1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:02,840 We’re continuing today our Whistlestop tour 2 00:00:02,840 –> 00:00:04,720 through the Bible story. 3 00:00:04,720 –> 00:00:05,880 Our aim? 4 00:00:05,880 –> 00:00:09,680 To savour God’s breathtaking purpose 5 00:00:09,680 –> 00:00:12,520 and to celebrate in this Christmas season 6 00:00:12,520 –> 00:00:17,520 all that is ours in Jesus Christ our Lord. 7 00:00:18,440 –> 00:00:22,639 Now last week we looked at the sweep of God’s promise 8 00:00:22,639 –> 00:00:24,980 throughout the Old Testament. 9 00:00:24,980 –> 00:00:29,980 We saw that God has made seven unshakable commitments. 10 00:00:30,459 –> 00:00:33,520 He has promised to create men and women 11 00:00:33,520 –> 00:00:36,380 who reflect His image and His likeness. 12 00:00:36,380 –> 00:00:39,119 He has promised to destroy evil, 13 00:00:39,119 –> 00:00:41,860 to rid the world of its curse. 14 00:00:41,860 –> 00:00:43,439 He has promised to bless people 15 00:00:43,439 –> 00:00:47,480 from every nation on the planet. 16 00:00:47,480 –> 00:00:49,759 He has promised to bring these people 17 00:00:49,759 –> 00:00:51,439 into fellowship with Himself 18 00:00:51,439 –> 00:00:55,439 through an atoning sacrifice for their sins. 19 00:00:55,439 –> 00:00:57,980 He has promised to establish His Kingdom 20 00:00:57,980 –> 00:01:00,220 so that people from every nation 21 00:01:00,220 –> 00:01:03,900 may live under the blessing of His rule forever. 22 00:01:03,900 –> 00:01:06,820 He has promised to cause all of these people 23 00:01:06,820 –> 00:01:09,760 to walk in all of His ways, 24 00:01:09,760 –> 00:01:12,300 and He has promised certainly, last time, 25 00:01:12,300 –> 00:01:16,339 to bring us new life from the grave. 26 00:01:16,339 –> 00:01:18,980 Now, just stepping back and taking a broad sense 27 00:01:18,980 –> 00:01:21,500 of the sweep of what it is 28 00:01:21,500 –> 00:01:25,120 that God actually promises in the scripture 29 00:01:25,139 –> 00:01:30,040 makes it clear that this is an amazing promise. 30 00:01:30,040 –> 00:01:32,800 And the Old Testament, as we looked at its sweep, 31 00:01:32,800 –> 00:01:34,440 makes one thing clear to us, 32 00:01:34,440 –> 00:01:39,180 and that is that all of these promises hang on one person 33 00:01:39,180 –> 00:01:41,720 who is variously described in the Old Testament 34 00:01:41,720 –> 00:01:44,199 as being the offspring of the woman, 35 00:01:44,199 –> 00:01:48,400 the seed of Abraham, and the son of David. 36 00:01:48,400 –> 00:01:51,320 The person who would bring these promises to pass 37 00:01:51,320 –> 00:01:54,800 would be a prophet, one who speaks God’s Word 38 00:01:54,839 –> 00:01:57,860 and calls God’s people to walk in His ways. 39 00:01:57,860 –> 00:02:00,839 He would be a priest, one who offers a sacrifice 40 00:02:00,839 –> 00:02:03,360 and represents people in the presence of God. 41 00:02:03,360 –> 00:02:04,639 And he would be a king, 42 00:02:04,639 –> 00:02:07,760 someone who establishes righteousness and peace 43 00:02:07,760 –> 00:02:11,759 so that His people may live under the blessing of His rule. 44 00:02:11,759 –> 00:02:14,139 And having looked at the amazing sweep, then, 45 00:02:14,139 –> 00:02:17,339 of these promises, we came to the conclusion last week 46 00:02:17,339 –> 00:02:20,899 by asking the question, who can be all this? 47 00:02:20,919 –> 00:02:25,160 And who in all the world can do all of this? 48 00:02:25,160 –> 00:02:26,559 And the conclusion we came to, 49 00:02:26,559 –> 00:02:27,899 which is really the conclusion 50 00:02:27,899 –> 00:02:29,679 of the Old Testament scriptures, 51 00:02:29,679 –> 00:02:34,679 is that only God can deliver what God promises. 52 00:02:35,279 –> 00:02:39,899 Only God can deliver what God promises. 53 00:02:39,899 –> 00:02:42,539 And that, of course, takes us to the glorious truth 54 00:02:42,539 –> 00:02:45,240 that we celebrate at Christmas. 55 00:02:45,240 –> 00:02:49,860 God became man in Christ Jesus. 56 00:02:49,860 –> 00:02:53,639 God came to us in order to fulfill 57 00:02:53,639 –> 00:02:58,500 his own amazing promises for us. 58 00:02:58,500 –> 00:03:00,919 And the New Testament puts this very beautifully 59 00:03:00,919 –> 00:03:03,820 in 2 Corinthians chapter one in verse 20, 60 00:03:03,820 –> 00:03:07,240 which I’ve chosen really as our summary text for today, 61 00:03:07,240 –> 00:03:12,240 where Paul says no matter how many promises God has made 62 00:03:12,960 –> 00:03:17,960 they are all yes in Jesus Christ. 63 00:03:18,039 –> 00:03:21,220 You see, you look at the whole sweep of God’s amazing 64 00:03:21,220 –> 00:03:23,860 promises in the Old Testament scriptures, 65 00:03:23,860 –> 00:03:26,139 everything God has said he will do. 66 00:03:26,139 –> 00:03:28,899 And Paul says, it’s all sign sealed and delivered, 67 00:03:28,899 –> 00:03:31,679 it’s all yes, it’s all green light 68 00:03:31,679 –> 00:03:35,580 in Jesus Christ our Lord. 69 00:03:35,580 –> 00:03:39,660 So, today our whistle stop tour runs through the gospels. 70 00:03:39,660 –> 00:03:43,539 Now our title today is Christ Fulfills the Promise. 71 00:03:43,539 –> 00:03:46,139 Again, we’re going to pick up seven scriptures 72 00:03:46,580 –> 00:03:48,440 that will give us the big picture 73 00:03:48,440 –> 00:03:51,979 of all that the Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished 74 00:03:51,979 –> 00:03:55,779 to deliver the promises of God for us. 75 00:03:55,779 –> 00:03:57,740 Now, would you follow in the scriptures with me, 76 00:03:57,740 –> 00:04:00,580 and we’re going to focus on Luke’s gospel 77 00:04:00,580 –> 00:04:03,380 so that we can follow a pattern and a line through there. 78 00:04:03,380 –> 00:04:05,979 Please turn to Luke and chapter one 79 00:04:05,979 –> 00:04:08,899 and verse 35 where we begin. 80 00:04:10,339 –> 00:04:14,020 And taking seven stopping points through the sweep 81 00:04:14,059 –> 00:04:17,179 of the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, 82 00:04:17,179 –> 00:04:20,260 we begin, of course, with the incarnation. 83 00:04:20,260 –> 00:04:22,739 And Luke chapter one and verse 35, 84 00:04:22,739 –> 00:04:24,899 the words of the angel to Mary. 85 00:04:26,739 –> 00:04:30,500 The Holy Spirit will come upon you, 86 00:04:31,899 –> 00:04:35,959 and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, 87 00:04:36,899 –> 00:04:41,899 so the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. 88 00:04:44,739 –> 00:04:47,980 Now, the New Testament affirms three central truths 89 00:04:47,980 –> 00:04:50,859 about our Lord Jesus Christ, 90 00:04:50,859 –> 00:04:55,859 that he is God, that he is man and that he is holy. 91 00:04:56,260 –> 00:05:00,799 And all three of them come right here in this one verse. 92 00:05:00,799 –> 00:05:03,459 Notice that the angel announces 93 00:05:03,459 –> 00:05:07,980 that Jesus would be the Son of God, verse 35. 