1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,860 Welcome to Walk in the Truth podcast. How do we know where to find answers to the toughest 2 00:00:15,860 --> 00:00:21,080 questions in life? While the simplest answer is the Bible, where do we start this search 3 00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:27,800 and how do we discover this truth? Today, in this teaching podcast, John Metter, lead pastor 4 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:32,800 of Cross City Church, takes a specific text of the Bible and helps us find truth for the 5 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:33,800 life we're searching for. 6 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:41,600 I'm so glad that you are here today. If you have your Bibles, please take them and turn 7 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:47,800 to the Gospel of Luke today. The Gospel of Luke, chapter 19 today, and we're going to 8 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:53,240 be talking about the week of the Passion of Christ. Now, as you turn in your Bibles, let 9 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:58,040 me just mention something that next week becomes extremely important for us. Everything we do 10 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:02,840 today is really in preparation also for what's going to be happening all week long. This 11 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,320 is probably one of the greatest opportunities to invite people to come with you at very, 12 00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:12,520 very special services on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday morning, so don't miss a chance. 13 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:18,880 If you've been with us before, I built a cross on the stage here on Good Friday and preach 14 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:23,360 a message that I've been calling the message of the cross. I've been doing this for 25 15 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:29,520 years or more, and rarely is it that we don't have this service that dozens and dozens of 16 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:34,440 people come to Christ. Most of the time, 40 or 50 people will come to faith in Christ, 17 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:38,840 and I don't know how that number stays consistent, but I know that it happens because you invite 18 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,560 people who are impacted by the message of the cross, and I want to encourage you to 19 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:47,920 do that. And when they come, as we've already said, we'll be making available a copy of 20 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:52,600 this new book that we have out free to our guests, and it won't be released until the 21 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:57,280 16th, but we'll give them a voucher for that on Easter Sunday morning, and so don't miss 22 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:02,200 the opportunity to invite them. It's a great opportunity, and that's a great time for people 23 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:04,920 to want to respond well to that. 24 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:09,080 Well let's talk about the week of the Passion of Christ today. Luke chapter 19 beginning 25 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:16,340 in verse 28. You know, if I could plan the last week of my life, if I knew my last day 26 00:02:16,340 --> 00:02:23,080 on the planet, and I could plan that last week so that the places I was and the words 27 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:31,040 I said had significance for those that I love, I would plan it well. I can't know that day, 28 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:36,680 you can't know that day, but Christ, from before the foundation of the world, did know 29 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,860 that he was on the word of the cross. He did know the day that he would die, and he did 30 00:02:40,860 --> 00:02:46,120 plan that week out in such a way to keep us remembering the things that he wanted us to 31 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,080 remember. 32 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:54,120 As I look through the accounts of the crucifixion, I saw four significant things. I really saw 33 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:59,480 ten or twelve, but I'm only going to share four of them today. But four mountain peak 34 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:04,920 experiences that when we think about different places where Jesus walked, different words 35 00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:09,800 that he shared, we think about these things as we move towards the cross. Things that 36 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:14,780 I believe that Jesus did so that we would remember some of the most important things 37 00:03:14,780 --> 00:03:20,000 about his last week and some of the most important things about him. We're going to be looking 38 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,000 at this beginning in Luke chapter 19. Would you please stand with me as we read God's 39 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:29,400 word beginning in verse 28. This is what we normally know as the triumphal entry. 40 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:36,400 After Jesus had said these things, he's been teaching, he was going on ahead going up to 41 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:42,360 Jerusalem. When he approached Bethphage and Bethany near the mount that is called Olivet, 42 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:47,920 he sent two of the disciples saying, go into the village ahead of you. There as you enter, 43 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:54,680 you'll find a colt on which no one has ever sat, tied, untied and bring it here. 44 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:59,640 And if anyone asks you, why are you untying it? You shall say the Lord has need of it. 45 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:04,520 So those who were sent away went and found it just as he had told them. And as they were 46 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,880 untying the colt, the owner said to them, why are you untying this colt? And they said, 47 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:13,760 the Lord has need of it. They brought it to Jesus and they threw their coats on the colt 48 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:19,400 and put Jesus on it. And he was going and they were spreading their coats on the roadway. 49 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:23,640 As soon as he was approaching near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of 50 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:28,280 the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles that 51 00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:33,500 they had seen, shouting, blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord, peace in 52 00:04:33,500 --> 00:04:38,240 heaven and glory in the highest. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to 53 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:44,320 him, teacher, rebuke your disciples. But Jesus answered, I tell you, if these become silent, 54 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:50,720 the very stones will cry out. Man, can you just imagine that scene as Jesus descends 55 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:56,560 the Mount of Olives and gets to the bottom and heads back up to Jerusalem and sees these 56 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:01,880 disciples just praising him, calling him King. What a moment that we need to look at for 57 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,800 a few moments. Father, in Jesus' name today as we look at 58 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:10,680 this text and the other events leading up to the cross of Jesus, help us understand 59 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:17,880 the message that you have for us today, 2,000 years later. The things that Jesus chose to 60 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:24,120 do, the places he was at, the words he shared, need to affect us today. In the same way it 61 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:29,920 did those disciples on that day. I ask this in Jesus' name and everybody said, amen. 62 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:36,480 Please be seated if you would. So what was Jesus communicating the last week 63 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:42,720 of his life? Well the first event as we've already looked at is the triumphal entry. 