100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:01,320We are going to talk about Papa200:00:01,320 –> 00:00:06,340As Jesus Christ looks into your heart.300:00:06,600 –> 00:00:08,420What does he find today?400:00:09,500 –> 00:00:14,520Does he find in your heart as you have come here adoration,500:00:15,120 –> 00:00:15,900worship,600:00:16,459 –> 00:00:23,440thanksgiving and praise or would he find in your heart a long list of complaints700:00:23,440 –> 00:00:28,360and challenges and struggles in relation to his authority?800:00:28,680 –> 00:00:32,040Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick.900:00:32,040 –> 00:00:33,540I’m glad you could be with us today.1000:00:33,540 –> 00:00:38,419Colin, we’re continuing the series, the Gospel According to Jesus, in Mark,1100:00:38,419 –> 00:00:39,759Chapter 11 and 12,1200:00:39,759 –> 00:00:45,459and we find Jesus at the temple and he’s not welcomed there but confronted with questions.1300:00:45,700 –> 00:00:50,240Yeah, it is extraordinary, that the Son of God comes to God’s temple.1400:00:50,279 –> 00:00:54,720You would think he would be welcomed, but he gets all this hostile questioning1500:00:54,720 –> 00:01:01,259and masterfully, our Saviour responds to some pretty tough questioning.1600:01:01,259 –> 00:01:09,839I think, Steve, this is a marvelous place for us to learn about how to be winsome witnesses to Jesus Christ.1700:01:09,839 –> 00:01:14,940Just looking at how the Master handles questions, how He’s not intimidated,1800:01:14,940 –> 00:01:22,820how He manages to move from a question to what really advances the cause of the Gospel.1900:01:22,839 –> 00:01:25,519It’s just marvelous to look at it and to say,2000:01:25,519 –> 00:01:28,980now I want to learn to do that and to be a more useful witness.2100:01:28,980 –> 00:01:35,040We’re going to get some real insights into how to be a winsome witness for Jesus Christ,2200:01:35,040 –> 00:01:38,919out of the example of Jesus, facing some pretty tough questions today.2300:01:38,919 –> 00:01:42,599So, let’s dive right in to Mark chapter 11 and 12.2400:01:42,599 –> 00:01:47,519As we begin the message, Jesus has the answer to all his people’s questions.2500:01:47,519 –> 00:01:48,959Here’s Colin.2600:01:49,000 –> 00:01:52,680We’ve come to the Tuesday of what we call Holy Week.2700:01:52,680 –> 00:01:59,639And, again, our Lord Jesus Christ, chapter 11 and verse 27, comes to the temple.2800:01:59,639 –> 00:02:06,440And what follows from chapter 11, verse 27, through to the end of chapter 12 in Mark’s Gospel,2900:02:06,440 –> 00:02:12,759it’s a series of questions, challenges, that were brought to our Lord Jesus Christ.3000:02:12,759 –> 00:02:16,919And Mark records the answers that our Lord gave.3100:02:17,360 –> 00:02:23,059Now, we’re going to see four questions that were asked of Jesus.3200:02:23,059 –> 00:02:24,979We’re going to try and learn from the questions,3300:02:24,979 –> 00:02:29,800and then we’ll come back and seek to learn from Jesus’ answers.3400:02:29,800 –> 00:02:34,580Now the first question, and it’s recorded from Mark, chapter 11, verse 27,3500:02:34,580 –> 00:02:37,979right through to chapter 12 and verse 12.3600:02:37,979 –> 00:02:41,419You’ll find that Mark 11, 27, they ask Jesus,3700:02:41,419 –> 00:02:44,940by what authority are you doing these things,3800:02:44,940 –> 00:02:49,679and who gave you authority to do this?3900:02:49,679 –> 00:02:52,520Now, this question was asked by the chief priests,4000:02:52,520 –> 00:02:55,839the teachers of the law, and the elders, verse 27.4100:02:55,839 –> 00:02:58,419This was an official delegation.4200:02:58,419 –> 00:03:03,279Remember that on the previous day, Jesus had cleared the money changers4300:03:03,279 –> 00:03:05,699and those who were selling doves out of the temple.4400:03:05,699 –> 00:03:09,320He’d overturned their tables, and he had driven them out,4500:03:09,320 –> 00:03:11,580and this is the breach of the peace.4600:03:11,580 –> 00:03:13,460We bring in the lawyers, you see?4700:03:13,460 –> 00:03:15,339That’s what happens.4800:03:15,339 –> 00:03:18,860The teachers of the law come—the scribes were the legal experts.4900:03:18,860 –> 00:03:22,699So the legal crowd come, and the lawyers show up along with the chief priests5000:03:22,699 –> 00:03:28,199and the elders, and they’re having what really is an official deposition,5100:03:28,199 –> 00:03:28,860I suppose.5200:03:28,860 –> 00:03:30,460They’re saying to the Lord Jesus,5300:03:30,460 –> 00:03:31,539Now, we’ve got some questions.5400:03:31,539 –> 00:03:35,160We need to know by what right did you do this and who gave you authority5500:03:35,160 –> 00:03:38,860to do what you did right here yesterday?5600:03:38,880 –> 00:03:41,880And the answer, of course, is that Jesus cleared the temple5700:03:41,880 –> 00:03:45,899on the basis of His own divine authority as the Son of God.5800:03:45,899 –> 00:03:52,479God’s Son has supreme authority over God’s house as He does over all of God’s world.5900:03:52,479 –> 00:03:56,199But clearly, these men do not recognize that, nor do they accept it,6000:03:56,199 –> 00:04:01,979as indeed millions do not recognize the authority of Jesus or accept it today.6100:04:01,979 –> 00:04:05,639It is extraordinary, isn’t it, in the story of the gospel.6200:04:05,679 –> 00:04:10,580We have seen the authority of Jesus over nature, the stilling of the storm,6300:04:10,580 –> 00:04:17,399over demons delivering fraud and demented people, over sickness and over death.6400:04:17,399 –> 00:04:21,579We’ve seen the authority of Jesus demonstrated, but when he comes to the temple,6500:04:21,579 –> 00:04:25,500it’s, hey, not in my house, not in our house.6600:04:25,500 –> 00:04:27,239We’re in charge here.6700:04:27,239 –> 00:04:30,559You don’t tell us what to do.6800:04:30,559 –> 00:04:34,600And so the first thing that we learn about ourselves here is that,6900:04:34,600 –> 00:04:39,600by nature, we are rebels against God’s authority.7000:04:40,600 –> 00:04:42,160Human nature has never changed.7100:04:42,160 –> 00:04:47,100It is our nature to resist God’s truth, and to reject God’s sun.7200:04:47,100 –> 00:04:51,000Our natural choice left to ourselves would always be to be our own god,7300:04:51,000 –> 00:04:53,720to choose our own religion, to run our own lives,7400:04:53,720 –> 00:04:55,940and to be in charge of our own house.7500:04:55,940 –> 00:05:00,200We are rebels by nature.7600:05:00,260 –> 00:05:02,000Now, as we go through these questions,7700:05:02,000 –> 00:05:05,640I want us to pick up some insights from the way7800:05:05,640 –> 00:05:09,799that Jesus handles questions and answers.7900:05:09,799 –> 00:05:13,359Now, as we think about being more proactive in sharing the gospel8000:05:13,359 –> 00:05:15,119with unbelievers,8100:05:15,119 –> 00:05:18,339it’s good for us to learn from the example of Jesus8200:05:18,339 –> 00:05:22,119as to how he handled some of these difficult conversations,8300:05:22,119 –> 00:05:24,880especially when people were antagonistic.8400:05:24,880 –> 00:05:27,119And so we’re going to pick up an evangelistic insight8500:05:27,119 –> 00:05:29,179from each of these interactions.8600:05:29,260 –> 00:05:33,059And the first one from this discussion is simply this.8700:05:33,059 –> 00:05:37,140Don’t be intimidated when you’re sharing the gospel.8800:05:37,140 –> 00:05:40,040Rather, take the initiative.8900:05:40,040 –> 00:05:42,320I want you to notice that Jesus does not answer9000:05:42,320 –> 00:05:45,380the hostile question directly.9100:05:45,380 –> 00:05:48,000So you don’t need to answer every question9200:05:48,000 –> 00:05:48,839that’s ever asked of you9300:05:48,839 –> 00:05:51,799especially if it comes in a hostile kind of way.9400:05:51,799 –> 00:05:54,260Jesus pattern was that he spoke openly9500:05:54,260 –> 00:05:56,380to those whose hearts were open9600:05:56,399 –> 00:06:01,399and he spoke indirectly to those whose hearts were closed.9700:06:01,640 –> 00:06:04,059And to these hostile men,9800:06:04,059 –> 00:06:06,660Jesus answers with a parable9900:06:06,660 –> 00:06:09,160that comes at the beginning of chapter 12.10000:06:09,160 –> 00:06:11,739It’s a story about a man who owned his vineyard.10100:06:11,739 –> 00:06:13,500He rented it to tenants,10200:06:13,500 –> 00:06:16,299he sent servants to the tenants10300:06:16,299 –> 00:06:18,440and they killed the servants.10400:06:18,440 –> 00:06:20,320He sent his son to the tenants10500:06:20,320 –> 00:06:22,700and they killed the son.10600:06:22,700 –> 00:06:25,339And then Jesus says at the conclusion of his story10700:06:25,399 –> 00:06:27,019which is all in answer to their question10800:06:27,019 –> 00:06:28,779verse 9 of chapter 12,10900:06:28,779 –> 00:06:31,940what will the owner of the vineyard do?11000:06:31,940 –> 00:06:33,739He will come and kill those tenants11100:06:33,739 –> 00:06:36,140and give the vineyard to others.11200:06:36,140 –> 00:06:37,540You see what Jesus is