94 00:05:08,820 –> 00:05:10,480 If you look back to verse 32, 95 00:05:10,480 –> 00:05:13,959 he’s described there as the Son of the Most High, 96 00:05:14,940 –> 00:05:17,359 in Matthew’s Gospel in chapter one, 97 00:05:17,359 –> 00:05:21,200 he’s described as God with us. 98 00:05:21,200 –> 00:05:23,459 In John’s Gospel, he’s described 99 00:05:23,459 –> 00:05:28,299 as the speech of God made flesh. 100 00:05:30,440 –> 00:05:35,440 Now think about that, God spoke his promise in words. 101 00:05:37,540 –> 00:05:42,540 And when his word became flesh, his promise was delivered. 102 00:05:45,019 –> 00:05:50,019 And I am so thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ is God, 103 00:05:50,799 –> 00:05:55,799 because only God can fulfill what God promises. 104 00:05:57,279 –> 00:05:59,660 And I’m absolutely persuaded in my own mind 105 00:05:59,660 –> 00:06:02,000 that those who do not see or acknowledge 106 00:06:02,000 –> 00:06:04,679 the uniqueness of the Lord Jesus Christ 107 00:06:04,679 –> 00:06:07,959 have simply underestimated 108 00:06:07,959 –> 00:06:10,640 the sweep of the promises of God. 109 00:06:10,640 –> 00:06:11,920 Because who else in all the world 110 00:06:11,920 –> 00:06:14,339 but God could deliver what God promises? 111 00:06:15,459 –> 00:06:17,799 But not only is he God, he is man. 112 00:06:17,799 –> 00:06:20,260 And again, notice that in this very verse here. 113 00:06:20,260 –> 00:06:23,640 The one to be born, born 114 00:06:23,640 –> 00:06:25,119 will be called the Son of God. 115 00:06:25,119 –> 00:06:27,500 He was born as we are born, 116 00:06:27,500 –> 00:06:30,100 to live our life and to die our death. 117 00:06:30,100 –> 00:06:31,760 He comes to us. 118 00:06:31,760 –> 00:06:33,220 He stands with us. 119 00:06:33,220 –> 00:06:34,519 He acts for us. 120 00:06:34,519 –> 00:06:39,279 He takes up our cause by becoming one with us. 121 00:06:39,720 –> 00:06:43,399 So, we should be so thankful for these marvelous truths 122 00:06:43,399 –> 00:06:44,839 as we worship today. 123 00:06:44,839 –> 00:06:49,239 He is God, and only as God can he deliver the promise. 124 00:06:49,239 –> 00:06:52,500 But, he is man, for only as man 125 00:06:52,500 –> 00:06:55,700 can he deliver the promise to us. 126 00:06:55,700 –> 00:06:58,940 Taking up our cause and standing with us 127 00:06:58,940 –> 00:07:00,920 and acting for us. 128 00:07:00,920 –> 00:07:03,559 And then, notice thirdly, in this marvelous statement 129 00:07:03,559 –> 00:07:05,500 of the angel, that he is holy. 130 00:07:05,579 –> 00:07:08,600 The angel said, the Holy One to be born 131 00:07:08,600 –> 00:07:11,739 will be called the Son of God. 132 00:07:11,739 –> 00:07:14,299 The Holy One, think about this. 133 00:07:14,299 –> 00:07:18,019 Here is something that was never seen before 134 00:07:18,019 –> 00:07:21,820 the birth of Jesus and has never been seen since, 135 00:07:21,820 –> 00:07:23,959 there has never been another birth like it. 136 00:07:25,420 –> 00:07:30,140 A man, who is holy by nature. 137 00:07:30,140 –> 00:07:31,299 He’s the only one. 138 00:07:31,899 –> 00:07:36,899 A man who belongs by right in heaven, he’s the only one. 139 00:07:39,679 –> 00:07:42,940 A man who because he is God 140 00:07:42,940 –> 00:07:46,980 has the capacity to bring other men and women with him 141 00:07:46,980 –> 00:07:49,619 into the place where he belongs. 142 00:07:49,619 –> 00:07:53,079 That’s the uniqueness of our Lord Jesus Christ. 143 00:07:53,079 –> 00:07:57,700 And this holy union of God and man 144 00:07:57,700 –> 00:07:59,540 in the Lord Jesus Christ 145 00:07:59,619 –> 00:08:02,559 opens the door of hope for us. 146 00:08:04,420 –> 00:08:05,519 Think of this. 147 00:08:06,820 –> 00:08:11,160 God in His nature cannot die. 148 00:08:13,220 –> 00:08:18,220 We, in our nature, cannot overcome death. 149 00:08:20,339 –> 00:08:22,839 So putting these two realities together, 150 00:08:22,839 –> 00:08:25,339 John Calvin puts this so beautifully. 151 00:08:25,420 –> 00:08:30,420 He says, Christ coupled human nature with divine 152 00:08:32,159 –> 00:08:36,700 that to atone for sin He might submit the weakness 153 00:08:36,700 –> 00:08:39,820 of the one nature to death, 154 00:08:39,820 –> 00:08:42,260 and that, wrestling with death by the power 155 00:08:42,260 –> 00:08:46,739 of the other nature, He might win a victory for us. 156 00:08:46,739 –> 00:08:48,080 That’s beautiful. 157 00:08:49,140 –> 00:08:50,219 What does Christ do? 158 00:08:50,219 –> 00:08:53,780 He couples human nature with divine 159 00:08:53,780 –> 00:08:56,380 so that in order to atone for our sins, 160 00:08:56,380 –> 00:09:00,280 He may submit the weakness of the human nature to death 161 00:09:00,280 –> 00:09:03,020 and, in the power of the divine nature, 162 00:09:03,020 –> 00:09:04,580 wrestle with the power of death 163 00:09:04,580 –> 00:09:08,619 so that for us He may win a triumph. 164 00:09:08,619 –> 00:09:11,020 Only the God-man could do that. 165 00:09:11,020 –> 00:09:13,159 Only Jesus Christ could do that, 166 00:09:13,159 –> 00:09:16,900 and for this purpose He has come into the world. 167 00:09:16,900 –> 00:09:19,619 That is what Christmas is all about. 168 00:09:19,659 –> 00:09:22,780 Now the glorious incarnation of the Son of God, 169 00:09:22,780 –> 00:09:24,739 the birth of the Holy One of God, 170 00:09:24,739 –> 00:09:27,099 led of course to Christ’s perfect life, 171 00:09:27,099 –> 00:09:30,820 and so let’s move on quickly to our second stopping point, 172 00:09:30,820 –> 00:09:33,460 which is the temptation of the Lord Jesus Christ. 173 00:09:33,460 –> 00:09:36,419 Incarnation, temptation, and would you turn with me 174 00:09:36,419 –> 00:09:40,979 then to Luke’s gospel in chapter four? 175 00:09:40,979 –> 00:09:42,900 And we’re told here that Jesus, 176 00:09:42,900 –> 00:09:46,739 full of the Holy Spirit, 177 00:09:46,739 –> 00:09:51,739 was led by the Spirit in the desert, 178 00:09:52,099 –> 00:09:57,099 where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil. 179 00:09:59,580 –> 00:10:01,820 I want you to notice that the first step 180 00:10:01,820 –> 00:10:03,780 of Christ’s public ministry here 181 00:10:03,780 –> 00:10:08,780 is to confront Satan and to triumph where Adam had failed. 182 00:10:11,900 –> 00:10:15,059 Remember of course that Satan had tempted Adam and Eve 183 00:10:15,400 –> 00:10:18,979 three times in the Garden of Eden. 184 00:10:18,979 –> 00:10:22,140 And here very significantly Satan 185 00:10:22,140 –> 00:10:26,760 tempts the Lord Jesus Christ three times. 186 00:10:26,760 –> 00:10:28,700 So the parallels are very obvious. 187 00:10:28,700 –> 00:10:33,700 This is a second man, a new man coming to the fight 188 00:10:35,159 –> 00:10:39,000 against the enemy of the human race. 189 00:10:39,000 –> 00:10:40,719 The parallels are obvious. 190 00:10:40,719 –> 00:10:44,200 What I want us to see here are the differences. 191 00:10:44,239 –> 00:10:46,960 First there is a different initiative. 192 00:10:46,960 –> 00:10:49,299 Satan came looking for the woman 193 00:10:49,299 –> 00:10:51,500 and for the man in the garden. 