1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,020 to a little bit. Please open 2 00:00:03,080 –> 00:00:05,420 your bibles then at Mark’s 3 00:00:05,480 –> 00:00:08,020 Gospel and chapter 10. Mark’s 4 00:00:08,020 –> 00:00:11,080 gospel in chapter ten. 5 00:00:12,920 –> 00:00:15,720 Now, we come to date to a 6 00:00:15,720 –> 00:00:17,719 remarkable passage of scripture 7 00:00:17,719 –> 00:00:19,360 where the lord Jesus Christ 8 00:00:19,360 –> 00:00:22,660 tells us why he came into the 9 00:00:22,740 –> 00:00:25,740 world and what it means for us 10 00:00:25,740 –> 00:00:27,760 to be his followers. We’re 11 00:00:27,860 –> 00:00:31,559 today to discuss first, our 12 00:00:31,559 –> 00:00:33,560 human condition, That is the 13 00:00:33,560 –> 00:00:36,240 great struggle that we have in 14 00:00:36,240 –> 00:00:38,740 our lives and deal with through 15 00:00:38,799 –> 00:00:40,639 the years Secondly, we’re going 16 00:00:40,639 –> 00:00:42,180 to see what it is that Jesus 17 00:00:42,180 –> 00:00:44,279 Christ has come to do about it 18 00:00:44,380 –> 00:00:45,419 and then thirdly, we’re going 19 00:00:45,419 –> 00:00:46,720 to see very wonderfully the 20 00:00:46,720 –> 00:00:49,080 change that Jesus Christ is 21 00:00:49,080 –> 00:00:50,840 able to bring in our lives 22 00:00:50,840 –> 00:00:52,779 today. So, let’s take up the 23 00:00:52,779 –> 00:00:55,680 story in Mark chapter 10 and 24 00:00:55,880 –> 00:00:56,919 verse Valuable and where we 25 00:00:56,919 –> 00:00:58,480 read that they were on their 26 00:00:58,480 –> 00:00:59,680 way. That’s Jesus and his 27 00:00:59,680 –> 00:01:01,180 Disciples on their way up to 28 00:01:01,180 –> 00:01:02,919 Jerusalem with Jesus leading 29 00:01:02,919 –> 00:01:05,260 the way and the disciples were 30 00:01:05,260 –> 00:01:07,620 astonished and those who 31 00:01:07,620 –> 00:01:11,059 followed were afraid. Now, 32 00:01:11,059 –> 00:01:12,760 it’s not surprising. I think 33 00:01:12,760 –> 00:01:13,639 that the disciples were 34 00:01:13,639 –> 00:01:15,260 astonished and that those who 35 00:01:15,260 –> 00:01:17,300 followed were afraid because 36 00:01:17,300 –> 00:01:18,779 remember the teachers of the 37 00:01:18,779 –> 00:01:21,180 law had already come down from 38 00:01:21,180 –> 00:01:23,300 Jerusalem and chapter three 39 00:01:23,300 –> 00:01:25,099 verse 22 when they came down 40 00:01:25,500 –> 00:01:26,800 the power in the capital city. 41 00:01:26,800 –> 00:01:28,940 They They an evaluation of the 42 00:01:28,940 –> 00:01:30,379 ministry of Jesus and they 43 00:01:30,379 –> 00:01:31,639 said, he’s doing the work of 44 00:01:31,639 –> 00:01:35,580 the devil. He has chapter three 45 00:01:35,580 –> 00:01:37,639 and verse 22. So, that was the 46 00:01:37,639 –> 00:01:39,220 evaluation of the people with 47 00:01:39,220 –> 00:01:40,519 power coming down from 48 00:01:40,519 –> 00:01:42,500 Jerusalem. Now, Jesus is 49 00:01:42,500 –> 00:01:43,660 leading the way up to 50 00:01:43,660 –> 00:01:45,059 Jerusalem and so it’s not 51 00:01:45,059 –> 00:01:46,800 surprising that the disciples 52 00:01:46,800 –> 00:01:48,199 are astonished and those who 53 00:01:48,199 –> 00:01:50,440 followed are afraid. They know 54 00:01:50,440 –> 00:01:51,660 that in going to Jerusalem, 55 00:01:51,660 –> 00:01:52,900 Jesus is walking into the 56 00:01:53,339 –> 00:01:56,599 little lion’s den. We know 57 00:01:56,599 –> 00:01:57,599 that the religious leaders in 58 00:01:57,599 –> 00:01:59,220 Jerusalem are already hostile 59 00:01:59,220 –> 00:02:00,620 to him. They’ve judged him to 60 00:02:00,620 –> 00:02:01,959 be doing the devil’s work and 61 00:02:01,959 –> 00:02:03,379 therefore the land is to be 62 00:02:03,379 –> 00:02:05,120 purged of such evil. We know 63 00:02:05,120 –> 00:02:07,320 their power. What will they do 64 00:02:07,320 –> 00:02:09,500 to him? Now, Jesus knows what 65 00:02:09,500 –> 00:02:10,520 they will do to him and he 66 00:02:10,520 –> 00:02:12,100 tells the disciples quite 67 00:02:12,100 –> 00:02:13,919 clearly. Verse thirty-three. 68 00:02:13,919 –> 00:02:15,960 Notice the affirmative. We are 69 00:02:15,960 –> 00:02:17,500 going up to Jerusalem. 70 00:02:17,500 –> 00:02:19,639 Nonnegotiable, you see And 71 00:02:19,639 –> 00:02:20,839 here’s what’s going to happen. 72 00:02:20,839 –> 00:02:22,740 The Son of Man and by the way 73 00:02:22,740 –> 00:02:24,679 this term is often used to 74 00:02:24,679 –> 00:02:26,279 refer to himself the son of 75 00:02:26,279 –> 00:02:29,479 man. The son of man will be 76 00:02:29,479 –> 00:02:32,639 betrayed, condemned, and handed 77 00:02:32,639 –> 00:02:35,619 over to the Gentiles and when 78 00:02:35,619 –> 00:02:37,360 that happens, four things will 79 00:02:37,360 –> 00:02:38,800 follow these Gentiles. They 80 00:02:38,800 –> 00:02:41,919 will mock him. They will spit 81 00:02:41,919 –> 00:02:45,160 on him. They will flog him and 82 00:02:45,160 –> 00:02:46,740 they will kill him. That is 83 00:02:46,740 –> 00:02:47,740 what is going to happen when we 84 00:02:47,740 –> 00:02:50,559 get to Jerusalem. Jesus says 85 00:02:50,559 –> 00:02:51,559 and then verse thirty-four, he 86 00:02:51,940 –> 00:02:55,440 and later, the son of man will 87 00:02:55,440 –> 00:02:57,000 rise. Now, this is the third 88 00:02:57,000 –> 00:02:59,679 time that Jesus had 89 00:02:59,679 –> 00:03:02,080 specifically prophesied his own 90 00:03:02,080 –> 00:03:04,619 suffering and death to his 91 00:03:04,619 –> 00:03:06,520 disciples. And I want you to 92 00:03:06,520 –> 00:03:09,020 notice what happens next. Verse 93 00:03:09,020 –> 00:03:11,779 thirty-five, James and John 94 00:03:11,779 –> 00:03:13,699 the sons of Zebedee came to him 95 00:03:13,699 –> 00:03:15,960 and teacher, they said, we want 96 00:03:15,960 –> 00:03:19,899 you to do for us whatever we 97 00:03:20,839 –> 00:03:22,500 Jesus asks them what they want 98 00:03:22,500 –> 00:03:23,399 and they say in verse thirty 99 00:03:23,399 –> 00:03:25,740 seven, let one of us sit at 100 00:03:25,740 –> 00:03:28,039 your right hand and the other 101 00:03:28,039 –> 00:03:32,559 at your left in glory. Now, 102 00:03:32,559 –> 00:03:36,500 talk about insensitivity The 103 00:03:36,500 –> 00:03:39,699 mind of Jesus is gripped, 104 00:03:39,699 –> 00:03:43,259 filled with the prospect of his 105 00:03:43,259 –> 00:03:45,600 imminent suffering and death. 