WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.440 So today I'd like to look at the humble king. 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:07.639 We're going to be turning to the book of Zechariah 00:00:07.639 --> 00:00:11.099 chapter 9 and verse 9 and then looking at Matthew 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:13.720 21 just again which was just read but we're going 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:17.620 to be seeing the prophecy in verses 4 and 5 and 00:00:17.620 --> 00:00:20.339 then we're going to go to look at Philippians, 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:24.199 the book of Philippians chapter 2. So a few different 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:26.980 passages that I'm going to read here. Beginning 00:00:26.980 --> 00:00:31.000 in Zechariah chapter 9 verse 9. Rejoice greatly, 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:34.840 O daughter of Zion. Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:38.619 Behold, your king is coming to you. He is just 00:00:38.619 --> 00:00:42.960 and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:47.899 a colt, the foal of a donkey. Matthew 21, verse 00:00:47.899 --> 00:00:53.920 4 and 5. Matthew records, All this was done that 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:56.659 it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the 00:00:56.659 --> 00:01:00.380 prophet. which we have just read, saying, Tell 00:01:00.380 --> 00:01:03.840 the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:08.859 to you lowly and sitting on a donkey, a colt, 00:01:08.859 --> 00:01:13.560 the foal of a donkey. Now we turn to the book 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:17.219 of Philippians chapter 2, beginning in verse 00:01:17.219 --> 00:01:20.840 1. Therefore, if there is any consolation in 00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:24.920 Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship 00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:29.420 of the Spirit, If any affection and mercy. Fulfill 00:01:29.420 --> 00:01:32.560 my joy by being like -minded, having the same 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:36.659 love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing 00:01:36.659 --> 00:01:39.760 be done through selfish ambition or conceit. 00:01:40.019 --> 00:01:43.079 But in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:46.540 better than himself. Let each of you look out 00:01:46.540 --> 00:01:50.760 not only for his own interests, but also for 00:01:50.760 --> 00:01:53.780 the interests of others. Let this mind be in 00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:57.439 you. which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:00.579 in the form of God, did not consider it robbery 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:04.459 to be equal with God, but made himself of no 00:02:04.459 --> 00:02:07.700 reputation, taking the form of a bondservant 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:11.340 and coming in the likeness of men. And being 00:02:11.340 --> 00:02:14.560 found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:18.659 and became obedient to the point of death, even 00:02:18.659 --> 00:02:22.590 the death of the cross. Therefore God also has 00:02:22.590 --> 00:02:25.629 highly exalted him and given him the name which 00:02:25.629 --> 00:02:29.349 is above every name, that at the name of Jesus 00:02:29.349 --> 00:02:34.870 every knee should bow of those in heaven and 00:02:34.870 --> 00:02:37.770 those on earth and of those under the earth, 00:02:37.889 --> 00:02:41.469 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus 00:02:41.469 --> 00:02:45.930 Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 00:02:46.169 --> 00:02:49.879 Let's pray. Father, thank you for this time together. 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:52.379 We pray, Lord, that you would open up your word 00:02:52.379 --> 00:02:55.379 to us today, that you would speak to us, Lord. 00:02:55.479 --> 00:02:57.639 We pray that you would grant us the power of 00:02:57.639 --> 00:03:00.300 the Holy Spirit, that we might know and understand 00:03:00.300 --> 00:03:04.159 how we are to be followers of this Christ, of 00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:08.400 Jesus Christ, our Lord, the humble servant. We 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:10.580 pray, Lord, that you would open up your word, 00:03:10.659 --> 00:03:16.750 and we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. The time of 00:03:16.750 --> 00:03:19.409 the great festival had arrived, the Passover 00:03:19.409 --> 00:03:22.490 and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Now this was 00:03:22.490 --> 00:03:24.810 the time of the celebration of the birth of the 00:03:24.810 --> 00:03:27.870 nation of Israel, when they had departed from 00:03:27.870 --> 00:03:32.310 the land of Egypt, where they had grown from 00:03:32.310 --> 00:03:36.629 a family of around 70 people 430 years prior, 00:03:36.849 --> 00:03:40.090 as Jacob and his descendants moved to the land 00:03:40.090 --> 00:03:43.379 because of severe famine. Though Pharaoh, the 00:03:43.379 --> 00:03:45.699 ruler of Egypt, did not allow them to depart 00:03:45.699 --> 00:03:48.360 to return to the promised land, the Lord God 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:51.759 Almighty miraculously intervened with great and 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:54.840 mighty deeds through plagues that destroyed their 00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:58.280 crops, their livestock. And finally, after he 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:00.759 gave the Israelites instructions on how to have 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:04.020 the Passover meal and then to cover the doorposts 00:04:04.020 --> 00:04:07.479 and lintels with the blood of the lamb, God struck 00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:12.509 down all of the firstborn. sons and firstborn 00:04:12.509 --> 00:04:17.529 of the cattle of the Egyptians, and all who had 00:04:17.529 --> 00:04:20.870 not obeyed him in his instructions. The people 00:04:20.870 --> 00:04:24.370 of God were then set free to return, and which 00:04:24.370 --> 00:04:26.889 they did and were led to the land of Israel. 00:04:27.329 --> 00:04:29.810 Now all this and more were in the minds of the 00:04:29.810 --> 00:04:32.810 people as they ascended to Jerusalem and to the 00:04:32.810 --> 00:04:35.589 Temple Mount, for this was a very joyous time 00:04:35.589 --> 00:04:40.290 for Israel. Alfred Edersheim writes, from all 00:04:40.290 --> 00:04:42.990 parts of the land and from foreign countries, 00:04:43.110 --> 00:04:46.569 the festive pilgrims had come up in bands, singing 00:04:46.569 --> 00:04:49.610 their pilgrim psalms and bringing with them burnt 00:04:49.610 --> 00:04:52.250 and peace offerings, as according as the Lord 00:04:52.250 --> 00:04:55.370 had blessed them, that none might appear empty 00:04:55.370 --> 00:04:58.769 before him. The instructions for this are found 00:04:58.769 --> 00:05:03.529 in Exodus chapter 23 and in Deuteronomy 16. God 00:05:03.529 --> 00:05:06.569 had commanded that every male come to the temple 00:05:06.569 --> 00:05:09.410 or to the place of worship for three feasts a 00:05:09.410 --> 00:05:13.050 year. This was one of the most important. Luke 00:05:13.050 --> 00:05:15.430 tells us that the parents of Jesus went up every 00:05:15.430 --> 00:05:18.569 year for the feast of the Passover. And when 00:05:18.569 --> 00:05:22.910 Jesus was 12, they took him along. Around 2 .7 00:05:22.910 --> 00:05:26.079 to 3 million people would gather. Some inside 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:29.160 the city walls, some camped outside around the 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:31.660 city, or some who stayed with the dwellers of 00:05:31.660 --> 00:05:35.620 the nearby towns of Bethphage and Bethany. These 00:05:35.620 --> 00:05:38.540 towns were noted for their hospitality toward 00:05:38.540 --> 00:05:41.800 the festive pilgrims. The Psalm of Ascent would 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:47.220 be sung, Psalm 120 through 136, and around 256 00:05:47.220 --> 00:05:51.500 ,000 lambs would be sacrificed on each Passover 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:56.089 day at this time. in the narrative in Matthew 00:05:56.089 --> 00:06:02.110 chapter 21. This would feed around 10 people 00:06:02.110 --> 00:06:05.930 each, as recorded by the historian Josephus, 00:06:05.949 --> 00:06:10.290 thus giving the approximate numbers of people. 