God the Son
Series: Knowing God
Speaker: Chris Jones
Date: 16th February 2013
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Father, thank you for your grace to us in the Lord Jesus Christ
00:00:03 --> 00:00:07 in revealing yourself to us in the person of your Son.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 And we pray now that as we come to the Scriptures
00:00:10 --> 00:00:11 that we would delight in him
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 and that you'd help me to speak clearly about you.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 And we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 Tim Keller has written in his book, Every Good Work,
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 that people cannot make sense of anything
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 without attaching it to a storyline.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:31 You can't make sense of anything without attaching it to a storyline.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 So he uses the example, after the attacks of September 11,
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 no one mentioned the event without placing it
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 into some sort of narrative structure, story structure.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 So some people said this is the result of America's abuse
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 of its imperial power in the world.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:53 And other people said there are many evil people out there who hate us
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 because we are a good and free country.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 And so depending on which story you believed,
00:01:01 --> 00:01:05 you would be associated with either the antagonist or the protagonist.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 And your response and your emotions and your actions
00:01:09 --> 00:01:14 would be completely different depending which story is yours.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:19 And he quotes a modern philosopher and he said,
00:01:19 --> 00:01:20 and this is what he writes, I'm just reading from the book,
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 imagine that you're standing at a bus stop,
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 a young man comes up to you, you don't know him,
00:01:26 --> 00:01:30 and he says, the name of the common wild duck is Histrionicus,
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 Histrionicus, Histrionicus.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 And even though you understand the sentence,
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 his action doesn't make any sense.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:46 What's it mean?
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 And the only way to make sense of it
00:01:49 --> 00:01:53 is to try to learn the story into which this event fits.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 So perhaps the young man is mentally ill.
00:01:57 --> 00:01:58 That would explain it.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:01 Or what if somebody,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 what if yesterday someone who was your gender,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 your age, your appearance,
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 had approached the young man in the local library,
00:02:11 --> 00:02:15 asking him the Latin word for the wild duck,
00:02:16 --> 00:02:20 and today he'd mistaken you for that person?
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 That would explain it too.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 Or perhaps the young man's a foreign spy,
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 waiting at a prearranged rendezvous
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 and uttering the ill-chosen sentence,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 which will identify him to his contact.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 And so he says,
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 the first story's sad,
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 the second story's comic,
00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 and the third story's dramatic.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:44 But the point is,
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 without some sort of a handle on this story,
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 there's no way to understand the meaning
00:02:50 --> 00:02:51 of what just happened,
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 and there's no way to even know
00:02:53 --> 00:02:54 how to answer this man.
00:02:54 --> 00:03:00 So he says,
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 if you call the police
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 and it was a simple case of mistaken identity,
00:03:04 --> 00:03:05 it's going to be really embarrassing.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 If you pick a fight with somebody
00:03:07 --> 00:03:08 who's a trained assassin,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 the result will be even worse.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:12 But in any case,
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 if you get the story wrong,
00:03:13 --> 00:03:14 your response will be wrong,
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 and if you get the story of the world wrong,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:18 if, for instance,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 you see that life here is all about
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 your self-actualisation
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 and your self-fulfilment,
00:03:25 --> 00:03:26 and it's all about you,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 rather than the love of God
00:03:28 --> 00:03:29 and knowing God,
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 then you will get your life responses wrong.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:38 We need to know God's story
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39 if we're going to know God
00:03:39 --> 00:03:40 and how to live in his world.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 The Bible begins with Adam and Eve
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 living perfect harmony
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46 with God and his creation.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:48 Life is good.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 Access to God was easy.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 They could converse with him in his garden.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 They could see him.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:54 They could talk with him.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 They could be naked with one another
00:03:56 --> 00:03:57 and with God,
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 and they would know no shame.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 And the tragic end
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 to a great beginning
00:04:04 --> 00:04:05 comes when Adam and Eve
00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 go it alone,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:07 disobey God.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 He shuts them out of the garden,
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 and perhaps the greatest tragedy
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 in that judgment
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 is that they are shut out
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 from God's personal presence.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 They no longer know God
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 in the intimate way
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 that they had previously known him.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 They're shut out from his presence
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 and they have lost access to him.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:33 And in some ways,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 the entire movement of the Bible
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 is about how can we come
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 to know God again
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 despite our sin,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:43 our failure,
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 and great wickedness,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 which is in all of us.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 God's story
00:04:53 --> 00:04:57 is a story about our redemption.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00 It's about us
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 coming to know God again.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 The journey
