1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:05,120 But Jesus calls. This child into the room. 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:07,360 Somebody who in the? Eyes of the Reco Roman. 3 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:19,000 Culture If you have a Bible, go ahead 4 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,520 and get that. Open to Mark Chapter 9 we're 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:23,800 looking at. One story this morning verses. 6 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,040 30 through 36 man our. Our church, we've been through a 7 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:29,840 lot of seasons and we've had a lot of experiences where we've 8 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:31,640 got. Really, really empty. 9 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:33,760 Rooms, right? We planted this church seven or 10 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:35,360 eight years. Ago we went through COVID. 11 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,840 Together and so anytime like. I'm. 12 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,120 There's a Sunday. Where there's a lower attendance 13 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,720 like today, By the way, thanks for showing up. 14 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:44,320 Today, it's good to see you guys. 15 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,240 But anytime there's just a. Little bit of a smaller. 16 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,440 Room, My expectation has kind of shifted from like, oh, there's 17 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:51,440 not. As many. 18 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,560 People here, as usual, it's. Shifted from that expectation 19 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:57,080 more to. I wonder what I wonder. 20 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:59,520 What God is up to? Like there's just something 21 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:01,080 different. Not. 22 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:02,040 Better not. Worse. 23 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:03,400 But I I feel like there's always something. 24 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,920 Different that God wants to accomplish on mornings when 25 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:08,280 there's just. Fewer people. 26 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:10,000 In the room and so. I would just say, hey, let's 27 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,560 play some heads. Up ball this morning it's. 28 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:14,280 It's we got a lot of snow outside. 29 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,600 We got, you know, 5060% of our church at. 30 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:18,160 Home watching on the live. Stream hey. 31 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,080 Guys, we're psyched that you're watching. 32 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:21,600 If that's working, is it working? 33 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:23,160 It's working OK. Great. 34 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:25,360 Thanks for. Joining in guys, but. 35 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:26,800 Even though you know we've got a a. 36 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,720 Smaller morning It's snowy. Outside, I'm still just. 37 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:31,160 Going to preach my butt. Off OK. 38 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:33,240 I'm going to do that. For theological. 39 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:35,160 Reasons right. One of the reasons why we preach 40 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:36,880 is to. Benefit the Church of God. 41 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,360 But another reason we preach. Is because it glorifies God. 42 00:01:40,320 --> 00:01:42,040 And so I'm going to get up here. I'm going to throw. 43 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:43,520 Fastballs still just. Because I don't. 44 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,200 Want to be bored? When I'm preaching and you don't 45 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:47,520 want to be bored while you're. Listening. 46 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,000 So I'm still going to go 100. Miles an hour, and today's 47 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,840 sermon is probably going to be one of those sermons of mine. 48 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:55,760 That's a little bit nerdier. And feels a little bit. 49 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:59,040 More like a lecture. Than a pregame speech and the 50 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,320 reason why is because this. Is one of those. 51 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,440 Stories in. The gospel that works at. 52 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:05,480 Two different. Levels not there's not 2. 53 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:07,040 Different meanings, right? There's one. 54 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:08,680 Meaning but it. Works at two different levels. 55 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,039 It's one of those stories that. You've read it. 56 00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:12,320 You've studied it. You've. 57 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,960 Heard it in Sunday school and it works at that top level where 58 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,600 it's like, man, that's a. Great story and wouldn't. 59 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:20,080 That be a nice. Way to live. 60 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,360 There's there's also this. Other level underneath. 61 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,080 It where where you. Get to that. 62 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,280 Level you begin to see. Just. 63 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,640 How? Radical. 64 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:35,320 Jesus was and is and. I don't like just. 65 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:36,520 Preaching. At that. 66 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,480 Top level I also like. Getting at that. 67 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:41,600 Bottom level of the text, so we're going to get it at the 68 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,320 bottom level of that text. And that means that. 69 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,600 We're going to have to. Put on our academic. 70 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:47,960 Cap for a couple minutes during the sermon, but. 71 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:49,280 Over the. Next 35 minutes. 72 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:50,360 Here's where we're going. This is your. 73 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,560 Road map in 30. 5 minutes we are. 74 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,200 I'm going to talk about Greco Roman. 75 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:57,800 History. We're going to talk about 76 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,640 ancient Pagan Bale. Worship. 77 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:01,880 We're going to talk. About the. 78 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,000 Writing of Ernest Hemingway and. By the end of the sermon, I 79 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:07,760 hope. That all of this believe. 80 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:13,360 It or not helps you become the. Greatest that you can be. 81 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,440 In God's way, so let me. Pray and we'll jump in the. 82 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:24,680 Greatest you can be. Comma in God's way, Heavenly 83 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:29,840 Father I. I've just been so convicted. 84 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,680 By this story this week. And so I pray that. 85 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,160 It would bleed out of your Bible this. 86 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:37,680 Morning. And that we would. 87 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:41,160 Feel it, hear it, see it, Experience. 88 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,640 It encounter this story. Maybe in a different? 89 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:49,320 Way than we ever have before. And if we're. 90 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,400 Going to experience your. Word that way you. 91 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:57,520 Must be present among. Us walking in between the pews, 92 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,280 whispering in our ears, convicting those who need to be 93 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,520 convicted, encouraging those who need to be encouraged, and 94 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,640 pointing us back to. You so Lord, I just. 95 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:09,480 Pray. That you would do that. 96 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:11,280 For me. And that you would do. 97 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:17,839 That for for, for everybody and as a result of gosh. 98 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,160 All. The plowing. 99 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,920 And snow blowing and shoveling. Oh gosh. 100 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,880 All the shoveling. Pray that as a result. 101 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,960 Of all of that, one person in this room might experience 102 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:38,800 deeper joy in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in that case, the 103 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,160 sore shoulders and the sore forearms. 104 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,320 Would be totally worth it. And I would be happy to shovel 105 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,800 for another 8 hours this. Next week, please, No. 106 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:50,040 But. If it needs to be. 107 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,440 So then in the name. Of Jesus we pray. 108 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:57,160 Amen. I think one of the strangest 109 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:02,040 things about making the transition from small town Iowa. 110 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,480 To the big. City of Des Moines. 