00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Let's pray.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:15 Fathers, we come now to the end of this road to Jerusalem with Jesus.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 Along the way, he's cleared up many misconceptions of what it means to follow you.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 And now we have the challenge before us.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:32 As the words of the old poems say, only one life will soon be passed, only what's done for Christ will last.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 May those words reverberate in our hearts and our minds this morning.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 And we ask it for your glory. Amen.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:45 A team of European doctors in the 1990s, in the early 1990s,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:51 discovered that there was a higher chance of having a heart attack on Monday than any other day of the week.
00:00:51 --> 00:01:00 In fact, they found out there was a dramatic increase in all stress-related illnesses on Mondays.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:04 Blood pressure is up, and so you're more likely to have a stroke on a Monday.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 Stomach acidity is up, increasing the risk of ulcers.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:15 People are twice as likely to commit suicide on Mondays than any other day of the week.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:21 And so they concluded that the Monday morning feeling is actually no myth.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:22 It's medical fact.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 There was one explanation for it.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:32 Most of us feel that the very idea of working another week, depressing.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:40 However, it wasn't because of the workload or the responsibilities.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:45 The research found that there was little distinction between a high flyer
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 and what you might call a low flyer, I'm assuming.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:54 People with mundane and undemanding jobs displayed the same symptoms
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 as those at the other end of the scale.
00:01:57 --> 00:02:02 No matter how good the job as well, or how considerate the employer,
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 how nice the people you worked with,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 or even the surrounds in which you work,
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 it made no difference.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:17 The very idea of working another week caused so much stress-related illnesses.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 And the reason?
00:02:21 --> 00:02:22 Purposelessness.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 Purposelessness is having plenty to do,
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 but no satisfying reason to do it.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:35 It's like living life without purpose
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 is kind of like playing soccer without goalposts.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 You can dribble the ball with great skill,
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 you can execute some fine passes,
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 you can enjoy your time on the paddock,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 but in the end, what's the point?
00:02:49 --> 00:02:50 What's the point to it all?
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 Unless there is some goal, some objective,
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 some reason for doing it,
00:02:56 --> 00:02:57 then in the end,
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 it is all a farce.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 It is this quest for purpose in our daily existence
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 that makes this parable of the ten miners
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 so drastically important for us.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:16 Jesus here provides us with that vital missing link,
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 and that is future perspective.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 And we need that future perspective
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 in order to give our daily routine significance.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 As you know,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:29 we have been travelling with Jesus
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 on his way to Jerusalem,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 and as we've been travelling with Jesus,
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 he has encountered a number of people,
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 he has told lots of stories
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 about what it means to be part of his kingdom,
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 he has cleared up misconceptions
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 of what it means to be his disciple,
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 he has told stories like the rich fool
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 and the lost sheep and the lost coin
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 and the lost son and the shrewd manager,
00:03:53 --> 00:03:54 he has encountered people
00:03:54 --> 00:03:55 like the rich young ruler
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 and the blind beggar,
00:03:56 --> 00:04:00 and as he arrives close to Jerusalem,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 he has one final encounter
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 with a person,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 and that is with Zacchaeus.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 And this encounter with Zacchaeus
00:04:10 --> 00:04:14 is where this journey with Jesus
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 comes to its climax.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:20 The visit of Jesus to Jericho
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 attracts a large crowd.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 wants a chance to look at Jesus,
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 but he can't because he's too short.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 Instead, he climbs a tree
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 to get a glimpse of Jesus
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 as he wanders by.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34 The important thing is, though,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 in that encounter
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 is the fact that Jesus took the initiative.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:38 Verse 5,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:39 Zacchaeus,
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 Jesus said to him,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 Zacchaeus,
00:04:42 --> 00:04:43 come down immediately,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 I must stay at your house today.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 And it's this acceptance
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 of Zacchaeus
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 by Jesus
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 that repulses the crowd.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:55 It says in verse 7,
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 all the people saw this
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 and began to mutter,
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 he has gone
00:04:58 --> 00:04:59 to be the guest
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00 of a sinner.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 You see,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 Zac and his kind
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 were social outcasts,
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 but Jesus welcomes him.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 Zacchaeus responds to Jesus
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 by coming out of the tree immediately
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 and it says he received
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 Jesus with joy.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 A reception of joy
00:05:16 --> 00:05:16 to Jesus
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 is the appropriate response
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 on Jesus' actions
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 on our behalf.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 We also see another response
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 to Jesus by Zac.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:26 In verse 8,
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 it says,
00:05:27 --> 00:05:27 Look, Lord,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:28 here and now
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 I give half of my possessions
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 to the poor
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 and if I have cheated anybody
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 out of anything,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 I will pay back
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 four times the amount.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 There are, in fact,
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 two responses there.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 A new generosity,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 which means he gives
00:05:45 --> 00:05:46 half of his assets
00:05:46 --> 00:05:46 to the poor.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 And secondly,
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 a desire to undo
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 the wrongs from the past.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 And he says
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 he will pay back them
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 four times as much
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 anyone that he has robbed.
