Series B – Fifth Sunday in Lent – Sunday, March 21, 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 |
| 0:28 | the holy gospel according to saint mark |
| 0:30 | the 10th chapter |
| 0:32 | glory to you oh lord |
| 0:36 | and james and john the sons of zebedee |
| 0:39 | came up to Jesus and said to him |
| 0:42 | teacher we want you to do for us |
| 0:44 | whatever we ask of you |
| 0:45 | and he said to them what do you want me |
| 0:47 | to do for you and they said to him |
| 0:49 | grant us to sit one at your right hand |
| 0:51 | and one at your left in your glory |
| 0:53 | Jesus said to them you don’t know what |
| 0:55 | you’re asking |
| 0:56 | are you able to drink the cup that i |
| 0:58 | drink or to be baptized with the baptism |
| 1:00 | with which i am baptized |
| 1:02 | they said to him we are able and Jesus |
| 1:05 | said to them |
| 1:06 | the cup that i drink you will drink and |
| 1:08 | with the baptism with which i am |
| 1:10 | baptized you will be baptized |
| 1:12 | but to sit at my right hand or my left |
| 1:14 | is not mine to grant |
| 1:15 | but it is for those for whom it has been |
| 1:18 | prepared |
| 1:19 | and when the ten heard it they began to |
| 1:22 | be |
| 1:22 | indignant at james and john and Jesus |
| 1:25 | called them to him and said to them |
| 1:28 | you know that those who are considered |
| 1:30 | rulers of the gentiles lorded over them |
| 1:32 | and their great ones exercise authority |
| 1:34 | over them |
| 1:35 | but it shall not be so among you but |
| 1:38 | whoever would be great among you must be |
| 1:40 | your servant and whoever would be first |
| 1:42 | among you must be the slave of all for |
| 1:45 | even the son of man came not to be |
| 1:48 | served |
| 1:48 | but to serve and to give his life as a |
| 1:51 | ransom for many |
| 1:52 | this is the gospel of the lord in the |
| 1:54 | name of Jesus |
| 1:57 | a little bit of a warning up front the |
| 1:59 | people who are control freaks are not |
| 2:01 | going to like |
| 2:02 | this sermon your toes are going to be |
| 2:04 | stepped on and rightly so |
| 2:06 | and you’re going to be called to repent |
| 2:07 | in the sermon and |
| 2:09 | we got to note this there’s a little |
| 2:10 | control freak in each and every one of |
| 2:13 | us |
| 2:13 | which is why we have the first |
| 2:15 | commandment you will have no other gods |
| 2:17 | before me |
| 2:19 | and that includes you you |
| 2:22 | oftentimes make yourself out to be your |
| 2:24 | own god |
| 2:26 | keep that in mind so you’ve been warned |
| 2:28 | ahead of time |
| 2:29 | don’t blame me if you don’t like the |
| 2:31 | sermon |
| 2:32 | our text today in this text Jesus says |
| 2:36 | to his disciples you know that those who |
| 2:39 | are considered rulers of the gentiles |
| 2:42 | listen to the word they lord it over |
| 2:44 | them |
| 2:45 | lord it and they’re great ones they |
| 2:48 | exercise authority |
| 2:49 | over them but it shall not be so among |
| 2:52 | you |
| 2:53 | but whoever would be great among you |
| 2:55 | must be your servant |
| 2:56 | whoever would be first among you must be |
| 2:59 | the slave |
| 3:00 | of all and even the son of man came not |
| 3:02 | to be |
| 3:03 | served and that’s the rub isn’t it the |
| 3:05 | people who are the control freaks the |
| 3:07 | reason why they’re in control is because |
| 3:09 | really it’s all about serving them their |
| 3:12 | desires their needs their passions |
| 3:14 | their agendas but the son of man did not |
| 3:16 | come to be served but to serve |
| 3:18 | and to give his life as a ransom for |
| 3:19 | many |
| 3:21 | let’s talk today about the will to power |
| 3:23 | shall we |
| 3:24 | it’s a relevant discussion oh |
| 3:28 | the political rhetoric is all about it |
| 3:30 | but |
| 3:31 | we’ll start with something simple you |
| 3:32 | guys remember the movie back to the |
| 3:33 | future |
| 3:34 | i love that movie i’m a child of the 80s |
| 3:36 | went and saw it in the theaters |
