1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:02,520 The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:07,240 According to Mark, in those days Jesus came from Nazareth of 3 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,840 Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 4 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,600 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the 5 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:18,320 heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a 6 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,360 dove, and a voice came from heaven. 7 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:25,840 You are my beloved Son. With you I am well pleased. 8 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,800 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness and he 9 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:35,160 was in the wilderness 40 days being tempted by Satan and he 10 00:00:35,160 --> 00:00:38,600 was with the wild animals and the angels were ministering to 11 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,520 him. The gospel of the Lord. 12 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:49,040 I will come you to this second someone in our series, simply 13 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:54,640 Jesus as we are journeying in the Gospel according to Mark and 14 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,840 if at all you'd love to catch up with the first someone you can 15 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:02,960 find that on our website so that you catch up with what you 16 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:04,560 missed. Maybe. 17 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,360 But let's be honest, life is filled with. 18 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,400 Lots of pressures. They are precious to perform and 19 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:18,520 precious to prove ourselves, but also precious to stay silent 20 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:22,720 about the convictions that we have, fearing that sometimes we 21 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:26,240 might offend others. Sometimes we. 22 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:31,480 Have pressures to blend in. We have pressures to survive. 23 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:35,960 So if you follow Christ. In a city like this, maybe at 24 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:38,720 school, maybe at work, in your relationships. 25 00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:43,640 There might be tensions. Here and there you may believe. 26 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,960 Who am I? Does God see me? 27 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,400 How can I continue to be faithful when there is a? 28 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,960 Lot of loudness and hard and complicated situations around 29 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,080 me. This is where a. 30 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:01,400 Story of a modern day matter makes meaning. 31 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:06,480 Dietrich born Hoofer. He was a young pastor. 32 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:12,360 In Nazi German around the 1930s. This was a time when the. 33 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:16,880 Church was under pressure, pressure from the powers, 34 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,080 pressure to conform. Not to speak. 35 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:24,920 Truth, but to speak lies. Unlike many of us, bone woofer 36 00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:27,760 had many options. Bone woofer was. 37 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,600 An educated man. He could have sought to have an 38 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,840 academic. Career or pastor career away 39 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:38,080 from German? But instead he returned. 40 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,760 To Nazi German. He believed and had a conviction 41 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:43,520 that he. Wanted to share in the 42 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,320 suffering. Of his country. 43 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,040 So he went and lived there when he was. 44 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,360 Asked why he. Barely to do that. 45 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:53,240 Take on that. Danger. 46 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,360 This is what he says. When Christ? 47 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,920 Calls a man. He bids him come and die. 48 00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:04,240 As if he's making a death, a death wish. 49 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:09,360 But he's making something clear. He knows that as a follower. 50 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,600 And a child of Jesus Christ. His father. 51 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,480 Is in control. It is not the Nazi. 52 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,960 Or Hitler. But God is in control and He. 53 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:24,000 Could walk with God in peace. Despite of all the situation 54 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,840 that was going on. I would love to invite you to 55 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,760 turn. To the Gospel according to Mark 56 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:34,720 in your leaflets. Because here we are going to 57 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:37,320 observe that Jesus walks. The same path. 58 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,800 He identifies with us. Through baptism. 59 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:46,040 And a father affirms him. As the beloved Son and then. 60 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:48,240 Later, he's LED. Into the wilderness. 61 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:52,720 Where his identity is. Tested through temptation and 62 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,160 isolation, but. As Mark is writing this, he 63 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,680 wants us to observe the three marks of the beloved. 64 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:04,800 Son identification, affirmation, and testing. 65 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,960 But this is the path that every disciple of Jesus Christ is 66 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:10,800 called to walk. It is not. 67 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,560 Just Jesus himself, but everyone who? 68 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,480 Decides to identify himself as. A child of God. 69 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,279 He is called on this. Same path. 70 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,840 So therefore today I would love to invite you to come and let's. 71 00:04:24,840 --> 00:04:28,200 Go and see Jesus in Jordan then. Later in the. 72 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,800 Wilderness. And as we discover who Jesus is, 73 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:33,680 we are. Going to also discover who we 74 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:39,400 are in him we are going to see. How this path of the beloved Son 75 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:44,160 is a path for his mission but. Also a path for our mission 76 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:50,320 individually the first. Mark of the Beloved Son is his 77 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,520 humble. Identification in verse 9. 