00:05:59 --> 00:05:59 It's interesting
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 that normal restitution
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 only actually added 20%.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 If I've robbed you
00:06:08 --> 00:06:08 of a dollar,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 I'll give you
00:06:09 --> 00:06:09 a dollar,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:09 you know,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 a dollar,
00:06:10 --> 00:06:10 twenty back.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 But Zacchaeus
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 actually suggests
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 and submits himself
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 to the highest penalty
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 that the Old Testament
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 law required.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 The highest penalty.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 You see,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 what has happened here,
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 God has made
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 the impossible happen.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 He's done the impossible.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 A rich man
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 gets through
00:06:35 --> 00:06:35 the eye of the needle.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 A rich man
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 gets through
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 the eye of the needle
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 and here
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 at the end
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 of this road
00:06:43 --> 00:06:43 to Jerusalem,
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 Jesus sets up
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 Zacchaeus
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 as the model disciple.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 The model disciple.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 He receives
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 the grace
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 of the Lord Jesus
00:06:55 --> 00:06:55 with joy
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 and a radical
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 transformation
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 of priorities
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 and his life
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 is a result.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:04 His priorities
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 change because
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 of this new life.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 It's this new life
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 and his priority
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 which will govern
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 the rest of his life.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 Which is why
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 Jesus launches
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 into this parable
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 straight after
00:07:17 --> 00:07:17 his encounter
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 with Zacchaeus.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 Jesus is close
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 to Jerusalem
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 and there are
00:07:26 --> 00:07:26 some that are
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 there with Jesus
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 thinking that
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 it's all over.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 It's about to finish.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 Jesus the king
00:07:32 --> 00:07:32 who's done all these
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 miracles along the way
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 he's going to get
00:07:36 --> 00:07:36 to Jerusalem
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 and he's going to
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 beat up the Romans
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 and kick the king out
00:07:39 --> 00:07:39 and we're going to
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 go to the palace
00:07:40 --> 00:07:40 and we're going to
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 get the temple back.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:41 It's all going to
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 be hunky dory
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 and it's going to
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 be like the good old days
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 we're going to party on
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 and it's kind of
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 the king is established
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 and he's thrown
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 and Jesus goes
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 hang on a bit.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 Verse 11
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 Jesus tells
00:07:53 --> 00:07:53 this parable
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 because he was
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 near Jerusalem
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 and the people
00:07:56 --> 00:07:56 thought that the
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 kingdom of God
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 was going to
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 appear at once.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 They thought it
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 was almost over.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 And so Jesus
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 uses this parable
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 to instruct
00:08:06 --> 00:08:06 his disciples
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 that salvation
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 as we saw
00:08:09 --> 00:08:09 with Zacchaeus
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 is not the end
00:08:10 --> 00:08:10 of the matter.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 It's not just
00:08:13 --> 00:08:13 a matter of
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 ticking a box
00:08:14 --> 00:08:14 and praying a prayer
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 and getting in
00:08:15 --> 00:08:15 the kingdom
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 and that's it.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:18 Getting into
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 the kingdom of God
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 like Zacchaeus
00:08:20 --> 00:08:20 doesn't mean that
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 you just kind of
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 sit back
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 and wait
00:08:23 --> 00:08:23 for heaven
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 to come.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 You know
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 we fill our pews
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 it's not like
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 church is like
00:08:29 --> 00:08:29 a holding pen
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 for Christians
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 waiting for Jesus
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 to come back
00:08:32 --> 00:08:32 like a bunch
00:08:32 --> 00:08:32 of sheep
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 really
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 in a pen
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 kind of
00:08:34 --> 00:08:34 waiting to be
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 shorn.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:39 If you're part
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 of the kingdom
00:08:40 --> 00:08:40 of God
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 if you respond
00:08:41 --> 00:08:41 to Jesus
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 then you've
00:08:42 --> 00:08:42 got a job
00:08:42 --> 00:08:42 to do
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 until the king