| 3:38 | but that’s a different story altogether |
| 3:40 | yes i know i’m old and i look like it |
| 3:42 | but in back to the future marty mcfly |
| 3:44 | travels back in time to 1955 |
| 3:47 | to the town where he his parents grew up |
| 3:51 | and he finds himself in a diner in the |
| 3:53 | downtown area of his small town |
| 3:56 | and there he runs into a fellow who was |
| 3:59 | sweeping the floors |
| 4:01 | a person of color by the name of goldie |
| 4:04 | wilson |
| 4:04 | right and goldie wilson was talking |
| 4:07 | about the need to |
| 4:08 | clean up the town and what does marty |
| 4:12 | mcfly |
| 4:12 | say to him you know you’re right you’re |
| 4:15 | gonna be |
| 4:16 | mayor and what does goldie wilson do |
| 4:18 | goes |
| 4:19 | mayor i like the sound of that |
| 4:23 | and then he tells his boss when i’m |
| 4:24 | mayor i’m gonna clean up this town |
| 4:26 | what does his boss say good start by |
| 4:28 | sweeping the floors |
| 4:30 | right but you’ll note that that that |
| 4:33 | that desire to be in charge |
| 4:37 | to clean up the town you know we’re all |
| 4:39 | tempted by this |
| 4:41 | but here’s the thing and this is the rub |
| 4:45 | is that this will to power on our part |
| 4:49 | so often is so tainted with sin that we |
| 4:52 | become the most like the devil |
| 4:54 | when we desire sinfully |
| 4:57 | to be in charge |
| 5:02 | consider this text isaiah 14 says this |
| 5:06 | oh how you have fallen from heaven o day |
| 5:08 | star |
| 5:09 | son of the dawn talking about the devil |
| 5:12 | how you are cut down to the ground you |
| 5:15 | who laid low the nations |
| 5:17 | you said in your heart i will ascend to |
| 5:19 | heaven above the stars of god |
| 5:21 | i will set my throne on high i will sit |
| 5:25 | on the mount of the assembly in the far |
| 5:26 | reaches of the north |
| 5:27 | i will ascend above the heights of the |
| 5:30 | clouds and i will make myself like the |
| 5:33 | most high |
| 5:38 | but you are brought down to shayol to |
| 5:40 | the far reaches |
| 5:42 | of the pit think of it this way there’s |
| 5:44 | a lot of talk |
| 5:45 | right now in fact i would argue that |
| 5:48 | there is a |
| 5:48 | lot of malicious bickering going on in |
| 5:51 | our country right |
| 5:52 | now about what privilege privilege right |
| 5:56 | who has more of it who has systemic |
| 5:59 | versions of it oh and then along with |
| 6:02 | the talk about privilege |
| 6:03 | and those who should have it and those |
| 6:05 | who should have it taken away from them |
| 6:07 | there’s talk of reparations too |
| 6:09 | reparations for slavery and things like |
| 6:11 | this |
| 6:12 | and what is it all all of this is about |
| 6:14 | the will |
| 6:15 | to power and the idea that somehow if we |
| 6:19 | just elect |
| 6:20 | the right people put them in office |
| 6:23 | they’re going to fix everything and |
| 6:25 | we’re going to experience utopia |
| 6:31 | brothers and sisters what is broken in |
| 6:33 | our world what is broken in you |
| 6:35 | cannot be fixed by a politician |
| 6:39 | it can’t what is broken in each and |
| 6:42 | every one of us |
| 6:43 | has to be fixed on a different level all |
| 6:46 | together |
| 6:47 | and i would note this that the current |
| 6:50 | political atmosphere is so fully |
| 6:53 | charged about this talk of privilege and |
| 6:56 | power and all this kind of nonsense |
| 6:58 | that it’s dividing churches it’s |
| 7:00 | dividing our nation it’s dividing |
| 7:02 | families |
| 7:03 | if you don’t agree with the prevailing |
| 7:05 | ideology |
| 7:06 | well you’re just not woke and you’re out |
| 7:10 | or if you agree with woke you’re just |
| 7:12 | stupid and you’re out |
| 7:15 | right this is how this goes and |
| 7:18 | one of the most politically charged |
| 7:20 | things i’ve heard |
| 7:21 | is the attacks against Christianity on |
| 7:24 | this ground here’s the ground |
| 7:26 | Christianity and the bible condones |
| 7:28 | slavery |
