1 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:06,100 Why don't we go right into the word of God together? 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:10,300 Mark chapter 2 Gospel of Mark, chapter 2. 3 00:00:12,700 --> 00:00:14,600 Again, if you're joining us for the first time, we're so glad 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,900 you can be with us. As a church, we are going 5 00:00:17,900 --> 00:00:22,700 through the gospel of Mark and we are just week after week 6 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:28,000 beholding, the glory of Jesus and it has personally been one 7 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,100 of the most sanctifying experiences as a Christian just 8 00:00:32,100 --> 00:00:36,500 to just see Jesus to focus week after week time devoted to 9 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:41,600 behold his infinite Beauty mercy and goodness has been enriching 10 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:43,300 and I hope it's been the same for you. 11 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,500 And prayerfully, we will see that as we begin in verse 18, 12 00:00:47,700 --> 00:00:51,900 you have your Bibles, meet me in verse 18 and a familiar passage 13 00:00:52,500 --> 00:00:56,500 will read it, and then pray the word of God says now, John's 14 00:00:56,500 --> 00:00:59,100 disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. 15 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:04,000 And people came and said to him, why do John's disciples and The 16 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:09,200 Disciples of the Pharisees fast. But your disciples do not fast. 17 00:01:10,300 --> 00:01:13,900 And Jesus said to them, can the wedding guests fast while the 18 00:01:13,900 --> 00:01:18,000 bridegroom is with them, as long as they have the bridegroom with 19 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,600 them, they cannot fast the days will come. 20 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,600 When the bridegroom is taken away from them. 21 00:01:25,100 --> 00:01:27,100 And then, they will fast in that day. 22 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,400 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. 23 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:35,600 If he does the patch tears away from it and the new from the old 24 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:40,000 and a worst air is made, And no one puts new wine into Old 25 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,700 wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst 26 00:01:42,700 --> 00:01:48,000 the skins and the wine is destroyed and so are the skins, 27 00:01:48,700 --> 00:01:52,300 but new wine is for fresh wineskins. 28 00:01:57,100 --> 00:02:01,400 Lord, this is your word. We recognize it as the Eternal 29 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,400 Word. We need your help to understand 30 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,700 it. We humble ourselves as our 31 00:02:07,700 --> 00:02:11,500 brother prayed and we ask for Mercy Mercy upon the revelation. 32 00:02:11,500 --> 00:02:15,700 We need to be more like your son and to know him. 33 00:02:15,700 --> 00:02:23,600 Intimately, Lord, our hearts are so quick to be hard so easily, 34 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:28,000 distracted. So Swift to look for other 35 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,200 cisterns to drink from in order to be gratified. 36 00:02:32,300 --> 00:02:36,900 But Lord, in this place today. We even from the beginning of 37 00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:39,700 this time before your word confess that you alone 38 00:02:39,700 --> 00:02:43,300 satisfied. And we ask that this word would 39 00:02:43,300 --> 00:02:48,000 only help us no deeper satisfaction in Jesus Christ. 40 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:51,700 Lori confessed that apart from the assistance of the holy 41 00:02:51,700 --> 00:02:54,500 spirit. This will be a dead meeting. 42 00:02:55,300 --> 00:02:58,900 This word will not have its way in us and we will leave the same 43 00:02:58,900 --> 00:03:01,700 way we came in, but oh Lord, you have given us the gift of the 44 00:03:01,700 --> 00:03:05,400 Holy Spirit. And we asked for him and you 45 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,300 said, if evil men know how to give good gifts to their 46 00:03:09,300 --> 00:03:12,100 children, how much more will your father in heaven? 47 00:03:12,100 --> 00:03:16,300 Give the Holy Spirit to those, who ask, thank you. 48 00:03:16,300 --> 00:03:19,000 That we are sealed with him, but Lord, we want to be filled with 49 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,900 him. That is our cry, this afternoon 50 00:03:22,100 --> 00:03:24,800 and may you even overwhelm the one who does not have that 51 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,500 desire and taste and see that the Lord is good. 52 00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:31,600 In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 53 00:03:33,900 --> 00:03:36,300 You and I are continue to comb through the Book of Mark were 54 00:03:36,300 --> 00:03:40,400 walking through it carefully. And our meditation before us in 55 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:44,200 this tax, evolves around a question that was asked by an 56 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,300 identified people, but an observant people at the same 57 00:03:47,300 --> 00:03:49,600 time. It's only when you and I go to 58 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:54,500 Matthew and Luke that we are told who exactly Mark terms. 59 00:03:54,500 --> 00:03:58,800 As people are the ones who came to bring this inquiry to him. 60 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,400 And we've see that in Matthew, it was actually John's the 61 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:05,000 Sciples? Who asked this question? 62 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,200 And when you go to Luke, he implies that it was the 63 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,400 Pharisees and The Disciples of the Pharisees who approached 64 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:16,000 Jesus themselves. That's not a contradiction. 65 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,000 The simple conclusion. Is this is that there is a 66 00:04:18,007 --> 00:04:20,600 coalition. There is some kind of a 67 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:25,000 partnership here that these two schools of thought spiritually 68 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:26,800 speaking though, they differed on many things. 69 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:31,400 Apparently, shared the same concern about Jesus and his 70 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:36,600 ministry and it It had to do with the apparent, lack of the 71 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,900 discipline of fasting. And so they come before him and 72 00:04:40,900 --> 00:04:45,100 they just plainly and choir, and we can use this text for the 73 00:04:45,108 --> 00:04:47,800 rest of the afternoon to guide us into a teaching about the 74 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,700 relationship between the spiritual practices fasting 75 00:04:51,700 --> 00:04:55,000 known as fasting, and us as followers of Jesus Christ. 76 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,400 But we're not going to do that. That's not going to be the heart 77 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,000 of the matter. And the reason why it's not 78 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,200 going to be the heart of the matter is, when you, when you 79 00:05:01,207 --> 00:05:07,700 see Jesus answer, he touches on principles about fasting, but he 80 00:05:07,700 --> 00:05:11,800 seeks to address, Underlying issue behind the question. 81 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,100 There is something deeper and more significant that needs to 82 00:05:16,100 --> 00:05:18,800 be clarified, and that's what the Lord does. 83 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:23,000 She takes advantage of this confrontation so that he can 84 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:27,800 provide clarity about a principle that goes beyond just 85 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,300 fasting. And what we're supposed to do 86 00:05:30,300 --> 00:05:34,900 with that specific practice, and the way we're going to go about 87 00:05:34,900 --> 00:05:37,300 this, the best way, we're going to handle this taxes, not to 88 00:05:37,300 --> 00:05:40,500 have different points, and thoughts behind those points. 89 00:05:40,500 --> 00:05:45,300 But to just follow the flow of art, pause and draw some some 90 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,700 observations, but ultimately come to where Jesus wants us to 91 00:05:49,700 --> 00:05:58,300 come to his, his thrusting point that penetrates A problem that 92 00:05:58,300 --> 00:06:02,800 is common today. So we look at Verse 18 now, 93 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,200 John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. 