00:06:10.550 --> 00:06:13.629 Truly it was an incredible sight to behold, as 00:06:13.629 --> 00:06:16.050 the sacrifices were made, and the Passover meal 00:06:16.050 --> 00:06:18.709 was eaten, and all of the ceremonies, and the 00:06:18.709 --> 00:06:22.050 singing, and the fellowship. It was very impressive. 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:25.660 Now it's about at this time and occasion, around 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:28.079 three and a half years into the ministry of Jesus 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:32.620 on earth, and he made his way to Jerusalem for 00:06:32.620 --> 00:06:35.779 this feast. Only this one was going to be different, 00:06:35.879 --> 00:06:39.060 far different than anyone either before or after, 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:42.899 because Jesus would fulfill the prophecies concerning 00:06:42.899 --> 00:06:47.399 himself. He began by instructing two of his disciples 00:06:47.399 --> 00:06:51.339 to bring the colt of a donkey. This was his triumphal 00:06:51.339 --> 00:06:54.040 entry into Jerusalem as a king, but in a different 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:57.079 way than any king had ever come or would come 00:06:57.079 --> 00:07:00.199 hereafter. Rather than great pomp and circumstance 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:03.160 and with the blowing of trumpets and the beating 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:07.300 of drums, the disciples instead threw some clothes 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:10.839 on a young donkey's back and Jesus sat on it 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:13.800 and descended the Mount of Olives toward the 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:16.899 city proper. The crowd saw it, and they knew 00:07:16.899 --> 00:07:19.899 that this was an auspicious occasion, some knowing 00:07:19.899 --> 00:07:22.420 that it was a fulfillment of prophecy. They spread 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:25.120 their clothes on the road for him to ride on, 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:28.220 and others cut down leafy branches from the trees 00:07:28.220 --> 00:07:31.920 and spread them on the road. Those who went before 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:36.259 and after cried out, saying, Hosanna! Blessed 00:07:36.259 --> 00:07:39.600 is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:42.970 in the highest! Jesus received the acclaim of 00:07:42.970 --> 00:07:45.949 the crowds, and he rode on in humble majesty 00:07:45.949 --> 00:07:49.629 into Jerusalem and into the temple, that place 00:07:49.629 --> 00:07:51.850 of the public worship of the Lord God Almighty. 00:07:52.550 --> 00:07:55.810 But while Jesus was indeed and in truth a rightful 00:07:55.810 --> 00:08:00.990 king, he was not the king that they expected. 00:08:02.230 --> 00:08:05.069 Jesus started by returning the following day 00:08:05.069 --> 00:08:09.189 to overturn the money changers' tables in the 00:08:09.189 --> 00:08:12.910 temple. and to cleanse it. He taught his disciples. 00:08:13.209 --> 00:08:15.610 He answered the question of his authority by 00:08:15.610 --> 00:08:17.930 shutting the mouths of the opposition, which 00:08:17.930 --> 00:08:20.389 consisted of the chief priests and the scribes 00:08:20.389 --> 00:08:22.610 and the elders and the Pharisees and the Herodians 00:08:22.610 --> 00:08:26.430 and the Sadducees and the lawyers. He prophesied 00:08:26.430 --> 00:08:29.110 of the destruction of the temple that would occur 00:08:29.110 --> 00:08:32.779 around 38 years later within a generation. He 00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:36.320 wept over the city of Jerusalem as recorded in 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:39.779 Matthew chapter 23. A most stirring and poignant 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:42.980 lament in which he cries out and he says, Oh 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:47.720 Jerusalem, oh Jerusalem, the one who kills the 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:50.679 prophets and stones those who are sent to her. 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:54.039 How often I wanted to gather your children together 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:57.759 as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. 00:08:57.899 --> 00:09:03.399 But you were not willing. See. Your house is 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:07.419 left to you desolate. For I say to you, you shall 00:09:07.419 --> 00:09:11.159 see me no more till you say, blessed is he who 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:16.019 comes in the name of the Lord. Now today on this 00:09:16.019 --> 00:09:18.879 Palm Sunday, as we remember these events, I'm 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:22.039 going to be focusing on the humility of Christ 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:26.159 the King. Now this humility was prophesied already 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:29.080 back in Psalm 45, which Paul read to us today. 00:09:29.299 --> 00:09:32.820 Verse 3 and 4, gird your sword upon your thigh, 00:09:33.019 --> 00:09:36.019 O mighty one, with your glory and your majesty, 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:39.879 and in your majesty ride prosperously because 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:44.600 of truth, because of humility and righteousness. 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:47.840 and your right hand shall teach you awesome things. 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:50.879 Now Matthew quotes the prophecy of Zechariah, 00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:53.519 which we read, and he applies it to Jesus in 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:56.240 Matthew 21, verse 5. Tell the daughter of Zion, 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:59.179 behold, your king is coming to you. But what 00:09:59.179 --> 00:10:03.360 is this king like? He is lowly. He is lowly, 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:07.320 riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. 00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:10.679 And instead of being received into the temple 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:13.580 as the anointed king and Messiah by the leaders 00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:18.309 of Israel, Christ receives the acclaim of the 00:10:18.309 --> 00:10:22.590 children. Of the children. Children of those 00:10:22.590 --> 00:10:26.549 whom Jesus had said earlier in his ministry in 00:10:26.549 --> 00:10:30.269 Matthew 18 verse 3 saying, Assuredly I say to 00:10:30.269 --> 00:10:34.029 you, unless you are converted and become as little 00:10:34.029 --> 00:10:37.610 children, you will by no means enter into the 00:10:37.610 --> 00:10:40.950 kingdom of heaven. And now, who is it but the 00:10:40.950 --> 00:10:43.730 children? It is the children who cry with acclaim. 