106 00:03:45,600 –> 00:03:46,839 And remember if you look at the 107 00:03:46,839 –> 00:03:48,039 Bible there at the beginning of 108 00:03:48,779 –> 00:03:50,100 chapter fourteen, you have the 109 00:03:50,100 –> 00:03:52,279 entry into Jerusalem which was 110 00:03:52,279 –> 00:03:53,639 on the Sunday before Good 111 00:03:53,639 –> 00:03:55,440 Friday. So, at the end of 112 00:03:55,440 –> 00:03:57,839 chapter ten, we’re less than a 113 00:03:57,839 –> 00:04:01,139 week away from the death of 114 00:04:01,139 –> 00:04:04,139 Jesus and Jesus mind. Therefore 115 00:04:04,139 –> 00:04:06,600 is filled with this inside 116 00:04:06,600 –> 00:04:10,500 seven days Less than a week. 117 00:04:10,500 –> 00:04:13,279 He’ll be in the mocking. the 118 00:04:13,279 –> 00:04:17,540 spitting, the nailing, the 119 00:04:17,940 –> 00:04:20,239 Jesus is filled with thoughts 120 00:04:20,239 –> 00:04:22,140 about the suffering and death 121 00:04:22,140 –> 00:04:24,179 that lies ahead of him and his 122 00:04:24,179 –> 00:04:27,480 followers supposedly his 123 00:04:27,480 –> 00:04:29,279 friends they’re squabbling over 124 00:04:29,279 –> 00:04:33,200 the inheritance already. John 125 00:04:33,200 –> 00:04:37,500 Stuart says this the brother’s 126 00:04:37,500 –> 00:04:40,239 statement. We want you to do 127 00:04:40,239 –> 00:04:42,440 for us whatever we ask surely 128 00:04:42,440 –> 00:04:45,880 qualifies as the worst, most 129 00:04:46,440 –> 00:04:50,279 selfless prayed James and John 130 00:04:50,279 –> 00:04:51,820 want to be on the right and 131 00:04:51,820 –> 00:04:56,179 left of Jesus in glory and 132 00:04:56,179 –> 00:04:57,459 there will be two others who 133 00:04:57,459 –> 00:04:59,480 will be on his right and left 134 00:04:59,480 –> 00:05:02,160 in a very different place 135 00:05:02,160 –> 00:05:07,899 before that. now this gives us 136 00:05:07,899 –> 00:05:10,700 really an insight into the real 137 00:05:10,700 –> 00:05:12,399 problem within our own hearts 138 00:05:12,399 –> 00:05:15,299 and all of us struggle with it 139 00:05:15,660 –> 00:05:17,839 we are also interested in 140 00:05:17,839 –> 00:05:22,239 ourselves our place, our 141 00:05:22,239 –> 00:05:26,179 prospects, our position and 142 00:05:26,179 –> 00:05:28,980 our recognition and all of 143 00:05:28,980 –> 00:05:30,299 these things. Are in the 144 00:05:30,299 –> 00:05:31,899 request that James and John 145 00:05:31,899 –> 00:05:33,440 make of Jesus when they say 146 00:05:33,440 –> 00:05:34,119 that you know when you come 147 00:05:34,119 –> 00:05:34,980 into your glory we’re 148 00:05:34,980 –> 00:05:36,320 interested in what position we 149 00:05:36,320 –> 00:05:38,380 will have and we want the 150 00:05:38,380 –> 00:05:40,119 prime positions on your right 151 00:05:40,859 –> 00:05:42,920 and on your left. by the way 152 00:05:42,920 –> 00:05:44,079 and some of you may call that 153 00:05:44,859 –> 00:05:46,600 something that was recorded in 154 00:05:46,600 –> 00:05:48,500 Matthew’s Gospel of this story 155 00:05:48,500 –> 00:05:50,579 in chapter twenty, Matthew 156 00:05:50,579 –> 00:05:52,839 records that James and John’s 157 00:05:52,839 –> 00:05:56,339 mother was also part of this 158 00:05:56,339 –> 00:05:58,320 request that was made to Jesus 159 00:05:58,320 –> 00:05:59,559 Matthew records that the three 160 00:05:59,559 –> 00:06:03,079 of them came together and it’s 161 00:06:03,079 –> 00:06:04,019 interesting just to take a 162 00:06:04,019 –> 00:06:05,660 moment to get the profile of 163 00:06:05,660 –> 00:06:08,160 this family. They were the 164 00:06:08,160 –> 00:06:10,720 sons James and John were the 165 00:06:10,720 –> 00:06:12,140 sons of Zebedee who had a 166 00:06:12,700 –> 00:06:14,859 families are classically 167 00:06:14,859 –> 00:06:18,000 middle-class family Dad has a 168 00:06:18,000 –> 00:06:19,679 small business. Some people 169 00:06:19,679 –> 00:06:22,000 working for him. Mom is 170 00:06:22,000 –> 00:06:24,940 supremacy. ambitious for her 171 00:06:24,940 –> 00:06:26,040 children. She wants to come up 172 00:06:26,040 –> 00:06:27,619 to Jesus and say what’s going 173 00:06:27,619 –> 00:06:28,380 to happen to James and John. I 174 00:06:28,380 –> 00:06:29,339 think they should be on your 175 00:06:29,339 –> 00:06:31,160 left and and your right. 176 00:06:31,160 –> 00:06:32,880 They’re great guys. You know. 177 00:06:32,880 –> 00:06:34,480 remember when James and John 178 00:06:34,480 –> 00:06:35,720 became followers of Jesus. 179 00:06:35,720 –> 00:06:37,459 Jesus gave them a nickname. He 180 00:06:37,459 –> 00:06:39,119 called them and mark records 181 00:06:39,600 –> 00:06:41,779 which means sons of thunder. 182 00:06:41,779 –> 00:06:43,540 That was the name Jesus gave to 183 00:06:43,540 –> 00:06:45,019 James and John. What does that 184 00:06:45,019 –> 00:06:45,940 tell you about their 185 00:06:45,940 –> 00:06:47,559 personality when they started 186 00:06:47,559 –> 00:06:49,279 to follow Jesus? Sons of 187 00:06:49,279 –> 00:06:52,820 thunder. Well you see here are 188 00:06:52,820 –> 00:06:54,459 two young men who are head 189 00:06:54,459 –> 00:06:58,500 strong. confident. ambitious 190 00:06:58,500 –> 00:07:00,799 and supremely focused on 191 00:07:00,799 –> 00:07:03,459 themselves just like you would 192 00:07:03,459 –> 00:07:06,399 see on any sports field visit 193 00:07:06,399 –> 00:07:08,500 any high school any college 194 00:07:09,059 –> 00:07:10,179 just as you would see in any 195 00:07:10,179 –> 00:07:12,660 business folks who are 196 00:07:12,760 –> 00:07:14,239 ambitious and driving and 197 00:07:14,859 –> 00:07:16,239 concerned about what they’re 198 00:07:16,239 –> 00:07:17,959 going to achieve and confident 199 00:07:17,959 –> 00:07:19,220 about their own ability and 200 00:07:19,859 –> 00:07:21,160 trying to make the market 201 00:07:21,260 –> 00:07:24,619 interested in our own place. 202 00:07:26,519 –> 00:07:29,140 Now notice that it is our 203 00:07:29,540 –> 00:07:31,299 selfishness, our supreme 204 00:07:31,299 –> 00:07:33,500 interest in ourselves that 205 00:07:33,500 –> 00:07:35,880 makes us insensitive towards 206 00:07:35,880 –> 00:07:38,440 other people. Thinking about 207 00:07:38,500 –> 00:07:40,579 themselves makes James and 208 00:07:40,579 –> 00:07:42,380 John very poor friends to 209 00:07:42,380 –> 00:07:46,059 Jesus when he is facing such 210 00:07:46,059 –> 00:07:47,359 suffering within just a few 211 00:07:47,359 –> 00:07:51,160 days. How could a marriage 212 00:07:51,200 –> 00:07:54,239 survive if two people are 213 00:07:54,239 –> 00:07:55,720 supremely interested in 214 00:07:55,720 –> 00:07:59,540 themselves? How could a family 215 00:07:59,540 –> 00:08:01,220 be healthy if kids are 216 00:08:01,220 –> 00:08:02,480 supremely interested in 217 00:08:02,480 –> 00:08:04,220 themselves and parents are 218 00:08:04,220 –> 00:08:05,500 supremely interested in 219 00:08:05,500 –> 00:08:08,420 themselves? How could there be 220 00:08:08,480 –> 00:08:12,720 a healthy church if we are a 221 00:08:12,720 –> 00:08:13,920 gathering of people who are 222 00:08:13,920 –> 00:08:15,260 primarily interested in 223 00:08:15,260 –> 00:08:18,119 ourselves? How could there 224 00:08:18,119 –> 00:08:22,119 even be a healthy business if 225 00:08:22,220 –> 00:08:23,519 those who are partners and 226 00:08:23,519 –> 00:08:25,600 employees are supremely 227 00:08:25,600 –> 00:08:29,779 interested in themselves? I 228 00:08:29,779 –> 00:08:30,880 came across a great comment. 229 00:08:30,880 –> 00:08:32,799 It really made me smile from a 230 00:08:32,799 –> 00:08:34,760 novelist who had these 231 00:08:35,280 –> 00:08:36,640 characters by the name of 232 00:08:36,780 –> 00:08:39,159 Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle who were 233 00:08:39,159 –> 00:08:41,559 particularly self-absorbed 234 00:08:41,619 –> 00:08:44,320 people. The writer came out 235 00:08:44,320 –> 00:08:45,320 with this quip. You may just 236 00:08:45,320 –> 00:08:46,359 need to think about it for a 237 00:08:46,359 –> 00:08:48,239 moment to get his point. But he 238 00:08:48,239 –> 00:08:51,780 said how good of God that 239 00:08:51,780 –> 00:08:53,200 Carlisle should of married 240 00:08:53,200 –> 00:08:56,559 Mrs. Carlisle. Hence making two 241 00:08:56,559 –> 00:08:57,960 people miserable instead of 242 00:08:57,960 –> 00:09:01,859 four. I like that because you 243 00:09:01,859 –> 00:09:03,760 see, any one person absorbed 244 00:09:03,760 –> 00:09:05,919 with him or herself will spread 245 00:09:05,919 –> 00:09:06,400 misery. 