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 of the Bible
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 is about how God
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 chooses to reveal himself
00:05:08 --> 00:05:09 to us again.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 It's about God
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 doing something
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 to bring us out
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 of the deep darkness
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 of our own sin
00:05:15 --> 00:05:15 to be able to
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 for us to be able
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 to stand safely
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 in his presence.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 And he has taken
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 extreme measures
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 to make us safe.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:28 Deb said already
00:05:28 --> 00:05:28 this series
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 is about God.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 He wants us
00:05:30 --> 00:05:30 to know him.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 He wants us
00:05:32 --> 00:05:32 to delight
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 in who he is.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 And I've been saying
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 throughout this series
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 that we can't know God
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 in his entirety.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 We can only know
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 as much about him
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 as he chooses
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 to reveal
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 about himself.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 We can only see
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 as much as he
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 pulls those curtains
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 back for us
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 to be able to see.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 I've also been saying
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 that God reveals
00:05:58 --> 00:05:58 himself to us
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 as three persons
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 Father, Son
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 and Holy Spirit.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 Three distinct persons
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 who have different roles
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 do different things
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 but each of them
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 is fully God.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 Last week I spoke
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 about God the Father.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:12 It was a delightful
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 surprise to me
00:06:14 --> 00:06:14 that he is
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 to see that he is
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 hardly known as Father
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 in the Old Testament.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:18 That was like
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 an aha moment for me.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 It is when Jesus
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 bursts on the scene
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 that God as Father
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 begins to be revealed.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:28 And Jesus' most
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 common way
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 of referring to God
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 is as his Father.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:33 And you see
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 that Jesus
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 shows us
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 God the Father.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 He teaches us
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 to pray to the Father,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 that the Father
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 provides bountifully
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 good gifts
00:06:42 --> 00:06:42 to his children,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:43 that anyone
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 who has seen me
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 has seen the Father
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 and that the Father
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 is supreme over all
00:06:48 --> 00:06:48 and the Father
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 is wonderfully good
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 and totally glorious.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 Let me tell you,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 I got to sit with
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 a friend this week
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 who I've been talking
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 to about Christ
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 for the last three years
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 and we didn't talk
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 two ways to live
00:07:01 --> 00:07:01 but he asked me
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 what I've been preaching
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 and I told him
00:07:03 --> 00:07:03 what I'd learned
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 about God the Father
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 last week.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 I think that's evangelism.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 It's revealing
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 what God is like.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:12 Today,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 we turn to
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 his magnificent son.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 I'm going
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 all over the place
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 in the Bible.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:19 You're welcome
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 to try to follow
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 with me.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:21 You might find
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 I'm moving
00:07:22 --> 00:07:22 a little quickly
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 sometimes.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 John 1,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:25 verse 10 says
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 he was in the world.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 Speaking about Jesus,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 Jesus was in the world
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 and though the world
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 was made through him,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 the world
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 did not recognise him.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 John makes
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 the extraordinary claim
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 that Jesus existed
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 before he was born.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 It's not the only place
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 in the Bible
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 that makes that claim.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 Colossians 1 tells us,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 verse 16,
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 For by him,
00:07:49 --> 00:07:49 by Jesus,
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 all things were created,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 things in heaven
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 and on earth,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 visible and invisible,