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 comes back.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 So he says
00:08:47 --> 00:08:47 this
00:08:47 --> 00:08:47 soon after
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 they arrived
00:08:48 --> 00:08:48 in Jerusalem
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 Jesus would
00:08:49 --> 00:08:49 be leaving
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 them.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:50 In verse 12
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 he said
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 this
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 a man
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 of noble
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 birth
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 went to
00:08:54 --> 00:08:54 a distant
00:08:54 --> 00:08:54 country
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 to have
00:08:55 --> 00:08:55 himself
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 appointed
00:08:56 --> 00:08:56 king
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 and then
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 to return.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 But the
00:09:00 --> 00:09:00 disciples were
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 not meant
00:09:01 --> 00:09:01 to be
00:09:01 --> 00:09:01 disheartened
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 by this.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:02 Yes
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 Jesus was
00:09:03 --> 00:09:03 going to
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 leave them
00:09:04 --> 00:09:04 he made
00:09:04 --> 00:09:04 it clear
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 they were
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 not to be
00:09:06 --> 00:09:06 disheartened
00:09:06 --> 00:09:06 by this
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 because the
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 king
00:09:08 --> 00:09:08 would
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 return.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:11 And the
00:09:11 --> 00:09:11 point of
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 this parable
00:09:12 --> 00:09:12 is what
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 do they do
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 between when
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 the king
00:09:15 --> 00:09:15 leaves and
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 when the
00:09:16 --> 00:09:16 king comes
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 back again?
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 What happens
00:09:19 --> 00:09:19 in the meantime?
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 Verse 13
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 So he called
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 in ten of his
00:09:24 --> 00:09:24 servants and
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 gave them ten
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 minors, put
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 this money to
00:09:27 --> 00:09:27 work until I
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 come back.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:31 That
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 sentence
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 is
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 Jesus'
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 answer to
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 the dreaded
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 Monday morning
00:09:39 --> 00:09:39 feeling.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 That sentence
00:09:42 --> 00:09:42 is the
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 Bible's work
00:09:43 --> 00:09:43 ethic.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 We've got a
00:09:46 --> 00:09:46 job to do
00:09:46 --> 00:09:46 for the
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 king until
00:09:48 --> 00:09:48 the king
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 comes back.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 And that
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 gives everything
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 meaning.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 It gives
00:09:53 --> 00:09:53 everything
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 purpose.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 And this
00:09:57 --> 00:09:57 work ethic
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 is not
00:09:58 --> 00:09:58 grounded in
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 a moral
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 duty but
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 in future
00:10:01 --> 00:10:01 hope.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:02 Future
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 hope.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 We are
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 to put the
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 king's
00:10:06 --> 00:10:06 resources to
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 work until
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 he comes
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 back.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:09 Those
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 few words
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 are desperately
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 important
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 because the
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 world is
00:10:16 --> 00:10:16 going
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 somewhere.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 There is a
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 hope and
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 the king
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 is returning.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 Therefore,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 make the
00:10:24 --> 00:10:24 most of the
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 opportunities
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 and the
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 resources we
00:10:27 --> 00:10:27 have to
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 invest in
00:10:28 --> 00:10:28 the kingdom
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 by working
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 hard for
00:10:30 --> 00:10:30 the king.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:31 I said
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 this a
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 couple of
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 Sundays
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 ago on
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 Vision
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 Sunday.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:36 Wise
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 investments.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 This is
00:10:40 --> 00:10:40 what gives
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 our daily
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 routine
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 meaning.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 It's
00:10:43 --> 00:10:43 what gives
00:10:43 --> 00:10:43 our daily
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 routine
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 purpose.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 This is
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 the task
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 that Jesus
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 leaves us
00:10:48 --> 00:10:48 with.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 And what
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 this parable
00:10:51 --> 00:10:51 says is
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 that people
00:10:52 --> 00:10:52 are divided
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 into three
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 broad
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 categories
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 depending
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 on how
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 they respond
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 to the
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 challenge
00:10:57 --> 00:10:57 from the
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 king.