246 00:09:07,559 –> 00:09:10,299 To the circle around us. 247 00:09:10,960 –> 00:09:14,000 Self-interest chokes the 248 00:09:14,000 –> 00:09:17,099 progress of love. And if you 249 00:09:17,099 –> 00:09:18,320 are going to really love 250 00:09:18,320 –> 00:09:20,039 another person, Here’s the 251 00:09:20,039 –> 00:09:21,520 great battle that you and I, 252 00:09:21,559 –> 00:09:24,000 all of us face together. It is 253 00:09:24,000 –> 00:09:25,760 that we have to overcome our 254 00:09:25,760 –> 00:09:28,320 natural self-interest that 255 00:09:28,320 –> 00:09:29,280 otherwise will make us 256 00:09:29,340 –> 00:09:30,760 insensitive to the needs of 257 00:09:30,760 –> 00:09:31,520 others. Because we’d be 258 00:09:31,520 –> 00:09:33,159 thinking about ourselves all 259 00:09:33,159 –> 00:09:36,039 the time, just like James and 260 00:09:36,039 –> 00:09:37,419 John. And that ruins a 261 00:09:37,419 –> 00:09:39,679 marriage. And it makes people 262 00:09:39,679 –> 00:09:42,159 miserable at work. And it 263 00:09:42,159 –> 00:09:43,739 crushes young people and it 264 00:09:43,739 –> 00:09:45,200 leads to older people being 265 00:09:45,200 –> 00:09:47,000 ignored and forgotten. That 266 00:09:47,000 –> 00:09:49,640 self-interest is in us all. 267 00:09:51,440 –> 00:09:52,559 Now, that’s the problem that 268 00:09:52,559 –> 00:09:53,880 we face. And we learn it very 269 00:09:53,880 –> 00:09:55,520 clearly, I think, from this 270 00:09:55,719 –> 00:09:59,000 remarkable incident with James 271 00:09:59,080 –> 00:10:01,239 and John. Now, let’s move on 272 00:10:01,239 –> 00:10:03,280 secondly to see what Jesus 273 00:10:03,280 –> 00:10:05,719 Christ came to do about it. 274 00:10:06,159 –> 00:10:07,559 Now, I want to go to verse 45 275 00:10:07,559 –> 00:10:08,380 and then we’ll fill in the 276 00:10:08,380 –> 00:10:11,039 middle a little later on. Verse 277 00:10:11,039 –> 00:10:13,080 45, Jesus says, the son of man 278 00:10:13,080 –> 00:10:16,280 did not come to be served but 279 00:10:16,280 –> 00:10:19,679 to serve and to give his life 280 00:10:20,119 –> 00:10:24,080 as a ransom for many. Now, this 281 00:10:24,080 –> 00:10:25,419 is one of the most important 282 00:10:25,440 –> 00:10:26,799 statements in the bible. And so 283 00:10:26,799 –> 00:10:28,880 we’re going to ponder it and 284 00:10:28,880 –> 00:10:30,419 pause on it for a few moments 285 00:10:30,419 –> 00:10:33,099 together. It gives to us a 286 00:10:33,099 –> 00:10:34,460 clear statement of Jesus’ 287 00:10:34,479 –> 00:10:37,080 mission. And I want you to 288 00:10:37,080 –> 00:10:38,700 notice that Jesus states his 289 00:10:38,700 –> 00:10:40,760 mission both negatively and 290 00:10:40,760 –> 00:10:42,400 positively. In other words, he 291 00:10:42,400 –> 00:10:44,000 tells us what he did not come 292 00:10:44,000 –> 00:10:45,659 into the world to do as well as 293 00:10:45,659 –> 00:10:46,979 what he did come into the world 294 00:10:46,979 –> 00:10:48,440 to do. By the way, that is very 295 00:10:48,440 –> 00:10:49,900 important, very helpful thing. 296 00:10:50,179 –> 00:10:52,299 In all of life, if we are going 297 00:10:52,299 –> 00:10:54,820 to be successful we need to 298 00:10:54,820 –> 00:10:56,559 know, be as clear about what 299 00:10:56,559 –> 00:10:58,619 we’re not doing as we are about 300 00:10:58,619 –> 00:11:00,219 what we are doing because the 301 00:11:00,260 –> 00:11:02,760 easiest way to achieve nothing 302 00:11:02,760 –> 00:11:06,580 is to attempt everything. And 303 00:11:06,580 –> 00:11:07,900 so, this is a very wonderful 304 00:11:07,900 –> 00:11:08,739 statement. In fact, there are 305 00:11:08,739 –> 00:11:10,200 many wonderful statements about 306 00:11:10,200 –> 00:11:11,820 what Jesus did not come into the 307 00:11:11,820 –> 00:11:14,320 world to do. John chapter three 308 00:11:14,320 –> 00:11:15,500 and verse seventeen is one of 309 00:11:15,500 –> 00:11:18,159 them. The son of God did not 310 00:11:18,159 –> 00:11:20,219 come into the world to condemn 311 00:11:20,219 –> 00:11:21,640 the world. Thank God for that. 312 00:11:21,640 –> 00:11:23,539 You don’t need to come down from 313 00:11:23,539 –> 00:11:24,840 heaven to bring condemnation. 314 00:11:24,840 –> 00:11:25,940 You could just blitz the world 315 00:11:25,979 –> 00:11:27,820 from heaven. And that’s not why 316 00:11:27,820 –> 00:11:29,760 he took flesh and prayed all 317 00:11:29,760 –> 00:11:31,500 these nights and fasted and 318 00:11:31,539 –> 00:11:33,099 taught the disciples and was 319 00:11:33,099 –> 00:11:35,179 patient with people and went to 320 00:11:35,179 –> 00:11:36,719 a cross. He didn’t come to 321 00:11:36,719 –> 00:11:38,020 condemn the world so if you 322 00:11:38,020 –> 00:11:40,700 think that God is interested in 323 00:11:40,700 –> 00:11:43,500 condemning you, you haven’t 324 00:11:43,500 –> 00:11:44,659 understood the gospel. That’s 325 00:11:44,659 –> 00:11:47,739 not why he came. And this 326 00:11:47,739 –> 00:11:48,799 statement here in Mark ten 327 00:11:48,799 –> 00:11:49,859 forty-five is even more 328 00:11:49,859 –> 00:11:52,440 remarkable. Jesus says that the 329 00:11:52,440 –> 00:11:55,479 son of man did not come to be 330 00:11:55,760 –> 00:11:58,780 served. Now, what does that 331 00:11:59,419 –> 00:12:04,760 mean? Well, to be served is to 332 00:12:04,760 –> 00:12:07,059 have other people do things for 333 00:12:07,059 –> 00:12:10,340 you so people work for you or 334 00:12:10,340 –> 00:12:11,700 they assist you or they get 335 00:12:11,700 –> 00:12:12,940 things done for you or they 336 00:12:12,940 –> 00:12:14,659 make things easier in life for 337 00:12:14,659 –> 00:12:17,859 you or better for you Jesus 338 00:12:17,859 –> 00:12:19,179 says, the son of man did not 339 00:12:19,179 –> 00:12:22,619 come to be served I did not 340 00:12:22,619 –> 00:12:24,359 come into the world Jesus says 341 00:12:24,359 –> 00:12:25,900 to get people to do things for 342 00:12:25,900 –> 00:12:27,619 me. That’s not why I came and 343 00:12:28,219 –> 00:12:31,340 if you need to understand that 344 00:12:31,340 –> 00:12:35,340 think about that Jesus Christ 345 00:12:35,340 –> 00:12:37,400 did not come into the world in 346 00:12:37,400 –> 00:12:39,299 order to get you to do things 347 00:12:39,299 –> 00:12:45,179 for him. It’s not like him. He 348 00:12:45,179 –> 00:12:49,280 doesn’t need that. The book of 349 00:12:49,280 –> 00:12:50,979 revelation gives us a glimpse 350 00:12:50,979 –> 00:12:52,859 of the glory of Jesus seated at 351 00:12:52,859 –> 00:12:54,619 the right hand of the father 352 00:12:54,619 –> 00:12:56,760 and the Bible says that he is 353 00:12:57,099 –> 00:13:00,380 was set by thousands upon 354 00:13:00,380 –> 00:13:04,179 thousands and 10,000 times 10,000 355 00:13:04,179 –> 00:13:07,419 angels how many is 10,000 times 356 00:13:07,419 –> 00:13:09,840 10,000. that’s 100 million isn’t 357 00:13:09,840 –> 00:13:12,039 100 million and besides that 358 00:13:12,039 –> 00:13:14,239 thousands upon thousands and all 359 00:13:14,239 –> 00:13:16,760 of these angels the book of 360 00:13:16,760 –> 00:13:19,020 Hebrews tells us are there to 361 00:13:19,020 –> 00:13:21,119 serve him. They are his 362 00:13:21,119 –> 00:13:24,200 servants. They get his will 363 00:13:25,179 –> 00:13:27,440 out. Now, when you see that 364 00:13:27,440 –> 00:13:30,479 Jesus Christ has thousands upon 365 00:13:30,479 –> 00:13:31,719 thousands and 100 million 366 