| 7:30 | it is the bi it is the bible that was |
| 7:32 | used to enslave |
| 7:34 | people of color around the world and we |
| 7:36 | need to get rid of the bible you |
| 7:38 | Christians are condoning slavery |
| 7:40 | i want to make something very clear that |
| 7:41 | in our gospel text Christ not only |
| 7:43 | condones slavery |
| 7:45 | he’s demanding it of every one of his |
| 7:46 | disciples |
| 7:49 | you and me we’re not talking about the |
| 7:52 | kind of slavery where |
| 7:54 | somebody is enslaved and held bondage |
| 7:57 | against their |
| 7:58 | will we’re talking about the slavery |
| 8:00 | that comes when |
| 8:01 | someone recognizes that what we are |
| 8:04 | called to do |
| 8:05 | is to not serve ourselves |
| 8:08 | but to serve our neighbors and in all |
| 8:11 | this political |
| 8:12 | rhetoric that’s running around right now |
| 8:13 | you know what i don’t hear |
| 8:15 | i don’t hear about forgiveness i don’t |
| 8:18 | hear about |
| 8:18 | mercy i don’t hear about grace |
| 8:22 | it’s disgusting i’m sick of it |
| 8:28 | and all of this has everything to do |
| 8:30 | with our gospel text |
| 8:33 | now for the control freak in you that |
| 8:35 | wants to be in charge |
| 8:37 | isaiah chapter 47 has this to say |
| 8:41 | now therefore hear this you lovers of |
| 8:42 | pleasure who sit securely and who say in |
| 8:44 | your heart |
| 8:45 | i am and there is no one besides me |
| 8:49 | and that’s the rub isn’t it that’s |
| 8:51 | really the issue |
| 8:53 | when we want to be in charge we want to |
| 8:55 | call the shots |
| 8:57 | we are saying we know better than god in |
| 8:59 | fact we want to be god |
| 9:01 | and like the devil we believe if only i |
| 9:03 | were elected if only i were put in |
| 9:05 | charge |
| 9:05 | i will ascend i will make do i will make |
| 9:08 | it all happen |
| 9:10 | history is littered with men who promise |
| 9:12 | these exact |
| 9:14 | same things remember the bolsheviks |
| 9:17 | they promised a worker’s paradise in the |
| 9:20 | soviet union how did that work out |
| 9:24 | remember hitler he promised a millennial |
| 9:27 | reich for the volk for the |
| 9:30 | for the people how did that work out |
| 9:34 | and then you think of castro and che |
| 9:36 | guevara and mountain |
| 9:38 | right even in our own days we have our |
| 9:41 | own versions of this |
| 9:43 | i remember when obama was elected and |
| 9:45 | people thought that the messiah had come |
| 9:48 | back |
| 9:49 | it was weird right and then trump got |
| 9:52 | elected and they thought he was the |
| 9:53 | messiah |
| 9:56 | you see the problem here what’s broken |
| 9:59 | here cannot be fixed by them |
| 10:03 | and the one who thinks that they can |
| 10:05 | pull this all off |
| 10:07 | well and the one who says that i am |
| 10:09 | there’s no one besides me |
| 10:11 | i shall not sit as a widow or know the |
| 10:13 | loss of children |
| 10:15 | these two things shall come to you in a |
| 10:16 | moment all in a day the loss of children |
| 10:18 | widowhood shall come upon you |
| 10:20 | in full measure in spite of your many |
| 10:23 | sorceries |
| 10:24 | and your great power and your |
| 10:27 | enchantments |
| 10:28 | now it seems a little odd to kind of |
| 10:30 | talk about idolatry |
| 10:32 | in terms of sorcery but we have a |
| 10:34 | cross-reference here |
| 10:35 | in first samuel where it says that the |
| 10:37 | sin of rebellion against god is as the |
| 10:39 | sin of witchcraft and adultery |
| 10:41 | adultery i witchcraft and sorcery there |
| 10:45 | we go there’s the |
| 10:46 | one of the words witchcraft and sorcery |
| 10:48 | you say how so |
| 10:49 | if you know anything about the occult |
| 10:50 | what is the occult really all about |
| 10:52 | it’s about learning the right spells |
| 10:54 | it’s about learning the right |
| 10:55 | incantations |
| 10:56 | making the right mixtures and potions so |
| 10:59 | that you can control |
| 11:00 | nature you can control your neighbor |
