WEBVTT
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Okay, now, it's true, isn't it, that there are areas of the Christian faith, there are elements of the Christian religion that we do not consider as we should in the 21st century church.
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So there are areas of the Christian faith, elements of the Christian religion that we do not focus on perhaps as we should.
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Areas that we don't get due consideration and time.
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For example, if we focused on the predicament of the lost perhaps as we should, that would maybe tell in the way that we witnessed and our evangelistic zeal, wouldn't it?
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Or if we focused on the holiness of God as we should, I think that would tell maybe in increase of more fervent repentance from sin.
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So there are areas that we don't focus on as we should.
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But perhaps chief amongst these overlooked essentials is the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Do you not agree?
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I think it was said of the early church that they thought more about the Lord's return than they did about their own lives and their own death.
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I wonder if that could be said for us in here.
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Isn't it true perhaps that Christ's return has maybe been pushed onto the back burner of the modern church, of the contemporary church?
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Well in our short time this afternoon, what I hope we can do is just consider one or two elements about the return, the perusia, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Before we do that, before we get to the text, I think maybe we've got to say one or two things just about the different interpretations that people might have of Mark chapter 13.
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Because it's certainly the case that some people, some scholars, they see that what Jesus is doing in Mark 13,
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is he is actually thinking only about the fall of Jerusalem in AD 17.
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Now do you see where they're getting?
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Do you see their point?
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They're saying that when Jesus in this chapter, when he talks about increased persecution in the church,
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when he talks about apostasy and things like that,
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that really all he's got in mind is the time leading up to the fall of the temple in the first century.
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So you've got that quite significant understanding of Mark 13.
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So you've got that.
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You've also got something else.
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Because quite a few people think Mark 13 is just really, what we say, higgledy, piggledy.
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That's what my mum would say anyway, higgledy, piggledy.
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A bit over, all over the place.
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A bit disjointed.
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So they will see that what Jesus is doing.
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Yes, in some places he's talking about the fall of the temple.
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Maybe something.
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In other parts he is talking about his return.
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And their interpretation is he's just jumping from one thing to the other.
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He's just all over the place.
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There's no sort of coherent kind of thinking or coherent thought going on.
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So that's another interpretation.
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Now, to be honest with you, I don't think either of those interpretations does justice to Mark 13.
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What I think is happening here is that really our Lord has both of those things.
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Few.
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Do you see what I'm saying?
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That yes, at this moment he is preparing his disciples for the coming fall of Jerusalem.
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Do you know what else he's doing?
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He's using that event, the fall of the temple, really as a symbol or a kind of paradigm of the end of the age.
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And when we've been looking at this in our congregation in the centre of London,
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I think I've said the same thing at every single service, in every single sermon.
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But really here in front of you what Jesus is doing is he's looking through that fall of the temple, fall of Jerusalem,
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and he's looking through it to the time where he will return.
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Return on the clouds.
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And as we look at this very short section from verse 28 onwards just now,
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I think what we'll see from our Lord, what we'll learn from our Lord,
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are two important lessons about the second coming.
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So it's not, I remember going to a meeting like this once in Edinburgh,
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and the guy stood up and he said, well, I'm going to be short, but I do want to cover 11 points.
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So basically, it won't be like that, I promise you, I promise you.
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Two important lessons we learn from the Lord.
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But each of those points has a necessary required response from you and from me.
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So what do we have?
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What's the first lesson we've got here?
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Well, first of all, I think we learn from verse 28 onwards that the return of Christ is imminent.
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Okay, you got it?
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The return of Christ, the return of our Lord is imminent.
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Now we know, don't we as Christians, that in Scripture,
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our God loves to teach us using nature.
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Isn't that the case throughout the Bible?
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He uses, very often our Lord uses natural, nature metaphors,
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metaphors taken from nature.
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I'm sure you could cite some examples of that, couldn't you?
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Let's go for the salt of the earth,
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or maybe of when Israel is spoken of as a vineyard.
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You see the idea, nature being prominent.
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Now you'll see that that is how Jesus begins.
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If you look at your Bible in verse 28,
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he tells you and I to learn from,
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do you see what it is?
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It's a fig tree.
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I don't know how familiar you are friends with fig trees.
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My wife and I, we've got a fig tree just a couple of doors down.
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One of our neighbours has one,
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so it kind of makes a little bit of sense to me.
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But even if you have never even in your entire life seen a fig tree,
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the message here is not difficult.
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So you understand this,
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that in the Middle East,
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the fig tree was very, very unusual
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in how it bore fruit and bore leaves.
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A lot of the trees in the Middle East,
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they begin to bud in early spring.
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Others in the Middle East, of course,
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were evergreen trees.
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There's the fig trees, they're thin.
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You see, it's different entirely
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because the fig tree,
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they begin to bud just before the summer arrived.
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Just as the summer was on the horizon.
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Now you see, do you,
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that's what Jesus sent us here.
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He's saying just as people can look at a fig tree,
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they look at it and they say,
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yes, we can know for sure that summer is at hand.
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Jesus, he is saying,
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if you look at the world,
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and if you see the signs that he's mentioned
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in this portion of scripture,
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if you see in the world,
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increased persecution, apostasy,
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what do we know?
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What do we know?
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We know that the summer,
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we know that one great event
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is on the horizon,
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it is at hand.
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Now, what is the obvious question
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we've got to answer then?
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If Jesus is saying,
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if you see this in the world,
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there's one great event.
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What's the obvious question we've got to answer?
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What is this great event he's talking about here?
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Well, I think, to be honest with you,
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primarily Jesus is talking about
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the fall of Jerusalem.
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If you've got your Bible,
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if you look at verse 30,
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see what he says.
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He says,
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he looks at the disciples,
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they're sitting in the night of all this,
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and he says to them,
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this generation.
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Do you see that?
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This generation will not pass away
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until all of these things have happened.
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So I think primarily,
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he is talking about the fall of the temple.
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But hang on a second.
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What did we just say?
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We said that in this chapter,
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Jesus very often is looking beyond the immediate.
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So I think this is also what Jesus is saying.
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He's speaking to us.
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He's saying,
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this generation,
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the one in which we inhabit,
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this present age,
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these last days,
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they will not pass away
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until we see some of these things happen.
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All of these things happen.
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And when we understand that,
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I wonder if we all in here just now
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hear the message from God.
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I think it's just four words.
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I think he's saying to us,
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the end is nigh.
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Simply, I think that is it.
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But let's be frank about things.
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That since you and I live in the last days,
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do you know what's true for us?
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The end,
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the return of the Lord Jesus Christ,
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it's always nigh.
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Do you understand?
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The return for us in the last days,
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the return of Christ is always nigh,
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always imminent.
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Now, let me pose to you a question.
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How else, as Christians,
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do we know that Christ's return
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is at hand?
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Isn't it true that we know
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that that is the case
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because Christ's return
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is just one part
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of a greater
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redemptive event?
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Isn't that the case?
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I mean, how much do you think about
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Christ's return?
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Do you think of it
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as a sort of separate entity?
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Do you think about it
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as a separate event?
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It's not like that.
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Do you see that it is one part
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of a greater redemptive act
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of God that includes
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Jesus' life
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and his death
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and his resurrection?
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It's a sin.
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It is one part of a whole.
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In fact, let me try
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and explain it like this.
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For years in this country,
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if you were in school
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and in a science class,
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invariably you would be given
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the same scientific experiment to do.
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So perhaps if you were educated
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in the United Kingdom,
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perhaps it is the case
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that you've done
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this very science experiment.
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And if you're a scientist,
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you will have to excuse
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if the details are a little bit rough.
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But what happens
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is that you would take
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hydrogen peroxide
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like it is.
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Do you remember this?
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And you would add it
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to a black solution
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and the solution was
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iodine and starch.
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Now if you do that,
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hydrogen peroxide
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to iodine and starch,
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what happens?
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What happens?
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Not very much happens.
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There's this strange
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kind of delay.
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You add it to the solution
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and you have to wait a while
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to look at the beacon
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and wait before eventually,
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immediately,
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because of the chemicals involved,
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that black solution
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all of a sudden
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turns bright blue.
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And you see,
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that's what we are
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dealing with here.
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Do you understand?
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That because Christ's
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resurrection and ascension
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has been added
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to his perfect life,
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his righteousness,
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and his death,
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what's happening today?
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Like, spiritually speaking,
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what are we doing as Christians?
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Do you see what we're doing?
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We're staring at the beaker.
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Do you see,
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we're waiting.
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There's this delay.
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We're waiting
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before the inevitable happens
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that Christ Jesus
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returns to this earth.
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Do you see?
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Christ Jesus,
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his return is
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always imminent.
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It's always imminent
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for you
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and for me.
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So,
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tell you what,
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let me
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bring this
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to your door
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just now.
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Let me ask you
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what sounds like
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a really
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wishy,
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washy question,
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but it's not.
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But I say to you
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that Christ's return
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is near.
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And I say to you
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that the Lord Jesus Christ
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could return
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this year.
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As a Christian,
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how do you feel
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about that?
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That Christ
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could return
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this year.
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Is there a sense,
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perhaps,
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of anxiety
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a little bit
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with that?
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Do you wonder
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about your service,
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your work,
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in the church?
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Is there,
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perhaps,
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even a sense
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of fear,
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maybe,
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that builds up?
00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:00.759
So,
00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:01.639
if you're a Christian,
00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:03.440
you need not fear
00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:04.580
because did you notice
00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:06.540
what Jesus says here
00:12:06.540 --> 00:12:07.680
to calm your nerves
00:12:07.680 --> 00:12:08.360
and calm your heart?