94 00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:09,800 And people as we know John's disciples and the Pharisees and 95 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,400 that could include even just the general crowd said to him. 96 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:18,600 Why did John's disciples and The Disciples of the Pharisees fast, 97 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:22,500 but your disciples do not fast. That seems like a very random 98 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:26,800 question but it's not random because we know from last week 99 00:06:26,900 --> 00:06:30,400 that Jesus and his disciples were invited as guests into the 100 00:06:30,700 --> 00:06:33,400 Home of a converted tax collector by the name of Levi 101 00:06:33,700 --> 00:06:36,500 and Luke tells us that Levi held a great feast. 102 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:41,900 It was a celebration, it was a banquet and Jesus was there and 103 00:06:41,900 --> 00:06:46,100 the crowd that was there obviously brought the attention 104 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,500 to the Pharisees to recognize this and even criticized Jesus 105 00:06:50,500 --> 00:06:53,900 because of it. The criticism was what how is 106 00:06:53,900 --> 00:06:57,200 this holy man, eating with tax collectors and Sinners. 107 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,200 And so we have to understand that that is the backdrop. 108 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:04,500 The Pharisees knew very well that Jesus just finished a great 109 00:07:04,500 --> 00:07:09,000 feast and so they criticize them because of the associations 110 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,900 within that home. But what's amazing is now they 111 00:07:11,900 --> 00:07:15,700 go from criticizing Jesus about eating with certain people to 112 00:07:15,700 --> 00:07:21,700 Jesus eating period. Why do you eat all the time? 113 00:07:22,900 --> 00:07:26,000 Why don't you take a break? Why don't you abstain from food? 114 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:30,000 Why do you find yourself always in the homes of people with the 115 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:35,100 most undeserving kind of people. And what's amazing here is that, 116 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:38,000 you know, if the gift of encouragement is having the 117 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,400 ability to find the good in someone and the good in 118 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:45,500 something, then the curse of criticisms that you can find the 119 00:07:45,500 --> 00:07:49,000 bad and everything. And some people just have that 120 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:50,400 gift. I wouldn't call it a gift, but 121 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:55,100 they seem to think it's a gift. And they seem to shoot off with 122 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,400 much ammo about how things are not like this or things like 123 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,400 that, or things should not be this way. 124 00:08:02,100 --> 00:08:05,600 But the general crowd in Jesus, they made many observations that 125 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:09,600 obviously, disturb them. And one of those observations 126 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:14,000 was the, the day-to-day involvement that Jesus had in 127 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,600 casual social activities, you found them at weddings. 128 00:08:17,700 --> 00:08:21,400 You found him at dinner parties and this obviously shook them. 129 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,500 And it took them further because of the people, he sat and ate 130 00:08:25,500 --> 00:08:30,500 with his contacts, his Entourage, his willingness to be 131 00:08:30,500 --> 00:08:34,200 with people, with questionable reputations, but the very thing 132 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:38,799 that we adore about our Lord was a scornful thing to them, and we 133 00:08:38,799 --> 00:08:43,400 even see Jesus, quoting the masses, at one point in a way to 134 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:47,400 rebuke their critical spirit. And, you know, the scripture, 135 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:51,200 but let me read it to you. In Matthew 11, 18, Jesus said 136 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:53,800 for John came neither. They're eating or drinking and 137 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:58,500 they say, he has a demon. The son of man came eating and 138 00:08:58,500 --> 00:09:02,300 drinking and they say, look at him, a glutton and a drunkard, a 139 00:09:02,300 --> 00:09:05,500 friend of tax collectors and sinners. 140 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,400 Yet, wisdom is justified by her Deeds. 141 00:09:09,100 --> 00:09:12,900 So you had these Pharisees who didn't like John's aesthetic way 142 00:09:12,900 --> 00:09:16,100 of life, or at least use that to criticize him and then they 143 00:09:16,108 --> 00:09:20,300 looked at Jesus and didn't like his casual approach and 144 00:09:20,300 --> 00:09:25,300 approachability either. And Jesus says, you're just not 145 00:09:25,300 --> 00:09:29,700 happy with anything, are you? And it's amazing because people 146 00:09:29,700 --> 00:09:33,100 who reject, the truth will come up with so many excuses for the 147 00:09:33,100 --> 00:09:36,100 reason why they reject it, no matter how its presented, who 148 00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:39,700 it's presented by, no matter how much you put Grace into it. 149 00:09:39,700 --> 00:09:43,500 Or if you emphasize on fear, they will always stiff arm and 150 00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:46,600 pull back and say, well, this is the reason that I don't want to 151 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:50,900 submit to Jesus Christ but I love my Lord in this tax because 152 00:09:50,900 --> 00:09:54,000 my Lord teaches me and teaches you that when it comes to 153 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,900 serving him, one of the things that you have to adopt very 154 00:09:56,900 --> 00:10:03,400 early The refusal to be moved by the opinions of men, because 155 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:06,600 there are some that no matter what you do, no matter what you 156 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:11,100 do to cater, they will find a way to reject you and reject 157 00:10:11,100 --> 00:10:12,900 your ministry. So, how about do this and set 158 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:15,600 yourself free live before God and God Alone. 159 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,400 Live before his face. Yes, be free from legitimate 160 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:24,200 criticisms but be like your master and be like the 161 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:29,300 Forerunner John who are unmoved by the very things that sought 162 00:10:29,300 --> 00:10:34,400 to move them. And we see here that Jesus 163 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:40,700 answers very clearly. Of why he does not adopt their 164 00:10:40,700 --> 00:10:45,800 idea of fasting back in mark. Why are they so agitated? 165 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:50,100 Why are they so flustered by the fact that he's feasting more 166 00:10:50,100 --> 00:10:52,700 than he's fasting? Well, this is, this is a 167 00:10:52,708 --> 00:10:55,700 teaching moment so you can have to focus in a little bit and 168 00:10:55,700 --> 00:10:57,700 then as we go on, in this message is going to turn very 169 00:10:57,700 --> 00:11:01,500 quickly into a preaching segment in the Old Testament. 170 00:11:01,500 --> 00:11:05,300 It was not uncommon to see different instances of people, 171 00:11:05,300 --> 00:11:10,000 abstaining from food for a predetermined amount of time for 172 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:17,000 the purpose of a spiritual go. Or god-centered motivation. 173 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:20,400 And it was often the case that fasting was a mournful response 174 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:23,900 to personal or national tragedy was one of the greatest 175 00:11:23,900 --> 00:11:26,700 expressions of grief and lamentation. 176 00:11:26,700 --> 00:11:30,100 But more than that, it was also a pre-emptive practice. 177 00:11:30,500 --> 00:11:34,200 So yet people who fasted because they wanted to demonstrate 178 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:39,100 humility before God with the hope that judgment or his wrath 179 00:11:39,100 --> 00:11:42,300 would be replaced with mercy and Grace. 180 00:11:43,300 --> 00:11:47,400 And then there are other examples where fasting was a way 181 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:51,800 of removing daily distractions so that you can put a greater 182 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:54,100 focus on God in your pursuit of him. 183 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:59,000 And so was often accompanied by serious and long-term prayer. 184 00:11:59,700 --> 00:12:02,300 But with all the examples of fasting that we see in our Old 185 00:12:02,300 --> 00:12:07,400 Testament, the Mosaic law only gives us one clear command. 