1 00:00:11,896 --> 00:00:12,776 Joshua Kehler: Luke chapter seven. 2 00:00:14,296 --> 00:00:18,746 I want to start a little series having wrapped up Jonah, I want to spend a couple 3 00:00:18,746 --> 00:00:21,846 weeks and I want it to be two parts. 4 00:00:22,136 --> 00:00:27,456 and that is there's certain passages of scripture that have formed me. 5 00:00:28,196 --> 00:00:28,966 shaped me. 6 00:00:29,546 --> 00:00:31,396 me and Andrew were talking about it this morning. 7 00:00:31,806 --> 00:00:36,156 what is the one passage that like had a profound effect in your 8 00:00:36,156 --> 00:00:39,796 life that, sometimes you come up against the passage or a story. 9 00:00:40,186 --> 00:00:44,696 and it just rocks your world and you're not the same after having encountered it. 10 00:00:45,196 --> 00:00:47,676 And it can even be something you've heard multiple times before. 11 00:00:47,676 --> 00:00:50,326 It could be something you've preached, like for me. 12 00:00:50,326 --> 00:00:52,736 And then all of a sudden it gets ahold of you in a brand new way. 13 00:00:52,736 --> 00:00:57,826 So two parts, I want to teach on some of these pivotal places in scripture 14 00:00:58,236 --> 00:01:03,566 that have formed and shaped my life, and transformed my life and, and how I 15 00:01:03,566 --> 00:01:07,886 understand the gospel and, how I want to grow in that and continue to understand 16 00:01:07,886 --> 00:01:10,836 and grow in the gospel as just as we were singing that last song, it is 17 00:01:10,836 --> 00:01:12,706 well with my soul by Horatio Spafford. 18 00:01:12,706 --> 00:01:20,376 he wrote that out of the loss when his kids died, they drowned and his wife, 19 00:01:20,406 --> 00:01:25,526 the, they, he had sent them on ahead, to England and, their boat went down. 20 00:01:25,896 --> 00:01:30,456 And, she wrote a telegram to him, with two words saved alone, that his 21 00:01:30,456 --> 00:01:34,086 kids had drowned and, on the spot, the captain said, this is where it is. 22 00:01:34,086 --> 00:01:35,916 And he composes it as well with my soul. 23 00:01:36,556 --> 00:01:42,706 And I think it's so profound just hearing that song, because he starts to recount 24 00:01:42,726 --> 00:01:46,996 the gospel, he's starts thinking about, Oh, my sin, the thought, not in part, 25 00:01:46,996 --> 00:01:48,456 but in whole it's nailed to the crowd. 26 00:01:48,485 --> 00:01:53,066 that's where he's finding comfort in this. 27 00:01:53,411 --> 00:01:57,561 In the face of such tragic loss is recounting the gospel story to himself. 28 00:01:58,011 --> 00:01:59,291 So we're a community. 29 00:01:59,291 --> 00:02:00,531 We want to ever grow in that. 30 00:02:01,201 --> 00:02:02,781 And, I want to keep growing in that. 31 00:02:02,781 --> 00:02:06,751 So I, what I'm going to ask is I'm going to ask you guys to share 32 00:02:07,181 --> 00:02:11,341 maybe one of you a week, what scripture, what passage, what story. 33 00:02:11,651 --> 00:02:14,571 And the Bible has transformed your life, has just changed. 34 00:02:14,571 --> 00:02:19,581 It has rocked your world, has not left you the same, and you can have five 35 00:02:19,581 --> 00:02:23,441 minutes, you can have 10 minutes, you can have the whole time if you want. 36 00:02:23,891 --> 00:02:25,881 and I'll keep preaching and we'll just feel it out. 37 00:02:26,241 --> 00:02:29,111 so we'll spend a couple of weeks on this and then we'll jump into another book 38 00:02:29,471 --> 00:02:31,881 and make our way through that next book. 39 00:02:33,641 --> 00:02:39,351 This is one of the first places that I came to scripture and it was alive, it was 40 00:02:39,361 --> 00:02:44,041 vibrant, it was like wrestling with me. 41 00:02:44,361 --> 00:02:47,551 And one of the first times that I ever got the whole concept 42 00:02:47,601 --> 00:02:49,401 of who are you in the story. 43 00:02:50,221 --> 00:02:53,251 now I used to place myself in the story, in Bible stories, 44 00:02:53,291 --> 00:02:54,761 but I was along good company. 45 00:02:55,180 --> 00:03:01,231 I was like, next to David, or next to to Gideon or, I'd place myself in the 46 00:03:01,231 --> 00:03:03,851 story right next to the hero and stuff. 47 00:03:03,971 --> 00:03:08,291 And this was the first time that, as I, read this, it was the first 48 00:03:08,301 --> 00:03:10,191 time it was, like, dawning on me. 49 00:03:10,191 --> 00:03:13,051 It was like somebody rang my bell. 50 00:03:13,271 --> 00:03:17,451 It was all of a sudden I realized, I'm not this person in the story. 51 00:03:18,111 --> 00:03:20,321 I think I'm this person in the story. 52 00:03:20,871 --> 00:03:26,521 And it changed my life to realize who I was and to really let that in 53 00:03:26,521 --> 00:03:28,671 and search me and wrestle with me. 54 00:03:29,091 --> 00:03:34,231 because it's one thing if you're pretty good and you just need a little, vitamin 55 00:03:34,231 --> 00:03:36,351 shot to make you a little better. 56 00:03:36,651 --> 00:03:41,741 It's another thing if you realize I need to be rescued like my whole 57 00:03:41,741 --> 00:03:43,341 life has to be rescued right now. 58 00:03:43,541 --> 00:03:45,930 I have to be rescued every single day. 59 00:03:45,930 --> 00:03:49,711 I am, I need God's grace. 60 00:03:50,586 --> 00:03:52,576 And I need it in truckloads. 61 00:03:52,576 --> 00:03:54,586 I need it in train car after train car. 62 00:03:54,636 --> 00:03:58,555 I need, and then to begin to worship. 63 00:03:59,116 --> 00:04:02,806 To see that he provides that where sin did abound grace hyper abounds that 64 00:04:02,836 --> 00:04:07,576 he gives himself away to you Like not holding back that he is for you and 65 00:04:07,576 --> 00:04:12,176 not against you that he loves you And so I'm gonna pick up the story just to 66 00:04:12,176 --> 00:04:15,876 give it a little bit of context This one has a one two punch because this also 67 00:04:15,876 --> 00:04:21,466 is another one of the stories that both really impacted me and Andrea but Jesus 68 00:04:21,466 --> 00:04:28,266 is ministering and Here's a little bit of what happens verse 18 The disciples 69 00:04:28,266 --> 00:04:30,576 of John reported all these things to him. 70 00:04:30,576 --> 00:04:34,886 John's in prison for speaking out, against sin and evil. 71 00:04:34,936 --> 00:04:36,746 And so he's in jail for it. 72 00:04:37,716 --> 00:04:42,196 And John calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord saying, are 73 00:04:42,196 --> 00:04:49,986 you the one who is to come or shall we look for another, which is a huge thing. 74 00:04:50,666 --> 00:04:52,556 A huge development in the story, right? 75 00:04:53,296 --> 00:04:54,996 John the Baptist, the baptizer. 76 00:04:55,301 --> 00:05:01,931 He is the one who said, I'm not worthy to unloosen his sandal strap. 77 00:05:03,641 --> 00:05:06,201 that's how amazing he is. 78 00:05:07,361 --> 00:05:13,571 He said, he must increase, and I must decrease. 79 00:05:14,121 --> 00:05:18,531 As his disciples, who he had discipled and spent years pouring 80 00:05:18,531 --> 00:05:20,291 into, begin to gravitate to Jesus. 81 00:05:21,036 --> 00:05:23,126 And John's yes, that's what it's here. 82 00:05:23,126 --> 00:05:27,246 I was just preparing the way he's the one who called out, behold, the lamb of 83 00:05:27,246 --> 00:05:28,806 God who takes away the sin of the world. 84 00:05:28,806 --> 00:05:31,376 But now he's in prison. 85 00:05:31,386 --> 00:05:34,226 He's in jail for doing what was right. 86 00:05:34,546 --> 00:05:36,476 And there's no rescue party. 