doing?11300:06:38,500 –> 00:06:42,859He moves the discussion from a theoretical question11400:06:42,859 –> 00:06:47,260about his authority to a personal question11500:06:47,260 –> 00:06:49,339about the response that these men11600:06:49,339 –> 00:06:52,619are making to him as God’s son.11700:06:52,700 –> 00:06:55,500He takes the initiative to move it away11800:06:55,500 –> 00:07:00,359from a theoretical discussion to a personal discussion11900:07:00,359 –> 00:07:03,380about the response of these individual men12000:07:03,380 –> 00:07:05,859and their responsibility towards God12100:07:05,859 –> 00:07:08,500and he lays out quite clearly the consequences12200:07:08,500 –> 00:07:11,239of rejecting the son God has sent into the world12300:07:11,239 –> 00:07:12,359and it must have got through12400:07:12,359 –> 00:07:14,739because chapter 12 and verse 12,12500:07:14,739 –> 00:07:17,500it says that they looked for a way to arrest Jesus12600:07:17,500 –> 00:07:21,640because they knew that he had spoken this parable12700:07:21,660 –> 00:07:23,940against them.12800:07:25,299 –> 00:07:26,980So here’s the first question,12900:07:26,980 –> 00:07:30,260it’s an official question about the issue of authority.13000:07:30,260 –> 00:07:32,500From it we learned something about ourselves13100:07:32,500 –> 00:07:34,299and our world, that by nature,13200:07:34,299 –> 00:07:37,820we are rebels against God, we resist his authority13300:07:37,820 –> 00:07:41,059and this insight from the way Jesus handles the discussion,13400:07:41,059 –> 00:07:43,760don’t be intimidated, rather take the initiative.13500:07:45,019 –> 00:07:47,500Let’s move on to the second question13600:07:47,500 –> 00:07:50,940which is a political question about money.13700:07:50,959 –> 00:07:53,399This runs from chapter 12, verse 13,13800:07:53,399 –> 00:07:56,739through 17, paying taxes to Caesar.13900:07:56,739 –> 00:08:00,880Verse 15, is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?14000:08:00,880 –> 00:08:03,779Should we pay or shouldn’t we?14100:08:05,079 –> 00:08:08,299Now again, Mark tells us that this question14200:08:08,299 –> 00:08:12,779was asked by the Pharisees and by the Herodians.14300:08:12,779 –> 00:08:16,239We know that these two groups had already rejected Jesus,14400:08:16,239 –> 00:08:18,079but they tried to flatter him14500:08:18,079 –> 00:08:21,579as they tried to catch him in his words, verse 13,14600:08:21,579 –> 00:08:24,880and they come up with this very smooth talk.14700:08:24,880 –> 00:08:26,119Verse 14, teacher,14800:08:26,119 –> 00:08:28,480we know that you are a man of integrity.14900:08:28,480 –> 00:08:29,839You aren’t swayed by men15000:08:29,839 –> 00:08:32,000because you pay no attention to who they are,15100:08:32,000 –> 00:08:34,520but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.15200:08:34,520 –> 00:08:36,760You know, they’re trying to present themselves15300:08:36,760 –> 00:08:39,679as a genuine seekers after truth,15400:08:39,679 –> 00:08:41,080as some people will do.15500:08:42,359 –> 00:08:44,059But Jesus sees right through them.15600:08:44,059 –> 00:08:47,479In verse 15, Jesus knew their hypocrisy.15700:08:47,479 –> 00:08:49,520Strong word that Jesus uses.15800:08:50,559 –> 00:08:52,239He knew their hypocrisy.15900:08:53,359 –> 00:08:56,299They talk as if they are real followers of Jesus,16000:08:56,299 –> 00:08:58,380genuine seekers after truth,16100:08:58,380 –> 00:09:01,320but Jesus knew that the reality of their hearts16200:09:01,320 –> 00:09:03,539was that they did not do what they said.16300:09:03,539 –> 00:09:04,700That’s hypocrisy.16400:09:05,900 –> 00:09:07,780So I think the second thing that we learn16500:09:07,780 –> 00:09:09,859about our own human nature16600:09:10,619 –> 00:09:15,179is that we are not only rebels who resist God’s authority16700:09:15,179 –> 00:09:17,780but we are by nature hypocrites16800:09:17,780 –> 00:09:20,059who avoid God’s command.16900:09:20,059 –> 00:09:22,580It is in our fallen human nature17000:09:22,580 –> 00:09:25,700to talk better than we act.17100:09:25,700 –> 00:09:28,700To present ourselves as being more spiritual17200:09:28,700 –> 00:09:30,780than we really are17300:09:30,780 –> 00:09:34,179to kind of hide behind a presentation of self17400:09:34,179 –> 00:09:36,820as being supportive of good17500:09:36,820 –> 00:09:38,940and religious and spiritual things17600:09:38,940 –> 00:09:41,059while actually we hold ourselves back17700:09:41,059 –> 00:09:43,179from full devotion to