64 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:47,280 The triumphal entry, when you hear about it, when you think about it, remember that Jesus 65 00:05:47,280 --> 00:05:54,640 is making a powerful statement and it says, I am the King. I am the King. That was his 66 00:05:54,640 --> 00:06:01,440 message. In fact if you zero in on verse 40, the conclusion of that triumphal entry, the 67 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,680 disciples are worshiping him and the disciples are praising him. They're actually quoting 68 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:10,800 some Old Testament verses referring to Jesus as the fulfilled Messiah, that he in fact 69 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:17,000 was the fulfillment of the Messiah. And the Lord said to the Pharisees, it said, tell 70 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:21,240 your disciples to be quiet. I tell you if these people become silent, the stones will 71 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:27,960 cry out. It's a very, very public and a very visible moment for Jesus Christ and a moment 72 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:32,960 for everyone else around him to know that Jesus was declaring who he really was. 73 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:38,240 Maybe when you read the gospels you see what I see often. Jesus would do some healing and 74 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:43,320 he would heal a blind man, he would heal a lame man, and as the man recovered he said, 75 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:48,680 go and tell no one who did this for you. And over and over Jesus would heal and say, don't 76 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:52,400 say anything to anyone else about that. Now normally they went and said something to somebody 77 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:57,160 else about what God had done in their life, but he was always saying, keep it quiet, keep 78 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:02,080 it quiet. And now all of a sudden on the way to the cross Jesus is not keeping it quiet 79 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:08,880 anymore. He wants everyone to know exactly who he is. So he is riding on this colt and 80 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:15,280 he's moving towards the gates of Jerusalem. Now the disciples and the Pharisees and the 81 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,880 bystanders are all standing around and they're looking and they're listening and they're 82 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:23,960 taking this all in because the message he's giving them is, I am the king, the king you've 83 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:29,320 been waiting for in every way. Now you may remember Jesus' earthly ministry and the different 84 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:33,920 things that were happening and the different words that were said. Remember Jesus was baptized 85 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:39,680 by John the Baptist in the River Jordan and when he was baptized then the father spoke 86 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:45,260 audibly out loud and said, this is my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased and everyone 87 00:07:45,260 --> 00:07:51,480 that they had no doubt in their minds who Jesus was. Well maybe you remember Caesarea 88 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:56,120 Philippi, the place where Jesus had his disciples and questioned them, who do men say that I 89 00:07:56,120 --> 00:08:01,920 am? And then more pointedly who do you say that I am? And the apostle Peter said, you 90 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:06,200 are the Christ, the son of the living God. That was his profession of faith. It was a 91 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:13,000 public proclamation. This is my son, my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased. You are the 92 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:18,680 Christ, the son of the living God. Now he's just come back from the place where he healed 93 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:23,800 Lazarus. In fact, this spot at the triumphal entry is nearby where Lazarus was raised from 94 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,960 the dead. Does anybody remember what Jesus said when he called Lazarus out of that tomb? 95 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:34,480 He said, I am the resurrection and the life. He's identifying himself. The beloved son 96 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,960 of the father, Christ, the son of the living God, I am the resurrection and the life. And 97 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:45,160 now he's told his disciples to go get this coat, a coat upon which no one has ever written 98 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:49,620 a donkey that no one has ever been on. And I have to ask, is there a bigger picture of 99 00:08:49,620 --> 00:08:54,120 sovereignty anywhere that Jesus knows the life of this donkey so well? He knows that 100 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:59,840 no one has ever sat on this donkey. He knows where the donkey is. He knows everything about 101 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:05,440 it and he knows he's going to ride down this path on that donkey towards the gates of Jerusalem. 102 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:11,600 I've got a picture here of an area that looks very much like and is at that place where 103 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:18,120 Jesus rode that donkey down that mountainside in order to get to Jerusalem. And as he's 104 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:22,520 doing that, he's actually fulfilling prophecy. Just as he did when he was born, just as he 105 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:28,720 did as he ended up on the cross, prophecy puts Jesus in those spots, helps us identify 106 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:35,600 exactly who he is. Well, in riding that donkey, he fulfills Zechariah chapter nine, verse 107 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:39,920 nine. Here's what it says. It says, rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout in triumph, 108 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:43,640 O daughters of Jerusalem. And then the three words, you can say it with me if you want 109 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:51,280 to, behold your King. Behold your King is coming to you. He is just and endowed with 110 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:57,560 salvation and humble and mounted on a donkey. And the people, the disciples at least knew 111 00:09:57,560 --> 00:10:03,960 exactly what this prophecy was. They knew that this was being fulfilled. So Jesus' identity 112 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:09,040 is going public. All of a sudden he's becoming very public about who he is on the way to 113 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:13,740 the cross. In fact, what you see them saying, glory to God in the highest is just what the 114 00:10:13,740 --> 00:10:18,240 angels said when they announced the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. And so these words 115 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:22,640 are echoing around and these disciples who knew the words so well were realizing what 116 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:28,320 was really happening. Jesus Christ really is the King. And then picture the