00:13:31,719 –> 00:13:33,919 angels serving him, he he 367 00:13:33,919 –> 00:13:36,159 doesn’t need us to get things 368 00:13:36,159 –> 00:13:39,599 done Our god is in heaven. he 369 00:13:39,599 –> 00:13:42,419 does whatever he pleases So, 370 00:13:42,419 –> 00:13:44,719 Jesus is very clear about this 371 00:13:44,719 –> 00:13:46,239 that the son of man did not 372 00:13:46,239 –> 00:13:49,059 come into the world to be 373 00:13:49,059 –> 00:13:49,940 served and if you think that 374 00:13:49,940 –> 00:13:51,200 Jesus came in order to get you 375 00:13:51,200 –> 00:13:52,679 to do certain things for him, 376 00:13:52,679 –> 00:13:54,039 you have not understood the 377 00:13:54,260 –> 00:13:56,859 gospel. So, we’ll wait a 378 00:13:56,859 –> 00:13:57,900 minute. don’t we serve him and 379 00:13:57,900 –> 00:13:59,700 aren’t we meant to serve him 380 00:13:59,700 –> 00:14:00,500 and doesn’t he call us to serve 381 00:14:00,500 –> 00:14:03,739 him? sure, those who are his 382 00:14:03,739 –> 00:14:05,080 people will serve him for all 383 00:14:05,080 –> 00:14:06,880 eternity in a new heaven and a 384 00:14:06,880 –> 00:14:08,119 new earth and we will do it 385 00:14:08,119 –> 00:14:10,419 with joy and if we are really 386 00:14:10,419 –> 00:14:11,340 his people, it will be our 387 00:14:11,340 –> 00:14:14,919 great joy to begin serving him 388 00:14:14,919 –> 00:14:16,460 even now but that is not why 389 00:14:16,460 –> 00:14:18,520 Jesus Christ came into the 390 00:14:18,520 –> 00:14:20,919 world, the son of man did not 391 00:14:21,619 –> 00:14:24,679 He served. 392 00:14:25,320 –> 00:14:27,760 Let’s stay with that one moment 393 00:14:27,760 –> 00:14:31,359 longer. Some of us need to hear 394 00:14:31,359 –> 00:14:35,460 that. because the pattern of 395 00:14:35,460 –> 00:14:38,760 your mind. is that you beat 396 00:14:38,760 –> 00:14:44,460 yourself up thoughts like this. 397 00:14:44,460 –> 00:14:47,739 I’m not a good enough Christian. 398 00:14:48,599 –> 00:14:53,299 I don’t witness enough. I 399 00:14:53,299 –> 00:14:56,700 don’t serve enough. I don’t 400 00:14:56,700 –> 00:14:59,580 love enough. and the more you 401 00:14:59,580 –> 00:15:01,820 worry about this, the more 402 00:15:01,820 –> 00:15:05,280 uptight you become. and it 403 00:15:05,280 –> 00:15:07,619 actually stifles your spiritual 404 00:15:07,619 –> 00:15:09,580 life. If you have a streak of 405 00:15:09,580 –> 00:15:12,799 perfectionism in you, you will 406 00:15:12,799 –> 00:15:14,700 know what the struggle is 407 00:15:14,700 –> 00:15:16,700 really like and you need to 408 00:15:17,700 –> 00:15:20,099 witness the Lord Jesus Christ 409 00:15:20,099 –> 00:15:24,099 break into your self imposed 410 00:15:24,099 –> 00:15:26,900 prison. by saying this, I 411 00:15:26,900 –> 00:15:29,979 didn’t come to get you to do 412 00:15:29,979 –> 00:15:32,500 things for me. That’s not why I 413 00:15:32,500 –> 00:15:34,820 came into the world and you 414 00:15:34,820 –> 00:15:37,039 need to hear that. It’s a great 415 00:15:37,039 –> 00:15:39,960 release and when you hear it 416 00:15:39,960 –> 00:15:41,619 and receive it and believe it, 417 00:15:41,619 –> 00:15:44,520 it will save you from measuring 418 00:15:45,080 –> 00:15:50,479 passivity. The son of man did 419 00:15:50,479 –> 00:15:53,119 not come to be served. He did 420 00:15:53,119 –> 00:15:55,960 not come to get you to do stuff 421 00:15:55,960 –> 00:15:57,700 for him. Now then, why did he 422 00:15:57,700 –> 00:16:00,200 come? Well, Jesus says, the son 423 00:16:00,200 –> 00:16:01,260 of man came to serve. This was 424 00:16:01,260 –> 00:16:04,539 the objective. He didn’t come 425 00:16:04,539 –> 00:16:06,359 to get you to do things for 426 00:16:06,359 –> 00:16:07,440 him. He came to do something 427 00:16:07,440 –> 00:16:10,099 for you. Let’s get this into 428 00:16:10,099 –> 00:16:11,880 our minds. The objective of 429 00:16:11,880 –> 00:16:13,380 Jesus in coming into the world 430 00:16:14,200 –> 00:16:15,200 was not to earn something from 431 00:16:15,200 –> 00:16:17,340 you but to accomplish something 432 00:16:17,340 –> 00:16:19,320 for you. It was not to get you 433 00:16:19,320 –> 00:16:21,520 to do something for him. It was 434 00:16:21,520 –> 00:16:23,840 so that he should do something 435 00:16:23,840 –> 00:16:24,520 for you. The gospel is not 436 00:16:24,520 –> 00:16:26,460 about what you are doing for 437 00:16:26,460 –> 00:16:27,760 Jesus but about what Jesus has 438 00:16:27,760 –> 00:16:30,219 done for you and what Jesus is 439 00:16:30,219 –> 00:16:32,919 doing in your life. Now, how 440 00:16:32,919 –> 00:16:36,299 does Jesus serve us? Is it by 441 00:16:36,299 –> 00:16:37,260 making our lives exactly as we 442 00:16:37,260 –> 00:16:39,059 think they should be or would 443 00:16:39,059 –> 00:16:40,940 want them to be. No, of course 444 00:16:40,940 –> 00:16:41,460 not. That’s the mistake James 445 00:16:41,659 –> 00:16:43,020 made. David made and John made 446 00:16:43,020 –> 00:16:44,679 back in verse thirty-five when 447 00:16:44,679 –> 00:16:46,280 they said, we want you to do 448 00:16:46,280 –> 00:16:47,419 for us whatever we ask. How 449 00:16:47,419 –> 00:16:50,020 does Jesus serve us? And he 450 00:16:50,020 –> 00:16:53,359 tells us in verse forty-five. 451 00:16:53,359 –> 00:16:56,700 By giving his life as a ransom 452 00:16:56,700 –> 00:16:59,260 for many. That’s how he serves 453 00:16:59,260 –> 00:17:03,780 us. That’s what he came to do 454 00:17:03,780 –> 00:17:04,739 Now, this one of the most 455 00:17:04,739 –> 00:17:06,400 important statements in all of 456 00:17:06,400 –> 00:17:08,739 the New Testament. So, let’s 457 00:17:08,739 –> 00:17:10,739 ponder it and try and get it 458 00:17:11,060 –> 00:17:13,099 to the heart’s so that we 459 00:17:13,099 –> 00:17:14,560 understand the message of the 460 00:17:14,560 –> 00:17:19,099 Bible well. A ransom. The son 461 00:17:19,099 –> 00:17:22,339 of man came to give his life as 462 00:17:22,339 –> 00:17:26,140 a ransom for many. Now, we know 463 00:17:26,140 –> 00:17:27,540 what the word ransom means. We 464 00:17:27,540 –> 00:17:28,579 hear it if there’s a 465 00:17:28,579 –> 00:17:30,979 kidnapping or if someone is 466 00:17:30,979 –> 00:17:33,359 taken hostage. Then, a ransom 467 00:17:33,359 –> 00:17:36,079 may be demanded for the release 468 00:17:36,079 –> 00:17:38,819 of that person. So, it’s used 469 00:17:39,020 –> 00:17:41,699 as a form of hostage. In the 470 00:17:41,699 –> 00:17:43,579 Old Testament, ransom was used 471 00:17:43,579 –> 00:17:45,359 in two other ways. One was that 472 00:17:45,359 –> 00:17:46,680 it could be money that was paid 473 00:17:46,680 –> 00:17:48,479 for the release of a slave. So, 474 00:17:48,479 –> 00:17:51,180 you got a hostage or a slave. 475 00:17:51,180 –> 00:17:53,319 And then, a third way and you 476 00:17:53,319 –> 00:17:54,979 find this in Exodus chapter 477 00:17:54,979 –> 00:17:56,959 Twenty-one and verse Thirty 478 00:17:56,959 –> 00:17:58,359 and following. There were 479 00:17:58,359 –> 00:18:00,020 certain circumstances under 480 00:18:00,020 –> 00:18:02,920 which if someone was facing the 481 00:18:02,920 –> 00:18:05,420 death sentence. If they were on 482 00:18:05,420 –> 00:18:07,119 death row and they were facing 483 00:18:07,880 –> 00:18:09,319 Old Testament Israel, there 484 00:18:09,319 –> 00:18:11,140 were some circumstances under 485 00:18:11,140 –> 00:18:13,060 which ransom money could be 486 00:18:13,060 –> 00:18:15,140 paid and the death sentence 487 00:18:15,140 –> 00:18:17,479 would be relived, would be 488 00:18:17,479 –> 00:18:20,640 taken away. So, these are the 489 00:18:20,640 –> 00:18:22,579 three ways in which the word is 490 00:18:22,579 –> 00:18:24,520 used. And all three of them 491 00:18:24,520 –> 00:18:26,739 play into the New Testament 492 00:18:26,739 –> 00:18:29,579 meaning of the word ransom. 