194 00:10:52,440 –> 00:10:55,460 Christ goes looking for the devil in the desert. 195 00:10:55,460 –> 00:10:57,960 That’s the significance by the way of the words 196 00:10:57,960 –> 00:10:59,500 being led by the spirit, 197 00:10:59,500 –> 00:11:02,799 literally being thrust out by the spirit. 198 00:11:02,799 –> 00:11:04,039 What’s Jesus doing? 199 00:11:04,039 –> 00:11:05,719 He’s stalking the devil. 200 00:11:05,719 –> 00:11:06,960 He’s drawing him out. 201 00:11:06,960 –> 00:11:08,960 He’s saying let’s have this confrontation, 202 00:11:08,960 –> 00:11:10,119 let’s have it right now. 203 00:11:10,119 –> 00:11:12,119 He’s taking on our enemy. 204 00:11:12,119 –> 00:11:13,919 It’s marvelous. 205 00:11:14,140 –> 00:11:16,380 Absolutely marvelous. 206 00:11:16,380 –> 00:11:18,799 Notice the environment of course is different. 207 00:11:18,799 –> 00:11:20,400 Adam’s in a perfect garden. 208 00:11:20,400 –> 00:11:24,219 The Lord Jesus faces Satan in a desert. 209 00:11:24,219 –> 00:11:26,559 Adam has all the food he could want around him 210 00:11:26,559 –> 00:11:28,119 and Christ is hungry. 211 00:11:30,020 –> 00:11:33,500 But notice most important the different outcome 212 00:11:33,500 –> 00:11:35,419 because this rematch, 213 00:11:35,419 –> 00:11:37,340 it has a completely different outcome 214 00:11:37,340 –> 00:11:39,260 from the Garden of Eden. 215 00:11:39,260 –> 00:11:40,919 Adam failed, 216 00:11:40,919 –> 00:11:43,520 Christ triumphed. 217 00:11:43,640 –> 00:11:47,179 And that is of huge significance for us today 218 00:11:48,320 –> 00:11:51,979 because Adam’s failure brought misery for us. 219 00:11:51,979 –> 00:11:54,859 That’s the story of the human race and of our experience. 220 00:11:54,859 –> 00:11:58,419 Adam’s failure passed on the effects of his failure 221 00:11:58,419 –> 00:12:00,700 to all who draw their life from him. 222 00:12:00,700 –> 00:12:02,619 That’s all of us because by nature 223 00:12:02,619 –> 00:12:05,780 we all belong to Adam who failed. 224 00:12:05,780 –> 00:12:07,780 We share in his failure so that 225 00:12:07,780 –> 00:12:11,299 the Bible says we all alike are under sin. 226 00:12:11,960 –> 00:12:14,419 That’s Romans chapter three and verse nine. 227 00:12:15,460 –> 00:12:18,859 But just as Adam’s failure brings misery for us, 228 00:12:18,859 –> 00:12:23,239 so Christ’s triumph brings hope for us. 229 00:12:23,239 –> 00:12:26,539 For just as Adam passed on the effects of his failure 230 00:12:26,539 –> 00:12:29,099 to all who draw their life from him, 231 00:12:29,099 –> 00:12:32,940 so Jesus Christ passes on the effects of his triumph 232 00:12:32,940 –> 00:12:35,840 to all who draw new life from him. 233 00:12:35,840 –> 00:12:38,539 And by grace and through faith we belong 234 00:12:38,539 –> 00:12:43,239 not only to Adam by nature but to Christ by grace 235 00:12:43,239 –> 00:12:45,539 and we belong to the one who triumphed 236 00:12:45,539 –> 00:12:48,000 so that we share in his triumph. 237 00:12:48,940 –> 00:12:51,299 So that the Bible says of those who are in Christ 238 00:12:51,299 –> 00:12:54,760 we are under grace. 239 00:12:54,760 –> 00:12:56,440 Under grace. 240 00:12:56,440 –> 00:12:58,000 Paul summarizes it this way. 241 00:12:58,000 –> 00:13:00,820 As in Adam all die, 242 00:13:02,140 –> 00:13:07,140 so in Christ all will be made alive. 243 00:13:07,940 –> 00:13:10,359 So that is the greatest good news 244 00:13:10,359 –> 00:13:12,840 for all who are in Jesus Christ, 245 00:13:12,840 –> 00:13:14,320 for us who are in Adam 246 00:13:14,320 –> 00:13:17,460 and subject to the misery of his failure. 247 00:13:17,460 –> 00:13:20,080 To be in Christ and to share the triumph 248 00:13:20,080 –> 00:13:24,500 of his success is the greatest good news. 249 00:13:24,500 –> 00:13:27,020 John Henry Newman put it this way. 250 00:13:27,020 –> 00:13:31,640 O loving wisdom of our God, 251 00:13:31,640 –> 00:13:34,659 when all was sin and shame, 252 00:13:35,539 –> 00:13:38,280 a second Adam to the fight 253 00:13:38,280 –> 00:13:40,679 and to the rescue came. 254 00:13:41,880 –> 00:13:44,159 O wisest love, he says, 255 00:13:44,159 –> 00:13:46,640 that flesh and blood 256 00:13:46,640 –> 00:13:49,119 that did in Adam fail 257 00:13:50,280 –> 00:13:52,679 should fight again. 258 00:13:52,679 –> 00:13:54,799 Against the foe 259 00:13:54,799 –> 00:13:58,200 should fight and should prevail. 260 00:14:00,880 –> 00:14:03,679 And so the triumph of Jesus over Satan 261 00:14:03,679 –> 00:14:07,460 leads into a marvelous ministry. 262 00:14:07,460 –> 00:14:09,479 Notice chapter four and verse 13. 263 00:14:09,479 –> 00:14:11,960 Satan’s on the retreat already. 264 00:14:11,960 –> 00:14:15,760 He leaves Jesus until a more opportune time. 265 00:14:15,760 –> 00:14:18,299 And Jesus’ verse 14 returns to Galilee 266 00:14:18,299 –> 00:14:20,099 in the power of the Holy Spirit 267 00:14:20,099 –> 00:14:23,200 and news about him spreads through the whole countryside. 268 00:14:23,200 –> 00:14:25,200 And that’s what I want us to come to 269 00:14:25,200 –> 00:14:29,659 our third stopping point in this a whistle stop tour 270 00:14:29,700 –> 00:14:34,700 through the marvelous ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. 271 00:14:34,820 –> 00:14:38,260 I called this one Rejection, 272 00:14:38,260 –> 00:14:42,219 Incarnation, Temptation, Rejection. 273 00:14:42,219 –> 00:14:43,739 Now you notice that there’s a whole string 274 00:14:43,739 –> 00:14:46,039 of Scriptures here because this theme 275 00:14:46,039 –> 00:14:48,460 runs right throughout the gospel story 276 00:14:48,460 –> 00:14:51,119 and not just in the gospel of Luke. 277 00:14:51,119 –> 00:14:52,580 I could have added many more, 278 00:14:52,580 –> 00:14:56,140 but I want you at least to see these clearly. 279 00:14:56,140 –> 00:14:57,940 Let’s start with Luke chapter four 280 00:14:57,940 –> 00:15:00,580 and if we begin at verse 18, 281 00:15:00,580 –> 00:15:02,020 you’ll see that the Lord Jesus 282 00:15:02,020 –> 00:15:05,719 is beginning his public teaching ministry now 283 00:15:05,719 –> 00:15:07,520 and he says there, verse 18, 284 00:15:07,520 –> 00:15:09,340 the Spirit of the Lord is upon me 285 00:15:09,340 –> 00:15:11,099 because the Spirit has anointed me 286 00:15:11,099 –> 00:15:13,200 to preach good news to the poor 287 00:15:13,200 –> 00:15:15,340 and Jesus lays out these marvelous gifts 288 00:15:15,340 –> 00:15:18,080 that He now brings and holds in His hand. 289 00:15:18,940 –> 00:15:21,020 Luke records Jesus teaching. 290 00:15:21,020 –> 00:15:24,340 But what I want you to notice today is the response. 291 00:15:24,340 –> 00:15:26,559 So look at verse 28, if you would. 