Pharisees 117 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,800 of course. There's always a Pharisee in every group. There's always someone that doesn't 118 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:37,200 like what Jesus is doing and they said, make your disciples be quiet. And Jesus himself 119 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:41,600 says that they are silent, even the stones that lie in the roadway will shout out my 120 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:46,160 praise. Now I've been to Israel enough to know there's a lot of stones in Israel. It's 121 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:51,780 a rocky country. And that means lots of rocks and lots of stones crying out the glory of 122 00:10:51,780 --> 00:10:55,840 God if we keep silent. Of course the disciples were not going to keep silent because they 123 00:10:55,840 --> 00:11:01,680 understood exactly what was going on. Jesus said if these don't cry out my praise then 124 00:11:01,680 --> 00:11:07,080 all of creation will do that. And he's right about that. All of creation does sing its 125 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:12,480 praises towards God. All the trees, all the mountains, all the seas, the rocks and the 126 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:17,240 animals. In fact, I'm forever intrigued by the fact that only man doesn't praise God 127 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:23,280 at every opportunity. Isn't that wild? All the creation does it but man does not. But 128 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:28,640 Jesus here says I am the king. The father has affirmed it. The disciples have affirmed 129 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:33,520 it. The works that Jesus did affirmed it. Prophecy affirms it. And now we have Jesus 130 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:39,560 Christ himself saying the words, I am the king. And you're thinking to yourself, got 131 00:11:39,560 --> 00:11:45,520 it. It's simple to understand. Jesus is the king. And my question to you is this, if Jesus 132 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:51,800 is the king, do you worship him as king in your life? Do you lift him up? Do you worship 133 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:58,480 him? Do you bow before him? Do you give him your life if Jesus Christ is the king? And 134 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:03,640 actually from this moment on each person must decide how to respond to Jesus because even 135 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:08,440 those that were there on that day was no longer in question who he was. It was no longer in 136 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:13,360 the dark, no longer in the doubt. Jesus said I am the king. Decide what you will do with 137 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:19,680 me. And those disciples need to hear that so bad at that moment. And we need to hear 138 00:12:19,680 --> 00:12:24,960 it so bad knowing that we cannot be neutral when it comes to this. He is king or he's 139 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:30,000 not at all. I don't know if you consider yourself a bystander or God forbid that you 140 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:34,400 just consider yourself a Pharisee. I hope you consider yourself a disciple who says 141 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:40,600 Jesus is king of my life. And beyond that so many vie to be earthly kings. There are 142 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:45,400 so many people who want to rule and be in power and authority but we only have one king 143 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:52,040 and that king is Jesus Christ. And that's who we worship. You have a king, King Jesus. 144 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:59,120 So Jesus arranged this moment for the disciples and the rest of us who are now on this planet 145 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:04,760 to see Jesus Christ saw himself as the king. One day every knee will bow, every tongue 146 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:10,040 will confess Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father but here he is saying I 147 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:15,480 am the king and they needed to hear it then as he made his way to the cross. The second 148 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:21,160 event took place on what I call the Olivet Discourse, the Mount of Olives. And on the 149 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:27,720 Mount of Olives Jesus made this statement, I am coming back. Now you have to ask yourself 150 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:32,740 why is it so important for Jesus to say I'm coming back when he hasn't left yet. The disciples 151 00:13:32,740 --> 00:13:37,440 are just becoming aware that Jesus is going to go and undergo suffering. They're just 152 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:42,280 letting it dawn on their minds and their hearts that he's about to be put to death. They haven't 153 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:48,480 accepted it yet, they haven't fully recognized that yet but Jesus is preparing them by saying 154 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:57,040 I am king and I will come back. Would you go to chapter 21 of Luke? Luke is the gospel 155 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:03,880 that is most chronologically correct. He writes everything in its own order. So we know all 156 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:09,560 these things are happening one event after the other, one paragraph after the other in 157 00:14:09,560 --> 00:14:15,640 proper order. Jesus has this triumphal entry into Jerusalem and then comes back to the 158 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:22,760 Mount of Olives in order to be teaching his disciples and in verse 5 of chapter 21 it 159 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:27,140 says while some were talking about the temple that it was adorned with beautiful stones 160 00:14:27,140 --> 00:14:31,760 and votive gifts. He says as for these things which you're looking at the days will come 161 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:37,680 which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down. They 162 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:42,320 question him saying teacher when therefore will these things happen and what will be 163 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:46,720 the sign of these things that are about to take place? And he says see to it that you're 164 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:51,960 not misled for many will come in my name saying I am he and the time is near do not go after 165 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:56,960 them. When you hear of wars and disturbances do not be terrified for these things must 166 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:03,960 take place first but the end does not follow immediately. For the next 15 verses Jesus 167 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:11,000 describes all the chaos of what we consider final days the last times. So there he is 168 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:18,680 on this Mount of Olives with this beautiful scenario beautiful picture if you will from 169 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:23,680 the Mount of Olives. You can see Jerusalem's walls you can see what was at that time the 170 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:28,400 temple and the temple of course is gone now but the disciples were talking about the temple 171 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:32,840 they felt the temple would be invincible it had been there for so many years it was a 172 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:38,160 forever kind of thing with them. That's where sin was forgiven that's where the sacrifices 173 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:43,160 were made that allowed them to be forgiven and be in right relationship with God and 174 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:50,160 he said all these stones will be torn down and the response was how? When? Why? And Jesus 175 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:57,160 response was such that we call this the Olivet Discourse. It left them concerned it left 176 00:15:56,360 --> 00:16:00,360 them alarmed it left them wondering what is the future like this is not what their future 177 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:06,360 wanted to be what they wanted it to be. Massive events that Jesus talks about during the time 178 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:10,760 of the Olivet Discourse these are the last things kinds of conversations talking about 179 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:17,760 Jerusalem talking about Israel itself he talks from the book of Revelation he talks about 180 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:21,760 things that we read later on from Revelation and thousands of volumes have been written 181 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,760 about all the things that will be taking place that is in Matthew 24 and Luke chapter 21. 