00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:08.960
Have a look at
00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:10.100
his verse 31.
00:12:11.020 --> 00:12:11.639
What he says,
00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:12.020
he says,
00:12:12.280 --> 00:12:13.100
the end is coming.
00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:13.960
It's for sure.
00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:14.200
He says,
00:12:14.280 --> 00:12:15.180
the heavens and the earth
00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:15.960
are going to pass away.
00:12:16.040 --> 00:12:17.000
But what does he say to you?
00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:18.879
He says that his word
00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:20.360
is not going to pass away.
00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:21.500
You see what that is?
00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:22.539
That there,
00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:24.899
that's your security.
00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:27.080
The fig tree
00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:28.399
might begin to bud.
00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:29.740
Summer
00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:31.340
might be at hand.
00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.000
What do you know?
00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:33.740
What do I know?
00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:35.620
We know that the gospel,
00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:37.100
we know that the word of God,
00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:38.879
we know that the incarnate
00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:39.679
word of God
00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:40.939
will endure.
00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:42.620
We know that Christ,
00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:43.539
our friends,
00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:45.620
all who are in him,
00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:48.080
we are going to outlive
00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:49.179
this present age.
00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:49.840
Isn't that,
00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:51.080
isn't that encouragement?
00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:53.419
Isn't that a beautiful thing
00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:55.060
that there might well be
00:12:55.060 --> 00:12:56.360
a nearness
00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.879
to the Prusia?
00:12:58.019 --> 00:12:58.620
There is.
00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:00.960
But on that final day
00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:01.980
if you're in Christ Jesus,
00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:04.500
there's going to find,
00:13:04.580 --> 00:13:05.620
you're going to find refuge
00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:07.259
under the protective wings
00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:09.200
of your God.
00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:11.920
So you see here
00:13:11.920 --> 00:13:12.879
that the return
00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:14.259
of Jesus
00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:16.340
is at hand
00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:16.920
and is imminent.
00:13:18.400 --> 00:13:19.379
Now the second thing,
00:13:19.460 --> 00:13:20.240
he said two things,
00:13:20.280 --> 00:13:21.000
and the second thing
00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:22.000
we also see here
00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.820
is that the timing
00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:26.720
of the return of Christ,
00:13:27.220 --> 00:13:28.620
the timing of it
00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:30.379
is unknown.
00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:34.340
I don't know
00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:35.420
where you are
00:13:35.420 --> 00:13:36.259
with scripture,
00:13:36.420 --> 00:13:36.780
I don't know
00:13:36.780 --> 00:13:37.800
where you sit
00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:38.360
theologically,
00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:39.159
you know,
00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:40.000
if there was,
00:13:40.180 --> 00:13:41.100
if there is,
00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:42.220
or was with you
00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:43.120
any doubt
00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.440
that Christ
00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:45.600
in Mark 13
00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.399
is thinking
00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:47.180
of his return,
00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:48.960
I think that doubt
00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:50.139
has to evaporate,
00:13:50.180 --> 00:13:51.200
it has to be eradicated
00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:51.879
by what Jesus
00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:52.539
goes on to say
00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:53.060
in that kind of
00:13:53.060 --> 00:13:53.779
new section.
00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.300
You see what he says
00:13:55.300 --> 00:13:56.779
in verse 32,
00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:00.240
he speaks of
00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:02.620
that day.
00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:03.740
It might seem
00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:04.440
like an ordinary
00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:05.180
phrase to us,
00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:05.800
but actually
00:14:05.800 --> 00:14:07.100
it's a technical phrase
00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:08.639
that the prophets
00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:09.440
would use
00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:10.240
in Old Testament
00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:10.800
scripture,
00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:11.580
that day
00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:12.460
was a technical phrase
00:14:12.460 --> 00:14:13.200
to speak of
00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:14.019
the day of the Lord,
00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:14.820
the coming
00:14:14.820 --> 00:14:16.220
of the Lord.
00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:16.840
So what do we know?
00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:17.820
We know for sure
00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:19.320
Christ is thinking
00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:20.340
of the end of the age.
00:14:21.920 --> 00:14:22.360
I wonder
00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.320
when
00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:25.740
Paul read
00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:27.100
this out earlier on,
00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:27.600
did you
00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:29.019
notice
00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:30.700
the main theme
00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:32.540
of this second section
00:14:32.540 --> 00:14:32.920
here?
00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:34.059
let me
00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:35.079
spell it out
00:14:35.079 --> 00:14:35.879
and underline it.
00:14:36.219 --> 00:14:36.679
It is,
00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:36.979
friends,
00:14:37.079 --> 00:14:38.379
the hiddenness
00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:40.299
of the timing
00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:41.319
of Christ's return.
00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:42.019
Or maybe
00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:42.679
you would allow
00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:43.240
this.
00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:45.039
The main theme
00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:45.959
here is the
00:14:45.959 --> 00:14:47.959
unknowability
00:14:47.959 --> 00:14:49.039
of exactly
00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.159
when it is
00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:51.419
that our Lord
00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:52.000
and Saviour
00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:52.959
is going to return.
00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:53.639
Because we get
00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.219
verse 32,
00:14:54.319 --> 00:14:54.899
what does he say?
00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:55.779
He says it
00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:56.500
simply as
00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.519
it is possible.
00:14:57.779 --> 00:14:57.939
He says,
00:14:58.139 --> 00:14:59.219
no one knows.
00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:01.299
And that's
00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:02.500
something he repeats.
00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:03.639
No one knows.
00:15:03.719 --> 00:15:04.240
No one knows.
00:15:04.319 --> 00:15:04.759
It's something
00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.939
that he extends out
00:15:05.939 --> 00:15:06.479
because he says,
00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:07.599
no one knows.
00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.219
Look what he says.
00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:08.579
He says,
00:15:08.959 --> 00:15:09.559
no one knows.
00:15:09.699 --> 00:15:10.819
The disciples don't know.
00:15:11.179 --> 00:15:11.899
And he says,
00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.339
the angels don't know.
00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:14.939
Now,
00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:16.000
I've come along
00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.799
as Paul kindly
00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:17.459
invited me
00:15:17.459 --> 00:15:18.419
to come along here.
00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:20.179
I wasn't sure
00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:20.919
really what
00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:22.039
was going to happen.
00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.120
But I'm delighted
00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:23.679
to be here.
00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:24.599
And I can say
00:15:24.599 --> 00:15:25.259
you look like
00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:27.259
a well-read
00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:27.959
and alert
00:15:27.959 --> 00:15:28.659
and attentive
00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:30.000
group of people.
00:15:30.079 --> 00:15:30.639
So I'm sure
00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:31.179
of this.
00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:33.759
As Paul read it out,
00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:34.279
I'm sure
00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.079
that you saw
00:15:35.079 --> 00:15:36.639
that in front of us
00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.000
just now
00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.679
we have one
00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:38.479
of the most
00:15:38.479 --> 00:15:40.879
arresting,
00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:43.620
startling truths
00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:45.139
in all of the Bible.
00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.219
Did you see it?
00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:46.799
Look,
00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:48.539
verse 32.
00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:50.139
Who does Jesus
00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.259
add to the mix?
00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:52.459
He says,
00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.399
no one knows
00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.719
when he sets
00:15:54.719 --> 00:15:55.339
a return.
00:15:55.959 --> 00:15:56.219
He says,
00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:57.359
the disciples don't know.
00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:58.099
He says,
00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.159
the angels don't know.
00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:00.240
Look who does that?
00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:01.820
He sits
00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.220
in the mouth
00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:03.340
of all of the disciples
00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:03.879
and he says,
00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:05.980
and I,
00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.720
I don't know.
00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.320
Isn't that a nice thing?
00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:10.879
Isn't it quite a
00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:11.940
startling thing?
00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:12.200
You know,
00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:13.519
this is the Lord Jesus
00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.279
we're dealing with
00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:14.680
and he's saying,
00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.340
I don't know
00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:16.060
the age of the age,
00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:16.379
I don't know
00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:17.279
the time scale
00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:19.259
or the timing of it all.
00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:22.320
I do think
00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:22.879
that could be
00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.600
confusing for us.
00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:25.799
So let's deal
00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:26.539
with just a couple
00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:27.039
of things here.
00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:27.700
First of all,
00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:29.320
let's ask him,
00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:30.420
if Jesus Christ
00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:31.220
doesn't know
00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.120
the time of the
00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:33.440
end of the earth,
00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:35.060
can we truly
00:16:35.060 --> 00:16:36.340
regard him as God?
00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:38.379
Can we?
00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:39.640
Like,
00:16:39.800 --> 00:16:40.600
you see the question
00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:40.960
in fact,
00:16:41.060 --> 00:16:41.220
you know,
00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.000
is it not the same
00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.700
question that
00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:44.540
the church was
00:16:44.540 --> 00:16:45.280
embroiled in
00:16:45.280 --> 00:16:45.940
and the Aryan
00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:46.580
controversy
00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:47.600
in the fourth century?
00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:48.560
You know,
00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:49.400
people were saying,
00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:49.980
they were pointing
00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.720
to this verse,
00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:51.640
they were saying,
00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:52.240
Jesus says,
00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:53.120
I don't know
00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:54.120
when I'm set to return,
00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:54.680
I don't know
00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:55.460
the end of the age.
00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.460
So people were saying,
00:16:56.780 --> 00:16:57.740
can he be defined?
00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.040
I mean,
00:16:59.080 --> 00:16:59.759
does this here
00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:00.379
not suggest
00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.420
that he is beneath God?