00:10:43.750 --> 00:10:46.230 And they continue then the following day, crying 00:10:46.230 --> 00:10:50.250 out in the temple, following Jesus around, Hosanna 00:10:50.250 --> 00:10:53.889 to the son of David. And then Jesus quotes Psalm 00:10:53.889 --> 00:10:56.730 8, out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, 00:10:57.009 --> 00:11:01.629 you have perfected praise. As we meditate and 00:11:01.629 --> 00:11:05.590 consider today the humility of our king, where 00:11:05.590 --> 00:11:08.730 better to turn to? Then the St. Paul's description 00:11:08.730 --> 00:11:12.590 in the book of Philippians chapter 2, this wonderful, 00:11:12.830 --> 00:11:16.710 incredible passage that speaks of the passion 00:11:16.710 --> 00:11:21.129 of Christ and of his exaltation. So we'll then 00:11:21.129 --> 00:11:23.990 finish out with Jesus' teaching about children 00:11:23.990 --> 00:11:28.090 in Matthew 18. First of all, number one, we want 00:11:28.090 --> 00:11:31.070 to look at Christ's example of humility. He is 00:11:31.070 --> 00:11:35.980 the humble king. It says, In verse 6, Christ 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:38.840 Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:43.019 consider robbery to be equal with God, but made 00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:47.159 himself of no reputation. Taking the form of 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:49.759 a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:53.360 and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:56.460 himself and became obedient to the point of death, 00:11:56.700 --> 00:12:00.149 even the death of the cross. We're going to take 00:12:00.149 --> 00:12:02.450 this apart a little bit. The first, I would like 00:12:02.450 --> 00:12:05.549 you to notice that Christ, it says, is in the 00:12:05.549 --> 00:12:11.269 form of God and equal with God. Now this, where 00:12:11.269 --> 00:12:13.490 it speaks of him being in the form of God, later 00:12:13.490 --> 00:12:15.690 we'll see he's also in the form of a bondservant. 00:12:15.710 --> 00:12:21.370 He appeared as a bondservant. He was, in reality, 00:12:21.730 --> 00:12:27.789 a bondservant. And so he was, in reality, And 00:12:27.789 --> 00:12:31.990 he was equal with God. In this statement, the 00:12:31.990 --> 00:12:34.490 apostle speaks of the divine nature of Christ. 00:12:34.870 --> 00:12:38.029 He is the only begotten son of God. He is the 00:12:38.029 --> 00:12:41.750 eternal son of God. This is also sometimes referred 00:12:41.750 --> 00:12:46.580 to as the deity of Christ. John speaks of Him 00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:51.120 in John chapter 1 verse 1 as the Word, the Logos 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:53.639 that is referring to Christ in these powerful 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:57.480 words. In the beginning was the Word and the 00:12:57.480 --> 00:13:04.379 Word was with God and the Word was God. He was 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:07.580 in the beginning with God. All things were made 00:13:07.580 --> 00:13:10.100 through Him and without Him nothing was made 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:14.059 that was made. In Him was life and the life. 00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:18.539 Was the light of man. This points out a few things 00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:21.879 to us. It shows the eternality of Christ. That 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:24.259 he was at the beginning with God. It shows that 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:27.659 he is God. The word was God. It shows that God 00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:30.980 the Father created the world through him. All 00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:33.000 things were made through him. So that without 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:36.440 him nothing was made that was made. And we show 00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:40.000 that in him was life. And life, this life became 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:42.990 the light of man. This comports with what Paul 00:13:42.990 --> 00:13:47.009 says in Colossians chapter 1 and verse 15, that 00:13:47.009 --> 00:13:51.750 Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is 00:13:51.750 --> 00:13:55.830 the firstborn over all creation. For by him all 00:13:55.830 --> 00:13:58.830 things were created that are in heaven and that 00:13:58.830 --> 00:14:02.990 are on earth, visible and invisible, whether 00:14:02.990 --> 00:14:05.990 thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. 00:14:06.070 --> 00:14:09.889 All things were created through him. and for 00:14:09.889 --> 00:14:13.429 him and he is before all things and in him all 00:14:13.429 --> 00:14:16.090 things consist we're showing here the position 00:14:16.090 --> 00:14:19.710 that christ had before he came to the earth because 00:14:19.710 --> 00:14:22.730 we cannot understand his humility if we don't 00:14:22.730 --> 00:14:25.710 see first of all his eternal being and existence 00:14:25.710 --> 00:14:30.350 and his great power and his unity in the trinity 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:34.279 We also see this in Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:37.620 1 to 3. God, who at various times and in various 00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:41.299 ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:45.860 prophet, has in these last days spoken to us 00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:50.259 through his son or by his son, whom he has appointed 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:53.980 heir of all things, through whom also he made 00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:57.279 the worlds. who being the brightness of his glory 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:01.139 and the express image of his person and upholding 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:03.960 all things by the word of his power, when he 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:07.620 had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:11.519 right hand of the majesty on high. Jesus himself 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:15.240 speaks of this in John 17, verse 5, as he references 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:18.480 the glory that he had with the Father from eternity 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:22.100 past. He said, And now, O Father, Glorify me 00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:25.700 together with yourself with the glory which I 00:15:25.700 --> 00:15:30.220 had with you before the world began. This is 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:34.399 the eternal second person of the Trinity, Jesus 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:39.299 Christ, our God. Now, this is not the main thrust 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:43.159 of this sermon, but I just would note that this 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:45.899 point is one that has been under great attack 00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:48.899 from the very earliest days of the Christian 00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:52.419 faith. It continues to be so in various heresies, 00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:56.259 in various false teachings, and in cults. No, 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:58.960 Christ was not the brother of Lucifer. He was 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:02.220 not created. He has always and eternally existed 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:06.080 as the second person of our triune God who is 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:09.059 one. Therefore, we confess, and thus we confess 00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:11.919 in the Nicene Creed, I believe in one Lord Jesus 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:15.840 Christ, the only begotten Son of God. begotten 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:18.799 of the father before all worlds he is god