182 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:29,760 I consider this a double prophecy that Jesus gives in that context first as it happens 183 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:34,760 to Jerusalem now later on as it happens in the great tribulation period and if you read 184 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:41,760 chapter 21 of Luke verses 9 through 27 you see all these things before Jesus said that 185 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:48,760 and then I return I am coming back. All through the Olivet Discourse Jesus is assuring his 186 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:55,760 disciples kingdoms will clash nature will erupt disciples will be persecuted in fact 187 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:02,760 often what we see around us today is very similar to those kinds of things setting the 188 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:07,760 scene for some future apocalyptic fulfillment and the future of the world. And Jesus says 189 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:12,760 those kinds of things setting the scene for some future apocalyptic fulfillment and it 190 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:17,760 should say some day soon Jesus Christ is going to come back that all these things don't catch 191 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:21,760 God by surprise and we're supposed to lift our heads and look for the coming of the Lord 192 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:27,760 just like these disciples were to lift their heads and look for the coming of the Lord. 193 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:31,760 Now these are about 15 or 20 verses that have so many details to it I've summarized it for 194 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:36,760 you and here are the things Jesus was saying to his disciples as he said I'm coming back 195 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:42,760 he said you must first of all be patient. Secondly you need to be watchful and thirdly 196 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:48,760 you need to be faithful. You know there's so much that we have to endure until Christ comes 197 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:54,760 back so many difficult things not only Israel must endure that but we must endure that. 198 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:58,760 There's so many things that we need to be watching for. There's so many things that 199 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:04,760 God calls us to be faithful in. But as it gets to the end of the Olivet Discourse 200 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:12,760 look 21, 27. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 201 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:18,760 I just love that verse because some day Jesus Christ is going to come back with power and with great glory. 202 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:22,760 Are you looking forward to that day? I'm looking forward to that day. 203 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:27,760 And the disciples needed to hear this so bad because they didn't realize that Jesus was just about to go 204 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:32,760 down to the Garden of Gethsemane later be betrayed by Judas later be scourged later be 205 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:38,760 crucified later die and go into the tomb before rising again on the third day. They needed so 206 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:44,760 badly to know that Jesus was King. They needed to know that Jesus is coming back and they needed to know 207 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:51,760 what to do until he came back. He was doing everything saying everything that they needed before 208 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:59,760 he went to the cross. Now let me just say that this has great application to you today. 209 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:06,760 You know being a follower of Christ in times like we live in is not so easy. It's so different from what it was 210 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:13,760 a few generations ago. You realize of course that if you take a biblical stance on creation or truth 211 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:21,760 or the Bible or sexuality or gender or morality or family or honesty or anything it makes you a target 212 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:28,760 in the minds of atheists and secular humanists who really want to really want to take a stab at us. 213 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:34,760 It's so important that you just learn to be patient. So important for you to realize that Jesus has everything 214 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:40,760 in control. Be patient, be watchful, be faithful because he's coming again and when he's coming again 215 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:46,760 he's going to reward you beyond anything you can find as a reward on this planet. He's going to come 216 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:52,760 and he's going to reward us. I am coming back. 217 00:19:52,760 --> 00:20:00,760 Now then Jesus went to the Last Supper, the Passover meal. Keep turning in your Bible to Luke chapter 22 218 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:06,760 and you find in verse 19 and 20 the Last Supper. And at the Last Supper Jesus made a statement that we don't often 219 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:16,760 associate with the Last Supper. He made this statement in all that he said, I will take your place. 220 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:23,760 Luke 22 verse 19 and 20 said, this is my body which is given for you, this cup which is poured out for you 221 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:28,760 in the new covenant in my blood. Everyone knows about the Last Supper. You've seen the famous paintings 222 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:34,760 from the medieval times where Jesus is reclining at the table behind the table with 12 disciples. 223 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:39,760 So much detail in those paintings. Which one is Peter? Which one is Judas? Which one is Matthew? 224 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:46,760 As you look at those paintings, that was an intimate gathering with the disciples in that Passover meal. 225 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:52,760 It was bread, it was wine, Jesus was distributing all this. He was blessing it by praying to the Father first 226 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:59,760 before he handed it to the disciples. But what does it all mean and why did Jesus do this at the Passover? 227 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:07,760 Most of us know the Passover was instituted after Israel was delivered from Egypt. That's in the book of Exodus. 