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 At one
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 extreme
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 are those
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 described in
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 verse 14.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:13 Jesus
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 saying is
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 that there
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 will be
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 some who
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 reject
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 God's
00:11:17 --> 00:11:17 king.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 They'll
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 reject
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 Jesus
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 being the
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 king.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 They won't
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 want him
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 to be
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 king.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 And they
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 won't
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 accept his
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 authority
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 as the
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 king.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 Some
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 will hide
00:11:27 --> 00:11:27 their
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 rebellion
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 against
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 the
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 king
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 under
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 the
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 guise
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 of
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 doubt
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 or
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 ignorance.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 But Jesus
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 is clear
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 here that
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 the main
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 resistance
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 to the
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 rule of
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 king
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 Jesus
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 is
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 the
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 will.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 Verse
00:11:46 --> 00:11:46 14.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 We don't
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 want
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 this man
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 to be
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 our
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 king.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 We don't
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 want this
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 man to
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 be our
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 king.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 But of
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 course it's
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 all in
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 vain because
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 he is
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 the king.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 Verse 15.
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 He was
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 made king
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 however and
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 he returned
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 home.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 That's
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 the reality
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 of it.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 My
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 desire for
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 Jesus not
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 to be
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 king is
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 somehow
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 stronger than
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 the fact
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 he is
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 king.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 Nothing
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 can stop
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 Jesus'
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 final
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 triumph.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 Whether
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 you like
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 it or
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 not,
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 he is
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 king.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 And the
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 Bible says
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 that people
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 will resist
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 his
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 will,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 with their
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 will,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 resist
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 king
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 Jesus
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 right to
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 the very
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 end.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 Right to
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 the very
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 end.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 It
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 astounds
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 me that
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 the Bible
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 says that
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 in the
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 last days
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 when Jesus
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 appears with
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 loud trumpet
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 sounds,
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 people will be
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 confronted with
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 the descending
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 Lord Jesus
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 and instead
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 of bowing
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 and asking
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 for mercy
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 in that
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 last moment
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 of their
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 life,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 they will
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 say let
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 the mountains
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 fall on
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 me rather
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 than submit
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 to him.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 The
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 strength of
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 the will
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 to resist
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 Jesus right
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 to the
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 very end.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 Nothing
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 can stop
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 Jesus'
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 final triumph.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 He is
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 king.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 The end
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 of the
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 parable tells
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 us what
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 happened to
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 those who
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 rebelled
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 against the
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 king.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 Verse 27,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 but those
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 enemies of
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 mine who
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 did not
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 want me to
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 be king
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 over them,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 bring them
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 here and
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 kill them
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 in front
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 of me.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 Would
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 have been
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 so nice
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 if he
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 didn't
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 mention
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 that,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 wouldn't
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 it?