| 11:03 | you can control your own fate |
| 11:06 | that’s what’s at the heart of sorcery |
| 11:09 | and witchcraft |
| 11:10 | it’s idolatry and it’s self idolatry |
| 11:14 | so here in our gospel text |
| 11:17 | we need to back up in the context just a |
| 11:20 | little bit |
| 11:21 | back up to verse 32 in mark chapter 10 |
| 11:25 | and here’s our context it’s rather |
| 11:26 | fascinating it says |
| 11:28 | the disciples were on the road they were |
| 11:30 | going up to jerusalem |
| 11:31 | and Jesus was walking ahead of them |
| 11:35 | so here’s the context they’re all |
| 11:36 | heading towards jerusalem there’s a |
| 11:38 | group there’s the disciples and everyone |
| 11:40 | else is following along and Jesus is in |
| 11:42 | the lead |
| 11:43 | and they’re leaving him a little bit of |
| 11:45 | space right and they’re all going |
| 11:48 | this is it this is it Jesus is going to |
| 11:51 | be king |
| 11:52 | oh i might be proud i might be the guy |
| 11:54 | who’s like second in command |
| 11:56 | can i be the grand vizier oh he’s gonna |
| 11:58 | hand out |
| 11:59 | all these illustrious beautiful ministry |
| 12:02 | opportunities for us we’ll have power |
| 12:05 | we’ll have wealth |
| 12:06 | we’ll have a security forever oh |
| 12:09 | so they were amazed those who followed |
| 12:12 | were afraid |
| 12:14 | so Jesus knowing full well what’s going |
| 12:16 | on took the disciples |
| 12:17 | again the text says again and he said to |
| 12:21 | them |
| 12:22 | we are going up to jerusalem the son of |
| 12:25 | man will be delivered over to the chief |
| 12:27 | priests and the scribes they will |
| 12:30 | condemn him to death |
| 12:31 | deliver him over to the gentiles they |
| 12:34 | will mock him |
| 12:35 | spit on him and flog him and kill him |
| 12:38 | and after three days he will rise |
| 12:42 | seems pretty straightforward right |
| 12:45 | pretty simple |
| 12:47 | well Jesus apparently was shooting bbs |
| 12:50 | at a brick wall here |
| 12:51 | because that didn’t |
| 12:54 | sink in and you’ll note that in Jesus’s |
| 12:58 | earthly ministry there was |
| 12:59 | zero talk of him going to jerusalem |
| 13:03 | to set up an earthly kingdom at no point |
| 13:06 | in Jesus ministry do you even get the |
| 13:08 | hint |
| 13:09 | that he’s heading to jerusalem in order |
| 13:11 | to be crowned the king of israel |
| 13:14 | at least not in the sense that human |
| 13:15 | beings are talking about in fact over |
| 13:17 | and over and over again Jesus told them |
| 13:21 | what was going to transpire and remember |
| 13:23 | the first time that Jesus revealed what |
| 13:25 | was going to transpire what did peter do |
| 13:27 | he took Jesus aside and rebuked him |
| 13:32 | and Jesus said to him get behind me |
| 13:34 | satan |
| 13:37 | now in this regard |
| 13:40 | i enjoyed preparing for the sermon by |
| 13:43 | reading some of the sermons that the |
| 13:45 | early church fathers did on this text |
| 13:47 | one in particular stood out john |
| 13:48 | Christostem’s sermon on this text |
| 13:50 | here he talks about the mistaken premise |
| 13:53 | of their request |
| 13:54 | the request of the disciples here’s what |
| 13:56 | it’s here’s what john chrysostom said |
| 13:58 | the disciples were expecting Jesus to |
| 14:00 | enter into the kingdom |
| 14:02 | but not to go to the cross and to death |
| 14:05 | even though they had heard it ten |
| 14:07 | thousand times |
| 14:08 | they could not clearly understand since |
| 14:11 | they had got not gotten a clear and |
| 14:13 | certain knowledge of his teaching |
| 14:14 | they thought that he was going to this |
| 14:17 | visible kingdom |
| 14:18 | and would rule in jerusalem so the sons |
| 14:21 | of zebedees |
| 14:22 | caught up with him on the road and they |
| 14:25 | thought that they had found |
| 14:26 | the opportune moment so they put their |
| 14:28 | request |
| 14:29 | to Jesus and they had broken away from |