Jesus Christ.17800:09:43,179 –> 00:09:44,299That’s our nature.17900:09:46,559 –> 00:09:48,340Now again, an insight from the way18000:09:48,340 –> 00:09:50,460Jesus handles this discussion,18100:09:52,020 –> 00:09:54,340when you’re sharing the gospel18200:09:54,340 –> 00:09:56,539don’t be distracted18300:09:57,440 –> 00:10:00,099but stay focused.18400:10:00,099 –> 00:10:03,359I say that because what’s going on in the second question18500:10:03,359 –> 00:10:06,219and it’s very significant for us18600:10:06,260 –> 00:10:09,940is that the Pharisees and the Herodians18700:10:09,940 –> 00:10:12,340are trying to get Jesus involved18800:10:12,340 –> 00:10:17,020in the great political issue of their day18900:10:17,020 –> 00:10:18,719which was of course19000:10:18,719 –> 00:10:22,820how should we respond to the Roman occupation.19100:10:22,820 –> 00:10:26,299That was the great political hot potato19200:10:26,299 –> 00:10:27,619of the time of Jesus19300:10:27,619 –> 00:10:31,859and people were divided as to how the Jews should respond.19400:10:32,780 –> 00:10:36,419Now if Jesus had taken a position on this issue19500:10:36,419 –> 00:10:38,760as clearly they were asking him to do here19600:10:39,659 –> 00:10:42,299it could only have compromised his mission19700:10:43,599 –> 00:10:48,500because if he had aligned himself with people on one side19800:10:48,500 –> 00:10:52,260he would have alienated the people on the other side19900:10:52,260 –> 00:10:54,919from the message of the gospel.20000:10:54,919 –> 00:10:59,159And what we find here, it’s a very important example for us20100:10:59,159 –> 00:11:03,200is that Jesus refuses to be distracted20200:11:03,200 –> 00:11:07,119from the work of the gospel by a political agenda.20300:11:07,119 –> 00:11:12,119He is resolute in being focused on his own mission.20400:11:12,919 –> 00:11:15,859Now I see that that is an important model20500:11:15,859 –> 00:11:20,000and example for us as a church.20600:11:20,000 –> 00:11:21,119Let me be clear.20700:11:22,400 –> 00:11:26,400It is a good thing for Christians20800:11:26,400 –> 00:11:31,400to be involved in political life as Christian citizens.20900:11:32,599 –> 00:11:35,780Many members of our congregation21000:11:35,780 –> 00:11:38,820are actively involved politically,21100:11:38,820 –> 00:11:41,599engaged in political parties,21200:11:41,599 –> 00:11:44,419serving on governing committees,21300:11:44,419 –> 00:11:47,760active in particular campaigns.21400:11:47,760 –> 00:11:51,679And I thank God for that.21500:11:51,679 –> 00:11:55,719It is a good thing, a right thing for us21600:11:55,760 –> 00:11:58,239to do as Christian citizens,21700:11:58,239 –> 00:12:03,239but it is not the business of the Church.21800:12:05,179 –> 00:12:07,000And Jesus makes this very clear21900:12:07,000 –> 00:12:09,619in his own focus on mission here,22000:12:09,619 –> 00:12:11,799that the mission of Jesus22100:12:11,799 –> 00:12:14,859was not to reform an old community,22200:12:14,859 –> 00:12:17,719but rather to build a new community.22300:12:17,719 –> 00:12:22,719The strategy of Jesus was not to change the law of the land,22400:12:22,919 –> 00:12:25,900but to change the hearts of the people.22500:12:25,900 –> 00:12:28,159And so when these Pharisees and Herodians22600:12:28,159 –> 00:12:31,219try to suck him into the current political debate,22700:12:31,219 –> 00:12:32,659that’s what they’re doing here.22800:12:32,659 –> 00:12:33,960They sort of throw him22900:12:33,960 –> 00:12:36,719the political hot potato of the day,23000:12:36,719 –> 00:12:38,599how do we respond to the Roman occupation?23100:12:38,599 –> 00:12:41,219What’s your position on paying taxes to Caesar?23200:12:41,219 –> 00:12:43,840Jesus simply refuses to go there,23300:12:44,940 –> 00:12:45,780and what does he do?23400:12:45,780 –> 00:12:48,119He brings the conversation right back23500:12:48,280 –> 00:12:52,440into the issue of how we must respond to God.23600:12:54,039 –> 00:12:58,080For this reason, he came into the world.23700:12:58,080 –> 00:13:00,479So there’s some very important things for us here,23800:13:00,479 –> 00:13:02,359especially at this time.23900:13:02,359 –> 00:13:04,239The political question is raised24000:13:04,239 –> 00:13:05,739with our Lord Jesus Christ.24100:13:05,739 –> 00:13:07,760It’s primarily focused on money.24200:13:07,760 –> 00:13:11,239Jesus draws out this fundamental human problem24300:13:11,239 –> 00:13:14,280that we are, by nature, hypocritical,24400:13:14,280 –> 00:13:16,200we talk better than we are,24500:13:16,280 –> 00:13:20,919and we sound more spiritual than we actually act.24600:13:20,919 –> 00:13:22,340And we gain this great insight24700:13:22,340 –> 00:13:25,260that in the cut-and-thrust of debates,24800:13:25,260 –> 00:13:28,719where people will try to move the agenda of the church24900:13:28,719 –> 00:13:32,739and move the agenda that you have in sharing the gospel,25000:13:33,919 –> 00:13:35,679don’t be distracted.25100:13:35,679 –> 00:13:36,859Don’t be distracted.25200:13:36,859 –> 00:13:38,159Let us not be distracted.25300:13:39,119 –> 00:13:41,320Rather, stay focused.25400:13:43,000 –> 00:13:44,320You’re listening to Open the Bible25500:13:44,320 –> 00:13:47,140with Pastor Colin Smith and A Message Called.25600:13:47,140 –> 00:13:50,719Jesus has the answer to all his people’s questions.25700:13:50,719 –> 00:13:53,500Part of our series, The Gospel According to Jesus,25800:13:53,500 –> 00:13:55,440and if you’ve missed any of the series to date25900:13:55,440 –> 00:13:57,460or if you want to get back and listen again,26000:13:57,460 –> 00:14:00,179you can do that by coming online to our website,26100:14:00,179 –> 00:14:03,320openthebible.org.uk, and there you’ll find26200:14:03,320 –> 00:14:06,400all the messages that have already gone out on air.26300:14:06,400 –> 00:14:08,400They’re also available as a podcast,26400:14:08,400 –> 00:14:09,979if that’s a better way for you to keep up26500:14:09,979 –> 00:14:11,539with Pastor Colin’s teaching,26600:14:11,679 –> 00:14:14,419and you can find those on all the regular podcast sites.26700:14:14,419 –> 00:14:16,380Search for Open the Bible UK26800:14:16,380 –> 00:14:19,659and subscribe to receive regular updates.26900:14:19,659 –> 00:14:22,020Open the Bible is supported by our listeners.27000:14:22,020 –> 00:14:23,559And it’s people like you who keep27100:14:23,559 –> 00:14:27,099Pastor Colin’s teaching on the air and on the Internet,27200:14:27,099 –> 00:14:29,219and we want to thank you for doing that.27300:14:29,219 –> 00:14:31,000If you’ve been thinking about supporting27400:14:31,000 –> 00:14:32,599Open the Bible financially,27500:14:32,599 –> 00:14:35,059we have a great offer for you this month.27600:14:35,059 –> 00:14:37,200If you’re able to begin a new monthly27700:14:37,200 –> 00:14:40,559direct debit of five pounds per month or more,27800:14:40,580 –> 00:14:42,880or a one-off gift of 50 pounds,27900:14:42,880 –> 00:14:45,020we’d love to say thank you by sending you28000:14:45,020 –> 00:14:47,200a copy of R.C. Sproul’s book,28100:14:47,200 –> 00:14:51,200”The Advent of Glory, 24 Devotions for Christmas.’28200:14:51,200 –> 00:14:52,979I’ll be talking to Colin about this book,28300:14:52,979 –> 00:14:55,239which he recommends, later in the programme,28400:14:55,239 –> 00:14:56,659so I hope you’ll stay with us.28500:14:56,659 –> 00:14:58,799Back to the message now, here’s Colin.28600:14:58,799 –> 00:15:00,380Now a third question.28700:15:00,380 –> 00:15:02,739The third question is theological,28800:15:02,739 –> 00:15:05,919and it relates to the issue of the resurrection.28900:15:05,919 –> 00:15:09,880This comes in Mark chapter 12, verses 18-27.29000:15:09,900 –> 00:15:13,900The Saducees who say that there is no resurrection.29100:15:13,900 –> 00:15:14,880I was told, when I was a kid,29200:15:14,880 –> 00:15:17,799this is how you remember the Saducees.29300:15:17,799 –> 00:15:19,400They didn’t believe in the resurrection,29400:15:19,400 –> 00:15:21,979and that was how they were Sad-you-see,29500:15:21,979 –> 00:15:23,900because you will be sad if you don’t believe29600:15:23,900 –> 00:15:27,299in the resurrection, absolutely miserable position to take.29700:15:27,299 –> 00:15:29,119But they didn’t believe in the resurrection.29800:15:29,119 –> 00:15:31,380They thought that the idea of resurrected bodies29900:15:31,380 –> 00:15:35,179beyond this life was laughable and ridiculous.30000:15:35,179 –> 00:15:36,960And so being good comedians,30100:15:36,960 –> 00:15:39,460they developed this story about a woman,30200:15:39,539 –> 00:15:41,320where they said, survey that a woman marries30300:15:41,320 –> 00:15:43,820seven different men and then they’re all resurrected.30400:15:43,820 –> 00:15:47,159Now Jesus, can you tell us, in the resurrection,30500:15:47,159 –> 00:15:49,520who’s, and to whom will she belong?30600:15:49,520 –> 00:15:53,099Which one will be her husband in the resurrection?30700:15:53,099 –> 00:15:54,940Now