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 It would
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 have been
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 so much
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 nicer if
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 he didn't
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 say it
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 so strongly.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 But there
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 is no room
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 in God's
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 kingdom for
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 rebels.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 It's a
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 harsh
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 verdict,
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 but by
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 it Jesus
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 conveys the
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 hard truth
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 that if
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 you don't
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 want to
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 submit to
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 the king
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 then you
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 have no
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 place in
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 the kingdom.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 What this
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 parable is
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 saying is
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 that God
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 takes our
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 sin,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 our
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 rebellion
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 against him
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 very
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 seriously
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 and he
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 will judge
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 all acts
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 of rebellion
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 against him.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 sin.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 The second
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 category of
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 people are
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 at the
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 other end
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 of the
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 extreme.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 There are
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 those whom
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 Jesus called
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 into this
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 story, the
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 good servants.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 Verse 15,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 he was made
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 king, however,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 returned home.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 Then he sent
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 for the
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 servants to
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 those whom
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 he had given
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 money in
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 order to find
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 out what
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 they had
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 gained with
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 it.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 The first
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 one said,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 sir, your
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 miner has
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 earned ten
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 more.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 Well done.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 my good
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 servant.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 His master
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 replied,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 because you
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 have been
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 trustworthy in
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 a very small
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 matter, take
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 charge of
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 ten cities.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 The second
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 came and
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 said, sir,
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 your miner
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 has earned
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 five more.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 His master
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 answered, you
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 take charge of
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 five cities.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 I think it's
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 awesome.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 What the
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 Bible actually
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 portrays is
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 that our
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 deepest joy and
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 satisfaction is
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 found in
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 serving the
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 king.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 And this is
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 clearly here as
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 well.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 That what
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 happens is,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 when you
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 spend a
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 life of
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 serving king
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 Jesus, what
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 is the
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 reward?
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 More service.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 Over ten
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 cities or
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 five cities.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 More
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 opportunities to
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 serve king
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 Jesus because
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 it's where our
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 deepest satisfaction
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 and joy comes
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 from.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 What a
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 wonderful picture.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 Anyway, that's
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 just a side
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 point.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 What Jesus is
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 using here is a
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 financial metaphor
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 to describe the
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 sort of
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 trustworthiness
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 that God is
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 working out in
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 those who
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 follow him.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 The minor
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 represents the
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 thing that
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 Jesus left
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 us with.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 The resources,
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 the endowments,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 the charge,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 the mandate,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 the mandate to
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 go and make
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 disciples of
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 all nations.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 The things that
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 he wants us to
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 get on with,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 his business,
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 until he
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 returns.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 What he is
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 saying is that
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 it actually
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 matters how we
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 live now.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 It matters how
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 we order our
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 priorities.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 It matters
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 what we
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 spend our
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 time doing
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 and how we
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 use the
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 resources that
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 God has
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 given us.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 What it's
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 saying is that
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 for those who
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 are part of
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 the kingdom,
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 you don't sit
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 around twiddling
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 your thumbs,
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 kind of just
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 waiting for
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 Jesus to come
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 back.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 We've got a
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 job to do
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 for the
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 king.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 It's saying
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 that we use
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 our resources
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 and opportunities
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 here,
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 now,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 and they will
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 have eternal
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 consequences.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:34 In other
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 words,
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 it is possible
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 to live in
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 such a way
00:16:39 --> 00:16:42 now that
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 heaven will
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 actually be
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 enriched for
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 us.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 You get
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 that?
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 It is
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 possible to
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 live in
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 such a way
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 now that
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 heaven will
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 actually be
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 enriched for
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 us.
