WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.879 Well, thanks for joining us here online at the Orchard. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:09.039 As you heard, Aston mention in the introduction to this is that this month in July is a little bit different. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:20.079 And the reason is because typically we would preach through a series so that if you were here last week and then this week, all the messages follow a similar theme or at least they have some connections to each other. 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:26.559 But in the month of July, every year at the Orchard, we do something called location pastor Sundays for the entire month. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:43.119 What that means is that at each of our locations you would hear a different message based on whatever the location pastor feels like God is speaking to them and that they would lead those specific congregations however they see fit in this season. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:48.479 And so what you may find is that this week may be very different from next week and the following weeks. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:56.079 And so if you would think of each of these messages kind of like their own, what we would say standalone messages. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:06.319 Now I say all that to say that in Live Oak, this would be the first part of a series that we are going to do, even though that series may be different than the other series at the other locations. 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:16.239 And the series that we're going to do in Live Oak is built around a phrase that we see in Luke's gospel, and it's this, just as he said. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:22.079 And we'll see a little bit more in just a minute of where that comes from and why it is that we're using that particular phrase. 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:24.480 But before we do, I want you to think about this. 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:38.400 For most of us, if we grew up in or around the church, then we've we've heard a phrase similar to this is, hey, put your faith in Jesus, or salvation is by faith, which is in Jesus. 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:43.680 The question that I have is that do we really understand what we're saying when we say that? 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:50.959 Especially in the church, we can say faith a lot, but do we actually understand what it is that constitutes faith? 00:01:51.439 --> 00:02:00.879 And what I would say is that what you see, especially in the Gospels, is that faith in Jesus is equivalent to trusting Jesus. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:11.599 Wayne Grudum, a theologian who has written a systematic theology that's very, very long, very, very ingrained in what it says, he says faith is this. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:15.280 When he talks about saving, faith is made up really of three characteristics. 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:28.319 It is knowledge, that is, that you have knowledge of a particular thing, or in this case of a person, Jesus, approval, which means that based on what I know, I believe it to be true, and trust. 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:36.879 And what Wayne Grudum would say is that if you do not have all three of those characteristics, then you do not have faith. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:49.120 And really what I think happens to Grudom's point is that for many of us, when we say faith, we say, oh, we have knowledge of Jesus and we believe these things to be true about Jesus. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:52.800 But do we actually trust Jesus? 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:57.120 And I think that can be difficult for us, to actually trust Jesus. 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:02.639 And trust can be hard because trust means that you're putting all of your eggs in one basket. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:11.599 In this case, in the basket that is Jesus for salvation, that you would lay down everything, you would put everything aside, and that you would follow him. 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:14.800 In all of our lives we've been taught, well, don't do that. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:20.000 You need to have reservations, you need to have emergency funds, you don't need to put all of your eggs in one basket. 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:25.680 And yet, when it comes to trusting Jesus, it literally is laying everything else aside. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:36.719 And so if faith really is not just knowing about Jesus and believing those things to be true, but trusting in Jesus, what does it actually look like to trust Jesus? 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:42.080 I think it's clear in the New Testament that trust is actionable. 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:46.639 That's why James writes, and he says, that faith without works is dead. 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:50.639 What he means is that your faith will be made known by your works. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:04:10.879 If you don't have the works to accompany what you say you believe, then your works will reveal that you don't actually believe those things to be true, that it will betray your trust, that you say the right things, and yet you do not fully trust Jesus in a way that produces action in your life. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:25.279 So with that snapshot in mind, here is the purpose of this series that we're going to do in Live Oak, but this message today, and it's this the purpose of this message is for us to know that we can trust Jesus in everything. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:29.199 That we can trust Jesus in everything. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:36.000 So today we'll be in Luke's gospel, but before we do that, just a couple little tidbits that will make this make sense for us. 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:39.759 Number one is that there's this thing called inspiration of scripture. 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:41.920 In theology, we call it the inspiration of scripture. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:46.000 Here's what it means for us: it means that every word matters. 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:49.120 And that will be key in just a moment as we will see. 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:57.199 The second thing that we need to understand is that in the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, three of them, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, are referred to as the synoptic gospels. 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:05.439 What that means is that largely they convey the same things, the same accounts, the same events, yet from different angles and perspectives. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:08.319 And so, because of that, here's what this means. 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:20.160 It means that all of the gospels are universally true, yet they were recorded by different authors from different perspectives, and here's the key, four different audiences. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:31.439 This means that when you read the gospels, all four of them, but especially even the synoptics, they may tell of the same event and yet include different details, and we'll see that in just a moment. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:43.040 But they are universally true in what they say, and yet each gospel was written by a different person, inspired by the Holy Spirit, with a different perspective and a different purpose. 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:50.000 And that purpose is because many of them included specific audiences in mind. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:54.240 For instance, Matthew's gospel was written to a primarily Jewish audience. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:06:09.279 And so the contents of his gospel, though he may tell of the same events as Mark and Luke and even John, he would do so trying to highlight the Jewishness and the messianic fulfillment of Jesus' life and ministry. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:30.800 And why am I telling you that is because today we're going to look specifically at Luke's gospel, and the title of this message and the series that we're going to be in in Live Oak is just as he said, that comes from a phrase that Luke basically uses to convey his point, his purpose about the life of Jesus to a specific audience. 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:39.360 In fact, the very beginning of Luke's gospel in Luke chapter 1, verses 1 through 4, this is what Luke says about why he is writing what he is writing. 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:48.879 He says in verse 1 that many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the Word handed them down to us. 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:57.120 In other words, he says, there are many people who have gone to great lengths to write down and to record and to preserve the life, teachings, and ministry of Jesus. 00:06:57.360 --> 00:07:03.040 And he says in verse 3, so it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything. 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:06.480 In other words, a lot has been said about this man named Jesus. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:09.279 And so Luke says, Well, I carefully investigated. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:21.519 I did my own research, and these 24 chapters that I'm writing to you are what I have verified based on what has been passed down to us and my independent investigation into these claims. 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:29.279 So it seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:32.160 That's who he's writing to, but this is the purpose. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:37.839 He's writing to Theophilus based on his own research about the life, teachings, and ministry of Jesus. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:44.399 Verse 4, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:46.879 In other words, here's what Luke says. 00:07:47.120 --> 00:08:00.639 Luke says, Look, Theophilus, everything that you've heard that's been passed down to you, here is my own version of that based on my own research, that you would know for sure that these things are true. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:06.000 And so Luke tells us that part of the reason that he writes is for certainty. 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:15.120 And so, in order to affirm the certainty of who Jesus is and what he taught and what he did, is that Luke went to great lengths. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:24.639 And so when he writes this gospel, he will include little details that verify the certainty of who Jesus is, what he taught, and what he did. 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:35.519 And so, in Luke chapter 19, we see the inclusion of a particular phrase, and this phrase that is included by Luke that is different because Matthew does not include this phrase. 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:42.480 John does not include this event, at least this detail of this event, and yet Luke does. 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:50.000 And I think it's because Luke wants us to know that down to the smallest of details, you can trust Jesus. 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:58.320 This phrase that we're talking about first appears in Luke chapter 19, which also kicks off what we traditionally know as Holy Week. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:08.720 It's the last week of Jesus' ministry before he is crucified, and so we will see that this is the moment where Jesus enters triumphantly into Jerusalem. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:21.200 But before he does that, here's what we read about this little interaction that Luke includes that some of the other gospel writers do not, and again, to convey certainty down to the smallest of details. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:23.759 So Luke chapter 19, verse 28, here's what we read. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:27.840 When he, Jesus, had said these things, he has just taught a parable. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:34.000 And so after he taught that parable, when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:37.440 He's not in Jerusalem, he's making his way towards Jerusalem. 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:56.159 And as he approached Bethphage and Bethany, these are little towns on the outskirts of Jerusalem, as he approached these places, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said, So Jesus approaching Jerusalem on the outskirts of Jerusalem, he gets to these specific landmarks, and he gives two of his disciples very specific instructions. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:57.679 Here's what they are, verse 30. 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:01.519 And said to these two, Go into the village ahead of you. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:08.240 As you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, a baby donkey, on which no one has ever sat. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:10.879 Untie it and bring it. 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:13.679 So Jesus says, Hey guys, I'm going to send you ahead. 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:14.960 You're going to come to this village. 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:18.879 In this village, you're going to find a donkey, a baby donkey, and it's going to be tied up. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:20.639 Nobody's ever sat on it before. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:22.720 I want you to untie it and bring it to me. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:29.759 And then in verse 31, he says, This if anyone asks you, why are you untying it, say this, the Lord needs it. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:31.759 And so right off the bat, here's what we see. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:35.919 We see that Jesus gives very specific instructions to these two disciples. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:37.360 He's going to Jerusalem. 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:43.120 He says, Hey, I want you guys to go ahead to the nearby village, untie this colt that you'll find, tie it up, and bring it to me. 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:46.879 If anybody asks what's going on, just simply say the Lord needs it. 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:53.120 But here's the phrase that we see in which Luke includes that other gospel writers do not. 00:10:53.200 --> 00:11:00.240 And I think it's because Luke wants us to know with certainty you can trust Jesus in every detail of life, including the smallest. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:02.159 Verse 32, here's what we see. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:08.799 So those who were sent, those two disciples who were given those instructions, they left and found it. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:10.720 Here's where the title comes from. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:12.960 Just as he had told them. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:37.919 Nobody's ever sat on it before, and I want you to untie it and bring it to me. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:42.720 And oh, by the way, if anybody asks what's going on, you just tell them, hey, the Lord needs it and go about your business. 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:49.200 And they find it when they go into the village, they find it just as he had told them. 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:51.200 In other words, here's what that means. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:59.679 That means down to the very detail, they find a cult tied up that nobody's ever sat on before in this village. 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:01.120 How did Jesus know that? 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:02.720 How did they know? 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:10.320 Jesus simply gave them instructions and they found out that everything that he said down to the details were true. 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:13.679 Now here's where it gets interesting in verse 33. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:20.159 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, Why are you untying the colt? 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:23.440 Now I want you to imagine for just a second, put yourself in these shoes. 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:26.080 Here are your two disciples, you're simply doing what Jesus said. 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:32.960 You're untying a cult that does not belong to you because Jesus told you to, and then all of a sudden the owners show up. 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:43.840 Now, again, put yourself in this situation, and the owners of this donkey see you, it looks like from their vantage point, committing a crime of stealing their donkey. 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:46.960 You are untying a donkey that does not belong to you, it belongs to them. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:49.360 And they're like, hey, what are you doing? 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:54.320 And here's what I would ask us is what would your response be in that moment? 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:57.200 Because I know for me, I would be very uncomfortable. 00:12:57.360 --> 00:13:00.399 I would be very uncomfortable because of the perception of what's going on. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:03.279 It's one thing if a random stranger says, Hey, what are you doing? 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.200 But this is the owner of the donkey. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:07.200 What would your response be? 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:14.720 And here's what's even more interesting is that Jesus already gave them instructions on what to do in this scenario. 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:19.440 Remember, Jesus says that when you go, you're going to find the colt tied on which nobody's ever sighed. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.320 Untie it and bring it. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:21.519 Okay, all that's good. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:29.200 And if anyone asks you, if anyone, but here's the thing, this isn't just anyone, this is the owner of the donkey. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:31.279 And the owner is like, hey, what are you doing? 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:32.080 That's my donkey. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:32.960 What are you doing? 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:36.960 And I think in this moment, Jesus has already given them instructions. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:40.559 And the instructions are if anyone asks you, why are you doing this? 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:42.799 say the Lord needs it. 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:46.399 Jesus has given them very specific instructions. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:48.240 Here is the question. 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:54.720 The question is, would this answer be enough or sufficient for them in this moment? 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:58.159 Jesus already said, here's what you're going to say if anybody asks. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:01.679 In the moment, though, it's the owner who is asking. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:05.679 The owner is like, hey, it looks like you're stealing my donkey. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:06.960 Here's the question. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:09.679 They have trusted Jesus to go into the village. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:11.840 They have found it just as he had told them. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:20.159 But what will they do in this uncomfortable moment when the owner is asking a question about you possibly stealing their donkey? 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:26.000 In that moment, when Jesus says, tell them the Lord has need of it, is that answer enough? 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:33.360 In other words, would they trust Jesus that this short, simple response would be enough? 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:40.720 Or would they feel the need in this uncomfortable moment to begin to try to explain more than what Jesus simply said? 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:46.399 To try to get themselves off the hook to try to say, hey, I know this looks bad, I can explain, all of that. 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:53.120 Or simply, would they trust Jesus enough to simply respond how he has already instructed them to do? 00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:57.919 And that is with the short, simple response, the Lord has need of it. 00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:00.559 What if they don't believe that Jesus is Lord? 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:02.879 What if they don't care about who Jesus is? 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:07.840 What if they don't give a rip about what Jesus says about his miracles or his teaching? 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:10.480 Like, what if they don't agree with anything that Jesus has done? 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:12.559 Is that answer enough? 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:20.240 And I think for us, it begs the question is, is what Jesus has said enough? 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:23.679 Because Jesus told me to is basically their answer. 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:26.240 When the owner says, What are you doing with my donkey? 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.279 Like, that's my donkey. 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:28.080 What are you doing? 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:28.879 Who do you think you are? 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:30.000 Why are you untying? 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:31.120 Why are you stealing my donkey? 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:34.960 All of these assumptions that are going into this question, what are you doing? 