111 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,920 One of the one of the strangest things about that transition. 112 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,200 It's. Been adjusting and making that 113 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,480 adjustment. To the homeless population. 114 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,920 When you grow up in a small town like like I did, right in a town 115 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:23,720 of 3500 people, 4000 people, there's not a large homeless 116 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,960 population in my hometown. There was really just kind of 117 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,640 like one homeless guy. And if there were more, I didn't 118 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,800 really know about them or encounter them or. 119 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,000 Experience them. And so he he was. 120 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:36,720 The homeless guy. Right. 121 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,400 We. We had a name. 122 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,320 For him, growing up as kids, we. Called him the Can Man, He. 123 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,200 He had his cart that he pushed. Around town, his big bag he 124 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:47,880 collected. Cans turned him into the 125 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,720 deposit. And because there was this. 126 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:54,440 One homeless man, right? And and and it was the only. 127 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,280 One we knew right He He had a name. 128 00:05:57,280 --> 00:05:58,800 The can. Man and we of. 129 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,680 Course as kids created a back. Story and a mythology that 130 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,520 wasn't true for him about. Why he was really poor. 131 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:08,720 And what what? What was? 132 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,120 Really underneath the cart? And all the silly. 133 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,720 Things that. Boys talk about. 134 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,200 When they can just make a. Person into a character. 135 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:19,000 Like that and that's. What we did, he was. 136 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,320 Kind of a a a. Nameless, faceless character 137 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:25,440 that we imported a mythology. To and it's kind of weird. 138 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,400 Because when you transition. From Small Town to Des. 139 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,560 Moines. There's a much larger homeless. 140 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:35,200 Population and the opposite thing kind of happens where. 141 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:39,080 Since there's so much homelessness and you're not 142 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,720 really used to it. And it's on most busy. 143 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,920 Corners when you pull up. On the road. 144 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,280 You just kind of blur people out, right? 145 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:48,040 They just. Kind of. 146 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:53,520 Become nameless, faceless nuisances that you have to 147 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,120 drive. Through drive past and 148 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:57,720 sometimes. You feel kind of a. 149 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,400 Pinch for. It And so that's been a weird 150 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,200 transition is like learning. Well, Oh my gosh, what's it look 151 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,200 like to? Live in a city and all the 152 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:08,320 sudden homeless people. No longer having names. 153 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:10,720 And faces and so that's. Been a weird transition for me. 154 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:12,680 But I did. Have this moment. 155 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:15,840 A while ago I. Think it was about a. 156 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,160 Year ago I was. Walking to my coffee shop. 157 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,720 And as I was walking to my coffee shop, I walked past a 158 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:25,160 homeless. Person and for the first. 159 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:30,200 Time in a long time, I don't. Think this was a mystical? 160 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,280 Experience or anything like that. 161 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,440 But for the first time in a long time as I was. 162 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:39,000 Walking past this homeless man. I stopped and did a double take. 163 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,080 It's not one of those experiences. 164 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,640 Where I think I was. Encountering an Angel or 165 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,280 anything. Like that, although I wouldn't. 166 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,560 Always write that off, right? But I stopped. 167 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:56,240 And I did a double take. And the reason why I stopped. 168 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,040 And did a double take was because of the face. 169 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,560 Of the homeless man. It. 170 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:02,800 Stopped. Me dead in my tracks. 171 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:06,880 Because. As I was walking by and saw his. 172 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:09,160 Face, I swear to you. This. 173 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:15,760 Homeless man, eerily, strangely, and almost identically had the 174 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:17,640 exact. Same face as me. 175 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,720 And all of a sudden. It was as though I could. 176 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:25,280 See. I don't know, like the homeless 177 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:27,920 version of myself. And all of a sudden, he wasn't a 178 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:29,560 Nameless. And. 179 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,520 Faceless person all the all. All of a. 180 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:36,039 Sudden, this empathy broke. Out inside of me and. 181 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,240 I could see how I. Could be. 182 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:42,360 That same person in. Different circumstances I could. 183 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,400 See how easily that could? Have been me. 184 00:08:44,680 --> 00:08:46,720 All all of a sudden, I could see my. 185 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,600 Face in the. Face of a homeless person, I 186 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:51,800 could see our common and shared humanity. 187 00:08:52,680 --> 00:08:55,400 And this isn't primarily a text. And this isn't? 188 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,000 Primarily A sermon about the. Homeless. 189 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,120 But it is a text. About the least of these. 190 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:05,360 And when you see your. Face in the face. 191 00:09:05,560 --> 00:09:10,720 Of the least of these, it stops. You dead in your tracks. 192 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:12,840 And. It rocks. 193 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:15,240 You. And it's what Jesus? 194 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:17,680 Wants to do for his. Disciples in this text. 195 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:20,680 And May God. Do it for us this morning. 196 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:22,880 So let's stand for the reading of God's Word. 197 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,600 In this. Story It's not a homeless 198 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,320 person. But in this story, it's somebody 199 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,720 in the category of the least of these. 200 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:44,960 Verse 30 They went on from there and there. 201 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:46,920 We'll get into. Where they're coming from, 202 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,800 because it plays an important part in the story they went on 203 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:50,920 from. There and passed through 204 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,040 Galilee, and he didn't want anybody to know. 205 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,160 Because he was focused. On teaching his disciples, 206 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,760 saying to them, hey guys, the Son of man is going to be 207 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:02,160 delivered into the hands of man and they will kill. 208 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:07,400 Him and when he is. Killed after three days. 209 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,920 He will rise I. Don't know if that's actually 210 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:10,720 the tone, he. Used. 211 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:15,840 I imagine it that way. But they didn't understand. 212 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,240 The saying and they were. Afraid to ask him. 213 00:10:19,560 --> 00:10:23,120 And so they came to Caperdum. And when he was in the house, he 214 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,960 asked them, what were you? Guys talking about. 215 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,200 On the way, what were you? Discussing on the way. 216 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:31,960 But they kept silent for on the. Way, they had argued. 