186 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:12,700 In the word of God by God, concerning fasting, only one out 187 00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:14,900 of all Books in the Old Testament, have all the laws. 188 00:12:14,900 --> 00:12:18,200 There is only one that is designed to encourage the people 189 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:21,100 to fast. And that is on one specific day. 190 00:12:22,300 --> 00:12:26,200 The day of atonement and Leviticus chapter 16 when that 191 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,800 great sacrifice would be made for the sins of Israel. 192 00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:32,100 Once a year that was the time. If you look at live it as living 193 00:12:32,100 --> 00:12:36,800 and 16 where the nation was to afflict themselves and now 194 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:40,700 actually means to fast to abstain from food as a 195 00:12:40,700 --> 00:12:45,800 demonstration of Brokenness and penitence because of their sin. 196 00:12:46,500 --> 00:12:51,200 Once a year, every other example or demonstration of fasting in 197 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:55,800 the Old Testament, It was voluntary. but when you come to 198 00:12:55,800 --> 00:13:00,500 the time of Jesus, Fasting became a different thing, it 199 00:13:00,500 --> 00:13:02,400 developed into something much more. 200 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,400 And that is seen by Jesus, giving a hint to that and 201 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,300 another teaching. And I want you to see it very 202 00:13:08,300 --> 00:13:12,500 quickly and Luke chapter 18 and Luke 18, you see what was the 203 00:13:12,500 --> 00:13:18,300 common practice of The Devout in Jesus day and this will bring us 204 00:13:18,300 --> 00:13:21,100 two more understanding of what's behind this question. 205 00:13:22,900 --> 00:13:28,100 Luke 18 verse 11. He's teaching about self 206 00:13:28,100 --> 00:13:31,200 righteousness and true justification and he gives an 207 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,900 example about a Pharisee and a sinner praying in the temple. 208 00:13:33,900 --> 00:13:37,700 And he says, in verse 11, the Pharisee standing by himself 209 00:13:37,900 --> 00:13:40,600 prayed. Thus God, I thank you that I am 210 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:46,900 not like other men, extortioners unjust adulterers or even like 211 00:13:46,900 --> 00:13:51,900 this tax collector verse 12, I fast twice a week. 212 00:13:54,200 --> 00:14:02,300 I give tithes of all that I get. so, the Pharisees For many many 213 00:14:02,300 --> 00:14:08,400 years who have added much tradition to the Jewish law. 214 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,900 Came to a point where fasting was not reserved for a single 215 00:14:12,900 --> 00:14:17,100 day. Nor was it an emergency response 216 00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:20,500 to see God for deliverance, for some circumstance? 217 00:14:20,500 --> 00:14:22,700 That is urgent. It was a lifestyle. 218 00:14:23,900 --> 00:14:26,300 It was a lifestyle. It was something that he did, 219 00:14:26,300 --> 00:14:30,100 weekly multiple times a week. It was voluntary, but regularly 220 00:14:30,100 --> 00:14:35,300 done, Jesus has no problem with that necessarily. 221 00:14:36,500 --> 00:14:39,300 He had a problem with according to Matthew 6 was the motivation 222 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:41,000 and the goal behind their fasting. 223 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:42,900 You remember right to be seen by men. 224 00:14:44,100 --> 00:14:46,900 But what's amazing is when you take this truth and you partner 225 00:14:46,900 --> 00:14:50,200 with the question that they asked back in Mark chapter 2, 226 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:54,900 what you have is a question that is actually an accusation. 227 00:14:56,300 --> 00:15:00,200 It's cloaked behind a question, but it's really a way of 228 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,700 confronting Jesus, because fasting was not only a common 229 00:15:03,700 --> 00:15:06,100 practice among the supposed spiritual. 230 00:15:06,100 --> 00:15:09,700 And Jesus, day fasting actually became a standard to measure 231 00:15:09,700 --> 00:15:14,900 someone's piety. In other words, The credibility 232 00:15:14,900 --> 00:15:20,200 of Jesus's Ministry was under investigation because there was 233 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:27,000 an apparent lack of this fasting lifestyle, which was a ritual 234 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:30,700 created by the Pharisees in order to promote promote their 235 00:15:30,700 --> 00:15:35,300 own saintliness before others. And this is for our instruction 236 00:15:35,300 --> 00:15:39,600 is a knot. You and I may have personal 237 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,800 convictions as we follow Jesus Christ. 238 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,000 The New Testament is clear. Something might be on your 239 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:47,600 conscience. That might not be on a Brothers 240 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:52,200 conscious or sisters conscious and this is a nudge to us to be 241 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:56,400 careful not to project our personal convictions on someone 242 00:15:56,400 --> 00:16:00,100 else to measure whether or not, they are truly spiritual. 243 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:03,300 Because that happens all the time. 244 00:16:04,900 --> 00:16:08,900 We will make the same mistake as the, as these Pharisees Because 245 00:16:08,900 --> 00:16:11,700 unless something is black and white in the Bible, you and I 246 00:16:11,700 --> 00:16:16,000 must restrain ourselves to making judgments upon others. 247 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,200 Because guess what, those people that you might be judging for 248 00:16:19,500 --> 00:16:21,900 things that are not even biblical, might even have a 249 00:16:21,908 --> 00:16:27,000 closer walk to Jesus than you. And so, be careful. 250 00:16:27,700 --> 00:16:28,900 Be careful. My brother, be careful. 251 00:16:28,900 --> 00:16:32,200 My sister. Somebody is not more spiritual 252 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,000 including a pastor because they wear a suit behind the pulpit. 253 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,200 Bad guys. Wear suits to, you know that 254 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,100 right? And just because somebody 255 00:16:42,100 --> 00:16:45,600 doesn't hold to or read from or preach from your preferred or 256 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:47,800 what you believe to be. The only Bible translation that 257 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:52,100 God has reserved and protected and don't judge that person. 258 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:55,800 We have every right to judge with righteous judgement but 259 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:59,400 these Pharisees now are taking what they thought was the one of 260 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,600 the signs of true spiritual maturity and Holiness. 261 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:06,099 And now they're using that as a lens Upon Jesus and his, his 262 00:17:06,099 --> 00:17:12,000 disciples dangerous move. And we see here that Jesus 263 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:16,599 responds, but before he responds to this, knowing why they're 264 00:17:16,599 --> 00:17:18,900 saying, what they're saying. Have you ever wondered why 265 00:17:18,900 --> 00:17:20,700 John's disciples are asking this? 266 00:17:21,099 --> 00:17:23,800 I mean we're talking about John. The Baptist says that John's 267 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:25,300 disciples and the Pharisees are fasting. 268 00:17:25,300 --> 00:17:29,200 Luke tells us that John's disciples also asked and so they 269 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:32,700 had a custom of fasting themselves And it could be that 270 00:17:32,700 --> 00:17:34,900 up to this point, they were mourning because their leader, 271 00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:38,000 John the Baptist was what in jail, he was imprisoned and so 272 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,300 they are clearly broken. And they perhaps even seeking 273 00:17:41,300 --> 00:17:45,900 God for his Liberation or it could be that they like the 274 00:17:45,900 --> 00:17:47,900 Pharisees. But for different reasons, had a 275 00:17:47,900 --> 00:17:51,300 fasting lifestyle as those who are involved with John's 276 00:17:51,300 --> 00:17:54,200 Ministry. Because John's Ministry was of 277 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:58,400 serious repentance. Of serious reform of turning 278 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,600 away, radically from your sin and from your tradition. 