292 00:15:27,400 –> 00:15:32,400 Verse 28, all the people in the synagogue 293 00:15:32,919 –> 00:15:34,820 were filled with joy. 294 00:15:34,820 –> 00:15:37,020 No, what does it say, have your Bible open? 295 00:15:38,080 –> 00:15:40,659 Furious, isn’t that a strong word? 296 00:15:41,820 –> 00:15:44,159 The first teaching ministry of Jesus here. 297 00:15:45,679 –> 00:15:46,880 And the people in the synagogue 298 00:15:46,880 –> 00:15:48,359 are furious when they heard Him. 299 00:15:48,359 –> 00:15:49,440 What did they do? 300 00:15:49,440 –> 00:15:52,700 Verse 29, they got up, they drove Him out of town. 301 00:15:52,700 –> 00:15:54,320 They took Him to the brow of the hill 302 00:15:54,320 –> 00:15:55,739 on which the town was built 303 00:15:55,820 –> 00:15:57,799 in order to throw Him off the cliff. 304 00:15:58,780 –> 00:16:00,299 It was after His first sermon. 305 00:16:02,539 –> 00:16:03,400 Yes. 306 00:16:03,400 –> 00:16:04,219 Yes. 307 00:16:04,219 –> 00:16:06,419 Yes. 308 00:16:06,419 –> 00:16:08,219 He’s the Son of God, so do you notice 309 00:16:08,219 –> 00:16:09,219 He walked right through them 310 00:16:09,219 –> 00:16:10,419 and He went on His way. 311 00:16:12,799 –> 00:16:16,400 Turn over to chapter six, if you would, please in verse 11. 312 00:16:16,400 –> 00:16:18,880 Chapter six Luke tells us about another occasion 313 00:16:18,880 –> 00:16:22,099 where Jesus healed a man whose hand was paralyzed. 314 00:16:22,099 –> 00:16:23,739 It was an amazing miracle. 315 00:16:23,739 –> 00:16:26,419 A healing of a paralyzed man 316 00:16:26,419 –> 00:16:29,260 in a service on the Sabbath day. 317 00:16:29,260 –> 00:16:31,659 But notice the response. 318 00:16:31,659 –> 00:16:33,059 Chapter six, verse 11. 319 00:16:33,059 –> 00:16:36,500 They, that is the Pharisees here, were what? 320 00:16:36,500 –> 00:16:38,179 You notice the word. 321 00:16:38,179 –> 00:16:39,219 Furious. 322 00:16:39,219 –> 00:16:42,299 Nobody’s saying, you know, let’s sing some carols now 323 00:16:42,299 –> 00:16:44,219 and rejoice in this healing. 324 00:16:44,219 –> 00:16:46,239 They’re mad angry. 325 00:16:47,500 –> 00:16:50,179 And they began to discuss with one another 326 00:16:50,179 –> 00:16:53,280 what they might do to Jesus. 327 00:16:54,580 –> 00:16:57,659 Turn over to chapter eight if you would, please. 328 00:16:57,659 –> 00:16:59,539 And there you find this story. 329 00:16:59,539 –> 00:17:02,140 I’m looking at verse 37 in particular, 330 00:17:02,140 –> 00:17:03,760 but the story that leads up to it 331 00:17:03,760 –> 00:17:06,619 is a story of Jesus going to another area, 332 00:17:06,619 –> 00:17:07,640 the other side of the lake. 333 00:17:07,640 –> 00:17:10,380 He goes to this area called the Gerasenes. 334 00:17:10,380 –> 00:17:11,640 And there, there was a man 335 00:17:11,640 –> 00:17:14,739 who had terrorized the whole community. 336 00:17:14,739 –> 00:17:16,319 He really filled people with fear 337 00:17:16,319 –> 00:17:17,459 because of his violence. 338 00:17:17,459 –> 00:17:20,180 Of course the local authorities had tried to restrain him. 339 00:17:20,180 –> 00:17:21,900 They’d even bound him in chains, 340 00:17:22,140 –> 00:17:24,900 but this man’s strength was extraordinary. 341 00:17:24,900 –> 00:17:27,640 It was superhuman literally. 342 00:17:27,640 –> 00:17:30,140 And he broke these chains 343 00:17:31,339 –> 00:17:33,780 and he lived out among the graves 344 00:17:33,780 –> 00:17:34,739 and he would scream 345 00:17:34,739 –> 00:17:37,900 and he was just a terror to the community 346 00:17:37,900 –> 00:17:39,900 and they didn’t know what to do about it. 347 00:17:39,900 –> 00:17:43,780 When Jesus came onto this shore 348 00:17:43,780 –> 00:17:45,020 and got out of the boat, 349 00:17:45,020 –> 00:17:48,000 the demons in this man recognized Jesus 350 00:17:48,000 –> 00:17:49,920 and he comes screaming down off the hill 351 00:17:50,099 –> 00:17:54,839 and Christ casts out of him a legion of devils 352 00:17:54,839 –> 00:17:56,500 of evil spirits. 353 00:17:57,359 –> 00:18:00,040 And then the people in the community coming out 354 00:18:00,040 –> 00:18:05,040 see this man who has terrorized the life of the community 355 00:18:08,260 –> 00:18:09,680 and they see him sitting 356 00:18:10,939 –> 00:18:15,939 and he’s dressed and he is in his right mind. 357 00:18:16,099 –> 00:18:18,619 And I want you to notice what it says in verse 37. 358 00:18:20,140 –> 00:18:25,140 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes 359 00:18:26,459 –> 00:18:28,180 ask Jesus to leave. 360 00:18:31,099 –> 00:18:32,959 See you would think they’d say, Lord Jesus 361 00:18:32,959 –> 00:18:36,239 we’ve got 10 other social problems in this area, 362 00:18:36,239 –> 00:18:38,040 could you come and deal with them too? 363 00:18:39,260 –> 00:18:40,739 But that’s not what they say. 364 00:18:42,180 –> 00:18:43,859 They’re overcome with fear 365 00:18:44,060 –> 00:18:48,619 they’re overcome with fear, they don’t want God that close. 366 00:18:49,979 –> 00:18:53,119 So, he got into the boat 367 00:18:54,560 –> 00:18:55,579 and left. 368 00:18:57,640 –> 00:18:59,140 Now this pattern of rejection 369 00:18:59,140 –> 00:19:01,300 that runs right the way through the gospel story 370 00:19:01,300 –> 00:19:03,060 and through all of the gospel accounts 371 00:19:03,060 –> 00:19:06,520 of course finds its culmination in Luke’s gospel 372 00:19:06,520 –> 00:19:11,079 in chapter 23 where the crowd before Pontius Pilate 373 00:19:11,079 –> 00:19:13,819 are calling for Jesus to be crucified. 374 00:19:14,780 –> 00:19:15,619 And so I want to draw your attention 375 00:19:15,619 –> 00:19:18,599 to chapter 23 and verse 21 there. 376 00:19:22,000 –> 00:19:23,359 And you’ll see that as Jesus 377 00:19:23,359 –> 00:19:25,219 is brought out before the people, 378 00:19:26,640 –> 00:19:30,140 verse 21, they kept shouting, 379 00:19:30,140 –> 00:19:31,260 kept shouting, 380 00:19:32,079 –> 00:19:34,160 crucify him, crucify him, 381 00:19:34,160 –> 00:19:35,979 crucify him, crucify him, 382 00:19:35,979 –> 00:19:37,920 crucify him, crucify him. 383 00:19:39,219 –> 00:19:40,660 And Pilate appeals to them, 384 00:19:40,660 –> 00:19:43,280 verse 22, for the third time. 385 00:19:44,500 –> 00:19:46,140 He went over this again and again, 386 00:19:46,140 –> 00:19:48,760 he says, what crime has he committed? 387 00:19:48,760 –> 00:19:50,459 I don’t find any grounds 388 00:19:50,459 –> 00:19:52,380 for the death penalty in this man. 389 00:19:53,939 –> 00:19:56,500 Now look at verse 23 with me, would you? 390 00:19:56,500 –> 00:19:58,060 Notice the words. 391 00:19:58,060 –> 00:20:00,339 With loud shouts, 392 00:20:01,560 –> 00:20:04,739 they insistently demanded 393 00:20:04,739 –> 00:20:06,819 that he be crucified 394 00:20:06,819 –> 00:20:10,760 and their shouts prevailed. 395 00:20:10,800 –> 00:20:15,800 Folks, we live in a Christ-rejecting world. 396 00:20:20,280 –> 00:20:23,859 And you cannot understand the world in which we live, 397 00:20:23,859 –> 00:20:27,180 you cannot understand a newspaper that you read 398 00:20:27,660 –> 00:20:31,479 unless and until you grasp this very important truth, 399 00:20:31,479 –> 00:20:35,239 we live in a Christ-rejecting world. 