87 00:05:36,886 --> 00:05:39,256 There's no people beating down the door. 88 00:05:39,256 --> 00:05:45,076 Jesus isn't leading the captives free like he promised. 89 00:05:45,336 --> 00:05:51,846 And so John in that place says, In a moment of crisis, are you really Him? 90 00:05:52,586 --> 00:05:54,146 Or should we look for somebody else? 91 00:05:54,526 --> 00:05:55,146 Why? 92 00:05:56,786 --> 00:05:59,646 Because you're not living up to my expectations of what God 93 00:05:59,646 --> 00:06:00,856 should be and what He should do. 94 00:06:02,166 --> 00:06:05,476 And we all have that struggle from one time or another. 95 00:06:06,066 --> 00:06:08,966 Does, God does not live up to our expectations. 96 00:06:09,726 --> 00:06:15,821 God just, when we think He should go right, He goes left, or he, he takes 97 00:06:15,821 --> 00:06:18,371 a whole different approach on things. 98 00:06:18,701 --> 00:06:20,631 And it can be really trying, and it was trying for John. 99 00:06:20,681 --> 00:06:24,341 he sends two of his disciples, Shall we look for another? 100 00:06:24,351 --> 00:06:27,151 And when the men had come to him, they said, John the Baptist has sent us to 101 00:06:27,151 --> 00:06:30,481 you, saying, Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? 102 00:06:30,481 --> 00:06:34,991 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and 103 00:06:34,991 --> 00:06:37,081 on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 104 00:06:37,431 --> 00:06:39,451 And he answered them, Go and tell John. 105 00:06:39,816 --> 00:06:44,586 What you have seen and heard, the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the 106 00:06:44,586 --> 00:06:48,516 lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the 107 00:06:48,516 --> 00:06:54,246 good news preached to them, and blessed is the one who is not offended because of me. 108 00:06:55,026 --> 00:06:58,796 So what he does is he begins to heal, he begins to preach the good news. 109 00:06:58,946 --> 00:07:04,056 It's all the credentials of the Messiah that any good Jewish person would know. 110 00:07:04,616 --> 00:07:08,046 In the book of Isaiah they said, if you want to know what the Messiah 111 00:07:08,046 --> 00:07:10,406 looks like when he comes, he's going to be doing these things. 112 00:07:10,896 --> 00:07:12,596 He's going to be preaching to the poor. 113 00:07:12,606 --> 00:07:14,566 He's going to be preaching good news. 114 00:07:14,566 --> 00:07:15,776 He's going to be healing blind. 115 00:07:15,776 --> 00:07:17,076 He's going to be raising the dead. 116 00:07:17,216 --> 00:07:19,716 He's going to be doing all these things this is the Messiah. 117 00:07:19,716 --> 00:07:20,936 This is the one we've been looking for. 118 00:07:20,936 --> 00:07:23,006 So he doesn't just give John a message. 119 00:07:23,006 --> 00:07:28,976 He backs up with John's knowledge of scripture, who 120 00:07:29,006 --> 00:07:34,016 he is to have that foundation. 121 00:07:34,496 --> 00:07:35,266 ever secure. 122 00:07:35,936 --> 00:07:39,986 And then he says one of the greatest lines that Jesus has uttered. 123 00:07:39,996 --> 00:07:41,246 He's uttered a lot of great lines. 124 00:07:41,306 --> 00:07:42,916 He seems to be good at that. 125 00:07:43,296 --> 00:07:46,126 But he says, blessed is he who is not offended because of me. 126 00:07:46,476 --> 00:07:47,666 Blessed is the one. 127 00:07:47,716 --> 00:07:52,726 oh, how happy is the one who isn't upset at the way I use 128 00:07:52,726 --> 00:07:55,276 my sovereignty and your life. 129 00:07:56,066 --> 00:08:05,936 Oh, how happy is the one who isn't upset at how I rule in your life as 130 00:08:05,936 --> 00:08:10,526 King of kings and It's life changing. 131 00:08:10,526 --> 00:08:13,396 The first time I got that, I wept for two hours straight 132 00:08:14,676 --> 00:08:15,896 because that was my wrestle. 133 00:08:17,266 --> 00:08:18,496 God, are you going to take my kids? 134 00:08:19,446 --> 00:08:20,766 Are you going to make me sacrifice? 135 00:08:20,766 --> 00:08:22,496 Are you going to lead me down this road? 136 00:08:22,496 --> 00:08:22,996 Are you going to? 137 00:08:23,256 --> 00:08:25,586 I was suspicious of his sovereignty. 138 00:08:25,616 --> 00:08:27,376 I was suspicious of his goodness. 139 00:08:27,586 --> 00:08:33,515 I was suspicious of the trials that as a young man loomed ahead because 140 00:08:33,816 --> 00:08:35,736 I'd seen enough saints walk the path. 141 00:08:35,986 --> 00:08:39,135 Nobody walks it, just clear sailing. 142 00:08:39,186 --> 00:08:39,956 it's not our lot. 143 00:08:42,326 --> 00:08:48,496 Because we're also showing the world that over any other good thing in 144 00:08:48,496 --> 00:08:50,226 this life, he's our true treasure, 145 00:08:53,236 --> 00:08:55,836 that he's our true satisfaction, that he is living water. 146 00:08:57,415 --> 00:09:01,176 When there's all these other things that the world offers that you can drink from 147 00:09:01,656 --> 00:09:03,486 all these other ways to be satisfied. 148 00:09:04,196 --> 00:09:05,456 so this is the context. 149 00:09:05,466 --> 00:09:05,856 Okay. 150 00:09:07,276 --> 00:09:09,246 because now Jesus is going to go in and he's going to share 151 00:09:09,246 --> 00:09:10,696 the gospel, the good news. 152 00:09:10,776 --> 00:09:11,856 And it's so beautiful. 153 00:09:12,716 --> 00:09:16,616 But let that search you and haunt you. 154 00:09:16,616 --> 00:09:21,106 And it changed me to really come and go, okay, Lord, I'm going 155 00:09:21,106 --> 00:09:22,436 to trust you with everything. 156 00:09:23,586 --> 00:09:25,166 And I'm not going to be offended. 157 00:09:25,266 --> 00:09:31,836 Sometimes I still am, but I'm not going to be upset at the way you're 158 00:09:31,836 --> 00:09:34,066 writing my story and your story. 159 00:09:34,966 --> 00:09:36,346 I'm going to let you be God. 160 00:09:37,826 --> 00:09:41,816 And I'm going to take my hands off of my life in the sense that I can control it, 161 00:09:42,286 --> 00:09:48,076 that I can, I'm going to take my hands off my life and that I'm wiser than you are. 162 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:52,891 And I'm going to lean into you as a good father. 163 00:09:53,711 --> 00:09:58,391 Jesus said you being evil compared to him, know how to 164 00:09:58,391 --> 00:09:59,731 give good gifts to your children. 165 00:09:59,741 --> 00:10:05,251 How much more does a heavenly father give good gifts to those 166 00:10:05,251 --> 00:10:07,341 who ask like he is for you. 167 00:10:07,341 --> 00:10:09,081 But it's that scary jump. 168 00:10:09,081 --> 00:10:13,211 It's scary for John, the baptizer who had this revelation that Jesus 169 00:10:13,221 --> 00:10:16,491 was the Messiah, that he was to spend his life preparing the way 170 00:10:16,841 --> 00:10:20,561 and God had not lived up to his expectations and he doesn't find out. 171 00:10:21,261 --> 00:10:22,630 He goes back and he messes it. 172 00:10:22,631 --> 00:10:23,641 He goes, okay. 173 00:10:23,791 --> 00:10:27,071 It's rooted in the authority of Scripture in the Old Testament, the credentials 174 00:10:27,071 --> 00:10:28,931 of the Messiah, but he gets beheaded. 175 00:10:29,431 --> 00:10:35,581 But as soon as he goes into glory, he's oh, my eyes are opened. 176 00:10:35,911 --> 00:10:39,411 I was looking for a localized Redeemer. 177 00:10:40,151 --> 00:10:43,391 Somebody who would take the nation of Israel and make it whole again. 178 00:10:44,971 --> 00:10:47,641 But you're trying to redeem from Satan, sin, and death itself. 179 00:10:48,211 --> 00:10:51,071 Oh, you're trying to restore the world. 