279 00:18:01,700 --> 00:18:06,600 And so it makes sense for them to be continually fasting as a 280 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:10,100 physical demonstration and symbol of repentance and being 281 00:18:10,100 --> 00:18:15,800 examples to a watching crowd. But it makes you wonder to like 282 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,100 John's disciples then it some of them didn't get a. 283 00:18:18,100 --> 00:18:20,100 Do you realize, who you're speaking to do, you realize who 284 00:18:20,100 --> 00:18:22,300 you're criticizing? Do you realize who you're 285 00:18:22,300 --> 00:18:24,900 approaching? It's amazing. 286 00:18:24,900 --> 00:18:27,200 It's amazing. What we are capable of even 287 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:31,200 though you might be sitting under, amazing preaching, John 288 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:33,900 was one of the greatest preachers ever and still some of 289 00:18:33,900 --> 00:18:38,700 his disciples didn't fully get. It may God help us, may God help 290 00:18:38,700 --> 00:18:41,400 us. Let's go to Jesus response, and 291 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,600 Jesus said to them. In verse 19 can the wedding 292 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,200 guests fast while the bridegroom is with them. 293 00:18:48,900 --> 00:18:50,400 As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they 294 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:52,600 cannot fast. Brilliant response, 295 00:18:52,900 --> 00:18:57,000 Unapologetic. You don't always have to 296 00:18:57,008 --> 00:18:58,900 apologize to people who criticize you. 297 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:01,200 Especially, if it's a legitimate. 298 00:19:01,900 --> 00:19:04,500 What he's saying is I'm not against fasting, but you do 299 00:19:04,500 --> 00:19:08,100 realize Pharisees, you do, realize John's disciples, you do 300 00:19:08,100 --> 00:19:12,800 realize other inquires that there is an appropriate time to 301 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:16,600 fast and there is an inappropriate time to fast. 302 00:19:17,100 --> 00:19:20,000 And this was very difficult for the Pharisees to disagree with. 303 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,200 And the reason why I'm going to say Pharisees from this time on 304 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,800 because Jesus is main problem was with the Pharisees. 305 00:19:26,300 --> 00:19:29,400 Very hard for him to free to find any rebuke concerning, 306 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:34,300 John's disciples. Even the Pharisees would find it 307 00:19:34,300 --> 00:19:37,900 very difficult to disagree with Jesus because culturally it 308 00:19:37,900 --> 00:19:43,400 would be very strange if not extremely rude to be in a state 309 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:48,100 of mourning and abstaining from food during a wedding. 310 00:19:48,100 --> 00:19:51,500 When that wedding was a time of Celebration and great joy, which 311 00:19:51,500 --> 00:19:57,600 included food and drink And so, Jesus almost immediately 312 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:00,000 Wednesday argument, but he wants to continue. 313 00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:05,200 And I'm so glad to know that Jesus is definition of true 314 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:09,700 spirituality is not being perpetually somber and stiff all 315 00:20:09,700 --> 00:20:13,400 the time. That's not true spirituality. 316 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,000 But what the Lord is saying here is even more significant than 317 00:20:19,100 --> 00:20:22,400 then just the obvious day-to-day life and how you should conduct 318 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:29,800 yourself socially. when he says, That the wedding guests cannot 319 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:33,200 fast while the bridegroom is with them, he's saying that the 320 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:35,200 wedding guests are his disciples, and that he is the 321 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:40,100 bridegroom. And why this is so important is 322 00:20:40,100 --> 00:20:43,300 because he's saying something about himself that only a 323 00:20:43,300 --> 00:20:47,100 careful student of the Old Testament would understand. 324 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:52,800 If you read from Genesis to Malachi, you will notice that 325 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:56,700 there is no imagery. That is tied between the product 326 00:20:56,700 --> 00:21:01,100 predicted and prophesied savior and a bridegroom, you won't find 327 00:21:01,100 --> 00:21:04,500 it. The one who is going to be sent 328 00:21:04,500 --> 00:21:08,200 to bring Salvation to Israel. He yeah, he would be a prophet 329 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,200 servant. Sure, King. 330 00:21:11,300 --> 00:21:16,200 So many places bridegroom, very hard to find a reference to the 331 00:21:16,208 --> 00:21:22,700 Messiah being a bridegroom. But you read from Genesis to 332 00:21:22,700 --> 00:21:28,100 Malachi and you look for a reference of God, being a 333 00:21:28,100 --> 00:21:32,600 husband and God being a bridegroom. 334 00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:36,300 Then you have something. Do you see where I'm going with 335 00:21:36,300 --> 00:21:40,100 this? Turn to Isaiah 54, verse 5. 336 00:21:44,100 --> 00:21:48,500 Here is one of the most explicit statements that God himself. 337 00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:57,100 Calls himself a husband. And the metaphor of God's 338 00:21:57,100 --> 00:22:00,000 relationship with Israel as a husband with a wife, is not just 339 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,000 an idea. But look at one of the strongest 340 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,900 statements that God himself makes an Isaiah 54 verse 5. 341 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:10,800 For your maker capital M, is your husband. 342 00:22:11,700 --> 00:22:17,100 The Lord of hosts is his name. And the Holy One of Israel is 343 00:22:17,100 --> 00:22:20,000 your Redeemer, the god of the whole earth. 344 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:23,100 He is called. This is so obvious. 345 00:22:23,100 --> 00:22:26,300 So clear, and so strong. Because when you go not just 346 00:22:26,300 --> 00:22:30,800 here, Jeremiah Ezekiel Hosea, this picture only continues. 347 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,300 It's so obvious. It's difficult to divorce. 348 00:22:34,300 --> 00:22:36,700 The imagery between God as a bridegroom. 349 00:22:38,100 --> 00:22:40,200 And the nation of Israel, being his bride. 350 00:22:41,100 --> 00:22:44,500 And it's also difficult to believe that Jesus was not 351 00:22:44,500 --> 00:22:47,100 conveying. The same thing about himself 352 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:50,700 when he refers to himself as a bridegroom. 353 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:54,200 But it didn't click with the Pharisees. 354 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,300 They didn't see it the same way that the disciples didn't 355 00:22:57,300 --> 00:23:00,800 understand what Jesus implied when he would be taken away from 356 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,300 them as the bridegroom, they didn't register for them either. 357 00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:06,400 But this is what he is exactly communicating. 358 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:11,100 I am the bridegroom of your people. 359 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:17,400 I'm the husband spiritually, speaking of this nation, and if 360 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,500 he's saying that, then he's also saying this. 361 00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:22,800 If your maker is your husband, then Jesus is also the Lord of 362 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:24,300 hosts. He's also the Holy One of 363 00:23:24,300 --> 00:23:25,800 Israel. He's also their redeemer. 364 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:27,700 He's also the god of the whole Earth. 365 00:23:29,100 --> 00:23:31,800 And so people said, well, we can't really use this to say 366 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,000 that Jesus is fulfilling some Messianic prophecy. 367 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,900 No, greater he is using this to claim deity. 368 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:43,400 I am your husband. Well, the only husband we have 369 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:44,900 according to the scriptures as God. 370 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,400 Exactly. That's the point that he's 371 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:51,700 trying to make and the lack of reaction just shows how they 372 00:23:51,700 --> 00:23:55,100 were lacking understanding of what Jesus was saying. 373 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:57,400 But before we move on, I want you to see something else in 374 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:08,400 Isaiah, go to 60 2 verse 5, Isaiah 62 verse 5. 