493 00:18:29,579 –> 00:18:30,819 If you want one place where 494 00:18:30,819 –> 00:18:32,420 this is brought together, I 495 00:18:32,420 –> 00:18:34,020 think Ephesians chapter two 496 00:18:34,020 –> 00:18:35,020 would be the place that 497 00:18:35,099 –> 00:18:38,000 explains it most clearly. 498 00:18:38,000 –> 00:18:39,199 Firstly, by nature, we are 499 00:18:39,199 –> 00:18:41,959 hostage to an enemy. We are 500 00:18:41,959 –> 00:18:43,859 held in the kingdom of this 501 00:18:43,859 –> 00:18:46,979 world that is under the rule 502 00:18:46,979 –> 00:18:48,339 and the influence of the prince 503 00:18:48,339 –> 00:18:50,800 of the power of the air, Satan. 504 00:18:50,800 –> 00:18:52,339 And Jesus Christ has died to 505 00:18:52,339 –> 00:18:55,819 liberate this creation from its 506 00:18:55,819 –> 00:18:58,479 bondage to decay and to release 507 00:18:58,479 –> 00:19:00,819 us from the gripping power of 508 00:19:00,819 –> 00:19:03,420 Satan in all the ways in 509 00:19:04,359 –> 00:19:06,079 creation. And he lays hold of 510 00:19:06,079 –> 00:19:08,459 our lives. More than that, we 511 00:19:08,459 –> 00:19:09,900 are slaves. Slaves to 512 00:19:09,900 –> 00:19:12,660 ourselves. In Ephesians 2 Paul 513 00:19:12,660 –> 00:19:14,939 says we follow by nature the 514 00:19:14,939 –> 00:19:17,540 thoughts, the desires, and the 515 00:19:17,540 –> 00:19:19,540 cravings of our own hearts. 516 00:19:19,540 –> 00:19:20,180 That’s just what we do by 517 00:19:20,180 –> 00:19:22,380 nature. We follow our own 518 00:19:22,380 –> 00:19:24,140 thoughts, our own desires, our 519 00:19:24,140 –> 00:19:26,819 own cravings, and Jesus Christ 520 00:19:26,819 –> 00:19:28,339 came to pay the ransom to get 521 00:19:28,339 –> 00:19:29,479 us out of that slavery. Because 522 00:19:29,479 –> 00:19:31,819 that’s a terrible way to live 523 00:19:31,819 –> 00:19:32,780 just to be driven by impulses 524 00:19:32,939 –> 00:19:35,640 to covet our soul and nothing 525 00:19:35,640 –> 00:19:37,540 higher than that. And then 526 00:19:37,540 –> 00:19:38,420 thirdly by nature we are 527 00:19:38,420 –> 00:19:40,560 offenders against God and 528 00:19:40,560 –> 00:19:42,579 therefore under the sentence of 529 00:19:42,579 –> 00:19:44,380 death. Paul says in Ephesians 530 00:19:44,380 –> 00:19:45,920 chapter two that we are 531 00:19:45,920 –> 00:19:48,959 objects of God’s wrath and it 532 00:19:48,959 –> 00:19:50,300 is for this reason also that 533 00:19:50,300 –> 00:19:52,040 Jesus paid the ransom, that 534 00:19:52,040 –> 00:19:55,000 that death sentence may be 535 00:19:55,000 –> 00:19:57,560 lifted from us. Now, says 536 00:19:57,560 –> 00:19:59,880 Jesus, I came to serve. I came 537 00:19:59,880 –> 00:20:01,800 to accomplish for you something 538 00:20:02,239 –> 00:20:04,000 that I come to accomplish for 539 00:20:04,000 –> 00:20:05,599 yourself. I came to pay the 540 00:20:05,599 –> 00:20:08,060 ransom. I came to break you 541 00:20:08,060 –> 00:20:10,599 out of satan’s power. I came 542 00:20:10,599 –> 00:20:12,599 to deliver you from a life 543 00:20:12,599 –> 00:20:13,680 that’s simply following your 544 00:20:13,680 –> 00:20:15,199 own thoughts your own desires 545 00:20:15,199 –> 00:20:16,540 and your own cravings because 546 00:20:16,540 –> 00:20:18,239 that’s a terrible, terrible 547 00:20:18,239 –> 00:20:20,380 way to live. And I came 548 00:20:20,380 –> 00:20:22,479 supremely to pay the ransom 549 00:20:22,479 –> 00:20:24,420 so that the death sentence of 550 00:20:24,420 –> 00:20:26,260 the wrath of God that was upon 551 00:20:26,260 –> 00:20:29,160 you would be lifted. And it 552 00:20:29,160 –> 00:20:31,020 is for all these reasons that 553 00:20:31,380 –> 00:20:34,140 I come to pay the ransom. Now, 554 00:20:34,140 –> 00:20:35,339 you say, well, what was the 555 00:20:35,339 –> 00:20:37,680 ransom? What was the payment 556 00:20:37,680 –> 00:20:40,119 that had to be made? Well, 557 00:20:40,119 –> 00:20:42,319 notice that Jesus says here 558 00:20:42,319 –> 00:20:45,400 that he gave his life as the 559 00:20:45,400 –> 00:20:47,619 ransom. The price of the 560 00:20:47,619 –> 00:20:49,900 ransom was the perfect life of 561 00:20:49,900 –> 00:20:54,560 Jesus poured out in his death. 562 00:20:54,560 –> 00:20:56,060 The son of man has come to 563 00:20:56,060 –> 00:21:00,699 give his life as a ransom for 564 00:21:00,780 –> 00:21:05,099 you. Jesus uses two pictures 565 00:21:05,099 –> 00:21:06,560 in this passage to help us 566 00:21:06,560 –> 00:21:08,660 understand what his unique 567 00:21:08,660 –> 00:21:11,560 death actually involved. He 568 00:21:11,560 –> 00:21:14,160 talks about the cup and he 569 00:21:14,160 –> 00:21:17,099 talks about a baptism and he 570 00:21:17,099 –> 00:21:18,339 refers to both of them in 571 00:21:18,339 –> 00:21:21,140 verse 38. Can you drink the 572 00:21:21,140 –> 00:21:23,979 cup I drink or be baptized 573 00:21:23,979 –> 00:21:25,280 with the baptism? I am 574 00:21:25,280 –> 00:21:29,180 baptized with. Now, the cup 575 00:21:29,839 –> 00:21:32,640 wine in the Bible is often 576 00:21:32,640 –> 00:21:36,020 used as a symbol or a picture 577 00:21:36,020 –> 00:21:37,979 of God’s wrath or god’s 578 00:21:37,979 –> 00:21:39,619 judgment. Being poured out, 579 00:21:39,619 –> 00:21:40,640 you find out both in the Old 580 00:21:40,640 –> 00:21:41,719 Testament and the New 581 00:21:41,719 –> 00:21:43,520 Testament. Let me give you 582 00:21:43,520 –> 00:21:44,680 perhaps the most striking 583 00:21:44,680 –> 00:21:45,739 example would be from the 584 00:21:45,739 –> 00:21:47,920 book of Revelation chapter 585 00:21:47,920 –> 00:21:50,880 14 and verse ten and here we 586 00:21:50,880 –> 00:21:52,040 have these extraordinary 587 00:21:52,040 –> 00:21:56,939 words that the wine of God’s 588 00:21:57,739 –> 00:22:03,099 fury. is poured full strength 589 00:22:03,099 –> 00:22:05,140 into the cup of his wrath. 590 00:22:05,140 –> 00:22:06,900 That’s Revelation 14 in verse 591 00:22:06,900 –> 00:22:08,680 ten and what is saying in 592 00:22:08,680 –> 00:22:10,180 Revelation is that on the last 593 00:22:10,180 –> 00:22:11,900 day, those who rebel against 594 00:22:11,900 –> 00:22:12,939 god and remain in the 595 00:22:12,939 –> 00:22:14,180 rebellion throughout their 596 00:22:14,180 –> 00:22:17,040 lives. They drink it The wine 597 00:22:17,040 –> 00:22:19,339 of God’s fury poured full 598 00:22:19,339 –> 00:22:23,900 strength into the cup of his 599 00:22:23,900 –> 00:22:26,300 wrath. Now, you think 600 00:22:26,560 –> 00:22:30,800 When Jesus died, the wine of 601 00:22:30,800 –> 00:22:34,599 god’s fury was poured full 602 00:22:34,599 –> 00:22:37,060 strength into the cup of his 603 00:22:37,060 –> 00:22:42,939 wrath and Jesus drank it and 604 00:22:42,939 –> 00:22:44,680 he describes what he endured 605 00:22:44,680 –> 00:22:46,939 not only as a the drinking of 606 00:22:46,939 –> 00:22:50,000 a cup, but the enduring of a 607 00:22:50,000 –> 00:22:51,800 baptism baptism. of course 608 00:22:51,800 –> 00:22:53,079 speaking of being plunged 609 00:22:53,079 –> 00:22:55,420 overwhelmed, there was a 610 00:22:55,439 –> 00:22:59,859 suite of suffering that 611 00:22:59,859 –> 00:23:03,739 overwhelmed his own soul and 612 00:23:03,739 –> 00:23:06,479 his own body. and that is how 613 00:23:06,479 –> 00:23:09,479 he paid the ransom. That is 614 00:23:09,479 –> 00:23:12,699 the price. That had to be paid 615 00:23:12,699 –> 00:23:14,520 to release you from the power 616 00:23:14,520 –> 00:23:18,199 of Satan. and this cosmos from 617 00:23:18,199 –> 00:23:20,579 his great rebellion. That was 618 00:23:20,579 –> 00:23:22,739 the price that had to be paid 619 00:23:22,739 –> 00:23:24,540 to release you from a life 620 00:23:24,819 –> 00:23:26,780 that’s just following your own 621 00:23:26,780 –> 00:23:28,140 thoughts and desires and the 622 00:23:28,140 –> 00:23:29,900 cravings of your own heart 623 00:23:29,900 –> 00:23:33,380 following your own impulse. 