of 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:22.700 god light of light very god of very god begotten 00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:25.759 not made being of one substance with the father 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:28.879 by whom all things were made who for us men and 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:32.120 for our salvation came down from heaven and was 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:34.700 incarnate of the holy ghost of the virgin mary 00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:39.519 and was made man this speaks to us of the exalted 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:43.019 state and being of christ before his humiliation 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:47.019 Now let's move on, because what's next? He made 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:51.000 himself of no reputation. He took the form of 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:54.139 a bondservant, and he came in the likeness of 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:57.899 men, made like unto a person by assuming a body 00:16:57.899 --> 00:17:01.440 like theirs. This is the first step of humility. 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:05.539 It's when God became man. After the humiliation, 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:08.279 the deceit, the deception, and the fall by Adam 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:11.059 and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the Lord God told 00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:14.460 the serpent that the seed of a woman would be 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:17.119 at enmity with the seed of the serpent and that 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:21.480 this descendant would crush his head. So what 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:23.420 the word broods, sometimes it's in our Bibles 00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:26.420 as the word broods, it means crush. It would 00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:31.910 crush his head, the head of the serpent. It was 00:17:31.910 --> 00:17:35.009 a prophecy of Jesus. But in order to do this, 00:17:35.109 --> 00:17:39.069 a man would need to be born of a woman who would 00:17:39.069 --> 00:17:44.210 become pregnant, not from a man, but miraculously 00:17:44.210 --> 00:17:48.170 by the Holy Spirit. And indeed, Isaiah prophesies 00:17:48.170 --> 00:17:52.130 of this when he says, Behold, the virgin shall 00:17:52.130 --> 00:17:55.960 conceive and bear a son. and shall call his name 00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:59.500 Emmanuel. This meant then that the Messiah, this 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:02.720 Messiah, this future head crusher of the serpent 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.259 dragon, would enter this world and first be a 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:10.000 tiny human being inside a woman's womb. He would 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:13.240 be born in the usual way, with his mother experiencing 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:17.420 the pain of childbirth. He himself would be subject 00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:20.480 to pain, to hunger, to being utterly dependent 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:24.190 upon his mother and nursing at her breast. the 00:18:24.190 --> 00:18:29.609 woman that he himself had created. He came in 00:18:29.609 --> 00:18:34.130 the likeness of men, but was the only begotten 00:18:34.130 --> 00:18:37.930 son of God, who was himself God in the flesh. 00:18:38.369 --> 00:18:45.390 But not only did he become a man, he also made 00:18:45.390 --> 00:18:49.960 himself of no reputation. That is, he was God, 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:52.519 and God through Christ created all things to 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:55.299 worship the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:59.579 Ghost. But now it says that he emptied himself. 00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:01.779 That of no reputation, there's a few different 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:04.119 translations there. It means that he emptied 00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:09.740 himself, laying down his glory so that he might 00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:15.289 live not as a rich king, But as a humble bondservant 00:19:15.289 --> 00:19:19.609 with no reputation, he lays aside his rank. He 00:19:19.609 --> 00:19:22.890 lays aside his dignity. He lays aside the outward 00:19:22.890 --> 00:19:27.190 expressions of his majesty and glory. Now in 00:19:27.190 --> 00:19:29.930 this, just to be clear, he did not change his 00:19:29.930 --> 00:19:32.490 nature or perfections. For he could not cease 00:19:32.490 --> 00:19:34.869 to be God. He could not cease to be omnipotent, 00:19:34.869 --> 00:19:38.269 omnipresent, and most holy, true, and good. But 00:19:38.269 --> 00:19:41.509 what he does is he takes on human nature, and 00:19:41.509 --> 00:19:44.069 he is made like a servant in the lowly condition 00:19:44.069 --> 00:19:47.190 which he assumed. He came as God the Father's 00:19:47.190 --> 00:19:50.049 servant to do what? To minister to men, to live 00:19:50.049 --> 00:19:53.630 a life of humiliation, of poverty, and of disgrace. 00:19:54.049 --> 00:19:57.170 When he ministers, what happens? He lived off 00:19:57.170 --> 00:20:00.049 of alms, and he has nowhere to lay his head. 00:20:00.569 --> 00:20:03.690 Even as he says in Matthew chapter 8 verse 20. 00:20:03.849 --> 00:20:08.009 And Jesus said to him, foxes have holes and birds 00:20:08.009 --> 00:20:12.230 of the air have nests. But the son of man has 00:20:12.230 --> 00:20:17.890 nowhere even to lay his head. This is the humiliation 00:20:17.890 --> 00:20:23.690 of our Lord Jesus. Going from the king of glory 00:20:23.690 --> 00:20:27.049 with all of the majesty and glory that he had. 00:20:27.430 --> 00:20:31.069 And he becomes a man. And not even a man to live 00:20:31.069 --> 00:20:33.869 in a rich king's house and to serve in a great 00:20:33.869 --> 00:20:37.769 and lordly manner, but to become and to be a 00:20:37.769 --> 00:20:41.710 servant, to be subject to pain and hunger and 00:20:41.710 --> 00:20:44.069 where he doesn't even have a place to lay his 00:20:44.069 --> 00:20:49.890 head. This is the humiliation of Christ. Jesus 00:20:49.890 --> 00:20:52.730 then comes into Jerusalem and he's not being 00:20:52.730 --> 00:20:57.059 carried on a litter or a palanquin. And by servants 00:20:57.059 --> 00:21:00.200 holding him up on big rods and in a comfortable 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:03.380 chair being elevated above everyone else. No, 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:07.500 he doesn't come with fanfare, but as a king who 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:10.900 rides, not on the back of just any donkey even, 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:16.359 but on the foal of a donkey. And he comes with 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:18.960 shouts, with great joy, with the acclaim of children 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:21.160 and the shouts of the multitude who cry out. 00:21:21.549 --> 00:21:24.750 Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who 00:21:24.750 --> 00:21:27.369 comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the 00:21:27.369 --> 00:21:33.950 highest. Only to lose them as followers throughout 00:21:33.950 --> 00:21:36.769 the week, as the week goes by, or at least many 00:21:36.769 --> 00:21:41.349 of them as followers. And then, as if that were 00:21:41.349 --> 00:21:45.029 not enough humiliation, he takes it a step further, 00:21:45.109 --> 00:21:49.609 Paul says. He humbles himself