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 And the
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 mark of a
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 good and
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 trustworthy
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 servant is
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 that they
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 make wise
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 long-term
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 investments.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 They build
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 for the
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 kingdom.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 This is
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 brilliant news
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 in a world
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 that is full
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 of Monday
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 morning
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 itis.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 It means
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 that you
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 can work
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 your guts
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 out in
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 service of
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 the king
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 and it
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 actually
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 counts.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 It doesn't
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 matter what
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 your job
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 is.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 It doesn't
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 matter what
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 role you
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 feel in
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 society.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 You might
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 be a slave
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 or a
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 master.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 You
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 might be
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 a husband
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 or a
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 wife.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 You
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 might be
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 a child
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 or a
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 parent.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 Every
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 Christian
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 can and
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 should
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 dedicate
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 their
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 daily
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 business
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 to
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 Christ
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 the
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 king.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 Do it
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 all as
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 if working
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 for the
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 king.
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 And we
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 do it
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 because we
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 are going
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 somewhere.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 We have a
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 goal and
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 we have a
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 hope.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:56 But there
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 is one
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 more
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 servant.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 Verse 20.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 Then another
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 servant came
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 and said,
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 Sir,
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 here is
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 your
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 minor.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 I have
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 kept it
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 laid away
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 in a
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 piece of
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 cloth.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 I was
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 afraid of
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 you because
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 you're a
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 hard man.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 You take
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 out what
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 you did
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 not put
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 in and
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 reap
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 what you
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 did
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 not
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 sow.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 The
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 first thing
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 to say
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 about this
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 guy is
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 that his
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 characterization
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 of the
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 king is
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 grossly
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 unfair.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 he actually
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 gave his
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 servants
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 responsibility.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 He is
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 saying that
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 the king
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 is a
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 vicious
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 exploiter
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 of people.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 He's
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 quite clear
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 from this
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 story in
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 fact that
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 the king
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 is nothing
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 of the
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 kind.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 For
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 whatever
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 reason this
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 servant
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 can't bring
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 himself to
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 believe in
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 the kindness
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 and the
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 generosity
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 of the
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 king.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 He wraps
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 up that
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 little piece
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 of money.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 I was
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 afraid
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 was his
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 excuse.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 I was
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 afraid.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 Was he
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 afraid that
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 he might
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 not be
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 successful?
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 Maybe.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 Was he
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 afraid that
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 he might
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 actually
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 miserably
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 fail?
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 Maybe.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 But do
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 you know
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 what I
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 think his
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 real problem
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 is?
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 He wasn't
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 afraid enough.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 He didn't
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 fear the
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 master
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 enough.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 He didn't
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 fear the
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 master.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 If he
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 had he
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 actually
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 would have
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 done
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 something
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 with that
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 minor.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 The truth
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 was that
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 he was a
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 wicked servant
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 looking for
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 an excuse
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 for his
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 laziness,
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 for his
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 negligence and
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 for his
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 irresponsibility.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 laziness.
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 And Jesus
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 is warning
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 us against
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 laziness.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 He is
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 telling us
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 that we
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 must work
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 for his
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 kingdom with
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 vision and
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 vigour.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 We mustn't
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 allow fear
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 to make us
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 withdraw like a
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 turtle into the
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 security of our
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 shell.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 We must be
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 prepared to
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 commit ourselves
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 boldly to
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 the kingdom,
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 to kingdom
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 initiatives.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 we are not
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 to be rash
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 with the
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 resources that
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 God has
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 given us,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 but we
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 are to
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 make courageous
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09 decisions for
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 the king.
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 I think what
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 Jesus is saying
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 here is that we
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 should never be
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 content as
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 Christians just
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 to kind of
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 happily attend
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 church each
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 week, feel
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 secure and
00:20:20 --> 00:20:23 cosy, while
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 the rest of the
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 world is going
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 to hell in a
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 handbasket.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:29 He is
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 telling us not
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 to stay on
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 the sidelines
00:20:31 --> 00:20:33 as spectators
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 of other
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 people's
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 enterprise for
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 the kingdom.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 Because too
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 often we do
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 that.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 Too often we
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 just do that
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 by nature.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 You go and
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 watch a football
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 team play,
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 you sit up
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 there in the
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 stands, you
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 watch them, if
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 they win you
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 kind of feel
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 like somehow
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 you've
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 contributed to
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 it.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:58 I mean,
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 does anyone
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 boast?