400 00:20:37,339 –> 00:20:40,380 So when natural disasters happen 401 00:20:40,760 –> 00:20:45,760 people say, why doesn’t God do something about that? 402 00:20:48,300 –> 00:20:53,300 But when he came and calmed the storm, we rejected him. 403 00:20:56,520 –> 00:20:59,939 When a gunman terrorizes a high school, 404 00:21:01,339 –> 00:21:05,420 we say, why doesn’t God do something about that? 405 00:21:06,339 –> 00:21:10,599 But when he came and cast out the demons, 406 00:21:11,619 –> 00:21:13,880 we asked him to leave. 407 00:21:16,180 –> 00:21:18,900 When we see cancer and when we see sickness, 408 00:21:18,900 –> 00:21:23,060 we say, why doesn’t God do something about that? 409 00:21:23,060 –> 00:21:28,060 But when he came and healed the paralyzed man, 410 00:21:30,160 –> 00:21:31,199 we rejected him. 411 00:21:31,199 –> 00:21:35,500 You cannot understand the World today 412 00:21:35,500 –> 00:21:38,239 until you understand this. 413 00:21:38,239 –> 00:21:43,239 He came to his own and his own received him not. 414 00:21:45,180 –> 00:21:47,439 They did not receive him. 415 00:21:49,060 –> 00:21:51,180 That’s the key to understanding the World today. 416 00:21:51,180 –> 00:21:53,119 You will never make sense of the World today 417 00:21:53,119 –> 00:21:54,500 without understanding that. 418 00:21:56,699 –> 00:21:58,099 But John doesn’t end there. 419 00:21:59,020 –> 00:22:01,260 Look at that glorious word yet. 420 00:22:02,319 –> 00:22:05,020 He came to his own, his own did not receive him. 421 00:22:05,020 –> 00:22:07,319 You have to grasp that to understand the World today, 422 00:22:07,319 –> 00:22:08,939 but it’s not the end of the story. 423 00:22:08,939 –> 00:22:13,680 Yet to all who did receive him, 424 00:22:13,680 –> 00:22:18,280 he gave the right to become children of God. 425 00:22:19,380 –> 00:22:21,719 So please understand here is our position 426 00:22:21,719 –> 00:22:24,140 as Christians in the World today. 427 00:22:24,140 –> 00:22:27,300 We live in a Christ rejecting World 428 00:22:27,300 –> 00:22:30,900 with all of its painful experience of sin and death, 429 00:22:32,000 –> 00:22:36,640 but we also belong to a Christ exalts in family 430 00:22:36,640 –> 00:22:39,099 with all of its life and joy and hope. 431 00:22:40,079 –> 00:22:43,400 Therefore the experience of the Christian in this World 432 00:22:43,400 –> 00:22:47,079 is both the pain of this World in its violence 433 00:22:47,079 –> 00:22:50,239 and in its fallenness and the hope of those 434 00:22:50,239 –> 00:22:51,660 who are in Jesus Christ. 435 00:22:51,660 –> 00:22:54,920 We experience the two of these all wrapped up together 436 00:22:54,939 –> 00:22:56,619 at the same time. 437 00:22:58,260 –> 00:23:00,900 And that leads to the fourth stopping point 438 00:23:00,900 –> 00:23:03,699 in our journey through the ministry 439 00:23:03,699 –> 00:23:05,099 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 440 00:23:05,099 –> 00:23:08,619 Would you turn with me to Luke’s Gospel in chapter nine 441 00:23:08,619 –> 00:23:10,920 and to the story of the transfiguration. 442 00:23:12,060 –> 00:23:14,760 Because while the world is rejecting the Son of God, 443 00:23:14,760 –> 00:23:18,400 the Father is exalting His Son. 444 00:23:19,260 –> 00:23:21,920 And there’s great contrast that really forces us to say, 445 00:23:21,979 –> 00:23:25,479 now which side are we on, are we with the Son of God, 446 00:23:25,479 –> 00:23:26,760 are we against the Son of God, 447 00:23:26,760 –> 00:23:28,380 that ultimately is the great question 448 00:23:28,380 –> 00:23:31,319 that the Gospels confront us with. 449 00:23:32,479 –> 00:23:35,280 Because out of all this rejection that’s going on, 450 00:23:35,280 –> 00:23:37,640 we’re told that Jesus in Luke chapter nine, 451 00:23:37,640 –> 00:23:40,520 He goes up a mountain with three of His disciples 452 00:23:40,520 –> 00:23:42,260 and we’ll take it up at verse 29, 453 00:23:42,260 –> 00:23:44,900 at the top of the mountain, as Jesus was praying, 454 00:23:46,339 –> 00:23:50,119 the appearance of His face changed, 455 00:23:51,119 –> 00:23:53,380 the appearance changed. 456 00:23:53,380 –> 00:23:54,719 And notice what it was like, 457 00:23:54,719 –> 00:23:59,040 His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning, 458 00:23:59,920 –> 00:24:02,579 how bright is a flash of lightning? 459 00:24:04,479 –> 00:24:06,400 The appearance of His face changed 460 00:24:06,400 –> 00:24:11,099 and His clothing became as bright as a flash of lightning. 461 00:24:12,859 –> 00:24:15,239 And these disciples at the top of the mountain 462 00:24:15,239 –> 00:24:18,199 saw this glory, this splendor, 463 00:24:18,280 –> 00:24:21,540 this brightness of the Lord Jesus Christ 464 00:24:21,540 –> 00:24:23,500 that the angels see in heaven 465 00:24:23,500 –> 00:24:26,880 and that was veiled during His incarnation, 466 00:24:26,880 –> 00:24:28,160 the glory that one day 467 00:24:28,160 –> 00:24:31,560 every person who has ever lived will see. 468 00:24:31,560 –> 00:24:34,699 But then there was something else. 469 00:24:34,699 –> 00:24:38,319 Two men, verse 30, Moses and Elijah, 470 00:24:38,319 –> 00:24:41,579 they appeared in this glorious splendor 471 00:24:42,520 –> 00:24:44,619 and they’re talking with Jesus. 472 00:24:44,619 –> 00:24:47,439 Now this is amazing because Moses and Elijah, 473 00:24:47,479 –> 00:24:51,500 these old guys, had died hundreds of years earlier 474 00:24:51,500 –> 00:24:53,699 and here they are large as life 475 00:24:53,699 –> 00:24:56,979 in glorious splendor talking with Jesus. 476 00:24:56,979 –> 00:24:58,280 What does that tell you? 477 00:25:00,260 –> 00:25:04,079 Then a voice speaks from the cloud, verse 35, 478 00:25:04,079 –> 00:25:08,800 this is My Son whom I have chosen. 479 00:25:08,800 –> 00:25:10,079 Listen to Him. 480 00:25:12,920 –> 00:25:16,540 The voice of the Almighty is saying this to us. 481 00:25:17,739 –> 00:25:22,540 Care nothing that the world today rejects Jesus Christ. 482 00:25:24,040 –> 00:25:26,579 You listen to Him 483 00:25:27,819 –> 00:25:32,619 because He’s able to bring dead men into glory 484 00:25:34,579 –> 00:25:36,400 and He can bring you into this glory 485 00:25:38,079 –> 00:25:39,520 if you will listen to Him. 486 00:25:41,140 –> 00:25:44,260 Now you say, how exactly is He gonna do that? 487 00:25:44,260 –> 00:25:49,260 How could He bring little old me into glory. 488 00:25:51,219 –> 00:25:53,939 And that takes us to our next stopping point 489 00:25:53,939 –> 00:25:57,239 back to Luke chapter 23, number five 490 00:25:58,540 –> 00:26:00,400 the crucifixion. 491 00:26:00,400 –> 00:26:03,380 Everything of course in the gospel story 492 00:26:03,380 –> 00:26:05,140 leads up to this the whole purpose 493 00:26:05,140 –> 00:26:07,859 of the Lord Jesus’ birth, of Christmas 494 00:26:07,859 –> 00:26:11,380 is all about leading up to His death 495 00:26:11,380 –> 00:26:15,140 and His marvelous, marvelous resurrection. 