by being obedient 00:21:49.609 --> 00:21:53.099 to the father. Not only being obedient to the 00:21:53.099 --> 00:22:00.200 Father, but obedient unto death. Obedient unto 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:03.819 death. And even this death is not just a normal 00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:08.920 death, but it is the horrible and excruciating 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:14.900 death on a Roman cross. His hands. and his feet 00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:17.980 nailed to the wooden beams. Now we're going to 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:20.559 consider this in greater detail on Friday evening 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:23.539 in our Good Friday service, but our focus today 00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:27.900 is on his humility, and we see his humility as 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:32.440 carried out. First of all, coming as a man, and 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:36.259 then he comes as a man, he's a bondservant, and 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:38.920 then he is willing to die, and then not only 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:42.279 die, but to die the death. one of the worst deaths 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:45.900 that anyone can imagine, the death on the cross. 00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:51.579 Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your king 00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:56.119 is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey, 00:22:56.339 --> 00:23:00.960 a colt, the foal of a donkey. Lowly in the Hebrew 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:04.819 where this was first prophesied means poor, afflicted, 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:10.140 humble, wretched, needy, and weak. This is the 00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:16.480 humiliation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now Paul 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:18.819 describes this in vivid detail. And then he goes 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:22.400 on to talk about the exaltation of Christ. And 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:24.920 we'll be getting to that Lord willing next Sunday. 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:27.720 As we see the resurrection and the exaltation 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:31.380 of Christ. But I really want us to understand 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:35.039 this lowliness of Christ. This humility of Christ. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:37.940 And Paul wants us to understand this. The apostle. 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:41.539 Which is why, and I put them in reverse order 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:43.779 here because I wanted to describe the humiliation 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:46.240 of Christ first, but we're going to go back to 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:49.019 Philippians at the beginning of chapter 2 and 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:53.319 see what came before and how that he says we 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:58.119 are to have the same mind as Christ. So let's 00:23:58.119 --> 00:24:01.859 go back now to verses 1 through 5. Therefore... 00:24:02.410 --> 00:24:04.690 If there is any consolation in Christ, if there 00:24:04.690 --> 00:24:06.890 is any comfort of love, if any fellowship of 00:24:06.890 --> 00:24:09.809 the Spirit, if any affection and mercy. Fulfill 00:24:09.809 --> 00:24:12.329 my joy by being like -minded, having the same 00:24:12.329 --> 00:24:15.569 love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing 00:24:15.569 --> 00:24:19.400 be done through strife. or selfish ambition or 00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:22.680 conceit, but in lowliness of mind that each esteem 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:26.859 others better than himself. Let each of you look 00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:29.339 out not only for his own interests, but also 00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:31.759 for the interests of others. Let this mind be 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:34.960 in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. And then 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:37.680 he goes into this humiliation, which I have just 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:40.700 gone through. So not only are we to look and 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:43.519 consider this great humiliation, but as the apostle 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:47.619 commands, let this mind be in you. which was 00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:50.779 also in Christ Jesus. He began this chapter with 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:54.000 an exhortation to humility and then goes on into 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:57.019 the humiliation and exaltation of Christ. And 00:24:57.019 --> 00:25:00.140 so we look today to Christ as an example and 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:03.420 we see what we are to do. He first of all exhorts 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:06.359 the Philippians and commands, he gives them commands 00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:09.920 that require humility. He says, fulfill my joy 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:13.160 by being like -minded, having the same love, 00:25:13.380 --> 00:25:16.559 being of one accord and of one mind. Now this 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:18.980 is really four ways of describing essentially 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:21.920 the same thing. This is the unity of the Spirit 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:24.359 that we as Christian believers are to have with 00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:27.259 one another. This is what was experienced on 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:29.940 the day of Pentecost. Acts chapter 2 records, 00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:34.500 The disciples were all with one accord in one 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:38.839 place. In one accord. Paul uses a number of descriptive 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:42.519 phrases to speak of this one thing. This one 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:45.480 thing. It is the union of heart. It's a union 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:48.539 of feeling, of plan, and of purpose with an overarching 00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:51.400 love of God and of each other. Let me say that 00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:54.500 again. What he's calling for here is a union 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:57.759 of our hearts, our feelings, our plans, and our 00:25:57.759 --> 00:26:01.059 purposes with an overarching love of God and 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:05.410 of each other. Jesus prays for this so that the 00:26:05.410 --> 00:26:08.049 world would believe that he was sent by God in 00:26:08.049 --> 00:26:10.549 his great and high priestly prayer. He asked 00:26:10.549 --> 00:26:12.869 the Father, he says, I do not pray for these 00:26:12.869 --> 00:26:16.349 alone, but also for those who will believe in 00:26:16.349 --> 00:26:20.390 me through their word, that they may all be one 00:26:20.390 --> 00:26:24.829 as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that 00:26:24.829 --> 00:26:29.410 they may be one in us, that the world may believe 00:26:29.410 --> 00:26:32.640 that you sent me. It's in John 17, verse 20 and 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:37.819 21. How can this happen? He tells us. It is first 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:41.539 of all with humility. Let nothing be done through 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:44.880 selfish ambition or conceit. but in lowliness 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:47.900 of mind let each esteem others better themselves. 