228 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:15,760 God used Moses to set the people free and from that time on they were free and they observed the Passover 229 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:23,760 which is what took place when the angel of death was going over Egypt and even those Israelites had that angel of death 230 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:30,760 passing over them but he did not put to death their firstborn because they were told to put blood of a lamb 231 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:37,760 over their door post. It's called the Passover because the angel of death passed over the homes with the blood 232 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:44,760 on the door post and that celebrated this for since the fifth century for hundreds and hundreds of years. 233 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:51,760 And it continues to be celebrated today even in Israel 2,500 years after it was first instituted. 234 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:56,760 Why does Jesus have this last supper with the disciples at the Passover? 235 00:21:56,760 --> 00:22:05,760 He did that because he wanted them to remember that only by blood are we protected. Only by blood are we forgiven. 236 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:10,760 The temple was such a big deal to the disciples in that day as well because it was in the temple 237 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:17,760 and before the temple the tabernacle where the animals, the animals were slain and their blood was shed 238 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:23,760 in order to atone for guilty. Innocent for the guilty is the principle of the blood sacrificial system 239 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:27,760 and everybody associated that with the Passover and with the temple itself. 240 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:34,760 In fact if you go all the way back to the book of Hebrews chapter 9 verse 22, the author of Hebrews 241 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:40,760 the Holy Spirit inspired them to write this, all things are cleansed with blood and without the shedding of blood 242 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:49,760 there is no forgiveness so blood forgives guilty sin. So here's Jesus at the Passover and he says 243 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:56,760 this is the new covenant in my blood. Now the Passover was the old covenant. 244 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:01,760 God had a covenant with Israel and the old covenant was about that and the Passover was celebrating that 245 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:07,760 but now Jesus says in spite of all those years of celebrating the Passover this is not the old covenant 246 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:17,760 this is the new covenant in my blood. It's my blood now. It will be my blood that shed from this day forward. 247 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:23,760 He's telling them and everyone else in the world that needs to see this that there is finally a different 248 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:29,760 a perfect permanent sacrifice for sin and Jesus is that sacrifice once for all. 249 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:39,760 I am going to take your place. I'm sure that by now the disciples have forgotten what John the Baptist 250 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:45,760 said about Jesus when he first saw Jesus. You remember what he said, John chapter 1 verse 29 251 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:52,760 behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Behold the Lamb of God the one who will be 252 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:58,760 slain for us who takes away the sin of the whole world. And basically Jesus is saying the Lamb's blood 253 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:05,760 has taken your place before this day but from this day on it will be my blood that takes your place. 254 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:13,760 Can you fathom what it means for someone to take your place? For someone to stand in the gap for you 255 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:21,760 when death comes. I'm always moved by war stories of soldiers who gave their lives to rescue their comrades. 256 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:28,760 They're so noble, so incredible, so selfless. Or stories of mothers and fathers who would absolutely 257 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:34,760 give their lives for their family and sometimes have done that. It's such a testimony of love, such a testimony 258 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:41,760 of willing sacrifice to take care of someone that they love so much. This is much, much greater 259 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:50,760 because this is God in the flesh. It's like I'm going to lay my life down for yours. I'm going to die in your place. 260 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:57,760 I'm taking your place. You should die on the cross. You should die for your sin but I'm standing in the gap for you. 261 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:06,760 I will take your place. Romans chapter 5 verse 6, 7, 8 is such a great passage that explains that. 262 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:15,760 For while we were yet still helpless at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man 263 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:24,760 though perhaps for a good man someone would dare even die. But God demonstrates His own love for us. 264 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:35,760 In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Can you imagine for just a few moments where you are 265 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:44,760 and who you are apart from Christ, without Christ? If you don't have Christ today or if you can for just a few moments 266 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:51,760 remember who you were, what you were before you came to Christ, imagine with me for a moment what it will be like 267 00:25:51,760 --> 00:26:00,760 to endure all of the wrath of God on your life if you had to bear it yourself. Imagine all the wrath of God poured out 268 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:08,760 on mankind for our sin. Imagine being blinded by the brilliance of the brightest light and burned by the fire of 269 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:16,760 a thousand furnaces, being pummeled by the tempest of the most powerful hurricane for sin and we justly deserve 270 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:23,760 all that punishment but Jesus Christ goes to the cross and stands in our place. And at the Passover meal, 271 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:30,760 the last supper with the disciples, that's exactly what He's saying. He's saying, I will take your place. 272 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:40,760 I must go to the cross to take your place. He wants them to remember this moment. He wants them to understand 273 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:52,760 when they look at Him on the cross, that's why Jesus died. He didn't die in punishment that the Roman 274 00:26:52,760 --> 00:27:00,760 rulers put on Him. He didn't die because of some mistake. He willingly laid His life down on the cross 275 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:07,760 as a sacrificial lamb in order to pay for my sin. Jesus is saying on the cross and to the disciples at the 276 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:18,760 Passover meal, I'm giving my life for yours. Let me just pause for just a moment. Let me ask you to sit at that 277 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:27,760 table with those disciples at that last supper. And the significance of Jesus' life and His eternal nature 278 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:35,760 means that in the same intimacy with which He died for each one of those disciples, He died for you. 279 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:44,760 It's just as real that He died for you as it is that He died for Peter or James or John or Matthew. 