180 00:10:51,471 --> 00:10:54,790 So the way that you, Oh, I was thinking on such a small scale 181 00:10:55,141 --> 00:11:00,271 when you are actually changing and rewriting the universe itself. 182 00:11:01,731 --> 00:11:07,561 So listen, he's, so he goes away and now Jesus talks John up. 183 00:11:07,791 --> 00:11:08,341 I love it. 184 00:11:08,801 --> 00:11:12,351 verse 24, when John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak 185 00:11:12,391 --> 00:11:14,061 to the crowds concerning John. 186 00:11:14,641 --> 00:11:17,941 What did you go out into the wilderness to see a reed shaken by the wind? 187 00:11:18,611 --> 00:11:20,291 What thing did you go out to see? 188 00:11:20,666 --> 00:11:22,326 A man dressed in soft clothing? 189 00:11:22,826 --> 00:11:26,486 Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live 190 00:11:26,486 --> 00:11:28,426 in luxury are in kings courts. 191 00:11:28,616 --> 00:11:30,016 What then did you go out to see? 192 00:11:30,316 --> 00:11:31,016 A prophet? 193 00:11:31,716 --> 00:11:35,806 Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 194 00:11:36,446 --> 00:11:41,836 This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, 195 00:11:42,156 --> 00:11:44,026 who will prepare your way before you. 196 00:11:44,026 --> 00:11:51,521 I tell you, among those born of women, There is none greater than John. 197 00:11:52,671 --> 00:11:54,171 Wouldn't that have been nice for him to hear? 198 00:11:56,011 --> 00:12:02,271 But Jesus, again, in his sovereignty, knows what John needs to wrestle with. 199 00:12:03,121 --> 00:12:07,231 is the question of sovereignty and plan. 200 00:12:08,351 --> 00:12:11,071 And so when the disciples go away, Jesus is Guys. 201 00:12:11,771 --> 00:12:15,481 There is no greater prophet that has ever existed born of 202 00:12:15,481 --> 00:12:17,041 women than John the baptizer. 203 00:12:17,041 --> 00:12:21,341 There's no more dedicated There's no more person who's been righteous and who 204 00:12:21,441 --> 00:12:26,051 has given their life away self sacrifice comfort living out in the desert like 205 00:12:26,081 --> 00:12:30,301 just seeking God his entire life There's been nobody in the history of the world 206 00:12:30,571 --> 00:12:32,540 like John and then he drops the bomb. 207 00:12:33,631 --> 00:12:40,396 This is insane I tell you, among those born of women, none is greater than 208 00:12:40,396 --> 00:12:46,316 John, yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 209 00:12:47,896 --> 00:12:48,556 That's amazing. 210 00:12:49,296 --> 00:12:51,246 And the whole crowd is going to think it's, half the crowd's 211 00:12:51,246 --> 00:12:52,106 going to think it's amazing. 212 00:12:54,096 --> 00:12:54,956 But what is he saying? 213 00:12:57,436 --> 00:13:03,196 He's saying there is a righteousness coming your way that is given to 214 00:13:03,216 --> 00:13:05,806 you and not one that you earned. 215 00:13:07,411 --> 00:13:15,141 That has laid over your life a new record that is a foreign righteousness. 216 00:13:15,411 --> 00:13:19,771 John, yes, is dedicated, but the least in the kingdom who believes 217 00:13:19,781 --> 00:13:23,901 in me is covered in my perfection. 218 00:13:25,111 --> 00:13:28,531 And so he's greater in the kingdom because you have a foreign righteousness. 219 00:13:28,681 --> 00:13:30,051 let's see if the crowd gets this. 220 00:13:31,116 --> 00:13:32,026 Is he picking up on it? 221 00:13:32,436 --> 00:13:37,936 Verse 29, when all the people heard this, and the tax collectors 222 00:13:37,966 --> 00:13:42,356 too, they declared God just. 223 00:13:44,136 --> 00:13:47,856 Having been baptized with the baptism of John, and this is really important 224 00:13:47,856 --> 00:13:53,686 link for understanding in that day it to become a Jewish person You would 225 00:13:53,696 --> 00:13:58,986 baptize yourself You would go down to the river and you would wash yourself 226 00:13:58,986 --> 00:14:02,706 clean as a way of ritual as a way of cleansing Purification and then you 227 00:14:02,706 --> 00:14:06,826 would be invited into the community when John the baptizer comes on the scene 228 00:14:06,826 --> 00:14:12,176 It's so my loan because he's baptizing people and his baptism and everybody's 229 00:14:12,176 --> 00:14:13,596 talking about this weird baptism. 230 00:14:13,596 --> 00:14:14,486 Why what is this? 231 00:14:14,711 --> 00:14:19,541 He's, how did he prepare the way, he's preparing everybody's heart 232 00:14:19,561 --> 00:14:24,471 for the truth that you cannot clean yourself to make yourself 233 00:14:24,471 --> 00:14:26,991 acceptable for the community of God. 234 00:14:27,161 --> 00:14:30,711 You must be cleansed at the hands of another. 235 00:14:31,681 --> 00:14:33,741 That's how the baptism prepared their hearts. 236 00:14:34,411 --> 00:14:36,371 that cleansing must come. 237 00:14:36,806 --> 00:14:41,406 From outside you it must come at the hands of another and the tax 238 00:14:41,406 --> 00:14:44,226 collectors when it says they declared they begin yelling They're like what? 239 00:14:47,316 --> 00:14:50,836 We did it Yes, and they started there. 240 00:14:50,946 --> 00:14:52,516 Yes, that makes sense. 241 00:14:52,526 --> 00:14:53,396 It's amazing. 242 00:14:53,656 --> 00:14:59,846 That's What we've been longing to hear, good news about God saving man, 243 00:15:00,276 --> 00:15:04,996 good news about being welcomed in, good news about a righteousness that 244 00:15:04,996 --> 00:15:06,866 we can't earn or present to ourself. 245 00:15:07,016 --> 00:15:09,396 they, get it, and the Pharisees get it too. 246 00:15:10,391 --> 00:15:11,121 Listen to what it says. 247 00:15:11,261 --> 00:15:12,211 So awesome. 248 00:15:15,351 --> 00:15:19,361 Having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees 249 00:15:19,361 --> 00:15:23,471 and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, 250 00:15:23,791 --> 00:15:27,251 not having been baptized by him. 251 00:15:31,081 --> 00:15:34,385 And so what happens is, they're like, no. 252 00:15:34,566 --> 00:15:37,266 We spend our lives being dedicated. 253 00:15:37,266 --> 00:15:39,346 We've spent our lives cleansing ourselves. 254 00:15:39,556 --> 00:15:41,236 We spent our lives performing. 255 00:15:41,396 --> 00:15:43,236 We don't need to be cleansed at the hands of another. 256 00:15:43,236 --> 00:15:44,206 We're not bad. 257 00:15:44,556 --> 00:15:50,026 we might, we might, we're not perfect, but we're relatively, especially compared 258 00:15:50,026 --> 00:15:53,836 to the crowd and the tax collectors and the sinners, we're the good ones. 259 00:15:54,146 --> 00:15:55,936 We don't need to be washed. 260 00:15:55,946 --> 00:15:58,206 We cleansed at the hands of another. 261 00:15:58,226 --> 00:16:00,406 We're doing pretty good for ourselves. 262 00:16:02,366 --> 00:16:03,456 Deeply offended. 263 00:16:04,416 --> 00:16:08,106 deeply offended that Jesus would say you need a righteousness that 264 00:16:08,106 --> 00:16:09,286 you can't produce on your own. 265 00:16:09,996 --> 00:16:13,106 You need a cleansing that comes from outside of you, one that 266 00:16:13,106 --> 00:16:14,766 you cannot do on your own. 267 00:16:15,196 --> 00:16:17,716 And it's so fascinating because the crowd gets it. 268 00:16:17,726 --> 00:16:20,376 The sinners, the broken, they're like, Yes! 269 00:16:21,016 --> 00:16:21,296 Yes! 270 00:16:22,581 --> 00:16:27,051 It's like good news and there's power in the news itself. 271 00:16:28,171 --> 00:16:29,351 It's not about being clever. 