| 14:32 | the throng of the disciples just as if |
| 14:33 | the whole situation had turned out |
| 14:35 | exactly as they wanted |
| 14:36 | and they asked about the privilege of |
| 14:39 | the first |
| 14:40 | seats oh there it is see Christos |
| 14:43 | all the way back in what the 5th 6th |
| 14:46 | century |
| 14:47 | is preaching about privilege does |
| 14:51 | anything change |
| 14:52 | does anything change no they were asking |
| 14:54 | about the privilege of the first seats |
| 14:56 | and about being the first among others |
| 14:58 | so they asked for this because they |
| 14:59 | assumed that everything was finished |
| 15:01 | and that the whole business was over and |
| 15:03 | done with and they made their request |
| 15:05 | because they thought that |
| 15:06 | now was the time for crowns and rewards |
| 15:12 | is today the day of crowns and rewards |
| 15:14 | yeah no |
| 15:16 | that that’s not until Christ returns |
| 15:19 | putting it another way |
| 15:22 | their timing was precisely wrong for |
| 15:24 | this was not |
| 15:25 | the right time for crowns or prizes it |
| 15:28 | was the time for struggles |
| 15:30 | for contests for toils for sweat |
| 15:33 | for wrestling and battles you almost |
| 15:37 | remember churchill’s speech that he gave |
| 15:39 | in |
| 15:40 | the beginning of world war ii i promised |
| 15:42 | nothing but blood |
| 15:44 | toil sweat right |
| 15:47 | that’s what we have to face now as |
| 15:49 | Christians |
| 15:51 | this is not the time for rewards and |
| 15:54 | crowns |
| 15:55 | and so with that consider then how the |
| 15:58 | request went down |
| 16:00 | james and john we learned from another |
| 16:01 | gospel that their mom was involved |
| 16:04 | okay they were they didn’t even have the |
| 16:06 | guts to do this themselves |
| 16:07 | they got mom involved right who does |
| 16:10 | that right |
| 16:12 | so they came up to Jesus and said |
| 16:14 | teacher we want you to do for us |
| 16:15 | whatever we ask of you |
| 16:17 | and he said then all right what do you |
| 16:19 | want me to do for you and they said to |
| 16:21 | him grant us to sit one at your right |
| 16:22 | hand and one at your left |
| 16:24 | in your glory now some of the other |
| 16:26 | church fathers know |
| 16:28 | that they rightly understood that they |
| 16:30 | did have a place a very important place |
| 16:32 | in Christ’s ministry |
| 16:34 | and in the kingdom and we learned from |
| 16:36 | the book of revelation |
| 16:37 | that these disciples these apostles of |
| 16:39 | Christ are part of the |
| 16:40 | 24 elders if you would so they even have |
| 16:43 | a |
| 16:44 | place of honor in the heavenly kingdom |
| 16:46 | but again we have to recognize the now |
| 16:48 | and the not yet aspects of the kingdom |
| 16:51 | and so they don’t even know what they’re |
| 16:52 | talking about they don’t even know what |
| 16:53 | they’re asking that’s what Jesus said |
| 16:55 | you don’t know what you’re asking for |
| 16:57 | and then he says this he asks them the |
| 16:59 | two questions are you able to drink the |
| 17:00 | cup that i drink or to be baptized with |
| 17:02 | the baptism with which i am baptized |
| 17:04 | ooh cup and baptism talking you know |
| 17:07 | it’s as if |
| 17:08 | Christ is somehow making a little veiled |
| 17:10 | reference regarding the waters of |
| 17:12 | baptism in his blood and |
| 17:13 | also the lord’s supper and his blood now |
| 17:16 | i think that’s a pretty good little |
| 17:17 | illusion |
| 17:18 | all pointing back to his sufferings well |
| 17:21 | they said to him we are able |
| 17:23 | of course they don’t know what he’s |
| 17:24 | talking about okay they think in glory |
| 17:26 | Christ is talking death he’s talking |
| 17:28 | suffering he’s talking persecution |
| 17:30 | and so Jesus said to them and this is |
| 17:32 | where they should have said oh |
| 17:34 | the cup that i drink you will drink and |
| 17:36 | with the baptism with which i am |