280 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:54,760 It's just as real that He took your place as He took their place. Will you accept it? Will you embrace it? 281 00:27:54,760 --> 00:28:01,760 Will you by faith say, Lord Jesus, I acknowledge You took my place on the cross? And if you'll acknowledge 282 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:08,760 that, you'll realize that Jesus has completely cleared you of sin because of His sacrifice on the cross, 283 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:15,760 completely forgiven you before God Almighty. You have righteousness before God because Jesus took your place. 284 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:23,760 It's important that these disciples hear this message, I am a king. I'm coming back. I will take your place 285 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:30,760 because the moments of the cross would completely make them forget many things that Jesus said, but He 286 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:37,760 didn't want them to forget these things. The fourth and final thing that Jesus did that's so significant 287 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:46,760 is the Garden of Gethsemane. And in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said, I will overcome. I will overcome. 288 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:53,760 In Luke chapter 22 verse 42, the prayer that Jesus prayed and repeated three times actually was this 289 00:28:53,760 --> 00:29:02,760 prayer, Father, if You're willing, remove this cup from me. Yet not my will, but Yours be done. 290 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:08,760 Three times Jesus prayed that in the Garden of Gethsemane, some significant moments of prayer. 291 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:16,760 The Garden of Gethsemane is a beautiful place. It's serene with centuries old olive trees spaced throughout. 292 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:23,760 I have a picture of that on the screen. Those olive trees, some say they're well more than the thousand years. 293 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:30,760 Some said that one of those trees was almost 2,000 years old. It's the smallest piece of real estate that 294 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:39,760 Jesus undemandably walked upon. Has been untouched over the years as it was then it is now. 295 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:45,760 As you walk in the Garden of Gethsemane, you've got that sense of reality that Jesus really did walk on this ground 296 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:52,760 and He really did pray this amazing prayer of surrender. If you're in the Garden of Gethsemane, you can look up 297 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:59,760 towards the city of Jerusalem and you can see the Eastern Gate. It's now closed. It's now blocked. 298 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:05,760 But it was the gate through which Jesus went through and nearest to those gates on the other side was the temple 299 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:14,760 that Jesus had cleansed prior to this time. The photo from the Garden of Gethsemane shows us that wall and that Eastern Gate. 300 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:18,760 It's also said that when Jesus Christ comes back and puts His foot on the Mount of Olives, 301 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:24,760 that He'll also be straddling the Eastern Gate of the temple as well, the Eastern Gate of the walls of Jerusalem. 302 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:32,760 That's in biblical prophecy. So the Garden is a place of serenity, but it's also a place of surrender. 303 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:38,760 It's a place where Jesus said, I will endure this and I will overcome. 304 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:44,760 You know the word cup here is in His prayer, if it's any possible, if you're willing Father, remove this cup from me. 305 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:52,760 It's a cup of suffering. Jesus knew exactly what He was about to undergo in these hours before the cross. 306 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:58,760 In fact, the Gospel of John said Jesus knew what was ahead of Him. He knew what He was going to face. 307 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:08,760 And it was a moment of agony where He's sweating drops of blood, where He knows He's about to be betrayed by a disciple. 308 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:14,760 He's aware that He'll be tried by wicked men. He knows He's going to be scourged and flogged by the whip, 309 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:20,760 which was called a cat-o-nine-tails and His back laid open. He knows He's going to be mocked and disfigured 310 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:24,760 by all those beatings the Bible said, almost beyond recognition. 311 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:30,760 And then He knows He's going to be nailed to a massive cross where He'll die. 312 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:38,760 But that's not the agony. The agony that Jesus is experiencing here, the cup of suffering He's talking about, 313 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:46,760 is not physical pain. It's not humiliation. It's not shame, even though all those things will happen to Jesus on His way to the cross. 314 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:53,760 The greatest agony is this one. It's described in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 21. 315 00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:59,760 Every believer needs to have this verse memorized. And here's what it says. 316 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:08,760 He that is God made Him, that is Jesus, He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, 317 00:32:08,760 --> 00:32:12,760 so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 318 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:20,760 Would you look at that statement for a moment? I've put the words to be in parentheses because they're not actually in the original. 319 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:29,760 It literally reads, He made Him who knew no sin, sin on our behalf. 320 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:35,760 This does not say that Jesus had an act of sin. It doesn't say that He sinned in any way. 321 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:48,760 This says that God placed the sin of mankind on His Son, Jesus Christ, His perfect Son, His holy Son, became sin on our behalf. 322 00:32:48,760 --> 00:32:58,760 He did that in our place. And the agony that Jesus was going through in the cross was the agony of taking upon Himself that which has never touched Him before. 323 00:32:58,760 --> 00:33:13,760 It's a powerful statement. And all the sin of the world being placed on Him, that weight, that condemnation, that judgment, that shame placed on the one man. 324 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:18,760 Can you imagine the difficulty of knowing that you would bear the sins of the entire world? 325 00:33:18,760 --> 00:33:29,760 Could you imagine the love that had to be going on in His life where He would say, I'm willing to do that. 326 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:34,760 I'm willing to become sin. I'm willing to feel the weight of wickedness. 327 00:33:34,760 --> 00:33:46,760 And in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus ended that moment of prayer by saying, I'm ready, I'm going, I'm going to overcome this too. 328 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:51,760 I will gladly drink this cup of suffering so that you might become the righteousness of God. 329 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:57,760 I will gladly walk through all that is coming so that you might become the righteousness of God. 330 00:33:57,760 --> 00:34:02,760 I will bear the sins of the world and overcome so that you might become the righteousness of God. 331 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:08,760 I will be beaten and spat upon and overcome in so many ways so that you might become the righteous of God. 332 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:14,760 I'll endure a harsh death at the hands of wicked sinners so that you might become the righteousness of God. 333 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:18,000 I'll be buried in a tomb, dead for three days, 334 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,400 descended to Hades and come back from the dead 335 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:22,760 and overcome so that you might become 336 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,480 the righteousness of God in me. 337 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:26,520 That's what I'm doing. 