00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.340
Does this not suggest
00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:03.700
that he is subordinate
00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:04.160
to God?
00:17:04.360 --> 00:17:05.960
How would you answer that?
00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:07.779
I'll tell you this,
00:17:07.840 --> 00:17:08.600
I love the way
00:17:08.600 --> 00:17:09.640
that we can answer that.
00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:10.440
Oh,
00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.380
do all we need to do?
00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:12.759
All we need to do
00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.579
is point back
00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.819
to the very last
00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.579
thing he said.
00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:16.900
What did he say?
00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.380
Heaven
00:17:18.380 --> 00:17:19.980
and earth
00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.819
are going to pass away.
00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.100
My words are not
00:17:23.100 --> 00:17:23.620
going to pass away.
00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:25.459
Now what would every single Jew
00:17:25.459 --> 00:17:26.159
have known?
00:17:27.439 --> 00:17:28.039
They would have known
00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:29.119
that that was an implied
00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:30.159
claim of divinity.
00:17:30.979 --> 00:17:31.439
They would have known
00:17:31.439 --> 00:17:32.179
that phrase.
00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:32.699
Heaven and earth
00:17:32.699 --> 00:17:33.179
can pass away
00:17:33.179 --> 00:17:33.719
my words
00:17:33.719 --> 00:17:34.199
and not pass away.
00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:34.659
They would have known
00:17:34.659 --> 00:17:35.299
that was Jesus
00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:36.079
claiming it to be God.
00:17:36.379 --> 00:17:37.039
Because what did
00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.079
every Jew know?
00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:39.659
What did they know?
00:17:40.479 --> 00:17:40.899
They knew
00:17:40.899 --> 00:17:42.619
that only God's word
00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:43.139
endured.
00:17:43.899 --> 00:17:44.139
Friends,
00:17:44.179 --> 00:17:45.219
you know Isaiah 40
00:17:45.219 --> 00:17:45.799
verse 8,
00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.159
don't you?
00:17:46.959 --> 00:17:48.259
The grass withers
00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:50.339
and the flowers fall.
00:17:50.439 --> 00:17:51.439
But how do you go on?
00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:53.880
But the word of our God
00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:55.120
stands for everything.
00:17:55.320 --> 00:17:56.160
Do you see it?
00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:58.240
And whatever this lack
00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:59.460
of knowledge about the end
00:17:59.460 --> 00:17:59.980
tells us,
00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:01.680
it does not tell us
00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:02.660
that Jesus was worse
00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.140
than God,
00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:03.480
does it?
00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.360
He has just claimed
00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:05.840
full,
00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.759
perfect divinity
00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:09.559
in the previous phase.
00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:12.440
But that then leads on
00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:13.920
to the second issue.
00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:15.120
Friends,
00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.039
aren't you asking
00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:17.500
why is it
00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.319
that Jesus
00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.000
doesn't know?
00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.940
Aren't you asking
00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:21.859
that when you read this?
00:18:22.379 --> 00:18:23.659
Why is the timing,
00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:24.379
the knowledge
00:18:24.379 --> 00:18:25.159
of the timing
00:18:25.159 --> 00:18:25.819
of the end
00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.379
of the earth,
00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:28.019
why is it
00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:29.279
the preserve
00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.440
of the Father?
00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:32.440
Why does the Son
00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.180
not know?
00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.059
And I think,
00:18:35.159 --> 00:18:35.920
honestly friends,
00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.159
the answer to that,
00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:39.379
I should send you
00:18:39.379 --> 00:18:40.379
and me just now
00:18:40.379 --> 00:18:41.799
to our knees
00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:45.220
wonderment,
00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:45.659
maybe,
00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:47.240
certainly worship
00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:48.220
because I think
00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:48.940
in that lack
00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:49.599
of knowledge,
00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:51.440
see the extent
00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.299
of what Jesus
00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:53.019
Christ has done
00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:53.419
for you.
00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.240
How do you think
00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:57.379
about your salvation?
00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.159
What do you think
00:18:58.159 --> 00:18:58.960
about the atonement?
00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:00.799
Do you think
00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:02.039
God has just done
00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:03.259
a little thing,
00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.220
there's nothing
00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:04.879
to God,
00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.359
this great redemptive
00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:06.619
work.
00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:07.000
Do you think
00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.919
Christ has done
00:19:07.919 --> 00:19:09.180
just a small thing
00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.839
for you?
00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:10.839
See there,
00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:11.659
come on.
00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:13.039
See there,
00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:13.700
the extent
00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:14.460
of the incarnation,
00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:16.539
the magnitude
00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.379
of the self-entering,
00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.299
consider this,
00:19:18.659 --> 00:19:19.319
that to win
00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:20.680
your soul,
00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:22.659
Christ has
00:19:22.659 --> 00:19:23.599
dressed himself
00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:25.619
in ignorance.
00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:27.079
Isn't that
00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.099
what you've got here?
00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:30.119
That in order
00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:31.240
to become
00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:32.220
a sufficient
00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.099
sacrifice
00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:34.299
for human sin,
00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:35.119
what has Jesus
00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:35.700
done?
00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:36.299
Do you see
00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:36.819
what he's done?
00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:38.180
He has added
00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.419
to his divine
00:19:39.419 --> 00:19:39.960
knowledge,
00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:40.480
what?
00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:42.360
human
00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:44.720
unenlightenment.
00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.259
Isn't that
00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:47.500
a stunning thing?
00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.720
The son
00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:50.980
knew not
00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.779
the time
00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.920
of his own
00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.620
return and
00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:53.980
why?
00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:54.960
It was all
00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:57.220
for you.
00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:58.380
It was all
00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:58.940
to win
00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:00.120
your soul
00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:01.339
from hell.
00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:03.399
Now,
00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:04.659
what did I say?
00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.259
At the start,
00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:06.079
I said that there
00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.439
would be two
00:20:06.439 --> 00:20:07.459
points and
00:20:07.459 --> 00:20:09.159
two required
00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:09.619
responses.
00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:10.220
We've seen the
00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:10.919
first required
00:20:10.919 --> 00:20:11.359
response.
00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.319
We are surely
00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.000
to rejoice.
00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.160
Christ.
00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.039
What's the second
00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.319
required response?
00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:17.259
We don't know
00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:17.799
when Christ
00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.299
is returning.
00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:18.980
We know it's
00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:19.140
near.
00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:19.519
We don't know
00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:19.880
what's the
00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.480
required response.
00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:21.640
Thankfully,
00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.339
praise God,
00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.099
Jesus makes it
00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:23.539
so clear.
00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:23.920
In fact,
00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.539
I think I can
00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.200
say this to you.
00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:26.819
I honestly
00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.359
think in his
00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:27.619
word,
00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.680
God is shouting
00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:30.400
the required
00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.519
response at
00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:31.680
you.
00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.119
He is
00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:33.480
screaming it
00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:34.660
at you today.
00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.059
Look at
00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:36.039
verse 33
00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.940
to see it.
00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.319
What does
00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:38.859
Jesus say?
00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:39.500
He says,
00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.920
you don't
00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.339
know when I'm
00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:41.920
coming back,
00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.500
so be on
00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:44.319
your guard.
00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:45.720
And friend,
00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.180
do you understand
00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:47.019
what I mean by
00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:48.000
God shouting
00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.660
it at you?
00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:49.980
Understand that
00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:52.299
five times in
00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:52.740
that little
00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.240
section,
00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.140
Jesus repeats
00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:54.759
the same thing.
00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.119
Five times.
00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:56.440
He says,
00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:57.319
be on your
00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:57.619
guard,
00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.460
stay awake,
00:20:58.579 --> 00:20:59.200
be alert.
00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.400
Then right at
00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:00.839
the end,
00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.460
do you notice?
00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:03.319
He extends
00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:03.579
out.
00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:03.880
He says,
00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:05.460
everyone stay
00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.000
alert,
00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.740
stay awake.
00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:07.680
Then he even
00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.220
gives us a
00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.680
parable.
00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.820
He compares
00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:11.580
you to a
00:21:11.580 --> 00:21:12.759
doorkeeper who
00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.460
has to watch
00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:13.960
out for his
00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.640
master's return.
00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:15.500
I'm asking
00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:15.799
you,
00:21:16.820 --> 00:21:17.900
do you hear
00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.480
the message
00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.240
that God is
00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.860
screaming at
00:21:20.860 --> 00:21:21.400
us this
00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:21.799
afternoon?
00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:22.200
Do you hear
00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:22.560
what it is?
00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:23.759
We don't know
00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.320
when Christ is
00:21:24.320 --> 00:21:24.940
set to return.
00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:25.680
We know
00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.000
he's at
00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.220
house,
00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.580
so what do
00:21:26.580 --> 00:21:26.860
we do?
00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:27.360
We've got
00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:29.019
to be ready.
00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.080
That's it.
00:21:31.580 --> 00:21:32.060
We've got to
00:21:32.060 --> 00:21:32.880
be waiting.
00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.320
We've got to
00:21:33.320 --> 00:21:34.200
be prepared
00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:34.960
for this.
00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.259
So,
00:21:36.600 --> 00:21:36.880
I'll end
00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:37.180
with two
00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.880
questions and
00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:38.220
we're done.
00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:40.019
first of
00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.180
all,
00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.640
if you're a
00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.000
Christian
00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.440
here,
00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.240
are you
00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:46.080
asleep?
00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.440
Is that
00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.160
an adequate
00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:50.960
description
00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.759
of your
00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.740
spiritual life
00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.240
just now?