78 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,440 After a year. Long of fellowship at the Union 79 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:00,480 Theological Seminary in New York City. 80 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,680 Bonhoeffer decided. To go back to German. 81 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,640 And then he was ordained. As a Lutheran pastor. 82 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,800 Then, after a time, he started a seminary that later went 83 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:14,880 underground. Because of persecution. 84 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,240 And then he briefly returned to the USA when that seminary. 85 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,400 Had been closed. But he went back after a few 86 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,480 weeks deciding. To go back to Germany. 87 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:29,400 And he believed that he wanted to identify himself with the. 88 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:33,280 Confessing church that was being persecuted. 89 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:35,720 Even though we have already seen that he could. 90 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:41,400 Thrive elsewhere elsewhere. You can imagine someone jumping 91 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,920 into contaminated water to save a man who is drowning. 92 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,280 This person is safe and clean, but because he wants to reach 93 00:05:50,280 --> 00:05:54,240 out to someone who is drowning, he decides to enter into the. 94 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:58,880 Danger of that person. Jesus enters the. 95 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:02,760 Waters of baptism. Not because he needed cleansing 96 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:07,840 earlier on in verse 4, John has. Already shown us. 97 00:06:07,840 --> 00:06:12,360 That his baptism is a baptism. Of repentance and forgiveness of 98 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,960 sins. Jesus has no sins. 99 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,680 To repent of. His perfectly righteous without. 100 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:23,000 Failure and fault. Yet he stands in the. 101 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:27,480 Waters of baptism. With sinners presenting himself 102 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,200 to John. For baptism. 103 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,200 You may ask, why is Jesus doing this? 104 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:35,920 Jesus comes to the Jordan, not just to. 105 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,800 Perform a ritual. He's stepping. 106 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,720 Into our story. He takes his place with the 107 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:44,400 broken, the guilty. And the. 108 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:49,760 Lady Jesus is doing this he is identifying with. 109 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,240 US. We are the ones who need crazing 110 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:56,440 from sin, Jesus. Chooses to identify with us. 111 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:01,000 And his mission does not. Begin by being in the spotlight 112 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,560 on a throne. He begins with solidarity, but. 113 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,880 Also with humidity. Before he does anything like 114 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,560 preaching and healing and. All those spectacular things. 115 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,400 He decides to stand. Shoulder to shoulder. 116 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,200 With you and me. Who are following human beings? 117 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:21,240 He end us into our mess. So that he can lift us up. 118 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,960 He chooses not to distance himself from us, but he humbly 119 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:28,880 takes place. Identifying with us. 120 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,360 We live in a wild way, and many. Times we are. 121 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:34,880 Envisioning and we. Change. 122 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,320 Things like status. And platform and power, but. 123 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:40,320 Jesus shows us a. Different way. 124 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,680 He does not begin with strength, he begins with. 125 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:46,960 Surrendering himself. And this is the path. 126 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,240 Of people who belong to the Kingdom of God. 127 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:54,120 Many times you think about beginning impressively, but 128 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:56,280 Jesus begins by. Being present. 129 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:01,320 He humbles himself, showing us that the path of the Kingdom of 130 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,880 God does not begin by stepping. Up, but by stepping down. 131 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,160 Jesus humbles himself. In baptism. 132 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:14,400 And he virtually he will also about humble himself even. 133 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:20,680 To the cross at death yet? We are often challenged in. 134 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,920 Following him like. That oftentimes resists. 135 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,920 Stepping down. We believe in climbing up, 136 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,680 getting noticed. We believe in having prideful. 137 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:32,400 Positions. We believe. 138 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,480 In promoting ourselves, we believe. 139 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,480 That we are only secure once. We are only. 140 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:44,000 Up there in the sky if. I can speak about. 141 00:08:44,159 --> 00:08:45,960 Of people who. Speak about humble. 142 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,960 Sacrifice. I remember someone by the names 143 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:52,000 of Jim Elliot. He was a Christian missionary. 