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:29.940 And that's what we see, secondly, that Jesus was broken over the rejection. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:34.919 We see there in verse 34, it's, oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem. 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:39.359 I mean, you can almost hear the grief in his voice. 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:44.019 When it's repeated, that emphasis, it just shows the deep emotion. 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:49.019 As Jesus is there and he's just kind of looking over the crowd and he's looking over the people. 00:24:49.859 --> 00:24:51.539 The people that he came for. 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:54.000 The people that he came to save. 00:24:54.699 --> 00:25:00.619 They completely and continually just kept rejecting and rejecting and rejecting. 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:03.779 We see this even from the beginning of his ministry. 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:06.779 You go to the book of John, the Gospel of John, chapter number 1. 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:12.000 The Bible says he came unto his own and his own received him not. 00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:16.299 Jesus had been dealing with rejection since the beginning of his ministry. 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:21.579 And here's the really hard thing for us to understand. 00:25:22.899 --> 00:25:28.000 Despite all this rejection, he still longed to rescue them. 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:30.700 He still was pursuing them. 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:32.559 He still wanted them. 00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.960 He still loved them. 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:35.680 Listen, that's the heart of our God. 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:37.100 That's the heart of our Savior. 00:25:37.360 --> 00:25:42.080 Because we mentioned already, if you get rejected and rejected and rejected, you're going to tell yourself, not doing that again. 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.660 I'm not talking to them. 00:25:43.820 --> 00:25:45.019 Hey, they had their chance. 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:46.299 We'll say things like that in our life. 00:25:47.080 --> 00:25:48.900 Because I'm so thankful that's not how God treats us. 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:55.600 I'm so thankful that even though I heard the Gospel over and over and over, it took me a long time to realize I need it. 00:25:56.180 --> 00:26:00.680 But God was willing and lovingly and constantly pursuing me. 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:03.759 And here's what Jesus said. 00:26:03.820 --> 00:26:08.019 He said, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killeth the prophets and stonest them which are sent to thee. 00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.640 Here's what Jesus wants to do. 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:17.660 How often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen, doth gather her brood under her wings? 00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:24.740 I think we can understand that picture of a mama bird taking care of her babies. 00:26:25.300 --> 00:26:27.840 You know, little babies and little hens. 00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:29.220 They're so helpless. 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:30.720 And they just scream. 00:26:31.080 --> 00:26:31.240 Ah! 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:34.039 And mama's like, get over here. 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:35.599 And she gets them under their wings. 00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:37.599 And we see it, you know, in birds. 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.299 We see the animal getting. 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:40.980 We see it when mama's at Walmart and you're trying to walk across the park. 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:41.859 And I'm like, just get here. 00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:43.500 You know why you want to get them under your wings? 00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:44.940 Because that's where protection is. 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:47.019 That's where safety is found. 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:48.559 That's where security is. 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:52.660 There's care there under the wings of the mother. 00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:54.400 And here's what Jesus said. 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:56.799 That's what I want to be for you. 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.420 I mean, you read the Psalms. 00:26:58.420 --> 00:27:01.860 You're going to see this picture over and over and over. 00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:06.940 Jesus loves us and he wants to bring us under his wings. 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:11.460 And I'm so thankful that God doesn't just merely tolerate broken people. 00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:12.940 He welcomes them. 00:27:13.800 --> 00:27:15.220 He wants to gather you. 00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:16.360 You say, well, you don't preach. 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:17.360 You don't know how broken I am. 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.420 It does not matter. 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:21.700 Jesus says, listen, I'm here for you. 00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:23.400 I want you to take care of you. 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:26.380 I want to give you warmth and protection and security and care. 00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:30.900 Listen, if that's what you're looking for, you're not going to find it anywhere in this world, but you'll find it in Jesus Christ. 00:27:33.600 --> 00:27:38.540 I think we live in a world that pictures Jesus as some cold and distant God. 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:44.500 Some angry God on his throne that is willing just and ready to throw lightning bolts at us. 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.200 Always irritated. 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:48.480 Always wanting to condemn. 00:27:49.820 --> 00:27:51.680 I don't find that in here anywhere. 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:54.780 There is going to come a day where he will judge. 