00:21:55.340 --> 00:21:55.560
Like,
00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.360
if you are
00:21:56.360 --> 00:21:57.380
true to
00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:57.820
yourself,
00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:58.380
is it the
00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:58.680
case that
00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:58.940
you are
00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.700
unenthused
00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:00.400
about Jesus?
00:22:01.860 --> 00:22:02.580
Unenthused
00:22:02.580 --> 00:22:02.980
about the
00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.320
gospel?
00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:03.799
Are you
00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.620
uninvolved
00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:05.060
in the
00:22:05.060 --> 00:22:06.220
service of
00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:07.039
Christ's
00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.380
church?
00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.259
Are you
00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:08.819
spiritually
00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.299
asleep?
00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.200
You surely
00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:11.579
see what
00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:12.059
God is
00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.319
saying.
00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:12.539
He's
00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:12.680
saying,
00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.220
this is
00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:13.620
an urgent
00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:14.259
matter
00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.839
here.
00:22:16.100 --> 00:22:16.279
Friends,
00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:17.519
I call you,
00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:18.559
I do not
00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:19.039
know you,
00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:19.720
but surely
00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.460
you see here
00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:21.420
the message,
00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:22.059
we've got to
00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:23.019
rise up out
00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.539
of our
00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:23.940
slumber.
00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.259
And we
00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.839
rise up to
00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.299
prayer,
00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.740
we rise up
00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.319
to service,
00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.140
we rise up
00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:29.620
to actually
00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:30.620
telling these
00:22:30.620 --> 00:22:31.220
few people on
00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.660
the street
00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:33.000
this wonderful
00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.560
message of
00:22:33.560 --> 00:22:33.980
what Christ
00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.279
has done
00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.860
for us.
00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.519
Because I
00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.160
have to
00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:38.240
warn you,
00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.660
you and
00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.000
I,
00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.740
we don't
00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.120
want to be
00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:43.820
asleep when
00:22:43.820 --> 00:22:44.160
our Lord
00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.660
returns.
00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:46.880
And then
00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.720
we close with
00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.259
the second of
00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:48.840
those questions,
00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.580
and that's
00:22:49.580 --> 00:22:50.060
maybe for
00:22:50.060 --> 00:22:50.380
you,
00:22:51.340 --> 00:22:52.019
if you have
00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:52.779
yet to bow
00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.240
the knee to
00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:53.500
the Lord
00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.340
Jesus Christ.
00:22:55.560 --> 00:22:55.779
Friends,
00:22:55.800 --> 00:22:56.120
if you are
00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:56.759
yet to submit
00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:57.120
to him,
00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:57.500
here's the
00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.019
question for
00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:58.220
you.
00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.700
Are you
00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:01.120
ready
00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:03.279
for this
00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.359
event?
00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:05.959
You know,
00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.299
I think,
00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:06.739
as well as
00:23:06.739 --> 00:23:07.059
I do,
00:23:07.179 --> 00:23:08.139
that time,
00:23:08.739 --> 00:23:09.159
life,
00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.779
opportunity is
00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.179
short,
00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.639
and Christ
00:23:12.639 --> 00:23:13.239
Jesus is
00:23:13.239 --> 00:23:14.039
coming back.
00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.299
So I am
00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:15.659
asking,
00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.539
are you
00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.399
ready to
00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:18.079
meet
00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:20.579
God?
00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:22.599
Friends,
00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:22.979
if not,
00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:23.579
surely maybe
00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.439
today even
00:23:24.439 --> 00:23:24.879
is the time
00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:25.239
where you
00:23:25.239 --> 00:23:25.919
waking up,
00:23:26.419 --> 00:23:26.799
and you
00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:27.279
waking up
00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.659
to eternal
00:23:27.659 --> 00:23:27.939
life,
00:23:27.979 --> 00:23:28.219
you maybe
00:23:28.219 --> 00:23:29.019
see in
00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.739
scripture
00:23:29.739 --> 00:23:30.399
something of
00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:31.519
what Christ
00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:31.940
has done
00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.300
for you,
00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:32.820
something of
00:23:32.820 --> 00:23:33.420
his glory,
00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:33.980
and even
00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:34.440
today,
00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:35.860
you turn
00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:36.440
from your
00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:36.800
sin,
00:23:37.820 --> 00:23:38.460
you repent,
00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:40.060
and you
00:23:40.060 --> 00:23:41.400
believe in
00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:41.840
the Lord
00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:42.620
of glory.
00:23:43.640 --> 00:23:43.860
Friends,
00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.259
when we
00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.040
read Mark
00:23:45.040 --> 00:23:45.759
chapter 13,
00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.360
surely it's
00:23:46.360 --> 00:23:46.800
the case that
00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:47.420
actually for
00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:47.980
all of us,
00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:49.080
we all have
00:23:49.080 --> 00:23:49.540
the same
00:23:49.540 --> 00:23:50.460
fervent prayer,
00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.340
don't we?
00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.340
What would
00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:52.860
that be?
00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:53.860
It would
00:23:53.860 --> 00:23:54.259
be,
00:23:55.100 --> 00:23:55.759
Maranatha,
00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.100
come,
00:23:57.840 --> 00:23:58.600
come,
00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:59.439
Lord Jesus,
00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:01.039
and come
00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.799
quickly.
00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.480
Let's pray.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:17.940
Okay, now, it's true, isn't it, that there are areas of the Christian faith, there are elements of the Christian religion that we do not consider as we should in the 21st century church.
00:00:17.940 --> 00:00:26.060
So there are areas of the Christian faith, elements of the Christian religion that we do not focus on perhaps as we should.
00:00:26.060 --> 00:00:29.100
Areas that we don't get due consideration and time.
00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.299
For example, if we focused on the predicament of the lost perhaps as we should, that would maybe tell in the way that we witnessed and our evangelistic zeal, wouldn't it?
00:00:40.460 --> 00:00:51.439
Or if we focused on the holiness of God as we should, I think that would tell maybe in increase of more fervent repentance from sin.
00:00:52.760 --> 00:00:55.799
So there are areas that we don't focus on as we should.
00:00:55.799 --> 00:01:03.799
But perhaps chief amongst these overlooked essentials is the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:01:03.979 --> 00:01:04.579
Do you not agree?
00:01:05.239 --> 00:01:14.039
I think it was said of the early church that they thought more about the Lord's return than they did about their own lives and their own death.
00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:17.780
I wonder if that could be said for us in here.
00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:27.019
Isn't it true perhaps that Christ's return has maybe been pushed onto the back burner of the modern church, of the contemporary church?
00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:37.819
Well in our short time this afternoon, what I hope we can do is just consider one or two elements about the return, the perusia, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:01:37.819 --> 00:01:50.959
Before we do that, before we get to the text, I think maybe we've got to say one or two things just about the different interpretations that people might have of Mark chapter 13.
00:01:51.500 --> 00:01:59.319
Because it's certainly the case that some people, some scholars, they see that what Jesus is doing in Mark 13,
00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:06.939
is he is actually thinking only about the fall of Jerusalem in AD 17.
00:02:07.119 --> 00:02:08.699
Now do you see where they're getting?
00:02:08.859 --> 00:02:09.919
Do you see their point?
00:02:10.379 --> 00:02:15.219
They're saying that when Jesus in this chapter, when he talks about increased persecution in the church,
00:02:15.620 --> 00:02:17.699
when he talks about apostasy and things like that,
00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:23.019
that really all he's got in mind is the time leading up to the fall of the temple in the first century.
00:02:23.019 --> 00:02:28.199
So you've got that quite significant understanding of Mark 13.
00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:28.959
So you've got that.
00:02:29.859 --> 00:02:31.439
You've also got something else.
00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:37.539
Because quite a few people think Mark 13 is just really, what we say, higgledy, piggledy.
00:02:38.139 --> 00:02:40.439
That's what my mum would say anyway, higgledy, piggledy.
00:02:40.500 --> 00:02:42.919
A bit over, all over the place.
00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:43.959
A bit disjointed.
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So they will see that what Jesus is doing.
00:02:47.239 --> 00:02:49.679
Yes, in some places he's talking about the fall of the temple.
00:02:50.179 --> 00:02:50.659
Maybe something.
00:02:50.919 --> 00:02:54.000
In other parts he is talking about his return.
00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:57.819
And their interpretation is he's just jumping from one thing to the other.
00:02:57.819 --> 00:02:59.120
He's just all over the place.
00:02:59.259 --> 00:03:03.479
There's no sort of coherent kind of thinking or coherent thought going on.
00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:05.519
So that's another interpretation.
00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:12.319
Now, to be honest with you, I don't think either of those interpretations does justice to Mark 13.
00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:18.959
What I think is happening here is that really our Lord has both of those things.
00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:19.479
Few.
00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:21.379
Do you see what I'm saying?
00:03:22.359 --> 00:03:27.659
That yes, at this moment he is preparing his disciples for the coming fall of Jerusalem.
00:03:28.079 --> 00:03:29.319
Do you know what else he's doing?
00:03:30.379 --> 00:03:37.219
He's using that event, the fall of the temple, really as a symbol or a kind of paradigm of the end of the age.
00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:41.139
And when we've been looking at this in our congregation in the centre of London,
00:03:41.139 --> 00:03:45.519
I think I've said the same thing at every single service, in every single sermon.
00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:52.939
But really here in front of you what Jesus is doing is he's looking through that fall of the temple, fall of Jerusalem,
00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:56.219
and he's looking through it to the time where he will return.
00:03:56.899 --> 00:03:58.979
Return on the clouds.