to their minds, you see this story30800:15:54,940 –> 00:15:58,760that they’d concocted showed that the whole idea30900:15:58,760 –> 00:16:03,440of the resurrection was absurd and laughable and ridiculous.31000:16:03,440 –> 00:16:06,340And so there is a great deal of cynicism quite clearly31100:16:06,340 –> 00:16:07,599in this question.31200:16:08,479 –> 00:16:09,960Now I want you to notice how Jesus31300:16:09,960 –> 00:16:13,080traces cynicism to its root.31400:16:13,080 –> 00:16:15,159He says here’s your problem, verse 24.31500:16:16,080 –> 00:16:19,880You don’t know the Bible, you don’t know the scriptures,31600:16:19,880 –> 00:16:22,299and you do not know that power of God.31700:16:24,140 –> 00:16:28,299So here’s a third dimension of our fallen condition.31800:16:28,299 –> 00:16:31,280Not only are we rebels who resist God’s authority,31900:16:31,280 –> 00:16:35,039not only are we hypocrites who avoid God’s command,32000:16:35,039 –> 00:16:39,960but by nature we are cynics who disregard God’s power.32100:16:42,479 –> 00:16:46,119So here’s another little insight that might just help us32200:16:46,119 –> 00:16:48,500and encourage us as we share the gospel.32300:16:48,500 –> 00:16:51,760Number three, don’t be ashamed but be confident.32400:16:51,760 –> 00:16:53,440Some people are very cynical32500:16:53,440 –> 00:16:55,039and they will try and embarrass you32600:16:55,039 –> 00:16:56,359and they will look down their noses32700:16:56,359 –> 00:16:59,559as if you must be intellectually very lightweight32800:16:59,559 –> 00:17:02,219to believe the Bible at all.32900:17:02,219 –> 00:17:04,000You know, how can you seriously believe33000:17:04,000 –> 00:17:08,619in a man born with no father and going up into the sky.33100:17:08,619 –> 00:17:09,680This is incredible.33200:17:09,680 –> 00:17:11,560And don’t be ashamed.33300:17:12,699 –> 00:17:14,140You be confident.33400:17:15,099 –> 00:17:17,160Remember that cynicism grows33500:17:17,160 –> 00:17:19,420when a person does not know the power of God33600:17:19,420 –> 00:17:24,119and therefore is not even able to grasp the Scriptures.33700:17:24,119 –> 00:17:26,280And you see once you know the power of God33800:17:26,280 –> 00:17:27,420that changes everything.33900:17:27,420 –> 00:17:30,420Once you come to know the power of God,34000:17:31,079 –> 00:17:34,380then what seemed perhaps in your previous worldview34100:17:34,380 –> 00:17:36,400fantastic and impossible34200:17:37,619 –> 00:17:41,660suddenly doesn’t seem so strange after all.34300:17:43,099 –> 00:17:45,979So an official question about authority,34400:17:45,979 –> 00:17:48,079a political question about money,34500:17:48,079 –> 00:17:52,699a theological question about the resurrection.34600:17:52,699 –> 00:17:57,579Fourthly, a genuine question about love.34700:17:57,640 –> 00:18:01,099Mark 12, verses 28 to 34,34800:18:01,099 –> 00:18:02,680a man comes to Jesus and says,34900:18:02,680 –> 00:18:05,579Lord of all the commandments,35000:18:05,579 –> 00:18:07,079which is the most important?35100:18:07,079 –> 00:18:09,979And Jesus points him to the answer35200:18:09,979 –> 00:18:12,020that it is the commandment to love.35300:18:13,339 –> 00:18:15,420Now this question came from a teacher of the law,35400:18:15,420 –> 00:18:17,780verse 28, who evidently was impressed35500:18:17,780 –> 00:18:19,459with the teaching of Jesus35600:18:19,459 –> 00:18:22,199and seemed to be genuinely supportive35700:18:22,199 –> 00:18:24,099of what Jesus was saying.35800:18:24,099 –> 00:18:27,020There’s quite a different tone from this man.35900:18:27,079 –> 00:18:30,939There’s nothing of the cynicism or the antagonism36000:18:30,939 –> 00:18:35,420or the hypocrisy that we’ve seen in the earlier questions.36100:18:35,420 –> 00:18:38,780This is a man who sincerely wants to live a life36200:18:38,780 –> 00:18:39,979that is pleasing to God.36300:18:39,979 –> 00:18:44,619And he says now, what’s the thing I should really focus on36400:18:44,619 –> 00:18:46,619if I’m trying to do this?36500:18:47,660 –> 00:18:51,339The man agrees with the answer that Jesus gives.36600:18:51,339 –> 00:18:53,979And Jesus even commends the man, verse 34,36700:18:53,979 –> 00:18:58,180for saying that the man had spoken wisely.36800:18:58,180 –> 00:19:01,140And then after this little interaction,36900:19:01,140 –> 00:19:05,660Jesus says something that is absolutely astonishing37000:19:05,660 –> 00:19:06,660in verse 34.37100:19:07,619 –> 00:19:09,780Please look at