Friday Evening Service

Reverend David McLeod. And it's my pleasure to welcome David to the pulpit this evening and over this weekend.

! It's good to have him with us. We look forward to his ministry and his fellowship with us over these days.

And we do pray the Lord's blessing on him now as he comes to minister to us.

So I'll hand over to David to lead us in worship.

Thank you, Callum. It's good to be with you over this weekend.

We're going to begin this time of worship as we hear the words that we will come back to a number of times over the course of this weekend from Matthew chapter 11.

Matthew 11 · chapter mention

The words of Jesus. He says,

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

We'll worship God and we'll sing together to his praise from Psalm 95, the Scottish Psalter, page 357 of the books.

357 in the book, and we sing Psalm 95 from verses 1 to verse 6 of the psalm.

O come, let us sing to the Lord.

Come, let us, everyone, a joyful noise make to the rock of our salvation.

We'll sing down to the end of verse 6 to God's praise.

O come, let us sing to the Lord.

Come, let us, everyone, a joyful noise make to the rock of our salvation.

Let us sing to the Lord.

A joyful noise.

For God, a great God and great King, above all gods he is.

There's love, the earth, and in his hand, the strength of hell's distance.

To him the spacious seat belongs.

To him the spacious seat belongs.

For he the same did make.

The cry of God, the cry of God, so from his hand, his form and first did take.

O come, let us worship him.

Let us bow down with all.

And on our knees before the Lord, our maker, let us fall.

Let us unite our hearts in prayer together.

Let's pray.

Our heavenly Father, we thank you that we are able to gather together in this place this evening.

And we are able to call you our Father because we come in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior.

And we thank you that it's through his name and through his finished work that we have a way through into the presence of the God who is almighty.

We praise you for who you are, even as you have revealed yourself to us in the psalm that we have sang.

We thank you that as we reflect on the words that we have taken upon our lips, we are reminded of the fact that you are the God who is the Lord, the God who is over all.

You are our creator, the one who has brought everything that we see in this world and everything that we are in our being.

You have brought that into being with a word from nothing.

Such is the power of your creative word.

And we thank you, Lord, for the majesty of your creation.

Even as we look around in the place that we come from, we see the vastness and the beauty of creation, which points us to the wonder and the majesty of who you are.

And we ask, Lord, that as we lift our eyes to see the hills, as we are aware of the power of the sea, as we look up and see the stars which you have placed in space, we pray that our eyes would be opened to see that you are the God who has brought everything into being.

And we pray that day by day, we would worship you for who you are as our creator.

We thank you that you are our sustainer.

We have breath in our lungs.

We have the measure of health and strength that enables us to be here because you are the God who sustains us.

And we praise you, Lord, for your sustaining grace.

We thank you that morning by morning, you grant to us new mercies.

Even the food that we eat and the water that we drink.

The health and strength that we enjoy.

We confess that often we take it for granted.

But we pray that you would forgive us for doing so.

Help us to remember with every day that you give to us that this is the day that the Lord has made.

Enable us to rejoice and to be glad in it and to redeem the time.

To remember that our days in this world are short.

So help us, we pray, whilst we have opportunity in this world to look to you, to trust you.

And as your people, we pray that we would serve you.

That we would live not for self.

But that we would remember, as the catechum says to us, that man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

We thank you also, Lord, as we think about the words that we have sang that you are our Savior.

We hear the phrase, the rock of our salvation.

And we are pointed to Jesus.

And we ask, Lord, that over this weekend, we would have our eyes fixed upon Jesus.

We thank you, Father, for the vastness of your love.

That you would send your only begotten Son into this world to be our Savior, to be the Good Shepherd.

The one who would lay down his life for the sheep.

We thank you for the cross that we are called to gather around over these days.

We thank you for the institution of the Sacrament of Communion.

Where we gather around the Lord's table to remember his death until he comes.

We pray, Lord, you've forgiven us that we would be so distracted by the things of this world that we would forget.

And yet we confess that often our minds drift.

Often our lives are so taken up with the things of this world that we lose focus on the cross.

But as we drift from the cross, we are in all manner of danger.

And so we pray, Lord, that over these days that we would remember the death of Jesus.

And as we do so, we would do so with great reverence.

Remembering the greatness of who you are.

We pray that we would do so with that sense of contrition.

That we would be confessing our sin.

That we would have that posture of continual repentance.

Turning away from sin.

Confessing our falls and failures.