00:03:58.979 --> 00:04:04.519
And as we look at this very short section from verse 28 onwards just now,
00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:08.659
I think what we'll see from our Lord, what we'll learn from our Lord,
00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:12.199
are two important lessons about the second coming.
00:04:12.299 --> 00:04:16.379
So it's not, I remember going to a meeting like this once in Edinburgh,
00:04:16.500 --> 00:04:20.860
and the guy stood up and he said, well, I'm going to be short, but I do want to cover 11 points.
00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:25.199
So basically, it won't be like that, I promise you, I promise you.
00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:28.220
Two important lessons we learn from the Lord.
00:04:28.400 --> 00:04:36.199
But each of those points has a necessary required response from you and from me.
00:04:37.100 --> 00:04:38.480
So what do we have?
00:04:38.520 --> 00:04:40.379
What's the first lesson we've got here?
00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:48.520
Well, first of all, I think we learn from verse 28 onwards that the return of Christ is imminent.
00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:50.500
Okay, you got it?
00:04:50.599 --> 00:04:54.479
The return of Christ, the return of our Lord is imminent.
00:04:56.299 --> 00:04:59.259
Now we know, don't we as Christians, that in Scripture,
00:05:00.659 --> 00:05:04.079
our God loves to teach us using nature.
00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:06.240
Isn't that the case throughout the Bible?
00:05:06.359 --> 00:05:10.000
He uses, very often our Lord uses natural, nature metaphors,
00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:11.519
metaphors taken from nature.
00:05:11.819 --> 00:05:13.939
I'm sure you could cite some examples of that, couldn't you?
00:05:14.419 --> 00:05:16.079
Let's go for the salt of the earth,
00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:20.639
or maybe of when Israel is spoken of as a vineyard.
00:05:20.740 --> 00:05:23.599
You see the idea, nature being prominent.
00:05:23.719 --> 00:05:25.719
Now you'll see that that is how Jesus begins.
00:05:25.939 --> 00:05:27.939
If you look at your Bible in verse 28,
00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:31.259
he tells you and I to learn from,
00:05:31.919 --> 00:05:32.659
do you see what it is?
00:05:32.699 --> 00:05:33.919
It's a fig tree.
00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:39.339
I don't know how familiar you are friends with fig trees.
00:05:39.339 --> 00:05:43.319
My wife and I, we've got a fig tree just a couple of doors down.
00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:45.500
One of our neighbours has one,
00:05:45.539 --> 00:05:47.219
so it kind of makes a little bit of sense to me.
00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:50.919
But even if you have never even in your entire life seen a fig tree,
00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:53.399
the message here is not difficult.
00:05:54.659 --> 00:05:55.359
So you understand this,
00:05:55.399 --> 00:05:56.500
that in the Middle East,
00:05:57.679 --> 00:05:59.859
the fig tree was very, very unusual
00:05:59.859 --> 00:06:02.879
in how it bore fruit and bore leaves.
00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:04.699
A lot of the trees in the Middle East,
00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:06.920
they begin to bud in early spring.
00:06:08.219 --> 00:06:09.779
Others in the Middle East, of course,
00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:11.740
were evergreen trees.
00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:13.860
There's the fig trees, they're thin.
00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:15.620
You see, it's different entirely
00:06:15.620 --> 00:06:16.399
because the fig tree,
00:06:16.500 --> 00:06:22.740
they begin to bud just before the summer arrived.
00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:24.800
Just as the summer was on the horizon.
00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:25.899
Now you see, do you,
00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:28.240
that's what Jesus sent us here.
00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:31.439
He's saying just as people can look at a fig tree,
00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:32.639
they look at it and they say,
00:06:32.779 --> 00:06:35.639
yes, we can know for sure that summer is at hand.
00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:37.459
Jesus, he is saying,
00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:38.939
if you look at the world,
00:06:40.100 --> 00:06:42.800
and if you see the signs that he's mentioned
00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:44.300
in this portion of scripture,
00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:45.639
if you see in the world,
00:06:45.980 --> 00:06:48.079
increased persecution, apostasy,
00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:48.659
what do we know?
00:06:48.740 --> 00:06:49.240
What do we know?
00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:50.939
We know that the summer,
00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:52.899
we know that one great event
00:06:52.899 --> 00:06:54.420
is on the horizon,
00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:55.379
it is at hand.
00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:58.600
Now, what is the obvious question
00:06:58.600 --> 00:06:59.779
we've got to answer then?
00:06:59.779 --> 00:07:01.500
If Jesus is saying,
00:07:01.599 --> 00:07:02.619
if you see this in the world,
00:07:02.699 --> 00:07:03.419
there's one great event.
00:07:03.479 --> 00:07:05.399
What's the obvious question we've got to answer?
00:07:05.719 --> 00:07:08.039
What is this great event he's talking about here?
00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:10.919
Well, I think, to be honest with you,
00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:13.439
primarily Jesus is talking about
00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:14.399
the fall of Jerusalem.
00:07:15.099 --> 00:07:16.079
If you've got your Bible,
00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:17.539
if you look at verse 30,
00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:19.219
see what he says.
00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:21.319
He says,
00:07:21.779 --> 00:07:22.639
he looks at the disciples,
00:07:22.759 --> 00:07:23.899
they're sitting in the night of all this,
00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:25.199
and he says to them,
00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:27.699
this generation.
00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:28.800
Do you see that?
00:07:29.159 --> 00:07:32.019
This generation will not pass away
00:07:32.019 --> 00:07:34.219
until all of these things have happened.
00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:35.420
So I think primarily,
00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:38.019
he is talking about the fall of the temple.
00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:39.199
But hang on a second.
00:07:40.099 --> 00:07:41.279
What did we just say?
00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:43.139
We said that in this chapter,
00:07:43.259 --> 00:07:45.939
Jesus very often is looking beyond the immediate.
00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:48.519
So I think this is also what Jesus is saying.
00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:49.379
He's speaking to us.
00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:50.659
He's saying,
00:07:50.980 --> 00:07:52.139
this generation,
00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:53.519
the one in which we inhabit,
00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:55.139
this present age,
00:07:55.540 --> 00:07:57.300
these last days,
00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:59.000
they will not pass away
00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:01.319
until we see some of these things happen.
00:08:01.420 --> 00:08:02.759
All of these things happen.
00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:05.259
And when we understand that,
00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:07.120
I wonder if we all in here just now
00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:09.480
hear the message from God.
00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:12.139
I think it's just four words.
00:08:13.420 --> 00:08:14.379
I think he's saying to us,
00:08:14.420 --> 00:08:16.860
the end is nigh.
00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:19.259
Simply, I think that is it.
00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:21.540
But let's be frank about things.
00:08:21.620 --> 00:08:23.839
That since you and I live in the last days,
00:08:23.939 --> 00:08:25.079
do you know what's true for us?
00:08:25.980 --> 00:08:26.860
The end,
00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:30.079
the return of the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:32.840
it's always nigh.
00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:34.320
Do you understand?
00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:36.080
The return for us in the last days,
00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:37.939
the return of Christ is always nigh,
00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:39.220
always imminent.
00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:43.919
Now, let me pose to you a question.
00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:47.319
How else, as Christians,
00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:50.379
do we know that Christ's return
00:08:50.379 --> 00:08:51.500
is at hand?
00:08:53.159 --> 00:08:54.559
Isn't it true that we know
00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:55.799
that that is the case
00:08:55.799 --> 00:08:57.479
because Christ's return
00:08:57.479 --> 00:08:59.679
is just one part
00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:01.379
of a greater
00:09:01.379 --> 00:09:04.120
redemptive event?
00:09:05.259 --> 00:09:05.919
Isn't that the case?
00:09:05.979 --> 00:09:07.240
I mean, how much do you think about
00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:07.980
Christ's return?
00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:09.879
Do you think of it
00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:11.519
as a sort of separate entity?
00:09:12.279 --> 00:09:12.879
Do you think about it
00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:14.700
as a separate event?
00:09:14.940 --> 00:09:15.779
It's not like that.
00:09:15.860 --> 00:09:17.600
Do you see that it is one part
00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:20.320
of a greater redemptive act
00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:21.539
of God that includes
00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:22.360
Jesus' life
00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:23.800
and his death
00:09:23.800 --> 00:09:25.039
and his resurrection?
00:09:25.320 --> 00:09:26.120
It's a sin.
00:09:26.180 --> 00:09:27.960
It is one part of a whole.
00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:30.620
In fact, let me try
00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:31.780
and explain it like this.
00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:34.420
For years in this country,
00:09:35.620 --> 00:09:36.740
if you were in school
00:09:36.740 --> 00:09:38.240
and in a science class,
00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:40.000
invariably you would be given
00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.460
the same scientific experiment to do.
00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:44.200
So perhaps if you were educated
00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:45.620
in the United Kingdom,
00:09:45.780 --> 00:09:46.800
perhaps it is the case
00:09:46.800 --> 00:09:47.340
that you've done
00:09:47.340 --> 00:09:50.240
this very science experiment.
00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:51.280
And if you're a scientist,
00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:52.920
you will have to excuse
00:09:52.920 --> 00:09:55.120
if the details are a little bit rough.
00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:56.660
But what happens
00:09:56.659 --> 00:09:57.659
is that you would take
00:09:57.659 --> 00:09:59.519
hydrogen peroxide
00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:00.399
like it is.
00:10:01.199 --> 00:10:01.899
Do you remember this?
00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:03.879
And you would add it
00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:06.279
to a black solution
00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:08.419
and the solution was
00:10:08.419 --> 00:10:10.000
iodine and starch.