00:07:55 --> 00:07:55 whether thrones
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 or powers
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 or rulers
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 or authorities,
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 all things were created
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 by him and for him.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 Both passages declare
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 that Jesus,
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 that the world,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 was made through Jesus.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 Colossians says
00:08:10 --> 00:08:10 that the world
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 was made by Jesus
00:08:12 --> 00:08:12 and it was made
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 for Jesus.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 The world
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 is the stage
00:08:16 --> 00:08:16 where Jesus
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 will magnificently
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 do the extraordinary work
00:08:19 --> 00:08:19 that his father
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 sent him to do.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 The big word
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 that we use
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 is incarnation.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 God coming amongst us
00:08:28 --> 00:08:28 as a person
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 and not just any person,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 he was the perfect person.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 So it's not,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 this is not some
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 eastern doctrine
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 of reincarnation
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 where creatures
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 go round and round
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 in endless cycles
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 of existence.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:40 existence.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 This is the incarnation
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 coming into the world,
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 God coming into the world
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 in the person
00:08:46 --> 00:08:46 of his son.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 So the creator
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 God of the universe
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 enters into his creation
00:08:52 --> 00:08:52 in the person
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 of his son,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:56 Matthew's gospel
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 goes to a lot of trouble
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 to help us to understand
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 that Jesus wasn't born
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 because Mary and Joseph
00:09:01 --> 00:09:04 had premarital sex
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 and something went wrong.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 It is very clear
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 that Joseph is not
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 Jesus' biological dad.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 He was born
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 because the Holy Spirit
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 of God
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 caused Jesus
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 to be conceived
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 in Mary
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 while she was a virgin.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 Our creator
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 became like us,
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 his creatures,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 except that he was
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 without sin,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 he was God himself
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 entering our world
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 and he grew
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 to become
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 the perfect human being,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 he was prepared
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 to be,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:37 being prepared
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 to be
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 a perfect sacrifice.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 So Jesus
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 is human
00:09:46 --> 00:09:50 and in some ways
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 that's clear.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 He was born,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:54 he lived,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 he cried,
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 he laughed,
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 he had friends
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 and he had enemies,
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 he showed compassion
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 and mercy,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 he got hungry,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 he suffered,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 he grieved.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 Hebrews chapter 5
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 says he is able
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 to deal gently
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 with those
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 who are ignorant
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 and going astray
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 since he himself
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 is subject
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 to weakness.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:16 Now I don't know
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 about you
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 but I think
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 when we think
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 human weakness
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 we think sin
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 and failure.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 You know,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 I opened my mouth
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 and said that sentence
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 that I really knew
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 I shouldn't have said.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 Or I went surfing
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 somewhere on the internet
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 that I knew
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 was destructive.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:37 Weakness
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 for Jesus
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 wasn't sin.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 It was experiencing
00:10:43 --> 00:10:43 the limitation
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 of life
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 as a flesh
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 and blood person.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 It says in Hebrews
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 chapter 5
00:10:49 --> 00:10:49 that during the days
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 of Jesus' life
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 on earth
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 he offered up
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 prayers and petitions
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 with loud cries
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 and tears
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 to the one
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 who could save him
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 from death.