144 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:52,520 Who? Who? 145 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,920 Wrote a powerful line in his journal. 146 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,480 This is what he spoke about, humble sacrifice. 147 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:03,920 He says he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep. 148 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:07,080 To gain what? He cannot lose. 149 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,360 Jim. Elliot shows us that he is 150 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,280 willing to take up the lowly. Positions. 151 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,280 Even when it looks. Foolish in the eyes of other 152 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:20,560 people who esteem greatness. I would love us to consider what 153 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:22,120 might humility look. Like. 154 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:26,480 In the coming week, as we begin this week, what might humility 155 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:27,200 look? Like. 156 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:29,680 It begins by examining ourselves. 157 00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:32,840 In various ways. Maybe we should ask ourselves 158 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:34,120 some of these. Questions. 159 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,720 Where are we crying be when God is calling us to? 160 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,760 Kneel down. Are we chasing? 161 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,760 Promotions and platforms and power at. 162 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,400 The cost of people at. The cost of prayer at the cost 163 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,360 of humility. Is there a place where we are 164 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,440 avoiding some? People, because we. 165 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,360 Feel they are beneath us. We avoid some places. 166 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:56,560 Because we feel they are beneath. 167 00:09:56,560 --> 00:10:01,080 Us, yet sometimes at those places which we feel that they 168 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:02,000 are. Beneath us. 169 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,120 That is where. God might be calling us to go. 170 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:08,960 Even in this week, our humidity might look like. 171 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:11,920 This. Maybe we could do some act of 172 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:15,520 service when there is nothing like spotlight, quietly when 173 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:19,960 there is no camera to watch us and in this noisy city where? 174 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:23,080 Everything is moving. Fast God maybe is. 175 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:24,960 Calling us to pause. And look. 176 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,240 At those people who are. Hardly noticed people who are 177 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:33,720 invisible and we speak to them and we come into their situation 178 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:35,160 Some of them are our neighbors, we. 179 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:37,560 Live with them. God might be calling. 180 00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:41,160 Us to notice them and we humbly speak to them. 181 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,200 But also, maybe God is calling us to confess. 182 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:47,880 Our pride by. Showing him that we admit that 183 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,400 we have been lifting. Ourselves, but we are ready to 184 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,720 come to the knees and walk with him. 185 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,000 Because all of us who are baptized and belong to the. 186 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,360 Family of God. God is calling. 187 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:02,880 Us to a life of humility. We are enlisted to die to pride. 188 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,200 Jesus has set this. Pattern for us. 189 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:08,960 He did not climb up on a ladder. Instead, he. 190 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:13,080 Chose to climb up on the cross. Humbly identifying with us. 191 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:17,280 As dear children of God. He gladly chose to. 192 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,960 Be a foolish person because he wanted to stick on. 193 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:22,680 What? Leads to greatness. 194 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:24,640 The path. Of humility. 195 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:32,760 And then in verse 10 and. 11 The beloved. 196 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:36,600 Son is identified. Through his divine affirmation. 197 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:42,080 Have you noticed around the streets there are decorations 198 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:43,720 that are beginning to dot some of. 199 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:47,720 The streets when we move around. These decorations show us that 200 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:51,160 Halloween is near. And the costumes are on sale at 201 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:54,840 the moment for one night. The people around us. 202 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:56,760 Some of us. Or some other people? 203 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:00,040 Are going to dress like someone or something? 204 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,240 Something strong or someone strong? 205 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:03,840 Someone powerful? Funny. 206 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,920 Or scary. Or admirable but. 207 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,800 Under all these costumes, there is a real. 208 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,440 Parcel in these costumes. Someone who? 209 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:16,000 Wants to be appreciated, liked, not just for the costume he's 210 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,680 putting on. But because of the very person 211 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:22,360 he is, Halloween. Last for just. 212 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,480 One night, but. Many people live a life of 213 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,640 having these costumes. Day by day. 214 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:29,800 Emotional. Costumes. 215 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:33,280 Social costumes. Spiritual masks we hide that we. 216 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:35,560 Perform. Because we trade. 