| 17:38 | baptized you will be baptized |
| 17:40 | but to sit at my right hand or my left |
| 17:42 | is not mine to grant |
| 17:43 | but it is for those for whom it has been |
| 17:46 | prepared |
| 17:48 | now in this regard then i loved what |
| 17:51 | augustine had to say |
| 17:52 | regarding this text and it’s in the |
| 17:55 | augustine sermon on this text he makes a |
| 17:57 | big distinction between |
| 17:59 | the loftiness of privilege versus |
| 18:02 | the lowliness of Christ next week’s |
| 18:05 | epistle text is going to be that |
| 18:06 | wonderful text from philippians |
| 18:08 | chapter 2 where it says that our |
| 18:10 | attitude should be the same as Christ |
| 18:12 | Jesus |
| 18:13 | who though he was by nature god did not |
| 18:15 | consider equality with god a thing to be |
| 18:17 | grasped |
| 18:17 | but he humbled himself he humbled |
| 18:20 | himself as found in the form of a |
| 18:21 | servant and was obedient to the point of |
| 18:23 | death |
| 18:24 | even death on the cross and so the idea |
| 18:26 | here is is that |
| 18:27 | when you think of power when you think |
| 18:29 | of glory think of it in terms of |
| 18:31 | loftiness but then what Christ |
| 18:35 | accomplished he accomplished not in |
| 18:37 | loftiness |
| 18:38 | he accomplished it in lowliness so |
| 18:40 | augustine says this |
| 18:42 | ponder how profound this is they were |
| 18:44 | conferring with him about |
| 18:46 | glory he intended to precede loftiness |
| 18:50 | with humility and only through humility |
| 18:54 | to ready the way for loftiness |
| 18:55 | itself for of course even those |
| 18:57 | disciples who wanted to sit one on his |
| 18:59 | right and the other on his left |
| 19:01 | they were looking to glory they were on |
| 19:04 | the lookout but did not |
| 19:06 | see by what way in order that they might |
| 19:09 | come to their homeland and do |
| 19:11 | order the lord called them back to the |
| 19:13 | narrow way |
| 19:14 | and augustine’s point is something along |
| 19:16 | the lines of this |
| 19:17 | i remember when i was when i was a kid |
| 19:20 | growing up one of the things we did we |
| 19:22 | we did a lot of hiking and so we like to |
| 19:24 | visit |
| 19:25 | particular trails and mountains and |
| 19:27 | stuff like that one of my favorite hikes |
| 19:29 | when i was a kid growing up |
| 19:30 | was to go to the top of mount baden |
| 19:33 | powell in southern california i i |
| 19:36 | summited mount baden-powell a couple of |
| 19:38 | times but one thing i remember |
| 19:39 | very clearly about that particular trail |
| 19:42 | is that it starts off pretty easy but |
| 19:45 | the next thing you know it’s switch back |
| 19:48 | after switch back after switch back and |
| 19:50 | oh my goodness |
| 19:52 | the ascent is torture it was |
| 19:56 | actually pretty hard even as a young man |
| 19:58 | and there was sweat involved and dust |
| 20:01 | and there were times when you were your |
| 20:03 | legs were aching so much and you kept |
| 20:05 | looking up and going |
| 20:06 | how many more switchbacks are there |
| 20:09 | right |
| 20:10 | and so you trudge along it got to the |
| 20:11 | point where at times it felt like the |
| 20:13 | only thing i could do to survive the |
| 20:15 | switchbacks was just to watch |
| 20:17 | my feet watch my boots and just put one |
| 20:20 | foot |
| 20:21 | in front of the other in front of the |
| 20:23 | other in front of the other |
| 20:25 | but eventually the switchbacks give way |
| 20:27 | to more |
| 20:28 | um a more steady ascent and then you |
| 20:32 | finally summit mount baden pal and when |
| 20:34 | you do |
| 20:35 | it’s absolutely glorious especially if |
| 20:38 | you do it on like a clear day in |
| 20:39 | southern california |
| 20:40 | you’d look out over the whole southern |
| 20:42 | california basin |
| 20:44 | and in fact ben pal is high enough that |
| 20:47 | beyond |
| 20:48 | the basin you can actually see parts of |