00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:59.180 He came first as the lamb, but he is coming as the lion. 00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:01.139 He is going to judge the world. 00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:03.980 But before he did that, he came to save the world. 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:10.099 And that picture of an angry, condemning God, it's not found in Scripture. 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.700 No, it's a God that says, come to me. 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:15.440 But here's the sad, sad thing. 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:18.079 At the end of verse 34. 00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:22.139 And ye would not. 00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:24.140 What a tragedy. 00:28:25.580 --> 00:28:27.080 Jesus is looking at this crowd. 00:28:27.580 --> 00:28:28.940 He's looking at these Pharisees. 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:32.400 These people had followed him for a couple years by this point. 00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:35.320 They had seen his love and his compassion. 00:28:35.580 --> 00:28:40.220 They had seen how he had healed the lame and caused the dead to live again and the blind to see. 00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:42.220 He had fed maybe many of their bellies. 00:28:42.560 --> 00:28:44.500 And yet, they enjoyed the benefits. 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:47.700 But they said, no, we're okay. 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:52.859 I mean, thanks for all that you do, but we're going to be okay here. 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:55.680 But notice what Jesus says here. 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:58.059 He didn't say they weren't able to come. 00:28:58.920 --> 00:29:02.480 He said they were unwilling to come. 00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.880 See, God has made a way. 00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:09.140 And see, Jerusalem, we're going to see here in just a moment, was responsible. 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:13.720 And really, the nation of Israel was responsible for its own spiritual ruin. 00:29:14.560 --> 00:29:18.560 Because it continually rejected God's gracious invitation. 00:29:20.040 --> 00:29:20.860 He kept calling. 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:21.620 He kept calling. 00:29:21.820 --> 00:29:24.580 He kept sending messengers and sending messengers and sending messengers. 00:29:24.780 --> 00:29:25.520 And here's what they said. 00:29:25.600 --> 00:29:26.600 We don't like the message. 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.220 Let's kill him. 00:29:28.060 --> 00:29:29.080 Let's kill the messenger. 00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:31.420 They did it over and over and over. 00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:33.200 Jesus gives a whole parable about this. 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:36.319 And then the owner of the vineyard says, I'm going to send my son. 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.600 They'll listen to him. 00:29:38.580 --> 00:29:39.880 Now, they're going to do the very same thing. 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:44.319 And I just want to remind us that this tragedy still happens today. 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:49.340 That some people just stay away from Christ for all kinds of reasons. 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.539 Maybe it's pride. 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:55.319 Maybe it's they love the sin that they're living in. 00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:57.279 And maybe it's because they just keep putting it off. 00:29:57.360 --> 00:29:59.140 And they think, hey, I have time and I have time. 00:29:59.140 --> 00:30:02.700 These last two chapters, Jesus said, no, no, we don't know how much time we have. 00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:04.759 I mean, it's just crazy. 00:30:05.340 --> 00:30:06.720 We all assume it. 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:08.880 We all assume I got all the time in the world. 00:30:09.080 --> 00:30:10.420 I'll make that decision later. 00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:15.799 I don't even follow NASCAR, but I saw this guy, 41 years old, just passed away. 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:18.799 Got a sinus infection, got pneumonia, passed away. 00:30:18.860 --> 00:30:20.340 41 years old, super healthy guy. 00:30:21.380 --> 00:30:22.900 And I just see things like that all the time. 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:25.460 And we know people all the time that happens to me and think, wow. 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:27.440 But it's just a reminder, we don't know. 00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:29.100 We must be ready. 00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:34.240 And maybe you've been around Christianity your whole life, but you never just really truly surrendered to Christ. 00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:36.379 You know all the Christian words to say. 00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:38.299 You know most of the songs that we sing. 00:30:38.419 --> 00:30:39.439 You know a lot of verses. 00:30:39.659 --> 00:30:41.599 But you've never actually come under his wings. 00:30:42.659 --> 00:30:44.039 You have to come to him. 00:30:44.899 --> 00:30:45.719 We're helpless. 00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:47.740 We're hopeless without him. 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:50.420 And you might be brand new to church. 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:52.160 And maybe you're still searching for some answers. 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:53.180 And that's awesome. 00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:55.279 But I want you just to hear this clearly. 00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:58.819 Whether you've been around church for 50 years or 5 minutes, the answer is the same. 00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:00.299 Jesus came for you. 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.960 Jesus loves you. 00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:03.559 That's what he's telling this crowd right here. 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:05.559 Listen, I want to gather you. 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:07.819 Stop pushing me away. 00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:11.120 You know when your kids are real little, they don't mind holding your hand. 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:13.279 Hold my hand when we go in the store. 