Series B – Twentieth Sunday of Pentecost – Sunday, October 10, 2021 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough
| Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough: |
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:29 | the holy gospel according to saint mark |
| 0:31 | the 10th chapter |
| 0:32 | [Music] |
| 0:39 | as Jesus was setting out on his journey |
| 0:41 | a man ran up and knelt before him and |
| 0:43 | asked him good teacher what must i do to |
| 0:45 | inherit eternal life and Jesus said to |
| 0:47 | him why do you call me good no one is |
| 0:49 | good except god alone you know the |
| 0:51 | commandments do not murder do not commit |
| 0:53 | adultery do not steal do not bear false |
| 0:55 | witness do not defraud honor your father |
| 0:57 | and mother and he said to him teacher |
| 0:59 | all of these i’ve kept from my youth |
| 1:02 | and Jesus looking at him loved him and |
| 1:03 | said to him you lack one thing go sell |
| 1:05 | all that you have and give to the poor |
| 1:07 | and you will have treasure in heaven and |
| 1:08 | come and follow me disheartened by the |
| 1:10 | saying he went away sorrowful for he had |
| 1:13 | great possessions this is the gospel of |
| 1:15 | the lord in the name of Jesus |
| 1:18 | amen i don’t know if you guys noticed |
| 1:20 | this but when we were reading out our |
| 1:21 | three texts for today there was really |
| 1:25 | little gospel it was i felt like saying |
| 1:28 | at the end of the gospel reading this is |
| 1:29 | the law of the lord thanks be to god |
| 1:31 | right now it was it was pretty intense |
| 1:33 | and that’s kind of the point in fact i |
| 1:35 | feel like today we have the wrong colors |
| 1:38 | here we should probably put purple up |
| 1:39 | it’s it’s like we’re doing lent today |
| 1:41 | it’s that kind of texts right it’s |
| 1:44 | they’re brutal and well the picture is |
| 1:47 | not that pretty let me let me start off |
| 1:49 | with one of the key phrases from our old |
| 1:51 | testament text |
| 1:53 | seek the lord and live |
| 1:58 | all right |
| 1:59 | well how much do i need to seek him you |
| 2:01 | know when do i |
| 2:03 | when can i say i’ve sought him enough |
| 2:05 | that’s kind of the thing here when you |
| 2:07 | hear something like this well that’s law |
| 2:09 | seek the lord and live and then when you |
| 2:12 | read the description of what amos is |
| 2:13 | talking about and i would note this if |
| 2:15 | you haven’t read amos |
| 2:18 | well all i can say is you might need |
| 2:21 | some personal safety gear when you read |
| 2:24 | amos because the law is so intense in |
| 2:28 | his |
| 2:29 | pen |
| 2:29 | and what he says is so to the point and |
| 2:33 | strips away all pretenses of |
| 2:36 | self-righteousness but what i find |
| 2:37 | fascinating in reading out our old |
| 2:40 | testament text |
| 2:41 | is that one of the things that amos is |
| 2:44 | describing is not only those who |
| 2:47 | hate reproof they abhor those who speak |
| 2:50 | the truth but instead there’s a little |
| 2:52 | bit more to it and this is one of the |
| 2:54 | darker sides of sin and that is is that |
| 2:56 | we turn justice to wormwood and we |
| 3:00 | trample down the poor and exact taxes of |
| 3:03 | grain from him |
| 3:04 | i want you to think about it in these |
| 3:06 | terms |
| 3:07 | have you noticed that when we sin we are |
| 3:10 | the most like the devil right because |
| 3:12 | who we’re looking out for me myself and |
| 3:15 | i all the commandments the law is summed |
| 3:17 | up in two commandments love the lord |