00:10:11.419 --> 00:10:12.240
Now if you do that,
00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:13.159
hydrogen peroxide
00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:13.860
to iodine and starch,
00:10:13.939 --> 00:10:14.399
what happens?
00:10:15.579 --> 00:10:16.079
What happens?
00:10:16.199 --> 00:10:17.819
Not very much happens.
00:10:19.100 --> 00:10:20.699
There's this strange
00:10:20.699 --> 00:10:21.559
kind of delay.
00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:24.079
You add it to the solution
00:10:24.079 --> 00:10:26.299
and you have to wait a while
00:10:26.299 --> 00:10:27.799
to look at the beacon
00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:29.620
and wait before eventually,
00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:30.899
immediately,
00:10:31.079 --> 00:10:32.759
because of the chemicals involved,
00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:34.120
that black solution
00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:35.379
all of a sudden
00:10:35.379 --> 00:10:37.240
turns bright blue.
00:10:38.199 --> 00:10:38.740
And you see,
00:10:38.859 --> 00:10:39.699
that's what we are
00:10:39.699 --> 00:10:40.859
dealing with here.
00:10:40.979 --> 00:10:41.559
Do you understand?
00:10:41.839 --> 00:10:43.219
That because Christ's
00:10:43.219 --> 00:10:44.779
resurrection and ascension
00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:46.339
has been added
00:10:46.339 --> 00:10:47.859
to his perfect life,
00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:48.519
his righteousness,
00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:49.519
and his death,
00:10:49.939 --> 00:10:50.979
what's happening today?
00:10:51.979 --> 00:10:52.919
Like, spiritually speaking,
00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:54.000
what are we doing as Christians?
00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:54.879
Do you see what we're doing?
00:10:55.879 --> 00:10:57.100
We're staring at the beaker.
00:10:58.139 --> 00:10:58.439
Do you see,
00:10:58.519 --> 00:10:59.379
we're waiting.
00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:01.240
There's this delay.
00:11:01.700 --> 00:11:02.200
We're waiting
00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:04.340
before the inevitable happens
00:11:04.340 --> 00:11:05.539
that Christ Jesus
00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:07.340
returns to this earth.
00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:07.779
Do you see?
00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:09.120
Christ Jesus,
00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:10.179
his return is
00:11:10.179 --> 00:11:11.480
always imminent.
00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:12.539
It's always imminent
00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:13.080
for you
00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:14.059
and for me.
00:11:15.179 --> 00:11:15.460
So,
00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:15.980
tell you what,
00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:16.419
let me
00:11:16.419 --> 00:11:18.240
bring this
00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:19.340
to your door
00:11:19.340 --> 00:11:20.120
just now.
00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:21.139
Let me ask you
00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:21.779
what sounds like
00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:22.539
a really
00:11:22.539 --> 00:11:24.139
wishy,
00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:25.360
washy question,
00:11:25.539 --> 00:11:26.459
but it's not.
00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:29.139
But I say to you
00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:30.279
that Christ's return
00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:30.779
is near.
00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:32.659
And I say to you
00:11:32.659 --> 00:11:34.100
that the Lord Jesus Christ
00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:34.819
could return
00:11:34.819 --> 00:11:36.939
this year.
00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.419
As a Christian,
00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:42.100
how do you feel
00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:43.519
about that?
00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:45.419
That Christ
00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:46.139
could return
00:11:46.139 --> 00:11:46.519
this year.
00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:47.559
Is there a sense,
00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.059
perhaps,
00:11:48.199 --> 00:11:49.120
of anxiety
00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.079
a little bit
00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:50.620
with that?
00:11:51.660 --> 00:11:52.440
Do you wonder
00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:53.620
about your service,
00:11:53.940 --> 00:11:54.660
your work,
00:11:54.780 --> 00:11:55.400
in the church?
00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:56.060
Is there,
00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:56.480
perhaps,
00:11:56.540 --> 00:11:57.580
even a sense
00:11:57.580 --> 00:11:58.480
of fear,
00:11:58.639 --> 00:11:58.900
maybe,
00:11:59.040 --> 00:11:59.759
that builds up?
00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:00.759
So,
00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:01.639
if you're a Christian,
00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:03.440
you need not fear
00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:04.580
because did you notice
00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:06.540
what Jesus says here
00:12:06.540 --> 00:12:07.680
to calm your nerves
00:12:07.680 --> 00:12:08.360
and calm your heart?
00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:08.960
Have a look at
00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:10.100
his verse 31.
00:12:11.020 --> 00:12:11.639
What he says,
00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:12.020
he says,
00:12:12.280 --> 00:12:13.100
the end is coming.
00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:13.960
It's for sure.
00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:14.200
He says,
00:12:14.280 --> 00:12:15.180
the heavens and the earth
00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:15.960
are going to pass away.
00:12:16.040 --> 00:12:17.000
But what does he say to you?
00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:18.879
He says that his word
00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:20.360
is not going to pass away.
00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:21.500
You see what that is?
00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:22.539
That there,
00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:24.899
that's your security.
00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:27.080
The fig tree
00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:28.399
might begin to bud.
00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:29.740
Summer
00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:31.340
might be at hand.
00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.000
What do you know?
00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:33.740
What do I know?
00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:35.620
We know that the gospel,
00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:37.100
we know that the word of God,
00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:38.879
we know that the incarnate
00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:39.679
word of God
00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:40.939
will endure.
00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:42.620
We know that Christ,
00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:43.539
our friends,
00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:45.620
all who are in him,
00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:48.080
we are going to outlive
00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:49.179
this present age.
00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:49.840
Isn't that,
00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:51.080
isn't that encouragement?
00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:53.419
Isn't that a beautiful thing
00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:55.060
that there might well be
00:12:55.060 --> 00:12:56.360
a nearness
00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.879
to the Prusia?
00:12:58.019 --> 00:12:58.620
There is.
00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:00.960
But on that final day
00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:01.980
if you're in Christ Jesus,
00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:04.500
there's going to find,
00:13:04.580 --> 00:13:05.620
you're going to find refuge
00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:07.259
under the protective wings
00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:09.200
of your God.
00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:11.920
So you see here
00:13:11.920 --> 00:13:12.879
that the return
00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:14.259
of Jesus
00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:16.340
is at hand
00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:16.920
and is imminent.
00:13:18.400 --> 00:13:19.379
Now the second thing,
00:13:19.460 --> 00:13:20.240
he said two things,
00:13:20.280 --> 00:13:21.000
and the second thing
00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:22.000
we also see here
00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.820
is that the timing
00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:26.720
of the return of Christ,
00:13:27.220 --> 00:13:28.620
the timing of it
00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:30.379
is unknown.
00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:34.340
I don't know
00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:35.420
where you are
00:13:35.420 --> 00:13:36.259
with scripture,
00:13:36.420 --> 00:13:36.780
I don't know
00:13:36.780 --> 00:13:37.800
where you sit
00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:38.360
theologically,
00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:39.159
you know,
00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:40.000
if there was,
00:13:40.180 --> 00:13:41.100
if there is,
00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:42.220
or was with you
00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:43.120
any doubt
00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.440
that Christ
00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:45.600
in Mark 13
00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.399
is thinking
00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:47.180
of his return,
00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:48.960
I think that doubt
00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:50.139
has to evaporate,
00:13:50.180 --> 00:13:51.200
it has to be eradicated
00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:51.879
by what Jesus
00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:52.539
goes on to say
00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:53.060
in that kind of
00:13:53.060 --> 00:13:53.779
new section.
00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.300
You see what he says
00:13:55.300 --> 00:13:56.779
in verse 32,
00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:00.240
he speaks of
00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:02.620
that day.
00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:03.740
It might seem
00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:04.440
like an ordinary
00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:05.180
phrase to us,
00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:05.800
but actually
00:14:05.800 --> 00:14:07.100
it's a technical phrase
00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:08.639
that the prophets
00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:09.440
would use
00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:10.240
in Old Testament
00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:10.800
scripture,
00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:11.580
that day
00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:12.460
was a technical phrase
00:14:12.460 --> 00:14:13.200
to speak of
00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:14.019
the day of the Lord,
00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:14.820
the coming
00:14:14.820 --> 00:14:16.220
of the Lord.
00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:16.840
So what do we know?
00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:17.820
We know for sure
00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:19.320
Christ is thinking
00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:20.340
of the end of the age.
00:14:21.920 --> 00:14:22.360
I wonder
00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.320
when
00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:25.740
Paul read
00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:27.100
this out earlier on,
00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:27.600
did you
00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:29.019
notice
00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:30.700
the main theme
00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:32.540
of this second section
00:14:32.540 --> 00:14:32.920
here?
00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:34.059
let me
00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:35.079
spell it out
00:14:35.079 --> 00:14:35.879
and underline it.
00:14:36.219 --> 00:14:36.679
It is,
00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:36.979
friends,
00:14:37.079 --> 00:14:38.379
the hiddenness
00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:40.299
of the timing
00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:41.319
of Christ's return.
00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:42.019
Or maybe
00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:42.679
you would allow
00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:43.240
this.
00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:45.039
The main theme
00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:45.959
here is the
00:14:45.959 --> 00:14:47.959
unknowability
00:14:47.959 --> 00:14:49.039
of exactly
00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.159
when it is
00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:51.419
that our Lord
00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:52.000
and Saviour
00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:52.959
is going to return.
00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:53.639
Because we get
00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.219
verse 32,
00:14:54.319 --> 00:14:54.899
what does he say?
00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:55.779
He says it
00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:56.500
simply as
00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.519
it is possible.