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:51.000 This has to do with honoring one another in our 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:54.339 actions, in our listening, and in our attitudes. 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:58.460 Ambition, while it is not a sin in itself, but 00:26:58.460 --> 00:27:01.799 selfish ambition that is. And what does it drive? 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:06.549 It drives factions. and divisions remember we've 00:27:06.549 --> 00:27:08.490 just been going through that and seeing the corinthian 00:27:08.490 --> 00:27:11.269 church as how they were so wrapped up in factions 00:27:11.269 --> 00:27:14.049 and this is what they had they had selfish ambition 00:27:14.049 --> 00:27:16.690 that's what paul speaks of here in philippians 00:27:16.690 --> 00:27:21.769 2 think of the impact i'm sorry i jumped ahead 00:27:21.769 --> 00:27:24.990 here a little bit conceit then is vain glory 00:27:24.990 --> 00:27:29.750 and pride so selfish ambition vain glory and 00:27:29.750 --> 00:27:33.680 pride and conceit That is how, if we focus on 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:36.420 those things, we will not be in unity, we will 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:38.599 not love one another, and we will not be like 00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:42.500 Christ. He goes on, he says in verse 5, Let each 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:44.599 of you look out not only for his own interests, 00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:47.220 but also for the interests of others. Think of 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:49.500 the impact that this would have if we simply 00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:52.279 put this simple thing in practice. How about 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:55.900 children as siblings, your brothers and sisters, 00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:59.779 or we are brothers and sisters. And we're to 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:03.319 look out not just for me, what I want, but also 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:05.640 to look out for the interests of others, where 00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:08.019 we think about others and we seek to honor them 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:10.759 and bless them and please them at times. It doesn't 00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:12.740 mean that we should live as people pleasers. 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:14.740 That's not what I'm talking about. But we do 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:18.579 things that bless others. Think of it with our 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:22.500 families or husbands and wives. when we have 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:25.460 problems or friction between us as husbands and 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:29.160 wives. What a solution that this is if we are, 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:32.799 if we, each of us, if the wife does not just 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:34.680 look out for her own interest, but that of the 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:37.240 husband, and the husband does not just look out 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:40.099 for his own interest, but that of his wife. He 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:44.039 seeks to please and bless his wife. Or how about 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:46.779 within the local congregation? How about if we 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:50.200 all do this with one another? Where we do not 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:53.599 have selfish ambition or conceit. But we esteem 00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:55.740 others better than ourselves. And we look not 00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:58.420 only for our own interests. But also for the 00:28:58.420 --> 00:29:01.079 interests of others. How about within the community? 00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:03.900 Or in business? Or in the civil sphere? These 00:29:03.900 --> 00:29:07.700 are the words of God to us. And the example is 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:12.259 Christ. Because Christ did not just think of 00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:15.220 himself. And withhold himself from the suffering 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:19.549 and the pain of the humiliation. gave himself 00:29:19.549 --> 00:29:24.390 for it so that he might redeem us and bring us 00:29:24.390 --> 00:29:31.230 near to God. He looked out for others. Jesus. 00:29:32.269 --> 00:29:35.869 gives us the example in luke chapter 6 of how 00:29:35.869 --> 00:29:38.029 we seek the good and blessing of others around 00:29:38.029 --> 00:29:41.150 you with a humble mind and we see how god would 00:29:41.150 --> 00:29:44.049 not only work in others lives but will also work 00:29:44.049 --> 00:29:47.089 then for us he gives us very practical instructions 00:29:47.089 --> 00:29:51.109 so if we go to luke chapter 6 verse 38 jesus 00:29:51.109 --> 00:29:56.250 says give and it shall be given to you good measure 00:29:56.250 --> 00:30:00.529 press down shaking together shaken together and 00:30:00.529 --> 00:30:03.349 running over will be put into your bosom for 00:30:03.349 --> 00:30:06.910 with the same measure that you use it will be 00:30:06.910 --> 00:30:11.470 measured back to you again so in one sense here 00:30:11.470 --> 00:30:13.390 there's a bit of a paradox because we're not 00:30:13.390 --> 00:30:15.690 to be thinking of ourselves but thinking of others 00:30:15.690 --> 00:30:18.309 and so as we bless others and we give and we 00:30:18.309 --> 00:30:21.369 pour out ourselves for others we do end up getting 00:30:21.369 --> 00:30:23.930 great blessings back upon us again that's what 00:30:23.930 --> 00:30:27.289 jesus is promising but if we just try to bless 00:30:27.289 --> 00:30:30.920 ourselves then we lose them both Then there's 00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:33.619 also the golden rule. Therefore, whatever you 00:30:33.619 --> 00:30:36.660 want men to do, do also to them. For this is 00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:40.000 the law and the prophets. And Jesus there ties 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:42.799 this golden rule back to the law and the prophets. 00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:45.519 This is really what is found in the whole word 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:48.119 of God, not just in the words of Jesus himself. 