| 3:19 | your god with all your heart |
| 3:21 | love your neighbor as yourself the word |
| 3:24 | is |
| 3:25 | love that’s going to require |
| 3:28 | kindness and mercy and grace and |
| 3:31 | protecting others but you’re going to |
| 3:33 | know we human beings have this horrible |
| 3:35 | thing that we do and that is is that we |
| 3:39 | how do i say it slither up to people |
| 3:42 | try to gain their trust by behaving like |
| 3:46 | we care about them that we’re kind to |
| 3:49 | them we want to be their friend right |
| 3:51 | and what do we end up doing enslaving |
| 3:53 | them |
| 3:54 | abusing them |
| 3:56 | taking advantage of them i mean that |
| 3:59 | that’s kind of what goes on here those |
| 4:00 | who are in power |
| 4:02 | they those who are in governmental power |
| 4:04 | they exist for the purpose of serving |
| 4:06 | the people whom they govern looking out |
| 4:09 | for their needs and yet we’ll note that |
| 4:12 | we have |
| 4:13 | well story after story throughout human |
| 4:15 | history |
| 4:16 | of princes and kings and presidents and |
| 4:19 | congressmen and parliamentarians and |
| 4:21 | others who have um |
| 4:24 | well looked out for themselves let’s say |
| 4:26 | and they’ve made themselves very wealthy |
| 4:28 | on the backs of the poor |
| 4:31 | they’ve oppressed them i i always like |
| 4:33 | to note that uh i don’t really have to |
| 4:35 | worry too much of being eaten by a bear |
| 4:38 | you know there’s not a lot of bears out |
| 4:40 | here have you guys seen any bears out |
| 4:41 | here okay |
| 4:43 | whenever i watch those channels that you |
| 4:45 | know that show wildlife you know lions |
| 4:48 | and tigers and jaguars and bears and |
| 4:51 | sharks and |
| 4:52 | every time i watch channels like that i |
| 4:54 | think i just need to stay home right i |
| 4:56 | just need to stay home but the reality |
| 4:58 | is this is very little chance and i’m |
| 5:01 | going to be eaten by a crocodile or by a |
| 5:03 | bear or a lion or a tiger but |
| 5:06 | on the other end of that have you |
| 5:08 | noticed that we have to constantly be on |
| 5:11 | our guard against other human beings |
| 5:14 | it’s it’s really a tragic thing if you |
| 5:16 | think about it uh you’ll you’ll note |
| 5:18 | that |
| 5:19 | throughout the united states there’s a |
| 5:21 | big debate on whether or not people |
| 5:23 | should be having the ability to carry |
| 5:25 | firearms i always like to point out the |
| 5:27 | fact that we’re even having this |
| 5:29 | conversation proves that we human beings |
| 5:31 | are what |
| 5:33 | we’re dangerous |
| 5:35 | and we’re dangerous to each other and |
| 5:37 | then you’ll note that i constantly get |
| 5:39 | emails from like princes and royalty in |
| 5:42 | nigeria and stuff it’s the weirdest |
| 5:43 | thing you know and then now i’ve started |
| 5:46 | getting texts text messages that say |
| 5:48 | something like this |
| 5:49 | congratulations chris you won just click |
| 5:53 | this link and we’ll explain to you how |
| 5:55 | you can get your prize right they’re not |
| 5:58 | there to offer me anything they’re not |
| 6:00 | trying to help me out they want my bank |
| 6:02 | account number so they can wipe it out |
| 6:05 | that’s what they really want to do right |
| 6:07 | and so we’re having constantly to be on |
| 6:09 | guard |
| 6:10 | against other human beings and i would |
| 6:13 | also remind you that when Jesus was |
| 6:16 | betrayed by judas judas betrayed him |
| 6:18 | with a kiss |
| 6:21 | yeah |
| 6:21 | and then you know don’t even get me |