375 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:16,900 What do we read here? Says for as a Young Man, marries 376 00:24:16,900 --> 00:24:21,400 a young woman. So, shall your son's marry you? 377 00:24:22,100 --> 00:24:25,200 And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride. 378 00:24:25,700 --> 00:24:28,100 So shall your God Rejoice over you. 379 00:24:30,100 --> 00:24:32,700 Here's what's so amazing. When you compare that with what 380 00:24:32,700 --> 00:24:36,600 he says in mark, what he says in Mark, let me remind you is that 381 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:40,300 the wedding guests cannot fast when the bridegroom is with them 382 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:45,400 and Essence because the Messiah has arrived and his presence in 383 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:47,800 the midst of them is a time of Celebration. 384 00:24:48,100 --> 00:24:50,200 They cannot be in a state of mourning. 385 00:24:50,300 --> 00:24:53,200 They also will be in a state of Joy at his arrival. 386 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,200 He is bringing his kingdom. The one that we've been waiting 387 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:00,300 for has finally arrived. And so the joy in March, Is on 388 00:25:00,300 --> 00:25:04,100 the side of the Disciples of the true followers of Jesus Christ. 389 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,300 The ones who believe that he is the one who is Anointed by God 390 00:25:07,300 --> 00:25:09,400 and the Fulfillment of all that has been predicted. 391 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:14,100 And so we should understand that as these disciples are 392 00:25:14,100 --> 00:25:17,000 rejoicing, that is good. But when you come to Isaiah, we 393 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,400 read that. It's not a one-dimensional joy. 394 00:25:20,500 --> 00:25:24,900 Because in Isaiah 62, we read the bridegroom, Will Rejoice 395 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:28,800 over them the same way, the bridegroom rejoices over his 396 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,500 bride. So shall your God Rejoice over 397 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:36,100 you. I understand what's being said 398 00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:39,400 here, when you and I get to heaven, we are not going to 399 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:44,100 encounter a stoic statue, like, deity when you. 400 00:25:44,100 --> 00:25:47,100 And I arrived there with great excitement, and Glee and Bliss 401 00:25:47,100 --> 00:25:48,900 because we have been finally redeemed. 402 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:52,600 We are going to meet someone who also is rejoicing at our arrival 403 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,500 who also will be celebrating that we are now finally United 404 00:25:56,500 --> 00:26:00,300 with them who also will have excitement and an explosion of 405 00:26:00,300 --> 00:26:03,600 adoration for those that he has purchased with his blood. 406 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:09,800 It's a shared Mutual happiness. It is not only coming from us 407 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,700 because we're undeserved Sinners who received his grace. 408 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:16,500 He also saw our God, also will look and see that when a sinner 409 00:26:16,500 --> 00:26:19,500 repents yes, they will rejoice in heaven but when we arrived, 410 00:26:19,500 --> 00:26:23,300 he also like a bridegroom on his wedding day will be filled and 411 00:26:23,300 --> 00:26:26,100 thrilled. She has finally arrived. 412 00:26:27,900 --> 00:26:30,600 It's kind of hard for many people to picture about God, God 413 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:33,300 being excited. God being filled with, with Joy, 414 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:35,700 about Sinners being saved. Absolutely. 415 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,500 I hope that's how you see God. I hope that's how you perceive 416 00:26:39,500 --> 00:26:42,000 God, because the scripture paints him in such a way. 417 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:43,500 Let me prove it to you in another way. 418 00:26:43,500 --> 00:26:45,600 Let me ask you this question and don't answer it out loud. 419 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:47,500 What happens? According to the New Testament, 420 00:26:47,500 --> 00:26:50,700 by the words of Jesus. What happens in heaven, when one 421 00:26:50,700 --> 00:26:57,400 sinner repents, The common answer is this, the Angels 422 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:02,700 Rejoice correct, all the Angels, then there's thousands and there 423 00:27:02,700 --> 00:27:07,600 are millions erupt with praise with one sinner repents. 424 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:11,300 But is that what the Bible says? Is that what the Bible says? 425 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:13,500 We have to read our Bibles very carefully. 426 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:16,800 Go to Luke chapter, 15, and verse 10. 427 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,400 The parable of the lost coin when the woman loses a coin and 428 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:28,900 finds it. Jesus concludes by telling us 429 00:27:28,900 --> 00:27:31,400 what happens when a Lost Sinner is found. 430 00:27:32,900 --> 00:27:35,000 And I believe the ESV communicates, it clearer than 431 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:37,300 any other translation though. The other translations I believe 432 00:27:37,300 --> 00:27:40,200 are implying the same thing, Luke 15:10. 433 00:27:41,100 --> 00:27:49,600 Just so I tell you there is Joy where before the angels of God 434 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:56,000 over one sinner who repents? There is Joy before that who 435 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:00,200 stands before the angels. Who did the angel stand before? 436 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:07,100 God, the essence of heaven. So the joy actually communicated 437 00:28:07,100 --> 00:28:11,700 here is coming from the one who is before the Angels, namely God 438 00:28:11,700 --> 00:28:15,900 himself and the angels are witnessing this joy that God. 439 00:28:15,900 --> 00:28:20,100 The Holy One is actually thrilled to see when one Sinner 440 00:28:20,100 --> 00:28:22,700 repents and then they share in that joy. 441 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:26,000 And if you if that conflicted with your Sunday school 442 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,100 understanding of this, just just peel back and go to Luke 15 443 00:28:29,100 --> 00:28:33,600 early on, with the 99 and The Shepherd of the lost one, and 444 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:35,900 you'll see that the shepherd rejoices when he finds that 445 00:28:35,900 --> 00:28:40,600 sheep, it's God himself who rejoices he is the one who is 446 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:46,600 actually And thronged with our salvation and he will be when we 447 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:50,400 see him face to face. So let's go back to verse 20 of 448 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,500 Mark. For he continues by saying the 449 00:28:53,500 --> 00:28:56,800 days in verse 20 will come when the bridegroom is taken away 450 00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,200 from them. And then, they will fasten that 451 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:00,900 day. He's not opposed to it. 452 00:29:00,900 --> 00:29:02,700 He just saying the timing is not now. 453 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:08,000 The timing is not now but there is coming a time and this is 454 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:10,000 very unnatural where the bridegroom. 455 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:14,600 Imagine the bridegroom at a wedding is forcefully taken away 456 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:17,600 from the wedding. So there's something strange 457 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:21,800 there and this is a clear reference to his crucifixion to 458 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:26,400 his arrest and to his death when that happens and the physical 459 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:30,300 presence of Jesus is removed from my disciples, then out of 460 00:29:30,300 --> 00:29:34,000 Sorrow naturally, they will not be able to eat and they will 461 00:29:34,500 --> 00:29:37,400 Born, because of the absence of their Master. 462 00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:39,800 That's when they're going too fast, you got it wrong. 463 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:41,300 It's coming. But it's not coming. 