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 And he was heard
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 because of his
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 reverent submission.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 And although
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 he was a son
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 he learned obedience
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 from what he suffered
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 and once made perfect
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 he became the source
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 of eternal salvation
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 for all who obey him.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 He hungered in the desert
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 for 40 days of testing.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 He experienced deep grief
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 when his friend
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 John the Baptist
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 was beheaded.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 He was abandoned
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 by many disciples
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 in John chapter 6
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 when they didn't
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 understand his teaching.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 His suffering
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 was unjust.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 He did such good
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 to so many people
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 and the leaders
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 of the nations
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 hated him for it.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 They falsely accused him
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 of being empowered
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 by Satan.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 He was bashed
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 nearly to death.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 He was executed
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 by suffocating
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 on a cross
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 because people
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 had lied
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 at his trial.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 God
00:11:50 --> 00:11:57 my whole message
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 last week
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 was that Jesus
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 is the one
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 who reveals
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 the God and Father
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 of our Lord Jesus Christ
00:12:04 --> 00:12:09 and every true thing
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 that we know
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 about the Father
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 is revealed
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 by his obedient son.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:17 Jesus had a difficult life
00:12:17 --> 00:12:20 and he persevered
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 in that difficult life
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 absolutely dependent
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 on his heavenly Father.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 His amazingly selfless prayer
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 in the Garden of Gethsemane
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 the night before he died
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 he fell with his face
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 to the ground
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 and he prayed
00:12:34 --> 00:12:37 my Father
00:12:37 --> 00:12:40 if it is possible
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 may this cup
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 be taken from me
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 yet not my will
00:12:45 --> 00:12:48 but as you will
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 my Father
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 if possible
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 yet not what I want
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 but what you want.
00:12:55 --> 00:13:04 He's the Lord's prayer
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 personified.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 Your kingdom come
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 O God
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 your will be done
00:13:12 --> 00:13:15 ahead of mine.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 It's a prayer
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 of dependent trust
00:13:21 --> 00:13:24 Father I am hurting
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 in this moment
00:13:25 --> 00:13:28 but I trust
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 in your good will
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 and your purposes.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 You know
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 when we hurt
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 what do we want to do?
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 We really want to tell God
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 what he needs to do
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 to get us out of this mess.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 Take this pain
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 away from him.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 And you see in Jesus
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 that he doesn't hesitate
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 to tell his Father
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 that he is hurting
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 but he does not insist
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 on his way out
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 he trusts his Father's
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 plans and purposes
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 being for good.
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 Three times in Matthew's
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 gospel he teaches
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 his disciples
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 that he's going to
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 suffer
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 at the hands
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 of the religious leaders
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 that he will die
00:14:06 --> 00:14:09 and three days later
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 he will rise.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 He was trusting
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 that his Father
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 was going to raise him
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 from the dead
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 by faith.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:21 Hebrews chapter 10
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 says it another way
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 it says
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 therefore when Christ
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 came into the world
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 he said
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 sacrifice an offering
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 you did not desire
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 but a body
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 you prepared for me.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 With burnt offerings
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 and sin offerings
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 you were not pleased.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 But then I said
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 here I am
00:14:38 --> 00:14:41 it is written about me
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 in the scroll
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 I have come
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 to do your will
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 O God.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 So Christ
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 came into the world
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 he accepted
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 the limitations
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 of a human body
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 he was sinless
00:14:54 --> 00:14:58 his sinless body
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 became the only
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 possible sacrifice
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 for our sins
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 there is no
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 other perfect person.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:09 isn't that a relief
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 that we don't even
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 have to look for one
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 or try to be?