| 20:50 | the pacific ocean it’s absolutely |
| 20:52 | beautiful one time when i summoned it we |
| 20:54 | actually ascended through the clouds |
| 20:56 | and when we got to the top it was like |
| 20:58 | looking down on this blanket of pillowy |
| 21:00 | white stuff with the sun gloriously |
| 21:02 | shining and it was so |
| 21:03 | beautifully cool and stuff it was it was |
| 21:06 | a june day that particular day |
| 21:07 | but our our trip to the glorious kingdom |
| 21:11 | of Christ |
| 21:12 | is like that what they wanted was the |
| 21:16 | summit |
| 21:17 | but they didn’t want the switchbacks |
| 21:20 | but that’s not what we’re called to as |
| 21:22 | Christians we’re called to the lowly |
| 21:25 | difficult trudging |
| 21:29 | working through the difficult trails |
| 21:32 | ascending |
| 21:33 | slowly methodically in pain |
| 21:36 | and that’s the idea and so augustine |
| 21:39 | then says |
| 21:40 | home the homeland is life in Christ but |
| 21:43 | the way is dying with Christ |
| 21:45 | the way is suffering with Christ and the |
| 21:48 | goal is abiding with him eternally |
| 21:51 | so why do you seek the homeland if |
| 21:54 | you’re not |
| 21:54 | seeking the actual way to get to it it’s |
| 21:57 | a good question |
| 21:58 | that he asks and in that particular |
| 22:00 | sense then consider |
| 22:02 | Christos last thoughts on this Christos |
| 22:05 | then |
| 22:06 | points out that we we |
| 22:09 | seek loftiness and think that through |
| 22:11 | loftiness and glory that we can |
| 22:13 | accomplish things but i would argue this |
| 22:15 | the ones who’ve tried to attain |
| 22:18 | perfection in this life or give us |
| 22:20 | things by |
| 22:21 | loftiness and glory and power they are |
| 22:25 | the big wrecks of human history and they |
| 22:28 | accomplished |
| 22:29 | nothing in fact this oftentimes creeps |
| 22:32 | into our |
| 22:33 | thinking i think again of the |
| 22:35 | purpose-driven movement that |
| 22:36 | over and again has changed the great |
| 22:38 | commission from go and make disciples to |
| 22:41 | go and make a difference |
| 22:43 | hitler made a difference it wasn’t a |
| 22:45 | good one but he made a difference |
| 22:47 | and that’s not what we’re called to do |
| 22:48 | we’re not called to make a difference |
| 22:51 | we’re called to make disciples and so |
| 22:53 | consider |
| 22:54 | then what Christos says that Christ |
| 22:57 | accomplished and he’s right |
| 22:59 | not in glory not in loftiness but what |
| 23:02 | Christ accomplished |
| 23:03 | in lowliness listen to the list |
| 23:07 | Christ erased the curse he triumphed |
| 23:10 | over death |
| 23:11 | he opened paradise he struck down sin |
| 23:14 | he opened wide the vaults of heaven he |
| 23:17 | lifted up our first fruits to heaven he |
| 23:20 | filled the whole earth with godliness |
| 23:22 | he drove out error and he led back the |
| 23:25 | truth |
| 23:26 | he made our first fruits mount to the |
| 23:28 | royal throne |
| 23:29 | he accomplished so many good deeds that |
| 23:32 | neither i nor all of humanity together |
| 23:34 | could set them before your minds in |
| 23:36 | words before he humbled himself |
| 23:39 | only the angels knew him and after he |
| 23:41 | humbled himself |
| 23:42 | all human nature knew him you see |
| 23:45 | how his humbling of himself did not make |
| 23:48 | him have less |
| 23:49 | but produced countless benefits |
| 23:52 | countless deeds of virtue |
| 23:53 | and made his glory shine forth with |
| 23:56 | greater brightness |
| 23:57 | god wants for nothing and has no has |
| 24:00 | need of nothing |
| 24:01 | yet when Christ humbled himself |
| 24:04 | he produced such great good increased |
| 24:08 | his household |
| 24:09 | extended his kingdom why then on earth |
| 24:12 | are you afraid that you will become less |
| 24:15 | if you humble yourself |
| 24:19 | and isn’t that what it is well if i |
| 24:22 | humble myself and i make myself a slave |
| 24:24 | to all |