00:31:13.579 --> 00:31:14.259 Hold my hand in the parking lot. 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:17.259 But as they get older, I mean they're holding with like one finger. 00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:19.099 And they're trying to pull away all the time. 00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:19.779 I'm like stop. 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:20.680 Stop. 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.700 Just hold your dad's hand. 00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:24.720 And you're like no, I'm too cool for that. 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:27.819 Is that how you're treating God? 00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:31.440 He's trying to gather you and say just let me do my own thing. 00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:32.980 Like I'm just right here. 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.579 It's not a big deal. 00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:35.119 I'll come to you when I need you. 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.980 Jesus says don't do that. 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:40.759 The question is just real simple. 00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.720 Are you under his wings? 00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:44.019 How about this? 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:45.139 Do you want to be? 00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:47.539 Sometimes we want all the benefits. 00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:49.819 But we're unwilling to lay down our pride. 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.379 We have to come broken. 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.599 We have to come humble. 00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:54.720 Blessed are the poor in spirit. 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.819 That's bankrupt. 00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:58.079 We realize we have nothing to offer Christ. 00:31:58.839 --> 00:31:59.460 But he did. 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:01.819 He paid the complete price on the cross of Calvary. 00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.700 But here's the problem with rejection. 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:06.920 It always carries consequences. 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:13.779 Because they resisted the grace of God so long that eventually it's going to become judgment. 00:32:14.420 --> 00:32:15.379 Look at verse number 35. 00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:19.839 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:24.940 And verily I say unto you, you shall not see me until the time come when you shall say, 00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:27.420 Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. 00:32:27.420 --> 00:32:31.460 Now we don't have time to really just dig into this verse. 00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:33.259 There's all kinds of things going on here. 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:35.860 And there's prophecy that Jesus is talking about. 00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:39.560 And really what he's going to prophesy about is judgment on Jerusalem. 00:32:40.360 --> 00:32:41.680 And ultimately you study history. 00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:44.620 It was fulfilled partially in AD 70. 00:32:45.100 --> 00:32:48.440 When the Romans came in and they just destroyed Jerusalem. 00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:53.779 And really from that moment on until really 1948 when they became a nation. 00:32:53.860 --> 00:32:57.640 They had been in this constant turmoil and all of these things. 00:32:57.900 --> 00:33:00.200 Why did Jesus, these are his chosen people. 00:33:00.560 --> 00:33:03.220 Why did he pronounce and announce this judgment on him? 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:06.720 Because of their persistent rejection. 00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:08.720 That's what it leads to. 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:12.339 If you reject and reject and reject. 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:14.440 At some point here's what God says. 00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:15.120 Alright. 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.360 Have it your way. 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:20.200 You know one of the most dangerous things God can ever do for you? 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:22.819 Is let you have what you think you want to have. 00:33:24.100 --> 00:33:25.700 That's a terrible place to be. 00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:29.420 If God is calling you. 00:33:29.600 --> 00:33:30.220 Whatever it may be. 00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:32.220 Stop putting it off. 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:35.140 Because there may come a day where you don't get that call anymore. 00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:37.319 And your time runs out. 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:39.259 And as we're going to see in the coming chapters. 00:33:39.580 --> 00:33:42.960 The apex of Israel's rebellion and their rejection. 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:45.640 Was their crucifixion of the Messiah. 00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:48.720 The one that came to save. 00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:51.019 They cried crucify him. 00:33:53.360 --> 00:33:54.660 And Jesus warns them. 00:33:54.660 --> 00:33:55.540 Listen. 00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:56.900 Consequences are coming. 00:33:57.980 --> 00:34:00.040 And this warning that he gave to Jerusalem. 00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:01.519 It still speaks to us today. 00:34:02.080 --> 00:34:06.960 Because every person must eventually decide what they will do with Jesus. 00:34:08.240 --> 00:34:10.380 That's the sobering reality of the gospel. 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:14.159 That the gospel you cannot remain neutral. 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:16.900 It's a decision point. 00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:20.099 That Jesus we see the love and we sing about the love. 00:34:20.200 --> 00:34:22.900 And everybody's like man I love all those things about God. 00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:24.380 But because those things are true. 00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:25.480 You have to choose. 