272 00:16:29,351 --> 00:16:32,241 Paul said I didn't come with sophistication and all. 273 00:16:32,251 --> 00:16:36,191 I just came simply with the cross and the foolishness of the cross. 274 00:16:36,401 --> 00:16:38,501 I, I didn't know like anything. 275 00:16:38,841 --> 00:16:42,711 I purposed to not know anything except for the cross of Jesus Christ, right? 276 00:16:43,721 --> 00:16:48,701 Because he got it, that the power is in the message itself, it's not 277 00:16:48,721 --> 00:16:50,851 in the person telling the message. 278 00:16:51,651 --> 00:16:55,241 Paul, by all example, is not a dynamic speaker. 279 00:16:55,501 --> 00:16:58,081 People were falling asleep when he'd preach, right? 280 00:16:58,321 --> 00:17:02,071 but man, he would let the lion out of the cage and people were getting saved! 281 00:17:02,676 --> 00:17:05,596 the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. 282 00:17:05,886 --> 00:17:10,856 It is itself the power, you just let it loose, you open the cage, you let the 283 00:17:10,856 --> 00:17:14,465 lion out, and the lion does its business. 284 00:17:15,215 --> 00:17:18,336 So, Jesus then tells us a little parable. 285 00:17:19,036 --> 00:17:21,496 about the fickleness of the generation. 286 00:17:21,906 --> 00:17:24,036 To what child then I compare the people of this generation? 287 00:17:24,036 --> 00:17:24,705 What are they like? 288 00:17:24,705 --> 00:17:27,256 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another. 289 00:17:27,425 --> 00:17:29,146 We played the flute for you and you did not dance. 290 00:17:29,146 --> 00:17:30,756 We sang a dirge and you did not weep. 291 00:17:31,006 --> 00:17:34,636 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine. 292 00:17:34,936 --> 00:17:36,216 And you say he has a demon. 293 00:17:36,216 --> 00:17:37,941 The son of man has come eating and drinking. 294 00:17:37,941 --> 00:17:40,156 And you say look at him, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend 295 00:17:40,156 --> 00:17:42,256 of tax collectors and sinners. 296 00:17:44,506 --> 00:17:47,636 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children. 297 00:17:49,076 --> 00:17:51,856 He says, you didn't like John, you rejected John because 298 00:17:51,856 --> 00:17:53,096 he was preparing the way. 299 00:17:54,176 --> 00:17:57,356 you rejected him, then I come, and I'm drinking, and I'm eating, and 300 00:17:57,356 --> 00:18:01,876 you're like, Oh, look at this glutton, look at this, and Jesus says, Wisdom 301 00:18:01,876 --> 00:18:03,156 is justified by your children. 302 00:18:03,156 --> 00:18:08,641 it's revealed in the fruit, That the wise that the wisdom produces 303 00:18:09,121 --> 00:18:15,671 the theology right and so like People say hey, here's the wise way. 304 00:18:15,731 --> 00:18:20,261 let's see what the implications of that are in a couple years, right and 305 00:18:20,521 --> 00:18:26,526 Wisdom is justified so he gets all this the crowd is stirred There's, in this 306 00:18:26,536 --> 00:18:31,046 crowd, a lot of broken people and a lot of people who seem put together. 307 00:18:31,326 --> 00:18:33,626 And so Jesus is going to narrow the story. 308 00:18:33,796 --> 00:18:37,476 He's going to go right from this preaching, this crowd, where the 309 00:18:37,476 --> 00:18:42,226 crowd was just shouting just, and where he just affirmed that he 310 00:18:42,226 --> 00:18:45,076 was a friend of sinners, right? 311 00:18:45,836 --> 00:18:48,466 And so he gets an invitation directly from here. 312 00:18:48,556 --> 00:18:51,766 He gets an invitation to a meal by a Pharisee. 313 00:18:52,116 --> 00:18:54,936 One, notice that word there, the linking word. 314 00:18:55,501 --> 00:18:58,551 of the Pharisees, asked him to eat with him. 315 00:18:59,101 --> 00:19:02,911 And he went into the Pharisees house and took place at the table. 316 00:19:03,111 --> 00:19:07,691 So one, what one, one of the Pharisees who just were in the crowd, who hadn't 317 00:19:07,691 --> 00:19:11,431 been baptized with the baptism of John, who were offended at what Jesus was 318 00:19:11,431 --> 00:19:14,071 saying, but his name, Simon, the Pharisee. 319 00:19:14,081 --> 00:19:15,341 And he's going to be like, you know what? 320 00:19:15,351 --> 00:19:16,621 I'm going to find out a little more. 321 00:19:16,621 --> 00:19:18,081 I'm not just going to write this guy off. 322 00:19:18,321 --> 00:19:21,531 I'm going to invite him in, but he's very suspicious of Jesus. 323 00:19:22,011 --> 00:19:27,411 He's very suspicious of this teacher, this, this preacher of this foreign 324 00:19:27,621 --> 00:19:32,301 righteousness, this good news that the whole other part of the crowd, the other 325 00:19:32,311 --> 00:19:34,291 half of the crowd is clamoring for. 326 00:19:34,561 --> 00:19:38,281 So one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him and he went into the Pharisee's 327 00:19:38,331 --> 00:19:40,511 house and took his place at the table. 328 00:19:41,181 --> 00:19:42,161 now in that day. 329 00:19:43,006 --> 00:19:46,616 You didn't really have, the E channel or I guess we don't really have channels 330 00:19:46,616 --> 00:19:51,686 anymore, Netflix or, so what you did is you went to the prominent house. 331 00:19:52,111 --> 00:19:53,721 To hear the latest gossip. 332 00:19:54,261 --> 00:19:58,861 And so in a town, the way that the house was arranged, there would 333 00:19:58,871 --> 00:20:04,741 be like little low walls that kept people out, but the, windows were 334 00:20:04,741 --> 00:20:06,481 open, to get the breeze coming in. 335 00:20:06,671 --> 00:20:09,921 And so what people would do is they would gather and then they would 336 00:20:09,921 --> 00:20:14,421 sit on those walls to hear what's the scuttlebutt, what's the water 337 00:20:14,421 --> 00:20:18,091 cooler talk, what's happening, and then you'd have the important people. 338 00:20:18,381 --> 00:20:19,311 eating dinner. 339 00:20:19,311 --> 00:20:20,851 They'd be reclining at a table. 340 00:20:20,851 --> 00:20:24,331 It'd be like, drinking 18 year old bourbon and smoking cigars and talking, 341 00:20:24,541 --> 00:20:26,941 war and politics and, all this. 342 00:20:26,941 --> 00:20:30,041 And it, it was probably, hummus and watered down wine, but, not as cool. 343 00:20:30,051 --> 00:20:31,391 But, that's the idea. 344 00:20:31,391 --> 00:20:36,271 And so Jesus, or, Simon the Pharisee, to do, he invites Jesus over to this 345 00:20:36,271 --> 00:20:38,691 dinner that he is throwing for him. 346 00:20:40,571 --> 00:20:41,621 Very interesting. 347 00:20:42,701 --> 00:20:43,131 We find 348 00:20:43,236 --> 00:20:46,146 out later in the story, but this Simon didn't do the most 349 00:20:46,146 --> 00:20:48,096 basic hospitality for Jesus. 350 00:20:49,516 --> 00:20:55,416 And that day you would walk in and the host would take off your shoes and wash 351 00:20:55,416 --> 00:21:01,446 your feet and put some scented olive oil on you just to cover up the smells of the 352 00:21:01,446 --> 00:21:04,306 day, being out in the sun, all the sweat, 353 00:21:04,506 --> 00:21:08,036 And so it was just the most basic, take a towel, wash your feet 354 00:21:08,036 --> 00:21:10,716 off and then anoint it with oil. 355 00:21:11,046 --> 00:21:14,566 a little bit of a couple of drops of scented olive oil, most basic 356 00:21:14,566 --> 00:21:18,956 responsibility for a host, but Jesus comes in and that's not done for him. 357 00:21:18,966 --> 00:21:23,496 Ah, verse 37 and behold. 