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 But more amazing
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 still is the view
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 that Christ
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 had of himself
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 in Mark 10
00:15:21 --> 00:15:24 Jesus has been
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 teaching his disciples
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 about dark days ahead
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 and he's going
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 about this really
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 serious teaching
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 which is obviously
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 causing him
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 a reasonable amount
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 of grief
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 and the disciples
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 are bickering
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 about status
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 and position.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 And James and John
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 they make their move
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 and they ask
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 for special position
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 in heaven
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 ahead of the rest.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 And there is this
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 very unedifying
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 argument about
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 who will have
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 the most important
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 place in heaven.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 We could try
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 here this morning
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 I wonder
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 who it's and Paul's
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 will be more
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 important in heaven.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 It's embarrassing
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 and it's
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 extremely unhelpful.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 And Jesus says
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 if you are going
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 to be great
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 learn to be a servant
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 a slave
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 or a servant.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 And he explains
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 his own life
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 and his mission.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 For verse 45
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 Mark 10
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 verse 45
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 this is a keeper
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 this is one of
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 those verses
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 you learn
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 and you remember
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 forever.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 The son of man
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 did not come
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 to be served
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 but to serve
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 and to give his
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 life as a ransom
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 for many.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 Philippians chapter 2
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 is an awesome hymn
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 of praise
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 to Christ
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 describing his mission.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 The one who being
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 in very nature
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 God
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 did not consider
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 equality with God
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 something to be grasped
00:16:59 --> 00:17:02 but made himself
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 nothing
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 taking the very
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 nature of a
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 servant
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 a slave
00:17:05 --> 00:17:08 being made in
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 human likeness
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 and being found
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 in appearance
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 as a man
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 he humbled himself
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 and became
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 obedient to death
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 even death
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 on a cross.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 And therefore
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 God exalted him
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 to the highest place
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 and gave him
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 the name that is
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 above every name
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 that at the name
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 of Jesus
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 every knee
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 should bow
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 in heaven
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 and on earth
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 and under the earth
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 and every tongue
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 confess
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 that Jesus Christ
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 is Lord
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 to the glory
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 of God the Father.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 God the Son
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 absolutely
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 equal with God
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 in nature
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 didn't try
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 to cling
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 to the rights
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 of his position.
00:17:49 --> 00:17:52 it's been called
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 God's great
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 bungee jump
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 left heaven
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 stepped away
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 from entitlement
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 and prestige
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 and honour
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 and fell
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 face forward
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 and smashed
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 into the earth.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 As a man
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 he allowed himself
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 to be subjected
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 to indignity
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 and humiliation
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 ultimately
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 God permitted
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 his creatures
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 to do their worst
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 to him
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 they tried
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 to snatch
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 the kingdom
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 from God
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 by launching
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 an all-out assault
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 on his son.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 And Jesus
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 anticipated
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 what was going
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 to happen
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 when he
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 retold
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 the parable
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 of the vineyard
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 from Isaiah
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 and applied it
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 to his own rejection.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 The man
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 who owned
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 the vineyard
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 he put tenants
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 in charge.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 The tenants
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 refused to
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 acknowledge the owner
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 by not paying
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 the rent.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 They beat
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 and killed
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 the messengers
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 who were seen
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 climaxing in the
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 death even
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 of John the Baptist.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:49 and finally
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 he says
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 I will send
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 my son
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 whom I love
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 they will
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 respect him
00:18:55 --> 00:18:59 and the tenants
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 see the son
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 and they decide
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 to kill him
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 and steal the kingdom
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 and the inheritance
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 for themselves.
00:19:05 --> 00:19:10 to reject
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 Jesus
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 is the
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 most awful
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 expression
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 of our
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 rejection
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 of God
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 the Father.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 It's as though
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 we have tried
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 to seize
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 God
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 with our own
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 hands
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 and sought
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 to destroy
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 him
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 it is the
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 most terrible
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 thing to have
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 been done
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 in the whole
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 of human
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 history.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:35 and God
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 holds us
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 all culpable
00:19:36 --> 00:19:39 because it is
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 the ultimate
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 re-expression
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 of Adam
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 and Eve's
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 sins.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 We shut
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 God out
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 of our
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 lives
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 we try
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 to kick
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 him
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 out of
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 his
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 garden
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 and destroy
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 him
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 forever.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 It is
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 great
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 wickedness.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 God's
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 point of
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 view
00:19:57 --> 00:19:59 Psalm 2
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 says
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 he laughs
00:20:00 --> 00:20:05 not because
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 he thinks