496 00:26:15,140 –> 00:26:17,239 And I want just to make a couple 497 00:26:17,239 –> 00:26:20,979 of stopping points in this story here 498 00:26:20,979 –> 00:26:24,619 in chapter 23 the first is in verse 34 499 00:26:24,619 –> 00:26:28,900 as the soldiers are nailing Jesus to the cross 500 00:26:28,900 –> 00:26:31,219 this is now the culmination of the human rejection 501 00:26:31,219 –> 00:26:35,020 of Jesus, He says in verse 34, 502 00:26:35,020 –> 00:26:38,400 father forgive them. 503 00:26:38,839 –> 00:26:42,540 They do not know what they are doing. 504 00:26:44,719 –> 00:26:46,099 Now please try and grasp this 505 00:26:46,099 –> 00:26:49,199 because it’s the very center of the gospel itself 506 00:26:49,199 –> 00:26:54,199 our sin reached its full horror at Calvary 507 00:26:54,560 –> 00:26:57,319 it found its most awful expression there. 508 00:26:58,680 –> 00:27:00,400 Human beings have always been 509 00:27:00,400 –> 00:27:02,619 as all of us have done so many times 510 00:27:02,619 –> 00:27:05,439 disobeying God’s command but now think about it 511 00:27:05,760 –> 00:27:09,839 we were crucifying God’s Son 512 00:27:11,300 –> 00:27:16,300 we were nailing the flesh of the Son of God 513 00:27:18,520 –> 00:27:22,579 and if ever in all human history 514 00:27:22,579 –> 00:27:25,020 if ever there was to be a moment 515 00:27:25,020 –> 00:27:30,020 where the judgment of God was to fall this was it 516 00:27:30,640 –> 00:27:33,819 Jerusalem wiped out 517 00:27:33,819 –> 00:27:37,380 no probably the whole earth fried 518 00:27:37,380 –> 00:27:40,739 would be more appropriate 519 00:27:40,739 –> 00:27:46,459 but as we have seen throughout the Bible story 520 00:27:46,459 –> 00:27:48,459 God in His incredible mercy finds a way 521 00:27:48,459 –> 00:27:50,459 to divert His judgment 522 00:27:50,459 –> 00:27:53,920 to another place 523 00:27:53,920 –> 00:27:57,300 in order to create room 524 00:27:57,920 –> 00:28:00,380 for reconciliation 525 00:28:00,400 –> 00:28:04,000 we saw it right from the beginning 526 00:28:04,000 –> 00:28:06,219 remember the curse falls on the ground 527 00:28:06,219 –> 00:28:07,739 and not on the man 528 00:28:07,739 –> 00:28:09,579 the death that is due… 529 00:28:09,579 –> 00:28:11,020 comes to the Lamb 530 00:28:11,020 –> 00:28:12,660 that is slaughtered as a sacrifice 531 00:28:12,660 –> 00:28:14,239 and not to the sinner 532 00:28:14,239 –> 00:28:16,239 who has commited the sin 533 00:28:17,459 –> 00:28:18,800 and I want you to understand this 534 00:28:18,800 –> 00:28:20,579 when Jesus said 535 00:28:20,579 –> 00:28:21,979 Father forgive them 536 00:28:21,979 –> 00:28:23,540 they do not know what they are doing 537 00:28:23,540 –> 00:28:26,119 He was isolating Himself 538 00:28:26,339 –> 00:28:28,339 under the judgment of God 539 00:28:30,060 –> 00:28:32,000 He knew that the judgment of God 540 00:28:32,000 –> 00:28:33,619 would fall that day 541 00:28:33,619 –> 00:28:34,680 and it did 542 00:28:37,219 –> 00:28:38,599 but in these words 543 00:28:38,599 –> 00:28:40,599 He was saying to His Father 544 00:28:42,060 –> 00:28:44,060 Let it fall on Me 545 00:28:45,359 –> 00:28:47,359 not on them 546 00:28:48,800 –> 00:28:49,760 and that is what happen 547 00:28:49,760 –> 00:28:51,380 friends at Calvary 548 00:28:52,119 –> 00:28:56,140 the punishment for your sin and mine 549 00:28:56,140 –> 00:28:58,140 was poured out on Jesus 550 00:28:59,819 –> 00:29:03,520 and Christ became the lightning rod 551 00:29:03,520 –> 00:29:04,859 for your judgment 552 00:29:06,979 –> 00:29:09,619 and forgiveness from God 553 00:29:11,140 –> 00:29:13,140 is released to you 554 00:29:14,699 –> 00:29:16,040 through the suffering and death 555 00:29:16,040 –> 00:29:18,040 of the Lord Jesus Christ 556 00:29:18,979 –> 00:29:20,979 on the cross 557 00:29:22,339 –> 00:29:25,359 and it is in this way that heaven is opened 558 00:29:25,359 –> 00:29:27,839 for sinners like us 559 00:29:28,640 -> 00:29:30,640 two thieves were being crucified 560 00:29:30,640 –> 00:29:32,420 next to Jesus that day 561 00:29:32,420 –> 00:29:33,660 and one of them coming towards 562 00:29:33,660 –> 00:29:35,479 his very last moment said 563 00:29:35,479 –> 00:29:37,479 Jesus will you please remember me 564 00:29:37,479 –> 00:29:39,479 when you come into your kingdom 565 00:29:39,479 –> 00:29:42,219 and if you look at verse 43 566 00:29:42,219 –> 00:29:44,219 there are these wonderful words of Jesus that 567 00:29:44,219 –> 00:29:46,219 he said i tell you the truth 568 00:29:46,219 –> 00:29:49,140 today you will be with me 569 00:29:49,140 –> 00:29:51,140 in paradise 570 00:29:51,300 –> 00:29:53,300 can you imagine what that was for this man 571 00:29:53,300 –> 00:29:55,319 who’s wasted his life 572 00:29:55,319 –> 00:29:58,060 made a 1,000 wretched decisions 573 00:29:58,060 –> 00:30:00,060 lived outside of the law 574 00:30:00,060 –> 00:30:02,060 and now the penalty of the law has caught 575 00:30:02,060 –> 00:30:04,099 up with him 576 00:30:04,099 –> 00:30:06,500 and Jesus says as he puts his trust in the savior 577 00:30:06,500 –> 00:30:08,920 not only is forgiveness from God released 578 00:30:08,920 –> 00:30:10,920 but heaven itself is opened 579 00:30:13,660 –> 00:30:15,660 friends this is the promise of God 580 00:30:15,660 –> 00:30:17,660 delivered in Jesus Christ held in his 581 00:30:17,660 –> 00:30:19,660 hands for you 582 00:30:20,560 –> 00:30:22,560 forgiveness released 583 00:30:23,900 –> 00:30:27,479 and heaven opened 584 00:30:29,339 –> 00:30:31,339 why would you back away 585 00:30:31,339 –> 00:30:33,339 from this Jesus Christ 586 00:30:35,640 –> 00:30:37,640 what in all the world are you holding on to 587 00:30:37,640 –> 00:30:39,699 in your life so good 588 00:30:39,699 –> 00:30:41,199 it would keep you back from what 589 00:30:41,199 –> 00:30:43,199 he holds in his hands for you 590 00:30:46,420 –> 00:30:48,420 why would you not today with all your heart 591 00:30:48,500 –> 00:30:50,500 and soul and minded strength say 592 00:30:50,500 –> 00:30:52,500 give me Jesus 593 00:30:53,319 –> 00:30:55,319 and let every thing that he has 594 00:30:55,319 –> 00:30:57,319 and all he’s accomplished be mine 595 00:31:00,640 –> 00:31:02,640 sixth stopping point 596 00:31:03,319 –> 00:31:05,319 his marvelous resurrection 597 00:31:05,640 –> 00:31:07,640 will you turn over a chapter 598 00:31:07,660 –> 00:31:09,660 to chapter 24 599 00:31:09,719 –> 00:31:11,739 because Luke records here marvelously 600 00:31:12,079 –> 00:31:14,079 how a group of women went to the tomb 601 00:31:14,319 –> 00:31:16,319 and it was empty 602 00:31:16,400 –> 00:31:18,400 and they hear this marvelous good news 603 00:31:19,239 –> 00:31:21,239 chapter 24 and verse 6 604 00:31:21,520 –> 00:31:23,520 he is not here 605 00:31:23,520 –> 00:31:25,520 he is not in this tomb, he is not in the grave 606 00:31:26,099 –> 00:31:28,099 he has risen 607 00:31:29,160 –> 00:31:31,160 and then verse 36 608 00:31:31,160 –> 00:31:33,160 when the disciples were together 609 00:31:33,160 –> 00:31:35,160 jesus himself stood among them 610 00:31:35,160 –> 00:31:37,160 