217 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,480 Our authenticity. Because we desire. 218 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,720 To be affirmed by people, but who? 219 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,280 Can truly see us and affirm us for the people. 220 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:47,560 We are, genuinely. In the final verses. 221 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:52,360 In the final verse of his prison poem, Bonhoeffer writes. 222 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:58,320 This his poem is called Who I am, and this is what he says who 223 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:00,560 I am. They mock me. 224 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:05,160 These lonely. Questions of mine, whoever I am. 225 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,160 The knowest. Oh God, I am thine. 226 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:15,520 This is what Born Hoof admits that he cannot even define who 227 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:17,880 he is, not even the. People around him. 228 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:21,480 Can define who he is, but he's sure of one thing. 229 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,080 God knows who he is. And that is what matters. 230 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:30,120 God knows his identity. His identity does not come from 231 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,200 the people outside. It does not come. 232 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:34,760 From himself. But it becomes because he. 233 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:38,320 Belongs to God. And that is where he'd restly he 234 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:42,040 can gladly. Rest because God knows him. 235 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,760 There is something that is dramatic when Jesus enters. 236 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:51,040 Into the waters of baptism. Because we hear that it is said 237 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:52,840 that the. Heavens are turned open. 238 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:56,160 This is the poetic way of speaking about a divine. 239 00:13:56,160 --> 00:14:00,640 Revelation. And the trying God comes and 240 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,680 addresses us. About various things. 241 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,600 Because the Spirit descends. In the form of a dove and rests 242 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,520 on Jesus. He's anointed for his ministry. 243 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:12,920 Given the strength you need for his ministry. 244 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:17,960 But then an important voice speaks, and this is what is 245 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:19,720 hard. The Father. 246 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaks and says you are my beloved son. 247 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:27,680 With whom I am well pleased. This encounter is not in 248 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:30,400 private. It is witnessed at the by the. 249 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:34,000 People at Jordan. John sees the spirit descending 250 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,720 upon. Jesus and the people hear the 251 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,920 voice from heaven. But one thing we should note is 252 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,640 the timing of this. Event of this event that 253 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:46,560 happens. It happens before Jesus has done 254 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:48,440 anything. He has not yet preached. 255 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:50,760 He has not yet healed. He has not done. 256 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:53,720 Anything spectacular but. He is affirmed. 257 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,800 He's affirmed, not because of what he has done. 258 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,960 But because of who he is. His identity. 259 00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:02,320 Is secure. And his mission? 260 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:06,640 Flows from the Father's love. This Jordan event reminds. 261 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:08,480 Us of something that is powerful our. 262 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,600 Identity does not. Come from the activity that we 263 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,480 do. Even when we often desire to 264 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:17,440 wear the. Costumes of success and 265 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,960 confidence and toughness. Sometimes we think that people 266 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,600 are going to appreciate us. Because of these costumes that 267 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,640 we are putting on. But deep down, we are looking 268 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,200 for affirmation. We are looking for applause. 269 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,080 We look. For someone who can say that, I. 270 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,120 Love you. This is where. 271 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:40,440 God addresses us powerfully. Because God is love is not 272 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:46,000 earned, it is just received in a world where we are reminded that 273 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,640 we should do something before we are seen. 274 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:51,840 God is. Showing us that he's ready to 275 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:53,680 affirm us because of. Who we are. 276 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:55,760 We don't need to. Act out anything. 277 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,680 Because when we seek affirmation, it leads to. 278 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:01,120 Striving. But when you rest in the 279 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,080 affirmation of who? We are, we are at peace with 280 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:06,640 ourselves. So this is what? 281 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:09,360 God is calling us to. Do we don't need all these 282 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:11,440 costumes that sometimes we feel that? 283 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,000 If we have them, we are going. To appear good. 284 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,600 In the eyes of the people. God has already given us. 285 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:21,440 The most grateful of costumes. We are fully. 286 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:24,840 Accepted by God. We shouldn't keep on chasing. 