And seeking fresh cleansing in the blood of Jesus.

And we pray that as we remember the Lord Jesus over this weekend, we would do so with joy in our hearts.

Remembering that because he died, we are forgiven if we are trusting in him.

And remembering that on the third day, just as he promised, he rose from the dead.

He reigns, he lives.

And he has promised that one day he will return.

And until that day, we remember his death until he comes.

And we pray that these days would be a time for us where we wait upon the Lord.

And we know renewed strength.

And we know the blessing of meeting together as your people and your presence.

We pray that we would have fresh perspective.

That we would see with even more wonder the depths of your grace.

The wonder of all that you have done for us to make us your children.

And we pray that we would respond in worship.

Not just as we gather here in the building for an hour or two each day.

We pray that over these days, as we go about the different things that we have to do,

our minds would come back to remember all that you have done for us.

That we would be in the spirit of worship over these days.

We ask, Lord, that you would be with those who are absent tonight from this place who would desire to be here.

We are conscious always of those who are struggling with ill health.

And as we think of them, Lord, whether they are in hospital or at home,

we pray that you would draw near to them.

That you would lay your hands of healing upon them where that is your will.

And that they would know your grace, which is sufficient for each day that you give to them in time.

We pray for those who are sorrowing.

Those who struggle with grief.

Those who may be bewildered even at the perplexing things that often happen in this world.

And as we think of them, we pray for your comfort.

We pray that you, the God of all comfort, would draw near to them.

And give to them that peace that comes not from this world, but that comes from heaven.

We pray for any who may be struggling in grief and who may feel distant from you at this time.

And we ask, Father, that they would know your loving touch upon them.

That they would know the comfort of God, the Holy Spirit drawing near to them.

We think especially of the Mitchell family in Braggar.

And with the tragedy of all that we have heard of, we pray that they would know your peace.

That they would know your presence.

That you would uphold them.

That you would strengthen them.

That you would be in that community in a special way over these days.

We pray for those who may struggle with darkness that affects their minds.

Those who may feel cast down in their souls.

Who may battle with depression.

And we ask, Lord, that you would minister to them where often we cannot get through with words.

We thank you that you are able to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And as we think of those who may feel that darkness engulfing them.

We pray that the light of Christ would break through.

And that they would know that you are God and that you are with them.

We pray for those who battle with addictions.

Those who may come here week by week for road to recovery.

And many others who may not.

And as our minds go to such, we ask, Lord, that you would help them.

And that they would desire the help, the strength that comes from calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus.

And we pray for those who may be healthy and who may be comfortable.

And who may be at ease in their minds.

And may have everything that they need in this world.

But have no sense of a need of Christ.

We pray for those who do not realize the danger that there is in remaining in sin.

We can think of family members and friends and people we work with.

Who may be interested in many things, but have no desire for the things of God.

And we know that without the moving of your spirit, there is nothing that we can do to change that.

And so we know that we can carry them to you in prayer.

And as we think of names and as we think of faces.

And we ask, Lord, that you would awaken souls in the power of the Holy Spirit.

That they may feel the weight of sin.

And that they may look to Jesus, who is the Savior.

The one who is able to give rest.

True rest and eternal rest.

To all who will come to him.

So hear our prayers.

Bless our time together.

Help us, we pray.

As we read your word.

As we meditate upon your word.

As we sing.

We know, Lord, that we can do nothing apart from you.

And so we ask that you would draw near to us.

And as we sing, we would sing from our hearts.

As we read, we would recognize that this is the word of God.

And not the word of man.

And as we meditate upon the word, we pray, Lord.

That you would illuminate our minds.

That you would help us in speaking and listening and responding.

So that all we do would be to the glory of God.

Hear our prayers.

Cleanse us from our sin as we confess it.

And lead us in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And we pray these things in Jesus' name.

Amen.

We'll sing again to God's praise.

We'll sing this time from Psalm 42.

Sing Psalms 42.

Found on page 53.

Sing Psalms 42.

And we sing from verse 1 to verse 5.

As pants the deer for flowing streams, so longs my soul, O God, for you.

I thirst for God, the living God.

When can I meet with God and you?

And we'll sing down to verse 5 to God's praise.

And we sing down to verse 5 to God's praise.

singing voyque

For God, the living God, when can I meet with God anew?

My tears have been my constant hurt, both in the night and in the day.

While all day long insistently, where is this God of new to sing?