217 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,160 There's that word again, argued with one another. 218 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,720 About who was the greatest? And he sat down and. 219 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:40,800 Called the 12. Guys, come here. 220 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,360 And he said to them, look, if anyone would be. 1st. 221 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,640 He must be last of. All, and servant of all. 222 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,840 OK, what's that look like? Verse 36. 223 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:58,480 And so he took a child, and put him in the midst of them, and 224 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:00,920 taking him in his. Arms. 225 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:05,160 He said to the disciples. Whoever receives one such. 226 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:12,160 Child in my name receives me and whoever receives me. 227 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:21,800 Receives not me, but him who. Sent me Isn't Jesus just so 228 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:22,560 gosh? Darn. 229 00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:25,240 Nice. You guys can have a seat. 230 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,400 OK. So you've heard the story? 231 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:40,080 Probably, the story begins. With Jesus on the way. 232 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,720 He's walking with disciples and. He's giving his disciples a 233 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:45,160 prediction. About his death and 234 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:47,040 resurrection. By the way, this is the second 235 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:48,960 of. 3 total times in the book of Mark. 236 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,640 That Jesus gives his. Disciples A prediction of his 237 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:54,240 death and resurrection. And on the way. 238 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:57,680 He he lays. Out his death and resurrection. 239 00:11:57,680 --> 00:11:58,760 In the way that he. Does. 240 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,440 That the way that he. Explains the gospel to them. 241 00:12:01,680 --> 00:12:03,800 Is by all accounts crystal. Clear. 242 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:05,040 Right. How? 243 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:06,160 How? Clear is it? 244 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,880 Look at verse 31. I don't know how you can get any 245 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:12,960 more clear than this bro. 31 He's teaching his disciples, and 246 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:14,040 he says to them. Here's how. 247 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:16,240 It's going to go down. The Son of Man. 248 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:20,000 Is going to be delivered into the hands of men and they. 249 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,000 Will kill. Him and when he's killed. 250 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,720 After three days he will. Rise. 251 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,720 That's pretty clear, right? That's just basic. 252 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,280 Gospel Truth. How did? 253 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:36,280 How do you not? Get that? 254 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:43,680 How do you walk with? Jesus for a couple years. 255 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:45,880 And not. Understand him when he says. 256 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,000 The most basic things about his impending. 257 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:48,880 Death. How do you miss it? 258 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:54,720 And I think further inspection into the text is actually quite 259 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:56,480 revealing. Because it goes on to say that 260 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:58,760 the disciples. Did not understand that's. 261 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:00,440 Verse 32 just. Look at that real quickly. 262 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,240 Look at that phrase. Did not understand. 263 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,680 Like. In what way did they not 264 00:13:09,680 --> 00:13:13,200 understand? Was. 265 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,160 It like intellectually over their. 266 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,360 Head. In what way? 267 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:21,000 Did they not get it? And some translators interpret 268 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,240 the words did not understand which I. 269 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,880 Think is a great translation, but sometimes. 270 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,080 When you look at different. Translations which are equally 271 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,080 good. You can kind of round. 272 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,040 Out the translation. And see a. 273 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:35,200 Different way to phrase it and. And some some translators 274 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,400 interpret the words. Did not understand as they. 275 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:42,800 Were ignorant of and so. I think that's helpful because. 276 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:43,760 I think that's a. Clue. 277 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:48,760 So it it, it might, it might be. That the disciples couldn't 278 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,080 understand. Jesus, despite their best. 279 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:53,880 Intellectual efforts to grasp his prediction. 280 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,240 That seems unlikely to me, it seems. 281 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:00,080 More likely that they didn't. Grasp Jesus's predictions 282 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,200 because. They were ignorant. 283 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:12,120 Of what he was saying. Like they just had something. 284 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,600 More important. On their minds, right? 285 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,720 Something more worthy of thinking about. 286 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:23,160 So they were just kind of ignorant. 287 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:26,840 Of what he was saying cause bro. They've got something. 288 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:30,760 Important to talk about more important, which of course 289 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:33,520 raises the question. Well. 290 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:36,680 What? Could be so important. 291 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,360 That to us. It makes the death of. 292 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:46,240 Jesus, Just a secondary consideration, what could be 293 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:49,800 more important to? Us than the Gospel? 294 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,200 Of Jesus Christ. Verse 33 you. 295 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,720 Ready for this? Verse 33. 296 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,840 And they came to. Capernaum, And when he was in 297 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:05,480 the house, he asked them. OK, So what were you talking 298 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:09,160 about on the way? But they kept silent. 299 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:16,240 What are you guys talking about on the way you know, when I was 300 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,040 talking? About my death and resurrection. 301 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,880 They're quiet, They're like. Looking at each other. 302 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,360 They kept silent. Why? 303 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:31,360 Because on the way. What they were preoccupied with, 304 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:36,360 what they were arguing about. Was who was the greatest? 305 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,520 Oh. OK. 306 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,200 See where I'm going with? This that. 307 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:50,240 That that's why. They couldn't pick up what? 308 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:55,280 Jesus was laying down. They were too preoccupied with. 309 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:57,040 Something more important to them. 310 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,280 Arguing. About who was the greatest? 311 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:03,560 Among them. Isn't this like the most? 312 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:04,920 Awkward conversation. Ever. 313 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,920 What were you guys talking about just like? 314 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:10,880 Right. Luke's like, don't. 315 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,600 Say it, don't say it. Right. 316 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:16,320 John's like this is that was such a. 317 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:18,360 Stupid thing to argue about. I'm not even going to put. 318 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:23,280 It in my gospel, which he doesn't or they're. 319 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:25,600 Quiet, they're silent. They know why. 320 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:29,520 Jesus piercing question reveals the folly. 321 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,080 Of these conversations that preoccupy. 322 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:35,000 Our minds take note. Of that, but Jesus. 323 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,560 Being rich in mercy and. Grace verse 35. 