| 6:23 | started about the dating scene today i |
| 6:25 | always feel bad for the singles in our |
| 6:27 | congregation |
| 6:28 | always do because you’ll note that in on |
| 6:30 | the dating scene you will have people |
| 6:33 | who will |
| 6:34 | under a pretense of offering you their |
| 6:36 | heart and love are really only looking |
| 6:39 | for one thing |
| 6:40 | to take advantage of you sexually |
| 6:44 | it’s horrible |
| 6:45 | it’s absolutely deplorable |
| 6:49 | so you’ll listen to these words seek the |
| 6:51 | lord and live well have i sought him |
| 6:53 | enough i don’t know lest he break out |
| 6:54 | like fire in the house of joseph it’s |
| 6:57 | kind of like god is saying through amos |
| 6:59 | seek the lord or |
| 7:00 | else |
| 7:02 | right |
| 7:03 | and it devoured with none to quench it |
| 7:05 | you who turn justice to wormwood you who |
| 7:07 | cast down righteousness to the earth |
| 7:09 | they hate him who reproves in the gate |
| 7:11 | they abhor him who speaks the truth |
| 7:13 | therefore because you trample the poor |
| 7:15 | and you exact taxes of grain from him |
| 7:17 | you’ve built houses of hewn stone but |
| 7:19 | you shall not dwell in them you’ve |
| 7:22 | planted pleasant vineyards but you shall |
| 7:24 | not drink their wine for i know how many |
| 7:26 | are your transgressions and how great |
| 7:29 | are your sins that’s not good news |
| 7:31 | that’s bad news if god knows how many |
| 7:33 | are your sins and how great are your |
| 7:34 | transgressions uh well you are in a lot |
| 7:38 | of trouble |
| 7:40 | it is a terrible and fearful thing to |
| 7:41 | fall in the hands of god and then you’ll |
| 7:43 | note that our epistle text |
| 7:46 | who |
| 7:47 | talks about law |
| 7:48 | take care brothers lest there be in any |
| 7:51 | of you an evil and unbelieving heart |
| 7:52 | leading you to fall away from the living |
| 7:54 | god and exhort one another every day as |
| 7:57 | long as it is called day called today so |
| 8:00 | that none of you may be hardened by the |
| 8:02 | deceitfulness of sin |
| 8:04 | and you’ll know we rightly recognize as |
| 8:06 | Christians that sin is not our friend |
| 8:09 | and at the same time every single sunday |
| 8:13 | you say those words that i confess that |
| 8:15 | i am by nature sinful and unclean |
| 8:18 | right |
| 8:20 | so we hear words like this we hear god’s |
| 8:22 | law and god’s law rightly nails us to |
| 8:24 | the wall and then you come to our gospel |
| 8:26 | text again a lot of law here and there |
| 8:29 | was a rich young fellow a rich young |
| 8:32 | fellow you know back in those days there |
| 8:33 | was no middle class you were either |
| 8:35 | really wealthy and that was a small |
| 8:37 | group or you were under the boot of rome |
| 8:39 | and you were poor which is pretty much |
| 8:41 | mostly everybody else right and so this |
| 8:44 | guy you can kind of see him coming up |
| 8:45 | with his armani suit you know dressed |
| 8:47 | really well maybe he parked the |
| 8:48 | lamborghini off over next to the temple |
| 8:51 | or something right and he comes up to |
| 8:53 | Jesus and he kneels before him that’s |
| 8:55 | not a bad thing but little piety here |
| 8:57 | showing some respect for Jesus i mean |
| 8:59 | after all Jesus is a holy man and then |
| 9:01 | he asks him the question that we all are |
| 9:03 | guilty of asking at some time good |
| 9:05 | teacher what must i do to inherit |
| 9:08 | eternal life |
| 9:10 | and there’s your problem |
| 9:12 | you see the law can’t save you |
| 9:15 | it can’t good luck on keeping it because |