As I pour out my soul in grief, these things I do remember still.

And with the multitude I went up to God's hands on Zion Hill.

In their procession I would lead, as we approach with cheerful song.

And shouts of joy and thankfulness, rejoicing with the festive throng.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why are you so disturbed in me?

Just thought, for I will praise him yet.

My Saviour and my God is he.

If you could turn with me now in your Bibles, please, to Matthew chapter 11.

Matthew 11 · chapter mention

Matthew chapter 11, it's on page 983 of the Bible in the pulpit.

Matthew 11 · chapter mention

I don't know if that corresponds with Bibles in the pew.

Matthew chapter 11, and we'll read from verse 1 to verse 24.

Matthew 11 · chapter mention

This is God's Word.

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him,

Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?

And Jesus answered them, Go and tell John what you hear and see.

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk.

Lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear.

And the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John.

What did you go out into the wilderness to see?

A reed shaken by the wind?

What then did you go out to see?

A man dressed in soft clothing?

Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses.

What then did you go out to see?

A prophet?

Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

This is he of whom it is written,

Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.

Truly I say to you, among those born of woman,

there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.

Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

From the days of John the Baptist until now,

the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,

and the violent take it by force.

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

But to what shall I compare this generation?

It is like children sitting in marketplaces and calling to their playmates.

We played the flute for you, and you did not dance.

We sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.

For John came neither eating nor drinking,

and they say he is a demon.

The Son of Man came eating and drinking,

and they say, look at him, a glutton and a drunkard,

a friend of tax collectors and sinners.

Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.

Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done,

because they did not repent.

Woe to you, Kerasim!

Woe to you, Bethsaida!

For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon,

they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?

You will be brought down to Hades.

For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom,

it would have remained until this day.

But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.

And I'm going to read on just to the end of the chapter.

At that time, Jesus declared,

Come to me,

All who labor and are heavy laden,

And I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you,

And learn from me,

For I am gentle and lowly in heart,

And you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy,

And my burden is light.

Amen.

And may God bless that reading of his word to us.

We're going to sing again now to God's praise

From Psalm 43,

The Scottish Psalter,

Page 264.

Psalm 43,

And we'll sing from verses 3

To verse 5 of the psalm.

O send thy light forth,

And thy truth,

Let them be guides to me,

And bring me to thine holy hill,

Even where thy dwellings be.

Then will I to God's altar go,

To God my chiefest joy,

Yea,

God my God,

Thy name to praise,

My harp I will employ.

Down to the end of the psalm,

To God's praise.

O send thy light,

For time thy truth,

Let them be guides to me,

And bring me to thy holy hill,

In where thy dwellings be.

Then will I to God's altar go,

To God my chiefest joy,

In where thy dwellings be.

In where thy dwellings be.

In where thy dwellings be.

My heart I will employ.

Why art thou then,

Hast thou my soul,

What should discourage thee,

And why with vexing thoughts,

Are thou disquieted in me,

Still trust in God,

For him to praise,

Good thoughts I yet shall bow,

Be all my voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy

chapter 11.

And as we do so, let's pray again.

Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word, and we thank you for the opportunity

and for the desire that you've given us to come to this place in worship.

We pray once more that you would help us, that we would know the help of the Holy Spirit

in all that we do at this time.

We ask that you would open blind eyes, that you would unblock our ears, that you would

stir our hearts, that we would be like those on the road to Emmaus, whose hearts burned

within them, because we know that we have the promise that you are here with us.

So we ask, Lord, for your help at this time.

And we're conscious also, as we meet together, that there are many other congregations, different

denominations in this time, who meet, as we do, around your word.

And what we pray for ourselves, we pray for them.

We ask that whatever Christ crucified is preached, that you would be working, Lord God, in the

power of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus would be lifted up.

And over this weekend, many would be drawn in worship to him, perhaps some for the first

time.

We have heard of stories, and some may have even tasted something of the experience of

awakening and revivals in the past.

And we ask, Lord, that once more you would move in the power of the Holy Spirit, that

we would know showers of refreshing at this time.

Hear our prayers.

Help us, we ask.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Matthew chapter 11, and we're looking this evening at verses 1 to verse 24.

Matthew 11 · chapter mention

When Callum told me that the time of the service was at half past seven, it's later than I'm

usually used to when it comes to preaching.

I was wondering how you would manage to keep everybody awake at that time.

But I see that he's disabled the boiler.