| 24:24 | as Christ has said then i’ll become less |
| 24:27 | and i’ll do less |
| 24:30 | that’s the devil’s lie the one who |
| 24:33 | exalts himself will be humbled the one |
| 24:35 | who humbles himself will be exalted |
| 24:37 | Christ says |
| 24:40 | you really want to do something serve at |
| 24:43 | the bottom |
| 24:46 | believe what Christ says here the |
| 24:48 | greatest among us |
| 24:49 | are servants and slaves |
| 24:52 | and he modeled this for us because the |
| 24:55 | greatest the king of kings and lord of |
| 24:57 | lords |
| 24:58 | god the almighty son of god was |
| 25:01 | found in the form of a servant |
| 25:04 | was born of the virgin mary laid down |
| 25:07 | his life |
| 25:08 | suffered under pontius pilate and |
| 25:10 | through his lowliness |
| 25:12 | he’s accomplished more in human history |
| 25:16 | than everybody who tried to accomplish |
| 25:18 | things through loftiness |
| 25:20 | and glory Christ did it through |
| 25:22 | lowliness |
| 25:26 | so what’s the point we need to repent |
| 25:30 | we got it all wrong |
| 25:34 | the lies of the devil the world your own |
| 25:35 | sinful flesh it’s all about glorifying |
| 25:37 | you |
| 25:38 | exalting you you being in charge put it |
| 25:41 | all |
| 25:42 | away deny yourself take up your cross |
| 25:45 | and follow Christ |
| 25:47 | for this Jesus just like he said he did |
| 25:49 | go to jerusalem |
| 25:50 | he was arrested he was flogged he was |
| 25:54 | beaten |
| 25:55 | beaten so badly you wouldn’t have even |
| 25:57 | recognized him and after that |
| 25:58 | they nailed him to a cross he was |
| 26:00 | suspended between heaven and earth |
| 26:02 | bleeding for all |
| 26:03 | of your vain glorious desires |
| 26:06 | and actions to exalt yourself over god |
| 26:09 | and |
| 26:10 | others to make others serve you rather |
| 26:13 | than you |
| 26:14 | serving god he bled and died for all of |
| 26:16 | that |
| 26:20 | and as for those seats at the right hand |
| 26:24 | and the left in the book of exodus |
| 26:27 | we remember that moses asked to see the |
| 26:29 | glory of god |
| 26:32 | he asked to see it and god wouldn’t |
| 26:34 | allow him to see it |
| 26:36 | god instead came up with a other idea |
| 26:39 | god took moses and he hid them in a |
| 26:41 | cleft of a rock while he made all of his |
| 26:43 | glory pass by |
| 26:45 | and while god’s glory was passing by |
| 26:48 | moses didn’t hear the |
| 26:49 | didn’t see the glory of god but he heard |
| 26:51 | it and he heard these words |
| 26:53 | yahweh yahweh slow to anger |
| 26:57 | abounding instead vast love pardoning |
| 27:00 | iniquity it is the glory of god to |
| 27:03 | forgive us of our sins |
| 27:05 | so Christ enters into his true glory |
| 27:08 | in the glory of god in that sense when |
| 27:10 | he is on the cross bleeding and dying |
| 27:12 | for our sins |
| 27:14 | and that day the men who were chosen to |
| 27:16 | be on his right hand |
| 27:18 | and on his left were two thieves he was |
| 27:21 | crucified between the two of them |
| 27:23 | is it any wonder that Jesus says you |
| 27:25 | don’t know what you’re asking for |
| 27:28 | and so brothers and sisters we too like |
| 27:30 | the disciples |
| 27:31 | are called to deny ourselves to suffer |
| 27:35 | to be persecuted to struggle to toil |
| 27:39 | now this is not the time for crowns and |
| 27:41 | rewards |
| 27:42 | this is the time for slavery Christ has |
| 27:46 | set us free from slavery to sin death |
| 27:48 | and the devil |
| 27:49 | so that we can freely be slaves to |
| 27:50 | others and love them |
| 27:53 | as Christ has loved us so let us repent |
| 27:56 | lay down our idolatry and our vain glory |
| 27:59 | receive the forgiveness so |
| 28:00 | freely one for us by Christ on the cross |
| 28:04 | and let us now take up our crosses and |
| 28:06 | follow him |
| 28:07 | as he leads us home in the name of Jesus |
| 28:14 | amen |
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