324 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:40,800 Doesn't stop there. And said he's like, all right 325 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,040 guys, let's. Like a good coach, he's like, 326 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,400 OK, let's gather up, puddle up, let's work. 327 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:46,880 Through this together, he sat down and he called. 328 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:51,280 The 12. And he said to them, if anyone. 329 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:55,160 Would be first. You want to be. 330 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:57,600 Awesome in the Kingdom of. God you. 331 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,600 Want to be a? Bomb in the Kingdom of God. 332 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,480 If anyone would be. 1st. He must be last of. 333 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,400 All. And servant of. 334 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,520 All. So this is magnificent, Matthew. 335 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,760 In his gospel relays the same story, the same conversation, 336 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:17,319 but with a. Twist on the language and. 337 00:17:17,599 --> 00:17:19,800 Seeing the way. That Matthew records this can 338 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,000 again kind of help us round out exactly. 339 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:23,520 What Jesus is saying. Here's the way that. 340 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:25,400 Matthew records this conversation. 341 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:31,640 But whoever would be great, that's the corollary with if. 342 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:35,800 Anyone would be. 1st. But whoever would be great. 343 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,120 Among you must be your. Servant. 344 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:44,640 And I'm pushing into this. I want to see this because I 345 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,280 have something. For you at the bottom of this. 346 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:50,720 Yes, Jesus is rebuking. The disciples for their desire 347 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,200 to be. Great in a worldly way. 348 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,520 Don't take. This text to mean OK. 349 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:00,800 So. Christians should strive for 350 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:05,280 mediocrity as the. That's the most. 351 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,560 Christian thing, if I were. Really spiritual. 352 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,040 I. Wouldn't care about being great. 353 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:11,160 That's not what's happening here. 354 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:12,840 Jesus. Is rebuking. 355 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:14,680 The disciples for their desire to be great in a. 356 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:17,000 Worldly way. But he's not rebuking them. 357 00:18:17,120 --> 00:18:19,600 For their desire to be great, that desire. 358 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,320 Is built into every human heart my. 359 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:23,080 Guess is that it's. In your heart too. 360 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:24,920 Because I think that God. Put it there. 361 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,280 Your desire for. Significance and greatness is a. 362 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:29,040 Good. Desire and I don't. 363 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:32,400 Think it's actually the result of the fall or a result of sin. 364 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,640 Because Jesus, he actually. Affirms their desire to be. 365 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,080 Great. He doesn't say stop. 366 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:42,400 Trying. For excellence, right? 367 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:45,440 He actually plays into it. He says. 368 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:51,000 If you want to be great, if you want to be first, these are good 369 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:57,000 desires. So long as they're done in. 370 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,880 God's way and not. The world's way. 371 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,520 Here's I want to keep. Pushing at this for. 372 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:03,720 Just a second more, here's the way. 373 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,200 That my good friend. Who doesn't know I exist? 374 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:13,640 John Piper. Here's the way Piper 375 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:15,920 articulates. It quote their. 376 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,720 Desire the disciples desire to live. 377 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:20,880 A fulfilling life of excellence. Is at its. 378 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:22,920 Root a good. Desire. 379 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:26,640 But this desire has been corrupted and subverted. 380 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,360 By the world. In two particular ways. 381 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:33,760 First, it has been corrupted into a longing not to. 382 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:38,080 Be great, but to be? Known as great. 383 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:41,480 People pleasing. At the praise. 384 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:46,160 Of man and. Secondly, it has been corrupted. 385 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:49,840 Into a longing not to. Be great, but to be? 386 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:55,840 Greater than somebody else, Piper goes on to say. 387 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,000 At no. Point Does the way of Jesus so 388 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,160 sharply diverge? From the way of the world than 389 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,560 on the question of greatness. See. 390 00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:11,720 Jesus does not repudiate greatness, but redefines 391 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:15,280 greatness doesn't. Repudiate it he. 392 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,440 Redefines it. And so the challenge is to be 393 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:21,160 great at the things that matter most to God. 394 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,160 And of course, nothing is greater to God. 395 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:27,360 And we see this in the. Text than serving End Quote. 396 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:30,840 So in other words. What's Jesus doing in this 397 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:34,120 story? He's redefining. 398 00:20:34,120 --> 00:20:35,960 Greatness. And he's showing us how to be 399 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,600 great in the Kingdom of God, how to be great. 400 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:40,760 In God's way. And you do. 401 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:46,280 That by first. Becoming last and second by 402 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:48,160 becoming the servant of all. Actually those are the same. 403 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:49,520 Thing. So that those are two. 404 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:52,560 Separate points. Those are one point by becoming 405 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,240 last and by becoming the servant of all. 406 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:59,440 And what's that look like? And as my professors at you and 407 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:00,800 I. Would say there are some. 408 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:02,880 Lessons that are better. Caught than taught so. 409 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:05,480 Jesus being a good. Teacher he. 410 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,160 Doesn't just tell he also. Shows. 411 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,120 So Jesus acts out the lesson, doesn't he? 412 00:21:10,120 --> 00:21:11,800 OK. OK, so what's that look like? 413 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,040 How do I? How do I do that? 414 00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:21,040 And so. 1st 36 There's this nameless, faceless character. 415 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,280 In some other room. Right, Because they're. 416 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:28,520 Pushed out to the fringes. Of society, that Jesus. 417 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:32,920 Calls into the room verse 30. Six and he took a child. 418 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:35,480 Come here. And put him in the. 419 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:37,160 Midst of them. Look at this. 420 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,120 And taking. The child in his arms, he said. 421 00:21:41,120 --> 00:21:44,680 Guys, look at me. Whoever receives one such. 422 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:50,960 Child in my name receives. Me and whoever receives me. 423 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:56,400 Receives. Not me, but him who? 424 00:21:56,400 --> 00:22:00,480 Sent me and that's. So nice. 425 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:04,960 Here we go, baby. Why did Jesus? 426 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:09,480 Pick a child in order to act. Out this lesson, Yes. 427 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,040 Because in Greco Roman culture, children were literally. 428 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,600 The least of these? That's. 429 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:18,640 Absolutely. 100% true, yes. And church and public 430 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:20,680 gatherings. Children in the Greco Roman 431 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:22,600 world were. Always to come in last. 432 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:24,960 And they were to be. Ostracized and seated. 433 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,080 In the back, yes, in the culture. 