464 00:29:41,300 --> 00:29:46,300 Now, now, I see something there because this is not a rule, but 465 00:29:46,300 --> 00:29:48,500 it's a principle. And this is not going to be a 466 00:29:48,508 --> 00:29:51,100 teaching about how Christians should fast when they should 467 00:29:51,100 --> 00:29:52,800 fast for what purpose they should fast. 468 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:55,800 But if I see a purpose of fasting in the Christians life, 469 00:29:55,800 --> 00:30:00,600 it's tucked in this verse not a rule, a preset, a principal and 470 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:04,600 this is it the same way that the disciples because Of their 471 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:10,100 sadness of the presence of Jesus being removed from the presents 472 00:30:10,100 --> 00:30:14,100 that they loved and enjoyed and cherished Believers in the New 473 00:30:14,100 --> 00:30:18,200 Covenant. I can also as an expression of 474 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:24,400 worship fast refrain from food in order to communicate a 475 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:26,700 longing for the presence of Jesus Christ. 476 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:34,100 A yearning in an aching. With the bride who says come 477 00:30:34,100 --> 00:30:35,200 Lord. Jesus. 478 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:40,400 But even in this life to say, oh Lord, I'm going to choose to 479 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:45,700 step away from the distractions that come with daily preparation 480 00:30:45,700 --> 00:30:49,300 of my lunch, for example, and the time that I would use to eat 481 00:30:49,300 --> 00:30:53,700 that lunch to instead come before you and say, I hunger the 482 00:30:53,700 --> 00:30:55,800 same way. I'm hungry, physically, I hunger 483 00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:59,200 for your fellowship. I long to know you. 484 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:03,300 Would you make yourself known? Would you come near with my eyes 485 00:31:03,300 --> 00:31:08,000 be open? Lord, please, I need You I need 486 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:13,100 you and I believe that is a legitimate reason to fast as 487 00:31:13,100 --> 00:31:15,100 New. Covenant Believers as an act of 488 00:31:15,100 --> 00:31:19,400 devotion as an act of worship as a way of saying, just because 489 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:23,800 there's already so many things, pulling away my time and pulling 490 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:26,700 me away from Jesus. I'm going to separate greater 491 00:31:26,700 --> 00:31:31,000 time to do what the disciples that in essence to express my 492 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:34,500 longing for him. And my desire for him to be 493 00:31:34,500 --> 00:31:41,200 closer. and up to this point, Jesus is just revealing how out 494 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:45,100 of touch the Pharisees are Because that's what tradition 495 00:31:45,100 --> 00:31:47,000 does. That's what legalism does. 496 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:49,800 When you're supposed to be celebrating, your actually 497 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:52,000 feasting when you're supposed to be agreeing, you're actually 498 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,900 complaining when you're actually supposed to be agreeing your 499 00:31:54,900 --> 00:31:57,600 opposing like you're literally living in opposite ends of the 500 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:00,200 spectrum. They didn't get it. 501 00:32:01,100 --> 00:32:03,000 The Messiah is here. The bridegroom is here. 502 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:06,200 God has arrived in your midst. He took on flesh to rescue you 503 00:32:06,300 --> 00:32:09,900 and you can't see it. You can't understand what's 504 00:32:09,900 --> 00:32:13,500 Happening Here. It's amazing how much you can 505 00:32:13,500 --> 00:32:15,600 clothe yourself with religiosity. 506 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:18,600 It's amazing how much you can actually impress people with 507 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,700 your spirituality supposed spirituality and not even 508 00:32:21,700 --> 00:32:24,400 understand, basic Christian truth. 509 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:31,100 Just like these Pharisees. I Think Jesus could have ended 510 00:32:31,100 --> 00:32:35,200 here. But Jesus is much more wise than 511 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,100 I am. He could have stopped it right 512 00:32:38,100 --> 00:32:40,800 here but instead he takes advantage of the moment to tune 513 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:43,000 out each a larger truth. Here's we're going into 514 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:48,500 preaching mode. He's going to teach a much more 515 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:54,000 important truth that applies to the broad realm of religion, and 516 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:57,000 he's going to do this by taking twin Parables that are 517 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,600 essentially saying the same thing and is going to drive the 518 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:03,200 Central Point home. You've heard it before. 519 00:33:03,500 --> 00:33:06,200 No one verse 21 shows a piece of unshrunk cloth. 520 00:33:08,300 --> 00:33:11,300 On an old garment and then in verse 22 and no one puts new 521 00:33:11,300 --> 00:33:14,100 wine into Old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst 522 00:33:14,100 --> 00:33:17,400 the Skins. What is Jesus trying to say? 523 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:20,900 He's taking daily practical things, and he is proposing 524 00:33:20,900 --> 00:33:25,300 something instrumental and profound in the same way that 525 00:33:25,300 --> 00:33:29,000 you can't take an old piece or a new piece of cloth and try to 526 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:33,800 show a hole in an old garment without damage happening. 527 00:33:34,900 --> 00:33:37,300 And the same way you can't take new wine and put it in a 528 00:33:37,308 --> 00:33:41,400 container of animal skins. And think that as it ferments 529 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:42,900 that it's going to be able to hold instead. 530 00:33:42,900 --> 00:33:49,000 It will burst, my message is in direct conflict with your 531 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:54,000 man-made faulty salvation by works based system. 532 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:58,600 It doesn't work. Incompatible. 533 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:05,700 What he's trying to say is I I came here not to try to patch up 534 00:34:05,700 --> 00:34:07,800 something that's already established. 535 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:12,600 I came here not to be added to something that you believe to be 536 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:17,300 true. My salvation that is offered by 537 00:34:17,300 --> 00:34:23,300 Grace's is not reconcilable with your understanding of how one, 538 00:34:23,500 --> 00:34:29,900 attains righteousness Jesus and man-made religion cannot mix. 539 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:35,199 They cannot work together. They cannot function when the 540 00:34:35,199 --> 00:34:38,100 Lord came. He came to reform, he came to 541 00:34:38,100 --> 00:34:41,699 bring about a new covenant, something that no other thing 542 00:34:41,699 --> 00:34:43,699 can work with something that no other thing. 543 00:34:43,699 --> 00:34:48,600 Can contain something that is altogether new and therefore 544 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:54,199 requires a total surrender to it, a total submission to it. 545 00:34:55,199 --> 00:34:59,100 And this is exactly what he's getting to this idea of fasting 546 00:34:59,700 --> 00:35:02,200 as a way of measuring. Someone's spirituality is just 547 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:04,500 one symptom of a greater problem. 548 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:08,400 And what Jesus Is Telling these Pharisees early on is this isn't 549 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:10,200 going to work if this is how you think. 550 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:14,900 We're not going to go anywhere because what I'm presenting to 551 00:35:14,900 --> 00:35:18,600 you. Overcomes all that you believe 552 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:22,400 to be true. You can't attach him. 553 00:35:22,500 --> 00:35:27,300 You can add him. And if every other religion out 554 00:35:27,300 --> 00:35:29,900 there wants to try to coexist with their Doctrine, let the 555 00:35:29,900 --> 00:35:33,900 words of Jesus be clear. My message is exclusive. 556 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:39,400 It stands alone. You can't be in partnership with 557 00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:41,800 anything else do men. May try though. 558 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:45,800 Maybe that they may have bumper stickers coexist, though. 559 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:48,400 They're trying to figure out ways to bring all these 560 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:51,100 different schools of thought and spiritual thoughts together. 