So no one will sleep tonight, but hopefully nobody will get to a state of hypothermia.

We've got a doctor in the front row if that happens.

Just raise your hand.

Matthew chapter 11, and verses 1 to 24.

Matthew 11 · chapter mention

I don't need to tell any of you that in our lives, in our experience,

we are constantly being given offers.

So we get letters, and we get phone calls, cold calls.

We get text messages.

We get emails from companies who are making us offers.

Cheaper broadband, or new mobile phones, or a new bank account, or a new bank, or a new credit card.

There's no shortage of offers.

Fashion garments, new holidays when the weather is bad.

There's a continuous stream of offers that come into our inboxes, and every offer is looking for a response.

Now, the gospel is an offer.

God reaches out to us in the gospel with the most amazing offer that we can ever hear or receive.

Theologians talk about the free offer of the gospel, and the offer of the gospel is the offer of Jesus.

Yes, in the gospel, we are offered forgiveness of sin.

As we feel the weight of our sin, we are offered forgiveness as we hear the good news of the gospel.

We are offered eternal life.

But at the heart of the message of the gospel,

we have the offer of Jesus.

God's Son.

God the Son, our Savior.

John chapter 3, verse 16, probably the most well-known message in all of the Bible.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.

And the question I'd like to think about tonight in the time that we have is,

how are we responding to Jesus?

How are we responding to the offer of Jesus?

How are we responding to all that Jesus has done for us?

All that we are called this weekend to remember.

Now, in the passage that we read,

we can note at least four responses.

And I want to take time to go through each of the four responses to Jesus that we see in the verses.

The first response that we see to Jesus is the response of doubt.

So four points.

Number one is doubt.

We see John the Baptist wrestling with doubts as he speaks with Jesus.

The second response that we see is the response of disbelief.

Those who brazenly do not believe.

The third response we see is in those cities who dismiss Jesus.

They just don't respond to him.

And the final response that we finish with is to look at the disciples and see briefly how they are devoted to Jesus.

Their lives are devoted to Jesus.

So first of all, as we work through the verses, we see doubt on the part of John the Baptist.

Look at verses 1 and 2.

When Jesus had finished instructing his 12 disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Now, when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ,

he sent word by his disciples and said to him,

Are you the one who is to come or shall we look for another?

So what's going on here in these verses?

Well, what's going on is we see John.

That's John the Baptist.

And he's in prison.

Why is John in prison?

Well, John is in prison because he had been uncompromising in his preaching of the truth.

And as John preached the truth, he clashed with Herod.

He was an authority and he clashed with Herod's wife in particular,

who didn't like the message that John was bringing.

And you can read the story of that in Luke chapter 2 at the end of that chapter.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

And what we see is that John, having clashed with Herod and his wife,

John ends up in prison.

So life is difficult for John, as we pick up at the beginning of chapter 11.

And if we think ourselves into John's experience,

not so long ago, there were vast crowds.

Whenever John preached, there were vast crowds that gathered to hear him preach.

He was the man of the moment.

And he was a man who was free.

And John the Baptist, we know, was a man who liked to settle out in the wilderness,

in the wide open spaces.

And yet here we see John, and he's isolated.

He's locked away in a prison cell.

And in this dark time, in John's experience,

it seems that he has a crisis of doubt.

One commentator, Green, says,

everything tends to get out of proportion

when you are suffering for a long time in a confined space alone.

Doubts grow in such a soil.

So if we pause there just for a moment

and try to draw some application.

The application is not complicated.

And I think the application that flows from this is,

if John the Baptist can struggle with doubts,

any of us can struggle with doubt.

Especially when we're suffering.

And we can't understand what's going on in life.

Especially when we're isolated.

And we're not much in Christian fellowship.

Doubts can creep in.

And that's what seems to be happening

in John's experience.

John is struggling with doubts.

Some of the commentators, if you read them,

will say, well, John didn't struggle with doubts.

It's his disciples that struggled with doubts.

John's just sending the disciples to Jesus

so that they can have their doubts dealt with.

But I don't see that in the text.

That doesn't seem to me to be an assumption

that we have license to take.

I think the most obvious application here

is that John, in that dark prison cell,

is wrestling with doubts.

But the question to consider as we move on

is how are John's doubts overcome?

John's doubts are overcome

when he takes them to Jesus.

John doesn't do

the thing that lots of people do

when doubts crash in.

He doesn't withdraw

and turn away from Jesus

and turn away from the Lord's people.