434 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:31,000 That Jesus is in civilization. Saw them as a secondary figure. 435 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:32,800 And they did not build. Their institutions. 436 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:35,680 And culture around children. Those are all. 437 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:36,920 True. Points many of. 438 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:39,000 Which you've probably heard if you've heard this story taught 439 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:40,240 before. All true. 440 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,920 But if we stop there, we misinterpret Jesus. 441 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:50,360 As just saying something nice. And Jesus is, He is. 442 00:22:50,360 --> 00:22:55,640 Kind, incredibly kind. But he's not just nice. 443 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:57,680 He's not just being nice. Right here. 444 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:02,240 He's being savior right here. And so let's go deeper into 445 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:03,200 this, OK? It's not just. 446 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:04,840 That the ancient. World didn't care about kids. 447 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:06,440 That's true. But it's actually. 448 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:08,440 Far, far far. Darker than that. 449 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:11,080 Which makes Jesus's. Teachings here shine even more. 450 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:12,320 Brightly. So I'm talking. 451 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:13,440 Already for a couple minutes more. 452 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:15,120 Just so you can. See how much more? 453 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:16,080 Jesus is. Teaching. 454 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:19,240 Shines bright and is radical in a dark Roman world. 455 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:22,960 OK, so this conversation happened on the way. 456 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,800 From Caesarea Philippi. Where Jesus was. 457 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:30,280 Transfigured on top of mount. Hermon through Galilee and 458 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:33,600 Capernaum, so before. This before. 459 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:37,120 They were in this house. They were at Caesarea Philippi. 460 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:38,560 And if you could. See a. 461 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:41,960 Picture of Caesarea Philippi. There would be a big. 462 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:46,080 Prominent rock mountain standing behind them called Mount. 463 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:47,400 Hermon. It was one of the most. 464 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:50,880 Prominent geographical, standout things. 465 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:52,520 About that location was this big. 466 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:54,680 Mountain called Mount Hermon behind. 467 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:56,960 Caesarea Philippi, so they just. Saw this. 468 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:58,200 I don't know how long this travel. 469 00:23:58,200 --> 00:23:59,080 Took. Maybe it was a couple. 470 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,600 Days ago. Maybe it was a week ago, but 471 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:03,200 here's why this. Is significant. 472 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,120 It's significant. Because. 473 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:07,000 You want to know what mount Hermon? 474 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:08,960 Was known as in. Jesus Day. 475 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:12,000 It's called the Gates. Of hell. 476 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:15,520 And it was known as the Gates of Hell. 477 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:19,080 Because that's. Where the Pagan God Baal. 478 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:22,000 Was worshipped. And do you want to know how they 479 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,920 worshipped? Baal one of the. 480 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:27,880 Ways that they worshipped. Baal is the cult followers would 481 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:29,720 take their. Children to that mountain and 482 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:32,640 commit child sacrifices in order to please. 483 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:37,680 Baal, they just walked by this. Mountain. 484 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:40,400 Right, this is what the world does. 485 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:43,440 It creates a hierarchy. Of who's important and who's not 486 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:44,400 on the. Basis of. 487 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,200 A ton of different reasons. And it discards the important. 488 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,040 People and in Jesus day. That meant literally killing 489 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,760 children on that mountain. At the gates of hell. 490 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:55,960 As an offering to Baal. But it. 491 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:58,880 Wasn't just a religious. Practice in the Greco Roman 492 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:02,160 world. It was a legal. 493 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:07,120 Right that Roman citizens had. So Greek philosopher Plutarch. 494 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:07,920 He's a. He's a. 495 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:10,680 Historian so you can actually. Go back and read his. 496 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:12,880 Writings he lived. Around the day and age. 497 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:15,560 Of Jesus, not a. Christian so he's not. 498 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:18,120 Giving you, you know, biased history or anything like that, 499 00:25:18,120 --> 00:25:20,000 but. In Plutarch's writings, and this 500 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:21,800 comes from. Around the year 100. 501 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:23,760 AD. So about 70 years after. 502 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,760 Jesus said this. Plutarch recounts how the 503 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:28,640 ancient Spartans. Submitted. 504 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:31,360 Newborn babies to A. Council of Elders. 505 00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:36,880 For what they called inspection. And take the babies right. 506 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:41,360 Hold them up and inspect. Them Why? 507 00:25:43,360 --> 00:25:46,080 Plutarch goes on to say. Quote fit. 508 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:50,720 And strong babies survived, but those found to be. 509 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:55,320 Low born or deformed. Were left outside to die. 510 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,400 On the grounds that it is neither better for themselves 511 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:01,200 nor. For the city to live. 512 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:05,280 Their natural life poorly. Equipped. 513 00:26:10,470 --> 00:26:11,310 All right. Yeah. 514 00:26:15,230 --> 00:26:21,390 You want this one? That's horrifying, right? 515 00:26:23,670 --> 00:26:27,390 Why do you find it horrifying now in their day? 516 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:31,800 It was common sense. So to phrase the question. 517 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,600 Differently, why do you? Find what they called. 518 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,720 Common sense Horrifying to. Phrase it a different way. 519 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:45,120 How did history change? How does something like 520 00:26:45,120 --> 00:26:48,120 infanticide? Change from a citizen's. 521 00:26:48,120 --> 00:26:52,000 Right to a legal prohibition. On what? 522 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,320 Basis do you make the? Argument that every human being. 523 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:57,200 Is of equal worth. And value despite their 524 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:58,200 differences. In how much they? 525 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,520 Contribute to society despite. Their differing. 526 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:03,880 Appearances, abilities, deformities, or otherwise. 527 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:07,600 And you don't make the. Case on common sense. 528 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:13,400 Because. Common sense in Rome affirmed 529 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:14,880 infanticide. It was a legal. 530 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:19,320 Right that Roman citizens have, so you don't overcome it with 531 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:22,520 common sense. Of course you don't. 532 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,040 Make the. Case on a Darwinian worldview, 533 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:26,320 of course. Nobody in Rome. 534 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:29,360 Thought that way then right? But you don't make that. 535 00:27:29,360 --> 00:27:31,760 Case. Because you can't make that. 536 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:33,400 Case. So on what? 537 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,240 Basis do you? Affirm that every individual 538 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:37,680 life, whether they're in the middle. 539 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:40,600 Of society or on the? Fringes of society on what? 540 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:43,000 Basis do you make the? Case that everybody has. 541 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:46,520 Equal, rights equal, Worth equal. 542 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:48,400 Value. And here's the basis. 