561 00:35:51,400 --> 00:35:54,100 Jesus is clear. It doesn't work. 562 00:35:54,500 --> 00:35:58,800 Doesn't work with mine. The ceremonial self-righteous 563 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:02,300 rituals of the Pharisees could not contain what Jesus is 564 00:36:02,300 --> 00:36:05,100 bringing to them. And I want to tell you today, 565 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:09,400 that if you're a person that comes from a traditional 566 00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:13,000 background, Tradition isn't wrong. 567 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:16,500 But if that tradition trumps the word of God, it's very wrong and 568 00:36:16,500 --> 00:36:21,500 this message is for you. because over the years, it's been 569 00:36:21,500 --> 00:36:27,300 amazing to see and witness people who wear crosses who go 570 00:36:27,300 --> 00:36:31,600 to church buildings but are so seeped and ingrained in 571 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:36,300 Tradition. And Jesus gave the same 572 00:36:36,300 --> 00:36:40,300 teaching, the same parables in a different gospel but he adds one 573 00:36:40,300 --> 00:36:43,000 thing in Luke, that is so insightful. 574 00:36:43,900 --> 00:36:50,700 And if you're a person in here that struggles with Tradition 575 00:36:50,700 --> 00:36:55,200 and rituals and ceremonies. And you can't come to terms with 576 00:36:55,500 --> 00:36:58,800 what Jesus preaches and teaches. Because it conflicts with that. 577 00:36:58,900 --> 00:37:01,400 Listen to what Jesus says. I want you to see it for 578 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:03,600 yourself and Luke chapter 5 verse 39. 579 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:18,600 He adds one phrase. And when I saw this, I thought 580 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:22,800 that's it like that's it that that makes so much sense. 581 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:26,700 I get it the conversations with people from different branches 582 00:37:26,700 --> 00:37:31,100 of traditional Christianity. For example or anybody who comes 583 00:37:31,100 --> 00:37:33,500 from a Works base kind of religion. 584 00:37:33,900 --> 00:37:37,300 I get what Jesus is saying that it makes total sense. 585 00:37:37,700 --> 00:37:41,100 Look at verse 38 just for the context but new wine must be put 586 00:37:41,100 --> 00:37:47,000 into fresh wine skins and no one after drinking old wine design. 587 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:51,100 Is new for he says, the old is good. 588 00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:59,500 That's profound. Many are no different today. 589 00:38:01,100 --> 00:38:08,000 They're so ingrained, In their empty, Hollow religion. 590 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:13,800 There are so fascinated and familiar with what has been 591 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:17,800 passed down from their cultural generations. 592 00:38:18,100 --> 00:38:21,900 And past father's, bringing down teachings, from fathers down to 593 00:38:21,900 --> 00:38:23,400 Father's down to the present time. 594 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:27,600 And because of that fascination of the historicity of whatever 595 00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:31,700 practice you're involved with and the familiarity because it's 596 00:38:31,700 --> 00:38:35,600 so close to your ethnicity and your upbringing. 597 00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:42,600 It's just so hard to let it go. It tastes good. 598 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:46,600 You enjoy it. You're comfortable with it. 599 00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:52,700 And so here's the Gospel of Jesus Christ that comes in it, 600 00:38:52,700 --> 00:38:57,100 crashes into your world. And it brings a message of 601 00:38:57,100 --> 00:39:02,400 freedom. It calls you to embrace Grace 602 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:07,300 and not Grace with works and it calls you to obedience to what 603 00:39:07,300 --> 00:39:09,000 he says needs to happen in his church. 604 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:12,300 And what he says needs to happen at baptism and what he says 605 00:39:12,300 --> 00:39:16,400 communion is and he says what it means to be truly spiritual and 606 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:19,700 what life is, and what and then now you're saying, but but the 607 00:39:19,700 --> 00:39:24,300 old wine tastes so good. I don't want to let it go. 608 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:29,100 Then drink it. Drink it. 609 00:39:30,100 --> 00:39:36,500 And be intoxicated with it. Nobody's forcing you. but what 610 00:39:36,500 --> 00:39:42,100 Jesus is saying is you can't have both You can't have both 611 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:46,000 it's one or the other. You can't have this old wine 612 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:48,000 skin. Literally cannot hold what? 613 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:52,900 I am giving in the new wine of the New Covenant, the joy and 614 00:39:52,900 --> 00:39:55,300 me, the freedom of me, the salvation by grace by faith 615 00:39:55,300 --> 00:39:57,300 alone in me, you can't have both. 616 00:39:57,800 --> 00:40:02,100 So choose Choose and many unfortunately Jesus predicted 617 00:40:02,100 --> 00:40:05,400 the attitude and the convictions of the Pharisees moving forward, 618 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:09,300 they will stick with the old. I'm going to stick with it. 619 00:40:10,700 --> 00:40:12,600 And so if you ever wondered, why is it my relative? 620 00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:15,100 Why isn't my friend? They can't seem to shake it off. 621 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:18,600 It's because they enjoy it. It's just simple as that. 622 00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:20,600 There's nothing profound about. They just really enjoy. 623 00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:23,700 They, they love it. And when something new comes 624 00:40:23,700 --> 00:40:27,300 along, namely in Jesus Christ, no matter what it offers, they 625 00:40:27,300 --> 00:40:32,500 will stick with what they want. Even if it offers salvation It's 626 00:40:32,500 --> 00:40:34,800 a sad reality. But Jesus is very honest with 627 00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:40,200 his commentary because the reality is Works based religion. 628 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:43,300 It's very satisfying to the flesh. 629 00:40:44,100 --> 00:40:48,100 It feels good. It's my effort in there. 630 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:52,300 It's my participation that gains God's favor. 631 00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:56,900 It's the external that that I want. 632 00:40:58,000 --> 00:40:59,900 And this wine is not for you. I'm sorry. 633 00:40:59,900 --> 00:41:02,700 It's not for you. Jesus extends it to you, but you 634 00:41:02,700 --> 00:41:05,600 can't have both, you can't have both. 635 00:41:05,900 --> 00:41:09,300 I was meditating on this last night and no one after drinking 636 00:41:09,300 --> 00:41:11,900 old wine, desires, new for he says, the old is good. 637 00:41:11,900 --> 00:41:15,100 And I realized you this is incredible that the principle of 638 00:41:15,100 --> 00:41:20,500 Jesus being the new that can attach to the old being the new 639 00:41:20,500 --> 00:41:24,500 that cannot be contained in the old does not just apply to 640 00:41:24,500 --> 00:41:27,800 religion. The principle goes beyond that. 641 00:41:28,700 --> 00:41:31,900 Listen, very carefully. I say this in love and I'm going 642 00:41:31,900 --> 00:41:35,500 to say it's seriously because I realized what kind of 643 00:41:36,200 --> 00:41:39,300 Temptations and distractions can happen in a setting like this. 644 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:42,400 So you will see me smile. At the end of the service, I 645 00:41:42,400 --> 00:41:45,100 will shake your hand and can be, are you the same guy that was up 646 00:41:45,100 --> 00:41:46,800 there? I am the same guy. 647 00:41:49,500 --> 00:41:54,700 This applies. Not just to the rigid old 648 00:41:55,200 --> 00:42:00,800 weathered wineskins, that cannot hold the freedom in the grace of 649 00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:05,100 Jesus Christ. It applies to life all together. 650 00:42:07,100 --> 00:42:11,200 What I mean by that? The same way, Jesus cannot be 651 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:15,600 attached, cannot be contained in a religious system that 652 00:42:15,600 --> 00:42:19,700 contradicts the foundational truths of his gospel. 653 00:42:20,700 --> 00:42:26,000 Christianity will never work for you if you just add Jesus to 654 00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:31,500 your life. I read this and I thought this 655 00:42:31,500 --> 00:42:35,400 makes sense. I get it at least to a degree. 