and he said to them 611 00:31:37,160 –> 00:31:37,859 peace be with you 612 00:31:37,859 –> 00:31:39,959 and not surprisingly 613 00:31:39,959 –> 00:31:41,880 Luke records they were startled 614 00:31:41,880 –> 00:31:44,380 they were frightened 615 00:31:45,359 –> 00:31:46,520 why do doubts arise in your mind 616 00:31:46,520 –> 00:31:47,959 look at my hands and feet 617 00:31:47,959 –> 00:31:49,020 it’s me 618 00:31:51,020 –> 00:31:51,640 touch me and see a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones 619 00:31:51,640 –> 00:31:52,880 as you see I have 620 00:31:52,880 –> 00:31:55,640 and then I love this in verse 41 621 00:31:55,640 –> 00:31:57,739 Jesus says to them 622 00:31:59,739 –> 00:32:01,040 do you have anything here to eat? 623 00:32:01,040 –> 00:32:03,739 love that 624 00:32:03,739 –> 00:32:04,579 so they give 625 00:32:04,579 –> 00:32:06,660 Jesus a piece of fish 626 00:32:06,660 –> 00:32:08,339 I imagine the disciples 627 00:32:08,339 –> 00:32:10,339 wonder what he’s going to do with this 628 00:32:10,339 –> 00:32:11,579 well you know what he did with it 629 00:32:11,579 –> 00:32:12,819 eat it 630 00:32:12,920 –> 00:32:15,199 right in front of them all 631 00:32:15,199 –> 00:32:16,180 that’s what Luke tells us here 632 00:32:16,180 –> 00:32:18,180 see this is resurrection life 633 00:32:18,180 –> 00:32:21,439 this is Jesus having gone into death 634 00:32:21,439 –> 00:32:23,239 and through death 635 00:32:23,239 –> 00:32:25,079 and by the power of His divine nature 636 00:32:25,079 –> 00:32:27,140 conquering death on our behalf 637 00:32:27,140 –> 00:32:29,260 bringing humanity into 638 00:32:29,260 –> 00:32:31,380 resurrection life in himself 639 00:32:31,380 –> 00:32:33,380 and so now in verse 45 640 00:32:33,380 –> 00:32:35,400 he opens their minds 641 00:32:35,400 –> 00:32:37,500 so that they can understand the scriptures 642 00:32:37,500 –> 00:32:39,099 in other words he’s saying 643 00:32:39,099 –> 00:32:39,939 this is what the whole Bible 644 00:32:39,939 –> 00:32:41,339 is about 645 00:32:42,140 –> 00:32:43,560 that Christ will suffer 646 00:32:43,560 –> 00:32:44,400 and that he will rise 647 00:32:44,400 –> 00:32:45,900 from the dead on the third day 648 00:32:45,900 –> 00:32:47,900 and here it is 649 00:33:02,739 –> 00:33:05,819 what’s to be preached 650 00:33:05,819 –> 00:33:08,140 repentance is to be preached 651 00:33:08,959 –> 00:33:10,619 that means very simply 652 00:33:10,619 –> 00:33:12,140 that you change your mind 653 00:33:12,140 –> 00:33:15,000 you change your stance 654 00:33:15,000 –> 00:33:18,280 you change your whole position 655 00:33:18,280 –> 00:33:20,180 and attitude towards the Lord Jesus Christ 656 00:33:22,500 –> 00:33:23,660 repentance means 657 00:33:23,660 –> 00:33:26,699 that you separate yourself 658 00:33:26,699 –> 00:33:29,839 from the world’s opinion of Jesus 659 00:33:29,839 –> 00:33:33,819 and you take your stand with him 660 00:33:33,819 –> 00:33:36,119 the unique and glorious Son of God 661 00:33:36,319 –> 00:33:40,140 for some of us today 662 00:33:40,140 –> 00:33:41,719 coming to the Lord Jesus Christ 663 00:33:41,719 –> 00:33:43,239 and saying Jesus 664 00:33:43,239 –> 00:33:46,819 I have been wrong about you 665 00:33:46,819 –> 00:33:49,880 I’ve been thinking for some years 666 00:33:49,880 –> 00:33:52,520 that you are hard and demanding 667 00:33:52,520 –> 00:33:53,920 and now I see that you are 668 00:33:53,920 –> 00:33:55,079 full of grace and truth 669 00:33:55,079 –> 00:33:57,780 I’ve been thinking that you’d oughta 670 00:33:57,780 –> 00:33:59,579 condemn me or to get me 671 00:33:59,579 –> 00:34:02,079 now I see that you came into the world 672 00:34:02,079 –> 00:34:03,479 to redeem me and to give 673 00:34:03,479 –> 00:34:04,420 me everlasting life 674 00:34:05,280 –> 00:34:07,260 I’ve been living thinking 675 00:34:07,260 –> 00:34:09,120 that my life is mine to live 676 00:34:09,120 –> 00:34:10,419 in any way that I choose 677 00:34:10,419 –> 00:34:11,760 now I am seeing that 678 00:34:11,760 –> 00:34:13,679 it is the life that you have given to me 679 00:34:13,679 –> 00:34:15,959 and the best thing I can do today 680 00:34:15,959 –> 00:34:18,020 is to give it to you 681 00:34:18,020 –> 00:34:20,219 and ask that you will help me 682 00:34:20,219 –> 00:34:22,179 from this day to walk in all your ways 683 00:34:22,179 –> 00:34:25,459 that’s repentance 684 00:34:25,459 –> 00:34:28,860 and with it forgiveness 685 00:34:28,860 –> 00:34:30,560 which means that Jesus Christ 686 00:34:30,560 –> 00:34:32,159 embraces you in his love 687 00:34:33,020 –> 00:34:35,060 he enters your life 688 00:34:35,060 –> 00:34:36,860 by his Holy Spirit 689 00:34:36,860 –> 00:34:38,600 giving you power to live 690 00:34:38,600 –> 00:34:39,219 in a different way 691 00:34:39,219 –> 00:34:42,060 that you did not have before 692 00:34:42,060 –> 00:34:44,500 it means that all the promises 693 00:34:44,500 –> 00:34:47,120 of God are yours 694 00:34:47,120 –> 00:34:50,000 in him 695 00:34:50,000 –> 00:34:51,959 that leads to the very last thing 696 00:34:51,959 –> 00:34:53,199 which of course is 697 00:34:53,199 –> 00:34:55,399 the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ 698 00:34:55,399 –> 00:35:00,199 right at the end of Luke’s Gospel 699 00:35:00,360 –> 00:35:04,560 Chapter 24 and verse 50 700 00:35:04,560 –> 00:35:06,199 When they had led him out 701 00:35:06,199 –> 00:35:09,739 of the vicinity of Bethany 702 00:35:09,739 –> 00:35:11,399 he lifted up his hands 703 00:35:11,399 –> 00:35:13,060 Can you imagine the Lord Jesus 704 00:35:13,060 –> 00:35:16,139 with his hands raised 705 00:35:16,139 –> 00:35:18,139 and he blessed them 706 00:35:18,139 –> 00:35:19,340 So he’s speaking words 707 00:35:19,340 –> 00:35:23,040 of blessing over his people 708 00:35:23,040 –> 00:35:24,459 and Luke records 709 00:35:24,459 –> 00:35:26,659 while he was blessing them 710 00:35:26,659 –> 00:35:27,260 he left them 711 00:35:27,260 –> 00:35:28,659 and was taken up into heaven 712 00:35:28,800 –> 00:35:33,199 He rises up, into the skies 713 00:35:33,199 –> 00:35:34,820 and ascends into the heavens 714 00:35:34,820 –> 00:35:37,620 while he’s still blessing them 715 00:35:38,000 –> 00:35:39,060 So that the disciples 716 00:35:39,060 –> 00:35:41,860 their last glimpse of Jesus was 717 00:35:41,860 –> 00:35:42,800 They always thought of him 718 00:35:42,800 –> 00:35:44,000 as blessing them 719 00:35:44,000 –> 00:35:44,820 which is of course 720 00:35:44,820 –> 00:35:45,620 what he is doing 721 00:35:45,620 –> 00:35:47,060 from the right hand of the father 722 00:35:47,060 –> 00:35:50,300 for us even today 723 00:35:50,659 –> 00:35:51,800 Now, of course, this points 724 00:35:51,800 –> 00:35:53,820 to the marvelous future 725 00:35:53,820 –> 00:35:55,560 that belongs to all 726 00:35:55,560 –> 00:35:58,360 who are in Jesus Christ 727 00:35:59,179 –> 00:36:00,520 You see here’s the great truth 728 00:36:00,520 –> 00:36:01,860 when you’re in Christ 729 00:36:01,860 –> 00:36:03,620 everything that is his 730 00:36:03,620 –> 00:36:05,860 really becomes yours 731 00:36:06,260 –> 00:36:09,219 He shares what is his with you 732 00:36:09,419 –> 00:36:10,959 So that means 733 00:36:10,959 –> 00:36:12,560 that his sin bearing death 734 00:36:12,560 –> 00:36:14,659 becomes yours 735 00:36:15,020 –> 00:36:16,219 If you’re in Christ 736 00:36:16,219 –> 00:36:18,120 when you die 737 00:36:18,320 –> 00:36:20,100 you will not carry your sins 738 00:36:20,100 –> 00:36:21,100 into your death 739 00:36:21,100 –> 00:36:22,760 because he carried your sins 740 00:36:22,760 –> 00:36:25,000 into his death 741 00:36:25,120 –> 00:36:25,800 you will never know 742 00:36:25,800 –> 00:36:27,260 what a sin bearing death is like 743 00:36:27,260 –> 00:36:29,719 his sin bearing death was for you 744 00:36:30,419 –> 00:36:31,500 And if you’re in Christ 745 00:36:31,500 –> 00:36:32,659 his resurrection life 746 00:36:32,659 –> 00:36:33,520 becomes yours 747 00:36:33,520 –> 00:36:34,959 already, his Holy Spirit 748 00:36:34,959 –> 00:36:36,919 gives new life to you 749 00:36:36,919 –> 00:36:37,719 right now 750 00:36:37,719 –> 00:36:39,659 Christ lives within me 751 00:36:39,659 –> 00:36:42,000 Christ in you is the hope of glory 752 00:36:42,000 –> 00:36:43,000 and beyond death 753 00:36:43,000 –> 00:36:44,219 you will enter into the 754 00:36:44,219 –> 00:36:45,620 gift of his resurrection life 755 00:36:45,620 –> 00:36:48,360 forever and forever 756 00:36:48,800 –> 00:36:49,760 But not only are you 757 00:36:49,760 –> 00:36:50,719 united with him 758 00:36:50,719 –> 00:36:51,500 if you’re in Christ 759 00:36:51,500 –> 00:36:52,060 in his death 760 00:36:52,060 –> 00:36:53,199 and in his resurrection 761 00:36:53,199 –> 00:36:54,060 one day you will be 762 00:36:54,060 –> 00:36:55,020 united with him 763 00:36:55,020 –> 00:36:56,439 in his glorious ascension 764 00:36:57,399 –> 00:36:58,780 and the New Testament 765 00:36:58,780 –> 00:36:59,739 holds out that hope 766 00:36:59,739 –> 00:37:01,239 for every Christian believer 767 00:37:01,239 –> 00:37:02,899 just as he ascended 768 00:37:02,899 –> 00:37:03,780 to the right hand of 769 00:37:03,780 –> 00:37:06,139 the Father so will you 770 00:37:06,439 –> 00:37:07,739 For the Lord Jesus 771 00:37:07,739 –> 00:37:09,040 himself will come down 772 00:37:09,040 –> 00:37:09,879 from heaven with a 773 00:37:09,879 –> 00:37:11,000 loud command and with 774 00:37:11,000 –> 00:37:12,320 the voice of the 775 00:37:12,320 –> 00:37:13,439 Archangel, and with 776 00:37:13,439 –> 00:37:15,379 the Trumpet Call of God 777 00:37:15,379 –> 00:37:16,540 and the dead in Christ 778 00:37:16,540 –> 00:37:17,780 will rise first 779 00:37:17,780 –> 00:37:19,280 and after that 780 00:37:19,280 –> 00:37:20,639 we who are still 781 00:37:20,639 –> 00:37:21,580 alive 782 00:37:21,580 –> 00:37:23,919 we will be caught up 783 00:37:23,919 –> 00:37:25,719 together to what? 784 00:37:25,719 –> 00:37:29,040 Meet the Lord in the air 785 00:37:29,040 –> 00:37:31,040 so we shall be 786 00:37:31,040 –> 00:37:32,280 forever 787 00:37:32,280 –> 00:37:33,300 Paul says 788 00:37:33,300 –> 00:37:34,219 with 789 00:37:35,239 –> 00:37:36,239 the Lord 790 00:37:38,020 –> 00:37:39,840 you will see his glory 791 00:37:40,379 –> 00:37:41,239 and like Moses and 792 00:37:41,239 –> 00:37:42,479 Elijah you will share 793 00:37:42,479 –> 00:37:44,120 his glory 794 00:37:44,120 –> 00:37:45,679 you will 795 00:37:45,679 –> 00:37:47,080 fully reflect the 796 00:37:47,080 –> 00:37:48,179 image and the likeness 797 00:37:48,179 –> 00:37:48,979 of God 798 00:37:49,719 –> 00:37:51,179 in Christ you will 799 00:37:51,179 –> 00:37:52,379 be delivered from 800 00:37:52,379 –> 00:37:53,780 the curse of Evil 801 00:37:54,280 –> 00:37:55,739 you will share the joy 802 00:37:55,739 –> 00:37:57,300 of everlasting life 803 00:37:57,300 –> 00:37:58,399 with people drawn from 804 00:37:58,399 –> 00:37:58,899 all 805 00:37:58,899 –> 00:38:00,000 nations 806 00:38:00,000 –> 00:38:00,500 you will 807 00:38:00,500 –> 00:38:01,360 walk with God 808 00:38:01,360 –> 00:38:02,399 without fear 809 00:38:02,399 –> 00:38:03,860 and without shame 810 00:38:03,860 –> 00:38:04,820 because you have been 811 00:38:04,820 –> 00:38:06,560 redeemed by the sacrifice 812 00:38:06,560 –> 00:38:07,580 of Jesus Christ 813 00:38:08,360 –> 00:38:09,159 you will live under 814 00:38:09,159 –> 00:38:10,580 the blessing of Christ’s 815 00:38:10,580 –> 00:38:11,500 rule in his 816 00:38:11,500 –> 00:38:12,239 kingdom that 817 00:38:12,239 –> 00:38:13,100 is established 818 00:38:13,100 –> 00:38:14,219 forever and 819 00:38:14,219 –> 00:38:15,179 forever 820 00:38:15,179 –> 00:38:16,280 you will love your 821 00:38:16,280 –> 00:38:17,580 love God with all 822 00:38:17,580 –> 00:38:18,260 your heart and 823 00:38:18,260 –> 00:38:19,159 soul and mind 824 00:38:19,159 –> 00:38:19,659 and strength 825 00:38:19,659 –> 00:38:20,360 and you will love 826 00:38:20,360 –> 00:38:21,179 your neighbor as 827 00:38:21,179 –> 00:38:21,679 yourself and 828 00:38:21,679 –> 00:38:22,979 everyone else 829 00:38:23,179 –> 00:38:23,939 in the whole 830 00:38:23,939 –> 00:38:24,979 community 831 00:38:24,979 –> 00:38:26,260 of heaven 832 00:38:26,260 –> 00:38:27,100 will 833 00:38:27,100 –> 00:38:27,919 share that same 834 00:38:27,919 –> 00:38:28,879 blessing and you 835 00:38:28,879 –> 00:38:29,879 will rejoice 836 00:38:29,879 –> 00:38:30,659 forever in 837 00:38:30,659 –> 00:38:31,500 new life 838 00:38:31,500 –> 00:38:32,340 from the grave 839 00:38:32,340 –> 00:38:33,320 that is yours 840 00:38:33,320 –> 00:38:34,260 through Jesus 841 00:38:34,260 –> 00:38:35,800 Christ our Lord 842 00:38:35,800 –> 00:38:36,300 and folks 843 00:38:36,300 –> 00:38:37,459 all these 844 00:38:37,459 –> 00:38:38,320 promises of 845 00:38:38,320 –> 00:38:39,040 God are 846 00:38:39,040 –> 00:38:39,939 yes 847 00:38:39,939 –> 00:38:41,639 in Christ Jesus 848 00:38:43,159 –> 00:38:44,120 and so no wonder 849 00:38:44,120 –> 00:38:45,560 Paul says 850 00:38:45,959 –> 00:38:46,479 we 851 00:38:46,479 –> 00:38:47,439 God’s people 852 00:38:47,439 –> 00:38:48,459 therefore say 853 00:38:48,459 –> 00:38:48,959 the 854 00:38:48,959 –> 00:38:50,080 Amen 855 00:38:50,439 –> 00:38:52,000 to the praise 856 00:38:52,000 –> 00:38:53,479 and the glory 857 00:38:53,479 –> 00:38:54,399 of God 858 00:38:54,399 –> 00:38:56,340 Father thank you 859 00:38:56,340 –> 00:38:57,840 that amazing 860 00:38:57,840 –> 00:38:59,219 promises that 861 00:38:59,219 –> 00:39:00,679 you alone 862 00:39:00,679 –> 00:39:02,280 could deliver 863 00:39:02,939 –> 00:39:03,860 are ours 864 00:39:03,860 –> 00:39:05,020 in Jesus 865 00:39:05,020 –> 00:39:05,860 Christ 866 00:39:05,860 –> 00:39:06,739 God with 867 00:39:06,739 –> 00:39:07,659 us 868 00:39:08,340 –> 00:39:09,340 we bless you 869 00:39:09,340 –> 00:39:10,560 in his name 870 00:39:10,780 –> 00:39:12,580 and God’s people said 871 00:39:12,659 –> 00:39:13,760 Amen