543 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:51,720 On which? Infanticide changed from a 544 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:54,080 right. That everybody could do if they 545 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:56,440 wanted to. To a prohibition, Here's my. 546 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:58,440 Deep. Argument for us this morning, 547 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:05,320 Jesus, Jesus is the. Reason you hear about the. 548 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:09,240 Practice. Of inspection and find it 549 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:11,800 horrifying. Otherwise it would have 550 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:13,280 continued. As common sense. 551 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:15,640 The least of these are not to be thrown into the gates of. 552 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:17,800 Hell. Or pushed into the fringes. 553 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:21,960 Of society because they are, in Jesus's words, to be. 554 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:26,320 Served and received on the. Basis that they. 555 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,640 Bear the image of the. Father. 556 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,800 Jesus changed this. And you'd be like, OK, cool, 557 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:33,280 that's just. Preacher talk. 558 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:36,080 Does that hold up to history? It does. 559 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:39,360 Historically, Jesus changed. This does this. 560 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:40,840 Argument. Hold up historically well. 561 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,920 When was infanticide? Outlawed in Rome? 562 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,160 When was inspection outlawed in Rome? 563 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,440 We can look back at history and find out the. 564 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:50,800 Answer to that. It was outlawed by. 565 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,960 Emperor Constantine, whatever you think about. 566 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:59,680 Him around 3:13. AD closely following his 567 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:04,320 conversion. To Christianity, So it was. 568 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:06,480 Jesus. Who? 569 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:10,200 Recreated a world where? Everybody is loved. 570 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:15,080 And it's Jesus who continues. To recreate the world into a 571 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:16,760 place. Where everybody is loved. 572 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,480 And like I know. It's not comfortable. 573 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:24,480 On a Sunday. Morning to come to church and 574 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:26,720 think about child. Sacrifice and the gates of. 575 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:29,960 Hell. But I'm pressing into this. 576 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:33,360 Because the. Bible's not comfortable, but I'm 577 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:36,880 pressing into this. To show you just how radical. 578 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:41,000 Jesus and his teachings are. This story. 579 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:48,160 Is often interpreted as, isn't. Jesus so nice, which is like 580 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:54,360 holy understatement. Right that. 581 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:58,640 That's what one scholar called damning with faint. 582 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:01,080 Praise. It's not that, it's. 583 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:04,400 Wrong. But the praise is so faint. 584 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:09,040 That it doesn't adequately. Capture at all what Jesus? 585 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:10,640 Is doing this is. Radical. 586 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:12,000 That's to call. Jesus. 587 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,680 Nice, because he takes this. Child into his arms is like 588 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:18,560 saying that Ernest Hemingway was an adequate. 589 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:20,400 Writer. OK, so if. 590 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,920 You've never read Hemingway Hemingway's style? 591 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,600 Of writing changed the face of writing in the West. 592 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:28,960 And basically created a new genre so that without Hemingway 593 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:30,640 there would be no. Such thing as American 594 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:33,480 literature and no classes called American lit. 595 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:36,600 And you know deep down that the. World would be a worse. 596 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:39,440 Place without your American lit. Classes from high school, right? 597 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:41,720 He. Created American Lit. 598 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:43,720 You look back at Hemingway writing now. 599 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:46,960 And you think? Wow, this is so simple and like 600 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:48,960 so many. American authors that. 601 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:51,680 Followed Hemingway and that's because. 602 00:30:51,680 --> 00:30:55,600 Hemingway style was a bombshell. Right. 603 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:59,760 It was a bombshell. It was so excruciatingly and 604 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:03,800 painstakingly stripped down and simplified that nobody in 605 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:06,720 Hemingway's time had really read anything like it. 606 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:10,720 And so every American author since Hemingway has copied 607 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:14,800 Hemingway to some degree. He totally changed the game. 608 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:16,760 And this is what? Jesus did for the least. 609 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:19,240 Of these, right? He's dropping. 610 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,760 A bombshell. We live in a culture. 611 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:26,840 That's much better about. Valuing children. 612 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:29,320 We still. Have a long ways to go. 613 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:32,080 And so we look back at this and we're like, yeah, man, we should 614 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:35,200 treat children well. But what we don't understand is 615 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:37,400 that without. Jesus, we wouldn't think like 616 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:39,560 this at all. Jesus is dropping a bombshell so 617 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:40,400 that. Virtually every. 618 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:44,800 Civilization after him ends up copying him, copying his. 619 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:46,000 Love for the least. Of these. 620 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:48,480 Copying the way he dignifies every. 621 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:51,200 Individual life. Our culture still has a long. 622 00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:52,680 Ways to go, We still. Practice. 623 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:55,720 Inspection, but we do that. At a different point in their 624 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:58,840 development, right? But don't miss what I'm saying 625 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:01,960 here. Too it was Jesus who. 626 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:09,520 Pioneered human dignity for all, including those on the fringes. 627 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:12,280 And then he acts. It out. 628 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:18,000 Right, there's this. Little child present, probably. 629 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:20,880 In a in a backroom. Maybe the child's in the room. 630 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:21,760 We don't. Know if it was a. 631 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:23,680 Boy, we don't know if it was a girl. 632 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:25,840 We don't know what color the child's eyes were. 633 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:28,520 It's a nameless, faceless child to us. 634 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:30,640 Right, so picture this child however you want. 635 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:35,600 But Jesus calls. This child into the room. 636 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:37,840 Somebody who in the? Eyes of the Reco Roman. 637 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:40,880 Culture comes last. They have to sit in the back. 638 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:43,480 Of the temple. They have to sit in the back of 639 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:44,680 the. Village gatherings. 640 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:46,880 To the world, this child. Is a nobody. 641 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,040 But who is he to? God. 642 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:56,000 Jesus opens up, his arms wide, and he says come here. 643 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:07,320 Come here. No line, no qualifications. 644 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:11,800 Come here. This would have been earth 645 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:14,080 shattering for the disciples. What the disciples are? 646 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:19,680 Experiencing in this moment. Honestly, it's the same thing 647 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:21,800 that I. Experienced to a greater degree. 648 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:25,520 When I saw my face in the face of a homeless. 