656 00:42:35,500 --> 00:42:39,900 I understand it, I can see it. Now, why there's so many 657 00:42:39,900 --> 00:42:44,600 professing Believers that are so Bound in sin? 658 00:42:45,300 --> 00:42:48,800 Why they do not have the joy of the Holy Spirit living in them? 659 00:42:50,200 --> 00:42:54,100 Why is it that they're so caught up in the world and the 660 00:42:54,100 --> 00:42:59,800 entertainment of this world and the riches of this world Old and 661 00:42:59,800 --> 00:43:03,500 the values of this world and the deceptive narratives of this 662 00:43:03,500 --> 00:43:05,700 world, I get it in part. Why? 663 00:43:05,700 --> 00:43:11,400 It is and it all goes back to a moment where you added Jesus to 664 00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:16,500 your life. That doesn't work. 665 00:43:16,900 --> 00:43:20,100 No wonder it's not working for you because you did it wrong to 666 00:43:20,100 --> 00:43:23,900 begin with. You try to add Jesus. 667 00:43:24,200 --> 00:43:28,200 You try to include Jesus. You invited Jesus into a 668 00:43:28,200 --> 00:43:30,500 compartment of your life. No wonder. 669 00:43:30,500 --> 00:43:33,300 It doesn't work. No wonder you're not going 670 00:43:33,300 --> 00:43:36,100 anywhere. No wonder you're the same person 671 00:43:36,200 --> 00:43:38,900 that you were before. You said some supposed prayer 672 00:43:38,900 --> 00:43:41,900 because you were pressured to say a prayer of Salvation. 673 00:43:41,900 --> 00:43:44,400 When there is new true repentance I was taking And that 674 00:43:44,400 --> 00:43:47,000 prayer. No wonder it makes sense. 675 00:43:47,000 --> 00:43:50,600 Doesn't it? The masses have done exactly 676 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:52,500 what Jesus said would never work. 677 00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:55,400 You added Jesus. You didn't surrender to him. 678 00:43:58,300 --> 00:44:01,700 So so take the wine skin as a picture of your life. 679 00:44:03,100 --> 00:44:08,100 Your old life cannot hold the truth and the person of Jesus, 680 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:11,800 you have to get a why new wineskin altogether. 681 00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:16,300 And that's what he does. He removes the Heart of Stone 682 00:44:16,300 --> 00:44:18,900 from your flesh and replaces it with a heart of Flesh. 683 00:44:20,300 --> 00:44:23,700 He brings to life, the spirit that was debt in you because of 684 00:44:23,700 --> 00:44:25,600 sin. And now, it comes up into an 685 00:44:25,600 --> 00:44:28,600 awakened state, where it can relate to God and know, God, and 686 00:44:28,600 --> 00:44:32,100 enjoy God and surrender to God. But that, that stuff, that's 687 00:44:32,100 --> 00:44:34,400 Supernatural transaction. That happens. 688 00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:38,600 Outside does not work. If you just add him, did you 689 00:44:38,600 --> 00:44:42,500 just add them? Did you just add them? 690 00:44:43,500 --> 00:44:48,100 You know, you know, For 19 years of my life. 691 00:44:48,100 --> 00:44:52,200 Jesus was a patch on the Garment of my existence And if that's 692 00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:56,000 the same for you, then you will never know all the blessings 693 00:44:56,000 --> 00:44:59,200 that Christ purchase for you. You will never know it. 694 00:45:01,300 --> 00:45:03,800 So, the honest question, you have to ask yourself today, even 695 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:06,500 though it's been years where you've worn this garment where 696 00:45:06,500 --> 00:45:13,100 Jesus is just a piece of it. Did I did I, did I say, Lord, 697 00:45:13,100 --> 00:45:16,400 take it all away from me and just do what you need to do in 698 00:45:16,400 --> 00:45:20,400 me or did I say? Lord, you can you can you hear? 699 00:45:20,900 --> 00:45:23,100 Yeah, I guess I can fit you in my Sunday mornings. 700 00:45:24,500 --> 00:45:25,900 You can come in my Sunday mornings. 701 00:45:28,500 --> 00:45:32,900 It won't work. And you'll stay stuck in that 702 00:45:32,900 --> 00:45:37,000 place of defeat. And you'll never know the joy of 703 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:39,700 the holy spirit will never know Victory power strength. 704 00:45:39,900 --> 00:45:41,900 You'll never know his Supernatural presence. 705 00:45:41,900 --> 00:45:44,300 You'll never know his leading. You'll never know his, you'll 706 00:45:44,300 --> 00:45:47,600 never know it because you just added him. 707 00:45:49,100 --> 00:45:51,600 And didn't give yourself over to him, completely. 708 00:45:53,800 --> 00:45:55,600 And do you know why? Some people don't surrender the 709 00:45:55,600 --> 00:45:57,200 same way? The Pharisees would not give up 710 00:45:57,200 --> 00:46:01,500 their religious Traditions. You think that your life would 711 00:46:01,500 --> 00:46:03,800 just Jesus added to? It is good. 712 00:46:04,700 --> 00:46:08,700 It tastes good. I like it like this, you telling 713 00:46:08,700 --> 00:46:12,100 me that I can have this, And this. 714 00:46:15,800 --> 00:46:20,200 Now, if you have this, you can't have this. 715 00:46:21,700 --> 00:46:25,700 And whatever you think is Jesus in your life is a facade. 716 00:46:27,500 --> 00:46:33,100 It's fake. It's powerless, it's Hollow, it 717 00:46:33,100 --> 00:46:38,100 doesn't change anything in you and it's because you just added 718 00:46:38,100 --> 00:46:39,900 him. And what Jesus is saying to 719 00:46:39,900 --> 00:46:41,400 these Pharisees, he's saying to you. 720 00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:44,500 You can't add me. You can't. 721 00:46:44,500 --> 00:46:47,300 So me into your life, you can't attach me. 722 00:46:47,700 --> 00:46:53,400 You have to die. And let me take over. 723 00:46:54,100 --> 00:46:58,100 You have to come to. Surrender and saying, Lord, all 724 00:46:58,100 --> 00:47:07,000 that I am is yours. 100% of my existence is now submitted to 725 00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:10,600 your lordship that's when you will know the new wine flowing 726 00:47:10,600 --> 00:47:15,300 into your heart. And he's waiting for you, you 727 00:47:15,300 --> 00:47:17,300 know what's amazing? He says and no one after 728 00:47:17,300 --> 00:47:20,200 drinking old wine desires, new for he says the oldest good fine 729 00:47:20,200 --> 00:47:21,700 if it's good then keep it enjoy it. 730 00:47:23,100 --> 00:47:25,700 Like what he says in Ecclesiastes young men, I'm 731 00:47:25,700 --> 00:47:27,100 paraphrasing at the end of chapter 11. 732 00:47:27,100 --> 00:47:29,100 If you want to live and do whatever your heart desires, 733 00:47:29,100 --> 00:47:31,500 then do it, but take this into account, you will be judged for 734 00:47:31,500 --> 00:47:32,400 it. So go do it. 735 00:47:33,200 --> 00:47:35,000 Jesus didn't say, I'm going to grab you by the throat. 736 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:37,000 Open your mouth and shove the new wine in you if you want a 737 00:47:37,008 --> 00:47:41,000 drink it, But know this you can't have that old wine in the 738 00:47:41,008 --> 00:47:45,800 new wine in me. And so with all this being said, 739 00:47:45,800 --> 00:47:48,300 this is what Jesus is really wanted to drive his point. 740 00:47:48,300 --> 00:47:52,900 It really answers all these issues with the traditionalist 741 00:47:52,900 --> 00:47:55,000 that confront Jesus. It's just, and he's trying to 742 00:47:55,008 --> 00:47:57,200 tell them ahead of time because they're going to come with many 743 00:47:57,200 --> 00:48:01,300 more questions in the future. But he just wanted to nip it at 744 00:48:01,300 --> 00:48:04,800 the bud. You cannot reconcile your way of 745 00:48:04,800 --> 00:48:10,900 thinking and my way of doing this, And so, here's my call, 746 00:48:10,900 --> 00:48:14,500 many calls, but here's my simple call may we all be convinced 747 00:48:14,500 --> 00:48:18,100 today that Jesus was not added to our lives, but that he's the 748 00:48:18,100 --> 00:48:20,600 Lord of it. Lord, we ask that that would be 749 00:48:20,600 --> 00:48:27,000 true in this place. And if there's even one person 750 00:48:27,000 --> 00:48:31,400 in here, who is not convinced, Who is not convinced. 751 00:48:33,400 --> 00:48:35,800 That you of reformed them completely. 752 00:48:35,800 --> 00:48:38,700 You have transformed them from head to toe that their hearts 753 00:48:38,700 --> 00:48:40,700 are completely given over to you. 754 00:48:42,200 --> 00:48:47,300 Then may today be the day. Where they confess and admit, I 755 00:48:47,300 --> 00:48:51,000 don't want him to just be part. I want him to be the hole. 756 00:48:54,700 --> 00:48:58,500 And so Lord, we thank you. That your message and your truth 757 00:48:58,500 --> 00:49:02,600 is exclusive. We thank you that it stands 758 00:49:02,600 --> 00:49:04,100 alone. Nothing can compare to the 759 00:49:04,100 --> 00:49:07,200 gospel. Nothing can come close to you 760 00:49:07,900 --> 00:49:11,700 what you have done and what you offer Islam cannot offer. 761 00:49:13,100 --> 00:49:17,400 Catholicism cannot offer. Mormonism cannot offer. 762 00:49:17,800 --> 00:49:21,200 Jehovah Witnesses cannot offer. Thank you. 763 00:49:21,200 --> 00:49:25,400 That salvation is a gift and that we are free and stand 764 00:49:25,400 --> 00:49:28,400 righteous because of the blood of the Lamb that was shed for 765 00:49:28,400 --> 00:49:32,300 us. And we just ask Lord that in 766 00:49:32,300 --> 00:49:34,400 this place. People would not be able to say, 767 00:49:34,400 --> 00:49:39,500 you know, I'm good. But that there would be the 768 00:49:39,500 --> 00:49:44,100 spirit inspired craving for the new wine, which is found in 769 00:49:44,100 --> 00:49:46,200 Jesus. That's our prayer, in our cry, 770 00:49:46,300 --> 00:49:48,200 and your name, we pray. Amen.