00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:52.880 But he was the great example of it, of how he 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:57.279 humbled himself and served others. We see the 00:30:57.279 --> 00:31:00.039 humility of Christ. And we are to pattern our 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:03.579 thinking and our actions by putting on the mind 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:06.559 of Christ. Like Peter says in 1 Peter 4 verse 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:10.839 1, arm yourselves also with the same mind that 00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:13.380 is the mind of Christ. We follow the steps of 00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:16.420 Christ in his obedience to his Father and in 00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:19.339 his humility. So as you read the accounts of 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:22.579 Christ's humility, ask God to illuminate you 00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:27.140 to see how you can have the mind of Christ. We 00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:30.839 should be constantly praying, Lord, give us the 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:33.740 mind of Christ in this particular situation or 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:36.559 this problem or this responsibility or even in 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:39.859 his promotion, exaltation, or greater responsibility 00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:42.539 that we might have. Let us pray for the mind 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:44.559 of Christ. Are you in a difficult situation? 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:47.799 Do you have an enemy that is continually needling 00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:50.539 you or coming against you or is frustrating you? 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:53.960 Have the mind of Christ. Now, it's easy to just 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:57.089 say that, but... Sometimes that requires work. 00:31:57.170 --> 00:31:59.390 We need to go in prayer to the Lord. Lord, what 00:31:59.390 --> 00:32:03.210 is your mind? Help us to see this with the mind 00:32:03.210 --> 00:32:06.069 of Christ and work through this very difficult 00:32:06.069 --> 00:32:10.089 situation. But how do you know the mind of Christ? 00:32:10.410 --> 00:32:14.390 Is this some supernatural type of thing that 00:32:14.390 --> 00:32:17.130 you can only get if you have some kind of a mystical 00:32:17.130 --> 00:32:19.369 experience? Is that how you know the mind of 00:32:19.369 --> 00:32:23.890 Christ? No, it is not. You know the mind of Christ, 00:32:24.029 --> 00:32:26.250 yes, through prayer. But it's through prayer 00:32:26.250 --> 00:32:29.109 and the illumination of God's word. Because God's 00:32:29.109 --> 00:32:31.210 word is the revelation of the mind of Christ. 00:32:31.609 --> 00:32:35.089 All of it. Genesis to Revelation. This is the 00:32:35.089 --> 00:32:38.690 mind of Christ. And so we humbly come and we 00:32:38.690 --> 00:32:41.849 bow before the Lord and we pray. Lord, this is 00:32:41.849 --> 00:32:44.470 your word. And I want the wisdom of your word 00:32:44.470 --> 00:32:47.009 in this situation. So help me to carry it out. 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:50.779 Please give me the wisdom to know how, I mentioned 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:54.819 of enemies, how to love this enemy. How to deal 00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:58.000 with this particular problem. Or how to deal 00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:01.740 with my own sins. This is the mind of Christ. 00:33:02.140 --> 00:33:06.119 So soak yourself in the word. Dig into the word. 00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:12.779 It's important to sometimes spend a time of... 00:33:13.420 --> 00:33:15.519 In the portion of God's word where you really 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:19.980 dig into it, you do word studies and you do some 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:23.519 intense work. But at the same time, it also simply 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:26.460 means just regularly reading the word of God. 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:28.839 So one of the reasons why at the beginning of 00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:31.380 every year we put out pamphlets that show how 00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:33.359 to read through the Bible in a year and gives 00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:36.740 assignments for each day. Spend time in the word. 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:39.880 And maybe if it's... If reading comes hard for 00:33:39.880 --> 00:33:42.859 you, maybe it'll take you two years. But go on 00:33:42.859 --> 00:33:46.119 a systematic reading of the word. It is the mind 00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:50.099 of Christ. That is how we know it. And then we 00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:54.279 pray for illumination. The only way to have the 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:56.920 mind of Christ and to live in humility and unity 00:33:56.920 --> 00:34:01.680 is through the cross of Christ. It is when we 00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:05.720 see the abundance of our sin, our ugliness, our 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:10.389 grasping to be like God. And to dethrone him 00:34:10.389 --> 00:34:14.969 and put ourself in his place. But then we see 00:34:14.969 --> 00:34:19.809 Jesus. We see our sin and then we see Jesus. 00:34:20.130 --> 00:34:24.530 And he took our sins. He took our ugliness. He 00:34:24.530 --> 00:34:28.150 took our selfish ambitions. Our self -centeredness. 00:34:28.289 --> 00:34:32.210 Our conceitedness. And the whole putrid mess. 00:34:32.969 --> 00:34:36.489 And he suffered for them. He suffered for our 00:34:36.489 --> 00:34:40.679 sins. The just for the unjust. Why? That he might 00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:44.059 bring us to God. That he might bring us to God. 00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:47.699 He bore our sins on the cross. He offered himself 00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:51.300 as the sacrifice for our sins and our old self 00:34:51.300 --> 00:34:55.320 dies with him. So that in Christ then we are 00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:58.420 a new creation and that is how we can do justly 00:34:58.420 --> 00:35:02.119 and love mercy and walk humbly with our God and 00:35:02.119 --> 00:35:05.320 with our fellow man. But then we move to number 00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:09.760 three. We receive this kingdom of God like a 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:13.500 little child. And that also involves a lot of 00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:17.269 humility, doesn't it? No, it's not a major 12 00:35:17.269 --> 00:35:21.050 -step program for improvement. No, it's not this 00:35:21.050 --> 00:35:24.070 thing of, as it used to be, go on pilgrimage 00:35:24.070 --> 00:35:27.929 to a particular place or do so crawling or on 00:35:27.929 --> 00:35:29.929 your hands and knees or crawling over glass or 00:35:29.929 --> 00:35:32.869 sleeping on a bed of nails or all sorts of other 00:35:32.869 --> 00:35:35.530 hardships like that. No, it's simply by coming 00:35:35.530 --> 00:35:38.389 to the cross of Christ and receiving the kingdom 00:35:38.389 --> 00:35:41.909 like a little child. We see this example and 00:35:41.909 --> 00:35:45.449 Jesus gives to us in Mark chapter 10, verse 13. 