00:14:57.779 --> 00:14:57.939
He says,
00:14:58.139 --> 00:14:59.219
no one knows.
00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:01.299
And that's
00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:02.500
something he repeats.
00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:03.639
No one knows.
00:15:03.719 --> 00:15:04.240
No one knows.
00:15:04.319 --> 00:15:04.759
It's something
00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.939
that he extends out
00:15:05.939 --> 00:15:06.479
because he says,
00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:07.599
no one knows.
00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.219
Look what he says.
00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:08.579
He says,
00:15:08.959 --> 00:15:09.559
no one knows.
00:15:09.699 --> 00:15:10.819
The disciples don't know.
00:15:11.179 --> 00:15:11.899
And he says,
00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.339
the angels don't know.
00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:14.939
Now,
00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:16.000
I've come along
00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.799
as Paul kindly
00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:17.459
invited me
00:15:17.459 --> 00:15:18.419
to come along here.
00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:20.179
I wasn't sure
00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:20.919
really what
00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:22.039
was going to happen.
00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.120
But I'm delighted
00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:23.679
to be here.
00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:24.599
And I can say
00:15:24.599 --> 00:15:25.259
you look like
00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:27.259
a well-read
00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:27.959
and alert
00:15:27.959 --> 00:15:28.659
and attentive
00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:30.000
group of people.
00:15:30.079 --> 00:15:30.639
So I'm sure
00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:31.179
of this.
00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:33.759
As Paul read it out,
00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:34.279
I'm sure
00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.079
that you saw
00:15:35.079 --> 00:15:36.639
that in front of us
00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.000
just now
00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.679
we have one
00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:38.479
of the most
00:15:38.479 --> 00:15:40.879
arresting,
00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:43.620
startling truths
00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:45.139
in all of the Bible.
00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.219
Did you see it?
00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:46.799
Look,
00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:48.539
verse 32.
00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:50.139
Who does Jesus
00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.259
add to the mix?
00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:52.459
He says,
00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.399
no one knows
00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.719
when he sets
00:15:54.719 --> 00:15:55.339
a return.
00:15:55.959 --> 00:15:56.219
He says,
00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:57.359
the disciples don't know.
00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:58.099
He says,
00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.159
the angels don't know.
00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:00.240
Look who does that?
00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:01.820
He sits
00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.220
in the mouth
00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:03.340
of all of the disciples
00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:03.879
and he says,
00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:05.980
and I,
00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.720
I don't know.
00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.320
Isn't that a nice thing?
00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:10.879
Isn't it quite a
00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:11.940
startling thing?
00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:12.200
You know,
00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:13.519
this is the Lord Jesus
00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.279
we're dealing with
00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:14.680
and he's saying,
00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.340
I don't know
00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:16.060
the age of the age,
00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:16.379
I don't know
00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:17.279
the time scale
00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:19.259
or the timing of it all.
00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:22.320
I do think
00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:22.879
that could be
00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.600
confusing for us.
00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:25.799
So let's deal
00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:26.539
with just a couple
00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:27.039
of things here.
00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:27.700
First of all,
00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:29.320
let's ask him,
00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:30.420
if Jesus Christ
00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:31.220
doesn't know
00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.120
the time of the
00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:33.440
end of the earth,
00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:35.060
can we truly
00:16:35.060 --> 00:16:36.340
regard him as God?
00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:38.379
Can we?
00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:39.640
Like,
00:16:39.800 --> 00:16:40.600
you see the question
00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:40.960
in fact,
00:16:41.060 --> 00:16:41.220
you know,
00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.000
is it not the same
00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.700
question that
00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:44.540
the church was
00:16:44.540 --> 00:16:45.280
embroiled in
00:16:45.280 --> 00:16:45.940
and the Aryan
00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:46.580
controversy
00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:47.600
in the fourth century?
00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:48.560
You know,
00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:49.400
people were saying,
00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:49.980
they were pointing
00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.720
to this verse,
00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:51.640
they were saying,
00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:52.240
Jesus says,
00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:53.120
I don't know
00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:54.120
when I'm set to return,
00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:54.680
I don't know
00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:55.460
the end of the age.
00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.460
So people were saying,
00:16:56.780 --> 00:16:57.740
can he be defined?
00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.040
I mean,
00:16:59.080 --> 00:16:59.759
does this here
00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:00.379
not suggest
00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.420
that he is beneath God?
00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.340
Does this not suggest
00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:03.700
that he is subordinate
00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:04.160
to God?
00:17:04.360 --> 00:17:05.960
How would you answer that?
00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:07.779
I'll tell you this,
00:17:07.840 --> 00:17:08.600
I love the way
00:17:08.600 --> 00:17:09.640
that we can answer that.
00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:10.440
Oh,
00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.380
do all we need to do?
00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:12.759
All we need to do
00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.579
is point back
00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.819
to the very last
00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.579
thing he said.
00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:16.900
What did he say?
00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.380
Heaven
00:17:18.380 --> 00:17:19.980
and earth
00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.819
are going to pass away.
00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.100
My words are not
00:17:23.100 --> 00:17:23.620
going to pass away.
00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:25.459
Now what would every single Jew
00:17:25.459 --> 00:17:26.159
have known?
00:17:27.439 --> 00:17:28.039
They would have known
00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:29.119
that that was an implied
00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:30.159
claim of divinity.
00:17:30.979 --> 00:17:31.439
They would have known
00:17:31.439 --> 00:17:32.179
that phrase.
00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:32.699
Heaven and earth
00:17:32.699 --> 00:17:33.179
can pass away
00:17:33.179 --> 00:17:33.719
my words
00:17:33.719 --> 00:17:34.199
and not pass away.
00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:34.659
They would have known
00:17:34.659 --> 00:17:35.299
that was Jesus
00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:36.079
claiming it to be God.
00:17:36.379 --> 00:17:37.039
Because what did
00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.079
every Jew know?
00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:39.659
What did they know?
00:17:40.479 --> 00:17:40.899
They knew
00:17:40.899 --> 00:17:42.619
that only God's word
00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:43.139
endured.
00:17:43.899 --> 00:17:44.139
Friends,
00:17:44.179 --> 00:17:45.219
you know Isaiah 40
00:17:45.219 --> 00:17:45.799
verse 8,
00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.159
don't you?
00:17:46.959 --> 00:17:48.259
The grass withers
00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:50.339
and the flowers fall.
00:17:50.439 --> 00:17:51.439
But how do you go on?
00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:53.880
But the word of our God
00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:55.120
stands for everything.
00:17:55.320 --> 00:17:56.160
Do you see it?
00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:58.240
And whatever this lack
00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:59.460
of knowledge about the end
00:17:59.460 --> 00:17:59.980
tells us,
00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:01.680
it does not tell us
00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:02.660
that Jesus was worse
00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.140
than God,
00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:03.480
does it?
00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.360
He has just claimed
00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:05.840
full,
00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.759
perfect divinity
00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:09.559
in the previous phase.
00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:12.440
But that then leads on
00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:13.920
to the second issue.
00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:15.120
Friends,
00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.039
aren't you asking
00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:17.500
why is it
00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.319
that Jesus
00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.000
doesn't know?
00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.940
Aren't you asking
00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:21.859
that when you read this?
00:18:22.379 --> 00:18:23.659
Why is the timing,
00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:24.379
the knowledge
00:18:24.379 --> 00:18:25.159
of the timing
00:18:25.159 --> 00:18:25.819
of the end
00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.379
of the earth,
00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:28.019
why is it
00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:29.279
the preserve
00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.440
of the Father?
00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:32.440
Why does the Son
00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.180
not know?
00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.059
And I think,
00:18:35.159 --> 00:18:35.920
honestly friends,
00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.159
the answer to that,
00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:39.379
I should send you
00:18:39.379 --> 00:18:40.379
and me just now
00:18:40.379 --> 00:18:41.799
to our knees
00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:45.220
wonderment,
00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:45.659
maybe,
00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:47.240
certainly worship
00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:48.220
because I think
00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:48.940
in that lack
00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:49.599
of knowledge,
00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:51.440
see the extent
00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.299
of what Jesus
00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:53.019
Christ has done
00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:53.419
for you.
00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.240
How do you think
00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:57.379
about your salvation?
00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.159
What do you think
00:18:58.159 --> 00:18:58.960
about the atonement?
00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:00.799
Do you think
00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:02.039
God has just done
00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:03.259
a little thing,
00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.220
there's nothing
00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:04.879
to God,
00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.359
this great redemptive
00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:06.619
work.
00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:07.000
Do you think
00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.919
Christ has done
00:19:07.919 --> 00:19:09.180
just a small thing
00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.839
for you?
00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:10.839
See there,
00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:11.659
come on.
00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:13.039
See there,
00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:13.700
the extent
00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:14.460
of the incarnation,
00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:16.539
the magnitude
00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.379
of the self-entering,
00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.299
consider this,
00:19:18.659 --> 00:19:19.319
that to win
00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:20.680
your soul,
00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:22.659
Christ has
00:19:22.659 --> 00:19:23.599
dressed himself
00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:25.619
in ignorance.
00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:27.079
Isn't that
00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.099
what you've got here?
00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:30.119
That in order
00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:31.240
to become
00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:32.220
a sufficient
00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.099
sacrifice
00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:34.299
for human sin,
00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:35.119
what has Jesus
00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:35.700
done?
00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:36.299
Do you see
00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:36.819
what he's done?
00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:38.180
He has added
00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.419
to his divine
00:19:39.419 --> 00:19:39.960
knowledge,
00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:40.480
what?