649 00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:29,880 Man on the sidewalk. See this child, This child. 650 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:33,440 Was nothing more than a. Nameless, faceless nuisance. 651 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:39,400 And Jesus is challenging them. To see themselves in the. 652 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,720 Face of this child. And then? 653 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:47,560 Jesus takes it one step. Further, he wants them not only 654 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:49,880 to see themselves. In the face of this child. 655 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:54,000 He wants them. To see the face of God in the 656 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,680 face of this child, because what does he say? 657 00:33:57,840 --> 00:33:58,840 It's. It's. 658 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:03,960 Breathtaking to read, he says. Quote Whoever receives one such 659 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:07,480 child in my name receives. Me. 660 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:13,800 And whoever receives me receives. 661 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:16,800 Not just me. But the Father? 662 00:34:18,679 --> 00:34:20,080 And so. That should. 663 00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:21,880 Make us do a double. Take. 664 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:31,199 Stop us dead in our tracks and rock us and recognize. 665 00:34:32,679 --> 00:34:35,520 That this is the. Pathway to becoming the 666 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:37,000 greatest? In God's way. 667 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:41,280 To serve the least of these. To serve people. 668 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:45,960 Who don't have dignity and value in the world because somehow, 669 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:47,960 and I can't. This is. 670 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:50,400 Theological math I can't quite do, but somehow. 671 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:53,199 This is how Jesus. Receives you into his. 672 00:34:53,199 --> 00:34:56,280 Harms, and it's also how. You end up receiving God. 673 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:59,120 Into your own arms. And. 674 00:34:59,960 --> 00:35:01,720 This text isn't. It's not just about. 675 00:35:01,720 --> 00:35:05,400 Serving kids. That's part of it. 676 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:11,120 For sure, so sign up for roots. Or you don't love Jesus. 677 00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:13,280 I'm kidding. Whoa, whoa, whoa. 678 00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:17,280 Let me back pedal that if you feel like you're it would be 679 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:18,360 something. Fun for you to do. 680 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:21,880 Sign up for Roots. I mean, I've only done it once 681 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:22,800 in the. Last eight years. 682 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:24,720 So who am I to bully? Anybody, right? 683 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:27,000 But this text. Isn't it's not just about. 684 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:28,400 Serving kids. The child. 685 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:31,400 In this story is an analogy. It's. 686 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:34,920 The child's a Really. Powerful analogy, but the child. 687 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:36,880 'S an analogy. Because it's about serving who. 688 00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:40,800 It's about serving in Jesus. Words becoming. 689 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:43,800 Quote a servant of all. So. 690 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:47,280 If being great in God's way. Means being a servant of all 691 00:35:47,280 --> 00:35:47,880 that. Means that the. 692 00:35:47,880 --> 00:35:49,320 Opportunities for what this looks. 693 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:52,120 Like in your own life are limitless because it involves. 694 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:53,680 Serving anybody and everybody so. 695 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:56,280 I'm actually less interested in telling you exactly how to do. 696 00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:59,480 This so sorry for peer. Pressuring you into roots? 697 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:01,400 My bad. That's not in my notes. 698 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:04,480 But I'm more interested in giving you some examples of. 699 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:06,440 How the? People around you are already. 700 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:09,040 Doing this because if you look around this room right here. 701 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:12,080 Our church is like we. Are 100% crowdfunded. 702 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:15,920 Baby like this church exists because these people love Jesus. 703 00:36:16,280 --> 00:36:18,640 And are. Serving everybody. 704 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:19,960 And so there's. We just got a ton of. 705 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:22,160 People who are already living. This out. 706 00:36:22,160 --> 00:36:24,160 So what I'm going to do is something I don't usually do. 707 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:27,680 I'm going to name some names and this is nowhere close to a 708 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:28,960 complete. List, so don't get bummed. 709 00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:30,040 If I leave. Your name out. 710 00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:32,400 But here's some people in our church who are. 711 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:35,440 Just the greatest. In God's way, OK, we've got a 712 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:36,400 ton. Let me start. 713 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:39,040 Liz. Todd Emily Meyer Caitlin Sims. 714 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:41,000 Week in and Week. Out help lead our kids. 715 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:43,480 Ministry in the basement. Nobody in our church is. 716 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:44,920 Better at welcoming children like. 717 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:48,280 Jesus than these three that. Is being the. 718 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:53,800 Greatest God's way. Casey Canoe literally does this. 719 00:36:54,160 --> 00:36:56,320 By taking a genuine interest in the things that. 720 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:58,720 My kids are interested in. A year or two ago. 721 00:36:58,720 --> 00:37:00,760 At the height of. Russell's Godzilla Obsession, 722 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:02,520 Casey. Showed up at the front step of 723 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:05,240 my house with his. Old Godzilla toys and gave them 724 00:37:05,240 --> 00:37:08,280 to Russell. That's being the greatest in 725 00:37:08,280 --> 00:37:11,520 God's way. Dylan and Mariah Bradshaw, 726 00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:14,120 without being asked, call a friend a plower parking lot this 727 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:15,920 week and paid for it out of pocket. 728 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:18,720 That's being the greatest in God's way. 729 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:25,840 Van Gorp, Talon, Meyer, Depau, Carl Maxwell carry hundreds and 730 00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:28,320 hundreds of pounds of administrative responsibilities 731 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:30,360 everywhere. Every week for the church. 732 00:37:30,360 --> 00:37:32,880 That most of you don't. See whether that's the finance. 733 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:35,280 Team or recording audio and video, or leading the building, 734 00:37:35,280 --> 00:37:37,160 team or organizing projects to help move. 735 00:37:37,160 --> 00:37:40,160 Them forward, they do a. Ton that you don't. 736 00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:41,760 See, but you get to. Experience. 737 00:37:42,640 --> 00:37:44,040 That's being the greatest God's way. 738 00:37:45,720 --> 00:37:48,880 Alex Pasquer every. Sunday Pasquer is here early, 739 00:37:49,640 --> 00:37:51,880 leading people in prayer. So that when you stumble into 740 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:55,120 the doorway half hazardly and look for a place to sit, you're 741 00:37:55,120 --> 00:37:58,440 actually entering into an environment saturated. 742 00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:02,320 And infused by prayer, whether or not you know. 743 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:04,880 It That's being the greatest God's way. 744 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:10,160 Andrew Johnson. Is here almost every Sunday when 745 00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:12,680 the sun rises. To do work alongside Joseph that 746 00:38:12,680 --> 00:38:14,960 you. Don't see at 7:00 AM, but you 747 00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:16,680 experience. It at 10:00 AM and that's not 748 00:38:16,680 --> 00:38:18,040 even beginning to. Count the hours he. 749 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:20,320 Put into. Building out our trailer and. 750 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:23,720 Loading it and unloading it every Sunday morning at 6:00. 751 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:25,160 AM while. Most of the world was. 752 00:38:25,160 --> 00:38:27,440 Sleeping in back when we were a mobile church. 753 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:29,720 That's being the greatest in God's way. 754 00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:33,400 Judy Maxwell is here in the middle of the week making. 755 00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:36,000 This place beautiful and clean. So that you get to. 756 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:37,720 Walk into a space that. Reminds you. 757 00:38:37,720 --> 00:38:40,640 Of the glory of God. Every Sunday that's being. 758 00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:42,800 The greatest in God's way. And there's. 759 00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:46,320 Countless. People I didn't tell you about. 