00:35:45.829 --> 00:35:48.230 Then they brought little children to him that 00:35:48.230 --> 00:35:51.329 he might touch them. The disciples rebuked those 00:35:51.329 --> 00:35:53.710 who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was 00:35:53.710 --> 00:35:56.030 greatly displeased. And he said to them, let 00:35:56.030 --> 00:35:58.269 the little children come to me and do not forbid 00:35:58.269 --> 00:36:01.730 them. For of such is the kingdom of heaven. Assuredly, 00:36:01.730 --> 00:36:05.349 I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom 00:36:05.349 --> 00:36:10.409 of God as a little child. will by no means enter 00:36:10.409 --> 00:36:13.550 it. And he took them up in his arms, laid his 00:36:13.550 --> 00:36:17.210 hands on them, and blessed them. Now today, in 00:36:17.210 --> 00:36:19.530 just a bit, we're going to have a baptism for 00:36:19.530 --> 00:36:22.250 a newly born little one, a child given by the 00:36:22.250 --> 00:36:24.969 grace of God to Paul and Angie Shumway. This 00:36:24.969 --> 00:36:27.730 little one is a saint of God, one of whom is 00:36:27.730 --> 00:36:31.090 the kingdom of God, Jesus says. He said, let 00:36:31.090 --> 00:36:33.570 the little children come to be and do not forbid 00:36:33.570 --> 00:36:38.010 them, for of such is the kingdom of God. But 00:36:38.010 --> 00:36:40.489 then he goes on to tell all those around, all 00:36:40.489 --> 00:36:42.769 the adults, all the disciples, the multitudes 00:36:42.769 --> 00:36:44.610 listening, because there were many people gathered 00:36:44.610 --> 00:36:47.010 when he was saying this. And he tells them that 00:36:47.010 --> 00:36:50.289 they must receive the kingdom of God as a little 00:36:50.289 --> 00:36:53.090 child. And if they do not, they will by no means 00:36:53.090 --> 00:36:56.230 enter his kingdom. How then does a little child 00:36:56.230 --> 00:36:59.289 receive the kingdom of God? First of all, it 00:36:59.289 --> 00:37:01.570 is in complete helplessness and dependence upon 00:37:01.570 --> 00:37:05.619 God. This word little child here is referring 00:37:05.619 --> 00:37:08.340 to an infant or a baby or a very young child. 00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:13.199 How are they? They are helpless and dependent. 00:37:14.760 --> 00:37:17.579 They can't go out and get harvest food for themselves. 00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:21.159 They can't take money and go out and buy something. 00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:25.539 They are completely helpless and dependent. No 00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:30.179 grand schemes to dethrone their parents or God. 00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:33.489 No, they are helpless. and they are dependent. 00:37:33.710 --> 00:37:37.269 That is how we are to receive the kingdom. And 00:37:37.269 --> 00:37:39.429 then, as they get a little bit older, they're 00:37:39.429 --> 00:37:42.289 teachable and they're humble and have a simple 00:37:42.289 --> 00:37:46.030 faith and can trust in God. Now, I'm not denying 00:37:46.030 --> 00:37:48.530 here the fallen nature of little ones. We all 00:37:48.530 --> 00:37:51.710 know that that is there as well. But we're looking 00:37:51.710 --> 00:37:55.610 here at what Jesus says about little ones, how 00:37:55.610 --> 00:37:58.809 he receives them, how that we are to receive 00:37:58.809 --> 00:38:03.349 them. And we see that we are to receive as they 00:38:03.349 --> 00:38:08.250 do. Jesus uses the analogy then of a birth of 00:38:08.250 --> 00:38:11.659 a baby. To explain the kingdom of God to Nicodemus. 00:38:11.719 --> 00:38:14.900 This is in John chapter 3. He tells him. Most 00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:19.699 assuredly I say to you. Unless one is born again. 00:38:20.679 --> 00:38:24.139 He cannot see the kingdom of God. Again he says. 00:38:24.260 --> 00:38:27.880 Most assuredly I say to you. Unless one is born 00:38:27.880 --> 00:38:33.260 of water and the spirit. He cannot enter the 00:38:33.260 --> 00:38:37.000 kingdom of God. There's no amount of good deeds 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:39.440 or forced humility or lying on a bed of nails 00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:42.360 that will suffice for what Jesus is talking about. 00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:47.099 You must be supernaturally, spiritually reborn 00:38:47.099 --> 00:38:51.320 from above. This is the way of Jesus. This is 00:38:51.320 --> 00:38:54.340 the way to have humility. And this is the way 00:38:54.340 --> 00:38:57.179 to be unified with the body of Christ and the 00:38:57.179 --> 00:39:02.889 kingdom of heaven on earth. Now, if you do not 00:39:02.889 --> 00:39:08.170 know Christ, then I urge you, dear friend, run 00:39:08.170 --> 00:39:12.429 to him, believe in him, trust in him as a little 00:39:12.429 --> 00:39:16.010 child, repent of your sins, ask to be born again 00:39:16.010 --> 00:39:19.690 and regenerated with a spirit and a new heart. 00:39:20.369 --> 00:39:23.750 Ezekiel says, cast away from you all the transgressions 00:39:23.750 --> 00:39:26.190 which you have committed and get yourself a new 00:39:26.190 --> 00:39:28.889 heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, 00:39:29.030 --> 00:39:31.210 O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in 00:39:31.210 --> 00:39:33.230 the death of the one who dies, says the Lord 00:39:33.230 --> 00:39:37.010 God. Therefore turn and live. But how do we live? 00:39:37.150 --> 00:39:39.789 How can this be? The apostle gives it to us in 00:39:39.789 --> 00:39:42.369 Acts chapter 3 and verse 9. Repent therefore 00:39:42.369 --> 00:39:47.250 and be converted. Repent and be converted. Change 00:39:47.250 --> 00:39:50.980 from darkness to light. your sins may be blotted 00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:53.960 out so that the times of refreshing may come 00:39:53.960 --> 00:39:57.340 from the presence of the Lord now in all of this 00:39:57.340 --> 00:39:59.860 there is a supernatural work of regeneration 00:39:59.860 --> 00:40:03.199 that occurs within the heart and we can't do 00:40:03.199 --> 00:40:06.260 this we cannot regenerate ourselves so we must 00:40:06.260 --> 00:40:10.579 look to Christ for it is he who regenerates us 00:40:11.150 --> 00:40:13.309 And so in all of this, don't think that by a 00:40:13.309 --> 00:40:15.989 series of good works that you can somehow make 00:40:15.989 --> 00:40:18.869 it. No, it is only through Christ. It is supernatural 00:40:18.869 --> 00:40:21.849 work. But you are still commanded to repent of 00:40:21.849 --> 00:40:27.570 your sins and to look to Christ. Jesus then came 00:40:27.570 --> 00:40:31.289 as a king into Jerusalem. He rode in the cult 00:40:31.289 --> 00:40:34.929 of the donkey. He cleansed the temple. He spoke 00:40:34.929 --> 00:40:37.510 the truths of the kingdom of God. And he was 00:40:37.510 --> 00:40:40.440 rejected by the Jewish leaders. He was crucified 00:40:40.440 --> 00:40:43.599 by the Romans with the Jewish leader's assent. 00:40:44.219 --> 00:40:47.539 But the story does not end there, and Christ's 00:40:47.539 --> 00:40:51.280 kingship was not ill -fated or an illusion or 00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:55.480 performance act. No, the triumphal entry was 00:40:55.480 --> 00:40:58.639 only the first act in this holy week, this history 00:40:58.639 --> 00:41:02.199 of a magnificent, glorious, and true story, a 00:41:02.199 --> 00:41:06.239 story of how Jesus would display his glory in 00:41:06.239 --> 00:41:11.510 this world. By the way of the cross. By the redemption 00:41:11.510 --> 00:41:15.070 of the world through his atonement. And then 00:41:15.070 --> 00:41:18.889 new life in his resurrection from the dead. And 00:41:18.889 --> 00:41:21.849 then his ascension back to the father. There 00:41:21.849 --> 00:41:25.090 to rule and reign at the right hand of the father. 00:41:25.869 --> 00:41:32.789 Until everyone, every enemy submits to him. But 00:41:32.789 --> 00:41:36.239 this man. after he had offered one sacrifice 00:41:36.239 --> 00:41:39.679 for sins forever, sat down at the right hand 00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:43.920 of God, from that time waiting till his enemies 00:41:43.920 --> 00:41:47.280 are made his footstool. For by one offering, 00:41:47.440 --> 00:41:50.920 he has perfected forever those who are being 00:41:50.920 --> 00:41:55.900 sanctified. Let us then, dear brothers and sisters, 00:41:56.059 --> 00:42:00.280 all who are here, let us follow him in humility, 00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:05.300 in service, in worship, Of the Lord God almighty. 00:42:06.119 --> 00:42:11.219 Hallelujah. For the Lord God. Omnipotent reigns. 00:42:11.380 --> 00:42:12.280 Let's pray.