358 00:21:25,776 --> 00:21:30,756 A woman of the city who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining 359 00:21:30,756 --> 00:21:34,636 at the table of the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of white men. 360 00:21:34,636 --> 00:21:39,736 So all of a sudden the writing style changes a little bit. 361 00:21:40,856 --> 00:21:50,386 The tense and, the grammar is, look, a woman, that woman is 362 00:21:50,386 --> 00:21:51,796 starting to draw near to the house. 363 00:21:53,146 --> 00:21:58,346 Now, the way these stories are linked to the passage above means that she was also 364 00:21:59,026 --> 00:22:05,736 in that crowd and heard the message, the good news of a foreign righteousness, 365 00:22:06,456 --> 00:22:12,686 and she was one of the ones to declare God just, like she hears it, and she's 366 00:22:12,696 --> 00:22:15,926 moved, and she's moved to do something. 367 00:22:16,716 --> 00:22:17,515 one of the. 368 00:22:18,105 --> 00:22:19,455 Most beautiful things. 369 00:22:19,535 --> 00:22:24,325 and we find out in Matthew's, version that there's a little more to the story. 370 00:22:25,835 --> 00:22:32,685 Matthew 11, I'm just gonna read it to you 'cause I wonder, when it 371 00:22:32,685 --> 00:22:36,195 says that she's a sending a sin and atory sin, she was a prostitute. 372 00:22:37,575 --> 00:22:42,810 And, and so she's out there, she would be thought of as unclean. 373 00:22:43,300 --> 00:22:47,920 but she hears this message and I wonder if you grow up in this Jewish 374 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:49,450 culture and this Hebrew culture. 375 00:22:49,450 --> 00:22:50,890 Maybe she's thinking of Tamar. 376 00:22:50,910 --> 00:22:53,240 Maybe she's thinking of Hosea's wife. 377 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:58,440 Maybe she's thinking of these stories of how God moved and said, I want you. 378 00:22:59,260 --> 00:23:03,900 Maybe she's thinking about Rahab at the walls of Jericho who hid the spies 379 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,440 and that, and I want you in my line. 380 00:23:09,020 --> 00:23:10,080 I want you in my lineage. 381 00:23:10,130 --> 00:23:14,540 And all this broken, these broken stories, from these amazing 382 00:23:14,540 --> 00:23:16,590 women in the lineage of Jesus. 383 00:23:17,050 --> 00:23:19,150 Maybe she's thinking, maybe there's a chance for me. 384 00:23:19,430 --> 00:23:20,020 I don't know. 385 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:25,600 it's a bit of speculation, but maybe she's about to leave. 386 00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:31,810 Maybe, there are, there's sinners and then there's the sinner, right? 387 00:23:32,300 --> 00:23:35,200 She's notoriously known as the sinner in the city. 388 00:23:35,835 --> 00:23:36,815 She's the sinner. 389 00:23:37,695 --> 00:23:39,345 We're the tax collectors, we're the sinners. 390 00:23:39,415 --> 00:23:40,325 She's the sinner. 391 00:23:41,895 --> 00:23:44,165 Here's how Jesus ends this preaching. 392 00:23:45,645 --> 00:23:51,355 Verse, Matthew 11, verse 28. 393 00:23:54,845 --> 00:23:57,825 It's the same place, and here's how Jesus ends. 394 00:24:00,765 --> 00:24:06,575 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 395 00:24:08,725 --> 00:24:15,245 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 396 00:24:16,415 --> 00:24:18,375 and you will find rest for your souls. 397 00:24:19,475 --> 00:24:22,865 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 398 00:24:24,455 --> 00:24:28,585 So she hears that, she responds to something and whether it's the first 399 00:24:28,585 --> 00:24:32,875 part or maybe it's that part, she hears the invitation to come to him. 400 00:24:35,495 --> 00:24:36,695 And something changed in her. 401 00:24:37,635 --> 00:24:39,735 Women weren't allowed to sit at the table. 402 00:24:39,985 --> 00:24:43,755 She definitely wouldn't be allowed in this house, but she makes a beeline 403 00:24:44,275 --> 00:24:48,655 straight into the middle of dinner, straight into the middle of this party. 404 00:24:49,605 --> 00:24:51,305 And let's find out what happens. 405 00:24:54,255 --> 00:24:58,825 So she brought an alabaster flask of ointment and standing 406 00:24:58,825 --> 00:25:01,625 behind him at his feet, weeping. 407 00:25:02,890 --> 00:25:06,450 She began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair 408 00:25:06,450 --> 00:25:10,900 of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 409 00:25:12,620 --> 00:25:13,660 maybe she gets there. 410 00:25:14,130 --> 00:25:14,980 She sneaks in. 411 00:25:14,990 --> 00:25:16,350 People are beginning to look. 412 00:25:16,430 --> 00:25:18,260 And again, it was like, behold, a woman! 413 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:19,290 That woman! 414 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:20,900 Look, she's coming into the house! 415 00:25:21,180 --> 00:25:22,560 Oh no, what's gonna happen? 416 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:25,130 And she makes her way, and she stands behind Jesus, and 417 00:25:25,130 --> 00:25:26,550 maybe she sees his dirty feet. 418 00:25:28,685 --> 00:25:30,945 And she looks at Simon, she looks around for water. 419 00:25:32,005 --> 00:25:37,285 Something happens in her where she begins to just be overwhelmed from the welcome. 420 00:25:39,595 --> 00:25:42,485 And she begins to cry, and she begins to weep, weep. 421 00:25:44,015 --> 00:25:46,995 And there's no bucket of water or tail, toilet. 422 00:25:46,995 --> 00:25:52,375 And so she begins to let the tears flow from her face to wash his feet. 423 00:25:52,930 --> 00:25:56,570 And she lets her hair down, which was not allowed in that day and age. 424 00:25:56,570 --> 00:25:58,080 You couldn't let your hair down in public. 425 00:25:58,100 --> 00:26:02,490 That was a way of vulnerability, saying, I'm completely vulnerable 426 00:26:02,490 --> 00:26:03,920 to this specific person. 427 00:26:06,010 --> 00:26:08,930 That could be grounds for divorce for a married woman. 428 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:12,390 And she lets her hair down because there's no towel around. 429 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:18,270 She begins to wet his feet with her tears and wipe his feet clean with her hair. 430 00:26:19,355 --> 00:26:21,615 And then she begins to anoint it with the alabaster flask. 431 00:26:22,025 --> 00:26:25,145 What's beautiful about this is that alabaster flask would 432 00:26:25,155 --> 00:26:26,495 be the tool of her trade. 433 00:26:29,365 --> 00:26:32,085 And she breaks it and she pours it out. 434 00:26:32,385 --> 00:26:32,855 All of it. 435 00:26:33,375 --> 00:26:40,425 See as a prostitute, you care a lot about scents and smells and covering bad ones. 436 00:26:41,515 --> 00:26:44,875 And so that historically would be used. 437 00:26:45,485 --> 00:26:46,015 You'd spend. 438 00:26:46,450 --> 00:26:50,360 An incredible amount of money on this special ointment, this special 439 00:26:50,360 --> 00:26:54,610 perfume, not only to be attractive in luring, but to also cover up 440 00:26:54,650 --> 00:26:57,970 what was lurid and unattractive. 441 00:26:59,050 --> 00:27:02,780 And so in a way, it's this beautiful picture of her taking her former 442 00:27:02,780 --> 00:27:06,170 life and saying, I'm done with it. 443 00:27:07,810 --> 00:27:08,380 She breaks it. 444 00:27:08,390 --> 00:27:09,150 She pours it out. 445 00:27:09,180 --> 00:27:11,010 She anoints him with it. 446 00:27:11,390 --> 00:27:12,770 She gives it to him. 447 00:27:12,770 --> 00:27:14,490 She says, I don't need this anymore. 448 00:27:15,460 --> 00:27:16,180 I don't need this anymore. 