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:39.200 And their simple response is this, Well, Jesus told me to. 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:47.279 And my question to us, as we think about trusting Jesus, is Is this answer sufficient for us? 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:50.639 Is that simple answer because Jesus told me to? 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:52.240 Is that enough? 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.480 Is it sufficient for our marriages? 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:59.360 When Jesus says, let not man separate what God has joined together. 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:01.919 And you're thinking, yeah, but it's so difficult. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:04.720 You don't understand what he's like, you don't understand what it's like to live with her. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:11.840 All of these explanations that we bring, and yet, as followers of Jesus, is it enough to simply trust Jesus? 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:17.440 That Jesus knows what he's talking about when he says, hey, let not man separate what God has joined together? 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:20.320 Is it sufficient for our kids? 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:30.480 Will we raise our kids with certain expectations, certain priorities, certain things that we may or may not allow them to do or to watch because we care about their souls and their hearts? 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.759 Is that going to be enough? 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:36.960 Or do we feel the need to over-explain and justify things? 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:41.279 Or is it good enough to say, hey, because Jesus says? 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:44.960 Is it sufficient for our bosses? 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:57.679 If we feel that, hey, I can't do what you're asking me to do because it it sets me at odds with Jesus, and and I follow Jesus, and so I have to be obedient to his word and his principles and his kingdom. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:04.079 Is it sufficient to say that to your boss or your spouse or your kids? 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:08.559 Here's the thing about trust that we've already said is that trust is actionable. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:19.359 And so in this moment, faced with a difficult situation because the owner of the donkey sees them untying the donkey that Jesus told them to untie, and they say, What are you doing? 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:29.119 Is that these disciples in this moment have the ability to respond in a way that shows they either trust Jesus or they don't. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:31.359 Trust is actionable. 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:43.119 And in this moment, this awkward situation that comes up by being obedient to Jesus, the question is, is what Jesus has said already enough? 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:50.400 The disciples' response would reveal whether or not they actually believe Jesus' instructions to be enough. 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:52.720 And we see that response in verse 34. 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:58.400 Their actions will tell whether or not they trust what Jesus has already told them. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:02.640 And they respond, verse 34, the Lord needs it. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:17.680 That simple response that Jesus has already instructed them to do in this moment, without trying to over-explain, without trying to justify themselves, they simply show by their actions that they trust that Jesus' words are enough. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:22.000 So they turn to the owner and they say, The Lord needs it. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:25.119 The disciples trusted Jesus. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:30.720 And here's why I think they trusted Jesus is because he had been right about everything up to that point. 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:32.880 He told them ahead of time, hey, here's what's gonna happen. 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:37.039 You're gonna go to this village, you're gonna find this donkey tied in this place and want you to untie it. 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:38.799 If anybody asks, here's what you do. 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:49.200 And because they found it just as he said, they see that, hey, we can trust Jesus in everything, including the smallest of details. 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:54.880 We don't have to have everything figured out, we don't have to have this long justifying response to these people. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:58.240 We just simply trust Jesus enough to do what he said. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:01.039 The disciples trusted Jesus. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:03.920 He had been right about everything up to that point. 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:12.480 And here's what I would say to us is so even if we don't understand all of the details, we can trust what Jesus has already said. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:14.720 So then, verse 35. 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:19.680 Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their clothes on the colt, they helped Jesus get on it. 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:22.319 As he was going along, they were spreading their clothes on the road. 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:37.759 Now he came near to the path or near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen, and they began to shout, Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:42.240 Now, what we would say is that this is affectionately known as the triumphal entry. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:47.920 This is Jesus getting on that donkey that was brought to him, and he rides it into Jerusalem. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:57.200 And the reason that he does so is that he actually fulfills a prophecy that dates back to Zechariah, Zechariah chapter 9, verse 9, as Jesus rode this donkey into Jerusalem. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:59.759 This is what Zechariah prophesied years before. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:02.240 Rejoice greatly, daughter Zion. 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:07.279 Shout in triumph, daughter Jerusalem, look, your king is coming to you. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:13.519 He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the full of a donkey. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:23.039 And so what's happening in the grander scheme of the storyline of the Bible is that Jesus is fulfilling all that the prophets foreshadowed, that he is the coming Messiah. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:28.880 He is the king that would descend from the lineage of David, who would rule over this eternal kingdom. 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:31.200 This is who Jesus is. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:32.400 He is the Messiah. 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:36.160 He is the Savior who has come to save the world. 