John takes the doubts

that are plaguing him

and he takes them directly to Jesus.

And Jesus deals with the doubts

and lifts him from that place.

And how does Jesus do that?

Well, he does that

by reminding John

of what the Bible says

about the Messiah,

about the one who was to come.

Jesus answered them,

that's the disciples

who've been sent as messengers.

Jesus answered them,

go and tell John

what you hear and see.

The blind receive their sight

and the lame walk.

Lepers are cleansed

and the deaf hear

and the dead are raised up

and the poor have good news

preached to them

and blessed is the one

who is not offended by me.

So what Jesus does here

is he quotes from

Isaiah chapter 35

Isaiah 35 · chapter mention

and Isaiah chapter 61

Isaiah 61 · chapter mention

and in the quotes

that Jesus lifts,

he reminds John

of what the one,

what the Messiah

would do,

was prophesied to do.

He would heal,

he would preach good news.

And what was Jesus doing?

He was doing exactly

what had been prophesied.

Everything that was found

in Isaiah

that prophesied,

that painted this picture

of who the Messiah would be.

Jesus was doing these things.

So Jesus says to the messengers

who'd come,

go back to John

and tell him Isaiah 35,

tell him Isaiah 61.

And as they marry together

with the accounts

of what Jesus was doing,

he's able to see

with no doubt

but crystal clarity,

this is the Christ.

this is the Savior.

So John's doubts

are overcome

by taking them to Jesus.

John's doubts

are overcome

by being

in the Word of God.

How are our doubts overcome?

exactly the same way.

I don't know

many of you

personally,

I don't know

the congregation here well,

but my,

I would be surprised

if there isn't

at least somebody

whether here

or watching

at a distance

who is wrestling

with some measure

of doubt.

And these doubts

are overcome

as we take them

to Jesus

in prayer

and tell him

what's in our mind,

tell him what's

assaulting us.

And these doubts

are overcome

as we listen

to what God says

by being in the Bible.

So maybe this is a word

for a struggling

Christian tonight.

Maybe doubts

have been crashing in.

Maybe there's someone here

who's saying,

you know,

with all the thoughts

I've been having

and the battles

in my mind,

I wonder if I,

I should even come

to the table

when I feel so,

so low

and unsettled,

do I have warrant

to come?

Now what does

the old hymn say?

Just as I am,

though tossed about

with many a conflict,

many a doubt,

fightings within

and fears without,

O Lamb of God,

I come.

I come.

And that's what we see

John doing.

He comes,

he comes to Jesus

even with his doubts.

And Jesus does not

reject him,

Jesus receives him.

And in verses 7

through to verse 15,

which I'm not going to

drill down into,

Jesus speaks

in such a manner

about John

where John

is able to receive

the reassurance

that he needs.

There's such words

of commendation

about John

if we were to step

through these verses.

But this is always

the way.

As we trust Jesus,

as we obey Jesus,

as we come to him,

or as we come back

to him if we've drifted,

he receives us.

He reassures us

as we come.

So the first thing

that we see

in terms of a response

to Jesus

is a doubt.

The second,

and that doubt

is overcome.

The second response

as we move into

verse 16

is disbelief.

So more briefly,

Jesus says

in verse 16,

but to what shall I

compare this generation?

It is like children

sitting in the marketplaces

and calling

to their playmates.

We played the flute

for you

and you did not dance.

We sang a dirge

and you did not mourn.

And what Jesus

is doing here

in these two verses

is he's doing

what he often did.

He would take

an everyday illustration,

the illustration

of the children

as they played,

and he makes

it a teaching point.

So in Jesus' day,

just as in our day,

the children

would play at

being grown-ups.

And the children

would do what they

saw the grown-ups

doing.

And as the grown-ups

came together,

the children

would see them

sometimes dancing

at weddings

and sometimes mourning

as they came together

at funerals.

That's what they saw

in everyday life.

And so that's

what the children,

maybe to us

seems strange,

but that's what

they would play at.

I suppose it's no more

strange than

what we used to play at,

playing housework

and playing schools

when we were

six and seven years old.

You'd be the teacher,

you'd be the mum,

you'd be the dad.

That's the kind of thing

that was going on here.

The children

would play at

being grown-ups.

But

just as it

is with us,

it was back then

that there was

always one

disgruntled child

that didn't want

to play.

We played

the flute for you,

say the children,

and you didn't dance.

We played a dirge

that you didn't mourn.