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 our efforts
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 are funny
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09 but because
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 they are so
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 puny
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 and ridiculously
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 ineffective.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 He deals
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 with the
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 rejection
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 of his
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 son by
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 vindicating
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 in a
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 flash
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 he makes
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 him alive
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 again.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 We did
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 our worst
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 to kick
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 God out
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 of the
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 picture
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 and he
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 reverses
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 it in
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 an instant
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 and raises
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 him as
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 king in
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 heaven.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 So
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 Psalm
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 Philippians
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 chapter 2
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 therefore God
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 exalted
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 him to
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 the highest
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 place and
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 gave him
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 the name
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 that is
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 above every
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 name that
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 at the
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 name of
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 Jesus every
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 knee should
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 bow in
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 heaven and
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 on earth and
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 under the
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 earth and
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 every tongue
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 confess that
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 Jesus Christ
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 is Lord to
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 the glory of
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 God the
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 Father.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 Yes.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 So God
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 has vindicated
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 his son and
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 we are
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 accountable to
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 him whether
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 we like it
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 or not.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 The son of
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 God has
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 conquered
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 through service.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 He didn't
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 seek glory.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 He was given
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 it by his
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 heavenly father.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 His ultimate
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 ministry was to
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 submit to his
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 father's will and
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 lay down his
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 life.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 In John 10
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 he says the
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 reason that my
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 father loves me
00:21:17 --> 00:21:21 is that I lay
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 down my life
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 only to take it
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 up again.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 No one takes
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 it from me
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 but I lay
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 it down of my
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 own accord.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 I have
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 authority to
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 lay it down
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 and authority
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 to take it
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 up again.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 This command
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 I receive
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 from my
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 father.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 Brothers and
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 sisters we
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42 cannot emulate
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 Christ in
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 perfection and
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 that's not what
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 he calls us to
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 do.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 His sacrifice
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 is unique.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 His
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 personhood is
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 unique.
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 He is God
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 himself fully
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 God.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 He is also
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 fully a
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 person.
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 And he has
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 taken perfect
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 humanity in
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 himself into
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 heaven right
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 now.
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 But we
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 must take
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 heed of what
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 he has said
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 to his
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 disciples when
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 they are arguing
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 over status and
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 position.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 I have
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 known a lot
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 of joy since
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 coming to
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 St. Paul's
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 and I have
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 done a lot
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 of growing
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 too.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 I have
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 experienced
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 things I have
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 never experienced
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 before and
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 worked in a
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 team which
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 has just
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 been wonderful.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 But let
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 me tell you
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 that what I
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 find very
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 difficult and
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 it has been a
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 significant problem
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 here that has
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 occurred over and
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 over and over
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 again.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 People who push
00:22:43 --> 00:22:46 hard for things
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 to be done
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 their way.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 Now let me tell
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 you I have got my
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 own willfulness so
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 I am probably a
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 player in this as
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 well.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 But this is how
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 we do it.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 Don't you know
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 who I am?
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 This is my
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 ministry at
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 St. Paul's.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 When I went to
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 my last parish
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 13 years ago
00:23:07 --> 00:23:10 a woman was on
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 my doorstep in
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 the first few
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 days and she
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 said I am the
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 women's evangelist
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 use me.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 Let me tell you
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 when you first go
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 to a parish
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 you are like a
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 rabbit in
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 headlights.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 You are trying
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 to get a handle
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 on this strange
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 new place and
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 I didn't meet
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 her expectations.
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 But what she
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 couldn't see was
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 she brought to
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 me a very
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 exalted view of
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 herself as an
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 evangelist.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 And she saw
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 herself as better
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 than others.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 And she pushed
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 herself forward
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 over others.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 And she didn't
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 get the recognition
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 that she thought
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 she deserved
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 and she left.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 Now she wasn't
00:23:56 --> 00:23:59 giftless and
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 she wasn't
00:24:00 --> 00:24:05 Christless and
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 she could have
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 been a huge
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 help in our
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 church with her
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 gifts and her
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 heart for the
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 Lord Jesus if
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 she had just
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 come forward
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 and asked how
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 can I serve
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 these are some
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 of the things I
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 think I can do.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:19 but she came
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 as a Lord
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 and not as a
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 servant.