449 00:27:16,180 --> 00:27:24,860 So when the Pharisee who invited him, saw this, he said to himself, if this 450 00:27:24,860 --> 00:27:28,650 man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman, 451 00:27:28,650 --> 00:27:30,720 this is who's touching him for. 452 00:27:30,730 --> 00:27:36,110 She is a sinner, the sinner and Jesus answering. 453 00:27:36,150 --> 00:27:40,070 I love that Jesus answers reading as much the best. 454 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:41,770 The writers of the Bible are so awesome. 455 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:43,420 And Jesus answering said to him. 456 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:46,290 Simon, I have something to say to you. 457 00:27:46,730 --> 00:27:49,300 And he answered, Please say it, teacher. 458 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:51,090 Yes, let's have a conversation. 459 00:27:52,360 --> 00:27:54,460 A certain money lender had two debtors. 460 00:27:54,490 --> 00:27:57,110 One owed 500 denarii and the other 50. 461 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:00,140 When they both could not pay, he canceled the debt of both. 462 00:28:00,170 --> 00:28:02,160 Now, which one of them will love him more? 463 00:28:02,410 --> 00:28:05,620 Simon answered, the one I suppose for whom he canceled the larger debt. 464 00:28:06,140 --> 00:28:09,270 And he said to him, You have judged rightly. 465 00:28:11,660 --> 00:28:13,610 Good job on interpreting that story, Simon. 466 00:28:15,580 --> 00:28:16,420 You nailed it. 467 00:28:17,990 --> 00:28:22,890 Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? 468 00:28:24,190 --> 00:28:25,530 I entered your house. 469 00:28:26,110 --> 00:28:27,790 You gave me no water for my feet. 470 00:28:28,980 --> 00:28:32,800 But she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 471 00:28:33,430 --> 00:28:36,690 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in, she has 472 00:28:36,690 --> 00:28:38,170 not ceased to kiss my feet. 473 00:28:38,870 --> 00:28:43,550 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 474 00:28:43,550 --> 00:28:50,195 You Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are 475 00:28:50,195 --> 00:28:53,525 forgiven, for she loved much. 476 00:28:54,655 --> 00:28:58,345 But he who is forgiven little, loves little. 477 00:28:59,405 --> 00:29:02,095 And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven. 478 00:29:03,375 --> 00:29:06,005 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, 479 00:29:06,215 --> 00:29:08,815 Who is this who even forgives sins? 480 00:29:10,005 --> 00:29:12,775 And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you. 481 00:29:14,245 --> 00:29:15,065 Go in peace. 482 00:29:16,735 --> 00:29:18,405 So the classic story. 483 00:29:19,495 --> 00:29:20,045 Simon. 484 00:29:20,095 --> 00:29:20,935 Two debtors. 485 00:29:21,775 --> 00:29:22,915 Both can't pay their debt. 486 00:29:23,775 --> 00:29:26,855 One is, owes 500. 487 00:29:28,255 --> 00:29:29,255 And one owes 50. 488 00:29:29,765 --> 00:29:32,075 But, both are forgiven. 489 00:29:33,225 --> 00:29:34,935 Which one's gonna be more stoked? 490 00:29:35,135 --> 00:29:35,895 The 500. 491 00:29:37,105 --> 00:29:38,425 He's yeah, you said it rightly. 492 00:29:38,985 --> 00:29:41,335 Yeah, and so there's gonna be appreciation, there's gonna be 493 00:29:41,335 --> 00:29:42,575 love, there's gonna be response. 494 00:29:42,815 --> 00:29:48,175 It's such a magnitude of grace and forgiveness in light of that. 495 00:29:48,785 --> 00:29:52,745 So what Jesus is trying to draw out, and who are you in the 496 00:29:52,745 --> 00:29:54,215 story, who am I in the story? 497 00:29:54,495 --> 00:29:59,105 I realized years and years ago reading this, that I'm not the 498 00:29:59,105 --> 00:30:02,105 woman, I'm definitely not Jesus. 499 00:30:03,185 --> 00:30:03,785 I'm Simon. 500 00:30:03,786 --> 00:30:05,645 I'm Simon. 501 00:30:06,825 --> 00:30:07,895 My whole life. 502 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:09,890 I'm Simon. 503 00:30:10,910 --> 00:30:13,010 I'm the 50 guy. 504 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:16,740 Now what's amazing is the story Jesus tells. 505 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:18,510 I actually think Simon's the 500 guy. 506 00:30:20,730 --> 00:30:23,070 Cause he tells multiple places through the gospels. 507 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:27,250 You're nearer to the kingdom of pimps and prostitutes are closer than the religious. 508 00:30:28,930 --> 00:30:32,690 Because not only, we just, the broken know they're broken. 509 00:30:33,775 --> 00:30:36,325 The religious have to get past all of that. 510 00:30:36,345 --> 00:30:42,925 There's, it's funny because it's like the sinners, when they declared God just 511 00:30:42,925 --> 00:30:50,915 for a foreign righteousness, we think the broken, the prostitute is the 500, right? 512 00:30:51,385 --> 00:30:53,745 But what does God say in Isaiah? 513 00:30:53,745 --> 00:30:57,175 He says, your righteousness is a filthy rag to me. 514 00:30:57,755 --> 00:31:00,265 There's a something when we try to present God. 515 00:31:01,380 --> 00:31:07,720 The proof that we can earn salvation or earn love from him based on our merits 516 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:10,230 or what we do is disgusting to God. 517 00:31:11,390 --> 00:31:13,680 Because his standard is so high and holy. 518 00:31:14,310 --> 00:31:15,340 that's offensive. 519 00:31:15,340 --> 00:31:19,660 There is an offense from religious people that needs to be covered 520 00:31:19,660 --> 00:31:21,320 in the blood and forgiven of. 521 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:24,710 That the broken, they don't even try to present a righteousness of 522 00:31:24,710 --> 00:31:25,754 their own because they're like, pfft. 523 00:31:26,994 --> 00:31:32,254 I need you to heal me, not a partnership in which I fix some of myself. 524 00:31:32,454 --> 00:31:36,624 So it was so utterly shocking because for years I thought I'm the woman. 525 00:31:37,244 --> 00:31:40,874 I've been forgiven so much, I've been forgiven so much and I love 526 00:31:40,924 --> 00:31:45,854 and I love and I didn't realize that my life was so much more like him 527 00:31:45,854 --> 00:31:50,344 because I looked at people who were broken and wanted to keep my distance. 528 00:31:50,684 --> 00:31:58,604 And I could justify it by thinking, If God knew their story, He would 529 00:31:58,604 --> 00:32:01,724 not be so inclined to them, but He should be inclined to me. 530 00:32:01,894 --> 00:32:03,744 He should be at my house. 531 00:32:03,764 --> 00:32:08,164 He should be benefiting me and blessing my house and my presence for my feast 532 00:32:08,454 --> 00:32:09,974 because of the way that I've lived. 533 00:32:11,094 --> 00:32:15,764 And He shouldn't spin and waste His time with the broken. 534 00:32:16,384 --> 00:32:20,364 And as tragic and as painful it is to say that, that was 535 00:32:20,364 --> 00:32:21,504 a lot of my life growing up. 536 00:32:22,619 --> 00:32:27,339 Growing up in the church, being relatively good, keeping my nose clean is the thing, 537 00:32:27,619 --> 00:32:34,769 but being full of pride, repulsive pride, 538 00:32:35,709 --> 00:32:40,549 and even talking about God's grace and not getting it because I'm 50. 539 00:32:41,609 --> 00:32:42,019 Yeah. 540 00:32:42,059 --> 00:32:44,789 He needed to cancel my debt, but it didn't cost him that much. 541 00:32:46,259 --> 00:32:48,379 It is the epitome of pride. 