There's always one

child that could

never be pleased.

I was thinking back

to school days

in Aberdeen.

I remember

a boy

in my class

called Brian.

He always had

the best

of the greatest trainers.

I always wanted them.

He always brought

the leather football

to school.

He had the most money

or his family did.

And so

we would play

with the mitre

leather football

or the umbral leather football

that Brian would bring.

But invariably

we'd be halfway

through a game

and if somebody

tackled Brian hard

or his team

started to lose,

he would take a huff.

And he would take

hold of the ball

and go off on a huff

and that was the game

all over.

Acting like a

spoiled child.

And Jesus

is saying to the people

who are listening,

that's like you.

You're like

spoiled children.

You can never

be pleased.

Verse 18,

For John came

neither eating

or drinking

and they say

he has a demon.

They don't want

to listen to John.

The son of man

came eating

and drinking

and they say

look at him

a glutton

and a drunkard

a friend of tax collectors

and sinners

yet wisdom

is justified

by her deeds.

didn't matter

what was done.

They wouldn't believe.

That was the picture

that Jesus was painting.

And it was a word

for that generation

in verse 16.

But it's a word

for every generation.

there are always

people

who will find

reasons

not to believe

in Jesus.

They exist

in Harris.

I expect

they exist

in Lewis

as well.

People who say

I don't feel enough.

If I could just

feel a bit more.

If I had more feelings

a bit more conviction

then I could believe.

or I don't know

enough to believe.

I need to do more study

I need to read more books

and maybe when I get

to a higher

academic

grasp

of the things

of God

then I can believe

but not yet.

Then there's so many

people who say

you know

I'm not good enough.

I'm not good enough

to be a believer.

And the list

can go on.

Every

generation

every congregation

will have

some people

who are

experts

in giving

reason

after reason

for disbelief.

unbelief.

And Jesus

saw it back then

and he called

them out on it

and he sees

it still today.

And I wonder

does he see

any

of that

in you

or in me?

Disbelief

is a

serious thing.

unbelief

is a

serious

thing

because

it leads

to eternal

death

and Jesus

will make

that crystal

clear in the

next section.

That's the

bad news.

But the

good news

is that

whoever

believes

in Jesus

John 3

16

shall

not

perish

but

shall

have

eternal

life.

What do

we come

to the

table

to say?

We come

to the

table

to say

that we

believe

in Jesus.

We're not

coming to

speak about

ourselves.

We're not

coming because

of the

feelings

that we

have.

We're not

coming because

we've reached

a certain

level of

intellectual

stature.

We come

in that

simple

childlike

way

to say

that we

believe

in Jesus.

That he is

our

savior.

That he is

our

Lord.

That we are

trusting

in his

finished

work.

that we

are

remembering

him.

Doubt

that has

overcome

disbelief

that Jesus

identifies

and calls

out.

The third

response that

we see

here is to

dismiss

Jesus.

And we

see that

in verse

20 down

to verse

24.

Jesus

addresses

cities that

were

unrepentant,

cities that

had dismissed

them.

Then he

began to

denounce the

cities where

most of his

mighty works

had been

done,

because they

did not

repent.

Woe to

you,

Chorazin.

This is

verse 21.

Woe to

you,

Bethsaida,

for if the

mighty works

done in you

had been

done in Tyre

and Sidon,

they would

have repented

long ago

in sackcloth

and ashes.

But I tell

you it would

be more

bearable in

the day of

judgment for

Tyre and

Sidon than

for you.

And so

the words

go on.

And I

think that

these words

that Jesus

speaks in

this section

are some of

the strongest

words that

are recorded

anywhere in

the Bible

that we

hear Jesus

speak.

He speaks

words of

woe,

he speaks

words of

judgment,

he speaks

words that

warn of

being brought

down to

Hades,

brought down

to hell.

Jesus talks

about

Sodom

in verse

23.

And we're

not going

there tonight

but you can

take a tour

back to

Genesis 19

in your own

time and

see the

darkness and

the immorality

of that

place Sodom

and we can

read about

the judgment

of God

that fell

upon that

city.

And yet

alarmingly

Jesus says

in verse

24,

it will be

more tolerable

on the

day of

judgment

for the

land of

Sodom

than for

you,

Capernaum.

And for

Chorazin

and Bethsaida,

Jesus warns

them of

incoming woe,

literally grief.

So we have

to ask the

question,

what did

these cities

do?