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 Jesus says if
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 you are going
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 to be great
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 learn to be a
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 slave or a
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 servant.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 Service is
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 ministry.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 And the word
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 means the same
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 thing.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 The ministries
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 that Christ
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 gives us are
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 not so that we
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 can glory over
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 one another and
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 say how important
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 we are.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 He allows us to
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 serve for the
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 benefit of his
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 people and his
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 purposes.
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 So whenever we
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 slip into a
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 mindset of what
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 about me,
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 it might be
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 appropriate to
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 us sometimes but
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 other times we
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 lose our
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 servant-heartedness
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 focus becomes
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 and the focus
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 becomes me and
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 I lose my
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 focus on my
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 master's business.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 I love some of
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 the work that
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 Deb's been done
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 helping us to
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 think about the
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 mindset that we
00:25:23 --> 00:25:25 bring to church.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 You know, the
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 people in the
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 car park in the
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 morning, they're
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 not just trying to
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 line up cars and
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 maximise space so
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 that we can get
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 51 cars instead of
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 50 into the car
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 park.
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 That's not what
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 it's about.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 They're
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 welcomers.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 They're the
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 first point of
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 contact when a
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 new person comes to
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 church and drives
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 into our car park.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 And so they have
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 this wonderful
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 opportunity to
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 communicate to
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 people that we're
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 really glad to see
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 this.
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 We're glad for you
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 to be here.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 Is there anything
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 that you need to
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 know from us in
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 terms of where to
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 go or who's who
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 or what's what?
00:26:00 --> 00:26:03 They help people.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 And so a servant
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 is a person who
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 operates with the
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 other in mind and
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 not with their own
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 to-do list.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 When my child or
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 my spouse is
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 needing and hurting
00:26:16 --> 00:26:19 or crying, are
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 they just this
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 bother and
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 trouble to what I
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 plan to do?
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 Or do I see
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 myself as their
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 chief provider and
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 carer and
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 respond accordingly?
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 It comes from
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 Jesus.
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 The Son of Man
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 did not come to
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 be served but to
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 serve and to give
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 his life as a
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 ransom for many.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 The last thing I
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 want us to see is
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 that Jesus both
00:26:47 --> 00:26:49 identifies as God
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 and is worshipped
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 as God.
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 And when people
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 like Jehovah's
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 Witnesses want to
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 tell you that Jesus
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 isn't God, know
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 these things.
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 Colossians chapter
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 2 and John
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 chapter 12
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 describe Jesus'
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 victory at the
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 cross in cosmic
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 terms.
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 Colossians 2
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 15, having
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 disarmed the
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 powers and
00:27:07 --> 00:27:09 authorities, he
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 made a public
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 spectacle of them
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 triumphing over
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 them by the
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 cross.
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 In John
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 chapter 12,
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 now is the time
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 for judgment on
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 this world.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 Now the prince of
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 this world will be
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 driven out but I
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 when I am lifted up
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 from the earth
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 will draw all
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 people to myself.
00:27:26 --> 00:27:28 in Mark
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 chapter 2,
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 Jesus heals
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 the paralyzed
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 man that the
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 religious leaders,
00:27:32 --> 00:27:34 when Jesus heals
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 the paralyzed man
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 in Mark 2,
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 the religious
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 leaders are
00:27:37 --> 00:27:39 scandalized when
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 Jesus says to
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 this man,
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 your sins are
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 forgiven.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 Absolutely
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 scandalized.
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 And they
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 rightly declare,
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 only God has the
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 authority on earth
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 to declare sins
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 forgiven.
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 How dare you do
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 such a thing?