| 9:17 | you don’t |
| 9:18 | i always like to tell people you can be |
| 9:21 | saved by the law |
| 9:23 | if |
| 9:24 | and here’s the the next part of it |
| 9:27 | if you keep it perfectly from the moment |
| 9:30 | of your conception until you draw your |
| 9:32 | last breath |
| 9:34 | have you done that |
| 9:37 | i haven’t done that |
| 9:39 | all right so those who |
| 9:41 | mistakenly |
| 9:43 | errantly |
| 9:44 | foolishly |
| 9:47 | think or assume well my situation may be |
| 9:51 | bad but it’s not that bad i can see if i |
| 9:54 | can just kind of sort this out i’m sure |
| 9:56 | there’s something |
| 9:57 | i can do |
| 9:59 | to inherit when inheritance is a gift |
| 10:02 | inherit eternal life |
| 10:05 | it ain’t gonna work |
| 10:07 | well what are you saying pastor you’re |
| 10:08 | doomed |
| 10:10 | why because Jesus turns right around |
| 10:12 | says to the to this fellow why do you |
| 10:13 | call me good no one is good except for |
| 10:15 | god alone let that sink in no one is |
| 10:17 | good except for god alone |
| 10:21 | yeah but i’m a no you’re not you’re a |
| 10:22 | good person you got to knock that off |
| 10:24 | you’re not no one is good except for god |
| 10:26 | alone think of it in the words of the |
| 10:28 | apostle paul who quoting the psalms you |
| 10:31 | know this these words appear three times |
| 10:33 | in scripture |
| 10:35 | in romans 3 |
| 10:37 | paul writes none is righteous no not one |
| 10:41 | no one understands and listen to these |
| 10:43 | words |
| 10:44 | no one seeks for god |
| 10:50 | wait what |
| 10:51 | amos |
| 10:53 | says |
| 10:55 | seek the lord and live |
| 11:00 | paul |
| 11:01 | quoting the psalmist in psalm 14 and 53 |
| 11:04 | says no one seeks for god |
| 11:07 | well how do you untie that gordian knot |
| 11:13 | this makes the rubik’s cube look easy |
| 11:15 | for some it is |
| 11:18 | right |
| 11:20 | all eyes over there right yeah but you |
| 11:22 | get what i’m saying here the rest of |
| 11:25 | the rest of us mere mortals it’s kind of |
| 11:27 | complicated at one time i knew how to do |
| 11:29 | it but now i don’t |
| 11:30 | but the rubik’s cube looks easy compared |
| 11:32 | to this how do you solve this conundrum |
| 11:34 | god says seek me and live |
| 11:37 | and paul quoting the psalmist says |
| 11:40 | no one seeks for god |
| 11:42 | and this is building off the exact same |
| 11:44 | theme of what Christ was talking about |
| 11:46 | in our gospel text when he says no one |
| 11:49 | is good except for god alone and watch |
| 11:51 | what Jesus does with a fellow he does |
| 11:54 | law with him |
| 11:55 | and he says all right you know the |
| 11:57 | commandments do not |
| 11:59 | commit murder don’t commit adultery |
| 12:01 | don’t steal don’t bear false witness |
| 12:03 | don’t defraud honor your father and |
| 12:05 | mother and then listen to this answer |
| 12:08 | and he said to him teacher all of these |
| 12:09 | i’ve kept from my youth that’s baby |
| 12:11 | stuff Jesus i i’ve kept all those |
| 12:13 | commandments |
| 12:17 | you can almost if Jesus had to wear |
| 12:19 | glasses like i would you can almost see |
| 12:21 | him taking his glasses down going really |
| 12:24 | seriously you think |
| 12:26 | you really think you’re keeping these |
| 12:28 | commandments oh my goodness |
| 12:30 | okay |
| 12:31 | let’s go back to the beginning again |
| 12:33 | shall we no one is good except for god |
| 12:38 | alone |
| 12:40 | does this guy think he’s good |
| 12:42 | yes is he listening to Jesus |
| 12:45 | no |