338 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:28,760 That's what I'm doing. 339 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:30,320 That's why I'm going to the cross. 340 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:34,040 That's why you'll see all these things unfold on me. 341 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:37,000 Jesus suffered, bore our sins, 342 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:40,800 died and overcame it all for you. 343 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:44,200 That's why he is away in the truth and the life 344 00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:47,280 and no man comes to the Father except through him. 345 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:48,880 Because only Jesus could have done that. 346 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:49,920 Only Jesus did that. 347 00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:51,040 He leads the way for us. 348 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:53,720 It means he secures salvation for us. 349 00:34:53,720 --> 00:34:56,360 It means that we're not required to live to perfection 350 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:57,720 because we can't anyway. 351 00:34:57,720 --> 00:34:59,880 And whatever has been done in our past 352 00:34:59,880 --> 00:35:01,440 in the way of sinful actions, 353 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:03,320 he has forgiven and covered that 354 00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:05,280 by the blood of Jesus Christ. 355 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:07,480 It means that you and I are right with God. 356 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:10,720 We have the righteousness of God 357 00:35:10,720 --> 00:35:12,840 that we only get through Jesus Christ. 358 00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:17,000 We've become righteous by his actions, not ours. 359 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:20,920 These disciples needed to hear this 360 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:25,040 before they saw Jesus naked, bleeding and dying on the cross. 361 00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:28,320 Otherwise they could not have processed that well. 362 00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:34,800 There's no song that is sung in many churches. 363 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:35,920 It's an old hymn. 364 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:39,720 And I thought of the song whenever I was reading 365 00:35:39,720 --> 00:35:41,320 through this text this past week 366 00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:44,320 and I actually posed the question to myself 367 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:45,520 before I thought of the song, 368 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:48,360 how can it be that God would love me so much? 369 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:50,520 How can that really be? 370 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:54,480 And the song word is, the lyrics go, 371 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:56,240 amazing love, how can it be 372 00:35:56,240 --> 00:35:59,320 that thou my God should die for me? 373 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:01,880 Have you ever thought about that? 374 00:36:03,680 --> 00:36:05,080 Have you ever thought about how amazing 375 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:06,760 his love for you must be? 376 00:36:06,760 --> 00:36:11,760 For him to undergo all that he did in order to secure you, 377 00:36:12,240 --> 00:36:15,480 forgive you, cleanse you, draw you, 378 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:18,120 save you, redeem you. 379 00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:20,120 It's incredible love. 380 00:36:20,120 --> 00:36:22,520 You've never been loved like this before. 381 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:25,080 No love that you have ever experienced on this planet 382 00:36:25,080 --> 00:36:28,520 will come close to comparing with the amazing love 383 00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:31,720 that God has for you expressed through Jesus Christ. 384 00:36:31,720 --> 00:36:34,200 God demonstrated his own love for us 385 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:36,720 and that while we were yet sinners, Christ did. 386 00:36:36,720 --> 00:36:38,640 He died for us. 387 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:39,480 Wow. 388 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:41,840 He wants his disciples to know 389 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:44,120 that how does that make you feel? 390 00:36:44,120 --> 00:36:45,880 What does that make you want to do? 391 00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:49,280 What do you think when you think about 392 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:52,320 the amazing love he had for us to die for us? 393 00:36:53,240 --> 00:36:54,960 I've written three things down. 394 00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:56,520 I'm first of all grateful. 395 00:36:57,640 --> 00:37:00,160 I am so grateful that I have somebody 396 00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:02,240 that loves me so much 397 00:37:02,240 --> 00:37:04,960 that he would lay his life down on the cross for me. 398 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:07,320 Secondly, I'm humbled. 399 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:08,520 I'm humbled. 400 00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:10,120 He did what I could never do. 401 00:37:11,720 --> 00:37:12,760 He fulfilled the law. 402 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:14,440 He was righteous before God. 403 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:15,720 I could never do that. 404 00:37:15,720 --> 00:37:16,720 You could never do that. 405 00:37:16,720 --> 00:37:18,360 None of us could do that. 406 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:20,280 There's not enough religion in the world 407 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:21,360 to get us to that place. 408 00:37:21,360 --> 00:37:23,360 There's not enough good works in the world. 409 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:26,520 But Jesus did all that for us and it leaves me humbled. 410 00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:30,760 I continue to believe there are no proud Christians. 411 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:35,480 If they're truly Christians, they must be humbled. 412 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:37,080 He did what you could never do. 413 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:39,880 It also leaves me surrendered. 414 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:45,720 If he did this for me, how could I not follow him? 415 00:37:47,080 --> 00:37:49,560 If he loved me this much, 416 00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:53,160 why would I find love in any other place 417 00:37:53,160 --> 00:37:54,720 that would vie for my loyalty 418 00:37:54,720 --> 00:37:57,320 to the one that died on the cross for me? 419 00:37:58,480 --> 00:38:00,480 Four events in places. 420 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:03,920 Four distinct statements before going to die. 421 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:05,520 I am king. 422 00:38:05,520 --> 00:38:07,200 I'm coming back. 423 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:09,120 I will take your place. 424 00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:10,720 I will overcome. 