542 00:32:49,094 --> 00:32:56,524 It's the epitome of pride and so for me, this was a dawn, a new 543 00:32:56,604 --> 00:33:01,914 dawn in my life when I realized, Oh, I'm the righteous guy. 544 00:33:02,914 --> 00:33:05,584 I'm the Pharisee and he's the 500. 545 00:33:06,524 --> 00:33:09,544 Oh, he needs Jesus to chase him down. 546 00:33:10,074 --> 00:33:14,634 But one of the beautiful things in this story is that despite the rejection, 547 00:33:14,894 --> 00:33:16,264 even in the middle of his preaching. 548 00:33:17,334 --> 00:33:20,124 Despite the rejection of John, the baptizer, and the preparation 549 00:33:20,394 --> 00:33:26,094 for the message of the gospel, Jesus still says to him, I want to 550 00:33:26,094 --> 00:33:27,404 come over today and eat with you. 551 00:33:29,954 --> 00:33:30,764 I want to break bread. 552 00:33:32,224 --> 00:33:33,604 I know your name, Simon. 553 00:33:34,074 --> 00:33:35,074 I know your story. 554 00:33:35,724 --> 00:33:39,364 I know how much you think you need a little bit from God, but you need 555 00:33:39,704 --> 00:33:41,904 resurrection power in your life. 556 00:33:42,124 --> 00:33:44,104 You need to be raised from the dead, Simon. 557 00:33:45,104 --> 00:33:46,614 You are doomed. 558 00:33:48,934 --> 00:34:00,684 And not only doomed for eternity, but doomed in a life of nitpicky good versus 559 00:34:00,694 --> 00:34:06,694 bad on the scales, what a terrible life it is to be a religious person. 560 00:34:08,043 --> 00:34:09,454 You're insecure all the time. 561 00:34:09,754 --> 00:34:11,274 You're never sure you've done enough. 562 00:34:11,563 --> 00:34:13,143 There is no real joy. 563 00:34:13,494 --> 00:34:17,694 you're very jealous of everybody else who seems to be getting God's grace. 564 00:34:18,164 --> 00:34:22,543 It's not a great It's not very joyous. 565 00:34:24,364 --> 00:34:27,744 You're constantly earning, you're like the older brother, full of resentment, 566 00:34:28,004 --> 00:34:32,103 because he gets a feast and I haven't done anything, where's my feast? 567 00:34:32,123 --> 00:34:33,724 He's it's all yours, come in! 568 00:34:34,824 --> 00:34:35,784 no, I can't yet. 569 00:34:36,014 --> 00:34:36,813 I'm still learning. 570 00:34:37,563 --> 00:34:38,824 Still trying to meet the quota. 571 00:34:38,914 --> 00:34:40,813 Guys, what a terrible life. 572 00:34:41,204 --> 00:34:45,333 And one of the most beautiful things in this story is oh, that clicks. 573 00:34:45,333 --> 00:34:45,824 You get it. 574 00:34:45,853 --> 00:34:46,833 I'm Simon. 575 00:34:47,404 --> 00:34:50,204 And the thing that Jesus does and the thing that Jesus points out 576 00:34:50,954 --> 00:34:57,314 is Simon thinks her reaction to forgiveness and grace is outlandish. 577 00:34:58,259 --> 00:35:02,929 is crazy, is over the top, is ridiculous. 578 00:35:03,389 --> 00:35:06,909 You're sitting here washing his feet, you're kissing him repeatedly, you're 579 00:35:06,909 --> 00:35:13,009 making this embarrassing show of yourself, this lavish display, you're taking 580 00:35:13,199 --> 00:35:16,849 thousands and thousands of dollars, your treasure, and you're pouring it 581 00:35:16,849 --> 00:35:21,609 out, you're letting your hair down, you're being, you are ridiculous. 582 00:35:25,229 --> 00:35:31,559 And Jesus is saying, no, Simon, you're being ridiculous. 583 00:35:32,779 --> 00:35:33,859 This is what's normal. 584 00:35:36,079 --> 00:35:43,819 In light of my grace, when I come in and I invade a human heart and I bring them 585 00:35:43,819 --> 00:35:51,759 from the brink of Sheol and separation for all of eternity, Simon, this is normal. 586 00:35:53,459 --> 00:35:55,429 This is normal in light of my grace. 587 00:35:55,469 --> 00:35:56,579 This is the proper response. 588 00:35:57,994 --> 00:36:00,574 Nothing else matters because you're my treasure, God. 589 00:36:01,174 --> 00:36:05,154 I don't care what anybody thinks because you've saved me. 590 00:36:05,154 --> 00:36:06,024 You've rescued me. 591 00:36:06,024 --> 00:36:07,414 You've given me a new identity. 592 00:36:07,424 --> 00:36:11,084 You've aborted the way he says you can actually live now in 593 00:36:11,084 --> 00:36:12,384 peace, sweet child of mine. 594 00:36:13,134 --> 00:36:15,144 you can actually live in peace now. 595 00:36:15,484 --> 00:36:18,424 You don't have to live in fear and anxiousness anymore. 596 00:36:18,424 --> 00:36:19,804 You're forgiven. 597 00:36:20,174 --> 00:36:21,814 The guilt and the shame. 598 00:36:22,564 --> 00:36:27,134 Of bad choices, of, it's gone, it's washed away. 599 00:36:28,054 --> 00:36:29,324 This is the response. 600 00:36:29,664 --> 00:36:34,424 This is why lame men, when they get healed from being paralyzed for most 601 00:36:34,424 --> 00:36:36,574 of their life, they get up and dance. 602 00:36:39,394 --> 00:36:42,904 This is why mute men, when they have their voice restored, they cry out. 603 00:36:43,754 --> 00:36:45,029 this is, normal. 604 00:36:45,029 --> 00:36:46,959 And I let that wash over my heart all the time. 605 00:36:46,969 --> 00:36:51,579 I am in this passage so much because I constantly, it's my checkup. 606 00:36:52,969 --> 00:36:54,179 Have I become like Simon again? 607 00:36:54,239 --> 00:36:55,599 I default to Simon. 608 00:36:55,669 --> 00:36:57,029 I drift into Simon. 609 00:36:57,309 --> 00:37:00,159 I drift back to my religiousness. 610 00:37:01,139 --> 00:37:02,179 I just do. 611 00:37:02,749 --> 00:37:06,379 And I start to look at Simon and I start to hear myself sometimes. 612 00:37:06,829 --> 00:37:10,009 I start to talk about the condition of the world and the problem in it. 613 00:37:10,189 --> 00:37:11,549 And I start to hear Simon again, 614 00:37:12,659 --> 00:37:13,659 instead of just being. 615 00:37:14,584 --> 00:37:15,724 Like Horatio Spafford. 616 00:37:16,784 --> 00:37:17,494 My sin? 617 00:37:19,794 --> 00:37:21,124 Not in part, but in whole? 618 00:37:23,544 --> 00:37:24,144 that's her. 619 00:37:24,954 --> 00:37:25,924 It's nothing else matters. 620 00:37:25,924 --> 00:37:27,274 I just got to get to Jesus. 621 00:37:27,674 --> 00:37:29,084 And then I get to be with Jesus. 622 00:37:29,264 --> 00:37:30,254 And I get to give him everything. 623 00:37:30,314 --> 00:37:31,734 no, no gifts to suit. 624 00:37:31,794 --> 00:37:34,884 do you know God calls you into a relationship with 625 00:37:34,884 --> 00:37:36,824 himself that is all consuming? 626 00:37:38,829 --> 00:37:41,719 You'll never run out of things to do in relationship with God. 627 00:37:41,969 --> 00:37:43,159 You'll never run out of worship. 628 00:37:43,369 --> 00:37:44,589 You'll never run out of wonder. 629 00:37:44,739 --> 00:37:45,879 You'll never run out of awe. 630 00:37:46,029 --> 00:37:50,409 He invites you into the most joyous, glorious dance with himself. 631 00:37:51,199 --> 00:37:54,389 And you don't have to, You don't have to try to prime the pump. 632 00:37:54,399 --> 00:37:58,679 You don't have to, I, it, there, he is the everlasting one. 633 00:37:58,689 --> 00:38:00,899 He is the Holy one. 634 00:38:00,899 --> 00:38:07,079 He is, whose face is like the countenance of all the sun in its glory. 635 00:38:07,119 --> 00:38:13,179 You never run out of wonder and awe and majesty at sitting at his feet. 636 00:38:14,059 --> 00:38:15,329 And wonder of wonders. 637 00:38:16,219 --> 00:38:22,799 I hear the word many and when Jesus says your sins, which were many, are forgiven. 638 00:38:23,219 --> 00:38:28,159 But Manny, because he's thinking about it, I'm going to take that upon myself. 639 00:38:28,799 --> 00:38:31,369 And I will be judged in your place. 