| 12:47 | all right not at all it was like when i |
| 12:50 | was when my kids were smaller and you’d |
| 12:52 | give them instructions i need you to go |
| 12:54 | and hear your here’s your list of chores |
| 12:55 | today and next thing you know you find |
| 12:57 | them playing video games why aren’t you |
| 12:59 | doing your chores it’s like things just |
| 13:01 | flew through their ears okay |
| 13:04 | it didn’t it didn’t seem to register |
| 13:06 | well same with this guy no one is good |
| 13:09 | except for god alone no one seeks for |
| 13:11 | god |
| 13:12 | none is righteous not even one so Jesus |
| 13:16 | decides to crank things up a bit because |
| 13:18 | Jesus being god in human flesh knows a |
| 13:20 | thing or two about this fellow he says |
| 13:22 | all right and he does this in love |
| 13:25 | note that what Christ does is he lays |
| 13:27 | bare this man’s sin and oh and by the |
| 13:29 | way next week’s gospel text will be |
| 13:31 | Jesus’s commentary on how hard it is for |
| 13:34 | rich guys like this to be saved |
| 13:37 | okay Jesus is actually going to reveal |
| 13:39 | more next week so Jesus lays bare his |
| 13:42 | idolatry in quite a wonderful way he |
| 13:45 | says to him all right you lack one thing |
| 13:47 | you go and sell all that you have and |
| 13:48 | give to the poor |
| 13:50 | and you’ll have treasure in heaven come |
| 13:51 | follow me |
| 13:53 | and the guy’s disheartened saying |
| 13:55 | by the saying he went away sorrowful |
| 13:56 | because he had great possessions |
| 13:58 | oh i thought you said you were good |
| 14:02 | but you’re not why what what’s the real |
| 14:05 | sin here the one we’re also all guilty |
| 14:07 | of |
| 14:08 | idolatry you will have no other gods |
| 14:12 | this man’s god is his money and the |
| 14:14 | reality is is that as we walk work |
| 14:16 | through all of our law texts today |
| 14:18 | because that’s what they all are |
| 14:21 | have you heard anything that convicts |
| 14:23 | you of your sin your unrighteousness how |
| 14:26 | you have fallen short i know i have it’s |
| 14:30 | a weird experience by the way being a |
| 14:32 | pastor because when you preach things |
| 14:33 | like this you re recognize you’re |
| 14:34 | preaching to yourself but you know what |
| 14:36 | i don’t like leaving sermons off on a |
| 14:38 | bad note and i really don’t like leaving |
| 14:40 | people sitting there puzzling having to |
| 14:42 | figure out how to solve the riddle of |
| 14:45 | how is it that on the one hand the |
| 14:47 | scripture says seek the lord and live |
| 14:50 | and then on the other hand it says no |
| 14:51 | one seeks for god |
| 14:53 | well what are we going to do with that |
| 14:55 | and thankfully using these same themes |
| 14:58 | of scripture dealing with the wealth |
| 15:00 | with wealth and idolatry there happens |
| 15:02 | to be in the scripture an account of a |
| 15:05 | very wealthy man who was known for |
| 15:08 | oppressing and taking advantage of other |
| 15:10 | people and you may have heard his name |
| 15:12 | are you zacchaeus if you know that the |
| 15:15 | wee little man the weird little man was |
| 15:16 | he climbed up a sycamore tree guys |
| 15:18 | remember that song all right so |
| 15:20 | consider this in this in this regard |
| 15:23 | you and i are just like zacchaeus just |
| 15:26 | like him and if you don’t think you are |
| 15:29 | let’s go back to those words again no |
| 15:31 | one is good except for god alone and so |
| 15:36 | let me what i know a little bit about |
| 15:37 | zacchaeus from the context here and also |