it with me.37200:19:09,780 –> 00:19:13,500When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely,37300:19:13,500 –> 00:19:14,979Jesus said to him,37400:19:16,099 –> 00:19:19,439you are not far from the kingdom of God.37500:19:19,640 –> 00:19:21,140The kingdom of God.37600:19:22,560 –> 00:19:24,680Now, I think when the teacher of the law37700:19:24,680 –> 00:19:26,900who was having such a warm conversation with Jesus37800:19:26,900 –> 00:19:30,880heard him say this, must have stepped back at him.37900:19:30,880 –> 00:19:31,719Not far?38000:19:33,420 –> 00:19:35,579What do you mean, not far?38100:19:37,619 –> 00:19:42,319I mean, here’s this man who is committed to loving God38200:19:42,319 –> 00:19:43,920with all his heart, soul, mind and strength.38300:19:43,920 –> 00:19:45,239That’s what I’m trying to do, he says.38400:19:45,239 –> 00:19:46,560And love, his neighbor is himself.38500:19:46,560 –> 00:19:47,380And Jesus says to you,38600:19:47,380 –> 00:19:49,020you’re not far from the kingdom of God.38700:19:49,280 –> 00:19:50,099Not far?38800:19:51,060 –> 00:19:52,979What do I have to do to get in?38900:19:54,119 –> 00:19:55,060You see what Jesus says?39000:19:55,060 –> 00:19:57,359You’re not far from the kingdom of God.39100:19:57,359 –> 00:19:59,920But not far means not in.39200:20:01,959 –> 00:20:03,520So here’s a fourth thing that we learn39300:20:03,520 –> 00:20:05,780about our natural human condition,39400:20:05,780 –> 00:20:10,780and it is that we are strangers outside of God’s kingdom.39500:20:12,359 –> 00:20:15,079And with all our sincerity and our best efforts39600:20:15,160 –> 00:20:19,319at living a life of love, we may be not far,39700:20:19,319 –> 00:20:21,359but that doesn’t get us in.39800:20:23,359 –> 00:20:26,319Living a life of love may get you near,39900:20:27,520 –> 00:20:28,719but according to Jesus,40000:20:28,719 –> 00:20:30,920living a life of love won’t get you in.40100:20:30,920 –> 00:20:34,660That makes you think, must have made this man think,40200:20:36,839 –> 00:20:39,280So here’s evangelism insight number four.40300:20:40,719 –> 00:20:42,800As we share the Gospel,40400:20:42,800 –> 00:20:44,900let’s be sure that we don’t get confused40500:20:45,599 –> 00:20:46,800but rather keep it clear.40600:20:48,680 –> 00:20:51,180See, some people that we speak with40700:20:51,180 –> 00:20:54,780are living genuinely good lives.40800:20:54,780 –> 00:20:57,260They’re lovely people, sincere.40900:20:58,339 –> 00:21:00,239They come to church.41000:21:00,239 –> 00:21:01,900They read the Bible.41100:21:01,900 –> 00:21:03,540They pray.41200:21:03,540 –> 00:21:05,020They agree with what you say.41300:21:05,020 –> 00:21:06,979They compliment your ministry.41400:21:08,939 –> 00:21:11,359They’re so sincere that you might think41500:21:11,359 –> 00:21:13,859that you might be in danger of forgetting41600:21:13,859 –> 00:21:15,640that they are really lost.41700:21:17,219 –> 00:21:22,199Being a good person won’t save you or anybody else.41800:21:22,979 –> 00:21:24,880So, when someone says to you,41900:21:24,880 –> 00:21:26,420and honestly, this happens even42000:21:26,420 –> 00:21:29,219in interviews within the context of the congregation.42100:21:31,699 –> 00:21:33,040When someone says to you,42200:21:33,040 –> 00:21:36,079I love God, and I really try42300:21:36,079 –> 00:21:37,579to love my neighbor as myself,42400:21:37,579 –> 00:21:39,119and to live a good life,42500:21:40,219 –> 00:21:43,000that may mean that they are near to the kingdom.42600:21:44,380 –> 00:21:45,900It does not indicate in itself42700:21:45,900 –> 00:21:48,099that they are in the kingdom,42800:21:48,099 –> 00:21:51,579according to what Jesus says here.42900:21:51,579 –> 00:21:53,760So don’t get confused,43000:21:53,760 –> 00:21:55,339because it would be a terrible thing43100:21:55,339 –> 00:21:57,140to be like this teacher of the law43200:21:57,140 –> 00:21:59,180who was clearly a sincere and religious43300:21:59,180 –> 00:22:01,339and, in many ways, a godly kind of man,43400:22:02,619 –> 00:22:06,180but simply to live your life not far from the kingdom43500:22:06,180 –> 00:22:08,780but not actually in the kingdom.43600:22:09,739 –> 00:22:11,260You’ve been listening to Open The Bible43700:22:11,260 –> 00:22:12,540with Pastor Colin Smith43800:22:12,619 –> 00:22:13,780and a message called43900:22:13,780 –> 00:22:17,239Jesus Has the Answer to All His People’s Questions,44000:22:17,239 –> 00:22:18,339part of the series44100:22:18,339 –> 00:22:20,079The Gospel According to Jesus.44200:22:20,079 –> 00:22:23,219And if you’ve missed any of the messages in the series,44300:22:23,219 –> 00:22:26,979why not come to our website openthebible.org.uk44400:22:26,979 –> 00:22:28,619and there you’ll find all the messages44500:22:28,619 –> 00:22:30,459which have gone out to date.44600:22:30,459 –> 00:22:32,500If you live within travelling distance44700:22:32,500 –> 00:22:34,780of Cheltenham, the heart of the Cotswolds,44800:22:34,780 –> 00:22:36,199you might want to book a ticket44900:22:36,199 –> 00:22:38,479for Cotswolds Bible Festival.45000:22:38,479 –> 00:22:42,060It takes place on November the 23rd, 202445100:22:42,060 –> 00:22:45,739and it features Pastor Colin Smith as the main speaker.45200:22:45,739 –> 00:22:48,260Cotswolds Bible Festival aims to encourage45300:22:48,260 –> 00:22:51,699and equip those of all ages to follow Jesus.45400:22:51,699 –> 00:22:54,500The event takes place at Cheltenham Lady’s College45500:22:54,500 –> 00:22:58,699and you can obtain ticket at cotswoldsbiblefestival.com45600:22:58,699 –> 00:23:02,079That’s cotswoldsbiblefestival.com45700:23:02,079 –> 00:23:05,380Open The Bible is a listener supported ministry.45800:23:05,380 –> 00:23:06,859We’re able to make the programme45900:23:06,859 –> 00:23:08,459and podcast available46000:23:08,459 –> 00:23:11,300as well as all the things that happened behind the scenes46100:23:11,300 –> 00:23:13,579because of your financial support.46200:23:13,579 –> 00:23:17,280So thank you for giving to and supporting the ministry.46300:23:17,280 –> 00:23:19,300If that’s something you haven’t done until now46400:23:19,300 –> 00:23:20,859but you’d like to begin46500:23:20,859 –> 00:23:24,900by setting up a direct debit of £5 per month or more46600:23:24,900 –> 00:23:27,380or a one-off gift of £50.46700:23:27,380 –> 00:23:29,459You’ll not only be supporting the work46800:23:29,459 –> 00:23:31,280but also we’d like to say thank you46900:23:31,280 –> 00:23:34,699by sending you a copy of R.C. Sproul’s book,47000:23:34,699 –> 00:23:38,780The Advent of Glory, 24 Devotions for Christmas.47100:23:38,780 –> 00:23:40,880Colin, some people will be so familiar47200:23:41,560 –> 00:23:43,839with The Christmas Story, we feel we know it so well.47300:23:43,839 –> 00:23:46,680So how would this book be beneficial?47400:23:46,680 –> 00:23:48,520Well, the challenge when we’re familiar47500:23:48,520 –> 00:23:49,719with The Christmas Story47600:23:49,719 –> 00:23:52,599is that we can very easily take it for granted.47700:23:52,599 –> 00:23:55,459And so what we need to do is to stop47800:23:55,459 –> 00:23:59,160and to think and to wonder and to worship.47900:23:59,160 –> 00:24:01,699And this devotional by R.C. Sproul48000:24:01,699 –> 00:24:05,239is just a marvellous help for being able to do that.48100:24:05,239 –> 00:24:08,119He’s picked out 24 words48200:24:08,119 –> 00:24:10,099that are at the heart of The Christmas Story.48300:24:10,400 –> 00:24:12,339There are words like virgin, and mother,48400:24:12,339 –> 00:24:16,939and Bethlehem, and king, and room, an angel, and glory,48500:24:16,939 –> 00:24:20,060and he has just four pages on each of these.48600:24:20,060 –> 00:24:24,579There’s insight so that the story comes fresh to you.48700:24:24,579 –> 00:24:28,219It’s an absolute delight, and it will be a gift,48800:24:28,219 –> 00:24:32,079I think, for anyone to use in preparation for Christmas.48900:24:32,079 –> 00:24:34,780Well, we’d love to send you a copy of R.C. Sproul’s book49000:24:34,780 –> 00:24:36,959The Advent of Glory, to say thank you49100:24:36,959 –> 00:24:38,859for setting up a new direct debit49200:24:38,900 –> 00:24:40,560to the work of Open the Bible49300:24:40,560 –> 00:24:42,739for five pounds per month or more,49400:24:42,739 –> 00:24:45,119or a one-off gift to 50 pounds.49500:24:45,119 –> 00:24:47,599Full details and terms and conditions49600:24:47,599 –> 00:24:50,859are on our website, that’s openthebible.org.uk,49700:24:50,859 –> 00:24:52,540and you can give online.49800:24:53,400 –> 00:24:55,520For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,49900:24:55,520 –> 00:24:57,199I’m David Pick, and I hope you’ll be able50000:24:57,199 –> 00:24:59,180to join us again next time.50100:25:05,719 –> 00:25:08,560What does it mean to become a true Christian?50200:25:08,560 –> 00:25:11,640Discover four marks of genuine conversion.50300:25:11,640 –> 00:25:13,880That’s next time on Open the Bible.