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.980 If you're going to love him. 00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:28.200 If you're going to give your life. 00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:30.860 If you're going to trust what he did on the cross of Calvary. 00:34:31.760 --> 00:34:33.519 See rejecting God's compassion. 00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:36.900 Eventually leads to facing God's condemnation. 00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:38.960 Because it will happen. 00:34:40.220 --> 00:34:42.380 But I love what Romans 8 tells us. 00:34:42.740 --> 00:34:43.599 Because if you know Christ. 00:34:43.740 --> 00:34:46.220 There is therefore now no condemnation. 00:34:47.220 --> 00:34:48.039 Jesus made a way. 00:34:48.240 --> 00:34:50.119 He's not looking to do this. 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:52.179 He's not looking to pronounce judgment. 00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:52.599 No. 00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:55.460 He came and he said listen I just want to gather you. 00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:56.420 I want to love you. 00:34:56.599 --> 00:34:58.219 I want to change your life. 00:34:59.639 --> 00:35:01.440 But we say I don't know if I want that. 00:35:03.079 --> 00:35:04.599 We've seen over the past few chapters. 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:08.079 That's why Jesus is so urgent here. 00:35:08.500 --> 00:35:10.539 Because he knows time is running out. 00:35:11.799 --> 00:35:14.019 And Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 6 verse 2. 00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:16.380 Behold now is the accepted time. 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:19.139 Behold today is the day of salvation. 00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:21.759 That's always the call. 00:35:22.300 --> 00:35:23.739 That's the call of the gospel. 00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:25.320 That God loves us. 00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:26.400 That he came for us. 00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:28.019 That he died on the cross of Calvary. 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:29.880 That he was buried and he rose again. 00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:31.739 Because we had a sin debt that we could not pay. 00:35:32.300 --> 00:35:33.460 And he paid it all. 00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:34.360 We sing the old song. 00:35:34.800 --> 00:35:36.440 All to Jesus I surrender. 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:37.000 Why? 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:37.920 Because he paid it all. 00:35:38.119 --> 00:35:39.259 He paid the cost. 00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:43.240 So what we see here in this text really this morning is this. 00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:47.740 Is that the heart of Jesus is courageous enough to confront sin. 00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:50.740 But is compassionate enough to still call sinners home. 00:35:51.620 --> 00:35:53.160 That's what he wants to do. 00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:56.140 Maybe that's what he's doing here in your life this morning. 00:35:58.380 --> 00:36:00.800 See as he walks steadily towards the cross. 00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:04.700 Jesus was not intimidated by rejection. 00:36:05.560 --> 00:36:07.960 He was not deterred by the suffering. 00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:10.880 No but he was filled with courage. 00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:12.320 And compassion. 00:36:13.220 --> 00:36:14.119 And steadfast love. 00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:15.059 Why? 00:36:15.720 --> 00:36:16.900 Because that was his mission. 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:18.559 You know what his mission was? 00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:19.460 You. 00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:21.340 Me. 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:23.400 We are the mission. 00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:25.260 I love the old gospel song. 00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:26.920 When he was on the cross. 00:36:27.900 --> 00:36:29.199 I was on his mind. 00:36:30.720 --> 00:36:31.940 I believe God. 00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:33.440 I believe Jesus died for the whole world. 00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:34.099 But I also believe this. 00:36:34.260 --> 00:36:35.199 He died for me. 00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:38.699 Because the Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 00:36:40.079 --> 00:36:41.719 And Jesus doesn't tell us hard truths. 00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:42.239 Listen. 00:36:43.379 --> 00:36:46.759 Luke 12 and 13 has been some hard passages. 00:36:47.339 --> 00:36:49.079 Has been some deep passages. 00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:52.279 But I'm so thankful God tells us that. 00:36:52.779 --> 00:36:54.000 Because he loves us. 00:36:54.339 --> 00:36:56.759 I hope you sense the urgency that he came with. 00:36:56.760 --> 00:36:59.140 But he didn't just come. 00:37:00.140 --> 00:37:01.300 To say mean things. 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:01.800 No he came. 00:37:02.180 --> 00:37:03.540 And they're said out of love. 00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:04.600 And out of compassion. 00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:07.420 We said at the very beginning. 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:09.500 He came to seek. 00:37:10.080 --> 00:37:11.060 And to save. 00:37:11.580 --> 00:37:12.400 That which was lost. 00:37:14.040 --> 00:37:14.920 Are you willing? 00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:17.340 Maybe he's trying to gather you. 00:37:18.580 --> 00:37:19.340 Maybe he's saying. 00:37:19.380 --> 00:37:19.600 Come here. 00:37:19.760 --> 00:37:21.140 Let me just love you. 00:37:21.740 --> 00:37:23.260 Let me change your life. 00:37:23.260 --> 00:37:25.660 Why don't you just stop trying. 00:37:26.100 --> 00:37:29.620 And just trust in what I've already done for you. 00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:33.140 You don't get to heaven by what you've done. 00:37:33.780 --> 00:37:36.680 You get to heaven by what he already did. 00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:38.420 That's what he's showing. 00:37:38.560 --> 00:37:40.440 And we're going to see that over the next few chapters especially. 00:37:42.820 --> 00:37:45.240 The mission and compassion of Christ. 00:37:46.060 --> 00:37:47.920 Has it changed your life? 00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:49.060 It should. 00:37:49.060 --> 00:37:50.720 Would you stand with your heads bowed?