What is it

that Chorazin

and Bethsaida

and Capernaum

did that

prompted such

serious

words

from Jesus?

How did

they respond

to Jesus

that caused

Jesus to

speak to

them in

such terms?

And the

answer to

that question

is their

response to

Jesus,

what they

did in

terms of

responding to

Jesus is

they did

nothing.

They

dismissed

Jesus.

they just

ignored

him.

Jesus

performed

mighty

works

in these

cities

and he

preached

the most

amazing

sermons

that have

ever been

preached

and he

pled with

them

to repent

and yet

they would

not repent

they walked

out the

door

unrepentant

unmoved

they'd

heard the

gospel

plea

they'd

heard the

voice of

the

saviour

and they

looked at

their watches

and they

headed home

and they

did

nothing.

And Jesus

mentions Tyre

and Sidon.

Now the

people in

Chorazin

and Bethsaida

and Capernaum

they would

have looked

down their

noses

at Tyre

and Sidon

because they

were Gentiles.

They were

non-Jews.

They hadn't

had the

kind of

background

and the

upbringing

that these

cities had

had.

But Jesus

says if

they in

Tyre and

Sidon

had seen

and heard

what you've

seen and

heard

they would

have taken

notice.

They would

have repented

but not

you.

there were

so many

in these

privileged

cities

who

ignored

Jesus.

They

rejected

Jesus.

Not with

any kind

of violence.

There was

no heat

and violence

in their

rejection.

They just

seemed to

be too

busy.

that they

weren't

that

interested.

Their

lives were

cluttered.

Lots of

conflicting

priorities.

So they

dismissed

Jesus

and his

gospel.

and to

treat

Jesus

that way

causes

woe.

Jesus

teaches

us

that to

treat

Jesus

that way

by

dismissing

him

it

leads

down

to

hell.

Charles

Price

says

the

more

we

know

of

Christ

the

more

responsible

we

become.

So how

much do

we know

of

Jesus?

Jesus

well we

know

significantly

more

than

Chorazin

and

Bethsaida

and

Capernaum

did

because we

have a

New

Testament

and they

didn't.

And we

know about

the cross.

we

remember

that

Jesus

went to

the cross

to die

to pay

for our

sin

and they

didn't have

that knowledge.

They

couldn't yet

see that.

We know

about the

resurrection.

Of course

they didn't.

And we

have had

generations

of our

forefathers

teaching us

the good

news

about

Jesus.

We

have

enjoyed

great

privilege.

The

vast

majority

of us

although

I don't

know many

of you

the vast

majority

of us

here

I assume

we have

known

great

privilege.

privilege.

So let

me

leave the

application

with one

of the

commentators

leg.

He

says this

great

privilege

brings

great

responsibility.

Hearing the

gospel

week in

week out

knowing

the word

of God

being taught

the truth

from my

youth

or hearing

it regularly

in church

these are

great

privileges

but salvation

cannot be

taken for

granted.

Here is a

warning says

leg to

children brought

up in

Christian

homes to

those who

attend church

and who are

members of the

congregation

they must not

despise their

privileges but

must make sure

that they respond

in repentance

and faith.

Otherwise

there will

simply be a

greater and

more unbearable

punishment on

the day of

judgment.

Let none of

us this

evening walk

out the

door dismissing

Jesus.

Too busy.

Too

distracted.

Too much

going on.

Let none

of us

follow the

example of

these cities

that Jesus

warned

who heard

the gospel

who experienced

great privileges

but failed

to repent

and to

believe.

Maybe

there is

someone here

who knows

so much

who sat

in the

pews for

year after

year

who has

been through

Sunday

school and

YF and

all these

things but

hasn't yet

repented.

Don't

delay another

moment.

do not

dismiss

Jesus.

Repent.

Ask for

forgiveness.

Ask for

him to be

Savior and

Lord of

your life.

Everyone

who calls

on the

name of

the Lord

Jesus

will be

saved.

God

So we

see John

the Baptist

who

wrestles

with

doubts

and

they're

overcome.

We see

those that

Jesus

identifies

almost like

spoiled

children who

have every

reason not

to believe.

They're

disbelievers.

Jesus

challenges

them.

We see

cities who

are warned

of incoming

judgment

because of

the great

privileges that

they've

enjoyed and

yet they

dismiss

Jesus.

They're

too busy.

And the

final thing

we see

here is a

small group

of disciples

who are

devoted

to Jesus.