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 But they don't
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 recognize that God
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 is standing in
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 their midst.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 Throughout John's
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 gospel, Jesus
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 calls himself,
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 I am.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 It's the same way
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 that God identified
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 himself to Moses at
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 the burning bush.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 Jesus said, I am
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 the bread of life,
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 I am the light of
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 the world, I am the
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 good shepherd, I am
00:28:17 --> 00:28:19 the true vine, I am
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 the way, the truth
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 and the life.
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 No one comes to
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 the Father except
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 through me.
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 He speaks as God.
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 The end of the
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 Bible, it's filled
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 with thanks and
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 praise to our
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 glorious Lord Jesus
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 Christ.
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 There are three
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 songs in Revelation
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 5, we read them
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 often enough, but
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 these are glorious
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 songs and they're
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 worth singing.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 The creatures, you
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 get this picture,
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 there's different
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 groups of people
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 who are singing
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 the songs.
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 So the first
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 song is sung by
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 the 12 living
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 creatures, the 24
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 living creatures,
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 whatever they are,
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 that are in the
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 immediate presence of
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 God around you.
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 around the throne
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 of God in
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 heaven and this
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 is what they
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 sing.
00:28:55 --> 00:28:58 They sing this to
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 the Lamb, to the
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 Lord Jesus, you
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 are worthy to take
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 the scroll and to
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 open its seals because
00:29:04 --> 00:29:07 you were slain and
00:29:07 --> 00:29:09 with your blood you
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 purchase people for
00:29:10 --> 00:29:12 God from every tribe
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 and language and
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 people and nation and
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 you have made them to
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 be a kingdom and
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 priests to serve our
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 God and they will
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 reign on the earth.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:23 They praise the Lord
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 Jesus for the ransom
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 price that he has
00:29:25 --> 00:29:27 paid to bring people
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 into God's kingdom
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 from all the nations
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 of the earth, even
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 us.
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 And we're a
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 multinational lot,
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 aren't we?
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 They praise him for
00:29:39 --> 00:29:41 his selfless act of
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 service.
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 That's the song that's
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 sung in heaven around
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 the throne of God.
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 God.
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 And then the third
00:29:47 --> 00:29:49 song, it's a song
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 which is now sung by
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 a different group.
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 It says, every
00:29:52 --> 00:29:54 creature in heaven
00:29:54 --> 00:29:56 and on earth and
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 under the earth.
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 It includes us.
00:29:59 --> 00:30:02 And we sing to him
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 who sits on the throne
00:30:03 --> 00:30:08 and to the Lamb be
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 praise and honour and
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 glory and power for
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 ever and ever.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 The Father on the
00:30:13 --> 00:30:15 throne and his Son,
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 the Lamb, receive our
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 worship.
00:30:18 --> 00:30:20 They are worshipped as
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 God forever.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 So brothers and
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 sisters, God has
00:30:25 --> 00:30:27 shown his face amongst
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 us in the person of
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 his Son.
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 He has clearly revealed
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 himself to be a
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 servant in submission
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 to his Father.
00:30:34 --> 00:30:38 Father, he is now our
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 risen God, the King.
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 And Psalm 2 tells us
00:30:43 --> 00:30:45 how to respond to such
00:30:45 --> 00:30:47 a mighty Son who is
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 King.
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 Psalm 2 says, be
00:30:50 --> 00:30:53 wise, serve the Lord
00:30:53 --> 00:30:55 with fear and rejoice
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 with trembling.
00:30:58 --> 00:31:01 Kiss the Son, lest he be
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 angry and you be
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 destroyed in your way.
00:31:04 --> 00:31:06 For his wrath can
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 flare up in a moment,
00:31:08 --> 00:31:10 but blessed are all
00:31:10 --> 00:31:12 who take refuge in
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 him.
00:31:15 --> 00:31:17 If you do not yet
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 know the Son, what
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 do you do?
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 You kiss him.
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 You make peace with
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 him.
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 You find yourself a
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 safe place with him
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 so that you are not
00:31:27 --> 00:31:29 burnt when his wrath
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 flares up in a moment.
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 Amen.