287 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,920 All the approval. But in spite of this news, we 288 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:29,920 have all these old habits that keep on. 289 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,360 Lingering around us. The culture around us shows us 290 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,000 that we are. Worthy because of what we do. 291 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:38,800 There is the fear of rejection that keeps. 292 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:42,600 Running in our lives. We fear that we are not secure, 293 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:47,200 but there is a voice from the Father that keeps telling us 294 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:48,160 that. You are my. 295 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:51,040 Beloved and with. You I am well pleased. 296 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:54,920 When we live in the urban life. Like here, there are many 297 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:57,640 pressures. To put on the costumes because 298 00:16:57,640 --> 00:16:59,760 we want to survive, we want to succeed. 299 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:03,200 We want to be accepted, but. God sees. 300 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:07,760 Beyond the appearances that are physical and outside. 301 00:17:08,079 --> 00:17:11,240 He loves us and he wants us to challenges us to remove. 302 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,960 All these costumes. All these false identities. 303 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,040 God is challenging us to remove them. 304 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:20,280 We live. In a world where people have 305 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:25,160 these wonderful regimes, we have the social media accounts and we 306 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:26,520 have. Wider followership? 307 00:17:27,079 --> 00:17:30,160 And sometimes we feel that when we have these titles around us. 308 00:17:30,360 --> 00:17:32,840 They make us. Great, all these might be 309 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,280 blessings from. God, the titles we have. 310 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:37,200 But they don't. Define us? 311 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:42,240 In this culture where there is. A glorification for independence 312 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:44,760 and hustling. People feel that if you do 313 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:45,840 something. And you hustle. 314 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,080 That's when you have made it. God is. 315 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,560 Inviting us to know that we need him. 316 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,360 We should admit his that we need him. 317 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:57,040 And we are worthy before him. Because we have all these 318 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:58,920 children. And our identity. 319 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,320 Does not come from. Any costumes that we put on? 320 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,480 Let me transition to verse. 12 and 13. 321 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,640 Because here it is. Highlighted that, the beloved 322 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:12,520 son is revealed. By his obedient. 323 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:16,040 Testing. The Story of. 324 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:20,760 Bornhoofer goes on that he was. Imprisoned because he joined a 325 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:24,120 resistance. Plot that was plotting against 326 00:18:24,120 --> 00:18:26,840 Hitler. And even when he was in prison, 327 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,120 he remained. Faithful, he continued. 328 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:32,160 To write prayers. And books and letters of 329 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:36,440 encouragement. But in 1945, when the war. 330 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:38,800 Was about to end. Just weeks. 331 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:40,960 Before it ended. Bon Fufa was. 332 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,720 Executed. But he died in. 333 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,760 Peace and with. Clarity because he had walked 334 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:49,840 the. Path of the beloved Son of God. 335 00:18:51,360 --> 00:18:56,080 This happens to Jesus himself, just here, just as he had. 336 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,560 Just been affirmed by God. He's immediately taken to the. 337 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:02,200 Wilderness. To be tested. 338 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,960 This might seem a surprise to us, someone who has been 339 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:08,080 affirmed how can how comes is going? 340 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,440 To be tested. But you can imagine people who 341 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:15,080 go for military training. In the harsh conditions in 342 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,480 deserts and in mountains and in jungles. 343 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:21,800 The purpose is not to punish them, the purpose is to prepare 344 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,240 them through these trials that the. 345 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,880 Soldiers go through. These trials are. 346 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,760 Aimed at. Making them discipline the 347 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:34,800 soldiers, looking at their commitment, making them ready 348 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:36,560 for the conflicts that are ahead. 349 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,280 Of them. So this is what similarly Jesus 350 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:42,200 goes through He's taken to the. Wilderness to be. 351 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,280 Tested not because God had. Abandoned him. 352 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:47,520 But God was. Preparing him. 353 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:52,080 The testing was not erase his identity, but it was revealed 354 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:53,480 who. He was indeed. 355 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:56,480 And also to strengthen his. Identity. 356 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,320 The wilderness was not a diversion. 357 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:03,960 It was part of God's plan. It was not an easy. 358 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,000 Place to be. It was a place of isolation and. 359 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,360 Danger and deep spiritual battles. 360 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:12,600 Jesus faces. Wild animals hunger. 361 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:15,040 And his arch. Enemy Satan himself. 