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 I mean, I
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 do that.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 I think that
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 somehow my
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 cheering has
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 sort of got
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 them over the
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 line.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 Too often we
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 do that.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 We sit on
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 the sideline
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 as spectators
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 of other
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 people's
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 enterprise for
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 the kingdom.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 That's why I
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 can say that
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 I'm particularly
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 encouraged that
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 the staff of
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 the parish
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 council are
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 not sitting
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 on the
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 sidelines.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 They're not
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 sitting on
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 the sidelines.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 Some of us
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 are crippled by
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 what we
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 perceive to
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 be our
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 lack of
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 resources.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 You know, if
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 I could preach
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 like Billy
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 Graham, I'd
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 be an
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 evangelist.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 Or if I
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 was any
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 good at
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 languages, I'd
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 be a
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 missionary.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 If I
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 could do
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 music, I'd
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 sort of bump
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 Nick from
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 his job.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 If I was
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 academic, I'd
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 go to Bible
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 college.
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 If I wasn't
00:21:47 --> 00:21:49 so shy, I'd
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 evangelise my
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 friends.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 If I had
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 more money, I'd
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 be able to
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 give.
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 I had more
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 time, I could
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 do church
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 ministry
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 more.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 If only, if
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 only, if
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 only God
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 had not
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 given me so
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 little to
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 work with.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 It's his
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 fault in the
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 end.
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 God isn't
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 interested in
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 the hypothetical
00:22:11 --> 00:22:13 devotion that
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 we would give
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 if we had the
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 resources.
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 The irony of
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 this faithless
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 servant is
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 that in
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 trying to
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 avoid taking
00:22:26 --> 00:22:28 risks, he
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 was in
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 fact taking
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 the greatest
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 risk of
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 all.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 Gambling with
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 his place in
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 the kingdom,
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 gambling with
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 his life.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 God's
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 life.
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 Well, friends,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 sorry to
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 say, but it's
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 going to be
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 Monday again
00:22:49 --> 00:22:51 tomorrow, and
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 you could wake
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 up depressed
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 and miserable
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 as people who
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 are going
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 nowhere, like
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 all the
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 purposeless
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 people who
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 drive here,
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 past you on
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 a Monday
00:23:01 --> 00:23:04 morning, going
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 to their
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 offices in
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 their fancy
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 cars.
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 Or you
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 could be
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 motivated and
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 ambitious as
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 people who
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 know that you
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 have a hope,
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 a purpose,
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 and a reason,
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 and a job
00:23:19 --> 00:23:21 to do, using
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 the king's
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 resources to
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 build up
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 treasure in
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 heaven, and
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 enriching your
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 experience and
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 other people's
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 experience of
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 heaven until
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 he comes.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 The message
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 for us as
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 we get near
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 Jerusalem with
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 Jesus, over
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 these whole
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 number of
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 weeks as
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 we're travelled
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 with Jesus,
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 is quite
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 simple.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 Honour the
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 king.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 Live for
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 the king.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 All of our
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 lives are on
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 the way to
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 eternity.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 Jesus has
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 gone.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 He's left.
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 After his
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 resurrection,
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 after his
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 ascension,
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 and his
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 glorification,
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 and he sits
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 on the
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 throne now.
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 And the
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 day has
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 been set
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 when he
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 will return.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 And all
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 of our
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 lives are
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 on the
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 way to
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 eternity.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 An
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 eternity
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 with
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 Christ,
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 or a
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 Christ-less
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 eternity.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 And so,
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 in the
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 words of
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 the old
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 poem,
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 only one
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 life will
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 soon be
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 passed,
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 only what's
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 done for
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 Christ will
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 last.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 Amen.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 Amen.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 Amen.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 Amen.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 Amen.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 Amen.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 Amen.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 Amen.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 Amen.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 Amen.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 Amen.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 Amen.
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 Amen.
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 Amen.
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 Amen.
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 Amen.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 Amen.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 Amen.