640 00:38:31,519 --> 00:38:34,539 It's not light, it's not cheap grace, it's costly grace. 641 00:38:34,789 --> 00:38:36,539 It's free grace from our perspective. 642 00:38:36,979 --> 00:38:42,319 Costly grace from his, cost him every, everything to bring 643 00:38:42,319 --> 00:38:44,019 us in and to bring us home. 644 00:38:44,549 --> 00:38:50,279 And, I don't know, This passage, unlike many has shaped my spiritual formation 645 00:38:51,599 --> 00:38:57,809 because I'm constantly defaulting back to Simon and Jesus invites me to 646 00:38:57,809 --> 00:39:03,409 dinner and he begins to reveal that in my heart once again and I'm like, 647 00:39:03,439 --> 00:39:14,139 ah, I also see when my Christianity becomes static, Where it's not warm 648 00:39:15,579 --> 00:39:20,499 in relationship, then I'm like Simon again, because I'm having Jesus over for 649 00:39:20,499 --> 00:39:22,954 dinner, but I don't even wash his feet. 650 00:39:22,954 --> 00:39:24,419 I didn't, I'm not even thinking about that. 651 00:39:24,419 --> 00:39:32,309 I'm going through the motion and then I'm warmed once again at what is normative to 652 00:39:32,309 --> 00:39:35,084 the response of a foreign righteousness coming in and setting me free. 653 00:39:35,894 --> 00:39:39,364 of being counted and adopted into his family, of having my sins 654 00:39:39,364 --> 00:39:43,254 forgiven, of having a new record and a new perfection, and my name 655 00:39:43,254 --> 00:39:44,844 written into the Lamb's book of life. 656 00:39:45,754 --> 00:39:49,634 To have my name written on the palms of his hands, to have him singing 657 00:39:49,634 --> 00:39:54,014 and rejoicing over me, like I am renewed once again in this story to 658 00:39:54,014 --> 00:40:00,464 that simple worship that is a proper response to his grace and his mercy. 659 00:40:00,814 --> 00:40:02,104 Peter says just as much. 660 00:40:03,374 --> 00:40:06,244 Peter says, guys, you should be maturing and this should be happening. 661 00:40:06,245 --> 00:40:10,484 And it's very, he's you should be adding to this and maturing in this way. 662 00:40:10,484 --> 00:40:13,084 And this should be coming out of your life, as you're growing. 663 00:40:13,114 --> 00:40:16,834 And he says, if it's not happening, it's fascinating. 664 00:40:16,834 --> 00:40:20,714 His diagnosis, he says, you're short sighted into blindness, forgetting that 665 00:40:20,714 --> 00:40:24,164 you have been cleansed from your sin. 666 00:40:24,484 --> 00:40:25,814 He goes back to the gospel. 667 00:40:26,634 --> 00:40:28,614 He says, we focus so much. 668 00:40:29,094 --> 00:40:30,354 on all these things happening. 669 00:40:30,354 --> 00:40:31,594 He's Nope, let's put it back. 670 00:40:31,684 --> 00:40:35,364 let's again, preach the gospel to our hearts. 671 00:40:35,594 --> 00:40:39,384 Let's break the ice that forms over our hearts so easily in this culture. 672 00:40:39,384 --> 00:40:44,044 And in this day, in this age, and let's be melted once again into the 673 00:40:44,044 --> 00:40:46,294 wonder of his goodness and his grace. 674 00:40:47,854 --> 00:40:51,914 In wonder of wonders, the God man stooped into the dust of the 675 00:40:51,914 --> 00:40:55,514 earth and he wrapped himself. 676 00:40:56,324 --> 00:40:58,754 In meat, flesh, carne. 677 00:40:59,424 --> 00:41:00,994 That's where we get incarnation. 678 00:41:01,894 --> 00:41:03,104 carne asada, right? 679 00:41:03,104 --> 00:41:04,434 it's carne. 680 00:41:04,444 --> 00:41:08,384 He wrapped, he became, he wrapped himself in humanity. 681 00:41:10,384 --> 00:41:11,604 But he didn't just stop there. 682 00:41:12,784 --> 00:41:19,534 He stooped and he girded himself with a towel and he washed our 683 00:41:19,534 --> 00:41:24,184 feet and he washed us clean. 684 00:41:24,809 --> 00:41:28,599 he served us and he served us and he still does. 685 00:41:28,649 --> 00:41:29,029 I don't know. 686 00:41:29,030 --> 00:41:32,479 I hope this is a helpful story, for it. 687 00:41:32,659 --> 00:41:36,159 And that's why I'm excited to hear the ones that hit you. 688 00:41:36,169 --> 00:41:40,869 Cause we're all, hit differently, but this is when I, it lives 689 00:41:40,869 --> 00:41:41,989 with me every single day. 690 00:41:43,219 --> 00:41:45,669 And it led me to start asking. 691 00:41:46,279 --> 00:41:47,459 Who am I in the story? 692 00:41:47,949 --> 00:41:50,859 I read the Psalms and I was always the righteous guy, and 693 00:41:50,859 --> 00:41:51,769 then I'm like, Oh, you know what? 694 00:41:51,799 --> 00:41:57,029 My life's more like chaff than, I do stand in the council of the ungodly 695 00:41:57,109 --> 00:41:59,239 and sit in the place of sinners. 696 00:41:59,239 --> 00:42:02,659 And, and it's so amazing to read the Bible that way. 697 00:42:02,659 --> 00:42:04,839 It's so freeing because guess what? 698 00:42:04,839 --> 00:42:05,979 Then he rescues you. 699 00:42:07,759 --> 00:42:08,979 You don't have to be the hero. 700 00:42:08,979 --> 00:42:10,779 You don't have to live up because Jesus lives up. 701 00:42:10,779 --> 00:42:13,789 He's the only one who can and then he rescues you. 702 00:42:14,359 --> 00:42:16,749 And, yeah, so I don't know. 703 00:42:16,949 --> 00:42:18,279 This is an amazing story. 704 00:42:18,329 --> 00:42:19,479 let me just, let me pray. 705 00:42:19,899 --> 00:42:22,919 Father, we thank you for, this beautiful section of scripture. 706 00:42:23,119 --> 00:42:27,539 And so Lord, we just, we let these questions, just wash over us. 707 00:42:28,629 --> 00:42:30,949 Blessed is the one who is not offended because of me. 708 00:42:31,529 --> 00:42:36,469 Come unto me, all you who labor or have elated, and I will give you rest. 709 00:42:36,469 --> 00:42:38,829 Rest for your souls, I am gentle and lowly of heart. 710 00:42:39,999 --> 00:42:41,859 My yoke is easy, my burden is light. 711 00:42:42,929 --> 00:42:46,369 Of women there is none greater than John the Baptizer, 712 00:42:47,619 --> 00:42:50,109 but he who is least in the kingdom is greater than he. 713 00:42:51,209 --> 00:42:51,959 I am Simon. 714 00:42:54,139 --> 00:42:57,659 Thank you for loving Simons, and not giving up on us. 715 00:43:00,009 --> 00:43:07,299 Thank you that you don't stop and that you change us from workers into worshipers. 716 00:43:08,209 --> 00:43:10,759 Thank you for caring about the older brother who stays outside. 717 00:43:11,839 --> 00:43:17,169 I pray if there's any where our hearts are acting like that toward people 718 00:43:17,769 --> 00:43:20,759 looking down, I pray you'd heal us, Lord. 719 00:43:21,359 --> 00:43:24,609 May we just see one another with the same grace that we've received. 720 00:43:25,639 --> 00:43:30,079 May we make much of other, each other's beauty as we stand in Christ. 721 00:43:30,479 --> 00:43:34,049 May we point out the perfection of the Son in each other's lives 722 00:43:35,039 --> 00:43:38,489 and spend the rest of our lives doing that in one another's lives. 723 00:43:39,419 --> 00:43:40,789 Thank you for first loving us. 724 00:43:42,449 --> 00:43:43,689 Thank you for chasing us. 725 00:43:44,959 --> 00:43:46,329 Thank you that you don't leave us. 726 00:43:47,974 --> 00:43:50,524 Stuck in the same old patterns and ways. 727 00:43:51,584 --> 00:43:53,714 But you really do set the captives free. 728 00:43:55,554 --> 00:43:59,374 It might be a liberation we weren't expecting or even looking for. 729 00:43:59,424 --> 00:44:00,634 But it's the one we needed. 730 00:44:01,154 --> 00:44:02,594 We love you Jesus, in Jesus name. 731 00:44:02,984 --> 00:44:03,254 Amen.