362 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:18,680 Yet even there in. All those challenges. 363 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,720 The Father's love is still. Present with Jesus. 364 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,080 He sends angels to. Care for him. 365 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,120 Yet this wilderness. Story echoes. 366 00:20:29,120 --> 00:20:31,440 A much. Larger story in Jesus's life. 367 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,880 Jesus stands where humanity had fallen. 368 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:38,720 Adam gave in to temptation in the. 369 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:42,680 Garden Jesus resists. Temptation in the wilderness. 370 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,080 The nation of Israel had failed 40 years in the. 371 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:51,160 Wilderness. Jesus conquers for. 40 days in 372 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:54,680 the same wilderness, he proves. Himself as the faithful. 373 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,720 Son. He succeeds where humanity has. 374 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:01,200 Failed. His victory does not only. 375 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:05,000 Belong to him, but he belongs to us all as children of God. 376 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:09,320 Maybe we. Assume that sometimes obedience 377 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,200 is going to. Lead to comfort, always the 378 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:13,480 scripture. Paints for us a. 379 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:15,800 Different story. Obedience. 380 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:18,960 May lead to. Inconvenience and testing. 381 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:21,680 Yet hardship. Does not. 382 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:23,240 Allow us. Who we are. 383 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:28,120 We forget that sometimes life can be hard, but God wants to 384 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:31,560 use some of those hardest. Situations to strengthen us, to 385 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:36,320 refine us, and to prepare us for growth the. 386 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:39,760 Wilderness that is not something that we shouldn't castaway. 387 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:44,040 It is part of God's plan. Even here in the city where we 388 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,080 are living, there are many things that. 389 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:49,600 Seem like wilderness. We may be surrounded by people, 390 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:54,040 but we may feel lonely. Community sometimes is shallow. 391 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:56,120 It is hard to build. Community around you. 392 00:21:56,760 --> 00:22:01,200 Jesus experienced isolation, but he was not abandoned by God, was 393 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:04,640 on his own, isolated. But God was with him. 394 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:08,520 It may seem like many people are moving ahead of us. 395 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,000 Many people are going. Ahead of us we are. 396 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:15,360 Slow in life? Sometimes we feel. 397 00:22:15,360 --> 00:22:17,720 That the delay that God is giving us is. 398 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:19,440 Denial. But God is. 399 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:23,520 Timing is perfect. Even in a culture where there is 400 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:27,920 emphasis about speed. God can determine our speed in 401 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:32,960 ways that we cannot imagine. Let me finish the Bone Fufa 402 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:37,640 story about His final moments. The Doctor Who witnessed how 403 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:38,840 bone hoofa. Died. 404 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:43,120 This is what he observed. He observed the man who was 405 00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:44,280 deeply in. Prayer. 406 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:46,880 He was certain. About God. 407 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:50,200 He said that he had never seen any man. 408 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:52,440 Pray like how Bornhoofer was praying. 409 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,800 Even in the face of. Death Bornhoofer stood. 410 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:59,320 Family he was. Rooted in his identity, he 411 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:01,120 couldn't. Be shaken in any fear. 412 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:04,720 He prayed to God and even believed in God even for the 413 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:09,760 darkest of times he was facing. He was ready to walk the path of 414 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:13,200 a beloved child of God. In spite of all the trials. 415 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:15,400 That were around him, even death. 416 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:19,440 Maybe he was hearing this voice. God telling him that I love you. 417 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:22,280 I know you. I know the trials were going. 418 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:27,880 Through you are dear to me, dear beloved, in Christ, let us. 419 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,480 Continue standing firmly in our identity. 420 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:34,720 Let us rest in that. Affirmation that comes from God 421 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:37,800 who knows us. Even as we are walking in 422 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,440 trials. And testing like the beloved Son 423 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,160 Jesus himself. We shouldn't fear the. 424 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:47,200 The things ahead of us. The voice of God continues 425 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:48,640 speaking. That you are my. 426 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,640 Beloved Son, and I am well pleased with you. 427 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:55,040 Let this voice. Continue guiding us. 428 00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:58,480 Even when there is times when we are feeling that there is no 429 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:02,000 peace around us, let. This voice continue comforting 430 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:06,760 us and encouraging us on this path of the beloved children of 431 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:09,160 God. I pray that. 432 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,040 God may continue giving us peace. 433 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:15,080 In the name of the Father, this and the Holy Spirit, Amen.