624 00:23:33,380 –> 00:23:35,599 That’s what had to be done to 625 00:23:35,599 –> 00:23:38,680 release you from the wine of 626 00:23:38,680 –> 00:23:41,319 god’s fury being poured full 627 00:23:41,319 –> 00:23:42,699 strength into the cup. It was 628 00:23:42,699 –> 00:23:46,119 rotten. You drinking it. It’s 629 00:23:46,119 –> 00:23:50,400 awesome. S, this is why I came 630 00:23:50,400 –> 00:23:51,819 into the world. Jesus is saying 631 00:23:51,819 –> 00:23:53,859 you forget any idea that I came 632 00:23:54,180 –> 00:23:55,280 into this world to get you to 633 00:23:55,280 –> 00:23:56,760 do stuff for me. My goodness, 634 00:23:56,760 –> 00:23:59,819 no. No, no, no says Jesus. I 635 00:23:59,819 –> 00:24:01,260 didn’t come to be served by 636 00:24:01,260 –> 00:24:03,260 you III came to serve. I came 637 00:24:03,260 –> 00:24:07,839 to give my life as a ransom to 638 00:24:07,839 –> 00:24:10,939 drink this cup and to endure 639 00:24:10,939 –> 00:24:13,979 this baptism. that’s what it 640 00:24:13,979 –> 00:24:16,420 took to pay the ransom for you 641 00:24:16,420 –> 00:24:20,699 and for me and I want you to 642 00:24:20,699 –> 00:24:22,339 notice who benefits from this 643 00:24:22,540 –> 00:24:25,719 and this is the verse whose 644 00:24:25,719 –> 00:24:27,780 life will be changed by Jesus 645 00:24:27,780 –> 00:24:29,459 Christ laying down his life to 646 00:24:29,459 –> 00:24:30,500 pay the ransom who’s going to 647 00:24:30,500 –> 00:24:33,760 be set free. Who’s whose life 648 00:24:33,760 –> 00:24:34,959 is going to be changed? Now, 649 00:24:34,959 –> 00:24:36,739 there are two statements about 650 00:24:36,739 –> 00:24:37,760 the ransom in the New 651 00:24:37,760 –> 00:24:39,300 Testament that need to be put 652 00:24:39,300 –> 00:24:40,859 to side-by-side and I think 653 00:24:40,859 –> 00:24:42,199 you’ll see the significance of 654 00:24:42,199 –> 00:24:44,099 them straightaway. The first is 655 00:24:44,099 –> 00:24:45,400 here in Mark chapter ten and 656 00:24:45,400 –> 00:24:47,099 verse forty-five where Jesus 657 00:24:47,099 –> 00:24:49,939 says the son of man came to 658 00:24:49,939 –> 00:24:52,140 give his life as a ransom for 659 00:24:52,439 –> 00:24:55,319 many, for many. That’s Mark 660 00:24:55,319 –> 00:24:57,219 chapter ten and verse forty-five. 661 00:24:58,219 –> 00:25:00,619 In First Timothy chapter two and 662 00:25:00,619 –> 00:25:02,560 verse five and six. We read 663 00:25:02,880 –> 00:25:04,199 that there’s one mediator 664 00:25:04,199 –> 00:25:05,359 between God and man, that’s 665 00:25:05,359 –> 00:25:07,099 Jesus Christ. And he gave 666 00:25:07,099 –> 00:25:10,199 himself notice as a ransom for 667 00:25:10,660 –> 00:25:13,939 all. So, two statements in the 668 00:25:13,939 –> 00:25:15,260 Bible, very clear. You need to 669 00:25:15,260 –> 00:25:17,479 put them side-by-side. One says 670 00:25:17,479 –> 00:25:19,140 that Jesus gave His life as a 671 00:25:19,140 –> 00:25:21,339 ransom for many the other says 672 00:25:21,520 –> 00:25:23,479 Jesus gave His life as a ransom 673 00:25:23,479 –> 00:25:25,319 for all and both of these 674 00:25:25,319 –> 00:25:27,020 truths we desperately need to 675 00:25:27,020 –> 00:25:30,319 hold to. The Bible says that the 676 00:25:30,319 –> 00:25:31,819 death of Jesus was a ransom for 677 00:25:31,819 –> 00:25:33,660 many and that it was a ransom 678 00:25:33,660 –> 00:25:36,160 for all. When God says that it 679 00:25:36,160 –> 00:25:38,520 was a ransom for many, he is 680 00:25:38,520 –> 00:25:39,959 reminding us that some people 681 00:25:39,959 –> 00:25:42,260 will not be saved. Not everyone 682 00:25:42,260 –> 00:25:45,939 will be saved. And when he says 683 00:25:45,939 –> 00:25:48,199 that the ransom was for all, God 684 00:25:48,199 –> 00:25:50,280 is reminding us that all can be 685 00:25:50,280 –> 00:25:54,959 saved. So you can without any 686 00:25:54,959 –> 00:25:57,219 hesitation, look any person you 687 00:25:57,219 –> 00:25:59,180 meet this week in the eye and 688 00:25:59,180 –> 00:26:00,599 you can say to them, whatever 689 00:26:00,599 –> 00:26:01,900 they have done, however 690 00:26:01,900 –> 00:26:04,060 difficult their lives, believe 691 00:26:04,260 –> 00:26:07,439 in the Lord Jesus Christ and you 692 00:26:07,500 –> 00:26:11,760 will be saved. For all. You can 693 00:26:11,760 –> 00:26:14,939 say that to any person without 694 00:26:14,939 –> 00:26:19,560 hesitation. But remember that 695 00:26:19,619 –> 00:26:21,739 what you’re saying is believe in 696 00:26:21,739 –> 00:26:24,739 the Lord Jesus Christ and you 697 00:26:24,739 –> 00:26:28,079 will be saved. And you see 698 00:26:28,079 –> 00:26:29,260 that’s the urgency, isn’t it? Of 699 00:26:29,260 –> 00:26:33,119 sharing the Gospel. That, yes 700 00:26:33,119 –> 00:26:34,660 Christ has died but there is a 701 00:26:34,660 –> 00:26:37,140 step of faith, of believing in 702 00:26:37,140 –> 00:26:38,140 the Lord Jesus Christ, of 703 00:26:38,579 –> 00:26:40,140 embracing this Redeemer, of you 704 00:26:40,140 –> 00:26:41,920 trusting him and of following 705 00:26:41,920 –> 00:26:46,060 him that you need to make, if 706 00:26:46,060 –> 00:26:51,479 you’re going to saved. And many 707 00:26:51,479 –> 00:26:54,219 come to him in this way but not 708 00:26:54,219 –> 00:26:57,520 all. So the payment paid by the 709 00:26:57,520 –> 00:26:58,640 shed blood of Jesus is 710 00:26:58,640 –> 00:27:01,319 sufficent for all and saving 711 00:27:01,319 –> 00:27:04,920 for many and the many are those 712 00:27:04,920 –> 00:27:06,880 who come to him in repentance 713 00:27:06,880 –> 00:27:09,000 and in faith. Many have come 714 00:27:09,000 –> 00:27:10,719 and many will come. The 715 00:27:10,719 –> 00:27:12,079 question is, are you among the 716 00:27:12,079 –> 00:27:13,880 many? And if you’re not, why 717 00:27:13,880 –> 00:27:15,119 should you not come and be 718 00:27:15,160 –> 00:27:16,619 among the many today because 719 00:27:16,760 –> 00:27:18,719 his death is sufficient for all 720 00:27:18,880 –> 00:27:20,359 by his death. Think about 721 00:27:20,359 –> 00:27:22,520 this. Jesus Christ is bringing 722 00:27:22,699 –> 00:27:25,319 many sons and daughters into 723 00:27:25,319 –> 00:27:27,359 glory for all eternity. And why 724 00:27:27,359 –> 00:27:28,599 shouldn’t you be among them? 725 00:27:29,579 –> 00:27:30,979 Why wouldn’t you join us? Why 726 00:27:30,979 –> 00:27:32,640 wouldn’t you commit yourself to 727 00:27:32,640 –> 00:27:34,680 this? Jesus Christ. And trust 728 00:27:34,680 –> 00:27:36,219 him because he came into the 729 00:27:36,219 –> 00:27:38,319 world to pay a ransom that is 730 00:27:38,319 –> 00:27:42,199 sufficient for you. Why would 731 00:27:42,199 –> 00:27:43,479 you stay at a distance from him 732 00:27:43,479 –> 00:27:47,020 today? So we looked at the 733 00:27:47,020 –> 00:27:50,420 human condition. We looked at 734 00:27:50,420 –> 00:27:52,400 what Jesus Christ came to do 735 00:27:52,479 –> 00:27:56,439 about it. Let’s look lastly now 736 00:27:56,439 –> 00:27:58,540 at the change that Jesus Christ 737 00:27:58,560 –> 00:27:59,920 can bring in our lives today. 