| 15:40 | what happened historically so when the |
| 15:42 | romans came in and they took over and |
| 15:44 | boy did they take over okay taxes were a |
| 15:47 | big thing but the roman tax system let’s |
| 15:49 | just say it was super inefficient it |
| 15:51 | makes our irs today look simple it just |
| 15:55 | really does but at the at the at the |
| 15:58 | heart of it was basically they would say |
| 16:00 | to tax collectors especially the chief |
| 16:02 | tax collectors in your territory in your |
| 16:05 | zip code we expect you to raise this |
| 16:07 | amount of money |
| 16:09 | this amount but the tax collectors were |
| 16:11 | known for saying well i’ve got to make a |
| 16:13 | living and so rather than making this |
| 16:15 | amount they would make this amount okay |
| 16:18 | and they would make sure that rome got |
| 16:19 | their cut and they got their cut |
| 16:22 | and who is it that was responsible for |
| 16:24 | paying all the rest of that stuff |
| 16:26 | everybody else all right so |
| 16:30 | remember what i said |
| 16:32 | lots of rich not very many rich people |
| 16:34 | in Jesus day no middle class and a lot |
| 16:37 | of poor everybody else well |
| 16:40 | zacchaeus is one of these tax collectors |
| 16:41 | and he’s not just a tax collector he’s |
| 16:43 | the boss he’s the chief tax collector in |
| 16:46 | the region of jericho and he is |
| 16:49 | wealthy where’d he get his money from |
| 16:51 | his neighbors do you think his neighbors |
| 16:54 | like him so there he is on a friday |
| 16:56 | night enjoying a wonderful meal |
| 17:00 | and his next door neighbor |
| 17:02 | is sitting by candlelight |
| 17:04 | eating a piece of dry crusty bread right |
| 17:08 | and he looks over i hate that zacchaeus |
| 17:11 | right because i would have had a good |
| 17:12 | meal tonight except for he took my last |
| 17:14 | denarius right |
| 17:16 | that’s how these guys operate and in |
| 17:18 | Jesus’s time men like zacchaeus |
| 17:21 | zacchaeus that’s a hebrew name he’s a |
| 17:24 | jew |
| 17:26 | he’s considered to be a turncoat a |
| 17:28 | traitor he’s in league with the |
| 17:30 | idolatrous oppressors this guy is not |
| 17:34 | liked |
| 17:35 | and so you’ll note that he fits all the |
| 17:37 | bill of what we hear in amos he’s |
| 17:39 | oppressing and taxing the poor |
| 17:42 | for his own gain and is he seeking god |
| 17:45 | not on your life he’s seeking god and we |
| 17:48 | hear that when Jesus was on his way to |
| 17:51 | jerusalem because that’s his final |
| 17:52 | destination as we get into the later |
| 17:55 | chapters of luke |
| 17:57 | Jesus |
| 17:58 | decides that he’s going to travel to |
| 17:59 | jerusalem via jericho |
| 18:02 | and while he was passing through |
| 18:03 | zacchaeus the rich tax collector heard |
| 18:07 | about Jesus and he wanted to see who he |
| 18:09 | was and if you think about it it makes a |
| 18:10 | lot of sense because in the wealthy |
| 18:13 | mindset what matters |
| 18:15 | wealth power prestige beauty right |
| 18:20 | and so Jesus he has power |
| 18:23 | and the word about Jesus is out |
| 18:26 | Jesus can heal the sick he can give |
| 18:29 | sight to the blind he raises the dead |
| 18:32 | and you’ll note that Jesus cleanses |
| 18:34 | lepers and he tells sinners that their |
| 18:37 | sins are forgiven and does Jesus live in |
| 18:40 | a palace no see Jesus is the exact |
| 18:43 | opposite of zacchaeus he’s the exact |
| 18:45 | opposite of you because no one is good |
| 18:46 | except for god alone and wouldn’t you |
| 18:48 | know it Jesus just happens to be god |