00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:42.360
human
00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:44.720
unenlightenment.
00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.259
Isn't that
00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:47.500
a stunning thing?
00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.720
The son
00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:50.980
knew not
00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.779
the time
00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.920
of his own
00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.620
return and
00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:53.980
why?
00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:54.960
It was all
00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:57.220
for you.
00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:58.380
It was all
00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:58.940
to win
00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:00.120
your soul
00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:01.339
from hell.
00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:03.399
Now,
00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:04.659
what did I say?
00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.259
At the start,
00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:06.079
I said that there
00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.439
would be two
00:20:06.439 --> 00:20:07.459
points and
00:20:07.459 --> 00:20:09.159
two required
00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:09.619
responses.
00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:10.220
We've seen the
00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:10.919
first required
00:20:10.919 --> 00:20:11.359
response.
00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.319
We are surely
00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.000
to rejoice.
00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.160
Christ.
00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.039
What's the second
00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.319
required response?
00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:17.259
We don't know
00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:17.799
when Christ
00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.299
is returning.
00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:18.980
We know it's
00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:19.140
near.
00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:19.519
We don't know
00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:19.880
what's the
00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.480
required response.
00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:21.640
Thankfully,
00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.339
praise God,
00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.099
Jesus makes it
00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:23.539
so clear.
00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:23.920
In fact,
00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.539
I think I can
00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.200
say this to you.
00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:26.819
I honestly
00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.359
think in his
00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:27.619
word,
00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.680
God is shouting
00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:30.400
the required
00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.519
response at
00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:31.680
you.
00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.119
He is
00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:33.480
screaming it
00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:34.660
at you today.
00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.059
Look at
00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:36.039
verse 33
00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.940
to see it.
00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.319
What does
00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:38.859
Jesus say?
00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:39.500
He says,
00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.920
you don't
00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.339
know when I'm
00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:41.920
coming back,
00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.500
so be on
00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:44.319
your guard.
00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:45.720
And friend,
00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.180
do you understand
00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:47.019
what I mean by
00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:48.000
God shouting
00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.660
it at you?
00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:49.980
Understand that
00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:52.299
five times in
00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:52.740
that little
00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.240
section,
00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.140
Jesus repeats
00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:54.759
the same thing.
00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.119
Five times.
00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:56.440
He says,
00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:57.319
be on your
00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:57.619
guard,
00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.460
stay awake,
00:20:58.579 --> 00:20:59.200
be alert.
00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.400
Then right at
00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:00.839
the end,
00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.460
do you notice?
00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:03.319
He extends
00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:03.579
out.
00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:03.880
He says,
00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:05.460
everyone stay
00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.000
alert,
00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.740
stay awake.
00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:07.680
Then he even
00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.220
gives us a
00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.680
parable.
00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.820
He compares
00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:11.580
you to a
00:21:11.580 --> 00:21:12.759
doorkeeper who
00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.460
has to watch
00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:13.960
out for his
00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.640
master's return.
00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:15.500
I'm asking
00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:15.799
you,
00:21:16.820 --> 00:21:17.900
do you hear
00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.480
the message
00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.240
that God is
00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.860
screaming at
00:21:20.860 --> 00:21:21.400
us this
00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:21.799
afternoon?
00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:22.200
Do you hear
00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:22.560
what it is?
00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:23.759
We don't know
00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.320
when Christ is
00:21:24.320 --> 00:21:24.940
set to return.
00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:25.680
We know
00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.000
he's at
00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.220
house,
00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.580
so what do
00:21:26.580 --> 00:21:26.860
we do?
00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:27.360
We've got
00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:29.019
to be ready.
00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.080
That's it.
00:21:31.580 --> 00:21:32.060
We've got to
00:21:32.060 --> 00:21:32.880
be waiting.
00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.320
We've got to
00:21:33.320 --> 00:21:34.200
be prepared
00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:34.960
for this.
00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.259
So,
00:21:36.600 --> 00:21:36.880
I'll end
00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:37.180
with two
00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.880
questions and
00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:38.220
we're done.
00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:40.019
first of
00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.180
all,
00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.640
if you're a
00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.000
Christian
00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.440
here,
00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.240
are you
00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:46.080
asleep?
00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.440
Is that
00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.160
an adequate
00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:50.960
description
00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.759
of your
00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.740
spiritual life
00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.240
just now?
00:21:55.340 --> 00:21:55.560
Like,
00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.360
if you are
00:21:56.360 --> 00:21:57.380
true to
00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:57.820
yourself,
00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:58.380
is it the
00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:58.680
case that
00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:58.940
you are
00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.700
unenthused
00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:00.400
about Jesus?
00:22:01.860 --> 00:22:02.580
Unenthused
00:22:02.580 --> 00:22:02.980
about the
00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.320
gospel?
00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:03.799
Are you
00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.620
uninvolved
00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:05.060
in the
00:22:05.060 --> 00:22:06.220
service of
00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:07.039
Christ's
00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.380
church?
00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.259
Are you
00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:08.819
spiritually
00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.299
asleep?
00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.200
You surely
00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:11.579
see what
00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:12.059
God is
00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.319
saying.
00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:12.539
He's
00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:12.680
saying,
00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.220
this is
00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:13.620
an urgent
00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:14.259
matter
00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.839
here.
00:22:16.100 --> 00:22:16.279
Friends,
00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:17.519
I call you,
00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:18.559
I do not
00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:19.039
know you,
00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:19.720
but surely
00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.460
you see here
00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:21.420
the message,
00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:22.059
we've got to
00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:23.019
rise up out
00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.539
of our
00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:23.940
slumber.
00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.259
And we
00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.839
rise up to
00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.299
prayer,
00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.740
we rise up
00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.319
to service,
00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.140
we rise up
00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:29.620
to actually
00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:30.620
telling these
00:22:30.620 --> 00:22:31.220
few people on
00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.660
the street
00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:33.000
this wonderful
00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.560
message of
00:22:33.560 --> 00:22:33.980
what Christ
00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.279
has done
00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.860
for us.
00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.519
Because I
00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.160
have to
00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:38.240
warn you,
00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.660
you and
00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.000
I,
00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.740
we don't
00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.120
want to be
00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:43.820
asleep when
00:22:43.820 --> 00:22:44.160
our Lord
00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.660
returns.
00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:46.880
And then
00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.720
we close with
00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.259
the second of
00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:48.840
those questions,
00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.580
and that's
00:22:49.580 --> 00:22:50.060
maybe for
00:22:50.060 --> 00:22:50.380
you,
00:22:51.340 --> 00:22:52.019
if you have
00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:52.779
yet to bow
00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.240
the knee to
00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:53.500
the Lord
00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.340
Jesus Christ.
00:22:55.560 --> 00:22:55.779
Friends,
00:22:55.800 --> 00:22:56.120
if you are
00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:56.759
yet to submit
00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:57.120
to him,
00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:57.500
here's the
00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.019
question for
00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:58.220
you.
00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.700
Are you
00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:01.120
ready
00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:03.279
for this
00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.359
event?
00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:05.959
You know,
00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.299
I think,
00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:06.739
as well as
00:23:06.739 --> 00:23:07.059
I do,
00:23:07.179 --> 00:23:08.139
that time,
00:23:08.739 --> 00:23:09.159
life,
00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.779
opportunity is
00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.179
short,
00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.639
and Christ
00:23:12.639 --> 00:23:13.239
Jesus is
00:23:13.239 --> 00:23:14.039
coming back.
00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.299
So I am
00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:15.659
asking,
00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.539
are you
00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.399
ready to
00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:18.079
meet
00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:20.579
God?
00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:22.599
Friends,
00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:22.979
if not,
00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:23.579
surely maybe
00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.439
today even
00:23:24.439 --> 00:23:24.879
is the time
00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:25.239
where you
00:23:25.239 --> 00:23:25.919
waking up,
00:23:26.419 --> 00:23:26.799
and you
00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:27.279
waking up
00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.659
to eternal
00:23:27.659 --> 00:23:27.939
life,
00:23:27.979 --> 00:23:28.219
you maybe
00:23:28.219 --> 00:23:29.019
see in
00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.739
scripture
00:23:29.739 --> 00:23:30.399
something of
00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:31.519
what Christ
00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:31.940
has done
00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.300
for you,
00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:32.820
something of
00:23:32.820 --> 00:23:33.420
his glory,
00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:33.980
and even
00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:34.440
today,
00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:35.860
you turn
00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:36.440
from your
00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:36.800
sin,
00:23:37.820 --> 00:23:38.460
you repent,
00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:40.060
and you
00:23:40.060 --> 00:23:41.400
believe in
00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:41.840
the Lord
00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:42.620
of glory.
00:23:43.640 --> 00:23:43.860
Friends,
00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.259
when we
00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.040
read Mark
00:23:45.040 --> 00:23:45.759
chapter 13,
00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.360
surely it's
00:23:46.360 --> 00:23:46.800
the case that
00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:47.420
actually for
00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:47.980
all of us,
00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:49.080
we all have
00:23:49.080 --> 00:23:49.540
the same
00:23:49.540 --> 00:23:50.460
fervent prayer,
00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.340
don't we?
00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.340
What would
00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:52.860
that be?
00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:53.860
It would
00:23:53.860 --> 00:23:54.259
be,
00:23:55.100 --> 00:23:55.759
Maranatha,
00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.100
come,
00:23:57.840 --> 00:23:58.600
come,
00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:59.439
Lord Jesus,
00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:01.039
and come
00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.799
quickly.
00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.480
Let's pray.