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:49.200 And what we see is that in this case, these two disciples, they trusted Jesus, that he is the king, that he is the Messiah, that he is the Son of God, and demonstrated by their actions, they show that they trust him. 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.480 But here's what's ironic. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:21:04.960 What's ironic is that there are other people who witness Jesus riding into town, and rather than recognizing him as the Son of God, the King, the Messiah, who comes to rule over this eternal kingdom, instead, these people are displeased with Jesus. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.559 Look what happens in verse 39. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:13.039 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, Teacher, Jesus, rebuke your disciples. 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:14.559 Rebuke them for what? 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:17.279 Well, they're saying that, hey, do you hear what they're saying? 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:20.079 They're saying that you are the king who comes. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:21.920 They're saying that you are the Messiah. 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:23.599 You need to do something about this. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:29.519 You need to rebuke them and tell them to hush because we know that we don't take lightly these messianic prophecies. 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:36.880 And so what these Pharisees are saying to Jesus is, we don't trust that you are the Messiah. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:42.720 Our actions of unbelief demonstrate that we don't believe that you are who you say that you are. 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:46.720 Therefore, you need to rebuke these disciples because what they're saying is wrong. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:53.440 And Jesus answers in verse 40 I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the very stones would cry out. 00:21:54.400 --> 00:22:01.599 Jesus was criticized by these people who did not believe that he was the Messiah, and here's why. 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:11.119 Because trust is actionable, and their action showed that they did not trust that Jesus was the fulfillment of all of their messianic hopes. 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:15.279 And so here's what's interesting about this as we wind down this message. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:22.079 Again, the point of this message is to show us that we can trust Jesus, and ultimately we can trust Jesus because of who he is. 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:24.720 He is the King of the Jews. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:28.319 He is the fulfillment of messianic hopes and prophecies. 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:32.160 He is the Son of God who has descended to the earth, wrapped himself in human flesh. 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:34.240 We can trust him because of who he is. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:39.759 And what we see in this encounter is that we see two very different groups of people. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:49.039 We see a stark difference between the Pharisees who rebuke and correct Jesus that, hey, you need to do something about this because what they're saying is not true. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:23:00.559 And yet we see that there's the faithfulness and the obedience of two men who see that everything that Jesus has already said is true, down to the smallest details. 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:14.559 These two disciples see that it is just as he said that what Jesus has said and what he does say is sufficient, therefore we can trust him with our very lives. 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:18.319 Meanwhile, there's a whole group of people who miss it. 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:26.720 And they miss it because their conclusion, based on their actions, is that we cannot trust what Jesus has already said. 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:31.839 And ultimately, what God has already said through his prophets, we cannot trust it. 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:38.559 So here's the question that I have for us as we wind it down, and it's this is that do you trust Jesus? 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:44.960 Do you trust that everything that he's already said is sufficient down to the very details? 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:50.480 And more than that, is not just do you trust it, but what do the actions of your life say? 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:53.440 Do you find yourself trying to fill in the gaps? 00:23:53.519 --> 00:24:02.480 Do you find yourself trying to overexplain and to make up for what Jesus says that confronts our culture, that confronts your realities at work or at home in your marriage? 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:07.599 Or do you, like these two men, have you found it? 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:10.160 It is just as he said. 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:21.519 I think all of this points to two realities is that we can trust Jesus in everything because of who he is, down to the smallest of details. 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:23.279 The question is, do we? 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:41.359 And my hope and my prayer in this message is that our trust, our faith in Jesus would not just be knowledge that we say is true, but it would be verified by the fact that we trust Jesus with everything, to the point that we lay down our very lives and we follow him wherever he leads. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:43.680 This is my prayer for you. 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:50.720 This is my prayer for us as a church, is that we would know that we can trust Jesus and that we would. 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:53.279 That we would simply trust him. 00:24:53.599 --> 00:25:07.119 We would simply trust that his word is sufficient, no matter where we find ourselves, what situation we find ourselves in, we would simply lean on what he has said, and that when we do so, we would find that it is just as he said. 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:14.240 My prayer is that your faith would be made stronger as you look to Jesus and realize that we can trust him in everything. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.599 Let me pray for you. 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:17.680 God, we thank you for your word. 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:30.480 Lord, we thank you that down to the very details we see that Luke records for us is that he would say and plead and beg with us is that you can trust Jesus with everything down to the smallest of details. 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:49.039 God, I pray for us that we would learn what it means to trust you with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind, all of our strength, that we would not feel the obligation to overexplain or to justify or to fill in the gaps, but we would simply stand on what you have said, and that in our actions that we trust you, we would find it just as you said. 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:53.680 Or this is my prayer for us that our faith would be made stronger. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:56.160 We love you, we thank you, we ask this in Jesus' name. 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:57.039 Amen.