| 18:50 | right |
| 18:51 | and so Jesus’s values are totally |
| 18:54 | different he doesn’t come |
| 18:56 | to oppress and to dominate he makes |
| 19:00 | himself a servant |
| 19:02 | a slave |
| 19:03 | the least |
| 19:04 | he doesn’t serve himself he’s come to |
| 19:06 | serve you and so zacchaeus scratches his |
| 19:09 | head i gotta get a look at this guy who |
| 19:10 | is this fellow right and so because of |
| 19:12 | the crowd |
| 19:13 | he wasn’t able to see so he was small in |
| 19:16 | stature so he ran on ahead and like a |
| 19:18 | child he climbs a sycamore tree in order |
| 19:20 | to see Jesus and as Jesus was about to |
| 19:23 | pass by |
| 19:24 | he came to the place and he looked up |
| 19:26 | and he said to him first word |
| 19:29 | zacchaeus |
| 19:31 | let that one sink in for a second |
| 19:34 | wait what |
| 19:37 | we’ve never met you know my name |
| 19:40 | well Jesus knows the name of everybody |
| 19:41 | whose name is written in the lamb’s book |
| 19:43 | of life |
| 19:45 | it’s almost as if he has the whole thing |
| 19:46 | memorized |
| 19:48 | ah |
| 19:49 | your name’s in that book zacchaeus and |
| 19:51 | so what does Jesus say to him zeke is |
| 19:52 | you hurry down i must stay at your house |
| 19:55 | tonight |
| 19:56 | that is a great honor by the way |
| 19:58 | to have a meal in someone’s house is to |
| 20:01 | honor them you’re gonna honor this |
| 20:03 | ah |
| 20:04 | zacchaeus guy |
| 20:05 | this guy who is oppressing the and the |
| 20:08 | poor and taxing them amos preached |
| 20:11 | against this yahoo and you’re going to |
| 20:13 | what |
| 20:14 | right and you could just see the crowd |
| 20:16 | just have a big |
| 20:18 | you know kind of shake their head kind |
| 20:20 | of moment right but so key as he hurried |
| 20:24 | down |
| 20:25 | and he received Jesus joyfully |
| 20:27 | and when the crowd saw it they all |
| 20:28 | grumbled and listen to these words these |
| 20:30 | are really dumb words he has gone to be |
| 20:32 | the guest of a man who is a sinner |
| 20:36 | okay let me go back to those words again |
| 20:39 | no one is good except for god alone |
| 20:43 | right we’ve got that part okay |
| 20:46 | so if Jesus couldn’t eat with sinners |
| 20:49 | who could Jesus eat with on any |
| 20:52 | day-to-day basis |
| 20:54 | nobody he’d be like me when i was in the |
| 20:57 | you know the seventh grade or sixth |
| 20:58 | grade having to eat lunch by myself in |
| 21:00 | the bathroom in order not to be beaten |
| 21:02 | up right Jesus would be all by himself |
| 21:05 | poor Jesus he has no one to eat with |
| 21:07 | because he can’t eat with sinners well |
| 21:08 | if Jesus showed up at your house and |
| 21:11 | said i’d like to have a meal at your |
| 21:12 | house and he would be your honored guest |
| 21:14 | guess what he’d be eating with a sinner |
| 21:16 | too |
| 21:17 | right |
| 21:18 | and see there’s the issue over and over |
| 21:20 | again you can see it throughout |
| 21:22 | scripture people who do not recognize |
| 21:25 | they’re sinners |
| 21:28 | people sitting there he’s gonna eat with |
| 21:29 | a sinner |
| 21:31 | duh |
| 21:32 | there’s no one else to eat with |
| 21:36 | no one is good except for god alone |
| 21:41 | right |
| 21:44 | and here’s something beautiful that |
| 21:46 | happens |
| 21:47 | zacchaeus |
| 21:48 | he understands their grumbling because |
| 21:50 | he knows full well that he is a sinner |
| 21:53 | and it’s true |
| 21:54 | he’s oppressed people he’s taxed the |
| 21:56 | poor he hasn’t sought for god again how |