738 00:27:59,959 –> 00:28:03,239 This is wonderful. Let’s look 739 00:28:03,239 –> 00:28:05,280 at the whole verse 45 together 740 00:28:05,280 –> 00:28:07,760 for just a moment. Notice how 741 00:28:07,800 –> 00:28:13,439 where it begins. Even the son 742 00:28:13,439 –> 00:28:16,760 of man didn’t come to be served 743 00:28:16,880 –> 00:28:18,560 but to serve and to give his 744 00:28:18,560 –> 00:28:21,180 life as a ransom for many. 745 00:28:22,239 –> 00:28:24,239 Remember that Jesus is speaking 746 00:28:24,239 –> 00:28:25,920 to his disciples at a moment 747 00:28:25,920 –> 00:28:27,880 where they’ve really displayed 748 00:28:27,880 –> 00:28:30,439 how self-absorbed they are. 749 00:28:32,119 –> 00:28:34,920 And Jesus says to them verse 44 750 00:28:35,619 –> 00:28:36,880 Here’s what you need to grasp, 751 00:28:36,880 –> 00:28:38,979 whoever wants to be first must 752 00:28:38,979 –> 00:28:40,680 be the slave of all. 753 00:28:41,520 –> 00:28:43,640 And then he says, for even the 754 00:28:43,640 –> 00:28:46,520 son of man did not come to be 755 00:28:46,520 –> 00:28:48,079 served but to serve and to give 756 00:28:48,079 –> 00:28:51,000 his life as a ransom for many. 757 00:28:52,359 –> 00:28:54,319 So clearly there is a model 758 00:28:55,020 –> 00:28:57,439 that is a pattern that Jesus is 759 00:28:57,439 –> 00:29:03,319 setting out here. If serving and 760 00:29:03,359 –> 00:29:08,560 giving is the mission even of 761 00:29:08,560 –> 00:29:11,760 the Son of Man then how much 762 00:29:11,760 –> 00:29:13,199 more should it be the pattern of 763 00:29:13,199 –> 00:29:14,199 our lives. 764 00:29:15,579 –> 00:29:17,800 If even the Son of Man didn’t 765 00:29:17,800 –> 00:29:19,520 come in the world to be served 766 00:29:19,520 –> 00:29:21,500 but rather to serve why should 767 00:29:21,500 –> 00:29:22,439 we think that we would go 768 00:29:22,439 –> 00:29:23,880 through our lives looking to 769 00:29:23,880 –> 00:29:25,359 other people to be serving us 770 00:29:25,439 –> 00:29:26,839 all the time and doing things 771 00:29:26,839 –> 00:29:27,619 for us. 772 00:29:29,439 –> 00:29:31,359 What you may say you know that’s 773 00:29:31,359 –> 00:29:32,920 a long way from the reality of 774 00:29:32,920 –> 00:29:36,439 my life for our home or the 775 00:29:36,439 –> 00:29:38,020 world in which we live to be 776 00:29:38,020 –> 00:29:40,040 thinking that the pattern of 777 00:29:40,040 –> 00:29:41,619 life is really primarily about 778 00:29:41,719 –> 00:29:42,599 serving others. 779 00:29:43,959 –> 00:29:45,619 That’s why we need the spirit of 780 00:29:45,619 –> 00:29:46,939 Jesus in us. 781 00:29:48,699 –> 00:29:51,040 That’s why we need the servant 782 00:29:51,119 –> 00:29:52,880 spirit of the Redeemer. 783 00:29:54,479 –> 00:29:55,880 Jesus is saying Look I came into 784 00:29:55,880 –> 00:29:58,660 the world to storm your life to 785 00:29:58,680 –> 00:30:01,520 set you free to pay the ransom 786 00:30:01,520 –> 00:30:03,380 that actually would liberate you 787 00:30:03,400 –> 00:30:06,060 at the point where you are bound 788 00:30:07,640 –> 00:30:10,040 and salvation is receiving from 789 00:30:10,040 –> 00:30:12,119 Jesus Christ so that we may 790 00:30:12,119 –> 00:30:14,939 become increasingly like Jesus 791 00:30:14,939 –> 00:30:16,160 Christ. 792 00:30:18,099 –> 00:30:19,040 So does it work. 793 00:30:21,599 –> 00:30:25,280 Can this redeemer who paid the 794 00:30:25,280 –> 00:30:28,719 ransom really set you free from 795 00:30:28,719 –> 00:30:30,239 a life that is simply following 796 00:30:30,280 –> 00:30:31,660 your own thoughts and your own 797 00:30:31,660 –> 00:30:33,199 desires and your own cravings 798 00:30:33,520 –> 00:30:36,359 can he really change you at that 799 00:30:36,359 –> 00:30:39,319 level to make you someone who 800 00:30:39,319 –> 00:30:40,880 grows in love and becomes 801 00:30:40,880 –> 00:30:42,560 sensitive to other people. 802 00:30:42,699 –> 00:30:43,959 Could it change you at that 803 00:30:43,959 –> 00:30:44,479 level. 804 00:30:45,760 –> 00:30:47,280 Well you see if you believe the 805 00:30:47,280 –> 00:30:51,180 gospel if you trust Jesus Christ 806 00:30:51,180 –> 00:30:51,880 you get an answer to that 807 00:30:51,880 –> 00:30:55,640 question is yes so not a people 808 00:30:55,640 –> 00:30:57,339 who go through life and are in 809 00:30:57,339 –> 00:30:58,819 church and they they’ve signed 810 00:30:58,819 –> 00:31:00,000 off and they say oh yeah I 811 00:31:00,219 –> 00:31:01,680 believe the gospel but you don’t 812 00:31:01,680 –> 00:31:02,660 really believe the gospel 813 00:31:02,660 –> 00:31:03,719 because you don’t think that 814 00:31:03,719 –> 00:31:05,319 Jesus Christ can actually change 815 00:31:05,319 –> 00:31:08,099 you not at this level not at the 816 00:31:08,099 –> 00:31:11,459 level of making you a person who 817 00:31:11,459 –> 00:31:13,219 grows in what it means to love 818 00:31:14,119 –> 00:31:17,140 and to be sensitive and to 819 00:31:17,140 –> 00:31:18,719 change so you’d be a different 820 00:31:18,719 –> 00:31:19,939 kind of a husband a different 821 00:31:19,939 –> 00:31:21,359 kind of a way for different kind 822 00:31:21,359 –> 00:31:23,939 of a kid a different kind of an 823 00:31:23,939 –> 00:31:25,260 employer a different kind of a 824 00:31:25,260 –> 00:31:28,979 business person you see Jesus as 825 00:31:29,020 –> 00:31:30,319 precisely what I came in the 826 00:31:30,319 –> 00:31:33,739 world to do to save you from the 827 00:31:33,739 –> 00:31:35,079 kind of life where you’re simply 828 00:31:35,079 –> 00:31:36,160 going with your own thoughts 829 00:31:36,160 –> 00:31:37,920 your own desires your your own 830 00:31:37,920 –> 00:31:43,319 cravings and that’s it when you 831 00:31:43,319 –> 00:31:46,920 walk with the redeemer the 832 00:31:46,920 –> 00:31:49,099 servant spirit of Jesus will be 833 00:31:49,099 –> 00:31:51,520 reproduced in your life over 834 00:31:51,520 –> 00:31:55,400 time and you know wonderfully 835 00:31:55,400 –> 00:31:56,920 that is what happened to James 836 00:31:57,160 –> 00:32:00,579 John I mean we saw it from verse 837 00:32:00,579 –> 00:32:01,540 thirty five back at the 838 00:32:01,540 –> 00:32:04,939 beginning these young guys with 839 00:32:04,939 –> 00:32:09,540 the height of insensitivity no 840 00:32:09,540 –> 00:32:13,900 real ability to befriend Jesus 841 00:32:13,900 –> 00:32:18,660 even really at this point what 842 00:32:18,660 –> 00:32:21,760 happened to them do you know 843 00:32:21,760 –> 00:32:23,020 that James was the first 844 00:32:23,020 –> 00:32:24,819 apostle to lay down his life as 845 00:32:24,819 –> 00:32:26,660 a martyr the first apostle to do 846 00:32:26,660 –> 00:32:27,739 that you could read about it 847 00:32:27,739 –> 00:32:30,140 Harley gets a mention Acts 848 00:32:30,140 –> 00:32:31,459 chapter twelve