And just

as we

finish,

this is

what we're

taught

right running

through the

gospel.

This is

how we're

taught

how to

respond to

Jesus.

How are we

to respond

to Jesus?

We're to

respond to

Jesus

by devoting

our lives

to Him.

Not

dismissing

Him,

not doubting

His words,

not disbelieving,

but repenting

and believing

and devoting

our lives

to Him,

to the

one who

paid for

our salvation

with His

blood at

Calvary.

We are to

devote our

lives to

Him.

We see

at the

beginning of

the chapter

just a

small note.

At the

beginning of

this chapter

we see

the disciples

and we

can see

them in

our mind's

eye.

Jesus,

He's

instructing

these 12

disciples,

they're

gathered

around Him.

And what

were the

disciples

called to?

They were

called to

a life

of being

with

Jesus,

of being

instructed

by Jesus,

of being

devoted

to Jesus.

And that's

what we're

called to.

the gospel

went out

so that

all who

hear and

believe

will be

disciples,

those whose

lives are

devoted to

Jesus.

Mark

Mark 3:14

chapter 3

verse 14.

It's one of

my favorite

verses and

it's so

simple.

Jesus

appointed

12,

whom He

named also

apostles,

that they

might be

with Him.

And that

is our

calling

tonight.

That's the

calling of a

disciple.

If I was to

ask you,

tell me about a

disciple,

what's a

disciple?

I think the

majority of

us would

probably say,

well,

a disciple

is someone

who does

this and

does that

and does

the next

thing.

They're

called to

serve Jesus

and they're

called to

do this

and all

that,

and all

that's

true.

But the

primary call

for the

disciples back

then,

and the

primary call

for disciples

here and

now,

is a

call to

be with

Jesus.

So are

we with

Him?

That's how

we finish.

Are we

with Him?

Are we

trusting

Jesus as

our Savior?

Are we

following

Jesus as

our Lord

and our

King?

if not,

that's

what He

calls us

to tonight,

to devote

our lives

to Him.

And if

there are

any of us

this evening

who are

Christians but

we are

drifting,

as we

are prone

to,

then as

we approach

the table,

let us

take this

opportunity

once more

to confess

the distance

if there's

drift

and to

devote

our lives

to Christ

afresh.

That we

may be

with Him,

that we

may abide

in Him,

that we

may remain

in Him.

and know

the blessing

and the

fruit that

comes from

being in

that place.

And if

we are

with Him,

then what

does He

call us

to do?

Where does

He call

us to be

this

Lord's

day?

He calls

us to

be at

the table.

Maybe

there's

someone here

tonight who

is a

secret

believer.

You've

asked for

forgiveness.

you've

asked Jesus

to be

Lord.

But

communion

season by

communion

season,

the profession

that you

make from

the place

that you

sit is

that you

are not

with Him.

Hear the

call once

more,

the command

that comes

from Jesus.

if you

are trusting

Him,

if you

are saved

by His

blood.

And hear

His command

to do

this,

to come

to the

table,

to be

with Him

openly,

and to

remember

all that

He has

done for

our salvation.

let's

pray.

Heavenly

Father,

we thank

You for

Your Word.

We pray

that You

would help

us as

we face

the challenge

of it,

as we

take time

to meditate

upon it.

We thank

You for

the encouragement

that there

is as we

hear the

words of

Jesus.

us,

and we

pray that

as You

search our

hearts,

that You

would work

in each

one of our

hearts and

lives,

that we

may hear

the call

of Christ,

and that we

may come

in repentance,

in faith,

in obedience.

We pray this

in Jesus.

From Psalm

63,

sing Psalm

63,

page number

80.

Psalm 63,

Psalms 63:1

verses 1

to verse

8.

O God,

You are

my God

alone.

I seek

Your face

with eagerness.

My soul

and body

thirst for

You in

this dry

weary

wilderness.

Down to

the end

of verse

8 to

God's

praise.

O God,

You are

my God

alone.

I seek

Your grace

with eagerness.

My soul

and body

thirst for

You

in this

Thy

weary

wilderness.

I've seen

you in

your holy

place,

your power

and glory

held my gaze.

Far better

is

your love

and life

and so

my lips

will sing

your praise.

I'll bless

you, Lord,

throughout

my life

and raise

my heart

to You

in prayer.

my joy

to live

with

senior

praise.

My soul

is

fed

with

riches

clear.

upon

upon

my bed