| 21:59 | do we solve this conundrum well it says |
| 22:00 | zacchaeus stood and he said to the lord |
| 22:03 | lord |
| 22:04 | half of my goods i now give to the poor |
| 22:07 | half right now i’ll write the check and |
| 22:09 | i’ll hand it to you right this second |
| 22:11 | and if i’ve defrauded anyone of anything |
| 22:13 | i’ll restore it fourfold |
| 22:19 | he emptied out his bank account |
| 22:22 | not in order to be saved |
| 22:26 | but because you’ll note by Christ |
| 22:27 | calling him by name he was saved |
| 22:30 | and here’s where it says |
| 22:32 | Jesus then today salvation has come to |
| 22:34 | this house since he’s also a son of |
| 22:36 | abraham now it’s true that zacchaeus is |
| 22:38 | genetically related to abraham but |
| 22:40 | scripture is very clear it’s not the |
| 22:41 | genetic descendants of abraham who are |
| 22:43 | the blessed it’s those who have the same |
| 22:44 | faith as abraham and by Christ saying |
| 22:47 | that he is a son of abraham Jesus is |
| 22:49 | confirming that zacchaeus has that same |
| 22:51 | faith that abraham had and that same |
| 22:53 | faith just like it saved abraham is |
| 22:55 | going to save zacchaeus and it can save |
| 22:56 | you and here’s the important words for |
| 22:58 | the son of man he came to seek and save |
| 23:01 | the lost |
| 23:03 | seek the lord and live |
| 23:05 | but no one seeks for god |
| 23:07 | don’t despair |
| 23:09 | Christ has come and he seeks you |
| 23:12 | the same Jesus took all of that sin that |
| 23:15 | zacchaeus had committed his defrauding |
| 23:18 | his oppressing the poor his not seeking |
| 23:20 | god |
| 23:21 | him not listening to the truth and he |
| 23:24 | carries zacchaeus’s sin with him the |
| 23:26 | rest of the way from jericho to |
| 23:28 | jerusalem |
| 23:29 | and just like he carried your sin and |
| 23:31 | mine |
| 23:32 | and he bled and died for zacchaeus he |
| 23:34 | suffered in his place so that zacchaeus |
| 23:36 | can be forgiven |
| 23:38 | where we fail to seek god |
| 23:40 | Christ |
| 23:42 | closes the gap he seeks us |
| 23:45 | he came to seek and to save the lost and |
| 23:47 | that’s you and me |
| 23:48 | and you know what you’ll never cry out |
| 23:51 | to god if you don’t recognize that none |
| 23:53 | is good except for god alone you’ll |
| 23:56 | never cry out for god to have mercy on |
| 23:58 | you until you realize that you have |
| 24:01 | sinned greatly against god |
| 24:03 | against each other |
| 24:05 | and that you deserve |
| 24:07 | well |
| 24:08 | to be thrown into |
| 24:10 | hell and to experience god’s wrath |
| 24:14 | so the good news is that Christ has bled |
| 24:15 | and died for you and that he’s the one |
| 24:17 | who seeks the lost and he’s found you |
| 24:19 | today |
| 24:20 | he’s found you today and he’s assured |
| 24:22 | you that your sins are forgiven |
| 24:24 | he found you when you were brought to |
| 24:26 | the waters of baptism and he joined you |
| 24:28 | to himself in his death and his |
| 24:29 | resurrection he washed away your sins |
| 24:31 | and circumcised your heart |
| 24:34 | he fed you last week with his body and |
| 24:36 | blood given and shed for you for the |
| 24:37 | forgiveness of your sins and i would say |
| 24:40 | Christ is here seeking and saving lost |
| 24:42 | souls like you and like me |
| 24:44 | today what a great savior we have in |
| 24:47 | Christ it is true none is good except |
| 24:50 | for god alone and dang Jesus is good |
| 24:55 | in the name of Jesus amen |
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