in verse two it 849 00:32:31,459 –> 00:32:33,540 just says that Herod put James 850 00:32:33,540 –> 00:32:36,780 to death by the sword and so 851 00:32:36,780 –> 00:32:39,060 what an immense change in James 852 00:32:39,060 –> 00:32:40,619 who was so interested in 853 00:32:40,619 –> 00:32:43,780 himself that he got to the 854 00:32:43,780 –> 00:32:45,280 point where he laid down his 855 00:32:45,280 –> 00:32:50,099 life for Jesus Christ and John 856 00:32:50,099 –> 00:32:51,400 what about John what happened to 857 00:32:51,400 –> 00:32:53,579 him well John lived a very 858 00:32:53,579 –> 00:32:56,219 long life we know that he 859 00:32:56,219 –> 00:32:57,479 suffered a great deal he had a 860 00:32:57,479 –> 00:32:59,420 ministry among churches in Asia 861 00:33:01,020 –> 00:33:02,880 and he was imprisoned many of 862 00:33:02,880 –> 00:33:04,260 you know on the island of Pat 863 00:33:04,260 –> 00:33:05,699 Moss and he was used by the 864 00:33:05,699 –> 00:33:07,300 spirit of God to write the 865 00:33:07,300 –> 00:33:09,420 gospel of John three letters of 866 00:33:09,420 –> 00:33:11,400 John and the book of revelation 867 00:33:11,400 –> 00:33:14,359 five books in the New Testament 868 00:33:14,359 –> 00:33:15,900 and you know as the Spirit of 869 00:33:15,900 –> 00:33:16,859 God speaks through the 870 00:33:16,859 –> 00:33:18,939 personalities of the different 871 00:33:18,939 –> 00:33:20,819 Bible authors and Paul and John 872 00:33:20,819 –> 00:33:23,739 and Peter and so forth of all 873 00:33:23,819 –> 00:33:27,099 New Testament writers John 874 00:33:27,099 –> 00:33:28,540 speaks more about love than the 875 00:33:28,540 –> 00:33:31,680 others and does so with a 876 00:33:31,680 –> 00:33:35,140 greater depth and sensitivity 877 00:33:35,140 –> 00:33:36,420 than you will find anywhere else 878 00:33:36,420 –> 00:33:37,500 in the New Testament. 879 00:33:38,219 –> 00:33:39,439 You want to expand your own 880 00:33:39,459 –> 00:33:42,900 heart read John, let me just 881 00:33:42,900 –> 00:33:44,839 read you a couple of verses and 882 00:33:44,979 –> 00:33:46,939 try to get into your mind the 883 00:33:46,939 –> 00:33:49,280 contrast between this self 884 00:33:49,280 –> 00:33:52,300 absorbed youngster and now this 885 00:33:52,339 –> 00:33:54,500 older man who under the 886 00:33:54,500 –> 00:33:55,819 inspiration of the Holy Spirit 887 00:33:55,819 –> 00:33:56,479 can write like this. 888 00:33:58,060 –> 00:33:59,380 One John chapter three. 889 00:34:00,219 –> 00:34:01,739 This is how we know what love 890 00:34:01,739 –> 00:34:02,099 is. 891 00:34:03,699 –> 00:34:05,739 Jesus Christ laid down his life 892 00:34:05,739 –> 00:34:09,060 for us and we ought to lay down 893 00:34:09,060 –> 00:34:10,780 our lives for our brothers. 894 00:34:12,300 –> 00:34:15,239 If anyone has money and sees 895 00:34:15,260 –> 00:34:16,899 his brother in need but has no 896 00:34:16,899 –> 00:34:18,000 pity on him. 897 00:34:18,739 –> 00:34:20,120 How can the love of God be in 898 00:34:20,120 –> 00:34:20,419 him. 899 00:34:20,780 –> 00:34:22,439 Dear children let us not love 900 00:34:22,459 –> 00:34:24,020 with words or tongue. 901 00:34:24,300 –> 00:34:25,939 But with actions. 902 00:34:27,459 –> 00:34:28,300 And with truth. 903 00:34:30,100 –> 00:34:31,639 It’s really the same guy. 904 00:34:32,500 –> 00:34:34,159 Who was so insensitive to 905 00:34:34,159 –> 00:34:34,860 Jesus. 906 00:34:36,479 –> 00:34:38,280 See this is the work of the 907 00:34:38,280 –> 00:34:40,419 Spirit that comes in the life 908 00:34:40,419 –> 00:34:42,100 of a person who walks with 909 00:34:42,100 –> 00:34:44,219 Jesus Christ over time. 910 00:34:45,459 –> 00:34:47,139 John became a different person. 911 00:34:48,120 –> 00:34:50,260 His whole heart his capacity to 912 00:34:50,260 –> 00:34:53,899 love his sensitivity his death. 913 00:34:55,080 –> 00:34:55,939 Grew. 914 00:34:57,000 –> 00:34:58,340 Through the years. 915 00:34:58,959 –> 00:35:00,600 Walking with Jesus. 916 00:35:01,699 –> 00:35:04,580 And if Christ the Redeemer can 917 00:35:04,580 –> 00:35:06,979 do that for John Christ the 918 00:35:06,979 –> 00:35:08,760 Redeemer can do that for you. 919 00:35:10,459 –> 00:35:12,159 And think of the difference 920 00:35:12,179 –> 00:35:14,340 that would make to a marriage. 921 00:35:14,500 –> 00:35:18,300 Think of the difference that 922 00:35:18,300 –> 00:35:20,219 would make to his family. 923 00:35:21,600 –> 00:35:23,800 For you to grow in that kind of 924 00:35:24,080 –> 00:35:27,620 depth of love and sensitivity 925 00:35:27,620 –> 00:35:29,860 and of seeing that life is not 926 00:35:29,860 –> 00:35:31,020 about you being served but 927 00:35:31,020 –> 00:35:32,719 learning to serve and to give 928 00:35:32,719 –> 00:35:34,899 and ministry to others. 929 00:35:34,919 –> 00:35:36,260 Think of that would transform 930 00:35:36,260 –> 00:35:38,620 the church think of how many 931 00:35:38,620 –> 00:35:39,979 people would be reached if 932 00:35:40,280 –> 00:35:43,560 Christians were remolded by 933 00:35:43,560 –> 00:35:45,459 this spirit in significant 934 00:35:45,459 –> 00:35:47,020 degree over time. 935 00:35:48,479 –> 00:35:50,120 See, salvation is about you 936 00:35:50,120 –> 00:35:52,879 receiving from Christ in order 937 00:35:52,879 –> 00:35:54,500 that you become increasingly 938 00:35:55,000 –> 00:35:57,540 like Christ. 939 00:35:58,800 –> 00:35:59,979 There’s a beautiful thing. 940 00:36:03,620 –> 00:36:08,820 Whoever wants to be first must 941 00:36:09,020 –> 00:36:13,679 be the servant of all for even 942 00:36:15,399 –> 00:36:17,139 the son of man did not come to 943 00:36:17,139 –> 00:36:22,000 be served but to serve and to 944 00:36:22,000 –> 00:36:27,620 give his life as a ransom for 945 00:36:27,620 –> 00:36:28,419 many. 946 00:36:29,780 –> 00:36:31,340 Let’s pray together, shall we? 947 00:36:32,919 –> 00:36:34,939 Sovereign redeemer storm my 948 00:36:35,199 –> 00:36:35,699 life. 949 00:36:37,899 –> 00:36:39,780 The all the strongholds of 950 00:36:39,780 –> 00:36:41,040 self-interest. 951 00:36:42,560 –> 00:36:44,719 With all the power of my own 952 00:36:44,959 –> 00:36:46,379 thoughts and desires and 953 00:36:46,379 –> 00:36:47,159 cravings. 954 00:36:49,419 –> 00:36:51,300 By your spirit as I walk with 955 00:36:51,300 –> 00:36:52,120 you over time. 956 00:36:54,979 –> 00:36:56,500 Make me like Jesus. 957 00:37:00,780 –> 00:37:02,260 Father I pray that some 958 00:37:02,820 –> 00:37:04,879 folks here this morning 959 00:37:04,919 –> 00:37:06,639 may have the light of hope 960 00:37:06,679 –> 00:37:08,199 open up in their minds and 961 00:37:08,199 –> 00:37:09,179 hearts right now. 962 00:37:11,100 –> 00:37:13,399 That they will see through 963 00:37:13,399 –> 00:37:14,419 the gospel. 964 00:37:15,139 –> 00:37:16,879 The wonderful possibility of 965 00:37:16,939 –> 00:37:19,479 change for those who 966 00:37:19,479 –> 00:37:20,879 believe in the Lord Jesus 967 00:37:20,879 –> 00:37:22,360 Christ and walk with him and 968 00:37:22,360 –> 00:37:23,040 trust in. 969 00:37:24,419 –> 00:37:26,060 Cast ourselves upon you. 970 00:37:28,080 –> 00:37:29,080 The word advance your 971 00:37:29,080 –> 00:37:30,820 redeeming work in our hearts. 972 00:37:32,580 –> 00:37:33,699 For your own glory and for 973 00:37:33,699 –> 00:37:34,300 your own honor. 974 00:37:36,340 –> 00:37:38,439 Through Jesus Christ our 975 00:37:38,439 –> 00:37:40,320 Lord and God’s people said.