425 00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:13,600 Is he your king? 426 00:38:14,480 --> 00:38:18,000 Are you watching for him to come back? 427 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:23,000 Have you accepted his offer of dying in your place? 428 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:30,000 Are you surrendered to him as king today? 429 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:34,000 You know, if what Jesus did is true, 430 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:37,000 if you believe that this is historically a fact, 431 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:41,000 it has to change the way we live. 432 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:43,000 It has to change the way we worship. 433 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:47,000 It has to change the way we look at life. 434 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:49,000 He's done all those things 435 00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:53,000 so that you might have real life with him. 436 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:55,000 In just a few moments, 437 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:58,000 we're going to invite you to two or three things. 438 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:02,000 First of all, we have invitation stations 439 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:03,000 that are in our building, 440 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:06,000 and we'll light those up over these next few moments. 441 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:08,000 On your way out, you'll see the big banner, 442 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:09,000 an invitation station. 443 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:12,000 You'll see people that are ready to pray with you 444 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:13,000 and talk with you. 445 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:15,000 Today, if you've not responded 446 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:18,000 to what Jesus did on the cross to you yet, 447 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:21,000 or if you've responded in a way that was clearly 448 00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:23,000 inadequate for what he did for you, 449 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:26,000 if you're only paying lip service as a disciple 450 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:27,000 instead of yielding your life, 451 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:28,000 surrendering your life to him, 452 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:30,000 would you stop and talk to someone 453 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:32,000 and let them visit with you 454 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:34,000 and pray with you about the decision 455 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:36,000 to follow Jesus as king, 456 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:38,000 knowing he's coming back, 457 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:40,000 knowing he's died in your place, 458 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:43,000 knowing he's overcome on your behalf. 459 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:44,000 Stop by and talk to them. 460 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:46,000 But we're here to pray with you 461 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:48,000 and help you in the simplest way to know 462 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:51,000 I've made my decision to follow Jesus Christ. 463 00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:54,000 Secondly, I want to invite you, if you're a guest, 464 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:55,000 to come to our guest reception room 465 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:58,000 right outside the center exit doors across the hallway. 466 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:00,000 I'll be there to greet you. Love to meet you. 467 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:01,000 If you're a first-time guest, 468 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:05,000 I actually have a voucher for a free food truck lunch outside, 469 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:07,000 and I would love to give that to you. 470 00:40:07,000 --> 00:40:08,000 And I'm the only one that has those, 471 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:13,000 so you have to come see me if you want to get those. 472 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:15,000 Thirdly, I want you to realize 473 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:18,000 this is an amazing week for you to invite others. 474 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:20,000 We've mentioned this earlier in our service. 475 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:22,000 And what an opportunity for you 476 00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:25,000 to bring others with you this next week. 477 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:27,000 At the end of our service, I hope you'll hang around, 478 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:29,000 enjoy lunch at the food trucks, 479 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:32,000 meet some people that may be brand new here. 480 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:33,000 This is their first time here, 481 00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:35,000 and we would love for them to meet you 482 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:38,000 because we believe that those relationships 483 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:40,000 can be so good, so helpful. 484 00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:42,000 Would you stand with me as I close us 485 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:48,000 in a word of prayer today? 486 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:51,000 Father, today I thank You that we can look at Passion Week, 487 00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:57,000 the week of the love of Jesus spread out, poured out for us. 488 00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:00,000 And see those significant moments, 489 00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:06,000 the moment where Jesus rode the colt, the donkey, 490 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:07,000 down the Mount of Olives, 491 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:10,000 the moment where He came back to teach, 492 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:12,000 the moment in the garden, 493 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:15,000 the moment in the Last Supper. 494 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:19,000 Father, I pray that You would use these words of Jesus 495 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:23,000 and these events to impress on our heart 496 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:27,000 what You think about us and what You've done for us. 497 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:30,000 And then, Father, I pray that we would have the capacity 498 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:37,000 to respond in faith and gratitude and humility and surrender. 499 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:40,000 Lord, help us not take these moments lightly. 500 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:43,000 These are so real, so powerful. 501 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:46,000 Thank You for doing all this for us. 502 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:50,000 As we leave today, I pray that we'll experience incredible things this week, 503 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:54,000 Easter week, as we contemplate, as we worship You, 504 00:41:54,000 --> 00:41:58,000 and as we give thanks to You for dying in our place. 505 00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:02,000 Father, I ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen. 506 00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:07,000 God bless. You're dismissed.