760 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:50,880 Unnamed people in this church who every Sunday show up and 761 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:53,240 aren't. Primarily preoccupied with 762 00:38:53,240 --> 00:38:55,640 questions like. Do I like this and? 763 00:38:55,640 --> 00:38:57,600 Do I like that and it's not wrong? 764 00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:00,880 To have preferences, they just. Belong in a hierarchy, right? 765 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:02,840 It belongs underneath. Some. 766 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:05,680 Other stuff, but they don't. Walk in a lot of our members, 767 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:07,560 they don't walk in being like. Do I like the way? 768 00:39:07,560 --> 00:39:10,000 That song sounds. Do I like the way? 769 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:12,760 That liturgy leader read that. Line they don't. 770 00:39:12,760 --> 00:39:14,480 Show up with those questions on their minds. 771 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:17,880 They show up on Sundays. Preoccupied with questions like. 772 00:39:18,120 --> 00:39:21,520 Who looks sad? Who? 773 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:26,160 Needs me. Who needs encouragement? 774 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:28,720 Who? Who needs prayer? 775 00:39:29,640 --> 00:39:32,800 Who does Jesus? Want me to receive in the name 776 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:33,640 of the. Father. 777 00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:36,280 Because. I just want to be honest. 778 00:39:36,280 --> 00:39:37,680 With you again, preferences are great. 779 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:40,160 I have. Way too many of them. 780 00:39:40,720 --> 00:39:43,240 They're fine. They're fine have. 781 00:39:43,240 --> 00:39:44,560 Preferences. It's great. 782 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:47,240 But I'm just saying that when you. 783 00:39:47,240 --> 00:39:53,320 Approach church self focused. You get the American landscape. 784 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:56,560 Of church which is. To say that when you. 785 00:39:56,680 --> 00:39:59,040 Approach Church Self focus. Church is. 786 00:39:59,040 --> 00:40:03,400 Boring. I'm just honest like. 787 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:04,960 When I have that mentality, I'm like. 788 00:40:07,240 --> 00:40:09,600 You know, I'd give it a two out of five this morning. 789 00:40:11,600 --> 00:40:13,840 Blah. What a. 790 00:40:13,840 --> 00:40:17,040 Boring way to approach church, Yawn. 791 00:40:18,680 --> 00:40:21,560 But when you become God focused and others focused. 792 00:40:21,720 --> 00:40:24,200 Church all of a sudden. Opens itself up to you and 793 00:40:24,200 --> 00:40:28,240 becomes exhilarating at any any need at any moment from the. 794 00:40:28,240 --> 00:40:29,360 Least of these. From a person. 795 00:40:29,360 --> 00:40:31,960 Could arise and change the. Trajectory of your worship. 796 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:34,520 You might catch the name and face of somebody. 797 00:40:34,520 --> 00:40:37,680 In prayer and know deep. Down that God wants you to 798 00:40:37,680 --> 00:40:40,200 encourage them. Or know deep down that God wants 799 00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:41,720 you to pray. For them and if you're you're 800 00:40:41,720 --> 00:40:44,120 going to do that. That requires a substantial. 801 00:40:44,120 --> 00:40:45,800 Amount of courage. And what this? 802 00:40:45,800 --> 00:40:49,000 Makes is it. Makes church into a non-stop 803 00:40:49,080 --> 00:40:53,320 thrilling adventure where every Sunday is a possibility to 804 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:54,400 become. The. 805 00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:57,560 Greatest that you can be. In God's wire. 806 00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:04,320 And so let me just let. Me make this hit. 807 00:41:06,560 --> 00:41:09,160 At the end of the day, if you're. 808 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:12,720 Preoccupied. With being the greatest in the. 809 00:41:12,720 --> 00:41:13,760 World's. Way. 810 00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:17,520 You just won't understand the gospel. 811 00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:24,600 Is that not? How the story starts with? 812 00:41:24,720 --> 00:41:26,840 Jesus clearly articulating the gospel. 813 00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:28,800 Hey, I'm going to die. I'll. 814 00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:32,800 Be raised again. And they don't get it. 815 00:41:33,680 --> 00:41:37,520 They don't understand it because they can't understand it. 816 00:41:38,560 --> 00:41:42,480 Because you can't understand it. When you're too focused arguing 817 00:41:42,480 --> 00:41:44,640 about who's the greatest. Among all of you and. 818 00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:48,720 If you're always focused. On being the most popular, the 819 00:41:48,720 --> 00:41:52,480 most powerful, the smartest, the most sought after, the person 820 00:41:52,480 --> 00:41:56,760 who gets the applause of man, If you're always concerned about 821 00:41:56,760 --> 00:41:59,160 being the greatest in the world's way, how could you? 822 00:41:59,160 --> 00:42:01,280 Ever understand how the greatest? 823 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:03,680 Man to ever live. Died by. 824 00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:07,200 Becoming the servant of all in the lowest possible way. 825 00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:10,840 On the cross? How could you ever understand 826 00:42:10,840 --> 00:42:14,080 the gospel if you're concerned? About being the greatest in. 827 00:42:14,080 --> 00:42:18,600 The world's way. And this is about the gospel. 828 00:42:20,200 --> 00:42:25,000 It is again. Jesus is not just being nice. 829 00:42:25,600 --> 00:42:30,720 When he receives the child into his arms, in his world, a child 830 00:42:30,720 --> 00:42:33,160 is something. To be. 831 00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:39,200 Inspected and. If he is found inadequate, he's 832 00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:41,800 something that can just be casted into the gates. 833 00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:46,360 Of hell, so I want. You to see what Jesus is doing. 834 00:42:46,440 --> 00:42:48,800 In this moment, he's not. Just being. 835 00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:50,840 Nice. He's being savior. 836 00:42:51,560 --> 00:42:54,240 He's. Snatching the least? 837 00:42:54,240 --> 00:42:59,560 Of these from the gates of hell. He's rescuing those from the 838 00:42:59,560 --> 00:43:01,960 margins and bringing. Them to the center. 839 00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:08,000 Exactly. Yes, exactly. 840 00:43:09,040 --> 00:43:15,560 Like what he did with. You that's when. 841 00:43:15,560 --> 00:43:18,960 You get it, dude. That's when you really 842 00:43:18,960 --> 00:43:22,800 understand the text. A lot of times we. 843 00:43:22,920 --> 00:43:27,000 Read about the least of. These and we think about the 844 00:43:27,000 --> 00:43:30,640 homeless. And the disabled? 845 00:43:32,600 --> 00:43:36,080 The oppressed. Those on the margins of society 846 00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:41,320 and you should think about them. But you don't get it until you 847 00:43:41,320 --> 00:43:42,720 read about. The least of these? 848 00:43:44,400 --> 00:43:50,680 And you see yourself. You see yourself, right? 849 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:56,720 In the hands of the world, you are nothing more than refuse to 850 00:43:56,720 --> 00:43:58,560 be thrown into the gates of hell. 851 00:44:00,360 --> 00:44:01,880 Nothing. More to be inspected and. 852 00:44:01,880 --> 00:44:05,880 Evaluated and if found wanting. Pushed. 853 00:44:05,880 --> 00:44:11,040 To the margins of society. You were not strong and powerful 854 00:44:11,360 --> 00:44:13,560 and wise according to the ways of the. 855 00:44:13,560 --> 00:44:18,040 World you were weak in. Spirit and small in stature and 856 00:44:18,040 --> 00:44:23,040 spiritually malformed. And what did Jesus do? 857 00:44:24,440 --> 00:44:26,200 He welcomed you into His Kingdom. 858 00:44:26,920 --> 00:44:29,440 He received you on the basis of his own grace. 859 00:44:29,840 --> 00:44:31,920 He snatched you? From the Gates of Hell. 860 00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:35,120 And so if you. Feel unwanted. 861 00:44:35,560 --> 00:44:41,080 By the world. Inadequate, right? 862 00:44:41,080 --> 00:44:44,000 Not measuring up. If you're tired of the world. 863 00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:49,240 Holding you like this, then I just want you to know the. 864 00:44:49,240 --> 00:44:52,680 Gospel but. Jesus doesn't hold you like. 865 00:44:52,680 --> 00:44:55,720 This right? It's right here. 866 00:44:57,440 --> 00:44:59,120 And what he says to you this morning is. 867 00:45:00,320 --> 00:45:02,800 Come here. And that's the gospel. 868 00:45:02,960 --> 00:45:07,760 So let's pray. Heavenly Father, I pray that. 869 00:45:08,960 --> 00:45:10,760 I mean, I. This this this. 870 00:45:10,760 --> 00:45:14,160 Text is both true at a literal level we we should treat. 871 00:45:14,160 --> 00:45:16,080 Children, this way we should. Treat the least of these. 872 00:45:16,080 --> 00:45:19,360 This way it's also a. Sparkling, dazzling biblical 873 00:45:19,360 --> 00:45:22,080 metaphor that ever since the 1st. 874 00:45:22,080 --> 00:45:24,840 Book of the Bible God. 'S chosen people have always. 875 00:45:24,840 --> 00:45:26,800 Been children. He's, He's. 876 00:45:26,800 --> 00:45:29,520 Called his people children. Because. 877 00:45:29,520 --> 00:45:32,200 We have not been wise. In the ways of the world and 878 00:45:32,200 --> 00:45:33,840 we've not been powerful in the ways of the. 879 00:45:33,840 --> 00:45:37,560 World, but God always takes. Small. 880 00:45:37,560 --> 00:45:39,920 People. From the margins of society. 881 00:45:40,160 --> 00:45:45,400 People cast it out and. Welcomes them in his arms on the 882 00:45:45,400 --> 00:45:47,680 basis of grace, and so I. Pray that we would. 883 00:45:47,680 --> 00:45:51,800 First receive that. Embrace from you and 2nd. 884 00:45:52,240 --> 00:45:54,960 Seek to. Become the servant of all. 885 00:45:55,320 --> 00:45:57,120 I personally know I've got a long. 886 00:45:57,120 --> 00:45:59,680 Ways to go. In in that task. 887 00:45:59,960 --> 00:46:04,080 Something in me feels as. Though that might be a lifelong 888 00:46:04,080 --> 00:46:06,360 project for me and. So I pray. 889 00:46:06,360 --> 00:46:08,440 That you would infuse. Me and empower me with. 890 00:46:08,440 --> 00:46:10,440 That as you. Empower us as a church. 891 00:46:10,440 --> 00:46:12,400 So it's in Jesus name that we pray.